Chapter 368 - The Strongest Evolution, The Birth of the Catastrophe Sprite!

You know what, the old man never likes to sit still anyway... I can’t be bothered to cultivate a new Undead familiar from scratch. Master Jiang, it is. I’ll just pour more resources into strengthening him. With Fang Lan and Master Jiang Dou, we’re just one short of a full team.

Although Master Jiang Dou started developing a few months later than the first batch of fourth-generation beastmasters, it didn’t really matter.

First, his swordsmanship talent surpassed even Lu Ran’s, and he possessed a King-rank sword spirit. With such a starting point, few fourth-generation beastmasters could compare.

An Apprentice beastmaster who can project sword intent without relying on a familiar’s power—who can stand against that?

Second, with the Peak Arena now available, as long as one was invincible at their level, leveling up in the early stages was as easy as drinking water. Thus, Master Jiang Dou’s level wouldn’t lag too far behind. Lu Ran felt confident that the old man could cleave a mechanic in half when the time came.

As for the third person, it clearly didn’t matter much. Lu Ran figured Fang Lan and Master Jiang Dou alone could KO the opposing mechanical fourth generation in a best-of-three match.

Their ace was likely just a mechanically enhanced Tyrannosaurus Rex, an upgraded version of the Tyrannosaurus Squad... If not, well, he’d pretend he never guessed.

“I’ll wait for your news.”

Oub smiled, clearly brimming with confidence in the Mechanical attribute.

In truth, his confidence wasn’t unfounded. The Mechanical attribute was indeed recognized by the Stellar Moon World’s humans as the strongest attribute aside from Time and Space. The Mechanical Era marked humanity’s most prosperous age, the only period when humans completely overpowered the ferocious beasts of other species.

As Oub turned to leave, Lu Ran closed his eyes again to rest, stroking Baby Cloud.

Meanwhile, the reporters gasped in shock. “This is insane...”

Some of them didn’t even wait to watch the evolution, immediately exiting the secret realm to rush out with the breaking news.

“This Oub guy is out of his mind.”

Hidden in the shadows, Manager Ying shook its head as it watched Oub’s retreating figure.

Although he is slightly more reliable than that idiot Pari, why can’t he just lie low and cultivate quietly? Did he really have to provoke a cheater like Lu Ran?

This guy is about to meet the Divine Deer in the Stellar Moon Federation! The Death Dragon, the pinnacle of the Undead attribute, was the Divine Deer’s colleague! Once the Divine Deer introduces Lu Ran to a couple of colleagues and teaches him some Undead arcana, what chance will the Mechanical attribute have?

Manager Ying mourned silently for Eagle Federation.

***

Inside the Evolution Secret Realm.

As the reporters erupted in excitement, news of Lu Ran and Oub’s bet spread like a storm among the other beastmasters. Beastmasters from various nations began heated discussions about the bet.

“Why didn’t the cyborg just make the bet about the potential of this familiar’s evolution? Wouldn’t that settle things faster?” A group of youths in knight uniforms muttered among themselves.

“Lu Ran’s evolved three familiars so far, each becoming Overlords, with ridiculously powerful species traits. Oub probably doesn’t have the confidence.”

“Elemental lifeforms are still strong. Just look at the Princess’ elemental familiar—though we still got wrecked by Lu Ran’s familiars back then.”

“Can you all shut up?” The Princess of Light glared at the knights.

The question the knights were debating was also the focus of many others.

Elsewhere, after Oub walked away, a friend approached and asked the same question.

“I don’t like ambushing others when they’re unprepared. Giving him ample time to prepare and then defeating him fair and square is better.”

“You’re confident, but don’t end up like that idiot Pari,” Oub’s Caucasian friend warned.

“I won’t,” Oub replied calmly before summoning his Mechanical familiar which was a massive tortoise.

The tortoise’s shell had been completely modified into a sci-fi war fortress, with a cannon extending like a tank barrel. It was clearly a firepower-oriented familiar.

“Right now, it’s a Superior King. If it awakens the Mechanical attribute during fusion evolution, its species rank will definitely reach Overlord. But whether it becomes a Low Overlord or an Intermediate Overlord depends on luck. The artillery I installed can already fire Overlord-level attacks even before full fusion, severely injuring Low Overlords of the same level...”

“Holy shit.” His friend gasped.

“No need for shock... That’s just how the Mechanical attribute works.”

“No, no! Look over there!” The Caucasian beastmaster pointed in Lu Ran’s direction in astonishment.

At that moment, many others were also staring at Lu Ran in disbelief.

As the time for evolution approached, Lu Ran began pulling out Treasure-grade resources from his storage like they were free. Wind, Water, Ice, Lightning... There were over twenty Treasure-grade resources of each attribute, and mostly energy crystals. The onlookers’ eyes twitched violently.

“About time...”

Lu Ran checked the time and decided to give Baby Cloud a final boost. Since these resources weren’t suitable for cooking, they’d be consumed raw.

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

“Is Pedestrian A planning to make that elemental familiar eat all those resources before evolution to increase its potential?”

“That’s insane! How is that possible? Even with the evolution effect, perfectly digesting 1-2 Treasure resources is the limit. Bringing out so many is just a waste!”

“Damn rich bastard...”

“Did this guy actually loot the Four Great Beast Empires?”

The beastmasters took deep breaths at Lu Ran’s pretentious display of wealth. Then, they watched as the cloud-cat in Lu Ran’s arms morphed into a plushie-sized whale-like creature.

The pale, whale-like creature slowly swam toward the resources, swallowing them one after another with its gaping maw, leaving many spectators dumbfounded.

What the hell? A gluttonous whale mini-game?

“What’s he trying to do?” Oub also stared silently at Lu Ran’s actions, completely baffled.

Evolution wasn’t about consuming as many resources as possible beforehand. To everyone else, Lu Ran’s actions were pure waste—far inferior to distributing resources over the month before and after evolution.

At this moment, only Manager Ying understood what was happening.

“Starting with the Kun, it’ll evolve by devouring.”

It had once overheard Lu Ran murmuring this back in Green Sea.

“Perfect foundation and Kunpeng Intent, locked in. In its Kun form, Baby Cloud’s digestive ability increases dramatically. With the Kun Intent now, its digestive ability should be even more terrifying. Whatever it swallows can quickly be converted into evolutionary potential.

“Growing stronger through devouring! With my time acceleration and the evolution stimulus, even if it temporarily consumes multiple Treasure resources, it should perfectly absorb them as potential. This is the power of pay-to-win evolution!”

“It’s coming.”

[Evolution energy surge countdown: 60 seconds...]

As the timer for the secret realm’s energy surge neared zero, Lu Ran smirked.

“Let’s go.”

At the same time, dark spirit energy surged around Lu Ran as Death Crow possessed him, amplifying his power. Simultaneously, his time acceleration activated at full force, enveloping the cloud-whale form of the weather sprite.

In the next moment, Baby Cloud fully unleashed its Divine Beast Intent. Its white, mist-like body rapidly solidified into the form of a massive, dark-blue fish. The fish’s size expanded wildly, leaving the surrounding beastmasters dumbfounded.

“What the hell?”

“The evolution energy hasn’t even erupted yet! Why is it evolving already?”

During the transformation, Baby Cloud’s aura made even King familiars tense. Within moments, Baby Cloud’s body stretched hundreds of meters long, dominating the sky above Lu Ran.

The fact that the weather sprite had transformed like this before the evolution energy eruption left many bewildered. The oppressive aura it emitted felt even more terrifying than an Overlord’s.

“No, that’s not evolution...”

Even many experienced beastmasters stared grimly at the colossal cloud-whale.

“That’s Intent Formation! But the formation is so lifelike, it must be paired with a unique talent!”

“What kind of creature is that?”

“The pressure is insane, stronger than even Overlord dragons. The records say it’s only an Intermediate King!”

Some powerful beastmasters with Overlord familiars summoned their familiars, only to discover in shock that even their Overlords were being suppressed by Baby Cloud’s aura.

“A whale form...”

“Could it be the God of the Ocean? Legends say the Stellar Moon Continent’s ocean deity was a dragon-whale.”

“Impossible... It’s probably some quasi-Legendary whale creature. But even so, this is absurd. Where did Lu Ran’s familiar learn such an intent?”

As everyone marveled at Baby Cloud’s Kun Intent Formation, the ground suddenly cracked as evolution energy erupted.

“Go.” Lu Ran tossed a trait crystal.

The moment it made contact with Baby Cloud, something unprecedented happened. The surging evolution energy began converging violently into the whale’s mouth.

This phenomenon had never occurred before. Even when others evolved Intermediate or Superior Overlords, the evolution energy had always been evenly distributed. No familiar had ever been able to plunder it so greedily... until now.

Most beastmasters preparing to evolve their familiars froze, holding their trait crystals hesitantly and not daring to proceed.

“This devouring power... As expected of something comparable to a Legendary Kunpeng’s offspring. Its appetite is terrifying.” Manager Ying licked its lips.

“

Haha,

seems like things got a little out of hand. If conditions allow, I suggest postponing your evolutions.”

Lu Ran’s stamina was being drained rapidly as he converted it into Time energy to help Baby Cloud’s digestion. Through their contract, he could sense the terrifying changes occurring within Baby Cloud. He offered this advice out of kindness.

The Eagle Federation’s president, seeing the thinning evolution energy, didn’t immediately fuse the trait crystal with his familiar. He gritted his teeth, voicing what everyone wanted to say.

“This bastard—”

What the hell did Lu Ran do? How is anyone else supposed to evolve their familiars now?

But how much evolution energy Baby Cloud needed wasn’t something Lu Ran could control. No one could’ve predicted it’d be this voracious.

The next moment, a celestial roar echoed across the sky, drawing all eyes upward. Unlike previous instances where blessings came last, this time, since many beastmasters hesitated to evolve their familiars, the secret realm’s blessings focused solely on Baby Cloud first.

The stars shimmered, and a waterfall of starlight poured down. It seemed even the blessing energy would be monopolized by the weather sprite.

“You’ve got to be kidding me...” Many beastmasters’ eyes turned green with envy.

But no matter how jealous they were, nothing could stop Baby Cloud’s evolution now.

Soon, the evolution radiance and dazzling starlight enveloped Baby Cloud. Its whale-like form began transforming, growing even bigger, which shocked many hearts.

“Could it be...”

A deep, resonant cry later, the evolution light shattered. Baby Cloud’s body now bore golden patterns that glowed faintly, its aura even more primal and ferocious. Its beast-like, savage golden eyes made it resemble a true divine beast.

“Why would an elemental lifeform evolve into something like this?” Some beastmasters gaped, unable to comprehend.

Most importantly, this creature’s rank...

[Species: Catastrophe Sprite]

[Attributes: Water, Wind, Ice, Lightning]

[Species Rank: Superior Overlord]

[Level: 50]

[Description: The power of catastrophe, a spirit of formlessness.]

Before they could process what had happened, an Intermediate King had undergone a staggering metamorphosis.

At the same time, Lu Ran smiled at the colossal fish in the sky.

“Not bad. But what a pity it didn’t reach quasi-Legendary.”

Everyone was shocked at this.

T

he second Superior Overlord familiar on Blue Planet has just been born, and its beastmaster seemed only mildly satisfied? Have some humanity!

At this point, Lu Ran could also see an evolution talent invisible to others.

[Species Talent: Catastrophe Devourer]

[Description: Can foresee natural disasters and condense them into consumable enhancement resources, Calamity Cores.]

Creatures that consume Calamity Cores gain temporary catastrophe power boosts but suffer corresponding physical strain. A creature that feeds on disasters, the catastrophe sprite, lived up to its name. The species name alone sent shivers down many spines.

Witnessing Lu Ran effortlessly evolve a Superior Overlord made the beastmasters and media fall silent. They had already known that crossing paths with Lu Ran never ended well.

The evolution participants now shared the same sentiment as the various nations’ raid teams—a bitter, cardboard taste in their throats, curses stuck unspoken.

Regardless of nationality or generation, everyone once again felt Lu Ran’s dominance over Blue Planet’s beastmaster domain.

“Bro, should we still evolve? Fuck man, didn’t he just break through to level 4? Now he’s ready for level 5? Are you Ten Great Kings really going to face a fourth-generation participant...?”

The Caucasian beastmaster beside Oub clicked his tongue as the catastrophe sprite emerged. Oub’s mechanical tortoise stared at the colossal fish, deep in thought.

“Evolve my ass.” Oub’s face darkened as he observed the depleted evolution energy in the secret realm.

“Good thing you didn’t bet on evolution potential. This guy really is a monster.” His friend sighed.

Lu Ran... really isn’t human.

The new Eagle Federation president now understood why Pari hated him so much.

This bastard never does anything normal. Excluding him from the bet was the right call.