Li Xuan did not act recklessly after obtaining the new ability.
This time, he chose to observe others from a safe distance, carefully testing the limits of his newly acquired identification power while blending into the surroundings like any other survivor.
He stood near a broken wall, pretending to rest, his posture relaxed while his gaze casually swept across the nearby survivors moving through the village.
At first, nothing happened.
When he focused on a man roughly twenty meters away, there was no reaction at all, as if the ability simply did not exist.
Li Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly and muttered under his breath, "So there is a range limit… not surprising."
He slowly moved closer, making sure his movements looked natural and unnoticeable among the crowd.
At eighteen meters, there was still no change, making him slightly doubtful about his earlier assumptions.
At fifteen meters, the silence remained, and he began to wonder if he had misunderstood the activation condition.
Only when he stepped within approximately twelve meters did something finally change.
A faint sensation stirred within his mind, subtle but distinct enough to notice immediately.
It felt as though invisible threads were connecting him to the target, and suddenly, information began to flow into his consciousness clearly and rapidly.
He was slightly startled but quickly focused.
Name: Liu Dong
Species: HumanLifespan: 68 years (Earth life)
Ability: None
Physique: 4.1
Spirit: 3.8
Li Xuan's eyes flickered with excitement as he processed the information.
"The ability works… and the data is this clear," he whispered softly, his tone carrying a hint of satisfaction.
Not only did it work, but the information it provided was structured and precise, far more useful than he had expected.
However, the joy in his heart was quickly replaced by a chilling realization.
"If I can do this… then others can too," he said quietly, his expression gradually turning serious.
He was no longer hidden.
At any moment, someone else with a similar ability could look at him and uncover everything about him.
Without hesitation, he decided to test the ability on himself.
The response was immediate, and the information appeared even more clearly than before.
Name: Li Xuan
Species: HumanLifespan: 90 years (Earth life)
Ability: Chaos Plunder Lv.1, Space Walker Lv.1, Sage Lv.1
{Unawakened Sequence}
Physique: 19
Spirit: 26
A cold sweat slowly formed on his back as he read through the details.
His earlier decision suddenly felt even more justified than before.
"If that man had escaped…" Li Xuan muttered, his voice low and steady, "my abilities would have been exposed completely."
And once exposed, he would have become a target for everyone around him.
Powerful abilities were not blessings in this world anymore.
They were invitations for danger, greed, and conflict.
Li Xuan slowly exhaled, forcing himself to calm down.
At the same time, his thoughts became sharper and more cautious.
"If identification exists… then prophecy, curses, tracking, or even control-type abilities might also exist," he said softly.
The world had become far more dangerous than he had initially imagined.
He could no longer afford to act carelessly.
An idea gradually formed in his mind.
"I need another identity… something that can shield my real abilities," he thought.
An alias.
A second layer of protection.
Li Xuan continued wandering through the village without drawing attention.
This time, he did not rush and maintained a steady pace, observing people one by one while controlling his distance carefully.
Each use of the ability consumed a small portion of his energy.
It was not much at first, but after repeated use, he could clearly feel the drain accumulating.
After more than two hours of continuous observation, he had already checked nearly a hundred people.
All of them were ordinary survivors with no awakened abilities.
However, one detail repeatedly appeared in his observations.
"Unawakened Sequence…" he murmured thoughtfully, his brows slightly furrowed.
He still did not understand what it truly meant.
"Potential? A dormant ability? Or something else entirely?" he wondered quietly.
The uncertainty lingered in his mind, making him even more cautious about his future actions.
With about an hour left before the night trade fair, Li Xuan returned to the house.
The ground floor remained empty and silent, giving him a moment of temporary peace.
He casually prepared a simple meal using instant noodles and stored supplies.
As the noodles cooked, the aroma spread through the quiet room, making the space feel momentarily normal.
Just as he sat down to eat, footsteps approached from outside.
The disguised girl from the tent entered slowly, her movements cautious and alert.
Her eyes immediately locked onto the bowl of noodles in his hands.
She tried to remain composed, but the faint hunger in her expression was impossible to hide.
After hesitating for a moment, she walked closer and placed items on the table.
"I want to trade… two packets of noodles for these," she said cautiously.
Li Xuan glanced at the three compressed biscuits and a box of cigarettes before looking back at her.
"You understand value well," he said calmly.
She replied without hesitation, "In this world, understanding value is the only way to survive."
Li Xuan gave a faint nod.
"Fair enough… deal."
As he handed over the noodles, he activated his identification ability without showing any sign.
Name: Ming YueSpecies: HumanLifespan: 80 years (Earth life)Ability: UnawakenedPhysique: 3.5Spirit: 4.1
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Another one…" he thought, a hint of surprise appearing in his expression.
This was no longer a coincidence.
He began to suspect that certain individuals carried hidden potential within them.
"If properly guided… they might awaken," he thought silently.
A new idea began forming in his mind.
Building a team.
Not just random survivors, but individuals with potential and future value.
Loyalty could be cultivated.
Power could be developed.
In a world like this, surviving alone was possible—but controlling one's fate required allies.
After finishing his meal, Li Xuan rested briefly before heading toward the center of the village.
The night trade fair had already begun.
The once quiet area was now filled with noise and movement, as people gathered to exchange goods and negotiate deals.
Makeshift stalls lined the surroundings, built from cloth, wood, and debris.
"Two bottles for one blanket, no bargaining!" someone shouted.
"Lower the price, this isn't worth that much!" another argued loudly.
The chaotic voices overlapped, creating a tense but active environment.
Li Xuan walked slowly, observing everything carefully.
He saw people trading food, water, clothing, and tools.
Some exchanged information in hushed tones.
Others traded things far more disturbing.
Women stood silently beside certain stalls.
Some offered themselves willingly for survival.
Others were clearly being forced, their expressions empty and lifeless.
Li Xuan's gaze lingered for a moment before turning away.
"This is the new world…" he muttered quietly.
As he walked deeper into the market, a loud voice drew his attention.
"They are young, clean, and untouched! Good condition! Worth every bit!"
Li Xuan turned his head and saw two girls standing on a wooden platform.
One looked slightly taller, around 1.65 meters, with a worn but attractive appearance.
The other appeared younger, her innocent face contrasting sharply with her dull, lifeless eyes.
Tear marks were still visible on both of their faces.
Li Xuan felt a faint discomfort but did not act immediately.
He first activated his ability.
Name: Sang Zhi
Species: HumanLifespan: 77 years (Earth life)
Ability: Unawakened
Physique: 3.8
Spirit: 4.6
"The younger one… has potential," he thought quietly.
He then checked the other.
Name: Shen Li
Species: Human
Ability: None
Li Xuan remained silent for a moment, weighing his options carefully.
Then he stepped forward.
"How much?" he asked calmly.
The seller grinned greedily.
"For her? Three days' worth of food and water."
Li Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly.
"And both?"
The man hesitated briefly before replying, "Five days' worth… final price."
Li Xuan paused for a moment, then nodded.
"I'll take both."
After the transaction was completed, the two girls stepped down quietly.
"Follow me," Li Xuan said without looking back.
They obeyed silently.
After walking a short distance, the younger girl spoke softly.
"Thank you… for taking both of us."
Li Xuan glanced at her briefly.
"Don't misunderstand… I had my reasons," he replied calmly.
She lowered her head and said nothing further.
As he continued walking, Li Xuan discovered more individuals with unawakened sequences.
Two men managing a stall and a woman wandering alone caught his attention.
He memorized their details silently.
Potential resources.
Potential allies.
Or potential threats.
Soon, his attention shifted to three men walking together confidently.
They stood out immediately from the rest.
Li Xuan activated his ability carefully.
"Hunter… Pathfinder… Giant…" he murmured under his breath.
Each possessed different abilities, suited for different situations.
Their stats were significantly higher than ordinary people.
One of them laughed loudly.
"With our strength, nothing here can threaten us!"
Another shook his head.
"Don't get careless… this world isn't that simple."
Li Xuan observed them quietly before looking away.
"Different sequences… different abilities," he said softly.
"Some have one… some have more…"
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"But mine is different."
Li Xuan slowly walked deeper into the crowd.
His expression remained calm, but his thoughts had already moved far ahead.
The world was no longer just about survival.
It was about information.
Power.
And control.
And tonight…
He had taken his first real step toward building all three.