Chapter 9: Program Naming: Greed

[Page 1/3]

[Gathering]: A general function that can quickly decompose biological corpses to extract the essence of materials.

Glancing at the function bar in the visual attribute panel, Lu Ming muttered, "Ultimate Sublimation."

[Prompt: Please select sublimation tier, Tier 2 / Tier 1]

Looking at the prompt, Lu Ming felt speechless. Sublimating anything—really anything—without exception, not even sparing a general function? Could this be considered a bug? Would using it so recklessly get him in trouble?

He was a bit apprehensive, yet had no intention of holding back.

Who’d be foolish enough not to use a divine skill? First enjoy, then talk.

“Tier 1.”

Logically, he should have gone straight for Tier 2 sublimation since he lacked specialized crystals and had to rely on privilege.

But curiosity got the better of him; he wanted to see what Tier 1 sublimation looked like.

[Prompt: Sublimating the general function "Gathering" requires consuming 2 million "Specialized Crystals." You have one unconditional consumption privilege. Confirm using one privilege to upgrade the general function "Gathering" to the special function "Perfect Gathering"?]

Two million specialized crystals?!

Lu Ming was stunned.

This was only Tier 1 sublimation, and the cost already exceeded the intrinsic value of ultimate sublimation. What about Tier 2? He dared not imagine!

Could it be even more godlike than ultimate sublimation?!

He checked "Perfect Gathering."

[Perfect Gathering]: A special function that can rapidly decompose biological corpses, guaranteed to extract all the material essence produced by the organism within a 5-meter range.

Guaranteed to extract all material essence produced by the organism?

What does that mean? Does it imply that any material yielded by the Larval Scythe Owl will be extracted with a 100% success rate, ignoring probabilities?

Damn, if that’s true, Perfect Gathering would rewrite drop rules—its value beyond measure!

And that’s just Tier 1; what about Tier 2?

The thought made Lu Ming’s mouth dry.

Unconsciously swallowing saliva, he reached to cancel the Tier 1 sublimation, then restarted ultimate sublimation.

[Prompt: Please select sublimation tier…]

“Tier 2.”

[Prompt: Sublimating the general function "Gathering" requires consuming 8 million "Specialized Crystals." You have one zero-consumption privilege. Confirm using one privilege to upgrade the general function "Gathering" to a higher level?]

[Confirm (consume 8 million specialized crystals)]

[Confirm (use one zero-consumption privilege)]

[Cancel]

“……”

Eight million specialized crystals?

[Page 2/3]

At the conversion rate of 1 specialized crystal = 100 specialized crystal blocks = 10,000 specialized crystals, 8 million specialized crystals was an astronomical figure!

Was this function’s sublimation really that terrifying?

Wait, "a higher level," not directly telling you what skill it would become—consistent with the prompts for Ultimate Sublimation and Eye of Truth.

It seemed to be another tier touching unknown realms. Lu Ming smirked and said, “Confirm using one privilege.”

[Prompt: The general function "Gathering" has successfully sublimated to a higher level. As this tier is appearing for the first time and is a program general function evolution type, the program will name it directly.]

[Naming in progress…]

[Naming complete. Function designated: "Greed."]

[Prompt: Function "Greed" sublimation complete. This function has been forcibly converted into an exclusive function. Exclusive user: Lu Ming.]

“This…”

The flood of prompts left Lu Ming slightly dazed.

The most obvious difference was that the namer was no longer himself but the program itself.

Greed?

Looking at the function’s name now highlighted in bold black, Lu Ming felt something was off; that color looked hardly like something a hero would use—rather sinister.

He clicked to view details.

[Greed] (???)

Category: Exclusive Function

Effect: Can rapidly decompose biological corpses, extracting twice the material essence produced by the organism. Activated by simply thinking the command.

Range: 10 meters (increases with the owner’s specialization level)

Function Trait: [Hand of Greed]

Function Trait: Grade surpasses limits, undetectable by any external force, disappears upon death.

Owner: [Lu Ming]

……

The function info was displayed as a skill status.

The effect was only an enhancement over Perfect Gathering—just double the output.

To be honest, such an improvement hardly seemed worthy of 8 million specialized crystals unless it had hidden attributes or the so-called Hand of Greed trait had an extremely exaggerated effect.

He probed the Hand of Greed.

[Hand of Greed]: A ravenous and unscrupulous demand for all worldly things; can extract biological corpses belonging to others. Extraction requires acting first and can be done in two modes:

Merciful: Single extraction, obtaining one portion of material essence first, but does not affect others’ extractions.

Cruel: Double extraction, completely draining all material essence; others will get nothing upon extraction.

“……”

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Staring intently at the Hand of Greed, Lu Ming couldn’t help but exclaim, “Damn.”

What an outrageous function—straight-up stealing loot belonging to others?

What if others spent immense manpower and resources to kill a king-level mutant, and he just stood nearby, switched to cruel mode, and effectively made the entire team work for free? This effect would reduce capitalists to tears.

“Totally worth it!”

Closing the Greed info panel, Lu Ming almost grinned from ear to ear.

Honestly, a righteous and kindhearted young man like him shouldn’t use such an unscrupulous skill.

But it was just too tempting.

After weighing morality against fame and fortune, Lu Ming decided to sacrifice a little image and only use it sparingly when necessary—really, just a tiny, tiny bit.

“Heh heh, ahem.”

He couldn’t help but chuckle but quickly disguised it as a dry cough to hide his slyness, regaining composure.

With the crystal output problem fully resolved, and resources ready to upgrade his weapon, everything was set—no worries left, just waiting to wipe out every Larval Scythe Owl.

Regripping his large machete and gazing at the dried slime on the blade, Lu Ming said solemnly, “Ultimate Sublimation.”

[Prompt: Please select sublimation tier.]

“Tier 1.”

[Prompt: Upgrading tool [420A Stainless Steel Machete] requires consuming 2 specialized crystals.]

[Confirm]

[Cancel]

Very smart—after using three privileges, the prompts became simpler.

“Confirm.”

[Prompt: Please select sublimation direction: “Straight Sword,” “Greatsword,” “Katana.”]

“Straight Sword.”

Swish!

The machete in hand disintegrated into particles, then reformed while spinning.

In just a second, a silver-edged, sharp straight sword with a brownish-yellow hilt appeared in his hand.

Grasping the hilt, he felt the fresh texture from the blade.

A flicker of excitement stirred within.

[Prompt: Tool [420A Stainless Steel Machete] successfully sublimated into common weapon “Traditional Straight Sword.”]