The Evolution Compendium

The dark cave.

A sweet and cute girl stumbled, leaning against the stone wall behind her. Her hands were crossed over her chest, her cheeks were flushed, and her breathing was slightly ragged. Her almond eyes gradually became hazy. Chaotic thoughts surged like a tide, leaving only a sliver of clarity struggling to persist.

"Junior, why bother?"

Chen Heng smiled as he put a small bottle of the drug back into his pocket, leisurely catching up as if toying with prey. This junior, fresh out of university, is too naive. As her senior, I should give her a good lesson, feeding her with all sorts of knowledge.

Suddenly, the crisscrossed mine tunnels, filled with darkness so thick it seemed tangible, emitted a slight noise.

"Who?!"

Alarmed, Chen Heng immediately stopped, squinting his eyes with a touch of amusement. Have those two naive juniors finally decided they can't hold back anymore?

No, that's not right. He was taken aback. The Unihorn Spider is monitoring those two, so is this a wild Pet Beast from inside the mine?

He quickly summoned his first Pet Beast: a Golden Leopard adorned with hanging Copper Coins, sparkling with brilliant golden light. This was a metal-element Pet Beast that grew rapidly by devouring metal ores. It ranked as a mid-level War General and possessed excellent defensive and offensive attributes.

However, in the dim light, the darkness writhed. A violet-red halo flickered briefly as tendrils extended, like those of a mutated, polluted Demon. Rustling whispers lingered in the air, like being in a bustling market filled with thousands of people – barely comprehensible, and forgotten the moment one tried to focus on them.

"GRRR..."

The Golden Leopard's body tensed, its fur bristled, and the strings of Copper Coins on its body shook, making it restless and anxious. Trained by its Master, it had Night Vision, allowing it to better discern the spine-chillingly eerie presence.

Deep in the mine, countless severed limbs and body parts gathered, seemingly forced together by a mysterious power. They formed a grotesque, humanoid entity, with thick blood continuously flowing down, staining half its body red.

"AAAH!"

Through their Spiritual connection, Chen Heng also saw the creature in its entirety and jumped back in fright. In the narrow, enclosed mine, an unsettling sense of fear loomed. Even a battle-hardened individual like him couldn't help but be startled by this scene, as it reminded him of the ghost stories about this abandoned mine. Over a decade ago, a cave-in had buried thousands of miners here. Since then, all Beast Tamers who explored this mine had met with some misfortune or another. Could those stories actually be true?

Then, in the next instant, the eerie creature seemed startled. Its arms flailed as it retreated further into the darkness.

"It's gone."

Chen Heng breathed a sigh of relief. Was that just a hallucination? Could the hallucinogenic effects of the drug have accidentally affected me too? He glanced at Zhao Yan, who was drenched in sweat. After such a disruption, Chen Heng had lost interest.

Just then, another noise triggered his alertness.

"Are you both alright?"

A gentle voice came from the corner, and a peculiar-looking young man emerged. A lush Wood-element Pet Beast was tightly entwined around him, its branch-like tendrils exploring the surroundings like insect antennae.

"Who are you? And why are you here?!" Chen Heng frowned. That earlier vision... the Golden Leopard couldn't have been mistaken. Could this person be connected to it?

"It seems your companion isn't doing too well."

Chu Yi didn't respond. Instead, he pointed with one hand, and a tendril snaked through the air to rest on Zhao Yan's forehead, emitting a vibrant white light.

Wood-element skill: [Purification Technique].

As the white light treated her, the confusion and struggle in Zhao Yan's eyes gradually faded, replaced by a flicker of clarity in her Star Eyes.

What kind of Pet Beast is that? It actually dispelled the hallucinogen? Chen Heng was quite surprised. He had bought his drug at a high price from an underground vendor, yet this young man had easily neutralized it! Either that vendor scammed me, or this young man is an incredibly talented Beast Tamer!

He discreetly scanned with his Star Bracelet, but the other party's Pet Beast information was set to private, so he could only guess based on its appearance. However, Lulina was so rare that it would have been easy to recognize at lower levels. But after five days, it had matured, and a hint of grey fog now distorted perception, making it impossible to identify.

"PHEW..."

Zhao Yan regained consciousness and took a deep breath. She had forgotten everything that happened during the hallucination and gazed somewhat puzzledly at the handsome but unfamiliar young man before her. It's as if... there's a gap in my memory.

"Kid, who exactly are you, and why were you following us?!" Chen Heng demanded, staring coldly at him. He's definitely here to ruin my plans.

"Junior, come over here. Something's not right with this kid."

Zhao Yan hesitated for a moment and didn't move. Instead, she summoned a Dandelion Ball and held it in her arms. I can't shake the feeling that Senior Chen has ulterior motives... that he might have done something bad.

"Don't be alarmed. I mean no harm." Chu Yi smiled, glanced at the Dragon Talisman mark on Zhao Yan's chest, and said, "My name is Chu Yi. I'm a third-year student at Star Dragon Academy, here to train my Pet Beasts."

Upon hearing this, both Chen Heng and Zhao Yan were taken aback.

"You're also from Star Dragon Academy? Are you a junior to us?" Zhao Yan's Star Eyes lit up. The fact that he was from her alma mater instantly eliminated her sense of estrangement and bridged the distance between them. "But that name, Chu Yi..." Zhao Yan murmured, seeming to recall something, her pupils contracting slightly. "Junior, are you the one they call the 'anomaly' in the rumors?"

Then, realizing she had misspoken, she stuck out her tongue apologetically. "Junior Chu Yi, I didn't mean... Oh, but wait, this Wood-element Pet Beast... you were able to form a contract with it?"

"Yes."

Chu Yi didn't elaborate. He beckoned, and the tendrils swayed. Lulina, however, was still unwilling to come down, clinging to Chu Yi. With Bika not around, Lulina was gleefully indulging in its master's scent. HEE HEE...

It's him! Chen Heng immediately recalled the student from the academy who had been tested as having transcendent talent and was selected for the Starfire Sequence—that lucky guy. Then, everything began to make sense. That's why he could so easily dispel the hallucinogen—he's a genius! It's well-known that geniuses can't be judged by common sense! The mediocre operate within the rules, while geniuses are the ones who break them! This was a truth Chen Heng had come to understand after struggling out in the world.

"Since you're our junior, how about accompanying us? I, Chen Heng, still have some strength. I can protect you, Junior." Chen Heng immediately had the thought of befriending him. He values Chu Yi's future. Anyone selected for the Starfire Sequence is destined to become a major figure. Fostering a connection while he's still relatively unknown is definitely a worthwhile investment! Even if it yields no immediate return, I absolutely must not offend him. Perhaps in the future, when he becomes a truly significant figure, a casual thought or a single command from him could lead to my eternal damnation. As a former Beast Taming Genius himself, Chen Heng deeply understood that the difference between one genius and another could be as vast as that between the clouds and the earth. As for ruining my earlier plans? If this junior is interested, I'd gladly offer Zhao Yan to him. Perhaps she would even be quite willing. This is the kind of treatment a genius deserves!

"Alright."

Chu Yi smiled. Perfect. I can use these people to witness Bika's evolution and further solidify my reputation as a genius. Besides... there seems to be something interesting inside this mine.