My tamed beasts can't be demons.

Chapter 66 Gathering Materials

Zhou Lu was actually very curious about what Wu Xiaoqing meant by "he will have a way to die".

By this time, the effects of the Amanita Muscone Cream had also worn off.

Everyone gradually returned to their previous state, but they clearly no longer had the memory of being affected.

After confirming that no one had discovered the matter, Zhou Lu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Although Fireworks has shown many strange characteristics, it is currently only at the first level, and Zhou Lu does not want to face so many enemies at once.

Just as Zhou Lu was asking Wu Xiaoqing about her next plans, a thunderclap suddenly rang out in the sky.

The next second, a series of exclamations came from afar.

Zhou Lu immediately looked in the direction of the sound and saw that the pioneering army captain, whose location Wu Xiaoqing had previously identified, was now lying in the arms of his teammate, his body charred black.

The thunderbolt that struck from the sky actually came from his own spirit pet, the Thunderbird.

He was killed by his own spirit pet?

This absurd scene left Zhou Lu momentarily stunned.

Then he suddenly remembered what Wu Xiaoqing had just said and looked up at her.

But Wu Xiaoqing was also watching the scene in the distance with curiosity, just like a passerby.

Zhou Lu knew that now was not the time to ask about such things, so he also went into acting mode.

Soon, news of the captain's death, whose name Zhou Lu hadn't even had a chance to learn, arrived.

With such a major incident occurring on site, it's impossible to continue the work.

Fortunately, the pioneers seemed to think it was just an accident and did not make things difficult for the researchers at the scene.

Under the clearing operation of the pioneering army, researchers from various places gradually left the Suzaku Temple.

Zhou Lu and Wu Xiaoqing also mingled into the crowd and left the secret realm, returning to Xin'an Beast Taming Academy.

The two remained silent all the way back to Wu Xiaoqing's laboratory.

"What exactly happened?" Zhou Lu asked in a low voice as soon as he closed the door.

Wu Xiaoqing calmly made herself a cup of tea, then said serenely, "It looks like an accident."

"Isn't it you, Xiaoqing...?"

Wu Xiaoqing put her index finger to her lips, made a shushing gesture to Zhou Lu, and then said, "I didn't do anything."

Zhou Lu immediately understood and then subconsciously reviewed his and Wu Xiaoqing's actions just now.

Which step did Sister Xiaoqing manipulate?

Could it be the skill of the Ghost Heart Purple Mushroom?

That makes sense, since it's a second-tier mushroom after all.

"Alright, let's put this matter aside for now. I believe there will be an official investigation report soon," Wu Xiaoqing said, turning on her computer. "Now that we've obtained the Suzaku dung, we'll start researching the other materials for the Fireworks Evolution."

"I've already gotten my hands on the Life-Beggar Grass and the Nine Thunder Candle Grass," Zhou Lu suddenly said.

Wu Xiaoqing, who was about to mention the two materials, turned around in surprise upon hearing Zhou Lu's words.

Zhou Lu turned his head to look out the window, raised his hand to rub the firework in his arms, and said, "Some gifts from nature."

Wu Xiaoqing gave Zhou Lu a deep look, then smiled and said, "You're really lucky."

"Then things will be easier from here on out." Wu Xiaoqing said, opening a webpage and turning to show it to Zhou Lu. "Jade gravel and black phosphorus are both relatively common evolution materials for plant spirit beasts. Jade gravel can be found in the academy's shop. As for black phosphorus, you can use your credits to put up a bounty on the academy forum... Hmm, I'll post it for you. I have a better reputation on the forum."

"well?"

Wu Xiaoqing asked in confusion, "What are you 'huh' about? Is it because the forum allows bounties?"

"No, what surprises me is that you have such a good reputation on the forum, Xiaoqing..." Zhou Lu asked suspiciously, "You're not just bragging, are you?"

Wu Xiaoqing couldn't help but roll her eyes: "So what if I have a good reputation? Do you think all my research results just appeared out of thin air? I still have to collect materials. I'm very trustworthy, and over time I naturally have a good reputation."

Zhou Lu glanced at the ratings under Wu Xiaoqing's account: "But... your transaction rating is good..."

"That's all due to suppression from our competitors!" Wu Xiaoqing said quickly.

Wu Xiaoqing was right.

She does have a very good reputation on the college forum, but because she always argues with sellers, her transaction rating is very low.

But this became Wu Xiaoqing's trademark. Only with this score and the account "Little Girl Who Grows Mushrooms" could she be traded without thinking.

Sure enough, not long after Wu Xiaoqing posted the reward for the black phosphorus material, someone accepted the deal.

While Zhou Lu was buying lunch at the cafeteria, he also managed to get his hands on the black phosphorus, which cost him a total of 10 credits.

The jade pebbles in the academy shop were relatively more expensive, but they were stable and quick to obtain. Zhou Lu received the materials he needed that same day, spending a total of 16 credits.

However, Wu Xiaoqing only guessed that they were the Heavenly Profound Stone and Ghost Phosphorus Powder described in the records. After both materials arrived, Zhou Lu came to Wu Xiaoqing's laboratory for final verification.

As Wu Xiaoqing laid out the materials on the floor, she said to Zhou Lu, "The evolution paths of all spirit beasts are not imagined out of thin air. The margin for error is too low. It might take more than ten years to find the material formula for evolving from a first-order to a second-order beast."

This is not just hearsay.

Not everyone has the cheat code to see through the evolution of spirit beasts.

"The evolution of spirit beasts is always traceable," Wu Xiaoqing explained. "If there are wild individuals of advanced spirit beast evolution in the secret realm, then we can look for materials that may exist near their habitat."

"Then, place all possible materials in front of the unevolved spirit beasts. Based on their instinct to become stronger, they will select the materials they need for their evolution."

"If there are no wild-evolved individuals, then it's troublesome; we can only rely on exhaustive trial and error. Of course, there are also those like you who search for evolutionary formulas in ancient texts and then verify them."

Following Wu Xiaoqing's instructions, Zhou Lu put down the fireworks he was holding and then asked, "But some spirit beasts have more than one evolutionary path, right? What if the materials needed for different evolutionary paths are all mixed together?"

"Don't underestimate the wisdom and will of spirit beasts."

Looking at the fireworks, Wu Xiaoqing said, "Many spirit beasts, given the choice, will choose the evolution path they prefer. When faced with a mixture of materials, they will spontaneously select the materials needed for their chosen evolution path."

"And using this, we can also determine whether these two materials are the Celestial Mystic Stone and Ghost Phosphorus Powder you need..."

As soon as Wu Xiaoqing finished speaking, Huahuo swiftly rolled the Zhuque dung, jade gravel, and black phosphorus into its shell, and then excitedly started patting its leaves.

"The result is obvious..."

Wu Xiaoqing reached out her hand to touch the fireworks.

Fireworks thought she was there to steal her evolution materials, so she quickly burrowed into Zhou Lu's arms and poked her tender bud out to look at Wu Xiaoqing warily.

"Alright, now all you need to do is upgrade Firework's level," Wu Xiaoqing said to Zhou Lu with a smile. "Then prepare to evolve. Based on the unique evolution experiences of its cousins, I suggest you evolve in the Frozen Land, which will increase the probability of a successful evolution."

(End of this chapter)