Chapter 81 - First Evolution

Two hours later, with a full belly and refreshed from a nap in its contract card, Captain Doofus had fully recovered its energy. By this time, Lu Ran was already at the transport square, searching for Dr. Gu.

[Gu Qingyi:] I’m by the third pillar.

The transport square featured several large stone pillars. Lu Ran arrived at the specified location but still couldn’t spot Gu Qingyi—until a hand suddenly rested on his shoulder. He quickly turned around.

“Dr. Gu?”

He found himself looking at a figure that had silently appeared beside him. The first thing he noticed was a subtle fragrance, followed by Gu Qingyi’s elegant features, framed by her golden-tea-colored hair.

“Were you here the whole time? I couldn’t find you earlier,” Lu Ran said, puzzled. He had been thorough in his search.

“I’m wearing equipment that reduces presence. As long as I don’t engage with anyone, I can practically vanish from view,” Gu Qingyi explained with a smile.

I want one too,

Lu Ran thought.

He considered asking about the equipment but decided against it, knowing he was already drowning in debt.

I’ll buy one when I can afford it.

“Are you ready? Let’s go.”

Gu Qingyi gestured toward one of the many teleportation gates. “I’ll take you to Tranquil Island, an unrestricted-level public realm. Most of the creatures there are between levels 20 and 40...”

“Got it,” Lu Ran replied with a nod.

After teleporting, the two arrived in the Tranquil Island secret realm.

“This realm is similar to the Qianyan Mountain Range,” Gu Qingyi explained as she led the way. “Since it has fewer rare resources, it’s relatively quiet. In a while, though, it’ll likely get crowded.

“Because there’s no level restriction, you’ll see many advanced beastmasters bringing lower-level ones here to hone their combat skills. The creatures here are typically battle-hungry but poor as dirt.” Gu Qingyi chuckled.

The corner of Lu Ran’s mouth twitched. Even beastmasters considered these “beast paupers” beneath notice.

Their teleportation entry point seemed to be at the edge of the island. Looking inland, a dense forest lay ahead, while the view outward revealed the vast open sea.

“Let’s have it fuse with the trait right here on the beach,” Gu Qingyi suggested.

Without hesitation, Lu Ran pinched his black card between his fingers and summoned Captain Doofus. Stepping out of the summoning circle with swag, Captain Doofus struck an imposing figure.

“Your training has paid off.” Gu Qingyi nodded approvingly as she took in the familiar’s impressive two-meter stature, powerful limbs, and sleek, black-and-white coat with piercing ice-blue eyes.

Lu Ran had an eye for familiars, first choosing the most striking dog, and then the most handsome reptile—the red-eyed crocodile skink. He was undoubtedly a connoisseur of good looks.

Pak!

Lu Ran snapped his fingers, prompting Captain Doofus to drop its serious demeanor. Captain Doofus stuck out its tongue and flashed a friendly grin as it greeted Gu Qingyi.

“Woof, woof!”

Gu Qingyi returned the smile, then turned to Lu Ran.

“The lifebound weapon fused with its teeth is ready, correct?”

It was Lu Ran’s unusual training method, along with the rare use of the Weapon Control Trait, that had drawn Gu Qingyi, a Ph.D. in evolutionary studies, to witness this evolution herself.

“It’s ready,” Lu Ran said, raising his hand to summon the Frosty Sky Greatsword.

With a casual toss, Captain Doofus caught it in its mouth, and the weapon transformed into a colossal sword, radiating an icy gale. Giant hound with a giant sword.

The icy blue glow of the blade made Captain Doofus appear even more imposing.

“This...”

Gu Qingyi couldn’t help but remark, “Who helped you forge this?”

“Master Lin at the smithy.”

“Oh, him.” Gu Qingyi nodded.

“This sword’s attack power is at the top tier of rare weapons, though it seems to have a side effect which drains its stamina when this form is maintained, right?”

“Yeah,” Lu Ran replied.

“Dr. Gu, I’ll start the fusion now so it doesn’t waste too much energy.”

“Alright,” Gu Qingyi said, observing Captain Doofus with keen interest.

Meanwhile, Lu Ran took out the palm-sized Trait Crystal. To use a Trait Crystal, a familiar doesn’t need to consume it. When placed against the familiar’s body, a compatible familiar will absorb it on its own.

Lu Ran stepped forward while holding the Trait Crystal close to Captain Doofus, who, while pretending to be calm, was clearly as nervous as Lu Ran.

“Don’t resist the fusion with the crystal,” Gu Qingyi advised.

As the crystal neared, a soft blue light emanated from it, and under the glow, it fused smoothly into Captain Doofus’s back. Captain Doofus glanced back at it with no visible change. Until suddenly, its expression contorted!

“Wooo!!!”

An intense aura began radiating from it, as the power of wind erupted uncontrollably. Sensing this, Gu Qingyi quickly pulled Lu Ran back, maintaining a safe distance, and continued to watch Captain Doofus with utmost concentration.

Will this doofus successfully fuse with the Weapon Control Trait? Could it awaken... a species talent?

Gu Qingyi watched with eager anticipation. When a familiar fuses with a trait, it experiences a power boost regardless of compatibility. However, the ideal outcome would be for the fusion to prompt the familiar’s strength to combine with the trait’s power, awakening a species talent.

This species talent, also known as a species skill, was highly potent and significantly boosted the familiar’s combat potential. A trait fusion that failed to awaken a species talent was considered incomplete and could impact the familiar’s evolution at level 30.

Species talents provided an advantage that could not be achieved through attribute awakening alone. Gu Qingyi knew that Lu Ran’s senior, Condor Hero, hadn’t awakened a species talent after fusing his familiar with the Weapon Control Trait. The same had happened with other overseas familiars that fused with this trait.

So, after all this time, another young beastmaster and familiar were attempting this trait fusion. Could they succeed?

Under Gu Qingyi’s watchful gaze, a radiant mix of white and blue light suddenly enveloped Captain Doofus’s massive frame, even covering the Frosty Sky Greatsword in its mouth. Wrapped in light, Captain Doofus and the greatsword seemed to merge into one.

Boom!!!

As Captain Doofus growled, chaotic currents erupted from its body. The sand around it was lifted in a vortex, creating a storm of sand and dust.

“What’s happening?” Lu Ran’s concern grew.

“So far, so good. His species potential is being unleashed! It’s increasing!” Gu Qingyi exclaimed.

During evolution, a familiar’s species rank would often rise, causing an outburst of elemental energy. But what happened next left even Gu Qingyi, an evolutionary scientist, wide-eyed.

Along with the power of wind, an icy force burst from Captain Doofus, freezing every grain of sand into snowflakes that whirled within the miniature cyclone.

“How is this possible?” Gu Qingyi wondered aloud.

“Even with the enhancement from the Cold Wind Seed, this is no less than an awakening of the power of frost. Unless—”

Before she could finish, another shocking situation occurred. With an upward howl, the swirling blizzard began emitting sword hums, and the storm around Captain Doofus began to take shape, forming countless icy swords floating in mid-air, circling him within the light.

Seeing these icy swords, Lu Ran felt as if he had been transported back to the Blizzard Mountain Secret Realm, but this was no mountain. This was a massive, sky-piercing sword peak.

“It’s Intent Formation! Its sword momentum has upgraded into sword intent! Only with Intent Formation can a familiar’s attacks carry additional elemental force!” Gu Qingyi exclaimed excitedly.

This doofus had mastered such an advanced skill at level 10! Such a high level of comprehension! Could it be because of the Weapon Control Trait?

“Is this... Blizzard Sword Intent?!” Lu Ran cried, breaking out of his daze as he gazed in awe at the fantastical scene before him.

Could this be the sword intent his master had talked about?

Had his dog truly mastered it? This evolution seemed to be bringing unimaginable benefits. Could it be... a success?

Boom!

Right then, as the cold winds died down and the light dispersed, countless icy swords fell to the sand, freezing it in patches. Captain Doofus stood in the middle of what seemed like an icy sword graveyard, holding the Frosty Sky Greatsword in its mouth, its eyes brimming with fierce energy. The evolution was complete.

Being only a trait fusion, a “mini-evolution,” its appearance hadn’t drastically changed. The only visible change was a subtle enhancement of the three white marks on its forehead, resembling three sword scars that gave its face a dominant look.

“Awooo!!!”

With the Frosty Sky Greatsword in its mouth, Captain Doofus turned to Lu Ran and Gu Qingyi, grinning in satisfaction. It felt entirely one with the Frosty Sky Greatsword!

A terrifying power lay dormant within it. If it faced that Minotaur again, even a simple sword qi would be enough to injure it!

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

See? I told you. Failure doesn’t exist in Captain Doofus’s dictionary!

Gu Qingyi observed Captain Doofus with a glint in her eyes. Her Eye of Detection, a higher-level tool than Lu Ran’s, allowed her to see others’ familiar stats.

[Species: Sword-Bearing Dog]

[Attribute: Wind]

[Species Rank: Superior-Transcendent]

[Level: 10]

However, this readout puzzled Gu Qingyi. The display didn’t match the power it’d shown just now. She looked at Lu Ran, who was absolutely elated.

“Did it succeed? Did it awaken a species talent?” Gu Qingyi asked eagerly.

“Of course!” Lu Ran said excitedly.

He took out its contract card, which displayed the following:

[Species: Sword-Bearing Dog]

[Attribute: Wind]

[Species Rank: Superior-Transcendent (Intermediate-Champion)]

[Level: 10]

[Species Talent: Sword Sovereign (When this familiar wields a sword, its stats, including attack, defense, speed, life force, spiritual will, resistance, and energy, will increase according to the sword’s grade, temporarily elevating its species rank!)]

“Species Talent, Sword Sovereignty!” Lu Ran announced joyfully.

“This talent can elevate its species rank while wielding a sword. Right now, it’s a Superior-Transcendent creature, but while wielding the Frosty Sky Greatsword, its species rank matches an Intermediate-Champion’s! What a powerful talent!

“And if it were to wield a Treasure or Epic-grade sword or even a Legendary sword, its species rank might rival that of a King-ranked hatchling... or even that of an Overlord-ranked hatchling!”

Unable to contain his excitement, Lu Ran hugged Captain Doofus. He’d known Captain Doofus wouldn’t let him down. After days of intense preparation, Lu Ran could finally relax. The first step was a success.

Hearing the words “Sword Sovereign,” Gu Qingyi was stunned.

What kind of overpowered talent is this? A talent that can temporarily elevate a familiar’s species rank with a weapon?

As a first-generation beastmaster, she understood the immense potential of this talent. Watching Lu Ran fervently embrace his overjoyed dog, Gu Qingyi fell into contemplation.