A week later.

Gudu, Gudu University.

Inside the student dormitory, Shi Yu and his team were packing their luggage.

This trip to the Imperial Capital would take at least a week, so they needed to prepare thoroughly.

"Awoo!"

At this moment, Eleven pushed open the door, crackling with electricity, having clearly just returned from the charging room.

Fully charging up at the school's training facilities before a long trip was standard procedure.

"Mmm..."

As Eleven returned, Buggy, perched on the fake tree in the living room, opened its eyes, then closed them again, continuing to conserve its energy.

Like Eleven, it wasn't particularly interested in the Breeder Conference, but it was very interested in the exchange activities with Imperial Capital University.

Shi Yu was reluctant to hold an internal competition, so going after external opponents was fine, right?

In these seven days, it had practiced the super-tier skills Imaginary Domain and Imaginary Dragon to near perfection.

Among Shi Yu's team, the only one who was truly concerned about the Breeder Conference was Ginseng Baby, as it related to its evolution materials.

"Ee..." Ginseng Baby wiped its sweat and prepared a basket of Jewel Fruits, a gift for Overlord Meow before they left.

Moonlight Gems, Soil of Time... one related to the moon, one related to time. Ginseng Baby felt that it would soon be invincible within the team. During this period, it must be well-behaved to ensure a smooth evolution.

The most carefree was Chi Tong, who had no interest in exchange matches or the Breeder Conference, only wanting to go to the Necropolis with Shi Yu to slay the undead after these two events were over.

"Are you leaving?"

As Shi Yu and the others were preparing things in the room, a whirlwind swirled in the living room. With a flash of light, the figure of Jewel Cat appeared on the sofa, licking its paw as it watched Shi Yu.

"Yes, we'll be leaving in a bit," Shi Yu said, patting his luggage.

"Ee!!" Ginseng Baby called out to Jewel Cat, pointing to the fruit basket behind it.

"Good baby." Jewel Cat's crystal-like eyes lit up.

You're a kitty teacher's pride!

"By the way, Teacher Ying, it's been more than ten days," Shi Yu inquired. "Is there any news about the mutated environment?"

When he went to the resource library to select resources, Shi Yu had also asked about information related to mutated environments.

Jewel Cat had lived for over a hundred years, so theoretically, it should be very knowledgeable.

But now it seemed there were no results?

Shi Yu decided to ask Legendary Hua or Principal Feng later.

"Ah, about that."

Jewel Cat had already walked to Ginseng Baby's side. With a flick of its paw, the fruit basket had been teleported to an unknown location.

It turned its head, looking hesitant, and slowly said, "I only thought of one, but it might be a bit dangerous."

"Where?" Shi Yu asked.

"Ee?!" Ginseng Baby was also stunned.

Dangerous?

Ginseng Baby feared danger the least.

Born in the Forbidden Zone of the Lost World, where monarchs roamed everywhere, what danger hadn't it seen?

As for the mutated power posing a danger to it... Ginseng Baby cared even less.

It was a ruthless Ginseng that had successfully survived eating an eighth-level resource in its infancy.

To become stronger, it even considered taking a few bites of it before evolving to increase its evolutionary foundation, just not knowing if it would work...

"A location in the Necropolis."

Jewel Cat recalled, "Perhaps, maybe, it might still exist."

"Compared to a blessed land, it's more like an ominous place."

"Ominous place...?"

"Yes, a land of death, called the Undying Pool. It contains unparalleled death power. Even monarch-level creatures can be corroded by the death power upon contact. It is one of the seven great dangers of the Necropolis."

"In the past, many undead creatures touched the pool water and were instantly corroded by the death power, causing their souls to dissipate."

"Uh..." Shi Yu and Ginseng Baby's expressions stiffened.

A pool of water containing death power?

Shi Yu glanced at Ginseng Baby. Ginseng Baby was a plant-type, and in the future, it would definitely focus on life force. It didn't seem to match.

"Can this pool water cause mutations in plant-type pets?" Shi Yu asked.

Jewel Cat nodded and said, "Of course. First, you need to understand how it was born."

"The Undying Pool was formed after a overlord who cultivated death power and water-type natural power died. Because that overlord was too powerful, it caused the environment to mutate."

"Reshaping the environment..." Shi Yu nodded.

The mark of a monarch-level creature was awakening deterrence.

And the identifier of a overlord-level creature was a preliminary grasp of natural power and other special powers. It could use natural power to amplify the power of its skills, and the aftershocks of its power could almost permanently change the environment of a place.

This was also the reason why, in the legends of Icefield City, it was said that Ice Dragon Snow Mountain was formed after the arrival of an Ice Frost Giant Dragon.

However, death power did not belong to natural power, but like life force, mental power, and soul power, it belonged to special power. If natural power was cultivating external force, then death power and life force were cultivating one's own power.

The difference between the two was that different environments might have different effects on the strength of a overlord-level creature.

A overlord-level water-type creature of a overlord race that mainly cultivated natural power could borrow the endless power of the sea to compete with a fire-type totem-level creature, even if it was unlikely to succeed.

At the overlord level, the concept of energy value had even less reference value for pet strength, because no one knew the extent to which the pet had cultivated natural power. After all, no matter how strong one's own power was, it was rare to be able to compete with the power of nature.

The factor of the venue had a huge impact on the strength of a overlord-level creature.

Therefore, generally, wild overlords had their own fixed territories. Fighting in their own territories could greatly increase their combat power.

If they went to an area that was unfavorable to them, their combat power would be greatly reduced.

This was also the reason why the ocean had always been a forbidden area for humans.

After all, a overlord of the sea could simply cause a tsunami, which would be enough for most Beast Tamers to handle.

Compared to overlords who cultivated natural power, pets who cultivated special powers that belonged to themselves, such as life force and death power, were less affected by the venue. If their own qualities were removed, they would also be stronger than pets of the same level who cultivated natural power. However, these special powers were more difficult to cultivate than natural power.

For example, Ginseng Baby's Earth Chain and Energy Storage Beam were actually the prototypes of controlling natural power, while its Life Source skill belonged to the skill of cultivating its own life force.

There were also pets that cultivated both nature and themselves, but the effort invested and the requirements for the race would definitely be greater. In most cases, the pet's super-tier skills determined the subsequent development direction of the pet.

If it could not awaken new super-tier skills, Ginseng Baby would definitely focus on cultivating life force in the future, because it had the super-tier ability Life Source. Even if Earth Chain was cultivated to the maximum level, it was only a mid-tier skill after all, and the potential for cultivating earth natural power was definitely far less than developing life force.

"That overlord dual-cultivated death power and water-type power, so it caused the environment to mutate. The pool water also contained a strong death power, which would cause life forms to be corroded. However, if the pet that came into contact with the pool water had a talent related to death power, or if its own vitality was strong enough to withstand the death power, it could understand the true meaning of death." Jewel Cat licked its paws symbolically and continued:

"One of you humans previously contracted a Tree of Life and wanted to purify this dangerous place. After all, if this kind of place was left in the wild, although ordinary undead creatures would not dare to touch it, if an undead creature gained benefits from it, it would give it a chance to break through to the overlord level."

"However, during the purification of the Undying Pool, the Tree of Life of that Beast Tamer accidentally comprehended death power in the confrontation between life force and death power, and it mutated, evolving into the Life-Death Tree, a medium overlord race and the first of its kind in Dong Huang, which simultaneously controlled the two special powers of life and death."

"After that, he gave up purifying the Undying Pool and chose to seal it off with others to prevent wild undead creatures from coming into contact with it. After all, there were too few pure environments containing death power in the country. This kind of place was rare, and it would be a pity to purify it completely."

Ginseng Baby listened with great interest.

Eleven, Buggy, and Chi Tong also listened with great interest.

Buggy couldn't help but sigh. This was a mess, and it sounded more high-end than its own evolution materials.

Eleven was puzzled. It always felt that it was the most normal evolution in the team.

Shi Yu was also slightly stunned.

"Really, a Life-Death Tree?"

Aunt Tree of Life could still evolve?

Tree of Life... Ancient Tree of Life... Life-Death Tree... Next, should it be the Samsara Tree?

"Of course it's true. I participated in the battle to defeat that overlord and the sealing of the Undying Pool."

Jewel Cat proudly raised its head. Although it wasn't that strong at that time, rather than participating in the battle to defeat that overlord, it was more like participating in the battle to defeat that overlord's subordinates.

[A special environment that may cause plants with strong vitality to mutate and control the power of death?]

Shi Yu noted it down silently. To be honest, this power was not in Shi Yu's plan at first.

His original plan was to let the plant-type Ginseng Baby add more earth and light talents, so that he could use the power of nature to get energy for free and make as many tonics as possible.

However, the Soil of Time with its weak time power and the Undying Pool mentioned by Jewel Cat suddenly made Shi Yu tangled.

Plans couldn't keep up with changes?

Although he didn't know what changes Ginseng Baby would have if it learned the power of death, it sounded amazing, so Shi Yu decided to think carefully about it before making a decision.

"How about you take me there when we go to the Necropolis together?" Shi Yu asked quietly.

"Easy peasy~" Jewel Cat yawned. If it was the Undying Pool at the beginning, it would definitely not bring Shi Yu there, but now that the power of the Undying Pool had been purified by more than half, the power was relatively weaker. With it, this overlord, protecting him, there would be no danger.

"Thanks!" Shi Yu smiled brightly. Next to him, Ginseng Baby was deep in thought.

This mutated environment sounded much more dangerous than the Moonlight Gem and Soil of Time.

Was it reliable?

Moonlight Gem + Soil of Time + Undying Pool + Ginseng Baby = ???

Another strange mutation route was added.

…………

Gudu Airport.

Shi Yu, who had been chatting with Jewel Cat for a long time, almost forgot the main thing. If Legendary Hua and the others hadn't called, he would still be imagining the evolution route.

After hurriedly packing his luggage, Shi Yu asked Buggy to teleport them to the Mechanical College of the school.

"They're here, they're here."

Shi Yu smiled and said after seeing that Principal Feng, Legendary Hua, Doctor Zuo, Student Xia, and even Dean Hao were waiting here.

This time, they didn't plan to take a plane from the airport to the Imperial Capital.

Instead, they planned to have Dean Hao of the Mechanical College use his monarch race, monarch level, Secret Meteor Fighter to pick them up. This was a mechanical life that was not inferior to the Violet Lightning Armor.

This speed was undoubtedly faster...

"Shi Yu, not bad." As soon as they met, Dean Hao said with great admiration.

What a little monster.

Dean Hao, who had just helped Shi Yu complete the evolution of the Iron-eating Beast a few months ago, thought that Shi Yu would use the Nine Li Battle Beast to rise rapidly in the university. Who would have thought that before long, Shi Yu would have gone to the God Capital to evolve an Imaginary Butterfly of a medium overlord race himself.

He had also obtained the joint support of Legendary Hua, Doctor Zuo, and Principal Feng to launch a huge research project at Gudu University.

"Dean Hao, thank you for your hard work." Shi Yu smiled.

"What's hard work? It's not hard work to contribute to Gudu University." Dean Hao smiled.

Everyone: "..."

Legendary Hua, Doctor Zuo, Xia Qingwei: Is this Gudu University's school culture?

"Let's set off." Principal Feng also said with a smile.

The group immediately boarded the Secret Meteor Fighter.

Driving this thing, they could rampage through Ice Dragon Snow Mountain and the Necropolis. Not many monarch-level creatures would be willing to provoke it. Using it as transportation, the group could be said to be quite lavish.

However, it was a pity that the Secret Meteor Fighter was not big and could only carry a few of them. Otherwise, Principal Feng might have planned to take Bai Xi and other members of the battle club who were going to Imperial Capital University for exchanges with him.

Now, he could only let Bai Xi and the others go to the airport to take a plane themselves.

"This is your first time going to the Imperial Capital, right?"

After boarding the fighter, Principal Feng asked Shi Yu.

"Yes," Shi Yu nodded.

"It's your first time going, and you're going to become famous throughout the country in the Imperial Capital. Are you nervous?" Doctor Zuo smiled slightly.

After researching the Thought Crystal Butterfly, they had indeed made new breakthroughs.

A very significant breakthrough.

If they had doubts about getting first place at the Breeder Conference when they only had the Green Worm Cocoon,

Then now, in the eyes of Doctor Zuo, Legendary Hua, and the others, Shi Yu was bound to get first place at this Breeder Conference.

"Shi Yu is still very low-key. If he wanted to, he would have become famous throughout the country when he was in the God Capital," Legendary Hua smiled.

After she finished speaking, Principal Feng and Dean Hao looked strange.

Shi Yu low-key?

You wish!

Could a Beast Tamer with the title of Iron-eating Beast Knight be low-key?

They suspected that Shi Yu was probably researching Butterfly Knight and was brewing something big!

Shi Yu: "..."

"Cough, I've been looking forward to the Imperial Capital for a long time." Shi Yu coughed dryly.

He looked ahead.

The Imperial Capital, the current capital of Dong Huang, the political center, with the largest number of legendary Beast Tamers, with the strongest comprehensive strength of the top universities...

The headquarters of the Beast Tamer Association, the headquarters of the Breeder Association, and other important association headquarters were located here. It was a place with a very strong Beast Taming atmosphere.

Two hundred years ago, a totem war that swept the world broke out, and Dong Huang was temporarily left with only the Imperial Capital as a pure land.

This totem war lasted for decades and was an important opportunity for the seven countries to form an alliance. At that time, the representatives of the seven countries officially established the alliance in the Imperial Capital of Dong Huang. Later, after the totem war ended, Dong Huang established the headquarters of the Beast Tamer Association here.

From then on, this place replaced the other historical capitals and became the new national center.

In addition, the level of economic development here was also very high, so the overall number of Beast Tamers was also one of the best among the nine first-tier cities. Some people had said that the nine universities were divided into two echelons. One echelon was the top universities led by the Imperial Capital and Magic Capital Universities, and the other was other top universities.

"We should be able to make it to the exchange activities, right..." Shi Yu thought. He didn't know what the beast-eared girl Senior was doing now, sightseeing?

The two universities' exchange activities were three days later. The Breeder Conference would probably be over by then...

At the same time, Imperial Capital University.

As the two universities' exchange activities approached, a student of Imperial Capital University, a Senior who had been taking care of Yin Zhengfan, chose to inquire about Shi Yu's situation out of curiosity.

Because at this time, the personnel of Gudu University's exchange team should have been determined. Generally speaking, this kind of exchange activity was led by the president with the old members. After all, fighting was inevitable, but if there were new students with great potential, it was also very possible to bring them to broaden their horizons and gain experience.

She opened her address book and locked on a name. This person was one of her relatives. Because of his family address and the fact that his talent was not particularly outstanding, he chose Gudu University.

"Senior Sister?" A confused and apprehensive voice came from the other end of the phone.

At the other end of the phone, inside Gudu University, Hong Xiao was dazed and a little nervous. His genius Senior Sister rarely contacted him except for family gatherings. Why was she... so sudden this time?

"Hong Xiao, are you coming to the exchange team from Gudu University to the Imperial Capital this time?"

"With my strength, how can I be qualified to go?" Hong Xiao said with a wry smile.

Hong Xiao's Senior Sister had an expectedly speechless expression... Why was he so disappointing?

"I'm asking you something."

"Does your school have a student named Shi Yu?"

"Why are you asking about him?" Hong Xiao's face darkened.

He remembered the fear of being dominated by Shi Yu's Ginseng Baby during the battle assessment.

"I'm just curious. Did he join your battle club?"

"Yes, he joined."

"Oh? How's his strength?"

Hong Xiao: "... What are you doing?"

"I'm just asking if he joined this exchange team."

Hong Xiao's face was extremely dark. How could he not have joined? The beast-eared girl president used Shi Yu as an example to train them every day!

She always said some obscure words like, "I'm going to take Shi Yu to sweep through Imperial Capital University soon." He must be on the exchange team.

"He should be there too."

"What about his strength?"

"I..." Hong Xiao said, "Why are you paying attention to a 'new student'?"

"I'm asking for a friend."

Hong Xiao was silent and said, "Isn't this too good? Although it's not some 'important' or 'confidential' information, I'm still a member of the Gudu University battle club. Senior Sister, are you asking me to betray information?"

"Pfft, is it that serious? Okay, I won't ask anymore. I'm hanging up. It's enough to know that he's coming too."

"Hey, wait." Hong Xiao hesitated for a moment and felt that it wasn't good to say nothing, after all, this was his relative.

"What else do you want to say?"

Hong Xiao took a deep breath, remembered the battle where Shi Yu's Nine Li Battle Beast crushed the Lightning Beast, and after brewing his emotions, he advised, "Listen to me, don't, fight, him!"

"That kid is not human, mmp."

"Remember, don't fight him."

"???"

In a classroom at Imperial Capital University, Tang Yun looked dumbfounded. At this moment, a teacher knocked on the door outside.

"Hanging up!" She said and looked at the teacher.

The person who came in was a female tutor wearing a research uniform. She looked at Tang Yun speechlessly and said, "You just came back from training again."

"You're a breeding student, and your talent is also breeding. Why don't you focus on your major and always run to the battle club to join in the fun?"

Tang Yun smiled and said, "Breeding and battles aren't separate."

"Teacher Xie, what's the matter?"

"I'm reminding you of the precautions for tomorrow's Breeder Conference. It's a rare opportunity to be a research display assistant. Don't mess it up."

Tang Yun patted her chest and guaranteed, "Don't worry, I've asked for leave from the battle club. I guarantee that I'll cooperate well with you, Teacher."

Before that, I'll go tell Zhengfan that Shi Yu is coming too, and then I can prepare for the Breeder Conference in peace!