People with Special Abilities, Part 2

Although these Daoist Sect disciples had long since opened up their minds and cast Daoist traditions completely aside, each dressed more fashionably than the last, there were still occasionally some old-fashioned disciples whose robes were dark cyan, grayish-brown, or at most pale yellow. Yet Dharma King Xuan Yuan wore a robe that gleamed with gold, with a Taiji diagram embroidered on the back in platinum thread. Zhou Jianwu had never seen such an outrageously flamboyant Daoist robe before. Out of the instincts sharpened by his profession, Zhou Jianwu knew this young man was definitely no punk who merely liked showing off, so he quietly followed the two of them.

His spatial ability was unique. Since being selected for the ability group, he had gone through countless dangerous missions without ever failing. Zhou Jianwu had seen all kinds of formidable people—Daoist Sect masters, demons, ghosts, and monsters—and had even exchanged blows with them more than a few times. Even if he was temporarily outmatched, he could hide within a space he created himself, leaving his opponent helpless. It was truly the finest skill for concealing his tracks and preserving his life.

Yet today, someone had actually discovered him. The other party had even forcibly torn open his space and dragged him out of it. Such ability was simply too terrifying! Even his team leader might not have been capable of it. The shock in Zhou Jianwu's heart far outweighed his doubts.

Daoist Sect spells held no advantage whatsoever over ability users like them, who were born with powerful abilities. Zhou Jianwu had once sparred with several Daoist Sect disciples from the Dragon Group. Relying on the body techniques he had painstakingly cultivated and his innate spatial ability, those spoiled brats had been utterly unable to withstand a single blow. Thus, he had always looked down on monks and Daoists, believing that aside from playing gods and ghosts, they had no real skills.

Hearing the tone of Zhou Qing's question, Zhou Jianwu knew the other party bore no ill will and let out a breath of relief. "Please don't misunderstand, you two. I mean no harm." Zhou Jianwu pulled out an identification card and waved it. "I'm from the State Security Bureau. I only followed you because your attire was somewhat unusual."

Someone from the State Security Bureau again? What a motley mix of fish and dragons! Why am I so fated with these people, always running into them? Still, this guy's attitude is much better than those Dragon Group people's. He must have been frightened, huh? Zhou Qing glanced at Dharma King Xuan Yuan and found little change in his expression. What is this old monster thinking?

"Youngster, I don't like dealing with people from the government, so I'll leave him to you! There isn't a trace of True Essence in this man's body, but his divine sense is rather unusual. He can actually use Mijiezi's divine power. It is truly inconceivable. This Old Ancestor must study it!" Dharma King Xuan Yuan's voice, as fine and faint as a wandering thread, sounded beside his ear. In truth, Dharma King Xuan Yuan had not followed Zhou Qing merely to visit the mountain gate. Having lived overseas for a long time without setting foot in the Central Plains for years, he knew nothing of how the world had changed. Following Zhou Qing would let him get a clear grasp of the situation before plotting greater matters. Although Tianxuan Blood Demon had told him some things, how could that compare with experiencing them himself, clearly and thoroughly?

"Very well, Senior. Since you do not wish to deal with government people, leave it to this junior." Zhou Qing transmitted his voice back, but inwardly muttered, This old monster sounds like someone who hasn't left the mountains for years. Government, government—how does he not know about abilities? Could it be that people in ancient times had no abilities at all?

"Oh! So you're a police comrade! You've worked hard, you've worked hard!" Zhou Qing stepped forward, clasped Zhou Jianwu's hand, and kept making polite small talk, leaving Zhou Jianwu caught between laughter and tears, unsure whether to explain or not. "This is my friend. He cultivated overseas for many years and rarely went out, so he doesn't know how the world has changed. He came out this time to broaden his horizons." After years of cultivation, Zhou Qing's ability to spin nonsense had reached the point of perfection.

"I see." Zhou Jianwu relaxed. "So you two came from overseas. In that case, all incoming ability users and cultivators must register with our State Security Bureau. Would you two come with me to register? It won't be troublesome. It'll be quick." As he spoke, he glanced at Dharma King Xuan Yuan. Zhou Jianwu was no rash man, unlike those newly recruited members who believed themselves invincible beneath heaven after learning a little Daoist magic or gaining some ability, looking down on everyone else.

"Oh! Of course, of course." Zhou Qing hurriedly agreed. In any case, everyone who had seen Zhou Qing was dead, so he was not afraid of his identity being exposed. He could honestly be an overseas independent cultivator, a disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect. With an identity, he would no longer need to hide when doing things.

Zhou Jianwu then led Zhou Qing and Dharma King Xuan Yuan to that factory building on the outskirts, where Zhou Qing saw the State Security Bureau headquarters for the first time. The surroundings are rather elegant, but it's all quite ordinary! Zhou Qing walked along the "path" lined on both sides with tall Euphrates poplars, finding it completely different from the State Security Bureau he had imagined. Instead, it was a quiet and elegant place. Dharma King Xuan Yuan said nothing beside him, wearing an aloof expression. If he changed clothes, he would definitely charm a whole crowd of girls to death. Zhou Jianwu, meanwhile, continuously introduced the surrounding environment. Zhou Qing nodded repeatedly, and the atmosphere remained fairly harmonious.

"Hehe! Isn't this Old Zhou from the ability group?" An unharmonious voice finally rang out. Two men and two women approached from ahead. One of the men had explosive hair, wore a black casual shirt printed with a skull on top, ripped jeans below, and a small silver skull pendant around his neck. The other man looked even more exaggerated. His outfit was acceptable and not particularly offensive to the eye, but both ears were pierced with more than ten earrings of varying sizes.

Zhou Qing noticed the two girls. They wore short skirts, little red leather boots, and branded casual outfits. One had lips like cherry blossoms, while the other had bright eyes and pearly teeth. Their attire set off their graceful figures, and both were indeed beauties.

However, that was not what Zhou Qing was paying attention to. It was the fairly strong flow of True Essence within all four of them. Every one of them had cultivation at least at the Qi Induction Stage - Mid Phase. Especially the two girls—obscure spiritual power fluctuations faintly emanated from their bodies. Zhou Qing was an expert in artifact refinement; with one look, he knew they possessed some fairly powerful magic artifacts.

For Daoist cultivators to end up like this is quite a spectacle! If the Three Pure Ancestors in heaven knew that cultivators nowadays had become like this, would they be so enraged they dropped dead on the spot? Zhou Qing sighed inwardly.

Dharma King Xuan Yuan was likewise stunned when he saw the two young men's attire. These youths clearly possessed orthodox Daoist True Essence, so why were they dressed like members of the demonic path? Back in his day, Dharma King Xuan Yuan had dominated both the righteous and demonic paths and knew quite a few old devils. Some indeed wore skulls on their chests to show that they belonged to the orthodox demonic path. But men wearing rings in their ears were rare. Even True Lord Yin Yang, who had suffered cultivation deviation and become half man, half woman, had worn earrings—but not nearly so many!

Even though Dharma King Xuan Yuan was a thousand-year-old monster who had seen much and knew much, he had no idea what school of fashion this was.