122 The Mystery of the End Times Part 2
"Okay."
Cong Xia fiddled with the money in his hand, "A denomination of one thousand. With such a thick stack, it should be worth one or two hundred thousand, right?" He felt strongly curious about the money. Although he didn't know the true value of these banknotes, even in the civilized era, he didn't have a hundred thousand in his bank account.
"I'm not sure. Go ask Professor Cong."
"Okay, Uncle said he would treat us to a meal yesterday, but he didn't come today. Let's go find him."
The two of them walked out of the meeting room, and Xiao Wang was waiting for them in the hall. When he saw them come out, he smiled and asked, "What do you want to do next?"
"I want to go see my... Professor Cong." Cong Xia realized that using such a casual name was inappropriate since everyone here addressed his uncle with utmost respect.
"Professor Cong went for a meeting early this morning and might not be back for a while."
"Oh, then what should we do? By the way, how is Liu Ge's situation?"
"The military is in charge of finding his parents. Beijing's population is currently around 1.7 million, and over half of the people have moved from their original addresses, making the search difficult. But I will keep tracking the progress."
"That's good."
"Do you want to go outside for a walk? Dr. Zhuang is preparing to take his cat to the pet salon."
"Dr. Zhuang Xiao? Who's that?"
Xiao Wang smiled sheepishly, "To distinguish from Dr. Zhuang Yu, we call him that."
"Okay, let's go. It's like villagers entering the city; everything will be new to us. I really don't know how Abu, with such a large size, will take a bath. Lead the way."
Ten minutes later, the others also came downstairs, each wearing a brand-new outfit. Liu Fengyu even sprayed on his long-desired perfume. When he saw Cong Xia, he said excitedly, "Xia, our original house was not destroyed. Experienced people say that if a person's house remains intact, their survival chances are high. My parents might still be somewhere in the city."
"That's great, Liu Ge. We'll definitely find your parents."
Xiao Wang led everyone downstairs and said as they walked, "The biggest problem now is that we can't openly search. Mr. Liu's identity is quite unique, and many people know him. We're afraid that someone with ulterior motives might take advantage of that... So, we can only investigate discreetly."
Cong Xia nodded, "We understand."
Zhuang Yao looked at the stack of money in Cheng Tianbi's hand. "What is this?"
Cheng Tianbi handed it to him, "Money."
"New currency? Interesting." He then asked Xiao Wang, "How is the denomination calculated?"
"A denomination of one thousand is equivalent to ten milligrams of energy with any attribute."
"That explanation still leaves us with little concept. Where does the energy come from?"
Xiao Wang scratched his head, "It's extracted from the bodies of deceased mutant animals and plants."
Everyone was shocked by this revelation. It seemed that Zhuang Yao's initial idea had indeed been implemented. Beijing had developed a device to absorb energy from deceased mutant animals and plants, possessing a "primary function" similar to Cong Xia's ability.
However, energy could also be materialized?
Cong Xia frowned and asked, "The energy is extracted, but what does it look like? Is it liquid, solid, or gas? And what can you do with the extracted energy? Why use it as the equivalent medium of currency?"
Xiao Wang was a bit confused and stammered, "Uh, well, the energy extracted is not known to us, but scientists have transformed it into a liquid form. This liquid can be directly injected into mutant individuals, and after the injection, it becomes their energy. However, this energy is not permanent and only suitable for temporarily replenishing energy. It's basically something that can save you in critical situations and is very expensive."
Cong Xia pondered, "This method might lead to slaughtering."
Xiao Wang sighed, "Killing people for their energy is prohibited, but in the past, poaching was also forbidden..."
Zhuang Yao added, "To restore social order, establishing a monetary system is necessary, and to do that, you need the most suitable equivalent medium of exchange. Previously, it was backed by gold reserves, but now the most precious thing is energy. This method is actually quite reasonable. However, after implementing this monetary system, there will inevitably be 'poachers' hunting for energy bodies. It's unavoidable, and it's not fundamentally different from killing for money in the civilized era."
Cheng Tianbi spoke in a deep voice, "No wonder the Dragonblood Clan said that regular humans are safer."
Xiao Wang sighed, "Ordinary people receive regular relief rations, never getting enough food, and they do the most menial jobs, suffering from bullying. Their safety is traded for their dignity, but it's very fragile. Although it is strictly forbidden for humans to harm each other here, if mutants kill ordinary people, no one cares. I am an ordinary person too; because my brother is a mutant guard here, I got a certain logistics job, which is already a position many people envy. In this era, no one is truly safe."
Their hearts felt heavy after hearing this.
They walked out of the research building and entered the courtyard. Abu smelled them from afar and enthusiastically tried to come to them. However, its large body couldn't fit through the door, so only its huge head poked inside, looking at them expectantly.
Xiao Wang patted his heart, "Oh my, this would be terrifying if we saw this at night."
They approached Abu, and Zhuang Yao patted it, saying, "Abu, I'll take you to get cleaned and groomed."
Abu happily "meowed" in response.
After leaving the Science Academy, Xiao Wang led them towards the pet salon. They asked Xiao Wang to sit on Abu's back, so they could move faster, but Xiao Wang adamantly refused, claiming he had a fear of heights or was allergic to cat fur.
As they walked, people on the street were all looking at them, and discussions arose among them.
Fortunately, the pet grooming salon was not far from the scientific institute. It took just over ten minutes to get there, but Aou, the cat, took his time, and Xiao Wang had to run and catch up with them.
As they turned the corner, Xiao Wang pointed ahead and said, "We're here."
In front of them was a spacious square, where a three-meter-tall black poodle and a four-meter-tall Husky stood. They were standing on what looked like gas station platforms, each with several water pipes extending to great heights. There were six such setups in the square. On average, ten people were attending to each mutated pet, providing them with baths. The three-meter-tall poodle had several ladders placed around it, while the four-meter-tall Husky had fewer ladders but had three people with wings standing on its back, using water guns to bathe it.
Deng Xiao watched with great interest, "Wow, they bathe like this?"
Zhuang Yao wondered, "I wonder if their pipes can reach Abu's height."
Xiao Wang assured them, "Don't worry. When I made the appointment for you yesterday, I already informed them about Abu's situation. They said they've never received such a large guest before, but they will be prepared."
They led Abu over. The previously calm poodle and Husky seemed somewhat flustered and wary as they looked at Abu. Despite their already impressive size, they looked like small dogs compared to Abu.
Abu ignored them and walked straight ahead.
A man with butterfly wings on his back flew over from a distance. He was very handsome, with slightly elongated features and fair skin, exuding a feminine charm. As soon as he saw them, he greeted them with a brilliant smile, "Hello, dear customers! Let me see, you made an appointment for the 7.7-meter Ragdoll Cat, right? Great! I remember, I remember. We've prepared everything for your precious pet. Oh, this kitty is so beautiful, just a little dirty. I promise to wash your baby clean and tidy. Clean and tidy!" After speaking, he quickly flew away, happily waving at them, "Customers, come over here!"
The group stared speechlessly ahead.
Xiao Wang chuckled, "He's the owner of this grooming salon. That's just how he is. Aside from being greedy and a bit effeminate, he's quite normal. Don't mind him."
They walked over to where the man with butterfly wings was stationed, and indeed, there was a water dispenser on the ground.
The butterfly-winged man circled around Abu and commented, "Tsk tsk, this baby is so beautiful, but quite large. Not easy to bathe."
Cong Xia looked up and asked, "How much does it cost?"
The butterfly-winged man landed and looked at them with a smile, "Since it's your first visit, let's say 2,000."
Xiao Wang was astonished, "2,000? You sure are daring, Aqing!"
Aqing glanced at him disdainfully, "This is the only mutant pet grooming salon in all of Beijing, catering to high-end clients. Do you understand? Please don't use your mindset with a monthly salary of just two hundred to judge me."
Xiao Wang mumbled, "I have two hundred and seven."
"Besides, look at the other clients here. The largest pet I've accommodated is less than six meters, and this precious one is nearly eight meters! Do you have any idea how difficult our job is? The labor and material costs are extremely high!"
Xiao Wang turned away and fell silent.
Zhuang Yao said, "Two thousand it is, let's get started."
Aqing happily blew a kiss to Zhuang Yao, "This handsome young man is so straightforward." He then looked at the rest of them, "Oh my, you guys are a good-looking bunch. How did you all end up together? No wonder there's a reward on you."
The group's expressions changed slightly.
Aqing smiled, "Come on, it's no secret. Everyone in Beijing knew it on your first day in the city. Now, customers, please pay first."
Cong Xia handed him two bills, and Aqing cheerfully pocketed them. He flew over to Abu and clapped his hands at his staff, "We need ten more pairs of hands over here!"
As they watched, over ten people in raincoats emerged from the water boxes, some setting up ladders, and others flying above Abu. Water started to spray from the pipes, showering Abu.
Abu began to feel uncomfortable and shook his fur. However, this one shake caused all six ladders on his body to be flung off. Thankfully, the experienced staff managed to grab onto his fur and stabilize themselves.
Zhuang Yao shouted, "Aou, don't move."
Abu looked at Zhuang Yao innocently and obediently stayed still.
Cong Xia chuckled, "Aqing is quite clever. He came up with such a business idea."
"Yes, but being smart alone is not enough; he also needs capital. Don't be fooled by his appearance. He's the elder brother of one of the Liudao Huangquan Three Iron Guards. While his attack power is average, and his temperament isn't suitable for combat, no one dares to provoke him in this generation. His younger brother, on the other hand, is extremely powerful."
"The Liudao Huangquan... their leader is the Earth Natural Force Evolver."
"That's right. He rarely shows himself, and his ability has been displayed only once, but it was already astounding."
"Oh, what happened?"
"About four months ago, in Langfang, there was a sudden influx of mutant ants, each as big as a human fist. At that time, their numbers were not significant, but if left unchecked, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The military assigned the task to Li Dao'ai, the leader of the Liudao Huangquan. When he arrived, there was a loud noise, and the two blocks infested with ants sank ten centimeters underground. After that, the area became peaceful again."
Deng Xiao was astonished, "Wow, that's impressive! What about the others? The other Natural Force Evolvers?"
Xiao Wang seemed to get excited, "The others are all powerful individuals too! For example, the leader of Jiujian Prefecture, Yao Qianjiang, is incredibly formidable. He's like a ghost; it's terrifying. I saw it with my own eyes. There was an unlucky creature, a five-meter-tall carnivorous beast that looked like a domesticated animal. I don't know how it ended up in the city center. When Yao Qianjiang and his subordinates passed by, somehow, the beast charged straight at him. Can you guess what happened?"
Cong Xia wanted to laugh; Xiao Wang's expression was so reminiscent of a storyteller.
Everyone, except Deng Xiao, looked at him expressionlessly. Deng Xiao asked expectantly, "What happened?"
Xiao Wang exclaimed, "He didn't even lift a finger! When the beast was just a few meters away from him, it crashed to the ground with a loud bang. And when I looked closely, it had turned into jerky! All the moisture in its body had been sucked dry. It was horrifying! Can you imagine? If I were standing next to him, I could turn into a mummy at any moment!"
Cong Xia nodded, "Indeed, such an attack is terrifying."
"What about the leader of the Dragonblood Clan?" Zhuang Yao asked with great interest.
"The leader of the Dragonblood Clan is the youngest among them, probably in his early twenties. He's a genetically modified human. Even in the pre-apocalypse era, he was already a monster, rumored to be a secret weapon of our country. If it weren't for the apocalypse, we probably would never have known that such a creature existed in the world. On top of that, he's now a Fire Natural Force Evolver, undoubtedly extremely powerful. It's said that with a blink of an eye, an entire building would be reduced to ashes. What's more frightening is that he brought a group of dragon blood monsters, each of them already possessing the attack power of evolved humans before the apocalypse. The Dragonblood Clan is the smallest among the Four Major Factions, with only a few dozen members, but their strength lies in quality rather than quantity."
Xiao Wang rubbed his chin. "However, the leader of the Dragonblood Clan has a fatal weakness that many people know about."
"What weakness?"
"Maybe because he's still young, he listens to his father very much. He's always by his father's side. Can you expect someone like that to achieve great success?"
Cong Xia thought of the baby carried by Shan Ming. Even though his uncle said he was actually an adult, his impression of the leader of the Dragonblood Clan was temporarily fixed on the image of a one- or two-year-old, fully-gold-scaled, naked baby. Hearing Xiao Wang say that he was quite clingy to his father, the image of a baby snuggling up to his father's arms became even more fixed in his mind. This made his impression of the Dragonblood Clan leader somewhat comical.
Zhuang Yao continued to ask, "Then, what about the leader of the Fenglan Society? The one with the Thunder Natural Force?"
Xiao Wang's face darkened, "The leader of the Fenglan Society is a lunatic, particularly flamboyant. He has many enemies in Beijing, but because he's extremely powerful, no one dares to provoke him. When he unleashes a high-voltage thunder, even gods would have to answer for it."
"It seems that each of these four factions has its strengths. It's really hard to say which one is more powerful."
Xiao Wang nodded and glanced at Cheng Tianbi, "Now, there are five factions."
"What?!"
"Because of Comrade Cheng's arrival, there are now five Natural Force Evolvers in Beijing. So, the situation is changing." Xiao Wang said solemnly, "Beijing is about to undergo major changes."
122 The Mystery of the End Times Part 2
"Okay."
Cong Xia fiddled with the money in his hand, "A denomination of one thousand. With such a thick stack, it should be worth one or two hundred thousand, right?" He felt strongly curious about the money. Although he didn't know the true value of these banknotes, even in the civilized era, he didn't have a hundred thousand in his bank account.
"I'm not sure. Go ask Professor Cong."
"Okay, Uncle said he would treat us to a meal yesterday, but he didn't come today. Let's go find him."
The two of them walked out of the meeting room, and Xiao Wang was waiting for them in the hall. When he saw them come out, he smiled and asked, "What do you want to do next?"
"I want to go see my... Professor Cong." Cong Xia realized that using such a casual name was inappropriate since everyone here addressed his uncle with utmost respect.
"Professor Cong went for a meeting early this morning and might not be back for a while."
"Oh, then what should we do? By the way, how is Liu Ge's situation?"
"The military is in charge of finding his parents. Beijing's population is currently around 1.7 million, and over half of the people have moved from their original addresses, making the search difficult. But I will keep tracking the progress."
"That's good."
"Do you want to go outside for a walk? Dr. Zhuang is preparing to take his cat to the pet salon."
"Dr. Zhuang Xiao? Who's that?"
Xiao Wang smiled sheepishly, "To distinguish from Dr. Zhuang Yu, we call him that."
"Okay, let's go. It's like villagers entering the city; everything will be new to us. I really don't know how Abu, with such a large size, will take a bath. Lead the way."
Ten minutes later, the others also came downstairs, each wearing a brand-new outfit. Liu Fengyu even sprayed on his long-desired perfume. When he saw Cong Xia, he said excitedly, "Xia, our original house was not destroyed. Experienced people say that if a person's house remains intact, their survival chances are high. My parents might still be somewhere in the city."
"That's great, Liu Ge. We'll definitely find your parents."
Xiao Wang led everyone downstairs and said as they walked, "The biggest problem now is that we can't openly search. Mr. Liu's identity is quite unique, and many people know him. We're afraid that someone with ulterior motives might take advantage of that... So, we can only investigate discreetly."
Cong Xia nodded, "We understand."
Zhuang Yao looked at the stack of money in Cheng Tianbi's hand. "What is this?"
Cheng Tianbi handed it to him, "Money."
"New currency? Interesting." He then asked Xiao Wang, "How is the denomination calculated?"
"A denomination of one thousand is equivalent to ten milligrams of energy with any attribute."
"That explanation still leaves us with little concept. Where does the energy come from?"
Xiao Wang scratched his head, "It's extracted from the bodies of deceased mutant animals and plants."
Everyone was shocked by this revelation. It seemed that Zhuang Yao's initial idea had indeed been implemented. Beijing had developed a device to absorb energy from deceased mutant animals and plants, possessing a "primary function" similar to Cong Xia's ability.
However, energy could also be materialized?
Cong Xia frowned and asked, "The energy is extracted, but what does it look like? Is it liquid, solid, or gas? And what can you do with the extracted energy? Why use it as the equivalent medium of currency?"
Xiao Wang was a bit confused and stammered, "Uh, well, the energy extracted is not known to us, but scientists have transformed it into a liquid form. This liquid can be directly injected into mutant individuals, and after the injection, it becomes their energy. However, this energy is not permanent and only suitable for temporarily replenishing energy. It's basically something that can save you in critical situations and is very expensive."
Cong Xia pondered, "This method might lead to slaughtering."
Xiao Wang sighed, "Killing people for their energy is prohibited, but in the past, poaching was also forbidden..."
Zhuang Yao added, "To restore social order, establishing a monetary system is necessary, and to do that, you need the most suitable equivalent medium of exchange. Previously, it was backed by gold reserves, but now the most precious thing is energy. This method is actually quite reasonable. However, after implementing this monetary system, there will inevitably be 'poachers' hunting for energy bodies. It's unavoidable, and it's not fundamentally different from killing for money in the civilized era."
Cheng Tianbi spoke in a deep voice, "No wonder the Dragonblood Clan said that regular humans are safer."
Xiao Wang sighed, "Ordinary people receive regular relief rations, never getting enough food, and they do the most menial jobs, suffering from bullying. Their safety is traded for their dignity, but it's very fragile. Although it is strictly forbidden for humans to harm each other here, if mutants kill ordinary people, no one cares. I am an ordinary person too; because my brother is a mutant guard here, I got a certain logistics job, which is already a position many people envy. In this era, no one is truly safe."
Their hearts felt heavy after hearing this.
They walked out of the research building and entered the courtyard. Abu smelled them from afar and enthusiastically tried to come to them. However, its large body couldn't fit through the door, so only its huge head poked inside, looking at them expectantly.
Xiao Wang patted his heart, "Oh my, this would be terrifying if we saw this at night."
They approached Abu, and Zhuang Yao patted it, saying, "Abu, I'll take you to get cleaned and groomed."
Abu happily "meowed" in response.
After leaving the Science Academy, Xiao Wang led them towards the pet salon. They asked Xiao Wang to sit on Abu's back, so they could move faster, but Xiao Wang adamantly refused, claiming he had a fear of heights or was allergic to cat fur.
As they walked, people on the street were all looking at them, and discussions arose among them.
Fortunately, the pet grooming salon was not far from the scientific institute. It took just over ten minutes to get there, but Aou, the cat, took his time, and Xiao Wang had to run and catch up with them.
As they turned the corner, Xiao Wang pointed ahead and said, "We're here."
In front of them was a spacious square, where a three-meter-tall black poodle and a four-meter-tall Husky stood. They were standing on what looked like gas station platforms, each with several water pipes extending to great heights. There were six such setups in the square. On average, ten people were attending to each mutated pet, providing them with baths. The three-meter-tall poodle had several ladders placed around it, while the four-meter-tall Husky had fewer ladders but had three people with wings standing on its back, using water guns to bathe it.
Deng Xiao watched with great interest, "Wow, they bathe like this?"
Zhuang Yao wondered, "I wonder if their pipes can reach Abu's height."
Xiao Wang assured them, "Don't worry. When I made the appointment for you yesterday, I already informed them about Abu's situation. They said they've never received such a large guest before, but they will be prepared."
They led Abu over. The previously calm poodle and Husky seemed somewhat flustered and wary as they looked at Abu. Despite their already impressive size, they looked like small dogs compared to Abu.
Abu ignored them and walked straight ahead.
A man with butterfly wings on his back flew over from a distance. He was very handsome, with slightly elongated features and fair skin, exuding a feminine charm. As soon as he saw them, he greeted them with a brilliant smile, "Hello, dear customers! Let me see, you made an appointment for the 7.7-meter Ragdoll Cat, right? Great! I remember, I remember. We've prepared everything for your precious pet. Oh, this kitty is so beautiful, just a little dirty. I promise to wash your baby clean and tidy. Clean and tidy!" After speaking, he quickly flew away, happily waving at them, "Customers, come over here!"
The group stared speechlessly ahead.
Xiao Wang chuckled, "He's the owner of this grooming salon. That's just how he is. Aside from being greedy and a bit effeminate, he's quite normal. Don't mind him."
They walked over to where the man with butterfly wings was stationed, and indeed, there was a water dispenser on the ground.
The butterfly-winged man circled around Abu and commented, "Tsk tsk, this baby is so beautiful, but quite large. Not easy to bathe."
Cong Xia looked up and asked, "How much does it cost?"
The butterfly-winged man landed and looked at them with a smile, "Since it's your first visit, let's say 2,000."
Xiao Wang was astonished, "2,000? You sure are daring, Aqing!"
Aqing glanced at him disdainfully, "This is the only mutant pet grooming salon in all of Beijing, catering to high-end clients. Do you understand? Please don't use your mindset with a monthly salary of just two hundred to judge me."
Xiao Wang mumbled, "I have two hundred and seven."
"Besides, look at the other clients here. The largest pet I've accommodated is less than six meters, and this precious one is nearly eight meters! Do you have any idea how difficult our job is? The labor and material costs are extremely high!"
Xiao Wang turned away and fell silent.
Zhuang Yao said, "Two thousand it is, let's get started."
Aqing happily blew a kiss to Zhuang Yao, "This handsome young man is so straightforward." He then looked at the rest of them, "Oh my, you guys are a good-looking bunch. How did you all end up together? No wonder there's a reward on you."
The group's expressions changed slightly.
Aqing smiled, "Come on, it's no secret. Everyone in Beijing knew it on your first day in the city. Now, customers, please pay first."
Cong Xia handed him two bills, and Aqing cheerfully pocketed them. He flew over to Abu and clapped his hands at his staff, "We need ten more pairs of hands over here!"
As they watched, over ten people in raincoats emerged from the water boxes, some setting up ladders, and others flying above Abu. Water started to spray from the pipes, showering Abu.
Abu began to feel uncomfortable and shook his fur. However, this one shake caused all six ladders on his body to be flung off. Thankfully, the experienced staff managed to grab onto his fur and stabilize themselves.
Zhuang Yao shouted, "Aou, don't move."
Abu looked at Zhuang Yao innocently and obediently stayed still.
Cong Xia chuckled, "Aqing is quite clever. He came up with such a business idea."
"Yes, but being smart alone is not enough; he also needs capital. Don't be fooled by his appearance. He's the elder brother of one of the Liudao Huangquan Three Iron Guards. While his attack power is average, and his temperament isn't suitable for combat, no one dares to provoke him in this generation. His younger brother, on the other hand, is extremely powerful."
"The Liudao Huangquan... their leader is the Earth Natural Force Evolver."
"That's right. He rarely shows himself, and his ability has been displayed only once, but it was already astounding."
"Oh, what happened?"
"About four months ago, in Langfang, there was a sudden influx of mutant ants, each as big as a human fist. At that time, their numbers were not significant, but if left unchecked, the consequences would have been unimaginable. The military assigned the task to Li Dao'ai, the leader of the Liudao Huangquan. When he arrived, there was a loud noise, and the two blocks infested with ants sank ten centimeters underground. After that, the area became peaceful again."
Deng Xiao was astonished, "Wow, that's impressive! What about the others? The other Natural Force Evolvers?"
Xiao Wang seemed to get excited, "The others are all powerful individuals too! For example, the leader of Jiujian Prefecture, Yao Qianjiang, is incredibly formidable. He's like a ghost; it's terrifying. I saw it with my own eyes. There was an unlucky creature, a five-meter-tall carnivorous beast that looked like a domesticated animal. I don't know how it ended up in the city center. When Yao Qianjiang and his subordinates passed by, somehow, the beast charged straight at him. Can you guess what happened?"
Cong Xia wanted to laugh; Xiao Wang's expression was so reminiscent of a storyteller.
Everyone, except Deng Xiao, looked at him expressionlessly. Deng Xiao asked expectantly, "What happened?"
Xiao Wang exclaimed, "He didn't even lift a finger! When the beast was just a few meters away from him, it crashed to the ground with a loud bang. And when I looked closely, it had turned into jerky! All the moisture in its body had been sucked dry. It was horrifying! Can you imagine? If I were standing next to him, I could turn into a mummy at any moment!"
Cong Xia nodded, "Indeed, such an attack is terrifying."
"What about the leader of the Dragonblood Clan?" Zhuang Yao asked with great interest.
"The leader of the Dragonblood Clan is the youngest among them, probably in his early twenties. He's a genetically modified human. Even in the pre-apocalypse era, he was already a monster, rumored to be a secret weapon of our country. If it weren't for the apocalypse, we probably would never have known that such a creature existed in the world. On top of that, he's now a Fire Natural Force Evolver, undoubtedly extremely powerful. It's said that with a blink of an eye, an entire building would be reduced to ashes. What's more frightening is that he brought a group of dragon blood monsters, each of them already possessing the attack power of evolved humans before the apocalypse. The Dragonblood Clan is the smallest among the Four Major Factions, with only a few dozen members, but their strength lies in quality rather than quantity."
Xiao Wang rubbed his chin. "However, the leader of the Dragonblood Clan has a fatal weakness that many people know about."
"What weakness?"
"Maybe because he's still young, he listens to his father very much. He's always by his father's side. Can you expect someone like that to achieve great success?"
Cong Xia thought of the baby carried by Shan Ming. Even though his uncle said he was actually an adult, his impression of the leader of the Dragonblood Clan was temporarily fixed on the image of a one- or two-year-old, fully-gold-scaled, naked baby. Hearing Xiao Wang say that he was quite clingy to his father, the image of a baby snuggling up to his father's arms became even more fixed in his mind. This made his impression of the Dragonblood Clan leader somewhat comical.
Zhuang Yao continued to ask, "Then, what about the leader of the Fenglan Society? The one with the Thunder Natural Force?"
Xiao Wang's face darkened, "The leader of the Fenglan Society is a lunatic, particularly flamboyant. He has many enemies in Beijing, but because he's extremely powerful, no one dares to provoke him. When he unleashes a high-voltage thunder, even gods would have to answer for it."
"It seems that each of these four factions has its strengths. It's really hard to say which one is more powerful."
Xiao Wang nodded and glanced at Cheng Tianbi, "Now, there are five factions."
"What?!"
"Because of Comrade Cheng's arrival, there are now five Natural Force Evolvers in Beijing. So, the situation is changing." Xiao Wang said solemnly, "Beijing is about to undergo major changes."
