Tuco righteously said, "Before you came, President Marina had already instructed us not to disturb you unless absolutely necessary, so as not to affect your research direction. And we are absolutely not allowed to make such unreasonable requests of you."
"You," As he spoke, Tuco's gaze returned to Muller, "Just wait for your doom. When we get back, I'll report everything truthfully to the President."
"Hey, hey, hey! No, please!", Muller raised his hands in surrender, "Professor Asher hasn't agreed yet..."
"Actually, it's not impossible," Asher suddenly said.
Muller: "?"
That was the feeling of excitement.
And also, the ominous feeling of getting beaten up.
Muller blinked at Asher, wanting to say something, but he didn't dare. His expression screamed that he was afraid that a single careless word might get him beaten.
Beside him, Uncle Tuco rolled his eyes at him, "Weren't you quite bold just now? How come you've turned mute now? Can't even say a single word?"
"I just... I just...", Muller stammered for a long time, his face full of shock and confusion.
What?
Don't other people ever blurt out things without thinking?
He had only been joking, letting his brain run wild, saying whatever came to mind without fear of getting hit.
But now that Asher had actually agreed...
Muller pitifully looked at Asher, Tuco, and Sophia.
He wanted to.
But he was also afraid of what would happen when the President found out...
"Coward!", Tuco shot Muller a disdainful look, then turned to Asher, "Professor Asher, this guy is just like that. You really don't need to take his words to heart."
"We'll teach him a lesson later."
"You also don't have to agree just because you feel embarrassed. This kind of thing still requires—"
"No, that's not it," Asher interrupted Tuco before he could finish. His expression was relaxed, genuinely showing that he didn't take this matter seriously at all, "We'll be at sea for a long time. If we don't encounter any beasts along the way, I'll need to find something else to pass the time."
"Researching new evolution paths for pet beasts can barely count as a way to kill time, I suppose," Asher spoke very casually.
Sophia and Tuco, however, felt an indescribable complexity in their hearts.
Something about this just didn't sound right, did it?
Who in their right mind would pass the time by researching pet beast evolution?
Oh.
Professor Asher.
Suddenly, it seemed understandable.
Sophia and Tuco both looked as if they had been choked by Asher's words.
Seeing that Asher genuinely didn't find this difficult, they couldn't help but get excited. This was a new pet beast evolution path.
Who wouldn't be excited?
They definitely couldn't stay calm.
"Professor Asher, what kind of beast do you want to research?", Sophia immediately stepped forward, waving his hand. Whether they had it or not, as long as Asher wanted to study it, they would find a way to get it.
And maybe he could even form a contract with one himself.
"Uncle, release your beasts and let me take a look," Asher said to Tuco.
That being said, Asher still planned to pick a suitable water-type pet beast from the three of them.
To steal some skills.
And enrich his skill panel.
"Alright," Tuco didn't hesitate at all. He directly released all of his pet beasts.
As a Tier 3 Beast Tamer, Tuco had a total of five pet beasts. The highest-ranked one was Tier 6, with three at Tier 5 and one at Tier 4.
Among his five pet beasts, apart from his strongest Tier 6 West Sea Siren, the other four were all Tier 5: a Tier 5 High Ice Mandarin Duck, a Tier 5 High Water Shark, a Tier 5 Mid Jade Silver Snake, and a Tier 5 Low Rainbow Scaled Koi.
Asher stroked his chin.
The three of them had quite a few overlapping pet beasts.
Especially the Rainbow Scaled Koi.
But thinking carefully, this was actually quite normal.
Spirit City, as a city by the Tranquil Inland Sea, sourced most of its pet beasts not from the Forbidden Zone, but from the Tranquil Inland Sea.
Even the pet beasts sold at the city's breeding houses were mainly water-type.
Among them, the most common species were the Rainbow Scaled Koi and the Jade Silver Snake.
Then, there were those with slightly higher potential, like the Sea Swan and the Ice Mandarin Duck.
Asher had already made up his mind.
Asher: "Let's go with the Rainbow Scaled Koi."
Sophia and Tuco's eyes lit up.
Rainbow Scaled Koi—nice.
They both had Rainbow Scaled Koi.
If Professor Asher needed a Beast Tamer's cooperation, they would be the best choice.
Muller: "?"
"Wait, wait, wait—", Muller hurriedly raised his hand to stop them. He pointed at his own nose, his face full of disbelief.
"What about me? What about me?"
"Professor Asher, is this your way of punishing me?"
Muller let out a heart-wrenching cry.
Asher: "..."
"Uh, not at all," Asher blinked sincerely at Muller, "Do you believe me?"
Muller: "..."
The two stared at each other, and Muller shed a sorrowful, noodle-wide tear.
He didn't want to talk.
He didn't dare to complain.
Right now, he just wanted to cry alone in silence.
"Ahem!", Asher coughed lightly, pressing a fist against his lips, "It's just that the Rainbow Scaled Koi is the most convenient choice. The other pet beasts..."
With his talent skill activated, Asher swept his gaze over the other pet beasts.
The West Sea Siren and the Ice Mandarin Duck also had new evolution paths, and their evolved forms would be quite powerful.
But.
The process was complex and tedious.
Not suitable for Asher to use as a casual research project to kill time and steal skills along the way.
If he was going to pick, it had to be the most convenient one.
The Rainbow Scaled Koi was the most convenient.
And since both Sophia and Tuco had contracted Rainbow Scaled Koi, actually, Muller had one too.
Unfortunately, his Rainbow Scaled Koi had already evolved into a Banyan Fish.
Asher: A sin, a sin.
No doubt about it.
He had chosen the most suitable beast for the moment.
Sophia and Tuco understood this logic. Muller did too.
Muller was just feeling a little bit sad, just a tiny bit, really, only a tiny bit.
Muller didn't dare to complain to Asher.
He turned his gaze to Sophia and Tuco instead.
"You two are so cruel. When we get back, you must speak up for me. Otherwise, you're letting me down, you know that?"
"Wuwuwu! I also want to help Professor Asher. I also want to offer my pet beast to Professor Asher."
"Banyan Fish, oh Banyan Fish, why couldn't you still be a Rainbow Scaled Koi? Even if you weren't a Banyan Fish..."
Sophia and Tuco couldn't take it anymore. They rolled their eyes at Muller in unison and said, ""Shut up.""
Muller: "Boohoooo."
Sophia and Tuco: "..."
On one hand, they were speechless, but on the other hand, they had to admit that Muller's words had a slight bit of truth to them.
Just a little bit.
"Alright, we'll put in a good word for you," Sophia said expressionlessly.
Tuco also said with a righteous look, "But whether the president believes it or not is beyond our control."
Asher paid no attention to the lively commotion coming from the three of them.
He was watching the Rainbow Scaled Koi, stroking his chin with great interest.
He was genuinely interested.
He hadn't examined it closely before.
But after activating his talent skill and taking a detailed look at this beast, Asher noticed something intriguing.
This evolution method… was truly unique, tailor-made for the Rainbow Scaled Koi.
Even though it was a new evolution method.
Among the countless beasts in the world, perhaps only the Rainbow Scaled Koi could use it.
"Professor Asher…?"
After finishing their argument, the three of them noticed Asher, who was touching his chin and seemed to have sunk into deep thought in his own world.
They looked at each other.
Still feeling uneasy, they called Asher's name in hushed voices.
Asher snapped out of it in an instant.
"Professor Asher, what happened just now?", Sophia asked, circling around Asher worriedly, like a little puppy chasing its own tail.
Lively and energetic.
With a face full of concern for Asher.
Ahem!
Asher brushed aside his unreliable thoughts and finally spoke, "Ah… I have some ideas about the new evolution method for the Rainbow Scaled Koi."
Sophia and Tuco: "?"
Muller: "?"
The three of them looked at Asher simultaneously, their eyes filled with disbelief and astonishment.
'Wait!'
'What did we just hear?'
"Professor Asher, are you saying that you've already figured out a potential evolution path for the Rainbow Scaled Koi?", Muller asked cautiously.
If that was the case… it wouldn't be entirely incomprehensible.
No one could determine exactly how fast or intelligent a Beast Taming Professor's mind was, but they were definitely far ahead of beast tamers like them, who spent their days fighting and charging forward.
Having a new idea within a few minutes was actually pretty normal.
Whether it could be realized still depended on subsequent trials and research.
"No, I have a concrete direction. Barring any accidents, the success rate should be around 80%… I guess?", Asher thought for a moment and didn't use a definitive 100%, nor did he go for a confident 95% or 90%. Instead, he lowered it to 80%.
To Asher, this was already a very conservative estimate.
But to Muller, Sophia, and Tuco, it was a completely different story.
Among the three, Sophia was the youngest.
But even as the youngest, she was a top student at Water Otter University, set to graduate in the second half of the year, having passed all fundamental courses related to beasts.
How could she not know?
For a Beast Taming Professor researching a new beast evolution topic, a 40% success rate was considered high, and 60% meant it was almost a sure thing.
80%… Wasn't that practically a done deal, just one step away from success?
Sophia looked at Asher with an expression that seemed like she wanted to say something but held back, only to see Asher's usual calm demeanor, as if he didn't think what he said was earth-shattering at all.
Sophia: "..."
'Forget it.'
'Let's not say anything.'
'As long as Professor Asher is happy.'
They just had to obediently follow orders.
"Do we need to do anything?", Tuco coughed lightly and asked in a soft voice.
'Whatever!'
'80% or 60%.'
'I believe in Professor Asher's genius!'
'Who needs brains?'
'Just listen and follow orders!'
Asher: 'It's not that serious… Alright, maybe a little bit when it comes to aesthetics.'
"Aesthetics," Asher uttered one word.
Then, he successfully received three blank and bewildered expressions.
Asher waved his hand, "No rush, we have plenty of time on this sea voyage. If things go smoothly, maybe both of your Rainbow Scaled Koi will evolve."
Hearing this, Sophia and Tuco looked eager.
'Aye hey!'
'If that is the case, that will be amazing!'
Naturally.
They knew it was all thanks to Asher. Looking after Professor Asher during this trip? No problem at all.
Muller, once again excluded from this temporarily formed team: His heart was cold.
Thinking back to how he was overjoyed when his Rainbow Scaled Koi evolved into a Banyan Fish, and now hearing that Asher might discover a new evolution path for the Rainbow Scaled Koi… Muller felt a sour pang in his heart, as if he had just swallowed a lemon.
"Not sour, not sour," Releasing his Banyan Fish, Muller gently stroked its head, as if speaking to it, or maybe to himself, "Evolving early means enjoying early."
"One must be content with life!"
Maybe this new evolution path wouldn't be any stronger than the Banyan Fish.
After comforting himself a few times, Muller relaxed and joined Asher's little lecture session.
The yacht had already set sail.
However.
As a technological transportation tool, the yacht had speed and other limitations. Additionally, since Asher needed to observe the current state of other beasts along the route, this was bound to be a lengthy journey.
In the meantime…
Sophia and Tuco had their hands full.
After listening to Asher's request, the two of them were practically turning into question marks.
So, basically, they had never heard of such an outrageous request before.
But Asher's serious expression showed that he wasn't joking, so they couldn't question or refute him.
Thinking back to how Asher had asked whether they wanted to hear the theory first or jump straight to the process…
Clearly.
They had unanimously chosen the latter.
Now…
Regret.
Deep regret.
Would it have hurt to sit down and listen to a few more words?
At least they wouldn't be as confused and lost as they were now, unable to ask anything and just following instructions.
"Hehehe," The only one who didn't have to participate, Muller, leaned in next to Asher, who was petting a Little Raven and Cat-Worm. Curious, he asked, "Professor Asher, why exactly did you send them to find ornaments that satisfy the Rainbow Scaled Koi?"
Yes.
Even Muller thought Asher's request was ridiculous. Extremely ridiculous. So ridiculous that it surpassed his understanding.
Asher had sent the two of them to do what?
Find materials.
Make ornaments that satisfied the Rainbow Scaled Koi.
Headpieces.
Pendants.
Decorations.
Any kind will do, as long as it can be worn on the Rainbow Scaled Koi and each one satisfies the Rainbow Scaled Koi. The number of accessories must be no less than five, the more, the better.
After hearing this request, the three of them remained utterly confused.
They couldn't understand it.
If Muller had been among those acting at the moment, he would have already slammed the table and asked about it.
However, Sophia and Tuco were the kind of people who did things earnestly. Since Asher had said it, even if they didn't understand, they still followed his instructions.
They believed that Asher would never mess with them for no reason.
Then, let's do it.
They would know the purpose of these tasks once they were completed.
Muller: "…"
The fact that the other two were so obedient only made his own rebelliousness stand out even more.
This was the taste of heartache.
Asher glanced at Muller but didn't really care about his questioning. His hands kept stroking Little Raven and the Cat-Worm.
When the two little ones had just boarded the boat, they had been fine.
But after sailing for a while, they both started showing signs of seasickness.
Asher could only rub them to make them feel a little better.
The two little creatures lay in Asher's arms, whimpering, unwilling to part from him.
Asher found it amusing yet helpless.
"This… actually isn't too hard to explain," Asher continued stroking them with both hands while explaining to Muller in a simple and clear manner, "There has always been a belief that Rainbow Scaled Koi like good-looking people, and the Banyan Fish are the best-looking among their kind."
"The first statement is somewhat controversial, since each Rainbow Scaled Koi has a different sense of aesthetics, just like humans. If there are a thousand people, there are a thousand different standards of beauty."
"That's right," Muller rummaged through things, miraculously pried open a part of the deck, and found cocoa powder along with a pile of snacks.
Under Asher's utterly confused and shocked gaze, Muller went inside the yacht, took out some disposable cups and hot water, made a few cups of hot cocoa, and handed one to Asher.
"Give the little ones a sip. It doesn't really do anything, but it's comforting."
"Drinking something warm feels good in the stomach."
Asher: "…"
That actually made sense.
Taking the still steaming hot cocoa, Asher quickly fed Little Raven and the Cat-Worm while the sea breeze rushed past, cooling the drink rapidly.
The two seasick little ones didn't reject it, well, mainly Little Raven. He didn't even mind that the Cat-Worm had drunk from it and took small sips.
A little hot.
But quite comforting?
Little White Snake and Little Jellyfish: "!"
They wanted some too.
In truth, the Little White Snake didn't really want to drink it, but seeing others drinking made it unable to resist. The Little Jellyfish, on the other hand, would take a bite of anything edible.
In an instant—
Asher became a climbing frame for pets in front of Muller.
He was covered in them.
Muller: "Hahahah..."
At that moment, Muller no longer felt the need to rush.
Well—
Just like Professor Asher said, there was plenty of time on the ship to listen to his explanation.
After all, Professor Asher would never mislead them.
Asher settled the Little White Snake and the Little Jellyfish, letting them try a few sips of the hot cocoa as well.
The Little White Snake was indifferent about it, its main concern was that if others had some, it should too.
The Little Jellyfish was different.
'Delicious!'
'I want more!'
'What?'
'I can even change colors after drinking it?'
The Little Jellyfish excitedly flapped its jelly-like cap, displaying a strange and indescribable color that left Asher speechless.
One glance, and he looked away.
An eyesore.
Truly an eyesore.
To avoid hurting his own eyes, he decided to just let the Little Jellyfish enjoy itself.
The Little Jellyfish didn't care at all.
Little Jellyfish: *Full! Happy!*
After finishing the drink, feeling warm and cozy, it nestled on Asher's shoulder and started dozing off.
Asher chuckled.
"Back to the topic, descriptions of Rainbow Scaled Koi shouldn't be entirely believed."
Muller nodded, "Exactly. I remember they once used Rainbow Scaled Koi as judges in a beauty contest, and they chose someone who…"
Hmm.
Difficult to describe.
After all, a person's appearance doesn't define their character, it's just a matter of aesthetic preference.
But when a contestant in a beauty pageant, judged by Rainbow Scaled Koi, was chosen despite completely defying conventional beauty standards…
Since then, very few formal beauty contests used Rainbow Scaled Koi for judging beauty.
Using them as aesthetic judges became more of a gimmick in small, unknown beauty competitions.
"For example, Old Tuco isn't handsome at all. Yet he still contracted a Rainbow Scaled Koi," Unable to comment on strangers, Muller decided to pick someone he knew—Tuco.
Asher: "…"
'As expected of you.'
Muller didn't just maintain his image in Asher's mind, he even deepened some unnecessary stereotypes.
"That's true. Human aesthetics vary, let alone those of beasts. How can you expect their aesthetics to align with human standards?"
"But still, just because you can't fully trust it doesn't mean you should completely dismiss it. From the Rainbow Scaled Koi's habits and the evolution of Banyan Fish, you can see an interesting pattern, beauty plays a central role."
Asher smiled.
Strength wasn't what mattered to the Rainbow Scaled Koi.
Beauty was.
They pursued the beauty of their Beast Tamers.
They sought beauty among their own kind.
Following this line of thought, one type of beauty was missing, the pursuit of their own beauty.
The Rainbow Scaled Koi's appearance… to be honest, by human standards, it wasn't particularly attractive, but it wasn't ugly either. At best, it was distinct, colorful and unique.
That was all.
Asher wasn't sure whether others had overlooked this or just never considered it, but wouldn't a beast with an aesthetic preference also pursue its own beauty?
And yet—
When Asher saw the new evolution method displayed on the panel, he suddenly understood why no one had discovered it before.
It was because the requirement was… quite bizarre.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
[Spirit River Fish & Jade Maiden Fish Evolution Requirements:]
[Equip the Rainbow Scaled Koi with five or more accessories that meet its own aesthetic preferences. After two days, it will randomly evolve into either Spirit River Fish or Jade Maiden Fish.
(The number of accessories and their aesthetic quality will influence the bloodline purity of the evolved form.)]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Asher: "…"
Who would have ever thought of such an evolution requirement?
It wasn't difficult.
But it was weird.
Asher rubbed his forehead.
Oh well.
He had seen plenty of bizarre evolution requirements for beasts by now.
He should be used to it.
And this method wasn't hard, any attentive Beast Tamer could easily make it happen.
It didn't require much effort from Asher.
Once confirmed, he could just announce it and then reap the benefits from the evolution of Spirit River Fish & Jade Maiden Fish.
Overall, Asher was very satisfied.
"Accessories are part of the Rainbow Scaled Koi's journey to self-beautification. Once it reaches a certain level of beauty, it will undergo transformation, just like when it evolves into the Banyan Fish."
A few words.
Muller's face showed an expression of sudden realization.
He understood.
At the same time, Muller felt that what Asher said made a lot of sense.
Isn't that exactly the case?
The Rainbow Scales Koi evolves into the Banyan Fish precisely because it reaches a certain level of beauty, prompting its evolution.
But this evolution process relies on "recognition," beauty acknowledged by external sources. However, Professor Asher reversed this approach, pursuing internal beauty, there was nothing wrong with that.
'Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?', Muller stroked his chin.
"...Phew! Professor Asher, the way you explain things is just too easy to understand. It almost gives me the illusion that I could do it too. I need to calm down, looks like I still have a long way to go in my training," Muller sighed deeply.
It wasn't that no one had thought of it.
It was that Professor Asher was too strong, he actually thought of this.
Not only did he think of it, but he also explained it in the simplest way, making it understandable even for someone like Muller, who had never been in this field before.
'Professor Asher is truly incredible,' Muller sincerely, from the bottom of his heart, gave a thumbs-up.
.
.
.
Through Muller, Sophia and Tuco also understood the significance of the task Asher had given them.
The two had already been serious about it, but now they became even more diligent.
They were eager to discuss every detail of the accessory-making process with the Rainbow Scales Koi, making sure each piece perfectly matched the fish's aesthetic.
As they crafted, however, the two of them, oh no, three of them, discovered a problem.
"Only if you look beautiful will the Rainbow Scales Koi recognize you from the heart and agree to a contract… I used to think this was nonsense. After all, didn't those odd-looking men from our Garcia Village also contract with Rainbow Scales Koi? But now that I look at it this way…"
Tuco looked at the accessory he had crafted based on his Rainbow Scales Koi's aesthetic, rugged, wild, and untamed beauty.
Then he looked at the accessory Sophia had made for her fish, luxurious, elegant, and dazzling.
Tuco fell silent.
"Uncle… I remember the uncles in our village had to try several times before they could successfully contract a Rainbow Scales Koi, right?", Sophia recalled and whispered.
Tuco: "..."
Tuco nodded, "That's true."
Rainbow Scales Koi were easy to fight and contract with.
As long as there was a Beast Tamer in the village to help, they could find a suitable Rainbow Scales Koi.
Defeat it.
Contract it.
The process was that simple.
But sometimes things didn't go smoothly. Even after defeating three or five Rainbow Scales Koi in a row, none would agree to a contract.
Nobody cared much about it, just keep looking.
They were easy to find, and eventually, one would willingly accept a contract.
Back then, the villagers didn't think much of it. They assumed it was just luck and never considered whether it had anything to do with appearance.
After all, good-looking people and not-so-good-looking people alike had successfully contracted Rainbow Scales Koi.
But now, looking at it from this perspective, it wasn't unrelated at all, it was a huge factor.
Rainbow Scales Koi really had aesthetic standards for Beast Tamers.
They chose Beast Tamers that matched their aesthetic preferences.
Sophia and Tuco: "..."
Their emotions were complicated.
The two, despite their decades-long age difference, exchanged a glance before silently looking away.
Sigh… If this information got back to the village…
Ha.
Great.
They now had entertainment for the next six months.
So why would they refuse?
They would spread the word.
The moment they got off the boat, they had to spread the word.
It definitely wasn't because they wanted to watch the chaos unfold. They were just passing on some useful and practical Rainbow Scales Koi knowledge to their fellow villagers.
They were truly kind-hearted.
.
.
.
It took three full days to craft the five accessories.
During the yacht's journey, they encountered other [Corrupted] beasts.
The [Corrupted] beasts were eliminated.
The normal ones, not affected by ominous energy, that dared to provoke them were also dealt with. In the process, they collected materials like scales and bones to craft more accessories.
Nothing was wasted.
Analyzing the [Corrupted] beasts they encountered, Asher adjusted the route accordingly, moving closer to the "source" of corruption.
"You guys and these accessories…", Stepping out of the cabin, Asher was met with a peculiar sight—two Rainbow Scales Koi, adorned head to tail with accessories on their necks, fins, sides, and tails.
Once again, Asher fully understood why no one had ever discovered this evolution method before.
The Rainbow Scales Koi, with all these things hanging on them, looked downright strange.
And they seemed a bit hindered in their movement.
Normally, no matter how much a Beast Tamer pampered their pet, they wouldn't put such cumbersome accessories on an aquatic creature.
Asher: 'As expected.'
The more undiscovered an evolution path was, the stricter or weirder its conditions turned out to be. No normal person would think of it.
"Professor Asher, is this enough?", After just a few days of working with the Rainbow Scales Koi, Sophia and Tuco had grown increasingly convinced of Asher's knowledge.
If nothing else, after receiving the accessories, the Rainbow Scales Koi became noticeably more excited.
Though they hadn't yet evolved, their heightened emotions alone provided significant benefits in both training and nurturing.
…Even if the accessories were a little inconvenient.
Of course, the benefits far outweighed the downsides.
"This should be fine," Looking at the two fish, each adorned in a completely different yet oddly harmonious style with their respective Beast Tamers, Asher felt both amused and exasperated.
"Let's wait a few days and see. In the meantime, you can try making more accessories. I think five is just a baseline, the more, the better," Aher couldn't specify an exact number of days, nor could he confirm if the quantity of accessories affected the bloodline concentration… but more was definitely better.
Sophia and Tuco made an "OK" gesture.
"Don't worry, Professor Asher, we've got it under control."
They didn't stop at five but continued experimenting with more materials, parts from beasts encountered along the way, beautiful gemstones, and even preserved fangs from past creatures…
They utilized every possible resource.
Not a single one was wasted.
Finally.
On the sixth day of their journey—
The two Rainbow Scales Koi evolved simultaneously.
It happened to be daytime.
The yacht had just stopped, and everyone was in the middle of inspection work. Halfway through… huh? Light?
Sophia and Tuco hadn't reacted yet.
Muller, who had been waiting for the Rainbow Scaled Koi to evolve, reacted first, "The Rainbow Scaled Koi! It must be them evolving!"
Only then did the other two react.
They rushed upstairs in a frenzy, just in time to witness the shocking scene of the Rainbow Scaled Koi evolving.
The light emanating from the two Rainbow Scaled Koi seemed to merge into one. But upon closer inspection, the edges of their evolution light did not actually blend together, it only appeared that way because the two Rainbow Scaled Koi were too close to each other.
Within the glow, the bodies of the Rainbow Scaled Koi grew larger and larger… From a one-meter-long big fish, they gradually doubled in size.
Most importantly—
The two Rainbow Scaled Koi were evolving into different forms.
Sophia: "?"
Tuco: "?"
Muller: "?"
The three of them looked at the evolving Rainbow Scaled Koi, then simultaneously turned their gazes to Asher, as if asking whether he knew what was happening.
Asher, somewhat surprised, stroked his chin.
From the panel, using the same evolution path, Rainbow Scaled Koi did indeed have two completely different evolution routes.
[Spirit River Fish]
[Jade Maiden Fish]
But Asher hadn't expected that these two Rainbow Scaled Koi would just so happen to evolve into these two forms separately?
Among them, after some observation, Asher identified that Tuco's Rainbow Scaled Koi had become more massive and robust while maintaining a fish-like form, floating horizontally in the water.
The other one, presumably Sophia's, had changed from a horizontally swimming stance to an upright posture. Its body had grown taller, yet it carried an unmistakable lightness, a grace that even the evolution glow could not fully obscure.
Finally.
The evolution glow completely faded.
The two evolved Rainbow Scaled Koi appeared before Asher.
Asher fell silent for a moment.
How to put it… one looked very beautiful, while the other still looked like a fish.
Tuco's Rainbow Scaled Koi had evolved into [Spirit River Fish].
Its appearance… well, let's just say it still looked like a fish. Its length had shot up from approximately one meter to a full five meters.
Each scale on its body was as large as an adult man's palm.
As for its overall coloration… still a rainbow of colors.
But the difference between bright rainbow colors, pastel rainbow colors, Morandi-style rainbow colors, and… zombie-toned rainbow colors was quite significant.
Hmm.
Very peculiar. That was all Asher could say, it was a strangely dark, multi-colored fish.
Asher opened its talent skills panel for a look.
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[Pet Beast: Spirit River Fish]
[Attribute: Water + Dark]
[Breed: Mid-tier High Grade]
[Level: Fifth Tier Advanced]
[Skills: Water Cannon, Water Ripple, …, Tidal Wave]
[Evolution Successfully Completed*]
[Bloodline: Kun]
[Bloodline Awakening: 1%]
[Talent Skill: Raging Surge]
[Raging Surge: Water, too, has its moments of fury. Roaring waves, sky-high tsunamis, and relentless torrents possess immense destructive power. For a short period, it can unleash an attack strength over three times its own (can last up to three minutes, with a cooldown of one to three days).]
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Asher: "…"
The immense destructive power of roaring torrents was yet to be confirmed, but this Spirit River Fish's appearance alone was already quite an attack on the senses.
'And this bloodline… Kun¹.'
'What kind of Kun?'
'As in the Kun from Kunpeng²?'
Asher was once again reminded of Little Raven's Three-legged Golden Crow bloodline, and a vague idea began forming in his mind.
But before he could dwell too much on it, he saw the bloodline awakening rate, only 1%. That was practically nothing.
Asher stroked his chin again, 'This is truly…'
Then, Asher turned his gaze to the other newly evolved Rainbow Scaled Koi beside him.
[Jade Maiden Fish]
Unlike the bizarrely ugly colors of [Spirit River Fish], [Jade Maiden Fish]'s appearance was absolutely stunning.
'Now this is a real mermaid.'
Not just Asher, everyone present had the same thought in their minds.
A semi-humanoid body.
A pastel palette of pink, blue, and white. The parts of its body that should have been fish fins had, upon evolution, turned into something resembling a sheer veil draping over its form, faintly exuding a subtle lilac hue, adding an extra layer of beauty to the [Jade Maiden Fish].
Its head had also evolved from a purely fish-like shape into something closer to a beast's, yet with elements of fish still present, making it feel harmonious rather than jarring—further enhancing its mermaid-like qualities.
Asher checked its talent skills.
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[Pet Beast: Jade Maiden Fish]
[Attribute: Water + Fairy]
[Breed: Mid-tier High Grade]
[Level: Fifth Tier Low]
[Skills: Water Cannon, Water Barrier, …, Water's Gentle Kiss]
[Evolution Successfully Completed*]
[Bloodline: Kun]
[Bloodline Awakening: 1.4%]
[Talent Skill: Tidal Rhythm]
[Tidal Rhythm: The tranquil tide flows endlessly—gentle, soothing, yet impossible to ignore. For a short period, it can release an extremely strong calming effect (within its domain, all beasts lose the will to fight, lasting up to ten minutes, with a cooldown of one to five days).]
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'Hmm…'
Asher hadn't expected that [Jade Maiden Fish] and [Spirit River Fish] would share the same bloodline.
But after thinking it over, it didn't seem strange at all.
They had evolved through the same method in the first place.
It would be weirder if they didn't evolve into either [Spirit River Fish] or [Jade Maiden Fish].
But looking at the talent skills of [Spirit River Fish] and [Jade Maiden Fish] again, Asher no longer found it strange.
As their skills described—
Both [Spirit River Fish] and [Jade Maiden Fish] primarily controlled water.
But water had both a fierce, stormy side and a tranquil, soothing side. Water had no fixed form. Since the Rainbow Scaled Koi, upon evolution, gained partial control over water, it made sense that they wouldn't evolve into just one single form.
[Spirit River Fish] and [Jade Maiden Fish] each embodied one aspect of water.
Asher: Makes sense.
"Tuco, your Rainbow Scaled Koi evolved… just like you, huh! Look at that little lady's fish, that's what you call a mermaid!", Muller quipped cheekily from the side.
[[1] Kun & Peng: In Chinese mythology, Kun and Peng are two interconnected mythical creatures described in the Daoist classic Zhuangzi. Kun is a giant fish that dwells in the Northern Sea, so vast that it can transform into Peng, an enormous bird with wings like clouds covering the sky. Peng soars high into the heavens, traveling thousands of miles in a single flight.]
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