A Fantastical Loulan, The Embarrassing Evolutionary Conditions

After the intermission, the match information on the arena's light screen immediately switched.

【Aomori-in I VS Aoi-in II】

"Next up is the Group B match. Please welcome the members of the two teams in the second match—Aomori Institute Team 1 and Aizui Institute Team 2!"

As soon as Bao Xiaoxing finished speaking, a line of people walked out from each of the two contestant passages.

On the left is the Aomori Academy team of five, led by Zhu Yanluo, the Sixth Heavenly King, also known as the "Dream Fairy." They walk with composure and exude a powerful aura. On the right is the Lanzhi Academy team of five, with Lin Yueyao at its core. Their expressions are calm, their gazes are firm, and they are equally unfazed.

"Wow, I love you, Fairy!"

"Smoke Fairy, step on me! Step on me!"

"Sizzle sizzle—that figure is amazing!"

"I'll say one of the Ten Heavenly Kings who's most like my mom, does anyone understand?"

"..."

The screams and cheers from the audience made it clear that Zhu Yanluo was undoubtedly the most eye-catching among the ten contestants. Her name was shouted the loudest, and almost everyone's gaze was fixed on her.

However, a small number of sharp-eyed viewers recognized Lin Yueyao.

"Isn't that last year's Shi Liuqiang?"

"It's true, I didn't expect her to come again this year."

"Oh, poor thing, he drew Aomoriin right away, he's going to get knocked out again."

"..."

As the ten contestants stepped onto the battle stage and walked towards the virtual battle pod, close-up shots of them were continuously played on the suspended light screen.

Of course, Zhu Yanluo received significantly more screen time and angles than the others, with even the smallest details, like a side glance or a step, being captured with extra care.

It's obvious that the director understands very well what the audience wants to see.

[Remember the fastest online novel website: 1 ...

Soon, the ten contestants entered their respective competition cabins.

The image on the screen changed instantly.

[Map being randomly generated...]

[Random Results: Singer's Grove, Tidal Arena, Emerald Dream]

[Please remove one map from each player's inventory.]

Unlike the rules of the preliminary rounds, the main tournament uses a mechanism where three maps are randomly selected, and each side bans one. The player in position one of each group bans first, then the player in position two bans, and the last remaining map becomes the official map for the match.

Upon seeing this random result, Lin Yueyao's expression immediately became tense.

Aside from the Tide Arena, which neither side is likely to choose, the other two maps—Singer's Woods and Emerald Dream—are both forest-type terrains that Aomori Academy excels at, almost equivalent to a home-field advantage.

Even the random map wasn't on their side.

As expected, Aomori-in took the initiative to shut down the Tide Arena almost without hesitation.

[Aomori Institute I, select to disable Tidal Duel Arena]

This decision ruthlessly threw the problem back at Lin Yueyao.

Should we preserve the Singer's Woods or the Emerald Dreamland?

Both options are truly thorns in one's side.

To be honest, the pets of the five members of Lanzhiyuan were also very suitable for forest terrain, and they were not without advantages in fighting in the woods.

Dream Fairy Zhu Yanluo.

The word "illusion" isn't just a name given lightly.

Remembering Luo Yan's repeated instructions before the competition, Lin Yueyao gritted her teeth and finally made her own decision.

[Blue Garden II, select to disable Emerald Dream]

The final battle map has been confirmed as: Singer's Woods.

[Please select your battle pets.]

The official rules clearly state that each player can only send one pet into battle based on the selected map.

【Aomori-in I, Zhu Yanluo – Complete Form, Species, Imaginary Loulan】

【Aomori Institute I, Shen Luxi – Complete Form, Biological Species, Spiritual Vine Fairy】

【Aomori-in I, Jiang Ranqiu – Complete Form, Species, Sunset Sunflower】

【Aomori-in I, Wen Liluo – Complete Form, Species, Thorn Queen】

【Aomori-in I, Linnaeus – Complete Form, Species, King of Decaying Fungi】

【VS】

【Lan Zhi Yuan II, Lin Yueyao - Complete Form · Biological Species · Moon-Chasing Celestial Fox】

【Lanzhiyuan II, Ning Xiaoman - Complete Form · Biological Species · Golden Scorpion】

【Blue Orchid Garden II, River Frost Lily - Complete Form, Biological Species, Dragon Beard Jellyfish】

【Blue Orchid Courtyard II, Willow Cicada - Complete Form, Species, Dusk Cicada】

【Lanzhiyuan II, Shen Yanqiu – Complete Species – Treasure Toad】

When Zhu Yanluo's battle pet appeared on the screen, Lin Yueyao and the other four widened their eyes almost simultaneously.

Why is it "Fantasy Loulan"?! Isn't it supposed to be the Mysterious Crystal Fairy?!

It's worth noting that in the previous league, Zhu Yanluo led her team to sixth place with her fully evolved Biological Species, Mysterious Crystal Fairy, earning her the prestigious title of "Dream Fairy".

It can be said that the Mysterious Crystal Fairy has long been her most representative and iconic pet, almost equivalent to herself.

Who would have thought that in the first round of the sixteen-to-eight competition, Zhu Yanluo would send out a brand new pet that had never been publicly revealed before?

To make matters worse, Lin Yueyao had absolutely no information about the phrase "fantasy Loulan" in her mind.

She didn't even know what attribute this pet belonged to, what abilities it possessed, or even a basic concept of it.

In fact, it wasn't just Lin Yueyao.

At this moment, in the entire venue that could hold 300,000 spectators, not a single person recognized the origin of this strange pet. Whispers and bewildered gazes mingled together, creating an atmosphere that was both surprising and eerie.

Even the five important figures from Yuelan Prefecture, the Duke and the four Marquises, who were sitting on the high platform for watching the game, all showed expressions of astonishment. As experienced as they were, this was the first time they had ever heard of the name "Imaginary Loulan".

The rest room at Lanzhiyuan.

Luo Yan was startled and blurted out, "It's not Fairy Mystery Crystal?"

Before the competition, they provided Lin Yueyao and her group with extensive analysis and countermeasures, almost all of which revolved around the Mysterious Crystal Fairy. However, when their opponents appeared, they didn't bring out the Mysterious Crystal Fairy at all.

Meng Yanqing was also full of doubts and couldn't help but ask, "Fantasy Loulan... Has anyone here heard of this pet beast?"

Like the Yuki-onna from the Divine Era that Xue Youyou had brought out before, this was the second pet she had encountered today that was completely beyond her comprehension.

After Meng Yanqing finished asking the question, everyone except Xue Youyou, who remained silent and rested with her eyes closed, shook their heads.

"Wait a moment, let me use the Truth Machine to check it!"

Luo Yan immediately summoned the Truth Machine and ordered it to analyze the data with all its might.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

The twelve simulated "eyes" of the Truth Machine opened simultaneously, instantly maximizing its computing power; a faint humming sound could even be heard in the air.

However, after a full minute of intensive searching—

No data was found for "Imaginary Loulan" in the database!

The Truth Machines gave an answer that shocked everyone.

It's important to know that Truth Machines are information-type pets capable of directly connecting to and even infiltrating major network systems.

If it says no, then it means that there is no record of the imagined Loulan in the entire existing public network system of Lanzhou.

The last time this happened was when facing the ethereal Yuki-onna of the Goddess Era.

Thinking of this, Luo Yan couldn't help but turn her gaze to Xue Youyou.

But then he noticed that Xue Youyou was staring at the screen, her eyes flickering slightly, a half-smile on her lips, her expression quite intriguing.

If I had to describe it, Luo Yan's impression of him could be summed up in four words—unfathomable.

Luo Yan's heart skipped a beat, and she tentatively asked, "Captain, why are you laughing?"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the room immediately turned to look at Xue Youyou.

In the blink of an eye, Xue Youyou had already closed her eyes, leaning back on the sofa with an air of nonchalance, not even lifting her eyelids.

Undeterred, Luo Yan pressed on, "Captain, do you know about this pet beast?"

Xue Youyou remained silent.

Lu Yutang couldn't help but come closer, her tone full of curiosity: "Yeah, Youyou, you know so much, if you know anything, just share it with us."

"Sizzle sizzle—!"

Even the Truth Machine made a couple of noises, circled around Xue Youyou twice, and then quietly floated in front of her like a well-behaved student, with all twelve "eyes" staring at her, full of thirst for knowledge.

Suddenly, the academic atmosphere in the lounge became unusually strong.

Xue Youyou reached out and gently touched the smooth outer shell of the Truth Machine, then smiled slightly and said, "Have you ever heard of delayed evolution?"

Before Luo Yan could speak, Meng Yanqing eagerly blurted out, "I know that!"

"Delayed evolution means that a pet can have two evolutionary forms, A and B, at the same time. The evolutionary conditions of the stronger B form perfectly cover the evolutionary conditions of the A form. However, this pet has only met the requirements for the A form and has not yet met the requirements for the B form. In order not to get stuck in the current growth stage, it will first evolve into the A form, and then evolve into the B form a second time after gradually meeting the evolutionary conditions for the B form."

Xue Youyou smiled and nodded: "That's right."

Luo Yan's pupils contracted: "The captain means that the Sky-Dreaming Loulan is exactly like this?!"

Xue Youyou smiled and stopped being mysterious, saying directly, "Besides the common evolutionary form of the pet beast Mi Xinglan, there is actually a little-known rare evolutionary route for the mature pet beast Mi Xinglan, which is the Fantasy Loulan."

"Furthermore, the evolution conditions of the Imaginary Loulan perfectly cover those of the Mysterious Crystal Fairy. In other words, Zhu Yanluo, this Imaginary Loulan, is a product of delayed evolution from the Mysterious Crystal Fairy."

After listening to Xue Youyou's explanation, everyone was stunned.

Luo Yan then pressed on, "Captain, I have another question. Delayed evolution is rare, but not exactly uncommon. Why is it that in all these years in the entire Yuelan Prefecture, no one has ever seen or successfully cultivated a Fantasy Loulan?"

"What kind of question is that? It's obviously because the conditions for its evolution are extremely difficult to meet!"

After saying this, Xue Youyou closed her eyes once again with an air of composure.

This half-hearted attitude is practically trying to entice everyone to confess their feelings.

Luo Yan was itching with desire, feeling like a hundred ants were crawling inside her. She wanted nothing more than to kneel down before Xue Youyou and plead, "Captain, please have some mercy and just finish what you have to say!"

"Sizzle sizzle—!"

The Truth Machine was also so anxious that it kept pacing around, radiating a restless aura as if it were about to explode.

This rhythm of pausing after each sentence is driving me crazy, and it's driving my pet crazy too.

After being repeatedly attacked in the stomach by Hong Wen's Truth Machine, Xue Youyou finally waved her hand in surrender: "Okay, okay, I'll tell you. But you have to promise me that you won't tell anyone after you hear it."

Everyone immediately nodded in unison.

"Actually, most of the evolutionary conditions for the Imaginary Loulan are not too difficult, except for one, which is extremely demanding."

Xue Youyou paused deliberately, struggling to maintain her composure, before lowering her voice and saying:

"That is—the beast tamer of the fantasy Loulan must have a thousand erotic dreams, and the object of the dream must be a pet beast, and it must be a thousand completely different pet beasts."