Chapter 283: The Little Aberrant
The [Moth] attribute within her body was extremely well hidden. Unless Xu Zhi deliberately controlled it, it wouldn’t absorb [Moth] extraordinary energy from the air. This also prevented her from accidentally exposing her strong affinity with [Moth] at moments she didn’t notice.
However, because of this, upgrading [Moth] would almost entirely rely on attribute cores. Raising just one [Lamp] had already cost her dearly—now adding a [Moth]…
“…Hiss.”
Wasn’t this basically like raising two money-devouring beasts?!
And this was with her having not even repaid her loans yet, pouring everything into buying cores—and still ending up with barely any left!
As for when she’d repay the loans… that would depend on when she truly became rich.
After the [Moth] circuit was constructed, a familiar feeling returned to Xu Zhi. Although [Moth] energy didn’t circulate through her body, the birth of a new extraordinary attribute caused a genuine expansion of her mental strength, her capacity for extraordinary energy, and her physical constitution.
Xu Zhi was slightly surprised. Not only did she gain improvements from starting over, but after constructing the [Moth] circuit, she actually received another round of feedback?
What was this—triple bonus?
Crushing peers with ease? Challenging above her level without difficulty?
No… those weren’t problems for her to begin with. It would be more accurate to say that compared to before, she was now more than twice as strong.
Of course, the [Moth] circuit had just formed its core and was far from complete. If converted into levels, it was probably only at Level 1 Proficiency—just stepping into the extraordinary.
Yet the chain reaction caused by this second circuit was far beyond what a mere Level 1 could produce.
First, her affinity with the extraordinary. Now that she had [Moth]—and it was her most familiar attribute—combined with her already high [Lamp] affinity, the two didn’t count separately. Instead, they stacked together into a total affinity for the “extraordinary.”
This stacking effect pushed her affinity to absurd levels. If tested again, she’d probably get a score no one could even comprehend.
Second, her extraordinary capacity had greatly increased due to the additional circuit. And this capacity would continue to grow as both attributes advanced.
But this wasn’t about the combined capacity of [Lamp] and [Moth]—rather, each attribute could hold that much on its own.
In other words, not only did she have at least triple the capacity of other extraordinary beings at the same level, but since it applied to two attributes, it effectively started at six times.
And that wasn’t even counting Xu Zhi’s already abnormal affinity and capacity. Even before these boosts, she had been invincible among her peers, completely crushing others in both affinity and capacity.
Now? She had surpassed that level by who knew how many times.
What this represented was her foundation and potential on the extraordinary path—a foundation so profound that no one in the world could rival it.
“Feels pretty good.”
Even though [Moth] energy didn’t flow through her body, the moment the circuit was completed, Xu Zhi felt that she had become significantly “better.”
She quickly grabbed a flowerpot. Taking advantage of the surge of vitality from her recent breakthrough, she cut open her wrist and let some blood drip into the soil.
This time, Xu Zhi didn’t hold back. After advancing [Lamp] to Longevity, she could more accurately sense the state of her kin. Now, after feeding it some blood, she could feel the seed buried in the soil rapidly gaining vitality, as if it had been injected with a catalyst.
So she increased the flow, squeezing her blood into the pot like water.
Fortunately, her self-healing had mostly recovered. Such a bold act of bloodletting didn’t make her weak after just a few seconds. Only when she felt it was enough did she release the suppression on her healing. The wound on her wrist closed completely in less than two seconds.
She could sense that the seed—buried for so long and nourished by her blood time and again—had finally reached the point of sprouting.
Within her internal circuits, the portion belonging to the small aberration, which had long been dormant, suddenly began to glow faintly.
This wasn’t an illusion.
Her long-awaited kin was finally about to return.
Under Xu Zhi’s expectant gaze, the once motionless soil in the flowerpot suddenly stirred, and a small sprout emerged.
…No, calling it a sprout wasn’t quite right.
It was more like a withered seed suddenly producing a dry, black twig—thin and fragile, not the least bit green or tender.
Yet even that was enough to fill Xu Zhi with joy.
Without hesitation, she picked up the flowerpot, her voice brimming with undisguised happiness.
“Great job, baby! You’re such a hardworking little branch!”
It hadn’t given up. Even when the flame of its life had dwindled to a mere thread, it had still stubbornly remained by her side—until now, when it finally awakened again.
The newly “reborn” sapling couldn’t quite understand her words, but it could feel her joy. It tried to sway its branch in response—
Only to realize it couldn’t move.
What was stopping it?
No idea!
[Panic panic panic panic panic!]
Xu Zhi paused mid-motion.
She knew the little aberration was recovering and had developed a hint of self-awareness—but why was the very first emotion it expressed after rebirth… panic???
“…Hiss.”
Xu Zhi sucked in a sharp breath yet again.
“Don’t tell me… my already not-so-smart kid…”
“…has gotten even dumber?!”
No way!
Thinking back to how clueless it had been in its early stage, and considering its current sensitive identity…
If left unchecked, it would definitely cause trouble!
Decision made. From today onward, she would carry it with her at all times.
“Today really is full of good news.”
Holding the flowerpot, Xu Zhi gazed at the evening glow outside the window. The day was coming to an end, but her gains today had been immense.
More importantly, the little aberration had awakened. Although it seemed to have reverted to its initial state—just like she had at the beginning—getting stronger again would be easy for both of them.
…Wait.
Xu Zhi’s expression suddenly turned serious.
Unlike Cloud City, the real world she was currently in strictly suppressed the [Cup]. This was a world that had exiled the [Cup] and erased its existence. There were no [Cup] attribute cores or blood resources available for the little aberration.
“…Hiss!”
Xu Zhi sucked in another sharp breath.
Where was she supposed to find the resources needed for its growth?!
Her eyes shifted slightly, and soon, two places formed in her mind.
“The Lost Lands, and…”
“The lower district.”
More precisely—When the mist descended upon the lower district.
