How Am I Still Alive?
Chapter 42 - 42 34 Breakthrough

42: Chapter 34: Breakthrough 42: Chapter 34: Breakthrough “These violent delights have violent ends.”

“And in their triumph die, like fire and powder.”

As Lu Ping’an looked at the first-tier Magic Monster corpses on the ground and the dispersing black fog, he couldn’t help but recite a short poem.

Suddenly, a wave of dizziness struck him, and he staggered, almost falling to the ground.

But he only showed a joyful expression on his face.

“Finally got it…”

[Host’s pollution carrying capacity has reached its limit, micro-mutation is happening, please maintain a stable state…]

The Life Bank system reacted quickly.

Lu Ping’an felt as if something was crawling on him, as if someone was whispering in his ear.

In the depths of his eyes, he could see only mist and ghostly spirit bodies.

In just a moment, the beautiful forest transformed into a ghostly lair full of monsters, or perhaps, this was its true appearance…

“Lu Ping’an!”

His companion’s cry woke him up.

He raised his head sharply, the red light in his eyes making Xue En retreat quickly and assume a fighting stance.

In the Secret Realm, the Secret Keeper had seen too many cases of companions going berserk.

However, the killing intent that appeared in just an instant made even the 2-tier powerful Xue En’s back go cold.

He felt the horror of death, as if a giant beast was already close to his face, calling his name.

“…What kind of monster is this?

A 0-tier with the ability to kill me?”

The perceptive Xue En did not think it was an illusion just now.

Although he had always felt that the seemingly normal Lu Ping’an was abnormal, it wasn’t until this moment that he realized just how outrageous the person in front of him was.

“…Damn it, I can’t think like this!

It’ll accelerate his mutation!”

Fortunately, Lu Ping’an wasn’t affected by Xue En’s Abnormal Ability.

In the next moment, the young man returned to normal, showing his familiar smile.

“I’m a little tired…

Let’s take a break.”

After confirming Lu Ping’an’s condition several times and seeing that he was alright, Xue En finally relaxed.

But now, he no longer saw the young man in front of him as a rookie apprentice.

That terrifying “pollution” that had been released for a moment was enough to completely engulf everything.

“Alright, you rest for a while.

Or do you want to consider heading back?”

Xue En tentatively asked.

Lu Ping’an smiled and nodded, then went to the camp to rest…

He needed to sort out his gains from just now.

[…The host’s body and spirit are experiencing micro-mutations due to excessive pollution…]

[…Slight increase in physique, slight increase in reflex, significant increase in spiritual spirituality.]

[Congratulations, host, your soul has resisted spiritual pollution and your spiritual power has broken through to the Black Iron Lower Level!]

[Current status: Physique (Mortal), Reflex (Mortal), Spirit (Black Iron Lower Level)]

Seeing the finally upgraded spiritual attribute, Lu Ping’an breathed a sigh of relief.

“…Thank you, Chris, I didn’t expect your ancient method to be so useful.”

“In the era without a professional system, or in the world disconnected from the Gods, this is how it’s done.

It’s actually a natural mutation without the rules of the Gods, but don’t rely on it too much…”

This was the method Chris had recommended to Lu Ping’an: accumulate a large amount of “pollution” in his body without digesting it, waiting for a natural mutation to occur.

For any other professional, this approach would be nearly suicidal.

But from Chris’s perspective, this was just the most normal path of cultivation.

“Spiritual pollution has several stages; from over-excitement to hallucinations and auditory ones.

Did you complete the spiritual mutation so quickly?

Your talent is not bad.”

“Compared to you?”

“Then it’s garbage.”

As their interactions increased, Lu Ping’an noticed that Chris was actually quite adept with internet slang but simply didn’t like to use it.

How could a drama chaser, who had been lurking in human society for many years, only be proficient in convoluted, middle schooler-sounding phrases?

“Can I do this again?

Use excessive pollution to induce mutations and freeload some basic attributes?”

“You can, but it’s not worth it.

The first awakening is often Spirit Vision, which indirectly causes mental mutation and greatly enhances spiritual power.

If the body starts mutating, there is a real risk of losing control.”

“Then never mind.”

Lu Ping’an checked the system panel and, sure enough, there was an extra skill.

[Common skill: Spirit Vision lv1, 1/100]

When opened, the prompt was even more subtle.

[See the truth of the world; perhaps, you would rather not have this ability.]

During the previous communication with Chris, when she mentioned this seemingly murderous method of promotion, Lu Ping’an refused.

Even as a newcomer, he had been repeatedly taught that the Secret Keeper must always fight against pollution, not only by hunting external pollution, but more importantly, by resisting the eternal growth of pollution within themselves.

The worst way to die is by losing control and mutating due to excessive pollution and uncontrolled abnormal abilities.

That would utterly turn a living person into a Magic Monster, just like Achilles lying on the ground right now.

“Deliberately letting pollution overload without digestion, I think you want me dead.”

“…Ignorant fool, you have no idea what you have taken from me.

This bit of mud wants to completely pollute you?

Multiply it by ten, a hundred times, it’s still not enough.

Do you know what the most important thing for a professional is?”

“Well, honesty and trustworthiness?

The Secret Keeper society seems to value this a lot?”

Recalling how obsessed professionals were with credit and contracts, Lu Ping’an gave an answer.

“Balance.

All pollution must be in a balanced state, not favoring any side, in order to last.”

Now, Lu Ping’an understood completely.

The individual’s talent ability is “Pollution,” and the profession system is also “Pollution.” The two counterbalance each other, preventing either from completely losing control.

Newcomers come here to kill Magic Monsters, naturally transferring the monster’s pollution to themselves.

Surviving in the Secret Realm inevitably leads to contamination; when newcomers have acquired a certain level of pollution, they leave the Secret Realm before the lamp turns red.

Then, outside, through exercise and cultivation, they digest the pollution into the basic abilities of the professional system.

Since the pollution here has been purified by the Lady of the Forest, her unique “divinity” is present.

That makes even the original pollution very easy to transform into the “professional pollution” required for Lin Nu-based professions.

That’s why professions like Gardener are fond of this realm, valuing not only the Magic Plants here but also the improvement their profession system gains from cultivation here.

“Talent abilities and professional systems must be balanced against each other to be stable, but your talent ability is based on the seventh-tier Gold Rule, and you’re only a 0-tier professional.

Do you think the balance most important to ordinary people exists in you from the beginning?!”

This reveals why Da Mao always said that the bracelet had no meaning for Lu Ping’an.

He was imbalanced from the very beginning, and his imbalance was destined to persist.

So why worry about overloading, pollution mutation?

“That’s not right, then why haven’t I mutated yet?!”

“…It’s too complicated to explain; there are many things you can’t understand right now, and language cannot bear the principle.

But other abilities are uncontrollable sources of pollution, and chaotic disorder leads to mutations, so they need the profession representing ‘Order’ to balance and filter them.

It was apparent that Chris was trying to suppress her anger.

Her treasure had been taken by a child who didn’t know its value.

Holding the “Order Rule” that was almost close enough to a True God and could create their own path was like a Divine Son envying a false god believer’s mud idol, then saying to their parents, ‘The bloodline Divine Power you gave me isn’t as good-looking or useful as the mud idol.’

If it weren’t for the fact that she knew Lu Ping’an really didn’t understand, she might have thought this was a deliberate insult.

“Do you think your abnormal ability is disordered?

It is derived from the Quasi-God’s rule, the World Order, far more orderly and controllable than any professional system!

For pollution to completely mutate you, it must first mutate the Life Bank and the Secret Realm, mutate me, and most importantly, distort your ‘principles.’ Do you think that’s possible?!

Can you come into contact with that level of Evil Gods now?”

“Can the pollution of a small ditch not contaminate the ocean…

I understand now, thank you.”

Lu Ping’an didn’t bother to think about the rationale, as long as it was roughly right and usable.

The ancient method activated Lu Ping’an’s Spirit Vision and greatly increased his spiritual attribute, which meant that the door for a true professional was now wide open for him.

[Acquired professional skill (Runner), Spatial Perception lv1.]

[Acquired professional skill (Gardener), Mental Perception lv1.]

So the question was, with both paths open at the same time, which path to take first?