Liu Wenyin's Advice

After getting to the bottom of the foul stench, Su Ze did not pursue the topic any further, much less rashly probe for information about the mysterious organization.

Although he felt that Liu Wenyin might know something about the mysterious organization, their friendship was still shallow, and some matters were not suitable for deeper discussion.

Su Ze instead began asking Liu Wenyin questions about Evolutionary Science.

It had to be said that although Liu Wenyin was only at the Pupal Stage herself, she had studied Evolutionary Science extensively. She could always answer Su Ze's questions in just a few sentences, explaining profound concepts in simple, easy-to-understand terms.

All of Su Ze's knowledge of Evolutionary Science had come from Zhao Lingxiao. Although Zhao Lingxiao had received the best education since childhood, that guy had been wholly preoccupied with pretty female teachers and classmates. He had learned little proper knowledge but plenty of positions, making him both an utter academic failure and a scumbag.

As a result, Su Ze's knowledge of Evolutionary Science was rather lacking. Now that he had encountered an expert in the field, he naturally had to make up for it.

"Big Sister, I only completed my first evolution not long ago and haven't absorbed any extract yet. Do you have any good suggestions for the first tube of extract I should absorb during the Pupal Stage?"

By now, Su Ze was calling her Big Sister with complete fluency, as though he had forgotten that he had been several years older than her in his previous life.

Liu Wenyin had also grown accustomed to how Su Ze addressed her. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "What types were your previous skills? What are your own thoughts?"

"My first three skills are a Strength Amplification Skill, a Charge Skill, and a close-combat attack skill. I feel my offensive capabilities are already sufficient. What I currently lack are defensive and escape abilities, so for my next extract, I intend to acquire either a Defense Skill or an Escape Skill."

After hearing Su Ze's words, Liu Wenyin pondered briefly and said, "First, you need to understand that every evolver has limited skill slots. It is impossible to be proficient in every aspect, so you need to find your own role. Judging from your current skill combination, you have already established yourself as a combat-type evolver, and your combat style leans toward close quarters."

Su Ze nodded, agreeing with Liu Wenyin's analysis.

"The Defense Skill and Escape Skill you want are, plainly put, both survival skills. That line of thinking isn't wrong. Close combat is the most dangerous, with little room for error, so you really do need some ability to preserve your life. But compared with those two types of skills, I think another choice would suit you better."

"What is it? Big Sister, don't keep me in suspense."

Liu Wenyin was in no hurry. She slowly took a sip of milk tea through her straw, only to discover that the cup was already empty. She could not help frowning, and her mood immediately soured.

Aunt Yun pushed over her own unopened milk tea and said, "Dr. Liu, have mine. I'm not used to drinking sweet things."

Dr. Liu reluctantly pulled her gaze away from the milk tea and shook her head. "No, I've already had two cups today."

Su Ze immediately lit up his phone screen and pointed at the time. "It's already past midnight. It's a new day now."

Liu Wenyin's beautiful eyes lit up. She gave Su Ze an expression that said, "You know what's what," then happily picked up the other cup of milk tea, inserted the straw, and began taking small sips.

After drinking several mouthfuls, she contentedly narrowed her eyes. Her mood greatly improved, and Su Ze looked much more pleasing to her as well. Meeting his knowledge-hungry gaze, she said:

"Actually, I think you could consider a Self-Recovery Skill."

"A Self-Recovery Skill? You mean a Healing Skill?" Su Ze's eyes lit up. Without Liu Wenyin needing to explain, he had already thought of the advantages of a Healing Skill.

Defense Skills and Escape Skills were purely defensive. They did not really enhance his offensive abilities, but Healing Skills were different. They balanced offense and defense, allowing him to heal injuries and preserve his life while also improving his endurance in battle. They would let him attack more boldly, even employ tactics of trading injury for injury.

Liu Wenyin said, "Powerful evolvers often develop one aspect to the extreme: extreme speed, extreme strength, extreme defense, and so on. Because skill slots are limited, the price of trying to be all-rounders is often mediocrity. Your first few skills have already determined that your combat style focuses on offense. Adding a purely defensive skill now would not fit your overall style. Therefore, a healing-type skill that balances offense and defense would be a better choice."

"If you want a purely defensive skill, you might as well wait until your evolution level is higher and seek out an advanced defensive skill then. It would be more cost-effective."

Su Ze nodded and humbly accepted Liu Wenyin's advice before asking, "Do you have any Healing Skills suitable for me to recommend?"

"What's your budget?"

"Don't worry about the cost."

Su Ze was not worried about revealing his wealth in front of Liu Wenyin. After all, in Liu Wenyin and Aunt Yun's eyes, he was also a "fugitive young master from a wealthy family."

"I understand. Tier 2 S-grade... Let me think." Liu Wenyin took another sip of milk tea before saying, "Among Tier 2 Exotic Beasts, quite a few possess Healing Skills. Many of them are Marine Exotic Beasts, and their extracts are rather difficult to obtain. As for the strongest healing abilities on land, the ones I know are the Giant Forest Cockroach and the Immortal Salamander. The extracts of both are S-grade."

Giant Forest Cockroach? Wasn't that what cockroaches evolved into?

Even unevolved cockroaches possessed formidable vitality. After evolving, there was no need to even mention it. They were said to be able to shed their shells and be reborn as long as they still had a single breath left.

Salamanders needed even less explanation. Before evolving, they had already been among the animals with the strongest healing abilities. They could regrow severed tails and limbs; some could even recover after losing their heads, and they never left scars. Since an evolved salamander could be called an "Immortal Salamander," its healing ability had to be terrifyingly powerful.

Su Ze noted the names of these two Exotic Beasts in his phone's memo app. He had never trusted his own memory.

Once they reached the Luofan Kingdom, he planned to immediately seek to purchase extracts from these two. Getting either one would do.

For the rest of the time, Su Ze accompanied Liu Wenyin as they talked about Evolutionary Science, then the customs and local conditions of the six nations on the Linhua Continent, and finally all sorts of gossip about Mu Kingdom's upper class.

King Mu's several illegitimate sons, the Mu Kingdom's second Princess getting pregnant before marriage, the Mu Kingdom's general liking men, the several mistresses kept by Mu Kingdom's finance minister Zhao Yuanyi... Su Ze recounted them all with intimate familiarity, speaking with relish. Liu Wenyin was left dumbfounded, repeatedly exclaiming that their circle was truly a mess.

Before they knew it, the east had begun to glow with a pale hint of dawn, and only then did they realize that daylight had arrived.

Su Ze took the initiative to buy breakfast.

After the three finished breakfast, it was about time, so they set off together for the Black and White Bar.

The Black and White Bar appeared completely normal. Evidently, the Zhao Family had not traced them here last night.

The White Bar was cold and deserted in the early morning, no longer as lively as it had been the night before. The Black Bar, however, had gathered quite a few people, most of whom had accepted escort missions and come here to assemble.

The moment Liu Wenyin and Aunt Yun entered, those who had accepted the mission immediately gathered around them.

Su Ze counted roughly twenty-seven or twenty-eight people. They were clearly divided into two groups: six Cocoon Breaking Stage evolvers stood together, while the remaining twenty or so Pupal Stage evolvers stood together.