Chapter 95 Water System, Fourth Tier

Time slipped away quietly in the tense atmosphere.

The shrewd man, like a hyena lurking in the shadows, silently gathered all information about Ruan Ning: her registered ability level (which Ruan Ning had disguised and maintained at the mid-second level using her mental power), her daily records of entering and leaving the mission hall, her team's preferences for accepting missions, and even details of her occasional exchanges of supplies at the market.

However, all the information on the surface was so clean that it was almost ordinary. Apart from the conspicuous third-tier mutated dog, Ruan Ning himself looked like an ordinary water-type ability user who was lucky, had decent strength, but was by no means top-tier.

But Shen Zhuo did not believe it.

The more abnormalities he couldn't find, the more suspicious he became.

The sense of incongruity intensified, especially after he secretly reviewed the detailed report of the research institute's mission and saw the description of Ruan Ning's team's "encounters" and "gains" on the basement level.

How could an ordinary water-based ability user not only protect themselves in an environment surrounded by monsters, but also bring back something?

He intensified his surveillance efforts, even employing a hidden device brought by the Shen family that could detect faint energy fluctuations, in an attempt to detect any anomalies while Ruan Ning was out.

However, Ruan Ning spends most of her time staying at home, and never leaves her apartment at night; her energy fluctuations are disappointingly stable.

Unbeknownst to them, Ruan Ning was no longer in the apartment that night.

Inside the space, beside the spiritual spring.

Ruan Ning sat cross-legged, enveloped in a misty aura of spiritual energy and moisture. Time flowed differently within this space compared to the outside, and the spiritual energy was inexhaustible. Since deciding to accelerate her cultivation to counter the potential threat from the Shen family, she had devoted almost every night to frantic training.

The water of the spiritual spring cleansed her meridians and nourished her spiritual power. The energy of her water-based supernatural abilities surged within her body, constantly challenging the barrier of the peak third tier. She could feel her control over "water" undergoing a qualitative change.

It's not just a change in form—water arrows, water blades, water whips, and water shields come to her fingertips, becoming more solid, swift, and versatile. More importantly, she has begun to grasp the more fundamental rules of "water."

"control."

She wasn't limited to controlling the water condensed from her own supernatural abilities. She tried to use her mental power, like the finest tentacles, to seep into the dewdrops condensing on the ground, into the moist soil beside the spiritual spring... and then, "command" them.

At first, it was only a slight movement, the water droplets trembling and hovering. As their mental strength was honed and their understanding of the laws of water deepened, their control became stronger and their range wider.

She can make water droplets seeping from the ground flow upwards, and she can make water vapor in the air condense into ice crystals and then turn into fog.

One night, under the dual impact of the surging energy of the spiritual spring and the highly concentrated spiritual power, that solid barrier shattered!

A surge of immense energy coursed through his body, every cell rejoicing. His mental strength soared once more, and his senses became sharper and more refined. His affinity for and control over "water" reached a completely new level.

Fourth-tier water-based superpower!

Ruan Ning opened her eyes, her gaze seemingly flowing with clear water before instantly returning to calm.

She raised her hand, and without any deliberate effort, water molecules in the air spontaneously gathered and swirled above her palm, forming a clear water sphere that constantly changed shape—sometimes sharp, sometimes soft, sometimes boiling, sometimes icy cold.

With a thought, the water sphere burst open, transforming into countless tiny water needles almost invisible to the naked eye. These needles floated in the air and, following her intention, instantly disappeared into a distant boulder used for practice, leaving behind countless pinhole-like deep holes.

The attack was silent, yet its penetrating power was astonishing.

That wasn't all. After leaving the space, she turned her gaze to a mutated insect that had accidentally wandered into the corner of the room. Her mental energy, mixed with her newly advanced fourth-tier absolute control over "water," quietly enveloped it.

Instead of attacking the carapace, she penetrated it with her senses and locked onto the body fluid circulation that sustained its life.

The mutated insect, which had been struggling, suddenly stiffened and then shriveled up at a speed visible to the naked eye!

Its shell lost its luster, and its limbs drooped limply. In less than five seconds, most of the fluid in its body that maintained its basic physiological functions was forcibly "stripped" and "dispersed" by some invisible force, leaving only a withered shell.

Ruan Ning withdrew from control, her face slightly pale.

This method, which directly affects the fluids within a living organism, is extremely energy-intensive and requires highly precise mental control and powerful suppression of water-based rules. Currently, it can only be used on low-level, small targets, and is still far from practical application.

But the direction is clear, and the potential is terrifying.

She knew she possessed an extremely dangerous ability. Water magic was no longer merely an external offensive and defensive aid. When it could directly interfere with the "water" within living beings, it touched the boundary between life and death.

“I’m not skilled enough yet, and it’s too taxing.” Ruan Ningping covered his breathing and heartbeat. “But this is a trump card. It might be difficult to deal with high-level ability users or powerful mutants, but in certain crucial moments…”

She didn't think about it any further, but her eyes became even more profound.

Strength is the foundation for survival in the apocalypse. With a fourth-tier water elemental, plus her already third-tier mental elemental, as well as spatial and fire abilities, and two teammates who are gradually growing stronger, she is even more confident.

Seeing her come out, Da Huo raised its head, sniffed her with its moist nose, and seemed to sense the still-deep and powerful energy aura emanating from its master, and affectionately nuzzled against her.

Ruan Ning stroked its head and looked out the window at the deep night.

Shen Zhuo is investigating her.

She is getting stronger too.

In this covert contest, the scales are quietly tipping.

She needs some real-world experience to hone and validate her newly acquired strength.

Perhaps the next mission will be a good opportunity. As for Shen Zhuo, if he continues to press her... she wouldn't mind letting the Shen family experience again what the despair of an "accident" truly means.