Chapter 18: Evolution Direction (Seeking Recommendations, Seeking Collections)

  One day was enough for Liu Ting to understand the things he urgently wanted to figure out. To his surprise, the one called Holk Bai Shui Yao was not only a powerful warrior capable of matching ordinary high-ranking magical beasts but also an outstanding scholar. Perhaps it was because his ancestors were also evolved from magic insects, or perhaps it was due to years of watching over these small creatures' lives that he developed a strong interest in their evolution out of boredom. In any case, the knowledge recorded on the Soul Law Pearl was very comprehensive and thorough. Of course, there were not only records of the original blood mosquitoes but also more than 13,700 other kinds of poisonous insects, plants, and magical beasts unique to Jia Ya. Detailed records of their living habits, evolutionary development directions, and racial characteristics were included. Even some reasons that could lead to the failure of magic insect advancement and variation were identified, along with his own annotations. Of course, this was not all of Jia Ya's poisonous insects, but only a small part of the vast "Plant Kingdom". However, this had already opened a door for Liu Ting to enter the treasure trove of knowledge from another world, allowing him to touch its wonders and understand them, as well as integrate into it.

  Among all the materials, Liu Ting most wanted to figure out was still about the original Blood Mosquito. That was a matter of course, after all, it concerned his own life and death, future happiness, and he couldn't help but look into it. As a result, after careful research, Old Liu only then realized that this little bug he had possessed after crossing over was actually an extraordinary race. Not only did its power spread throughout the entire Gaya Rainforest, supporting countless creatures that fed on it, but also having seventy-two extremely large and terrifying family branches.

  These seventy-two branches all evolved from the original Blood Mosquito, among which the twelve high-ranking Magic Insect tribes, with the three branches of Tongbai Shui Yao, Jiaya Poisonous Dragon, and Dihua Corpse Insect as their leaders. The thirty-four middle-ranking Magic Insect tribes, and the remaining low-ranking Magic Insects, although they have retained the racial characteristics of the original Blood Mosquito, have exceptional production abilities. Relying on their large numbers, they are also very influential in the Jiaya Poisonous Insect world, making people not dare to underestimate them. If it weren't for these guys not knowing how to unite, and because of the differences in their racial characteristics after evolution, they often burst into conflicts. Otherwise, with the massive power brought together by these seventy-two branches from the same origin, they would be able to occupy half of the Jiaya Rainforest, which is simply a god-killing, Buddha-killing situation. Of course, that kind of situation is impossible and can only appear in Old Liu's fantasies.

  Now that we've come this far, we can't help but mention the growth history of native blood mosquitoes. Every living thing has a growth history from birth to death, including every process of their growth and development, which also constitutes their busy life. For example, as we all know, those annoying mosquitoes on Earth have a growth history that includes four parts: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. Generally, the egg stage lasts for 1-2 days, the larval stage for 5-7 days, the pupal stage for 2-3 days, and the adult stage from emergence to blood-sucking and laying eggs for 3-7 days. From birth to the end of life, it's only about 1-2 weeks. However, these mosquitoes living in another realm have abandoned the larval and pupal stages in their long development history to avoid predation by natural enemies and ensure their population size. They emerge from eggs as adults equivalent to those on Earth.

  Of course, this is not enough to highlight the uniqueness of native blood mosquitoes. What really allows native blood mosquitoes to develop and evolve into so many new species is the three forms they will experience later. To be precise, it is the three growth forms that determine their evolutionary direction.

  The first growth spurt occurs about a week after the birth of the Blood Mosquito, during which time they have experienced many predators and dangers, adapted to the harsh weather in the Gaya Rainforest, learned how to find food and survive, so only the stronger individuals can survive. After the first molt, the body shape of the Blood Mosquito will change significantly, with a harder and sharper mouthpart that can pierce the skin of lower-level magical creatures, and is highly sensitive to temperature changes on the surface of living organisms. In theory, it is also at this stage that the Blood Mosquito learns to attack and acquire the ability to suck animal blood (generally, they only drink nectar after birth, so Liu is an exception). At the same time, while absorbing the blood of other creatures, they absorb the genes contained in their blood to supplement their own. If these absorbed genes have accumulated to a certain degree by the time of the second molt and have perfected and supplemented their physical form, it can create a special individual after the second molt. At this point, the Blood Mosquito has undergone some changes due to genetic supplementation, with its abilities leaning more towards those of the creatures whose blood it has absorbed.

  For example, after a blood-sucking mosquito has absorbed enough steel armored beast's blood and completed its second growth form, its abilities will also be more inclined towards defensive capabilities, and it will even have a hardened shell and wings. So, the original blood mosquito's growth history has already undergone changes and huge divergences here. Of course, the most important thing is that in the third stage, after the second growth form, one must constantly familiarize oneself with the abilities obtained and complete control over these abilities before the third growth form arrives, producing a certain qualitative change. Only then can it transform into a true magical insect with special abilities after the third growth form, not only undergoing huge changes in shape but also having its lifespan greatly extended, from one year to several decades, which is also determined by the level of advancement of the blood mosquito. For example, mid-level magical insects naturally live longer than low-level ones. A small number of high-level magical insects can even break free from their insectoid shells and transform into advanced human-like bodies after experiencing a certain breakthrough, becoming an even more powerful existence.

  Of course, this is also one of the extremely rare situations that can occur. Although the growth cycle of native blood mosquitoes seems to have great potential and limitless power, after thousands of years of accumulation, only 72 new tribes have emerged, and most of them are restricted by the genetic influence of the biological blood they absorbed at the beginning, making it difficult for them to continue evolving. It's even more impossible to seek a higher level of breakthrough. However, the Scylla water demon, due to a combination of circumstances, transformed as a whole tribe and took another path of evolution, possessing its own civilization, which can be said to be an unprecedented situation in the tens of thousands of years since the birth of the Gaya poisonous insects, making it too special to be included in this category.

  It was clear that Old Liu had already gained a deep understanding of himself, and he couldn't help but fall silent. Logically speaking, from the moment he was born, he had been absorbing the blood of mid-tier magical beasts like the Rainforest Electric Boa, and by now, he had fully digested it all. This put him far ahead of those who were born on the same day as him and still wandered around searching for flower nectar to eat. He would be able to leave them far behind in his future evolution. To use an inappropriate analogy, it was like a grown adult and an infant drinking low-quality milk powder at the same time. The adult might not feel any effects due to their strong body, but it could poison an infant with weak immunity and underdeveloped organs, affecting their internal organs and even brain development. Old Liu was that infant, while those blood-sucking mosquitoes who only absorbed animal blood after their first growth period were like grown adults. Therefore, the effect of one sip for Old Liu now was equivalent to them drinking hundreds or thousands of sips of the same blood.

  Moreover, under normal circumstances, the blood of mid-tier magical beasts is not that easy to absorb. Even for most vampires, before their second growth period, they can't even absorb enough low-tier magical beast blood, let alone miss this opportunity and have no chance at evolution. No wonder Holton would be so fond of Old Liu, saying he had no problem advancing to become a magic insect, and even thought Old Liu might have the chance to break through mid-tier and contend for high-tier magic insects. That's why he left behind these words, telling Old Liu that when the time comes, go to the Water God Temple in Pantai to try his luck. See if he can get the recognition of some sacred object. In other words, now Old Liu can just sit here doing nothing, as long as he lives well every day, he can evolve into a magic insect like others dream of becoming. If he's lucky, evolving into a mid-tier magic insect will even give him an extra decade or so of lifespan, enough for him to live comfortably for many years. If it were still the human era and Liu Ting was in charge, he would naturally be eager for such good fortune. Every day, just waiting for death with a full stomach, and this kind of good fortune falls into your lap - what's not to love? Since that's the case, why bother thinking about anything else? As long as every day you can stretch out your hand and have clothes to wear, open your mouth and have food to eat, when you're short on money just go out and wander around the bank, and when you come back everything will be settled. That kind of life, ah, is truly like being a god!

  But now Lao Liu doesn't think so. His goal is not just a simple low-level magic bug that can get by. Although he has become an insect, it doesn't mean he's willing to be an insect for the rest of his life. Even if this insect really has very powerful abilities, it's still not what Lao Liu wants. In his heart, he still wants to become a human again, a dignified and upright person. He had thought that this was how he would spend the rest of his life, just muddling along, but unexpectedly things took a turn for the better.

  According to the records of Holker in the Soul Pearl, whether it is a demon beast or a demon insect, as long as it reaches the peak of the high rank and breaks through that layer of barrier, it can shed its original body and make its shape more like that of a human. Not only does it have a lifespan of tens of thousands of years, becoming an extremely powerful individual, but as long as it is not subjected to a fatal attack, it can quickly recover and instantly return to its original state, almost becoming invincible. If this method doesn't work, there's also the sacred object, the Heart of the Sea King, which is worshipped in the Water God Temple by the Tumbler Water Demon. As long as one obtains the recognition of this sacred object, it can also allow one to shed their original shell and evolve into a brand new individual similar to a human. Although these two methods ultimately don't become truly human, they give Liu Ting infinite imagination, allowing him to regain hope and pursue his dreams with abandon. It was precisely this that gave Old Liu renewed hope and the idea of living on, knowing what he had to strive for and going to experience the feeling of being human once again. However, before that, he must complete a difficult task - no matter what, he must evolve into a high-ranking demon insect. Only then can his unrealistic dream be realized.

  "The power of thunder, I already possess, but have yet to master. In other words, before I undergo my first growth period, it's impossible for me to truly take shape. Although this power is rare and even Holk praised it, it doesn't guarantee that I'll become a high-ranking demon insect, or even touch the edge of being high-ranking. So, if I were to absorb the blood of magical beasts with different energy properties now, what would happen? Would it be destruction or rebirth?... For my dream, for me to return to being human again, let me take a chance..."