Huohuo's Special Evolution

Three ancient books, priced at 10 academic credits.

People were already mocking the post.

[Is this guy desperate for credits? Selling three crappy books for 10 credits?]

[The cultivation techniques, which are advertised as secret immortal manuals, only sell for two credits. And you're trying to sell a medicinal herb guide for 10 credits?]

[What kind of idiot would buy this stuff?]

Zhou Lu didn't even look at the comments and placed the order without hesitation.

As the 10 academic credits entered the third-party platform established by the school, Zhou Lu also entered the private chat interface with the seller.

Zhou Lu: [Senpai, how do we trade? Do we need to find a meeting spot? Do we need to wear masks?]

Senpai: [???]

Zhou Lu: [Does Senpai have a more discreet trading channel?]

Senpai: [Half an hour later, at the cafeteria entrance. We're not trading anything illegal, are we...]

Alright, the classic university student meeting spot: the cafeteria entrance.

Zhou Lu had initially thought these ancient books, which recorded the evolutionary paths of the world-destroying demonic gods and spirit beasts of the future, would be extremely mysterious items with special powers.

However, when Zhou Lu got his hands on them, they turned out to be just a few ancient medicinal herb guides, and even incomplete ones at that.

But as Zhou Lu took the ancient books from his senior, the system immediately popped up a task completion notification.

This meant that these three tattered ancient books truly were the ancient texts that recorded Huohuo's unique evolutionary path.

With a hint of curiosity, Zhou Lu returned to his dormitory.

"What?! Three crappy books for 10 academic credits?" Xiao Xi's eyes widened when she heard Zhou Lu's description. "Are you crazy?"

As she said this, she snatched the books from Zhou Lu's hands and started flipping through them. "Let me see if the paper is made of gold, or if the words are written in gold."

The moment she finished speaking, Xiao Xi's brow furrowed upon seeing the text in the books.

"How is it?" Zhou Lu asked cautiously.

Xiao Xi didn't answer. Instead, she glanced at Huohuo, who was playing with beads beside Zhou Lu.

"You bought this because you know what's inside, don't you?" Xiao Xi asked sternly.

Zhou Lu didn't answer, remaining silent.

But silence was also an answer.

Xiao Xi sighed and said, "You're playing with fire. But I didn't expect that the Dream Rain Flower could evolve into the Nine Lives Immortal Grass through a special evolution."

"Huh? Wasn't it the Endless Rose?"

"What kind of name is that?" Xiao Xi looked confused.

Zhou Lu coughed twice, changing the subject. "Is there something wrong with the Nine Lives Immortal Grass?"

"The main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill..." Xiao Xi trailed off, looking at Zhou Lu warily. "Why am I telling you this?"

After a pause, she shook her head. "It's no use even if you know. In any case, there are no more immortals in this era."

"Why?"

"The Nine Lives Immortal Grass is extinct," Xiao Xi said, looking at Huohuo playing with beads. She threw the book back into Zhou Lu's arms. "And even if you know its special evolutionary path, it's useless. All the materials required are also extinct or lost."

"Otherwise, why do you think those beast slaves who grew herbs and raised beasts for immortals became the new rulers? It's because no new cultivators were being born, and they only needed to eliminate the existing immortals."

"Huh? Is that something you can say?" Zhou Lu's heart stirred as he listened to Xiao Xi. "Is this information free?"

Xiao Xi, who was halfway to flying away, couldn't help but glance back at Zhou Lu when she heard his words. She smiled and said, "It's an information trade. I know the special evolutionary path of the Dream Rain Flower, and I'm telling you this useless information, so I don't have to give you Fairy Coins."

"Damn it! You're so devious." Zhou Lu put on a pained expression.

"I'm tired, I'm going back to sleep." Xiao Xi seemed to be in a bad mood and flew towards her room.

When she repaired the wall for the second time, she deliberately left a small door in the wall, allowing her to come and go as she pleased.

She had no choice. If she didn't do this, Huohuo would always get stuck in the door gap every day, and she didn't want to experience that awkwardness of her butt getting stuck in the door gap again.

After Xiao Xi left, Zhou Lu immediately opened the illustrated guide.

Flipping to the Nine Lives Immortal Grass section, he saw a short line of text in the notes: Grind Sky Profound Stone, Life Begging Grass, and Nine Thunder Candle Grass into powder, mix with Ghostly Phosphorus Powder, and stir with Vermilion Bird Manure Soil. Plant the Dream Rain Flower on it. Water it in the Extreme Ice Land for seven days, and the Dream Rain Flower can be converted into the Nine Lives Immortal Grass.

Seeing these words, Zhou Lu's head began to ache.

What the hell are these materials? I'm a top student in Spirit Beast Illustrated Guide class, aren't I? Why do I feel like I've never heard of any of them?

Zhou Lu searched online with a sliver of hope.

There were no records of Sky Profound Stone or Ghostly Phosphorus Powder. There were some clues about the Extreme Ice Land; it should be in a C-Class Secret Realm.

As for Life Begging Grass and Nine Thunder Candle Grass, they were recorded – but as fossils!

Vermilion Bird Manure Soil was even more bizarre.

Isn't the Vermilion Bird a mythical bird?

Vermilion Bird Manure Soil... Do divine birds also poop?

With such a complaint in mind, Zhou Lu opened the system.

As soon as he did, the system presented him with a mission:

[Optional Mission 8: Seize Vermilion Bird Manure Soil]

[Mission Briefing: Vermilion Bird Manure Soil is a necessary material for the special evolution of the Dream Rain Flower. It is located in C1422 Secret Realm. Please obtain this material before Zhou Lu and prevent the birth of the Endless Rose.]

[Mission Reward: Choose Your Own Spirit Beast Skill Card (B-Class) * 3]

Upon seeing this system mission, Zhou Lu was overjoyed.

So Vermilion Bird Manure Soil really existed!

However, when he saw there were no other missions, his heart sank again.

Having only one material wouldn't be enough for Huohuo's special evolution...

Therefore, he set his sights on the mission rewards.

[System Optional Mission 2: Obtain information related to the special evolution of the Endless Rose first]

Mission Complete.

[Mission Reward: Choose Any Spirit Beast Evolution Material * 5]

Could it be...

With a sliver of hope, Zhou Lu clicked on the system rewards.

An interface for choosing materials directly popped up.

Sky Profound Stone, Life Begging Grass, Nine Thunder Candle Grass, Ghostly Phosphorus Powder...

The materials Zhou Lu had been unable to find before, or had found but were already fossilized, were all present in this selection interface!

At this moment, Zhou Lu suddenly began to doubt the system's intentions.

Was it here to harm him or to help him...

Why worry about all that!

Zhou Lu gritted his teeth and closed the system interface.

He would redeem these materials later, after he found the Vermilion Bird Manure Soil and headed to the Extreme Ice Land.

Speaking of which... would it really rain in the Extreme Ice Land? And rain for seven consecutive days?

Xiao Xi would definitely know about this. But without Fairy Coins or other information to trade, she would never say.

Zhou Lu took a deep breath, quickly calming his mind.

He sat down in front of his seat and opened the setting book for the exploration permit exam.

No matter what, he had to pass the C-Class Exploration Permit exam first!