Starting to Gain Experience from Push-Ups Chapter 1266 - 614: Roasted Beast Meat

The immense force of the blow obliterated its jawbone and a significant portion of its skull.

The monster's immense form crashed heavily onto the ground, its four limbs convulsing and spasming violently.

In less than ten seconds.

Two fatalities, one critically injured.

Such sheer, unadulterated brutality instantly extinguished the remaining monsters' predatory instincts.

They finally grasped that this evidently frail and delicate human was, in fact, the apex predator within these desolate ruins.

With a few frightened, guttural growls, the remaining creatures dispersed like startled animals, their tails between their legs, disappearing into the encroaching darkness.

The swiftness of their retreat served as an indirect testament to their capacity for feeling pain, as well as possessing a notable degree of sentience.

Fang Cheng did not expend precious stamina pursuing them.

He calmly walked over to the still-convulsing hyena-like creature, raised his combat boot, and brought it down with decisive force, thereby ending its suffering.

Following this, Fang Cheng skillfully crushed the skulls of the three deceased beasts and meticulously sifted through the brain matter.

The outcome, however, left him somewhat underwhelmed.

Out of the trio of monsters, only one harbored a Treasure Bead formed within its body.

Furthermore, this particular bead was even smaller than the previous one, which had been the size of a grain of rice, and its luminescence was considerably fainter.

"It seems the formation of these beads is either tied to the creature's strength, or perhaps the longer they live, the more Qi they accumulate, resulting in a larger bead," Fang Cheng mused internally.

He shook the residual blood from his hand and carefully placed the minuscule Treasure Bead alongside the others he had collected.

Just as he contemplated shifting his focus to continue his 'treasure hunt' within the city's remnants—

The oppressive, dark crimson sky above abruptly, and without any prior indication, transformed into an absolute blackness.

It was as if daylight had been instantly extinguished and night had descended.

Thick clouds of volcanic ash completely obscured the heavens, and the previously howling wind suddenly intensified its fury.

The ambient temperature surrounding him plummeted with an astonishing, exaggerated rapidity.

Within mere minutes, the air, which had been hot enough to cook meat, dropped to a temperature bordering on freezing.

Yet, for Fang Cheng, whose blood and Qi still surged powerfully even under the strain of double gravity—

This sudden chill was barely perceptible; on the contrary, it felt akin to a blast of cool air from an air conditioner on a sweltering summer day, providing a remarkably pleasant sensation.

Fang Cheng paused his movement and directed his gaze towards the deeper sections of the ruins.

Visibility in the deepening gloom was severely limited; aside from fragmented walls and ruined structures, no distinctive landmarks suitable for immediate investigation presented themselves.

He pondered for a moment. The external physical assessment was still in progress.

Although it was far from concluded and ample time remained, there was no compelling reason for him to recklessly venture deeper into an unfamiliar, unlit environment.

Fang Cheng withdrew his gaze, his attention naturally settling upon the freshly deceased monster carcasses scattered on the ground.

A daring notion sparked within his mind.

"I wonder what the taste of these creatures might be... are they even edible?"

As if in response to his query, a faint rumbling sound emanated from his abdomen.

Recalling the events, ever since he arrived at the West Mountain examination grounds that afternoon to await the commencement, up until nightfall when the physical test officially began, he hadn't consumed even a single drop of water.

Let alone a warm, satisfying meal.

While the so-called physical test posed no challenge for him, his stomach and intestines were already in a state of open rebellion.

Fang Cheng's lips parted slightly, his appetite gradually overriding his logical judgment.

For ordinary individuals, these grotesque, mutated beings would be teeming with unknown pathogens; a single bite could lead to internal decay and swift demise.

However, Fang Cheng possessed unwavering confidence in his own physical constitution.

He had the fortitude to ingest vile substances like the 'Deep Red Eye,' capable of corrupting even the Spirit; a few mutated beasts were insignificant in comparison.

"Let's give it a try. Consider it an exploration of a new culinary possibility."

Fang Cheng surveyed his surroundings and singled out the Hunting Dog-like monster, noted for its particularly well-developed musculature, deeming it the most promising candidate in terms of texture.

He then proceeded to drag its carcass into a partially enclosed structure that remained relatively intact.

With a purposeful kick, he cleared away the debris littering the ground, swiftly creating an open space.

Next, he gathered several remnants of dried, weathered wooden furniture from the surrounding desolation, piled them together, and fashioned a makeshift campfire pit.

Fang Cheng extended his right hand and gently rubbed his thumb and middle finger together.

Snap.

A small cluster of golden flame appeared at his fingertip, resembling the steady flame of a windproof lighter.

He brought the nascent flame close to the aged wood, and its intense heat caused it to ignite instantaneously.

The vibrant yellow flames of the campfire sprang to life, casting a faint glow upon the surrounding darkness.

With the fire successfully established, Fang Cheng approached the colossal beast's carcass.

He grasped the thick hind leg joint of the massive creature with both hands, applied a measured amount of force,

With a sound resembling fascia being torn, he forcefully detached a thigh, weighing dozens of kilos, from the carcass.

Continuing his task, Fang Cheng located a sufficiently robust piece of rusted rebar, threaded the meat onto it, and positioned it directly over the crackling campfire for roasting.

Soon, the intense heat began to extract the grease from the Mutant Beast Meat.

Pale yellow fat dripped into the fire, causing the flames to flare up with sharp sizzling sounds.

A potent, overbearing meaty aroma quickly overpowered the lingering sulfurous scent in the air, permeating the desolate ruins.

Within this desolate landscape, such a smell was undoubtedly akin to a lethal poison.

As if summoned, pairs of greedy eyes, glowing with an eerie light, reappeared in the darkness beyond the wall.

These peculiar, mutated creatures resembled grotesque demons and monstrous beings.

Veiled by the night, their numbers grew, their low, guttural growls and chilling gulps echoing ominously.

Fang Cheng remained by the fire, rotating the roast in his hands, his gaze unwavering.

If they wished to watch, let them watch.

Provided these beasts dared to encroach even half a foot beyond the fire's embrace, he would not hesitate to employ his fists to prepare additional midnight sustenance.

After approximately a dozen minutes, the meat's exterior achieved a perfect golden-brown crispness.

Impatiently, Fang Cheng withdrew the rebar, opened his mouth wide, aimed for the thickest, most succulent part of the thigh, and bit down with considerable force.

Hiss—

A burst of rich aroma, coupled with scalding meat juices, erupted in his mouth.

The texture of the meat was significantly denser and tougher than terrestrial beef, demanding substantial jaw strength to tear through each mouthful.

Fang Cheng consumed it in large, hearty bites.

The moment the meat traversed his esophagus and entered his stomach, there was no adverse reaction or indication of poisoning.

Instead, it transmuted into a surging wave of heat, coursing through his abdomen with a roar akin to potent liquor.

Immediately thereafter, his formidable digestive system efficiently broke it down, converting it into vital nutrients that replenished his body.

"Excellent sustenance!"

Fang Cheng's eyes gleamed with satisfaction.

It was evident that this meat contained pure Life Energy, and moreover, it was entirely absorbable by him.

Having confirmed its safety, Fang Cheng indulged completely.

Like a wild beast unfed for three months, he grasped the multi-kilogram beast leg with both hands, devouring it with a ferocity that rivaled a storm engulfing the clouds.

Even the connective tissues within the bone joints were meticulously consumed, leaving only the sounds of swallowing and chewing.

In mere minutes, the entire thigh was reduced to a bare, clean femur, unceremoniously tossed aside.

Fang Cheng emitted a satisfied burp, wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, yet still felt a void.

However, he did not continue his meal. Instead, he assumed a cross-legged position, closed his eyes, and entered a state of deep meditation.

In this brutal, radiation-laden environment, the potent flesh energy he had just consumed was slightly excessive; it was imperative to refine it completely and swiftly.

The surging blood and Qi within his body roared like a great river in full flood.

With each controlled breath, he drew the subtle ambient energy into his lungs, meticulously extracting it in fine wisps.

Concurrently, several lines of pale blue notification text materialized before his vision.

"[Consumed the flesh and blood of an unknown mutant creature. Constitution +0.001]"

"[Consumed the flesh and blood of an unknown mutant creature. Constitution +0.001]"

.........

An indeterminate period later, the entirety of the flesh energy was successfully assimilated.

Just as Fang Cheng prepared to conclude his meditation.

His exceptionally acute hearing detected a faint, unusual sound amidst the howling wind outside the protective wall.

It was not the heavy panting of a wild beast, but a deliberately suppressed respiration, tinged with profound terror.

Fang Cheng's eyes snapped open, his gaze piercing the shadows at the periphery of the firelight near the opening, sharp as a blade.

He observed a gaunt, hunched figure stealthily moving along the base of the wall, its eyes fixated on the gnawed-clean beast thigh bone lying on the ground.

That silhouette, that posture—it was unmistakably human!

"A human?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Fang Cheng's mind, and he spoke involuntarily.

His sudden exclamation acted like a needle piercing a taut balloon.

The emaciated figure convulsed violently and emitted a shrill cry of fear.

Then, as if confronted by an unimaginably monstrous demon, it darted away like a startled rabbit into the vast, encroaching darkness of the ruins.