Not Picky and Too Picky

Chapter 33: Not Picky and Too Picky

Feng Ling grabbed all the remaining Centipede Cards in one go.

["Crimson Ghost Centipede" has been digested.]

[Deck gains growth. Corruption Value 9%.]

["Crimson Ghost Centipede" has been digested.]

[Deck gains growth. Corruption Value 10%.]

["Crimson Ghost Centipede" has been...]

The text prompts kept appearing. By the time the last Centipede Card was fully digested by Feng Ling, the Corruption Value had risen to 14%.

The skill "Mother's Embrace" became four arms. She now had four limbs with fangs and claws, and her overall hardness and speed had increased.

At the same time, that burning hunger in her abdomen had almost vanished.

She even felt warm and cozy, very comfortable.

Feng Ling rubbed her stomach and looked expectantly at the remaining cards.

She couldn't quite explain why, but she had a vague premonition—just one more card... or maybe two—and she would be "full."

There were ten cards left in front of her: a spider, an unknown bird, a squirrel, a bat, some long-necked creature, a high-tier card with two lizards back-to-back, and five ant cards.

Which one should she pick?

Feng Ling's gaze settled on the lizard card she had already taken a liking to.

—A Contaminant's ability to continuously produce its own kind must stem from its core power, which is its main card ability.

That kind of power was just too tempting. Feng Ling couldn't control the urge to feel hungry for it.

Earlier, when she was starving and suddenly found herself drooling over Huangfu Miaomiao, it was probably because Huangfu Miaomiao held the high-tier "Demon" card.

Cards...

High-tier cards...

She really wanted a high-tier card...

Just as this thought crossed Feng Ling's mind, she suddenly found it familiar. Thinking it over, wasn't the Contaminant that had attacked her earlier also muttering about wanting cards?

It seemed the influence of 14% Corruption Value was indeed a bit stronger than 7%.

Feng Ling raised her fist and lightly tapped her own forehead as a warning.

—Stay calm. Don't let the Xenomorph's game mechanics cloud your judgment.

But speaking of which, how was Huangfu Miaomiao so strong-willed against the allure of cards?

Feng Ling glanced sideways.

Huangfu Miaomiao was staring at her nervously, not even looking at the cards once.

"How is it? After digesting so many, any problems with the Corruption Value?" Huangfu Miaomiao asked anxiously.

Feng Ling dodged the question and asked instead, "Do you want to pick one? Your Demon could use an upgrade."

Huangfu Miaomiao blinked slowly at that, her gaze darting left and right before finally settling on the cards floating in midair.

They shimmered with a silver glow, quiet and mysterious, like beautiful flowers waiting to be plucked.

But in her eyes, besides their beauty, they might also hold deadly poison.

"Mm..." Huangfu Miaomiao reluctantly pulled her gaze away and shook her head lightly. "Better not... I, I feel like there's no card that fits me."

"Not even one?" Feng Ling smiled. "You're way too picky."

Huangfu Miaomiao: "..."

Feng Ling asked, "Then pick one for me. Which one do you think suits me?"

Huangfu Miaomiao's face showed reluctance. "You've already digested seven cards..."

Most players' decks didn't exceed three cards. One reason was that suitable cards were genuinely hard to come by; another was that once the Corruption Value exceeded the safety threshold, it was hard to reverse. So every card choice was made with extreme caution.

Maybe because Feng Ling was human and had never experienced how terrifying Corruption Value could be, she was so bold?

Huangfu Miaomiao thought this.

Feng Ling wore a warm smile and said, "Pick one. I want to see if your understanding of card traits matches mine."

Huangfu Miaomiao frowned in distress, her eyes wandering among the cards.

She thought: Is she testing me again?

"I think... the Hive's traits might lean toward warmth, stability, safety, reliability..." Huangfu Miaomiao struggled to think.

The smile in Feng Ling's eyes deepened. "Yeah, the Hive's traits really are like that."

So it was "Hive"...

"How about the spider?" Huangfu Miaomiao tilted her head as she analyzed. "Spiders feel like they match the Hive pretty well. What do you think?"

"Spider, let me think..." Feng Ling looked at the Spider Card.

After a mother spider hatches her young, she often stays in place, letting the baby spiders devour her alive to help them grow. From this, one can interpret maternal instinct. Additionally, a spider's web evokes thoughts of a "nest."

So Feng Ling also believed that the traits of the spider and the Hive were likely compatible.

However, among the cards she had digested so far, aside from a single Ghost Jellyfish, the rest were all low-tier insect cards.

It wasn't that low-tier cards were bad, but when the answer became too predictable, she found it a bit boring...

Maybe she should pick the bat instead. At least it was an Intermediate Card.

The Hive made her think of a hidden, dark nest. That kind of environment and aura would suit a bat well too. Besides, bats had radar—maybe the card came with some incredible ability?

Feng Ling hesitated no longer. She reached out and grasped the Bat Card.

Huangfu Miaomiao beside her: "..."

(#>д<) She really doesn't trust me! Aaaaah, I pick spider, and she just has to pick something else!

["Bat" has been digested.]

[Deck has grown. Corruption Value 15%.]

[Night is like day to you. No rustle of wind or stir of grass will escape your eyes and ears. Your spatial memory has also been greatly enhanced. Every path you walk will form a map in your mind.]

[This skill is passive. No new skill naming required.]

Feng Ling almost laughed out loud.

Another 1% Corruption Value!

With just 1% Corruption Value, she got such a valuable ability. Her luck was beyond imagination!

Was every card here only 1% Corruption Value?

Would high-tier cards also be 1%?

Feng Ling felt the itch again.

She wanted to chase the thrill.

"How is it? Is the Corruption Value safe?" Huangfu Miaomiao watched her reaction nervously after the digestion.

Feng Ling's lips curled up with pride as she replied, "One percent."

"That's great!" Huangfu Miaomiao let out a huge sigh of relief.

But before she could even break into a fully relaxed smile, she saw Feng Ling raise her right hand again and grab hold of another card!

Huangfu Miaomiao's eyes nearly popped out in shock!

"You!..." She stammered, wanting to say, Are you crazy?! This was already the ninth card! Nine!

You're not picky at all!!!

Feng Ling was brimming with confidence, hands on her hips, waiting for the text prompt in her mind.

[You have obtained the card "Mirror Newt."]

[Mirror Newt can create replicas through a special cell division method. The required material is fresh flesh and blood. The more abundant the flesh and blood supply, the higher the quality of the replicas. The replicas share all card abilities with the original. When the number of replicas becomes excessive, it will dull the original's abilities across the board.]

Feng Ling was extremely satisfied!

As expected of the high-tier card she had her eye on. Used properly, this ability would be terrifyingly powerful!

["Mirror Newt" has been digested.]

[Deck has gained slight growth. Corruption Value 29%.]

Feng Ling: "???"

Feng Ling: "..."

Feng Ling: "..."

Haha! The female lead isn't a perfect character. Her love for chasing thrills is fully exposed in this chapter~ (The author smiles with satisfaction)