True powerhouses like Ye Zhongming, Ji Ruiguang, Zhang Hetai, and Mr. Wen were already advancing toward nine-star evolution. But for others—even those ranked on the country leaderboard—many were still locked in life-and-death struggles just to obtain a single eight-star evolution potion or hunt equivalent-level mutant lifeforms. For one level-eight demon crystal, they might lose countless subordinates and spend weeks recovering from injuries.
Yet now, a seemingly within-reach opportunity had appeared—provided they possessed the top two materials on Cloud Peak’s bounty list.
The hardened beak of a mutant lifeform called “Beautiful Tea Zhu’an,” requiring thirty units, was ranked second. The first was a bamboo membrane called “Fishscale Bamboo,” requiring three square meters.
Anyone who could provide these two materials in the specified quantities would receive an eight-star evolution potion!
Many were ecstatic. While few had heard of the top-ranked Fishscale Bamboo—even with the rough descriptions and sketches provided—the second-ranked Beautiful Tea Zhu’an was familiar to most. It was an annoying urban-dwelling mutant bird with low combat power but an ear-piercing screech. The moment it detected humans in its territory, it would shriek relentlessly.
In cities, such cries inevitably attracted hordes of zombies and other mutants.
With its incredible flight speed—screaming and fleeing before retaliation—humans found it infuriating yet nearly impossible to deal with.
But!
Once its value skyrocketed to the level of an eight-star evolution potion, “impossible” was no longer an option. Even if it required piling up corpses to achieve.
Materials ranked third to tenth were each worth a seven-star potion.
Eleventh to forty-first: six-star potions.
Forty-second onward: five-star potions.
Every material had specified quantities, collection methods, and quality standards—clear enough for even a fool to understand.
Some materials were unheard of, but their descriptions or sketches looked familiar. Some even recalled seeing them before!
Instantly, the entire nation mobilized. Honest evolved hunted materials for rewards. Dishonest ones—Cloud Peak’s enemies—also scrambled to find them, if only to deny Cloud Peak their acquisition.
Everyone understood: these materials were undoubtedly for Ye Zhongming’s equipment crafting. Some might even be used with level-nine materials—like those two eight-star potion-worthy items.
Thus, conventional hunting decreased during this period as a nationwide scavenger hunt began. Cloud Peak’s deviousness lay in not only listing the materials and their descriptions but also setting acquisition deadlines. Only those who delivered within the timeframe would receive their rewards. Otherwise? Tough luck.
Naturally, people weren’t happy. But what could they do? The buyer made the rules.
Of course, given the nation’s vastness, even disseminating this list through Five Ring Money took time. Thus, the notice clarified that acquired materials could be handed directly to Five Ring Money or Cannibal Chain, who would deliver the corresponding potions—except for the top ten (seven-star and eight-star rewards).
Those had to be sent to Cloud Peak via the two merchant organizations’ channels. The deliverers would even receive escort protection and could evolve at Cloud Peak under the villa’s security.
Once this bounty was announced, many saw it as a direct response to the two alliances.
“You form alliances? So do we. You kill level-nines? So do we. Now I’m offering bounties worth over three eight-star potions—why don’t you try matching that?”
That was the public perception. But Ye Zhongming swore this had nothing to do with anyone else. These were purely materials he and the faction needed.
Most were indeed for Ye Zhongming’s projects, including some to complement level-nine materials. But others were for different purposes—like Candy’s needs, blueprints from recruited smiths, or Liu Zhenghong’s research. The top-ranked Fishscale Bamboo membrane? Sister Hong had specifically requested it after obtaining a sample.
With Cloud Peak’s generous fees, Cannibal Chain and Five Ring Money worked efficiently. Starting the day after the bounty’s announcement, materials began flowing into Cloud Peak in exchange for potions—so swiftly that some suspected the merchants had stockpiled them beforehand.
Five Ring Money updated the acquisition progress daily, ensuring everyone knew which materials were still needed. This minimized wasted effort, though delays were inevitable. Still, the daily updates served as proof that Cloud Peak wasn’t reneging.
Wealth moved hearts. Driven by evolution potions, the nation’s evolved worked with startling efficiency.
7 days after posting: Half the materials acquired.
15 days: Two-thirds claimed.
1 month: Only the 1st, 5th, and 10th bounties remained. The rest—including the second-ranked Beautiful Tea Zhu’an—were completed.
Faced with this, even Cloud Peak members who’d initially doubted their leader’s “wasteful” spending were convinced.
If nothing else, the time saved alone justified the potions. Had Cloud Peak gathered these materials themselves, it might have taken years—with no guarantee of success.
With that time, hunting a few more level-eight lifeforms would’ve been far easier.
Leaving it to Five Ring Money or Cannibal Chain? A joke. Their prices would’ve exceeded this bounty’s cost, and who knew how long they’d have taken.
On the 35th day, the 5th and 10th bounties were claimed. Only the top-ranked Fishscale Bamboo remained elusive.
That same day, Deacon Water, Li Daqian, and Commander Mu arrived at Cloud Peak via teleportation gates, each bringing entourages.
They’d received notice:
Their equipment was ready.