"This must be what they call a breathing technique," Zhu Jiu muttered, picking up the only booklet on the table.
Flipping it open, the first thing that caught his eye were four bold characters:
"Clear Breeze Sword Body"
Inside were illustrations of human anatomy, each detailing specific acupoints. Beneath the diagrams, annotations explained the methodology.
"So, this is what breathing techniques are about," Zhu Jiu thought as he read through the manual.
The concept was simple yet ingenious. By adjusting one's breathing rhythm, a practitioner could channel absorbed dark energy to specific acupoints in the body.
The human body contained 108 acupoints, and activating different combinations of them produced unique effects. Strengthening these acupoints using breathing techniques could unlock extraordinary abilities.
For example, the "Clear Breeze Sword Body" allowed the practitioner to activate nine major acupoints. Together, these formed a sword body that enhanced the combat capabilities of sword-wielding evolvers.
The manual further explained the ranking of breathing techniques:
Activating up to 9 acupoints classified a technique as First Tier.Activating 10 to 18 acupoints placed it in Second Tier, and so on.
"A technique that activates nine acupoints is considered top-tier for the First Tier," Zhu Jiu mused, flipping further.
Reaching the last page, Zhu Jiu realized it was only half a manual.
"Half a manual that unlocks nine acupoints? That means this 'Clear Breeze Sword Body' must at least be a Second Tier technique."
Second Tier breathing techniques were rare treasures, capable of helping First Tier evolvers advance to the next level. Their value far exceeded that of First Tier techniques.
"This is quite the find," Zhu Jiu muttered, carefully stowing the manual before turning his attention to the three black crystals on the table.
The crystals resembled the dark energy cores found in the foreheads of aberrants but appeared more refined.
Staring at them, a system notification appeared before his eyes:
Item: Low-Grade Dark Energy Stone
Description: A crystal containing dark energy. Can be absorbed for power.
Exchange Value: 20 points each.
"Twenty points apiece?!" Zhu Jiu was taken aback. These stones were worth more than he had expected.
Three stones equaled 60 points—enough to upgrade a martial art six times! It was the equivalent of slaying 60 infected.
However, Zhu Jiu decided not to sell them. He placed the dark energy stones alongside the aberrant core he had collected earlier.
Though points were easy to come by with the sheer number of infected roaming the school, these crystals were finite, consumable resources. Selling them now meant losing them forever.
"It's better to keep these for emergencies," Zhu Jiu thought.
Next, he picked up a small, ornate pouch that had been attached to Zhao Feng's waist. Its fine craftsmanship and weight hinted at its value.
Eagerly, Zhu Jiu opened the pouch—only to freeze.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
Inside was a packet of quicklime.
"Really? A packet of quicklime?" Zhu Jiu stared incredulously.
Quicklime, a street-fighting classic, was a no-frills weapon for anyone wanting to gain the upper hand. A handful thrown into an opponent's face could end most fights instantly.
For a moment, Zhu Jiu contemplated discarding it. But then he recalled a time he had used sand in a similar manner, effectively neutralizing an enemy.
Sighing, he secured the pouch at his waist.
"This stuff goes against martial ethics, so I'll only use it as a last resort," Zhu Jiu told himself. "Relying on real skill is the proper way."
Two items remained on the table: a vial of liquid and a device that resembled a smartphone.
Zhu Jiu picked up the vial first and recognized it instantly.
"An anti-infection serum," he said, tossing it casually toward Fatty.
"What's this?" Fatty caught it absentmindedly. His eyes widened as he read the label.
"Holy crap!" Fatty yelled. "Zhu Laojiu, are you insane? Tossing something this precious like it's a piece of junk? What if I hadn't caught it? My life depends on this!"
Though he grumbled, Fatty was grinning ear to ear. Without hesitation, he gulped down the serum in one go.
"You didn't even check what it was before drinking it," Zhu Jiu teased. "What if it was poison?"
"Like you'd let me die," Fatty shot back, grinning.
Zhu Jiu ignored him and turned to the last item on the table—the phone-like device.
The small, heavy gadget was sleek and made of a silvery metal.
"Is this… made of black iron?" Zhu Jiu frowned, examining it.
Black iron was a rare and durable material. Whoever had crafted a device out of it had to be incredibly wealthy—or wasteful.
Flipping it over, Zhu Jiu removed the back cover, revealing its power source.
Instead of a traditional battery, it contained a dark energy stone.
"Extravagant," Zhu Jiu muttered.
He realized Zhao Feng hadn't carried those dark energy stones for cultivation. They were spare batteries for this device!
"Someone actually thought to use dark energy stones as batteries. Unreal," Zhu Jiu sighed.
Each stone was worth a fortune—easily millions in the pre-apocalypse world.
"This means someone has already developed technology that works in this post-apocalyptic environment," Zhu Jiu speculated. "Was it made after the apocalypse began, or did they have this ready beforehand?"
His expression darkened.
"If it's the latter, then some people knew the apocalypse was coming and kept it to themselves. How many lives could've been saved if they'd warned others?"
A cold smile tugged at Zhu Jiu's lips, but he quickly shook his head.
Dwelling on such thoughts was pointless for now. Zhao Feng likely had answers, and Zhu Jiu could interrogate him when he woke up.
For now, Zhu Jiu focused on unlocking the device. Using Zhao Feng's fingerprint, he accessed its contents.
As he scrolled through the data, his expression grew increasingly grim. His fists clenched tighter with every page.
A loud exclamation broke his focus.
"Fatty is back, baby! Fully restored!"
Fatty's triumphant shout echoed through the room.
"See that? Fatty's got nine lives! Blessed by the heavens! Surviving calamities to enjoy great fortune!"