Chapter 95: This Insect Cake, Do I Have To Eat It?
“Uncle Yang, take it out quickly, I want to play.” A Xing said impatiently.
“Don’t be hasty, I haven’t had time to claim it yet. City Lord Morgan will arrange for someone to deliver it in a bit.” Welt said helplessly.
“The Armament Preparation Room has training-use Gravity Bodies. You can try them out first, and I’ll teach you how to use them.” Hong Kou suggested.
“Let’s go.” A Xing pulled Hong Kou along.
“Then I’ll trouble you.” Meng Huaifeng followed.
The driving experience of the Gravity Body wasn’t very comfortable. Of course, this was also related to Meng Huaifeng’s physical body strength being stronger than the Gravity Body.
He could clearly punch at supersonic speed, but when wearing the Gravity Body, the punching speed dropped by at least half, with an extremely low latency feel.
Ordinary people couldn’t sense this latency, but Meng Huaifeng, with his extraordinary senses, could feel it very clearly.
Moreover, the power the Gravity Body could exert was not as strong as what Meng Huaifeng himself could exert.
So wearing the Gravity Body instead restrained Meng Huaifeng, and the experience naturally wasn’t great.
Meng Huaifeng tried it for a moment, then exited the Gravity Body. A Xing, on the other hand, was having a lot of fun.
Welt was giving physical check-ups to a few people from this world.
Don’t misunderstand, it was the very proper kind.
Although many planets have the human race, and they look similar on the outside, their internal physique and structure might differ.
“Compared to people from martial arts civilizations, their meridians are slightly fragile and often blocked. In a martial arts civilization, that would mean no cultivation talent and unsuitability for cultivating internal energy. Though it might be individual differences; I need to check more people.”
“Sword Intent requires firm will, which is also a kind of intense emotion. Cultivating this would likely lead to death from attracting too many Devouring Beasts before they even grow, not suitable, pass.”
“The Martial Spirit System has too many flaws. This world has no Soul Beasts, and for non-Pathfinders, breaking through Soul Ring bottlenecks with one’s own power is too difficult. My research on Martial Spirits is limited; I temporarily have no improved method to advance beyond Soul Rings.”
“The pineal gland in the forehead is too loose and not condensed enough, unsuitable for cultivating mental power and magic.”
“Hmm, they do have a special life energy inside them. Could it be the Life Essence Huai Feng mentioned? It seems they could take the path of strengthening physique with life energy.”
Meng Huaifeng had said Devouring Beasts could absorb humans’ Life Essence, so conversely, humans could absorb Devouring Beasts’ Life Essence to become stronger, like leveling up by killing monsters in a game.
Such an idea suddenly popped into Welt’s mind. This way, they could not only become stronger quickly but also clear the crisis on the ground, allowing humans to return to the surface.
However, this method was somewhat similar to Abundant Evil Creatures, the difference being it was used for the right path.
But Devouring Beasts are finite. If Devouring Beasts are exterminated and ambitious people are unwilling to stop becoming stronger, what then?
Would they turn their blades on their companions?
Welt frowned tightly. Even though this method seemed most suitable for this world, he decided to shelve the idea.
Such a dangerous double-edged sword was better left unmade.
Try another method; it’s fine if becoming stronger is slower.
Various methods of becoming stronger in the Universe flashed through Welt’s mind one by one.
In the apocalypse, people could die at any time, so it was best to form combat power quickly in the short term, with continued strengthening afterward.
Finally, Welt settled on using Gene Enhancement Fluid as the foundation to break physical limits, then continuously strengthening physique with this world’s humans’ unique special life energy.
The Beacon has a certain technological foundation and fully meets the conditions for producing Gene Enhancement Fluid.
After confirming the plan, Welt called Dan Heng: “Dan Heng.”
“Mister Welt, what’s up?”
“I need you to help me check the Knowledge Base for various Gene Enhancement Fluid manufacturing methods recorded by Nameless seniors. Regardless of enhancement degree, filter out a few with lower production difficulty and more common materials, and send them to me.” Welt said.
“No problem, give me a moment.”
Little Azure Dragon was reliable; in just over ten minutes, he sent Welt seven Gene Enhancement Fluid production methods.
Welt asked Elon and Jing Nan one by one about the required materials, whether this world had them. The two weren’t very sure, so they first called over a materials researcher.
With the materials researcher’s help, they confirmed three Gene Enhancement Fluids’ materials could be gathered in this world. Welt chose the one with the best mental enhancement effect.
The stronger the mind, the more conducive to sensing one’s own Life Essence inside, then using it to strengthen physique.
At the same time, it was also beneficial for controlling Gravity Bodies and bringing out stronger performance from them.
This way, it could assist Gravity Body driving early on, and later, after becoming strong to a certain degree, discard the Gravity Body, providing improvement at any stage.
Rather than the awkward situation where early on it’s inferior to the Gravity Body, and controlling it is no different from ordinary people.
As for whether people in this world would research plundering Life Essence after becoming stronger, that was beyond Welt’s control.
Life Essence was in their bodies; whether he taught them to use it or not, they could sense and research it themselves after getting stronger.
This was a unique trait of life in this world, unchangeable.
They couldn’t abandon it out of fear.
First, through the Synesthesia Beacon’s parsing of this world’s text, the information was converted to this world’s script. Then Meng Huaifeng used his Mobile Phone Martial Spirit to connect to this world’s network and forwarded the information to Jing Nan’s communication device.
Although they obtained the Gene Enhancement Fluid production information, for the Beacon to fully understand and produce it would take at least a few months, and the Train Crew couldn’t wait that long.
Welt still needed to teach them the method of cultivating with Life Essence, but it was too difficult for ordinary people to sense Life Essence.
So Welt used the Law of Reason’s authority to directly conjure a bottle of Gene Enhancement Fluid out of thin air.
This Gene Enhancement Fluid was one whose principles Welt understood, different from the one given to the Beacon, with much better effects.
However, this didn’t affect subsequent cultivation teaching.
Jing Nan already knew they could take things out of thin air, thinking Welt had retrieved it from some unknown space, unaware he had created it from nothing.
“Instructor Elon, you must be the best instructor on the Beacon, right?” Welt said to Elon.
Since City Lord Morgan had Elon bring him to the Training Room, Elon must have exceptional qualities.
“Naturally, this girl Hong Kou was trained by me.” Elon said without humility, full of pride.
“Then, are you willing to inject this Gene Enhancement Fluid?” Welt asked.
“This stuff, it won’t be dangerous, right?” Jing Nan was slightly worried. Pre-Cataclysm, this world actually had gene enhancement technology too, but with terrifying mortality rates.
“Rest assured, everything we provide is a very perfected product with no danger.” Welt said.
“A little danger is nothing. In the apocalypse, if you don’t become stronger, you’re dead sooner or later. Bring it on. Never thought I’d get this chance in my old age; looks like I can keep contributing to the Beacon for a few more years.” Elon said without hesitation.
“Teacher, how about I do it instead?” Hong Kou said worriedly.
“Hey, you little girl, are you jealous that this old man is about to become stronger and afraid you won’t be able to beat me?” Elon joked.
“No…” Hong Kou hurriedly said.
“Injecting the enhancement fluid is just the first step to becoming stronger. After enhancement, I’ll teach you ways to continue strengthening. Once you produce Gene Enhancement Fluid, you’ll teach others, so the first person should ideally have rich teaching experience.” Welt said.
There were countless methods in the Universe for strengthening physique with life energy. Though this world’s Life Essence was special, it was still life energy, and with Welt’s knowledge, adapting it slightly for this world’s people was effortless.
“Hear that, Hong Kou girl? This first spot belongs to this old man. I admit you’re great at fighting and have surpassed me, but when it comes to teaching, you’re far behind. Don’t mislead the youngsters later.” Elon was full of smugness.
“Rest assured, if Uncle Yang says no danger, then there’s really no danger.” Meng Huaifeng comforted.
“Alright.” Hong Kou could only accept.
“Gene enhancement takes time, so you should inject it back in your room. I’ll teach you tomorrow morning.” Welt handed the Gene Enhancement Fluid to Elon.
Elon took it and glanced at Jing Nan.
“Instructor Elon, you go ahead. I’ll stay here with them.” Jing Nan said.
“Then this old man will head out first. Mister Welt, everyone, see you tomorrow.” Elon said his farewells.
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, something flew over and knocked Elon to the ground.
“Ouch, my old back.” Elon clutched his lower back, face full of pain.
A Xing scratched her head and climbed up from the side, looking bewildered.
It turned out A Xing had suddenly flown over and headbutted Elon’s waist.
“Sigh, what happened? A Xing, what are you doing?” Meng Huaifeng asked puzzled.
“I don’t know either. Suddenly, whoosh, I popped out from inside the Gravity Body.” Clearly A Xing didn’t understand the situation either.
Meng Huaifeng looked toward the Gravity Body A Xing had been piloting and saw March 7th standing beside it at a loss.
“So, March, what happened?” Meng Huaifeng asked.
Facing everyone’s gazes, March 7th said awkwardly: “Um, I didn’t know the button in the back was the emergency eject. I accidentally pressed it, not on purpose!”
“Oh, so it was you who messed me up.” A Xing charged angrily at March.
“I said it wasn’t on purpose, I didn’t know!” March 7th explained repeatedly.
“I don’t care. If you want my forgiveness, you get in and let me eject you once!” A Xing made a reasonable demand.
“No, don’t.” March 7th refused without hesitation.
“Then I’ll fight you!”
“Help, Uncle Yang!”
A Xing chased, March 7th fled.
Welt shook his head helplessly.
“Instructor Elon, is your back okay?” Meng Huaifeng asked with concern.
“It’s fine, just a minor injury, no big deal.” Elon said toughing it out, clutching his waist as he slowly walked out.
Welt did not make Gene Enhancement Fluid for the Scavengers.
First, Nameless were not nannies. They provided help, assisting local forces with matters beyond their capabilities, like the apocalypse’s source.
But they couldn’t help all the way. Things they could solve themselves required their own effort; Nameless wouldn’t rush to help proactively.
Of course, if compensated with a reward for requested help, they could assist.
Second, even if Scavengers injected Gene Enhancement Fluid and their strength surged, they wouldn’t immediately surpass Gravity Body combat power; further slow cultivation was needed.
So with Gravity Bodies available, whether Scavengers injected Gene Enhancement Fluid short-term made little difference.
After the promised Gravity Body from City Lord Morgan arrived, Welt stored it in the Ticket Space.
After bidding farewell to Hong Kou and Po Xiao, Jing Nan took the Pioneer Squad to continue touring other places.
Aerial farms, Upper Citizen Residential Area, Lower Citizen Residential Area.
Looking at the hanging pigeon-cage-like Lower Citizen Residential Area, Meng Huaifeng sighed inwardly.
March 7th looked downcast, clearly in a bad mood, but she understood that only this way could the Beacon accommodate more survivors.
Jing Nan glanced at the fiery sunset and suggested: “It’s getting late. Everyone, follow me up for a meal.”
“With these people?” Meng Huaifeng looked at the so-called Dust Citizens around.
“Of course not. City Lord Morgan specially prepared a banquet to host you all.” Jing Nan said.
“Don’t want to. Let’s eat with them?” March 7th suddenly said.
“This… Dust Citizens’ food is extremely monotonous; I’m afraid you won’t be used to it.” Jing Nan hesitated.
“If they can eat it, we can too. Nameless aren’t pampered types.” March 7th proudly puffed her chest.
“No matter how bad, can it be worse than Sister Himeko’s coffee? I’m not even afraid of Sister Himeko’s coffee!” A Xing said indifferently.
“This time Sister Himeko got off the train with us. Hearing you say that might hurt her feelings.” Meng Huaifeng reminded.
“It’s fine, Sister Himeko isn’t here.” A Xing looked around.
“Coffee is a luxury item…” Jing Nan looked speechlessly at Welt.
Dust Citizens’ food had no comparability to coffee. For these people to think coffee was the worst meant they absolutely hadn’t suffered and couldn’t stomach Dust Citizens’ food.
Welt pushed up his glasses and said: “Since Little March wants to experience life, Miss Jing Nan, please take us there.”
“Alright, if you can’t eat it, you can still go to the upper Restaurant with me.” Jing Nan agreed helplessly.
The Dust Citizens’ dining area had an environment countless times worse than the Scavengers’ cafeteria, but this was within the Pioneer Squad’s expectations, and they showed no reaction.
Seeing they had no intention of leaving, Jing Nan helplessly ordered five portions of food, hesitated a moment, then got one for herself too.
“They’re Upper Citizens, right? Why’d they come here?”
“Who knows, so young, probably curious to experience life?”
“So envious. Why are they Upper Citizens and us Dust Citizens?”
“I bet they’ll spit it out.”
…
Meng Huaifeng took in the surrounding people’s words. He could tell many were extremely dissatisfied with the class system, harboring faint malice toward Upper Citizens.
This was inevitable; no one wanted to be inferior.
If not for all weapons being firmly controlled by Upper Citizens, Meng Huaifeng had no doubt someone would revolt.
Meng Huaifeng looked at the Meat Patty on his plate. His amazing vision clearly showed many insect antennae, shells, and legs in the patty, making his heart feel subtly off.
He sniffed lightly, and an indescribable smell rushed to his brain.
This Meat Patty challenged both vision and smell.
“This… what is this made of?” March 7th couldn’t help frowning, full of disgust.
“This is Insect Cake.” Jing Nan said.
“What insect?” March 7th couldn’t help asking further.
“Cockroaches.” Jing Nan said truthfully.
March 7th froze, petrified. A Xing and Zhu Zhuqing’s expressions also stiffened.
“If you can’t eat it, eat it. Why ask so much? The more you ask, the harder it is to eat.” Meng Huaifeng said speechlessly to March 7th.
“If you all can’t eat it, don’t force it. The banquet is ready.” Jing Nan said again.
“No! This lady said she’d eat with them, so she will! What hardship can’t Nameless handle? Mere Insect Cake!” March 7th said through gritted teeth. If someone else had suggested it, she might back out, but she had proposed eating with Dust Citizens herself… even if it broke her teeth, she’d swallow them!
“This, isn’t it pioneering too!” A Xing shouted, then chomped the Insect Cake into her mouth.
This counts as pioneering? Zhu Zhuqing was shocked, but A Xing as senior wouldn’t be wrong, so she bit into it too, her little face wrinkling deeply.
Meng Huaifeng gave A Xing a thumbs up, picked up the Insect Cake, and ate.
Ignoring the awful appearance and indescribable smell, it actually wasn’t that bad to eat.
Insect meat mixed with shells crunched in the mouth.
“Chicken flavor, crunchy.” Meng Huaifeng said to March 7th.
March 7th then closed her eyes and stuffed the Insect Cake into her mouth as if going to her death.
“Urp~”
March 7th felt slightly nauseous, not from the taste, but psychological reaction.
“Bad news! Captain Hong Kou has been arrested!” A Dust Citizen suddenly ran into the Restaurant shouting.
“What? How could Captain Hong Kou be arrested? She’s such a good person.”
“Yeah, if not for Captain Hong Kou saving me, I wouldn’t have come back!”
“Heard she violated one of the three Survival Laws and has been taken to the Execution Platform!”
“Is Captain Hong Kou going to die?”
“Not necessarily; she’s contributed so much to the Beacon after all.”
“Quick, go check it out.”
Meng Huaifeng set down his Insect Cake, stood up and said: “Let’s go take a look too.”
March 7th relief-washed set down her remaining Insect Cake and said puzzled: “Wasn’t Sister Hong Kou fine just now? And she’s such a good person; how’d she suddenly get arrested?”
“Let’s hurry and save her!” A Xing pulled out her Baseball Bat.
“Don’t rush. Hong Kou is a Scavenger Captain with outstanding ability and many contributions to the Beacon. Even if there’s some mistake, she should be fine.” Welt said steadily.
“Let’s go to the Execution Platform they mentioned first. Miss Jing Nan, please lead the way.” Meng Huaifeng said.
“Okay.” Jing Nan snapped out of her shock and hurriedly led the way ahead.
She couldn’t believe it either—Captain Hong Kou, always full of responsibility and justice, how could the Beacon arrest her?
