Something Is Off About This Man

Seeing Pei Chao's disdainful expression, Wang Chen seemed to have anticipated it long ago. "You already know about the Weird altar that grants power. But do you know how to mitigate the side effects of touching the altar?"

Pei Chao asked, "You know?"

Wang Chen said, "Whether it is the Mist outside the town or the Weird altar that grants people power, both damage our minds—our psyches, you could say.

"Did you know that among the twenty thousand people who arrived here, there are two experts in psychology and mental health?"

As Wang Chen spoke, Ryan stepped forward. "Thanks to the treatment from Dr. Norton and Professor Li Lin, my symptoms have eased significantly. Yesterday, I even had a very peaceful night's sleep. Since coming to this world, I haven't slept that soundly even once."

Wang Chen looked at Pei Chao. "Now you should understand what I mean, right? A team of only a few dozen people cannot go far, and fighting alone has even less of a future. By comparison, with the help of Dr. Norton and Professor Li Lin, the team we establish will have a complete psychological support staff following up on everyone's condition. There is even less need to worry about logistics. So, are you willing to join the Mutual Aid Society?"

As he spoke, Wang Chen extended his right hand to Pei Chao. His gaze was full of sincerity as he waited for Pei Chao to shake his hand.

Wang Chen was determined to win Pei Chao over.

In fact, even if Pei Chao had not fallen out with Zhao Gang, Wang Chen had planned to use some methods to poach him.

Though his words sounded lofty on the surface, claiming that everyone had their uses, Wang Chen knew very clearly that people were different. And Pei Chao's importance was unmatched in this little town.

His fighting strength was only one aspect. What was truly formidable about Pei Chao was his resistance to the Weird—his powerful mental fortitude.

Even Wang Chen himself had been unable to sleep soundly since arriving in this world. Yet this Caribbean Sea pirate, Pei Chao, supposedly slept exceptionally well every night and woke up brimming with energy.

According to Dr. Norton's deductions, the stronger someone's mental fortitude was, the more Weird power they could endure. The power they gained and their rate of growth would also be greater.

In other words, Pei Chao was not only strong now; he would become even stronger in the future.

The sooner someone like that was brought under his wing, the better.

Based on Wang Chen's estimation, after laying out such tempting promises, there was a high chance Pei Chao would agree to his invitation on the spot. Even if he did not agree immediately, he would recognize the situation within the next couple of days and come over on his own.

Pei Chao frowned. "What you said seems to make some sense, but what we do will still depend on what Boss says."

In truth, because he did not have a very good impression of Wang Chen, Pei Chao still did not want to join him. He always felt that Wang Chen was trying to pull a fast one on him.

Still, Wang Chen's words did make some sense.

After speaking, Pei Chao looked in Feng Buzhi's direction.

Then, Pei Chao revealed a surprised expression.

Wang Chen shifted his gaze and also revealed a surprised expression.

By the stone monument in the square, Feng Buzhi, covered in bloodstains, sat cross-legged on the ground. He held a small knife in his left hand, slicing duck meat. He placed the sliced duck into a thin pancake, added sauce and scallions, then put the wrapped duck into his mouth.

After finishing the duck, Feng Buzhi picked up a large meat bun from nearby and began eating it.

As for Feng Buzhi's right arm, it was still severed. Jagged flesh and white bone were clearly visible.

Yes, after Pei Chao had rushed through the checkpoint and placed Feng Buzhi beside the crystal at the center of the square, Feng Buzhi had not immediately used the [Repair] function. Instead, he had opened the food menu and ordered one [Extravagant Meal] worth 25 points and one [Filling Meal] worth 5 points.

The food was completely random. Feng Buzhi had received a roast duck set meal, ten large meat buns, and a bottle of Cola.

Although he was missing part of an arm, Feng Buzhi's movements as he ate the roast duck were exceptionally smooth, and he ate very quickly. He drained the Cola first. Before long, more than half the roast duck and pancakes had been eaten, while fewer than half of the ten large meat buns remained.

Pei Chao was not surprised by Feng Buzhi's abnormal behavior for long. After all, he had already seen Feng Buzhi grind his fingers into blades, and he had also seen Feng Buzhi face the giant spider head-on and tear off his own right arm alive.

At this moment, Feng Buzhi was merely having a meal before treating his injuries. That was entirely acceptable.

Naturally, Wang Chen did not know what Pei Chao was thinking. To him, Feng Buzhi's behavior was utterly incomprehensible.

This man not only had an injured right arm, but also dried blood around his mouth and nose. His injuries were obviously serious.

Shouldn't a normal person treat their injuries first at a time like this?

Why was he eating roast duck and buns here?

Had the Mist affected him and caused some mental problems? Or did this man not have enough Abyss Points—less than 100—to use the [Repair] function?

Logically speaking, everyone had a certain number of initial Abyss Points, between 200 and 300. Less than seven days had passed. It was impossible for him to have fewer than 100 points left, wasn't it?

And even if he did not have enough points, why would he spend 25 points to exchange for an [Extravagant Meal]?

Abyss Points were extremely precious. Even among the three teams exploring the Mist, almost no one had exchanged for an [Extravagant Meal], because its value for the price was simply too low.

From what Pei Chao had said, he seemed to have already pledged himself to this man.

Could it be that this man had saved Pei Chao's life outside by sheer coincidence, and Pei Chao had acknowledged him as Boss in gratitude? Then afterward, had this man developed mental problems from the Mist's influence?

Wang Chen kept thinking, trying to reconstruct the truth of what had happened and suitably adjust his strategy for winning over Pei Chao...

More than ten meters away.

Feng Buzhi continued eating roast duck.

His eating of roast duck was merely a surface appearance. What he was truly doing was testing the food's effects on his body.

During the time Pei Chao and Wang Chen had been talking, he had already conducted several tests in succession.

As for the [Repair] function, Feng Buzhi had decided to leave it for the final test.

Soon, Feng Buzhi reached out and touched the crystal once more, opening the [Information] section.

[Personal Information]

Damo

Race: Human Race

Rank: Unranked

Soul Level: Unranked

Abyss Points: 338

[Personal Information]

Feng Buzhi

Race: Human Race

Rank: Unranked

Soul Level: Unranked

Abyss Points: 338

Under Feng Buzhi's control, the name in [Personal Information] continuously switched between Feng Buzhi and Damo.

When his primary consciousness was Feng Buzhi, the name displayed in [Personal Information] was Feng Buzhi. When he switched his primary consciousness to Damo, the name displayed in [Personal Information] became Damo.

To Feng Buzhi, switching primary consciousness was easy. After all, both Feng Buzhi and Damo were himself.

"Then what if the two consciousnesses exist independently at the same time?"

Feng Buzhi muttered to himself, swiftly manipulating his consciousness and making the two consciousnesses he had fused become independent.

Compared to switching primary consciousness, separating the consciousnesses was clearly much more difficult. However, this was not a problem for Feng Buzhi.

After roughly two minutes, Feng Buzhi's consciousness began to split, and his [Personal Information] changed once again.

[Personal Information]

Feng Buzhi & Damo

Race: Human Race

Rank: Unranked

Soul Level: Unranked

Abyss Points: 338

"This [Personal Information] is far too bare-bones. I wonder where more detailed information can be found."

Feng Buzhi murmured softly.

"Perhaps we can ask that shadow."

Damo replied.

Rather than let the two separated consciousnesses continue their discussion, Feng Buzhi controlled them to merge together again. He then looked at the Abyss Points in [Personal Information].

Seven days ago, after exchanging for a [Simple Meal], he had had 323 Abyss Points remaining.

When he had opened [Personal Information] not long ago, he had possessed 393 Abyss Points.

In other words, the four Goblins and one spider he had killed in the Mist had provided him with 70 Abyss Points.

As for why he had only 338 points left now, aside from spending 25 points on an [Extravagant Meal] and 5 points on a [Filling Meal], he had also spent 25 Abyss Points to exchange for [Basic Cultivation Assistance].

More precisely, he had first exchanged for [Basic Cultivation Assistance], then spent another 30 points on the [Extravagant Meal] and [Filling Meal].

Feeling the warm current formed by the roast duck in his stomach melt into his body, Feng Buzhi smiled.

You got what you paid for.

Although [Extravagant Meal] cost a steep 25 Abyss Points and appeared terribly uneconomical, it was not ordinary food. The nourishment it contained was at least a dozen times that of a [Filling Meal]...