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ED Note: Wu Liang has boldly declared that he will marry Ling Qingxue, while Ling Qingxue thinks that Wu Liang sees her as his mother… This is going to be a fun misunderstanding!
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Wu Liang's body once again surged with the familiar vital energy, and this time, the power of evolution was even greater than the previous two times.
The blood aura almost completely enveloped him, forming a large, blood-red cocoon.
At this moment, his flesh and bones were undergoing a tremendous transformation.
Simultaneously, a ring of devouring power emanated from the cocoon, constantly tearing at the surrounding air, as if devouring everything in its path.
Ling Qingxue took a deep breath, her eyes filled with horror.
Having evolved only three times, he already possessed this level of devouring power. If he evolved a few more times, Wu Liang might truly unleash the ferocious power of the ancient, heaven-devouring beast, the Taotie.
"I wonder where his limits are. Even with the Taotie bloodline, he can't evolve indefinitely. At that point, will I still be able to help him evolve into a Godhood Level bloodline?"
Ling Qingxue rubbed her temples, her mind in turmoil.
Ever since she learned that Wu Liang possessed the Taotie bloodline, she had pondered this question.
To date, no magical beast evolutionist had ever evolved the bloodline of the Taotie, not even herself, a former Imperial Rank evolutionist.
The Taotie went extinct in ancient times, and virtually no magical beasts possessed its bloodline today.
Therefore, if Wu Liang's potential was exhausted, his subsequent evolution would need to be propelled by her, a task perhaps even more difficult than in her previous life.
"There will always be a way. At least I have a higher base now than in my previous life!"
In her previous life, she endured countless hardships in the early stages before gradually gaining the strength to be respected.
This matter was probably known only by the Azure Wood Emperor Dragon from back then.
"Crack!"
A crisp, cracking sound emanated from the blood-red cocoon that Wu Liang had transformed into, followed by more and more cracks.
A magical beast with a completely new look appeared on the spot.
Wu Liang had shed his original blackish-gray fur, and now it was pure black, as deep as ink.
Its claws grew enormous, their tips gleaming coldly, looking like they could easily pierce through concrete slabs.
His physique had expanded again, making him look extremely cramped in the dormitory.
[Host: Wu Liang]
[Beast: Monster Beast (Next Form: Ruin Mountain Beast. Evolution Points required: 5000)]
[Rank: Second Level early-stage]
[Talent: Devouring All Things (60%)]
[Bloodline: Intermediate-Level two-star]
[Attack: 855]
[Defense: 938]
[Speed: 750]
[Spiritual Power: 460]
[Evolution Points: 15]
[Skills: Gluttonous Stomach Lv. 8, Greed Lv. 6, Damage Reduction Lv. 6, Size Control Lv. 4, Supernatural Smell Lv. 5, Devouring Mark Lv. 1]
[Devouring Mark Lv. 1: Can condense a Devouring Mark and inject it into the opponent's body, continuously devouring the opponent's energy and merging it into itself. The mark's existence is not permanent.] (Note: Upgrading the skill level increases the mark's duration and devouring speed.)
...
Wu Liang scratched his paw, a look of novelty on his face.
He also looked at himself in a mirror, finally nodding in satisfaction.
"Look at that jet-black fur, that majestic chest, that untamed posture—that's what a Taotie should be!"
Finally, he had shed his previous mutt-like appearance!
Not only that, but he had finally gained a new skill. The previous two evolutions had only added certain effects to the existing skills.
"Devouring Mark" could also play a significant role in battle, weakening the opponent while enhancing his own endurance.
However, he didn't have many evolution points to upgrade it right now. He could only wait to level it up a few times later.
"Damn, the next one will cost 5000 evolution points! This evolution is too expensive!" Wu Liang sighed.
The subsequent evolutions would only be more difficult. He was even a little unsure if he could gather the 5000 evolution points before the national martial arts exam, especially since he still needed to upgrade his skills.
Evolution points were needed everywhere!
Wu Liang turned to look at Ling Qingxue, hoping for her praise, but instead saw her staring intently at him, seemingly very nervous.
Indeed, Ling Qingxue was extremely nervous at this moment, her heart beating faster than usual.
She hadn't expected Wu Liang's evolution to bring such a massive boost to his spiritual power, even surpassing hers!
At this moment, her vital and spiritual power had been completely surpassed, and as the contract master, she was at a disadvantage.
If Wu Liang were to seize control of the contract now, or, in essence, turn against his master, it was highly likely that he could activate his Taotie nature and destroy the contract, thus ending her path as a martial artist.
Moreover, Wu Liang's strength was far greater than hers at this moment, and she had no means of counterattack.
Wu Liang shrank his body and easily jumped onto the bed.
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I've become more handsome?"
Ling Qingxue pursed her lips, her face hesitant.
"You… you don't feel very hungry. Do you have the urge to eat?"
Wu Liang grinned. "Of course I'm hungry! I'm hungry for twenty-three and a half hours out of twenty-four!"
"Then, do you… want to eat me?" Ling Qingxue asked nervously.
Wu Liang's eyes lit up. "Yes, I've had my eye on you for a long time! Once I break through to the King Level, I'll marry you!"
Ling Qingxue: ???
"No, I mean, do you have the urge to eat me?"
Wu Liang tilted his head. "Little Xuexue, are you out of your mind? Why would I eat you? It makes no sense to eat you now."
Ling Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief, her expression returning to calm.
She was now certain that Wu Liang didn't intend to rebel against his master.
A magical beast's rebellion against its master stemmed from its innate bestial instincts, and even the beast itself often could not control it.
When a magical beast became dominant, it was no longer restrained by the Heavenly Mandate contract, nor did it tolerate its bloodline being contaminated by humans. At this point, the beast could choose to use its bloodline to retaliate against the Heavenly Mandate contract, using its power to destroy the bond.
This was the only way to break the contract, resulting in double damage to both parties.
The martial artist would not be able to progress any further for the rest of his life, or worse, would die.
The magical beast's bloodline would be completely burned away, preserving its last vestige of dignity.
This was why it was so difficult to form contracts with ancient divine beasts and ferocious beasts. Given the opportunity, they would launch a desperate counterattack.
In their hearts, their own bloodline could not be desecrated, and certainly not bound by contract to lowly humans.
Throughout history, countless people had died at the hands of magical beasts that rebelled against their masters.
This was also why Ling Qingxue constantly suppressed the growth of Wu Liang's spiritual power.
Now that this concern was gone, Ling Qingxue had one less worry.
"This is truly strange. Given the nature of the ferocious beast Taotie, the probability of it rebelling against its master is almost 99%. Could it be that I, being reborn, have been given a protagonist's script?"
Otherwise, she couldn't explain the reason. It was completely beyond her previous knowledge.
Even at the Imperial Rank peak, she had never seen anyone truly form a contract with a ferocious beast.
Only if they cultivated a bond from childhood, like her friend Beiming Yan, who grew up with a young Kunpeng, could they be sure not to suffer the troubles of their beasts' rebellion.
"Could it be because I hatched him, and he sees me as... his mother?"