"These mutant beetles probably live in the giant tree. The five gnawers were just wandering outside the door, unwilling to come in, probably because of the presence of these mutant beetles. For gnawers, catching mutant beetles to fill their stomachs is no problem; they are not picky about food.
The mutant blister beetle's venom isn't a threat to them, but if surrounded by hundreds of them, they'd be in danger. Loitering outside and catching any unlucky ones who stray is a good option. I remember the mutant blister beetle's protein content is over 50%, so I should take some back to make protein powder."
Xu Qinghe walked in front, leading the team up the stairs to the second floor, and couldn't help but chattering.
The elevator had been broken for a long time and was completely unusable.
They were able to use the stairs because the area where the stairs were located was not in the collapsed half. Otherwise, the five members of the team would have had no choice but to climb the giant tree or jump directly up the stairs.
Compared to taking the stairs, the other two methods are obviously much more dangerous.
"Don't mind me. Brother Xu was the first one to follow Grandpa Fei. Back then, they lived on each other in very poor conditions, so they were used to saving. They would feel a strong sense of guilt for any waste."
Noticing that something was wrong with Chen Yan's expression, Qin Yourong explained with a smile.
Chen Yan was shocked and said, "Using mutant blister beetles to make protein powder... no matter how economical you are, it doesn't need to be so cruel, right? That stuff is disgusting just by looking at it. If it is made into protein powder... can you eat it..."
Qin Yourong shrugged and said, "It can't be helped. Insect mutants are naturally rich in protein. Compared to other mutants, the protein content of insect mutants is about three to six times that of other mutants of the same weight.
This means that once the water content of the mutant insects is removed, the remaining dry weight is mostly protein, making it extremely easy to process. In comparison, being able to make protein powder from mutant blister beetles is already quite impressive."
Chen Yan could hear the hidden meaning in Qin Yourong's words and couldn't help but frown. "What do you mean? What do you mean by using mutant blister beetles to make protein powder is already very good? Otherwise, what else is usually used to make protein powder?"
Qin Yourong spread his hands and said, "Mutated blister beetles, or indeed many other mutated insect species, have specific requirements for their living environment. This makes most mutated insect species unsuitable for capture. Even if they were captured, the number would hardly meet the needs of making protein powder.
However, there is a type of mutant insect that doesn't have these problems. They possess an incredibly high survival capacity, are numerous, and can be found in every corner of the wasteland. While their combat effectiveness is low, their reproductive capacity is astonishing, making them a major source of protein powder.
"What insect?"
"Mutated cockroach."
Chen Yan felt that his face must have turned green.
His stomach was churning uncontrollably.
Wow… using cockroaches to make protein powder?! Using it to supplement the protein needed by the body?! Is this something a human could do?
The two did not deliberately lower their voices when talking to each other, and since the five senses of awakened people are much sharper than those of ordinary people, Xu Qinghe and Yao Shan and Yao Yun could hear the conversation clearly.
Xu Qinghe looked back at Chen Yan and said with a hint of doubt: "Xiao Chen, I am a straightforward person. I don't beat around the bush when I speak, and I say what I mean. If you feel uncomfortable listening to me, don't take it to heart.
But I really can't understand why you give me such a different feeling than everyone else. Even your attitude towards food and water is beyond my comprehension. Honestly, if Rongrong hadn't vouched for you, I definitely wouldn't have trusted you.
For example, using mutant cockroaches to make protein powder is almost the main source of protein for everyone in the wasteland. For ordinary survivors, obtaining grains and meat is extremely difficult, and protein intake is very unstable.
If I don't extract the protein by catching mutant cockroaches, my body will soon collapse. Maybe I'm too low-level, but besides you, I've never seen anyone else express a clear aversion to mutant cockroaches."
Chen Yan was slightly stunned, then smiled bitterly and said, "You're right, I do have some 'why not eat meat' thoughts. Perhaps it's because I've never lacked food and drink since I can remember, so it's hard for me to empathize with the hardships faced by the survivors in this wasteland."
Qin Yourong put her arm around Chen Yan's arm and said comfortingly, "This is something to be thankful for. You don't need to feel guilty about it. Suffering is not worth singing about. If possible, no one would want to live like this."
Xu Qinghe looked at Qin Yourong, then at Chen Yan, and said thoughtfully, "Since the Great Cataclysm, not many people have been able to live a life of plenty in this wasteland. But I know that's your secret, so I won't ask any more questions. Anyway, we're just lucky to have met you, otherwise I would have found a way to take the bodies of those mutant beetles with me before leaving."
While they were talking, they had already walked up the stairs from the first floor to the second floor and stood in front of the door of the emergency passage on the second floor.
What comes into view is a scene that looks like a primitive jungle!
Various kinds of lush vegetation climbed up along the trunk of the giant tree, almost covering the entire floor, walls and ceiling of the second floor.
But what is strange is that despite being covered with various vegetation, the entire second floor seems extremely quiet, with a silent and dead silence, which is in sharp contrast to the vigorous vitality displayed by a large amount of vegetation!
Xu Qinghe did not rush in.
Standing in front of the gate of the safe passage, he waved to signal others to stop, then put the high-frequency sword in his hand back into the scabbard tied to his leg, and took out the energy rifle from his back.
Without aiming, he casually fired a shot towards the second floor.
The energy beam hit a vine, but the humidity of the vine itself seemed to be quite high, and apart from smoke coming out of the place where it was hit, there was no sign of burning.
Just as Chen Yan was about to ask with a puzzled look on his face, there was a sudden vibration under his feet.
The next second, a giant herbaceous plant, nearly three meters tall and shaped like a banana fan, suddenly jumped up from the ground!
The plant's rhizome is thick and strong, and pairs of densely packed leaves are like pinnae, close to each other, forming a shape similar to the leaves of a banana fan.
Each leaf is covered with sharp thorns, which looks scary at first glance!
Xu Qinghe put away his energy rifle and snorted coldly, "Sure enough, I knew it!"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
