Chapter 201: Reverse Tide Reforging: A Risky Shortcut

Reverse Tide Training Camp, rest area.

This place is also called the Tidal Slumber, sitting at the edge of the training grounds, backed by the vast sea of fog.

Whenever night fell, the mist on the mountain peak would rise, shrouding the entire rest area in a hazy silver glow, as if cut off from the world.

Entering the rest area, the first thing to greet the eye was a spacious great hall, with a massive round table at its center, engraved with the Reverse Tide Training Camp emblem — a wave pattern surging upstream.

Thirty stone chairs were arranged around the round table, each chair back engraved with a trainee's name, symbolizing the chair's ownership.

On both sides of the great hall were two neat rows of stone beds, thirty beds in total, each separated by black curtains to ensure privacy.

The beds were covered with soft cushions made from monster pelts.

At this moment, before a massive floor-to-ceiling window at the far end of the rest area.

Seeing Li Zheng gazed into the boundless sea of fog outside the window, listening to the sounds of the surging fog tide, looking somewhat lost in thought.

The combat power of the Reverse Tide Legion Commander left him feeling immensely shaken.

After the footage ended, Chief Instructor Shi Shi Xiuluo described an alternative way to grow stronger, called "Momentum."

It could also be understood as pressure.

In the instructor's explanation, "Momentum" was an invisible force born from a warrior's inner emotions and will.

It was different from released spiritual power or energy, but rather a far more mysterious existence.

It could also be understood as presence, yet far transcending the scope of mere presence.

It required a warrior to mobilize their own emotions, transforming them into a force capable of affecting the outside world.

Releasing it consumed no energy at all.

This force could even alter the surrounding environment.

Shi Shi Xiuluo had them watch the Floating Pagoda Legion Commander strike precisely to let them intuitively see the existence of "Momentum."

And the pressure that the 138th Legion Commander Floating Pagoda could use to distort space was precisely "Killing Momentum."

Killing Momentum was the embodiment of the Floating Pagoda Legion Commander's emotions, brimming with destruction and oppression — merely releasing his presence could make opponents lose their nerve before fighting, or even directly crush their will to fight.

It was a materialized force condensed through willpower from the negative emotions — savagery, rage, and the like — that the Floating Pagoda Legion Commander had accumulated over long years of war.

The instructor stated that any emotion could be cultivated into "Momentum."

Despair, rage, killing intent... even fear could be condensed into Momentum, generating Fear Momentum, using Momentum to plunge opponents into their own fear.

This course left Seeing Li Zheng's brain a bit fried.

Cultivating "Momentum" first required extreme emotions as forging material, but he didn't seem to have any extreme emotions he could use.

Hunger Momentum?

But being hungry didn't really seem like an emotion either.

He asked the Guide, and its explanation of Momentum was similar to Chief Instructor Shi Shi Xiuluo's.

It stated that the pinnacle of Momentum cultivation was generating a rule that combined one's own emotions and willpower.

The Pain imprint mastered by the Pain brothers already had the embryonic form of a rule — only a threshold away from becoming one.

But precisely this threshold was as hard to cross as scaling the heavens.

The Guide also stated that, in fact, the Painful Painful Minghun mastered by players already contained Momentum.

The Meng Yuan Chu spirit in the Spirit Valley were all transformations of part of Beneath Di Zhao's killing will — this was the rule materialized after Killing Momentum was completely perfected.

From this, one could see Beneath Di Zhao's power.

The Killing Momentum Floating Pagoda cultivated had not yet condensed into a rule, and even if it did, it would only be an ordinary rule.

But part of Beneath Di Zhao's killing will had already generated countless powerful rule spirits.

Thinking it over, Seeing Li Zheng felt this growth model didn't suit his growth needs.

Just then, Seeing Gui Tong appeared beside him, reaching out to hand over a bottle of Clear Spirit Wine:

"Can't sleep?"

Taking the Clear Spirit Wine, twisting off the cap and clinking it against Seeing Gui Tong's wine pot, Seeing Li Zheng said with a gloomy expression:

"Tongzi, what exactly is Momentum cultivation? Is this stuff really as strong as that stone guy says?"

Seeing Gui Tong tilted his head back and took a big swig of wine, shaking his head helplessly:

"Momentum cultivation needs time to accumulate — experience is the key to cultivating Momentum. You're still young; if you can't learn it, there's no need to force it. Once you've been on the battlefield killing for a hundred years, you'll be able to cultivate Killing Momentum too."

"By the way, why are you so concerned about cultivating Momentum?" Seeing Gui Tong asked curiously.

"I think this thing is perfect for showing off. Just stand there without doing anything, unleash your full presence, and instantly make your opponent realize how badass you are."

Seeing Gui Tong:...

"So you want to cultivate Momentum just for showing off?" Seeing Gui Tong asked, somewhat incredulously.

"Is that not okay? Living is for showing off — a life without showing off is meaningless... What about you, what are you pursuing?"

Facing the question, Seeing Gui Tong took another big swig of Clear Spirit Wine and shook his head:

"Become a Reverse Tide warrior, go to the battlefield to build a career. If I'm lucky enough to survive, maybe I'll become a training camp instructor, and then ruthlessly drill the new generation of trainees."

"Once my tenure as instructor is complete, I'll return to the battlefield to kill enemies."

Hearing these words, Seeing Li Zheng burst out laughing:

"Tongzi, that's all you're after? But I think you kid are probably going to die on the battlefield, and I'll have to be the one to put up your memorial stele."

"As a Reverse Tide warrior, I need no tombstone — charging wildly until death is my destination."

Hearing these words, Seeing Li Zheng suddenly felt a pang in his heart.

As players, they could freely explore the Monster World, and had countless chances to try and fail.

Everything could start over an hour later.

The meaning of life = browsing the forum for an hour, or watching a livestream for an hour.

But the brothers in the training camp were different — their lives had no do-overs; a single failure meant death.

When they graduate from the training camp, their most likely fate is to die on the battlefield.

How difficult it is to survive.

The warrior cultivation system of the Counterflow Legion is like waves sifting sand—only a tiny few ever become top warriors.

The vast majority of warriors will meet their end in one endless war after another.

Gui Tong's words—that a warrior's destiny is to run until death—left him with a sour taste.

Through this period of contact, he had come to regard many of the trainees as close friends, brothers, and he did not want them to follow their predetermined path toward death.

Just now, Gui Tong asked him why he wanted to cultivate "Shi." What he did not say aloud was his inner thought:

"I want to grow stronger, to protect these brothers of mine on the battlefield."

But these words sounded too sentimental; saying them aloud would surely invite mockery from Tong Zi.

"It's getting late. Get some rest. Tomorrow's combat modification course is crucial."

"You go ahead and sleep. Let me be melancholy for a while."

"Sentimental. If you can't learn it, don't learn it. No need to beat your head against a wall." Gui Tong drained the wine from the bottle, turned, and climbed onto his bed.

Soon, snoring began.

Li Zheng picked up the bottle and took a large sip, feeling the warm flow spread through his body as he fell into deep thought.

What exactly should he do to save these brothers?

As a player, he feared no challenge.

But this sense of invincibility applied only to himself—he lacked the power to change the future of his training camp brothers.

Especially after witnessing Fu Tu's power, he realized how insignificant his own strength was.

On a real battlefield, he could not even alter the course of a small-scale engagement, let alone influence the outcome of an entire war.

"Brother Li, what's wrong?"

At that moment, Sha Xin's voice sounded in the squad chat channel.

"I was thinking about how our training camp brothers' fate is to die on the battlefield. It's hard to bear."

To the brothers of Gan Di Team, Li Zheng did not hide his feelings—he spoke honestly of his inner thoughts.

"Hey, I've thought about this too, but with our current strength, we can't change their fate." Chi Tu pulled back the curtain, revealing his head.

"To be honest, if we ever face danger on the battlefield, I hope they'd run away—but they'd rather die than live in disgrace." Bao Zi Tou Ling Chong also stuck his head out and sighed.

"Actually, there's only one answer to this question: we must become strong enough to protect their safety."

Family Shared Godfather's reply was precisely Li Zheng's own thought.

"Family's right. Sleep now. Tomorrow, we get stronger again."

In that moment, Li Zheng felt an endless longing for power.

As Family Shared Godfather had said, there was only one correct answer to this question.

That was to become a strong enough person to alter the fate of others.

Even Fu Tu, a Ban Shen Jing cultivator, was not his end goal—he would grow stronger than Fu Tu, and gain the power to protect his training camp brothers.

……

The next day.

The morning sky had not yet fully brightened; morning mist swirled outside the window, shrouding the training camp in a thin veil.

At that moment, silence was shattered by a deafening drumbeat.

Then the drumming grew rapid.

Boom—boom! Boom!

The drumbeats exploded like thunder, striking each trainee's heart and jolting every one of them from sleep.

"Up! Assemble!"

As captain of Room 27, Gui Tong's roar followed immediately; the group sprang up and sprinted toward the training ground.

The morning mountain wind was biting, carrying a bone-deep chill.

But for these young trainees with vigorous blood and energy, the cold was negligible.

They quickly lined up in perfect formation, awaiting their instructor.

Li Zheng's squad stood in the 27th row.

After finding his spot and standing still, Li Zheng yawned, eyes still heavy with sleep.

In truth, with his current physical condition, going days without sleep in the game posed no problem—he could easily endure it.

But combined with the inhumanly intense training in the camp, sleep had become a necessary process for his body to rest.

"Snap out of it. Watch out—the rock golem might suddenly fly over and smack you." Gui Tong glared at Li Zheng's lazy expression.

"Got it, got it." Li Zheng stretched, then straightened his body and stood at attention.

As they waited, the chief instructor Shi Shi Xiuluo appeared above the formation, standing proudly in midair.

Scanning the trainees, Shi Shi Xiuluo spoke gravely:

"Today's lesson is of extraordinary significance to you—it concerns your future growth… After I finish explaining combat modification, I will give you one day to decide…"

Listening to Shi Shi Xiuluo's explanation, Li Zheng felt curious.

Combat modification—he had heard of it before.

Before the course began, he had asked Gui Tong what exactly Shi Shi Xiuluo meant by "combat modification."

Gui Tong's answer: a shortcut to growth.

Under normal circumstances, warriors seeking strength must, besides drawing power through the War Divine Seal during battle,

also refine their bodies by absorbing Qi particles to enhance their physical attributes.

This process consists of three steps, carried out simultaneously.

First is flesh and blood strengthening: allowing spiritual energy to permeate the flesh and blood, reinforcing the cells, and making the physical body more resilient.

Second is bone tempering: infusing the bones with spiritual energy so that their hardness and density increase significantly under the polishing of spiritual qi, enabling them to withstand greater impact and better support the movements of the flesh and blood body.

Finally is meridian expansion: nourishing the meridians with spiritual energy to make the circulation of spiritual energy smoother.

In this regard, the Reverse Tide Training Camp will assist trainees in strengthening through methods such as spiritual energy permeation training, extreme training, and medicinal pill body tempering.

However, on the basis of these three strengthening methods, there exists a deeper strengthening mode: organ cultivation.

Cultivating every type of organ is not easy; it requires specific cultivation combat techniques to exercise specific organs, allowing the organs to grow alongside the body, and in the later stages, even enabling the organs to derive powerful innate ability effects.

For example, the Gui Tong clan possesses a cultivation combat technique that strengthens the "eyes."

Under normal circumstances, cultivating a type of "innate organ" requires a relatively long time and a high investment of resources.

However, the Reverse Tide Legion possesses a modification technology that allows warriors to directly possess initial innate organs through body modification.

The only drawback is that the surgery carries certain risks and may cause the modified individual to die.

Chief Instructor Shi Xiu Luo's meaning was that the choice lies with the trainees themselves; trainees can choose partial modification or choose not to accept modification.

One point is clear: the compatibility of innate organs obtained through modification with the body is far inferior to that of original organs obtained through cultivation.

This is a growth shortcut filled with risks.

It saves the time and resources required for cultivation, but also forfeits higher growth potential.

Theoretically, excessive body modification means one can never become a Ban Shen Jing powerhouse in this lifetime.

But for Reverse Tide trainees, the possibility of becoming a Ban Shen Jing powerhouse was already extremely slim.

Shi Xiu Luo's detailed explanation made Li Zheng think of an old friend he had not seen for a long time.

God of Wealth: Duan Xing.

What can be confirmed is that the God of Wealth is a special warrior who has undergone body modification.

According to the God of Wealth's account, he had his father's heart implanted in his body when he was very young, gaining part of his father's power.

During this process, he nearly died young, but fortunately, he pulled through in the end.

The innate organs used for these modifications are basically obtained from intact bodies of Reverse Tide warriors left on the battlefield; the logistics group conducts detailed inspections on the recovered organs, screening out innate organs suitable for reuse.

Only organs that are completely undamaged and have high vitality are selected for further processing.

The obtained innate organs cannot be directly implanted into other warriors' bodies because the organs still retain information residues from the original host.

To ensure the new host can smoothly accept these organs, the recovered innate organs undergo thorough initialization and purification.

What is implanted into the warrior's body is merely the seed of the innate organ, which will grow synchronously by absorbing nutrients as the warrior's physical constitution improves.

It is not that after implanting a powerful warrior's innate organ, one directly possesses powerful abilities.

Cases like the God of Wealth, directly inheriting a father's organ, are extremely rare; success was mainly due to his bloodline connection with the owner of the innate organ.

The Reverse Tide Legion regards innate organs as a glorious inheritance; every warrior who accepts organ implantation is informed of the organ's source and the combat deeds of the original host.

This is to inspire warriors to inherit the will of their predecessors and continue to fight for the glory of the Reverse Tide Legion.

Shi Xiu Luo detailed the modification process of innate organs over several hours, then announced a local disbandment, giving everyone one day of rest to make a decision.

By tomorrow, all warriors in the training camp must give a clear answer.

Choose modification, or give up modification.

Returning to his room, Li Zheng looked at the trainees of the Four Eyes clan:

"What do you say?"

"I give up. Although the hope of becoming a Ban Shen Jing powerhouse is slim, even if there is a sliver of possibility, I must try." Gui Tong decisively shook his head and refused.

The other trainees of the Four Eyes clan also shook their heads, indicating they were unwilling to undergo innate organ implantation modification.

"What about you? What are your thoughts?" Gui Tong asked back with a curious expression.

"I don't know. I'll go check out the modification base tonight and make a decision then."

"My suggestion is not to take shortcuts. Choosing innate organ modification may save a lot of cultivation time, but it is destined to be difficult to go far, unless you transplant a relative's organ; even then, it is difficult to climb to the Ban Shen Jing realm."

Realizing that Li Zheng seemed to truly have the intention of accepting organ modification, Gui Tong immediately advised him.

"I'll decide then." Saying this, Li Zheng asked in the chat channel:

"Brothers, what are your thoughts?"

"My thoughts are the same as yours; I'll go check out the organ base tonight and see. I still haven't figured out what the innate organ modification can actually bring. Is it like the newly launched cultivation system, obtaining an organ with innate characteristics?"

"Modify, must modify. I only want to take shortcuts in this life. Before I met you, I wanted to find a rich woman to take a shortcut, but she looked down on me, so I had to spend my days moving bricks in the game. Now that there are shortcuts available in the game, I must take them." Family Shared Godfather stated his thoughts with righteous emphasis.

His answer immediately made the brothers of the Liver King Group burst into laughter.

That night, Li Zheng, the brothers of the Liver King Group, and Gui Tong and others, led by the instructors, arrived at the organ modification base.

The base is located on the mid-slope of Poison Thorn Peak.

Externally, it is a huge metal dome building, with two heavy star-stone gates at the entrance.

Following the assistant instructor inside, a cold air rushed to the face, and the perceived temperature dropped instantly.

The interior space is spacious, divided into different innate organ display areas.

Li Zheng followed the assistant instructor to the first display area; ahead was a huge transparent container, in which a eyeball emitting a dim blue light was soaked in semi-transparent golden liquid.

A sign stood in front of the container, detailing the innate information of this eye and the glory information of the organ's previous host.

But Li Zheng did not carefully check the information on the sign; he directly activated scanning to obtain the details.

Immediately, the introduction information of the eyeball flooded into his mind.

【Eye of Gui Tong】

Introduction: An Eye of Gui Tong from a Four Eyes clan warrior, possessing basic visual enhancement abilities such as night vision, dynamic capture, and long-distance vision. With the organ's growth, it can subsequently activate a series of pupil technique innate abilities such as mental interference and mental shock.

Li Zheng subconsciously looked at Gui Tong.

Gui Tong obviously understood his meaning and nodded, saying:

"This is a talent organ left behind by an elder of my clan."

Seeing Li Zheng didn't ask further, following the instructor to stand before the next container.

Displayed here was a massive heart, comparable to half a person's height, its surface covered in scale-like patterns, each beat accompanied by scorching energy ripples.

It was soaked in a blazing red liquid, radiating intense life energy, with bubbles constantly rising in the liquid, as if the heart itself were breathing.

After analysis, the introduction information surfaced in the minds of Seeing Li Zheng and the other Liver Emperor Group players.

【Berserker's Heart】

Introduction: A heart from a Berserker Clan warrior, capable of greatly enhancing a warrior's explosive power, recovery ability, stamina reinforcement, and other basic performances. As the organ grows, it can subsequently provide substantial all-attribute bonuses, and can also grant talent traits that maintain vitality in extreme environments (such as high temperature, low temperature).

"Holy crap, this organ is so huge, how do you transplant it?" Kill Intent exclaimed at this moment.

"This organ hasn't undergone adaptation processing yet. If you want to transplant it, after purification it can be adapted to match your heart's size. What's implanted into the body is only an organ seed, not the original organ." The sub-instructor walking ahead explained at this moment.

"No wonder, I always felt that many organs' sizes simply couldn't be adapted, they look impossible to transplant."

Arriving at the third displayed container to stand, inside the container was soaked a powerful arm, muscle lines clearly defined, surface flickering with electric light, arcs constantly jumping within the liquid, emitting faint "crackle" sounds.

The palm portion of the arm bore a scar, clearly a wound left by the previous owner on the battlefield.

【Lei Ting's Arm】:

Introduction: A right arm from a Lei Ting Clan warrior, possessing basic power enhancement performances such as strength amplification, muscle intensity increase, and limb coordination improvement. As the organ grows, it can subsequently activate a series of lightning-element organ talents including lightning-element control and lightning-element affinity.

Eating Dirt stepped forward at this moment, pressing his own skinny arm against the glass for comparison:

"How does it feel?"

"Feels like you're an idiot. Be serious here, these are all organs left behind by elders." The Bull Ghost Clan trainee said irritably.

"Sorry." This time Eating Dirt didn't talk back, decisively apologizing.

Continuing forward, along the way the members of the Liver Emperor Group all performed analysis checks on the organs.

Besides various body organs, displayed in the modification base were also many modifications of accessory body parts.

For example, teeth modification — implanting super teeth from the Devouring Clan to obtain extremely high tooth hardness and destructive power.

Walking along this path, all kinds of modification projects opened the eyes of the Liver Emperor Group players.

If you can think of it, there's no body part that can't be modified.

There was even hair modification — implanting Vine Clan hair into hair follicles would grant a head of flowing long hair that could be freely controlled to grow, usable for binding enemies.

"If I want a full-body modification, can it be done?" Family Shared Godfather spoke up at this moment, immediately drawing everyone's attention in the group to look at him.

"You think you're tired of living? Modifying one organ carries risk, and you want full-body modification — how many lives do you have to play like this?" The Bull Ghost Clan warrior looked at Family Shared Godfather with an expression of seeing an idiot.

Hearing these words, the Four-Pupil Clan warrior also appeared utterly speechless.

But this behavior was very in line with the Player Clan's wild and unrestrained way of thinking.

"As long as you want it, any modification is possible." The sub-instructor gave an answer at this moment, eyes carrying a smile, clearly thinking Family Shared Godfather was joking.

And Family Shared Godfather also spread his hands and said:

"Brothers don't look at me, I was joking, don't take it seriously. Full-body modification just thinking about it hurts, I'm most afraid of pain."

After viewing the first display area, Seeing Li Zheng and the other Liver Emperor Group members followed the sub-instructor toward the second talent organ display area.

At this moment, Seeing Li Zheng seemed to have thought of something.

Raising his head to look at the guidance orb floating beside him, visible only to players, he asked in the chat channel:

"Guide bro, if we undergo talent organ modification, what will happen? Will it destroy the original combat power composition system, for example, will it cause Star Vein and Painful Painful Minghun abilities to fail?"

Facing the inquiry, the Guide half-opened his eyelids:

"External force cannot change your core growth structure. After modification is complete, these organs will all be purified, and then you will receive a sum of Shou Shou Jili produced from decomposing the organs."

Hearing these words, the eyes of the Liver Emperor Group players who had been hesitating about whether to take the modification shortcut began to gleam.

This meant that every organ they implanted, they could earn a profit of Shou Shou Jili from it.

The only problem was one — they needed to endure the intense pain brought by the modification process.

But compared to pain, they wanted Shou Shou Jili more.

Since joining the Reverse Tide Training Camp, what pain hadn't they experienced, so pain simply wasn't an issue.

During the subsequent tour, they shifted from a viewing perspective to a selection perspective, carefully examining each type of displayed organ.

Not seeking the best, but seeking the most expensive.

……

Early the next morning, trainees led by instructors entered the modification base in batches.

Before long, it was the turn of Seeing Li Zheng's squad.

When Seeing Li Zheng and the others proposed wanting full-body modification, the expressions of all trainees, including the sub-instructor, became very interesting.

"Are you serious?"

"Very serious, give each of us a full-body modification set."

"This isn't a joke. I have no right to interfere with your thoughts, but your current answer will be regarded by me as an execution plan." The sub-instructor's expression became serious.

Seeing Gui Tong and others also tried to persuade them one after another. Even the usually unfriendly Bull Ghost Clan trainees said this idea was too risky, completely courting death.

Transplanting talent organs was indeed a growth shortcut in their eyes.

But the Player Clan's full-body modification idea was a shortcut leading straight to the Yellow Springs Road.

It was completely joking with their own lives.

In the eyes of the Four-Pupil Clan trainees, although the Player Clan had resurrection ability, this resurrection ability was described as very unstable in the Player Clan description, and might have a failure probability.

More importantly, even if he could resurrect after body modification, the transplanted organs would very likely reshape along with the new body.

Changing them in the future would be difficult.

Facing the persuasion, Seeing Li Zheng, with no psychological burden, decisively stated:

"Brothers don't try to persuade us anymore, our Player Clan wants full-body modification, all organs replaced, taking the shortcut — no shame in that."

"I'll ask one more time—are you certain?" The division instructor produced a data stone for recording.

"Your next answers will be recorded and become part of the execution plan. If you are certain, I will issue you confirmation devices."

"Certain." Li Zheng and the others nodded again.

This answer provoked the Ox Demon tribe's trainees to curse aloud, thinking Li Zheng and the other Player tribe trainees were utterly insane, madmen.

Once the decision was settled, the division instructor departed.

Of the thirty-person squad, only Li Zheng and ten others chose full-body modification; all other trainees opted to forgo talent organ modification.

After lunch that day, the chief instructor led all trainees into the modification base plaza.

During the modification project confirmation, all trainees must participate in the ritual preceding talent organ transplantation, regarded as a sacred tradition.

Before the ritual began, all trainees took their seats in the viewing stands.

The chief instructor stood atop the dais, behind him a life tree adorned with countless starlight marks.

Once all trainees were seated, Shi Xiu Luo spoke in a deep voice:

"Before the inheritance of talent organs begins, I hope you all understand one thing: talent organs are not merely tools for growth—they are the continuation of a warrior's honor. Each organ is a gift from the fallen to the living; every implantation is an inheritance of bloodline and glory."

At the ritual's climax, the life tree behind Shi Xiu Luo scattered countless starlights, enveloping the entire plaza.

All trainees simultaneously entered the illusion constructed by the starlight.

Shi Xiu Luo's voice echoed in every trainee's mind:

"Remember: choosing a talent organ means accepting the will of the dead—you must forge it with the fire of battle."

At that moment, three masked figures appeared in the illusion, clad in dark red robes, their silver trays holding three organs.

"The Rune Physicians will now detail the functions of each organ. All trainees who signed up for modification have already received confirmation devices. If you wish to select an organ, press confirm—the physician will register your choice."

As Shi Xiu Luo fell silent, the central Rune Physician stepped forward and began detailing the information on the organs in the silver trays.

During this process, Li Zheng and the others held their confirmation devices, using their Analytical Ability to meticulously assess the value of each organ.

After every three organs were introduced, the organs on the silver trays were replaced, moving to the next round of introductions.

The number of selectable organs was vast, leaving the Ganyi Team trainees dazzled; their Analytical Ability scanned nonstop.

Information about various talent organs continuously surfaced in their minds.

Whenever a trainee pressed confirm, their name appeared above the Rune Physician's head, then merged with a starlight dot rising from the life tree.

The starlight represented the organ; the merging signified inheritance.

During this time, Li Zheng noticed that among the thousand-plus trainees, very few were willing to undergo talent organ modification.

Most trainees, like the Four-Eyed tribe, did not wish to take this shortcut that might cap their growth potential.

Their inner pride drove them to grow through their own efforts, unwilling to let their future potential be restricted.

But this issue had no impact on Li Zheng and the Ganyi Team players.

This wasn't selecting modification organs—it was picking Shou Shou Jili red envelopes, choosing whichever one held the biggest reward.

As time passed, the eyes of all trainees turned toward Li Zheng and the Ganyi Team.

While other trainees were cautious, the Player tribe's behavior resembled shopping at a market, occasionally pressing confirm.

By now, they had already selected five transplantable organs:

【Shadow Foot】

Description: A pair of foot organs from a Shadow Tribe warrior, offering enhanced movement efficiency, increased limb flexibility, and other basic agility boosts. As the organ grows, it can unlock a series of Shadow Tribe organ talents.

【Fierce Omen Elephant Lung】

Description: A lung organ from a Fierce Omen Tribe warrior, offering enhanced respiratory efficiency, improved air filtration, and strengthened breath control, among other basic respiratory boosts. As the organ grows, it can unlock the Iron Breath organ talent, enhancing resistance to toxic gases.

【Steel Bone】

Description: A rib bone from a Steel Tribe warrior, offering increased bone hardness, enhanced impact resistance, and strengthened self-repair, among other basic defense boosts. As the organ grows, it can unlock the "Steel Soul" organ talent.

【Heavenly Violet Seed】

Description: A brain seed from a Heavenly Violet Tribe warrior, offering enhanced thought speed, improved memory, and strengthened mental resistance, among other basic mental boosts. As the organ grows, it can unlock the "Thought Spiritual Domain" organ talent (the Heavenly Violet Seed cannot replace the original brain; it exists as an auxiliary organ).

【Flame Stomach】

Description: A stomach organ from a Flame Tribe warrior, offering enhanced energy conversion efficiency, increased high-temperature resistance, and strengthened energy storage, among other basic energy boosts. As the organ grows, it can unlock the "Flame Breath" organ talent.

……

Their escalating selections seemed like suicide to the other trainees.

Playing with their own lives.

Even full-body modification didn't guarantee death.

But each additional talent organ chosen increased the probability of death.

Seeing the Player tribe still confirming choices, the Poison Stinger Training Camp trainees were stunned.

"Are all the recruits from Windstorm Fortress Phase II this insane? If something goes wrong, they're gone for good."

"Damn, no wonder they're Player tribe—give me one talent organ and I'd hesitate for hours. They just grab a whole pile."

"They're not selecting organs—they're stacking death probability. If they keep this up, they'll replace every single part of their body."

"What are the Player tribe trying to do? Merge every organ to become the ultimate fusion being?"

……

The new trainees of every tribe were stunned by Li Zheng and the Players' actions.

They couldn't understand why the Player tribe did this.

If they wanted to grow stronger, the Reverse Tide Army had countless methods.

The correct way was to join wars after graduation and gain power through battle.

While talent organ transplantation was beneficial, it didn't justify such reckless selection.

Ignoring the gazes of other trainees, Li Zheng and the Ganyi Team players devoted themselves entirely to selecting organs.

Though more organs are always better, two organs of the same type cannot be transplanted; they must choose the best among them.

As time passed, Li Zheng and the others had already selected twelve talent organs, showing no intention of stopping.

Just then, the Rune Physician in the Illusion raised his right hand, and instantly an organ carved with runes, shaped like a pillar, floated before him.

Li Zheng and the others immediately activated analysis to scan it.

【Root of the Dragon Spine (Special Organ)】

Ability Description: A flourishing organ from the Dragon Spine Clan. After modification and transplantation, it can significantly boost a warrior's various attribute values. As the organ grows, the Root of the Dragon Spine can grant the warrior three organ talent effects.

Organ Talent Branches:

Source of Life: Greatly enhances a warrior's endurance and recovery, improving sustained combat and high-intensity battle capabilities.

Seed of Procreation: Enhances a warrior's reproductive capacity, suitable for strategic missions requiring rapid replenishment of troop sources.

Power of the Dragon Spine: Draws upon stored power within the Root of the Dragon Spine to grant a massive, short-term boost to physical attributes, significantly increasing the body's resistance to pain.

(Obtained Shou Shou Jili after purification and decomposition: 150,000)

"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

Seeing the decomposition reward of 150,000 Shou Shou Jili, Li Zheng and the others' eyes went wide.

Hearing Li Zheng's exclamation, the gazes of nearby trainees turned toward them.

"Wait... you want to modify that part too?" Gui Tong, sitting nearby, suddenly widened his eyes, looking somewhat incredulous.

"Big enough, strong enough, must modify it." Saying this, Li Zheng pointed his finger at the pillar-thick Root of the Dragon Spine:

"Just now, the Rune Physician introduced it as a special organ capable of comprehensively enhancing physical attributes, and it comes with three talent traits. It's simply an all-rounder organ; it must be modified!"

"But this is... this is that part!" Gui Tong lowered his voice, feeling the gazes cast from all around, thinking his face was about to be utterly disgraced by this bunch of beasts from the Player Clan.

He then continued to speak in a lowered voice, urging:

"Are you sure you want to be so ruthless to yourselves? Have you considered the consequences?"

"No big deal. Are you just jealous that I'll be bigger than you later?" Li Zheng glanced sideways at Gui Tong.

Hearing this, veins on Gui Tong's forehead throbbed:

"Do you know which type of warrior normally embeds this organ?"

"Which type?"

"This is a strategic-level organ with the Seed of Procreation talent. If one day the Legion needs to rapidly replenish troop sources, you become a potential mobile weapons factory... do you understand what I mean?"

"Mobile... weapons factory?" Li Zheng almost choked on his own saliva:

"There's such a requirement?"

"Of course. Currently, troop sources are abundant, so this isn't an issue, but if it's needed in the future, you must be ready to step up and help churn out troops... stop talking nonsense and give up quickly." Gui Tong urged impatiently.

Gui Tong's answer made Li Zheng almost laugh himself sick.

"Churning out troops," those two words were not unfamiliar to him.

The two Catastrophe-level powers at the doorstep, the Combat Insect Clan and the Terrifying Black Tide, both possess the ability to churn out troops at will, rapidly generating endless combat units to throw into war.

But the "churning out troops" Gui Tong spoke of carried another meaning.

Or rather, the most primitive meaning: reproductive-style troop generation.

Having been in the Monster World for so long, this was the first time he had heard of such a troop generation mode.

He didn't dwell on the question; facing Gui Tong's persuasion, he decisively shook his head:

"Never mind. The Reverse Tide doesn't lack warriors right now; I'll just get modified first."

"Wait!" Gui Tong grabbed Li Zheng's hand, which was about to press the confirmation device:

"Are you sure you won't reconsider?"

"No need to reconsider. Other organs can be abandoned, but this pillar must be modified."

"Besides, in the Rune Physician's description, this organ is hailed as the strongest among those currently appearing; how could I possibly miss it?"

Noticing Gui Tong had no intention of letting go, Chi Tu leaned his head over at that moment, looking at Gui Tong with a slightly provocative tone and said:

"Tongzi, are you just afraid we'll suddenly become stronger, and after transplanting the Root of the Dragon Spine, you won't be our match in our next brawl?"

"Nonsense! When it comes to fighting, when have you ever beaten me?" Gui Tong immediately glared.

"Then let's fight again after we transplant the Root of the Dragon Spine. By then, I'll whip you to death with what I pull out."

Li Zheng:...

Gui Tong:...

Nearby trainees listening intently:...

Such tiger-and-wolf words made the nearby trainees raise their thumbs one after another, giving Chi Tu's reply a high evaluation.

A Niu Gui Clan trainee, who had always been at odds with Chi Tu, clapped lightly at that moment, then also raised a thumb toward Chi Tu:

"Chi Tu, I've always felt the soul of your Liver Emperor Group is moving bricks, but when it comes to being the most beastly, it's definitely you. Facts prove it has to be you."

"You talk too much. By then, I'll whip you to death too."

Niu Gui Clan trainee:...

(End of Chapter)