Chapter 28: Evolution! Evolution!

They discovered that even after Qin Chuan finished the entire pot of food, he still wasn't satisfied. Everyone was stunned—just how big was his stomach? How could he possibly still be hungry?

"There's still the fish head; that’s the best part."

Qin Chuan looked at the fish head. It was far too large to fit in the pot, requiring it to be chopped into several pieces first. He leaped into the air and brought his small hand down like a blade onto the head of the Blade Shark.

"Crack!"

The fish head was instantly split in two. This sight left the audience in the livestream stunned once again.

"Holy crap, is Qin Chuan a cultivator? How else could he have such god-like strength?"

"With power like this, he doesn't even need weapons. Things like machetes or daggers aren't even in the same league as his bare hands."

"What weapon could be as agile as one's own hand? Is Qin Chuan trying to defy the heavens?"

"I’m so envious of Qin Chuan. I really wish he would take me as his disciple and teach me that move."

"With this move for self-defense, combined with his Heavenly Thunder technique, I’m starting to realize that Qin Chuan is becoming invincible."

"Invincible might be an exaggeration, but he certainly has plenty of ways to save his own skin."

...

As Qin Chuan chopped the Blade Shark into sections and prepared to put some into the shell, he noticed something glowing inside its brain.

"What is this?"

Curious, Qin Chuan retrieved the glowing orb and discovered it was a crystal-like object. Soon, a text description appeared before everyone:

Item: Monster Core
Attribute: Water
Grade: Three-Star
Description: A crystal used by monsters to store energy. It has unlimited potential and contains immense power.

"Ooh..."

The audience in the livestream was shocked, staring at the object with intense curiosity.

"So this is the source of a monster's power? I didn't expect it to look like a glass marble; it's quite beautiful."

"The description says it has 'unlimited potential,' but it doesn't explain what it actually does."

"Are you stupid? 'Unlimited potential' means it has many uses. How do you not understand that?"

"How is it supposed to be used?"

"Maybe you just eat it?"

"Damn, if you eat that directly, won't you explode from the excess energy?"

"Honestly, we really don't know."

...

Based on the viewers' speculation, this Monster Core likely required a specific method to absorb safely; swallowing it directly could be extremely dangerous.

"Ooh..."

At that moment, Shen Gongbao, who was beside Qin Chuan, looked at him with longing, clearly coveting the monster crystal.

"You want it?" Qin Chuan asked.

Shen Gongbao nodded eagerly, trying to communicate, but Qin Chuan couldn't understand beast-speak.

"Take it, take it."

Qin Chuan had no use for it, especially since he didn't know how to handle it. Since the creature wanted it, he might as well give it away and see how this "big cat" would use it.

Delighted, Shen Gongbao licked Qin Chuan's small hand before swallowing the core in one gulp. Afterward, the beast’s eyes grew hazy, and it seemed overcome by sleepiness.

"Go to sleep, go to sleep. With me here, you don't need to worry," Qin Chuan said.

Shen Gongbao looked at Qin Chuan with gratitude before curling up on the ground and falling into a deep slumber.

"Is this leopard about to evolve?"

"Shen Gongbao is a one-star Shadow Hunting Leopard. After eating a three-star Monster Core, what level could it reach?"

"The smartest thing this leopard ever did was follow Qin Chuan. Even though it gets bullied constantly, it has gained so many benefits."

"The leopard has really changed. For example, it learned what it’s like to eat vegetables and cooked food. Plus, it can keep getting stronger by consuming other monster cores in the future."

"Qin Chuan is so smart to cultivate Shen Gongbao to help him."

"With a leopard by his side, Qin Chuan will never be lonely."

"And he can still bully it when he’s bored."

"Hahaha!!!"

While boiling the Blade Shark, Qin Chuan kept a close eye on Shen Gongbao’s changes. As time passed, they observed that the beast was indeed evolving. Its black fur became glossier and more vibrant, looking as if it had been newly grown, making it appear even more majestic.

Its body grew slightly larger, its limbs became more robust, and its claws and teeth sharpened. It was just unclear if the tooth Qin Chuan had knocked out had grown back.

Qin Chuan stayed by the beach, waiting for Shen Gongbao to wake up. Meanwhile, the others turned their cameras toward other lucky participants. Soon, someone shouted that a contestant from the Republic of Korea was in danger, prompting everyone to switch to that livestream.

They saw the Korean contestant being chased by a monster—coincidentally, it was a Shadow Hunting Leopard.

Viewers from Yanhuang immediately commented: "Is that what they're worried about? It's just a Shadow Hunting Leopard. They’re very weak and don't pose any real threat."

"Our Yanhuang 'brat' subdued one with a single slap. Don't let its fierce look fool you; it’s just a paper tiger."

"The Korean contestant is such a coward, being chased by a single leopard. Be brave, and it will be afraid of you!"

However, the people of the Republic of Korea didn't believe it. Not everyone had been watching Qin Chuan’s stream, so many were unaware that he had tamed a leopard.

"How is that possible? That's a forbidden zone monster, a one-star beast! How could a Yanhuang child tame it?"

"Don't believe the Yanhuang people; they're just trying to demoralize our contestant. That Yanhuang brat only got his rewards through luck; there's no way he could tame a Shadow Hunting Leopard."

"Yanhuang is full of fakers; we Koreans aren't that stupid."

"That's so fake. Saying a kid could defeat a Shadow Hunting Leopard with one slap is a joke."

"The Yanhuang people have never seen how terrifying a Shadow Hunting Leopard truly is!"

"Um, I watched that kid's stream yesterday. I think you guys really need to watch the archives of Qin Chuan’s stream."

"Fellow Koreans, that Qin Chuan is actually a lost child from our nation. Just go watch it and you'll see."

"Oh, is that true? Let me go take a look."

"I'm going to watch too."

After hearing this, they flocked to Qin Chuan's livestream and began reviewing the footage from the previous day. When they saw Qin Chuan slap the Shadow Hunting Leopard until it was licking his hand in submission, they were completely stunned.

"This..."

Even now, they couldn't understand how the Yanhuang child could subdue a Shadow Hunting Leopard with one slap, while their own contestant could only flee for his life.