Chapter 4

Ying Guang Lu lines traced a new interface on the phone screen, displaying all parts of the pistol he had just acquired, with a ghostly image of a makeshift modding station in the background.

He directly dragged the 【rusty small gear】 onto the icon representing the 【energy converter】.

【Modification success rate: 23%】

A somewhat harsh scraping sound rang out, and the Ying Guang Lu effect enveloped the pistol before exploding.

【Modification failed! Mod proficiency +1】

【Standard Energy Pistol durability -1】

Ying Duo remained expressionless; he wasn't surprised by this result, after all it was just a newly acquired skill, and proficiency had to be gradually improved.

Only when proficiency increases will the 【modification】 success rate rise accordingly.

Then he opened the character interface and, without hesitation, allocated all attribute points gained from leveling up to 【Agility】.

After killing the first aberrant horned rabbit, he unlocked the Aberrant Species compendium, which clearly stated that the rabbit's greatest strength was speed, its attack mainly relied on the horn on its head, and its defense was relatively low.

Generally speaking, as long as an attack hits the horned rabbit, it can usually be successfully killed.

But if it weren't for his timely reaction just now, he might have been instantly killed by a rabbit right at the start.

After killing the horned rabbit, his score also increased a little, but it was still far from enough to pass the assessment.

Yang Yixie quickly glanced at the mini-map in the upper-left corner of the screen and saw several red dots moving swiftly among the ruins.

Those are all aberrant species, and killing them yields experience.

Ying Duo gripped the somewhat heavy Energy Pistol and rushed toward the nearest red dot.

Another aberrant horned rabbit darted out from behind a broken concrete block; perhaps because Ying Duo had previously shot its companion, it sensed danger and this time chose to flee rather than attack him.

Ying Duo raised the pistol, aimed, and pulled the trigger.

"Bang!"

The bullet fired, and the horned rabbit collapsed at the sound.

【Successfully killed 「Aberrant Horned Rabbit」, EXP +10】

【Score +1】

Ying Duo's Blue Bar decreased accordingly, and the experience gained this time was insufficient for a level up; he didn't pause, directly aiming at the next target.

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

"Bang!"

The mechanical repetitive process began.

Ying Duo was like a tireless machine, clearing these small aberrant species along the nearby area where they appeared.

Every time he raised the pistol and fired, it was astonishingly precise, with no extra motions and no energy wasted.

His expression remained a vacant calm, with only the kill notifications constantly refreshing in the upper-right corner of the phone screen.

Each level up restores full condition, and after each level up the total value of the Blue Bar also increases, but even so, the speed of leveling up cannot keep up with the consumption speed of the Blue Bar.

As his level rose, the experience required for each level up increased, while the aberrant horned rabbit still provided too little experience.

Soon, the Blue Bar ran out again.

The energy indicator on the pistol's grip glowed red, indicating that Ying Duo currently lacked sufficient internal energy to convert into energy bullets.

A new horned rabbit noticed this stationary target, perhaps sensing his internal energy deficit; it pushed off with its hind legs, turning into a gray blur as the bony horn on its head thrust straight forward.

Ying Duo's reaction was not delayed; at the moment the horned rabbit was about to strike his shin, he swung his arm down forcefully, the motion somewhat stiff yet incredibly precise.

He used the angular edge of the metal pistol barrel to smash hard into the horned rabbit's head.

"Thud!"

A dull thud sounded, accompanied by the crack of some carapace, and the horned rabbit was violently struck, its body twitching twice before going still.

Although Yang Yixie had not deliberately allocated skill points to strength, each level up still increased his basic attributes somewhat.

【Standard Energy Pistol durability -3, current durability 10/15】

【Successfully killed 「Aberrant Horned Rabbit」, EXP +10】

【Score +1】

This game offers considerable freedom, allowing one to switch attack modes according to the situation, but even so, a single attack like this drains the pistol's durability too quickly.

Ying Duo lowered his head, glanced at the pistol barrel stained with a bit of viscous liquid, his expression unchanged, as if he had merely brushed off some dust.

He crouched down and began to pick up the light points.

【Obtained: Common Metal Fragment x1, Fragile Spring x2】

He hesitated not at all, immediately summoning the makeshift modding interface visible only to him, and dragged the 【Common Metal Fragment】 and 【Fragile Spring】 onto the icon of the energy converter.

Only he could hear the metallic scraping and twisting sound again, as the effect enveloped the pistol and exploded.

【Modification failed! Mod proficiency +2】

【Standard Energy Pistol durability -3, current durability 7/15】

Weapon modification had never succeeded, and the pistol's durability had already been consumed by more than half, but durability was now his least concern; while gaining points, he had also accumulated a variety of parts.

These parts can be used to repair the weapon's durability, so there's no need to worry about the weapon lacking durability.

When his energy had not yet recovered, he used the pistol as a melee weapon.

Thus, the ensuing scene became increasingly bizarre, no, it could even be called comical.

A youth with a head of Ying Guang Lu hair gripped a large Energy Pistol with a blank expression, wielding it like a Board Brick, killing the aberrant species on the assessment area's outskirts in the simplest, most direct, unskilled manner.

His speed was extremely fast; the energy pistol in his hand had completely become a Board Brick's fate, and because it felt especially smooth to use, he even allocated some skill points to strength to increase damage.

Occasionally when energy recovered or after leveling up, if the Blue Bar was sufficient for a shot, he would immediately switch modes to perform long-range kills.

——————————————

Inside the Jian Kong Shi, the lighting was dim.

On a wall of screens of varying sizes, dozens of them flickered with real-time images from each part of the examination area; because it was far from the city center, external mutation interference made the images occasionally distort, accompanied by snowflake-like noise.

Several examiners, seated or standing, swept their gazes across the screens, but only lingered long on those outstanding seedlings.

"Look at screen three—is that the Dome's 'Child of Fate'? At this age he already wields such thunderous power; the younger generation is formidable."

An elderly teacher with white hair pointed at one of the screens.

In the image, it was none other than Shen Zexi, who had previously ridden the same vehicle as Ying Duo; now he no longer had that gentle, moist appearance, with faint electric light flickering in his pupils.

He hardly moved, yet with a light lift of his hand a blinding lightning serpent shot forth, precisely smashing a distant mutant sand scorpion that tried to ambush him; the burnt smell seemed to transmit through the screen to here.

Unlike Shen Zexi's gentle and courteous demeanor, his attack style was violent and efficient, so much so that the Aberrant Species around him could not even approach his person.

"What are you talking about? The Dome's 'Child of Fate' plan was abolished long ago."

Another teacher glared at him fiercely, saying, "I haven't seen any Child of Fate; I just see a student with great talent, worthy of our close attention."

The white-haired teacher immediately realized his mistake and hurried to correct himself.

"Yes, yes, yes, this batch of students is all highly talented."

"Screen seven, Qi Hengyu."

Chief examiner Wu Tiancheng crossed his arms and tapped another screen with his chin.

"He should be from the Ancient Martial Family's Qi clan; his body is their strongest weapon, and so far we can't tell what his Aberrant Art is."

On the screen, the youth named Qi Hengyu moved fluidly, each punch landing solidly, every move brimming with force, forming another extreme contrast to Shen Zexi's immovable-as-a-mountain demeanor.

Barehanded, his body moved like a swimming dragon, easily dodging the Aberrant Species' strikes; each punch and kick held explosive power, a single blow enough to shatter an Aberrant Species' carapace.

His every move was filled with the beauty of power and technique, perfectly blending his own energy with ancient martial combat skills.

Even if he awakened some useless Aberrant Art, relying on this alone he would have few peers among his age group.

Unfortunately, the Special Ability Practitioner examination only tests whether they possess the qualifications of a Special Ability Practitioner.

Detailed ability testing can only be conducted after enrollment, by asking whether he is willing to cooperate with the examination.