Chapter 122: Chapter 118: Painful Evolution

Unlike Yin Yi, whose single-Attribute path was purely offensive.

For Egg Pancake, Han Ning was more inclined for it to awaken additional Attributes, believing it would be a great help to its combat versatility.

His gaze fell upon the Rock Fire Lizard option, and he looked to see what it would take for Egg Pancake to evolve along this path.

According to the panel’s prompt, for any Soul Beast to evolve into a more powerful form, it had to meet certain requirements.

[To select the "Rock Fire Lizard" path, the body must be subjected to intense pressure during evolution. An Earth Element Affinity of 2 or higher and a Fire Element Affinity of 1 or higher are required. The process must occur in a location abundant in Earth and Fire Elements.]

’Egg Pancake’s evolution is actually a bit more complicated than Yin Yi’s.’

Han Ning was somewhat surprised as he looked over the requirements.

However, the Elemental Affinity requirements weren’t that high.

Achieving a high elemental concentration was actually pretty easy. He just had to do what he did with the Ant Queen: arrange a circle of Crystal Stones with the two required Attributes around Egg Pancake, and the concentration would be high enough.

’The main issue is, where can I create an environment with that much pressure...’

As he mulled it over, he suddenly saw Yin Yi, and his eyes lit up.

’I can have Yin Yi bind Egg Pancake with layers of vines and gradually increase the pressure. That should simulate the right environment.’

He acted on his thought immediately, pointing to an empty space nearby.

"Egg Pancake, lie on the ground."

"SQUEAK?"

Egg Pancake didn’t understand, but it obediently lay on the ground, looking at its master with its big, confused eyes.

"Yin Yi, bind Egg Pancake with your vines. Just leave a small gap for it to breathe." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Ling?" Yin Yi was stunned.

’Is he serious? This is messed up.’

However, Yin Yi still obediently did as it was told.

It flung out a dozen or so vines, instantly binding Egg Pancake tightly, leaving only its small nose exposed for breathing.

"SQUEAK SQUEAK, SQUEAK-SQUEAK-SQUEAK~"

Egg Pancake was a little panicked, constantly wriggling its body.

"Egg Pancake, this is a chance to become stronger. Do you trust me?" Han Ning gently stroked Egg Pancake’s head through the vines, soothing it with a gentle voice.

"SQUEAK!" Hearing his words, Egg Pancake gradually stopped wriggling and calmed down.

Han Ning gave it a reassuring look, took out several Earth and Fire Attribute Crystal Stones, piled them next to Egg Pancake, then turned and stepped aside.

"This looks strange, but let’s begin," Han Ning said, signaling for Yin Yi to gradually increase the pressure.

"Start with the lightest pressure. We don’t want to turn Egg Pancake into a *real* pancake."

"Ling~"

The emerald green vines contracted slightly.

"GAAH!" Even Yin Yi’s slightest squeeze was an immense force for Egg Pancake.

Its body was instantly and brutally crushed by the dense vines.

One second, two seconds... A full ten seconds passed.

Egg Pancake was still shrieking energetically, showing no signs of evolution.

"Keep increasing the pressure."

"Ling~"

Yin Yi’s vines contracted again.

"SQUEAK!" Egg Pancake cried out in pain, its breathing suddenly growing heavy.

This time, he thought he could hear the faint cracking sound of Egg Pancake’s bones.

Specks of earthy-yellow light gathered on Egg Pancake’s body.

"SQUEAK!!"

Egg Pancake let out a high-pitched roar. THUD, THUD, THUD. Its body trembled uncontrollably on the ground from the pain.

The immense pressure prevented its body from moving freely, and every muscle trembled violently.

’It’s working!’ Han Ning’s heart pounded in his chest.

CRACK~

With a soft snap, Egg Pancake’s claws and tail bent at a bizarre angle, folding back on themselves.

Through his Spiritual Power, Han Ning could sense Egg Pancake’s extreme pain.

"SQUEAK~ WHIMPER!"

Pain! Pain! Pain!

A few seconds later, Egg Pancake’s emotions, which had started as confusion and suffering, had now become pure, unadulterated pain.

Its emotions surged toward Han Ning’s Spiritual World like wave after wave of a tide.

’Is physical metamorphosis this painful...?’

At this moment, Han Ning felt conflicted, but seeing the earthy-yellow halo of light gradually form around Egg Pancake, he knew this method of evolution was the right one.

Furthermore, Egg Pancake’s Spiritual Power had not yet begun to weaken, so he decided to wait a little longer.

"Pancake, hang in there! I’m right here with you!"

He used his Spiritual Power to send Egg Pancake a message of reassurance, urging it to hold on.

"SQUEAK!" Beneath the concealing vines, tears of pain welled up in Egg Pancake’s eyes. Hearing Han Ning’s encouragement, it fought to endure the agony racking its body!

Another ten seconds passed, and Han Ning heard a muffled roar.

BANG!

Egg Pancake was continuously slamming its body against the ground, trying to distract itself and vent the pain.

’Egg Pancake’s evolution requirements are much more difficult than Yin Yi’s were.’

"Ling?" As Egg Pancake’s big sister, Yin Yi couldn’t bear to watch.

It looked at Han Ning with a pleading gaze.

"Continue. Maintain this level of pressure."

"Ling..."

Immediately after, Han Ning’s nose twitched as he keenly smelled a wisp of blood.

At the same time, the surrounding Crystal Stones began to glow with earthy and red light.

A swirling haze of earthy and red Elements enveloped Egg Pancake, forming a magnificent Spiritual Nebula.

The elemental light obscured his view, making him unable to see Egg Pancake’s condition clearly.

"Ling~ Ling~"

Yin Yi also sensed the scent of blood and couldn’t help but turn to look at Han Ning again. It wanted to go over and check on the situation.

Its vines could feel Egg Pancake’s body rapidly growing larger!

"Slightly reduce the pressure. Give its body room to grow."

Han Ning shook his head, signaling Yin Yi not to worry, because he had just received Spiritual Power feedback from Egg Pancake.

Egg Pancake’s Life Force was slowly increasing!

"WHIMPER-WHIMPER-WHIMPER!"

THUD! THUD! THUD!

The heavy thuds of its struggling body slamming against the floor, accompanied by Egg Pancake’s high-pitched roars, echoed endlessly in the dimly lit, white-fog-filled clearing.

Just as the scent of blood grew thicker and Han Ning couldn’t resist the urge to ask Egg Pancake how it was doing...

The heavy thuds and slamming sounds came to an abrupt halt.

A gust of wild, blood-scented wind brushed past his cheek.

He saw, amidst the dim white fog, two crimson flames suddenly flare to life!

Those were Egg Pancake’s eyes!

The crimson glow was incredibly striking.

"Egg Pancake?"

"Squeak-whimper~"

From ahead, Egg Pancake’s response came.

Immediately after, Han Ning heard a THUD, and the red light went out.

Then there was silence.

At this moment, the information transmitted through their Spiritual Power connection told him that Egg Pancake’s Life Force was beginning to strengthen.

It was like a roller coaster, rising and falling.

"Egg Pancake? Egg Pancake!" Han Ning called out twice, but Egg Pancake didn’t respond.

He didn’t wait any longer and quickly jogged over.

Around the emerald green vines were large pools of crimson blood.

And Egg Pancake, its entire body slick with fresh blood, lay in a pool of it.

Han Ning gave it a quick glance and saw that its body was about twice as large as it was before the evolution.

The entire Guardian was a great deal larger.

The indentations on its body from Yin Yi’s vines were rapidly healing.

Its body, now over three meters long, lay quietly on the ground, breathing steadily. It seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep from the immense drain on its Physical Strength.