The material supply district of Mo City was a vibrant and chaotic place, a stark contrast to the solemn atmosphere of the Guild headquarters. The streets were lined with hundreds of shops, from large, official Guild-run stores to small, cluttered stalls run by individual merchants. The air was filled with the pungent smell of various monster parts, preserved herbs, and strange minerals.
Lin Ke navigated the crowded streets with a clear purpose. He didn't waste time Browse the flashy, expensive items displayed in the main shops. He headed straight for a well-known, reputable store that specialized in genetic materials and bio-reagents.
Behind the counter was a grizzled old merchant with a shrewd look in his eyes.
"What do you need, kid?" the merchant asked, sizing up the young, plainly-dressed Lin Ke.
"One trace-amount vial of 'Earth Gene Essence' and one standard vial of 'Active Cell Culture Medium'," Lin Ke said calmly, his voice steady.
The merchant's eyebrows raised slightly. These weren't items a typical student preparing for the qualification exam would buy. They were materials used by professional Beast Tamers and researchers for pet conditioning and minor genetic therapies.
"That'll be 5,000 credits for the essence and 3,000 for the medium. Total of 8,000," the merchant said, his tone becoming a bit more respectful.
"The price for the essence is 8% higher than the Guild's official market price," Lin Ke stated flatly, without looking up from the glass containers.
The merchant was taken aback. This kid knew the market. "The Guild's price is for bulk orders, son. For individual retail, my price is fair."
"I'll take them," Lin Ke said, not bothering to haggle further. He knew the slight premium was the price for convenience and anonymity. He didn't want his purchase logged in the Guild's official system, which could draw unwanted attention.
He paid the 8,000 credits, a transaction that almost completely drained his account. Holding the two small, sealed containers, he felt a weight in his hand that was far heavier than their physical mass. This was his entire fortune, his ticket to the future.
He returned to his small apartment just as evening fell. The city outside was aglow with neon lights, but Lin Ke's world was confined to this quiet, humble room.
He locked the door, drew the curtains, and took a deep, calming breath. The excitement in his heart was palpable.
"Ji!" The Rock Vole seemed to sense the importance of the moment. It hopped onto the table, looking at the two vials with curiosity and a hint of trepidation.
"Don't be scared," Lin Ke said, his voice gentle. "This will feel a little strange, but it will make you stronger. Trust me."
He carefully opened the containers. The Earth Gene Essence was a thick, brownish liquid that seemed to hum with a faint energy. The culture medium was a clear, viscous fluid. Following the instructions he had memorized from countless hours of study, he meticulously mixed the two solutions in a sterile dish.
He then gently picked up the Rock Vole. "Alright, little guy. It's time."
He placed the Rock Vole in the center of a clean, disinfected area on the floor. He then took a small dropper, drew up the mixed reagent, and carefully dripped it onto the rocky shell on the pet's back.
The moment the liquid touched the shell, a strange reaction occurred. It didn't roll off; instead, it was absorbed instantly, vanishing into the rocky texture as if into a sponge.
The Rock Vole shuddered, letting out a soft whimper.
Lin Ke's eyes glowed with the blue light of the Gene Editor. In his vision, he could see everything happening on a cellular level. The potent reagent was coursing through the Rock Vole's body, targeting the specific, flawed S-17 gene fragment.
[Genetic repair initiated...]
[Subject's cellular energy is being rapidly consumed...]
[Subject is experiencing moderate pain... Stress levels rising...]
The Rock Vole's body began to tremble, and it whimpered again, this time more intensely. It was clearly in pain.
"Stay with me, little guy! Endure it!" Lin Ke's voice was tense but encouraging. He knelt on the floor, placing his hand on the trembling pet. He focused his will, trying to project a sense of calm and reassurance through their Soul Pact.
[Soul Pact connection strengthening...]
[Subject's stress levels stabilizing...]
[Repair process accelerating... 70%... 85%... 99%...]
A final, intense tremor ran through the Rock Vole's body. Then, as suddenly as it began, the trembling stopped.
A notification popped up in Lin Ke's vision, written in glorious, golden text.
[Repair complete. S-17 gene fragment has been successfully integrated.]
[Genetic Potential has been elevated.]
[New skill unlocked: 'Rock Harden'.]
[Subject's body is entering a brief state of regenerative hibernation to adapt to the genetic changes.]
The Rock Vole's breathing evened out, and it fell into a deep, peaceful sleep right there on the floor. A faint, earthy yellow glow enveloped its small body, so subtle it was almost invisible to the naked eye.
Lin Ke let out a long breath he didn't realize he had been holding, his back drenched in sweat. He had succeeded.
He looked at his sleeping pet, a feeling of profound accomplishment washing over him. The foundation had been laid. The once-broken chain of evolution had been re-forged.
He carefully picked up the slumbering Rock Vole and placed it in its bed.
"Rest well," he whispered. "When you wake up, you will be reborn."