Chapter 40

Actually, not just 【Blood Frenzy】 — 【Iron Eater】 and 【Grand Feast】 are equally a tad sinister.

【Iron Eater】 has woken Feng Mu from nightmares more than once, making him think he had turned into an E Corpse.

Moreover, lately when burning E Corpses, he always feels those ugly, terrifying E Corpses aren't as hideous as they were at first; he can even tell which E Corpse looks a bit more handsome.

Thinking deeper, it's terrifying, isn't it~

It's like how humans can't tell which spider looks more elegant — if you can tell the difference, you'd better go to the Hospital and have your composition and Organization checked.

Also, 【Grand Feast】 which still hasn't torn open its "packaging film" to this day.

Feng Mu has been injured several times, each time forcibly suppressing the impulse to absorb blood and recover — is it that he doesn't want to?

No,

He just instinctively fears it.

【Grand Feast】: The blood of your kind is filled with an alluring fragrance; devour them, and you shall gain eternal life~

Think about it~

Whether devouring the fresh blood of your kind grants eternal life, Feng Mu isn't sure — or rather, he isn't convinced; he doesn't know how much of your kind's blood would need to be devoured to achieve eternal life.

One, definitely not enough.

Ten or a hundred, still a bit lacking.

Thousands or tens of thousands, maybe enough, maybe still a drop in the bucket.

After all, eternal life — converted to numbers, that's infinity, a number greater than the sum of all human Lifespans in a single World.

How many Blood Bags the other side of the eternal life equation requires, Feng Mu cannot know.

But what he can foresee is that once he drinks that first Mouthful of blood, he will never be able to stop again, only sliding uncontrollably toward the Abyss.

If 【Iron Eater】 is an evolution from human to non-human in terms of Body Structure.

Then 【Grand Feast】 is a Degeneration from human to non-human on the subjective, spiritual level.

The logic is simple: once you regard your own kind as walking Blood Bags, would you still acknowledge yourself as human?

Perhaps that day will eventually come, but Feng Mu still hopes it arrives later, so he can retain a bit more of the radiance of humanity on himself.

【Iron Eater】, 【Blood Frenzy】, 【Grand Feast】: "..."

So you're the only noble and pure one, and the three of us are just the evil sources corrupting you? Then don't use us~

Feng Mu shredded the Paper, swallowed it mixed with Iron Sand, then drew a tube of blood with a Needle, muttering to himself: "The entries I activated the system with my life — how could I possibly not use them~"

Like how smoking is harmful to health, but how many people can truly quit — they all still light one up even on their deathbed.

Can't stop Eating Iron, can't stop drawing blood, can't miss a single day of practicing the Body Forging Exercise.

Perhaps because he had just experienced a thoroughly satisfying Battle, or perhaps a subtle shift in mindset, Feng Mu's state tonight was exceptionally fierce.

【Edible↑↑↑】 Rarely, three upward arrows appeared simultaneously.

Triple efficiency?

Tonight he can only not sleep, stake his life and grind until Dawn.

3.3007:55.

Feng Mu stopped Cultivating; the Settlement image on his Retina froze:

【Iron Eater: First Rank】

【Edible Iron Types: 1】

【Metal Property Absorption: 1】

【Current Detected Edible Iron Type — Ordinary Pig Iron, Edible 94%.】

【Already Extracted Property: Mold Embryo (White)】

"Huu—"

Feng Mu let out a long breath, his Yan Zhen flickering with joy:

"Like this, only 6% short; the First Rank Edible will be full, and barring Accidents, it'll be done tonight."

"Even, might not need to wait until evening — possibly before getting off work..."

Feng Mu mused like this, then rolled up his sleeve and drew another tube of blood with a syringe.

His arm already had quite a few Needle holes from these past few days; if an outsider accidentally saw, who knows how they'd misunderstand him.

Put away the syringe, slung on his Bag, sat at the table and ate Rice seriously.

Wang Xiuli clearly looked haggard from not sleeping well all night; several times she wanted to speak but stopped, wanting to persuade Feng Mu not to go to work, to just quit and stay home, wait for Feng Ju to return and rearrange things for him.

But as if she also knew it would be useless, in the end she only reminded him to be careful going out.

The Bicycle had ultimately suffered abuse; pedaling it made a creaking, grating sound, like a dying patient rasping a Farewell to him.

"Time to replace the Bicycle." Feng Mu thought.

After all, it had accompanied him for a long time, his beloved ride; Feng Mu ultimately wasn't a heartless person, couldn't bear to disassemble and eat it.

Once he buys a new Bicycle, he'll give the old Bicycle a ground burial.

When he rode into the Incineration Plant, the Security Guard holding a Thermos looked slightly surprised.

Feng Mu paid no heed, changed clothes, put on his Mask, and entered the Incineration Room.

Wang Jian had come early; seeing him arrive at work safe and sound, joy showed on his face; he seemed to want to ask something, but seeing Feng Mu had no intention of speaking, he ultimately didn't ask.

After the Luo Ji incident, Wang Jian had also become steadier, learned to hold his tongue.

Not a single E Corpse all day, as if the gods themselves were urging Feng Mu to hurry up and level up.

16:20 in the afternoon.

After finishing the last round of Body Forging Exercise, swallowing a full Mouthful of Iron Sand, accompanied by the prompt 【Edible↑↑】, the First Rank Iron Eater's progress bar overflowed.

Ding—

The crisp notification sound was like a hatchling shattering its eggshell from inside.

【Iron Eater: Second Stage】

【Edible Iron Types Slots: 2】

【Metal Property Absorption Slots: 2】

【Absorbed Properties: Mold Embryo (White)】

Muscles straining, skin stretched tight, bones restless inside, like a curled giant struggling to break free from the confining world.

Pangu splitting heaven? Ah, no, I'm turning into an E Corpse!

Feng Mu felt a chill in his heart, sensing his bones about to grow out, pierce through his skin, turn over and become the master.

Although, this way, his strength would inevitably make a qualitative leap, greater power, stronger defense, most importantly more cool, more fitting for a villain.

But...

Feng Mu stared wide-eyed at the empty cremation cabin, he didn't want to lie in it that early.

"Don't grow out!" Feng Mu roared in his heart, heart-rending.

One minute, two minutes, three minutes... the violent bones, under his strong refusal, had no choice but to settle down, stopping their throes of bursting out of his body.

A strange fluctuation rose in his Nao Hai.

Feng Mu seemed to feel, from the 【Iron Eater】 entry, a wave of aggrieved emotion.

An entry producing emotion, even more evil.

A thief absurd thought surfaced in Feng Mu's heart: "The three entries born from 【Blood and Iron】, could they be alive?"

"No, they don't count as alive yet, but as I keep striving to level up, one day..."

Feng Mu shivered, suppressing this evil delusion: "My cultivation leveling process, is actually simultaneously hatching them?"

"Impossible, should be me overthinking... right~"

Took ten-odd minutes, Feng Mu calmed his mood, feeling the changes in his bones.

First reaction was bones got heavier.

Second reaction was...

Feng Mu suppressed the impulse to experiment, he glanced back at Wang Jian squatting at the Gate smoking, decided to wait until after work Go Home then do the feeling.

Otherwise scare Wang Jian, still have to silence him.

(End of Chapter)