If she truly grew into the perfect form he spoke of, Xu An felt she wouldn't be able to afford to support Ze Yuan.
Ze Yuan looked at the pile of packaging bags and his own round belly. For the first time, he felt a sense of embarrassment.
"Oh, don't be so stingy," he said, as if performing magic, producing a blue, gem-like cube from behind his back.
Xu An found it somewhat familiar but couldn't recall where she had seen it before.
"What is this?" Xu An asked curiously, reaching out to take the cube. It felt cool to the touch.
Vaguely, Xu An felt as if a subtle energy was flowing from the gem. She thought she might be hallucinating, but seeing Ze Yuan's enigmatic expression, Xu An knew it was likely not her imagination. This gem might indeed be peculiar.
"Good stuff. You don't remember? It's a crystal core, the kind we extracted from zombie brains back in Zone B, during that zombie horde."
Upon hearing this, Xu An was so startled she almost dropped the crystal core. "Where did you get something so disgusting?"
Ze Yuan rolled his eyes dramatically. "No, do you humans even know what's valuable? This is a high-level crystal core. After I purify it, it's practically a potent tonic."
"This can help you rapidly develop your abilities. If you give it to your mother, it can extend her lifespan. Not only that, but this thing is also a new type of energy source."
"However, I see that Qin Chuan kid has also discovered its usefulness. He might even reveal that these crystal cores are currently the highest-level energy source discovered in the human world."
"If they possess these things, perhaps they won't have to compete with the people on the ground for fuel and other resources."
So magical? Xu An found it hard to believe. She had only encountered such things in novels before; she never imagined such wonders could exist in reality.
And what about these "abilities" Ze Yuan mentioned?
"You mean I have abilities within my body, they just haven't been awakened?"
Ze Yuan nodded. "Originally, you shouldn't have had them. It's possible the spatial tree has tempered your spiritual power. When zombie crystal cores are widely developed and utilized, more and more humans will awaken abilities."
"Oh, right. That Qin Chuan is an ability user. And, he has a little mushroom on him. By the way, Xu An, what's going on with you? You haven't found a single mushroom in the months I've been asleep. Are you slacking off?"
"If it weren't for you, I probably could have reached my mature form by now."
Xu An looked at Ze Yuan, who was floating in mid-air with his hands on his hips, wearing a smug expression. She thought to herself, 'It's better if you stay like this forever.' Otherwise, you might get hit.
"You say Qin Chuan has a little mushroom? How come I didn't know?" This piqued Xu An's curiosity. She genuinely didn't know Qin Chuan possessed such a thing. Based on previous investigations, Qin Chuan likely knew that Dr. Xia had been searching for that little glowing mushroom. It seemed Qin Chuan hadn't handed it over, which probably made Dr. Xia suspicious.
Xu An shared her analysis with Ze Yuan, who dismissed it with a look of disdain, as if he already knew.
"However, even if Qin Chuan has a falling out with that guy Xia, it doesn't necessarily mean he'll help you. Don't forget that Qin Chuan schemed against you this time. On the lighthouse, Qin Chuan didn't need anyone's help; he could have led a team to turn the lighthouse upside down on his own."
Xu An examined the crystal core in her hand. "But how do I use this thing?"
"Try to absorb the energy from the crystal core using your spiritual power."
This was the first time Xu An had heard the term "spiritual power."
"Spiritual power? What is that?"
Ze Yuan spent quite some time explaining to Xu An what spiritual power was. Afterward, Xu An followed Ze Yuan's instructions, concentrating all her thoughts in her brain. Then, she controlled that wisp of consciousness and infused it into the crystal core.
Instantly, Xu An felt as if her brain was being watered by a clear spring, emitting wisps of clarity. It was a feeling of enlightenment.
Ze Yuan watched Xu An as if she were in a trance, not wanting to disturb her. He quietly stayed by her side, observing her with her eyes closed. Beads of sweat occasionally trickled down her fair cheeks, and Xu An's expression seemed to indicate discomfort, as if she were being torn apart. Her face was contorted in a look of pain.
Seeing Xu An's state, Ze Yuan hesitated for a long time before deciding to help. He let out a soft "tsk" and placed his small hand on Xu An's forehead. With a seemingly casual gesture, Xu An's expression instantly relaxed. The contorted, pained look vanished.
After a while, Xu An woke up. She immediately felt as if a layer of sticky mud was clinging to her. Before she could even ask Ze Yuan about her condition, she rushed into the bathroom and washed herself thoroughly from head to toe.
Ze Yuan waited until Xu An emerged before using his divine sense to explore her physical condition. Perhaps it was because the spatial tree had already elevated Xu An's physical fitness to a very high level, but this awakening did not cause any significant changes to her body. Instead, Xu An's skin became even fairer and more elastic.
"Ze Yuan, what were those sticky, black things on me? The more I look, the more disgusted I feel."
Ze Yuan rolled his eyes. "The crystal core can help optimize your physique. Since your physique has already been optimized by the spatial tree, the crystal core will help optimize other areas. For instance, past injuries, skin damage, or even your appearance can be optimized."
Upon hearing this, Xu An's eyes sparkled. What woman wouldn't care about beauty? Even Xu An, who had lived a second life, was no exception. Her first thought was of Zhou Haimèi and her mother.
"Can my mom and Sister Mei use this thing?"
Ze Yuan, with a knowing look, produced two more crystal cores from behind him and tossed them to Xu An.
"You're so generous. Don't come crying to me later when the value of crystal cores comes out."
Xu An knew Ze Yuan never joked about such matters. However, some things couldn't be measured by value.
"However, your mother hasn't awakened any abilities, so it can only strengthen her body. That woman Zhou Haimèi seems to have a seed of fire ability within her, but whether she can awaken it depends on herself."