Chapter 41: Defiled Earth

Mrs. Yun said, "What I can’t figure out right now is how Feng Bqing from the Filth Earth Organization got wind of our location and found us."

Liou Wenxin said, "Perhaps someone from the Filth Earth Organization has infiltrated the upper echelons of Ancient An Country."

Su Ze said, "Is it possible that Ancient An Country and the Filth Earth Organization are working together?"

Mrs. Yun glanced at him. "That’s a dangerous thought."

"But it’s the only explanation that makes sense," Su Ze said. "We know for sure now that Li Gaojie is a mole planted by the Tiger King General. After the General’s attack on us failed, he still had Li Gaojie stick with us and passed our location on to him. And then, before long, Feng Bqing was on our tail."

"It feels like the Tiger King General told Feng Bqing about us after his own attempt failed."

Mrs. Yun shook her head. "That’s unlikely. If Ancient An Country dared to work with the Filth Earth Organization, they would face severe sanctions the moment the Sovereign Country, Lin Hua Country, found out."

Liou Wenxin frowned. "It’s not entirely out of the question. The Skill Suppression Medicine formula I just developed is useful for normal evolvers, sure, but it’s even more potent for the Corrupted—those who specialize in absorbing human extracts. It’s no exaggeration to say that if the Filth Earth Organization gets their hands on this formula, they’ll be like a tiger with wings."

"I didn’t understand why Ancient An Country was so interested in the Skill Suppression Medicine formula before, but if they’re cooperating with the Filth Earth Organization, it all makes sense. The ones who truly want the formula are the Filth Earth Organization!"

"But..." Mrs. Yun still couldn’t believe it. "You have to understand, all six nations have Holy Envoys sent from the Sovereign Country stationed there. They would dare to collude with the Filth Earth Organization right under the Holy Envoys’ noses? Do they have a death wish?"

Liou Wenxin smiled. "Don’t read too much into it, Mrs. Yun. It’s all just speculation on our part. We don’t have any proof."

She turned to Su Ze. "I think I’ve covered most of it. Is there anything else you want to ask?"

"Two questions," Su Ze said. "First, what exactly is the Skill Suppression Medicine? Second, what kind of organization is the Filth Earth Organization?"

Liou Wenxin considered this for a moment before answering. "The Skill Suppression Medicine allows an evolver to absorb an extract without gaining its skill. In essence, it leaves a skill slot empty. The next time they absorb an extract, they’ll acquire two skills at once, filling the empty slot from before."

"Furthermore, the effects of the Skill Suppression Medicine are stackable. That means you can leave two, three, or even more skill slots open."

’This stuff is a miracle!’ Su Ze immediately understood the true value of the Skill Suppression Medicine.

"Does that mean I could leave a skill slot open during my Pupa Stage, and then, after evolving to the Cocoon Stage, absorb a skill directly from a Tier 3 extract?"

"Nice idea, but you’re getting ahead of yourself." Liou Wenxin shot down Su Ze’s idea of gaming the system.

"It’s been proven through experiments not to work. If you try that, you won’t get two Tier 3 skills. You’ll end up with one Tier 3 skill and one Tier 2 skill."

Su Ze was puzzled. "Where would the Tier 2 skill come from?"

Liou Wenxin explained, "A Tier 3 mutant beast isn’t born that way; it evolves from a Tier 2 mutant beast. The Tier 2 skill you acquire is one it possessed back when it was Tier 2."

"It’s the same principle as when the Corrupted absorb human extracts."

"Let’s use you as an example. You’re in the Pupa Stage, so if you were made into an extract, it would be a Tier 1 extract that could only be absorbed by a Mortal-level Life Form. They wouldn’t acquire your Tier 2 ’Regeneration Body’ skill. Instead, they’d randomly receive one of the skills you possessed during your mortal stage."

’So that’s how it works!’

’Looks like there’s no way to game the system, then.’

’Still, even if that’s the case, the Skill Suppression Medicine is an incredibly useful evolutionary drug with a lot of strategic potential.’

’For instance, say an evolver has two extract vials, one D-rank and one S-rank. They could use the Skill Suppression Medicine, absorb the D-rank extract first, then absorb the S-rank extract. It would be like paying for one S-rank extract, but getting two of its skills.’

"HOLY SHIT!" Su Ze suddenly realized. "If the Filth Earth Organization gets this formula, wouldn’t they be unstoppable?"

’He finally understood why Liou Wenxin had said the Skill Suppression Medicine was even more effective for the Corrupted.’

’Ordinary evolvers absorb extracts from mutant beasts, where the quality of obtainable skills can be inconsistent. Even an S-rank extract might only contain a single top-tier skill.’

’Take the Undying Salamander extract Su Ze had just absorbed. It contained three skills, but only the Regeneration Skill could be considered top-tier; the other two were far inferior.’

’Human extracts, however, didn’t have this weakness.’

’The geniuses cultivated by great families and powerful factions, the experts who have long been famous—their entire arsenals are filled with premium skills.’

’Using Su Ze as an example, all of his skills were top-tier. If the Filth Earth Organization turned him into an extract, then with a bit of time and enough Skill Suppression Medicine, they could cultivate a new genius who had perfectly absorbed every single one of his skills.’

’By the same token, the skills of other geniuses and experts could be copied in the same way.’

’It seemed the Skill Suppression Medicine and human extracts were the perfect match, the combination that would maximize its value.’

"I know." Liou Wenxin was getting a headache just thinking about it. "I’m starting to regret developing this medicine at all. It feels like it was tailor-made for the Corrupted."

"The only good thing is that the medicine is ineffective on Saint-level life forms..."

"Ineffective on Saint-levels?" Su Ze nodded. "That’s a relief. If Saint-levels could use it too, things would truly spiral out of control."

With the topic of the Skill Suppression Medicine concluded, Liou Wenxin moved on to Su Ze’s second question, beginning her explanation of the Filth Earth Organization.

"I don’t know a great deal about the Filth Earth Organization myself, but first and foremost, it is the only—and the largest—faction comprised entirely of the Corrupted."

"There aren’t many Corrupted in the world, but because they can’t live among normal human society, they’re forced to stay away from populated areas and band together for survival. That’s how the Filth Earth Organization eventually formed."

Su Ze asked, "How strong are they?"

"Very strong!" Liou Wenxin affirmed. "Powerful, mysterious, evil—these words define them. Some say their influence isn’t just limited to the Lin Hua Continent but extends to every human settlement across Blue Star."

"The six nations of the Lin Hua Continent are certainly no match for them. The only power the Filth Earth Organization is wary of on the Lin Hua Continent is the Sovereign Country, Lin Hua Country."

’They’re that strong!’ Su Ze hadn’t expected to have provoked such a behemoth right off the bat.

"You don’t need to worry too much," Liou Wenxin said reassuringly. "With the Sovereign Country as a deterrent, they don’t dare to act too brazenly on the Lin Hua Continent."

"Besides, they definitely want to capture me more than they want to capture you."

Su Ze nodded in agreement. Now that he understood what the Skill Suppression Medicine could do, he was certain the Filth Earth Organization would stop at nothing to get the formula from Liou Wenxin.

"So what’s your plan now? Are you leaving right away?"

Liou Wenxin replied, "We have to leave, eventually. I’ll only be safe once I’m back in the Dongli Kingdom. However, I plan to rent a house here in Mengka City first and wait for Mrs. Yun’s injuries to heal before we depart."

"I’ve also contacted the Dongli Kingdom. They’re going to send people to come get us as soon as they can."