16: Others cultivate by relying on spirit stones, I cultivate by touching electric gates?

Dragon Shield Bureau, Director's Office.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

Branch Director Zhou Weiguo stared intently at the holographic projection in front of him.

On the screen were Li Wei's detailed physiological analysis report and a shocking list of components.

“Apocalypse Society…”

Zhou Weiguo squeezed these three words through gritted teeth, and the temperature in the office dropped several degrees.

Su Wanqing stood before the desk, her posture straight, her expression stern.

“Director, based on preliminary interrogation and data analysis, Li Wei is just a low-level ‘test subject’.”

“The Apocalypse Society has likely targeted certain promising newcomers, spreading this forbidden drug through various channels to lure them into corruption. Li Wei is just the tip of the iceberg.”

Zhou Weiguo remained silent.

He raised his hand and swiped the screen, switching Li Wei’s report.

In its place was another document.

At the very top, the name “Lin Yuan” was clear and striking.

Zhou Weiguo looked at the report, his brows furrowed into a knot.

Perfect scores in energy manipulation.

Monster-level physical fitness.

And that mysterious and unfathomable lightning ability.

He rubbed his temples and let out a long sigh.

“This child… is a double-edged sword.”

Zhou Weiguo spoke, his voice tinged with weariness.

“He could be our trump card against the Apocalypse Society, and even greater future disasters, but he could also… become an uncontrollable variable.”

His gaze moved back and forth between the S-rank assessment and the Apocalypse Society report.

After a long while.

He made a decision.

“Notify the Logistics Department to fulfill his S-rank assessment.”

“Give him the highest-standard newcomer treatment. Resources, authority, everything in full.”

Zhou Weiguo looked at Su Wanqing, his eyes more serious than ever before.

“Furthermore, starting today, you will personally mentor him.”

Su Wanqing paused slightly.

“I need to know everything about him,” Zhou Weiguo stated, word by word, leaving no room for doubt. “His limits, his character weaknesses, his past… everything.”

“Yes.”

Su Wanqing did not hesitate for a moment, immediately accepting the order… Meanwhile.

Lin Yuan was following a Logistics Department specialist, winding through metal corridors.

The specialist secretly observed Lin Yuan the entire way, his eyes filled with curiosity.

This person before him was a formidable individual who had instantly killed a “quasi-C-rank” berserker with one punch and even achieved the legendary S-rank assessment!

“Mr. Lin Yuan, this is Sector B-7, the Strategic Reserve Warehouse.”

The specialist stopped in front of an alloy door and said respectfully.

“According to the S-rank newcomer regulations, you may choose any weapon or equipment of A-rank or below here.”

“Additionally, your S-rank newcomer resource package has also been prepared.”

“Buzz—”

The heavy gate slid open to both sides.

Rows upon rows of weapon racks displayed a dazzling array of divine weapons and sharp tools.

There were long swords with flames flowing along their blades.

There were futuristic sniper rifles with wind-element runes engraved on their barrels.

There was a chilling azure battle armor.

Each item emanated powerful energy fluctuations, clearly not ordinary artifacts.

But Lin Yuan’s face showed no excitement.

These things looked very cool.

But the feeling… was wrong.

The energy they emitted, to him, was like a dish that smelled delicious but would absolutely not suit his palate.

Lin Yuan simply closed his eyes.

Electromagnetic Induction, activate!

The entire world changed in his perception.

Those divine weapons transformed into clusters of light sources of varying sizes and colors.

Countless energy reactions converged into a noisy ocean in his mind.

He blocked out these interferences.

He calmed his mind and carefully distinguished.

He wasn't looking for the brightest or strongest one.

But the one that made him feel the most “comfortable” and “desired.”

Hmm?

Found it!

In the deepest part of the warehouse, in a corner piled high with various discarded materials.

He sensed a special signal.

That's it!

Lin Yuan opened his eyes and walked straight towards that corner.

He ignored the priceless equipment beside him and started rummaging through the pile of scrap metal.

The Logistics Department specialist beside him watched, dumbfounded.

What was this gentleman… doing?

Ignoring a room full of divine weapons, he went treasure hunting in a junk pile?

Soon.

Lin Yuan pulled something out from under a pile of rusty armor fragments.

It was a short metal staff, entirely black.

There were no runes on it, nor any radiance.

The Logistics Department specialist’s face changed when he saw what was in his hand.

“Mr. Lin… Lin Yuan! Not that one!”

His voice even stammered.

“This… this is a sealed A-rank dangerous item, the thunderfall battle staff!”

“It was forged from the core of an extraterrestrial meteorite, and the lightning energy contained within is extremely violent, completely uncontrollable! Several seniors with lightning abilities who tried to use it before… all met with accidents!”

“That’s why it was discarded here, waiting to be destroyed!”

However.

Lin Yuan wasn't listening to what he was saying at all.

He hugged the short metal staff as if he were hugging a giant sausage.

His mouth was practically watering.

Comfortable!

So comfortable!

This pure lightning energy was simply tailor-made for him!

“I’ll take this one,” Lin Yuan patted the staff, his tone firm.

“Huh?” The Logistics Department specialist was completely dumbfounded… Ultimately, with Lin Yuan’s insistence and the Logistics Department specialist’s expression of “if you insist on courting death, I can’t stop you,” he successfully took possession of the thunderfall battle staff.

He also collected his S-rank newcomer resource package.

A briefcase.

Upon opening it, rows of sparkling crystals were neatly arranged inside.

“These are standard units of ‘Spirit Stones,’ high-purity energy crystals, the hard currency for cultivators in the Inner World,” the Logistics Department specialist explained.

Inside the box, there were also several bottles of pills in jade vials, and a glowing jade slip.

After returning to the high-level single dormitory assigned to him, Lin Yuan impatiently closed the door.

He first placed his precious battle staff on the bed, then picked up a spirit stone from the box.

It felt warm and smooth to the touch, and light seemed to flow within it.

This was the cultivation resource everyone was fighting over?

Lin Yuan, mimicking scenes from novels, held the spirit stone in his palm and tried to absorb the energy within it.

A faint, almost imperceptible warm current flowed from his palm into his body.

And then… it was gone.

Lin Yuan: “…”

That's it?

He tossed the dull spirit stone aside with a look of disdain.

He picked up the jade slip and, following the instructions on it, immersed his mind within.

A segment of information flowed into his mind.

“Basic Spirit Refinement Method.”

A common and safest method of energy absorption.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged on the ground and began to breathe in and out according to the method’s description.

Guiding the energy within his body to circulate through his meridians.

An hour passed.

Lin Yuan opened his eyes and felt the changes within his body.

The energy in his divine body had indeed increased by a trace.

Truly, just a trace.

This amount of increase was even less efficient than when he had secretly touched a power outlet on the hallway wall when he went downstairs earlier.

Lin Yuan gave up.

He stood up and came to a conclusion.

This “primitive” method of cultivation, with its simple breathing, was simply a waste of life!

The so-called Basic Spirit Refinement Method was just a guide on how to use your mouth and chopsticks.

And spirit stones, at best, were like that small plate of cold shredded kelp before a meal.

The real main course, the full Manchu Han Imperial Feast, was thunder and lightning!

Lin Yuan’s gaze fell back on the thunderfall battle staff.

His eyes lit up.

Rather than systematically eating these “cold dishes.”

He might as well find a way, find a good place, and give himself a good “charge.”