Chapter 83 - Survival Mode Unlocked, Game Over!

Originally, the woman's cold face was filled with suspicion regarding Fu Zhu's identity. But when Fu Zhu produced the Stellaron, and the violent, unstable energy of Destruction flooded the room, all her doubts vanished into thin air!

No matter how suspicious the timing and location of Fu Zhu's appearance were, as long as he could produce a Stellaron, he had to be the person she was waiting for!

There was no other explanation. Besides that person, no one would dare bring a Stellaron into the Xianzhou Luofu, unless they had a death wish.

Realizing this, the woman immediately rose from her seat, walked around the table, and knelt on one knee before Fu Zhu and Xing.

"Lord Phantylia, please forgive me for not recognizing you sooner!"

Phantylia?

Fu Zhu's eyebrows twitched slightly. With his free hand, he nonchalantly reached into his pocket and activated the audio recording function on his phone. Initially, seeing that the woman seemed to be blind, he had planned to record a video.

A video would be far more convincing evidence than a simple audio recording. However, judging by how easily she had navigated around the table just now, her blindness might not be so complete.

Fu Zhu glanced at the woman's icon on his minimap.

[Alchemy Commission Dan Shi • Chieftain of the Disciples of the Medicine King • Dan Shu]

The moment he had revealed the Stellaron, her icon had instantly switched from the neutral yellow to a friendly green.

"Alright, Dan Shu, cut the empty formalities. If there's a next time... heh, you understand."

Although he had no idea what kind of image this "Phantylia" was supposed to project, Fu Zhu figured that acting arrogant was a safe bet.

After all, this was a person who dared to challenge a massive power like the Xianzhou Alliance. Their strength and status were surely not to be underestimated.

"Yes, Lord Phantylia."

Dan Shu gave a respectful nod, rose to her feet, and gestured for Fu Zhu to take a seat.

Fu Zhu didn't stand on ceremony, seating himself at the table with a bold posture. Xing copied his actions and sat down as well, but her eyes remained fixed on Fu Zhu, studying him with curiosity.

When did her old bro learn this woman's name?

Could it be that her brother's real name was actually Phantylia?

She was an amnesiac, after all. Maybe before this, she and her brother were actually villains?

Though Fu Zhu couldn't guess what was running through Xing's mind, he noticed her staring intently at his face ever since they sat down. Sensing something was off, he shot her an exasperated glare.

Dan Shu, whether truly blind or just pretending, seemed to notice the interaction between Fu Zhu and Xing and spoke with a hint of hesitation.

"Lord Phantylia, this young lady beside you is..."

"She's just a vessel I use to transport the Stellaron. Pay her no mind," Fu Zhu replied coolly, spinning a casual lie.

"A vessel? I see..."

Dan Shu glanced at Xing with a look of sudden understanding.

No wonder he could bring such a calamitous object into the Luofu. So this was the method he used? Truly worthy of an Emanator of Destruction.

"Let's talk. You arranged this meeting. Has there been a change in plans?"

"No, we are proceeding as you originally instructed. It's just that the Disciples of the Medicine King did not expect you to arrive at the Ambrosial Arbor ahead of schedule. Our people had only just begun preparations for the Arbor's revival. However, as you ordered, the Mara-inducing mist has been successfully concocted. We only need a suitable opportunity to release it across the Luofu and incite the chaos you desire at any time."

Hearing Dan Shu's explanation, Fu Zhu's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a calm expression and nodded. The more tense the situation, the more composed he needed to be.

"Mm, understood."

After learning these details, Fu Zhu felt it was time to leave. The next step was to report everything to the Luofu authorities and let them handle it.

But before that... Fu Zhu's gaze shifted to Dan Shu.

"Have your people bring me some medicinal ingredients. I have a use for them."

Since he was already here and had put on such a convincing performance, he might as well collect a fee for his acting!

"Medicinal ingredients? I understand."

Although Dan Shu didn't understand why Fu Zhu needed ingredients, or what specific ingredients he required, she didn't dare to ask. She simply turned her head and softly relayed a few instructions towards the door.

Fu Zhu watched her actions, a thought solidifying in his mind: just as he suspected.

From the very beginning, Dan Shu had guards stationed at the door. If his identity hadn't checked out, he and Xing would have likely had to fight their way out against this band of Medicine King Disciples.

The Disciples of the Medicine King were efficient. Before long, someone delivered a large pile of various medicinal ingredients. Fu Zhu couldn't name more than ninety percent of them.

The remaining ten percent, however, contained some familiar items, such as spider eyes, sugar, and mushrooms—relatively common things.

Fu Zhu picked them up one by one, checking what they could be converted into. After a short while, he found a piece that looked remarkably like coral.

[Dragon-Hidden Coral]

[Currently Convertible: Blaze Rod, Blaze Powder, Coral]

This is it!

Fu Zhu rejoiced internally. With a Blaze Rod, he could finally start brewing potions!

He had been considering that if he couldn't find anything on the Luofu to convert into a Blaze Rod, he would have to try opening a Nether portal and venturing into the dimension himself to risk life and limb for a few.

Though dangerous, it was his last resort for obtaining them. He would have even asked Welt and the others to help him out.

But now that he had found something convertible, he no longer had to risk a potentially fatal trip to the Nether.

"Where did this coral come from?"

Fu Zhu held it up and asked Dan Shu. She had brought dozens of different ingredients, so the quantity of any single one was small. There were only three stalks of this coral, which could at most be converted into three Blaze Rods.

It was just enough to brew a few potions, hardly an ample supply.

"My Lord Phantylia, this coral is a special type cultivated using secret methods by the Vidyadhara Dragon Teachers. It is specifically grown around Vidyadhara eggs to provide them with sustenance. It is quite scarce."

Vidyadhara... Fu Zhu committed the name to memory. Later, when he brewed an Invisibility Potion, he would sneak over and see if he could "borrow" some more.

He didn't need much, just a stack of Blaze Rods would be enough!

Fu Zhu nodded, indicating he understood. Then, right in front of Dan Shu and Xing, he pulled the Brewing Stand from his inventory and placed it on the floor. He converted the Dragon-Hidden Coral into Blaze Rods, which he then broke down into Blaze Powder and inserted into the stand.

"Dan Shu, have someone bring me some glass bottles filled with water."

Since he was already here, he might as well fleece the Disciples of the Medicine King a little more and use their resources to expand his own arsenal.

"Yes."

Dan Shu didn't question him. At his command, she immediately arranged for someone to fetch what he needed, and they returned shortly after.

Fu Zhu took the water-filled glass bottles from the Disciple's hands, instantly converting them into MC water bottles before placing them in the Brewing Stand and beginning the process of brewing Awkward Potions according to the MC recipe.

Next, he added a fermented spider eye and gunpowder. The materials for the former were among the ingredients Dan Shu had provided, while he had gathered some of the latter on Jarilo-VI. The materials on hand were just enough to brew a few Splash Potions of Weakness.

This was one of the key components he needed to cure the Mara-Struck.

Seeing Fu Zhu bustling about, Dan Shu finally couldn't contain her curiosity and asked.

"My Lord, what are you doing?"

"Brewing a potion. Didn't you say you've completed the Mara-inducing mist? Arrange for one of the Disciples to test it for me."

He had some reservations about experimenting on ordinary people, but if the subject was one of these villains from the Disciples of the Medicine King, he wouldn't feel the slightest bit of guilt!

Dan Shu hesitated for a moment upon hearing she was to use one of her own people for an experiment, but in the end, she nodded and had one of the Disciples step forward.

Fu Zhu watched as the Disciple, under Dan Shu's command, came forward. At this point, the man still had the appearance of a normal person.

Dan Shu then ordered him, "Take the pill."

The man nodded, immediately took a pill from his pocket, and swallowed it.

A moment later, a beast-like roar erupted from the man's throat. Then, right before Fu Zhu and Xing's eyes, he transformed into a Mara-Struck.

However, he was different from the Mara-Struck Fu Zhu had seen before. This one was actually able to maintain its sanity and obey Dan Shu's commands, which made Fu Zhu frown.

If they were just mindless monsters, they would be easy to deal with. But if they were this kind of Mara-Struck, even the Luofu might have trouble handling them.

He really couldn't underestimate these Disciples of the Medicine King lurking on the Luofu.

"My Lord?"

Dan Shu prompted Fu Zhu softly, letting him know he could begin.

Fu Zhu casually tossed the Splash Potion of Weakness in his hand towards the Mara-Struck. The bottle shattered on impact.

The Mara-Struck, sensing something was wrong, let out a roar. The brilliant golden branches on its body visibly dimmed after the potion took effect.

Even its roar sounded significantly weaker.

Seeing the potion had worked, Fu Zhu immediately pulled a Golden Apple from his inventory and forcefully shoved it into the Mara-Struck's mouth.

The next moment, the Mara-Struck's body began to tremble uncontrollably as it let out pained cries.

The golden branches sprouting from its flesh started to wither and flake away, falling from its body.

Dan Shu and Xing stared at this scene, their eyes wide with disbelief.

The Mara-Struck roared for a few moments before collapsing to the ground, twitching occasionally. This state persisted for four or five minutes before its convulsions finally subsided.

And the moment the twitching stopped, something even more astonishing happened.

All the remaining golden branches on the Mara-Struck's body suddenly crumbled away, and in a single instant, it reverted from a Mara-Struck back into an ordinary person.

"How... how is this possible?!"

Dan Shu cried out in disbelief. The Mara-Struck transformation was irreversible, yet what was she seeing right now?!

Fu Zhu had actually transformed a Mara-Struck individual back into a normal person!

This was something that even the generals of the Xianzhou Alliance couldn't achieve, yet Fu Zhu had done it!

"Lord Phantylia, you..."

Dan Shu turned, but she saw no sign of Fu Zhu. Even Xing's presence had vanished from the room.

"Where did they go?"

...

Fu Zhu blinked his eyes open, surveying the somewhat familiar surroundings as he released his grip on Xing's hand.

After using the MC method for curing villagers, he had been prepared to be seen by the Abundance. He had deliberately held onto Xing's hand to prevent her from being left alone with the Disciples of the Medicine King.

And things had unfolded just as he had predicted. He had indeed been summoned by an Aeon into a Path's Interstice. He just wasn't sure if it was the Abundance.

Your methods are quite miraculous.

Just as Fu Zhu was searching for the Aeon, a gentle voice echoed in his ear. The voice seemed to come from all directions at once, making it impossible for him to pinpoint its source.

"Who are you?"

"Old bro, who are you talking to?"

Xing looked at Fu Zhu, confused. She hadn't heard anything and didn't even know where she was. All she could do was cling to Fu Zhu's arm for a bit of psychological comfort.

Fu Zhu didn't answer Xing, continuing to scan his surroundings for the Aeon who had spoken to him.

"You may call me the Apothecary. Of course, [Abundance] is also fine. Whichever you prefer."

It really was the Abundance!

Fu Zhu's heart leaped with joy. Just as he was about to say something more, the Apothecary spoke first.

"I hope that in the future, you will use these healing methods, which I have never seen before, to bring blessings to more people. Go back now."

A faint golden ripple appeared out of thin air and merged into Fu Zhu's body.

[Obtained Power of the Path: Abundance]

[Health Regeneration upgraded to: Health Regeneration II]

[Survival Mode and Adventure Mode permissions have been unlocked!]

Before Fu Zhu could even rejoice over unlocking Survival Mode, he and Xing were sent back.

At the same time, Dan Shu, still puzzled over where Fu Zhu and Xing had gone, saw the two of them reappear in the next second.

Before Dan Shu could say anything, she felt the dense power of the Path of Abundance emanating from Fu Zhu. Although it wasn't at the level of an Emanator, it was far more potent than that of an ordinary Pathstrider!

Fu Zhu had definitely just had an audience with the Apothecary!

"Lord Phantylia, were you just summoned by the Apothecary?"

Fu Zhu ignored Dan Shu's question. Instead, he first issued a command within the system.

/gamemode 0

[Current mode has been switched to: Survival Mode]

Ahhhhh...

Fu Zhu let out a long, heartfelt sigh in his mind. The massive stone that had been pressing on his heart since he left the space station was finally lifted!

Fu Zhu felt he could already declare his trailblazing journey on the Luofu a success.

With Survival Mode unlocked, it didn't matter what enemy he faced or what weapon they held. Even if it was an Aeon, he would dare to fight them!

Fu Zhu glanced at Dan Shu and said coldly, "Don't ask what you shouldn't ask!"

Before, his arrogance was just an act. Now, it came from the heart.