Courtyard House: Time Traveler Not Yet a Ghost

[Host's current status: Severely injured. Prioritize healing.] [Healing methods: 1. Consume the flesh and blood of low-level demonic beasts for slow recovery; 2. Find healing herbs for rapid recovery.] [A first-tier healing herb—Silver Leaf Grass—has been detected nearby. Direction: Northeast, Distance: 300 zhang.]

Three hundred zhang? That's about a thousand meters in meters? For the size of this pig, that's not too far.

Ito Sai immediately perked up. He endured the pain, cautiously peeking out from the bushes. After confirming there was no danger around, he began to move forward step by step, following the system's guidance. He dared not stand up and run, fearing he might attract some terrifying being, so he could only crawl slowly on all fours.

He crawled through prickly bushes and over moss-covered rocks, each step causing his wounds to burn. But he gritted his teeth and didn't stop. The will to live sustained him.

Finally, under a huge ancient tree, he saw the silver leaf grass that the system had mentioned. It was a small grass, no bigger than the palm of his hand, with leaves that were a strange silvery-white color, slender and soft, emitting a faint glow in the dim forest, and smelling of a fresh herbal fragrance.

Silverleaf Grass: A Tier 1 Spirit Herb. It has mild healing effects on external injuries and restores physical strength. The host can ingest it directly.

Ito Sai cautiously approached, afraid of damaging this life-saving treasure. He opened his mouth, gently dug away the surrounding soil with his fangs, then bit down on the silver leaf grass, pulled it up by the roots, chewed it a few times haphazardly, and swallowed it.

A cool sensation slid from my throat into my stomach, then quickly spread throughout my body. The burning wound felt as if a cooling ointment had been applied, instantly easing the pain and making my body feel less heavy.

[Ding! Host's injuries have recovered (minor). Stamina restored 30%.]

"That's great!" Ito Sai felt much better. He shook his head, and his spirits lifted.

[Ding! Injuries have begun to heal. It is recommended that the host begin hunting to accumulate bloodline power.] [A nest of Tier 1 demonic beasts—Crimson Flame Rabbits—has been detected nearby. Number: three. They are relatively weak; the host may attempt to hunt them.]

Crimson Flame Rabbit? A rabbit? Ito Sai felt a little relieved. Just a rabbit, it shouldn't be too difficult to deal with, right? Even if it's a demonic rabbit.

Following the scent indicated by the system, he quickly found the Crimson Rabbit's burrow on a sunny slope. It was a small cave hidden in the grass. Three Crimson Rabbits were munching on a kind of red berry near the burrow.

These rabbits were larger than he had imagined, about half the size of a pig (referring to his current pig form, of course). They were covered in fine, fiery red fur, and even their eyes were blood red. They looked quite cute, but also exuded a dangerous aura.

【Crimson Flame Rabbit: A Tier 1 demonic beast. It is relatively fast and can breathe weak flames. Its flesh contains a small amount of fire-attribute spiritual energy; consuming it can extract a trace amount of bloodline power.】

It can breathe fire? Ito Sai's heart skipped a beat, and he dared not be careless. Although he was thick-skinned, he would definitely feel pain if he were burned by fire.

He lay in ambush in the nearby bushes, like a cheetah he'd seen on television in his past life, holding his breath and patiently waiting for his chance. His usually sharp mind was clearer than ever, analyzing the situation. Three rabbits—he couldn't attack them all at once; he had to take them down one by one.

Soon, one of the Crimson Rabbits left the group and ran off alone to graze on a clump of tender green grass a short distance away. Now!

Itō Sai suddenly leaped out of the bushes! He kept his massive body low to the ground, and his four legs unleashed astonishing power, charging towards the lone Crimson Flame Rabbit like a small tank!

The Crimson Rabbit was clearly startled by the sudden attack. It abruptly raised its head, a flicker of fear in its red eyes, and then opened its mouth to spew flames!

But Ito Sai was faster! Taking advantage of his size, he rushed in front of the Crimson Flame Rabbit the instant it spewed flames, then suddenly lowered his head and slammed his hardest part—his forehead—into the Crimson Flame Rabbit!

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, the Crimson Flame Rabbit was sent flying, letting out a short screech in mid-air. Before it even hit the ground, Ito Sai had already turned around, opened her mouth wide, revealing sharp fangs, and bit down on its neck!

"Snap!"

The sound of bones breaking was clearly audible. The Crimson Rabbit's body twitched a few times, then fell still. A warm liquid with a faint burnt smell flowed into Ito Sai's mouth.

[Ding! Successfully devoured a Tier 1 Crimson Flame Rabbit (cub). Extracted bloodline power. Current evolution progress: 1%.]

The system notification sounded, and at the same time, a slight warm current surged from his stomach throughout his body, making him feel as if his body had become a little stronger.

"Only 1%?" Ito Sai was a little disappointed, but then she thought that this was just a first-tier monster cub, so 1% was already pretty good.

The other two Crimson Rabbits were startled. They looked at Ito Sai in terror and then turned to run away.

"Trying to run? No way!" Having tasted the sweetness of victory, Ito Sai wasn't about to let it go. He dropped the rabbit carcass in his mouth and chased after it on his short legs.

The Crimson Flame Rabbit was indeed very fast, like two red lightning bolts. But Ito Sai had better stamina, and he was now in a "hungry wolf pouncing" state. He spotted a slightly slower one, accelerated again, pounced forward, knocked it to the ground with his body, stomped on it with his hooves, and then bit off its neck.

The other rabbit seized the opportunity and ran even further. Ito Sai hesitated for a moment, then decided not to chase after it. He knew when to stop; he was still too weak to be greedy.

He dragged the remaining two Crimson Flame Rabbits over as well, and then began to devour them. The meat of the demon beasts was tougher than ordinary pork, and had a peculiar sweet and fishy smell, but Ito Sai was starving at the moment, and didn't care whether it tasted good or not. He wolfed down the three rabbits, chewing up even the bones and swallowing them.

[Ding! Successfully devoured 2 Tier 1 Crimson Flame Rabbits. Extracted bloodline power. Current evolution progress: 3%.]

The evolution progress has increased to 3%.

Ito Sai licked the remaining blood and bits of meat from the corner of his mouth, feeling unsatisfied. This power was far from enough! He needed more flesh and blood, a stronger bloodline!

From that day on, Ito Sai began his crazy hunting career in the Monster Forest.

He was like a tireless killing machine, relying on the system's guidance and the thick hide of the Ironback Porcupine to specifically target lone, weaker or equally powerful first-tier monsters.

Sharp-toothed rats, poisonous lizards, wind wolf cubs... once he sets his sights on them, they almost always meet their demise. His hunting skills also improved continuously, from simply charging around recklessly at the beginning to later learning to ambush, ambush, and utilize the terrain.

His physique was changing imperceptibly. His body, which was originally only half a zhang long, gradually lengthened, and his weight increased significantly. His dark brown mane became harder, and the fangs on his head became longer and sharper.

Each time you devour the flesh and blood of a monster, it increases your evolution progress. Although the increase is small, it adds up.

Half a month later, his evolution progress reached 50%. He clearly felt that his strength and defense had increased a lot. Once, he even took the impact of a first-level peak monster "Iron-skinned Bull" head-on. Although he was knocked back a few steps, he also broke one of the bull's ribs.

A month later.

After Ito Sai bit off the neck of the last Tier 1 monster, the "Shadow Leopard," and devoured its flesh, the system notification finally sounded:

[Ding! Devoured a Tier 1 Shadow Leopard. Extracted bloodline power. Current evolution progress: 100%.] [Evolution conditions met. Evolve immediately?]

"Evolve! Evolve now!" Sai Ito shouted excitedly in her heart.

Evolution begins...

As the cold system notification sound faded, an indescribable, excruciating pain instantly swept over Ito Sai's entire body!

He felt his bones cracking, as if they were being forcibly stretched, broken, and reassembled! Muscle fibers were torn apart, then grew and healed at a visible speed! Golden lines appeared on his skin, itching terribly and hurting terribly!

The mane on its back stood on end, making a soft "clanging" sound. The original dark brown mane began to fall off, and new, thicker, and stronger golden mane burst out of the hair follicles! The fangs on its head were also growing longer and thicker, gleaming with a terrifying cold light.

The entire evolutionary process lasted a full hour.

When the final wave of excruciating pain subsided, Ito Sai, soaked in sweat and blood, lay on the ground, panting heavily. But he could clearly feel a new, more powerful force surging within him.

He looked up at the stream beside him.

A completely new demonic beast was reflected in the stream. It was twice its previous size, reaching a length of ten feet and a shoulder height of six feet. Its entire body was covered in thick, golden mane, like a suit of golden armor. The spikes on its back had become even thicker, gleaming with a metallic sheen. Two fangs, like sharp curved blades, protruded from the corners of its mouth, making it appear ferocious and terrifying.

[Ding! Host has successfully evolved.] [Current Race: Golden-Maned Porcupine (Tier 2 Monster).] [Unlocked Ability: Golden-Maned Flying Spikes. Can launch golden mane from its back for ranged attacks.] [Current Evolution Progress: 0% (Tier 2 Bloodline).]

Looking at his reflection in the water, Ito Sai let out a satisfied "humph." A second-tier demonic beast! Equivalent to the Foundation Establishment stage of a human cultivator! This meant that he already possessed a certain degree of self-defense capability in this outer area.

But he knew this was far from enough. That green-robed cultivator, that black-robed cultivator—their strength far surpassed his current level. He needed to continue evolving! Third tier, fourth tier, fifth tier… until he became the legendary Ancestor of All Realms!

He shook the water droplets off his head, his golden mane shimmering in the sunlight. His eyes grew even more determined, filled with ambition and longing.