155: Moon Worshiper
A thin stream of light separated from the pillar of light on the Altar Stele and slowly descended to envelop the [Azure Moon Wolf] kneeling on the ground.
Only then did the evolution process of the [Azure Moon Wolf] truly begin.
After being bathed in the moonlight, the azure fur on its body turned pure white and became slightly longer than before.
Its size did not increase; on the contrary, it shrank to half of its original two-meter length.
Its triangular ears seemed to have been elongated by half, and a constantly changing moon mark appeared in the center of its forehead, cycling endlessly from crescent to full moon.
Its eyes became rounder, and deep within them, the radiance of moonlight could be seen.
Its neck grew much more slender.
From its back extended streamer-like appendages; there were not many, just six, colored white mixed with a hint of silver-gray, and they were only about half a meter in length.
In its current form, it bore no resemblance to the [Azure Moon Wolf] that looked like a husky; an aura of nobility and elegance radiated from it.
[race: Moon Worshiping Beast; Rank: King Beast 1-Star; Type: Light Type · Moonlight; State: Devout; Aptitude: Excellent; Skill: 1. Moon Worship (Earth Grade): Spirit beast worships the moon to receive a blessing. This Skill can only be used when a Moon Wheel is present. This Skill does not consume energy. Each instance of Moon Worship grants one layer of blessing and significantly restores the user's energy. Blessing: Layer 1 (Increases Speed, Constitution, and Reaction Ability); Layer 2 (Continuous recovery of Vitality and grants a shield); Layer 3 (Increases Mental Resistance and allows sharing of blessing layers and States with other targets); Layer 4 (Grants Moon Spirit Protection, energy consumption is reduced to one-quarter of the original, and the cooldown time for Skill release is halved). 2. Radiant Moon Wheel (Earth Grade): The Moon Worshiping Beast summons a Moon Wheel in the high sky, illuminating an area of 10,000 square meters. Within this range, all invisible targets and those in shadows will be detected by the Moon Worshiping Beast. 3. Moonlight Ribbon (Mystic Grade): The Moon Worshiping Beast condenses moonlight into the form of a white silk ribbon, which it can control at will to bind and strangle enemies. 4. Moon Blade (Mystic Grade): ... 5. Illusory Moon Domain (Earth Grade): The Moon Worshiping Beast summons a domain. Within the domain, based on the Skills and race of the target, it generates an illusion of the target that attacks the target alongside the Moon Worshiping Beast. 6. Bright Moon Bead (Mystic Grade): The Moon Worshiping Beast can condense the power of moonlight to form a Bright Moon Bead that can instantly restore a target's consumed energy. This object can exist for a long time and takes effect upon being crushed. 7. Sacrificial Sound (Mystic Grade): The Sacrificial Sound uttered by the Moon Worshiping Beast while praying before the Altar Stele is the key to its own growth and the key to the evolution of the Azure Moon Wolf into the Moon Worshiping Beast. This Skill can be taught to other beast companions. Evolution Path: Not yet unlocked.]
When his consciousness returned and his eyes regained their clarity, Luo Chen finished reading the information about the [Moon Worshiping Beast].
He sighed slightly; although the evolution scene of the [Moon Worshiping Beast] was grand and shocking, looking at its Skills, they did not seem to match such a spectacle, as there were no Heaven Grade or Pseudo-Heaven Grade Skills.
In Luo Chen's view, only [Moon Worship] and [Illusory Moon Domain] were quite good Skills.
But then again, the reason for this grand spectacle did not seem to be because of the [Moon Worshiping Beast].
Rather, it was because of the appearance of the Altar Stele. The Altar Stele was not a consumable item; in fact, the more Moon Worshiping Beasts that evolved under its witness, the more its own strength and functionality would gradually increase.
Moreover, the evolution of the Moon Worshiping Beast only required offering sufficient sacrifices and, with the assistance of [Sacrificial Sound] or a beast companion possessing [Sacrificial Sound], the evolution could be completed independently.
Therefore, the appearance of the phenomenon was due to the Altar Stele, and it would also be the key to the prosperity of the Moon Worshiping clan.
After Luo Chen sorted out his thoughts, he couldn't help but give a wry smile.
The appearance of the Altar Stele would definitely be resisted by other Breeders, as the key to the noble status of a Breeder was the mastery of beast companion Evolution Path.
If one wanted to quickly evolve their contracted beast companions, they had to seek the help of a Breeder.
Otherwise, relying on the beast companion's own evolution speed, one might have to wait decades to cultivate a King Rank beast companion.
Things had come to this, and Luo Chen had no choice but to bite the bullet and accept it. It was just that he was still weak, so he would simply not publicize it for now.
"The beast companion that evolved is quite impressive. Why do you look so worried?"
Luo Chen heard a familiar voice. Turning around, he saw a handsome youth standing behind him with great interest.
For some reason, Luo Chen always felt that this youth looked familiar.
Then, looking at the empty void around him, Luo Chen realized that he was no longer at the competition venue.
A flash of inspiration struck his mind, and Luo Chen suddenly remembered why he felt this youth looked familiar—wasn't that his father's idol, National Elder Zhuang Sheng?
Only then did Luo Chen set his heart at ease. A big shot like Elder Zhuang would not make things difficult for a rookie like him, and Luo Chen could keenly sense that there was no malice in him.
However, he hesitated for a moment on how to address him. When Luo Chen came back to his senses, he realized that he had been distracted for quite a long time, so he said somewhat embarrassedly:
"Luo Chen from Qingyang City greets Elder Zhuang."
Zhuang Sheng did not feel surprised that Luo Chen recognized his identity and nodded with a smile.
"Are you worried about that Altar Stele?"
Zhuang Sheng's experience and observation Skills were naturally very formidable; he instantly understood what Luo Chen was worried about.
Luo Chen nodded helplessly. It just so happened that the person in front of him was as big a big shot as they come; perhaps he had some good solutions.
Seeing Luo Chen looking at him expectantly, Zhuang Sheng twitched the corners of his mouth, and the gentleness on his face became even more apparent.
"There are two solutions. First, I can help you erase the memories of those who watched the competition today and implant a new memory, hiding the information about this beast companion or the Altar Stele. Second, that is for you to become my disciple. I believe that with the addition of my name, even if others have opinions, they won't dare to say anything."
Luo Chen secretly looked at Zhuang Sheng in front of him and said hesitantly: "I... choose the... first one."
The curve of Zhuang Sheng's mouth widened slightly. "But you and I have no relationship, so why should I help you?"
Luo Chen's mind went blank. Didn't you give me the choice? In the end, wasn't there only one choice?
In reality, Luo Chen did not really want to take a master, because he had many secrets that were not suitable to be revealed in front of others. A master-disciple relationship was, after all, a relatively intimate one, just like family, and it would be too tiring to keep hiding things.
Moreover, relying on his two abilities, even without the help of the system, Luo Chen believed that he would be able to reach a very good height in the future.
However, as things stood, if he refused a State Elder's invitation to take him as a disciple, it was hard to say whether he could have any future growth. Right now, he was just a small rookie in the eyes of these big shots.
After much deliberation, Luo Chen bowed and said to Zhuang Sheng: "Student Luo Chen is willing to take Elder Zhuang as my master."
A satisfied look appeared on Zhuang Sheng's face. "Good disciple, since you are my disciple, there is no need to hide anything. If anyone has a problem, just tell them to come find me."
Although his tone was calm, that domineering aura could not be concealed at all.
"Uh, if I say it myself, I'm afraid no one will believe me."
Zhuang Sheng raised his right hand, and the figures of two people appeared beside Luo Chen. They were none other than the chief examiner and judge of this competition, Tang Ce and Yuan Shi.
The two, who were originally anxious because they couldn't find Luo Chen, suddenly appeared in this strange place. Not only did they see Luo Chen, but they also saw someone they unexpectedly encountered.
The two could no longer bother with Luo Chen and instead looked at Zhuang Sheng with pleasant surprise, respectfully shouting: "Greetings, Teacher."
"Xiao Ce and Xiao Shi, right?"
Hearing that Zhuang Sheng still remembered their names, both of them were so excited that they were trembling. Luo Chen couldn't help but mutter to himself, was it really necessary to be this excited?
They were already at such an age, yet they were as excited as fans seeing their own idol. They weren't steady at all—yes, not steady.
"Teacher, is there anything you need to arrange?"
Zhuang Sheng raised his finger and pointed at Luo Chen. "This is my newly accepted disciple. One of you two escort him to the capital to find me."
"Dis... disciple?" Yuan Shi was so shocked that he almost bit his tongue.
Tang Ce was relatively calmer, although he was equally shocked and excited. "Teacher, what about Luo Chen's subsequent competition?"
"Cancel it directly. He has already advanced straight to the final round."
Clearly, Tang Ce would not question the things Zhuang Sheng decided, and he did not doubt at all that Zhuang Sheng could arrange for Luo Chen to go directly to the finals.
"Yes, Teacher."
Luo Chen's eyes were a bit dazed. Is this the feeling of having a backer?
"Um, Teacher, I still have some matters to finish in Liuguang City. I need to wait a few more days before I can go to the capital."
Zhuang Sheng did not show much emotion, but Yuan Shi and Tang Ce looked at him with eyes that showed they were disappointed by his lack of ambition.
"No matter. Still, try to be as quick as possible to avoid any accidents. There should be some unusual movements in the Colorful Moon Secret Realm."
"Oh, okay."
A butterfly beside Zhuang Sheng left a butterfly-patterned mark on Luo Chen's wrist.
"This is the Spirit Butterfly Mark. It can tell me your location, whether you are in a secret realm or the wilderness. When you encounter danger, inject a little spiritual power into it, and Spirit Butterflies will come to help you fight the enemy. But as a Breeder, never put yourself in danger."
As his voice faded, Zhuang Sheng's figure slowly disappeared in front of the three.
After a long while, Tang Ce and Yuan Shi finally came back to their senses and looked at Luo Chen with extremely envious eyes.
Luo Chen felt a chill down his spine from their gaze and could only ask curiously, "Aren't you also calling him Teacher? Why are you looking at me with such eyes?"
Yuan Shi let out a long sigh, his tone somewhat melancholy. "Can that be the same? We have only attended a few of Teacher's classes and, in the absence of Teacher explicitly forbidding it, continued the form of address from when Teacher taught class. Your situation is that of being accepted as a direct disciple, able to stay by Teacher's side for a long time to receive instruction. Moreover, no matter what you do, you can use Teacher's name. Who wouldn't respect you a few points when you go out?"
"Uh, is that so? Alright then." Luo Chen was a bit embarrassed.
"Why did you want to go to the capital later just now? What if Teacher changes his mind in a few days?" Yuan Shi really couldn't understand what big matter was more important than going to the capital to take a master.
"Uh, I promised a friend to help her evolve a few beast companions."
"Three days. If I stay for three days and something unexpected happens, I would not be able to shirk the blame even if I died ten thousand times."
Regarding Luo Chen's trip to the capital, Yuan Shi seemed even more concerned than Luo Chen.
Tang Ce's gaze was more serious than Yuan Shi's. He said to Yuan Shi: "You go back and continue to watch the competition. I need to report the matter of the unusual movements in the Colorful Moon Secret Realm to the City Lord."
Mentioning this matter, Yuan Shi's face also became serious. "Okay, hurry up and go."
The Colorful Moon Secret Realm, isn't that the secret realm where the [Azure Moon Wolf] was born? It shouldn't have anything to do with me evolving the [Moon Worshiping Beast], right?
I evolved it in the Illusion World, not the real world, and this [Moon Worshiping Beast] doesn't actually exist.
It shouldn't have anything to do with me. If it's this timing, it can only be a coincidence.