271: Chapter 271 Unlocks New Resources: Strange Flame, Origin Ember!

The first ray of morning sunlight did not gently awaken the sleeper through the gap in the curtains as it usually did.

Instead... it shone directly and brazenly onto Lin Yuan's butt.

After all, the roof was gone.

"Hiss..."

Lin Yuan squinted, subconsciously raising his hand to block the glaring sunlight, wanting to turn over.

Yet, he found he could not move.

An arm, smooth as jade, was tightly wrapped around his neck.

A long, powerful leg was resting unceremoniously on his waist, and the whole person was hanging on him like a koala.

Qin Ziyan.

This "Valkyrie" of flames who had just promoted to SS-rank last night was currently drooling without any regard for her image, sleeping like a dead pig.

Where was that heroic, unapproachable, cold demeanor she usually displayed?

"Hey, wake up."

Lin Yuan helplessly pushed the head that was rubbing against his chest.

"Don't bother me... let me sleep for another five minutes..."

Qin Ziyan mumbled groggily, not only refusing to let go but hugging even tighter, and even pecked his pectoral muscle.

"These muscles... so hard... hehe..."

Lin Yuan: "..."

This woman, once she let down her guard, was actually such a clingy person?

Was this the so-called "contrast cuteness"?

Lin Yuan sighed, looked up at the azure sky above, and the few Mutated Crows flying past.

Crow: "Caw—caw—"

As if saying: That's it?

"Sigh."

Lin Yuan shook his head.

This special lounge was completely ruined.

Not only was the roof gone, but the surrounding walls looked like they had been chewed by a dog, covered in melted metal marks and charred cracks.

Even this specially made alloy bed.

Because of last night's overly intense "battle," it had collapsed halfway, presenting an eerie, tilted angle.

It was practically a car crash scene.

Just as Lin Yuan was thinking about how to explain this "renovation fee" to the penny-pinching Xia Muqing.

A long-lost, cold, mechanical system notification suddenly exploded in his mind.

【Ding! Host has gained Qin Ziyan's recognition!】

【Congratulations Host for unlocking supplies — 【Origin Ember】 (Lv.1)!】

【Supply Description: The remnants of the first spark when the world first began. It has no temperature, yet can burn everything; it seems weak, but it is the nemesis and source of all energy.】

【Current Output: 1 wisp/second】

【Characteristics: Infinite Fusion (two embers of the same rank can be fused into a higher rank, no upper limit), Source Symbiosis (as a source item produced by the system, the Host can bestow it upon bound partners, and they can also fuse and upgrade it).】

Lin Yuan's heart jumped violently.

1 wisp per second?

Fusing two into one to upgrade?

This wasn't just a supply reward?

This was clearly an "idle script" with infinite resources opened for him in the Apocalypse!

No need to painstakingly collect energy crystals, no need to go around the world hunting Mutated Beasts.

He just needed to stay right here!

Every second, his strength and foundation were increasing!

As long as there was enough time, he could even pile up a divine fire on that supreme throne that could burn through the universe with these countless wisps of ember!

"Fuse."

Lin Yuan suppressed his inner ecstasy and moved his mind slightly.

In the past few seconds, several wisps of Origin Ember had already accumulated in the system space.

Following his command, two pale-white sparks collided and merged silently in the void.

Hum—

With a flash of light, a new flame, slightly more solid than before with a hint of gold leaping in the center, appeared at his fingertip.

Although it was only a slight improvement.

But that feeling of essential sublimation was clearly transmitted to the depths of Lin Yuan's soul.

If it was a firefly before fusion, it was candlelight after fusion!

And as long as he was willing to wait, this candlelight would eventually become a prairie fire, a blazing sun!

"Pfft—"

Just as Lin Yuan was immersed in his fantasies about the infinite possibilities of the future.

An uncontrollable laugh interrupted his thoughts.

He saw that Qin Ziyan, who was still pretending to sleep, had opened her eyes at some point.

She was blinking her large, sleepy eyes, still carrying a bit of laziness and mist, staring playfully at the little pale-white flame on Lin Yuan's fingertip.

"Lin Yuan, are you doing magic tricks?"

Qin Ziyan reached out her finger, which had just returned to being fair and slender, and boldly poked the flame.

It went right through.

It wasn't hot at all, in fact, it was even a bit chilly.

"Hahahaha!"

Qin Ziyan couldn't help but laugh like a pig.

Her whole body shook with laughter, the softness on her chest rubbing against Lin Yuan.

"Is this your new Superpower? A lighter?"

"No, a lighter is better than this, at least a lighter can light a cigarette!"

"Is yours... used to keep ants warm? Or do you want to change careers to become the little girl who sells nuclear bombs?"

Looking at the woman in his arms who was laughing until tears were almost coming out.

Lin Yuan's face turned as black as the bottom of a pot.

"It seems your skin is itching."

Lin Yuan snorted coldly, his eyes narrowing.

He couldn't be bothered to explain, so he just moved his mind, and two more embers fused in his palm, instantly merging into the Lv.2 flame at his fingertip.

But that wasn't all.

As time passed, one second, two seconds...

New embers were born every second, and Lin Yuan threw them into the fusion without hesitation.

In just over ten seconds.

【Origin Ember upgraded to Lv.2!】

The little pale, weak flame at Lin Yuan's fingertip actually began to undergo an earth-shaking change!

It was no longer transparent, but had become milky white as if it were solid.

The hint of gold in the center spread out, emitting a terrifying fluctuation that made one's heart palpitate.

The surrounding air began to distort; there was no heat wave, but it made people feel a shudder at the soul level!

Qin Ziyan's laughter stopped abruptly.

As an SS-rank Ability User, her perception of energy was much sharper than an ordinary person's.

She discovered with horror that with every flicker of that little flame, her own SS-rank flame Superpower was trembling!

Just like a commoner seeing an emperor!

That was... an absolute suppression in status!

"This... what is this?!"

Qin Ziyan widened her eyes, her voice trembling slightly.

"It's getting stronger... and it's getting stronger out of thin air?!"

"That's right."

Lin Yuan hooked his lips into a wild arc.

He waved his hand, and the coin-sized flame landed lightly on the deformed metal bedside table next to them.

No explosion, no roar.

"Chhh—"

The special alloy cabinet, which even armor-piercing bullets couldn't penetrate, was vaporized the moment it touched the flame!

Erased into thin air!

As easy and comfortable as a pencil drawing erased by an eraser!

"Hiss—"

Qin Ziyan gasped, subconsciously shrinking into the quilt.

This power... it was simply unreasonable!

"This is the Origin Ember."

Lin Yuan retracted the flame, watching it dance happily on his fingertip, his eyes flashing with ambition.

"No need to collect supplies, no need to devour energy crystals."

"As long as I am alive, it will be produced continuously, then infinitely fused, and infinitely strengthened."

Speaking of this, Lin Yuan looked at the woman in his arms who was too shocked to speak, and the smile on his lips became a bit gentler.

"Moreover, this is not just my power."

"It is the system... cough, it is the source bestowed by the heavens."

"In other words..."

Lin Yuan stretched out his finger and gently tapped Qin Ziyan's brow.

"You can also possess it."

"Gulp."

Qin Ziyan swallowed, subconsciously shrinking into the quilt again.

She wasn't scared; she was dizzy from this happiness that had fallen from the sky... or rather, this terrifying potential.

Getting stronger just by lying down?

Infinite fusion?

And it could even be shared?

Where was this surviving in the Apocalypse? This was simply planting artifacts in one's own backyard!

"Lin Yuan... are... are you a god?"

Looking at the little woman who was just arrogantly mocking him but now had a look of worship and even a hint of piety, Lin Yuan was in a great mood.

"Perhaps."

Lin Yuan smirked and brought the flame closer to Qin Ziyan's exquisite face.

"Didn't someone just say this was a fifty-cent special effect? Do you want to experience it personally?"

"No! Take it away, take it away!"

"Hmph, too late."

Lin Yuan put away the strange fire, but he didn't intend to let this woman who dared to mock him go just like that.

Since he won the "civil war," what followed naturally was...

"Ah! What are you doing?!"

Qin Ziyan exclaimed, feeling a large hand slide in again, not behaving.

"It's broad daylight... and there's no roof!"

"So what if there's no roof?"

Lin Yuan turned over and pressed down on her righteously.

"This is called... the unity of heaven and man."

"Besides, since this fire doesn't need feeding, then I will focus on... feeding you."

"Pervert! Mmph..."

Just as the two were about to stage an overtime match in the "open-air theater" in the morning.

"Knock, knock, knock."

An extremely untimely, and even somewhat deliberate, knocking sound rang out.

Actually, there was no need to knock.

Because the door had long since flown away, leaving only an empty door frame.

Xia Muqing was leaning against the door frame, holding two plates of steaming breakfast, wearing her signature auntie-smile.

To match the current scene, she even specifically wore a pair of sunglasses.

"Um... sorry to disturb your fun."

Xia Muqing pushed up her sunglasses, her gaze "sensibly" fixed on the big hole in the ceiling.

"Although I would also like to observe the practical operation of the 'biological morning awakening mechanism'."

"But..."

"I think I need to remind the boss."

"Our base's power cables... were burned by a certain 'Fire Phoenix' just now."

"The cafeteria is using firewood to cook now; if this meal gets cold, the next meal might be raw meat."

"Also..."

Xia Muqing pointed to the row of women behind her who were peeking and gossiping.

"If you plan to live-stream, shouldn't you sell tickets first?"

"I have a feeling this ticket price could earn back our base's maintenance fees."

Lin Yuan: "..."

Qin Ziyan: "..."

"Get out!!!"

A roar of shame and anger resounded through the sky.

Immediately following.

A huge fireball flew out from the door, directly blowing up the half-wall that Xia Muqing had just been leaning against...

Xia Muqing held the plates, still maintaining an elegant posture, and retreated calmly in the smoke and dust.

"Tsk tsk tsk, is this the morning temper of a powerhouse?"

"So scary."

"Little Qingyue, write it down, next time the wake-up service needs to wear blast-proof suits."

...

Half an hour later.

The two, dressed and ready, finally walked out of the special lounge that had turned into ruins.

Qin Ziyan lowered her head, her face as red as a ripe tomato, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

And Lin Yuan was calm, as if nothing had happened just now.

Only the pale white firelight occasionally flashing at his fingertips showed his current mood of pleasure.

Origin Ember!

Although it was still weak now and needed the accumulation of time.

But Lin Yuan had a hunch.

This seemingly weak little flame would erupt with incredible effects in the future!

It only needed time, and it would be able to burn the heavens!