Gu Tian smirked slightly. Through his experiment of forcing them to kill each other while introducing a catalyst containing the essence of the Divine Water, he had successfully triggered an evolution. This special substance provided a chance to awaken abilities ranging from S to SSS rank. Initially, he had assumed that the resulting skill would only be at the S rank, but the fact that it turned out to be SS exceeded his expectations. Lately, he had begun to feel that his luck was rather abnormal.
Moreover, this ability was highly intriguing. Unlimited Adaptation (SS) allowed the creature to consume a part of another living being and incorporate it into itself. This perfectly aligned with the concept Gu Tian had been researching.
Normally, a beast's abilities were predetermined based on its evolutionary path. However, if certain stimuli were introduced such as the Divine Water while the beast was placed in a survival-driven scenario, some individuals could awaken superior survival instincts beyond their species' natural limits. This was exactly what Gu Tian wanted to verify, and this time, the results seemed to confirm his hypothesis.
Or was it just luck?
Gu Tian carefully recorded his observations in a small notebook before shifting his gaze to examine the best possible evolutionary path for this slime.
[Evolution Path 7631 (Emperor – Peak Potential): Slime → Demon Slime → Slime King → Demon Slime King → Slime Emperor]
[Evolution Stage 1 (Potential: Black Iron – Peak): Slime → Demon Slime]
[Required Evolution Materials: (Poison Slime Droplet (C Rank): 5 ml) (Demon Ore (C Rank): 1 piece) (Demon Blood (C Rank): 50 ml) (Slime Membrane Shards (F Rank): 10 pieces)]
[Evolution Conditions: (Must be at Black Iron – Low level)]
Gu Tian smirked slightly before drawing his gun and speaking.
"Surrender or die?"
The massive slime immediately sensed an overwhelming danger. Its survival instincts screamed at it to flee, but its body refused to move even an inch. In that moment, a single thought dominated its mind if it moved, it would die. But then, it seemed to realize something and reluctantly opened its soul link, allowing the man before it to form a contract.
Gu Tian observed its action and smiled slightly. He stepped forward and initiated the contract. Since the slime willingly submitted, the contract formed with ease. Satisfied, Gu Tian nodded before retrieving all the necessary evolution materials and tossing them to the slime.
The slime's body began to undergo a transformation. Its evolution had commenced. Though it lacked the grand phenomena that typically accompanied the evolution of higher-ranked beasts, an undeniable surge of power radiated from its body. In just a short amount of time, the process was complete.
Gu Tian observed the changes before frowning slightly.
Its color remained the same a translucent blue. Its eyes were still the same round, black dots typical of any ordinary slime. Nothing seemed different.
[Name: Demon Slime]
[Power Level: Black Iron – Mid]
[Race: Slime]
[Element: None]
[Special Abilities: Unlimited Adaptation (SS), Cellular Division (B), Sticky Mucus (C), Charge (F)]
[Potential: Black Iron – Mid]
[Evolution Paths: 9999+]
[Evaluation Compared to Black Iron-Rank Beasts: C]
"...How is this any different from before?"
Gu Tian shook his head before retrieving the corpses of Black Iron-rank beasts along with various treasures he had collected. He spoke again.
"Eat up."
The Demon Slime turned to Gu Tian with eyes brimming with joy before eagerly devouring the corpses and treasures.
Above them, Death had finished absorbing all the souls, pushing its power level to Silver – High. It then descended and stood quietly behind its seniors Grim and Xiao Bai.
After some time, the power level of the Demon Slime surged to Black Iron – Peak. Gu Tian wasted no time and immediately initiated the next stage of evolution.
[Evolution Stage 2 (Potential: Emerald – Low): Demon Slime → Slime King]
[Required Evolution Materials: (Demon King's Magic Core (SSS Rank): 1 piece) (Demon King's Blood (S Rank): 10 liters) (Advanced Adaptive Fluid (S Rank): 3 drops) (Neutral Magic Stone (S Rank): 10 pieces) (Natural Mana Crystal (S Rank): 1 piece)]
[Evolution Conditions: (Must be at Black Iron – Peak) (Must possess at least one S-rank special ability)]
Gu Tian glanced at the list of materials before retrieving them from his spatial dimension and immediately feeding them to the slime. The Demon Slime showed no resistance whatsoever, devouring everything its master provided without hesitation.
In an instant, an overwhelming surge of demonic energy erupted from the slime's body, accompanied by a vortex of darkness swirling violently before converging back into the creature.
Boom!
A cloud of dust spread throughout the area. Lin Yuntian waved his hand to clear the air, revealing the same slime as before unchanged in appearance. It remained the same blue color, its round, beady eyes unaltered. The only noticeable difference was…
Gu Tian spoke. "…It has a crown now?"
He stood silently, staring at the slime, before letting out a sigh. "It evolved into a Slime King… but why does it still look exactly the same?"
Gu Tian shook his head slightly as he watched the Slime King crawl up onto his shoulder. It seemed to have adapted to him rather quickly, its large, round eyes shining with innocence like a newborn. Gu Tian gently patted its head before saying, "From now on, your name will be Xiu."
Upon receiving its new name, the slime bounced slightly as if expressing joy, rubbing itself affectionately against Gu Tian's cheek. His other three beasts observed from a distance before Blood Dragon, Xiao Bai, and Grim slowly approached, surrounding the new addition as if inspecting it.
Gu Tian smirked slightly before pulling up the status screens of all his contracted beasts.
[Name: Blood Dragon]
[Power Level: Gold – Low]
[Race: Dragon]
[Elements: Blood, Fire, Wind, Water, Wood, Darkness, Lightning, Ice, Metal, Earth, Spirit, Light, Poison, Void]
[Special Abilities: Bloodline Origin (SSS+), Void Essence (SSS+), Celestial Demon (SSS+), Innate Divinity (SSS+), Lunar Demon God (SSS+), Ancestral Dragon's Authority (SSS+), Divine Light (SSS+), ..... (9999+)]
[Potential: Beyond Emperor]
[Evolution Path: 0 Paths]
[Evaluation Compared to Gold-Rank Beasts: SSS+]
....
[Name: Cursed Skeletal Knight]
[Power Level: Gold – Low]
[Race: Undead, Cursed Warrior]
[Elements: Darkness]
[Special Abilities: Death Sovereign (SS [1000/1000]), Unification (SS), Shadowless Cursed Armor (S), Midnight Curse Mist (A), Holy Light Resistance (A), Deathly Resentment (A), Pain Resistance (A), Master Swordsman (A)]
[Potential: Platinum – Peak]
[Evolution Path: 9999+ Paths]
[Evaluation Compared to Gold-Rank Beasts: SSS+]
....
[Name: Spirit King]
[Power Level: Silver – High]
[Race: Royal Spirit Bloodline]
[Elements: Spirit]
[Special Abilities: Soul-Devouring Blade (SSS+), Path of Spirits (SSS), Spirit Domain (S), Rotting Wood Spirit Blade (S), Dark Flame Spirit Blade (S), Spiritual Perception (S), King of Swords (S), Water Spirit Blade (A), Wind Spirit Blade (A), Flower Spirit Blade (A), ...…. Piercing Blade (F)]
[Potential: King – Peak]
[Evolution Path: 1 Path]
[Evaluation Compared to Silver-Rank Beasts: SSS+]
....
[Name: Slime King]
[Power Level: Bronze – Low]
[Race: Sovereign Slime]
[Elements: Fire, Wind, Water, Darkness, Metal, Earth]
[Special Abilities: Unlimited Adaptation (SSS+), Cellular Division (S), Energy-Absorbing Slime Wall (A), Mana Absorption (A), Clone Division (A), Flame Shield (A), Abyssal Wave (A), Iron Muscles (A), Regeneration (A) ... Charging Impact (F)]
[Potential: Emerald – Low]
[Evolution Path: 3 Paths]
[Evaluation Compared to Bronze-Rank Beasts: SSS+]