Chapter 35: Chapter 35: Evolution Complete! A Major Upgrade to 3 Skills
[Ding! Consumed 10 Evolution Points. Third evolution initiated! Estimated time: 10 hours! The host will fall into a deep sleep during the evolution. Please ensure a safe environment!]
The moment the system’s notification faded, an irresistible wave of drowsiness washed over him.
A translucent mucus began to secrete from the surface of Chu Sheng’s body, rapidly enveloping him completely and forming a constantly writhing, dark-red chrysalis.
’Again?’
Gu Yuexi stared at the small, blood-colored chrysalis that had formed in an instant on her shoulder, unsure what expression she should even make.
’How many days has it been?’
From the first evolution in her schoolbag, to the second in the rental apartment, and now the third...
’An evolution every two days on average?’
’What in the world is this strange creature?’
In her past life, she had spent her entire existence at the pinnacle of the world, scouring every ancient text and secret tome she could find, yet she had never heard of any Demon Beast with such an absurd evolutionary frequency!
The common knowledge of the Beast Taming Realm was a complete and utter joke in front of this mosquito.
’So... can it really ignore the ironclad rule of "a maximum of three evolutions" and continue evolving indefinitely?’
Doubt began to shake this deeply ingrained piece of common knowledge in Gu Yuexi’s mind.
The sliver of hope in her heart grew increasingly fervent.
But she quickly composed herself. Now was not the time to be thinking about these things.
She carefully placed the blood-colored chrysalis that was Chu Sheng to one side, her gaze falling back on the still-warm corpse of the cub.
Without the slightest hesitation, she placed her hands on the cub that had been dead for some time and began to circulate the Ten Thousand Beasts Melting Furnace Technique with all her might.
One human, one mosquito, began their respective transformations inside the cramped tent.
「Ten hours passed in a flash.」
As daylight once again illuminated the world outside the tent, Gu Yuexi slowly opened her eyes.
The cub’s corpse beneath her was now shriveled, as she had absorbed a full third of its Essence Blood.
And her Qi Blood had skyrocketed overnight, from the First-Grade Middle Stage to the very bottleneck of the First-Grade Late Stage!
She was just one step away!
But she didn’t rush to break through. Instead, her gaze shifted to the blood-colored chrysalis beside her.
The chrysalis, originally only the size of a thumb, had now swollen to the size of a fist. Its surface was covered in a web of cracks, looking as if it might shatter at any moment.
CRACK!
With a sharp sound, the blood-colored chrysalis shattered!
A brand-new "monster" slowly unfurled its body from within.
Gu Yuexi’s pupils constricted violently.
The evolved Chu Sheng hadn’t changed much in size, still measuring around ten centimeters.
But its appearance had undergone a world-shaking transformation!
Its jet-black carapace was covered in dark-red cracks, like those formed on cooled lava.
Deep within the cracks, a faint firelight seemed to flow slowly, emitting an ominous and searing aura.
Its cicada-thin wings no longer produced a simple metallic hum when they vibrated. Instead, they stirred up a visible current of searing air, even leaving faint sparks hanging in their wake!
The most terrifying part was its proboscis!
The long, thick spike was now tipped with a crimson, semi-molten glow, like a red-hot branding iron ready to set anything it pierced ablaze!
"This... this aura..."
Gu Yuexi stared in shock at Chu Sheng’s new form. She could clearly feel that the waves of power emanating from him were identical to those of an Azure Flame Flying Lion!
’Could it be... that it evolves toward the racial traits of whatever creature’s blood it drinks?!’
This incredible thought left Gu Yuexi stunned once again.
Not only that, but she also sensed that Chu Sheng’s Bloodline had undergone a qualitative change!
It was no longer in that "No Bloodline" state, possessing power but lacking any foundation.
Now, a faint but very real Demon Beast Bloodline flowed within him!
A Low Level Bloodline!
And it was definitely a high-quality one among Low Level Bloodlines! Not bottom-of-the-barrel trash like a Big-eared Rabbit!
It was even a few degrees purer than the Low Level Bloodline Demon Beasts contracted by the vast majority of students in the school’s Beast Taming Department!
It had evolved from an Alien Species with no Bloodline into a true Demon Beast!
Gu Yuexi was both shocked and delighted, but this was followed by an even deeper worry.
Three times... This was already its third evolution.
’Next time... can it evolve again?’
The growth ceiling for a Demon Beast with a Low Level Bloodline was Third-Grade at best.
To break through to Fifth-Grade, or even higher, the most basic requirement was an Intermediate Bloodline!
’Will its potential stop here?’
Chu Sheng had no time for the Empress’s complex inner turmoil. He was excitedly feeling the new power surging through his body and immediately opened his system panel.
[Updating Panel...]
[Host: Chu Sheng]
[Race: Molten Fire Blood Mosquito (Low Level Demon Beast Bloodline)]
[Lifespan: Six Months]
[Qi Blood: 151.1]
[Spirit: 20.8]
[Evolution Points: 8.9]
[Equal Tier: First-Grade Early Stage]
[Skills: Melt Heart Demon Spike Level 4, Blood Food Tracking Level 3, Molten Fire Insect Nest Level 4, Flame Burst Feather Level 3...]
[Notice: The next evolution requires reaching 500 Qi Blood Value and consuming 80 Evolution Points!]
’Holy shit! What a huge haul!’
Chu Sheng stared at the brand-new panel, so excited he nearly jumped.
This evolution was completely different from the previous two. Three of his skills had automatically leveled up!
He eagerly checked the detailed skill descriptions.
[Armor-Piercing Spike Level 3] → [Melt Heart Demon Spike Level 4]: After piercing a target, it not only absorbs blood but can also inject "Cyan Flame Power" into the target’s body!
This power will burn the enemy’s blood and internal organs from the inside, dealing high, continuous flame damage and significantly weakening their self-healing ability!
[Wing Blade Slash Level 2] → [Flame Burst Feather Level 3]: The wings no longer unleash Wind Blades, but "Flaming Feather Blades" imbued with Cyan Flame!
Upon hitting a target, they will cause a small-scale explosion, dealing splash damage!
[Insect Race Space Level 3] → [Molten Fire Insect Nest Level 4]: You can share your Cyan Flame Power with the insects in the space, turning them into "Self-destructive Flame Insects"!
Although the Life Force of these empowered insects will rapidly drain, their attacks will carry bonus flame damage, and they will trigger a small-scale explosion upon death, giving them immense tactical value.
’Awesome! Absolutely awesome!’
Chu Sheng was ecstatic.
The upgrades to these three skills perfectly covered his previous shortcomings of lacking AoE (Area of Effect) and sustained damage.
This Flame Ability, in particular, was a hard counter to many tough, thick-skinned Demon Beasts and Plant Type enemies!
Moreover, his Mental Power had also shot up by ten points out of nowhere, reaching 20.8!
This meant that his range and precision in controlling the swarm had taken another huge leap forward!
After taking stock of his massive gains, Chu Sheng’s gaze fell on the goal for his next evolution.
Qi Blood and 80 Evolution Points required...
’Hiss... That’s a bit difficult.’
If he remembered correctly, 500 Qi Blood was the threshold for a Second-Grade Early Stage Demon Beast!
But, no matter!
He glanced at the two "little blood packs" nearby. ’Although the Qi Blood inside them is surely no match for their Eighth-Grade mother, a single sip should yield twenty or thirty points, right?’
’Plus, with my [Insect Race Space]... no, it’s called the [Molten Fire Insect Nest] now!’
Back in the Black Forest, he had commanded thousands of his underlings to drink their fill of the Eighth-Grade Lioness’s blood. Now, every one of those minions had become a bulging "Moving Blood Bottle," all stored away in his Insect Nest!
’Draining all these reserves within a week to meet the conditions for the next evolution shouldn’t be a big problem!’