"Brother Qin Cong, you're back."
As Qin Cong returned to the tin shack, a little girl named Lele ran out to greet him. Her face was filthy, enough to evoke a sense of disgust in anyone who saw her.
But Qin Cong knew this dirt was her disguise. He'd seen Lele's true face—she was stunningly beautiful, reminding him of a former apprentice from his past life. That apprentice, known as the Moonlight Goddess, possessed extraordinary beauty and talent. She had once integrated negative energy into light magic, creating a hybrid spell that shone like moonlight. It took Qin Cong considerable research to unravel her method, and she had been a strong contender for godhood in that world. Tragically, when Qin Cong detonated that plane, she was the first to support him, only to perish in the aftermath.
Lele's disguise was her lifeline. In this post-apocalyptic world, morality and law had completely crumbled. The upper class dictated life and death for those below them, a system Qin Cong was all too familiar with, having witnessed the same power dynamics as a wizard in his previous world. Without her disguise, Lele would likely have been trafficked to the core zones and turned into a plaything for the elites. With no legal consequences, human depravity knew no bounds. Qin Cong had heard of the secret routes leading out of Black Star City's central district, where the bodies of boys and girls were frequently disposed of in the wilderness after being abused to death.
"Yes, I'm back. Go call Brother Zhenghua and the others," Qin Cong said. He had decided to begin strengthening the older orphans immediately. Although his recovered powers were still limited, his extensive experience allowed him to stabilize them on the way back, making him ready to proceed.
"Okay!" Lele quickly ran to a nearby tin shack to gather the others. Life was so fragile in the slums that many homes were vacant, allowing Qin Cong's group to occupy several of them.
Once inside, Qin Cong pulled out a battered chest from under his bed. Opening it revealed various bottles and jars, some of which held red liquids visible through their transparent sides—most likely the blood of magical beasts.
"Zero, scan me," Qin Cong commanded as he placed the chest on the floor.
"Scan complete. Subject's stats: Strength 0.7, Agility 0.6, Constitution 0.8, Mental Power 2.5. Status: Sub-healthy, malnourished."
Zero's data gave Qin Cong some satisfaction. All four attributes had improved slightly, particularly mental power, the cornerstone of a wizard's strength. Since Qin Cong's soul had merged with this body, his mental power started out as double that of an average person, but the rest of his stats lagged far behind, primarily due to malnutrition.
While he possessed countless methods to enhance his constitution, particularly from knight training techniques, all of them required proper nutrition. The free rations provided in Black Star City barely kept people alive, offering no means to replenish vitality. Without ample food supplies, even the best training methods were useless.
"Xiao Cong, have you succeeded?"
Before long, four or five boys, all around eighteen or nineteen years old, followed Lele into the shack. The one leading them spoke up immediately.
"Yes, Brother Zhenghua. I've successfully evolved and can now help you gain strength."
Zhenghua, the eldest among the orphans, was known for protecting the group. Those with impure intentions had long since left to join mercenary bands, leaving behind only those with genuine hearts. Qin Cong trusted these people enough to involve them in his plans.
"That's fantastic! With strength, we can finally make life better for everyone," Zhenghua and the others exclaimed. They ventured out daily to secure food for the younger children and understood all too well the importance of strength. Without it, even food could be stolen.
"Brother Zhenghua, I have two options for you. One offers rapid results but limits future growth. The other takes longer but has much greater potential. Which do you choose?"
Qin Cong laid out the choices, letting them decide their path. Although he hoped they'd choose the first option to address their immediate challenges, he also wanted to test their character.
"Xiao Cong, we'll go with the first option. We need to improve our lives quickly and escape this place. The second method can be left for Xiaocheng and the younger ones—they have a brighter future ahead."
Zhenghua and the others exchanged a glance before making their decision. Their selflessness impressed Qin Cong; these were the kind of people he could rely on.
"Alright, Lele, step outside for now. I'll begin the process," Qin Cong instructed. Lele nodded obediently and left the shack.
"Xiao Cong, just tell us what to do," Zhenghua said after Lele had gone. He had heard that using gene serums often required auxiliary equipment; administering them carelessly could lead to physical collapse or failure.
"There's nothing complicated. Just take off your shirts first," Qin Cong replied. He wasn't interested in anything inappropriate; removing their clothes simply ensured the energy marks wouldn't be wasted on fabric.
"Zero, scan the five targets in front of me," Qin Cong silently commanded, preparing for comparison.
"Scan complete. Target Zhenghua: Strength 0.9, Agility 1.0, Constitution 0.9, Mental Power 1.0. Target Liu Ye: Strength 0.8, Agility 1.2, Constitution 0.9, Mental Power 1.0. Target Zhou Cheng: Strength 1.3, Agility 0.8, Constitution 1.1, Mental Power 0.9. Target Qi Le: Strength 1.0, Agility 1.0, Constitution 1.0, Mental Power 1.0. Target Han Qi: Strength 0.9, Agility 1.1, Constitution 0.9, Mental Power 1.0."
Qin Cong quickly analyzed the results. Though none of them exceeded normal human ranges, each had a specific advantage. Liu Ye's agility surpassed the rest, making him a good candidate for Shadow Panther blood. Zhou Cheng's strength, on the other hand, made him an ideal match for Crescent Bear blood. With these considerations in mind, Qin Cong began preparing to enhance their abilities.