"The horns got smaller, the color changed to black. The body overall shrank, the color is a bit greener... Come on, let’s weigh it."
"Alright, overall mass decreased by 5%."
Lin Chen recorded everything clearly. After observing the appearance, he reached out like an old doctor to begin the "head touching" stage.
Xiaobai happily stretched out its head, welcoming Lin Chen’s hand.
[Low-level Mortal Beast]
Lin Chen was startled, then frowned.
Too fast, really too fast.
Although there are no side effects, Xiaobai leveled up by four levels in a short time, like cheating, the foundation is prone to instability.
Lin Chen decided he must take Xiaobai for some training.
[Skill 1: Iron Horn Impact (Mastery)]
[Skill 2: Soul-Calming Hoof (Entry-Level)]
No change in skills; Lin Chen wasn’t surprised because it was also not apparent last time, only after testing could it be seen.
[Dominant Bloodline: Plowhorn Beast 34.168%, Burning Mountain Bull 13.88%, Earth-Sounding Ox 13.042%]
[Hidden Bloodline: 16.392%]
[Polluted Bloodline: 22.518%]
No problem with the values, the hidden bloodline is getting higher, increased by 6.272%.
These days, Lin Chen has studied spirit beast bloodlines, reviewed insights left by various great figures in history, and concluded:
[The higher the bloodline percentage, the greater the likelihood of evolving into that bloodline in future evolutions.]
For example, now Xiaobai can be considered to have four types of bloodlines: Plowhorn Beast, Burning Mountain Bull, Earth-Sounding Ox, and Hidden Bloodline.
If Xiaobai starts evolving now, the highest possibility is evolution failure, meaning retaining the original bull physique.
The second is Hidden Bloodline, ranked second in probability.
The third is Burning Mountain Bull, and fourth is Earth-Sounding Ox.
"It seems before the first evolution, there’s a need for another bloodline purification." Lin Chen calculated in his mind.
Currently, the Plowhorn Beast’s bloodline is still too much, likely affecting the success rate of evolution, and must undergo another purification.
The first evolution time for spirit beasts is:
"Come, skill testing."
As he spoke, Lin Chen brought the two beasts to the yard, where there were logs again.
Xiaobai activated the first skill: Iron Horn Impact, visibly barely any change.
As disappointment settled in, Xiaobai suddenly mentioned it could feel the skill proficiency was nearing a bottleneck.
Lin Chen was instantly delighted; it’s challenging to reach the stage from Mastery to Perfection, some spirit beasts with lesser talent may never achieve it.
"Let’s try the second one." Lin Chen was easily satisfied, as this was already very good.
Xiaobai sounded a call to the sky, stomped the ground, Lin Chen immediately gauged the tremor range and found no difference.
Length... No difference.
The wood cracked in response.
Just as it seemed over, a sudden thunderous roar erupted unexpectedly.
Only saw, the log exploded fiercely!
Lin Chen’s pupils widened, instantly happy.
A mutation has occurred!
"So, the mastery level effect of the usual Soul-Calming Hoof is adding an extra explosion damage after the fact."
Lin Chen had a hypothesis; Xiaobai’s skill is very special, with previous levels of proficiency able to cross into effects of the next level.
Xiaobai was joyful too, only the Little Fox was anxious.
Not because it envied Xiaobai, but it also wanted to get stronger quickly, wishing Lin Chen could immediately fly to level 10 and contract with it.
"Don’t rush." Lin Chen saw through Little Fox’s thoughts, touching its head, saying: "Cultivation must be step by step, haste makes waste."
He then advised Xiaobai not to meditate during this period.
Over the next few days, Lin Chen didn’t leave home, focused on reading books; there were two tasks ahead:
First, to find higher concentration Hidden Bloodline, getting ready for the third bloodline purification ahead.
Second, start preparing evolution materials for Xiaobai.
As a common foundational spirit beast, Plowhorn Beast’s evolution material system is very well developed, pricey ones can reach over ten million, budgets need over one hundred thousand.
This is one of the reasons why there are so many loans in this world; to raise a good spirit beast, money is essential.
Which is precisely why Lin Chen chose to join the Monster Hunter Guild.
However, he still has limits, not engaging in matters that risk his life.
Several days passed leisurely before it was combat training day, according to Huang Xiaotian, they might train for several days.
"Perfect timing, harvest these Blood Spirit Grass and sell them, to avoid other spirit beasts passing by and eating them." Lin Chen planned yesterday, conveniently harvesting the Blood Spirit Grass.
Little Fox’s ears perked up hearing this, wasn’t it talking about itself?
After Lin Chen and Xiaobai bundled the spirit grass, they found Little Fox was restless.
"Just saying, not really blaming you." Lin Chen chuckled.
Little Fox shook its head, finally dashed into the room, found its Coin Bank, took out its hundred yuan of lucky money, then handed it to Lin Chen.
Lin Chen was stunned, understanding it was afraid of being stolen.
Xiao Hong meant for it to be returned later.
"Don’t worry." Lin Chen nodded.
Then they went to the Beast Sale Shop, found the lady salesperson.
The lady salesperson didn’t cheat, didn’t haggle, bought the Blood Spirit Grass at market price. Lin Chen asked: "Do you take Spirit Potions?"
"Spirit Potion?" The lady salesperson paused, quickly nodded, saying: "Yes, recently this stuff is expensive."
Lin Chen initially estimated it to be fifty thousand, unexpectedly, the lady salesperson offered seventy thousand, explaining that lately it’s school admission season, many wealthy parents heavily buy this stuff.
Lin Chen understood, those who start contracting Combat Pets right away are wealthy.
But those who contract Pure Support Classes, some are even wealthier.
A bottle of potion costing seventy to eighty thousand is no concern.
Lin Chen secured the money, gave each a hundred, and kept it safe.
Now, Lin Chen had thirteen thousand yuan in hand.
When he arrived at the Monster Hunter Guild, he found the place bustling, much more crowded than last time.
Lin Chen went to the lodging of the thirteenth team, Huang Xiaotian was eating, saw Lin Chen, and signaled over, informing Lin Chen of this year’s rules.
"Lee Zhen was outsmarted by you, this year’s testing might be harder."
"Your ’Juvenile Group,’ the maximum spirit beast level is 10, five teams in total, competing for this year’s Rookie King."
"Each year, the guild’s resources are limited, the higher the rank, the more resources, especially the Rookie King team."
"That’s incorrect." Lin Chen said, "You mean I still need to find a team?"
"Exactly." Huang Xiaotian said: "You came late, these experts arrived early, probably already considering team formation."
"No problem, as you said, I’m the first in the information category, top experts should be waiting for me."
"Then you’re wrong." Huang Xiaotian shook his head, said: "Your story spread, many believe you cheated and didn’t see you as an expert."
"Relax, information and combat Rookie King categories are separate, information’s main task is to find the Secret Realm entrance, locate where the Demon Beast King is, and that’s it."
Huang Xiaotian reminded:
"Even if your team is last, as long as you’re the first to complete these two, you’re the Rookie King of the information category."
"That’s contradictory."
"If my team is bad, how could I even see the Demon Beast King?"
Listening to Lin Chen, Huang Xiaotian squinted his eyes and looked up, while chewing meat, he said: "Gulp Gulp~~~"
Huang Xiaotian finished eating, then said: "I’m saying, are you still sitting here waiting for food?"
Lin Chen immediately stood up.
What he said made perfect sense; under these circumstances, why am I still arguing with him here?
One person and two beasts quickly ran out the door!