For instance, consider water-element abilities. Initially, the Director and others often said water abilities were useless, at most capable of creating some clean water.
In reality, that was merely due to low ability levels and a lack of flexibility in their application. Once water-element abilities reached a higher level, the instantly condensed water droplets could pierce through zombie bodies.
Furthermore, water droplets could be divided into many, and a sheet of condensed water droplets could easily rival bullets in penetrating flesh.
Of course, this was all contingent on the ability level reaching a certain point. Initially, water-element abilities could indeed only provide clean water sources for everyone.
"Plant-element abilities, you thought they were only for cultivating crops?"
"Currently, they don't seem to have much use."
"Then look at the piercing capability of my vines."
As Lu Heng spoke, a vine seemingly appeared out of nowhere, instantly piercing the room's wall. After piercing, the vine didn't stop changing; it instantly wrapped around and covered the entire small building.
Vines immediately crawled over the windows, doors, and walls, engulfing the room.
At once, chaos erupted within the entire building, with people fleeing in panic from the structure towards the open space outside.
However, the room where Lu Heng and the others were was now completely covered by vines. Lu Heng had left them no possibility of escape.
"Qiang Ge, what's going on with this person? Is he trying to kill us?" someone asked, a hint of panic in his voice.
"Isn't it just a bunch of plants? I'll chop it down." Someone drew the machete from behind him and swung it at the vines by the door.
With a clang, the sword vibrated, numbing the man's hand. The blade of his machete was already curled at the edge, rendering it useless.
"What?" They looked again at the vines that had been struck. Although the outer layer of the vines showed some signs of being cut, they quickly repaired themselves, and the cut area seemed to have grown even thicker.
"What exactly is he trying to do? Let us out."
Seeing that the vines in the room couldn't be broken, the people inside gradually lost their composure and became more panicked.
"The people you picked don't seem to be up to par. You can't just look at their ability attributes; look at their psychological fortitude."
Lu Heng said to Li Qiang with a hint of mockery. He then looked at Qin Ye beside him; the boy's expression was only slightly awkward, not panicked or flustered.
"Find all your trusted subordinates, and I'll help you select some people."
Lu Heng instantly withdrew the vines from inside and outside the room. The room returned to its original state, with only the hole previously pierced by Lu Heng serving as proof that something had indeed happened.
Li Qiang nodded. Since Lu Heng was providing the crystals for upgrades, they had nothing to complain about.
Another group of people was gathered, about two hundred this time. Lu Heng looked at the people gathered in the plaza and finally believed that Li Qiang had indeed deliberately selected those with long-range attacks and broad killing power.
"Line up in groups of ten," Lu Heng instructed Li Qiang.
"Did you hear that? Do as Brother Lu says," Li Qiang commanded.
Soon, the people in the plaza lined up.
They walked forward in groups of ten to stand before Lu Heng. Lu Heng quickly reviewed them and pointed out the ones he favored.
In the end, Lu Heng selected fifty people.
"This, Brother Lu, isn't the number a bit too large?" Li Qiang asked somewhat sheepishly.
"It's not too many, and besides, these people will need to be divided further; not everyone will be upgraded to the same level."
"Oh, oh, that's good. But this will still cost you, how will we ever repay you for this?"
"Are you that embarrassed? How about you hand over this town to me?"
"Hahaha, Brother Lu is joking. You wouldn't be interested in my little broken place, would you?" Li Qiang chuckled awkwardly again.
"Then it's settled. Have the others disperse. Is there anywhere these fifty people can be accommodated together?"
"Yes, yes, there's a gym nearby."
"Let's go."
Afterward, Li Qiang and the fifty people went to the nearby gym.
From those fifty people, eleven were selected. Lu Heng planned to upgrade these eleven to Tier Eight, while the remaining people would be upgraded to Tier Seven.
Although it was only a difference of one tier, each tier represented a qualitative leap in their strength.
Moreover, those who reached Tier Seven already possessed area-of-effect capabilities, and their internal energy was sufficient to support them in using such skills.
"Have them come over in groups of five later."
"Alright." Li Qiang nodded and went to the fifty people to make arrangements.
"This item is slightly different from crystals. These are all single-attribute. You should use these to upgrade now."
Lu Heng placed a pile of colorful magic crystals on the table, with each type of magic crystal placed in a separate box.
"What is this?" Qin Ye looked at the differently colored magic crystals, which were also clearly different from special crystals.
"These are called magic crystals. They are obtained from a type of magical beast."
"Is this also from the fantasy world?"
"Yes, shouldn't you be asking what kind of magical beast it is?"
"I think it's probably the flying birds outside."
"Something like that, but those flying birds don't have attributes. They are just mounts, and they don't have this thing inside their bodies."
"Oh, so not every magical beast has these magic crystals."
"Yes, call the people over."
After upgrading these fifty people, Lu Heng looked at their delighted faces and said loudly, "I'm not doing this upgrade for you for free. Some of you were only at Tier Five or Six before. It would be impossible to reach your current level at this stage."
Seeing the suddenly serious expressions of everyone present, Lu Heng continued, "Don't be too nervous. I'm not asking you to pledge allegiance to me. You are still the masters of this town and members of Li Qiang's team. However, you must remember that there are still many people in this world suffering in dire straits. We not only need to kill zombies but also rescue those people."
"But, not everyone outside is a good person. Do we need to save them too?" a woman asked Lu Heng after a long hesitation.
"I'm not asking you to be a saint. Benevolence and cheap pity are different. Some evil people deserve to be killed. Do you know why I chose these fifty people?"
"No."
"I can sense that you all have a righteous heart, but you are not brainless people. That's why I've given you the opportunity to upgrade."
"I hope that while you save others, you will also punish evil. I have people who have taken lives, but they were all people who deserved to die. The outbreak of the zombie virus in this world has also exposed the ugly side of humanity. Evil people only need to be killed."
"I have another question. When I was absorbing these things just now, some other information suddenly appeared in my mind. Although this thing can help us upgrade, it's not a crystal."
"What is your name?"
"Li Li."
Among these fifty-plus people, this woman was always the one with the most questions, always the one to ask Lu Heng.