462: 4th

The skin of the Human-Faced Worm is extremely tough. These worms often tunnel through rock, and even the concrete in the city cannot stop them, so they are also very common in the sewers.

Tough leather that has been simply processed is usually used to make field tents, vehicle covers, tires, etc.

Leather that has been processed to a higher degree is made into clothing and footwear, such as leather boots, coats, and so on.

Those who leave the city to hunt Pollution Beasts include Gene Warriors, Mutants, mechanical modifiers, and even ordinary people carrying firearms; these items are sold to them.

Ning Yuan does not plan to go into the wilderness for the time being. At the very least, he must wait until he reaches the second level before making plans. According to his current progress, one year should be enough.

Perhaps he can also save up money to buy a bottle of Level One gene serum to cover up the fact that his physique is strong.

Meditative cultivation and processing Pollution Beast carcasses—half a year passed just like that.

"Little Ning, you're here again." The security guard greeted him. They seemed quite familiar by now. His eyes landed on the youth, occasionally filled with amazement. Half a year—he never expected this kid to stay for a whole half year. Here, everyone was a temporary worker.

Being able to stay for three months was already a very long time.

Any longer, and the body wouldn't be able to handle it.

Of course, there were also those who died due to various accidents—corrosive pustules inside the Pollution Beast carcasses, some insects, and also Aberration.

"Mm, morning, Uncle Xu."

"By the way, Uncle Xu, do you know where gene serum is sold?"

Over the past half year, Ning Yuan had accumulated a considerable amount of funds and could already afford to purchase the most basic Level One gene serum.

The security guard realized suddenly: "So you kid want to buy gene serum. No wonder you've been working so hard."

He suddenly leaned in, a smile on his face: "To tell you the truth, we actually sell gene serum here ourselves, and it's an employee benefit. As long as you work here for more than three months, you can enjoy a ten percent discount."

As he spoke, he pointed at several people: "See those people? They came specifically for this. And those who left after working for three months were basically all because of this. After all, how could so many people's bodies happen to have problems exactly at the three-month mark?"

Understanding dawned in Ning Yuan's eyes. He had been wondering about that. Although people usually left within three months due to physical problems, some people clearly had issues but insisted on holding out until exactly three months. So, this was the reason.

"You kid are the first one to work for six months since our factory manager took office. How about it, do you want to buy a bottle? I can give you an even bigger discount—fifteen percent off."

Ning Yuan calculated in his mind. Fifteen percent off. A bottle of Level One gene serum had a market price of ten thousand and was in short supply. It was even more expensive on the black market, reaching over twelve thousand. Fifteen percent off would save him a full fifteen hundred. He was instantly tempted.

"Uncle Xu, are there no other restrictions?"

"Bah, what other restrictions could there be? This thing is meant to attract people to work here; otherwise, we'd have even fewer people! If you want to buy it, I can make the call and bring you a bottle right now!"

"I didn't bring money today. Is it okay if I come back to buy it tomorrow?"

"Of course, no problem."

"Thank you, Uncle Xu."

The security guard stared at the departing youth, marveling inwardly. This youth's physique was absolutely excellent. He had worked here for half a year, and his body hadn't shown any reaction at all.

The genetic tolerance limit of his body was definitely very high, at least capable of reaching the Level Three level.

A Level Three Gene Warrior was already quite strong, considered an expert in the outer city, and on the same level as him.

The security guard had the intention of befriending him, so naturally, he was more enthusiastic than when facing others.

Although gene serum could strengthen oneself, not everyone could withstand it.

Level One was relatively mild, and most people could basically succeed, but there was still a near ten percent mortality rate.

For the second level, this mortality rate jumped directly to forty percent. And this was a forty percent mortality rate for Level One Gene Warriors, and even for those who were already prepared. Many Level One Gene Warriors would never even attempt the second level gene serum in their entire lives.

And the body—the stronger its ability to resist contamination, the higher the success rate of taking the serum.

He was a Level Three Gene Warrior. When he took the Level Three serum at the time, the scene of near-death was still vivid in his mind; he had almost turned into an Aberration.

Therefore, no matter what, he dared not take the Level Four gene serum; for him, that would be a certain death sentence.

Ning Yuan was also clear about these things.

Failure with gene serum meant turning into an Aberration.

Failure with mutation serum meant turning into a Pollution Beast.

As for mechanical modifiers, there was basically no upper limit. Their strength improvement relied entirely on external objects. Their five senses often could not keep up with their bodies. Facing some powerful Pollution Beasts, they were just living targets. Their only role, perhaps, was to take the enemy down with them.

Ning Yuan continued his day's work. His job today was to process second level Pollution Beasts. Now, he could be considered a veteran employee here. Except for a few, no one had more seniority than him.

Therefore, despite his young age, those uncles would still call him Master Little Ning when they saw him.

"Master Little Ning is here!"

"Master Little Ning, come try the sugar cake my wife made; the taste is superb."

"Master Little Ning, could you give me some pointers on these Split-Tooth Rat teeth? Hehe." A man of thirty-seven or thirty-eight who had just arrived handed over five silver coins.

People like this usually came for the gene serum, though not for themselves, but for their sons.

Although becoming a Gene Warrior often meant greater danger, it still made countless people flock to it, as it meant climbing the social ladder.

Ning Yuan accepted it very naturally. He had started by processing Human-Faced Worms and Split-Tooth Rats. Over half a year, combined with the powerful five senses of a Talent User, he had naturally summarized some very good experience:

"When a Split-Tooth Rat's mouth is closed, it's very small, but when it opens, it splits half of its head. To extract their teeth efficiently without damage, first trace along their mouth, at the base of the teeth—roughly here. Then, at this angle, use a dagger to cut along the outer edge. Don't use too much force at once; you must repeat the cut at least fifteen times. It should be fine once you feel a gritty sensation as the dagger slices through the flesh.

Finally, pry open the Split-Tooth Rat's mouth, and you only need to cut once along this position to remove the entire set of teeth intact. This minimizes the time of contact. When the time comes, just take this set of teeth and separate them one by one on the side."

"Thank you, Master Little Ning! Thank you, Master Little Ning!"

Afterwards, Ning Yuan went about his own work.

On this site, there were hundreds of Pollution Beast carcasses, and every three to five days, a new batch would be transported over.

However, the number of people working here was maintained at around fifty or sixty all year round.

Many people who weren't at the end of their rope, or who didn't need gene serum and intend to fight for their family, wouldn't come here.

It was much like a crematorium having ghosts; even if there were no ghosts, few people would go, let alone when they knew for sure that there were ghosts.

"Ahhhh!"