"Most spirit masters, when setting up an evolution site for their spirits, might prepare an excess of attribute essence and jade powder... after all, leftovers can be sold off."
"But some niche auxiliary materials can only be matched by skilled spirit breeders based on the spirit's conditions."
"Even so, it's still hard to fully tap into the evolution's potential."
At Su Hao's current level, the best he could do was pair the Silkworm with common auxiliary materials like Wood Spirit Fruit.
But after seeing the plan provided by the panel, he just went, "Oh."
"Speaking of which, spirit evolution is essentially a form of genetic selection."
"Some spirits have stable genes with only one evolutionary path, while others have multiple."
The Silkworm wasn't the most representative spirit.
The most unique was the Three-Tailed Fox.
In its initial form, it showed no elemental inclination.
But after its first evolution, it could evolve into Ice Six-Tails, Fire Six-Tails, Sword Six-Tails, and so on.
"In comparison, the Silkworm's evolution is more about survival of the fittest."
"Only the exceptional can tread the difficult evolutionary paths."
The Dream Butterfly's evolutionary path was undoubtedly the hardest.
It had yet to be discovered.
Especially the requirement of mental strength over 150—many entry-level spirits couldn't achieve that.
Currently, there were systematic methods for training spiritual energy, and some schools had mastered special techniques for physical training, but Su Hao had rarely heard of any for mental strength.
Even with the current Silkworm, its mental strength stat only barely exceeded the evolution requirement.
—Among the cultivation plans the Silkworm could unlock, there was no mental strength enhancement option.
If even Su Hao was in this position, it was no wonder the Dream Butterfly path had remained undiscovered.
The other two paths.
The Six-Winged Flying Silkworm was simpler, requiring speed, agility, and the essential material Hard Ironwood, aside from common materials.
The first Six-Winged Flying Silkworm had appeared in a forest of Hard Ironwood.
As for the production-oriented path of "Silkworm → Rolling Cocoon → White Feather Moth," the requirements were even lower, almost nonexistent.
"Spirits that haven't been heavily cultivated can still evolve into Rolling Cocoons, or even White Feather Moths."
"Those that have been trained, especially in speed, often evolve into Six-Winged Flying Silkworms."
"But with strong mental strength and mastery of illusion-type moves, the Silkworm's evolution leans toward the Dream Butterfly."
For Su Hao, there was no uncertainty—only certainty.
...
Saturday.
Su Hao, with his prepared materials, the Silkworm, and the Little Fire Crow, arrived at the evolution area behind the Spirit Square.
Wood-type A-grade venue.
Standing outside the transparent glass window, Su Hao saw inside a grove of tall, straight trees reaching up to the dome.
The venue was filled with various plants, and a stream babbled as it flowed.
It looked like a miniature botanical garden.
Seeing the venue, Su Hao couldn't even bring himself to say it was expensive.
It was worth every penny!
"Sir, this way, please."
A staff member opened a side door. "Please arrange the materials in advance to ensure no mistakes during the spirit's evolution."
Su Hao nodded.
Stepping inside, he felt the air was much fresher, and his spirits lifted.
He quickly walked to the center of the botanical garden and laid out the various materials he had prepared around him.
Things like Mist Flower and Emerald Bamboo.
During the Silkworm's evolution, it didn't need to swallow them—it just needed to absorb the "spiritual essence" from the materials during the process to meet the conditions and evolve successfully.
Su Hao had also prepared Hard Ironwood.
Otherwise, he couldn't explain why he hadn't prepared the essential material for evolving into a Six-Winged Flying Silkworm.
"But it's not a waste—absorbing the spiritual essence of Hard Ironwood can slightly increase physical strength."
This absorption could only happen during the evolution process.
Mist Flower and Emerald Bamboo were unremarkable among the many wood-type auxiliary materials.
Su Hao arranged the materials one by one, leaving only the wood-type essence for the Silkworm to swallow.
"Gu nuo, gu nuo!"
When he came out, the Silkworm was anxiously looking around.
Classic pre-evolution anxiety syndrome.
It had seen photos of the Six-Winged Flying Silkworm and the Rolling Cocoon—both were a bit ugly.
But Su Hao had told it that its evolved form was an elegant and beautiful spirit.
What Su Hao said should be true, right?
What kind of spirit would it be?
The Silkworm couldn't wait.
But it still had to wait.
"In about half an hour, the spiritual energy in the A-grade venue will peak, and then your spirit can go in."
The staff member gave the Silkworm an extra glance.
Such a plump Silkworm with such beautiful markings—it was the first time they'd seen one.
But after evolving into a Six-Winged Flying Silkworm, could something this fat still fly fast?
"Su Hao!"
From a distance, Liu Dazui's voice rang out. "I'm here to cheer for your Silkworm God!"
Su Hao looked over.
He saw one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine...
A whole nest of classmates!
And Old Chen too!
His mouth twitched. "Such a big crowd?"
"We heard from Liu Ren that your Silkworm was evolving today, so we all came," Li Songting said, giving him and the Silkworm a thumbs-up. "Good luck!"
Gu Lingyao poked her head out from behind the group, waving her pale arm. "Good luck~"
Su Hao: "..."
He should have known—if Liu Ren knew something, the whole school knew.
But this feeling of being the center of attention...
It felt pretty good!
Even the Silkworm itself stopped being nervous, lifting its head high:
"Gu nuo??(ˊωˋ*)??"
After calling out, it pressed itself against the transparent glass window.
Its big eyes stared straight at the evolution materials inside.
They were all its stuff—it had to keep a close watch so none went missing!
The spiritual energy level gradually rose, and by then, even Instructor Xiong had arrived.
"I'm not late, am I?"
"Instructor, why are you here to join the fun too?"
Su Hao was embarrassed.
No one should know about the Silkworm evolving into a new form—why did everyone act like they were here to witness a historic event!
"Because I'm also curious how strong your Silkworm will be after evolving."
The spiritual energy reached its peak.
The staff member signaled that they could begin.
Su Hao opened a specially made wooden box, revealing twelve portions of wood-type essence.
The wood-type essence was in liquid form, stored in crystal bottles. Su Hao opened the first one.
"Gu nuo!"
The Silkworm gave a slight inhale, and the emerald-green liquid inside the bottle flowed into its mouth.
It swallowed the second, the third...
Until the tenth, when the energy inside its body reached its limit.
It couldn't swallow anymore: "Gu nuo."
Su Hao looked at the staff member. "Open the door."
The evolution venue's door opened, and the Silkworm quickly darted inside.
With a click, the door closed again.
Outside the transparent glass window, pairs of eyes watched that goose-yellow figure.
It dashed to the center of the venue, into the pile of materials.
Then,
the swallowed wood-type essence began to take effect.
A dazzling light burst from the Silkworm's body.
Bright green threads emerged from it, wrapping around layer by layer.
They gradually wove into a massive cocoon of light.
The cocoon continuously absorbed nutrients from its surroundings.
Spiritual energy.
And the spiritual essence of the evolution materials around it, flowing in bit by bit.
Su Hao noticed that some of the evolution materials had dimmed slightly.
Meanwhile, the cocoon's glow grew brighter and brighter.
Like an embryo nurturing new life.
One minute,
five minutes,
ten minutes,
thirty minutes.
The bright green light had spread throughout the entire venue, spilling out through the glass window.
Even the experienced staff member covered their mouth, eyes wide.
Finally...
The light, after its peak, rapidly receded.
The cocoon shattered, scattering into countless fine particles of light.
Su Hao heard the long-absent panel sound in his ear.
"Ding! Your spirit, Silkworm, has completed evolution into a new form: Dream Butterfly (changeable)."
"Ding! Your spirit has learned a new move through the baptism of evolution..."