Monster Pet Evolution

Gao Peng finally managed to hammer out a deal with a fourth Mountain Spirit when night time came. He took out his solar-powered tablet from his backpack and began jotting down the Mountain Spirits' coordinates on it. It would be quite embarrassing to forget where they all were when it came time to carry out his plan.

Gao Peng had tried to come up with a more efficient way to bring the Mountain Spirits together. However, as none of the Mountain Spirits had cell phones on them, he had no choice but to go to each of them personally.

Gao Peng went around negotiating with Mountain Spirits for a whole month.

He had already told his grandfather about this over the phone.

In that time, Gao Peng's skin had darkened considerably. He had also lost a lot of weight.

While Da Zi, Goldie, and Stripey had also slimmed down quite a bit, Flamy was the only who had become even rounder during their time in the wild.

"So we've been thinking about making soup out of you, Flamy," said Gao Peng.

"Why?" asked Flamy, startled.

"Well, you're the only one who gained a lot of weight this past month."

After thinking for a while, Flamy said flatly, "I think there's some sort of misunderstanding here. I get fat easily. Even drinking water makes me fat."

"That's no excuse. Look at Da Zi. He's been training all day and night so that he won't be too much of a burden to Stripey, who had to carry all of us every day on its back," said Gao Peng, pointing at Da Zi, who was sound asleep in a corner.

"Aren't you the one who's always making Da Zi train his butt off?" said Flamy.

"Don't start talking back to me now," said Gao Peng warningly.

Suddenly, an idea dawned on Flamy. "Gao Peng, why don't I bring back food for you to eat every day?"

Flamy was always the first to fly off somewhere every morning and always came back happy and full.

Whatever it had been snacking on, it had certainly made its flesh and feathers fuller.

"All right then. Bring back some fruits for me. I'm tired of eating meat every day," said Gao Peng, nodding.

"Got it!" said Flamy happily.

Woken up by the commotion, Da Zi scuttled towards Gao Peng and grabbed his ankle. "Gao Peng, Gao Peng, when we get back, you have to let me eat as much as I want to make up for lost time."

"All right. Since you've been working so hard, I'll let you eat anything you want when we get back," said Gao Peng, stroking Da Zi's head gently.

"Stripey, let's move on to our next destination," said Gao Peng, patting a nearby rock protrusion.

For the past month, even though most of the familiars had lost a lot of weight, they had gained much in terms of level.

Flamy, Da Zi, and Goldie had each reached level 39 or 40. They were now one step away from reaching Lord-tier.

If everything went as planned, all three of them would be able to make a breakthrough before they returned home.

If all three of them reached the next stage of their evolution, Gao Peng would have four Lord-tier familiars and one Emperor-tier familiar.

Due to its massive size, Stripey wouldn't be able to accompany Gao Peng on his escapades. He would have to stay behind in the Southern Sky Group.

However, with four Lord-tier familiars by his side, Gao Peng would be all but unstoppable. He would be able to take the next step in his plan to explore the rest of the world!

As soon as he had amassed enough power for himself, he would probably work on becoming a world-renowned hunter, exploring every corner of the post-Cataclysm world.

Still, in order to achieve one's ambitions, one first had to have both feet firmly grounded in reality.

Hum...

Gao Peng's ears pricked up at an unusual humming sound in the air.

It sounded like millions of wings beating feverishly in the air.

Suddenly, the sky darkened as a dark buzzing cloud appeared, blotting out the sun.

[Monster Name]: Bladed Bees (Swarm)

[Monster Level]: Level 11-20

[Monster Grade]: Normal, Excellent, Perfect

[Monster Attribute]: Gold/Poison/Wind

[Monster Ability]: Armor-piercing Stinger Level 2, Anesthetic Poison Level 1

[Special Characteristics]: Soundwave (Can only be activated when their swarm number reaches at least 100,000. Effect: Causes auditory discomfort to nearby monsters.)

[Monster Weakness]: A Bladed Bee is weak by itself.

[Description]: As descendants of the bumblebee, Bladed Bees are a vicious and bloodthirsty species. They tend to shy away from others when alone. However, as a swarm, they fear nothing and would even try to take on a dragon.

Gao Peng had heard of these critters. There were two things to look out for in the mountains: the Mountain Wolf Bird and the Bladed Bees.

As swarming monsters, both usually compensated for their low levels with their numbers.

A Bladed Bee's stinger was usually laced with an anesthetic poison that was capable of immobilizing its victims. The last thing they would see would be the sight of their bodies being devoured by a swarm of bloodthirsty Bladed Bees. It was said to be one of the worst ways to go.

The noise grew louder as the Bladed Bee swarm closed in on Gao Peng and his companions.

Normally, low-level monsters would flee fearfully in the face of such a vicious swarm.

Goldie glared at the incoming onslaught of bees, ready to take them on.

"Stripey, if you would be so kind," said Gao Peng.

Stripey stopped in its tracks and turned towards the angry dark cloud.

The next instant, a fissure opened up on its massive back, from which a fiery red light shone out.

Boom!

A sound like thunder shook the heavens as lava and black smoke spewed forth from the giant spider's back.