Chapter 40: Citizens, Stay Indoors! Proceed with Caution!

A new day arrived on schedule, and Su Ming's breath caught.

Then…

Nothing happened.

The night sky remained that eerie crimson, as if soaked in blood.

"Even Gray Rain didn't show up…"

He had originally thought this Blood Moon would be like a major game patch.

First, drop an earth‑shattering CG!

Now it seems he overthought it.

Immediately after, Su Ming lowered his head and fixed his gaze on his phone screen.

Just a moment ago, he opened a live stream—

【Watch quickly! Live stream of the new day's changes】!

Inside the live feed, everything was blood‑red.

A middle‑aged man stood before an altar of rather odd design.

This altar…

It looked like a food stall cobbled together from assorted dishes.

"Brothers! This Blood Moon still won't work…"

"It's a brand‑new day and still nothing's changed!"

"I was actually hoping this gourmet altar would drop a big lobster or something!"

The man watched the soaring view count, a grin curling his mouth as he wildly joked, spittle flying.

"Don't scroll away, everyone!"

"Let me test whether this undissolved altar can actually be sacrificed, okay!"

After speaking, the man reached into his pocket, ready to pull out the offering he had prepared long ago.

But suddenly, the altar began to shake violently!

"Roar—!"

A massive creature, steaming with white vapor and covered in tentacles, instantly crawled out from within!

Then its blood‑filled maw gaped open…

"Crunch… Crunch…"

The phone slipped to the ground, and the screen went dark.

Yet the chilling chewing sound clearly emanated from the phone.

The bullet comments exploded instantly!

【Huh? What just happened! I was just pouring a glass of water and the streamer vanished?】

【I saw it! A huge tentacled monster burst out of that altar!】

【Poor streamer wanted a big lobster, but got swallowed instead!】

【Whoa! The altar downstairs just now spat out a monster that looks just like the alien from the movie…】

【Haha! You guys are really unlucky… wait, not! I have the same downstairs! Several of them!】

【Official? Someone help!】

Within minutes, the forum completely blew up.

Immediately after, a striking blood‑red notice was pinned to the top of the forum!

【Dragon Nation Official Emergency Notice!】

【During the Blood Moon, altar anomalies occur; citizens are advised not to go outside! Proceed with caution!】

【We are taking action!】

【Powerful sacrificers, provided your own safety, may join the disaster‑relief effort!】

Su Ming finished reading it, and his heart sank slightly.

The flood of scrolling messages instantly gave him a judgment—

This Blood Moon is a key.

Those altars that, even on the new day, still haven't completed ten sacrifices…

Will be opened by this key, unlocking the gate!

Except that what emerges from the gate… is not hope or deity!

But despair!

It is the Calamity of the corresponding plane!

"Finally figured it out…"

Su Ming closed his phone, lifted his head, and his gaze sharpened.

Under the blood‑colored moonlight, the contours of his face seemed carved by a blade.

Calm, ruthless…

And also insane!

Su Ming sensed the Hope Star and the Fate Pocketwatch within the dimensional space.

Then…

He prepared to go out.

"I've slain Epic-level Calamities, and I still have so many treasures on me…"

"Going out for a spin shouldn't be a big problem!"

"And besides, this is the first Blood Moon ever!"

"Those guys that came out of those planes shouldn't be too strong!"

Newcomer protection period, take note!

Su Ming pushed open the Slaughterhouse's gate.

Around him, it was empty and desolate.

The night wind blew, carrying a faint scent of blood.

But he felt the power inside his body boiling.

He, you see—

is itching to move!

"As a law‑abiding good citizen, I naturally have to answer the call!"

"Join in disaster relief together!"

Su Ming's eyes were firm.

It's definitely not to leech blood and resentment for 【Abyssal Demon Dragon Egg】 and 【Soul Dagger】!

It's definitely not about speeding up progress!

Su Ming chose a direction and charged straight ahead.

Not long after, his steps halted.

Ahead, there was an altar right there.

Beside the altar stood a woman cloaked entirely in a blood‑red mantle.

Su Ming activated the 【Eye of Truth】.

【Name: Witch】

【Quality: Common】

"Sure enough, the quality is low!"

Su Ming let out a cold laugh and slipped closer.

In the air, one could still hear the witch's faint wail, oddly unsettling.

"Pretending to be mystical, take her down at once!"

A cold glint flashed in Su Ming's eyes; his form, like a specter, surged forward instantly.

Black vapors swirled over the 【Soul Dagger】.

One slash!

From behind, it precisely pierced the witch's heart!

"Ugh—!"

A mournful scream rang through the night sky.

The witch's body stiffened instantly, then turned into a pool of black blood.

Ambush!

Instant kill!

Boom—!

At the same time, the altar beside it could no longer hold, exploding with a thunderous blast.

"Hm?"

Su Ming was slightly startled.

Among the altar's ruins, a small glittering trinket seemed to lie.

Soon, Su Ming grasped the little thing, and the 【Eye of Truth】 activated again.

【Name】: Altar Fragment

【Function】: Maintains altar operation

A very straightforward description.

"So this fragment… what can it do when it bursts out?"

He thought for a moment, but had no clue.

He simply tossed it straight into the dimensional space.

Whether it's useful or not, gather a wave first and talk later!

"Come on, little darling!"

Su Ming retrieved the 【Black Egg】 from the dimensional space.

"Glug glug…"

The Black Egg was thrilled, shaking its tail wildly, gulping the black blood on the ground like a whale swallowing a cow.

The incubation progress jumped straight from 54% to 55.8%!

A light flashed in Su Ming's eyes.

Sure enough!

This damn thing is way faster than killing a chicken!

And that's not all.

The 【Soul Dagger】 in his hand also absorbed all the lingering black vapors from the witch.

【Growth Progress: 214/1000】!

"Alright, alright!"

Su Ming couldn't help but laugh out loud.

What Blood Moon, not Blood Moon?

This is obviously an ultra‑high‑multiplier experience quest!

Full of power, exhilarating to the point of soaring.

"Tonight... an all‑night grind!"

Su Ming's steps darted, and he quickly locked onto a second target.

It was an altar made of Rotting trash piles, seemingly writhing.

Upon closer inspection—

On the altar, an extra monster that looked like a meatball appeared!

【Name: Giant Trash Monster】

【Quality: Normal】

"My earlier guess was right!"

"Now it's the first Blood Moon, so these monsters' quality won't be very high!"

"For those with weak strength, it's a Calamity..."

"On the contrary..."

"If these Calamities die, the shattered altar will drop Altar Fragments..."

"Then, in a hunter's eyes, these are free resources!"

Su Ming's eyes flickered; without hesitation, he charged straight out.

"Boom!"

A punch erupted, power exploding instantly.

"Crack—!"

The massive trash monster hadn't even reacted before Su Ming's punch shattered it.

Beside it, the altar burst open with a roar.

Amid the ruins, another Altar Fragment glowed faintly!

"Just as I thought..."

Su Ming felt a chill in his heart, his gaze growing colder.

If that's the case...

From now on, there'll be people competing with him for the trash‑picking business!

"Life and death are trivial; if you disagree, just fight!"