Anomaly

Since the power was out, there was nothing else to ask.

Chen Shouyi simply retracted his steps and returned to the room.

As soon as Chen Shouyi returned, Shell Girl started making a fuss again, buzzing incessantly like a mosquito.

She was now obsessed with cartoons.

Every day when she returned to the hotel, she had to watch them, no matter what.

Chen Shouyi was extremely annoyed; she was becoming more and more mischievous.

He didn't want to appease her with glass beads anymore, fearing he would spoil her. Seeing that his phone battery was still sufficient, he said irritably:

"Watch, watch, watch! I'll let you watch right away."

He found the Peppa Pig cartoon on a video app and randomly picked an episode.

It didn't matter to him anyway; as long as she could watch something, it was fine.

He placed the phone in front of Shell Girl.

However, after just one glance, she started fussing again, her face full of dissatisfaction:

"Little Beiqi, this is Little Beiqi, I want Big Beiqi!"

She's getting picky now. Aren't they all the same!

Chen Shouyi was utterly depressed, his temples throbbing:

"Watch if you want to, or go to sleep if you don't!"

Seeing the giant getting angry, Shell Girl immediately quieted down. She pouted, secretly sulking.

But soon, she became engrossed in the cartoon, completely focused, her eyes unblinking. The previous anger had long since vanished without a trace.

Listening to the silly, cute dialogue from the cartoon.

Chen Shouyi sat on the edge of the bed, staring blankly. For some reason, he felt a bit restless, as if something bad was about to happen.

He sat quietly for over ten minutes.

At this moment, vaguely, he seemed to feel a slight abnormality in his body.

It was as if a faint Strength was stirring, like a seed frozen through a long winter, slowly sprouting with the spring breeze.

This feeling...

His expression changed. As if confirming, he immediately opened his status panel.

Seeing that his talent was still Beginner Self-Healing and not Natural Healing, he let out a sigh of relief.

But soon, he stood up with a thump.

His expression was solemn, filled with disbelief.

He was horrified to discover that the words "Beginner Self-Healing" had become much dimmer compared to the other text, appearing somewhat transparent.

Just then, Shell Girl started shouting again:

"Beiqi, Beiqi, Beiqi!

Hearing Shell Girl's clamor again, Chen Shouyi suddenly had a bad premonition.

He quickly snatched the phone away and found that the signal was gone.

Both the internet signal and the mobile signal had vanished.

Even the phone screen flickered intermittently, as if the voltage had become unstable.

He threw down the phone and picked up the hotel-provided lighter from the bedside table.

He flicked it, but it didn't light.

He shook the lighter irritably and flicked it again. The flame finally ignited.

Looking at the weak, flickering flame, less than a centimeter high.

He froze on the spot, as if plunged into an ice cellar.

There was still more than half of the liquid gas in the lighter.

Perhaps it was his innate destructive desire; he had always liked playing with fire since he was a child. Although he didn't smoke, he would often flick this lighter when he had nothing else to do.

He clearly remembered that just yesterday, its flame had shot out several centimeters high.

Of course, it was possible that the internal pressure had become insufficient, but combined with the talent's text becoming slightly transparent, there was only one possibility.

He sat back down on the edge of the bed, his mind in a mess.

Shell Girl continued to whine, making him even more agitated.

Other hotel guests seemed to have noticed the disappearance of the mobile signal as well, and the voices outside the door gradually became more boisterous.

Chen Shouyi couldn't sit still any longer. He grabbed the noisy Shell Girl, secured her, and stuffed her into his briefcase.

Staying in the room meant being cut off from information.

He decided to go out and take a look.

The corridor was filled with people, seemingly all the guests had come out, and the sound of noisy chatter filled the air.

Most of these people were strangers who probably hadn't even met before, but at this moment, they were talking to each other without any barriers, comforting each other's unease.

The power outage was unexpected, but at least everyone had experienced it before.

However, with the power outage and no internet or signal on their phones, it was highly abnormal.

"Young man, are you going out?" a middle-aged man beside him asked curiously, seeing Chen Shouyi with a briefcase, looking like he was ready to leave.

"I'm bored staying in the room, going out to see what's happening and find something to eat."

"Don't go out at this time, it's pitch black," a woman with light makeup kindly reminded him.

"I'll be careful, it should be fine!" Chen Shouyi said with a smile.

Just kidding, as a strong Martial Artist, would I be afraid of this?

Chen Shouyi quickly left the hotel.

The streets were completely jammed, forming a motionless river of cars.

Many drivers simply opened their car doors, or squatted by the roadside, impatiently smoking cigarettes or chatting with each other.

Not far away, people were fighting, attracting a crowd of onlookers.

His heart grew heavier.

He didn't know if it was just Dongning City or the entire world.

If it was the entire world?

He could hardly imagine it.

The mysterious energy field from the Otherworld would reduce the activity of electronics, even if only by half. Chemical reactions would slow down, electricity would require higher voltage to operate, and low-energy electromagnetic waves would have difficulty propagating through the air.

Human society as a whole would likely undergo drastic changes, and civilization would regress.

He glanced at his phone. Fortunately, it still had power, indicating that the impact hadn't reached a catastrophic level yet.

He wondered how things were at home.

At this moment, he could no longer suppress the longing in his heart. His steps faltered, and he changed direction, preparing to go home.

He walked quickly, and after more than ten minutes, he saw the familiar house.

The restaurant downstairs had long been closed, its metal shutter pulled down.

This was very much in Mother Chen's cautious style.

He looked at the dark windows upstairs, his emotions surging. He couldn't control himself and shouted loudly, "Dad! Mom! Little sister! Are you there?"

Chen Shouyi shouted for a while before a window opened, and Mother Chen leaned out, "Shouyi, why are you back? Have you eaten? I'll open the door for you!"

"No, no, I just came to see, I'll leave right away. The training class is very strict at night, and they check rooms every day. I have to go back later."

"You naughty child, running around everywhere even though the power is out. If that's the case, then hurry back," Mother Chen said worriedly.

At this moment, Chen Dawei also poked his head out:

"Don't put too much pressure on yourself. It's not a big deal if you don't pass the Martial Apprentice assessment. You've gotten so much thinner."

"Dad, I'm very strong now!" Chen Shouyi suppressed the unusual tone in his voice and flexed his arm.

He was a little emotional, his eyes slightly red.

In the past few days, he had been enduring immense pressure that ordinary people could hardly imagine.

Especially the fierce battle today, the lingering fear after narrowly escaping death, the terror of death – he could only suppress it all within himself, like a taut bowstring, with no one to help him release it or confide in.

Now, facing his closest family, he finally revealed his vulnerability.

"Stop bragging and go back quickly!" Mother Chen interrupted.

"Then Little Sister is there, right?"

"She's home!"

As soon as Mother Chen finished speaking, Chen Xingyue also poked her head out, "Brother, you're really close to passing the Martial Apprentice assessment."

"Of course. I've been working very hard lately. I'll surprise you when the time comes."