Chapter 31: Quietly Firing a Black Gun

As long as one does not die, anything is possible.

This was the scene witnessed by those merfolk who rushed in. The moment they entered, they saw two Chang Wei pummeling Lai Fu. Their faces turned grim, and without hesitation, they joined the fray, launching themselves into the brawl.

In this place, the old city system was designed so that no one could kill another. It was the only aspect that retained a vestige of fish nature. Yet being unable to kill did not mean one could not devour another. You could not beat someone to death, but if you managed to eat them, digestion would do the rest.

Lin Qiu grimaced in pain as he was battered, his mouth furtively opening. Within his throat, a black vortex appeared, emitting a powerful suction that enveloped two merfolk. In the next moment, the two gasped in shock, rapidly shrank, spun around, and vanished into the vortex at his throat.

Devouring them, Lin Qiu digested them swiftly. His heart beat rapidly, pumping blood faster and faster. A trace of satisfaction appeared on his face, and he let out a weird, muffled laugh. In the old city, all sea beasts had transformed into merfolk. To devour someone, one had to eat them bite by bite. But the other was not a dead fish, so how could they stay still and let you chew?

Lin Qiu was different. He possessed the Infinite Devouring System. Whether in human or fish form, he needed only to open his mouth—a black vortex would appear, and whoever approached would be swallowed.

All the fighting merfolk were too busy to notice. Since they could not kill each other, they could only batter themselves, letting their blood nourish the old city monument. Too distracted to pay attention, none saw the bizarre spectacle unfolding at Lin Qiu’s side.

Lin Qiu cackled, opened his mouth again, and quietly devoured another. Whoever you were, no matter your strength, as long as he swallowed you, the devouring system’s power would erupt. In an instant, you would be reduced to nothing.

In the past, devouring these merfolk required some effort, or even a hasty escape. But now, this was a group of fools, standing here fighting themselves, making things easy for him.

Lin Qiu exchanged for a knife and slit his wrist, letting blood flow freely. This felt more comfortable; he no longer needed to keep battering himself. The other merfolk, lacking sharp tools, could only punch themselves to draw blood.

“System, are you toying with me?”

Lin Qiu sighed softly.

Just now, the system had kindly reminded him that he could exchange for a sharp instrument to cut himself. The friendly tip made Lin Qiu feel like a clown, not having asked anything and simply letting the merfolk beat him. How foolish could he be?

“Has my intelligence dropped since becoming a merfolk?”

Lin Qiu mused, occasionally opening his mouth to devour another merfolk, and quietly shifting his position so the others could not see him.

He noticed, however, that no matter how many merfolk he devoured, his upgrade points did not increase. This made him anxious.

“System, you’re withholding my upgrade points. This isn’t fair.”

“The host is currently using gene refinement to process the old city monument. The consumption is great; the power gained from devouring merfolk only sustains the transformation.”

“If the host does not wish to refine the monument, he can simply remove his hand from it.”

“I…”

Lin Qiu was speechless.

The system’s meaning was clear: if he did not want to become master of the old city, he could keep evolving endlessly. But if someone else refined the monument—a city as large as a province—where would he find shelter?

Understanding this, Lin Qiu kept quiet. The system had told him that once he refined the monument, he would control the entire city. Then, with a thought, the city could grow or shrink, and he could carry it with him as he traveled. If faced with a powerful enemy, he could dive into the city; no matter how strong the opponent, they could never breach its defenses.

For this, any price was worth paying. With an old city at his side, he could traverse the seas, undefeatable. To advance or retreat, to secure his life, that was true safety.

Lin Qiu continued to devour.

Outside, more and more merfolk arrived. All marine creatures migrating here transformed into merfolk, and their numbers were vast. Every moment, new clans entered the city, became merfolk, and hurried over.

Thus Lin Qiu’s secret devouring escaped everyone’s notice. After each devouring, he would quietly shift his position.

When a merfolk noticed Lin Qiu move closer, battering himself for blood and casting a wary glance, Lin Qiu smiled benignly. The merfolk, unconsciously, returned the smile.

But in the next moment, he saw Lin Qiu open his mouth, a black vortex forming at his throat.

He was stunned, feeling the world spin. The black vortex grew larger in his vision. Then, as if he had entered it, everything went dark; nothing could be seen.

When he tried to regain his senses, he found he could no longer do so, for the system’s power had already digested him, turning him into Lin Qiu’s nourishment, fueling the blood poured onto the monument.

Lin Qiu occupied the merfolk’s former spot, carefully observing the progress bar on the monument. A few seconds later, it disappeared. He grinned, satisfied.

Yet secretly attacking would eventually be discovered. After all, if you want the fish not to know, you must do nothing yourself.

Sure enough, after he quietly devoured another, a merfolk noticed.

The merfolk stared blankly, watching as one of their own was swallowed by Lin Qiu’s strange method, and let out a shrill cry.

“What are you screaming for?!”

“You startled me!”

One merfolk’s voice rang out in displeasure.

By now, they had lost so much blood their heads spun, their thoughts barely functioning. Yet the scream jolted their spirits.

“This is bad!”

Lin Qiu’s expression changed. He tried to devour the witness, but the merfolk, as if shocked by electricity, released the monument and jumped away.

Seconds later, all his previous efforts were wiped from the monument.

“He… he… he…”

The merfolk, eyes full of terror, pointed at Lin Qiu, finger trembling, muscles around his mouth quivering rapidly.

Eyes wide, he struggled for words, failing to utter two complete syllables.

With all the merfolk watching him, nervous and unable to speak, he resorted to miming.

“Eat… eat… eat…”

He stammered, repeatedly opening his mouth, mimicking Lin Qiu’s devouring motion.