Born from Death
The night was pitch black. Lu Heng walked step by step to the surface of the lake. The ripples on the water were frozen and still, so silent that he could hear the echo of his own breath in his ears.
He didn't rush to activate the teleportation to evacuate; instead, he walked around the lakeshore first and then checked the Water-Covering Vine.
The Water-Covering Vine along the shoreline, appearing calm and still without any signs of rapid growth. However, its dense root system has completely covered the entire underwater area of Lakeside Base. These roots, like spider webs, spread along the bottom, intertwining and blocking every possible underwater intrusion path, thus completing Global Region underwater defense.
Having confirmed the defenses were secure, Lu Heng approached the lake to investigate, when a faint spiritual yearning came from underwater.
The Water-Covering Vine is demanding Mental Energy.
Lu Heng felt a wave of helplessness.
Having just finished a fierce battle underground, replenished his Blood Armor, and exhausted himself confronting soldiers, he now even needs his mental energy to nourish the defensive vegetation he has planted.
He released a wisp of Mental Energy into the water.
The Water-Covering Vine devoured everything in an instant, causing the entire lake surface to tremble slightly. The underwater root system glowed with a faint red light, spreading out like blood vessels along the water flow before quickly disappearing into the darkness. The originally fine roots became noticeably thicker, their surface gleaming with a faint Black Iron sheen, and they sank half a foot deeper, gripping the silt at the bottom of the lake even more tightly.
The Wristband vibrated and a notification popped up: Water-Covering Vine has officially advanced to the Black Iron Tier.
Even after the upgrade, it still conveys an insatiable thirst for more, instinctively wanting to continue absorbing energy.
Lu Heng immediately cut off the supply.
The vegetation that has just broken through to a higher level has a shallow foundation, and it's uncertain whether excessive planting will have any impact. Besides, he himself is truly incapable.
He secretly mocked himself.
He has now become a portable power bank in this apocalypse; the Blood Armor, vegetation, and all things that depend on him rely on his energy to survive and grow.
After confirming that the defenses of the Lakeside Base were secure, Lu Heng opened Portal and returned directly to the Stone Cave Fortress Shelter.
He went straight to the Planting Room.
The Purifying Water Lotus was growing vigorously, its leaves unfurling, and its seeds plump and moist, gleaming with a faint, translucent white luster. Lu Heng picked a lotus seed and swallowed it directly.
A refreshing and cool sensation instantly spread from my stomach to every part of my body.
Unlike the domineering and ferocious Greedy Wolf Star Power, and unlike the gloomy and oppressive energy of the Mycelium, the energy of the lotus seed is gentle and pure, like a clear spring flowing through a mountain stream, slowly flowing along the meridians. The mental exhaustion from a night of fighting, confrontation, and depletion is quickly soothed, the tiny wounds on the arms caused by the Mycelium scab over and fall off at a speed visible to the naked eye, and even the nerves that have been tense all night slowly relax.
After his condition stabilized, Lu Heng ascended the Astrolabe Platform in the Shelter and began Meditation Method.
The night sky was clear, with the Greedy Wolf Star hanging high in the heavens, its starlight falling as if gathered specifically for him.
He meditated quietly, actively drawing starlight into his body to continuously refine his spirit and solidify his foundation of Star Force.
The Black Iron Tier Blood Armor on its body sensed the overflow of Pure Star Power and obediently attached itself to it. A very faint silver-blue luster appeared on the surface of the armor, undulating slightly, like breathing, silently absorbing the scattered Star Force and Mental Energy. There was no erosion, no offense, only instinctive greed and submission.
This high-level Star Force was the most superior nourishment the Blood Taisui had ever encountered in its life, making it exceptionally stable and joyful.
Lu Heng noticed but did not stop it, allowing it to absorb the small amount of overflowing energy to solidify the foundation of the newly born battle armor.
As dawn broke, a night of deep meditation came to an end.
Lu Heng stretched his body, all his fatigue dissipated, and his physical body, spirit, and Star Force all returned to their peak state.
Only now did he have the mental space to confront the Greedy Wolf Star Power that he had awakened long ago but had never fully unlocked.
With a thought, Lu Heng took the initiative to check the access information that had been sealed by the Wristband.
The Wristband silently glowed faintly, triggering the hidden awakening check.
[Greedy Wolf Star Core Ability Unlocked: To Born from Death, to face death calmly, to accept death with equanimity on the verge of annihilation, only then can one gain the power to devour]:
At that time, the underground cavity was on the verge of being possessed and its consciousness was completely lost, a point of certain death.
Break free from bacterial parasitism without external force, relying solely on one's own will;
In dire straits, there was no struggle, no fear; they calmly accepted their inevitable death.
In the moment of calmly facing death, the Greedy Wolf Star Power is activated in reverse, turning the tide and prolonging life through killing.
All conditions have been met.
[Astrological Talent: Greedy Wolf - Wolf's Kiss successfully unlocked]
[Ability Description: Seizing life in dire straits, plundering and killing to obtain the source of power]
[By slaying Aberrant and absorbing their essence, one can replenish their own losses, enhance their Star Force, and temper their physical body.]
[During combat, you can continuously lock onto a target and drain its energy and stamina, creating a cycle of fighting to sustain yourself.]
The power of the wolf's kiss is inherently a power that defies fate, born from the brink of life and death.
He carefully felt a deeper, more restrained yet domineering Star Force awaken from the depths of his soul, slowly flowing along his meridians. Wherever it passed, his muscles tightened slightly, and his bones emitted a faint cracking sound. Previously, the absorption and recovery were merely passive feedback; now, he was actively controlling the power of absorption. He could clearly sense that this power was like a lurking wolf, quietly lying dormant within him, waiting only for his command to pounce on its prey and bite down relentlessly.
Lu Heng understood instantly.
Last night's life-or-death battle, the near-mutation of the world, was not simply an opportunity to become stronger, but the final trial for the Greedy Wolf Star to select its successor.
As the morning light fell into Lu Heng's eyes, the hidden pale blue glimmer solidified completely.
He finally mastered the true power of the Greedy Wolf.
But it's also completely clear--
This star never bestows gentle protection, but rather a brutal destiny of survival, treading on the edge of life and death.
The stronger he becomes in the future, the harder it will be to suppress the backlash from this savage predation.
There is no longer any peace ahead.
However, this kind of life is also something to look forward to.