"This is just too competitive."
Lin Xiaomeng watched as Chu Yi and his group swept through with unstoppable force, remained silent for a moment, and then muttered.
No one could have expected it. Why would this strong figure go all out on a novice task? What benefits could it bring?
As for the others, they had already given up. Someone with more talent than you, who also works harder—that must be a genius!
"I'm sure he's not a Beast Tamer."
Zhang Han glanced over, his gaze hardening. "If he were a Beast Tamer, he wouldn't have gone this long without summoning his Pet Beast. Instead, he's training an uncontracted one."
"What?" Zhang Han's words immediately drew the attention of his companions.
It seemed to make some sense. Indeed, they hadn't seen Chu Yi's contracted Pet Beast; at the time, they had been fooled and hadn't thought it through.
At this moment, upon careful analysis, Chu Yi didn't converse with other Beast Tamers. Perhaps he himself was a Beast Tamer, but one who was merely being carried by this Red Fox that had mastered [Burst Gun].
The most questionable point was, if he truly had reached the Red Copper tier, then why take on this novice task?
How could a mediocre person, who hasn't even unlocked their Beast Taming Talent, possibly keep a Pet Beast with immense potential? Zhang Han remained skeptical.
A flicker of greed crossed his eyes.
"Even if he is a Beast Tamer, you wouldn't actually try to rob him, would you?" Lin Xiaomeng frowned. "Besides, can you really defeat a Red Fox that has mastered [Burst Gun]?"
The thought seemed absurd. Previously, it was Zhang Han's group who had looked down on the Red Fox, viewing it as a weak Pet Beast.
But the tables had turned. This Red Fox not only possessed immense potential but had also mastered a rare skill, drawing the covetous gazes of many.
What was most important in the Beast Taming World?
Of course, a powerful Pet Beast!
If you contracted a Mire Monster, no matter how great your abilities, it wouldn't change the fact that the Mire Monster was useless. Purity of bloodline, level cap, and talent aptitude all became shackles limiting you.
Everyone's minds were racing. If Chu Yi really was just that kind of Beast Tamer, they would feel no reverence for him. He was just a lucky guy relying on his Pet Beast; what was there to respect?
In the shadows, two gray-robed Beast Tamers exchanged glances, both revealing knowing smiles.
「...」
The sun dipped below the western hills, and the evening sky was filled with a vast, colorful sunset.
After settling the task, Chu Yi received warm hospitality from the village chief's family. After finishing his meal, he called for a Guagua car to head back.
Over the course of the day, besides the task reward, he had also received 10,000 Federation currency as a bonus for the pelts.
Meanwhile, Chu Yi had stocked over one hundred Fireball Mouse hearts in the "kitchen." During his hunt for Fireball Mice, he had also extracted hearts from the corpses of those slain by others, which turned out to be an unexpected financial windfall.
The Crimson Shadow no longer satisfied Bika's needs for evolution. He wanted to produce higher-quality feast items to promote Bika's "Mutated Evolution."
Besides, he had only plundered 7 evolution points during the battles—a pitifully small amount. One of those points had even been an extra reward for making a delicious-quality Crimson Shadow.
Outside the car, the scenery flitted past quickly on both sides.
Chu Yi had set his destination as a hotel on the outskirts of the Bloody Wilderness. The development of this wilderness had boosted Yaoguang City's economy, leading to a full array of facilities like inns, hotels, and restaurants. The inner circle even had a trading post for Beast Tamers, where materials, weapons, potions, information, and more were abundant.
Next, he planned to reside long-term in the Bloody Wilderness.
Chu Yi and Bika lay on the car seat, resting their eyes.
"YIP..."
Bika, having battled all day, was also very tired.
In this regard, although the Crimson Shadow was ineffective for evolution, it could replenish strength, and Chu Yi had also personally concocted an Energy Potion. This had allowed Bika to use skills frantically, causing its proficiency to skyrocket and feeding back a wealth of combat experience.
Potions that could replenish a Pet Beast's strength were precious, indirectly saving him a fortune.
Selling potions in the wilderness seems more profitable, Chu Yi mused, then immersed his consciousness into his mind.
"HISS..."
Shadows twisted, mingled with an incomprehensible whisper.
A bizarre book immediately materialized before his eyes.
Chu Yi tried to open the third page.
The page didn't budge. This might be related to my cultivation level, he thought. Only by being strong enough can one withstand the binding of a Deceit Beast.
Strangely, I remember Deceit Beasts don't have Beast Taming levels and ranks but are classified into seven stages: Juvenile, Growth, Mature, Complete, Ultimate, Origin, and God-Demon. A localized Golden Finger? Whatever, as long as it's strong, that's all that matters.
Chu Yi fixed his gaze on the pupil-like image on the second page.
[Initiate evolution?]
"Initiate."
In the next instant, Chu Yi found himself in a splendid river of stars. As a mortal, his thoughts became immensely turbulent at this moment, unable to process such profound, mysterious, and vast information.
If the first evolution was like small bubbles overflowing, offering just a glimpse of evolution's gifts, then now, he felt as if he was transitioning from a lower dimension to a higher one, transforming into an omniscient and omnipotent deity, with the very essence of evolution becoming the power he wielded.
After a long time, his thoughts, battered by the impact of high-dimensional information, shattered and reformed repeatedly before finally stabilizing.
It's so marvelous, Chu Yi thought. His mind was crystal clear, now filled with a host of evolvable choices.
Moreover, by concentrating, he could see the abilities and costs of these choices.
[Eye of Truth]: Unveils mist, sees through the Illusion Realm, appraises items. Cost: 2.
[White Eyes]: 360-degree vision, completely unobstructed, keen insight, perceives energy pathways, includes subsequent evolution routes. Cost: 4.
[Charming Eyes]: Confuses the mind, stuns the opponent. Cost: 3.
[Evil Return Pupil]: Hypnotizes opponents with Pupil Technique, making them offer their necks for the slaughter. Cost: 6.
[Panda Eyes]: Prevents fatigue from staying up late, grants Night Vision. Cost: 1.
[Golden Pupil]: Incomplete. Can discern materials within stones. Cost: 1.
...
The Ghost Hand is my greatest trump card, and Bika excels in strong attacks. Currently, I'm lacking a support ability, primarily focusing on control.
Chu Yi skimmed through the evolution options, his eyes settling on [White Eyes] and [Evil Return Pupil].
However, [White Eyes] came with an evolution route, and its final cost was 2 evolution points less than [Evil Return Pupil]!
Logically, White Eyes are more suitable for me. A 360-degree view, not a single blind spot—Mom would no longer have to worry about me being ambushed. But intuitively, Evil Return Pupil possesses a kind of magic power. It's a control skill. If I kill all opponents in one round, then there won't be anyone left to ambush me, right?
After much deliberation, Chu Yi decided on [Evil Return Pupil].
Ahem. He wanted to know if Hypnotizing Evil Fall really worked, just to satisfy his curiosity.
Soon, Chu Yi awoke from his trance, stroking the wolfhound-sized Bika while looking at the radiant full moon outside the window, his expression relaxed.
It won't be long, he thought. I'm confident I can rejoin the Starfire Sequence. No, the academy is no longer useful to me.
But what Chu Yi cared about were the privileges he had obtained from the academy.
At this time, the vehicle jolted. The driver slammed on the brakes, staring ahead in horror.
[Progress:...5%...]