Regarding the matter of awakening lightning abilities after transformation

Ying Qiuhuai rummaged through the corner and carefully put on some clothes under the light. Jiang Xuewei and Gu Cheng put down their pistols according to the negotiation procedure. One of them approached the bookshelf, and the other sat down not far from the stone seat.

Gu Cheng heard the rustling sound of clothes being put on nearby, and her muscles relaxed slightly.

In just half an hour, Gu Cheng felt that Ying Qiuhuai was actually a very easy person to get along with. It wasn't because of his good looks, but because his speech was very appropriate, his manners were dignified and polite, and the anger in his expression was also because they had been rude first and had trespassed into someone else's residence.

If Ying Qiuhuai could truly be considered a "person," Gu Cheng didn't dislike being around him; she even felt a faint sense of intimacy from him.

Gu Chengyan: "He and a part of us come from the same world."

That place was forbidden to ordinary people, and it was perpetually filled with the stench of rotting corpses. The wind blowing through the tall buildings carried the smell of blood to every corner of the ruins.

“Miss Gu, your relationship with Gu Chengyan doesn’t seem like that of a dual-ability user I’ve met before.”

Despite her friendly demeanor, Gu Cheng remained vigilant. She sculpted the alloy rod given to her by Su Wanxi into a long-handled dagger and secretly hid it at her waist.

"She's fine."

Ying Qiuhuai was very interested in Gu Chengyan, or rather, the relationship between them, and Gu Cheng tried her best to answer the questions asked by her.

"Your ability is electromagnetism?" Ying Qiuhuai asked, his gaze sweeping over the bulge in the girl's outer garment.

Having given herself away, Gu Chengwei swallowed almost imperceptibly and answered softly, "Mm."

"Then I speculate that one of the other two has an ability suitable for overcoming obstacles, or, to put it more cleanly and efficiently, spatial teleportation?"

Ying Qiuhuai muttered to herself, her long, jet-black hair covering her face. Gu Cheng caught some key information: at least the other party couldn't directly determine their supernatural abilities.

The black fog grew thicker, and Jiang Xuewei adjusted her glasses, interrupting their conversation.

"Mr. Ying, I apologize for bothering you, but are you aware of the disbandment of the Hermit Bureau?" As the founder of the organization, Ying Qiuhuai must have put in a lot of effort, and Jiang Xuewei tried to gauge his attitude.

"I know," the woman replied calmly, her eyes fixed on Gu Cheng.

"Everything has its end, and the original purpose of the Hermit Bureau has been fulfilled."

At that time, China was newly established and everything was in ruins. The conflict between the awakened and the non-awakened was becoming increasingly acute. In order to ease the conflict and better deal with the rift, the Hermit Bureau was born. Rather than creating it, Ying Qiuhuai felt more like a promoter.

"A very interesting body." Seventy-three percent of her body is human, and twenty-seven percent is her original race, yet the two are perfectly integrated.

Ying Qiuhuai tried to reach out and touch Gu Cheng, but the latter frowned and stepped back slightly, looking wary.

Knowing she had acted too hastily, Ying Qiuhuai softened her tone: "After you finish asking your questions, I can give you some information you need in exchange."

"Gu Cheng, can you hear the sounds of my hometown?"

In an instant, a distant bell rang out, originating from the giant, winding python.

"Somewhat like the sound of a bell?"

Ying Qiuhuai nodded, her fingers resting on her lips as she pondered deeply.

"I've finished asking my questions. Is there anything else Miss Jiang would like to know?"

Two souls with special abilities, a body that has been unexpectedly modified... perhaps this woman in her early twenties is the best variable.

Jiang Xuewei rubbed her shirt jacket a few times and said gently, "Mr. Ying, is the doomsday prophecy really true?" She could have directly asked Ying Qiuhuai about the specific signs of the apocalypse, but considering that he was an immortal who had lived for a long time, it would be pointless to play tricks on him and would only lower his favorability.

Ying Qiuhuai did not hide anything and took the initiative to explain: "The apocalypse you mentioned does exist, and it will come at the end of this year... At that time, no matter how many layers of protection are added, all electronic devices will be destroyed on their own, including military weapons. This is an irreversible process. According to my speculation, even if they are rebuilt in the future, the possibility of them being usable is extremely low."

"You can think of it simply as the real world becoming a super-large rift, in which the mutated creatures you have seen will keep springing up like mushrooms after rain."

“A small number of ordinary people who are not contaminated can continue to survive, but they will have to pay a higher price than the awakened ones.”

The monster's plane overlaps with reality, allowing the creatures to exist freely anywhere without needing to infiltrate through rifts.

Jiang Xuewei licked her lips, her throat tight: "Is there no way to stop it?"

"It seems not at the moment..." Ying Qiuhuai shook his head, his tone somewhat mocking.

"Moreover, the arrival of the apocalypse can only be considered as having both advantages and disadvantages for the awakened ones."

"The world will be thrown into chaos, and your shackles will be destroyed."

"This is a great opportunity, isn't it?"

Chapter 255, Section 260: The Polar Night

A global EMP bombardment means that information technology will collapse overnight, and the electronic components of countless high-precision instruments will be damaged, causing a series of chain reactions.

Without communication signals, without fully automated machine tools to produce various parts, and with most transportation vehicles paralyzed, human society would regress to the early 18th century, a change that would directly impact the entire world order.

Gu Cheng subconsciously brushed aside her left bangs, her cold, smooth fingertips brushing against her brow.

If what Ying Qiuhuai said is true, ordinary people without training are simply no match for the tidal wave of monsters. Even regular armies would have to consider whether they have enough ammunition and how to replenish it.

"Is Mr. Ying's statement too pessimistic?" Jiang Xuewei frowned, her voice trembling slightly.

“Pessimistic? No, that’s an understatement.” Ying Qiuhuai rested her chin on her hand, her slender legs naturally stretched out.

Over the long years, she had witnessed famines with frequent droughts and floods, where people even resorted to cannibalism, and wars where nine out of ten houses were empty and the roads were littered with remains. This calamity was longer and more unbearable than any of the past, and she could not even see the first ray of dawn after the darkness had dissipated.

"The end times will come in early winter, and no one knows better than me what's in there... The first layer of contamination alone is enough to kill ninety percent of the world's population."

Ying Qiuhuai added that his flowing dark gold eyes were captivating.

"Awakened beings have an innate ability to resist pollution, and with the weakening of the repulsive force of the original world, your supernatural abilities will be greatly enhanced."

It was barely a good thing, but it was still far less impactful than the previous shocking news. Gu Cheng bit her lower lip, hesitating to speak.

She was very curious about what role Ying Qiuhuai played in it. Judging from the murals and the thick black mist surrounding him, the latter's identity as a descendant was obvious.

Ying Qiuhuai soaked the bubbling liquid, calling it her hometown. This was exactly the same feeling Gu Cheng had in the crack. Logically, the other party should be happy for its return, but now her beautiful face, which was as lovely as a fairy, was half sad and half melancholy.

"Mr. Ying...?" Gu Cheng quickly corrected her slip of the tongue and asked tentatively.

Ying Qiuhuai was stunned for a moment, her expression changed rapidly, and she quickly looked up and asked, "Does Miss Gu also have a problem?" She felt sorry for her previous abruptness, and her attitude was much more moderate than when she was dealing with Jiang Xuewei.

“Hmm, I want to know who the ‘winner’ is, you or it.” The girl pointed to the giant snake coiled around the spire, its glossy black scales gleaming in the light.

Ying Qiuhuai pursed her lips and answered softly, "We are all." Before she finished speaking, the tower began to tremble, and the black feathered serpent gradually disappeared.

Gu Cheng could still hear the faint murmur, and she knew that the giant snake had not gone far, but was just lurking in some corner.

He turned to look at Jiang Xuewei, who was holding a pistol and had her lips slightly parted as if she wanted to say something.

"Then... does Mr. Ying know a more specific date?"

Early winter was too vague, and Jiang Xuewei hoped that the timing would be as precise as possible, so that it would be easier for them to make plans.

Ying Qiuhuai spread out his palm, carefully examining the lines on the body, and casually replied, "39°56′ North latitude, the day with the shortest day and the longest night, its dawn marks the beginning of the end times."

Two words flashed through Jiang Xuewei's mind: Winter Solstice.

Gu Cheng: "39°56′N, if I remember correctly, this coordinate is Beidu."

Ying Qiuhuai nodded, a hint of approval in his eyes: "That's right, I did use Beidu as a reference point when making the observations."

"As a place where the torch is passed down, its fall means that the world has fallen into eternal darkness."

Stavrianos referred to ancient Babylon, ancient Egypt, ancient India, and China as the four great ancient civilizations, while Mesopotamia, the Nile River Valley, the Indus River Valley, and the Yellow River Valley were the four regions where large-scale human civilizations first emerged.

Beidu is the capital of China, and its significance in terms of heritage is self-evident. The golden veils floating in the air, which are much denser than in other regions, have no official definition, but Ying Qiuhuai prefers to call them "the torch".

China's legacy is the best preserved today, which is one of the reasons, besides its large population, for the frequent emergence of capable individuals.

......

After several exchanges, the tense atmosphere between the two sides gradually dissipated. Ying Qiuhuai picked up a dusty pencil from the bookshelf and borrowed a few sheets of white paper from Jiang Xuewei.

She leaned over the desk, her fingers moving back and forth, writing something.

"You can leave now."

Ying Qiuhuai's words were also a kind of dismissal order. Gu Cheng and Jiang Xuewei exchanged a glance, then tacitly picked up their pistols and headed for the exit.

Even though she had a million questions she wanted to ask the other person, Gu Cheng held back, though her boots clattered loudly on the steps.

Climbing out of the thick stone door that had initially dissolved, the outdoor air was noticeably fresher than the indoor air, carrying a faint moisture that felt wonderfully pleasant to the nose.

"Sister Xuewei...is everything she said true?"

Jiang Xuewei remained silent, her eyes filled with confusion. Gu Cheng knew the answer; she sighed and activated her bioelectric radar.

The feedback came from less than half a meter underground. In a flash, the bricks shattered into several fragments, and a giant black snake sprang out from underground. It opened its blood-red maw and bit down hard on Gu Cheng.

Chapter 256, Section 261: Both a Gift and a Curse

Ying Qiuhuai stood at the top of the tower, looking ahead with a serious expression. Gu Cheng slid down to dodge the attack and quickly drew the Colt Python from her waist.

Before the monster could get up, she aimed at its pupils and fired several shots.

"Bang!" The hard snake scales covering its entire body blocked the bullet, making a crisp metallic clang.

Jiang Xuewei reacted immediately, bullets raining down, the muzzle flashes reflecting in her eyes.

"Move closer to me."

Although she didn't know why Ying Qiuhuai launched the attack, Jiang Xuewei knew in her heart that they were no match for him and that the most urgent thing was to evacuate as soon as possible.

After Gu Cheng finished a spin, she rushed towards the depression. The giant snake appeared right in the center of them, forcing the two to separate. She had to go around to the other side from underneath.

A tingling sensation spread through her legs as a weak electric current began to stimulate her muscles. Gu Cheng's movement speed gradually increased to its peak. Jiang Xuewei emptied her magazine, quickly pulled out two incendiary rods, lit them, and threw them into the air. Large swaths of shadows scattered across the ground like splashed ink.

The passage was set up and ready, just waiting for Gu Cheng to arrive. The woman sped up the reloading speed, her finger constantly pulling the trigger.

Just a hair's breadth away... Jiang Xuewei was right in front of him; if he touched her, he could disappear into the shadows. Gu Cheng kicked off the ground and pounced on her like a rabbit.

Thick black mist surged from the snake's body, and Ying Qiuhuai, standing at a distance, sighed softly.

Jiang Xuewei suddenly felt a burning sensation in her lungs, and her fingers aged visibly.

"Cough cough cough..." She began to cough violently. In just a second or two, her once smooth and shapely arms were skin and bones, covered with dense wrinkles, like a piece of dried tree bark.

Gu Cheng's eyes widened, her light brown pupils filled with astonishment, and for a moment she was unable to catch the woman's hand.

Jiang Xuewei glanced at the girl with a complicated expression. She felt her internal organs rapidly failing, and the shadow of death loomed over her.

She couldn't wait any longer... Her legs, shoulders, and even her chest had completely aged, and if she stayed in the same place, she might not be able to concentrate on using her abilities.

Gu Cheng had no time to pay attention to Jiang Xuewei's situation. She urgently needed to remedy the flaw she had just revealed. She shrank her body to its smallest size and pulled a silver-gray metal rod from her weapon belt with her right hand.