NOVEL SIMPLE Chapter 64 – Growth
It was noon.
Liu Sishan and the others gradually woke up.
Base 08 had a kitchen and even a decent stockpile of food.
However, no one felt like cooking. They all sat at the long table in the dining room, gnawing on compressed energy bars.
Zhang Ping sensed Liu Sishan's location, came out of his room, and headed straight to the dining room. Seeing everyone munching on compressed energy bars, he sat down next to Liu Sishan, took out a few buns from his Golden Treasury Bracelet, and began eating while placing the bracelet in the middle of the table.
"Got any more? Give me one," Zhang Shouzhong said, suddenly finding the compressed energy bar in his hand less appetizing as he watched Zhang Ping eat the buns.
Zhang Ping glanced at the Golden Treasury Bracelet and then at Liu Sishan. Zhang Shouzhong looked at Liu Sishan, sighed helplessly, and continued gnawing on his energy bar.
"Captain, what should we do now to resolve the crisis in Mingzhu City?" Liu Sishan asked seriously, putting down her energy bar and looking at the bracelet.
Situ Shibai replied, "Don't rush. Take it slow."
"How can we take it slow, Captain? Isn't there any way to rescue you?" Lu Han frowned.
Situ Shibai smiled, "Heh, this was a choice I made after careful consideration. If I didn't hold back the king of the Tianchang Fox clan, there would be two outcomes, and neither is something I want to see."
"What outcomes?" Zhang Shouzhong asked, drinking some water and chewing on his energy bar.
Situ Shibai answered, "The first outcome is that you fail to stop the visitors from Wangzhu Peak, leading to Mingzhu City falling into Li Aoxue's hands, with fifty percent of the Awakeners dying in the ensuing chaos. The second outcome is that you successfully stop the visitors, but I leave Mingzhu City early. The king of the Tianchang Fox clan would then personally deal with the exposed experts and emerging talents in Mingzhu City, resulting in at least thirty percent of the Awakeners being killed."
"And now?" Cheng Xuejie asked.
Situ Shibai replied, "Now, the king of the Tianchang Fox clan is preoccupied with ensuring my resurrection is thwarted, likely sending the Moon Prince to act. While the Moon Prince is formidable in one-on-one combat, it isn't invincible against multiple opponents. Therefore, even if it wants to kill all the emerging and exposed Awakeners, it would take at least a year and a half."
"So, Captain, you've bought Mingzhu City six months with your life. What should we do in these six months?" Liu Sishan clenched her fists, looking at the bracelet.
Situ Shibai said lightly, "Don't be so tense. This little storm is nothing. Back when we fought the Awakeners of the Zhu Family of Beast Tamers, that was true despair. The Zhu Family had countless equipment, with five items at the Sun and Moon Pearl level alone, while we had nothing.
Now, the gap between you and the enemy is merely a lack of a weapon capable of targeting a king."
"A weapon targeting a king? Is there such a weapon?" Zhang Shouzhong asked immediately.
Situ Shibai replied, "Of course, but only Infinite Grade ability users are qualified to enter that place, and each can only enter once in their lifetime. I brought out the Arrow of Destiny from there, and this time... it's up to Zhang Ping."
"Zhang Ping? He's an Infinite Grade ability user?" Zhang Shouzhong was shocked.
Zhang Ping lay on the table, sighing, "Mr. Situ, it seems you've planned everything. I have no choice but to go."
"This matter benefits you as well. That place is considered the foundation of humanity," Situ Shibai explained.
The foundation of humanity?
That's not something to say lightly.
If one must define the foundation of humanity, Zhang Ping believed it was the wisdom and knowledge passed down through generations.
Those are the true priceless treasures.
But considering Situ Shibai's over two hundred years of experience, he wouldn't speak without reason.
Thinking it over carefully, Zhang Ping felt a bit of anticipation.
"Then there's no time to lose. Let's set off now," Lu Han said decisively, glancing at Zhang Ping.
Zhang Ping hesitated for a second before firmly saying, "Wait, if possible, I want to return to Mingzhu City. There's something I've been holding back, and now that I've successfully advanced to an Intermediate Awakener, I need to resolve it, or I'll feel terrible."
"Mingzhu City is like a dragon's den now. Do you know how important you are?" Lu Han frowned, displeased.
Zhang Ping said seriously, "I know, but I don't want to wait. I was going to tell you all that I need to return to Mingzhu City, whether you support it or not."
"You want to avenge your friend?" Liu Sishan, knowing much about Zhang Ping, asked.
Zhang Ping nodded, "Yes, don't worry, Sister Sisi. I'm confident there won't be any problems!"
"If you really want to go, then defeat me first!" Lu Han interjected.
As soon as Lu Han finished speaking, Zhang Ping's hand had already transformed into a Pure Water Scythe at Lu Han's throat. Smiling, Zhang Ping said, "Looks like I won."
"......"
Lu Han stared at the smiling Zhang Ping and the sharp Pure Water Scythe at his throat, momentarily speechless.
Though he was unwilling, Zhang Ping's attack was too fast. From transforming his arm into Pure Water to reshaping it into a scythe took less than half a second. If Zhang Ping had murderous intent, Lu Han's head would have been severed instantly.
Unwilling as he was, he had to accept it.
Situ Shibai laughed, "Heh, Lu Han, an Infinite Grade ability user isn't just any Awakener. I only had the power to kill High-level Awakeners after advancing to Intermediate, but Zhang Ping killed a top-tier Mutated Beast while still at the Initial level. He's more outstanding and has limitless potential. Don't underestimate him just because he's young, or you'll suffer greatly."
In battles between Awakeners, victory isn't determined by standing together and comparing levels. If it were purely about levels, there'd be no need to fight.
The lower-level one would surrender, and the higher-level one would win. Simple as that.
In reality, higher levels do have significant advantages, but lower-level Awakeners can still kill higher-level ones.
For instance, a lower-level Awakener wielding a multi-million-dollar artifact against an unarmed higher-level Awakener has a chance to win.
There are also special equipment and abilities, like Situ Shibai's, which can combine to create more powerful effects, enabling them to kill enemies above their level.
Additionally, a heavily injured higher-level Awakener can be killed by a lower-level one.
However, these scenarios aren't part of the Mingzhu Academy of Powers' curriculum.
The academy teaches based on the most common situations, leading to the conclusion that lower-level Awakeners can't defeat higher-level ones.
And for the most part, this is true. Ninety-nine percent of Awakeners can't kill enemies above their level, and the remaining few aren't worth teaching about. Using their feats as teaching material would only mislead students.
Zhang Ping, having inherited his predecessor's memories, almost regarded the academy's teachings as the world's laws.
Thus, he always felt a sense of fear towards Awakeners of higher ranks. He was cautious with unfamiliar opponents, even if he knew them well.
When Chen Junting was kidnapped, he could have intercepted the kidnappers if he had acted sooner, but his caution caused him to miss the opportunity.
At this moment, Situ Shibai's casual remark made Zhang Ping realize something.
He was no longer the weakling who could do nothing but pretend to sleep when the Moon Prince inspected his room.
He had truly become stronger!
