115: Post-Dragon Transformation Aftereffects: Starving! Devoured 50 pounds of beef brisket!

The dust atop the ruins hadn't yet settled, and the wind carried a burnt smell mixed with the thick, sweet scent of blood that invaded the nostrils.

Lu Sheng walked upon the waves, returning to the headless corpse of the Marine Iguana King and pressing his hand onto the slimy scales.

"Collect."

Space trembled slightly, and the massive corpse vanished instantly, leaving only a pool of dark purple blood on the ground.

This series of movements was smooth and practiced, like an old butcher closing his stall at a wet market, not planning to leave even a single bone fragment behind.

Having finished this, he turned around.

The muscle lines on his bare upper body were well-defined, and a few phantom images of golden Dragon scales that hadn't fully faded flickered in the sunlight, exuding a lingering ferocity.

He took a step off the edge of the ruins.

His foot descended.

"Slap."

The undulating surface of the sea seemed to be covered with a layer of invisible tempered glass, steadily supporting his body.

Lu Sheng walked across the waves toward the blazing flame with his hands in his tattered pockets.

This scene made people's scalps tingle even more than that previous Dragon Breath.

Killing is a means; walking on waves is a miracle.

On the bridge of the Zhenyuan Ship.

"Clang!"

The spirit source battle axe in Chen Yan's hand slipped and smashed onto the Deck, denting the special-grade steel.

He didn't care about his numbed hand at all, his eyes glued to the figure strolling across the sea.

"Externalizing Spirit Source, walking on water without a trace..."

Chen Yan's throat felt dry, his voice sounding like it had been rubbed with sandpaper: "This kid... really became a Level 6 Spirit Source User?"

How many military resources had he used to cross that threshold? Lu Sheng just killed a monster and leveled up—it took less than five minutes, and he's already there?

According to the Spirit Source Users currently known in the military archives, it could be said that Lu Sheng was currently the youngest Level 6 Spirit Source User.

Without exception.

On the sea, Lu Sheng's figure passed by the ships of the surviving refugees.

The Fleet, which had been noisy, chaotic, and killing each other to snatch the right of way, was now as silent as death, as if their throats had been seized.

"Thud."

Someone on one of the ships was the first to kneel.

Then, like falling dominoes.

On the Decks, in the cabins, and even the survivors leaning on the railings—one by one, their knees went weak, and they knelt down toward the passing figure.

No one dared to look up, no one dared to make a sound; there was only the monotonous sound of waves lapping against the hulls.

In this Apocalypse where order had collapsed, Lu Sheng had carved himself into the very bones of these people with that Dragon Breath capable of vaporizing everything.

"Those who follow shall prosper, those who resist shall perish."

These were the new rules.

Lu Sheng didn't even lift an eyelid; with a light tap of his toes on the sea surface, he glided across dozens of meters like a white bird, landing gracefully on the Deck of the blazing flame.

Just as he landed and before he could even steady himself.

"Little Lu! You're way too badass!"

Zhou Hai approached with his large, fat face covered in blood and filth, his eyes shining with a look that suggested he wanted to pounce and lick him.

He circled Lu Sheng twice, wanting to reach out and touch Lu Sheng's forehead, but retracted his hand halfway, trembling: "What was that just now? Dragon horns? And that big tail? Can you still transform? Let your brother touch it to get some Immortal Qi!"

Although Zhao Ze didn't speak, his knuckles were white from gripping his shield, clearly not having recovered yet. Su Li held her blade, looking at Lu Sheng with a complex gaze—it was the instinctive awe for the strong.

Lu Sheng was about to jokingly yell "Get lost," when suddenly—

"Gurgle..."

A terrifying hunger that could burn through stomach acid exploded from his abdomen without warning.

His vision went black, his feet felt weak, and he almost kowtowed to Zhou Hai on the spot.

[Warning! Human-Dragon Form consumes a massive amount of energy! Current body cell energy is severely overdrawn! Urgent need to replenish high-energy food!]

The System's red warning flashed frantically on his retina.

This kind of hunger wasn't the hunger of missing a meal; it was every cell howling, as if ten thousand mouths were tearing at his internal organs, frantically demanding energy.

That original sense of high-and-mighty indifference collapsed instantly.

"Hungry..."

Lu Sheng suddenly looked up, a terrifying green light flickering in his eyes, a beast-like low growl escaping his throat.

"Food... where is the food!!"

He shoved aside Zhou Hai, who was blocking the way.

Zhou Hai, this several-hundred-pound ball of meat, was actually pushed back more than ten meters like a paper doll, slamming hard into the turret ring, letting out an "Ouch" and unable to get up.

"Bang!"

Lu Sheng rushed into the blazing flame's galley like a madman.

On the stove, a large stainless steel pot half a meter in diameter was bubbling with steam, stewing fifty pounds of beef brisket prepared for the entire crew; the broth was boiling, and the aroma filled the air.

Lu Sheng didn't even look and reached out directly.

"Sizzle!"

The sound of boiling water scalding skin was cringeworthy, but he didn't even frown.

He grabbed two large chunks of scalding hot beef brisket on the bone and, without even blowing on them, stuffed them directly into his mouth.

"Crunch! Crunch!"

The hard beef bones were as brittle as potato chips under his teeth; he chewed the meat and bones together, his throat making the swallowing sounds of a large predator feeding—no need for careful chewing, he just swallowed it raw.

Zhou Hai and the others chased him in, and seeing this scene, their jaws almost hit their feet.

"Holy crap..." Zhou Hai swallowed hard, feeling a phantom pain in his own throat, "That pot just started boiling! It's a hundred-degree water! Is Little Lu the reincarnation of a starving ghost?"

Zhao Ze quickly stopped Su Li, who wanted to step forward: "Don't go over there. Look at his eyes; that's instinct. Right now, anyone who tries to take his food is in trouble."

As a large amount of meat entered his stomach, his stomach acted like a high-power shredder, operating frantically to quickly convert the energy from the food into blood and Qi, filling the dried-up cells.

That maddening hunger finally receded.

Taking advantage of the gap in eating, Lu Sheng's brain worked rapidly.

"The Human-Dragon Form is strong, but this consumption is simply a bottomless pit."

"In less than three minutes, it drained me dry."

"In the future, I must carry some high-energy compressed rations with me, or... edible sea beast meat."

Thinking of sea beast meat, Lu Sheng didn't stop his movements; while stuffing meat into his mouth, his consciousness sank into the System.

"Smelt the Marine Iguana King!"

[Ding! Smelting successful! Obtained advanced spirit source crystal core x3!]

[Ding! Obtained special item: Marine Iguana King's Mental Core x1!]

Hmm?

Lu Sheng's movement of chewing bones paused.

In his consciousness space, a thumb-sized, silver-white crystal floated quietly, its surface flowing with water ripples, looking extraordinary.

[Marine Iguana King's Mental Core: The Mental Energy essence of a Level 6 intelligent sea beast. Absorption can significantly strengthen the Mental Barrier, or it can be used as a core material for mental-type secret treasures.]

Good stuff.

A sharp light flashed in Lu Sheng's eyes.

For physical defense, he had Dragon scales, but the mental level was his only weakness; although that Iguana King's mental piercing was shattered by the Dragon Might just now, it reminded him that this area must be strengthened.

This thing is like getting a pillow just when you're feeling sleepy.

"Absorb."

No hesitation.

A cool air current, like an ice spring, surged into his mind. The area between his eyebrows, which had been slightly swollen, instantly cleared, as if a layer of bulletproof glass had been installed in his brain, making it thoroughly transparent.

"Phew—"

A large pot of beef, broth and all, hit the bottom.

Lu Sheng let out a long breath, wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, and turned around.

The three people at the door were dumbfounded, looking at him as if they were looking at some unknown creature.

Lu Sheng straightened his somewhat messy collar, returning to his calm and collected appearance.

"What are you looking at? Haven't you seen someone eat before?"

Zhou Hai pointed at the bottom of the pot where not even broth remained, his mouth twitching: "You call this eating? This is a freaking starving ghost!"

Lu Sheng ignored the talkative Zhou Hai and walked straight out of the galley, his voice drifting back.

"Clean up."

"That old fox Chen Yan will probably come over to fish for information."

PS: Today's update (1/4).