Grey quickly summoned his clone. He sat on the chair to the side, observing it quietly. Then he took out several azure vitality pills.

Although using the pills for transformation was painful, he did not want any side effects or instability occurring during the process. The pills were far more refined than the raw vital essence contained within a beast core.

Because of that, he decided to use the pills first. He could always refine more later.

If there was one thing he understood about the secret realm, it was this. The realmheart drew energy from the main world, converted it, and refined it into realmheart energy. As long as he did not excessively strain the realmheart, the herb gardens would never run dry.

That meant he could obtain an effectively infinite supply of these pills.

He also planned to establish multiple herb fields throughout the secret realm to further increase yield, along with forging powerful arrays to accelerate energy gathering.

With that thought settled, Grey split his consciousness. A portion of his awareness descended and anchored itself within the clone.

The Grey Clone sat cross legged atop the bed, posture straight and expression calm. Its breathing gradually slowed, settling into a steady rhythm as it prepared to receive external energy.

With a casual wave of Grey's hand, an azure vitality pill floated forward. It hovered briefly before dissolving into pure energy, streaming toward the clone like mist drawn into an invisible vortex.

The moment the clone closed its eyes, the transformation technique activated. Vitality was pulled inward and guided along predetermined pathways.

Grey narrowed his eyes.

"I should also assist with Nexus Essence."

As a clone, it possessed no true vitality of its own. It could think, move, and execute commands flawlessly, but it lacked the most fundamental requirement of cultivation. The ability to generate essence born from one's own existence.

If Grey's understanding was correct, Nexus Essence should display effects several times stronger than ordinary essence. After all, it was the fusion of the three fundamental aspects of existence, mind, body, and energy.

In essence, whether one used mind essence, energy essence, or vital essence, the final result was the same. The transformation of the body itself. That was why, to the wider population, these forces were collectively referred to as vital essence. The method differed, but the outcome did not.

Whatever the case, Grey refocused. He severed the main body's consciousness from the clone for better focus.

The instant vital essence and Nexus Essence entered the clone's body, it began to tremble slightly. The Grey Clone was not aware of it, as it was now circulating the incoming vital and Nexus energies with precise control.

One by one, the vital essence and Nexus Essence spread to every corner of its body, beginning to permeate each and every cell.

Seeing this, Grey immediately activated his Genetic Insight.

The instant he did, everything vanished. Light, shadow, noise, all of it disappeared.

All that remained was the DNA structure of the Grey Clone. His own DNA structure.

It behaved exactly like that of an ordinary human. After all, the clone was fundamentally human.

However, at this moment, a massive transformation was occurring within the DNA structures inside its cells.

Vital essence and Nexus Essence fused together, transforming into a radiant light as they surged toward the microscopic DNA framework. They seeped into the tightly packed and folded strands, permeating every single cell within the clone.

"…"

In the very next second, Grey's expression turned grave.

The mixed essence permeating the cells was triggering transformation.

The DNA structure, once tightly packed and folded, was loosening.

"It's loosening?" Grey was stunned.

This was illogical. How could the DNA structure loosen without immediate death?

In real biology, DNA could not loosen under normal circumstances. If the helix lost its integrity, or if the structure destabilized like this, it would result in catastrophic genomic instability. Cells would detect the damage and immediately initiate self destruction.

By conventional biological standards, the clone should already be dead.

[Your comprehension defies the heavens! By observing the transformation process, you have gained insight into the hidden rules of evolution and achieved insight into the mysteries of "Evolutionary Essence".]

"Continue."

Grey did not interfere. He allowed the split consciousness to proceed.

The Grey Clone was unaware of anything occurring within its body. It did not possess Genetic Insight, after all.

As the mixed essence fully permeated the cells, the clone received the signal for activation. It was finally time for full transformation.

Following the instructions outlined in the manual, it began circulating the mixed essence according to the prescribed pattern. The circulation route was strange, almost illogical, and Grey himself did not fully understand why it was structured this way.

But he was certain of one thing.

These circulation patterns were where the transformation truly occurred.

Buzz!

The mixed essence bubbled within the clone's DNA structures. Soon, it rotated throughout the entire body, completing one full circulation.

The moment it finished, a strange marking formed around the loosened DNA structure.

"What the hell is this?"

Insight surged into Grey's mind like a tidal wave.

[Your comprehension defies the heavens! By observing the transformation process, you have gained insight into the hidden rules of evolution and comprehended the concept of "Genetic Marking".]

While Grey was still comprehending, the Grey Clone continued circulating the essence without pause. After the first circulation, it began the second.

The instant the second circulation completed, another marking formed.

Then the third.

And the fourth.

One circulation after another, markings continued to appear until the final 12th marking appeared.

The instant the 12th marking appeared, the very first marking that formed stirred in response, it ignited violently.

The moment the first marking ignited, the light did not disperse outward. Instead, it collapsed inward, folding in on itself and sinking directly into the DNA framework like molten sigils being branded into living code.

The marking fused seamlessly with the genetic structure, locking into place along the helix's core supports. Instantly, the surrounding strands shuddered, their arrangement subtly but decisively rewritten. Cells began reorganizing at a foundational level, proteins recalibrated their binding priorities, and dormant genetic pathways were forcibly awakened.

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