C15 The Evolutionary Route of the Stone!

Dawn was breaking.

"Ahh," Lin Yih yawned, turned over, and continued to sleep. He was supposed to attend class today, but his Pet Beast Egg had just hatched, so he had requested a leave of absence from school.

In this world, schools were quite lenient with granting certain types of leave, such as personal and special leave. Lin Yih's leave fell under personal leave, which was given high priority. Within minutes, the school had approved a five-day leave for him the previous night, with a simple instruction to return once he had finished nurturing his Pet Beast.

He slept on for a bit longer until a tickling sensation on his face woke him. It felt cold and smooth to the touch... What on earth was that?

Half-asleep, Lin Yih jerked awake, his mind booting up as he grabbed whatever was on his face and flung it aside, sitting up with lightning speed. He seemed to handle the situation like a pro.

"...What in the world is that?" Now he had a chance to see the creature he'd tossed beside his bed.

It was a small, ten-centimeter-long snake, about as thick as a little finger, with a translucent, pale blue body. The snake cocked its head and flicked its tongue, looking at Lin Yih curiously, probably wondering why its master had thrown it out.

Lin Yih breathed a sigh of relief. "Ah, it's just a little snake... You startled me..."

It was the Pet Beast that had hatched the night before. He had scared himself for nothing. Lin Yih had always slept alone since he was young, and the idea of sharing his bed with a snake was unsettling. That's why he had stored it in the Pet Beast Classic before going to sleep.

But without restrictions in the Pet Beast Classic, some clever Pet Beasts could escape on their own... which explained the morning's surprise.

Seeing the little snake's forlorn expression, Lin Yih patted his stomach and asked, "Hungry?"

"Hiss, hiss," the snake responded, wriggling its tail and curling up in Lin Yih's arms.

"Hey," Lin Yih chuckled, stroking its cool, smooth skin, finding it surprisingly soothing.

"Okay, let's see what we've got to eat," he said, carrying the little snake out of the room.

The living room was silent and empty. His mother had left for work, his father had been staying at a friend's house for a few days, and Lin Wushuang had gone to class. Only Lin Yih was home, rummaging for something to feed his new companion.

After a futile search, Lin Yih slumped over the dining table, defeated.

"This is the last thing I've got," he said, placing a slice of beef before the snake.

"Hiss, hiss," the snake shook its head and nudged the meat away with its tail.

"You won't eat vegetables, fodder, or even meat. So what do you want?" Lin Yih was at his wit's end.

He had turned the house upside down looking for something the snake would eat, to no avail.

The snake seemed just as upset, hissing softly.

That's when Lin Yih remembered the Water Crystals he had used to assist with the hatching of the Pet Beast Egg. "You don't want meat, but what about stones?" he mused aloud, half-joking as he placed two crystals before the snake.

As Lin Yih reached for his phone to research a water snake's preferred diet, he caught sight of the little snake eagerly coiling around a Water Crystal, trying to gulp down the stone several times larger than its head.

Lin Yih was stunned. "You're really going to eat that?" He tried to pry the crystal away, but the snake clung to it, gazing up at him with pleading eyes.

"You can't eat this," Lin Yih insisted, puzzled. Attribute crystals weren't food; they were meant to aid in hatching or as an energy source for Pet Beasts. Young creatures needed proper nutrition to grow, and energy couldn't replace that, could it?

Was this an issue of aptitude?

With a growing sense of alarm, Lin Yih demanded, "Scan!"

"Beep! Scanning..."

Name: Mutant Water Snake (Weak)

Species: Reptile

Attributes: Water, ?

Level: Bronze Sixth Stage

Status: Juvenile, Excited

Quality: Perfect

Potential: Four Stars

Skills: Entanglement, Gaze, Water Spike, ?

Evolution Path: 1. Normal Evolution: Crystal Snake (Requirements not met) 2. Ancestral Evolution: Giant Water Python (Requirements not met) 3. Mutant Evolution: Rock Snake (Requirements not met) 4. Epic Evolution: Feathered Snake (Requirements not met) 5. Bloodline Evolution: Mulin Snake (Requirements not met)

Introduction: Within its diminutive form lies a strand of enigmatic bloodline. Listen closely, and you might sense a mysterious force beckoning... Alas, due to insufficient nourishment at birth, its frame is rather frail. But with ample water and wood attribute crystals, its weakness can be fortified.

Lin Yih surveyed the small snake's splendid attribute panel and nodded with contentment.

This is befitting of my extraordinary status.

Then, his attention shifted to the introduction, and his face lit up with realization.

"Aha, an energy deficiency at birth is the culprit. No wonder it craves attribute crystals..."

His eyes then settled on the evolutionary path.

Stroking his chin, Lin Yih mused, "Bloodline evolution is a novelty, seemingly potent, yet the criteria seem dauntingly out of reach."

Nonetheless, Lin Yih was determined to strive for it, given the rarity and value of bloodline evolution. Opting for a conventional evolution to cut corners would likely haunt him with regret for a lifetime.

"Ah, there's also the minor evolutionary route!"

Thankfully, the conditions for all other evolutionary routes, aside from the challenging mutation and Epic evolution, were quite straightforward.

But what truly captivated Lin Yih was the prospect of the Epic evolution into a Demon Hound! With such a cool name, it had to be formidable...

Lin Yih shook his head, dismissing further contemplation.

He had hoped for a leisurely break, a chance to unwind for a couple of days, only to find a myriad of tasks awaiting him.

Well, such is life when you've got an edge.

Not to harness that edge to gain strength would be folly.

"You little rascal," Lin Yih said as he caressed the snake's scales.

"Patience, my friend."

...

Moments later,

Lin Yih gripped a stone pestle, laboring over it with vigorous thuds.

Soon, he dabbed the perspiration from his brow and remarked, "These crystals are incredibly tough!"

"Hiss hiss ~"

The coiled snake by his side let out a cheerful hiss, its tail segment wiggling with delight.

A grin spread across Lin Yih's face.

"You, my friend, since you've taken to eating stones, 'Stone' shall be your name."