49: Chapter 49 Huangshan Armor Evolution
The Interns from Bright Moon Company were seeing Li Yu's breeding process for the first time. Seeing him place the note so quickly, they looked at each other in bewilderment.
What's the situation?
Isn't this too fast?
Could it be that this beast just happened to fall right into his comfort zone?
He can do it with his eyes closed?
The Invigilators patrolling the area also noticed Li Yu's actions. They whispered among themselves before finally looking at the man known as Hard Shoe Sole.
The latter walked up to Li Yu with a shrewd and peculiar expression, nodding in approval. "Not bad. This candidate's speed is very fast; it's clear he's well-prepared and possesses real strength. Keep it up, I'm looking forward to your performance."
To those who didn't know the inside story, his words sounded like a form of recognition.
But Zeng Huohuo and the Interns, who were in the know, understood that this was far from recognition; it was clearly a trap.
The more he praised Li Yu now, the more face Li Yu would lose when the breeding failed.
Lifting you up high, then dropping you down hard.
Having lived two lives, how could Li Yu not see through such a scheme?
However, he didn't call it out and simply said, "Thank you for the compliment."
Once the interlude passed, the breeding continued, and everyone got busy. However, those Interns would occasionally check on Li Yu's progress, and Zeng Huohuo also cast curious glances from time to time.
Before long, more and more sounds of conveyor belts rang out as other candidates completed their material lists. Among them, an exceptionally heavy sound echoed.
The materials Li Yu needed had arrived.
Earth-type materials were as heavy as always; a small basket weighed over 30 catties.
A rich surge of earth elements appeared, causing the sickly Yellow Mountain Beetle's eyelids to flutter. Like a person who had been thirsty for a long time smelling a hint of moisture, its body stretched slightly.
"Don't move around, just rest well. If you crush the remaining scales, I won't be able to save you. You wouldn't want to see me sad, would you?"
Li Yu said with a smile.
Hearing this, especially the last part—"You wouldn't want to see me sad, would you"—the Yellow Mountain Beetle's body froze, not daring to move an inch.
It didn't want that.
It was already destined to wait for death, so it didn't want to make this person who cared about it sad.
It didn't understand things like repayment or being moved, but after Li Yu's words, it began to care about Li Yu's feelings.
Li Yu took a quick glance and, seeing that his words had worked, breathed a slight sigh of relief.
He didn't know what the Yellow Mountain Beetle had eaten, but the roots of its scales were mostly destroyed. Now, it truly looked like a set of armor that was falling apart; seven or eight pieces could fall off with just a shake.
He picked up a piece of earth mother and threw it into a small pulverizer. After a short while, the earth mother was crushed, and the liquid inside emerged, stirred into a paste.
earth mother was an extremely common healing medicine, effective only for earth types, mixed with some...
Li Yu poured the paste out and added other spiritual materials. The materials blended together, eventually turning the thick paste into a liquid as clear as water. The originally heavy, earthy smell suddenly became fragrant. The scent wasn't strong, but it drifted far, causing many people to look over frequently.
"This smell..." Zeng Huohuo's nostrils flared. After catching the scent a few times, she looked at the glass reagent in Li Yu's hand. "Such a mellow and rich earth mother liquid. I'm afraid even a stiff earth-type beast would reanimate and jump up to do a hot dance after consuming it, wouldn't it?"
Thinking of this, the look in her eyes as she watched Li Yu became increasingly fervent.
This guy really has some skill!
The Hard-Soled Proctor also caught the scent. Those who could serve as Invigilators for the Junior Exam were at least at the level of an Intermediate Cultivator, so naturally, he wouldn't be ignorant of earth mother liquid.
This pure fragrance made his brow furrow, realizing that the guy his superiors had mentioned might actually have some level of skill.
Immediately, he snorted coldly in his heart.
So what if he has skill?
Here, no matter how skilled you are, you have to be obedient.
If you're not obedient, then stay down!
The focused Li Yu was naturally unaware of others' looks and thoughts. He fed the earth mother liquid to the Yellow Mountain Beetle and turned to start processing the materials.
About ten minutes later.
The few materials were processed, merging into two potions. He fed one of the potions to the Yellow Mountain Beetle but was in no hurry to feed the other.
He picked up a pair of pliers that shimmered with a cold, chilling light. After warning, "Endure the pain," he began to pull out the Yellow Mountain Beetle's scales.
He didn't pull them blindly; instead, he removed the scales along the center of the Yellow Mountain Beetle's body.
The immense pain made the Yellow Mountain Beetle tremble all over. Its teeth were clenched, and it let out occasional whimpers, but despite the pain, it did not struggle or attack Li Yu.
Can't move... he... will be disappointed...
The Yellow Mountain Beetle relied entirely on that single thought in its heart to keep itself from moving.
Before long, a row of scales had been pulled clean, leaving a bloody mess. Li Yu's hands were also covered in blood.
The people around were frightened by this bloody and gruesome scene. They were dumbfounded, staring at Li Yu in bewilderment.
What is he doing?
Abusing a beast?
Isn't this too blatant? Is no one going to do anything?
For a moment, all the candidates looked at the Invigilators. Several Invigilators looked at each other and were about to step forward to question him when they were stopped by a gesture from the Hard-Soled Proctor.
Others didn't know, but he almost laughed out loud.
Abuse it!
Abuse it boldly!
We'll just treat it as you using an unconventional breeding method. When you end up killing the beast, let's see how you handle the aftermath!
...
Pulling scales, especially those along the spine, meant every piece was connected to the bone. It was heart-wrenching pain!
The Yellow Mountain Beetle felt as if it had died once.
"You've worked hard; you cooperated very well just now." Li Yu's gentle voice sounded, and his warm hand was placed on the Yellow Mountain Beetle's head.
Hearing this, the Yellow Mountain Beetle felt as if it had come back to life, so moved that it almost shed tears.
He wasn't disappointed.
Not disappointed.
The Yellow Mountain Beetle felt its heart grow warm and hot, as if something scalding was flowing... in reality, it was the medicinal liquid Li Yu had fed it.
Moreover, before long, that liquid would boil, enough to scald it to death from the inside out.
Fortunately, Li Yu didn't make this ignorant, deeply moved Yellow Mountain Beetle wait too long. He poured the other potion down the spine, right where the scales had been removed, from head to tail.
Once everything was settled, Li Yu covered it with a glass dome and pressed the red button on the workstation.
Buzz—
The sound of the laser made everyone shudder.
It was all too familiar.
Even if they were just apprentices, they were all too familiar with the laser before evolution. One by one, they turned their heads and looked at Li Yu with uncertainty and suspicion.
Zeng Huohuo stopped her operations, the Interns dropped what they were holding, and that fellow, Hard Shoe Sole, was even more on high alert.
Beside Li Yu's workstation, the Yellow Mountain Beetle lay quietly. The laser shot through the glass dome and landed on its body.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds...
A faint white light seeped out from within the Yellow Mountain Beetle's body, becoming brighter and brighter. Before long, the white light erupted, and in this bright daylight, it actually blinded everyone.
Evolution!
Begin!