Chapter 285

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 285: A Difficult Choice
Just as Zhang Mu had expected, his 40,000 first-rank elemental crystals didn’t seem to make much of a difference with the new Era Universal Merchandise.
He reluctantly gave up the high-value items that he desired but couldn’t afford, as well as the items that were not part of the new merchandise. He then faced a difficult decision as the mechanical list outlined in golden threads rearranged itself in front of him.
“Weakness potion for second-rank abilities, colorless and tasteless, weakens the abilities of any creature below second-rank. The stronger the target’s rank, the larger its size, and the higher its resistance, the weaker the effect.
When the target reaches third-rank, the potion’s effect is almost ineffective.
Each unit costs thirty thousand first-rank elemental crystals, with only ten units left.
Zhang Mu’s eyes lit up when he saw this, because the potion’s description was precise for all living beings. Era Store’s description was meticulous, weakening the abilities of evolvers, mutant beasts, mutant plants, and even mutant zombies, as long as they fall under the category of living beings.
It’s colorless and tasteless, making it essential for home use, travel, and surprise attacks!
However, even with the discounted price, spending twenty-four thousand first-rank elemental crystals would use up half of his wealth. If he bought this, he wouldn’t have enough for the rest. He could only afford one unit from the Era Universal Merchandise, and maybe two of the cheapest like this second-rank weakening potion.
Suppressing the urgent urge to confirm, Zhang Mu’s gaze continued downwards.
“Attack-type mutant plant seeds of second-rank, can be planted in soil for growth, buyers have ownership and can control the plant within a certain range for attack and defense. Once the seed sprouts, it cannot be transplanted, so choose the burial location carefully.
Each unit costs sixty thousand first-rank elemental crystals, with only two remaining in stock.
There are seeds of mutated plants for sale!
If you buy a lot of them, plant them near the walls of cities outside Era City, it can form a defensive line against attacks from outside, like mutated animals, zombie hordes, or other evolved creatures.
However, the chances are not very high. In the current era where most people are at the first evolutionary stage, Era Sub-merchants can buy mutated plants in bulk and sell them for profit to major gathering places.
In the future, wealthy gathering places can pool money together to buy large quantities of mutated plants from Era Sub-merchants to protect their cities.
For a long time, this method helped humans survive, but after a certain point, those who missed the opportunity were left behind by mutated animals and zombies. They couldn’t keep up with the evolutionary level of the mutated plants to protect human cities outside Era City.
The final result was that the elite humans stayed in Era City, while the less qualified human evolvers or regular people died in the wilderness.
Now, the stock of mutated plants at Era Merchants is limited and extremely expensive, even enough to bankrupt someone like Zhang Mu.
Even if Zhang Mu buys them, with just two aggressive mutated plants, they can only be used for protecting his home. It’s unrealistic to expect them to guard an entire city.
Zhang Mu is actually very interested in these mutated plant seeds. He doesn’t intend to use them for protecting his home, but because there is a little guy in his left arm who is still at the first stage of evolution.
He wondered if letting the Blood Lotus, which can absorb things, consume a second-rank mutated plant seed would help it break through its toughest barrier.
But he knew he had another tempting option, so he deliberately ignored the movement in his left arm and looked up to think.
“Era Second-ranked Fruit contains a lot of compatible energy. It can help a first-rank evolver advance to second-rank without needing an elemental crystal. It can enhance existing abilities to a second-rank level but won’t add new awakening abilities.
Each unit costs fifty thousand first-rank elemental crystals. Remaining stock, five units.”
Zhang Mu started to struggle between the three options and fell into deep thought.
The purpose of this Era Second-ranked Fruit is clear. It can directly create a second-rank awakened evolver without needing a corresponding beast core or a large amount of elemental crystals.
If Zhang Mu had known how difficult it would be for him and Yuan Rui to advance, one Era Second-ranked Fruit would have solved everything.
Even though it has flaws – no personal insight to evolve new awakening abilities – if the first-rank awakening ability is powerful enough and rare beast cores are needed, it’s definitely worth it.
Now, if Zhang Mu chooses the Era Second-ranked Fruit, he faces a question: who should use it?
He and Yuan Rui had been promoted to second-rank, but he gave up the idea of using mutated wolfhound due to its drawbacks.
The only suitable choice was Wang Liang, but Zhang Mu felt it might be a waste to use the earth-element beast core for his promotion without gaining new abilities.
None of the others were worth the cost Zhang Mu had to pay.
The weakening potion could give him an extra means, there was a high chance that the mutated plant seeds could help Blood Lotus advance, and the Primordial Fruit could artificially create a second-rank evolver at any time.
Which one should he choose in the end?
It’s truly difficult.