Clone Ascension

Wendy Lewis had once explained to Evan that so‑called “storage rings” were actually crafted from the fruit of a Tier‑5 spirit plant—Heaven‑Earth Wood.

Its fruit was a natural spatial material, perfect for making storage tools.

If the fruit could be made into a ring,

it could certainly be made into an earring.

Which meant—

the wooden earring FangBro found

might very well be a storage artifact.

Evan’s eyes lit up instantly.

Whether it was a high‑tier relic or a storage tool—

it was a treasure either way.

“Where exactly is it?” Evan asked.

FangBro pointed at a patch of black soil.

“Right here. About fifty centimeters upward from this point.”

His mysterious pixelation skill allowed him to enter the black soil,

but not to bring anything out.

So the digging fell to Evan.

FangBro, despite being Butterfly‑tier,

had no offensive skills—

he couldn’t break the hardened black soil at all.

Evan’s only digging method was Needle Strike.

Fortunately, the treasure was only fifty centimeters deep.

If it were ten meters,

Evan would probably dig until his fingers snapped.

But even fifty centimeters wasn’t easy.

Needle Strike could pierce about ten centimeters at a time,

but he couldn’t just fire five shots in a straight line—

he needed to carve out a hole wide enough

for his arm to reach in.

“Let’s dig. No other choice.”

Evan activated Ant‑Force

and began stabbing the black soil repeatedly.

But Ant‑Force only lasted ten seconds.

After each burst, he had to wait for cooldown.

Ten seconds of frantic digging.

Cooldown.

Ten seconds of frantic digging.

Cooldown.

Half an hour later,

Evan’s fingers were swollen and throbbing.

He collapsed onto the ground, panting.

Even with his powerful physique,

this was torture.

Thankfully, Regenerator healed him quickly.

After a short rest,

he resumed digging.

Three hours later…

Evan slumped onto the ground, exhausted.

He had finally carved out a hole just wide enough for his arm—

but only thirty centimeters deep.

Still twenty to go.

…

Meanwhile, less than a hundred meters above them—

Three students from Linhaven Noble Academy

were treasure‑hunting in the Thousand‑Hero Mound,

with Instructor Stone following behind.

The leading student, Adrian Talbot,

held a metal chain attached to their Treasure‑Seeker Rat.

The rat sniffed the air excitedly.

A girl in a short skirt beamed.

“Senior Adrian, this Treasure‑Seeker Rat is amazing!

It always finds something good!”

Adrian Talbot chuckled.

“Nothing valuable so far. Just low‑tier junk.”

Just then, the rat squeaked sharply

and began clawing frantically at the ground—

but the black soil was far too hard for a Tier‑2 beast.

Adrian turned to Instructor Stone.

“Teacher Ji, there’s definitely something down there.”

Instructor Stone nodded.

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“Then we go down.”

They exited the black soil region

and moved to the outer area.

Surprisingly,

the one with Earth‑Dive wasn’t Instructor Stone—

but Adrian Talbot.

He could only bring one person at a time,

so he transported them underground in batches.

…

Evan had no idea

that his digging had thinned the black soil enough

for the Treasure‑Seeker Rat to sense the relic’s aura.

He had just finished resting

and was about to resume digging

when FangBro suddenly warned:

“Someone’s coming.”

A moment later,

four people and one rat appeared in the tunnel.

The Treasure‑Seeker Rat squealed wildly,

straining toward the hole Evan had dug.

Evan frowned.

Trouble.

Linhaven Noble Academy had a terrible reputation.

They weren’t here to “say hello.”

FangBro stepped forward,

yellow evolution light flaring around him.

“What do you want?”

Instructor Stone stepped up as well,

his yellow glow brighter and steadier—

a veteran Butterfly‑tier.

“What did you find?” he asked.

FangBro snorted.

“None of your business.”

Instructor Stone glanced at Evan,

then at FangBro.

“You two—what school are you from?”

Their military‑training uniforms made it obvious

they were students.

Evan looked like one,

but FangBro clearly wasn’t—

and he was Butterfly‑tier.

Instructor Stone assumed Evan was a genius student

and FangBro was his assigned protector.

FangBro repeated coldly:

“None of your business.”

Instructor Stone’s expression darkened.

He had originally intended to be polite—

if they were from a Linhaven academy,

he would share the treasure.

If they were from Dongli,

he would simply drive them away.

But since they refused to cooperate—

He pointed at the Treasure‑Seeker Rat.

“That thing you’re digging for—

our Treasure‑Seeker Rat found it first.

Since you did the labor,

I’ll compensate you with a Tier‑2 extract.”

The girl behind him quickly handed him

an orange‑glowing extract.

Instructor Stone extended it toward Evan.

“Take this and leave.”

Evan stared at the man’s smug face,

anger boiling in his chest.

He had dug until his fingers nearly broke—

and these people wanted to steal the prize?

You’ve got some nerve.

He flexed his sore hand.

“And if we don’t leave?

You planning to attack us?”

Adrian Talbot sneered.

“And what if we do?

We’re protecting our property.

You tried to steal from us.

If we kill you, it’s perfectly legal.”

The two Cocoon‑tier students behind him chimed in:

“Exactly!

We asked your identities and you refused to answer.

You’re probably Filthsoil spies!”

FangBro finally snapped.

“Just say you want to rob us.

Don’t pretend you’re righteous, you hypocrites.”

The short‑skirt girl trembled with rage.

No one had ever spoken to her like that.

“You filthy lower‑class pig!

One look at you and I know you’re from that barbaric Rovan Federation!

Even if you reach Butterfly‑tier, you’re still trash!

Your whole country is trash!

Your parents, your ancestors—”

She never finished.

FangBro vanished—

and reappeared in front of her.

SLAP!

A thunderous crack echoed through the tunnel.

The girl flew sideways,

half her teeth scattering across the ground,

her cheek torn open.

She collapsed, screaming hysterically.

Instructor Stone hadn’t expected FangBro to strike first.

He roared and lunged,

his hand expanding into a massive net

that slammed downward.

But FangBro Earth‑Dived instantly,

reappearing beside Evan.

“Sorry, boss,” he said quietly.

“I lost control.”

His parents were his deepest wound.

Hearing them insulted

made him snap.

Evan gave him a thumbs‑up.

“Good hit.”

If Evan could reach her,

he would’ve smashed her head himself.

Instructor Stone charged toward them.

Evan hissed,

“Retreat. We’ll get reinforcements.”

He wasn’t the type to swallow humiliation,

but he and FangBro couldn’t beat a veteran Butterfly‑tier.

Their poison‑kite tactics worked on beasts,

not humans.

His plan was simple:

Let them dig out the earring.

Then he and FangBro would steal it back.

Worst case,

he’d call Director Warren Pierce

and split the loot.

But FangBro shook his head.

“I’ll handle the old guy.

Boss, you take the three kids.”

Evan froze.

“What are you planning?”

“Don’t worry.

Even a Saint‑tier can’t kill me.”

Before Evan could respond,

FangBro lunged forward,

grabbed Instructor Stone—

and Earth‑Dived,

dragging him away by force.

In an instant,

the tunnel was silent.

Only Evan

and the three Linhaven students remained.

FangBro had created the perfect battlefield.

Because he believed—

Evan could crush all three of them alone.