The Evolution Compendium
Chapter 37: Fire System Advancement, Ink Fire Crystal

Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Fire System Advancement, Ink Fire Crystal

Editor: Atlas Studios

BOOM—

A beam of spiritual light, like a Spear of Judgment cast by a deity, pierced through the Nightmare Deer King’s defensive black smoke, melting it like spring snow and creating a large hole.

[Evolution Points +2]

The Dragon Sculptor seized the opportunity to unleash a burst of purple lightning, electrocuting the Nightmare Deer King within until it convulsed.

Though both were War Generals, the Nightmare Deer King, blessed by the Abyss and possessing a Blood Core, was only slightly weaker than the Dragon Sculptor.

But there was an old fox lurking in the shadows.

Using pure Spiritual Power to bombard it had a suppressive effect, greatly reducing its Defense Power.

As a Pet Beast tainted by the Abyss’s corruption, it inevitably emitted polluting radiation and defiled Spiritual Power.

Conversely, pure Spiritual Power, which purified pollution, also posed a deadly threat to it.

The situation was highly unfavorable for the Nightmare Deer King.

If I don’t kill that old fox, it’s like having a thorn in my back; I can’t eat or sleep in peace!

You damned old fox, you deserve to die!

BOOM—

Realizing this, the Nightmare Deer King stared at the opposite riverbank. Once again shrouded in black smoke, it erupted with a dozen clusters of black fire that rushed toward the other side.

The scorching flames were unstable, causing a series of violent explosions along their path!

"SCREECH!"

The Dragon Sculptor soared into the sky, electric currents wreathing its wings. Its abdomen swelled as it prepared a powerful attack.

Special Skill: [Ash-Breath].

This was a special skill unique to dragon-type Pet Beasts, a devastating long-range killing strike whose power increased infinitely with the Pet Beast’s level.

Fool! sneered the Nightmare Deer King, hidden within a cluster of black fire. With my evasive speed, how could this skill possibly hit me? What a fool, completely brainless. Once I slaughter the Beast Tamer behind it, causing the Dragon Sculptor to suffer from the contract backlash, and then devour the Beast Tamer to gain dragon-type talents, I’ll be truly invincible in this region!

In the next moment, it saw the human setting up a giant cannon.

A sphere of refined pure Spiritual Power, with electric arcs dancing merrily around it, condensed into a pearl-sized flashing particle at the cannon’s muzzle.

The giant cannon was manned by a young man and woman, who aimed at one of the black fire clusters.

"Heh heh..."

A cold, mocking light flashed in the Nightmare Deer King’s eyes. Even the human-like face on its fur couldn’t help but let out a derisive laugh, which the wind carried far away.

I’ve already foreseen the deaths of this group of Beast Tamers.

Chu Yi glanced at the dozens of fiery doppelgangers and smiled faintly, one hand still holding Jiang Qiuyun’s soft, delicate hand. _{f.r(e)e\webn.ovel.co\m}

"Eek... Dad, it’s coming!" Jiang Qiuyun cried, shrinking fearfully into the young man’s embrace.

His broad, strong chest gave her an indescribable sense of security.

"Don’t worry, Dad’s here."

When the black fire came within a hundred meters, Chu Yi raised his other hand and gently snapped his fingers.

Instantly, the pink Ring of Curse suddenly opened a slit, like an eye.

Power of Treasure: Hypnosis!

A pink halo flashed from the eye-like opening, transforming into an eerie ripple that radiated outwards with Chu Yi at its center.

THUMP!

Engulfed by the ripple, the dozen clusters of black fire were extinguished as if by a gentle breeze, vanishing completely.

Only the Nightmare Deer King’s true body remained. Its consciousness stalled for a moment, the grotesque smile on its face freezing instantly.

Realizing something was terribly wrong, in the next moment, it met a pair of brilliant, nebula-like eyes.

The world dissolved into nothingness; all colors were erased by a supreme Mighty Power, leaving only stark black and white.

"Kneel!"

The boy it had regarded as prey gradually grew larger, ultimately transforming into an Ancient One of writhing shadows that obscured the heavens. Its massive eyes, which seemed to sketch the nebulas of the cosmos, cast a cold glance at the Nightmare Deer King.

With the Ring of Curse, the hypnotic power of his Nebula Eyes was amplified manyfold.

"...An incarnation of an Evil God!" the Nightmare Deer King shrieked in terror, its very Soul trembling as a new, wrinkled human face grew on its shoulder.

"SCREECH!"

The Dragon Sculptor seized this opportunity. With a flap of its wings, it formed a cross of lightning, its intersection instantly locking onto the Nightmare Deer King.

It opened its mouth, and the Dragon Breath brewing in its abdomen surged forth. A thick beam of light shot from its maw, pierced the center of the lightning crosshairs, and struck the unprotected Nightmare Deer King with a deafening explosion.

BOOM—

The terrifying explosive force completely engulfed the target, erupting into a massive mushroom cloud.

The destructive Dragon Breath, a power unique to dragon-types, was undeniably a most terrifying weapon.

It’s not dead yet, Chu Yi thought, his eyes brightening.

Ignoring the shockwaves from the explosion, he held Jiang Qiuyun’s soft hand tightly and lifted the Spiritual Giant Cannon. Using his enhanced vision, he spotted the critically wounded Nightmare Deer King attempting to burrow into the ground to escape.

If I kill it, who knows how many Evolution Points I’ll gain!

I, Chu Yi the Benevolent, am diligent and thrifty; I can’t stand waste.

His gaze narrowed. He saw that the Nightmare Deer King’s antlers were almost completely shattered, and half its body was blown apart. Deep within the gory, exposed flesh of its abdomen, a bright crystal was embedded.

A Crystal Core? Chu Yi exclaimed inwardly.

A Crystal Core was the core, the power source of an Extraordinary Life, but not all Pet Beasts possessed one. For instance, contracted Pet Beasts, which shared Spiritual Power with their Master, wouldn’t produce a Crystal Core. The higher the level of a wild Pet Beast, the greater its potential, and the richer its Spiritual Power, the more likely it was to condense a Crystal Core. For example, a first-stage Fireball Mouse was utterly useless; its chances of having a Stage One Crystal Core were comparable to winning the lottery.

Of course, it was worth mentioning that the Federation had long ago developed the extraordinary technology to create artificial Crystal Cores, pursuing a path of sustainable development.

Even if it had condensed a Crystal Core before, now that it’s become a Demon, the Spiritual Power within the Crystal Core must have long been eroded by the Abyss, rendering it a worthless pollutant.

The more severe the pollution, the more it becomes a Forbidden Item—something even the Federation dreads.

"Goodbye," Chu Yi said, aiming at the Crystal Core. Due to the cramped firing position, his cheek pressed against Jiang Qiuyun’s as he pulled the trigger.

BOOM—

The extremely compressed Spiritual Power shot out as a laser, piercing the billowing smoke and blasting the Nightmare Deer King’s "Crystal Core."

WHAM!

The Nightmare Deer King was sent flying in a Thomas Spin, undeniably dead.

So clever all its life, yet slain by that old fox.

[Evolution Points +30]

Chu Yi had taken down the Nightmare Deer King so easily because he truly possessed too many advantages. These included the T0-ranked strength Dragon Sculptor, the Treasure that was the Ring of Curse, the premium-grade Spiritual Giant Cannon, and his own supremely pure Spirit Core.

Each of these, if revealed to the outside world, could cause a sensation.

The harvest season has arrived.

Chu Yi still held Jiang Qiuyun’s soft hand, wary of any treacherous moves from the Dragon Sculptor, as he walked step by step toward the Nightmare Deer King’s corpse.

"SCREECH! SCREECH!"

The Dragon Sculptor swooped down, then circled above in frustration, looking quite helpless. It shrieked, demanding Chu Yi hand over the Spirit Cores—its agreed-upon payment—or it would zap him.

Chu Yi glanced at this fool.

He tightly clutched the three Spirit Cores in his palm and tossed them out forcefully.

The Dragon Sculptor CAWED, happily chasing after them like an Earth Worm, pecking at them like a chick pecking at grain.

Very soon, Chu Yi found the exploded corpse and began the extraction.

[Ink Fire Crystal *1]

[Mad Meat *1]

[Broken Demon Eyes *4]

[Polluted Heart *1]

Batch after batch of materials were extracted by an invisible, twisted, indescribable fleshy hand, filling Chu Yi’s inventory.

Silver-grade! These are all Silver-grade materials! Chu Yi’s pupils contracted, his breathing becoming heavy. The warm air brushed against Jiang Qiuyun’s crystal-clear earlobe, tinging it with a slight blush.

I’ve hit the jackpot!