Chapter 46: Second evolution, reinforce the residence!

The bonus of the Iron Body is far beyond imagination.

A hint of shock flashed across Cheng Ye's eyes as he carefully felt the changes in his body.

If you don't experience it yourself, you will never be able to understand the huge difference.

No wonder the S-3 virus recorded in books is enough to subvert civilization. Now it is just a talent brought about by genetic atavism mutation, which has already left ordinary people far behind.

What about supernatural abilities?

I'm afraid it has already become so terrifying that it has completely separated people and "humans" into two forms!

"No, Dai Zun's iron body doesn't seem to be as strong as mine?"

Not only did he lose his sense of pain, but he also gained a stronger three-dimensional perception of his body. This change was too outrageous.

Cheng Ye simply took off the iron body and tried again.

After repeated verification and comparison four or five times, he actually discovered a slight unexpected change.

"This talent actually has a continuously weakening effect?"

"And there's a built-in cooldown?"

When the Iron Body is first equipped, the increase is the most dramatic. The liberated nerves allow the control of the body to soar by 50%, directly achieving a qualitative change.

However, this increase can only last for a maximum of one minute, after which the increase will continue to decay.

In five minutes at most, the amplification will completely disappear, and the talent must be uninstalled to be reactivated.

Moreover, the amplification cannot be activated if it is equipped immediately after uninstallation.

After field testing, it takes five minutes to restore to the strongest bonus state.

"The pain-sensing nerves are released to capture information... Could it be that the released neurons can't withstand long-term high-pressure information processing?"

Cheng Ye secretly guessed that although his major was civil engineering, this part of knowledge was actually taught in high school biology.

Pain signal transmission depends on specific neurons. When pain perception weakens, the discharge frequency of these neurons decreases, which theoretically may reduce the use of neural resources in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord and the pain center of the thalamus.

The transmission of information by neurons depends on the opening and closing of ion channels, a process that consumes a large amount of energy, which is provided by mitochondria.

When the information processing load increases, the mitochondria will quickly exceed their energy supply and metabolic capacity under high intensity, and the external manifestation is that the amplification effect gradually disappears.

"Theory is just theory. If I could figure it out with my high school knowledge, genetic regression wouldn't be so mysterious. I could definitely use some scientific research skills to study it in detail later."

Cheng Ye shook his head and decided not to bother with these neurological principles anymore.

Without the increased control, this talent is indeed a double-edged sword.

However, being able to achieve a performance stronger than Dai Zun's original body is already a huge surprise.

Anyway, he had no intention of wearing the equipment to reduce pain input for a long time. At most, he would use it when he was pushed to the limit during daily training, and he would endure it and drain his body's potential.

As for actual combat, the outcome of a close combat can be decided within half a minute. How could it take five minutes for the enhancement to disappear?

It’s totally enough!

Coo, coo.

Just at this moment, the familiar feeling of hunger came over me like a tide.

Cheng Ye's face changed, and without thinking, he grabbed the nutrient solution and poured it into his mouth.

Sure enough, no matter whether it is skills or talents, once they reach a certain level, the underlying body will undergo adaptive transformation.

The last basic force exerted, the body directly stimulated the production of new muscle mass in order to adapt.

What about the iron body this time?

One bag, five bags, ten bags...twenty bags of nutrient paste were gone in a flash, and the packaging was thrown all over the floor.

Based on the previous experience, the feeling of hunger should have been relieved long ago after drinking so much nutrient solution.

But now, the black hole-like hunger in my stomach not only did not go away, but instead seemed to hollow out my internal organs.

"Good, good, this feels so right!"

"More, I can take more!"

The conflict between the factions had just gotten off to a good start when the threat of the infected came one after another.

Every shred of hope was completely wiped out from the bottom of my heart.

This is the wasteland, and death never gives people a chance to breathe.

Today it is the stationmaster who falls, and tomorrow it may be the inspector's turn.

Cheng Ye's desire for power has never been so urgent, but what he got in response were bags of empty nutrient solution!

After tearing open the package and entering frenzy mode, he could finish a bag of nutrient paste almost every five seconds.

The sticky paste was meant to fight hunger, but once it entered his mouth it was like being sucked away by a black hole, leaving no sense of fullness at all.

Soon, all the nutrient solution bought from Uncle Dong during the day was finished.

Cheng Ye was slightly delighted, and quickly pulled the box over, violently tore it open and continued drinking.

10 bags...30 bags...50 bags...

Until the packaging bags piled up into a small mountain on the ground, the nutrient slurry finally did not disappear as soon as it entered the throat and was swallowed, but sank firmly into the stomach.

With the experience from last time, I drank 10 more bags and indeed felt full.

"I drank 28 bags before and after the basic strength training, but this time for the Iron Body, I drank a full... 107 bags."

Cheng Ye glanced at the packaging bags on the ground, stood up, and immediately felt the changes in his body.

"Is this... increased physical resilience?"

The skin seems to undergo a wonderful change.

Cheng Ye raised his right hand and ran his fingertips across his left arm. The touch was no longer the soft tenderness of ordinary flesh, but as tough as taut old cowhide.

Moreover, as long as you slightly turn your neck or flex and extend your joints, you can feel the subcutaneous fascia being pulled like a bowstring, making a slight "sizzling" sound, as if every inch of skin has become an elastic armor wrapping around the muscles.

"So perverted?"

Cheng Ye's eyelids jumped suddenly. With the experience of basic strength, he knew that this bonus would not appear only when equipped with skills, but would be a long-term enhancement engraved into the body.

This enhancement will not disappear no matter what other skills are equipped later.

"The Iron Body reduces pain and greatly enhances control over my body. If I were still in my previous body, I'd probably easily strain my fascia when performing large movements."

"But now after the strengthening..."

Cheng Ye pinched his arm, and the muscles under his skin swelled up like an inflated tire.

It’s hard to say exactly how much stronger he has become, but Cheng Ye can vaguely feel that if he were to replace himself before his skills were enhanced, he would probably have no problem beating five of them.

Of course, it has to be a round-robin battle, one-on-one.

"There's a method for measuring vitality in the inner city, but it's only open to the three major legions and used to grade soldiers. Inspectors are ultimately just professionals, and the higher-ups never prioritize combat effectiveness in assessments. With my level of authority, I can't borrow any equipment."

"But you can find time to go to the training hall. Even though Brother B isn't here, there are paid sparring partners. You'll know how much your strength has improved if you give it a try."

Putting the dagger on the bedside, Cheng Ye lay down with his clothes on.

This night.

He slept very restlessly.

Because just as Uncle Dong predicted, the sound of gunfire like popping beans would be heard from time to time at night.

It seems that a lot of infected bodies have poured in. Fortunately, the inspectors are not responsible for internal searches.

This kind of task is usually undertaken by the Happiness Legion, the strongest of the three legions.

Even if the inspector needs to participate in on-duty searches, he is only responsible for the final finishing work, and the risk factor is not high.

...

【Collector: Cheng Ye】

[Current Rank: Level 1 Apprentice (3.2/100)]

[Life Level: 0]

[Skills: Basic Strength, Beast Intuition, Iron Body (Talent)]

【Not unlocked yet...】

[Evaluation: Your strength has increased rapidly in a short period of time, and you are only one step away from the minimum standard of a civilization collector. Focusing on the development of the underlying layer of life will bring you additional benefits.]

"The panel has changed again!"

After finally holding on until the morning light shone through the window, Cheng Ye turned over and got up.

While brushing my teeth and washing up, I habitually opened the panel and noticed the changes immediately.

The Iron Body actually provided an information degree of up to 2.5, which was more than eight times the previously calculated 0.3.

If the collection efficiency remains the same in the future, it means that only 40 searches will be needed to meet the information requirements for collector promotion.

"It seems that catching the strong and fleecing them is indeed the right choice."

Spitting out the foam, Cheng Ye continued to feel.

Nearly five days have passed since I mastered the basics of power.

As muscle memory becomes increasingly ingrained, even if this skill is uninstalled, the body will hardly notice any obvious abnormalities in force.

When performing some special offensive actions, the force line may still be a little jerky.

But he could feel that in two or three days at most, these irregularities would disappear.

This means that before searching for the next skill, you can free up one of the three precious skill slots.

"Unfortunately, Beast Intuition should also be a talent, but the level 1 is too low to be displayed."

"These innate skills are fundamental. Once uninstalled, they will immediately lose their effectiveness."

Cheng Ye remembered this and went back to the room, packed his bag and left early.

Although I don’t have to go to work today, I only need to attend a study session in the afternoon, so I don’t need to get up so early.

But the broken door of the tube building was really scary. It would tremble when a gust of wind blew, making him nervous all night.

"Big iron plates, yes, I want this kind! Give me three first!"

"The anti-theft door lock you took out from the ruins? Is it still usable? Okay, install it for me."

"Door reinforcement nails...why do you still have the full set? Oh, so many people are buying them. Give me two packs."

"Ground spikes? Why would I need them? Putting them in front of the door to block sneak attacks from infected creatures? Then...then give me a set!"

"Anyone want some fresh mutant animal feces? Smear it on the door and the infected will stay away from you!"

“…”

The flea market on the pedestrian street is usually deserted, but becomes lively in the afternoon and evening.

However, today, it was packed with people early in the morning.

Listening to the bargaining sounds coming from his ears, Cheng Ye secretly clicked his tongue. It seemed that he was not the only one who was scared last night.

And looking at the scene of the rush to buy goods, it is even more terrifying than the rush to buy nutrient paste yesterday.

"After all, famine won't kill people in the short term, but the threat of the infected... is deadly."

Cheng Ye walked around the block.

Before coming, he was worried about what materials to buy, but he didn't expect that the stall owners had already prepared a complete solution.

From residential buildings and tube-shaped buildings to roadside tents and dilapidated houses, whenever you want to strengthen your defenses, the wastelanders have already figured out a complete set of methods to provide whatever you need.

And if you buy a lot, there is free door-to-door delivery service.

"580 coins, I'll arrange for someone to deliver it to you right away."

After receiving the happiness coin handed over by Cheng Ye, the stall owner smiled so hard that his teeth were showing and immediately turned around to arrange staff.

Not long after, two thin young men came out pushing a cart and piled all the materials bought by Cheng Ye on it.

"Sir, please go ahead. We will be there soon."

"good."

In the buffer zone, Cheng Ye was not worried that anyone would dare to embezzle the prosecutor's money.

He immediately returned to the tube-shaped building, picked up a wrench and started working on the fragile iron door.

But they said they were removing the door, but in fact they just hit the connection twice and the thing broke off by itself.

The rusty hinges broke into pieces and the door frame shook loudly.

"Damn, let alone blocking the infected, even a normal human being can just rush in."

Cheng Ye glanced at the rust on the broken part with lingering fear, thinking that he was really lucky. If an infected body had sneaked in just after he came through, he would probably die without knowing how he died if he relied on this door alone.

Soon, the materials were moved into the corridor one by one.

Just carrying the heavy security door to the fifth floor made the two young men so tired that they were gasping for breath.

"Trouble you, you deserve it."

He took out two happiness coins with a face value of 5 from his pocket and handed them over. The two of them immediately smiled from ear to ear, and kept saying words of gratitude in their mouths, wishing they could pour out all the good words in their hearts.

After the people left, Cheng Ye looked at the materials piled up like a mountain on the ground, and his heart, which had been hanging in the air all night, finally settled down.

"With these, it won't be easy for the infected to rush in again, right?!"

...