Chapter 6: Evolution

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio  Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

“Sir, here please!”

After reversing the battle, Yang Ling received the passionate hospitality of the elves. He was invited into a green wooden building. The ground was level in the building and etched with natural patterns, its texture similar to white marble. The ground did not produce a sound wherever Yang Ling stepped. It was as if he was walking on soft, noise-absorbing wooden planks.

“Sir, please try this rum we made using the purple orchids, scutellaria, and morning dew we gathered.” The long-haired beauty Sofia took several steps back, leaving behind a faint fragrance, after serving Yang Ling a cup of light green rum. She beckoned for the elf elder to sit.

“From your accent, sir, you don’t seem to be local?”

“Elder, you can just call me Yang Ling.” Yang Ling took a sip of the light green rum. It was refreshing, as if it was filled with pure mint. “You are right, my hometown is somewhere far away from here. I heard the sounds of a battle when I was passing through just now and thus hurried over to help.”

Yang Ling drank more of the rum as he silently observed his surroundings. Since he was a foreigner, he thought that he might have unexpected gains after he befriended the local elves.

“The slave-capturing squads of the humans are becoming more and more brazen, especially the violent ones they sent today!” The elf elder had a serious expression. He gripped the pitch black staff in his hand tightly. “It is fortunate that you came at the right time and provided assistance, Yang Ling. Otherwise, the outcome would have been disastrous!”

“It was nothing, you need not thank me,” Yang Ling said in relief. “The attackers suffered heavy casualties, so I would think that they will not dare bother you in the future. Your lives should improve!”

“No, the nightmares have just begun. The young man that escaped is from the notorious Anca family from Wissen Town. After the heavy casualties this time around, he might soon return with a large group of warriors for revenge!”

The elf elder had a depressed tone. He became increasingly worried as he thought about the powerful Anca family. This area was far away from the other elf tribes. They did not have Dalewi Warriors or elite hunters, much less powerful forces such as the Fairy Dragon or the Twin-headed Chimera.

It would be best for them to retreat as soon as possible when faced with the vengeance of the Anca family, but winter was approaching. There was no way they could migrate with their entire tribe. The only method they had left was to think of ways to keep this mysterious Summoner here.

Yang Ling got the general idea after hearing the elf elder’s explanation. It turned out that the Tailun Continent that they were in now was immensely vast, and the Terras Forest was the largest primordial forest in the Tailun Continent.

Since there were rich resources in these parts, the Terras Forest had attracted many humans to gather wood and hunt. Slowly, near an ancient castle in the outer parts of the forest, a small town called Wissen was established.

The town was not big by any means, its population only about twenty thousand. But since it was near a place with many resources, the number of troops, risk takers, and merchants that were stationed there often numbered four to five thousand.

The Anca family was the most powerful faction in Wissen Town. They had warriors in the family that could kill without blinking an eye. It was rumored that they also had many powerful swordsmen and spellcasters. They were notorious for extorting the citizens and merchants, as well as for their slave trade.

Over the years, many troops of considerable abilities came into conflict with the Anca family, but no one had ever bested them. Most of the troops that stood up against them ended up dismembered. There were no exceptions over the past years.

It was rumored that the Anca family were a group of merciless pirates, and that Wissen Town was merely a small resting spot for them. Often, people would see warriors of unknown origins enter their castle. These warriors were all merciless characters.

Slowly, troops and adventurers from all over the world fell under the control of the Anca family, much less the inhabitants of the town. Even small tribes of other races living in Terras Forest were often harassed by these human traffickers.

After giving Yang Ling a rough explanation of the situation, the elf elder let out a heavy sigh. According to the rumors that had spread over the years, the elves’ situation wasn’t optimistic now that they had become a target of the powerful Anca family.

After groaning for a moment, the elf elder had an idea. He said sincerely, “Brave warrior Yang Ling, I wonder if it’s convenient for you to stay here for a short time?”

“I’m sorry, I have already arranged to meet a friend a few days later…” Even though Yang Ling wanted to stay, he feigned hesitation. “Furthermore, my Horned Bee Beasts are still rather weak. If the opponents launched a strong offensive, I might not be of any help!”

When he understood the elf elder’s intentions, Yang Ling decided to play hard to get. He might obtain a bigger reward that way. But it would be troublesome if Ymir led a large group of warriors and spellcasters here to exact revenge.

This continent was strange and mysterious. A Fireball Technique was enough to burn more than ten Horned Bee Beasts to ash. If the other party were to mobilize even more powerful spellcasters, he might be defeated in an instant.

“Yang Ling, these are all Magical Beasts that you summoned?” The elf elder clenched his teeth after looking at the horde of Horned Bee Beasts beside Yang Ling. He took out a small clay bottle from his robes. “This is the Water of the Spring of Life our tribe has left for the year. It can hasten the evolution of your Magical Beasts. With this many Horned Bee Beasts, even successfully evolving a portion of them to the second stage would increase your combat abilities dramatically, much less all of them!”

For the safety of his tribe, the elf elder had taken out his treasure. At the same time, he could not understand how Yang Long was able to summon this many Horned Bee Beasts. Typically, Summoners would only be able to summon one or two Magical Beasts, but Yang Ling had managed to summon a full horde of beasts.

Seeing how serious the elf elder was, Yang Ling understood that what the elder produced was a serious treasure. He accepted it without hesitation. “I am not a Summoner; these Horned Bee Beasts have been with me since I was little.”

“Oh, so that’s why!” The elf elder did not probe any further as he saw that Yang Ling was unwilling to elaborate. He told him how to use the precious Water of the Spring of Life.

Sitting cross-legged, Yang Ling chose a hundred Horned Bee Beasts, the most ferocious of his army. He poured a drop of the precious Water of the Spring of Life onto each of them and consumed the rest. Quickly, the little critters grew to the size of a fist. Mysterious symbols once again surrounded the beasts before disappearing.

At the same time, Yang Ling felt the pagoda mark on his forehead turn hot. A warm current was slowly circulating within his body. His wizard powers were becoming more powerful.

“An Ancient Summoner?” The elf elder looked excitedly at Yang Ling. “Even a great Summoner would not be able to contain hundreds of Magical Beasts, much less an ordinary Summoner.”

The elf elder was incredibly excited. According to the historical annals, an Ancient Summoner had immense spiritual powers and could gather large numbers of Magical Beasts to do battle. As an Ancient Summoner, even though Yang Ling could only control low level Magical Beasts like the Horned Bee Beasts, the immense number explained everything. His potential was unimaginable.

With an Ancient Summoner like Yang Ling helping them, the elder believed that they would be able to avert this crisis even if Ymir were to return with a horde of gryphons.

Yang Ling gave a faint smile as he looked at the excited elf elder. He did not confirm the elder’s suspicions, nor did he deny them. In reality, the elder might think of him as a lunatic if he were to say that he came from another planet. Since they were willing to think of him as a so-called Ancient Summoner, then it would be better if he did not clear up the misunderstanding. He might even be able to gain something from it.

After collecting himself, Yang Ling had a thought and instinctively formed a hand gesture. Suddenly, the hundred evolved Horned Bee Beasts appeared before everyone out of thin air. They bared their fangs, barely containing their bloodlust. It felt like they had grown even larger after being stored in the mysterious Wizard’s Pagoda for some time.

Poison stingers?

Quickly, Yang Ling noticed that the evolved Horned Bee Beasts had gained another power—poison stinger attacks. A Horned Bee Beast that had evolved to the second stage could shoot out three highly poisonous stingers from its tail a day. The stingers were fast as lightning. Those hit by the stingers would feel their bodies turn numb immediately. More severe symptoms included slipping into a coma.