Chapter 490

Chapter 490: Changing Rewards
Zhang Mu himself didn’t know what kind of reward this successful promotion would bring. Even in future generations, no one has ever completed this task successfully. Becoming a Senior Era Sub-merchant took years of effort. Slowly climbing up.
Therefore, Zhang Mu was also very excited.
“Inventory verification inside Era Store is complete, issuing promotion rewards.”
Exciting moment!
“As a reward for completing the mission, you will receive two thousand fourth-rank elemental crystals, twenty units of spirit recovery potion, and one opportunity for an Era Tattoo.”
Era Tattoo: Custom-made by Era Store, tailored to your achievements in hidden promotion quests, providing a range of options to choose from.
The basic reward for completing the hidden promotion quest turned out to be a total of twenty Era tasks, so it seems like this time there will be no shortage of elemental crystals and spirit recovery for himself.
However, this Era Tattoo was something he had never heard of before. He looked at No. 37 with confusion, but No. 37 was too busy with official duties at Era Store to engage with him.
“Drip… Drip… Drip…”
A beam of light enveloped Zhang Mu, making him feel like he was being scanned from head to toe.
“Based on the condition of No. 001’s body, two Era Tattoos have been custom-made for you. Please choose.”
In front of Zhang Mu, two vivid tattoo designs appeared, made of energy projected by the surrounding stars, looking incredibly lifelike and dazzling Zhang Mu’s eyes.
On the left, there stood a tall Pagoda with clear carvings of fierce-faced demons. Zhang Mu blinked and suddenly the kind-looking statues turned into scary demons, giving him chills.
On the right, there was a mist-covered river that seemed endless, making it impossible to see what was on it.
Just then, a mechanical voice started explaining to Zhang Mu at the right moment.
“Buddhist Demon Pagoda: Balancing Buddha and Demon powers, those with this tattoo can be easily influenced by negative emotions. Only by balancing both good and bad sides can one remain true to themselves. Becoming a Buddha or a demon will no longer be about you.
Power: Only when maintaining a balance between good and bad, can one choose to elevate their awakening ability by one level.”
Duwang River: A river leading to the Netherworld, where the Soul Ferryman ferries souls.
Power: By sacrificing one-third of their own soul and getting the Netherworld mark, the bearer of this tattoo can summon the Soul Ferryman once to take away the soul of a lesser being, controlling only one being at a time.”
Zhang Mu felt excited hearing the explanations of these two terrifying tattoos, but quickly calmed himself down.
The Buddhist Demon Pagoda can enhance one of the user’s awakening abilities to the fourth-rank early stage, but the cost is that the user must stay calm and true to themselves, not letting the tattoo disturb their inner peace.
The Duwang River is very powerful and can control evolvers who are one rank higher, like those in the fourth-rank early stage. Although it can only control one person at a time, currently the highest rank among evolved beings is also just in the fourth-rank early stage.
However, it has a hidden limitation – it can only be used twice. If used a third time, the soul will be marked by the Netherworld and taken away by the soul messenger on the river.
Zhang Mu is now in a dilemma. The Era Store has given him two choices that are suitable for him, but this also makes it hard for Zhang Mu to decide.
Which one should he choose?
Choosing between the two Era Tattoos is really difficult.
As Zhang Mu recalls every detail the mechanical list told him, he suddenly notices a word he overlooked.
Including the Era Tattoo, all are basic rewards for this promotion task.
This means there will be at least one extra reward.
“No. 001, have you chosen which design to tattoo?”
When Zhang Mu heard the mechanical voice urging him on, he frowned and decided to speak out his thoughts.
“Earlier, you mentioned this is a basic reward?”
“Yes.”
Zhang Mu spoke slowly, “So, that means there are extra rewards, right?”
The mechanical voice hesitated for a moment and replied, “Yes, the extra rewards will be announced after the basic rewards are distributed.”
“Tell me in advance, please.”
However, Zhang Mu’s request was rejected by the mechanical voice, “Sorry, No. 001, that wouldn’t be proper.”
At that moment, No. 37, who had been silently standing on the side, suddenly spoke up, “Tell him.”
Zhang Mu gratefully glanced at No. 37, who calmly nodded in response.
With permission from No. 37, the mechanical list quickly informed Zhang Mu of the extra reward for his promotion task.
“Extra reward: Level five evolution potion, with a fifty percent chance of helping a fourth-rank beginner evolution creature reach its peak. If unsuccessful, it will still boost the user’s potential.
Designated user: No. 001 himself.”
When Zhang Mu saw the tempting extra reward and the final restriction, he felt relieved and gradually calmed down. He looked at the mechanical list in front of him and said, “I give up the extra reward, I want both of these tattoo patterns.”
Zhang Mu had his reasons for making this decision.
It’s really difficult for a fourth-rank beginner to reach its peak, especially through normal development. If he were developing normally, he would definitely need this item now.
But now, this item is completely useless to him.
As a third-rank beginner, even with any great opportunities in the Era Battlefield, trying to catch up with others after missing these years is simply impossible.
Particularly when Zhang Mu saw that only he could use it, he completely gave up thinking about it, losing even its last benefit of advancing other human evolvers.
The new advanced potion was worth a lot more than Era Tattoo, but Zhang Mu still decided to give it up.
What fits best is deemed the best.
The mechanical list seemed hesitant for a moment, but then decisively agreed to Zhang Mu’s request, which Zhang Mu suspected was ordered by No. 37.
“No. 001, I agree to your request. Are you sure the extra reward is worth more than the basic reward? Please decide carefully.”
Finally, Zhang Mu glanced at the advanced potion, took off his shirt directly, bare-chested, speaking calmly and firmly.
“I give up the extra reward, and choose two tattoos instead, with Buddhist Demon Pagoda in the front and Duwang River in the back.”
“Let’s do it!”