The distant Crocolisk was faring no better.
Though the fatal blow was avoided, the upward slash of qi had still severed its limbs, splitting its body in half!
Such a wound on a human would have rendered them immediately incapacitated!
Yet, the Crocolisk used its one remaining arm to tightly grip the injury.
It lunged at Zhang Wei, its single foot stomping down hard!
It understood that this was precisely when Zhang Wei was at his weakest!
A faint voice echoed from beneath its foot!
"Four of the Seven Blades, Wen Dao!"
"Five of the Seven Blades, Rui Dao!"
"Dance of the Twin Blades!"
Though Wen Dao and Rui Dao were small, they possessed their own unique powers.
The two blades transformed into thousands, spiraling upwards.
The Crocolisk felt only a gentle breeze beneath its foot…
Its outer shell disintegrated…
Its skin shredded into countless strands…
Dragon blood splattered everywhere…
Muscles were stripped away piece by piece…
By the time its foot landed on Zhang Wei, only the leg bone remained, along with some scraps of flesh that hadn't been stripped away in time.
BOOM!!!
The leg bone, lacking any cushioning, snapped on impact, nearly sending Zhang Wei flying.
The Crocolisk wailed and toppled backward, its last remaining hand finally unable to hold back the wound. The pressure within its massive chest forced its internal organs out…
"Finally lost your ability to move?"
"The final blow, to end your life."
"Zhan Kong… *cough*… Xing Hen…"
At this point, Zhang Wei was at his absolute limit, unable to unleash that ultimate attack…
The target was the oral cavity.
A blue light flashed!
The Crocolisk ceased its struggles.
Zhang Wei showed a satisfied smile…
His vision went black, and he fainted.
The wind blew, carrying the scent of the Crocolisk's blood through the air. Countless beasts scattered in panic, not daring to approach, wishing they had more legs to flee faster.
This demonstrated the Crocolisk's immense authority in this territory.
…
…
Zhang Wei…
Zhang Wei…
Wake up…
He suddenly opened his eyes, and a magnificent night sky greeted him.
He found himself on the rooftop of a house, with eaves and brackets, a style reminiscent of traditional Chinese garden architecture.
"The roof of the Treasure Hall?"
"Is this the deep consciousness space?"
Stars twinkled in the heavens.
It was said that they represented the cells within one's body.
Every time a cell died, a shooting star would appear in this space.
However, due to perspective issues or the dimness of ordinary cells, Zhang Wei rarely saw them.
But now, the entire night sky was erupting in a meteor shower.
"So beautiful."
"Indeed, how spectacular life is in its fleeting moment."
Huh?
Who was speaking?
Zhang Wei turned around. The golden chef's uniform seemed to swell, as if someone were wearing it, forming a humanoid shape.
Yet, it was empty inside, containing nothing.
And the voice came from within the chef's uniform.
"National Chef? My Food Demon?"
The golden, opulent robe responded, "That's right, it's me."
"It's been a long time since we chatted, your speech has become so fluent."
The National Chef said, "I've grown a lot during these past days."
The meteors continued to streak across the sky, and the National Chef's body began to disintegrate.
It was said that Food Demons were the materialized form of food cells, and it seemed that after the meteor shower ended, the Food Demon would completely vanish.
The National Chef seemed to read Zhang Wei's thoughts and replied, "Along with me disappearing, so too will your life."
Am I going to die?
The Crocolisk…
Truly a rare and formidable opponent.
"Wait, how did I get here? I didn't give any command!"
"You have nowhere else to go."
The National Chef explained, "Your superficial consciousness has completely collapsed, and your body is also at its limit… You are about to die."
Zhang Wei fell silent for a moment.
He said with a sense of loss, "Ultimately, I messed up, National Chef…"
"What?"
"It's been difficult for you, following an unreliable person like me."
The National Chef looked at his dissipating body, "Is that all you wanted to say?"
Zhang Wei shrugged, "What else can I do?"
"I'm already half-dead from being beaten, and now I can't even stay conscious, what else can I do."
Perhaps it was due to facing death so many times.
Zhang Wei had become quite nonchalant.
He ran his hand along the eaves of the Treasure Hall, "Alas… I wonder if I'll have another chance at rebirth, and if you'll be able to accompany me."
The last sentence was directed at the National Chef.
The only response was the latter's silence.
"It's just a shame about this world, so full of deliciousness…"
The meteor shower in the sky stopped.
The once brilliant sky turned somewhat dim, but stars still twinkled.
"Is it time?"
The National Chef said, "It is time."
For some reason, the National Chef's voice held a hint of joy.
However… shouldn't the National Chef disappear upon death? Why did most of his body remain?
Just then, the National Chef stepped forward, grabbed Zhang Wei, and then threw him into the sky.
He shouted from afar, "Be more careful next time, you don't always get this lucky!"
"Next time?"
……………………
…………
Zhang Wei suddenly jolted awake!
A sweet sensation welled up in his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
He opened his eyes and looked around. He seemed to be in an ancient building, spacious within.
Beside him lay the weakened Human Skin Doll.
In its hands floated countless pure silver metal rings, within which floated half a piece of fruit pulp.
"This is…"
The Human Skin Doll exclaimed joyfully, "Chef, you're finally awake!"
At that moment, a dark, damp, and rotten moldy smell assailed his nostrils.
The taste of blood in his mouth filled his brain.
Zhang Wei leaped up abruptly, "My sense of smell and taste have completely returned!"
"And my body…"
During his battle with the Crocolisk, his body had been pushed to its limits. The two tail strikes had left him severely wounded, and his internal energy was almost depleted.
But now, not only was his energy surging as if it would explode, but his injuries had also healed about seventy to eighty percent. Zhang Wei could clearly feel his food cells in a frenzy.
Splitting…
Reproducing…
He felt even more powerful than before!
And behind him.
Zhang Wei turned around, and the robust fruit tree stood behind him, vibrant green, like glazed jade.
The trunk bore over twenty specks of starlight…
"This is… a Silver Apple!"
【Collectible Ingredient Discovered: Silver Apple】
【Capture Level: 90】
【Type: Companion Species】
【Description 1: A companion species that grows around the Olympian divine tree, accompanied by bronze apples.】
【Description 2: The Silver Apple's outer shell is made of bio-metal similar to silver. Each fruiting takes a hundred years and requires a specific method to open.】
【Description 3: The skin of the Silver Apple is also known as Holy Silver, possessing divine properties, untainted by impurity, and has a greater essence-enhancing effect against evil.】
【Description 4: Silver Apples contain unparalleled pure energy. Though bland, they instantly fill an empty body, and the energy does not dissipate until completely consumed.】
【Description 5: Silver Apples have the ability to catalyze food cells, bestowing the consumer's cells with blessings from Olympus, greatly enhancing their level and strength.】