Zilan evolved, [Gift of All Spirits]

From afternoon until evening.

Lin Yuan had kept himself fairly busy.

First, he searched for the material needed to restore the [Quiet Spirit Cat]'s quality: an extraordinary-quality [Lionbright Fruit].

Lion-type pet beasts were among the strongest flesh-and-blood pets, so any materials associated with them were expensive.

This fruit's price was no exception. Like the extraordinary-quality [Spirit Crimson Radiant Fluid] Linghuan needed, it cost around a hundred thousand Alliance coins.

Fortunately, Lin Yuan could at least find them in the pet beast store.

That meant everything was still going according to plan.

Before awakening his talent, two hundred thousand Alliance coins would have given Lin Yuan a terrible headache.

After awakening it, however—and with Zilan about to awaken as well—Lin Yuan felt he could manage it within a few days if things went quickly. Even if they went slowly, he was confident he could earn that much within a week.

Of course, the specifics still depended on the new traits Zilan gained after evolving, as well as the quality and effects of the [Specialties] she could produce.

Still, while waiting for Zilan to evolve, he had already harvested the [Purple Star Vines] several more times.

Ever since Zilan began evolving yesterday, these plants had been growing at this unreasonable speed.

Lin Yuan had heard of such phenomena, of course. This was the [Spiritual Energy Burst] that occurred when a pet beast evolved.

The characteristics of its evolution would be amplified. That was why pet beasts with certain special attributes, such as fire or water, needed to evolve somewhere safe. Otherwise, tragedies like fires or floods could strike their homes.

Once Zilan finished evolving, these [Purple Star Vines] would no longer grow at such an outrageous rate, but they would certainly still grow much faster than before.

Lin Yuan also enjoyed the air in his home at the moment. It was not merely fresh; it carried an energy that left him thoroughly invigorated.

There was something else, too: the [Quiet Spirit Cat] seemed to be adapting to its new home very quickly.

Perhaps that was because it had changed homes so many times.

It was also quite satisfied with this new home. After all, the [Spiritual Energy Burst] brought on by Zilan's evolution had a gentle wood attribute, which also had a healing effect on pet beasts with old injuries.

Throughout its upbringing, it had never encountered energy so gentle yet so profound.

That was why it spent most of its time in the plant room.

Moreover, Lin Yuan discovered that it really did like its new home.

Its status entry showed that it could romp around and howl to its heart's content here, without anyone stopping it.

Being able to be itself, body and soul, made it feel wonderfully free.

During this time, Lin Yuan also gave it a name.

"Baishi."

"Shi," meaning release, sounded the same as the word for lion. It was Lin Yuan's promise to it.

The name also meant freely expressing its nature, so it would no longer have to hide or hold itself back in his home.

When Lin Yuan explained the meaning of its name, it only half understood.

But it was still very pleased.

Because, after changing homes so many times since birth, this was the first time anyone had given it a name.

Building his bond with Baishi went fairly smoothly.

Still, a single afternoon certainly could not erase the emotional wounds it had suffered over the past six months.

Lin Yuan only wanted it to feel comfortable enough that it would not try to run away.

Judging by the status on its panel, everything was going well so far.

At that moment, Lin Yuan was keeping watch in front of Zilan.

According to the information on her panel.

Her evolution had already reached 99%.

She could successfully evolve at any moment and reveal her newest form.

Lin Yuan waited eagerly, and the surrounding [Purple Star Vines] seemed to have reached the final stage of their "pilgrimage" as well.

They no longer grew outward. This time, they grew wider and thicker, as though they intended to welcome their new "sacred sovereign" with the sturdiest, most devout posture possible.

About five minutes later.

The mist before Lin Yuan's eyes rushed back into Zilan's body as though being reclaimed, leaving only a roomful of fresh fragrance.

Zilan's new form gradually revealed itself before him.

Although he had already seen the appearance of the [Purple Spirit Treasure Orchid] on the panel, Zilan's actual form delighted him even more.

Her pagoda-like form had three tiers in all.

On the lowest tier, four blossoms nestled together without appearing crowded. The two blossoms on the second tier were slightly larger, with a bud held between them that looked ready to bloom at any moment.

The main blossom on the highest tier was the largest. Its petals were a paler purple than those on the two lower tiers, giving it an even fresher, more ethereal beauty.

Pale purple floral dew hung from every bud. Lin Yuan had already prepared a new flowerpot.

The instant those drops fell, fragrance burst through the room: a faint sweetness, but more than anything, the feeling of an embrace that seeped into the heart.

She had evolved!

She really had evolved!

Compared with the "sample" displayed on the panel, she had more flowers, greater power, and an even more graceful, otherworldly air.

After successfully evolving, the first person Zilan noticed was Lin Yuan.

The perfect compatibility of her evolved form filled her with an incomparable sense of ease.

Without hesitation, she moved her petals and flicked six drops of floral dew toward Lin Yuan's lips.

Lin Yuan immediately drank them—first came a faint, icy coolness, followed by a mouthful of fragrance. That fragrance flowed through every passage of his body, letting him fully experience what it meant to be nourished "body and soul."

Aside from their sweetness, her previous drops of floral dew had mainly restored vitality, healed injuries, and served as basic nutrients for cultivating certain plant pet beasts.

The current floral dew was clearly more potent, but Lin Yuan would only know its specific effects after seeing Zilan's new traits.

Baishi had originally been dozing among the plants, but the surge of energy at the instant of Zilan's evolution was so tremendous that it naturally woke up.

Noticing this newly arrived little fellow, Zilan politely flicked a drop of floral dew toward its lips as well.

Her two elderly owners had always been warm and hospitable, and she had picked up that habit through their example.

Baishi stuck out its tongue and licked the dew. Its eyes narrowed in pleasure, and a "meow" slipped out involuntarily.

Linghuan, which had been busy in the main room all this time, now appeared in the doorway as well.

Although its illness made its desire to work overwhelm its emotional expression, it had clearly suppressed its pain at this moment to see the evolved form of its longtime companion and congratulate her.

Seeing Linghuan approach, Zilan generously sent five drops of floral dew straight to its lips.

Linghuan knew how important the floral dew was to this pet food shop and certainly wanted to refuse. Yet before its body could move, its tongue reached out involuntarily. This "lapse in composure" left it a little flustered.

Very soon, however, the comfort flooding its body and soul left it no room for "self-reproach."

Just as Baishi had let out a "meow," it gave a completely uncontrollable little whimper. This startled Lin Yuan—he had only heard that sound before Linghuan evolved.

Back when it could still express its emotions freely.

Lin Yuan immediately realized that this floral dew was remarkably effective for pet beasts, especially those with injuries!

This post-evolution scene of "giving" had not ended yet.

Of course, Zilan had not forgotten her supporters, the [Purple Star Vines], which had grown alongside her day and night.

This time was different. She seemed to tremble slightly, and the ethereal mist she had drawn back in spread around her like gauze, absorbed by the [Purple Star Vines].

A faint purple mist also drifted around the cluster of [Purple Star Vines], as though the two were shining in harmony.

For the first time, Lin Yuan could feel such jubilant emotions from the [Purple Star Vines] in his home.

They were happy for Zilan, and equally happy for themselves.

Lin Yuan looked at Zilan's latest panel.

[Purple Spirit Treasure Orchid]

[Attribute]: wood

[Quality]: upper extraordinary

[Sex]: female

[Level]: extraordinary level 1

[Traits]: [Spirit Dew LV1], [Treasure Mist LV1]

[Spirit Dew LV1]: Can produce upper extraordinary-quality [Spirit Dew], which rapidly restores energy, heals longstanding injuries, suppresses the worsening of injuries and illnesses, and slowly removes impurities from the body.

[Treasure Mist LV1]: Can freely control the movement of [Treasure Mist] into and out of the body. Plants affected by [Treasure Mist] grow substantially faster and have an extremely small chance of mutating.

[Personality]: home-protective, giving, sensitive

[Status]: Filled with mixed emotions, experiencing the joy and excitement of evolution, along with feelings of gratitude and longing. If only her elderly owners were here, too.

Lin Yuan nodded as he read Zilan's new traits. They matched the abilities she had just displayed.

This remarkably effective floral dew was called [Spirit Dew], and it was far better than the [Purple Dew] Zilan had produced before.

As for [Treasure Mist], Lin Yuan felt he would have to gradually test its approximate range.

Seeing Zilan's status, Lin Yuan could not help being moved.

Yes, she really had evolved.

She had evolved into the form best suited to her.

This was the best possible outcome, the wish his mother had once held, and the freedom Zilan had pursued in her dreams.

"I'm still here, Zilan."

As he always had, Lin Yuan gently touched Zilan's petals, comforting her with the softest words.

Beside them, Linghuan's eyes grew wet as well.

Baishi, meanwhile, was a little bewildered. It had never experienced or witnessed such warmth between a person and a pet beast.

But it felt so wonderful!

The plant room fell quiet for a while, the human and his three pets each lost in their own thoughts.

After taking a moment to settle himself, Lin Yuan remembered that behind the [Evolution Path] entry earlier, there had been blurry, flickering light symbols and words, seemingly arranging themselves into something.

He focused on it again, and his eyes widened slightly.

[Evolution Path]: Having evolved into a [Purple Spirit Treasure Orchid] with 100% compatibility, you may claim one [Gift of All Spirits] of your choice.

Within this entry, three orbs of different-colored light rested quietly in three positions, as though obediently waiting for him to pluck them...