My inventory is full of monster materials.

Nighttime, Daphne Hotel.

The fireplace flames cast a warm glow over the hall, a cacophony of voices, the aroma of ale, and the steam from roasting meat.

The adventurers sat around a long table, laughing and talking loudly, comparing their day's gains.

The waitresses moved nimbly among the crowded tables, their faces adorned with sweet smiles, their trays steadily laden with food and beer.

The brass bell on the hotel door rang crisply.

Ding-dong—

Mark opened the door with his elbow and squeezed in sideways.

At this moment, he was holding a series of nested glass jars in his left arm, carrying a long wooden box with copper-plated corners in his right hand, and his travel backpack was stuffed full. He looked like a moving mountain of luggage.

Perhaps because he had too much stuff, Mark had some difficulty walking and accidentally bumped into a girl who was taking orders for customers in the aisle.

"Oh dear! I'm so sorry, sir, I... huh?"

The girl, wearing a beige lace dress and with two lively braids, saw Mark's appearance and her face was full of joy as she called out in a clear voice.

"Brother Mark! You're back!"

"Oh, it's Iveney. I'm sorry, I'm... a bit busy."

Mark, preoccupied with his own problems, adjusted the jar that was about to slip from his arms.

"Brother Mark, do you need any help?"

"No need, you go about your business."

"It's okay, I'll help you."

Mark wanted to refuse Aphrodite, but the girl's enthusiasm was persistent, and she insisted on supporting the travel backpack from behind.

Left with no other option, Mark could only whisper a reminder to the girl.

"Aphrodite...your dad is watching us."

"Hey!"

Aphne glanced nervously at the bar and, sure enough, saw a burly, Mediterranean-looking man staring intently at their every move.

The girl blushed instantly, pretending nothing had happened, and twirled her braided hair in circles with her fingers.

Mark, meanwhile, stealthily used his travel backpack to shield himself as he passed by the bar.

But the gaze opposite him was so real, it was fixed on Mark, as if a fist the size of a casserole dish was about to strike him at any moment.

"mark!"

"Senior! This way!"

At a square table in the corner of the hall, Henry and Brady waved vigorously at Mark, while Emily held her juice and sipped it cautiously.

Tonight, their team is having dinner here to celebrate their victory.

But Mark had just brought back a sufficient amount of "similar materials" from the Adventurers' Guild and was preparing to feed them all to the head in his equipment slot to see the effect, so he had no interest in eating anything.

So Mark shouted to his companions.

"You guys eat first, it's all on me!"

After saying that, Mark Teng reached out his finger, took out a gold coin, and flicked it onto the smooth wooden bar with his thumb with a "bang".

"Old Luo! Bring my friends a whole rack of black pepper braised beef short ribs, and remember to serve plenty of purple apples. Also, get out that row of wines from under your shelf, don't be undignified! It'll all be deducted from this gold coin."

Paul didn't even lift his eyelids. He reached out his broad palm, grabbed the gold coin, and squeezed it slightly between his fingers, leaving a clear fingerprint indentation on the shiny surface of the coin.

He then looked up and made a "hmm" sound through his nose.

Mark was about to go upstairs when his peripheral vision was involuntarily drawn to the "treasure of the store" hanging above the wine rack—a minotaur's head that had been carefully preserved.

The enormous head, with its pair of menacing, spiraling horns, spans a total width of three meters, casting an oppressive shadow under the lights.

An irrepressible longing welled up in Mark's heart.

He tried to hold back, but couldn't resist and jokingly said to Paul.

"Luo, give me a straight answer! Are you selling this bull's head ornament or not?"

Paul seemed not to hear at all, silently lowering his head to wipe the glass.

This reaction was within Mark's expectations.

This minotaur's head is proof of the pinnacle of Paul's adventurous career; how could he possibly sell it so easily?

Mark felt a little regretful.

What a waste!

This head can only be truly valuable in his hands.

Forget about other people's big head; it's better to have your own small head.

Putting aside any unnecessary thoughts, Mark went upstairs to his room, locked the wooden door, carefully placed the wooden crate on his desk, and slowly opened the lid.

Seven goblin shaman heads of different colors lay quietly on the ice, which was filled with cold air.

Five of the Frostborne heads were not priced at full value due to issues with their completeness; Mark actually paid 2.5 gold coins for them.

As for the other two, the Flame Seed and the Lightning Seed, they were given as a bonus for the next big commission.

Mark picked up a blue head, his gaze becoming incredibly focused.

"Let's begin."

He then stared at the "Wise Frost Goblin Shaman Head" in his equipment inventory and murmured to himself.

[Sacrifice]

Bang!

A barely audible muffled thud.

The head in his hand suddenly exploded into gray dust and vanished without a trace.

At the same moment, the head in the equipment slot seemed to come alive, trembling slightly, and its withered mouth opened slightly.

Mark immediately checked its attributes and saw that the progress of "Effect Solidification" had changed to (1/5).

"continue."

Without pausing, Mark picked up the remaining four frost-type heads one by one and repeated the sacrificial process.

Thud! ...Thud! ...Thud! ...Thud! ...

As the last wisp of dust dissipated, the "Wise Frost Goblin Shaman Head" in the equipment slot suddenly came to life, its eyes shooting out two beams of white light, and its wide-open mouth emitting a silent shriek!

next second.

Bang! !

The "wise Frost Goblin Shaman's head" exploded into white dust.

At the same time, a dazzling rain of white light descended upon Mark's mind.

An indescribable sensation enveloped his entire body, like a long-awaited rain after a drought, bringing nourishment and comfort from the depths of his soul.

At that moment, Mark experienced a subtle yet profound spiritual elevation.

[The "Effect Solidification" for "Wise Frost Goblin Shaman Head" has been completed.]

[Base attribute "Intelligence" +2.]

[Gained the talent "Frost Bloodline I (White)".]

"Frostbloodline I (White)": Ice element affinity +20%.

[Gained the skill "Eye of Surveillance Lv1 (Green)".]

Mark closed his eyes and carefully observed the changes.

In fact, there is no physiological change, and the enhancement and effect of the equipment slots are the same after they are solidified, but the psychological level has undergone earth-shattering changes.

Attributes, talents, and skills—any one of these three would be enough for an adventurer to spend their entire fortune to acquire in the outside world.

And he could get it all with just five lowly goblin shaman heads!

If... if he could keep "devouring" like this, hunting more, stronger, and rarer monster materials... just how strong could he become? Could he reach a level unattainable by mortals—a god?!

The delusional thoughts were like a sweet poison, causing his brain to tremble wildly.

But Mark's reason quickly reined in his almost out-of-control ambitions, and beneath his deep eyes, he was talking to another version of himself.

"Mark, hold on, play it safe, develop your resources quietly, time is on our side."