Chapter 123: Marine Genes

Qin Hao dug rapidly, finally uncovering large chunks of ambergris, which he stored away in his spatial ring.

By now, even the rotting carcass of the sperm whale had attracted numerous mutated creatures. The most sensitive predators, sharks, arrived first. Influenced by star energy, these sharks had awakened their own abilities—greater speed, water element manipulation, staggering bite force, and heightened senses. They swarmed the sperm whale, beginning to feast on the putrid flesh, heedless of the fact that such meat was enough to kill them.

Sharks are notoriously curious creatures. Before the apocalypse, studies suggested that sharks did not naturally prefer human flesh, but once they caught the scent of blood, they would swarm to take a bite. Even if they found it unpalatable, the damage was done; once one shark tried it, the prey could rarely escape. Now, these sharks were simply here to taste the offerings. Had the sperm whale’s body been free of toxins, it would have been a feast that drove these sharks into a frenzy.

The sharks also noticed Qin Hao, fixing him with predatory gazes and palpable killing intent.

"Splash!"

A shark leaped out of the water, snapping at Qin Hao. Qin Hao, wielding his ten-meter-long blade, swung it in a single motion, bisecting the shark instantly. The scent of blood spread, drawing more sharks that sought to attack him. Qin Hao did not hold back; with a flick of his blade, he transformed the metal into a flurry of sharp harpoons. His telepathic tentacles seized the projectiles and drove them into the sea.

"Thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack, thwack!"

One by one, the sharks were slaughtered.

"Genetic Devour."

Qin Hao gathered the blood of the fallen sharks and integrated it into his own body. As the scent of blood grew heavier and more marine beasts gathered, Qin Hao continued his slaughter, harvesting their blood.

Meanwhile, within the city, the marine beasts and the predatory creatures finally collided, triggering a terrifying battle. The entire city became permeated with the smell of blood. Seeing this, Hai Hanting immediately ordered his evolved troops into action.

"Stay hidden and do not actively join the fray. Once they finish fighting, if they don't eat the corpses, we will collect them. If they both end up crippled, then we strike. Our main priority is the carcasses of those creatures, understand?"

"Understood, Mayor Hai!"

"Understood!"

Having served Hai Hanting for a long time, they knew exactly what troubled him most: food.

Before the apocalypse, resources were abundant, and hunger was unheard of. If a household ran out of rice, they simply went to the supermarket. Grain shipments from various depots arrived within a day, and no one felt the need to stockpile food at home. But after the apocalypse, grain remained trapped in storage facilities, never reaching the cities. Survivors had to scavenge for it bit by bit. With a population of a million, the demand was staggering. If one person ate a mere hundred grams of rice per meal, that amounted to 300 tons. A standard ten-kilogram bag from a supermarket would require 30,000 bags. They had searched house by house, only to find more survivors and no food. Now, with such a golden opportunity, they would not let it slip by.

The evolved individuals scattered. Hai Hanting looked toward Qin Hao, who was battling at the shoreline, and felt a stir of emotion.

"He seems to possess a unique, innate ability for infinite growth, far surpassing my own. But I am not weak either; at the very least, I have the support of a million people and an inexhaustible supply of Hero Points."

The Peace Alliance had reduced the utility of Hero Points and increased the purchasing power of star energy crystals, but the exchange rates for star energy body tempering and mental power had remained unchanged. Through mental power, one could directly channel divine energy to expand the cognitive domain of the brain. As long as one could endure the excruciating pain, this method could be used indefinitely to increase mental strength. It was through this process that Hai Hanting had reached his current level: the limit of a Tier 2 Evolved. Had it not been for the "Survival 3" mission, he would have already advanced to Tier 3.

"Mayor Hai, we found something good!" several psychics exclaimed excitedly, carrying a meter-long giant octopus.

Compared to a giant squid, this octopus was small, but those who lived by the sea were still astonished. Even as evolved individuals, some felt a deep-seated fear at the sight of it.

"What about this thing?" Hai Hanting asked.

"Mayor, when Mr. Qin fought that giant squid, it displayed the ability to regenerate. We discovered that octopus-like creatures seem to possess this same trait."

As he spoke, the man severed one of the octopus's legs. Within two minutes, a new one had begun to sprout.

"Mayor, this thing can grow by absorbing star energy crystals. I believe this regenerative ability is a natural talent of these beasts. We just tested it, and a single star energy crystal allows it to grow its tentacles for a long time."

Upon hearing this, Hai Hanting’s expression grew animated. If this were true, these octopuses were treasures that could provide an infinite food supply.

"Quick, find a place to pen these octopuses up."

"There is a swimming pool near our encampment."

"That will do! Round up all these creatures and take them there," Hai Hanting ordered.

"Yes, Mayor."

"Keep a close watch for other creatures as well. If they can be sustainably farmed, bring them all back."

"Yes."

The evolved individuals responded one after another before heading out to hunt. Marine life was indeed miraculous, full of unique existences.

Qin Hao, too, had gained much. Various marine creatures had come to attack him, and he had absorbed the blood of every one. The sharks, drawn by the scent of blood, were the most numerous. By absorbing their genetic fragments, Qin Hao mastered several abilities. The most common was the control of water elements, followed by the unique ability to extract oxygen while submerged. Some sharks could dive two thousand meters deep and withstand immense pressure; having absorbed these genes, Qin Hao now felt no fear of the ocean. His sense of smell had sharpened, allowing him to detect a single drop of blood from five hundred meters away. His muscles grew denser, and he developed a staggering bite force.

Some turtle-like creatures even granted Qin Hao longevity genes, extending his lifespan to a millennium. He killed a mutated sea hare whose blood contained genes capable of converting solar energy, allowing Qin Hao to survive without food or water so long as there was sunlight. To Qin Hao, the genetic fragments of the ocean were profoundly mysterious, making him ever more perfect and devoid of weaknesses, capable of adapting to any condition.

The only pity was that none of these creatures possessed god-level genetic fragments. Qin Hao understood this was because these creatures had only just begun to evolve, unlike the predatory creatures that had been specifically bred. In a species with a vast population, there would always be one or two outstanding individuals. The mutations on Blue Star were still individual rather than species-wide. Only the most powerful mutated beasts, like the dragon on Kunlun Mountain, could possess god-level genes.