Evil Creatures

"Oh, my friend, what do you want to talk about now? I'm a little busy and may not have much time," Sabo's voice crackled through the communicator, tinged with fatigue as if he were drowning in his work.

Bai Yi didn't waste words. He replied decisively, "I'll send you a list soon. Please help me find these materials. The higher the grade, the better."

Sabo sighed. "I understand, my friend, but if these items are particularly rare, it might not be the best time to search for them. Our focus should be on the auction in a month." His tone was more of a negotiation than an objection, and he sounded slightly overwhelmed.

After all, Sabo had served as a quartermaster for three years, but it was only after Bai Yi arrived in Dongwu City that his reputation soared. He had been largely unknown before, possibly still digesting the inheritance he had received.

Bai Yi was unfazed. "One hundred thousand."

Sabo's tone immediately perked up, energy surging back into his voice. "My friend, are you really just asking for something?"

"Right."

"That's no problem. As long as it's not a divine artifact, I can find everything within ten days. Just send me the list," Sabo replied, his voice now laced with cunning, no trace of his earlier weariness remaining.

Bai Yi ended the communication. Sabo was a different person when money was involved. There was no doubt he could deliver results. That was why Bai Yi considered him a true business partner. He'd escaped death and was already on his way to greatness.

With a flick of his wrist, Bai Yi sent over the material list to Sabo.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

Just as the message was sent, the communicator buzzed urgently. It was Sabo calling.

Ignoring it, Bai Yi transferred the badge with over 200,000 contribution points left. The ringing ceased instantly.

The materials Bai Yi required weren't nearly as expensive as one might expect. Most of them were rare or dangerous substances, sources of pollution, and as such, their prices were lower. For around 100,000 gold coins, he could secure everything, though the difficulty would lie in obtaining them.

While it might take him months to collect these materials on his own, it would be no trouble for Sabo, whose network could bypass such obstacles in no time.

Picking up a book, Bai Yi flipped through the pages absentmindedly, waiting for the full transformation of [Evil Thoughts] to be revealed. He already had the seven skill points prepared, so now it was just a matter of patience.

Days passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, five days had flown by. Bai Yi looked at the grotesque mass of flesh and blood wriggling on the test bench, a faint smile of satisfaction on his face. The subject had resisted the malignant force, survived, and now, in a sense, thrived.

A tremor filled the air, emanating from the small, furless creature—the mouse. It was as if something from another dimension was reaching through. The mass of flesh trembled violently, an overwhelming malice radiating from it. Bai Yi's spiritual sight sharpened. Through his enhanced vision, he could see the soul of the mouse struggling, a pure soul being corrupted by the malign influence.

When the once-azure soul turned pitch black, the change was unmistakable. A burst of eyes and tentacles erupted from the mass of flesh, looking out at the world with sheer malice and greed. The tentacles flailed wildly, striking the operating table with a maddening clamor.

There was no intelligence left, only unbridled hunger and an insatiable, twisted desire. The creature's madness, its sheer lust for destruction, filled the room.

Bai Yi's face remained calm as he grabbed the flamethrower nearby. He ignited it, sending a torrent of flame to engulf the mass of flesh.

"Waaaaah… Waaaaah…"

A horrific, shrill cry split the air, the sound of the tortured creature's final death rattle. The frantic writhing slowed, and the mass stopped struggling.

[You have killed a level 1 extremely evil creature. Experience points +1.]

Bai Yi's eyes scanned the message that floated across his screen. He did not linger on it. His focus was on the alchemy panel, where he quickly located the transformation notes on [Evil Thoughts].

[Evil Thoughts - 1/3000] +

Bai Yi was surprised. Three thousand proficiency points? That seemed unusually high for a transformation technique. Usually, proficiency caps at around 500 or 1,000 for a completed system. This seemed to suggest that [Evil Thoughts] wasn't perfect yet.

Proficiency in a skill isn't an indication of power or strength—it simply means refinement. Take, for example, the act of frying rice: while you can improve your speed and flavor over time, you can't expect to make "super fried rice" after countless repetitions. Each action has its limits.

But this [Evil Thoughts] transformation was different. It was capable of evolving beyond its current limits. Bai Yi noted the higher proficiency and considered his next move.

With a thought, he clicked the skill point button, raising the proficiency further.

Buzz~

A strange sensation filled his mind as the images flooded his vision. Malice, arrogance, greed, lust, and jealousy—these were the traits Bai Yi witnessed, all stemming from the chaos he'd just created. Flesh twisted, reformed, and multiplied. The grotesque scenes of the creature's torment played out in front of his mind's eye, each one more horrifying than the last.

It felt like an eternity before the images began to fade. Bai Yi shuddered, his face pale from the strain. He reached for a silver-grade mental recovery potion, uncorking it and drinking the contents. Gradually, his mind began to clear, the relief from the potion soothing his rattled nerves.

"Soul..." Bai Yi muttered, his voice low with realization. He now understood why those who ventured too far into forbidden practices often lost their minds. The collective malice of [Evil Thoughts] was designed to destroy the host's spirit, corrupting their very soul and releasing that same hatred into the world.

The reason it was considered taboo wasn't just because of the transformation's unpredictability—it was a system that could tear apart a person's soul, leading them to madness.

But Bai Yi was no ordinary alchemist. With the [Soul Gourmet] ability enhancing his mental fortitude, his soul could withstand greater burdens. As long as his soul grew stronger, he could eventually harness even more power from this dark force.

Looking at the transformation's progress, Bai Yi was taken aback.

[Evil Thoughts - 1001/3000] +

"Is the upper limit of one skill point really a thousand?" he thought, wondering if this transformation had a much higher potential than he initially realized.

Another click. One more point.

As the proficiency bar inched higher, Bai Yi felt the weight of what he was doing. He wasn't just transforming this skill—he was transforming himself.

If he wasn't careful, he might risk everything.