Fear of food

Chapter 154 Hero
After the source of pollution left the polluted area of ​​Jinghai City, the pollution on the surface of Jinghai City dissipated at a visible rate.

Coffee and the others walked into the convenience store next door, glanced at the snacks in transparent packaging on the shelves, and found that everything had returned to normal.

"Great!"

"The pollution has finally dissipated!"

Things went surprisingly smoothly. It was thought that even if the source of pollution was gone, it wouldn't be easy for Jinghai City to recover.

But once the source of the pollution is gone, it recedes like the tide.

Looking down from the air, Chen Qi noticed that some areas were still polluted. He flew closer to investigate and found that these areas were previously heavily polluted.

These areas are basically classified as Class C or higher pollution zones by the authorities. Because pollution sources still exist, the pollution can be temporarily maintained by the energy contained in these pollution sources.

However, closer observation reveals that the extent of pollution in these contaminated areas is gradually shrinking.

This is similar to when Chen Qi brought wild food out of the polluted area. The source of pollution will generate a small polluted area, but it will continuously consume its own energy until the source of pollution completely disappears.

So, just wait a little longer, and the food contamination in Jinghai City will be a thing of the past.

However, just to be on the safe side, Chen Qi flew all the way there, swallowing up the advanced sources of pollution in each of the contaminated areas.

For Class C and Class B pollutants, he doesn't even need to use his food conversion ability; he can simply open his mouth from a distance and inhale, and the pollutants will be converted into energy and enter his body.

However, Chen Qi also discovered that this level of pollution only had the effect of treating his injuries and restoring his strength. No matter how much he ate, it would not help him continue to upgrade his abilities.

Even Class A pollution sources were useless against him.

"It seems that after two qualitative changes in my abilities, only S-level pollution sources can continue to enhance my abilities."

The current upgrade progress of the Xenophaner's abilities is that after two qualitative changes, they have ingested another S-level pollution source.

The Dream Thief's ability upgrade progress also involves two qualitative changes, but no more pollution sources have been taken in yet. Only one super S-level pollution source is reserved as a backup and temporarily stored in the safe house.

"I'll take this opportunity to upgrade my alien consuming ability."

Jinghai City also has several S-level pollution zones. Chen Qi thought that he might as well take this opportunity to absorb two more S-level pollution sources and directly complete the third qualitative change of the alien eater's ability.

He acted on his ideas immediately. He had prior knowledge of the S-level contaminated areas, so his target was clear and he found the right one every time.

Jinghai High-Speed ​​Railway Station.

Chen Qi quickly arrived at the high-speed rail station in the S-level pollution zone and instantly locked onto the location of the S-level pollution source using his domain.

The source of pollution is now in a weakened state, with neither parasites protecting it nor the entire source of pollution providing it with a continuous source of energy.

Therefore, Chen Qi didn't have to put in much effort to successfully transform the S-level pollution source into a whole roasted lamb.

"Fortunately, I have the strength now..."

Chen Qi shook his head and sighed, unable to imagine how he could eat a whole roasted lamb if he had to hide and be chased by a group of people when he was eating wild food, just like in the early days.

It's fair to say that the high-end wild foods derived from S-level pollution sources are quite bizarre; first it was hot pot, and now they're going straight for whole roasted lamb.

Fortunately, this stuff doesn't fill Chen Qi up, otherwise he would have been stuffed to death.

As Chen Qi flew to the next polluted area, he enjoyed a hearty meal along the way.

By the time they reached the next contaminated area, the whole roasted lamb was already gone.

"My abilities have improved again, and my domain has expanded!"

"One more, and we'll achieve the third qualitative leap!"

Chen Qi landed in the largest shopping mall in Jinghai City, which was also an S-level pollution zone.

Without any hindrance, Chen Qi once again easily obtained the S-level pollution source.

However, after successfully absorbing the power, he frowned: "I failed to achieve a qualitative change in my abilities."

He never expected to fail.

"Even an S-level pollution source can't help me complete my third qualitative leap in capabilities? Or is two qualitative leaps the limit for me?"

After Menglong and Aliang, the two strategists of the Nightmare Sect, fell out with Chen Qi, they now pretend to be dead and will not answer Chen Qi's questions at all.

Chen Qi didn't mind and chatted with the Nightmare Clan employees in the safe house.

Although the employees couldn't give a definite answer, one thing is certain: the two qualitative leaps in capabilities are not the limit!

There is still room for improvement in their abilities.

The failure to achieve a qualitative change can only be attributed to the insufficient level of the pollution source.

When Chen Qi recalled his two previous qualitative leaps in ability, he realized that he had absorbed more advanced sources of pollution than before.

It seems this time will be no exception.

However, there are even more advanced pollution sources than Class S pollution sources...

Chen Qi could only associate it with the source of pollution that had taken the form of a bus.

"It seems that the next time we eat, we must absorb the source of pollution in order to complete the third qualitative change in our capabilities."

However, he couldn't bring himself to swallow the source of the pollution.

His ability related to eating different things is almost ineffective against the source of pollution, and he cannot even convert it into wild food.

We can't exactly let him swallow the bus whole, can we?
Moreover, it's unlikely that it could be digested even if swallowed.

Chen Qi pondered in his heart:

"The source of pollution in the food-fear zone is almost immune to the abilities of those who eat different things, and has a natural restraining effect."

"Therefore, it can be inferred that the source of pollution in the dream contamination zone is also immune to the abilities of dream thieves."

"Therefore, I should use the Dream Thief's abilities to deal with the source of pollution in the Fear of Food area, and use the Pagan's abilities to deal with the source of pollution in the Dream area."

With that thought in mind, my train of thought became clear.

The bus in the safe house can be absorbed by the safe house in the future, helping Chen Qi complete the third qualitative change of his Dream Thief ability.

The third qualitative change in the abilities of the alien eaters requires finding another source of pollution in a dream-contaminated area.

Next, Chen Qi quickly completed the final work of cleaning up the pollution in Jinghai City, sweeping away all the polluted areas, large and small.

Although the pollution has receded, the pain this disaster inflicted on the city is not so easily erased.

Everywhere there are ruins and rubble. After the pollution worsened, many buildings were destroyed by flesh and blood, leaving the entire city in a mess.

People need to spend a lot of time, energy, and money to rebuild their homes.

Houses can be rebuilt after they are destroyed, but some people are gone and can never be found again.

In this disaster, countless people lost their lives, and countless families were torn apart...

Chen Qi had no time to be sad. The government would provide support for the post-disaster reconstruction, and he had more important things to do.
-
"Everyone really wants to meet you."

On a bench outside the bubble tea shop, Peanut took a big sip of his oversized bubble tea and said to Chen Qi, "After learning that you saved Jinghai City, everyone in the Nightmare Extermination Organization regards you as a hero, and many of the younger members admire you." Chen Qi smiled and said, "What do you mean by being regarded as a hero? I am a hero."

“Yes, that’s who you are.” Peanut also smiled, showing no sign of feeling that Chen Qi was being presumptuous.

If someone who saves a city can't be called a hero, then what is?
The news is currently only circulating within the organization. Once it is made public, Chen Qi will instantly become a hero across the country and even the world.

Chen Qi looked at the large cup of milk tea in Peanut's hand and joked, "I didn't expect Captain Peanut to like milk tea."

"I've always liked drinking it, but I've never dared to because my elders all have diabetes. Back then, milk tea wasn't my go-to food, which made me quite disappointed."

Peanut casually placed the milk tea on the table beside him: "This time it's also because Jinghai City was saved, let's drink to celebrate."

He straightened his back slightly and said earnestly, "The commander also wants to thank you in person..."

Chen Qi waved his hand. Of course he knew this was a great opportunity to achieve success and fame, but he wasn't thinking about it right now.

His father is still being held hostage by the Nightmare Clan, and his mother has not been truly rescued.

"Let's talk about it later. I have more important things to do next."

Peanut nodded. Indeed, Chen Qi's time was very precious because there were some things that only he could do, such as cleaning up the contaminated area.

Peanut asked, "What are your plans next?"

Chen Qi already had a plan in mind. He would definitely clean up all the polluted areas in the country one by one, but naturally there would be a certain order to it.

"I will go to Corning City first."

"Great!" Peanut perked up. "Just tell me what you need to cooperate with. The higher-ups' message is: we'll use the entire nation's resources to meet all your demands!"

What Peanut didn't say was that the organization actually wanted Chen Qi to be the first to liberate Kangning City.

The fact that hundreds of official ability users are trapped in Corning City is a huge loss and a major concern for the Nightmare Extermination Organization.

Although Chen Qi chose Kangning City because he wanted to rescue his father first, it was also in line with the official's wishes.

Right now, besides saving his father, Chen Qi's main task is to further improve his own strength.

He only needs one more source of dream pollution to complete the third qualitative change in his abilities as a Pagan, and Corning City, as a dream pollution zone, perfectly meets his requirements.

Chen Qi had a blast in Jinghai City this time, practically invincible. The second-generation Nightmare Clan parasites were like chickens and dogs in his hands.

But he will not become arrogant because of this.

This time he caused too much of a commotion, and the Nightmare Clan in the other contaminated areas will definitely go all out to target him, which may even lead to an alliance between the Nightmare Eater Clan and the Nightmare Clan.

I learned from employees like Monroe that both races will definitely send a small number of first-generation Nightmare Clan parasites!
The Nightmare Clan is indeed rare, but not nonexistent.

However, the first-generation Nightmare Clan is indeed very selective about its hosts; it will almost never parasitize a host that doesn't have great potential.

Therefore, those who can be parasitized by the first generation of Nightmare Clan are generally also incredibly powerful individuals with terrifying potential.

Even if they can't be compared to Chen Qi, they shouldn't be underestimated.

Of course, Chen Qi's exceptional vessel, which attracted the attention of two generations of Nightmare Clan members, is also unique.

Knowing that he might have to face more than one first-generation Nightmare Clan parasite, Chen Qi felt it was safer to complete his third ability transformation as soon as possible.
-
That same day, Peanut arranged a private plane to take Chen Qi directly to the city next to Kangning.

Speed ​​is of the essence in war, and the sooner we act, the better. The Nightmare Clan could easily guess Chen Qi's movements and knew that he would definitely go to rescue his father.

Therefore, Chen Qi must take over Kangning City and rescue his father before more Nightmare Clan reinforcements arrive!
This time, Chen Qi chose to act alone. Most of his familiar teammates were pagans, which made it difficult for them to perform effectively in the dream-polluted area of ​​Corning City.

Moreover, given Chen Qi's current strength, he is indeed more suited to acting alone.

Corning, a city of eternal rest.

The dream pollution has entered its second stage. The entire city has fallen into a deep sleep, completely forgetting the existence of the real world and treating the first layer of the dream world as the real world.

The difference between the Dream Contaminated Zone and the Food Fear Contaminated Zone is that its advanced sources of contamination not only exist in the real world, but also in dreams.

And its source of pollution is most likely the same.

It's even possible that the source of pollution isn't even found in the real world, but is hidden in an interlayered world.

The higher the pollution level, the deeper the pollution source can be hidden.

Under these circumstances, Chen Qi suspected that the source of pollution in Kangning City might have even infiltrated the second dream world!

Therefore, Chen Qi's attempt to find the source of pollution in Kangning City by searching only in the real world would be very inefficient.

It might not even be possible to find it at all.

Because Corning City is essentially a dead city in the real world, there is no sign of life or anything unusual, and it is even impossible to distinguish which areas are heavily polluted.

After all, everyone was fast asleep, and the place was deathly silent.

Chen Qi had to go to the dream world no matter what.

He randomly found a corner, entered a house, picked out a soft bed, and fell asleep immediately.

His consciousness instantly entered a dream.

The first layer of Corning City's dreamscape is just as quiet as the real world.

At this point, it becomes easy to compare the differences between Kangning City, which was in the second stage of pollution, and Changle City, which was in the first stage of pollution.

The first dream world of Chang Le City is bustling and prosperous, with a constant flow of traffic.

The first layer of the dream world in Kangning City is comparable to the real world in Changle City.

There were only a few pedestrians on the street; most people were asleep in their dreams, having entered a deeper, second layer of the dream world.

Chen Qi was in his element in the dream world, and he could fly freely over the city without even needing a domain.

He flew quickly over the city, trying to find the source of the pollution.

Logically speaking, as the contaminated area with the largest number of parasites, Chang Le City should have a large number of parasites appearing to obstruct Chen Qi at this time.

But Chen Qifei traveled through half the city and didn't see a single parasite.

"Did they all run away, or are they lying in wait for me somewhere?"

Chen Qi took a general stroll through Corning City in the first layer of the dream world and did detect the aura of high-level pollution sources several times, but none of them were the source of the pollution.

Without a dream scenario that fits his safe house, he was too lazy to make a move.

"Looks like we'll have to go to the second dream world."

Without hesitation, Chen Qi fell asleep again, entering a dream within a dream.

When he arrived in the second dream world, he was slightly taken aback when he opened his eyes.

"Did the citizens of Corning City also jointly build a Corning City in the second dream?"

However, the city of Corning in front of me seems somewhat abstract.

(End of this chapter)