Chapter 25: Ability

"For ordinary people, they are trapped within reality," Feng Sui said as he started the Passat. "But there are those who possess power or ability. It is a matter of fundamental perception; only by truly perceiving the entire world can one attain those things that seem ethereal and elusive."

This was spoken to Li Fengyin, while Shen Liangxin, who had just climbed into the backseat, had already fallen asleep.

Seeing Li Fengyin nod in the rearview mirror, Feng Sui started the car.

"Everything exists!"

Li Fengyin watched the scenery outside the window, ultimately settling on this thought. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips as he gradually drifted off to sleep.

...

"Hey! Wake up!"

A sharp-featured girl with short hair was knocking on the car window. Li Fengyin slowly stirred. Feng Sui had stopped the car but hadn't woken him or Shen Liangxin.

Seeing the girl's face, Li Fengyin realized it was Xiao Ying, the student who had signed up for his guitar practice package.

As he opened the door and stepped out, he was immediately hit by a ton of Xiao Ying’s fury: "Uncle Fengyin! Where have you been these past few days? I paid for a practice package, and you just ran off with someone else! Don't you want to make money anymore?!"

"Ahem," Li Fengyin said, looking slightly embarrassed. "I was busy with something else these past few days."

"Then are you going to extend the practice time? Otherwise, how could you make up for my loss? Hmph!"

Clearly, Xiao Ying had revealed her true colors. She knew Li Fengyin’s character well, but as a university student from a poor family, she knew how to haggle.

"Alright."

Li Fengyin nodded silently. Just then, Shen Liangxin woke up and peeked out from the car, causing Xiao Ying’s eyes to widen instantly: "Isn't this the hidden campus belle of Huaqing?!"

"Big sister, could you take a photo with me? Consider it compensation for Li Fengyin not teaching me music on time."

Xiao Ying immediately saw an opportunity to take advantage of the situation.

"Don't, I'd rather give you extra lessons!" Li Fengyin quickly refused. He hadn't even taken a photo with Shen Liangxin himself; how could he let a girl get ahead of him?

Shen Liangxin smiled. "How about I take a photo with Li Fengyin first, and then with you?"

The quantum entanglement deepened at this very moment.

"!"

Xiao Ying’s mouth hung open, wide enough to fit a goose egg. "You two! Li Fengyin, if you want me to keep your secret, you have to give me a one-year free package for ten types of instruments!"

"Get lost!"

Li Fengyin was speechless. He only said those two words. Besides, if others found out, it might actually be a better thing for him.

Shen Liangxin, standing to the side, secretly took out her phone and snapped a picture of Xiao Ying’s expression, feeling exceptionally amused.

...

Over the next ten minutes, Li Fengyin took a photo with Shen Liangxin, and Shen Liangxin also followed through by taking a photo with Xiao Ying. According to Xiao Ying, "This photo is enough for me to brag about for a year! The only drawback is that I'll have to use a beauty filter."

She was quite self-aware regarding her own appearance and figure.

Finally, when the two returned to the underground quantum room, Shen Liangxin was exhausted and collapsed onto the bed. Li Fengyin walked silently to the glass circular table where he had been reading, looking at a few words written on a sheet of white paper:

[As long as all is well]

"Go to sleep!"

Meng Po’s voice echoed in his mind. "If you don't rest for a long time, your eyes will get bloodshot."

"Alright."

Li Fengyin nodded and went up to the second floor; this was his own space.

Feng Sui’s earlier hint had made Li Fengyin fully understand that this world was indeed the one from his dreams. This realization made him feel a rare sense of excitement!

"Ability? Dao?"

Li Fengyin lay down on the bed and turned over. "Can the Dao I created also be walked upon?"

In the Underworld, a figure walking through the falling ashes came to a sudden halt!

He looked up at the mist-shrouded sky and spoke softly: "Finally, have you awakened?"

"Lord Spirit King has awakened!"

Joyful voices echoed from somewhere in the Underworld, layered and ethereal. In a world of despair, it seemed that hope and light had been glimpsed.

The scene shifted. A red-haired woman named Xue Yan finally opened the door to the Kitchen God Temple. The so-called temple appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary, old-fashioned courtyard house.

The ground was paved with blue bricks. In the courtyard, near the side chamber, sat a stone table carved with a chessboard.

An elderly man with graying hair, wearing a brimless straw hat, was playing a game of chess against himself.

"Master!"

Xue Yan looked at him with reverence, bowing slightly with her arms positioned in a respectful gesture. "I believe I am qualified now."

The Old Man of the Mountains stood up. He stopped placing pieces and looked at his youthful disciple in the distance, nodding slightly. "Mingyu is also in Shangbei City. I imagine he won't agree. You two will have to decide the victor."

"My junior brother has such a strong competitive spirit; he might even risk his life for it."

Xue Yan spoke softly, her voice unconstrained. "However, the outcome will depend on his strength."

"That spirit is excellent."

The Old Man nodded. "Su Mingyu will be here in three days. We shall see then."

Having said this, Zhang Sanfeng’s figure seemed to grow even more ethereal. He said nothing more, turned, and prepared to enter the side chamber.

...

"Master!"

Xue Yan asked, "Within three years, will you be able to hold on?"

"Life has its limits, and the Heavenly Dao cannot be reversed."

This was the answer belonging to Zhang Sanfeng. The legendary Great Upheaval was beginning to unfold!

...

Su Mingyu stood behind Su Hai with a gentle expression. This richest man in Asia was discussing other matters with someone.

The person Su Hai was conversing with was a child of about thirteen or fourteen, wearing a white mask.

"Lord Tianqu," Su Hai said with a serious expression. "Is a world war about to begin?"

"Indeed."

The being addressed as Lord Tianqu had a voice no different from an ordinary boy, save for a hint of crisp clarity. "The situation on the battlefield is ever-changing. For a businessman, it is also a matter of life and death."

Su Hai, the richest man in Asia, fell into a brief, deep contemplation. Finally, he asked, "Will the Apocalypse organization participate?"

"As always."

Upon receiving this definitive answer, Su Hai felt relieved. His investments and efforts should yield returns, or at the very least, his industries would not collapse entirely.

This was the guarantee from the Apocalypse organization.

...

When Li Fengyin woke up, he checked the time; it was another night. Shen Liangxin, having changed into her researcher's attire at some point, had already begun using the quantum computer for calculations.

"Do you have any dry-mixed noodles?"

Li Fengyin walked into the kitchen, only to realize he had forgotten to buy groceries.

"I do."

Shen Liangxin looked up and pointed to the storage cabinet. "I went out and bought some instant noodles earlier. I know you like the dry-mixed kind, so I specifically bought a few boxes."

Three minutes later, Li Fengyin was slurping the noodles with great relish, clearly enjoying them.

"Where do abilities come from?"

Finally, Li Fengyin asked the question, knowing that Shen Liangxin must know the answer.