The Evolution Compendium

The heart of the Golden Tree. Black vines slowly writhed, the cracks expanding and spilling out a scattering of light. This was the entrance.

An strange aura, filled with deathly stillness and gloom, rolled out like mist, resembling a serpent coiled in ambush beneath the dark night.

A group of powerful experts transformed into streaks of rainbow light, stepping into the Golden Tree Heart one by one, each maintaining distance from the others.

"Nine Infants, you stay hidden and protect Lias," Chu Yi instructed. Within the Ten Thousand Souls Ridge, a woman clad in a scarlet palace dress, who was playing with a skull, pouted.

She sat on a branch of the Flower of Desire, her straight, fair legs swinging below her skirt, and the White Bone Bell on her delicate ankle rang with a CLANG—.

"Master, how about I go with you?" Nine Infants asked in a soft, charming voice. Her voice then shifted to a sweet, childlike tone, "AWOO, Nine Infants really doesn't want to be apart from Master."

"Be good, or I'll be angry," Chu Yi said. Nine Infants had no choice but to fly out of the Ten Thousand Souls Ridge and hide in the void.

Drat it! One day, she would have Master all to herself!

Having given the order, he pulled the perpetually-dining Dragon Maiden along to rendezvous with Avril.

Behind him, the blonde loli watched his departing figure. She was startled and seemed to want to say something but stopped herself. Her slender hand removed a pendant from her jade-like neck, gripping it tightly.

Ultimately, she was too weak. She had burdened Chu Yi once again.

"WHIMPER!" Bika lay on her fragrant shoulder, its fox tail swaying. It was extremely depressed that its master hadn't brought it along.

「...」

Following the Blood Race, they stepped into the Golden Tree Heart. It felt like entering another world.

Stepping onto solid ground, Chu Yi opened his eyes. A flash of Twilight Light flickered, illuminating an ancient hall.

The building resembled an underground palace, extremely vast, with golden sculpted lamps burning with flames on both sides. Ahead, it was pitch dark.

"This place is really big." Mu Yun bit into a piece of bread. Her nose twitched as if she had smelled the aroma of food, and a look of intoxication appeared on her face. "There's something delicious, Chu Yi, let's go quickly!"

Eat, eat, eat, that's all she ever thinks about, Chu Yi's mouth twitched. But on second thought, if something could attract the Dragon Maiden, it might actually be good.

"Big Brother, I didn't expect you to come along too." Avril, protected by a group of Blood Race members, glanced at Chu Yi, a hint of a smile appearing on her flawless face.

"My noble lady, protecting you is my duty as a Knight," Chu Yi responded, his gaze observing. Besides the Blood Race, there were also those four young powerful experts.

"Then I'm truly lucky, having such a considerate Knight Big Brother." Avril chuckled, her red eyes becoming more playful.

The nearby Blood Race members regarded him with cold stares.

This human has low strength and even left his Pet Beast outside. He isn't here to protect her; he's merely accompanying the Dragon Witch to seek treasure, using his status as the young miss's Knight as a pretext. Forget it. The young miss doesn't mind anyway. In the end, he'll just be another toy to be broken and discarded. His only use in accompanying the young miss is probably to offer a bit of his fresh blood to quench her thirst if she gets hungry.

"Logically, if Albert passed through here, he should have left some traces." German raised an arm. A shadow condensed, forming a crow with three eyes and lush feathers, like a mutated creature.

This was the standard Pet Beast for a Healing Hunter: a shadow-type Pet Beast, the Three-eyed Spirit Crow.

After scouting, it found no traces left by Albert. There were no signs of battle either, which was a bit strange. Everyone was puzzled.

"Chu Yi~" The clumsy Dragon Maiden blinked, boldly hugged one of Chu Yi's arms, clinging closely to him. With unprecedented gentleness, she said coquettishly, "Let's go quickly, there's really a big feast over there."

She was so impatient that she even instinctively tugged at Chu Yi, like a girl acting cute for her father.

Chu Yi: "..."

"If you want to eat so badly, why don't you go alone?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Huh?" Mu Yun was stunned, her cheeks puffed out, and she snorted, "Because I have to protect you! Hmph! To receive the protection of the great Dragon Witch like me, you're getting a great deal for this meal!"

"Then I truly thank you, great Dragon Maiden."

"Of course." Mu Yun, like a proud white swan, lifted her jade-like neck, though her pink lips were stuffed with bread, making her look a bit comical.

Yet even so, it couldn't conceal her strikingly heroic and beautiful features.

"You two are quite close." Hong Yu from the Rose School came over to tease, her face charming. She gave Chu Yi a meaningful look and asked, "Little Brother, to be accompanying the Dragon Witch, are you lovers?"

"PFFT!" Before Chu Yi could reply, Mu Yun spat out bread crumbs, her cheeks slightly flushed.

"Just partners, don't misunderstand," Chu Yi withdrew his hand, responding flatly.

Though the clumsy Dragon Maiden was very beautiful, and her long legs—which seemed longer than his own lifespan—appealed to Chu Yi's particular tastes, this was the Divine War game, watched by the gods. He had no spare energy for romantic entanglements. Besides, he was simply using the Dragon Maiden's power through Extraordinary Food. Otherwise, as a lone human, he could easily be besieged by the Alien Races.

"Yes, a cooperative relationship," Mu Yun nodded, taking another bite of bread, finding the taste a little disappointing.

"I see, then pardon my intrusion." Hong Yu smiled, meeting Chu Yi's wary eyes, and explained, "Don't be nervous. I've studied a bit of Divination Technique in my school. Alright, I won't disturb you two anymore."

As she was leaving, she added, "Little Brother, I find you quite agreeable. In the future, come to the Rose School, and I'll tutor you in some advanced postur... knowledge."