Chapter 25: Review, Open the Ability Panel

"So, developing the genetic ability of a Silver Level Flame Flower only takes fifteen minutes."

Li Zheng successfully extracted information from Phoenix Mountain's mouth and discovered that his own development of genetic ability took twice as long.

"Is it because of the tier difference? Or because the Rock Ice Ruo Fire I used is a dual-system artifact?"

Both are possible.

However, without more information to compare, Li Zheng couldn't confirm the exact reason why it took him longer.

"Anyway, the abilities developed from Platinum Level artifacts must be much more powerful than that Flame Flower from Phoenix Mountain."

Li Zheng was a bit excited to see what kind of ability he would develop.

"It's a pity that kid has gotten smarter now, otherwise I could have found a way to extract more information about his genetic ability development..."

"Forget it, no point overthinking. At the very least, the Platinum Level Rock Ice Ruo Fire has no side effects, which is significantly better than the Flame Flower used by Phoenix Mountain."

Li Zheng shook his head, thinking that instead of obsessing over that bit of information, he should take the opportunity to review the details of the previous "battle".

"Looking back, this adventure was indeed a bit reckless. Without rehearsing several times in advance to familiarize with the route and operations, I could have discovered earlier that the Gravity Shoes would be damaged due to intense friction.

Secondly, not preparing several backup plans led to repeatedly falling into danger after the giant leader used the Ice Spike move."

"Fundamentally, I never expected an Ice Rock Giant group to appear in a safe room marked by the detector, not to mention a Platinum Level Rock Ice Ruo Fire among them."

If it weren't for the fact that you can't return to a room once you leave it in the Matrix, missing out on this Rock Ice Ruo Fire means I wouldn't know when I'd encounter another Platinum Level artifact.

Otherwise, Li Zheng wouldn't have lost his head and dared to venture forth recklessly with a makeshift plan.

"If given another chance, how can I perfectly and seamlessly obtain the Rock Ice Ruo Fire and leave the room afterward?"

Li Zheng pondered as his mind began to simulate.

"Have Sakura use its fast flight to get it while I cover at the door?"

"No, Sakura is too small. It's already struggling to hold a single Luoshen Flower, let alone pull out something as heavy as Rock Ice Ruo Fire."

"Besides, when Sakura woke up from the capsule dwelling yesterday, its wings weren't even fully developed and could very well be a 'premature birth'. Perhaps there are other flaws aside from the wings that even Sakura hasn't discovered yet..."

"For instance, the 'sound localization' ability that other Terror Bats have, Sakura seems not to have mastered it, and even 'fast flight' was only mastered after advancing to Elite level."

"It seems the premise for obtaining the item requires me to personally pluck the Rock Ice Ruo Fire. In this case, having Sakura follow me there is more of a burden; the decision to drop it off earlier was correct."

"Then... let's think differently. What if instead of 'skating', I jump up and change gravity directly, like that last stretch of skywalk, performing a pseudo-flight escape?"

After simulating several times in his mind, Li Zheng found this method not only unworkable but even more dangerous.

"First, changing gravity in this way is fundamentally different from flying. Once in the air, you can't freely control the direction, only go straight ahead."

"And once airborne, it's difficult to 'brake' in time. If those Ice Spikes emerged from the ground then, I'd either crash directly into them or urgently change gravity."

"Crashing in would be like jumping off a building, at least equivalent to falling from a height of ten meters, resulting in crippling injuries on the spot."

"Change gravity? Whether left or right, it would lengthen the escape route, and when the giant leader's beam attack cooldown is over, I might as well take my hands off the keyboard and type 'GG'."

"Change upward? Consequences known."

"Change downward? Oh boy, the Matrix Survival Game turns directly into a Lalamove jump simulator?"

"Calculating all this, unless I can swap for more useful artifacts, is there really no way?"

"Wait a minute! There is another way..."

A flash of inspiration lit up in Li Zheng's mind as he thought of a possibly feasible solution.

"What if I had placed the capsule dwelling at the giant's feet at that time, then after acquiring the Rock Ice Ruo Fire, release a 3D projection to distract attention, and immediately enter the capsule dwelling? Then, by the time the giant leader falls back into a subconscious state tomorrow, wouldn't it be a safe retreat?"

"Anyway, I have plenty of food, so even if it drags on until tomorrow, I can hold out!"

"The only uncertainty is whether the giant leader will fall into a subconscious state as usual after losing the Rock Ice Ruo Fire tomorrow..."

"If it doesn't fall into that state, then undoubtedly this plan is the most dangerous, almost certainly a suicidal plan!"

"But..."

What if it is possible?

Li Zheng felt a bit of a toothache.

If he hadn't thought of this method all along, he wouldn't have felt anything.

Once he thought of this method being potentially injury-free, Li Zheng immediately felt particularly discontent.

Unless someone can tell him that the giant leader, after losing the Rock Ice Ruo Fire, will not fall asleep due to rage.

Otherwise, this matter is destined to become a heartache for him.

"Ah, feeling a bit blue and thin."

Li Zheng gazed with a dangerous look at the private chat interface that had been opened, considering whether to bully Phoenix Mountain a bit more but ultimately decided against it.

"Forget it, after all, it was my own lack of caution, always blaming others like a child seems a bit immature."

Li Zheng laughed at himself, no longer entangled in it, and smoothly removed Phoenix Mountain from the blacklist.

[Genetic ability development successful.]

[Congratulations to the player for using the artifact 'Rock Ice Ruo Fire' to successfully develop the dual ability 'Ice and Fire Attachment'.]

[Player has developed the first genetic ability, unlocking the player's 'Ability' panel.]

[Player has developed the first genetic ability, unlocking 'Genetic Force', current 'Genetic Force' limit is 100/100.]

"Oh? It's already developed?"

The system prompt finally appeared, and only then did Li Zheng notice that the flames around him had disappeared. If it weren't for the large scorched black marks on the ground, he might even have suspected the pillar of fire was an illusion.

Without rushing to check the ability, Li Zheng crouched down and reached out to sense it, finding the scorched black marks not only without high temperature but even a bit chilly.

"Ice and Fire Dual Element, so besides the pillar of fire just now, there was also the presence of Ice Element characteristics... was it the blue gas mixed in the fire pillar?"

During the awakening process, not only did the high temperature of the fire pillar not harm Li Zheng, but he also didn't even feel the extreme cold.

Only after the genetic ability development ended did he sense some effects from the anomalies that had impacted the environment earlier.

"The fire pillar disappeared, the high temperature lost its supply, but the cold air seemed to freeze a small portion of the water in the air, disappearing slowly, so I couldn't feel the high temperature?"

Li Zheng thought it was weird.

Logically speaking, high heat and extreme cold are two completely opposing states.

How did it turn out here, directly violating the laws of physics, showing a demarcated, non-invasive phenomenon?

"Really in the river?"

"In the Matrix... this cross-river!"

Having thought to no result, Li Zheng simply gave up thinking.

In an unknown world, still trying to talk about Earth's physics laws?

OK, Li Zheng also admitted that he indeed found an excuse for this incomprehensible phenomenon.

"I should still check the awakened ability. For this thing, I almost knelt down, so it better not turn out to be a trash ability..."

Li Zheng opened the newly appeared [Ability] panel and turned his attention to the lone ability displayed.