4: The Chinese Pond Turtle has evolved!

After making sure Zhao Si was far away, Li Qing immediately ran toward the riverbank.

Morning mist shrouded the river surface, and visibility was very low.

He squatted where he had left Xiao Jia yesterday, projecting his spirit onto his Clone.

On the mist-covered river, Li Qing's consciousness was completely immersed in his Clone.

Through the Turtle's eyes, scattered water plants and algae floated in the murky river water.

Li Qing paddled his limbs, silently approaching a moss-covered rock.

A few small shrimp were hidden there, using their tiny claws to clean the stone's surface.

"Whoosh!"

Li Qing's head snapped out like lightning, accurately biting a small shrimp.

The evolution value jumped from 9.01 to 9.02.

[evolution value: 9.02/10]

Li Qing felt a surge of joy, but then he realized something was wrong.

There were fewer fish and shrimp in the river.

At this time yesterday, Xiao Jia had already preyed on over a dozen, but now he only found a scattered few.

"Did I eat too much last night?"

Li Qing swam toward the deep water area, but as soon as he got close, he felt a wave of palpitations.

Danger lurked there; there was a big fish!

He retreated to the shallow water and continued his search.

A small fish swam past his eyes; Li Qing suddenly accelerated but missed.

The small fish flicked its tail nimbly and escaped.

"Their reactions have become faster?" Li Qing frowned.

These fish seemed more alert than yesterday, or was his control just worse?

Time passed minute by minute, and the sun gradually rose higher.

Li Qing only caught three small shrimp, and the evolution value stalled at 9.05.

At this rate, he wouldn't be able to complete the evolution today at all.

Just as he was thinking this, an unusual ripple came from the center of the river.

Through his perception, Li Qing discovered a peculiar cluster of blue light in the deep water area, with fish and shrimp swimming around it.

[Detected a Spiritual Qi gathering point; evolution can be accelerated]

The System prompt made Li Qing's eyes light up.

Could it be a Spiritual Object?

When he was still over ten meters away from the blue light, the water suddenly darkened.

A Spined Catfish!

Its massive body blocked the light, its yellow eyes like two ghostly fires in the deep water.

Li Qing immediately activated "Armor Defense," and the Turtle shell shimmered with a faint light.

The Spined Catfish slowly swam toward the blue light, seemingly absorbing Spiritual Qi as well.

Li Qing had a sudden idea; he bit a passing small fish and then fiercely threw it toward the Spined Catfish.

The small fish crashed into the Vicious Beast and was immediately swallowed in one gulp.

Taking advantage of the moment the Spined Catfish was Divided Soul, Xiao Jia dashed toward the blue light!

Five meters away... three meters... one meter... "Splash!"

Li Qing charged into the range of the blue light.

In an instant, a warm current surged through his entire body, and the System prompts flashed frantically.

[Absorbing Spiritual Qi, evolution value +0.1... +0.1...]

[evolution value: 10.1/10]

The Spined Catfish was enraged; its massive body twisted around, its huge mouth opening to reveal rows of sharp teeth.

Li Qing swam for his life; fortunately, the Spined Catfish was headed for the Spiritual Qi gathering spot.

The thing there was more attractive than a small Turtle.

"A pity, I didn't see what it actually was."

Li Qing felt a pang of regret in his heart.

Just being on the periphery had earned him 1 point of evolution value.

He couldn't imagine what kind of treasure was at the center.

After escaping danger, Li Qing swam toward the shore, and not far from his main body, he dug a hole in the underwater bank and crawled inside.

Once the entrance to the hole was sealed, Li Qing finally clicked on evolution in his mind.

[Ding! evolution value requirements met!]

[Evolution starting!]

Piercing blue light erupted from within Xiao Jia, illuminating the cave Li Qing had dug.

Fortunately, he acted steadily; otherwise, if such a phenomenon appeared, it would surely be seen by big fish or people.

The blue light formed a cocoon-like object, completely enveloping Xiao Jia.

Five minutes later, the blue light gradually faded.

The System prompt sounded in Li Qing's mind.

[Evolution complete]

[Chinese Pond Turtle (Mortal Species) → Spiritual Patterned Turtle (Low-rank Spirit Beast)]

Li Qing opened his Turtle eyes.

When he looked at himself, he couldn't help but widen his eyes.

A Turtle the size of a dog was in the cave, its shell covered with mysterious blue patterns.

Its limbs were thick and powerful, and its eyes were as crystal clear as sapphires.

[Host: Li Qing]

[Age: 15]

[Cultivation: None]

[Clone: Spiritual Patterned Turtle (Low-rank Spirit Beast)]

[Talents: Water Respiration (Breathe underwater for One Shichen), Armor Defense (Can withstand attacks from low-rank Martial Artists), Longevity (Lifespan up to 500 years), Water Control (Can create small whirlpools or water shields), Great Strength (Strength of Nine Bulls and Two Tigers)]

[Talents can be shared]

[evolution value: 0/500 (Evolution can be initiated when evolution value is full)]

"Awesome!"

Li Qing almost shouted out loud.

Not even mentioning that the Turtle's species evolved from the Mortal Species Chinese Pond Turtle into the Low-rank Spirit Beast Spiritual Patterned Turtle.

Its talents had even increased from the original three to five.

Moreover, the original three talents had also grown significantly.

Underwater breathing had gone from fifteen minutes to the current two hours.

Its defense had even improved to withstand attacks from low-rank Martial Artists.

It was just that he didn't know the specific classifications and manifestations of Martial Artists yet.

Its lifespan had even reached five hundred years from a hundred.

A full five-fold increase!

New talents, Water Control and Great Strength, had been added.

Creating small whirlpools or water shields meant both attack and defensive power had received a boost.

As for the Strength of Nine Bulls and Two Tigers from Great Strength, if he remembered correctly...

The strength of one bull is 2,000 jin, and the strength of one tiger is 2,500 jin.

This Strength of Nine Bulls and Two Tigers amounted to a full 23,000 jin.

Truly Great Strength!

Invincible!

He immediately shared all the talents.

The limbs of his main body on the shore crackled.

Instantly, a surging power flooded into his four limbs and hundred bones.

Li Qing felt like he could kill a bull with one punch!

[Cultivation: None]

"Eh? Cultivation is still 'None'?"

Does he have to Cultivate himself?

Li Qing was completely bewildered.

Then what about his Great Strength?

Innate Divine Strength?

By the river, seeing that no one was around, Li Qing controlled the Turtle to crawl out.

Seeing the Spiritual Patterned Turtle up close gave Li Qing a more direct view.

From a small Turtle the size of a bowl, it had grown to the size of a dog, about one meter long.

The Turtle's head was exceptionally thick and strong.

It gave Li Qing a different kind of shock!

He stroked its smooth shell.

The Spiritual Patterns on the shell shimmered with a mysterious light in the sun, feeling as warm and smooth as jade to the touch.

"We've become stronger, Xiao Jia," Li Qing said softly.

The Spiritual Patterned Turtle rubbed against his palm, its eyes full of spirituality.

Through the mental connection, Li Qing could feel its simple emotions.

Closeness, joy, and... hunger.

"Come on, I'll take you for a big meal."

Li Qing grinned and looked toward the center of the small river.

Spined Catfish, is it? Now I'll come and test your mettle!