Over a year ago.
"Son, you must persevere!"
"Xiao Ming, even if Mom and Dad are gone, you have to stay strong, understand?"
The middle-aged couple each held a water cup. After speaking to their bewildered young son, they exchanged a glance, then resolutely drank the water in their cups.
"Dad, Mom, what are you talking about? We agreed to persevere together!" The young man looked at his parents, confused, not understanding why they were saying these things.
After the Fire Thief announced the first Doomsday Rule, the family of three had already persisted for over forty hours without sleep. During this ti, they had been constantly supervising, reminding, and encouraging each other.
But the fatigue on all three faces was very apparent, especially on the middle-aged couple, who were almost unable to hold on any longer.
A minute ago, they had asked their son to pour them a glass of water. After saying what sounded like parting words, they drank it.
Facing their son's questioning, the middle-aged couple could only weep silently for a mont. Soon, their expressions began to turn grim, and they started to feel drowsy.
The young man imdiately realized the key point: there was sothing wrong with the water in the cups!
What's going on? I clearly poured from the water kettle... Did they put sothing in it?!
"Xiao Ming, while you were in the bathroom earlier, we secretly put a large dose of sleeping potion into the kettle," the middle-aged mother managed to say.
"We know we can't hold on any longer, but you must survive!" the father said. "After we fall asleep, you will receive two 'Alertness Mints.' With the wakefulness ti they provide, you should be able to last until the rule ends."
The young man shuddered all over. "W-what mints? Why..."
"After we're gone, you can call this number to reach your grandmother. Your grandmother... is not an ordinary person. She can take care of you in the life ahead."
The young man looked dazed. "I..."
"Your mother and I told you before that your grandmother passed away before you were born. That wasn't true. It's just that our life philosophies were completely opposite to hers, and we couldn't accept so of the things she had done, so we didn't want any further contact with her..."
The middle-aged father choked up as he spoke: "But in this world now, people like us can't survive. Instead, people like your grandmother can live very well. The information about the mint item was also told to us by her... You need her protection to live well."
Just a few minutes later, the middle-aged couple, who had already been awake for two days and two nights, fell asleep one after another under the effects of the large dose of sleeping potion.
The young man also heard consecutive notification sounds.
[You have obtained: Alertness Mint]
Numbly reading the item effects, the young man understood why his parents had asked him to pour the water. Because of that action, he beca the one who "caused his parents to fall into a deep sleep," thus receiving the hidden reward.
"Heh, heheh..."
The young man suddenly burst into loud laughter, rushed to the window, and wanted to jump down.
But as the cold wind hit him, he suddenly sobered up.
If I die, won't all traces of my parents left in this world disappear completely?
They went through such pains to ensure I survived. Should I repay them with suicide?
"No..."
Tears streaming down his face, the young man gritted his teeth and swallowed one Alertness Mint.
Accompanied by an absolutely clear mind, a powerful, uncontrollable rage surged from the depths of his heart.
"What I must do is seek revenge. Against this... world!"
Whoosh!
Jiang Ming suddenly opened his eyes and raised his hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"It's been over a year. Why did I dream about that day again?"
He sat up, got out of bed, and walked out of the room.
At the door stood a short-haired woman in a suit. Seeing him co out, she smiled and said, "Good morning, Mr. Jiang."
Jiang Ming said, "I have fully adapted to my new legs. I can leave here now, right?"
The short-haired woman said, "Well... the Commander previously said it's best to rest and recuperate a bit longer, Mr. Jiang. You could completely wait until after the eleventh rule ends before taking action."
"No need. I know my own body best," Jiang Ming said. "I want to speak directly with the Commander."
"Alright."
The short-haired woman took out her phone, dialed a number, and handed it to Jiang Ming.
Jiang Ming took it and said, "Commander, I have recovered."
The gentle voice of Big Sister ca from the phone: "Child, haven't I told you? You are my grandson. You can call
Grandma."
"... I'd rather call you Commander."
"Sigh, as you wish. So, you've adapted to your new legs?"
"Yes. Thank you, Commander, for taking the trouble to find an Ascendant with regenerative healing abilities to treat ."
"Silly child, why ntion thanks between us?"
"Anyway, I hope to leave here as soon as possible."
"Hmm... Xiao Ming, I know you really want to take revenge on Shadow, right?"
"If I can find that woman, I will kill her."
Of course Jiang Ming would hate Shadow, who almost killed him. The situation in the base back then was truly hanging by a thread. If he had hesitated for even one second longer before using the teleportation item, the consequence wouldn't have been just losing his legs.
"Shadow is a man. That woman was just him using an item to change his appearance."
"What?"
"Child, if you want revenge, there is an opportunity right now. That Shadow has already appeared. I originally planned to use this rule to completely eliminate him. If you want to take revenge with your own hands, I can let you join the action team."
Jiang Ming's eyes sharpened. Without hesitation, he said, "I want to join the team."
...
On Mingdao Mountain, Guan Tong sat in the small courtyard, holding the two items he obtained from Dragon Soul.
[Mind Power Specialized Solvent]: After use, increases Mind Power Upper Limit by 15-30 points based on the host's physical potential. This item can be traded.
[Mind Power Growth Patch]: After use, increases Mind Power Upper Limit by 1 point daily for 10 days. This item can be traded.
These two items were undoubtedly extrely precious and could fetch astronomical prices on the market.
The fact that the authorities were willing to give them to Guan Tong clearly showed, if not an intention to recruit him, at least a very obvious desire to foster good relations.
As the saying goes, one good turn deserves another. Guan Tong could feel the authorities' sincerity and naturally was willing to reciprocate in the future.
"These two items, combined, guarantee at least a 25-point increase in my Upper Limit, equivalent to nearly four months of my natural growth... and that's just the minimum."
If the first solvent worked well and gave more, the benefits would be even greater.
Guan Tong didn't think too much and imdiately chose to use them.
He swallowed the solvent. A boiling sensation surged within his Mind Power, which soon cald down.
Then he used the growth patch and opened his Terminal panel.
[Na: Guan Tong]
[Nickna: Shadow]
[Title: Civilization Observer]
[Mind Power: 350 (350) (2005)]
[Ascension Coins: 3,686,120]
[Overall Biotric Rating: Outstanding]
"350! A total increase of 29 points. The solvent gave 28, and the patch gave 1... Excellent!"
Guan Tong was pleasantly surprised seeing the panel information. The solvent could give a maximum of 30. Getting 28 was already a sign of high physical potential.
He estimated that potential was likely judged based on age. He was 19 this year. Although an adult, his body hadn't completely stopped developing. Moreover, after over a year of subtle transformation by Mind Power, his physical condition had changed significantly. The most obvious example was his height, which had increased by several centiters, from over 170 cm to over 180 cm.
"If I were younger, maybe I could get the full 30-point maximum reward... but 28 is also very good!"
Since the growth patch would add 1 point daily for the next nine days, Guan Tong would gain a total of 38 points in Mind Power from these two items. He was very satisfied with this result.
"It seems that by the end of May, my Mind Power Upper Limit should reach around 365 points. Speaking of which..."
Guan Tong took out the [Wordless Book]. He had previously speculated that after his Mind Power exceeded 350, he might be able to write on the sixth page.
Now it was exactly 350. Would it work?
He tried to put pen to paper and found that this ti, it actually succeeded! But before he could rejoice, the next mont, all 350 points of Mind Power were drained!
And in exchange, all he got was a small black dot on the page...
"... Although I can write now, judging by this consumption rate, writing actual characters in the short term is still quite difficult."
At this mont, he couldn't help but think back to when he destroyed the Geomantic Pillar. So many people continuously channeled Mind Power to him. Admittedly, that feeling was really exhilarating.
If only a large group of people could do the sa while he was writing in the [Wordless Book]—actually, it's not impossible. But the prerequisite would be him choosing to join the authorities and publicly revealing the chanism of the [Wordless Book].
Even though this cooperation with the authorities was pleasant, Guan Tong currently had no intention of joining. Sotis, cooperation remains pleasant precisely because the two sides are not one entity. If they beca one, things might actually beco less pleasant.
Putting away the [Wordless Book], Guan Tong thought about the future.
"During this magnitude 5 earthquake, without item assistance, I could barely stand steadily. Starting from the next magnitude 6, the situation will beco increasingly severe. Ground fissures might appear at the epicenter. I wonder if the authorities have prepared for 'aerial supply'..."
"Also, the authorities have probably started to suspect I am Shadow. Will this have any impact?"
Guan Tong pondered for a mont, then shook his head. "I shouldn't worry about this issue. Regardless of the authorities' view of 'Shadow,' even if they think Shadow is problematic, it definitely won't affect this cooperation. Otherwise, if any accident occurs causing problems with the mission to reduce earthquake damage, no one could bear the consequences."
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