Yellow Court Daoist-Chapter 312 - 292 Evolution II Era!

312 Chapter 292 Evolution II Era!

Walking through the forest.

One could vaguely make out the remnants of a city buried under leaves and soil. Shattered red bricks and blocks of concrete of various sizes occasionally revealed half-built walls about waist-high.

It's a glimpse into the shattered sight of civilization.

As Lu Qingfeng walked, the vital energy around his body surged—

First Level of Fetal Breathing.

Second Level of Fetal Breathing.

Third Level of Fetal Breathing.

Without any Experience Value available, even after countless sessions of cultivation, Lu Qingfeng could only push himself to the Third Level of Fetal Breathing at most before he was exhausted to mere skin and bones, urgently needing to replenish his Essence Qi through food.

Lu Qingfeng stood still, focusing his energy to sense any disturbance around him.

Rustle!

A noise came from the bushes.

"Here it comes!"

Lu Qingfeng's ears twitched slightly, and with a light flick of his foot, a palm-sized chunk of concrete flew into the depths of the bushes.

"Thud!"

A short, sharp cry came from where the rock fell.

Lu Qingfeng patiently listened without rushing forward until he was sure there was no more movement in the bushes. Then, supporting his bony frame, he approached.

Pushing aside the bushes, there lay a plump grey rabbit with its head shattered, in a pool of blood.

With a flick of his hand, Lu Qingfeng enveloped the shattered rabbit head in a cold aura, freezing it completely and solidifying the blood.

He quickly carried it away and disappeared into the forest.

Shortly after he left.

Two figures hurried towards the scene.

Both young men, dressed in strong shirts, one of them wielding a white bone knife, sniffing continuously; the other gripped a strong bow with an arrow quiver on his back filled with arrows flickering in black.

"How's it?"

Wang Yu, holding his bow and an arrow, asked Zhang Jin beside him.

"It's gone."

Zhang Jin shook his head, stepped forward, and parted the bushes. A pool of blood stained the soil and leaves, but there was no body.

"Damn!"

"All that excitement for nothing! If I find out who intercepted this, I'll skin them!" Wang Yu cursed angrily.

Zhang Jin, accustomed to such reactions, picked up a blood-stained concrete block from the blood pool, glanced at the surrounding traces, and muttered, "I'd advise you to give up that idea. Whoever killed this Blood-toothed Rabbit is certainly above Level 0.5. Your mediocre archery wouldn't stand a chance against their rock-kicking skills."

As he spoke,

Zhang Jin tossed the bloody rock aside and got up.

"So what if they're above Level 0.5? As long as I keep my distance, I'll teach them a lesson," Wang Yu retorted dismissively, not convinced.

Zhang Jin ignored him, checking the sky, "Let's keep looking. It's getting dark soon; if we don't hurry, we'll go hungry tonight."

"Quick, quick!"

"It's you who's been dawdling all along!"

Wang Yu retorted, but hastened as well.

...

Deep in the forest unknown.

Lu Qingfeng used the surrounding trees and scattered stones to set up a simple array to shield visual and olfactory detection. He then quickly processed the rabbit meat and started a fire to cook.

The fire flickered.

Holding two Fang-like rabbit teeth which resembled blood jade and were extremely hard, Lu Qingfeng mused. The rock he kicked had shattered the rabbit's head, but the two teeth remained intact.

"The Spiritual Energy within these teeth isn't much different from the ambient energy of the world, with only slight variations making the Blood Teeth densely packed. Once bitten, the Blood Teeth penetrate the body, and even a normal human would have their entire blood drained within minutes," he pondered, feeling the Blood Teeth's substance and internal Spiritual Energy, growing more interested in this life.

The grey rabbit he had killed wasn't amongst the demon beasts, but the two Blood Teeth gave the impression of a Demon Clan's Lifebound Magical Artifact.

The threat posed by the Blood-toothed Rabbit was not insignificant.

"Blood-toothed Rabbit, huh?"

Lu Qingfeng stored the teeth and ate the now cooked rabbit meat.

...

In the following days.

Lu Qingfeng focused on enhancing his strength in the forest.

Provided he had enough meat, with Lu Qingfeng's vast cultivation experience, he could reach the Peak of the Fetal Breathing Realm within a few months. When he broke through to the True Qi Realm and combined it with his Divine Skills, dominance wasn't guaranteed, but self-preservation was ample.

While increasing his strength, Lu Qingfeng was also learning about this 'apocalyptic world.'

Unlike the previous worlds, this one used to be a modern civilization, which sixteen years ago, faced a meteor calamity that led to the collapse of civilization and plunged it into chaotic apocalypse. However, the inhabitants are still humans who evolved from the civilized era. Technology was destroyed with no hope of restoration due to the strange influence of the Spiritual Energy, but the advanced systems were still in place.

Rootless and suddenly emerging, Lu Qingfeng inevitably aroused suspicion.

So he decided to stay in the forest for the moment, engaging more with people. Once he understood this world, at least the immediate area, he could make further plans.

As the sun rose and moon fell.

Three months later.

"Sixteen years ago, the apocalypse arrived, annihilating human civilization."

"This region was originally part of the Yaohai District in Bahe City. Bahe City was a disaster area, where less than ten percent of its inhabitants survived, and the entire city was destroyed. In just sixteen years, rampant plant growth has covered the city ruins."

"This is both a disaster and an opportunity."

"With the arrival of the apocalypse came a meteoric firestorm that raged for three months. Although plants and animals underwent all sorts of strange transformations—most becoming fierce and dangerous—humanity also benefited. First, their bodies became stronger, their strength greatly increased alongside their recovery capabilities and physical resilience. Many powerful individuals emerged among humans, capable of killing an unmutated fierce tiger with a single punch."

"These powerhouses gathered the surviving humans, attempting to reestablish civilization. However, the pervasive strange magnetic fields between heaven and earth rendered all electronic equipment and scientific technologies ineffective. The only path left for humanity was to enhance themselves."

"In the north, there is said to be a 'Steel War God' who emerged from Bahe City, who termed the miraculous particles floating between heaven and earth, the magical energy from mutant animals' special tissues, and the bizarre energy contained within the roots or fruits of mutant plants collectively as 'Spiritual Energy'."

"Based on the intensity of Spiritual Energy within their bodies, classifications were formed. It spread and gradually became mainstream."

"During the three years from the apocalypse to the birth of the first Lv 1 powerhouse, it was called the 'Evolution Zero Era'."

"Four years ago, the Steel War God from the north became the first human to reach Lv 2, proclaiming to the world that Blue Star had officially entered the 'Evolution II Era'."

Wang Yu spoke with high-spirited fervor, narrating to Lu Qingfeng the transformational history of Blue Star since the apocalypse.

From the 'Evolution Zero Era', a period of mere physical enhancement and hand-to-hand combat with cold weapons, to the 'Evolution One Era' where bizarre superpowers frequently emerged, and strongholds were set up by powerhouses contesting each other.

It was full of excitement.

Within Zhou Country alone, there were countless powerhouses and numerous heroic legends.

From the exploratory phase of the 'Evolution Zero Era' through to the land-dividing, king-making 'Evolution One Era' where Superpower Kings swept across invincibly, leading to today's 'Evolution II Era' teeming with War Gods.

The situation in Zhou Country gradually clarified.

Contacts between provinces and cities that had been severed due to the apocalypse were gradually restored. Countless followers gathered beneath each War God residing over significant mountains and rivers.

Slaying Yangzi crocodiles and slaughtering Overlord Dragons!

An era completely distinct from the technological age unfolded, boasting of personal might and glory.

"Evolution II Era."

"Superpower War God."

Lu Qingfeng's eyes sparkled as the fog shrouding this post-apocalyptic star cleared, revealing its true nature.

The superpower users here followed a path starkly different from the Immortal Dao's cultivation route.

Their cultivation involved what was referred to as 'Spiritual Energy,' probing into the depth of their bloodline for power. Crossing the threshold of Lv 1 marked the beginning of their journey, advancing from Soldier Level, to General Level, into King-level, granting a high chance of awakening the dormant superpower within their bloodline.

Some controlled water and fire.

Others experienced power amplification.

Or heightened telepathic sense.

In short, superpowers were diverse and boundless.

Of course,

It was possible for some to awaken superpowers during the Lv 0 stage. Such individuals held boundless potential. From appearing in the 'Evolution Zero Era'—provided they did not perish prematurely—by now, they all represented formidable kings or even invincible War Gods.

According to Wang Yu, the 'Steel War God' with the greatest fame and strength in the north awakened his superpower at the very onset of the apocalypse, allowed to resonate with metals, intertwining and elevating one another.

Driving a modified heavy truck, he journeyed north from the Yaohai District in Bahe City, leaving behind countless legends.

Ultimately, he forged an endless renown as the 'Steel War God.'

Recently, news came that this 'Steel War God' had, in Beihe Province on Wolf-toothed Mountain, slain three gray wolves, seizing control of Wolf-toothed Mountain and sending shockwaves across the region.

An absolute top-tier Lv 2 powerhouse.

"I'm Lv 0.425, old Zhang is Lv 0.413. Although it's not noteworthy in the largely ignored Yaohai District, it's also not at the bottom of the scale."

"The Yaohai District lacks major mountains or rivers and has only average resources, hence no major forces hold sway here; just some unaffiliated, stray folks like us surviving. Northward is the Bahe Railway Station and Tourist Bus Station, these stations along with several nearby buildings remain in good condition, housing numerous small hotels and forming the main gathering area of the Yaohai District."

"Old Zhang and I live over there."

"The most powerful individuals near the railway station are a few above Lv 0.7 General Level experts. Relations are also quite good with the Water Dragon King who occupies Xiao Yaojin, the Iron Arm King who dominates Bao Park, and the Mad Saber King of Yaohai Park. Should a King-level mutant beast attack, we can promptly call upon numerous General Level experts and even have the three Superpower Kings come to our aid."

"Don't worry about safety."

Wang Yu, carrying his strong bow, vividly introduced the surroundings to Lu Qingfeng. Zhang Jin stood by, sensing no anomalies.

"Lv 0.425."

"Lv 0.413."

Lu Qingfeng regarded Wang Yu and Zhang Jin, sensing the fluctuations of their auras. He then reverse-calculated his own—

"Lv 0.985."

"True Qi Realm First Level, converting it into Spiritual Energy calculations, I'm already at the pinnacle Captain Level, nearly able to become a King, comparable to a 'Superpower King.' However, I simultaneously cultivate four top-notch magic gates, my True Qi volume far surpassing an average True Qi Realm cultivator. For an ordinary True Qi Realm cultivator practicing a Refinement Level Technique, my level would be roughly around Lv 0.5."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

This conversion was not quite accurate.

In the apocalypse, whether soldiers, generals, kings, or War Gods, none practiced any cultivation methods. They rely purely on primitive combat to continuously unlock their innate potential. Intaking the easy-to-absorb Spiritual Energy from various mutant beasts, spiritual organizations, or mutant plant roots and fruits, they rapidly enhanced their strength.

The apocalypse descended.

Countless bizarre and dangerous mutant beasts and equally perilous human hearts framed the setting.

Combat became the eternal theme.

Through endless battles, the rapidly absorbed Spiritual Energy swiftly translated into strength, with no issues of unstable foundations. Only in such a grand era could numerous powerhouses rapidly emerge.

According to Lu Qingfeng's slightly inaccurate conversion, a Lv 1 superpower user's strength was already comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator. War Gods at the Lv 2 level were undoubtedly even stronger.

Merely sixteen years, without any inheritance of cultivation techniques, to grow to Foundation Establishment Level or even stronger.

Truly, a marvel forged by the turbulent times!