November 3rd, Tuesday, the second day after Halloween, also the second day after Zhang Yanhang left Ashen World, 11:10 AM, Qin Island City, relevant department office building.

After understanding Zhang Yanhang's needs, Zhou Muxi immediately went to the warehouse to extract those three bottles of [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine]. Of course, she didn't spend money, she used contribution points, and with her high-level permission, it was still very cheap.

After Zhou Muxi finished extracting, she immediately sent a message to Zhang Yanhang saying she was ready.

Then Zhou Muxi instantly saw a gigantic teleportation gate at least over ten meters high suddenly appear in front of her, and a giant hand flung out a 9-meter-high earth-yellow cube, weighing at least a thousand tons, crashing onto the ground with a bang.

Luckily, Zhou Muxi was in the warehouse, where a spatial expansion spell had been set up, otherwise, this earth-yellow cube alone would have been enough to smash through several floors.

"You call this not large?"

Zhou Muxi originally thought the Earth Vein Essence Crystal would be something small like a gemstone, but Zhang Yanhang flung out something larger than a mansion, which would surely provide a massive amount of Earth Vein Energy?

With this piece alone, it's estimated that it could pull in all the Earth energy she needs to promote to the Fifth Rank.

Thinking of this, Zhou Muxi didn't bother with surprise and quickly absorbed this giant earth-yellow cube into her pupil.

Immediately after, Zhou Muxi handed over the three bottles of [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine] she had just obtained to Zhang Yanhang, who suddenly stuffed something into her mouth. Before she could react, it was already digested, and meanwhile, her data panel instantly showed a passive skill called [Magic Energy Link].

"Transaction complete, here's a little bonus for you."

Because everything went smoothly, Zhang Yanhang conveniently pulled out some low-level Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that Zhou Muxi might use from his waist bag and threw them over. Of course, although he said low-level, his low-level now consists of Third and Fourth Tier Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures, just right for Zhou Muxi's current usage.

Looking at the scattered seven or eight Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures on the ground that seemed like trash but were filled with huge spiritual energy fluctuations, Zhou Muxi really wanted to say, could I get a bit more of such bonuses?

But before she could open her mouth, Zhang Yanhang had already closed the transmission channel, as everyone was just in a simple trading relationship. He always enters bodies but never enters lives, so once the deal is concluded, there's no need for chit-chat or small talk, mainly because he finds it bothersome.

"This guy, surely he likes me, right?"

Although Zhang Yanhang is 'not good with words (low emotional intelligence)', Zhou Muxi, who is almost thirty years old and also not that good at communicating with people, felt this kind of young and inexperienced feeling was also nice.

If Zhang Yanhang were still scanning Zhou Muxi, he'd definitely slap her awake.

But sadly, Zhang Yanhang's entire focus is now on the three bottles of [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine] he just acquired.

After briefly examining the attribute list of this [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine], Zhang Yanhang found that this thing indeed can only increase the Charm attribute value by one point, but beyond that, it has no other effects.

But it's not a big deal, Zhang Yanhang only lacked Charm attribute, so he immediately swallowed all three bottles of [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine] into the stomach space.

Looking at the [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine] instantly absorbed by the stomach space, Zhang Yanhang also quickly started to review his attribute list again.

[Strength: 125 (+3[-2])]

[Agility: 125 (+3[-1])]

[Constitution: 125 (+3[-2])]

[Intelligence: 125 (+3[-3])]

[Charm: 125 (+10[-6])]

"One bottle of [Type II Gene Optimization Medicine] can only increase one Charm attribute; three bottles combined give a total of three Charm attributes, but with the 100% bonus from the Swallowing Heaven and Earth skill, it becomes a six-point increase in Charm attribute.

Therefore, my Charm attribute, with equipment bonus, has increased from the original 125 points to 131 points, but because the Fifth Rank limit is 125 points, these six Charm attribute points are all overflowed."

After removing the equipment bonus, Zhang Yanhang's original non-equipped state was 115 points, but now it's increased to 121 points.

"Since the previous overflow has already been resolved, this overflow can't remain either."

Zhang Yanhang had originally equipped five Crimson Iron Heart Necklaces on his neck, but earlier he removed a Purple Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklace, and now he has three Purple Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklaces and one Blue Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklace left.

Thus, Zhang Yanhang took off the original three Purple Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklaces, leaving only the one Blue Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklace that he had just equipped.

After removing the three Purple Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklaces, Zhang Yanhang immediately started checking the attribute list again.

[Strength: 125 (+3[-2])]

[Agility: 125 (+3[-1])]

[Constitution: 125 (+3[-2])]

[Intelligence: 125 (+3[-3])]

[Charm: 125 (+4)]

"A Purple Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklace can give me a bonus of two Charm attribute points. Now that I've taken off three, it just cancels out the previous six points overflow. At this moment, only the last four charm attribute points remain from the equipment bonus on me."

Zhang Yanhang feels that if he puts in some effort, he might be able to completely nullify these last four Charm attribute points as well.

To be honest, it doesn't have much to do with effort, since most of the remaining four Charm attribute points are from the Makarov Set. Even if he could increase it, he wouldn't stop using the Makarov Set due to Charm attribute overflow, so this small wish can only possibly be fulfilled once the Makarov Set is completely phased out later.

"Didn't expect that after this promotion to the fifth tier, I haven't really done anything yet, but somehow gained a total of 18 Charm attribute points. Indeed, the Charm attribute isn't really worth much."

If it were other attributes like Strength, Agility, Constitution, and Intelligence, Zhang Yanhang thought it would be extremely difficult to increase them using artifacts.

After all, most people don't need the Charm attribute, but Strength, Agility, Constitution, and Intelligence are different. They are attributes that everyone uses to enhance their power, so there might be spare Charm attributes increasing artifacts, whereas other artifacts are almost impossible to spare.

"Previously, I thought about using free attribute points to increase Charm, but it turns out to be totally unnecessary, as relying on artifacts alone almost maxed out the Charm attribute."

However, since Agility hasn't increased yet, Zhang Yanhang does not rule out the possibility of using free attribute points to boost Agility. He still has six free attribute points left, using one to raise Agility would be quite effortless.

"Initially, when there were ten points of Charm attribute equipment bonus, the health status was 8%. I thought there was little hope to increase any further, but unexpectedly, I got new artifacts to enhance the Charm attribute."

Now, as the equipment bonus decreased to only four points, Zhang Yanhang's Charm attribute health naturally also greatly declined. It dropped directly from the original 8% to 3%, lowering by a full 5%, achieving the previous 5% small goal of Zhang Yanhang, and additionally decreasing by another 2%.

"Although due to the Makarov Set, the portion of my Charm attribute equipment bonus has almost no room for decline in a short period, it's still necessary to keep striving."

Zhang Yanhang still has a Blue Quality Crimson Iron Heart Necklace he hasn't taken off. He thinks if he removes this last Crimson Iron Heart Necklace, his Charm attribute's health level would certainly drop below 3%, which would also be his recent limit health level.

Since Zhang Yanhang feels in the future he probably won't wear any more charming equipment, he believes his current Charm attribute health should come to a long stable period and presumably won't rise again for quite some time.

"So, the question is, what should I do now? I feel like there's gradually nothing much left to do, as the fifth-tier permanent teleportation channel only opens the day after tomorrow."

Thinking it over carefully, Zhang Yanhang feels there truly seems nothing else to do except continue capturing ghosts to extend his lifespan.

"Since that's the case, then keep working hard to try to accumulate a lifespan of ten thousand years before tomorrow."

Zhang Yanhang plans to take a short break after amassing ten thousand years of life span. After all, reaching twenty thousand years of life span, belongs to a level that's hardly achievable even with effort, so better to go with the flow and strive again after gaining a substantial life span boost by promoting to the sixth tier.

With this in mind, Zhang Yanhang immediately teleports back to his previous location, continuing to hunt down and clear all the nearby ghosts methodically.

...

November 3rd, Tuesday, the second day after Halloween, and also the second day Zhang Yanhang left the Ashen World. It's 3:29 PM, Qin Island City, East River District Building 6, Unit 3, Living room of apartment 702.

Today is the day when the teleportation channel to the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu opens. Zhang Yanhang originally thought his last visit was his final trip to the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu, but unexpectedly, due to gaining the 'Hundred Taboos' ability, he can still enter the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu in a second-tier area even at the current fifth tier.

However, this really will be the last time, because even 'Hundred Taboos' can only assure entry to second-tier areas. Once he ascends to the sixth tier, entrance is entirely out of the question.

Although the items obtained from within the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest are no longer of use to him, he still came nonetheless. Besides cleaning up the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu, he can also clear up some monsters over at the Large Crimson Iron Ant Nest Tarano side.

So, as the time approached half-past three, Zhang Yanhang promptly stopped ghost hunting and transported himself to East River District, as it's only a minute away from the teleportation channel to the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu opening.

Upon the arrival of a time pause, a large option text box immediately surfaced before Zhang Yanhang.

[Do you want to enter the Ashen World?]

[Option One: Yes (Immediately enter the Ashen World through the teleportation channel in front. Even though you don't plan to continue developing new areas within the Crimson Iron Ore Vein, adhering to the principle 'since you're here, might as well not leave empty-handed,' you still clear out all the newly spawned monsters in the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu.

However, merely clearing the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu didn't bring satisfaction, so you went on to the Large Crimson Iron Ant Nest Tarano, where you also cleared out the respawned monsters, and at the same time, emptied the third-tier prize pool of the Lucky Slot Machine in both areas.)]

[Option Two: No (Even though the teleportation channel is right in front of you, you inexplicably no longer feel interested in the portal to the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu, because you feel with your current strength, there's really no need to revisit a second-tier area like the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu.

For someone who has already almost entirely phased out the Crimson Iron Series Equipment, the current Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu indeed no longer has anything of interest for you. Even the Makarov Earring doesn't intrigue you much because you know upgrading the earring to a golden level is no longer possible.)]

[Option Three: Make some preparations (The teleportation channel before you remains open for another seven hours and fifty-nine minutes. Realizing still ample time exists, you contemplate making some preparations first, though after considering repeatedly, you find there truly seems nothing worth preparing for.

Hence, with nothing particular to prepare, you think even though preparations could be made, they would indeed be minimal. You decide that after the preparatory work, you should enter the Ashen World promptly and clean up the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu and the Large Crimson Iron Ant Nest Tarano as soon as possible.)]

"Familiar options, but a brand new feeling."

Not planning to seek new areas in the Crimson Iron Ore Vein is why, this time as mentioned in the third option, Zhang Yanhang merely wants to enter and swiftly clear up the Small Crimson Iron Ant Nest Dala Gu and the Large Crimson Iron Ant Nest Tarano, and then quickly return to continue ghost hunting to extend his life span.

Having no choice, indeed since he has found things to do in the Main World lately, his life has gotten considerably busier, no longer like before when he could enjoy leisurely days in the Main World, as those good days are gone forever.