Chapter 278 Human Changes (Exclusively Published on Jinjiang Literature City)
field.
"boom--"
"Awooo—!"
The sounds of bombs exploding and the shrill screams of mutated beasts echoed each other, while the members of the Yunlu Village hunting team continuously used their supernatural abilities to attack a group of mutated wild boars surrounding them.
In addition to common attacks such as wind blades and fireballs, one can also occasionally see vines that are different from vampire vines appearing around wood-type ability users.
If the mutated wild boar is not careful, the vines will entangle its body, causing it to become paralyzed or poisoned and collapse.
In addition, some released psychedelic mushroom spores, causing some wild boars to hallucinate and spin around in circles like headless flies, while others took the opportunity to intensify their attacks.
Within fifteen minutes of the start of the battle, the hunting team had completely wiped out the entire herd of over thirty wild boars.
"Finally solved." Zhang Chengming, covered in sweat, let out a breath. "To be honest, the mutated wild boars are much tougher and thicker than before. If my superpower hadn't been upgraded to level three, it would have been really difficult to cut through their skin."
The others nodded in agreement.
Most of the combat-type ability users in the team have reached level three, so dealing with a group of recently mutated beasts is not too difficult, but it is also a fact that it is much more difficult than before.
After everyone rested for a while, Lu Xuan said, "Let's continue."
After hearing this, the group casually picked up the wild boar from the ground and began searching for their next prey.
Before long, they discovered a herd of mutated goats, and everyone's eyes lit up immediately.
Five days have passed since the mutated beast appeared.
After several days of continuous fighting, the hunting team had gained a lot of experience.
For example, after observation, they discovered that the edible meat of certain mutant beasts is biased in terms of species.
If you encounter something inedible, like the wild boar from earlier, don't hesitate or worry about the fighting style; just crush it with brute force.
Superpowers, firearms, or even just blowing flesh to shreds like we just did—it doesn't matter.
The only use of wild animals that cannot be eaten is to enhance their combat capabilities. Their carcasses are taken back and crushed in a fermentation machine to accelerate fermentation into fertilizer, which is no less effective than plant nutrient solution, and can be considered a way to make use of waste.
If you encounter an edible variety, and most likely one that tastes quite good, like it is now, then the situation is different.
Bombs are forbidden, fire-based abilities should be used with caution, and wood-based ability users should absolutely avoid using poisonous plants to contaminate the increasingly scarce meat.
Although the battles weren't as exciting as before due to various restrictions, everyone was quite satisfied with the edible meat they could obtain.
By the time they had captured all fifteen goats, it was nearly noon.
Instead of continuing their search, the group took a detour and met up with the female members of the gathering team who had also come inland with them.
"Aunt Miao, how was your harvest?" Liu Chun asked Miao Jinfeng, who was beaming with joy.
Miao Jinfeng laughed loudly, "Great! We harvested over a thousand catties of mushrooms, wild fruits, and wild vegetables this morning. How are you all?"
Chen Rong scoffed, "Pretty much. We fought several groups of mutated beasts, but only the last group of sheep was edible."
Aunt Chen said, "It's not bad. The mutated animals are much bigger than before. A sheep weighs four or five hundred pounds, which is equivalent to two wild boars before."
The hunting team wasn't unaware of this principle, but after hunting tens of thousands of kilograms of wild animals every day, only three or four thousand kilograms were actually edible, less than one-tenth of the total.
If each family takes a share, the quantity becomes even smaller.
Who wouldn't feel cheated in this situation?
Seeing through their thoughts, Wu Yinyin comforted them, "Besides the meat, aren't the pelts of mutated beasts quite useful?"
These past few days, after they finished collecting the hides and returned home, what they did most was sort out the hides to make coats, cloaks, or boots for their families.
Of course, they did their share as well.
To be honest, the hide was thick and soft. Although it couldn't compare to the high-level mutated beasts in Lu Xuan's hands, it was much more durable and sturdy than before it mutated.
The men didn't hesitate for long before asking the women what they had received.
Miao Jinfeng and the others proudly retrieved their morning's harvest from their spatial storage.
"Wow, these mushrooms are huge!" Chen Rong took a mushroom out of the basket and compared it to his head, finding that the mushroom was even bigger than his head.
If you hold it in your hand, you can estimate that it weighs about three or four pounds.
Zhang Chengming commented, "Eating just one of these mushrooms would probably fill you up."
Wu Yang asked, "Are all these mushrooms edible?"
Aunt Liu affirmed, "Of course, we've tested them all with a testing device."
While not every type may taste great, they're edible and quite large, so other issues can be overlooked.
Lu Xuan glanced at the women, whose faces were rosy and clothes were neat, and then looked at the accompanying guards. "Did you encounter any trouble while picking them?"
Ge Yuan said, "We only encountered some mutated rabbits and pheasants."
The guard also includes some superhumans, and they have no shortage of energy guns and crossbows, so dealing with some small mutated beasts is not difficult.
As for mutated plants, only a minority are aggressive, and most can be identified by their appearance. Once discovered, simply avoid them, and they won't be affected.
At noon, they took some of the ingredients from their morning's harvest and cooked them.
To save time, the dishes are relatively simple: sliced meat is stir-fried, mutated wild vegetables are blanched and then served cold, and mushrooms are torn or chopped and then simmered with mutated chicken in soup. One mushroom can make a big pot, and the taste is indescribable, so delicious that you'll want to swallow your tongue.
Even the villagers, who were used to eating all sorts of good food, couldn't help but bury themselves in the food and eat heartily.
Viewers in the live stream were showing off the delicious food while simultaneously feeling frustrated.
[Waaaaah, why can't I eat such delicious food in real life!]
Why can't we eat the mutated beasts here? It's making me angrier and angrier!
Even Miao Jinfeng and others, who initially complained and cursed that the mutation of plants and animals left no way for people to survive, suddenly felt that mutation might not be so bad after all.
Anyway, the young people in their village are strong, and now that everyone has a single protective shield, there is no need to worry about getting hurt. They have stockpiled a lot of non-mutated meat, enough to eat for decades.
The taste of mutated meat is even better, so why not eat it?
With this in mind, everyone was much more enthusiastic when gathering and hunting in the afternoon, and they reaped more rewards than in the morning.
Five thousand catties of edible meat were harvested, and more than three thousand catties of edible mushrooms and wild vegetables were also picked.
During their time there, they also encountered the Huo family army, who had been sent out by the Western Continent to hunt, and asked them about their catch.
The number of superhumans in Huo Family Army was far less than that in Yunlu Village, but everyone in them was equipped with alloy crossbows and energy guns, and their numbers were greater, so their total harvest was more than ten times that of Lu Xuan's group.
However, there will be a lot of meat to divide up once we take it back.
After the new emperor, ministers, and noble families received a considerable share, there were still hundreds of thousands of disaster victims to be distributed among. Even if the distribution was done by household, each household might only receive less than half a pound, and with the harvested produce, they could barely get two or three pounds.
Compared to this, the happiness index of Yunlu Village, where each family receives at least dozens of kilograms of food, is incredibly high.
·
The hunting and gathering teams worked for more than ten days and harvested a total of 50,000 to 60,000 catties of meat and 40,000 catties of edible mutant plants.
It wasn't until three days of continuous acid rain arrived that the group temporarily returned to the island to rest.
Inside the specially designated heated room used as a processing shed, men, women, and children gathered together, busily preparing the mutated beast meat.
The strong men first skinned the animals, cleaned their internal organs, and cut the meat into pieces. Then, the women would either marinate the meat or grind it in a meat grinder according to the desired processing method, and then add seasonings to make meatballs.
Besides the meat, the soup made from the bones of the mutated beasts is also exceptionally fragrant. It can be drunk alone or used to make noodle soup, and it is necessary to boil ten or eight pots for future use.
Lu Xuan was somewhat different from the others.
Besides the cured meat, dried meat, and meatballs he managed, he also took out some special ingredients and made some special dishes.
For example, deer blood, deer antler, deer penis, tiger bone, and tiger penis were processed by Lin Qingfu, and then mixed with other medicinal materials before being soaked in alcohol.
Then, using time manipulation abilities, one to three months can be accelerated, and the food can be prepared and consumed on the same day.
Of course, Lu Xuan himself did not intend to drink it, nor did he intend to give it to his family, nor did he have the need for it.
He planned to take all these wines to the Western Continent and sell them to the prominent families in the capital.
Upon learning this, Zhang Chengming and the others immediately stopped him.
"No, no, no, we can't let the good stuff go to outsiders. We're here too."
Lu Xuan: ?
Live stream viewers: ?
Lu Xuan looked at Zhang Chengming and Xiong Mao, who were all anxious, with a strange gaze. "Do you have any needs?"
Although these medicinal wines have slightly different effects, they are generally similar in that they tonify the kidneys and enhance male virility, strengthen muscles and bones, replenish blood and qi, and improve physical fitness. Among them, the kidney-tonifying and virility-enhancing effects are particularly prominent, and they are generally not suitable for the elderly, the weak, women and children.
[Wow, so many people want this! Are the men in the hunting team all all bark and no bite?]
[They're all superpowered individuals, how could they possibly be weak? No way.]
[There's no rule saying you have to be weak to drink it, so why can't you drink it to get stronger?]
Sure enough, Xiong Mao said loudly without blushing at all, "I'm strong and healthy and not weak at all, but drinking more won't do any harm. Becoming stronger will make my wife more satisfied!"
Although the others didn't say it so bluntly, their eyes conveyed a similar meaning to Xiong Mao's.
Lu Xuan remained noncommittal.
It doesn't matter who we sell to, since they want it, let's exchange it for them.
He also reminded them, "The mutated parts have become much more potent, so drink less to avoid causing problems."
Everyone nodded. "Don't worry, we know what we're doing."
In the blink of an eye, a third of the dozens of newly made vats of medicinal wine were exchanged by the young people in the village. Even Wu Yang, who seemed very calm and reserved, quietly exchanged dozens of kilograms of it.
Subsequently, the middle-aged people also heard the news and quietly came to find Lu Xuan, including Zhang Wende, Li Tie, Gao Dalin, and others.
It can be said that, apart from Ge Yuan, who remained steadfastly in his position as neither married nor casually dating, almost all the men in the village had changed partners.
Amused and speechless, Lu Xuan casually asked Lei Yan if he wanted some. Unexpectedly, Lei Yan touched his nose and nodded awkwardly.
Lu Xuan: "..."
Live stream viewers: Pfft.
By the time Lu Xuan traded the medicinal wine to the Western Continent, the quantity had been reduced by half.
The prominent families in the capital were not satisfied with this and openly and secretly urged Lu Xuan to do more, preferably another hundred or eighty tubs.
Lu Xuan: "..."
·
During the three days of acid rain, Lu Xuan not only processed his prey but also observed the condition of the mutated beasts in the acid rain.
It must be said that the mutation has brought great benefits to the beasts. Not only have they become stronger, but the acid rain that used to corrode their fur and even flesh can no longer pose a threat to them.
Except for the mutated chicken whose outermost layer of feathers was corroded, the other mutated beasts were completely unharmed.
The same is true for mutant plants; in fact, they even look more vibrant after being exposed to acid rain.
What's even more infuriating is that after the acid rain stopped, the hunting team went out to fight for another five or six days, and then the insect fog reappeared, forcing the group to turn back again.
Then they discovered that the insect fog had no effect on the mutated beasts!
Li Tuo couldn't help but mutter to himself, "The benefits of mutation are too great; I'm even thinking of mutating myself."
Lu Xuan glanced at him and thought to himself, "Be content with gaining superpowers."
If this were the mutation method used in the apocalypse, a person could easily mutate and become a zombie.
Wu Yang looked at Lu Xuan and asked, "I heard from people in the holographic world that many people in the Western Continent have become stronger. Did they also mutate like the mutated beasts?"
Li Tuo asked excitedly, "Really? How come I didn't know about this?"
Some of the others, who weren't very well-informed, looked at Lu Xuan with excited eyes, seeking answers.
Lu Xuan nodded and said, "Most of the people who changed were those who developed a fever shortly after the volcanic eruption."
The fever didn't subside immediately after taking the antipyretic, but lingered for two or three days. Perhaps it was those unknown ingredients, whose uses they still don't know, that were altering the constitution of those people.
At first, the changes were not obvious after the fever subsided, but in the past two days, the new emperor has received reports that more than half of the people are twice as strong as before, and others are faster.
Some time ago, the disaster victims in the Western Continent thought these people with fevers were unlucky, but now that they know their bodies have become stronger, they are extremely envious.
This isn't bad luck, it's incredibly lucky! He's the chosen one!
Zhang Chengming and the others were both shocked and anxious. "The disaster victims on the Western Continent have all undergone this change, so what about our village? It seems no one had a fever back then, does that mean we don't have a chance to become stronger?"
You should know that there are still quite a few people in the village who haven't awakened their superpowers yet.
Before Lu Xuan could speak, Lei Yan said, "Didn't your family tell you? There have been changes in the village a couple of days ago. The village chief, Uncle Zhang, and even Wei Xiang's father are two or three times stronger than before."
Li Tuo seemed to remember something and exclaimed, "My mother has been carrying 100 to 200 pounds of mushrooms and wild fruits without any trouble when she leads the team to collect them these past few days. Has X gotten stronger too?"
Lu Xuan nodded, "More than 70% of the people in the village who did not acquire superpowers have had their physical constitutions strengthened."
However, with these superhumans around, the others were somewhat oblivious to this and didn't react immediately.
If we include those whose physiques have been enhanced, more than 80% of the people in Yunlu Village are no longer ordinary people, a proportion much higher than that of the Western Continent.
Zhang Chengming and others excitedly called home to confirm the news. After finding it to be true, they felt even more that mutation was not a bad thing.
The upper echelons of the Western Continent, led by the new emperor, also held this view.
The size of the mutated beasts is indeed frightening at first glance, but there are quite a few humans among them.
Since the official hunts didn't yield enough game to go around, the locals spontaneously formed hunting teams.
If you can't beat them one-on-one, can't you beat them three-on-one, five-on-one, or ten-on-one?
If everyone can kill an edible mutated beast, they can each get dozens of kilograms of meat.
Isn't this much better than taking nutritional supplements every meal and eating all sorts of fish-flavored food that I'm almost sick of?
In order to alleviate the pressure, the authorities did not stop the operation after determining that the number of casualties was within an acceptable range.
After the initial period of panic, the western continent actually showed signs of prosperity.
As time went on, the number of mutated beasts began to increase significantly. More than half of the mutated beasts in the entire inland region showed signs of gathering in the western continent, and the casualty rate among travelers began to increase unusually. The upper echelons, led by the new emperor, gradually became less happy.
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