Chapter 63: The Blue Core and New Revelations

After capturing the fleeing Intelligent Zombie, I wasted no time. I pulled a dagger from my spatial storage and plunged it directly into the Intelligent Zombie’s head.

Unlike Enhanced Zombies, the Intelligent Zombie’s only strength lay in its intellect. Its body, however, was incredibly weak, even frailer than a Level 0 common zombie.

After piercing the Intelligent Zombie’s skull, I exerted a slight upward force. The zombie’s head was crudely torn open, revealing the crystal core within.

Once a zombie’s level ascended beyond Level 1, a crystal core was guaranteed to be present.

This Intelligent Zombie, therefore, also harbored a crystal core within its head. However, as my gaze fell upon it, I discovered it was a blue ‘Human’ attribute crystal core.

Crystal cores of Level 1 and above possessed distinct attributes. These were categorized into ‘Heaven,’ ‘Earth,’ and ‘Human,’ corresponding to red, yellow, and blue colors respectively.

As for how to utilize these attribute crystal cores, it was remarkably simple. As long as an ability user’s power was correctly classified, they could directly absorb the corresponding core.

There was no need to fear that using a crystal core of a different attribute would lead to mutations or adverse effects.

This was because crystal cores with incompatible attributes would simply not be absorbed by the ability user.

Clutching the blue Level 1 crystal core, a faint stir of excitement rippled through me as I gazed at it.

After my rebirth, I had awakened my abilities once more! Consequently, in addition to my spatial power, I now possessed two new abilities: fire and ice.

While I knew that my spatial ability required ‘Heaven’ attribute crystal cores, I wondered if my newly awakened fire and ice abilities could absorb other attributes.

If that were possible, my leveling speed would undoubtedly increase dramatically.

As this thought crossed my mind, I gripped the blue crystal core tightly, intending to absorb its energy. To my dismay, I realized I couldn’t use this ‘Human’ attribute core.

It seemed my fire and ice abilities also required ‘Heaven’ attribute crystal cores.

It was already a profound blessing from the heavens to have awakened two new abilities. To now covet crystal cores of other attributes felt like being greedy, always eyeing the pot while eating from the bowl.

Shaking my head in resignation, I promptly stored the blue crystal core in my spatial storage.

Though I had no use for it, perhaps my sister could absorb this core. Failing that, I could always trade it with other ability users in the exchange market later on.

In the apocalypse, many people hunted zombies and obtained crystal cores that weren’t suitable for their own advancement due to differing attributes.

Thus, in the exchange market of any base, people would consistently choose to trade or sell crystal cores.

****

Having dealt with the Intelligent Zombie, I emerged from behind the wall and walked towards my sister.

The hundreds of zombies I had incinerated earlier with my flame division ability had also left me with several Level 0 crystal cores.

A fly, no matter how small, is still meat; these certainly couldn’t be wasted!

As I passed by the three Enhanced Zombies, I casually picked up their three Level 2 crystal cores and tossed them into my spatial storage.

This time, I was fortunate; two of them were Level 2 ‘Heaven’ attribute crystal cores.

“Brother, you’re absolutely amazing! You’re my idol!”

“Brother Bai, no words needed. Big Gold Tooth here completely respects you!”

“Brother Bai, don’t listen to Big Gold Tooth’s nonsense. He kept saying you couldn’t do it just now!”

“Get lost! When did Big Gold Tooth ever say Brother Bai couldn’t do it?”

“Hmph, I wonder who it was just now, constantly saying Brother Bai was useless, then got utterly slapped in the face…”

“It makes my blood boil with excitement! Brother Bai, you’re simply a divine immortal descended to the mortal realm!”

“Exactly! Compared to Brother Bai, those so-called superheroes are nothing!”

I watched my sister and Big Gold Tooth’s trio, all beaming with fervent excitement, and wordlessly scratched my head, somewhat bewildered.

I had merely killed a few zombies just now; I couldn’t fathom why they were so incredibly worked up.

However, if I let these guys keep praising me, I’d soon become the world’s strongest expert…

While my current abilities were decent, I still had a long way to go before I could truly be considered a powerhouse!

“Alright, alright, it’s getting late. Big Gold Tooth, hurry up and drive.”

“Got it! Right away!”

After stopping the three of them from spouting further nonsense, I instructed Big Gold Tooth to drive quickly.

Big Gold Tooth responded with an excited grin, then scurried into the driver’s seat and restarted the car engine.

The rest of us also boarded the car at that moment. After settling into our respective seats, I suddenly noticed that the unconscious Wang Lili was still lying in the back seat. Clearly, in our haste to exit the car earlier, no one had remembered to bring her along.

However, it was no big deal. If the woman died, then she died.

As the car started moving, I sensed my surroundings once more, finding no powerful life signatures this time.

Finally, having resolved the minor interlude with the Intelligent Zombie and acquired multiple crystal cores, we once again set off on our journey to find Brother Li.

We had already been driving for a while. If we continued forward, we estimated it would take less than an hour to reach the factory in the west of the city.

Taking advantage of the drive, I clasped the two red ‘Heaven’ attribute crystal cores in my hands. I sat in the car seat, eyes closed, feigning a nap, but in reality, I was absorbing the energy from the cores.

Through my recent skirmish with the Intelligent Zombie, I recognized that my current abilities were still insufficient!

Otherwise, I wouldn’t have needed to unleash my Level 6 spatial ability. If my fire and ice abilities had also reached higher levels, dealing with Level 2 zombies would be trivial, and even Level 7 zombies would be manageable.

My Level 6 spatial ability had returned with me upon my rebirth. However, my current body was only Level 1, so my two newly awakened abilities were also at Level 1.

Now, increasing my level was imperative.

Holding both crystal cores simultaneously, my body rapidly absorbed their energy. Once the energy was fully absorbed, the cores I held vanished without a trace.

“Sister, do you see anything on my neck?”

“Hm? Let me see.”

After absorbing the two Level 2 crystal cores, I opened my eyes and looked at my sister. I then exposed my neck for her to check if anything had appeared there.

An ability user’s level wasn’t determined by a black lump on their forehead, like zombies, but by observing the numbers that appeared on their neck.

Indeed, though the exact principle was unknown, upon leveling up, a number would surface on an ability user’s neck.

Whatever number appeared on the neck corresponded to the ability user’s level. This simple method proved to be an effective way to check one’s rank.

The mysterious emergence of the zombie virus, followed by the evolution of special zombie types and ability users—with all these inconceivable phenomena occurring, the appearance of numbers on one’s neck no longer struck people as particularly strange.

Ultimately, when the origin of the zombie virus itself remained unknown, humanity had ceased to relentlessly question other matters.

“Huh? Brother, a number ‘2’ has appeared on your neck! What’s going on?”

“Nothing much. Take a look at your own neck.”

After my sister examined my neck and confirmed the ‘2’ tattoo-like numeral, she immediately asked. However, I simply handed her a small mirror, urging her to check for herself.

When my sister discovered a ‘1’ on her own neck, she looked up at me, her face filled with confusion.

“If I were to explain, it would take quite a while!”

“It’s fine, Brother, tell me quickly! Sitting in the car is incredibly boring anyway~”

Seeing the puzzled expression on my sister’s face, a faint smile touched my lips. I prepared to enlighten her about the knowledge surrounding ability users.

At this moment, not only my sister but also Big Gold Tooth and the others perked up their ears, ready to listen to my words.