The night sky stretched endlessly, dotted with stars that twinkled faintly above Clearwater Hamlet. Lin Feng sat cross-legged in his small hut, the dim glow of a makeshift oil lamp casting flickering shadows on the walls. In front of him lay Xiao Hei, its body still warm from the Fire Essence Stone it had absorbed earlier.
"You did well today," Lin Feng said, stroking the lizard's rough scales. Xiao Hei let out a soft hiss, curling up like a satisfied cat.
Lin Feng opened the translucent screen of his Eyes of Evolution, studying Xiao Hei's status.
"Beast: Cyclopean Lizard (Mortal Tier, Low Grade)"
"Evolution Progress (Crimson Armored Wyvern Path): 5%"
"Current Abilities: Ember Breath (Basic Fire Attack)"
"So the Fire Essence Stone helped," Lin Feng murmured, his eyes narrowing. "But to reach the next stage, I'll need more of those stones—and Xiao Hei will need to build its endurance."
He glanced at the few remaining stones in his pouch and frowned. The abandoned quarry had yielded enough for a start, but it wouldn't be enough for a full evolution. He needed a sustainable source of materials.
"Tomorrow, we'll look for more resources," Lin Feng said, determination flickering in his voice. "We're just getting started."
...
The next morning, Lin Feng decided to explore the outskirts of the village. Xiao Hei perched on his shoulder, its one good eye scanning the surroundings as if sensing danger. The area beyond the village was untamed, with dense forests and rocky cliffs teeming with both opportunity and peril.
As they ventured deeper, Lin Feng couldn't help but feel the oppressive atmosphere of the wilderness. Beasts roamed these lands, and he was painfully aware that a single misstep could spell his end.
"Stay alert, Xiao Hei," Lin Feng muttered, his grip tightening on a crude wooden staff he had fashioned for protection.
It wasn't long before they stumbled upon their first find. A patch of glowing red flowers grew at the base of a tree, their petals radiating faint heat.
"Item Detected: Fireheart Bloom (Low-Grade Fire Element Resource)"
"Perfect," Lin Feng said, crouching to harvest the flowers. As he carefully plucked the blooms, a faint rustling sound reached his ears.
He froze.
From the underbrush emerged a group of small, fox-like beasts with fiery tails. Their eyes glinted with intelligence, and their tails burned like embers.
"Beast: Ember Fox (Mortal Tier, Low Grade)"
Lin Feng's Eyes of Evolution activated, displaying their evolutionary paths.
"Evolution Paths Detected:"
1. Blazing Flame Fox (Spirit Tier)
2. Inferno Vixen (Celestial Tier)
The group of Ember Foxes growled, clearly territorial. Lin Feng's heart pounded. He was outnumbered, and while Xiao Hei had shown potential, it was still weak compared to a pack of beasts.
"Looks like they don't want to share," Lin Feng muttered.
One of the foxes lunged at him, its burning tail sweeping through the air. Lin Feng dodged, barely avoiding the scorching flames. Xiao Hei leaped from his shoulder, hissing loudly as it launched a small jet of fire at the attacker.
The Ember Fox yelped in surprise, retreating. The other foxes hesitated, seemingly startled by Xiao Hei's aggression.
"Good job, Xiao Hei!" Lin Feng encouraged. But the battle wasn't over yet. The pack regrouped, circling them.
Lin Feng's mind raced. He couldn't take them all head-on. But maybe…
"Xiao Hei, aim for the leader!" Lin Feng shouted, pointing at the largest fox in the group.
Xiao Hei hissed in acknowledgment, its body glowing faintly as it unleashed a concentrated Ember Breath at the leader. The flames struck true, scorching the leader's fur. The pack hesitated, their morale faltering without the leader's command.
Lin Feng seized the moment, grabbing a nearby branch and swinging it at the remaining foxes. Startled, they scattered into the underbrush, leaving their injured leader behind.
The wounded fox growled weakly, its fiery tail dimming. Xiao Hei stood its ground, puffing itself up despite its small size.
Lin Feng approached cautiously, his eyes scanning the fox. "You're strong, but not strong enough to scare us off."
The fox growled again but lacked the strength to retaliate. Lin Feng hesitated. He could finish it off—or…
A sudden thought struck him. "Why not take it with us?"
His Eyes of Evolution revealed its potential as a Blazing Flame Fox or even an Inferno Vixen. If Xiao Hei had a companion, they could cover each other's weaknesses.
"Do you want to come with us?" Lin Feng asked, extending his hand slowly. The fox eyed him warily but seemed to sense his intentions. After a tense moment, it lowered its head in reluctant acceptance.
Lin Feng smiled, pulling out one of the Fireheart Blooms he had collected. "Here, eat this. It'll help you recover."
The fox sniffed the flower before gingerly eating it. Its body glowed faintly, and some of its wounds began to heal.
"From now on, I'll call you Huo Yun," Lin Feng said. The fox growled softly, a sound that Lin Feng took as agreement.
...
By the time they returned to the village, Lin Feng had gained not only new resources but also a new companion. Huo Yun trotted alongside him, its fiery tail swaying with each step.
Inside the hut, Lin Feng placed Xiao Hei and Huo Yun side by side. "We're forming a team," he said, looking at them both. "The world thinks we're weak, but together, we'll prove them wrong."
Xiao Hei hissed, and Huo Yun growled softly in response. Lin Feng grinned. His journey had only just begun, but with companions like these, he was ready to take on whatever challenges lay ahead.