"Beep, student card."
"Congratulations, trainee Su Hao, on completing a B++-rank mission. Mission evaluation: Excellent. Mission rewards: 500 credits, B-rank resource exchange ticket ×1."
He left in the morning. By the time he returned, the sky was only just turning dusky. There was still time for dinner. A rare-rank mission had been completed.
For Su Hao, the most valuable part was witnessing a transcendent-level battle. And against a powerhouse among transcendents.
"The hallmark of transcendent level is elemental manipulation; the higher the level, the broader the range of control..." Su Hao found a corner in the mission hall and sat down. He opened his wristband to browse exchangeable treasures.
[Credits: 923, B-rank exchange ticket ×1.]
Two or three weeks of effort had yielded this much. Su Hao felt it was a bit lacking. But who could blame the challenge rounds for offering so many credits?
He tapped open the exchange list.
[High-grade Spirit Fruit (various attributes): 3 credits for 100,000] [Wood Marrow Spirit Liquid: 2 credits for 60,000] [Spirit Jade (per catty): 2 credits] [Primordial Spirit Fruit: 10 credits] [Blazing Sun Heart: 600 credits, B-rank exchange ticket ×1] [Water Source Qi: 550 credits, B-rank exchange ticket ×1]
Su Hao pondered. High-grade Spirit Fruits could boost his spirits' attributes, so on a whim, he exchanged for six. Primordial Spirit Fruits nourished a spirit's vitality, enhancing spiritual power while slightly improving potential. Long-term use rivaled the effects of an attribute heart. On a whim, he exchanged for twelve. He also bought several dozen catties of Spirit Jade.
He paused over the last two items he added to his cart.
"The Blazing Sun Heart is a key material for the optimal evolution of the Firewool Crow... it could even alter the Firewool Crow's traits through evolution." "The Water Source Qi is also crucial, especially for the current Water Kirin Beast."
A panel appeared before Su Hao. He opened the spirit list.
[Water Kirin Beast (Entry-level Limit)] [Ability: Tidal Surge (click to view)] [Techniques: Water Arrow, Water Curtain, Charge, Trample, Water Bullet, Water Dragon Roar, Wave Riding, Bubble Defense, Water Path, Cloud Step] [Arcane: Wave Riding] [Other: Water Kirin Bloodline (10%), ...] [Training Plan: ...] [Water Kirin Beast → Water Kirin (Evolution Plan) (click to expand)]
"The Water Kirin Beast's evolution requirements are high; other materials and attributes aside..." It wasn't a native Water Kirin after all, and one prerequisite was "Bloodline Concentration = 30%," which the Water Kirin Beast was still far from.
"The most direct way to boost bloodline concentration is to find that Water Kirin." But that was impossible. Where would he even look?
"Otherwise, it relies on various environments and treasures to stimulate... and the best stimulation comes during a level breakthrough." Su Hao thought it over and bought the Water Source Qi first. Otherwise, it would be awkward if the Water Kirin Beast reached transcendent level without meeting evolution requirements.
"The Firewool Crow's evolution requirements are already met, but I'll hold off for now." "The Dream Butterfly's evolution requirements are still lacking; it's best to wait until Elite-level limit before evolving."
He waited a moment, then stood up and walked to another window in the hall to pick up the items he'd just ordered. He ran into Bai Hongzhen, who was also splurging on purchases.
He saw Su Hao and asked, "How many credits did you get from the mission?" "500."
Bai Hongzhen fell silent instantly, swallowing the words he'd been about to say. His plan to challenge the Dream Butterfly was also abandoned.
"One more month of training, and in a month, I'll definitely challenge Su Hao's spirit! "A man of the Bai family never gives up!"
He grabbed his items and walked off without a word. Su Hao: "???"
...
Student dormitory area, Lakeview Court.
As soon as they returned, the Dream Butterfly quickly flew to the second floor. A moment later, it came back clutching a phone.
"Gu-nuo, gu-nuo!!"
It was frantic. Its eyes seemed misty with moisture.
Su Hao took the phone and looked at it. A moment of silence.
The little creature grew even more anxious.
"This phone... it's out of battery."
"Gu-nuo... nuo?"
The Dream Butterfly's eyes turned into o((⊙﹏⊙))o. It let out a long sigh and went to charge the phone.
Just then, "Ding-dong!"
The doorbell rang. Without Su Hao needing to say a word, the Water Kirin Beast shot out with a "xi-lu" sound, its hoof lifting to press the garden gate switch.
The person who walked in bellowed, "Su Hao, let's have a passionate battle!"
Su Hao: "..."
He recognized that booming voice immediately. He cautiously poked his head out to look. He breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Songting in his eyes looked stronger than before, but... it was fine; he hadn't turned into a muscle-bound freak. Following Li Songting was a spirit, the Master Hound. Evolved from the Ascetic Hound. Its gaze was sharp, full of pressure. Su Hao could tell at a glance it was much stronger than before.
...
Ten minutes later.
At the school's battle arena, on an independent battle platform. Liu Ren, who had appeared out of nowhere, stood in the referee's position, holding a referee flag.
"Please both contestants send out your spirits."
Li Songting's dog head... ahem, his Master Hound stepped onto the platform. Like a seasoned veteran, its breathing and muscle tremor frequency were maintained in an excellent state.
"Interesting."
Su Hao sent out the Firewool Crow. Li Songting had specifically requested it.
He said, "Only battles with muscle-on-muscle contact are truly passionate. Too bad you don't have a spirit good at direct confrontation, Su Hao. "But your Firewool Crow's fighting style is pretty good too. Why not learn from my teacher and become a muscle crow?"
Su Hao: "..."
He noticed the Firewool Crow seemed a bit tempted. Tempted for what?!
The two spirits faced off: the Firewool Crow fluttered in the air, while the Master Hound stood with its legs slightly apart.
The battle began!
Li Songting commanded, "Come on, old Su, let you see our two months of training results. "Master Hound, Burst Form!"
"Woof—"
It let out a low growl. With thudding sounds, its muscles bulged and rapidly expanded. The Master Hound, originally about 1.6 meters tall, transformed into a muscle-bound hound over two meters high with explosive muscles! Aside from the dog head, which hadn't changed much, looking below the neck, you couldn't tell it was a Master Hound! Even a Mountain Ape wasn't this muscular!
"Two months, combined with the potions my teacher provided, to master Burst Form. "Today, Su Hao, feel the passion!"
The muscle-bound Master Hound stomped the ground hard, creating a ring of cracks, sending countless fragments of stone flying, as if frozen in midair. And it had already charged forward. It tore through the air, ripples spreading outward.
"Whoa!"
Liu Ren exclaimed. Su Hao's eyes widened too.
"Burst Form... is that the secret technique Master Bu mastered?"
He kept glancing at Li Songting. Could it be... that Li Songting had also mastered a muscle form? How could he still be normal after training with Master Bu for two months?!
"Feather Substitute!"
The muscle-bound Master Hound's speed was explosive, appearing before the Firewool Crow in an instant. A fist the size of a sandbag punched out, tearing through the air. Rings of air waves rippled outward.
The Firewool Crow's body shattered under the punch, countless black and red feathers drifting down. Appearing over a dozen meters away, the Firewool Crow ignited with orange-red flames. Layer upon layer stacked up. Like a flowing flame cloak draped over its body.
"Caw—"
It let out a high-pitched cry. Its form split into three, diving downward. Three fiery shadows lunged straight at the Master Hound from three directions!
— PS1: Flipping through earlier chapter comments, I've decided to retcon the Firewool Crow's evolved name to 'Fire God Crow'—does that work? Mainly to keep the 'Crow' suffix. PS2: The fourth spirit should be medium-to-large, capable of direct confrontation... haven't decided yet. PS3: So today, only the guaranteed two chapters, but I still want to ask for votes or something (〃'▽'〃).