…....
After reviewing the latest system notifications, Azmodeus was reminded of the fact that all his stats were no longer increasing at a uniform rate.
It turned out that for the first three levels, he had only gained a significant number of stat points thanks to something that the system described as giving him 'a little starter boost.'
However, after he reached level 4 and subsequently surpassed the 1.0 stat point mark for each stat category, the rate of increase started to change with every creature he absorbed the stats from.
To get a better understanding of how his new system management worked, Azmodeus decided to take a look over his current system interface.
The next moment, a bright blue and gold light flashed.
BLING!
__________
{[Infinite Evolution System]}
[Host: Azmodeus]
[Race: Human]
[Lifespan: 12/68]
[Cultivation: Late Stages of the Viscera Training Small Success Minor Realm (Body Refinement Major Realm.)]
[Overall Combat Power: Late Stages of the Viscera Training Small Success Realm]
[Level: 5]
[Evolution Essence needed for the next level: 1.0]
{[Stats:]}
[Strength: 2.6]
[Speed: 2.5]
[Defense: 2.4]
[Qi: 2.8]
[Cultivation Talent: 2.2]
[Spiritual Roots: Crystallized Embryo] (Rank: ???)
{[Assimilated Evolution Traits/Qualities]}
[Inherited Traits and Active Species Alterations: None]
__________
"It seems like my strength is increasing at quite an astonishing rate," Azmodeus mused as he scrolled through his system interface.
After looking at it over a dozen times since the system's activation, he had already grown accustomed to the insanity that this Infinite Evolution System was.
Furthermore, there was no use in being surprised every single time his stats improved.
He had always been a very simple man since that was just how his life had been for as long as he could remember.
He would wake up each morning to tend the chickens, gather some fruits for his elder sect members, and then finish off the day by cleaning up the sect grounds.
There were very few discrepancies in this agenda from day to day, and he had lived an extremely mundane life thanks to the same things happening every day.
It was because of those routine days that he eventually adapted to it, and along with that adaptation came a relatively nonchalant and aloof persona.
However, everything was different now…
_____
After reviewing his system interface, Azmodeus started walking to a set of tracks about five hundred meters away.
If his speculations were correct, then these tracks had a high probability of belonging to a spiritual beast in the Viscera Training Small Success Realm.
'This will make for the perfect opportunity to test my new strength…'
He was just itching to find another beast that was within his general bracket of power!
After gaining more power and a faster way to acquire that very power, he also started to experience this odd craving that made him actively search for anything to fight against.
He had never felt anything like it before, but considering how weak he was pre-system, it wasn't surprising that he never had the urge to fight stronger opponents.
But in the end, a cultivator who pursued the peak of power would oftentimes find 'objects' to challenge their blades and help them sharpen them as they grew stronger.
Which in his case, didn't happen until he became more confident in his power.
Tap, Tap.
Soft steps echoed as a shadowy figure crouched through a few bushes, its fierce eyes locked onto a large bird that was known as a 'Cockatoo.'
This beast was a subspecies of a mutant bird and possessed vibrant, colorful feathers and a razor-sharp beak capable of slicing through metal.
And this very Cockatoo, who was staring down a small-horned rabbit that was munching on some horsetail grass, was also in the Viscera Training Small Success Realm.
It was planning to sneak up on that swift rabbit and take it by surprise; however, it was completely unaware that the being behind it also intended to do the exact same thing…
A mantis stalks a cicada, utterly unaware of the oriole behind…
Azmodeus very much liked that saying. And it was this very thought that occupied his mind as he inched closer to the Cockatoo, which was also getting ready to pounce on its prey.
Pat!
And at the exact moment the Cockatoo lunged forward, Azmodeus leaped out from a nearby bush and lifted his sharp rock upwards, striking the bird across its head!
"Crackkaaa!!"
The beast hollered with an anguished and shrill cry, as it seemed like a single strike wasn't sufficient to take it down once and for all.
Azmodeus watched as the Cockatoo tumbled due to the force of the attack before it staggered to the ground, a rage burning on its colorful, feathered face.
"It looks like you're not going to make this easy, huh…?" he murmured with a cold gleam flashing in his eyes.
Before the giant three-meter bird could charge at him and unleash its 'Feather Spray' attack, Azmodeus vanished from sight and used his superior speed to circle around the Cockatoo.
He planned to use the terrain around them to his advantage, aiming to sneak up on the large bird and snap its neck with one swift strike.
However, it seemed that the Cockatoo had already anticipated such a move from the unknown creature. It darted its head toward a particular nearby tree and rushed to it while launching its 'Feather Spray.'
SHING! SHING!
A couple dozen razor-sharp red and blue feathers, as strong as steel, shot from the top of the Cockatoo's head.
SLICE! SLICE!
The tree they shot towards was subsequently turned into Swiss cheese as the entire thing came crashing down onto the grass below with a loud crash!
BAM!
As the tree hit the ground with a reverberating bang, all the nearby animals ran away in terror.
The Cockatoo limped toward the destroyed tree, seemingly searching for any sign of that bipedal creature that had dared to ambush it.
But when it found that no one was bleeding from its devastating attack, it turned its head in another direction.
However, by the time it realized that something was wrong, it was already too late…
...…