Not Picky and Too Picky

Feng Ling swept up all the remaining Centipede Cards in one go.

"Crimson Ghost Centipede" has been digested.

The Card Deck has grown. Corruption Value: 9%.

"Crimson Ghost Centipede" has been digested.

The Card Deck has grown. Corruption Value: 10%.

"Crimson Ghost Centipede" has been...

...

The text notifications kept appearing. When Feng Ling finished digesting the last Centipede Card, her Corruption Value had risen to 14%.

The skill "Mother's Embrace" became four arms. She now had four arms with Fangs and Claws, and both her overall toughness and speed had improved.

At the same time, the burning hunger in her abdomen nearly disappeared.

She even felt warm all over, wonderfully comfortable.

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

For some reason, she had a vague premonition that if she digested just one more... or perhaps two more, she would be "full."

There were still ten Cards before her—Spider, an unknown bird, Squirrel, Bat, some kind of long-necked creature, a high-tier Card depicting two Lizards back-to-back, and five Ant Cards.

Which one should she choose?

Feng Ling looked at the Lizard Card she had long taken a liking to.

—Contaminants could continuously produce more of their own kind. That had to originate from their core power, namely the ability of their Main Card.

That kind of power was simply too tempting. Feng Ling could not stop herself from craving it.

When she had suddenly drooled over Huangfu Miaomiao during her hunger earlier, it was probably because Huangfu Miaomiao possessed a high-tier Demon Card.

Cards...

High-tier Cards...

She wanted high-tier Cards so badly...

As Feng Ling thought that, the words suddenly felt familiar. Thinking carefully, hadn't the Contaminant that attacked her earlier muttered about wanting Cards too?

It seemed the influence of a 14% Corruption Value was just a little stronger than 7%.

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

—Stay calm. Do not let the Xenomorph game mechanics cloud your mind.

But then again, why was Huangfu Miaomiao's restraint toward Cards so strong?

Feng Ling glanced to the side.

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

"How is it? After digesting so many, is there any problem with your Corruption Value?" Huangfu Miaomiao asked uneasily.

Feng Ling sidestepped the question. "Do you want to pick one? Your Demon should level up too."

Huangfu Miaomiao slowly blinked. Her gaze darted about before finally settling on the Cards floating in midair.

They glimmered with silver light, quiet and mysterious, like beautiful flowers waiting to be picked.

But in her eyes, beneath that beauty, they might also carry deadly poison.

"Um..." Huangfu Miaomiao reluctantly looked away and gently shook her head. "Better not... I-I don't think there are any Cards that suit me."

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

Huangfu Miaomiao: "..."

"Then help me pick one," Feng Ling said. "Which one do you think suits me?"

Huangfu Miaomiao looked reluctant. "You've already digested seven Cards..."

Most Players' Card Decks did not contain more than three Cards. First, suitable Cards were genuinely difficult to come across. Second, once Corruption Value exceeded the safe threshold, it would be hard to undo. That was why every Card was chosen with extreme caution.

Perhaps Feng Ling was this bold because she was human and had never experienced how terrifying Corruption Value could be?

Huangfu Miaomiao thought so.

With a friendly smile, Feng Ling said, "Pick one. I happen to want to see whether your understanding of Card traits is the same as mine."

Huangfu Miaomiao frowned in difficulty, her gaze drifting between the Cards.

Was she testing me again?

"I think... the traits of a Hive might lean toward warmth, stability, and safety..." Huangfu Miaomiao racked her brains.

The smile in Feng Ling's eyes deepened. "Yes, the traits of a Hive are indeed like that."

So it was a "Hive"...

"How about the Spider?" Huangfu Miaomiao tilted her head as she analyzed. "Spiders seem like they go rather well with a Hive. What do you think?"

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

After hatching their young, mother spiders often remained where they were, allowing the spiderlings to eat them alive to help their offspring grow. That could be interpreted as maternal instinct. In addition, spiderwebs also brought "nests" to mind.

So Feng Ling also believed that the traits of Spiders and a Hive were most likely compatible.

However, aside from one Ghost Jellyfish Card, all the Cards she had digested so far were low-tier insect Cards.

It was not that low-tier Cards were bad. It was just that when the answer became too predictable, she found it a little boring...

How about choosing the Bat instead? At least it was an Intermediate Card.

A Hive made her think of hidden, dark nests. That sort of environment and atmosphere suited Bats rather well. And Bats had echolocation—perhaps the Card came with some incredible ability?

Feng Ling stopped hesitating and reached out to grasp the Bat Card.

Huangfu Miaomiao, standing beside her: "..."

(#>д<) She really doesn't trust me! Ahhh! I picked Spider, so she deliberately chose anything but Spider!

"Bat" has been digested.

The Card Deck has grown. Corruption Value: 15%.

To you, night is like day. No movement or sound will escape your eyes and ears. Your spatial memory has also greatly improved; every path you walk will naturally form a map in your mind.

This is a passive skill. No new skill name is required.

Feng Ling nearly laughed out loud.

Another 1% Corruption Value!

Just 1% Corruption Value in exchange for such a valuable ability—her luck was beyond imagination!

Could all the Cards here only cost 1% Corruption Value?

Would high-tier Cards also cost 1%?

Feng Ling grew restless again.

She wanted a thrill.

"How is it? Is your Corruption Value still safe?" Huangfu Miaomiao nervously observed her reaction after digestion.

The corners of Feng Ling's lips rose smugly. "One percent."

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

But before she could fully relax and smile, she saw Feng Ling raise her right hand again and grab another Card!

Huangfu Miaomiao was so shocked that her eyes nearly popped out!

"You...!" She was at a loss for words. Are you crazy?! This is already the ninth Card! Nine Cards!!!

You're not picky at all!!!

Feng Ling stood with her hands on her hips, waiting confidently for the text notification in her mind.

You have obtained the Card "Mirror Newt".

Mirror Newt can create Copies through a special method of cell division. It requires fresh flesh and blood as material; the more sufficient the supply, the higher the quality of the Copies. Copies share the abilities of the Cards held by the original body. When there are too many Copies, the original body's abilities in all aspects will become dulled.

Feng Ling was extremely satisfied!

As expected of the high-tier Card she had taken a liking to. If used properly, such an ability would be terrifyingly powerful!

"Mirror Newt" has been digested.

The Card Deck has grown slightly. Corruption Value: 29%.

Feng Ling: "???"

Feng Ling: "..."

Feng Ling: "..."

Haha! The female lead isn't perfectly designed—her flaw of loving thrills was fully exposed in this chapter~ (The author smiled in satisfaction.)