A Feast of Talents

Lu Chen sat cross-legged amid scorched earth and wreckage. The silence peculiar to apocalyptic ruins surrounded him, and only the burnt smell lingering in the air reminded him that an infernal battle had once taken place here.

His consciousness, like a deep-sea submarine, slowly sank into the vast, boundless ocean of talents within him.

"Infinite Replication... its true use?" Lu Chen murmured, an intrigued smile curving his lips.

Deep within his consciousness, the three SSS-rank talents of fire, ice, and lightning shone like three dazzling stars, each radiating energy fluctuations capable of destroying heaven and earth.

They were separate, yet faintly connected, like three unruly kings, each occupying a territory and refusing to yield to the others.

But what Lu Chen intended to do was break that balance and, under his control, fuse the three forces into something entirely new and even more terrifying.

He began simulating the fusion.

His consciousness worked like the most meticulous engineer, carefully sorting, breaking down, and recombining the energy fluctuations of the three talents.

It was an extremely complex and dangerous process. The slightest mistake could send the energy out of control, causing qi deviation at best or making his body explode at worst.

But Lu Chen possessed the SSSSSS-rank talent [Infinite Replication], giving him the means to make unlimited attempts.

He failed and adjusted again and again, his consciousness dancing as if on the edge of a blade. Every attempt carried immense risk, but each one also deepened his understanding of talents.

Time passed, second by second. Fine beads of sweat appeared on Lu Chen's forehead, and his face grew paler and paler.

Yet he was oblivious, his entire mind immersed in the storm deep within his consciousness.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration crossed his mind.

"So that's it... synergy, that's the key!"

Lu Chen's eyes snapped open, excitement glittering in them like two brilliant stars.

He let out a long breath and felt the surging power within him, a confident smile appearing on his face.

"I did it!"

Not far away, Linda and A Kai had been watching Lu Chen anxiously. They couldn't understand what he was doing, but they could feel the energy fluctuations in the air growing stronger and stronger.

"What is he doing?" A Kai couldn't help asking. His voice trembled with both fear and anticipation.

Lu Chen didn't answer. He merely raised his right hand slowly.

A sphere of energy woven from fire, ice, and lightning slowly emerged in his palm.

The crimson of fire, the deep blue of ice, and the violet-silver of lightning intertwined, forming an eerie yet beautiful light.

The energy sphere radiated suffocating energy fluctuations, as if it contained enough power to destroy everything.

Linda's eyes widened, her face filled with shock and disbelief.

"Is this... a new talent?" she murmured, her voice trembling uncontrollably.

Lu Chen shook his head, a wickedly charming smile curving his lips.

"No, it's not a talent. It's a recombination of rules," he said softly, his tone full of confidence and pride.

To test the effect of the fusion, Lu Chen took Linda and A Kai to the base's experimental area.

This was where Hei Yao had once conducted all kinds of human experiments. Broken equipment and bloody traces were everywhere.

Lu Chen walked straight up to a decommissioned energy reactor.

The reactor had been out of service for years. Its casing was covered in rust, and its internal wiring had long since deteriorated.

He reached out and gently touched the reactor's casing.

The [Infinite Replication] talent activated instantly.

Countless streams of data flooded Lu Chen's mind. He instantly copied the F-rank [Energy Conversion] module inside the reactor and elevated it to SSS rank without hesitation.

Immediately afterward, he fused the elevated [Energy Conversion] module with the three SSS-rank talents of fire, ice, and lightning he had already mastered.

In an instant, an eerie energy fluctuation filled the air.

It was neither the fury of fire, the biting chill of ice, nor the fury of lightning, but an entirely new, indescribable energy.

A Kai suddenly cried out, pointing a trembling finger at the energy reactor.

"It... it's moving!"

The once-decommissioned energy reactor slowly restarted, its core lighting up with a deep blue glow, as if awakened by some unknown power.

The abandoned equipment emitted a piercing noise, and the rust-covered pipes began to tremble slightly.

The energy reactor was like a giant that had slept for years and was slowly waking up.

Lu Chen's lips curved slightly, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.

"This isn't a simple repair... this is the 'new life' I've given it."

This was not merely repair, but bestowal!

Lu Chen had not simply made the reactor run again. He had used his own talent to fuse the [Energy Conversion] module with the three energies of fire, ice, and lightning, creating an entirely new energy circulation system.

This energy reactor was no longer just an energy conversion machine, but a life-form with self-awareness, capable of constantly evolving and growing!

Lu Chen looked at the energy reactor slowly running before him, excitement glittering in his eyes.

He slowly turned around and looked at Linda and A Kai behind him.

"Next comes the truly interesting part." Linda stared at the energy reactor before her, brought back from the dead. Its deep blue glow reflected on her cool face, as if telling a story about a miracle.

She understood now. Lu Chen wasn't some talent awakener at all. He was a BUG!

A walking rule modifier!

"Rule maker"?

Heh, that title was pathetically weak. He should be called "I am the Heavenly Dao"!

Taking a deep breath, Linda suppressed the turbulent emotions in her heart and said in a tone close to making a vow, "If you can really do this... I'm willing to become your test subject." Once an icy beauty made up her mind, not even Mount Everest could stand in her way!

A Kai's young face was flushed red with excitement too. Though he was young, he knew what this meant.

This wasn't just a chance to become stronger. It was a chance for a carp to leap over the Dragon Gate, for a sparrow to become a phoenix!

"I want to try too! Boss Lu Chen, carry me!"

Lu Chen looked at the two of them, a meaningful smile curving his lips. It held both anticipation for the future and a challenge to the unknown.

"Welcome," he said, pausing as his gaze swept over them as if appraising two pieces of uncut jade, "the first... geniuses of the Godslaying Legion."

As night deepened, the energy reactor's deep blue light flickered like ghost fire among the ruins, reflecting the different expressions on the three faces, as if brewing an impending... revelry.

Lu Chen turned and walked deeper into the base, leaving behind a meaningful silhouette. Only his low voice lingered in the air: "Now then, who should I start with..."