44: Chapter 44 Rock-armored Lizard
Judge Zhou gave a light cough, suppressing the uproar in the hall.
"Quiet. Congratulations to the top fifty contestants for advancing to the second round. Please, the other contestants, leave the hall in an orderly fashion."
A collective sigh echoed through the hall as nearly two hundred people left, one after another, looking dejected.
For the remaining fifty people, the atmosphere was noticeably more tense, and their glances at one another carried the sharp edge of competition.
Soon, the fifty qualifying contestants were led to another hall.
This place was much more spacious than the examination hall for the first round, with many metal cages set up in the center, each containing an Armor Spirit.
Lin Fan took a glance; there were about a hundred of them.
Their Ranks varied; some were curled up in corners shivering, some were violently slamming against their cages, and others were lazily lying there sleeping.
Judge Zhou stood at the very front.
"The rules for the second round are as follows."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the fifty contestants.
"There are one hundred mortal spirit rank Armor Spirits here, all collected by the association from various places."
"Their Ranks are between level 10 and level 20. You need to choose one and help it complete its evolution on the spot."
"The time limit is one hour. The success or failure of the evolution, the quality of the evolution, and the rationality of the Materials used will be comprehensively graded. The maximum score is one hundred."
"Now, begin selection."
As soon as his voice fell, the contestants swarmed toward the cages.
Lin Fan did not move.
He stood where he was, hands in his pockets, his gaze slowly scanning the Armor Spirits.
Most people rushed toward the Armor Spirits that looked strong and had a mortal spirit rank Aptitude of high grade.
Zhou Yuan chose a Red Flame Fox.
He crouched down to examine it carefully, a look of satisfaction flashing in his eyes.
Ye Qing chose a Moonlight Marten with a completely silver-white body and had already begun to check its condition.
Lin Fan still did not move.
He walked slowly, his left eye slightly warm, as various pieces of information flashed before his eyes.
[Race]: Red Flame Fox
[Aptitude]: mortal spirit rank High Grade
[Rank]: Level 17
[Current Status]: Healthy, full of spiritual energy, easy to evolve
[Conventional Evolution Route]: Flame-Tail Fox (Mystic Spirit Rank Low Grade)
[Race]: Giant Rock Turtle
[Aptitude]: mortal spirit rank High Grade
[Rank]: Level 16
[Current Status]: Healthy, but slow in movement
[Conventional Evolution Route]: Bedrock Turtle (Mystic Spirit Rank Low Grade)
[Race]: Moonlight Marten
[Aptitude]: mortal spirit rank High Grade
[Rank]: Level 18
[Current Status]: Healthy, full of spiritual energy, but arrogant in personality
[Conventional Evolution Route]: Cold Moon Marten (Mystic Spirit Rank High Grade)
[Hidden Evolution Route]: If it can be paired with Moonflower Grass on a full moon night, it can evolve into Silver Moon Marten (Earth Spirit Rank Low Grade)
Lin Fan raised an eyebrow.
Ye Qing had good judgment; this Moonlight Marten had a hidden evolution route, though it was unclear if she could see it.
Lin Fan withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.
The information about those Armor Spirits was reflected in his eyes, clear at a glance.
It wasn't until he walked to a corner that he stopped in his tracks.
In the cage at the very corner, a dusty little lizard was curled up.
It was filthy all over, so thin it was just skin and bones, huddled in the innermost part of the cage, its head buried between its legs, shivering.
Contestants from the adjacent cages bypassed it when passing by, not even sparing it a glance.
Lin Fan crouched down, his left eye slightly warm.
[Race]: Rock-Armored Lizard
[Aptitude]: mortal spirit rank Low Grade
[Rank]: Level 16
[Attribute]: Earth
[Current Status]: Severely malnourished, possesses an unactivated hidden Bloodline, old injury on the right hind leg but has healed on its own
[Conventional Evolution Route]: None (conventional evolution Materials are ineffective on it)
[Hidden Evolution Route]: If the condition is first adjusted, then fed with Earth Marrow Crystal ×1, Rock Heart Fruit ×3, Stone Ganoderma Powder ×5, the hidden Bloodline can be activated to evolve into Rock Dragon Lizard (Mystic Spirit Rank High Grade), Rank requirement Level 15.
[Subsequent Evolution Potential]: Rock Dragon Lizard can continue to evolve into Earth Dragon Lizard (Earth Spirit Rank Low Grade), possessing a thin Dragon Clan Bloodline, capable of briefly entering a berserk state, with greatly increased strength and defense.
[Evaluation]: The biggest hidden gem in the entire hall. Ugly in appearance, low Aptitude, but contains a thin Rock Dragon Bloodline. If successfully activated, it will be a potential stock among combat-type Armor Spirits.
Lin Fan stared at those lines of text, the corners of his mouth slowly curling up.
Rock Dragon Lizard, Mystic Spirit Rank High Grade.
It could also continue to evolve into an Earth Dragon Lizard, Earth Spirit Rank Low Grade, possessing Dragon Clan Bloodline.
Lin Fan opened the cage in the very corner without hesitation.
The subtle "click" sound startled the little lizard.
It shuddered violently, raised its thin little head, and looked at Lin Fan with a pair of amber eyes, full of vigilance and fear.
Lin Fan reached out his hand, moving very gently; he did not rashly touch it, but simply opened his palm and placed it flat in front of the cage door.
He said softly, "Don't be afraid."
The little lizard shrank back, its nostrils slightly fluttering, as if it were sniffing Lin Fan's scent.
After a few seconds, its tense body relaxed slightly, but it still curled up in the corner.
Lin Fan was not in a hurry; he carefully observed the "hidden Bloodline" and "old injury" mentioned on the information panel.
Its right hind leg was indeed slightly thinner than the left, and the color of its scales was a bit lighter, but the bones had already healed; only the muscles had some atrophy.
"You are the one."
Lin Fan whispered, a look of certainty flashing in his eyes.
He gently closed the cage door; he did not take it away immediately but instead turned and walked toward the Materials area on the side of the hall.
The second round of the assessment allowed contestants to select items needed for evolution from the Materials library provided by the association.
The Materials library was filled with a dazzling array of items.
From common Fire Crystals and Water-type Spirit Dew to relatively rare Ores and herbs, there was everything.
However, the quantity and variety were limited, requiring competition.
Lin Fan's goal was clear.
He quickly scanned the shelves and precisely took three Rock Heart Fruits with rough skins and a yellowish luster, and a small bottle of fine Stone Ganoderma Powder.
Finally, his gaze landed on a transparent box placed separately.
Inside lay quietly a fist-sized crystal, inside which dark golden fluid seemed to flow slowly—Earth Marrow Crystal.
This was a relatively precious type of Earth-attribute Material, usually used to strengthen defense or activate deep Earth-type Bloodlines.
Just as he picked up the Earth Marrow Crystal, a slightly surprised voice came from beside him.
"You're choosing this?"
Lin Fan turned his head and saw Zhou Yuan holding a pile of crimson-colored Materials.
His gaze landed on the Earth Marrow Crystal in Lin Fan's hand and those few inconspicuous Earth-type Materials.
He glanced again at the dusty Rock-Armored Lizard in the corner in the distance, looking like he had a smug, annoying expression.
"You... chose that Rock-Armored Lizard? It looks to be in very poor condition, and its Aptitude is also low. Wouldn't it be a waste to use the Earth Marrow Crystal on it? This round is based on comprehensive grading."
Lin Fan looked at Zhou Yuan, looking puzzled.
"Do I know you? You love meddling so much; if a sewage truck passed by your house, would you have to take a spoon to taste the saltiness?"
Zhou Yuan was choked by Lin Fan's words, his face turning red, and several contestants around them couldn't help but chuckle.
He gave Lin Fan a look filled with Killing Intent, then turned and walked away, clutching his Materials.