Chapter 25: Conditions for Evolution

He was now engaged in the most fundamental research of legacy gene fusion—integrating the legacy genes of one creature into another and conducting simple practical experiments.

Legacy genes determine the direction of a totem’s future evolution; even with his master-level totem artistry, his knowledge was too limited to fully decipher them.

What he lacked most now were rune factories and various precision research instruments—microscopes, refining glass equipment, and so on. He had none of these, forced to conduct only the roughest, most superficial dissection experiments.

Still, his research these days had yielded some results. At the very least, Bruce’s experimental notes had given him a deeper understanding of the Moonlight Fox.

This understanding brought a subtle change to the modulator panel, which had remained unchanged for so long.

“Mutant Moonlight Fox: Primary Totem, not evolved, can be upgraded, evolution success rate 15%, consumes 5 evolution points;
Abilities: Fox Charm, Rapid Movement.”

Additionally, a brief message appeared, offering hints on how to boost the evolution success rate.

“Three units of Blue Riverstone, five units of Purple Shadowstone, three Nightmare Flowers can increase the success rate by 80%.”

Charle was delighted, surprised to find the modulator so detailed in its guidance. This meant that, once he gathered these items, he could achieve a 92% success rate—enough to force an evolution with confidence.

A 12% success rate was far too low, especially since each attempt consumed five evolution points, something he could never afford to waste.

However, these three items were not easy to obtain.

In this world, gemstones of different colors had distinct effects on totem evolution, able to strengthen particular attributes. Purple gems were linked to spirit, blue gems to agility—precisely the two most important attributes for the little white fox.

The little fox possessed Fox Charm, a rare spiritual ability, as well as Rapid Movement, an agility-based skill. If both were maximized, enemies could be charmed into helpless submission, like fish laid out on a chopping board!

One unit was equivalent to one cubic centimeter in the game; Riverstone was easier to come by, a small piece costing just over ten gold coins—not too rare.

But Purple Shadowstone was unbelievably expensive. Charle recalled attending an auction in Storm Harbor, where a piece no bigger than a fingernail fetched a staggering six thousand gold coins!

This meant that acquiring enough Purple Shadowstone would cost him over twenty thousand gold coins!

“The Soulbinder truly is the most extravagant profession. The cultivation of top-tier totems demands an endless investment!”

Charle couldn’t help but sigh, once again acutely aware of his poverty. Even if he depleted his family’s small gold mine, it would never be enough for the little fox to reach ultimate evolution.

Talent, knowledge, and resources—the three pillars determining whether a Soulbinder could advance. Without any one of them, one could never become a top-tier expert.

In the future, so many prodigiously gifted Soulbinders would be constrained by resources, forced to bow their heads to others, some unable to evolve their totems for a lifetime!

He frowned in thought, searching his memories of the future for hidden treasures.

Indeed, in future events, there were “protagonists” who stumbled upon treasure troves and became instantly wealthy.

Yet those places hid enormous dangers, teeming with terrifying spirit arts and dreadful guardian totems.

This wasn’t some third-rate novel where rebirth let one casually sneak into others’ treasure vaults, expertly disarm traps, and turn the traps against others—how absurd!

Without strength, he couldn’t even break the spirit arts laid down, some so well hidden they wouldn’t be discovered until they detonated upon approach.

In such circumstances, he would only become a feast for the totems.

His memories of the future were stored like files in a computer, categorized by time and place, making them easy to browse.

After an hour’s search, he finally found a feasible way to make his fortune.

He wasn’t certain he had the luck of those “protagonists,” but he could follow their actions.

In one scene, a protagonist acted in Storm Harbor, discovering a treasure on a seaside cliff to the east.

Moreover, he stumbled across news of a secret Soulbinder marketplace in Storm Harbor, where all kinds of goods were traded—even basic rune factories were available!

With this in mind, Charle resolved to journey there...

...

On a broad road, five cavalry escorted a carriage through the endless expanse of forest.

Inside the carriage sat three young nobles—two men and one woman. The man at the rear had wine-red, shoulder-length hair, a handsome face, and wore a silver-gray robe, dressed like a scholarly sage.

He reclined against the side of the carriage, a book spread across his lap.

Most striking was a snow-white little fox, dozing atop his shoulder.

“Charle, you always carry that fox with you. Are you turning into one of those girls?” Field teased, eyeing the little white fox on his shoulder.

Charle ignored him completely, absorbed in his book as if it held endless fascination.

The only girl among them, Tiffany, gazed at the little white fox with eager, sparkling eyes. She had tried several times to touch it, but the fox showed no interest, nearly scratching her hand with its claws and forcing her to admire it from afar.

“Charle, let me pet it, please?” Tiffany pleaded, her voice sweet and coquettish.

“Sorry, Firefly only wants to be with me. No one else can get close,” Charle replied apologetically.

Firefly, the mutant Moonlight Fox with extraordinary abilities, had become his totem, its power greatly enhanced and its pride soaring.

Neither the maid Eve, nor the family’s children, nor Marcus with his tempting treats, could win its affection.

“Hmph, so stingy! Letting me pet it won’t hurt you,” Tiffany grumbled, sulking in her seat.

Charle smiled helplessly. The girl belonged to the Beller family, a year younger than him.

Her family’s territory, Brightglow Town, lay north of Goldenflash Town, allied with the Field family, forming an inseparable triad.

He hadn’t planned to bring her, but her brother’s sudden absence meant he was entrusted with her care, taking her to Storm Harbor for a change of scenery.

“The northern rabble are growing restless. Some troublemakers made a scene in Brightglow Town and were all thrown into the dungeons by the security squad,” Field complained idly.

Charle’s heart stirred—he realized that a minor uprising had erupted in northern Fawn County, sparked by locals unable to bear the lord’s cruel exploitation.

This uprising wasn’t as simple as Field imagined; it would soon spread like wildfire, engulfing several counties and blossoming into a massive rebellion.

Behind it all was the terrifying organization that had opened the Gate of Origin.

Energy from the Gate of Origin leaked out, causing countless cultivated creatures to evolve rapidly, soon slipping from the organization’s control.

These monstrous beasts formed a vast tide, ravaging city after city, threatening to shake the very foundations of the empire!