C2 It Was a Bit like Jun Ma Lu!

In that moment, the world was silent except for the faint sound of breathing.

Not a single other noise could be heard.

The rustling of autumn leaves and the howling of the cold wind had vanished as if the world had plunged into a deep hush, save for that solitary breath.

But this serene moment was shattered by a whisper.

The eerie silence returned, the wind resumed its mournful cry, and the leaves rustled once more.

"Just a bit more, and I would have been the one lying there," Chu Yue muttered, releasing a sigh of relief while inwardly chiding himself for his lack of caution.

His actions were intended to throw Lu Tieh off guard.

Had Lu Tieh been the one in hiding, ready to shoot, it might well have been Chu Yue on the ground.

Lu Tieh was no amateur at counter-surveillance, after all.

Luckily, he had let his guard down.

Unsure if Lu Tieh was truly dead, Chu Yue, ignoring the pain from his gunshot wound, rushed forward to deliver several more stabs for good measure.

Only after confirming Lu Tieh's demise did he unzip the black backpack.

"Miss Xue, we're safe now!" Chu Yue said with a smile.

"Mr. Chu Yue... You're hurt again! There's so much blood..."

Chuxue's smile abruptly turned to concern.

"Miss Xue, let's get Mr. Chu Yue treated..."

With a pale face, Chuxue quickly scrambled out of the backpack and unleashed her healing powers.

Meanwhile, Chu Yue swallowed a capsule, extracted the bullets from his wound, and clenched his teeth as he cleaned it.

Under Chuxue's healing touch, the wound began to close.

"Huff... Huff..."

Sweat beaded on Chuxue's forehead, the effort of healing Chu Yue's wounds taking its toll.

Suddenly, a rustling noise interrupted the healing session.

Chu Yue's gaze fixed on a massive shadow – an infected python, seven to eight meters long!

"Miss Xue, run! Run for it! Quick, get out of here..."

Chu Yue couldn't afford to run; his injuries had only just begun to heal. In this situation, escape was impossible, especially with the overwhelming presence of the python signaling imminent danger.

This creature was no ordinary Infection Beast; it had clearly evolved to a higher echelon, far beyond a mere giant python infected by the Apocalypse Virus.

Over time, it's common for Zombies and Infection Beasts to ascend to a new level of existence!

Chu Yue referred to these advanced Zombies and Infection Beasts as being in the Devouring Period.

A month prior at the Survivor Base, Chu Yue had the misfortune of encountering a Zombie in the Devouring Period.

That particular Zombie brought an unfathomable calamity upon the Survivor Base. Without the combined might of Zhao Loong and two other Sacrificers, the devastation would have been catastrophic.

The death toll at the Survivor Base wouldn't have been limited to just two hundred—it would have been all five hundred survivors, turned into sustenance for that Devouring Period Zombie!

The Zombies and Infection Beasts of the Devouring Period were truly horrifying.

So much so, that Chu Yue was still haunted by the memory.

They didn't just feed on human corpses; they possessed the ghastly ability to consume their own kind and other species to evolve into even more formidable beings!

Chu Yue was certain that the giant python before him was a creature of the Devouring Period.

It explained why, upon entering this zone, he found an eerie silence and not a single Zombie or Infection Beast in sight—they had all been devoured by this monstrosity!

Though Chu Yue couldn't escape, he could at least serve as a distraction.

"Miss Xue, what are you doing? Run for it!"

Chu Yue was frantic.

"I, I, I can't just abandon Mr. Chu Yue!"

Chuxue, the young girl, continued to dress his wounds, her complexion growing deathly pale.

"Move it, move it! If we don't leave now, we're both done for!"

Chu Yue urged her in desperation.

Chuxue shook her head, steadfast in her treatment.

"Ahhh, perish!"

The python lunged with its maw agape. In a swift motion, Chu Yue shielded Chuxue and yanked the fishing line attached to the handgun.

"Bang, bang, bang, bang!"

The gunshots were futile against the python, but in that moment, Chu Yue pulled the line, clinging to a faint glimmer of hope in the face of impending doom.

As expected, emptying the entire clip into the python only resulted in a few punctured holes, having no effect whatsoever on the massive creature!

The python opened its gaping maw and swallowed both Chu Yue and Chuxue whole.

At the moment of their ingestion, Chu Yue's body emitted a faint, indifferent glow before vanishing into thin air.

...

The wind lashed against his cheeks.

The pain slowly faded beneath waves of numbness.

When Chu Yue lifted his heavy eyelids and took in the unaltered harshness of his surroundings, a momentary haze of confusion washed over him, leaving him momentarily stunned.

The enormous python had disappeared, leaving behind only its blood and decaying flesh on the ground.

"Is this... Haha, am I, am I still alive?"

"Miss Xue, come on, wake up. We, we've made it!"

A smile of relief spread across Chu Yue's face, but it quickly solidified into a frozen expression.

Twenty-four ribs jutted out from his chest like Bone Swords, creating a protective cage around Chuxue.

His arms were encased in a fusion of crimson and white crystalline substances.

Sharp ulna bones protruded from the center of his palms.

His skin and bone joints had melded together in an odd fusion, giving him a bizarre and unnaturally sturdy appearance.

Chu Yue's current form was neither fully human nor a recognizable creature.

There was only one explanation.

Mutation!

This was the result of the Mutation Ability triggered by the awakening of the Sacrifice!

It was the formidable power that countless survivors coveted, the sole beacon of hope capable of altering destinies in the apocalypse!

"Sacrifice..."

Seeing the transformation of his body, Chu Yue was plunged into turmoil, wrestling with his conscience.

The Sacrifice was neither a deity nor a force of goodwill!

It was a flawed existence, obtained at a steep price!

It possessed the terrifying power to strip away the life of its host!

There was no resisting it!

Such extensive mutation was tantamount to the cost of devouring life or drastically shortening one's lifespan!

With this realization, Chu Yue felt no excitement, let alone any sense of joy at having survived the ordeal.

Deep within Chu Yue's heart, unanswered questions began to surface!

What had he sacrificed to trigger such a widespread and horrifying mutation?

What exactly was the cost?

How much longer did he have to live?

...

These questions swarmed Chu Yue's mind like a horde of ants, nearly driving him to the brink of collapse.

"Mr. Chu Yue..."

The little girl rubbed her bleary eyes.

"Miss Xue, no, don't look!"

Chu Yue was a ghastly sight, caught between human and specter.

"Mr. Chu Yue, what's happened to you? Why, why..."

"Sacrifice? Is this what happens? The thing that Chu Yue has been studying?"

Chuxue paused, her face washed with panic. Once she was sure it was Chu Yue, she spoke up.

"Mr. Chu Yue, Miss Xue, no matter what you turn into, I won't leave your side."

"So please, don't ever send Miss Xue away."

Chuxue clung to Chu Yue, her mouth agape, her expression earnest and grave.

"..."

"After what you've said, how could I possibly send you away?"

Chu Yue let out a wry smile.

The price? Terrifying, indeed. But that was a worry for another day. For now...

Having gained this power, did he need to fear Zhang Zuosi's relentless pursuit anymore?

More importantly, he now had the means to protect both Chuxue and his own life!

Whether it was a blessing or a curse, it was one he couldn't escape.

"Mr. Chu Yue, could you try to reverse the mutation? Even though you currently resemble Jun Ma Lu, the jade bones encasing you are quite unsettling..."

Chuxue's cheeks flushed as she bit her lip.

"Hehe, I'd forgotten about that!"

Chu Yue came to his senses and retracted the mutation effects of the Sacrifice.

Then, Chu Yue pulled out a bag of Corpse Transformation Powder from his backpack. After disposing of the remains of Lu Tieh and the giant python, he and Chuxue left the area.

It wouldn't be long before this place turned exceedingly perilous.

Zhang Zuosi wouldn't neglect his loyal followers, particularly those sent to hunt down Chu Yue.

Should they encounter danger, Zhang Zuosi would surely have his suspicions.

Regardless, he would dispatch more men to this region for confirmation.

Chu Yue's departure wasn't out of fear, but rather part of a more calculated plan for revenge.

Although he is currently a Sacrificer, it's important to note that Zhang Zuosi is not only a formidable Sacrificer with two legs, but he also commands seven subordinate Sacrificers. Even Chu Yue must carefully lay out several strategies. He would not dare to return to the Survivor Base to eliminate Zhang Zuosi without being absolutely certain of success. The day when Chu Yue will make his move and return to the base is fast approaching! Until then, his task is to prepare a few well-thought-out gifts for Zhang Zuosi.

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