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Lu Heng returned to the room and lay down on the bed.

The Astrology Room fell into complete darkness and silence.

He lay flat on the bed, his breathing gradually slowing, his body slowly relaxing the muscles that had been tense all day. But his mind didn't stop. His thoughts, like an undercurrent, began from the dark windows of the Industrial Park and slowly flowed toward each of today's spoils.

The roots, bark, trunk, and Aberration Sap of the Blood Banyan Tree; the Banyan Tree Bracers, Blood Banyan Tree Seed, and Mutant Seed obtained from the Mutation Treasure Chest; and the Plant Heart.

Each and every one of them was extremely valuable, truly top-tier resources. Lu Heng knew this in his heart.

But the quieter it was, the more uneasy he felt.

Without exception, all of these things carried a strong, mutated, bloody aura. He still remembered the warm, wriggling sensation when the Banyan Tree Bracers were on his arms—like the pulse of living blood vessels beneath his skin. The shimmering light within the Mutant Seed, the sweet, metallic scent of the Blood Banyan Tree Seed, the vascular patterns covering the surface of the Plant Heart ...

It's all distortion.

Lu Heng opened his eyes and stared at the dark ceiling above him.

He practices the Stellar Meditation Method. Relying on the pure stellar power of the Stellar Altar, his path is clear, orderly, and disciplined, without the slightest distortion or deviation. From its inception to the present, this system has been built solidly and steadily, with a pure foundation.

However, the mutated creatures are completely incompatible with this path.

"Anomaly..."

He silently repeated those two words in his heart, his gaze growing increasingly steady in the darkness.

The most dangerous things are never the obvious ones. No matter how fierce Blood Banyan Tree, once it's destroyed, it becomes a trophy. What's truly terrifying is the invisible, hidden erosion—just because it seems harmless now doesn't mean it won't have a cumulative effect over time.

His system is already established, its foundation is solid, and he's increasingly drawn to the stars. There's no need to gamble his path for a bunch of resources.

The more I thought about it, the more I felt I had to handle it prudently.

To put one's mind at ease and to completely eliminate any future problems.

Lu Heng sat up, having already made up his mind.

He rose and left the Astrology Room, walking along the internal passageway of the Shelter towards the location of the Stellar Altar. His footsteps echoed in the empty corridor, and the only sound around him was his own breathing.

The Stellar Altar is located in a separate Stone Chamber deep within the Shelter. The altar is carved from a single piece of grayish-white boulder, its surface covered with intricate star patterns. It is usually silent and lusterless, resembling an ordinary stone table.

Lu Heng opened his Wristband backpack and took out all the mutated materials he had obtained from hunting the Blood Banyan Tree that day, as well as all the mutated items he had opened from the treasure chests. He then neatly arranged them on the altar stone.

Banyan Tree Bracers, Blood Banyan Tree Seed, fragments of remaining roots, bark, slices of trunk, and congealed, Aberration Sap —a motley collection covered most of the tabletop. A dark red aura lingered between the objects, like an invisible mist.

Lu Heng took a step back, his expression solemn.

He closed his eyes and silently prayed for the power of the stars to wash away all the distortions, pollution, and bloodlust.

In an instant, the star patterns on the surface of the altar lit up.

A cool, silvery glow emanated from the patterns, spreading across the entire platform like water. Then, countless tiny starlight descended from above the altar, slowly enveloping all the objects. Each point of light was pure and clear, devoid of any warmth, yet possessed an irresistible power.

The dark red blood clinging to the surface of the materials and props was gradually peeled away by the starlight. The distorted black mist, like a scalded creature, struggled to tear, melt, and be completely washed away from the surface of the objects. The whole process was silent, yet exceptionally thorough.

All the old materials contaminated by the distortion and pollution slowly disintegrated and returned to nothingness under the cleansing power of pure stars. The dark red remains turned to ashes, which were swept up, crushed, and completely erased by starlight.

The root patterns on the Banyan Tree Bracers broke and dissipated one by one in the starlight. The Blood Banyan Tree Seed cracked open, its sweet and pungent scent swallowed by the silver light. The internal light flickered violently a few times before extinguishing and turning into dust. The vascular patterns covering the surface of the Mutant Seed seed broke off one by one, and its dark red core shattered into dust, crushed into nothingness by the starlight.

Old things fade away, new things are born.

The starlight gradually faded, and the altar returned to silence. Lu Heng opened his eyes and took a step forward.

Three brand-new items quietly appeared on the table.

The first item was a smooth, round seed, its entire body enveloped in tiny starlight, as if a small piece of the night sky had been crushed and sealed inside.

Lu Heng picked it up, Wristband popped up for authentication.

[Starlight Seed]

Effect: Grants any plant a chance to break through its own level limit once.

His heart stirred slightly.

The fewer the terms, the more powerful the effect. This seed is a perfect match for the Purifying Water Lotus, which is currently dormant and evolving in the Planting Room.

The second item was a pair of silver-white arm armors, thick and cold in texture, with extremely faint starlight patterns flowing across the surface, as if two galaxies had been forged into the metal.

[Star Armguards | Silver Tier]

Bearing the weight of the stars, wielding their power.

Each of the left and right arm armors has 10 independent Storage Space;

The gravity can be freely adjusted from 1 to 10 times, suitable for physical weight training or attack.

The material is extremely hard, possessing extremely strong physical defense capabilities.

Offense and defense, storage, and special training are all integrated into one.

Lu Heng slipped the left arm armor onto his forearm. The silver-white metal automatically fitted itself, and the weight instantly increased. He tried adjusting the gravity to double, and as his arm slumped, his muscles immediately tensed.

Goodness!

He removed his arm armor and placed it aside along with the Starlight Seed.

The third item was a moist and translucent plant seed, its entire body shimmering with a pale blue luster, its surface dotted with tiny star-like specks, like a drop of solidified dew enveloping starlight.

Lu Heng held it in his hand, and a genuine complaint suddenly popped into his mind:

Wow, am I really that destined to be with vines?

First, there were the Blood-Devouring Vine Vines guarding the outer perimeter of the Shelter, and now the Stellar Altar has reshaped a vine seed.

The Wristband pops up for authentication.

[Water-Covering Vine Seed]

Characteristics: It has no independent consciousness and completely obeys the host.

It can grow in all types of water.

It can lie dormant underwater, silently waiting for creatures to approach before suddenly attacking, entangling, and locking them in place with immense strength, capable of dragging them into the water and suppressing them.

The sap from the vine has powerful healing properties.

Lu Heng stared at the appraisal information for a few seconds, and the plan in his mind automatically took shape.

Blood-Devouring Vine guard the bank, Water-Covering Vine guard the water.

One is anchored on the outer edge of the cliff, annihilating any approaching terrestrial threats; the other lies submerged beneath the base's waters, ambushing any intruders who enter the water. The vine's sap can also heal wounds, and it can even replenish health after a fight.

Before anyone knew it, the Shelter had assembled a complete water and land vine protection system. Offense, defense, healing, and ambush—all were now in place.

He carefully stored away the three star-studded treasures. He left the Starlight Seed for the Purifying Water Lotus, to be used after its advancement was complete. He would wear the Star Armguards daily, and begin weight training today. He would plant the Water-Covering Vine Seed once he found a suitable freshwater area.

All potential distortions have been completely eradicated. Resources have undergone a top-level transformation.

Lu Heng took one last look at the Stellar Altar. The star patterns on the altar had dimmed again, returning to their usual silent and dull appearance, as if nothing had happened.

He turned and walked out of the Stone Chamber, his gaze fixed on the direction of the Planting Room.

The advanced dormancy of the Purifying Water Lotus continues.

Holding the Starlight Seed in your hand, waiting for it to awaken will mark the second transformation.