Pain.
That was the only thing Lin Feng could feel.
Not the pain of wounds.
Not the pain of battle.
This was something deeper.
Something that reached into his very existence… and began to tear it apart.
> [Evolution Initiating…]
The system notification flickered—
Then everything drowned in agony.
His body convulsed violently.
Claws dug deep into the ground, cracking the earth beneath him.
His spine arched unnaturally.
Bones shattered—
Then reformed.
Again.
And again.
A low, distorted growl escaped his throat, heavier than before, carrying a strange pressure.
His scales trembled.
Then—
Crack.
One broke.
Then another.
Then dozens.
For a brief moment, his body looked like it was collapsing.
But the next instant—
New scales formed.
Thicker.
Denser.
Harder.
Each one locking into place like forged metal.
Energy surged through his veins.
Violent.
Burning.
Uncontrollable.
Lin Feng's vision blurred, but he did not lose consciousness.
His golden eyes remained open—
Cold.
Unyielding.
Inside his body—
Something began to change.
Not just strength.
Not just flesh.
Something more fundamental.
His muscles compressed, becoming more refined and explosive.
His limbs thickened slightly.
His claws extended, sharper and more curved than before.
His jaw expanded.
Bones shifted to support a stronger bite.
Teeth sharpened—designed to pierce, tear, and crush.
> [Species Evolution in Progress…]
Then—
A pulse.
Deep within his core.
Followed by another.
And another.
Something ancient stirred.
For a split second—
An image flashed in his mind.
A massive shadow in the sky.
A creature beyond comprehension.
Eyes like burning suns.
Watching.
Then—
Gone.
Lin Feng's body slammed into the ground.
BOOM.
The forest trembled.
His tail lashed violently, shattering nearby stones.
The pain intensified.
Beyond limits.
Beyond reason.
If he were weaker—
He would have already lost consciousness.
But he endured.
Because instinct told him—
This pain was necessary.
Then—
A new change began.
His scales.
They darkened.
Hardened further.
Their texture shifted—
From natural armor…
To something resembling forged iron.
Each scale became heavier.
More durable.
More resistant.
> [Talent Upgraded: Hardened Scales → Iron Scales]
The system notification flashed briefly.
Then vanished.
Lin Feng's breathing grew heavier.
Slower.
Each breath carried weight.
Pressure.
The surrounding air became dense.
Heavy.
Oppressive.
Then—
Another shift.
Energy gathered within his body—
Not wild this time.
Controlled.
Dominating.
> [New Skill Acquired: Spirit Dominance (Mid Silver)]
A faint pulse spread outward from his body.
Invisible—
But real.
The forest went silent.
Small creatures froze.
Instinct screamed at them—
A superior predator had emerged.
Lin Feng's body trembled one last time.
Then—
Everything stopped.
Silence.
Complete.
> [Evolution Complete.]
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
Then—
His eyes opened.
Golden.
But deeper than before.
Colder.
Sharper.
Lin Feng slowly lifted his body.
Everything felt different.
Lighter—
Yet stronger.
More controlled.
He moved.
One step.
Crack.
The ground beneath him fractured slightly.
Not from force—
But from density.
From presence.
His claws flexed.
Sharper.
Deadlier.
His jaw opened slightly—
Then closed.
Power.
He could feel it.
Not overwhelming.
Not absolute.
But undeniable.
He was no longer the same creature.
Not just a lizard.
Not just a beast.
Something… higher.
"System."
A panel appeared.
---
[Name: Lin Feng
Species: Iron Scale Lizard (Early Stage)
Level: 20
Bloodline: praimudial dragon god (1%)
Talent:
• Devour(transdecident)
• Iron Scales (rare)
Strength: 38 → 49
Agility: 30→ 45
Defense : 32→ 47
Mana: 16→ 28
Skills:
• Spirit Eye (Lv.3)
• Venom Bite (Lv.4)
• Poison Resistance (Lv.4)
• Spark-Sight (Lv.2)
• Qi Control (Lv.1)
• Spirit Dominance (Lv.1)]
---
Lin Feng stared at the panel.
Everything was clear.
No unnecessary changes.
No instability.
A clean evolution.
His body had improved.
His defense had increased drastically.
And now—
He had something new.
Dominance.
Not physical.
But spiritual.
He could feel it.
A pressure that came from existence itself.
Then—
A faint tremor spread through the forest.
Lin Feng's head snapped up instantly.
His eyes narrowed.
Something was approaching.
Not weak.
Not ordinary.
Stronger than the beasts he had hunted before.
The air grew tense.
Heavy.
A presence.
Watching.
Lin Feng lowered his body slightly.
Not in fear.
But readiness.
His claws dug into the ground.
His golden eyes gleamed coldly.
The evolution was complete.
But the hunt—
Had only just begun.
---
To be continued…