Everyone immediately looked at him with ill intent, their eyes filled with schadenfreude, as if to say, "You think you can escape the clutches of Team Leader Xia? You're dreaming!" Li Zhongli and Fang Zhen were even more delighted. They had long noticed Xia Zhen's seemingly preferential treatment of Ling Yun, and coupled with the Shui Zhu'er incident, they had harbored resentment towards Ling Yun for a long time. Seeing Ling Yun suffer was naturally a cause for great joy.
“You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, but you’ll have to show off your skills. If everyone thinks it’s okay, you don’t have to do it. Besides, you’re new here, so this is a good opportunity for everyone to get to know you,” Xia Zhen said with a smile, then suddenly winked her beautiful big eyes at Ling Yun.
Ling Yun's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood Xia Zhen's intention. Even if he was in the right about what happened with Shui Zhu'er, he had created a psychological barrier between himself and the others. These trainee ability users were still somewhat unconvinced. Xia Zhen's intention was clearly to make him reveal some of his true power, both as a deterrent and as a way to subdue the others.
"Alright, then I'll show you what I've got." Ling Yun smiled slightly, and with a wave of his hand, the silver funnel that Shui Zhu'er had placed on the ground flew into his hand automatically.
Everyone's eyes widened immediately, watching intently, wondering what he would do next.
Chapter 157 Overlapping Space
Immediately, everyone's eyes widened, their faces filled with disbelief and shock. Even Xia Zhen's expression changed, and she couldn't help but let out a soft gasp.
Ling Yun held the silver funnel in his left hand and gestured with his right hand toward the ground in the center of the square. The water droplets that had been falling uncontrollably on the ground were now being controlled by Ling Yun to rise back into the air, drop by drop, and gather back into a crystal-clear column of water, which then slowly flowed into the silver funnel.
Once all the water had entered the funnel, Ling Yun lifted it high and released it. The funnel then automatically flew to the flowerpots on the east-side flower stand, watering them one by one, as if controlled by an invisible hand. After all the flowerpots had been watered, the silver funnel automatically flew back to the flower stand and remained there quietly, as if it had never moved at all.
A satisfied smile appeared on Ling Yun's lips. His telekinetic control had become much more refined. Just over half a month ago, he couldn't achieve this level of control with ease, but now he could do it effortlessly, and even felt like he had plenty of energy left. It seemed that although his experiences over this period had been quite perilous, they had also brought him enormous benefits. If he were to encounter that Iron Captain again now, even if he was still no match for him, at least he would have the ability to protect himself and retreat, unlike last time when he was completely powerless to fight back.
"It's just a trivial skill, I'm afraid I'll make a fool of myself." Ling Yun didn't forget to bow to everyone. He suddenly felt that the Superpower Headquarters was somewhat like a gang, and the superpowered people were like those masters with unique skills in the martial arts world.
Silence. Utter silence. Everyone stared at Ling Yun, as if trying to find a flower blooming on his face. Although they had witnessed Ling Yun's unparalleled control over his mental energy field, they knew they were far inferior. However, superpowers weren't simply about manipulating telekinesis; they were a combination of strength and skill. Some superpowers only required one or two extreme abilities to defeat most other superpowered individuals. Simple telekinetic manipulation didn't mean much. Although they couldn't discern Ling Yun's true strength, it didn't mean they were particularly convinced of his abilities.
However, after seeing Ling Yun reveal this move, everyone felt a deep sense of powerlessness, a feeling that arises only when the relative power difference is too great.
As the saying goes, spilled water cannot be gathered up again. It's easy to spill a bowl of water, but to get it back is a feat only a matter of divine intervention. While those with supernatural abilities possess various wondrous methods, these are merely special manifestations of their skillful use of those abilities; naturally, they must act within their capabilities in all matters.
The water jet fell onto the square, forming a puddle. Restoring it to its original state would be virtually impossible. Not to mention the water vapor that evaporated in such a short time, even peeling the water droplets off the concrete surface bit by bit would require a tremendous amount of effort. Although telekinesis could do all this precisely, without precise control, it would be impossible to reassemble the water droplets into a water jet, let alone absorb moisture from the air to replenish the evaporated water.
To achieve this, strength, stability, and skill are all indispensable, and keen eyesight is also required. While each individual ability user might be able to achieve it with effort, combining these elements in a short period of time and perfectly matching each ability increases the difficulty exponentially. Compared to a single ability, the level of difficulty is not one or two levels higher, but rather ten or eight levels higher.
Clap clap clap clap clap! With Xia Zhen leading the way, everyone couldn't help but applaud, including Shui Zhu'er, who had been unwilling to accept defeat, and was completely speechless. This young boy was indeed exceptionally talented, and what was even more remarkable was that he didn't have that arrogant and condescending attitude. Instead, he was always calm and composed, neither humble nor overbearing, which made people see his inner strength even more.
Ling Yun smiled and greeted everyone. He saw genuine admiration in their eyes; the earlier hostility was subtly shifting after his demonstration. It seemed Xia Zhen's idea was truly brilliant. Xia Zhen winked at him, secretly giving him a thumbs-up, meaning: You're awesome!
"Let's go, Lingyun. We still need to go to headquarters to complete some registration procedures. We might face some tests, but they'll be easy for you. Only after you've completed all of this can you become a trainee ability user," Xia Zhen said as she walked over.
Ling Yun nodded and waved to the trainee ability users. The long-haired young man, Xiao Yu, smiled and said, "Ling Yun, thank you. You've saved us from the hardship of doing a hundred sets of C-level ability training. When you come back, we'll have a meal together to welcome you."
The young people's faces lit up with joy, and they were about to cheer. Just as Ling Yun was about to say something, Xia Zhen turned around, her face hardening. "Who said I agreed to exempt you from a hundred sets of C-level supernatural skill training? I said Ling Yun could skip it, not you. This afternoon's training will proceed as scheduled, or don't tell me I'll double your punishment." With that, she took Ling Yun's arm and strode away, leaving the young people staring at each other in bewilderment.
After a series of sighs, everyone left the square listlessly, preparing to recharge for the arduous training that afternoon.
"What exactly is C-level supernatural ability training?" Standing in the silver passageway leading to the second-floor control center of the headquarters, Ling Yun couldn't help but ask. According to Xia Zhen's explanation, the plaza was just the outermost part of the entire supernatural ability headquarters, merely providing a place for supernatural ability users to relax. However, since most formal supernatural ability users had missions to perform and rarely had time to rest, the outer area was mostly the activity area for trainee supernatural ability users.
The headquarters of superpowers is divided into five levels, like a pyramid, with each level leading inward. To enter each level, one must pass through a barrier for identity verification and then through a silver passage. Moreover, the further in you go, the stricter the identity verification becomes. Even the headquarters' own superpowered individuals cannot enter a certain level without the required identity verification.
If you wander off, you'll get trapped in the endless illusions within the barrier and can only escape with the help of an instructor. Of course, the Superpower Headquarters, including the trainee superpower users, only has a few dozen people. Newcomers will first learn the superpower user code of conduct, knowing what they should and shouldn't do. Therefore, there won't be any instances of people getting trapped by the barrier due to wandering off.
The headquarters for superpowered individuals has extremely strict rules in this regard. Anyone who violates the rules of superpowered individuals will be dismissed, regardless of who they are. So even if some newcomers are tactless and curious and want to test the waters, they can only stick out their tongues after seeing the rules and dare not cross the line.
"The headquarters' barrier has many categorized functions, not just the defensive features you see. It includes layering, identity recognition, and control and training of the entire superpower headquarters. All of these are within this barrier. The C-level superpower training I mentioned is in the C-level training room within this categorized function. There are virtual characters automatically generated by the barrier that spar with superpowered individuals. These virtual characters have fixed superpower programs, and sparring with them can enhance your strength. I'm doing this for their own good. When I first entered the C-level training room, I had to do a hundred training sessions every day," Xia Zhen explained.
Ling Yun nodded, suddenly realizing that the barrier of the Superpower Headquarters was similar to the barrier he possessed. Wasn't Elder Yu's third layer of barrier also for sparring with virtual characters? However, Elder Yu's barrier was clearly more advanced. The virtual characters did not react according to a fixed program, but rather were characters with reactions and fighting skills almost identical to those of other intelligent beings. Although this was the only difference, the difference between the two was enormous.
Thinking of this, Ling Yun suddenly remembered a question: "The headquarters' barrier is so huge, what exactly supports its operation?" Barriers set up by normal people usually have a certain time limit. Once the superpower is exhausted, the barrier will naturally disappear. The power of nature is governed by laws, and it is impossible for a substance or power to exist permanently and never disappear.
The energy required to support such a massive barrier as the headquarters of superpowers is probably terrifying, even if it's just for daily use. It's absolutely impossible for manpower alone to sustain it.
“I don’t know either!” Xia Zhen shook her head and said, “This barrier has existed since the establishment of the Superpower Headquarters. It has been continuously improved by the instructors and predecessors over the years, but I have never heard of the source of the energy that supports the barrier, nor have I asked. The headquarters is full of secrets. Superpower users only need to do their own thing. Asking about unnecessary things is against the rules.”
As they were talking, their eyes lit up again. The passage flashed and disappeared. The hidden door to the second floor of the headquarters was not fixed. Instead, it could be entered from any direction by entering a password from the outside.
The headquarters of superpowers is more like a multi-layered overlapping space. The directions seen with the naked eye are not the true cardinal directions. Moreover, all the scenery provides an illusion that seems real due to the reflection of the barrier. Even Ling Yun is a little dizzy at this moment, not knowing how big the headquarters of superpowers is. When viewed from the gate, the headquarters of superpowers seems to be just a resort. Although it is very large, it can be seen through at a glance. But when you walk in, you will find that the outer square alone is larger than the area of the resort.
Suddenly, Ling Yun's expression changed. He had just stepped out of the passage and hadn't even had time to check his surroundings when a deafening roar erupted in his direction. He sensed a rapidly moving object hurtling towards him. A panicked voice cried out, "Yunhai, you pressed the wrong launch button! There's someone there!"
Chapter 158 Missile Incident
A strong smell of sulfur filled the air. Before the object even reached within ten meters of the two people, a powerful shockwave transformed into a gale that knocked the grass in front of them flat to the ground. Even in daylight, a visible streak of fire was still clearly visible propelling the cylindrical base of the object.
"Watch out, Ling Yun!" Xia Zhen's expression changed drastically. Her keen mental energy field immediately sensed the danger. She took a step forward, intending to shield Ling Yun with her own body. However, Ling Yun's outstretched iron arm pulled her behind him. The young man's face was serious. He extended a finger into the air and gently touched the incoming object.
The finger appeared to be pointing into the air, but the space within a radius of tens of meters immediately rippled as if plowed by a huge and heavy hoe. A violent and intense airflow swept silently around in a circular trajectory at a speed exceeding the speed of sound, dispersing and offsetting the powerful inertia brought about by the sudden stop.
The five rows of thick iron supports, each about two meters deep and as thick as an arm, driven deep into the ground on the left side, creaked under the weight, as if struck by a powerful combination of punches from a boxing champion, collapsing in a domino effect. The triangular pins securing the supports forcefully pushed aside the heavy, twenty-centimeter-thick bricks, kicking up a patch of damp, brown soil before falling flat on its back.
On the right in front was a row of saplings, each as thick as an adult's arm, which were growing vigorously in the wind when they suddenly suffered a devastating blow. After the shockwave passed, the saplings leaned backward and were then cleanly snapped in half.
Ling Yun's face flushed slightly, having taken the strongest attack head-on. The impact felt as if he were inside a category 12 tornado. However, the solid and stable mental energy field barrier he instantly released blocked the storm's onslaught. A metal column-shaped object, one meter long and forty centimeters in diameter, with a pointed top and rounded bottom, slowly flew ten centimeters from his fingertips and finally came to a stop. Ling Yun breathed a sigh of relief; the impact had finally been neutralized, and Xia Zhen was unharmed behind him.
Upon seeing the white-painted, cylindrical metal object with a spindle-shaped, diamond-shaped tip, Ling Yun noticed a few red-painted abbreviations: SS. Having read military magazines extensively, he knew this was short for a surface-to-surface portable missile. It seemed the Supernatural Abilities Headquarters truly lived up to its reputation; even a random location contained such contraptions, things usually only seen in magazines or on television.
Xia Zhen said that superhumans train with pistols, right? When did they upgrade to missiles? These things are worth more than ten thousand bullets; every shot counts. Even the Superhuman Headquarters couldn't afford this kind of training. Ling Yun thought to himself.
Xia Zhen emerged from behind Ling Yun and was startled to see the surface-to-surface missile frozen in mid-air. When did the Superpower Headquarters start using missiles? These were completely different from bullets; their power was incomparable, and they couldn't be controlled simply with telekinesis. Remembering how Ling Yun had pulled her behind him the moment the missile arrived, showing how much he cared for her, Xia Zhen felt a surge of sweetness in her heart. However, she couldn't help feeling a wave of fear. If Ling Yun hadn't been able to stop the missile, the two of them would probably be dead today.
The story is long, but it actually happened in a very short moment. Just as Ling Yun used his telekinesis to freeze the missile, two figures rushed towards him at high speed. The distance of several hundred meters was covered in an instant, and in the blink of an eye, they had reached Ling Yun. The one running in front was a middle-aged man who looked to be about forty years old. He had a small mustache on his lip and looked shrewd and capable, but at this moment, his face clearly showed anxiety.
Following behind him was a young man of about thirty years old, with a crew cut and large eyes. He carried a portable missile launcher on his shoulder, his face was pale, and he looked extremely panicked. Clearly, the missile that had just been fired at Ling Yun was this young man's doing. Judging from his expression, it didn't seem to be intentional.
The two men were dressed in identical uniforms, somewhat resembling military officers' attire, though with slight differences in details. While both were tight-fitting dark green, their uniforms were looser and allowed for greater freedom of movement. As they ran, wrinkles appeared in their uniforms, only to smooth out again in an instant, clearly indicating they were made of a special material.
"Who are you? What are you doing here?" The middle-aged man who rushed forward remained relatively calm, but his tone was extremely unfriendly. He showed no intention of apologizing and instead questioned Ling Yun sternly. However, his expression immediately changed from serious to shocked. Looking at the missile still pinned in mid-air by Ling Yun, he pointed at Ling Yun in disbelief and asked, "Did you intercept this surface-to-surface missile?"
Seeing that Ling Yun seemed unharmed, the young man behind him breathed a long sigh of relief, as if he had been granted a pardon. But in the blink of an eye, his expression, like that of the middle-aged man, turned to utter astonishment. He couldn't help but rub his eyes, carefully examining Ling Yun and the frozen missile. He simply couldn't believe that this young boy could actually block the power of a missile with his mental force field.
Xia Zhen flashed out from behind Ling Yun, and said angrily, "And who are you? Even if it's training, using weapons of mass destruction at headquarters is a violation of the rules. Aren't you superhumans from headquarters? Or do you not know the rules?"