Looking at the mother body, tattered and covered in blood, Chen Jian felt a pang in his heart.
Can this thing be eaten?
Well, he's from the Guangxi and Guangdong regions himself; planes with wings aren't eaten, chairs with four legs aren't eaten, anything else is fair game.
And during military training in the field, even leeches with their insides removed can be crunched on, and through that, a set of steel teeth and an iron stomach were forged. Now eating some monster meat doesn't feel out of place.
But the problem is, the mutation mechanism of this thing still isn't clear, and who knows if the flesh contains a virus.
Take a bite, and if an ulcer grows in the mouth and infects the capillaries, that would be the end.
Even if you don't mutate on the spot, you probably lose a lot of sanity value, right?
Chen Jian looked suspiciously at Xu Lie, who laughed and said:
"Just kidding, unless absolutely necessary, monster meat is only eaten by those devotees."
"We have some dry rations; when we leave the city and reach the camp, we can eat together."
Upon hearing this, Chen Jian finally breathed a sigh of relief.
But in an instant, he caught a crucial point in the other's words.
"Unless absolutely necessary."
Does that mean, in an emergency, it can still be eaten?
He immediately questioned Xu Lie, who nodded and replied:
"All monster meat is poisonous, some lightly, some heavily."
"The lighter ones just cause a few days of diarrhea and some vomiting and diarrhea."
"The heavier ones, well, you'll die on the spot."
"However, whether light or heavy, once you eat it, the monster's 'spirit' follows you for life."
"What do you mean by 'spirit'?"
Chen Jian pressed further.
"It's kind of... a concept?"
"In any case, it's a sort of curse; after you consume it, all your descendants will only be monsters."
"I don't know more specific details; if you want to know, you can come back to the Holy Blood Temple with us and ask the High Priest."
"Oh, by the way, the people of the Mechanical God Sect call it 'Original Gene,' but they probably don't understand what it means either."
Goodness, Original Gene.
So, do these monsters have a Holy Father too?
Chen Jian clicked his tongue twice, understanding the logic of how this thing works.
Most likely, the monsters are caused by a virus and come from mutations.
However, in a logically consistent physical world, nothing can cause a functional mutation in an adult, much less change their physical structure.
So, the virus would lie dormant, waiting to attack the genetic material when the host starts to reproduce, altering genetic composition to achieve the purpose of "breeding a monster."
Could it be that the extinction of humans is related to this super hidden mode of attack?
Chen Jian wasn't sure.
But at least he understood why those so-called "devotees" are so dedicated to "procreation."
No wonder they said "can't leave."
In this post-apocalyptic era, using basic logic, Chen Jian also knew that reproduction must be a top priority.
And what about them?
If you don't have children, you're seen as an outcast; if you do, you're inevitably exposed.
If you stubbornly refuse to have children, one day you'll be suspected and can't escape the fate of death.
So, those already parasitized by the virus can only stay in the monster's territory...
Click.
This world isn't crazy; I just haven't seen enough.
He quickly updated his findings on the PDA, and after the rest of the team reviewed his theories, they nodded in agreement.
Xu Lie noticed their expressions and wondered about their means of communication.
Chen Jian didn't reveal the secret of the visors; instead, he only shared his speculations with Xu Lie to divert his attention.
After hearing Chen Jian's words, not only Xu Lie but all members of the Holy Blood Team displayed unabashed surprise.
They had already assumed Chen Jian's team came from some unknown place as "chosen ones," assuming these people, though powerful, were clueless about this post-apocalyptic wasteland.
Yet, in such a short time, they had already grasped such a complex reality.
It's important to know that even the Holy Blood Temple only realized the issue with devotees after a small settlement was annihilated.
And now...
Did I just say a few words?
Xu Lie looked at Chen Jian with growing curiosity, mixed with a bit of awe.
The group continued forward, bypassing the collapsed scaffolding that Chen Jian's team had blown up, heading out of the city along the same route they took to enter.
But as they walked, Chen Jian increasingly sensed something was amiss.
When they entered a narrow street, rustling sounds emerged around them.
The four members of the Holy Blood Team had already drawn their weapons, and Chen Jian cocked his gun.
"Be ready; there might be enemies."
As soon as he said that, the next second.
Several rock-like objects flew out from the windows of the buildings on both sides of the street.
"Engage!"
Shen Yue shouted, instinctively setting up the machine gun.
Immediately, those objects exploded with a roar.
"Boom!"
The prepared four-member team was barely affected, and the Holy Blood members, already physically superior to the average person, remained unmoved.
This surprise attack failed, but those hiding in the shadows began moving towards the street.
A dense crowd surrounded the eight people in the center; Chen Jian scanned, estimating the opposing group at least numbered a hundred.
"Devotees."
Xu Lie said in a steady voice.
"We killed their master, now they have nowhere to go."
"We need to retreat quickly; there are too many of them, and it would be too exhausting to fight them all."
Retreat?
I want to retreat!
Chen Jian's eyes were cold, his mind racing.
Now the eight-member team was surrounded, and a Holy Blood member could easily leap three or four meters, making a bloody path not difficult.
But on this side, the four of them were carrying heavy equipment, unable to run fast; where could they retreat to?
Ammo is running low.
But if it's not used now, perhaps there won't be a chance later.
With this thought, Chen Jian decisively said:
"We're too slow, we can't escape."
"You can't go either."
"Retreat with us into the left alley, watch for enemies slipping through the sides."
"Shen Yue, be ready to inflict as much damage on the enemy as possible."
"Understood!"
As soon as the order was given, the four-member team took action.
Seconds later, Shen Yue had already set up the machine gun on the ground, while the other three held their weapons, crouching on either side, guarding.
The next moment, dozens of devotees surged out from the alley mouth, charging headlong in their direction.
The scene was extremely terrifying, even making the four members of the Holy Blood Team start to feel tense.
They instinctively thought this tactic would lead them to their deaths.
Yet Chen Jian's undeniable tone made them suspect if he had some other "ability."
----But, there wasn't.
They simply crouched there, simply let their weapons unleash flames.
The rushing devotees fell layer by layer until none remained standing.
At this moment, the four Holy Blood members felt like needles were prickling their backs, chills coursing through them.
It was the first time they felt the terrifying power of these four "chosen ones" at such close range.
And they knew that their power vastly surpassed the strongest in the Mechanical God Sect...