Evan realized just how bad the situation was.

  If his heart stopped and his blood froze, there would be no second chance—no rebirth, no miracle. Just death.

  He pinched his thigh hard, forcing a jolt of pain through his sluggish mind. He needed clarity, and fast.

  My body didn’t rupture. That means I’m strong enough to withstand the extract.

  This paralysis… this petrification-like stiffness… it must be the Scorpionstone’s evolution force. Paralytic Venom and Stone Carapace — my symptoms match both.

  Piece by piece, the logic clicked into place.

  He wasn’t actually poisoned or turning to stone.

  His body was simply being overwhelmed by the extract’s evolution force.

  He needed to fight back — keep his body active, keep his heart beating, keep his blood moving.

  If he endured long enough, his body would finish absorbing the evolution force and the crisis would pass.

  But his heartbeat was slowing.

  His blood flow was crawling.

  He needed something — anything — to force his body into overdrive.

  So he dug deep into two lifetimes of memories, searching for every thrilling, heart?pounding moment he’d ever experienced.

  He had to admit… Technician No. 403 would’ve been extremely helpful right now.

  Compared to staying alive, chastity meant nothing.

  Fortunately, Evan had an excellent memory and an even more vivid imagination.

  Heat surged through him.

  His blood sped up.

  His heart stopped slowing.

  His mind sharpened — then overloaded.

  Images flashed through his head like a runaway projector.

  He didn’t know how long it lasted.

  But eventually, his heartbeat returned to normal.

  His blood flowed freely again.

  His stiff skin softened.

  His mind cleared — so clear it felt like fireworks exploding into a blank, silent world.

  Then, in that blankness, three clusters of orange mist appeared.

  The largest radiated a sharp, piercing aura — like a needle.

  The other two were similar in size, one heavy and dense, the other sluggish and numbing.

  I did it. I absorbed the Scorpionstone Extract.

  This must be my consciousness space.

  These three clusters… they’re the three skills: Needle Strike, Paralytic Venom, Stone Carapace.

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  A shocking thought struck him.

  Can I… choose?

  He was stunned.

  Normally, evolutionists received a random skill when absorbing an extract.

  Even geniuses with strong foundations had no guarantee.

  No one — absolutely no one — could freely choose.

  Is this a perk of being a transmigrator?

  A privilege of absorbing above my tier?

  Or… a hidden effect of Evolution’s Grace?

  Only those three explanations made sense.

  He knew for certain that Liam Zhao never had this ability.

  This was something new — something that belonged to him.

  He didn’t waste time questioning it.

  He dove straight into the largest cluster — the one representing Needle Strike.

  A dull thump echoed through his mind.

  Like plunging into water, he snapped back into his body.

  He opened his eyes.

  He was lying on the bathhouse suite’s bed, the sheets soaked with sweat.

  He focused inward.

  Yes — he had fully mastered his fourth skill: Needle Strike.

  And his physical stats had skyrocketed.

  Even a second?tier D?grade extract provided far more raw enhancement than any first?tier S?grade.

  Strength, speed, endurance — everything had improved.

  This is only the beginning. I’ve absorbed the evolution force, but I haven’t fully digested it yet. My body will keep improving until I do.

  Confidence surged through him.

  His foundation was now rock?solid.

  Once he finished digesting the extract, he could evolve to Chrysalis?tier instantly — with zero chance of failure.

  Most people feared evolution failure.

  They spent months training and taking supplements before attempting their first evolution.

  But Evan?

  He had absorbed four extracts —

  two S?grade, one beyond S?grade, and now a second?tier D?grade while still mortal.

  His foundation wasn’t just top?tier.

  It was beyond the limit.

  Even the prodigies of major factions, who absorbed three first?tier S?grades at most, were nothing compared to him.

  My next goal: fully digest the Scorpionstone Extract, evolve, and then find a way to leave the Muke Republic.

  But digestion would take at least half a month naturally.

  He didn’t have that kind of time.

  He rummaged through his bag.

  Liam Zhao had left several bottles of pills — mostly Strength?Boosting Pills.

  Only one bottle was useful: Physique Digestion Tablets, designed to accelerate extract absorption.

  But there were only two tablets left.

  He swallowed both.

  Warm energy spread through his body, pulling out the dormant orange evolution force and helping him absorb it faster.

  As expected of Liam Zhao’s stash. If I had a full bottle, I could digest the extract in two or three days.

  He inserted a new SIM card into his phone and called Shawn Miller at EvolutionTech.

  “Hello, who’s this?”

  Shawn’s voice was polite but distant.

  “It’s me, Evan.”

  “Mr. Evan! You changed your number?”

  Shawn instantly became enthusiastic.

  “What can I do for you?”

  “Do you sell Physique Digestion Tablets?”

  “Ah… that formula belongs to LifePharm. If you need it, you’ll have to buy from them.”

  Evan expected that.

  EvolutionTech sold extracts; LifePharm dominated pharmaceuticals.

  He shifted topics.

  “After I left, did anyone come asking about me?”

  Shawn hesitated.

  “I was just about to tell you. Not long after you left, an old man came asking questions. I told him we don’t disclose client information and sent him away.”

  He paused, then added with disgust:

  “And that old man’s smell was… ugh… indescribable.”

  Evan has done the impossible — choosing a skill from an extract.

  But someone is already on his trail.

  Who do you think that “old man” is?

  A hunter?

  A spy?

  Or something far stranger?