Wasteland Border Inspector

"But A-, do you know how to remove it?"

"I don’t know." Cheng Ye shook his head; Harlem only provided the infection cost, without any mention of removal.

He only thought it was a checkpoint secret at the time, but perhaps there’s more to it now?

"Let me tell you, any infection source, once it reaches level B or above, once you’ve been infected, unless you die... there’s no way to remove it. The infection source will link with your life, you die, it dies; it dies, you die too."

Luokuke smiled bitterly, lowering his voice, "Using its power comes at a price, being parasitized by it, you also have to pay a price; with an A- level infection source, your lifespan will be irreversibly shortened..."

After finishing, he extended four fingers.

"Four years?"

"It’s forty years!" Luokuke’s tone was unusually heavy, "These forty years aren’t taken at once, but every so often, three to five years will be taken. Worse, once you use it, your strength will be fixed at that moment, unable to grow anymore. Of course, the power provided far exceeds the conventional human limits, so there’s no need to further enhance your strength."

"Additionally, you’ll be permanently marked as ’infected,’ requiring the highest level of inspection at any Shelter City, even if you’re an Inspector from Happiness City."

He sighed, adding, "If we can return alive, the reward for containing the Demon Eye Sponge and Immortal Objects might get you a pass from the Firewood Alliance, but even then, your faction will differ from ordinary humans... You’ll be seen as a ’unique group,’ always separated by a layer."

"Is that so?"

Cheng Ye looked down at the Containment Box in his hand, inside which the ’Shrinking Earth Giant Louse’ was the only one among the four potential infection sources that was manageable, with the cost repaid by enduring painful long runs.

And he has an Iron Body, presumably immune to the pain, only needing to run long distances.

As for the Bone-Armored Bull and Firecracker infection sources, the former entirely depends on luck, with a draw for death probability being disastrous.

The latter is even more dangerous, possibly transforming into an irreversible explosive at any moment after 24 hours.

The only cost is the deduction of lifespan through the Healing Water Spirit Grass, with abilities too weak and relying solely on ’undying in water’ cannot change the battle.

Only the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse can grant him power, equal to that of a Fusion Body!

"Lifespan extraction... does Zeye Physique’s life force bonus count?"

"Never to be removed... Does it mean being able to wield such power forever? Is there such a good thing?"

In a flash of insight, Cheng Ye’s thoughts were chaotic for a moment, then quickly calmed.

His strength never relied on training, only needing to continuously collect skills to enhance.

Regarding lifespan, he could eventually fuse stronger physiques, finding solutions someday.

Moreover, he was already an Extraordinary, and Luokuke’s judgment is based on ordinary people, perhaps new variables exist for an Extraordinary.

"Inspector Luo, a lifetime is too long, we... seize every moment!"

Cheng Ye chuckled lightly, suddenly extending his hand to press the button on the right side of the Containment Box.

The moment the palm print verification passed, a subtle vibration emanated from the box.

The Shrinking Earth Giant Louse seemed activated, suddenly bursting with a peculiar wave, its previously curled body slowly stretching, beginning to awaken and enlarge.

Boom.

In just two seconds, the box’s metal shell was deformed, and the next second it split open, with the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse flying out from the opening, circling once in mid-air, its size expanding rapidly to a visible degree!

Fifty centimeters, one meter, two meters...

The runes on its body became increasingly clear, shining with a pale golden light, resembling the "Golden Cicada patterns" Cheng Ye had seen in TV dramas, exuding an indescribable mystical and mysterious aura.

This sense of oppression far exceeded the Crab-men underwater, even surpassing the massive Crab Fusion Body.

Until the Shrinking Earth Giant Louse grew to five meters long, occupying nearly half the pier.

Cheng Ye finally felt the inexplicable bond between him and it growing stronger, as if an invisible thread tied them together.

He furrowed his brows, instinctively reaching out to touch the giant louse’s shell, only to see it suddenly spring up slightly, like a forceful cannonball, plummeting straight from mid-air!

Just as it was about to collide with Cheng Ye, its size shrunk rapidly once again, reverting back to its original palm size, even smaller, only the size of a fingernail.

Finally, it nimbly bypassed Cheng Ye’s outstretched right hand, with a soft "thud," accurately striking Cheng Ye’s forehead, instantly disappearing into the skin.

"Is this being infected?"

Cheng Ye was somewhat surprised; the expected intense pain and nausea were absent, without any noticeable sensation.

But the next second, his face changed dramatically, kneeling heavily on one knee, hands clutching the ground.

Pain!

A pain beyond imagination!

It was the kind that came from the depths of the soul, more severe than previous Spiritual Contamination!

He couldn’t help but want to curl up, but his body felt nailed in place by an invisible force, unable to move.

Until—

A clear, distant eagle’s cry suddenly sounded in his mind, embodying an expansive and desolate sense, instantly overpowering the piercing pain.

Cheng Ye felt his consciousness sinking, as though submerging into a cold swamp, with the surrounding light quickly dimming.

Is this... Spiritual Body Space?

With the growth of Heart-Protecting Fire, his Spiritual Body Space had long since expanded several times from its initial size.