by Tai Baiyang
Which one should he choose?
Zhang Mu thought for a few minutes before making a decision. He told no. 37 firmly, “I will choose the psychological talisman and a unit of second-rank recovery potion. For the remaining 1.5 gold leaves left, change it to 1500 crystals.”
Zhang Mu was really traumatised by Zero. Now, he lacked something that could defend himself against a psychological evolver so the moment he met someone like Zero, he was helpless. He would be trampled upon by them.
Although it was impossible that someone like Zero would appear again, but nothing is certain right? The world is so big and anything can happen. After this occurrence, Zhang Mu didn’t dare to rely too much on his evaluations.
It was more important to make sure that he would still have the chance to live when he met a psychological evolver as compared to having the potion to increase his speed and strength. He would rather ensure his own safety. Anyway, he could rely on his combat abilities, mutated animals, and the Bloodvine Lotus in a fight.
No. 37 nodded and said, “okay, the cost will be 21.5 gold leaves. You will get one psychological talisman, a unit of second-rank recovery potion, and 1500 crystals.”
“Exchange complete.”
Now, Zhang Mu had no more gold leaves. A jade talisman landed in his hand. It calmed him down.
At this moment, the weapon-making system had completed its advance remaking session and it gave a mechanical sound that sounded really pleasant to Zhang Mu.
“Advanced remaking is completed. No. 001, please check your item.”
Chapter 109: Returning To Poverty
Is it finally done?
Zhang Mu had already put on his psychological talisman around his neck. He looked at the weapon-making system in the mid-air. He really wanted to know what his Obsidian Beetle claw looked like after remaking.
A clear and long sound, the nine dragons on the furnace raised their heads. Nine streams of steam spurted out from the heads as if they had been suppressed in the small space for too long.
A loud clang followed after that. The cover of the furnace was opened and a few playful flames gushed out, breathing on the fresh air from outside.
Under Zhang Mu’s gaze, a fierce-looking dagger got lifted up in the steam and rose in the mid-air. It stopped right above the weapon-making furnace.
Once the dagger stabilised, a mechanical voice spoke from within the furnace, “order number: 001. Level 2 weapon advanced remaking. Time needed: 4 minutes 37 seconds. Completed.”
After confirming that nothing was wrong, the furnace continued, “target material is level 1 mutated animal material. After remaking, we combined the blue wind steel which is a third-grade purity material from the Blue wind series and the first-grade purity material, fire essence, from the Diya star series, using the three claws as the core to make a dagger. The length of the dagger is 34cm and the weight is 7.5kg.
Additional abilities: Evolvers could feed it non-attributed energy and the fire essence will convert it to fire-type energy. The blue wind steel will follow the speed of the user and sucked in wind-type energy from the surroundings to merge with the fire-type energy.”
At this moment, Zhang Mu felt that his 66 gold leaves were well spent. From the words the furnace was saying, this dagger had an additional fire- and wind-type attributes. Although the fire-type energy couldn’t be used directly, as a secondary function, it will add on to the power of the fire-type energy and made it stronger than normal fire-type evolvers.
“Hope to see you next time.” After saying this sentence, the weapon-making system disappeared into thin air. A gold light returned to the list of items.
The black dagger fell slowly through the air and landed on Zhang Mu’s hand. He held it tightly and examined its body.
It was a familiar feeling. It was the feeling of the Obsidian Beetle.
At the start, Zhang Mu was worried that the Obsidian Beetle claw would change totally after it was remade but luckily, when he held it in his hand, it still gave him the familiar feeling, just like the last time.
He was not sure if the weapon-making system had purposely observed him but he realised that the dagger’s length and weight were totally suitable for him. His power was increasing at a fast pace so when he used the Obsidian Beetle claw last time, he would feel that it was too light. After integrating the materials from the two series, this 7.5kg dagger was just the right weight for him.
He played with the dagger for a while. The dagger spun in Zhang Mu’s hand, light and handy as though an agile butterfly was flying between his fingers. It was like a beautiful piece of art.
The more Zhang Mu played with it, the more he liked it. This was only the normal state of the dagger. He hadn’t tried its additional functions but that would have to wait until he got out.
This was because, in the era merchant’s shop, all the different types of energy would be suppressed except for the era merchant’s energy. The psychological-type energy of Zero was suppressed too and that was why he became a normal agile-type evolver. But, in the era merchant’s shop, even if you could use your own strength, the era merchant was more powerful than a level 6 evolver so there was nothing much you could do to him either.
Zhang Mu really wanted to go out and test the power of this dagger and forgot about no. 37 totally.
I need to give it a name. Zhang Mu was too lazy to think of one so he just called it Obsidian Beetle dagger.
This name was not flamboyant at all. It was not the least exaggerated.
At this instant, Zhang Mu finally remembered no. 37. No. 37 was standing beside him with a dark face. He quickly laughed and said, “the quality of the remaking is so good I can’t help it but want to play with it for a while more. Please don’t be angry.”
No. 37 looked at him. After a long time, he said, “since you have chosen the rewards, are you planning to start a new round of era training mission? I can give you the mission now.”
“Sure, give it to me now. That way, I don’t have to come back again and my deducted gold leaves would not go to waste. Can you help me to redeem 20000 first-rank crystals worth of current era goods first? Luoyang peony stamen could wait. Do this first.”
Zhang Mu suggested finishing the current era goods exchange first. No. 37 accepted his suggestion.
Hence, Zhang Mu took out the 15000 first rank crystals as well as the other 5000 crystals he collected from the survival base leaders. There was a total of 20000 crystals. He exchanged it with no. 37.
“No. 37, no. 35 had given me an era merchant exclusive ring that could hold unlimited goods inside. Shouldn’t you do something too?”
No. 37 cursed no. 35 silently. In order to recover his losses and let Zhang Mu give him all his crystals, he even gave him the exclusive ring so early into the era merchant.
However, he couldn’t reject Zhang Mu too. Even other era merchants had given Zhang Mu things. If he, his direct superior, didn’t give him anything, it would not be good.
Hence, no. 37 made an era merchant ring appeared on Zhang Mu’s finger unwillingly. The size was similar to the one no. 35 gave Zhang Mu but there was the name of the city ‘Luoyang’ carved on it.
In the process of time, these basic supplies would increase at the lowest speed. Hence, Zhang Mu took all the ability strengthening and first-rank recovery potion available and used the rest of the crystals to exchange for almost a hundred tons of food supplies as well as close to a thousand armors.
He had a full load of items now.
As for the mission this time, Zhang Mu remembered all the era local goods for the second mission. Whether it was the Luoyang peony stamen or the yellow river carp, their profit was the same. Thus, Zhang Mu bought the yellow river carp which had a lower cost.
He only asked for the carp again this time. Since it was his second purchase, there was no discount and he got five yellow river carp using 0.8 gold leaves.
When Zhang Mu walked out of the era merchants shop, he was really poor. That is if you only count th
e current cash on him.
Chapter 110: Entering The East City Again
Zhang Mu walked along the small path quietly. He had stayed for a long time in the era merchant’s shop. It was almost afternoon now.
He walked forward aimlessly as he played with his Obsidian Beetle dagger. He was sorting out what happened to him today. He felt that Cataclysm was not as simple as what he imagined it to be.
As his status changed, the levels that he could touch was different. He felt that this world, this era, and this game got even more complicated and mysterious.
At the start, he thought that he would be able to grow up quickly after he was reborn and find the mastermind behind everything easily. However, now, he realised that his goal seemed too far away. He was just living slightly better life than his previous self.
Let’s not talk about those things that he couldn’t reach. Let’s talked about this small Luoyang city. Even in a small city like this, someone like Zero appeared.
A person who could threaten his life and controlled his existence. It was so scary.
Once he recalled how Zero could control his movements, Zhang Mu slowed down. He instinctively touched the jade pendant in front of his chest. When he felt the coolness from the pendant, he felt much more at ease.
Oh right, there were still more than 10 cannibals which were not settled. Zhang Mu suddenly had a goal. He stopped in his track and turned to run towards the East city.
He was still thinking about how to test the dagger power and now, there was a chance!
Zhang Mu smiled. He held the dagger as his clothes puffed up due to the wind. This set of trench coat looked really classy. The streets around him flew past.
Very soon, Zhang Mu reached the familiar unfinished building. He observed the movements inside from afar.
There were already no evolvers guarding the unfinished buildings. Seems like without Zero’s control and reminders, these evolvers felt relaxed. After all, not many people were able to threaten them.
Zhang Mu was one of them but he was brought somewhere by their leader. No one knew what was left of him but he probably wouldn’t be back.
Zhang Mu didn’t hide. He just walked past the obstacles and went in directly. He went straight to the unfinished building in the middle of the area. He felt that they should be here.
His footsteps sounded especially loud since he didn’t hide it. He saw the 30 cannibals still sitting around the big pots. At the same time, these cannibals saw Zhang Mu too. He was moving towards them at an unbelievable speed. He seemed even faster than he was this morning.
Zhang Mu still remembered the white shirt guy whom Zero called Gu Lin. He should be the one in command right after Zero. Obviously, he was one of the first to notice Zhang Mu too and stood up instinctively. A commotion arose behind him.
By the time the rest of the people reacted, Zhang Mu was already in front of them. He stopped and looked at them mockingly.
Gulin was fearful of Zhang Mu’s Bloodvine Lotus. The Piranha on his chest had withered. He had to keep eating to maintain its last chance of revival. Also, Zero had threatened him just now so he had no courage to fight against Zhang Mu now. As for the people behind him, there was no need to mention them at all. When Zhang Mu’s Bloodvine Lotus came up from the ground in the morning, it killed ten people in an instant. It even sucked a body dry. This dying method was too scary for them. Even if they had fun killing people, when facing with their own death, they were fearful too.
Hence, at this moment, no one made a sound. They all grabbed the weapons, or the white bones, in their hands, afraid that Zhang Mu would make any move.
Since Zero was not here, Gu Lin was the second in command. He tried his best to overcome the fear in his heart. He looked away from Zhang Mu as he said, “Where is our leader? Didn’t you go out with him? Why don’t I see him.”
Zhang Mu faced the 30 people all alone but his aura didn’t lose to them. He said slowly, “If you are talking about that silver-hair old man, he should be dead by now. I am sorry, I didn’t leave any bits of him to keep as a souvenir for you all.”
Everyone looked at Zhang Mu as if they were looking at a ghost. They didn’t believe him.
Although he was really powerful, in front of their leader, he couldn’t move at all. Everyone saw it. However, the same person was saying that their leader was dead. They couldn’t believe him at all. They felt that Zhang Mu might have some special ability which allowed him to escape from their leader and ran back using his fast speed.
Zhang Mu smiled gently as he looked at the people’s suspicious gaze.
The only one who believed Zhang Mu was Gu Lin. He didn’t know why but when he saw the casual smile on Zhang Mu’s face, he felt that what he said was not impossible too.
Once a person started to suspect himself, the suspicion would get bigger. Gu Lin thought of a way to ascertain whether their leader was really dead and he slowly calmed down.
Zhang Mu didn’t stop him. He watched him silently.
After a few seconds, Gu Lin suddenly raised his head. His face was pale. He said with much effort, “our leader is really dead.”
The rest of the people were sneering at Zhang Mu. When they heard what Gu Lin said, they got unhappy and someone shouted at Gu Lin, “Gu Lin, are you frightened by this young boy? Do you know what is the consequences if the leader heard what you say? I think that since your Piranha has withered, you should not be the second in command anymore. You are too much of a coward now.”
The other people didn’t say anything but they looked at Gu Lin suspiciously too.
Gu Lin didn’t look at them. He placed all his attention on Zhang Mu. He continued, “you stupid bunch of people. Feel it for yourself. Is there any reaction from the seed in your heart?”
Once he said this, the noisy bunch of people quietened down and started feeling their seeds.
Some people realised that what Gu Lin said was true. The seed that Zero planted in their heart, which was to keep them from betraying him, had no reaction at all. The scene turned dead silent.
“It’s true. That man is dead.”
Gu Lin’s words were filled with relief and fear.
How did Zhang Mu do it?
Chapter 111: Trying His Hand
Zhang Mu, on the other hand, started to think more highly of Gu Lin. No wonder Zero made him the second in command. It was not only because of his plant-type energy. If this person was not controlled, he would be really scary too.
“So, can you let me go?”
What Zhang Mu didn’t expect was that Gu Lin would start pleading with him. He no longer had the arrogance that he had when Zhang Mu met him.
However, Zhang Mu already made a decision in his heart. He smiled faintly and gave him his answer, “No.”
Gu Lin predicted that Zhang Mu would say this. He was just trying to test his luck just now. He lowered his head hopelessly.
They couldn’t win Zhang Mu last time. They lost to his weird and aggressive Bloodvines. Now, he even managed to kill their leader. No one had the courage to retaliate against him.
Numbers don’t work in front of real power.
Once Gu Lin said this, a portion of the cannibals woke up. They understood the situation now. Some of them even kneeled on the floor and begged Zhang Mu. They even said things like they had an 80 years old mother and a three years old kid.
“We didn’t want to do it too. That crazy person forced us. We really didn’t want to do it.”
Zhang Mu had to applaud some of their acting skills. Tears just appeared in a second. If they could grab his leg and hugged him while crying, they probably would. Their acting skills could be compared to those second-tier actors.
“Yes, we were forced to eat human meat. If he didn’t force us, if he didn’t plant the seed in us, we will not eat this kind of things.”
“Please give us a chance. We will not eat human meat again after we get out of here. Without the control of his psychological seed, I feel disgusted seeing human
meat now.”
“Yes, I can’t eat them anymore too.”
Zhang Mu sneered when he heard all these excuses. They could probably use these reasons to coax people that weren’t aware of the situation but for him, he had already seen their true nature.
Even if they were forced by Zero at the start, they definitely got addicted to it along the way and couldn’t give up on human meat anymore. Also, those people who really kept that principals were already dead. They had probably become their food already.
Since those people who kept their principals were already dead, there was no way Zhang Mu would let go of these people who had betrayed the human race. No matter how much they pleaded and begged and promised now, once they got addicted to it, they would not be able to control themselves. It was like getting a drug addiction.
Even if the presence of Zhang Mu made them stopped for a period of time, as the time goes by, they would listen to the desires in their heart and by that time, Zhang Mu could not do anything anymore. Letting them go would only result in more humans getting hurt.
Zhang Mu took out the Obsidian Beetle dagger and pointed at them as a reply.
There were also evolvers that didn’t beg Zhang Mu. These people knew that Zhang Mu would not let them go so they didn’t plead to him like all those cowards.
One of the men with a ring on his nose sneered and raised his machete in front of his fat chest. He turned back and said to the rest of the people, “at most, we will just die. When I started eating human meat, I was already prepared to be eaten by other people too. Why are you all so scared now? If you all don’t want to die now, split up. His vines are really weird. Don’t fall into the same trap again. Everything else will be easier after that. He is not so scary.”
However, Gu Lin had no intention of fighting against Zhang Mu. He was the only one who survived the attack of the Bloodvine Lotus. The rest of the evolvers were all dead. Hence, these people here didn’t know how scary those vines are.