Undercurrents (Part 1)

Although Jiang Mian had never seen one with her own eyes, most information was public aside from the Apex Sequences, including detailed introductions to High-tier Sequences.

Abilities on the [Elemental] Path that ranked within the top fifty possessed an exceptionally high affinity for so-called "elements."

With current technology, things like "elements" were difficult to explain.

People only knew that after the mist descended, this invisible, formless substance had appeared in the world.

And only Awakened on the [Elemental] Path could command them. The higher their level, the greater the amount they could wield, and the finer their control would become.

For instance, [Eye of the Storm] could easily stir the moving air in its surroundings, continuously gathering or dispersing air currents to unleash small storms with destructive power far beyond its own rank.

More crucially, this ability to draw upon elements was closely tied to an Awakened's mental state.

When an Awakened fell into an extreme emotional state, there was a tiny chance of triggering resonance in the surrounding elements, resulting in an Elemental Burst.

Such bursts were extraordinarily difficult to control, but the power unleashed in an instant was enough to crush most opponents of the same rank.

This was considered compensation for the [Elemental] Path's relative weakness in its early stages, though only sequences ranked in the top fifty possessed such an ability.

For calamities, however, the situation was entirely different.

Their bodies were naturally capable of supporting and mastering such violent power. Some high-rank calamities could even use it to turn the battlefield into their own domain.

Put simply, it was merely one of their highly draining methods.

Aberrants had it far worse.

They possessed neither the stable mental state of Awakened nor the special structure of a Calamity Core, making them more prone to losing control or even self-detonating.

In other words, a single Elemental Burst might very well cost them their lives.

After all, the power of the [Cataclysm] Path was even harder to control than that of other calamity paths.

The greatest difference between Jiang Mian and them was that she had already grown an organ like a Calamity Core. At the very least, she no longer had to worry about exploding and dying.

No matter how hard Li Hao's [Steel Bones] were, he was ultimately only a newly awakened first-order Awakened.

As her thoughts turned, Jiang Mian came to a judgment.

She was certain that no matter where she moved, that guy would definitely come looking for her.

As his "old classmate," she knew his vindictive nature all too well.

After packing up her things, Jiang Mian curled up on the bed and slowly closed her eyes.

In the early hours of the morning, Jiang Mian was jolted awake by a wave of pain.

Clutching her stomach, she curled up on the bed as cold sweat seeped from her forehead. Cramping pain surged through her lower abdomen, as though someone had stabbed a knife into it and was endlessly twisting it.

Only after quite a while did she recover slightly—or rather, gradually grow accustomed to the pain.

Jiang Mian forced herself upright, only to find a patch of icy stickiness and startling dark red beneath her.

"Damn it..."

Ever since transmigrating, her mind had been under constant tension. She had actually forgotten about this.

Counting from the last time, it was already a few days late this month.

Come to think of it... her body was probably still human. It had merely grown an extra "heart."

If she wanted her physical abilities to improve drastically and gain complete control over them, she would need to reach at least the seventh tier. At that point, she would already count among humanity's strongest.

She just didn't know how much her abilities would affect Jiang Mian by then.

"Seriously... why do I still have to suffer through this? It's not like I'm having children..."

Jiang Mian grumbled under her breath, an inexplicable irritation rising in her heart.

She staggered toward the bathroom, cleaned herself up hastily, and changed into a fresh pair of panties with a sanitary pad.

"I don't want to go to work..."

Jiang Mian felt hollow inside. All of a sudden, she had no motivation at all and could not summon the slightest bit of strength.

"No, what am I thinking? It's only one more day. I should just push through it..."

She forced herself to change into clothes for going out, then hurriedly gathered up the bloodstained clothes and bedding.

Thinking that she would not be staying here tonight anyway, and that carrying them around would be a hassle, Jiang Mian simply found a secluded place and let flames devour them completely.

Jiang Mian pulled herself together, rode her bike to the Special Affairs Bureau, and completed her final day of work.

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Perhaps because she was feeling unwell, she felt that time passed especially slowly today. Even the noise from the incinerator seemed somewhat grating.

Once she finally endured the day, Supervisor Chen deliberately said a few extra words while settling her pay after work. He roughly meant that he wanted her to take on short-term work, with a chance of signing on long-term and perhaps even securing an official position.

Jiang Mian had already had her fill of that kind of empty promise in her previous life. Besides, if she wanted to advance to the third tier now, she would probably need twenty-five second-tier calamities.

The conditions here could no longer satisfy her.

So Jiang Mian directly declined on the grounds of health issues, and he did not say anything further.

She took her pay, walked out through the gates of the Special Affairs Bureau, and left without looking back.

Meanwhile, outside the Detention Center under the West District Public Security Bureau.

"Sorry to trouble you, Director Zhou."

Li Tian nodded to Zhou Qiang. Though his words were polite, his manner was quite casual.

"You're too polite, Mr. Li. Young people can act on impulse sometimes—it's understandable."

Zhou Qiang replied with a smile and signaled for the Trainee Security Officer beside him to open the single cell's door.

With a clang, the metal door swung open, and Li Hao walked out, his face still carrying a trace of resentment.

"Dad..."

Li Tian looked at his wayward son, his brow furrowing slightly, but he still chose not to reprimand him here.

He had deliberately waited two extra days before coming. After being locked up for so many days, the brat had suffered enough—he ought to have learned to behave, right?

"We'll talk when we get home. Director Zhou, we'll be leaving now."

Li Tian nodded to Zhou Qiang, then turned and headed straight outside.

Watching the father and son's retreating figures, the smile on Zhou Qiang's face vanished at once.

At his side, the Trainee Security Officer who had opened the door couldn't help asking in a low voice:

"Second Uncle, what's Mr. Li's background? Why are you being so polite to him...?"

"Qingzhi, how many times have I told you? Address me by my title while we're at work..."

"Alright, alright, Director Zhou. Happy now?"

Zhou Qiang shot him a glance, lit a cigarette, and explained:

"Li Tian, Section Chief of the Security Section at the city's Construction Bureau."

"Huh? Just that? That hardly seems worth..."

"A Third-tier Awakened."

"Third-tier?"

Zhou Qingzhi raised a brow. The highest-ranked people in Base City No. 144 were only Fourth-tier; anyone stronger had gone running to higher-level base cities.

Here, a Third-tier Awakened was already considered very powerful.

"Mm."

Zhou Qiang flicked away some ash and continued:

"And... his ability is Sequence 100, [Charge]. His son may be worthless, but this man has more than just his own strength—he has connections too... He's not someone to provoke."

Outside the Detention Center.

Li Hao followed behind Li Tian, growing angrier the more he thought about it.

He had been locked up for so many days, yet not only had Old Man not come to bail him out immediately, he hadn't even said a single word of concern now...

"Dad."

Unable to hold it in, he spoke up and quickened his pace until he was walking beside Li Tian.

"Why did you only come—"

"Shut up!"

Li Tian's voice was not loud, but his tone was icy. Li Hao instinctively hunched his neck and swallowed the rest of his words.

Only after they got into the car and shut the door did Li Tian take the initiative to speak.

"After being locked up for so many days, has your head finally been cleared up?"