C17 He Had Become Stronger

"Something better than the Arctic Banyan? You sure talk a big game."

The scarlet macaw scoffed and hopped beneath the windshield, fiddling with a small object at its side with its claws.

"We'll see if I'm all talk soon enough."

Zhou Mu said this while channeling soul energy to etch the mode.

The basic qualification for an Animal Whisperer is the ability to inscribe a Soul Contract independently.

Typically, with a soul intensity of just one point, a bit more practice would suffice.

Zhou Mu's natural talent was lacking. When he made the pact with Gator, he needed Zhou Ming's assistance.

"Enter!"

It took just over ten seconds for Zhou Mu to complete the Soul Contract inscription. He gestured to the glowing mode, signaling the scarlet macaw to step in.

The macaw didn't hesitate. As a spirit animal, it was fated never to grow, its best hope being to serve as a diminutive steward in the shop.

Despite its protests, the scarlet macaw was deeply thankful to Zhou Mu.

Even if it couldn't reach the second rank!

"Given your size, you're no bigger than a chick, and quite the goofball. How about Chicken Two for a name?"

"Chicken Two?"

The name left the scarlet macaw momentarily dumbfounded, then seething with anger.

"You're Chicken Two, your whole family's Chicken Two!"

It ranted, pecking at Zhou Mu's head in a fury, yet it only managed to ruffle his hair without causing real harm.

"Oh? Not fond of Chicken Two?"

Zhou Mu casually flipped a second rank spirit crystal in the air, catching it with ease.

The macaw's gaze locked onto the crystal, tracking Zhou Mu's every move with rapt attention.

"Keep it up!"

After several tosses, Zhou Mu playfully lobbed the crystal to the macaw.

"Boss, I'm proud to be your Chicken Two!"

The scarlet macaw caught the spirit crystal, affectionately nuzzling Zhou Mu's face.

The crystal was as large as its own head; swallowing it would surely lead to a choking hazard.

It must be acknowledged that the system's service was exceptionally attentive.

With a peck at the spirit crystal, the scarlet macaw transformed it into a mist that spiraled into its nostrils.

"Oh~~~"

The scarlet macaw emitted an odd noise, clearly having watched the movie alongside its previous owner.

"I'm starting to have regrets."

Zhou Mu massaged his temples, sensing that this bird's issues went beyond its sharp tongue; its mind seemed equally off-kilter.

The scarlet macaw leveled up rapidly, and within ten seconds, two options materialized on the panel.

[Wing Blade: Turns wings into blades to shred targets.]

[Strong Wind: Generates a gale by rapidly flapping wings.]

After some deliberation, Zhou Mu selected Wing Blade.

If the spirit animal was meant for close combat, he figured he might as well commit fully to that path.

For area attacks, Gator was sufficient; the scarlet macaw could be honed into an assassin.

"Ah... Oh... Mm... Pah..."

After two minutes of squawking, an exasperated Zhou Mu smacked the scarlet macaw against the car window.

Chicken Two quieted down considerably after the slap, slumping to one side, subdued.

Zhou Mu paid it no mind; the bird was clearly feigning.

With the second spirit animal in tow, he proceeded to purchase various spirit herbs to enhance his attributes.

He acquired a plethora of supplements, including East Asian Divine Herbs for constitution, Six-Eyed Flying Fish for agility, Dragon Horn Root for strength, and an assortment of other tonics.

The inheritance from the elder would eventually pass to Zhou Chun, who, upon retirement, would entrust the Zhou family's business affairs to Zhou Mu.

Rounding up, it was essentially spending his own future money.

No pain, no gain!

Zhou Mu parked his car outside and retreated to his room, securing the door behind him.

Having stocked up on spirit herbs, it was time to elevate his prowess to unprecedented heights.

Moreover, both Gator and the scarlet macaw were due for their own advancements.

The Bloodline Advancement Stone demanded 500 points each, and with 10,000 points at his disposal, Zhou Mu could redeem up to 20 stones.

Once Gator was summoned, it immediately coiled its tail around Zhou Mu's leg and affectionately nuzzled his chest.

"Wow, what a stunning little snake."

The scarlet macaw let out a rogue whistle and cocked its head, asking, "Boss, are you gearing up for a little interspecies romance?"

"Hey, you charming parrot, how about going hungry for three days?"

Zhou Mu shot it a cool glance and remarked dryly.

"I'm sorry, boss!"

The scarlet macaw might have a sassy beak, but it was quite good at owning up to its mistakes.

Zhou Mu, however, held no illusions about it truly changing its ways.

The spirit medicine would take at least half an hour to arrive, so Zhou Mu decided to upgrade the scarlet macaw to leader quality in the meantime.

"Here, eat this!"

He tossed a Bloodline Advancement Stone to the bird, whose eyes practically popped out of its head.

It might never say it out loud, but deep down, it felt Zhou Mu was akin to its own father – no, even closer than that!

With a gentle peck, the stone vaporized into a mist and entered through every orifice.

In the blink of an eye, the scarlet macaw bulked up, its claws turned fiercer, and its feathers grew fuller.

"Boss, got any more? I reckon with just two more, I could level up to leader grade."

Desire shone in the scarlet macaw's eyes as it gazed at Zhou Mu.

Zhou Mu had already amazed it with numerous upgrades, bypassing the need for Arctic Banyan to reach the second rank, and now he even had a method to refine its bloodline.

If he had enough of that earlier substance, it could potentially evolve into the stuff of legends – a Bird King!

Or rather, a phoenix!

"Two more? Even though I'm down to my last dime, I've still got some to spare."

Zhou Mu chuckled and flicked two more Bloodline Advancement Stones its way.

Snap! Snap!

True to its nature as a close-combat spirit animal, the scarlet macaw's reflexes were lightning-fast.

Its beak snapped up the stones with precision and ferocity.

"Ugh..."

The bird, known as Chicken Two, shook violently as it swelled to thrice its size in under five seconds, its claws and beak gleaming menacingly in the sunlight.

The talons and beak were now razor-sharp, gleaming with a chilling light under the sun's rays. The feathers atop its head stood like angry swords thrusting into the heavens, while the edges of its wings sliced through the air as if they were knife blades.

It exuded power and a domineering presence, with a palpable aura of lethality.

This creature was an assassin. Despite its flamboyant appearance, its formidable strength was unquestionable.

Zhou Mu watched the transformed scarlet macaw, now a commanding leader, and marveled at the wonder of evolution.

What was once a humble bird had become impressively majestic.

Yet, Zhou Mu realized he had erred.

The bird's form had undergone a dramatic transformation, but at its core, it remained the same.

"Boss, your Chicken Two has gotten stronger!" the scarlet macaw chirped as it hopped about, wiggling its rear end at Zhou Mu.

"I'm exhausted. Embrace the darkness, embrace destruction!" Zhou Mu lamented, deeply regretting the silly name he had bestowed upon the bird.

"From this moment forward, you're Goldie. Utter those two words again, and you'll be cut off from your food for three days," Zhou Mu declared, fixing the scarlet macaw with a stern gaze.

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