38: Treasure Rat Evolution Route
"What?" Bai Sitong didn't quite hear clearly.
"Nothing!" Lin Chen said, his gaze fixed on the Earth Spirit Mouse.
[Species: Earth Spirit Mouse (Red)]
[Level: 1]
[Talent: Spirit Perception (Can more keenly sense nearby spiritual energy fluctuations)]
[Skill: Digging (Not Activated)]
[Evolution Route 1: Pangolin Rat (Evolution requirements: Reach Level 17, absorb sufficient earth-element spiritual energy)]
[Evolution Route 2: Treasure-Seeking Mouse (Evolution requirements: ...)]
[...]
All this time, the Earth Spirit Mouse only had the evolution route from Pangolin Rat to Mountain-Splitting Rat. Lin Chen never expected to find a completely new evolution route in this nest of little mice.
However, evolving into a Treasure-Seeking Mouse is not easy. Not to mention the special evolution material requirements, the number of special skills that need to be mastered is considerable. Compared to the Pangolin Rat, which only requires a level increase, the difficulty is worlds apart.
Enhanced Scent, Spiritual Energy Perception, Metal Detection, Geomagnetic Induction... Look at these skills, is there a single one that can be used for combat? They are all auxiliary skills.
From this, it can be seen that the Treasure-Seeking Mouse is destined to be an auxiliary spirit pet, unlikely to possess powerful combat strength.
Of course, what will happen after subsequent evolutions? That is unknown, but the current Treasure-Seeking Mouse is already a challenge.
"If conditions allow, I still need to raise one. Treasure-Seeking Mouse, just by its name, you know what it's good at. With this spirit beast, will I ever lack treasures in the future?" Lin Chen thought to himself, silently noting down this Earth Spirit Mouse.
After checking on the Earth Spirit Mouse family, Lin Chen and Bai Sitong returned to the residence. The Earth Spirit Mouse was still young and not suitable to be carried around; it needed its parents to teach it for a while. Moreover, he currently didn't have a Spirit Contract slot for the Earth Spirit Mouse; the Little Spirit Sparrow was still waiting in line.
"By the way, do you want to contract an Earth Spirit Mouse to play with?" Lin Chen asked Bai Sitong beside him.
He had to look after the farm and generally didn't go out much, so even if he contracted a Treasure-Seeking Mouse, it wouldn't be of much use. But Bai Sitong was different; as an Alliance Investigator, she often traveled all over the country, and entering and exiting secret realms was commonplace. He felt that a Treasure-Seeking Mouse would be more useful to her.
"I'm a great Fire-element Beast Tamer, why would I contract an Earth Spirit Mouse?" Bai Sitong rolled her eyes and said.
"Alright!" Lin Chen pouted. If he really raised a Spirit-Seeking Mouse, she shouldn't come back later saying how great it is~~
"Speaking of which, I have two months of vacation this time, so I'll stay here with you. In a while, I'll ask our Maternal Grandparents if they want to come over; it'll be perfect for accompanying you to the College Entrance Examination!" Bai Sitong stretched, her curvaceous figure on full display.
"How long have you been busy? Only two months of vacation? So stingy!" Lin Chen said, annoyed. Not to mention, he hadn't heard from Bai Sitong for a year. If she hadn't suddenly appeared today, he would have forgotten that he even had an aunt.
"It's good, isn't it? This was specially applied for because of you, otherwise, I'd only get one week off before having to return to duty!" Bai Sitong said, annoyed.
"Oh~~~ So I'm getting some reflected glory? Share half? How about a month's worth of pocket money?"
"Scram, scram, scram! I just gave you a million; give it back!"
"Well~~~ it's getting late, I'm going to sleep first!"
"You brat!"
"…"
Lin Chen fled back to his room, but he wasn't in a hurry to sleep. Instead, he sat at his desk, closing his eyes to rest.
The farm expansion, the addition of a large number of spirit beasts, future planning—these matters piled up, giving Lin Chen a headache.
In addition, the Fragrant Flower Rabbit had almost passed its infancy and could officially begin training towards becoming a combat spirit beast, but how exactly to train it had not yet been decided.
"For ordinary Beast Tamers and Beast Trainers, it's necessary to specialize in one aspect of a spirit beast's training, such as strength, agility, physique, spiritual power, and so on."
"But the Medicine-Pounding Rabbit, after the Fragrant Flower Rabbit evolves, is completely unknown. I don't know how it will fight. How to train it is a problem."
"Why not just throw money at it and let it develop comprehensively? Anyway, as my initial spirit beast, it's not a problem to give it good treatment, right?"
Lin Chen thought to himself, opening his eyes to look at the Fragrant Flower Rabbit, which had already fallen asleep on the bed.
If it really were to develop comprehensively, it would have a tough time ahead.
"Hehe~~~" Lin Chen chuckled sinisterly, took out some clothes, and carried the dirty Fragrant Flower Rabbit off for a bath.
"Jigū?"
After a good night's sleep, he woke up early the next day. Father Cao and Mother Cao helped him tidy up the newly cultivated fields, and after lunch, they promptly returned to the city.
As for the little Gray Bean Pigeon, although it couldn't fly yet, it had developed quite a bit. After communicating with the Gray Bean Pigeon's parents, Cao Chuan was still allowed to take it, which made him incredibly excited.
"Lin Chen, in a month and a half, the school will have a Baby Cup friendly competition. It's said that the top ten will all receive evolution stone rewards. Remember to come and participate then!" Before leaving, Cao Chuan pulled Lin Chen aside and said mysteriously.
Originally, he had no thoughts about this competition, as he hadn't even sorted out his initial spirit beast yet. But now that he had the Gray Bean Pigeon, he had to give it a try, right?
Moreover, Lin Chen's Fragrant Flower Rabbit was already Level 5; in a month and a half, it might even break through to one-star, and then it would definitely steal the show. As a good brother, it wouldn't be too much to bask in some of that glory, right?
"Baby Cup? Evolution stone rewards? Alright! I'll see then. If I have time, I'll participate!" Lin Chen nodded in response.
Evolution stones were actually just another name for attribute spirit stones, only more refined in quality and more standardized in specification. But even the lowest quality evolution stone would cost around a hundred thousand. Only a fool wouldn't take free money.
And he was just racking his brain for a reason to urge the Fragrant Flower Rabbit to improve its strength. Wasn't this Baby Cup an excellent goal? Winning a championship first wouldn't be too much, right? If he couldn't even handle a group of high school students, why bother taking the College Entrance Examination?
"Hehe! Then our brothers will combine forces and once again utterly defeat those scions of Noble Families!" Cao Chuan fantasized with a look of longing.
"Smack!"
"Combine forces, utterly defeat! First, go back and finish your homework!" Father Cao immediately slapped him.
This brat is already planning to go against those scions of Noble Families? You're tired of living, but your old man still wants to live a few more years!
"Dad! I'm going to be a powerful and invincible Beast Trainer! If you keep hitting my head, you'll make me stupid!" Cao Chuan hugged the Gray Bean Pigeon and grumbled with dissatisfaction.
"Still talking nonsense?"
Seeing the slap about to come down again, Cao Chuan ran away as if fleeing, continuously muttering that this was disrespect to a future Divine Beast Trainer, which angered Father Cao so much that he took off his shoe and chased after him.
Mother Cao shook her head helplessly, bid farewell to Lin Chen and Bai Sitong, and chased after her husband and son to catch the car.
After Cao Chuan's family left, Bai Sitong raised an eyebrow and looked at Lin Chen beside her.
"It's still early, want to take a walk up the back mountain?"
"Let's go!"