Hu Li held a high status within the tribe, having already replaced Hu Rong as the most prominent Female after the Chieftain and Priest, with a high likelihood of becoming the next Chieftain in the future.
The Females in the tribe, who could treat Hu Li well for their own interests, were equally capable of turning against Hu Rong.
Hu Li heard that Hu Rong had gone to complain to the Chieftain again. Females were constantly causing trouble for her every few days. The Chieftain knew what she was like—she could turn trivial matters into major issues. He simply ignored her at first, but eventually couldn’t stand it anymore and confined Hu Rong to her home, forbidding her from leaving her cave.
Since encountering the black bear, Hu Zhuo had been diligently cultivating and finally broke through from Red Crystal to become an Orange Crystal Beastfolk.
On the Beast World Continent, the level of Cultivation was distinguished by the Beast Crystal on the forehead. Cubs would undergo evolution one month after birth. If successful, they would become Red Crystal Beastfolk and could then cultivate to advance further. Breaking through from Red Crystal to Orange Crystal was a Cultivation level that many adult Males should possess. Yellow Crystal was the level that powerful warriors in the tribe should have, as rare as Females, and they were usually sent on missions alongside warriors from allied tribes.
For example, if there were rogue Beastfolk causing trouble somewhere or low-level Magic Beasts invading.
Magic Beasts were transformed from corrupted Beastfolk, and some were manipulated by hidden forces to target Beastfolk.
Hu Zhuo’s successful breakthrough allowed him to prove that a powerful Male should not be judged solely by appearance—strength was what truly mattered.
However, others didn’t see it that way. The tribe was buzzing with rumors that Hu Li was blessed with good fortune, and any Beastfolk who came into contact with her would thrive. To support this, the tribe’s Beastfolk recounted in detail the good things that had happened around Hu Li.
For instance, since following Hu Li, Hu Zhuo had not only directly advanced to become a Father Beast but also broke through his Cultivation level. With Hu Li’s influence, the tribe had far surpassed others, no longer suffering from stomach pains and able to eat fresh meat every day.
Hu Li was pulled by the Chieftain to handle a few troublesome matters, but they were nothing to her. In return, the Chieftain helped her fend off Beastfolk from other tribes who wanted to see her. The reason was simple: Hu Li wanted peace and quiet. Moreover, her little tiger cub was almost a month old and would soon undergo evolution, so she needed to focus on that.
The month passed quickly, and Hu Li had been feeling very anxious these past two days. Hu Zhuo explained that evolution didn’t start exactly on the one-month mark but could occur anytime within two or three days after reaching one month. She dared not let her guard down.
“System, come out.”
The System yawned.
【Host, you finally remember me?】
“Can you check if my Cub’s evolution will go smoothly?”
【Don’t worry, Host. The Cub is perfectly fine. If you’re concerned, you can enter the store and exchange for an Advancement Pill!】
“Advancement Pill? What’s that? What does it do?”
【An Advancement Pill is a pill that enhances Cultivation. After Females evolve into Red Crystal, they can no longer improve their Cultivation, but Males can continue to break through. Using an Advancement Pill will add an extra layer to the Cultivation level they are about to break through.】
“Got it. Exchange, exchange! My Cub must become stronger. How else can he protect his weak and helpless old mother?”
Soon, an Advancement Pill appeared in Hu Li’s hand.
“System, if he takes another pill, will the Cub break through another level?”
【As the Host wishes.】
“Then if I exchange more, can the Cub just keep eating until he becomes invincible?”
【Uh… Host, this train of thought really leaves the system helpless. As long as the Host doesn’t want the cub to explode and die, you can let the cub eat it anytime.】
“Alright!” The cub is still young, so it’s better to be stable.
Hu Li had asked for the Evolution Pill during the day, and by night, the cub’s body began to heat up. At first, she thought it was a fever, but Hu Zhuo said it was the start of his evolution.
Hu Li stared worriedly at the cub on the stone bed. “Hu Zhuo, does evolution hurt? Is it very uncomfortable?”
Hu Zhuo patted her back. “Discomfort is inevitable, but there’s no life-threatening danger.”
His gentle gaze swept over A Li’s worried face, then glanced at her abdomen. Hu Zhuo thought that if he and she had a child together, A Li would also be a loving mother.
The tiger cub was sweating profusely one moment and shivering from cold the next. Hu Zhuo had never seen such a situation before, so he could only go and fetch the Chieftain, telling A Li not to worry and that he would return quickly.
“250 System, come out quickly! Didn’t you say the cub would be fine?”
【Yes! This is a normal phenomenon. Besides, the tiger tribe and the fox tribe are different races, so their evolution processes must differ too! It’ll be fine soon.】
Hu Li let out a long sigh of relief, then placed the Evolution Pill into the cub’s mouth.
Soon, the cub let out a roar, and his body began transforming into the appearance of a five- or six-year-old child. He was absolutely adorable, and even Hu Li couldn’t escape the cub’s cuteness attack. She hugged him and showered him with kisses.
【Wait, something seems off with the cub.】
The system’s voice broke the warm atmosphere.
Hu Li asked coldly, “What’s going on?”
【When the cub’s Father Beast mated with the original host, he might have been poisoned, and half of it was passed on to the cub. Alternatively, it’s possible that the Father Beast’s family has some hereditary illness.】
“Never mind that for now. First, tell me how to treat it. We can deal with the Father Beast’s matters later.”
【Judging by the situation, it can only be suppressed. You’ll need to find the cub’s Father Beast to fully understand how to treat it.】
“What? Not only did he abandon the cub to me without coming to find us, but now I have to go looking for him? When I find him, I’ll make sure to castrate him!”
The system shivered at these words. Indeed, a mother’s strength emerges when her child is in danger. Mothers are great—they fear nothing for their children.
The Chieftain arrived belatedly. Looking at the cub lying on the bed, although his body temperature had returned to normal, he appeared sickly. Usually, after evolution, cubs would be energetic and lively, but Hu Li’s cub was an exception.
The Chieftain rubbed his aching head.
“Perhaps my experience is insufficient, and I can’t tell what’s wrong with this child. It might be due to the difference in race—evolution may have drained him greatly, which is why he looks sickly. Let him rest for a couple of days. If he’s still like this, we’ll have to ask the Priest for help.”
After seeing the Chieftain off, Hu Li still felt uneasy. She inquired about methods to suppress the illness, and the system could only open the medical area, finding what seemed to be a useful prescription.
Once she obtained the medicinal herbs, Hu Li immediately instructed Hu Zhuo to brew them. After some thought, she decided to use Spirit Spring Water for the brew.
Sure enough, after drinking it, the cub’s complexion became much rosier.
Hu Zhuo didn’t ask where the medicinal herbs came from. He knew his A Li was always clever—nothing could stump her. Besides, everyone has their secrets.
It was unclear whether the medicinal formula had taken effect or if it was the Spirit Spring Water that worked. The next day, Hu Li boiled the medicinal formula with ordinary water and fed it to the cub. After waiting for a while without seeing any noticeable effect, she poured a little Spirit Spring Water and fed it to the cub. This time, the cub was able to open its eyes. Hu Li was overjoyed in her heart, thinking, “What kind of useless 250 System is this? It’s not even as good as the Spirit Spring Water.”
System: I heard all of that. When you need me, it’s ‘System,’ but when you don’t, it’s ‘useless 250 System.’
“Mommy~”
Hu Li looked down and saw a pair of large, grape-like eyes staring at her, adorable and sweet, no different from a human child.
“Mommy, I’m so hungry! I want milk.” As she spoke, she tried to move closer to Hu Li but was picked up by Hu Zhuo.
“You’ve already evolved into a Beastfolk now. You can eat meat; you don’t need milk anymore.”
“Grrr~ Grrr~ I… I can eat Beastfolk, especially Males.”
Meanwhile, in a distant palace far from the Red Fox Tribe, a man dressed in luxurious black robes sat cross-legged in meditation, his golden eyes suddenly snapping open. He felt a surge of primal power flowing through his heart.
It was his descendant, born from that Female.
He was going to retrieve the cub.