"Is this the evolved form of the Iron-Eater Beast?"
For a moment, Shi Yu was taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure.
However, that brief moment left a deep impression on him.
The Holy Spring, also known as the Evolutionary Holy Spring, has a very small chance of enhancing a pet beast's evolutionary potential during the process of stimulating its latent abilities.
At first, Shi Yu didn't have much hope, as he hadn't heard of any evolved forms of the Iron-Eater Beast.
But what Shiyi was experiencing now seemed to be no simple matter.
If that form was indeed the evolved body of the Iron-Eater Beast, it certainly looked more suitable for battle than the current Iron-Eater Beast!
Its size far exceeded that of an ordinary Iron-Eater Beast, and it was clad in metallic armor, making it seem like it was born for battle, no, for war.
The current Iron-Eater Beast, while capable of fighting, was clearly more suited to being cute.
The image he saw just now reminded Shi Yu of a story that was passed down on Earth.
According to legend, during the ancient times, the Yellow Emperor battled Chiyou, and all the gods and Buddhas appeared, using many birds and beasts as battle pets.
Among them, there was a battle pet called the Iron-Eater Beast. It had a black and white coat, black armor like lacquer, and it ate iron and drank water, with its feces being as hard as steel and capable of being used as weapons. It was unmatched in combat.
Chiyou, the demon god, kept two of them. One was well-trained and robust, and Chiyou trained it to be his mount, equipping it with various weapons and armor.
However, because the Iron-Eater Beast was so adorable, Chiyou treated the other one as a pet. Later, in the final battle with the Yellow Emperor, due to Chiyou's hasty actions, he rode the pet Iron-Eater Beast...
In the end, Chiyou was directly betrayed by this panda. During the final battle with the Yellow Emperor, because his mount was not up to the task, he was slain by Yinglong, who had come to assist the Yellow Emperor.
Of course, this mythological story, no matter how you look at it, is just a joke.
However, even as a joke, it shows that the Iron-Eater Beast seems to have a special status.
The truth of history is hard to verify, but if the Iron-Eater Beast was indeed the mount of the demon god and the god of war, Chiyou, it definitely wasn't as simple as it seemed.
After all, although Chiyou lost, who was his opponent?
Yinglong, the creation dragon god in ancient mythology, one of the four divine dragons, the true dragon, and the ancestor dragon!
During the great battle between the Yellow Emperor and Chiyou, Yinglong killed Chiyou and Kua Fu at the South Pole to help the Yellow Emperor claim the throne.
He also helped Yu the Great control the floods by drawing rivers with his tail, opening the Dragon Gate, and capturing Wuzhiqi, earning him the title of the unparalleled warrior god with the best mythological combat record.
Even if the Iron-Eater Beast wasn't a match for him, to be involved in such a battle, it must have been at least a mythological-level creature, right?
"I'm thinking too much again."
Shi Yu quickly stopped his wild imagination.
Since he had already traveled to another world, it was best not to overthink things.
Even if the Iron-Eater Beast has an evolved form, its racial level wouldn't have a huge gap. Commander-level or King-level would be the limit. Mythological-level was just wishful thinking.
"But..."
But thinking from another angle, since something as bizarre as traveling to another world has happened, perhaps the various historical myths of Earth aren't so simple either?
Shi Yu fell into deep thought. At that moment, there was a "splash," and the small Iron-Eater Beast in the Evolutionary Holy Spring was lifted out and thrown to the ground by a branch.
"It's over."
The voice of the Ancient Tree of Life reached Shi Yu and the Iron-Eater Beast.
Shi Yu came to his senses and looked at the wet Shiyi.
"What, it's over?"
"But it hasn't evolved yet."
The Ancient Tree of Life: ?
"The Evolutionary Spring water was not enough to make it evolve. It only activated its weak ancient bloodline. The true path of evolution is something you must seek out yourselves."
The Ancient Tree of Life extended a branch again to take Shi Yu and the Iron-Eater Beast away.
"Ah..." Shi Yu looked at Shiyi.
At that moment, Shiyi wasn't thinking about evolution. Instead, it subconsciously clenched its fist.
"Ying?"
Indeed, it felt like it had been reborn.
The feeling of increased physical strength made it think that even if its training volume doubled, it wouldn't be a problem.
Shi Yu: "..."
Shi Yu knew that after its physical strength increased, Shiyi would think more about longer training sessions rather than longer battles.
"Alright, let's leave."
Shi Yu quickly recalled Shiyi into the pet space, then grabbed the branch and chose to leave the forest.
It seemed he was thinking too much.
The Evolutionary Spring water wasn't enough to make Shiyi evolve, but it seemed to have brought some good news.
That is, the Iron-Eater Beast indeed has the potential to evolve, but the method is unknown.
The scope of the unknown is vast, and who knows if it can be found in one's lifetime.
"Not evolving is fine too."
Shi Yu thought to himself as he walked. Although the evolved form looked more powerful and imposing, it would be too hard to use as a pillow or a bed.
So, not evolving isn't a big problem. After all, he has a skill manual. If he gets lucky and teaches it some mythological abilities, who would dare to underestimate the Iron-Eater Beast, even if it stays in this form?
But if it could maintain the panda form in daily life and transform during battles, that would be great... I'm being too greedy, huh.
A moment later.
Shi Yu dazedly returned to the entrance.
This forest was like a giant maze. If it weren't for the branch leading the way, he might not have been able to find his way out.
"How was it?"
"Any gains?"
After Shi Yu came out, President Feng, who had been waiting outside, immediately asked.
Shi Yu's Iron-Eater Beast didn't look simple, so he must have gained a lot, President Feng firmly believed.
"His physical constitution has been successfully strengthened, and his physical strength has increased significantly, probably doubled."
Shi Yu assessed.
"Really?" This number clearly surprised President Feng.
"Yes, the most important thing is that it seems to have been enhanced in terms of evolutionary potential. The Iron-Eater Beast might still have the potential to evolve," Shi Yu said.
This statement clearly surprised President Feng even more.
"That's amazing."
"In this regard, you might want to consult Lin Hongnian and his daughter. They have been researching the evolution of the Iron-Eater Beast for many years. You might be able to share information with them."
"Ah, no need for me to remind you, since you're at the Bamboo Rock Martial Hall," President Feng laughed.
From this, it seemed that the gains were quite good.
"Thank you, King of the Ancient Tree of Life." President Feng thanked a group of ordinary-looking trees.
Because the entire forest was actually the embodiment or controlled plants of the King of the Ancient Tree of Life.
No one knew where its main body was.
"Thank you (for your advanced skill)," Shi Yu also thanked the King of the Ancient Tree of Life.
He would not let this advanced skill go to waste and would develop it to a divine level!
However, that would be a long time from now.
Shi Yu didn't want to be sent away just because of teaching an advanced skill and then have the whole village come to eat.
"Where do we go next? Is the match over? Should we go and see again?" Shi Yu still couldn't forget the girl's illusion technique.
President Feng: "What's the point of watching a Novice-level match? Your journey is in the professional arena, cough, but before that, how about we quickly return to Pingcheng and try the ruins again?"