Chapter 395: Surprisingly Familiar

The overlapping parts of the Blood Lotus cage slowly separated and fell down, like a shy flower bud slowly opening up, revealing its pistil to onlookers.

However, the pistil of the Blood Lotus was a slim, long tendril, and at this moment, Lian San’s body still hung at the tip of the tendril, suspended in mid-air, eyes wide, heart and flesh mixed together, deathly still. His gaze was vacant and extremely lost.

Like paying homage to its master, the tendril slowly placed Lian San’s body in front of Zhang Mu, who was half-kneeling on the ground, humble and cautious.

After handing over the body, Zhang Mu touched the tip with his right hand, feeling the close scent of the Blood Lotus, and the small vine affectionately brushed against Zhang Mu a few times.

But as Zhang Mu started to observe the person carefully, the vine swiftly retracted into the cage, slowly shrinking little by little, until the entire cage was completely absorbed into the Blood Lotus Seed.

The Blood Lotus Seed hidden underground sprang out and attached to Zhang Mu’s left arm again. However, without flesh, the seed just clung to the dried skin, looking like a flawless red agate.

The return of the Blood Lotus Seed revitalized Zhang Mu’s frail body. He felt some power slowly returning from the Blood Lotus, which was unprecedented. Drawing energy from him was easy for the Blood Lotus, but returning it was a different story, the flow rate was just too slow.

Feeling the replenishment from the Blood Lotus, Zhang Mu realized it was difficult to estimate the exact time frame. At the current rate, it was barely enough to sustain his left arm from further decay. Accumulating the meager surplus power, full recovery might take several months, or even up to a year.

Nonetheless, it was a glimmer of hope, better than being completely scrapped. As time passed, the quality of medicines Zhang Mu could obtain would gradually increase. Most importantly, the Blood Lotus would continue to grow, and with each breakthrough, the rate of replenishment would certainly multiply.

Zhang Mu remained optimistic, indifferent to the fact that his left arm was almost disabled now.

Now, he carefully observed the body on the ground, a creation of value made at the heavy cost of one of his arms.

Zhang Mu’s attention was immediately drawn to the pair of claw thorns on the person’s hand, long and sharp. If he wasn’t mistaken, the ability attached to these claw thorns was definitely sharp as gold.

The sharpness of this golden weapon is not an ordinary ability. Among the awakened abilities of metal-type experts, it is considered unique and powerful. The attributes of the person carrying it are definitely not metal-based. This awakened ability truly comes from these claw spikes, not bestowed by the serial killer.

Wearing a weapon is like gaining an extra awakened ability. Normally, a second-rank evolver can only awaken two evolutionary abilities. Adding an extra one is a terrifying thing, just like when Zhang Mu had his Obsidian dagger reforged at the Era Store before.

However, these claw spikes are much stronger than the Obsidian dagger. The enhancements on the Obsidian dagger, even though they involve the abilities of wind and fire combining and enhancing each other, are only first-rank. In terms of attached abilities, they are gradually falling behind Zhang Mu’s needs. But the material itself is enough to make Zhang Mu’s weapon outmatch anyone else’s.

But these claw spikes are different. When Zhang Mu lightly flicked them with his fingers, the feedback told him that they were the opposite of the Obsidian dagger. The material of the claw spikes is quite ordinary, only first-rank, but astonishingly, they can attach a second-rank awakened ability – the sharpness of gold. That’s terrifying enough.

First-rank material, yet with an attached second-rank awakened ability!

Such amazing forging ability can only be found in a third-rank foundry worker. Not to mention that the awakened ability is supportive, even the most popular combat-type experts would definitely not have a third-rank present here now.

At this time point, there’s only one possibility left: it is a product of the Era Store! And it’s definitely an exquisite item exchanged with a large amount of gold leaf. It should have been exchanged recently. Otherwise, if it was exchanged at the same time as Zhang Mu reforged the Obsidian dagger, it would definitely cost at least the same as the reforging of the dagger. It requires a large order. Zhang Mu is absolutely confident that apart from him, no one else could have achieved such perfection in terms of timing and luck.

Second-rank! A top-quality weapon from the Era Store! Capital city of Inner Mongolia!

These three clues combined all point towards the Caravan Alliance in Hohhot City.

Is it them?

It should be them. Besides them, no other force could achieve what they have done. However, this person doesn’t have the Era Merchant Ring, so it can’t be one of them. Even though it’s not them, giving him such a precious weapon exchangeable with gold leaf must have a great significance for them.

But if it’s the Caravan Alliance, why would they collect the hearts and spinal bones of young people?

Zhang Mu noticed thick calluses on the hands of this person, which couldn’t have been formed in the half year since the apocalypse began. Accumulating calluses like that requires handling weapons regularly. Since both hands have them, it’s likely that he’s skilled with dual-wielded weapons, which matches the current claw blades.

Thinking about this, Zhang Mu had a rough guess in his mind.

This person had a profession of wielding weapons even before the apocalypse.

In the past era, those who trained with weapons every day and never separated from them were few. They could be openly seen in the sunlight, like traditional martial artists from Wudang or Shaolin, or weapon masters.

Those hidden in dark corners were assassins or mercenaries.

Whichever type they were, they must have had significant skills before the apocalypse. That explains their exceptional combat abilities earlier.

Looking at the face again, it was an ordinary face that would not stand out in a crowd, but the skin was very smooth, not like someone who worked in the wind and rain.

Seeing the smooth skin, Zhang Mu felt a strange sensation and reached out to touch the area under his cheek and neck.

With just one touch, Zhang Mu immediately sensed something was wrong.

This person was wearing a human skin mask!

Although it looked flawless, Zhang Mu, unlike others, had exchanged for a delicate human skin mask at Era Store before. It was his lifesaver, how could he not recognize it?

Although it was difficult to peel off at the edges, Zhang Mu heated his palm by rubbing it against the junction, then lubricated it with blood before successfully removing it from the person’s face.

What caught Zhang Mu’s eye was a completely different face!

Although Zhang Mu didn’t recognize the face, Hachikuju behind him let out a surprised sound.

“How could it be him?”

Hachikuju unexpectedly knows this person!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep