Watching Phantom run off with the architectural blueprints in her mouth, Lin Yu couldn't help but feel that something was off.
Phantom had always been a clever and quick-witted wolf. Now that she had been promoted to a hero and could even speak, her body and habits were still no different from before.
Ordinarily, this wouldn't have been a big deal.
However, Lin Yu had recently decided against a purely primitive path of natural evolution. Instead, he wanted to pursue a path where technology and nature coexisted in harmony, mutually promoting one another toward shared evolution.
As for the idea that developing technology would lead to environmental destruction, Lin Yu figured there had to be a solution. After all, his territory had the World Tree, a Divine-level Territory Heart. It was the very embodiment of nature itself—what pollution could the World Tree not handle?
Therefore, for the territory's very first hero and his very first subordinate, Phantom's current form was simply not going to cut it.
'What should I do?'
'Find some rare treasure? No, that would only change Phantom, and its effect on the entire territory would be limited.'
'Upgrade the Beast Nest? Let me see the information for the next level...'
'No, the next level only increases resident capacity and various buffs. It won't help with the beasts' behavior or form.'
'So, what are my options?'
'Enlighten?'
By now, Lin Yu already knew that the smaller the target's number and size, the more powerful the random traits "Enlighten" would produce. Conversely, the larger the target's number and size, the more generic the traits would be.
But regardless, the traits were capable of fundamentally changing the target.
'I remember the briefing mentioned that during the second stage, all lord levels are fixed at level 2. The freedom to level up the lord and the Territory Heart won't be unlocked until the third stage.'
'In other words, if I use "Enlighten" now, I won't be able to use it again during the second stage.'
'Still, isn't this thing meant to be used?'
'If I hadn't used Enlighten back in the Preparation Room, my Territory Heart would have most likely ended up as a green Excellent-grade one, and that would have been considered good.'
'Dammit, I'm using it. I hope I get a trait that transforms the beasts' forms.'
Use "Enlighten." Target: Territory's beast population (including avians).
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[Behemoth]: The territory is filled with natural energy. The beasts have mutated after absorbing this energy.
Their bodies begin to grow, granting them stronger physiques and more massive forms. At the same time, they will require more food to sustain themselves. Their natural energy absorption limit is increased.
As the natural energy in the territory increases, they will become bigger, stronger, and more robust.
Selecting this trait will increase the size of all beasts by 105%, strength by 200%, and speed by 30%, while retaining their potential for future growth.
Base grade will be raised to Excellent (Green).
Unlocks the Savage-type technology branch.
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[Beastman]: The territory is filled with natural energy. The beasts have mutated after absorbing this energy.
The beasts begin to imitate their lord's appearance, walking upright. Their intelligence increases, and they start to form social tribes with enhanced societal habits.
Selecting this trait will change the beasts' forms, turning them into humanoid creatures. Their attack and defense will decrease by 20%, but their intelligence will be greatly enhanced.
Base grade will be raised to Excellent (Green).
Unlocks the Social-type technology branch.
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[Demon]: The territory is filled with natural energy. The beasts have mutated after absorbing this energy.
A peculiar change appears among the beasts. Every beast that absorbs natural energy to its limit will face a minor strike of heavenly lightning. If they withstand this tribulation, they can take human form and become a Demon.
Demons are the spirits of heaven and earth. When a creature absorbs the essence of the world and cultivates a Daoist form, it becomes a Demon, capable of commanding the wind and rain and turning the world on its head.
Selecting this trait means all beasts who strengthen their physique to the limit will face a Celestial Tribulation. Passing the tribulation will allow them to transform into a Demon.
Upon becoming a Demon by overcoming the tribulation: if they were not a hero before, they will be promoted to hero at their current grade; if they were already a hero of a grade below Legendary, their grade will increase by one; if they were already a hero of Legendary grade or higher, their talents, skills, and other abilities will be enhanced.
Gain the "Demon Core" talent, with a chance to obtain special skills and talents.
Gain the "Shapeshift" talent, allowing free transformation between human and original forms.
Natural energy will evolve into Spiritual Qi. Unlocks a special type of Technology Tree. (Black-grade trait, carries a certain degree of risk).
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(PS: Spiritual Qi is a higher-tier energy than natural force and is compatible with all of its properties.)
HISS—
After reading the descriptions for the three traits, Lin Yu sucked in a sharp breath.
All three traits shared a common cause: the increase of natural energy within the territory.
If the little sprites hadn't figured out how to reproduce through their own research during the transitional period, the whole territory never would have been filled with natural energy (it was simply too vast).
Who said logistics wasn't important? If it weren't for the little sprites working so hard to produce natural energy, who knows what kind of options would have appeared this time?
'But if that's the case, then me drawing "Overwhelming Luck" back then must have also been because my own luck was already pretty good. That makes sense. How could I have transmigrated without a little bit of luck?'
'Hahaha! I really am the chosen one!'
'The next time I can use Enlighten, I'll definitely use it on the little sprites as thanks for their efforts. They've been driving themselves crazy with all this research; with the boost from a trait, who knows what kind of changes might happen!'
'But for now... is there even a choice?'
'I'm not planning on taking the primitive route, so I can ignore Behemoth.'
'The Beastman trait would certainly create more intelligent life than the Demon one, but it's too mediocre. And... they're too ugly!!'
'Demon. I have to choose Demon. Its description has the most words.'
'Besides, Demons are good-looking! I'll prepare some pictures of handsome men and beautiful women so they can use them as a reference when they transform.'
'When that time comes... Fox Demons, Cat Demons, Rabbit Demons... GULP!'
Lin Yu couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
The [Demon] trait was selected. A subtle, profound, and mysterious feeling seemed to permeate the entire territory, and the energy in the air began to feel different.
Lin Yu perceived all of this through the Territory Heart, watching with satisfaction as his people ran about in celebration, overjoyed by the territory's transformation.
The natural energy within the World Tree was also completely replaced by Spiritual Qi. Lin Yu felt his mind become clearer and his body stronger.
All that was left was to wait for the good news—the birth of the territory's first batch of Demons.
With that, Lin Yu took out the Trial Treasure Chest (18x Difficulty).
[Name]: Trial Treasure Chest (18x Difficulty)
[Number of Items]: Upon opening the chest, the number of items will continuously increase. Each time an item is added, the chance of obtaining the next item is halved. Current chance to obtain an item: 1800%. (1800, 900, 450, 225, 112.5, 56.1, 28)
[Item-Drawing Mechanism]: The chance of drawing an item of Gold quality or higher is 18%. The chance of drawing an item below Gold quality is 82%.
This was the Trial Treasure Chest he had obtained by taking enormous risks to pass the first stage of the trial. There was nothing more to be said. He opened it directly.
[Congratulations! You have obtained Fire Element Core (Purple), Wind Element Core (Purple), Ice Element Core (Red), Earth Element Core (Gold), Water Element Core (Green), Wood Element Core (Gold), and Wood Element Core (Blue)!]
[Due to an unknown reason, the Wood Element Core (Gold) has automatically upgraded to a Wood Element Core (Rainbow).]
[Due to an unknown reason, the Wood Element Core (Blue) has automatically upgraded to a Wood Element Core (Gold).]
[Due to the presence of the superior element's Ice Element Core (Red), the Water Element Core (Green) has been upgraded to a Water Element Core (Gold), and the Ice Element Core (Red) has been downgraded to an Ice Element Core (Gold).]
[Elemental Core]: Can be socketed into the Territory Heart to grant the territory an Extraordinary elemental attribute. This allows the territory to possess the corresponding elemental energy, and its inhabitants will have a chance to awaken abilities of that attribute, thereby increasing their grade.
Unlocks troop types of the corresponding attribute.