CHAPTER 488: CHAPTER 366: 5 TOP EVOLUTION PATHS!

"Fifty kinds of bloodlines?" Li Zheng exclaimed, "How could there be so many?"

Fifty different bloodlines, this couldn’t be explained simply by hybridization.

’I don’t know, but judging by appearances, it seems to be a man-made biological entity.’ The Demon Blade couldn’t explain why, only offering a reasonable guess.

A man-made biological entity?

Li Zheng was stunned for a moment, then seemed to remember something and began searching through Xiaoying’s past data when it was a "Horror Bat."

[Genetic Creation!]

It took Li Zheng five minutes to find Xiaoying’s past data panel and locate the crucial keywords.

Since Xiaoying underwent an evolution, its data panel changed, causing Li Zheng to nearly forget that the initial panel had mentioned "Genetic Creation."

There are many genetic creations within the Matrix, most of which are unintelligent beasts serving as challenges during the players’ exploration.

Li Zheng thought of a question, "If Xiaoying has more than fifty bloodlines, why is its race’s blood only suitable as Black Iron Level material and used to craft Black Iron Level Genetic Potion?"

This question couldn’t be answered even by the Bloodthirsty Demon Blade.

However, it suggested an idea: ’Why doesn’t the master try to see which potions Xiaoying’s current blood could create?’

Li Zheng was startled by this suggestion, having never thought that Xiaoying’s blood could be used as potion material!

He thought carefully, the more he thought, the more curious he became, revealing a goldfish-like expression: "Xiaoying, as they say, you raise a child for a thousand days to use them for a moment. Could you give Dad some blood?"

"Eh? (ｰ̀дｰ́)"

Li Zheng raised the Demon Blade, eager to try: "Come on, just once, it won’t hurt."

"Eh! Σ(゜゜)"

Xiaoying offered a forepaw with a tragic expression, closed its eyes, and trembled.

"It’s just fifty milliliters, it’s not that bad, right?" Li Zheng summoned healing Black Water and then made a swift cut.

Xiaoying’s hard scale armor was like tofu in front of the Demon Blade, easily sliced open, and dark purplish blood flowed out.

Li Zheng caught it in an empty water bottle; when the amount reached enough for analysis, he poured Black Water on the wound, and it quickly stopped bleeding.

"Eh! (⸝⸝⸝ᵒ̴̶̷̥́⌑ᵒ̴̶̷̣̥̀⸝⸝⸝)"

Xiaoying, with tearful eyes, pointed at the stove...

Ten minutes later, Xiaoying, holding a plate of freshly fried meat slices, sat happily to the side, eating with oil dripping from its mouth.

Li Zheng, carrying its blood, went to the Potion Making Station and placed the blood inside.

[Analysis!]

The machine buzzed, storing the blood and beginning the analysis.

This process lasted for thirty seconds, and a long list of possible potions appeared on the screen.

Li Zheng glanced at the first entry, and his eyes widened in shock.

"Question mark-level potion?"

This was awkward; the tier of the first potion couldn’t be displayed.

"Could it be that the grade of this potion has already surpassed the production limit of the station?"

Opening the details page, the material list highlighted the "Blood Patterned Black Dragon" entry, along with "Enchanting Demon Queen," "Blood Queen," "Agony Banshee," "Destroying Saintess" as the other four material names.

"Are these creatures all as renowned as the Blood Patterned Black Dragon?" Li Zheng was shocked; Xiaoying’s body actually contained five top-tier genes at once?

If one top-tier bloodline represents an evolutionary path, doesn’t that mean Xiaoying has five evolutionary paths?

This!

Li Zheng scratched his head for the first time in ages; this was seriously awkward!

The Blood Patterned Black Dragon was clearly the ultimate form of one evolutionary path, which means... Xiaoying no longer has the chance to become the other four species?

His mood felt like a trainer raising Eevee in Pokémon, choosing one path and yearning for others.

Especially since he unknowingly nurtured Xiaoying into a Blood Patterned Black Dragon, it was even harder to accept.

If he could choose, he’d want to experience the other paths first, and then make the ultimate decision based on the traits of each race.

Things have reached this point, change is definitely impossible.

Yet...

If he could clone several Xiaoyings and extract key genes, could he artificially breed pets along the other four paths?

Isn’t there a saying how it goes?

Kids make choices, adults want everything!

Moreover, being from Dragon Country, who wouldn’t have a bit of obsession or collecting addiction?

The current issue is that the Matrix seems to lack cloning technology.

Even at the genetic level, it seems to be untouched.

Could these technologies reside outside the city?

Thinking of this, Li Zheng felt a sense of unease, a vague discomfort.

This feeling usually arises when he’s overlooked key information, yet he can’t figure out what he’s missing...

Thinking carefully, he’s still the same as before, unable to latch onto that fleeting thought.

Giving up momentarily, he continued inspecting the potion formulas displayed on the station.

Aside from a question mark-level potion, Xiaoying’s blood could be used to replace materials for four Extraordinary 5+ potions.

Below that were Platinum, Silver, and Black Iron grades.

Li Zheng found "Horror Bat" and "Scale Armor Demon Lizard" among the materials, which were Xiaoying’s previous forms.

In some potions, the number of alternative materials was more, indicating Xiaoying had lower-grade but relatively rare bloodlines incorporated within.

Li Zheng speculated that those isolated bloodlines might also represent evolutionary paths with unique advantages.

After checking, Li Zheng removed Xiaoying’s blood from the station, setting it aside for possible future use.

He glanced at the attribute and description information of the blood.

[Blood of (Data Erased)

Grade: %ʌあ

Type: Material

Description: Blood material extracted from (Data Erased) with complex functionality; rash use is not recommended.

Born due to (Data Erased), fostered by (Data Erased), and ultimately advanced into (Data Erased), unlocking more (Data Erased).]

"...Damn?"

Li Zheng realized that earlier he could understand its potential use, but after reading the attributes, he was baffled again?

What madness is this?

Isn’t it just a bit of blood from Xiaoying’s body?

Why erase so many crucial pieces of information?

Damn!

The Demon Blade in Li Zheng’s hand trembled and sent a thought: ’Master, don’t ever use that blood!’

Li Zheng’s expression shifted; even the Demon Blade issued such a warning?

Could Xiaoying have an even more astonishing background?

’Although the blade isn’t sure why it shouldn’t be used, the blade’s instinct tells it that if the master ingests that blood, terrifying things might occur!’

"Even crafting it into a potion isn’t okay?" Li Zheng asked.

’Probably not!’

"Probably" is a term of uncertainty, "probably not okay" could also be interpreted as "probably okay."

Li Zheng was silent for a while; was this Schrödinger’s quantum theory?

Damn!

Hmm?

"Is there a designated trade? Lack of funds?"