Lin Wu was feeling happy after knowing that obtaining and absorbing these crystals or bloodline samples would let him progress his skills as well. He was now looking forward to finding more of them and was excited about it. And just as he was reveling in joy about this, a notification sounded in his head.

~Ding~

——

QUEST UPDATE: Objectives completed 7/8

——

"Alright, just one more to go." Lin Wu said as he then looked at the map window.

Here he noticed that the topography of the map had slightly changed. It was as f he was looking at it from slightly above.

"Huh, why is it a bit different now?" Lin Wu thought out loud and then realized.

"Wait, is it because of my size? How much did I increase in size now?" Lin Wu wondered as he started moving.

Lin Wu had been in a coiled posture all this while and even then his eyes were at the height of about four meters, which was rather tall. He uncoiled himself and found that he had become ten meters long now. His thickness had also increased from before, and now he was about six inches thick.

"Oh boy, I am big now. But this may perhaps be too big. I wonder if I can shrink my size now that my skills have increased in proficiency." Lin Wu stated in an astounded tone.

"System, show me the changes that are there now that my innate skills have increased in proficiency." Lin Wu ordered.

~Ding~

——

Innate skill: Radiation Manipulation

Skill grade: Minor

Proficiency: Novice

Description: The skill Radiation manipulation allows the host to control and manipulate small amounts of radiation. The host can control radioactive particles to influence other objects and items. The host can use it to heat up objects, corrode, and make them decay.

The host can also sense the ambient radiation in the environment and perceive it.

Note: At the host's current Skill grade and proficiency, the host can sufficiently heat some items and has thermal perception. Please upgrade the skill to gain better effects.

Innate Skill: Cellular Manipulation

Skill Grade: Lesser

Proficiency: Intermediate

Description: The host has control over its cells and can make them obey its commands. The host can change them into different parts and organs, allowing him to make them proliferate and replicate them at will. The host can regenerate injuries and heal from wounds.

Note: At the host's current skill grade and proficiency, the host can freely control the size of his body by up to a five fold limit; that is, he can shrink his body by five times and similarly elongate it by five times. While the host can still regenerate his wounds using the system's help, the regeneration done by this skill has no cost, except for the host's own vital energy.

Upon reaching the next stage of the proficiency, the regeneration ability will be unlocked.

Innate skill: Cellular crystallization

Skill grade: Great

Proficiency: Intermediate

Description: The skill cellular crystallization allows the host to change the structure of the host's cells into an inorganic crystalline form. The host can also revert his cells back into the organic form if he chooses to do so. The host's body functions normally in the crystalline form and has increased defense. The host is resistant to external elements such as heat and cold in this form. The host's crystal form is also naturally radioactive and will turn the environment that he lives in radioactive. Reverting to the organic form will return the host's previous capabilities of reproduction. The host's ability to channel spirit qi into the crystalline form is enhanced and will have a stronger effect than his organic form.

Note: At the host's current proficiency, it can do everything that is mentioned in the description. Upgrading the skills grade will result in new abilities being added, and the skill description will be enhanced.

——

Lin Wu was even more happy seeing the changes in the skill descriptions and carefully contemplated on their uses. A few ideas were already popping up in his mind after reading the changes.

"Hmm, I can think about this more after I complete the quest, I'm close to its end, anyway." Lin Wu reckoned.

Having said this, he decided to continue onward.

The eighth and final quest objective was to the very south. It was located far beyond the crater which Lin Wu had emerged from and seemed to be at the farthest distance from his location. It was also the place where he had seen those flicking lights in his thermal vision.

Lin Wu followed the navigation and saw that the path it was showing was rather long and winded instead of the straightforward one that he could take in front of him.

"System, why is the path like this? There doesn't seem to be anything obstructing the way from what I can see." Lin Wu questioned.

~Ding~

——

ANSWER: There are hidden pools of lava below the surface of the ground. These pools have been hidden because of the cooled layer of the lava on the surface. They are unsafe to traverse on, thus the system decided on this route.

——

After reading the system's reply, Lin Wu did not feel satisfied.

'Doesn't my new physique and higher proficiency in the Cellular Crystallization innate skill make me resistant to heat and cold? I should already be able to cross them with no problems. If I do get find myself in some trouble, I'll simply change the path that I'm taking.' Lin Wu thought.

Having determined that he was not gonna follow the given route, he decided to start moving towards it.

It took Lin Wu nearly an hour before he reached the point where the supposed danger zone started in. It was this location from where the route of the system diverged and took him to a different path circumventing this location.

Just as Lin Wu was about to take the next step, a warning sounded in his head.

~Ding~

——

WARNING!: The host is advised to change his route and not proceed. Doing so may result in bodily injury and possible death.

——