Super Gene Ⅱ: Evolution

Lin Shen did not expect to see a Base Mutation Egg bearing Fire Seed on this alien world.

"Did Ximen Swordsman bring this Base Mutation Egg from his homeworld, or did he acquire it on Giant Ring Star? If it's the latter, could it mean that Base Mutation Eggs on alien worlds can also be enhanced with Fire Seed?" Lin Shen thought as he approached Ximen Swordsman's stall.

"How was your last harvest?" Lin Shen asked with a smile as a greeting.

"Not bad," Ximen Swordsman responded indifferently.

"How much for this one?" Seeing that the swordsman was not interested in chatting, Lin Shen did not press further.

"One Heavenly Currency for an Alloy Creature's egg," Ximen Swordsman said.

Lin Shen took out a Heavenly Currency coin and handed it to Ximen Swordsman, then put the egg into his backpack.

Lin Shen originally wanted to leave immediately, but then he thought for a moment, squatted down, and asked Ximen Swordsman, "Old Xi, will you teach the Skill of Borrowing and Transforming Force?"

"I don't teach," Ximen Swordsman replied coldly.

"We could trade," Lin Shen wanted to learn some techniques of transforming and borrowing force; he did not need to be as skilled as Ximen Swordsman, just some practical techniques would suffice.

"I don't teach," Ximen Swordsman glared at him.

"If you won't teach, then you won't. What's the rush?" Lin Shen said with a smile, "Where did this Alloy Egg come from? Is it from Giant Ring Star, or did you bring it from your homeworld?"

"Brought it from the homeworld," Ximen Swordsman said.

Hearing this, Lin Shen felt somewhat disappointed. If the Base Mutation Egg had been brought from the homeworld, then it probably meant that Base Mutation Eggs on alien worlds may not have Fire Seed.

"If foreign tribespeople of Other Races can have Fire Seed, why cannot Base Mutation Eggs on alien worlds? I don't believe it," Lin Shen decided to look around more; perhaps Base Mutation Eggs on alien worlds might also possess Fire Seed. Maybe he just had not seen enough, and that was why he hadn't found any.

After leaving Ximen Swordsman's stall, Lin Shen continued to browse the market.

There really were not a few people at the market; the Pioneer Corps was resting these days, making the market quite lively.

Lin Shen saw many different types of Base Mutation Eggs, even Ascension Eggs, but none with Fire Seed.

Feeling a bit disheartened, Lin Shen was strolling when Fei Zai suddenly popped out of his backpack and landed in front of a stall nearby, staring intently at something.

Lin Shen hurried over and picked up Fei Zai.

In such a place, meat was very rare and he was worried that someone might have designs on Fei Zai.

There were no carbon-based life forms on Giant Ring Star, so it was very difficult to get meat. The members of the Pioneer Corps basically sustained themselves on Base Mutation Fluid; they hadn't had the chance to taste meat.

Fortunately, no one seemed to have noticed Fei Zai. Lin Shen glanced at the stall's owner, who had a somewhat frightening appearance, with a head resembling that of a snake or lizard.

"Friend, what would you like to buy?" Although the vendor spoke amicably, it did not match his appearance.

However, when he spoke, his snake-like tongue flickering in and out was still somewhat scary.

Lin Shen's gaze swept over his stall, curious to discover what had attracted Fei Zai.

The Fatty that he held in his arms had its gaze fixed on an item on the stall, and Lin Shen easily noticed it.

What puzzled Lin Shen was that this item was neither a Base Mutation Egg nor Base Mutation Fluid, and it wasn't even something edible—it was just a small blackened branch that looked like charcoal.

"Why would Fatty, who loves to eat, be interested in this kind of thing?" Lin Shen wondered curiously. He crouched down, pointed to the branch, and asked the stall owner, "What is this?"

"This is a branch from a type of Firecloud Tree found on my home planet," the stall owner explained. "Although the Firecloud Tree is not a Base Mutation material, it's extremely flammable. It ignites as easily as a match does, just by scraping it against a rock; it can be used as Fire Seed. If you're interested, I can sell you this Firecloud Branch for one Heavenly Currency."

"It looks burnt, as if it's been used already," Lin Shen observed, scrutinizing the Firecloud Branch.

"No, no, the Firecloud Branch naturally has a charcoal-like color. This one hasn't been used. The reason it looks like this is that the Firecloud Tree it came from was struck by lightning. The exterior is charred, but the inside is fine. If you don't believe me, you can try it for yourself," the stall owner said, and reached for the Firecloud Branch, using one end to scrape it across the ground.

Just like striking a match, the tip of the branch scraped across the rock, sparking off white flecks of fire, and then the branch tip burst into white flames.

The stall owner blew on the flame, and it was extinguished with a breath.

"The Firecloud Branch can be used repeatedly. This one, struck by lightning, is particularly durable. I originally brought it from my home planet for personal use, but now that I don't need it anymore, I'm selling it to make some money," the stall owner said.

"Okay, I'll take the Firecloud Branch. Do you have any more? Get me some more," Lin Shen said, knowing that Fatty must want this item since it kept staring at the Firecloud Branch.

Although he had no idea why Fatty wanted the Firecloud Branch, if Fatty took an interest in something, it seemed worth buying for a little money.

"No more, I only had this one piece. Firecloud Branches hit by lightning are very fire-resistant and can last a very long time," the stall owner shook his head repeatedly.

Lin Shen had to give up, paid the money, and left with the Firecloud Branch.

Lin Shen put Fatty back into his backpack and then placed the Firecloud Branch inside as well.

Upon seeing the Firecloud Branch, Fatty's eyes lit up and it immediately gripped it in its mouth, refusing to let go.

Seeing it hold onto the Firecloud Branch and stay still, Lin Shen stopped paying any further attention and continued to wander around the marketplace.

"I'll offer ten thousand... I'll offer eleven thousand... I'll offer twelve thousand..."

After wandering for a while, Lin Shen saw a particularly lively stall, where several foreign tribespeople were arguing heatedly, seemingly competing over something.

The genes within Lin Shen that loved watching a commotion awakened, and he moved closer, curious to see what was worth such a heated bidding war.

Over ten thousand Heavenly Currency was no small sum, and the Celestial Race's currency was quite valuable.

It was a struggle to make his way to the front, but when Lin Shen finally saw what the people were bidding on, it was just a bone.

"Are all these foreign tribespeople born in the Year of the Dog? Why are they spending so much money on a bone?" Lin Shen wondered.

The bone clearly wasn't a Base Mutation material, just an ordinary large bone that looked like it could be from the leg of a cattle or horse, more than a foot long, thick at both ends and thinner in the middle.

The thickest part was as big as a fist, while the thinnest part was only a handful.

It was unclear whether the bone had discolored due to age or from being touched too often, but it already had a polished patina.

Lin Shen looked it over and still couldn't understand what kind of animal the bone belonged to, nor could he comprehend why these people were willing to pay a high price for this bone.