Chapter 41: Chapter 41: The Miraculous Effects of Mermaid Tears
Song Chi’s eyes gleamed with pride, and he struck just the right note of a lucky fellow who had stumbled upon a more potent potion hidden behind this genetic potion shop by chance, taking that pride to the extreme.
He covertly scanned the area behind him and, seeing no one around, leaned in close to Gore’s ear and whispered,
“It’s the enhanced version of this gene optimization potion, with effects that far surpass the one you see here by tenfold.
I previously spent a great deal at a heavy cost to buy one, and the effect was simply intoxicating. It’s a pity the shop has a special rule that one can only purchase one. Otherwise, I would buy them all.”
Instantly, Gore seemed like a rabbit whose tail had been stepped on, and he almost jumped up.
“What, an effect ten times greater than the gene optimization potion? Is there really such an enhanced potion?”
As if in response to him, the text on the central screen in the shop changed again.
[The Advanced Genetic Potion, currently only nine available, its effect indeed far exceeds that of the regular gene optimization potion.]
With that text, nine glowing vials with noticeably more exquisite packaging appeared on the counter.
Pop!
One of the nine blue vials was opened slightly, and immediately a faint scent of the potion wafted out. Although it was resealed in an instant, the mere whiff of it made Gore feel as if every cell in his body was cheering, and his already once augmented bloodline (genes) showed faint signs of reviving again.
Instinctively, Gore knew that this advanced type of gene optimization potion could greatly elevate his bloodline. Merely one vial might not be enough to completely restore his bloodline to its peak King Level condition, but with two, three vials, reviving a significant part of the King Level bloodline would certainly not be a problem.
With that thought, he suddenly spoke loudly.
“Please reserve these nine advanced genetic potions for me, I will be back shortly.”
Seeing his reaction, Song Chi remained calm, but the screen in the center of the shop changed once again.
[The Advanced Genetic Potion is expensive to produce and rare in quantity, only exchangeable with Deep Water Clam Pearls over a thousand years old.]
Gore glanced briefly and said nothing. He just turned and left the Ruins Market at a speed faster than before.
…
It was still the palace within Conch Island, where the chieftain of the Copper Gore tribe waved his lower body’s fish tail vigorously, creating a strong current spreading around. The pressure of a Second Rank creature was especially terrifying.
“Ridiculous, what do you take thousand-year Deep Water Clam Pearls for? Or do you think…”
Before it could finish its roar, Gore had already pulled out more than thirty Basic Gene Optimization Potions and handed them to his father.
When the chieftain of the Copper Gore tribe took hold of a Basic Gene Optimization Potion and smelled it, the next second his reaction was the same as Gore’s before, his eyes flashing with brilliance as his depleted bloodline seemed to come back to life.
“This is the potion you spoke of? It actually has such an effect.”
“Are you certain there’s an advanced potion that exceeds this by ten times?”
Gore nodded firmly, his attitude utterly confident.
The chieftain of the Copper Gore tribe held the potion tightly in his hand and after pondering for a moment, looked back at Gore.
“This matter is a divine opportunity for our Copper Gore tribe. Since you are certain, then go and exchange for it. However, I don’t have any thousand-year Deep Water Clam Pearls on hand right now, so take this and try it.”
“Remember, this item is extremely rare; try to exchange for as many of those advanced potions as possible.”
…
In Zhu Tian Ruins Market, when the eagerly awaited Gore returned, Song Chi refocused his attention on the genetic potion shop.
Hearing Gore’s response, his brows furrowed deeply, and his heart was sorely disappointed.
“No millennium deep water clam pearls? Then in that case, these advanced gene optimization potions cannot be exchanged for you.”
As he thought this, just as he was about to control the virtual light screen in the shop to reply, Gore took the initiative and took out an item.
“Though I lack millennium deep water clam pearls, this item’s value surpasses that of the millennium pearls. It is a rarity from our merfolk, conceived by a mermaid once in a thousand years, known to other creatures as ‘Mermaid’s Tear’.”
As he spoke, he had already taken out the so-called Mermaid’s Tear and placed it on the counter in the shop.
Then he added one more thing:
“This Mermaid’s Tear was conceived by an ancestor of mine, a Third Rank Level mermaid. It has the power to promote life form evolution for the majority of creatures in Starry Sea.”
When the crystal tear, even clearer than the deep water pearls, appeared, Song Chi’s whole attention converged upon it.
He knew the Mermaid’s Tear all too well, as it was one of the few known items that could provide an extra success rate for the advancement of the Torch Warship.
According to Gore, this Mermaid’s Tear was conceived by a Third Rank mermaid, which meant it could also increase the success rate for the advancement of Torch Warships of Third Rank and below.
First Rank to Second Rank, an increase of 10%.
Second Rank to Third Rank, an increase of 5%.
Though these figures might not look big, they are of utmost importance to every Torch Ship Captain about to commence their advancement, second only to their very lives.
And right now, Song Chi indeed needed this item. His mother’s Dragonfly had an exceedingly low evolution success rate, and even with his father giving it his all, the prospects were not looking good.
If he could obtain an item that enhanced success rates, his father would have used it for his mother a long time ago, rather than waiting until now, and the Titanium Crystal was still but a pipe dream.
Therefore, he had to get this Mermaid’s Tear by all means necessary.
[Third Rank Mermaid’s Tear, its value is acceptable.]
[Given the value of the item, the restriction of a single advanced genetic optimization potion per person is lifted, allowing for the exchange of three advanced genetic optimization potions.]
Originally, he wanted to offer just one, but after some consideration, he felt that was pressing too hard. If it upset Gore and led to haggling over the virtual light screen, what then?
The identity he had established for all the transaction AIs in each shop was to be completely fair and unbending with set prices. To avoid breaking this persona, he finally decided on three potions for the exchange.
The number was neither too many nor too few, being just the right amount. He believed Gore would not refuse it.
And just as he thought, although Gore originally wanted to bargain, the AI light screen gave no concessions. In the end, it agreed to the trade.
With the three intermediate gene optimization potions delivered into Gore’s hands, Song Chi likewise obtained the Mermaid’s Tear, barely able to contain his joy.
With the addition of this Mermaid’s Tear, and with his father coming up with more solutions, the official advancement of the Dragonfly seven months later should have a success rate of over 50%.
Although still not very safe, it was much higher than 24%. Furthermore, if he could eventually get his hands on that Titanium Crystal, there should still be a significant increase.