Han Ning did a quick calculation. The four of them had divided up a total of exactly 160 Mushroom Head Crystal Stones, and that didn’t even include the largest one.

Dividing them equally based on the size of the Crystal Stones, he received 40 of them: 32 Wood Attribute and 8 Poison Attribute.

The four of them found a cooler corner near the tunnel entrance and began feeding their respective Soul Beasts.

Han Ning picked up the smallest Crystal Stone, absorbed the Energy inside, and tossed it to Yin Yi to eat.

"Ling~"

Yin Yi took the small Crystal Stone and let out a happy, soft chime. Like someone eating a jellybean, it rolled the Crystal Stone into its roots.

[Energy +2.23] [Wood Element Affinity +0.12]

"Alright, let’s begin." He picked up the Crystal Stones one by one, from smallest to largest, drained all the Energy from them, and fed them to Yin Yi.

[Energy +2.78] [Wood Element Affinity +0.16]

[Energy +3.38] [Wood Element Affinity +0.23]

[Energy +4.28] [Wood Element Affinity +0.32]

...

Inside the scorching cavern, a fresh, natural breeze suddenly began to blow.

Yin Yi and the other three Silver Lotus Woods bathed in a vibrant green light, slowly stretching their bodies and making soft rustling sounds as their branches and leaves trembled.

As a dense green light enveloped them, the first to undergo a transformation wasn’t Yin Yi, but Luo Chen’s Silver Lotus Wood, which was several meters away.

Its body was rapidly expanding, soon reaching a height of 2.5 meters. The roots beneath its trunk grew thicker and denser.

Bronze-colored patterns crawled across its brownish-black trunk, like a layer of indestructible armor, gleaming with a cold light in the red-glowing cavern.

The flowers characteristic of a Silver Lotus Wood changed into branches of varying thickness, with tender green leaves sprouting at their ends.

It was slowly transforming from a plant-like form into the shape of a large tree.

’The Heavy-Armored Tree Spirit’s Talent is E, a bit lower than Yin Yi’s. Perhaps its requirement for Wood Element Affinity is also lower.’

As Han Ning watched the life-altering transformation of the Silver Lotus Wood—no, the Heavy-Armored Tree Spirit, he thought, ’Luo Chen’s Silver Lotus Wood must be following the Power path. Is this the Heavy-Armored Tree Spirit that showed up on the panel when Yin Yi’s evolution options appeared? Maybe, maybe not... but it’s covered in copper armor, and the appearance is certainly somewhat similar.’

’The Heavy-Armored Tree Spirit is a Pure Wood Attribute Soul Beast. Luo Chen’s Silver Lotus Wood probably doesn’t have high enough Gold Attribute affinity to transform, so it’s most likely not another kind of Wood Type Soul Beast, but one that just has a layer of metallic patterns on its surface.’

A few seconds later, over by Lü Xiuning and Lin Tianhe, bright bursts of Spiritual Energy flared up almost simultaneously.

Just like Yin Yi before, as Teacher Lü’s Silver Lotus Wood evolved, its body didn’t grow larger. Instead, it grew smaller and smaller.

Teacher Lü Xiuning was one of the academy’s top frontline explorers. He’d been leading teams for a long time, and the resources he’d gathered definitely placed him in the top five. Luo Chen, on the other hand, had been resting for many days due to a previous injury, so his cultivation of his Silver Lotus Wood couldn’t possibly compare to Teacher Lü’s.

’Clearly, his Silver Lotus Wood has absorbed enough Wood Attribute Crystal Stones. Its Spiritual Energy and Wood Element Affinity are sufficient.’

As the light of evolution flared, even Han Ning couldn’t tell what form this Silver Lotus Wood was evolving into.

It stood 50 centimeters tall, its emerald green body dotted with pale white spots. The flower bud on its head was a shade of white like the color of a Brain-Eating Spider Crystal Stone—a cold, sterile white.

’A new evolutionary form,’ Han Ning concluded. ’It must be like the Frost Wood Demon. Its Wood Element Affinity requirement isn’t as high as that of a Pure Wood, Pure Spiritual Energy Cuiwei Tree Demon, but it has a specific requirement for a secondary attribute affinity.’

Lin Tianhe’s Silver Lotus Wood followed right after.

’To be honest, my roommate’s Silver Lotus Wood has a very varied diet; it eats basically anything.’

And based on Han Ning’s observations, it seemed to be following the Body path. Its physique was balanced, and its speed, Power, Physical Strength, and Spiritual Energy were all unremarkable. He was very curious to see what form this Silver Lotus Wood would evolve into.

Its evolution method was the same as Luo Chen’s Heavy-Armored Tree Spirit; it was rapidly expanding, quickly growing to a height of just over 2 meters.

Faint red lines, like blood vessels, appeared on its body.

The flower on its head transformed into a lush, green canopy.

The surfaces of the leaves growing at the ends of its branches also showed similar blood vessel-like patterns.

’Its body isn’t that large, not like the Heavy-Armored Tree Spirit, and it’s not following the Power path either. Could it be... the Body path...?’

Seeing this new evolutionary form, Han Ning couldn’t help but marvel at the peculiarity of the world’s Soul Beast species.

’Just one species, the Silver Lotus Wood, can have so many different branches of evolution depending on its physical development and the types of Spiritual Ability Attributes it absorbs.’

’It’s truly amazing.’

The evolutions of the three Silver Lotus Woods took no more than ten or so seconds from start to finish.

Just then, Han Ning heard a soft "Ling" from beside him.

Yin Yi had also completed its breakthrough.

[

Race: Cuiwei Wood Demon

Gender: Female

Talent: E+

Level: Awakening Level IV (1/1200)

Talent: None

Acquired Soul Techniques: Healing III (235/700), Emerald Flower Thorns III (568/800), Frost Shield III (267/300)

Power: 21.2

Body: 20.1

Agility: 21.1

Spiritual Energy: 75.63

Elemental Affinity (Wood): 60.5

Ice: 15.1

] 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

[This Soul Beast is about to meet the criteria for its first evolution. The Cuiwei Wood Demon has multiple evolutionary paths. Please select one.]

[Cyan Jade Wood Demon: Wood Type Affinity. Primary Attribute is Spiritual Energy. Wood Type. D+ Talent. Requires Wood Element Affinity to reach 110, all current-level Wood Type Soul Techniques to reach Perfection, and the Beast Master’s Spiritual Power to be at least 1.]

[Deep Cold Wood Demon: Wood and Ice Type Affinity. Primary Attribute is Spiritual Energy. Wood and Ice Type. D+ Talent. Requires Wood Element Affinity to reach 80, Ice Type Affinity to reach 30, all current-level Wood and Ice Type Soul Techniques to reach Perfection, and the Beast Master’s Spiritual Power to be at least 1.]

’An evolution prompt actually appeared ahead of time? That must mean Awakening Level IV is the limit for this stage.’

Han Ning looked at the two evolutionary branches that had appeared at the bottom of Yin Yi’s panel and understood instantly.

Based on his observations during this period, a Soul Beast would only awaken Soul Techniques of a certain attribute after its Elemental Affinity for that attribute reached a certain level.

As its Elemental Affinity grew higher and higher, the power of its Soul Techniques would increase as well.

’If I go with the Pure Wood route of the Cyan Jade Wood Demon, I can predict that after evolving, Yin Yi won’t awaken any powerful Ice Attribute Soul Techniques, but its Wood Type Soul Techniques will be very strong.’

’Moreover, if I want to develop a second attribute, the growth rate of its Elemental Affinity definitely won’t match the Deep Cold Wood Demon’s. However, the growth rate of its Primary Attribute will be faster than the Deep Cold Wood Demon’s.’

Both choices had their advantages, but since Yin Yi had already gone down the Cuiwei Wood Demon path, Han Ning planned to continue along it.

’It also requires me to get its current-level Soul Techniques to Perfection... How are other people, who don’t have a panel prompt, supposed to know that? Or perhaps... if you don’t reach Perfection, the Soul Beast can’t awaken new, powerful Soul Techniques after it evolves?’

Han Ning thought about it for a moment. ’The issue doesn’t seem that significant. With a high attribute affinity, a Soul Beast’s comprehension of its Soul Techniques will increase, and its Skill Level will rise very quickly. Maybe it will only have an effect much later on...’

——————

Does everyone want Yin Yi to follow a fae/elf-like path, or a pure Wood Demon form?