Chapter 48: First-Order Prime Essence—Blood Moon

Li Nanke carefully examined the attributes of each item in the special exchange list. Items that couldn’t be redeemed didn’t display their properties, but those might very well be the most valuable of all.

It was worth noting that the exchange list related to the guided dream “Abyssal Sea” still remained; only options that had already been redeemed disappeared from the list. Li Nanke even noticed he could still spend 200 credits to exchange for a thermite rifle…

After some deliberation, he finally settled on two special items:

[Stasis Field Module]
[Type: Item/Consumable]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Rating: 83/100]
[Details: A technological module installed on a wristband. When activated, it generates a stasis field with a maximum diameter of 25 meters in a designated area, instantly slowing the movement of all objects within to near stasis (the lower the target’s kinetic energy, the closer to absolute stasis). The holder of the module is able to move normally within the field, unaffected. The field lasts for a maximum of ten minutes.]
[Note: This isn’t considered high-tech. The men from District 11 mastered time-stop technology a decade ago and frequently used it on trains…]

[Powered Protective Armor]
[Type: Armor/Suit]
[Quality: Excellent]
[Rating: 56/100]
[Details: This powered protective armor is the top-tier defense equipment of the Human Alliance’s best engineers. It boasts a reinforced shell and an internal power support system. Not only does it withstand heavy physical attacks, it can also absorb and dissipate some energy-based assaults. The built-in life-support system regulates temperature, provides oxygen, and filters harmful substances. The power-assist system enhances the wearer’s agility and load-bearing capacity, allowing sustained high efficiency even in extreme environments. Aside from its high energy consumption, it is virtually the perfect all-terrain armor. Current remaining energy: 100%.]
[Note: I am Iron Man!]

Of the two, the former could be used for assault or breaking through enemy lines, and in critical moments for defense or escape—the sheer versatility was almost overwhelming; no wonder it was a single-use item.

As for the latter, among the remaining exchange options, the powered protective armor was the most valuable. In the dream, Li Nanke had to choose between the cannon and the armor, and he’d chosen the cannon. This time, he finally got the armor.

Actually, there was another highly valuable item among the exchangeables: the “Universal Energy Recharging Kit.” This tool could recharge low-quality energy-consuming equipment—both the cannon and the armor could use it—and it could slowly restore its own stored energy by passively absorbing solar and thermal energy from the environment.

Unfortunately, there were only two special exchange slots. Though Li Nanke coveted it, he had to give it up.

With 220 credits remaining for the standard list, he purchased an oxygen mask as a backup, a few dog collars, and spent the rest on ammunition and reserve energy.

Rifle cartridges for the shock blaster were cheap, though shock grenades were pricier. Still, nothing compared to the cost of the cannon or the powered armor; those two were mighty in function, but the high-energy battery packs and armor energy were prohibitively expensive.

At last, Li Nanke redeemed the main substance “Blood Moon,” the reward for the hidden node.

This time, the psychic corrosion was especially intense. The planet-sized aberrations, writhing forward on their fleshly tentacles, inflicted mental torment that bordered on torture—an indescribable despair and terror, enough to drive someone mad.

Yet the boost from absorbing this main substance was all the more obvious and immense. Li Nanke could feel, vividly, the ferocious power coursing through his blood.

This was more than a mere increase in strength—it was a comprehensive enhancement of physical might!

Clearly, this main substance belonged to the bestial lineage.

[Main Substance: Blood Moon]
[Lineage: Beast]
[Rank: 1st Tier]
[Level: 9/20]
[Details: This main substance stems from a form of biotechnology-transformed extraordinary power. It perfectly integrates into your DNA without altering its properties, and bestows your blood with the “Blood Moon Factor,” which greatly and comprehensively enhances your physical strength. Mechanisms include, but are not limited to: increased raw power; enhanced muscular endurance; improved flexibility; greater resistance to physical trauma; increased bone density; strengthened immune system; heightened antioxidant capacity and extended lifespan.]
[As the level of this main substance rises, your physical prowess will continually grow!]
[Note: You know nothing… of true power!]

“A first-tier main substance…”

This main substance was rank one, not rank zero like the previous ones, and its level was irregular.

Li Nanke cast his will into his spiritual world…

The bestial main substance “Blood Moon” was linked to the trait “Blood Pact,” and in parallel, to another main substance, “Abyssal Depths.”

In an instant, he understood why “Blood Moon” was level 9/20: because the current level of “Abyssal Depths” was nine.

Since the bestial main substance “Abyssal Depths” had reached level nine, “Blood Moon” didn’t have to start from zero—it could inherit the level of “Abyssal Depths.”

Now, his reservoir of primal energy was abundant, mostly thanks to the aberrations from outside the dream world. He tried channeling this energy into “Abyssal Depths.”

[Main Substance: Abyssal Depths]
[Level: 9 (87%) → 10 (MAX)]

With the main substance at max level, Li Nanke gained the ultimate ability of “Abyssal Depths”—the Power of the Sea’s Chosen.

Power of the Sea’s Chosen: When fighting underwater, the skin develops minute V-shaped rough folds invisible to the naked eye, greatly reducing water resistance and friction, tightening the muscles and reducing their vibration, thus enhancing underwater power transmission efficiency.

At the same time, the properties of “Blood Moon” also changed.

[Main Substance: Blood Moon]
[Level: 9/20 → 0/10]

Li Nanke observed the change and, after a brief reflection, discerned its deeper meaning.

Firstly, within the same lineage, a higher-tier main substance could inherit the level of a lower-tier one. Secondly, the Great Beyond’s simplification of 10/20 to 0/10 signified something more profound.

If upgrading a main substance from level ten to twenty consumed the same primal energy as going from zero to ten, there’d be no need for this distinction; it would simply show 10/20. The change implied that the former cost much more, while the latter required much less.

Such a shift in data meant that the Great Beyond—or rather, this extraordinary power system—didn’t encourage bypassing tiers to acquire primary traits. Instead, one needed to acquire lower-tier traits as a foundation; otherwise, the energy cost of upgrades became prohibitively steep.

This was likely related to the psychic corrosion and the loss of self brought by extraordinary powers. The risk of absorbing primary traits across tiers was immense; even those with formidable willpower risked madness. Even if one survived the psychic assault and successfully absorbed the trait, the return on energy investment would drop drastically.

After redeeming all his rewards, Li Nanke began to spend the vast amount of primal energy he’d painstakingly gathered by defeating monsters, greatly enhancing his extraordinary powers.

[Trait: Blood Pact]
[Level: 0 → 10 (MAX)]
[Trait: Magnetic Storm]
[Level: 0 → 10 (MAX)]
[Main Substance: Blood Moon]
[Level: 0 → 0 (83%)]

Both traits rocketed to max level, a testament to the sheer volume of primal energy Li Nanke had amassed.

Still, he had underestimated how much “Blood Moon” would consume. A first-tier main substance devoured at least ten times as much energy as a zero-tier trait; it was practically a black hole for energy.

With both traits at max level, his wound healing accelerated, his ultimate blood regeneration soared, and both the electromagnetic interference and ultimate electromagnetic pulse abilities became part of his extraordinary arsenal.

He prioritized upgrading “Blood Pact” because it formed the foundation for “Blood Moon”—the true power of “Blood Moon” lay in the blood itself, and the two worked in concert.

As for “Magnetic Storm,” it went without saying; in the real world, this trait could instantly outclass all others.

Moreover, with “Magnetic Storm” at max level, the total amount of “spiritual energy” stored in his core increased slightly as well.

“It’s time to return to reality…”

Li Nanke closed his eyes. Compared to before he entered the dream, his strength had now undergone a fundamental transformation.

Next, he would have to return to the disaster-stricken, aberration-infested A91 Safe Zone…