The Evolution Compendium

Lulina declared, "I'll take on ten of them!"

The Sun and Moon Mark circulated, and Chu Yi fed all the experience packets he had harvested to Lulina.

Its rapid progress in strength made it lose itself, like a child who had just achieved excellent grades and was eager to receive parental praise.

Fight, fight! I'm super brave!

Chu Yi gently stroked the flower bud. The thick, tender petals parted slightly, revealing a hint of juicy red. They opened and closed softly as dewdrops slid off, emitting a sweet, cloying fragrance. This was a control skill of a Wood Attribute Pet Beast.

This Wood Attribute skill was Fragrance Diffuses.

In simple terms, it invisibly released a sweet fragrance to put opposing Pet Beasts to sleep. It was more advanced than the commonly used hypnotic powder and had a wide-area control effect.

Chu Yi made up his mind. Lulina's role was to be a Mage mastering three attributes, and it had to be cultivated well.

SWISH...

The petals gently closed, like a young beast opening its mouth to suckle on a finger—cool and soft, with a silky feel, like a silk cloth coated with pearl powder.

This was how Lulina expressed closeness after seeing Bika, and it had learned it very well.

MMM MMM... Master tastes good...

"Just right," Chu Yi thought. "I've collected a bunch of materials. Converting them all into strength is the key right now."

"And actual combat training for the Pet Beast is also important. I remember there's an abandoned mine outside the city; it can hide the commotion of evolution, and there are some wild Pet Beasts there to act as sparring partners."

Chu Yi smiled, pleased with his stealthy plan.

The last time Bika evolved, it had caused quite a commotion. If it were to evolve in this graveyard, the place would undoubtedly be flattened. Eldest Master Chu, who always valued overwhelming, almost 'nuclear' force, wouldn't stoop to the ruthless act of blowing up graves.

Immediately, Chu Yi withdrew his finger. His large hand pulled down a veil of gray mist, concealing them from any outside Divination, prophecy, or detection, effectively blocking all such means.

Bika leaped onto his shoulder, its fox tail coiling around its master's neck, claiming a share of his warmth.

"EYA?"

Lulina was puzzled for a moment. Is Master leaving? Isn't he going to give me a hug?

"You're already a mature Lulina. You need to learn to walk on your own," Chu Yi said, then turned and left.

The truth was, Lulina was too large and hadn't yet mastered the skill of changing its size, so he decided to let it run along.

Bika glanced over and raised its little paw, as if cheering Lulina on.

I could transform into the three-tailed Mo Xie form and carry it, but I haven't felt Master's warmth for so long... Hmm, then I'll just let the new partner be inconvenienced a bit.

"OOH OOH..."

Lulina froze for a moment. Then, its dense roots and stems extended, and it wriggled quickly like an octopus monster, following behind.

You two, wait for me!

「Abandoned Mine.」

It was located in the northern outskirts of Yaoguang City and was rich in mineral resources, including some rare materials.

But somehow, several collapses had occurred in the mine over a decade ago, causing the deaths of over a thousand miners and making headlines in Yaoguang City. Coupled with the decreasing output of the mine in recent years, the company responsible for its extraction had simply abandoned it.

Over time, it became deserted and turned into the territory of Earth Attribute Pet Beasts.

As Chu Yi arrived, his eyes narrowed. He looked at the mountain, which was practically oozing resentment. The void around it twisted, and wisps of blood-red energy rose into the air.

A thick, blood-red mist, like ominous, rolling beacon smoke, swirled around. From it, one after another, human faces emerged—twisted with resentment, hatred, horror, and distortion—emitting mournful wails.

Because he had evolved the Soul-Calling Banner, he keenly sensed that something was amiss with this mine. The Resentful Souls of these miners were grotesquely twisted. They harbored an immense hatred for every living being that entered the mine and would cast curses to claim their lives.

Apparently, the mine's collapse held some hidden secrets.

But Chu Yi didn't concern himself with such things; he was here for Bika's evolution.

I don't care what you are, he thought. If you dare hinder Master Chu's important business, I'll extract your soul, refine it, and ensure you never reincarnate!

CRACKLE...

Then, as his skin wriggled, a spray of fresh blood spurted forth. An entire sheet of human skin peeled off his flesh, transforming into a delicate and ancient Soul-Calling Banner.

This grim scene was hidden by the gray mist, sparing the two Pet Beasts from fright.

WHOOSH—

Chu Yi waved the banner, stirring up a furious gust of air. Countless Resentful Souls showed expressions of terror and scattered in all directions. But this air current was too powerful. Like a hurricane sweeping through, it forcefully swept the Resentful Souls into the Chaotic Burial Mound with the thoroughness of cleaning out a den.

BAM!

Rustling sounds filled the air as countless bats, cockroaches, and poisonous insects scattered. Many wild Pet Beasts that had made their homes there also fled, dragging their families along.

Just like that, Chu Yi led the two Pet Beasts, using the Soul-Calling Banner to pave the way. He cleared the strange and eerie phenomena within the mine, exploring its depths and focusing on developing their strength stealthily.

ROAR—

A resounding Beast's roar echoed through the deep mine.

In the dim light, an Earth Attribute Pet Beast charged forward through the narrow passage. Its muscles were tightly-knit, as if forged from molten steel, and it resembled an ape with four sturdy arms.

It was Luo Yin, an Earth Attribute Pet Beast, a low-level elite.

Its current opponent was a team of four Demon Hunters: three men and one woman.

"Wild Pet Beasts are so brainless," one of the young men, who wore sunglasses, said. He stood with his arms crossed, disdaining to even take a defensive posture. "Simple and crude. They don't even know any Earth Techniques. Utterly stupid." He added arrogantly, "Such trash is better off dead."

As soon as his words fell, a dark arc of light flashed through the void. It suddenly slashed through the back of Luo Yin's head, sharp teeth piercing deep into it, causing a scarlet flower of blood to bloom.

Luo Yin suffered a grievous blow. It staggered, leaving a trail of blood, and ultimately collapsed in unwilling defeat just three steps away from the young man.