Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System
Chapter 444 - 444: The 5 Stages of Body Refinement

The Demonic Bear was in the Middle of the Bone Refinement Realm, so the Shadow Tree Soldiers were expected to experience some trouble.

However…

SPURT!

Using |Shadow Punch| simultaneously, the three Shadow Tree Soldiers caved the Demonic Bear's skull in from three different directions. Blood and brain matter rained from within a dark cave as the hollow-eyed Shadow Tree Soldiers coldly stared at the huge falling corpse.

"…With their impeccable synchronicity, the Demonic Bear didn't stand a chance," Necro said with a bit of amazement in his voice. "I didn't even have to use up any Spiritual Energy because, besides a few light injuries, none of the Soldiers died."

*Ding!*

[Your Shadow Tree Soldiers (Half-step Bone-Refinement) slew a Four-horned Demonic Bear in the middle of the Bone Refinement Stage!]

[Lifespan +80.1]

80.1 years of Lifespan!?

That was almost the entire Lifespan of the Demonic Bear!

"First-time killings of a certain Realm Demonic Beast truly are on another level…"

After receiving his reward for the bounty, Necro located all the hard-to-find spots on the map. From there, he directed his Shadow Tree Soldiers to scatter and individually search the spots.

For the next few days, his Lifespan acquisition skyrocketed.

Before long, the entirety of the Devastation Woods had been scouted by him.

*BLING!*

{[Evolution Tree]}

[Rank: 4 (Genuine Willow Tree)]

[Trunk (Lvl 2) (1/1)] - [1000 EP to upgrade]

[Roots (Lvl 3) (35/40)] - [(80 EP each Root)]

[Branches (Lvl 3) (17/20)] - [150 EP each Branch]

[Evolution Points: 1723]

It may have taken a month and a half of grinding the Devastation Woods, but after all this time, Necro was now only a hundred-odd EP away from maxing out all his components to Level 3!

"I don't know how much EP I'll need to advance to Rank 5, but I know for certain that this depleted area will have nowhere near enough to satisfy the cost," said Necro as he thought of expanding his sphere of influence. "To the East, where the Bandits originated, there are human settlements, so it's best not to go that way. The South is where the rest of the Greenflame Sect is situated. The West is a Sea so vast that the map can't begin to chart it."

That just left the North. The coastline.

The Forest of Jagga traveled along this coastline for thousands of miles. And though one would eventually encounter human settlements if they kept on traveling along its edges, they were far rarer than if one were to go east.

However, even with this being the only option available to Necro if he wanted to continue evolving, things were not so simple.

For one: he couldn't move.

His Level 3 Roots may have a reach of a few hundred meters, but that was nothing in the grander scheme of things. It wasn't even enough to cover a tenth of the Devastation Woods, let alone the Forest of Jagga.

Secondly: Necro had no idea what sort of dangers awaited him if he were to personally travel along the coastline.

In this world, the Body Refinement Realm was the start of one's journey. It was split into five minor stages:

1. Skin Refinement

2. Flesh Refinement

3. Bone Refinement

4. Viscera Refinement

5. Marrow Refinement

And yet the entirety of the Body Refinement Realm was worth very little if one were to head over to the higher-level areas of the Blue Ring Region.

"It's best if I stay here then," Necro muttered. "Well, not like I really had a choice anyway."

Furthermore, there was the matter with the one who named him that he still had to settle. Her sudden disappearance would forever haunt him if he never figured out what really happened.

But even with those words, Necro needed the power to actually follow through. And to accomplish that, he had to at least be in the Half-step Qi Condensation Realm, which was the upper limit for the Greenflame Sect.

"Right now, I'm probably equal to an average Viscera Refinement Realm Cultivator." Necro guessed while whipping around the razor-sharp Branches capable of slicing through tens of trees like butter. "I need to somehow go from this to the Half-step Qi Condensation Realm…"

Without the ability to cultivate just yet, amassing Evolution Points was the only option he had. And with most of the Demon Beasts in and around the Devastation Woods dead, the Shadow Tree Soldiers had to be sent out.

Luckily, their range after breaking through to the Bone Refinement Realm increased to tens of thousands of meters. This opened up tons of avenues for exploration.

With everything decided, Necro sent them out, while he himself returned to a half-asleep state.

— 3 months later —

Necro had just finished maxing out his various components, with thousands of EP to spare. He now towered over the devastated scenery at a height of 100+ feet. Furthermore, his Branches and Roots swayed and undulated like small and giant anacondas, scaring away any animals or Demon Beasts that got too close.

Of course, none who entered his range were spared…

"Eek!"

"Roaargh!"

"Ooh Ooh Ahh Ahh!!"

After reaching Level 3, Necro's Branches developed sticky fang-like features that, once stuck on a creature, never let go.

Trapping them down with this uniquely useful feature, Necro wound up having hundreds of Demon Beasts waiting to be slaughtered at the end of every week. It was kind of cruel, but it was their own fault for letting their greed lead them right to their doom.

"Whenever I squirt out a drop of Power Essence, the Demon Beasts swarm toward this location from outside the Devastation Forest." Necro stated while doing just that. "Makes for good bait."

RUMBLE!

Another large wave of Demon Beasts violently shook the earth in their mindless rampage toward Necro's location. They ran over and even killed one another in an attempt to be the first to steal the Power Essence for themselves.

Insane!

The alluring effect of Power Essence was true insanity!

Then again, in a way, Power Essence was similar to any other natural-born Elixir. Demon Beasts rushed toward it the first chance they got.