Chapter 1054: Chapter 817: The Talking Master Ball

“It gets all excited at the sight of the lesion…” Ling Mo was somewhat surprised. He initially intended to test the power of this “lesion” and incidentally help the sunglasses man… to reinforce the latter’s suspicions. This idea had appeared in Ling Mo’s mind as soon as they landed, and now it seemed to be quite effective…

The sunglasses man wasn’t a complete Big Boss after all. Without the connection between them, his original personality traits were entirely exposed. One might say he was more like a vessel carrying the Big Boss’s memories. Although there were similarities between the two, there were also distinct differences. At least in terms of strategy, this sunglasses man was far inferior to his main body.

“Once he wakes up, he’ll instinctively hand over all the intelligence to me… No matter how we negotiate, it’s impossible to make him completely betray ‘himself.’ On the contrary, this method is more reliable. He has already assumed that I am with Niepan, so once an abnormal event occurs, he will be more prone to wild imaginations. With a bit of guidance, it’ll lead to the current ‘misunderstanding’…”

Ling Mo thought to himself, but his eyes turned back to the “lesion”: “But it’s not reacting at all, could it be… just an auxiliary vocal organ of a creature?”

After a moment of hesitation, Ling Mo simply crouched down and used a tentacle to make an incision on the sunglasses man: “Make use of everything…” he muttered while pressing the “lesion” down. The unconscious sunglasses man twitched immediately, seemingly sensing the misfortune about to befall him…

However, Ling Mo’s hand stopped just five centimeters from the wound. What puzzled him was that although this “lesion” had a conditioned response to the scent of blood, it wasn’t nearly as proactive and excited as the master ball…

“That’s odd… Even if the functions are different, they are fundamentally the same, so their instinctive reactions should at least be similar, right? But now they behave differently, what’s the reason for that?”

Ling Mo furrowed his brows and thought for a moment, then brought another tentacle up to the “lesion.” This time, its reaction was even more thorough-it completely ignored the tentacle…

“I’m definitely overlooking something… Think carefully…” After a moment, Ling Mo’s eyes suddenly lit up, “That’s it! Their progenitors!”

He had previously considered this issue, but back then, his thinking was confined to the levels of zombies, neglecting the differences between common zombies and variation zombies. Even though those Infant Zombies mutated from consuming fuel, what about the source of the master ball’s origin? It was an infection source!

A stark contrast!

“Although it’s not exactly a direct lineage, the stuff it has devoured is substantial… It has even devoured King level creatures…” Ling Mo immediately realized that this “lesion” was still too low-level, whereas the master ball had already begun evolving into a true mutation creature. If he wanted to cultivate another one, he’d have to find a “high-level lesion” like the master ball.

However, infection sources and progenitors aren’t that easy to find. They don’t produce many offspring, and even fewer can develop “lesions.” In this regard, the master ball’s existence is truly precious…

“The master ball is so excited; it wants to devour this ‘lesion,’ right? Fine, perhaps this is its real food…”

With this in mind, Ling Mo tossed the “lesion” in his hand over. The master ball, which had just leapt up, suddenly expanded, and with a “plop,” it swallowed the “lesion” whole. Inside its transparent body, a shadow similar to it appeared, and after a few seconds’ pause, it suddenly began to contract, with its surface quickly turning red.

The master ball, originally like a transparent red gemstone, soon became a mass of blood-red. As the color deepened, its internal situation gradually became obscured. Ling Mo wasn’t too interested in the devouring process itself; he was more excited about the changes after the master ball’s transformation.

“If it makes the master ball this eager, it must be greatly beneficial, right? It’s a pity that out of so many Infant Zombies, only one has been born; this thing is really hard to find…”

The master ball’s devouring lasted for nearly an hour until the blood glow on its surface gradually became translucent, and the little thing returned to its original state with a “plop.”

Ling Mo quickly grabbed it. In terms of color and shape, the master ball was still the same, but it seemed to have a small mass of blood mist inside it now. Numerous vein-like blood threads intertwined together, and at the core was something resembling a drop of blood. However, upon closer inspection, it looked like a miniature heart…

“I didn’t expect it to have such a significant effect! I wonder what changes it will bring to its power…” Ling Mo’s eyes immediately showed a look of surprise and joy. He thought for a moment, then reached out and pinched the master ball again.

This time, before he even released his fingers, the master ball suddenly made a sound.

“Plop!”

Ling Mo was initially taken aback, then showed a hint of suspicion.

The sounds previously emitted by the master ball were actually caused by its body contracting, but sometimes the movements were too subtle to notice with the naked eye. Ling Mo, having observed the master ball closely, had noted this detail long ago.

But now, while the master ball was still artificially contracted, how could it make a sound?

Unless…

Ling Mo’s eyes suddenly widened. He slightly loosened his grip, then tightened it again. This time, his focus was entirely on the “heart,” and his psychic tentacle wrapped around the master ball.

“Plop~”

Another light sound came, and this time, Ling Mo’s expression changed completely.

The master ball’s body… didn’t move! Only the “heart” moved! And the sound came from within the “heart”!

“It actually evolved a vocal system! A talking master ball!” Ling Mo stared unblinkingly at the “jellyfish” in his hand, filled with awe. This rate of evolution… it’s terrifying!

From nothing to something, it took only an hour!

“If Old Lan finds out, I wonder if he’ll go crazy because of this… This master ball is the nightmare of overachievers!”

Ling Mo couldn’t help but give the master ball a couple more squeezes, and this time there was a slight change in its sound. It seemed to be deliberately acting a bit weak while gently brushing its tentacles against Ling Mo’s palm…

“Oh my! It’s actually pretending to be cute! What if I discover something new by squeezing it a few more times…?”

“Plop~”

…

Outside the dormitory building.

Wang Lin was crouching in a corner, wiping her blade, when suddenly a man with dark circles and a cigarette appeared behind her.

He stared at the back of Wang Lin’s head for a moment, then gave a dry cough and said, “Wang Lin…”

“If you have something to say, just say it,” Wang Lin replied without looking up.

Old Zheng showed a hint of embarrassment. After hesitating for a moment, he asked in a low voice, “Have you ever thought about staying here? I mean… staying with your sister and brother-in-law?”

Wang Lin paused in her actions, glanced at Xia Na not far away, and then at the closed room door… She quickly let out a muffled snort and said, “Haven’t decided yet. They only bully me…”

“So you’ve thought about it?” Old Zheng sighed and said, “Think it through; you were forced to escape back then. We in the Central Region…”

“If that day ever comes, I’ll repay the favor,” Wang Lin suddenly bit her lip and said coldly, “And that matter… I’ll settle it eventually.”

“Not going to tell Ling Mo?” Old Zheng asked again.

“He only bullies me,” Wang Lin muttered as she continued wiping her blade.

Old Zheng gave a bitter smile and then changed the subject. However, just as he started, Wang Lin glared at him sharply: “Why do I feel like something’s off with this situation? Could Ling Mo be setting us up again?”

“What’s off about it? Besides the Second Camp, who else around here has a helicopter?” Wang Lin said irritably.

“That’s not what I mean… Don’t you think their behavior is strange? Why insist on staying here? I secretly asked the pilot earlier, and he said it was to have Ling Mo help get fuel, but does that really require living here? There’s something fishy about this!” Old Zheng said, furrowing his brow.