“Mom, I want to spend 998 yuan on one jin of Ghost Shadow Squid meat, it’s a type of Aberrant Beast meat.”

“No problem, if you want to buy it, then buy it. When you bring it home, I’ll cook it for you.”

On video, Zhang Wanxin thought Lin Zichen simply wanted to eat the Ghost Shadow Squid meat and she agreed without hesitation.

Although spending 1,000 yuan per jin on meat was a bit extravagant for them, her son had always been responsible and never wasted money. Since this was a rare occasion where he wanted something, as his mother she naturally agreed.

After a short chat, Lin Zichen quickly ended the call.

Moments later, he saw Zhang Wanxin transfer 2,000 yuan to him on WeChat, along with a message telling him to buy more and invite Hanhan’s family over to eat.

Lin Zichen replied with thanks, then turned to the saleswoman and said, “My mom has already agreed. Give me three jin of Ghost Shadow Squid meat.”

“Alright, I’ll pack it up right away.” The saleswoman smiled warmly.

Soon, Lin Zichen paid 2,994 yuan and left carrying three jin of Ghost Shadow Squid meat.

On the way, Shen Qinghan couldn’t help asking, “Didn’t you say you just wanted to look? Why did you suddenly buy it?”

“Because I wanted you to try it.”

“I don’t believe that. Obviously, you wanted it for yourself. But wow, 998 yuan per jin, that’s really expensive. I wonder what it tastes like.”

Lin Zichen didn’t reply. He was troubled over whether to devour the Ghost Shadow Squid meat.

Originally, he had planned to secretly buy some just to devour it, but as a minor he needed parental approval.

Now that his family knew about the purchase and expected to eat it, how could he devour it?

If the meat lost its Life Origin, it would spoil.

‘Looks like I’ll have to devour just a little. In the future, I’ll need to find someone to buy Aberrant Beast meat for me.’

Silently, Lin Zichen slipped his hand into the bag to touch a small portion of the Ghost Shadow Squid meat.

Not much, just about one or two liang (50 to 100 grams).

[You have devoured a trace of the Life Origin of ‘Ghost Shadow Squid’]

[Ghost Shadow Squid Compendium: 0.1%]

One or two liang of meat gave him 0.1% progress.

That meant he’d need to devour 100 jin to fill the bar.

And at 998 yuan per jin, that meant about 100,000 yuan to unlock the Ghost Shadow Squid Compendium.

The price wasn’t impossibly high.

Lin Zichen decided: from now on, he’d buy Ghost Shadow Squid meat to devour.

He recalled reading about Ghost Shadow Squids as a child.

They were a common low-grade Aberrant Beast, dwelling thousands of meters deep in the ocean, occasionally venturing into shallow waters to hunt.

They had a special ability to instantly dissolve into water and vanish like a ghost, which gave them their name.

Because they were weak in shallow waters and plentiful, they became human food, traded in Aberrant Beast markets.

‘Dissolve into water instantly? I hope unlocking the Compendium gives me that ability.’

He thought.

Then he pulled out the piece of meat he had devoured, planning to toss it.

Since the Life Origin was gone, it should have spoiled.

But when he looked, he was surprised to see it was still intact. Maybe not as fresh, but edible.

He was stunned.

How could meat without Life Origin not spoil?

What exactly was Life Origin?

Was it genes?

Or perhaps genes were just one form of Life Origin?

The term “origin” suggested something vast.

Unable to figure it out, Lin Zichen searched “Life Origin” online.

He found nothing. The concept didn’t exist.

‘Forget it. All that matters is that meat without Life Origin doesn’t rot.’

He quickly devoured the rest, bringing the Compendium progress to 3%.

When he was done, he and Shen Qinghan went down to the regular mall area.

She spotted a claw machine with plushies inside. Loving them, she rushed to play.

She was terrible at it, burning through 20 yuan without catching a single one.

Unable to watch, Lin Zichen stepped in. In just three tries, he caught three plushies, all ones she loved.

* * *

Time passed quickly. Before long, it was 10 PM.

Since they had school tomorrow, they left the mall and rode home.

“Xiao Chen, the night breeze feels so nice.”

“It really does.”

“I really like the plushies you caught for me.”

“I’m glad.”

“Xiao Chen, I can’t wait to try Ghost Shadow Squid meat. I’ve never had Aberrant Beast meat before.”

“….”

On the way home, they chatted idly. Mostly Shen Qinghan spoke, while Lin Zichen responded.

They could have gone on like that, but as they passed a park, noise interrupted them.

“Drop the knife!”

“Drop my ass! You fools, if humanity is wiped out, it’ll be your kind who are to blame!”

“I’ll say it again, put the knife down!”

“Humans can’t save Earth! Don’t you get it?”

The shouts were hysterical.

Lin Zichen frowned. Was there a cultist causing trouble in the park?

His curiosity was piqued and he pedaled faster.

As they approached, he looked toward the source.

The next moment, he saw a familiar face.

It was Teacher Strawberry, his old Intelligence Development Class teacher from Rainbow Kindergarten.

Now, she was being held hostage by a deranged man with a knife at her throat. Blood was already trickling down, the situation dire.

Several Security Team officers were present, but they were only shouting warnings, taking no action.

As her face paled and more blood seeped out, Lin Zichen knew he had to act.

He stopped, got off his bike and picked up a rock from the ground.

Then, eyes sharp, he hurled it at the hand holding the knife!