C3 Dark King

Lin Hann hailed a taxi home, leaving behind a bewildered driver and 15 steel coins as a tip. By the time he got home, it was well past six o'clock. After a quick bite to eat, Lin Hann settled down to examine the Flying Sword he had just copied. But when he tried to interact with the progress bar of the Flying Sword, there was no response. "That's right, Lau Ruyan's abilities are unusable, so it stands to reason that this more complex Flying Sword would be too," Lin Hann realized.

Feeling somewhat deflated, Lin Hann had thought he'd stumbled upon something extraordinary, yet it was just out of reach, which was incredibly frustrating.

"Strength, it all comes down to strength. I need to get stronger!" Lin Hann told himself.

"Do you want to become stronger?" A voice, tinged with mirth, reverberated around the room.

"Who's there? Who's speaking?" Lin Hann was startled by the unexpected sound.

From the shadows cast by the light, a figure clad in a black robe emerged, stepping forward until he sat down on the sofa across from Lin Hann.

"Who are you?" Having been through a whirlwind of events in the last couple of days, Lin Hann was no longer as panicked. He had come to grips with the existence of superpowered individuals, so he surmised this mysterious visitor must be one of them, though his purpose was unclear.

"Hann, don't you recognize Mr. Zhao anymore?" The man in the black robe lifted his face slightly and began to speak.

"Mr. Zhao? Is that you, Mr. Zhao?" Lin Hann exclaimed, a mix of shock and joy in his voice.

Memories flooded back of Mr. Zhao, who lived next door during his childhood and was a close friend of his parents. He had left with Lin Hann's parents eight years ago, and now he had returned.

"Mr. Zhao, when did you get back? And where are my mom and dad?" Lin Hann asked, his voice laced with urgency.

"Hann, take it easy. Let Mr. Zhao explain everything to you," the man said soothingly.

Lin Hann listened and gradually relaxed as Zhao Kangping spoke.

"I can't go into details, but I assure you, your parents are safe and sound. I've come back because they were worried about you. They're tied up with something and couldn't come themselves, so they sent me to check on you," Zhao Kangping clarified.

"But from what I can see, you've been doing quite well for yourself. You've managed on your own for eight years, and now you've even become a paranormal!" Zhao Kangping said, his voice warm with praise.

"Mr. Zhao, are you a paranormal too? Does that mean my parents are paranormals as well?" Lin Hann recalled the eerie moment when Zhao Kangping first appeared and considered how his parents had been tied up with their own affairs for the past eight years. It must have been a challenging time for them, and any resentment he had harbored towards his parents began to fade.

People grow and change. Lin Hann had once viewed things from the standpoint of an ordinary person, feeling abandoned and misunderstood when his parents left him behind. But now, having been introduced to the world of paranormals, his perspective had broadened. The greater his abilities, the more he could engage with the world around him.

Zhao Kangping didn't respond, but to Lin Hann, his silence was the most telling answer of all.

"By the way, Mr. Zhao, do you know how to get stronger?" Lin Hann brought up the question Zhao Kangping had posed upon his arrival.

"Of course," Zhao Kangping replied with a smile. "Paranormals are a very select group. Out of the entire global population, only a tiny fraction will awaken to their superpowers, and most of them belong to prominent families. If the previous generation had superpowers, their offspring are much more likely to awaken to their own. That's why most paranormals receive guidance from their elders upon awakening."

After taking a sip of water, Zhao Kangping continued, "Naturally, you can also enhance your abilities through continuous use of your superpowers, though this tends to be a slower process." He then tossed a booklet to Lin Hann. "This is from your dad. He told me to give it to you, saying you'd awaken eventually. It's quite peculiar how he knew."

"Once a superpower is awakened, each individual's experience is unique, but they can generally be categorized into two types: the strengthening type and others. Don't give me that look; as I've said, everyone is different. It's only the strengthening type that can be somewhat generalized, hence the odd classification. So, what's your superpower?"

Lin Hann paused, not saying a word. He extended his right hand and grabbed a bottle of Coke. Moments later, an identical bottle materialized in his left hand. Zhao Kangping, witnessing this, was visibly astonished, having never encountered such a superpower before.

"Is it just copying like this? What's the limit?" Zhao Kangping inquired.

"I don't sense any limit, but I can't manifest anything significantly larger or more powerful at the moment," Lin Hann admitted with a wry smile. "What's your special ability, Mr. Zhao?"

Zhao Kangping chuckled, lifting his hand, and the room plunged into darkness—not the kind where you can't see your hand in front of your face, but a deep, velvety darkness that almost felt tangible. The room then returned to normal as Zhao Kangping deactivated his power.

"I possess the 'Elemental—Darkness' ability. Initially, I could only manipulate dark energy, which is highly aggressive and can assimilate other energies. Now, I can merge with the darkness, create it, and within it, I am the undisputed king!"

"The king of darkness?!" Lin Hann was awestruck by Zhao Kangping's commanding statement. "That's incredible. Mr. Zhao, you must teach me!"

"Hann, patience is key. In any situation, maintaining a steady mind is crucial for cultivation," Zhao Kangping advised earnestly. "Upon awakening, an ability user gains an extra type of energy called Spiritual Energy. Only a select few involve the brain region during awakening, which also triggers the awakening of Spiritual Energy."

"Take a look at that book; it contains breathing exercises. These methods, compiled by our predecessors, are designed to train and enhance Spiritual Energy. Given your ability, I assume your Spiritual Energy has awakened as well?"

Lin Hann nodded, and Zhao Kangping continued, "I'll share with you the techniques I use to train my Spiritual Energy." He then handed Lin Hann a pamphlet.

"Spiritual Energy is the foundation of our abilities. Having ample Spiritual Energy is essential to harness the full strength of our abilities. The main reason you can't replicate more complex items is due to a lack of Spiritual Energy within you."

Realizing the value of a good teacher's guidance on the cultivation journey, Lin Hann had an epiphany. "Thank you, Mr. Zhao!"

"There's no need for thanks. Your father and I have been through life and death together for many years; this is the least I can do. If your parents were here, you wouldn't need me to tell you these things," Zhao Kangping said with a smile, dismissively waving his hand.

"Mr. Zhao, I can copy other people's abilities." After much deliberation, Lin Hann decided to confide in Zhao Kangping.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Kangping's grip tightened, crushing his cup. "What? A Copy Esper? Try it on me!"

Lin Hann reached out and grasped Zhao Kangping's hand, triggering his Esper ability. However, a sharp pain in his mind prevented any scanning. "Mr. Zhao, my Esper requires me to scan other people's abilities, and I can't seem to scan yours," Lin Hann explained with a wry smile.

Zhao Kangping had a rough understanding. "So, you're saying you can't copy abilities that are much stronger than your own? Makes sense, considering you've only recently awakened your Esper. It's too much of a stretch to copy mine. How did you discover you had this ability? Have you encountered anyone else?"

Lin Hann shared, "The girl living next door is an Esper. Her ability is 'Elemental - Wood.' I was accidentally injured during one of her fights, which triggered my own Esper awakening."

"'Elemental - Wood'? What's the girl's name?" Zhao Kangping asked, concealing his astonishment.

"Her name is Lau Ruyan," Lin Hann answered.

A sense of inevitability washed over Zhao Kangping. "So, the Lau family has found their way here. I wonder if this young lady ventured out on her own, or if there's someone pulling the strings..." he pondered.

Wanting to steer away from the subject, Zhao Kangping said, "Well, Hann, it looks like you're going to encounter a wide array of superpowers. I, Mr. Zhao, possess only one ability and can't teach you much. But remember this: never let your abilities constrain you. Superpowers have no inherent hierarchy; true strength lies within oneself."

Lin Hann nodded, deep in thought. He suddenly recalled Lau Ruyan mentioning the Acquired Stage and inquired, "How do we gauge the strength of an Esper?"

Zhao Kangping explained, "When an Esper first awakens, they possess only a trace of Spiritual Energy. Through training, this energy converges into a Spiritual Energy Ball in the lower abdomen, marking entry into the first realm of our cultivation—the Body Tempering Stage. This stage has four levels: Front, Middle, Back, and Perfection. Once you accumulate ten Spiritual Energy Balls, you've reached the pinnacle of Body Tempering. At that point, you can attempt to condense these into a denser Spiritual Energy Ball. Succeeding signifies a breakthrough to the Acquired Stage, which also has four levels, followed by the Innate Stage. However, the majority of people in this world range from Body Tempering to the Acquired Stage, with Innate Experts being exceedingly rare."

"Mr. Zhao, are you an Innate Expert?" Lin Hann inquired with curiosity.

Zhao Kangping gave a smile but chose not to address the question directly. "Let's not focus on that for now. Come back to me with your questions once you've reached the Acquired Stage. Besides, our cultivation of Spiritual Energy spans ten levels. The strength of one's Spiritual Energy dictates our ability to control and manipulate our powers. Without strong Spiritual Energy, having an abundance of it is akin to a stagnant pond."

Zhao Kangping proceeded to share some essential tips for the initial phase of cultivation with Lin Hann. Before long, the night had deepened.

"Hann, I must be going," Mr. Zhao announced. "In the days ahead, diligent cultivation is key. In this world, only your own power can be truly relied upon. If you wish to delve into the unknown and protect those dear to you, strength is essential. So, strive hard. I'll return to check on your progress, and I hope to see that you haven't been idle." With those parting words, Lin Hann watched as Zhao Kangping merged with the shadows and vanished into the night.

"Rest assured, Mr. Zhao. I'll put in the effort!" Though Lin Hann didn't voice his determination, he had firmly resolved in his heart to grow stronger, to face the unknown with confidence.

Meanwhile, Zhao Kangping hadn't strayed far after leaving Lin Hann's room; he transformed into a shadow and slipped into the adjacent room where Lau Ruyan was staying.

Facing each other in Lau Ruyan's room, Zhao Kangping broke the silence. "What brings the renowned Dark King to my quarters at this late hour?" Lau Ruyan asked, her voice tinged with apprehension.

"You're aware of who I am? It seems you're quite influential within the Lau family," Zhao Kangping remarked. "Let's cut to the chase. What are your intentions regarding Hann?"

Lau Ruyan breathed a sigh of relief, understanding that the Dark King bore no ill will, his visit prompted by concern for Lin Hann. "I have no ulterior motives. Lin Hann's mother is my aunt, and despite the Lau family's declaration of disownment, she has always treated me kindly. I refuse to turn my back on her as the rest of the family has." Sitting up straight, she continued with a sense of formality, "My father, Lau Jingzhi!"

Upon hearing the name, a ripple of emotion passed through the Dark King's heart, clearly recalling the esteemed reputation of Lau Jingzhi in the capital.

A hint of a smile broke through Zhao Kangping's usually stern expression. "Then my mind is at ease. As you're aware, Hann's parents haven't been by his side for years, and I've been unable to look after him. I was concerned that your families might not have his best interests at heart. But knowing you're Lau Jingzhi's daughter, I'm confident there will be no issues."

With those words, Zhao Kangping rose to his feet and blended into the shadows. His voice echoed from the darkness, "I'm entrusting Hann's care to you."

Lau Ruyan gave a nod toward the shadow, her thoughts stirring:

The Dark King has returned after so many years; surely the capital's elite are on edge once more.