Fey Evolution Merchant Chapter 3: Morbius

It was a form of intangible summons, yet it felt like the most harmonious calling one could imagine.

It mirrored the way fate had quietly guided Newton toward the apple tree, resulting in the serendipitous moment the fruit tumbled from its branch.

The moment Lin Yuan’s consciousness drifted into the humble, copper-hued ring of light, the circle flared to life, revealing intricate and mottled engravings.

These designs were nothing short of bizarre. Though they intersected in a chaotic mess, they possessed an incredible, fluid speed.

An overwhelming sense of relief washed over Lin Yuan as he passed through the unornamented light ring. Within this tranquil state, he found himself able to perceive the world’s spirit qi drifting around him.

This was a sensation Lin Yuan had not experienced since he was eight years old—the very year the copper bracelet had tasted his blood and vanished entirely.

When that bracelet disappeared, it hadn't just stripped away his ability to sense the world’s spirit qi; it had also drained his spiritual energy.

Even now, his spiritual energy remained as withered as a parched well, but at the very least, he could finally feel the spirit qi of the world once more.

His physical frailty had been a direct consequence of his inability to sense this energy.

Following the Spirit Qi Awakening, this energy had become the planet's primary power source. Every native plant and animal had evolved in one of two directions under its pervasive influence.

One path led back to ancestral ferocity, focusing on the enhancement of the physical form. The other path involved a spiritual metamorphosis, specializing in energy-based attacks.

Humans, likewise, had established various spirit qi occupations. While these roles were diverse, they all fundamentally relied on using spirit qi to strengthen the human body.

Because Lin Yuan had lost his connection to spirit qi at such a young age, he had been unable to use it for physical refinement. Instead, he had relied solely on natural growth and the energy provided by food.

An uncontrollable surge of excitement gripped Lin Yuan. Although he remained unsure why his body couldn't store the energy, simply sensing it was a massive breakthrough. He might absorb spirit qi at a staggering, unprecedented pace, yet the energy gathered in his frame would inevitably seep out through his hands.

His body functioned like a leaky funnel, a flaw that ensured he was destined to fail as a professional spirit qi practitioner. However, even if the spirit qi wouldn't stay, its passage through his system would still temper his constitution. This meant he could finally stop spending money on the tonics required to sustain his health.

Over a year, the savings would be substantial. His younger sister was approaching the age where she would need to form a contract with her inaugural fey.

With the money he saved, he could buy her a fey that stood out among Normal grades, or perhaps even a low-tier Elite fey.

“I can finally sense spirit qi again! But...” Lin Yuan’s voice trailed off.

Lin Yuan maintained his optimism, yet he couldn't help but feel a twinge of regret that his spiritual energy remained as brittle as ever.

A century into the era of Spirit Qi Awakening, spiritual energy had become just as vital as spirit qi itself.

Professionals in this field formed contracts with feys, which were categorized into healing, offense, defense, and support types. Offense and support types were the most common by far.

To establish these bonds, one required sufficient spiritual energy.

A typical person might contract two or three feys during their life, while geniuses could potentially handle five.

Every additional fey granted a massive power boost, though the cost of nurturing them rose just as sharply.

The greatest challenge regarding feys was their evolution. The wealth needed for such a process far exceeded the means of a small spirit store owner like Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan’s spiritual energy was as thin as a strand of silk. Previously, when he had contracted common domestic feys like the Sound Bird and the Hundred Questions Beast, the strain had caused him to black out for three whole days.

He had suffered a relentless, throbbing headache for two weeks after waking. This experience had been a harsh lesson in just how depleted his spiritual energy truly was.

At birth, his spiritual energy had been average, neither exceptional nor lacking. It had only withered away when his ability to sense spirit qi vanished. The copper bracelet was undoubtedly the culprit behind his weakness.

That bracelet had crossed into this world with him, yet it was the very reason he had become so frail and ineffective.

Lin Yuan felt a deep, conflicting mix of emotions toward the object.

Suddenly, he felt the solid ground beneath his feet. Looking around, he found himself in a separate dimension measuring roughly forty square meters. The floor of this space was a dull copper color, and it contained a pool spanning five or six meters.

There was nothing else in the void.

Walking to the edge of the pool, he saw that the water was crystal clear, acting as a mirror for his youthful reflection.

The water was shallow, barely reaching half a meter deep. Lin Yuan knelt and cupped some in his hands, noting its lukewarm temperature. He sniffed it, realizing it was just ordinary water devoid of any spirit qi.

As he pondered this, a weight settled on his arm. He looked down to see the simple copper bracelet back on his wrist. In that moment, the bracelet pulsed with a faint, communicative intent.

This desire to connect was filled with warmth, shyness, and a touch of confusion, resembling the emerging consciousness of a young child.

The moment Lin Yuan reached out with his mind to touch the bracelet, the mysteries that had plagued him since he was eight were instantly solved.

“So, this copper bracelet that came with me is actually a fey. When I was eight, my blood stained it, and I accidentally triggered a contract! I’ve actually had a contracted fey since I was a child!”

Lin Yuan was stunned. He brushed his left hand over the bracelet on his right wrist, and a wave of serenity immediately soothed his frantic mind. He finally possessed a contracted fey; his prospects for earning money had just drastically improved.

Moreover, his sister wouldn't have to settle for a Normal or Elite fey. If he pushed himself, perhaps he could provide her with a Bronze fey.

In truth, a fey was only considered a genuine powerhouse once it reached the Bronze grade.

Lin Yuan’s feelings toward the bracelet had been messy, but now he realized why he had only been left with a sliver of spiritual energy—just enough to survive—over the last decade.

He also understood why the bracelet had remained silent for ten years.

To protect the eight-year-old Lin Yuan from being overwhelmed by a contract he couldn't handle, the bracelet had entered a deep hibernation.

This dormant state had slowed the bonding process, requiring ten years for the contract to fully solidify. Today marked the day of its awakening.

Sensing Lin Yuan’s turbulent emotions, the copper bracelet radiated a soft, comforting vibration, as if trying to soothe him and encourage him to stay calm.

Once it felt Lin Yuan relax, the bracelet tightened slightly, hugging his wrist securely. It felt like a firm, reassuring handshake that whispered, “Nice to meet you, Lin Yuan.”

A smile spread across Lin Yuan’s face, bright as the first rays of dawn piercing the dark. It was the look of a new sun rising behind the peaks.

In a soft, gentle tone, the youth spoke: “It’s a pleasure to meet you too, Morbius.”