Chapter 77 - 74: Wind and Fire Dual-Element Superpower!

Chapter 77: Chapter 74: Wind and Fire Dual-Element Superpower!

Night fell.

The Liu family’s residence—or more accurately, younger uncle Zhao Hongzhang’s home—was brightly lit, resembling broad daylight. This was not due to ordinary, dim candlelight. Instead, a Light Ability User had created a glowing orb akin to a Luminous Pearl and suspended it from the living room ceiling, illuminating every inch of the room with a brilliant, intense brightness. The blazing white light even radiated a faint trace of warmth.

From afar, it looked as though the house’s electricity had been restored and the energy-saving bulbs were working again.

The surviving residents in the same neighborhood looked at the white light in the dark night from afar, all filled with curiosity and envy. However, no one dared to venture out into the night to visit and investigate.

In the living room.

Sixteen visiting guests sat somewhat stiffly on the sofas and chairs. They were all members of the Superpower User team officially registered and recruited by the authorities. Each person’s Superpower was distinct; some leaned towards combat, some towards daily life utility, and others had a mix of both. In short, any Superpower User specially recruited by the Military Staff Department basically had something unique about them.

From the moment they walked through the door, Liu Zimo’s gaze swept over the tops of their heads one by one. Unsurprisingly, among the sixteen people, he actually spotted a Red Shadow Lock emitting a blinding crimson radiance. The soaring red light completely overpowered and covered the surrounding green, blue, and scattered golden lights, making it incredibly eye-catching.

Hu Xianzong, a high schooler who looked only slightly older than Liu Zihao. Looking around seventeen or eighteen, he blended into the crowd, sitting alone in a corner while holding a water cup. He wasn’t very talkative with his nearby colleagues and even seemed somewhat timid.

When Liu Zimo’s Divine Thought swept over him, he instantly discovered that this kid had actually opened up his Sea of Consciousness. Moreover, his Divine Soul Cultivation seemed to have reached the second stage for a Spirit Cultivator—the Spirit Communication Realm! A natural-born Spirit Cultivator! Judging solely by his talent as a Spirit Cultivator, Hu Xianzong’s potential might even surpass Feihong’s!

He was an undeniable young genius! With a Grandmaster Level Superpower talent, as long as he didn’t perish prematurely, he was bound to become a Supreme among Superpower Users on par with a Martial Arts Grandmaster in the future.

Although Liu Zimo had never heard the name "Hu Xianzong" in his previous life, it didn’t affect his judgment of the young man’s future prospects. The fact that he hadn’t risen to prominence and left his mark in the previous life could only be attributed to bad luck. Just like Yang Sisi, Feihong, and the others, he had likely perished unfortunately during the first Demon Calamity, never having the chance to grow.

But this life was different. In this life, because of Liu Zimo’s intervention and the early introduction of the Guiding Breathing Method and Five Animals Fist, too many people had already had their life trajectories altered. This Hu Xianzong was definitely one of them!

Thrilled by this discovery, Liu Zimo didn’t overthink it and immediately locked onto the Red Lock above the kid’s head.

SNAP!

Accompanying the sound of the lock clicking into place, the relevant Superpower prompt rang in Liu Zimo’s ear:

[Binding successful! Your Good Brother Hu Xianzong has come online. Current bindable targets: (49/60)]

Liu Zimo waved at Hu Xianzong, signaling him to come sit in front of him.

Hu Xianzong was taken aback at first, a look of astonishment on his face. Feeling somewhat surprised and in disbelief, he pointed a finger at his own nose. Seeing Liu Zimo nod again in confirmation, he finally took a deep breath, put down his water cup, and stood up to approach with extreme apprehension.

"Advisor Liu, did you call for me?" Walking up, Hu Xianzong gave Liu Zimo a timid salute, lacking in confidence, and asked softly.

"Hu Xianzong, right?" A rare, amiable smile appeared on Liu Zimo’s face as he raised a hand to greet him. "Don’t be nervous. Come sit here. I have a few questions to ask you."

Hu Xianzong obediently sat down on the sofa next to Liu Zimo. His legs were stiff and his upper body was tense; he clearly still seemed very nervous.

Little did he know, the other fifteen colleagues nearby were secretly burning with envy and jealousy upon seeing him receive such special treatment from Advisor Liu. They couldn’t figure out why Hu, the youngest and most socially inept among them, had caught Advisor Liu’s favor. During their usual missions, Hu’s displayed strength was very ordinary, not at all outstanding compared to the majority of them, right?

Meanwhile, sitting bolt upright in front of Liu Zimo, Hu Xianzong’s mind was anything but calm as he wondered about his situation.

"Did Advisor Liu notice something?

"Otherwise, with so many people here, why did he single me out and specifically call me over?

"Could it be that Advisor Liu has discovered I’m hiding my true strength?

"Yes, it’s highly possible. I heard Advisor Liu is the number one Martial Dao expert in Luozhou City with unmatched strength. He must have seen through my abnormalities!

"What should I do? Should I take this chance to cling to him for protection, or should I continue playing the fool and keep hiding?

"Is this Advisor Liu trustworthy?

"If I let him know I’ve awakened both wind and fire Superpowers, will he be like those maniacs from before and want to capture me to dissect for research?"

Hearing Hu Xianzong’s inner monologue, Liu Zimo slightly raised his eyebrows.

He truly hadn’t seen this coming. This seemingly shy and bashful kid was actually hiding his fangs beneath a harmless exterior.

Dual wind and fire Superpowers! No wonder the Shadow Lock above his head was a deep, vibrant red! No wonder the kid was so inconspicuous among his colleagues, never receiving the treatment and respect matching his true strength.

To have learned how to act and use concealment to protect himself at such a young age... He was far from simple! It was evident that he must have gone through some unbearable experiences in the past.

However, Liu Zimo had no desire to pry into what had happened to Hu Xianzong previously. In the Post-Apocalypse, human hearts were fickle; Liu Zimo had seen or personally experienced scenarios far more cruel and unbearable. He had long grown accustomed to such matters.

What he valued was Hu Xianzong’s current temperament—his caution, his ability to endure loneliness, and his capacity to withstand the cold stares of others.

Not to mention anyone else, if this same Talent Superpower had manifested in his old man, Liu Yi, who knew how much he would strut around? He would probably want the whole world to know. This could easily be deduced from his old man’s arrogant, invincible demeanor during the day after obtaining the Instant Body Technique.

In contrast, the Hu Xianzong sitting before him acted more like a calm, mature, and thoughtful adult.

"How old are you?" Liu Zimo’s gaze slowly fell on Hu Xianzong’s face as he asked softly.

"Seventeen," Hu Xianzong replied with his head lowered. "I was just starting my sophomore year of high school before the calamity."

Just as he thought, he was one year older than Liu Zihao—still a child. Yet, he possessed a rare maturity beyond his years, being incredibly steady and cautious.

"Very good!" Liu Zimo nodded slightly, encouraging him. "Awakening a Superpower at such a young age shows great talent. Work hard under my old man from now on. I have high expectations for you!"

As he spoke, with a single Thought, Liu Zimo transmitted the Primordial Spirit Technique, the Awakening God Technique, and other Spirit Secret Techniques directly into Hu Xianzong’s Sea of Consciousness.

Nurturing newcomers, bestowing fortunate encounters, and helping his Good Brothers and besties reach the next level had practically become Liu Zimo’s personal habit. Whenever he encountered such newcomers, he would generously impart all the relevant Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques he had mastered.

Just as Liu Zimo withdrew his Divine Sense, Yao Lingling inside his Sea of Consciousness suddenly experienced a flurry of active, fluctuating thoughts.

"Huh? Interesting! So Yao Shiba has actually been hiding in this human Spirit Cultivator’s Sea of Consciousness!

"It seems I really underestimated that simpleton Yao Shiba in the past!

"To think it could resist the temptation of a higher-tier Spirit Cultivator’s Sea of Consciousness and not act like those two idiots, Yao Shiyi and Yao Shisan, who charged blindly forward to their deaths without a second thought!

"Very good!

"Even this freakish human surnamed Liu doesn’t seem to have detected its presence, which proves that our Soul-Devouring Insect Race’s innate abilities haven’t lost their effectiveness!

"As long as we don’t actively jump out and expose ourselves to walk right into a trap, these ignorant humans of this lower world will never discover our traces!

"..."

Receiving these fluctuating thoughts, Liu Zimo’s heart gave a sudden jump, and his gaze involuntarily returned to Hu Xianzong.

He truly hadn’t paid much attention when transmitting the Spirit Secret Techniques just now. He never imagined that the Soul-Devouring Insect he had been deliberately hunting for was actually hiding inside the Sea of Consciousness of the youth right in front of him!

SWISH!

Without a moment of hesitation, Liu Zimo immediately split off a strand of Divine Sense and launched a forceful surprise attack, barging straight into Hu Xianzong’s Sea of Consciousness!