Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Old Sha Evolves!
Su Ping was clearly still unaware. For the sake of Old Sha’s evolution into the Wanmu Wolf, Qin Erlong had, on his behalf, once again squeezed Old Liu for a hefty sum of resources, which was now waiting for Su Ping to collect and approve. Right now, he didn’t have the mind to deal with such matters.
Upon hearing that his dad would be back in a few days, Su Ping suddenly felt his spirits lift. Su Ping knew that although his dad often seemed unreliable, his affection for Old Sha was definitely no less than Su Ping’s own—perhaps even deeper. After all, his dad and Old Sha had practically grown up together. Otherwise, why would his dad, who usually paid little attention to the Heart of Woods base, have even attempted to help Old Sha evolve?
Therefore, Su Ping resolved that before his dad returned... Old Sha must complete its evolution!
Indeed, this was the case. Over the past few days, all the money earned from completed cultivation orders at the Heart of Woods had been spent. If Su Ping hadn’t just finished cultivating a batch of pre-ordered Forest Wolves, his funds would have truly been insufficient. However, the results were excellent. He had used all that money to purchase Commander Level Wood Element resources, then had Old Sha consume them all at once.
Evolution requires an accumulation of surplus energy to be completed in a single, powerful burst! Older Pet Beasts find it difficult to evolve precisely because their vitality declines with age, making it hard for them to maintain a surplus of energy for extended periods. Under such circumstances, evolution naturally becomes extremely difficult. Fortunately, because Old Sha had previously ingested the Heart of Woods, it had serendipitously undergone a rank-up. This extended its lifespan and slowed the decline of its vitality. This all led to the scene today.
The sunlight shone brightly. In this post-September weather, it seemed as if even the heavens sensed Su Ping’s fervent hope, granting a rare succession of bright, sunny days. Today was especially radiant. This day was a very special one. Its significance was almost on par with the first time Su Ping had fed the Heart of Woods to Old Sha.
Consequently, on this day, none of the Forest Wolves trained as usual. Including Xiao Qing, all the Forest Wolves squatted patiently around the perimeter of an area that, for the past half-month, had been strictly forbidden for any person or Forest Wolf to approach. They stared intently at the center of the area, their eyes filled with excitement, anticipation, and a touch of yearning. And in the very center of this restricted ground stood Su Ping and Old Sha.
Old Sha at this moment was entirely different from half a month ago! Its originally dark cyan fur had become even more vibrant and green, yet its texture was unlike the fur of ordinary Wolf Pets. At first glance, it looked more like the cellular structure of leaves than fur. Along Old Sha’s spine, several even longer and narrower tufts of fur grew like spreading tree branches, giving it an indescribably peculiar appearance.
Old Sha’s eyes were closed, its body bathed in sunlight. Strands of green vitality swirled around it, and it almost seemed as if rhythmic breathing sounds emanated from Old Sha’s body. Its photosynthetic output, from just one wolf, seemed comparable to that of a small forest.
Perfection Level Photosynthesis!
If this Skill were on a Low-level Luozisong (Pine), it could probably enable it to break through several Realms in a short period. However, for a Forest Wolf, this Skill formed an exceptionally strange synergy with Sunlight Absorption. It wasn’t very distinct under the sunlight, but one could still sense a faint Light Cocoon forming around Old Sha. This Light Cocoon wasn’t thick, nor could it completely envelop Old Sha yet.
So, in front of Old Sha, there was one last thing. For Old Sha’s evolution this time, Su Ping had truly spared no expense. Perhaps it was because Old Sha’s Sunlight Absorption and Photosynthesis had both reached the Perfection Level, or perhaps for some other reason, but the final energy accumulation Old Sha required was slightly more than what Sun Chaoju had noted in his records. Su Ping had purchased three such Commander Level Wood Element resources, and now only the last one remained.
It was a leaf, only the size of a palm, yet it was the most expensive of the three Commander Level resources: Elf Leaves. A precious resource containing both Wood Element and Life Series powers, it had a significant boosting effect for such Pet Beasts. It was also the final trump card to help Old Sha accelerate its energy accumulation!
Sensing, perhaps, that its brewing energy was still somewhat insufficient, Old Sha slowly opened its eyes. In its eyes, there was joy, anticipation, and also fear. It was joyful that it could, one day, still feel the Light of Evolution shining upon it.It also anticipated its young master’s miraculous abilities, which it had witnessed before, hoping its young master could replicate that miracle this time.Yet, at the same time, it was terrified. Even with all its young master had done, what if the evolution still failed?It didn’t care about its own life or death. But it had consumed so many of its young master’s resources, so much of his effort; if it still failed, what then?
Thus, without even waiting for Su Ping to speak, its tongue—which seemed to bear the patterns of tree leaves—stretched out and lapped the life-infused Elf Leaves into its mouth. Su Ping understood its urgency. After it took the Elf Leaves into its mouth, Su Ping gently placed his palm on Old Sha’s head and said softly, "Old Sha, I believe in you. You have to believe in me too!"
No sound came from Old Sha. However, its gaze, fixed on Su Ping, was incredibly resolute as it looked at its young master. At that moment, its eyes seemed to convey all its conviction. Of course, it believed! It wanted to raise its neck. From its body, now gradually losing sensation, it yearned to let out a familiar howl towards the sky—a howl unheard for many long days. In this final, fate-deciding moment, it wanted to tell its young master that it absolutely, unequivocally believed in his capabilities!
But in the very next instant, Old Sha’s final gaze, its sparkling eyes, suddenly turned dull and vacant, as if they had transformed into plant matter itself. This was because the initially faint Light Cocoon, the Light of Evolution, had suddenly become incredibly thick the moment the Elf Leaves were swallowed. From head to toe, the Light Cocoon slowly enveloped Old Sha, which seemed rooted to the earth, covering everything except its head. The energy accumulation, with the help of the Elf Leaves, had finally reached Perfection!
However, just as this Light of Evolution was about to completely engulf it, from its proudly raised neck, from within its seemingly insensate body, and with every last ounce of its waning strength, a howl unlike any before—a howl born of Old Sha’s final, desperate effort—resounded through the sky above the Heart of Woods.
AWOOO...
However, this all-out Wolf Howl lasted less than a second. The very next second, the thick Light Cocoon of evolution completely enveloped Old Sha.
Su Ping, however, smiled faintly. He had heard Old Sha’s response and understood its unspoken meaning. That meaning was simple: ’Not only does it believe in its young master, but it also trusts that the young master will become the greatest Beast Tamer and Breeder in the future.’