Qin Xun roughly understood.
"Do I have a chance of becoming a Psionic Power user?"
If he could, he wanted to become one too.
The desire was strong.
Or rather, everyone in the Fallen Zone wanted to become a Psionic Power user.
Because then they could better protect themselves and their families.
Xu Chao shook his head. "That's hard to say. Everyone's situation is different. You're eighteen now, so you definitely have a Qi Gate in your body already, but it's hard to say whether it can be opened."
"How do you open a Qi Gate?"
"Have you ever read a martial arts novel?"
Qin Xun shook his head. All his life, he had lived just to stay alive. Where would he have found the spare time to read novels?
"Then you must have seen a martial arts movie, right?"
"I have. They often organize movie screenings for everyone in the civilian district."
"You can think of a Psionic Power user's Qi Gate as the conception and governing meridians in martial arts novels. Once they're unblocked, you can become a Psionic Power user. Some people are lucky, and theirs open on their own, even without any effort. But some people have a Death Gate, and that makes things very difficult."
"Then how do you open a Death Gate?"
"Remember what I just told you? When it comes to Spirits, there's nothing they can't do, only things you can't imagine. The world is vast. For all we know, someone has created a Psionic Power that can open a Death Gate! So you can never say anything with absolute certainty! But generally speaking, anyone with a Death Gate has no chance of becoming a Psionic Power user!"
"You're Brother Shui's younger brother, so you probably don't have a Death Gate." Dazhuang put a hand on Qin Xun's shoulder. "Once we escape the danger and find Brother Shui, we'll help you see if we can open your Qi Gate!"
Xu Chao was about to say more when a blue light suddenly lit up on his forehead.
Mengmeng, who had been lying on the ground resting a moment ago, was baring her teeth in a certain direction.
"Danger! Let's go!"
"Do you think you can get away?"
A cold voice came from a direction none of them could see.
The next second, the mountain forest shook!
Countless black feathers surged out of the forest, splitting off to either side.
The feathers spun around the clearing like arrows, surrounding them on all sides and blocking every escape route!
Dazhuang and Xu Chao immediately shielded Qin Xun behind them.
A black shadow flashed directly ahead.
A man in a black coat appeared right in front of them.
Xu Chao looked the man up and down. "You've got some skill, catching up to us even after all that."
"You're pretty capable yourselves, managing to escape Zone 108." Black Crow looked at Mengmeng, who was baring her teeth at him. "If I'm not mistaken, this dog has been leading you around danger all along."
Xu Chao received a message from Mengmeng and learned that, aside from this man, there was no one else nearby.
"Why are you people from the Dark Pavilion after Qin Xun?"
Qin Xun looked at the man in black.
The Dark Pavilion?
He didn't know what the Dark Pavilion was, and he had never heard of it before.
"The higher-ups have their reasons for wanting him, naturally. I don't really know what they are. Now, can you tell me who you are? Why are you taking Qin Xun away?"
"You don't need to know who we are. All you need to know is that if anything happens to Qin Xun, someone will hunt you down to the ends of the earth. You definitely won't survive!"
"Then let me give you a warning too. If you don't hand Qin Xun over, you won't even live past today!"
Xu Chao took a deep breath. He could tell that the man in front of them was stronger than they were!
Even if he joined forces with Dazhuang, they couldn't fight him head-on!
It wasn't that he and Dazhuang had absolutely no chance against him.
Rather, there was simply no way they could kill the man in a short time.
Once the fight dragged on and their pursuers caught up and surrounded them, they wouldn't be able to leave at all.
"Dazhuang, take Qin Xun and go with Mengmeng. I'll handle him."
"No, you take Qin Xun!"
"Didn't we agree before? If there's danger, I'll stay behind!"
"Only you and Mengmeng can lead Qin Xun past the pursuers ahead. Don't worry, I'll hold him off for a while and run when I get the chance! We'll meet at the agreed location!" Dazhuang looked at Xu Chao, his gaze resolute.
Xu Chao thought for a moment, then grunted. "All right, we'll meet at the agreed location! Be careful!"
"Let me give you a word of advice. Don't throw your lives away. Qin Xun is all I want. Hand him over, and I can let you go!"
Dazhuang ignored Black Crow. Streaks of golden light rose from his body, and soon his skin was covered in a layer of rock.
Black Crow sneered. "A mantis trying to stop a chariot. You don't know your own limits!"
"Do all you people from the Dark Pavilion like to spout this much nonsense?" Dazhuang rubbed his fists and stepped in front of the other two.
"Let's go first." Xu Chao grabbed Qin Xun by the shoulder.
"Wait, we agreed we'd all leave together."
A trace of approval appeared in Xu Chao's eyes as he looked at Qin Xun, but then his tone turned stern!
"Now, you do whatever the hell I say. If you still want to see your sister, come with me. Dazhuang will be fine!"
Before Qin Xun could react, Xu Chao grabbed his hand and used his own body as a shield, charging through the whirling feathers.
Qin Xun looked back.
He saw Dazhuang standing in the clearing surrounded by feathers, three of them embedded in his shoulder!
After all, once Dazhuang's body was covered in rock, not even bullets could pierce it!
The next second, hundreds upon thousands of feathers surged toward Dazhuang from every direction!
"Brother Zhuang..." Qin Xun glanced at Xu Chao.
The next second, everything suddenly went black, and he passed out.
Xu Chao slung Qin Xun, whom he had knocked unconscious, over his shoulder and hurried onward, his face expressionless.
Five minutes later.
In the clearing.
Dazhuang lay in a pool of blood, black feathers embedded all over his body.
With his hands in his pockets, Black Crow looked down at the burly young man lying in the pool of blood.
"So strong at such a young age. Very impressive. What a pity you had to go against the Dark Pavilion. Was it worth it?"
Dazhuang's breathing was faint, and blood soon stained his body red.
Black Crow had no interest in a dying man. Just as he was about to go after Qin Xun, he felt someone grab his pant leg.
He looked down and saw that Dazhuang, already at death's door, could still grip his pant leg tightly.
Dazhuang grinned, a mouthful of blood welling up from his throat, as though the Grim Reaper's scythe were already resting against his neck.
"Lapdogs of the Demon Clan like you... you'll never, ever know what's truly valuable..." Dazhuang burst out laughing. "Hahahaha! I pity you... pity you for spending your whole life as someone else's dog!"
A chill flashed in Black Crow's eyes. "A bunch of ants, thinking you can change the world. Still talking tough even at death's door!"
"But I'll die for a worthy cause, and people will remember me! On the day the Human Clan wins, my name will be on the heroes' monument! And you, pathetic lapdog of the Demon Clan, will be spat upon by the masses!"
Whoosh!
A black feather shot into Dazhuang's forehead, right between his brows!
"I'm a lapdog of the Demon Clan, but at least I'm alive right now, aren't I?"