They were probably from different sequences, and Li Xuan quietly focused his attention on them. Each of them possessed only one ability, unlike his own Sage and Space sequences, both granting him two abilities each. "The difference between sequences is clearer than I thought," he murmured softly while observing them without drawing attention.
The Pathfinder's ability was danger sense, allowing him to passively detect threats within a three-kilometer radius, though it only worked on level 1 creatures. "That limitation could become dangerous in real combat situations," Li Xuan thought calmly while analyzing its usefulness and weaknesses in his mind.
The Giant sequence granted explosive strength, nearly tripling the user's physical power during combat, making him highly dangerous in close-range encounters. Meanwhile, the Hunter sequence enhanced vision drastically, allowing long-distance sight and strong night vision even in dim conditions.
"Their abilities are simple but extremely effective," Li Xuan thought, his gaze lingering for a moment before shifting away. He did not want to attract unnecessary attention from people stronger than ordinary survivors.
Their physique and spirit were both around 12, far beyond that of normal humans struggling to survive in this harsh world. This observation allowed Li Xuan to understand something deeper about the sequence system itself.
"Different sequences… different structures… some have one ability, some have two… maybe higher levels unlock more," he concluded silently, feeling a growing curiosity about the limits of power.
He also realized that when focusing using his Sage ability, he could see detailed descriptions of abilities clearly. "This identification skill is more powerful than I expected," he muttered quietly, beginning to value his Sage sequence more.
As he bypassed them, Li Xuan continued walking through the market, his gaze calmly sweeping across every person he encountered. He was searching for unawakened individuals or hidden sequence users who might become useful later.
More than five minutes passed as he wandered through the crowded yet tense market environment, where survivors traded whatever they had to sustain themselves. His attention soon shifted toward a small stall that stood out slightly from the others.
A man was selling worn-out clothes, old mobile phones, and a few fruits placed casually in front of him. At first glance, nothing seemed particularly special, but Li Xuan's eyes narrowed slightly as he noticed something unusual.
The fruits looked fresh—too fresh for this environment where resources were scarce and preservation was difficult. "…They look like they were plucked just a few days ago," he murmured under his breath as he approached the stall.
The two girls following him remained silent, watching his movements without interfering. They had already learned that Li Xuan rarely acted without reason, and his calm demeanor made them instinctively trust his judgment.
Just as he stepped closer and was about to ask about the fruits, a strange sensation suddenly rose within him. It was subtle, but undeniable—a faint longing directed toward something in front of him.
"…Why do I feel attracted to this?" Li Xuan wondered, slightly frowning as his instincts sharpened. Without wasting time, he activated his Space Perception ability to scan the area.
Among the five or six orange-like fruits placed casually on the stall, one fruit stood out faintly. It was emitting a subtle energy fluctuation, almost imperceptible unless specifically observed.
"If not for my perception ability, I would have completely missed it," he thought seriously, realizing how easily such valuable items could go unnoticed.
Without hesitation, he activated his Sage identification ability, focusing directly on the unusual fruit. The information appeared instantly in his mind, detailed and precise.
It was a mutated orange fruit, a type of spiritual fruit containing condensed spiritual energy. It could help any creature break through levels below level 3, slightly increase their spiritual reserves, and even had a chance to awaken abilities in unawakened individuals.
Li Xuan's pupils shrank slightly as he absorbed the information. "…This is far more valuable than it looks," he whispered quietly, though his face remained completely calm to avoid suspicion.
His mind began racing rapidly, calculating possibilities and risks associated with such an item. If used properly, it could significantly accelerate his growth or even awaken hidden potential.
Suppressing his excitement, Li Xuan casually began bargaining with the seller. "These fruits don't look like they'll fill the stomach… I'll take a few if the price is reasonable," he said in a relaxed tone.
The seller waved his hand dismissively, clearly not valuing the fruits highly. "They taste good, that's all. Take them cheap if you want. I just want to get rid of them," he replied casually.
After a brief negotiation, Li Xuan bought three fruits, quietly including the spiritual fruit among them without drawing any attention. His movements were natural, giving no indication of the fruit's true value.
As he walked away, his thoughts became deeper and more cautious. "Without my abilities, I would have walked past something this valuable without even noticing," he realized, feeling the importance of perception and knowledge.
For the next half hour, Li Xuan continued roaming the market carefully, using his Sage ability on various items and individuals. However, aside from a few minor observations, nothing matched the value of the spiritual fruit.
Eventually, his attention was drawn to a young girl standing alone near a corner, her posture guarded and her eyes filled with caution. She looked no older than fifteen or sixteen but carried an alertness beyond her age.
Li Xuan approached her directly, his expression calm and unreadable. "Do you want to join my group?" he asked without hesitation, his voice steady and straightforward.
The girl looked at him carefully, clearly assessing the situation before responding. "I can only cook and clean… I don't know how to fight or do anything else," she said honestly.
"That's enough," Li Xuan replied immediately, showing no sign of disappointment. "I'll provide food daily. You just need to work and follow instructions."
"I don't want trouble," the girl added cautiously, her eyes still filled with doubt and hesitation.
"As long as you don't betray me, there won't be any trouble," Li Xuan replied calmly, his tone carrying a subtle firmness that made his words feel reliable.
After a brief moment of silence, the girl nodded slowly. "My name is Ling Xi," she said softly, lowering her guard slightly.
"I'm Li Xuan. Follow me," he replied simply, even though he already knew her name through his ability.
Ling Xi agreed easily, as she had already run out of supplies and had been struggling to survive. Seeing that Li Xuan was accompanied by two other girls gave her a small sense of safety.
"At least I won't be alone," she thought quietly as she followed him.
They continued wandering for another twenty-five minutes, but nothing else of significance appeared. The market was filled with ordinary items, most of which held little value to Li Xuan.
Before leaving, Li Xuan returned to the fruit seller to gather more information. "Where did you get these fruits?" he asked casually, maintaining a relaxed tone.
"My name is Ming Tao. I'm from Spark Convoy," the man replied without hesitation.
"A few days ago, we passed through a dense forest while traveling, and I found them while going deeper inside at night," Ming Tao explained casually.
"There were about fourteen ripe fruits on a tall tree. I ate some myself and gave some to a sequence user for protection. The rest I'm selling since they don't fill the stomach."
Li Xuan nodded slightly, storing the information in his mind without asking further questions. He had already gained what he needed.
After gathering enough information, he returned to the house with the three girls and began setting up a tent outside. His movements were efficient and practiced, showing no wasted effort.
"There's an electric stove inside. Prepare food for four people using six noodle packets," he instructed calmly while glancing at them.
The girls looked surprised and happy at the same time, clearly not expecting such treatment. "Really?" Ling Xi asked, her eyes lighting up with hope.
"Yes. Just do your work properly," Li Xuan replied simply, his tone neutral but not harsh.
They quickly began preparing the food, their movements filled with energy and relief. For people struggling to survive, even simple meals felt like a luxury.
Li Xuan watched them briefly before speaking again. "As long as you work obediently and don't betray me, I won't treat you badly," he said calmly.
"Don't overthink things. Just focus on your role," he added, his voice carrying a subtle warning beneath its calmness.
The girls nodded silently, understanding the conditions without needing further explanation.
From a distance, Ming Yue glanced at him and scoffed lightly. "Pervert…" she muttered under her breath, clearly unimpressed.
Li Xuan heard it clearly but chose to ignore it completely, as his focus remained on more important matters.
"That fruit… I need to pay more attention to such opportunities," he thought seriously, realizing how crucial rare resources were in this world.
He then took out another tent from his storage and handed it to the girls. "Use this one and sleep after dinner. Don't wander around unnecessarily," he instructed.
After giving his instructions, he entered his own tent and waited quietly until he was sure no one was paying attention to him.
Only then did he take out the spiritual fruit and peel it carefully before eating it in a few quick bites.
A warm energy immediately spread throughout his body, flowing smoothly through his veins and filling him with a sense of comfort and vitality.
"…This feeling is far better than I expected," he muttered softly as the energy circulated within him for nearly fifteen minutes.
The energy eventually faded away, leaving behind a calm but refreshed state without any violent side effects.
His fatigue disappeared completely, and his mind felt sharper and more focused than before.
Without wasting time, Li Xuan activated his Sage ability to check his status. "Spirit increased by two points…" he whispered, noticing the improvement.
At the same time, something new appeared before his perception—a percentage bar beside his abilities.
"Sage… 27 percent. Space… 15 percent," he said quietly, analyzing the meaning behind it.
"So this represents progress toward the next level…" he concluded after a moment of thought.
"If I can find more spiritual fruits like this, breaking through level 2 won't be difficult," he murmured, his eyes reflecting a faint determination.
After thinking through his plans, Li Xuan slowly lay down, allowing his body to relax for the first time in a while.
With his mind clearer and his goals more defined, he closed his eyes calmly.
Soon, Li Xuan drifted into a deep and peaceful sleep, unaware of what awaited him next.