Infinite Evolution: My Idle Evolution System

"Guh…"

The Shadow Tree Soldiers were saddened over not being included in the praise.

"You bunch as well." Necro patted them with his branches while snatching up the Storage Rings the Ancestors were carrying around. "You've all done very well in these operations. And from the looks of it, we have new residents who'll be contributing toward the cause from now on?"

He was referring to the skittish women who Lang Qingyue had saved from the sick Sect Leader bastards.

"Big Brother Necro, they may be unfamiliar with how things operate, but I give you my word that they won't be a burden," Lang Qingyue solemnly swore. "Go on, introduce yourselves to the Lord."

"Y-Yes, my Lady…!" The ragged, beautiful women responded with great nervousness, expending all their willpower in order to meet Necro in the eye.

"M-My Lord, my name is Lan Yue…"

"My Lord, my name is Yao Mei…"

"M-Mine is…"

Including the rest of those who were left alive following the Barbarian Tribe Massacres, there were more than ten girls who announced their names. Each was a top-class beauty, and each a virgin.

Obviously, they were only left alive for one reason.

However, now that reason didn't matter. They had become a part of the band that Necro was slowly amassing, and would henceforth serve as the first members of the 'Necrotic Valkyries,' and would directly receive tutelage and resources from both Lang Qingyue and Necro himself.

With their situations settled, Necro arranged for simple homes to be constructed for the controlled humans that he had previously planted in the Greenflame and Hundred-eye Sects. With both Sects now all but disbanded, the controlled humans needed somewhere to stay—naturally, Necro would take responsibility for them.

After all was said and done, Necro calculated his gains.

The treasure stored inside the Sect Treasuries, as well as in the Ancestors' Storage Rings, proved to be more than he expected—at least enough to start his own Sect if he so wished.

However, that was a story for another time.

Right now, he wanted to sleep.

Why?

Because of this goal:

[Rank 6 Upgrade Cost: 200,000 Evolution Points]

The equivalent of 200,000 years of stolen Lifespan. And also what Necro vowed to acquire before he'd permanently change locations and explore the vastness of the world outside.

'The Great Forest of Jagga is still far from totally explored, and even at this very moment, I can vaguely sense the presence of countless Qi Condensation Realm Cultivators,' Necro thought. 'In due time, I'll surely achieve my goal. I just have to… wait.'

And wait he did.

— Two Years Later —

A number of things changed over the last couple of years.

For starters, the news concerning the destruction of the Greenflame and Hundred-eyed Sects spread around the Great Forest of Jagga. This came as a big surprise to many, especially for the Barbarian Tribes in the South.

They immediately sought out the ones who annihilated the two Sects, which led them to Necro's doorsteps. Although they were initially taken aback by the identity of the one who led the destruction of the Sects, it took them a very short amount of time to adapt and begin discussions.

Barbarian Lord Usopp came in person, offering up his eldest daughter's hand in marriage in exchange for protection.

However, Necro had no interest in this sort of stuff. Also, he was a… tree, which seemed to have slipped Lord Usopp's mind.

Even so, Necro wasn't entirely opposed to a potential arrangement. Instead of marriage, though, he requested information.

A proposal that Lord Usopp readily accepted.

From a lengthy conversation, Necro realized that Lord Usopp knew far more about this world than the leaders of the Greenflame and Hundred-eyed Sects. He told him about the various apex factions in the Great Forest of Jagga, as well as some that existed within the wider Blue Ring Region.

Necro also learned that the Foundation Establishment Realm was considered to be the pinnacle of cultivation for a radius of thousands of miles. Every Foundation Establishment expert was capable of flight without the use of a treasure, and was seen as a deity by the common people.

Necro had yet to encounter anything above the 6th Layer of Qi Condensation, so his curiosity for the Foundation Establishment Realm naturally grew after listening to Lord Usopp's glazing. He wanted to see what kind of power they held.

But at the same time, he knew that he wasn't anywhere strong enough to contend with such a powerhouse. Even in his Behemoth form, he'd likely die in a single hit.

"But maybe this will help bridge the gap, if not just a little," said Necro as he looked at his staggering amount of Evolution Points. "262,870. More than enough to take that final step to reach Rank 6."

He'd have more if not for the tens of thousands he spent on getting all his Shadow Tree Soldiers to the 3rd Layer of Qi Condensation. However, there was no point crying over spilled milk.

"It's time."

Time to ascend to a higher level of existence!

[Are you sure you'd like to spend 200,000 Evolution Points in order to advance to Rank 6, dear Host?]

"Yes," replied Necro. "The human settlements to the east are becoming increasingly restless. If not now, then I might never again receive the chance to breakthrough."

[Very well, dear Host…]

[Commencing Rank-up to Rank 6…]

OOOM!

For dozens of miles on end, every single living being could see a giant eruption of golden-purple energy. The energy challenged the heavens above, with its countless radiant tendrils undulating like the tentacles of a deep-sea terror.

"Big Brother Necro…?" A young woman, appearing far more refined and powerful than 2 years ago, looked up to the skies.

"Is HE breaking through?"

This question was on the minds of many in the Great Forest of Jagga. Almost everyone knew of the existence of the huge demonic tree that made his domain between the ruins of two Sects.

Who else could be producing a reaction like this one if not him?

Barbarian Lord Usopp and a couple of other Barbarian Chieftains bowed down in reverence. The gigantic discharge of energy was the same as proof of their new faith, making way for prayers that echoed throughout the Barbarian Tribes.

"Stay back and observe," Lang Qingyue said to the group of curious beauties standing beside her. "This is the power of your Lord. Something beyond the understanding of mere mortals—something that will only continually and endlessly grow with the passing of time."

RUMBLE!!

Necro's already massive figure increased in size. Moreover, it did so at an utterly astonishing rate, with hundreds of meters turning into thousands of meters.

He only stopped growing in size after reaching an unbelievable height of ten thousand meters!

His dazzling canopy could be viewed by living beings a hundred miles away. He was like a true World Tree—incomprehensible and insurmountable.

But of those that noted this occurrence, there were some with sinister intentions. This sinisterness multiplied when they watched the bright goldish-purple light fade, revealing the otherworldly, iridescent tree that lay beneath.

A Natural Treasure of an unbelievably high level!

Even a couple of Foundation Establishment Realm Powerhouses sensed Necro's existence from thousands of miles away. They almost instantly made signals, attempting to discern the cause and location of this disturbance.

However, before they could find anything out—and much to the bewilderment of every living being in the Great Forest of Jagga—the massive, brilliant tree… vanished…?

*Ding!*

[You advanced from the Rank 5 (Elder Willow) stage to the Rank 6 (Minor Willow Dryad) stage!]

[You unlocked the 'Morph' Ability, which allows you to switch between your Original form and your Humanoid/Ephemeral form!]

[All of your physical and elemental attributes have tremendously increased!]

[You have unlocked the Ability to 'Cultivate']

[You have unlocked the Ability to cultivate 'Intents']

[You have awakened an Affinity for all Elements!]

[When in 'Original Form,' you can set up a 'Domain' that will improve the density of Atmospheric Qi and Elements/Intents/Laws/Daos within the Dome's sphere of influence (dependent on the strength of the Host)]

[Power, Control, and Life Essence have all skyrocketed straight to the Peak-Mortal Rank!]

['Poisonous Spear' Skill has evolved into the 'Death Piercer' Skill and acquired the additional attributes of 'Death' and 'Corrosion' as well as 'Split' and 'Duplication']

[Acquired Traversal Skill 'True Shadow Step,' which permits the Host to move like a supersonic phantom—untouchable and impermeable]

[Roots have increased from (60) → (300)]

[Branches have increased from (100) → (1000)]

[Shadow Tree Soldier Total Count has increased from (10) → (25)]

[Acquired 'Yggdrasil Core,' which facilitates cultivation and various other cultivation aspects of existence!]

"So this is what it feels like to be… human…" Necro muttered as he opened an unfamiliar pair of eyes to stare down at an unfamiliar set of hands. "And my Evolution Tree components…"

He willed it, and so his arm transformed into a large number of wiggling branches. They glowed with a transcendental glow, emitting a deadly intent that threatened to rip apart whole mountains.

However, just as suddenly as this intent appeared, it disappeared when Necro willed his right arm to return to its normal state.

"How interesting," Necro mused. "As for my Roots—which used to be deeply connected to the earth—I can feel that they're still there and can be summoned at will. But instead of a typical physical connection, it's more spiritual now. Almost as if my Roots are seeded in the ground via the particles in the air."

It was all so very intriguing.

*Crick…*

A nearby branch snapped under the weight of a familiar figure.

"…Big Brother Necro…?"