C5 More Awakening Cultivators!(1)

As they stepped out of the supermarket, he was struck by the glaring sunlight. He released Dongfang Bai's hand and inhaled deeply.

He spoke softly, "You shouldn't have posed as my girlfriend and left with me. You would have been safer staying here."

"We're comrades; it's only natural that we stick together," Dongfang Bai replied with a mischievous smile.

"Thank you," Hsu Yuvran said, gazing at the empty streets that appeared like a ghost town under the broad daylight. His tone was heartfelt.

"You saved me earlier, and I didn't even thank you. Let's not dwell on it. What's our next move?"

"I almost lost control back there; I wanted to kill those people," Hsu Yuvran admitted, visibly calmer as he struggled to contain his emotions.

"Had it not been for those guns pointed at us, I might've acted," he continued.

'The Earth Spikes could've been a harsh lesson for them,' he mused.

'But I couldn't ignore your safety, Dongfang. Guns were pointed at you, too.

The Earth Spikes could've taken down only one person instantly, and the remaining guns could've been fatal for both of us.'

"Yuvran, listen carefully. It's dangerous to become arrogant just because we have some powers. It could lead to our downfall," Dongfang Bai warned, her face stern.

Trained in a military family, Dongfang Bai had traditional values, unlike Hsu Yuvran's more freewheeling perspective.

"I get it; that's why I held back. We're still governed by the laws of the Great Qin Empire," Hsu Yuvran acknowledged.

"It's not about laws; it's about our basic humanity. What separates us from those mutated beasts?" Dongfang Bai pointed towards some mutant dogs in the distance.

A realization dawned on Hsu Yuvran. 'I guess power can go to one's head,' he conceded.

'Am I better than others?

Apparently not. A bullet through the skull would kill me just like anyone else.'

"Dongfang, thank you for keeping me in check. I almost acted impulsively," Hsu Yuvran turned to face her, genuinely grateful. 'She's not just beautiful on the outside but also kind and sincere.'

"Your beauty isn't just skin-deep; it's in your kind and sincere heart," he said.

Dongfang Bai blushed as he looked at her, her face a mixture of sweat, mud, and blood. Yet she was as beautiful as a work of art.

She brushed her hair back and smiled. "Okay, let's get moving. Don't overthink it. I wanted to step in earlier, but it was just too risky."

Feeling reinvigorated, Hsu Yuvran agreed. "Let's push through to the main city. I can't shake the feeling that the Great Qin government is tougher than it seems."

The two set off, heading north along the city's main road. They aimed to encounter Mutated Beasts for real-world training in their newfound Awakening Skills.

Hsu Yuvran summoned a sizable black shield, keeping a vigilant eye on Dongfang Bai as they progressed.

When they stumbled upon small creatures like wild cats or mice, dispatching them was easy with their Awakening Skills.

The university city they were heading to was situated in the suburbs of Nanjiang City, a good thirty kilometers away from the downtown area.

They walked at a leisurely pace, taking their time to hunt down Mutated Beasts for practice.

Out of nowhere, a wild cat leaped from an alleyway towards Dongfang Bai.

Hsu Yuvran swiftly swung his black shield upward, sending the creature airborne.

With a flick of her hand, Dongfang Bai unleashed an Air Grenade. The airborne wild cat let out a terrible shriek.

Before the wild cat hit the ground, a trio of Earth Spikes shot out, skewering the creature mid-air.

They exchanged glances and smiles, both feeling more and more in sync.

As they continued their journey, both realized their physical abilities had significantly improved since their Awakening.

Hsu Yuvran had always been on the frail side despite his height.

But now he felt stronger than ever.

His skillset now included two Awakening Skills: Earth Shield and Earth Spike.

Dongfang Bai didn't notice a dramatic increase in strength, but her skin had toughened and her hands were as sharp as swords.

It was clear she had awakened two distinct skills: one that enhanced her body and another that allowed for external projection.

Though her Air Grenade had a wide range of applications, its lethality paled in comparison to Hsu Yuvran's Earth Spike.

The Air Grenade could easily finish off small creatures like rats, but against larger foes like the wild cats, it could only inflict serious injuries and lacked the finishing power of Hsu Yuvran's Earth Spike.

The pair shared their experiences and couldn't help but let their imaginations run wild.

If they could awaken, it stood to reason that others could too.

Could it be that everyone had unique Awakening Skills?

They were dying to find out.

In a world teeming with mutant beasts roaming the streets, there was no guarantee of safety, let alone power.

The question wasn't just about finding his father; even survival was uncertain.

To live and find his dad, he had no choice but to keep getting stronger.

Hsu Yuvran was constantly pondering how to rapidly gain more strength.

Did he actually have to follow the system's suggestion and infect himself with more viruses?

Infecting himself at random was a fast track to an early grave.

The system claimed he wouldn't die from the viruses, but could it be trusted?

To locate their target more efficiently, they made their way to the rooftop of a tall building.

When it came to sensory perception, Dongfang Bai had leveled up.

Suddenly, she noticed tiny black dots on the main road to Jianglin, rapidly coming their way, trailed by even more black dots.

As they drew closer, Dongfang Bai finally got a good look.

The approaching figures were humans in combat suits, followed by a dozen wild dogs, each larger than a pig.

The humans seemed to be armed and were shooting as they ran.

However, their gunfire seemed ineffective; it merely injured the pursuing dogs.

This only inflamed the dogs' bloodlust, making them chase the humans even more ferociously.

Soon, the air was filled with the echoing sound of gunshots.

The air was thick with the sounds of barking, wailing, screams, and human curses.

Drawn by the commotion, mutated beasts from nearby areas began to converge on the scene. Packs of mutated cats and rats raced toward the unfolding chaos.

Hesitant, Hsu Yuvran and Dongfang Bai looked down from their vantage point. They'd never encountered mutated wild dogs before and had no idea how formidable they were.

Moreover, the people below were wearing yellow-green combat suits, which were equally unfamiliar.

As they observed the scene unfold, details became increasingly clear.

Among the mutated wild dogs, three stood out for their size, menacing faces, and elongated fangs.

Their blood-red eyes seemed to betray a transformation that went beyond simple mutation. ‌

"Did they push evolution a bit too far?" Hsu Yuvran mumbled, intrigued.

Ignoring his musings, Dongfang Bai asked, "Where did those people get military-grade firearms?"

Down below, the group was in a frantic dash for safety. "There's a supermarket ahead! Go there, go there!" someone yelled.

"Someone's up there! You two, hide!" another voice shouted, apparently directed at Hsu Yuvran and Dongfang Bai on the roof.

"We're from the Main City Region, here for a rescue mission. You two, hide!"

As the humans fired their weapons and bolted toward the supermarket.

The horde of mutated beasts followed suit.

With wild cats and rats joining the fray.

It was a mad chase, filled with biting and snarling.

Two wild cats pounced on a rat, tearing it apart, while a wild dog chased a cat off into the distance. ‌‌

Hsu Yuvran and Dongfang Bai exchanged a meaningful glance.

"So, there are still people in the Main City Region?"

"Looks like the Great Qin government is still functioning if they're sending out rescue teams," Dongfang Bai observed.

Suddenly, a new worry crossed their minds. If those Mutated Beasts broke into the supermarket, even an armed Ma Junsheng and his crew would be powerless to stop them.

Many would likely die, and their own weapons were clearly not up to the task. The military firearms that Ma Junsheng and his group had didn't seem effective either.

Dongfang Bai bit her lip and hesitated before asking, "Are we going in?"

She wasn't alone in this dilemma; Hsu Yuvran also wrestled with the decision.

If they got cornered by that horde of Mutated Beasts in the supermarket, their current arsenal wouldn't stand a chance.

Remembering how Ma Junsheng had aimed his gun at them and considering the attitudes of the others, Hsu Yuvran wasn't keen on saving them. He even doubted if he could.

"I'm not thrilled about going in either," Dongfang Bai admitted, seeing Hsu Yuvran's furrowed brows. "But we can't ignore the value of human life. As terrible as they are, they don't deserve to die. Plus, there are rescue team members in there."

"Do you want to go?" Hsu Yuvran was conflicted, tempted to walk away, but his conscience wouldn't allow it.

"Let's go have a look. If we can't help, we'll back off," Dongfang Bai finally decided. "If we can assist, we should. If the Great Qin government is still around, they'll find a way to sort this out."

It required magnanimity even to contemplate saving people who had aimed weapons at them.