Chapter 164 My talent is more than just predicting the future

"Patter, patter, patter—"

Raindrops struck the shadow, but not a single drop could penetrate it.

The howling wind was also blocked.

Shen Qingci stood in the middle of the aisle, one hand raised, controlling that layer of shadow to firmly seal the Vehicle door.

Behind the shadow...

Zuo Shi stepped out of the door and into the knee-deep water.

The next second, the torrential rain lashed against her like a whip.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—"

Raindrops slammed into her face, her arms, and every inch of exposed skin, causing a stinging pain.

A large wave crashed over, reaching directly past her waist.

Zuo Shi stumbled, nearly swept off her feet.

The rope around her waist suddenly tightened, pulling her back.

She steadied herself, gritted her teeth, and continued forward.

The water grew deeper.

From her knees to her thighs, then to her waist.

Those green seaweeds were getting closer.

Five meters.

Three meters.

One meter.

She reached out her hand.

Her fingertips pierced through the rain curtain and the spray, finally touching that cluster of slippery plant life.

【seaweed】

Type: Ordinary Resources

Quantity: Approximately 3kg

Species: Giant Kelp

Information: A large brown algae that grows in the deep sea. Rich in iodine and gelatin, it is edible and can be used to extract seaweed gel. In the apocalypse, it is a rare natural source of vitamins.

Additional Information (Rank B): This patch of seaweed was swept up from the deep sea by giant waves. Nothing is attached to the roots. Following the direction of the current, you might not find anything else of value.

Zuo Shi stared at those few lines of text, feeling somewhat helpless.

Back inside the Vehicle, Zuo Shi simply changed her clothes inside the Safety Compartment.

When she pushed open the door and came out, her hair was still wet.

"So, there's no sign of any Treasure Chests nearby either?"

Wang Mengmeng sighed softly: "The spawn rate is just too low!"

"I'll try again in an hour."

Zuo Shi clenched her fists, desperately wanting to prove herself.

The cabin fell silent.

Outside the window, the rain poured down in torrents.

Over the next few hours, Zuo Shi got off the Vehicle every hour.

Shen Qingci helped her block the door with shadows every time, and Zhang Wanyue tied the rope around her waist every time.

The first time, she touched a piece of drifting broken wood.

【Ordinary Resource, no additional information.】

The second time, she touched a tangled mess of fishing nets.

【Ordinary Resource, Additional Information: This bundle of fishing nets comes from a sunken fishing boat outside of Survival.】

The third time, she touched a floating plastic bucket.

【Ordinary Resource, no additional information.】

The fourth time, fifth time, sixth time...

Everyone went from initial anticipation to disappointment, and then to numbness.

"Zuo Shi, how about you stop going..."

Zuo Shi shook her head persistently, "No, the storm is so heavy. If we miss a Treasure Chest because of me, then what is the point of my Investigation Talent..."

Wang Mengmeng was stunned; she hadn't expected Zuo Shi to be so serious.

Isn't my own Rank D Talent the one that's actually most pointless?

Shen Qingci controlled the shadows to block the storm, and Zhang Wanyue handed over the rope.

"Go ahead, Zuo Shi. We'll wait for you."

Zuo Shi stepped into the water again. This time, what she touched was another large patch of seaweed.

The moment her fingers touched the seaweed, her eyes lit up.

She turned and walked back.

After getting on the Vehicle, she let out a loud sneeze.

"Achoo—!"

Dr. Qiao handed over two white tablets and a bottle of water.

"Cold Medicine. Twice a day, one pill at a time."

Zuo Shi nodded: "Thank you, Dr. Qiao."

Zuo Shi simply changed into a set of dry clothes and then walked over to Chen Yu's seat.

She spoke seriously: "The additional information this time says the seaweed is torn, suspected to be pulled by rule seaweed..."

Chen Yu, who had his eyes closed, suddenly snapped them open: "rule seaweed?"

Zuo Shi nodded: "Yes, but the additional information says 'suspected,' it's not certain if it's true."

Shen Qingci leaned in: "Great, let me go, Chen Yu!"

Chen Yu rubbed his chin: "Hmm... that works."

Just as Shen Qingci was mentally preparing herself to leave the Vehicle and head into the 'deep sea' alone.

Chen Yu suddenly called out: "Wait a moment..."

"Hmm?"

Chen Yu looked at Yang Kexin nearby, "Kexin, make an Iron Hook, the kind with barbs."

Yang Kexin was taken aback.

"An Iron Hook?"

Chen Yu nodded.

Yang Kexin scratched her head. Although it was hard to understand why Chen Yu wanted an Iron Hook now, she still nodded.

After all, she hadn't activated her Talent today yet, so it was a good time to try.

She closed her eyes and spread her hands.

A faint metallic luster shimmered in the cabin.

A few seconds later, a blackish-gray Iron Hook appeared in her hand.

The hook was over half a meter long, the tip was sharp with three barbs, looking like some kind of tool used on sea vessels.

"Here."

Yang Kexin handed the Iron Hook to Chen Yu.

Chen Yu took it and weighed it in his hand.

Then he reached into his personal backpack and pulled something out—

A massive Iron Hook appeared before everyone.

That hook was a whole size larger than the one Yang Kexin had just made; its body was as thick as a child's arm.

The barbs flared out menacingly, and its total weight was at least twenty or thirty pounds.

When placed on the floor, the whole cabin shook slightly.

Wang Mengmeng's eyes widened into circles.

"This... why are there two?!"

Yang Kexin looked at the one in her hand, then at the one by Chen Yu's feet, her mouth hanging open wide enough to fit an egg.

"I... I didn't make that one..."

She was a bit dazed.

Zuo Shi frowned: "Chen Yu, this... where did it come from? It looks so well-crafted..."

Zhang Wanyue didn't speak, but she was also waiting for an answer.

Everyone was staring at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu leaned back against his seat and remained silent for two seconds.

Then he spoke slowly.

"This Iron Hook comes from the future."

"???"

Chen Yu spoke indifferently: "My Talent isn't just predicting the future. To be more precise, it is Future Power."

"Future Power allows me to... borrow the strength of those around me from the future, but every time I borrow it, a price must be paid."

It was the first time the girls had seen Chen Yu speak about his Talent so solemnly.

Everyone pricked up their ears, listening intently to everything.

"What price?"

"Life."

Those two words were spoken lightly, but they caused everyone's hearts to sink.

"The further the future, the stronger the power, and the more life is consumed. For example... this Iron Hook was made by Kexin in the future. I brought it back in advance, which probably cost a bit of vitality."

Chen Yu spoke truthfully.

Yang Kexin covered her mouth: "I... I can make such a large tool in the future?"

Chen Yu nodded: "Of course. In the future, you will be very formidable."

Deng Yuxin suddenly realized: "So those giant lobsters before weren't traded by you? They were summoned by my future self?!"

Chen Yu nodded.

"That huge Boning Knife..."

Yang Kexin also suddenly thought of something and hurriedly looked at Chen Yu.

Chen Yu nodded again: "All of your future selves will be very powerful, and Xiaoyu is the same."

Lu Xiaoyu's eyes suddenly turned red: "But, you exchanged your life for it..."

At this, the girls in the Vehicle all fell into silence.

Wang Mengmeng suddenly leaned over, her eyes sparkling: "Then what about me? Brother Yu, my Rank D ability is related to time. Does that mean I'm especially powerful in the future?"

"Not powerful."

"..."