Chapter 149 Upgraded Again

Ruan Ning stayed in the space for two whole days.

The door was tightly closed, and there was no sound. Zhou Min and the others knew that absorbing a fifth-order crystal core was extremely risky, but they had no choice but to wait.

On the morning of the third day, the door finally opened.

Ruan Ning stepped out. Her face was somewhat pale, but her eyes were deeper and calmer than usual. Her aura was restrained, yet she exuded an invisible sense of pressure. Upon closer inspection, a faint glimmer of icy blue-silver light seemed to occasionally flash deep within her pupils.

"Did it work?" Lin Yan asked immediately.

Ruan Ning nodded, her voice a little colder than usual: "Mental strength, sixth rank. Water element, fifth rank."

Zhou Min and Lin Yan both gasped in astonishment. Two systems breaking through simultaneously, and both at the high level! This was absolutely top-tier combat power in the base.

“And another thing,” Ruan Ning raised her hand, palm up. A ball of clear water condensed out of thin air and floated silently. The next second, a layer of frost quickly formed on the surface of the water ball, and in the blink of an eye, it turned into a crystal-clear ice ball, radiating a chilling aura.

The ice puck slowly melted again, turning back into water that swirled nimbly between her fingers. "My control over water is much more precise now; I can switch freely between water and ice."

This means her attacks will be more varied and deadly. The suppleness of water, the sharpness and coldness of ice, combined in a way, will be far more powerful than simply the sum of its parts.

"That's great!" Zhou Min was genuinely happy, but then she worried, "The absorption process must be very difficult, right?"

Ruan Ning didn't elaborate, only saying, "It's over." The violent and chaotic spiritual imprint and energy within the crystal core almost caused her to lose consciousness again. She only managed to withstand it thanks to the spiritual spring water and her tenacious will, and ultimately crushed, absorbed, and transformed that cold desire for control into nourishment for her own spiritual power.

The process was perilous and cannot be explained to outsiders.

She looked at Zhou Min and Lin Yan: "What about you two? How is your recovery? Are you confident you can break through to the third tier with the crystal core you have?"

After the zombie horde receded, the base distributed a batch of rewards based on the merits of the battle, including crystal cores.

As a key figure in eliminating the mental-type commander, Ruan Ning received a generous reward of points and crystal cores. She distributed a considerable number of crystal cores suitable for Zhou Min and Lin Yan's attributes.

Lin Yan clenched her fist. The fracture in her arm had mostly healed under the influence of the spiritual spring water and the wood-type healing energy: "I feel full of power and can try to break through to the third tier at any time. I'm using a power enhancement method, which is relatively safe because it uses a non-attribute crystal core."

Zhou Min hesitated: "I am a mentalist. Although I have obtained a few mental power recovery potions, a few second-tier mental attribute crystal cores, and a third-tier crystal core, I am not very confident in breaking through to the third tier. Breakthroughs for mentalists depend more on enlightenment and opportunities."

Ruan Ning thought for a moment, then took out a small bottle containing extra diluted spiritual spring water that she had reserved. "This will help stabilize your mind and nourish your spiritual power. Drink it when you break through. I will protect you."

She then looked at Lin Yan: "You too, to be on the safe side, I'll protect the Dharma with you. Da Huo will guard the outside."

Zhou Min and Lin Yan nodded emphatically. Strength is the foundation for survival in the apocalypse, and they would never back down if given the chance to break through.

For the next two days, Xiaolou went into seclusion again.

Lin Yan first focused on breaking through her limits. The power enhancement path she chose was relatively direct, mainly involving the accumulation of energy and the strengthening and expansion of her body's meridians.

With the help of the spiritual spring water provided by Ruan Ning, the process was thrilling but ultimately safe, and he successfully stepped into the third stage. His strength, speed, and endurance all experienced a qualitative leap, and the fierce aura he possessed became more restrained and solid.

It was Zhou Min's turn. Breakthroughs in the mental system were even more perilous. She consumed spiritual spring water and a third-tier mental crystal core, and with the protection of Ruan Ning's sixth-tier mental power, she cautiously attempted to break through the bottleneck.

The process lasted for most of the day. Zhou Min's face flushed red and then turned deathly pale, her body trembled slightly, and cold sweat beaded on her forehead. The battle in the mental realm was invisible, yet extremely dangerous.

Ruan Ning could sense the intense fluctuations and struggles in Zhou Min's mental energy.

At the critical moment, Ruan Ning spared a wisp of extremely gentle spiritual energy to guide Zhou Min's chaotic spiritual energy back into order, like a lighthouse guiding her. At the same time, the cool energy of the spiritual spring water continuously nourished her nearly dried-up sea of ​​consciousness.

Finally, as evening approached, Zhou Min's body trembled, and a stable mental fluctuation, several times stronger than before, spread out and then slowly receded. She opened her eyes, which gleamed with a bright light; although exhausted, they were filled with joy.

"I've reached level three!" Lin Yan exclaimed happily.

Zhou Min looked at Ruan Ning and said solemnly, "Thank you."

Ruan Ning waved her hand: "No need to be polite among family."

At this point, all three core members of the team had advanced: Ruan Ning, fifth-tier water-type (capable of water-ice conversion), and sixth-tier mental-type; Zhou Min, third-tier mental-type; and Lin Yan, third-tier strength enhancement. Da Huo was a fourth-tier mutated beast. Such a lineup would be considered elite even within the entire Northwest Base.

The improvement in strength brings greater confidence and a more urgent need for the next step.

She first contacted Qin Li and arranged to meet at her grandmother's house. She needed to learn more about the dynamics of the base's higher-ups and the recent developments of the research institute.

Ruan Ning, carrying an inconspicuous handbag, arrived at "Songtao Residence" in the inner city. After pressing the doorbell, hurried footsteps were heard soon afterward.

The door opened, and there was Grandma.

When she saw Ruan Ning, her eyes immediately welled up with tears. She grabbed Ruan Ning's hand and exclaimed, "Ningning! You've finally come! Come in quickly and let Grandma take a good look at you! I heard the fighting outside was so fierce, your grandpa and I have been worried sick for days! Are you hurt?"

Grandpa also came out of the living room upon hearing the noise. Although he tried his best to remain calm, the concern and worry in his eyes were obvious. He looked Ruan Ning up and down carefully: "It's good that you're safe, it's good that you're safe."

As Ruan Ning was pulled into the house, she felt the undisguised concern of the two elderly people, and a corner of her heart softened slightly. This kind of pure, blood-rooted care was too rare and precious in the apocalypse.

"I'm fine, just a minor injury, but it's healed already," Ruan Ning said simply, placing her handbag on the table. "I brought you some things."

She opened the bag, inside which were supplies she had carefully selected from her spatial storage—supplies that would be considered luxuries in the apocalypse.

Several vacuum-sealed bags of rice and flour, several jars of meat sauce and fruit, several unopened jars of milk powder for the elderly, several individually wrapped bags of candy, and even a small jar of tea, a bag of fresh vegetables and a bag of ribs.

The items weren't numerous, but they were diverse and well-preserved.

The two elderly people were stunned when they saw these things.

Grandma's lips trembled; she wanted to say something but couldn't utter a sound, only gripping Ruan Ning's hand tightly. Grandpa's Adam's apple bobbed, his voice hoarse: "Child... keep these... for yourself. We're in the inner city, we don't need anything..."

“I still have some,” Ruan Ning said calmly, but with an air of unyielding authority. “You’re getting old and need nutrition. The supplies from the inner city are only basic. Please accept them.”