"Hmm?"
In the midst of deep contemplation, Chen Wei suddenly sensed a scattering of tiny specks from every direction.
They flickered like fireflies against the night sky, emitting a soft green glow.
Yet, they instilled in Chen Wei a profound sense of familiarity.
Gradually, these green specks of light began to converge towards his body.
"What's this?"
Startled, Chen Wei sprang to his feet, snapping out of his meditative trance.
"System, those green light dots I just felt, what were they?" Chen Wei inquired.
The System reassured him, "Host, there's no need for concern. You've encountered life energy! It can be absorbed into your body, enhancing your strength!"
Upon hearing this, Chen Wei gasped in amazement, "That was life energy?"
"Yes," confirmed the System. "The Earth's environment has undergone a complete transformation, now conducive to the cultivation of all life forms. This explains the sudden mutations in those creatures."
The System elaborated, "Toxins merely acted as a catalyst. The underlying cause is the life energy. Life forms that failed to harness this energy have been eradicated by the new conditions. The surviving mutants are the result of uncontrolled, rampant life energy that has yet to be properly managed."
"As you've seen on television, there are creatures that have evolved beneficially, awakening dormant abilities due to the effective channeling of their life energy," the System added.
With a nod of understanding, Chen Wei replied, "I see, that makes sense now."
"Continue your cultivation, Host. I shall leave you undisturbed," the System concluded.
Chen Wei couldn't help but smile at the System's almost human touch. Yet, he was amused by its relentless ambition for him to conquer the universe—an aspiration he didn't share. For now, he would simply go with the flow.
*Ring ring*
Just as Chen Wei settled back to resume his cultivation, his phone interrupted with its insistent ring.
He furrowed his brow at the caller ID.
It was Li Depiao.
He had already sold ten thousand kilograms of wheat to Li Depiao. What more could he want?
"Hello?"
Annoyance tinged Chen Wei's voice, his cultivation disrupted.
"Wei, it's me, Li Depiao. I've got some friends here who've heard you've still got food. They're all keen to make a purchase. What do you say?"
Li Depiao's voice emanated from the phone.
"Li Depiao!"
With a furious shout, Chen Wei barked, "You think just because you bought grain from me, you can gloat? I want no further disturbances, got it?"
Without another word, Chen Wei ended the call, showing no regard for the other party's dignity.
Elsewhere, Li Depiao had just returned home with his haul when he shared the good news with a few friends. They requested he make a call on their behalf, but to their surprise, Chen Wei cut the connection abruptly.
On the streets of the small town, a slight figure lurked in a shadowy nook, having witnessed Li Depiao's return with a cartful of grain. In a blink, the figure dashed toward the street's end, soon vanishing from sight.
Once assured of safety, the slender shadow pulled out a phone and dialed a number.
"Mayor, I've seen Li Depiao bring back another cart of grain!"
"Yes, absolutely certain!"
"I'll keep a close watch on Li Depiao. Mayor, I trust you'll keep your word."
"Of course, of course, thank you, Mayor. Thank you."
Scenes like this unfolded in every corner of the town. With the Earth's environment drastically altered, food had become scarce. As a major food supplier, Li Depiao found himself under the watchful eyes of many.
Within half an hour, Li Depiao's house was encircled by a crowd of influential town figures – the mayor, the secretary, business magnates, underworld leaders, and even police officers.
Cornered by this mob, Li Depiao and his wife clung to each other, shivering with fear. In this dystopian world, status meant nothing when faced with a life-or-death crisis. The group's malevolence was laid bare.
"Li Depiao! Won't confess? What's this stash in your house, huh? Dog shit?" one sneered.
"Exactly! You think you can deceive us? You're asking for trouble," another accused.
"Divvy up the grain. Li Depiao must have another hiding place for it," they concluded.
"Exactly, take everything," they said, and with that, they got to work. Their subordinates joined in, and they moved with a speed and efficiency that suggested they were racing against potential thieves.
Li Depiao watched in despair as the ravenous pack stripped him of his sustenance. "Brothers, please, leave me something," he pleaded. "I have nowhere to hide it. I risked my life crossing over a dozen mountains to buy this."
"You bought it?" someone scoffed.
"Do you actually believe he bought it? With the way things are, where could any crops possibly grow?"
"It's clear these are freshly harvested, not old stock."
"Li Depiao, stop stalling! Where have you hidden the rest of the food?"
As Li Depiao watched his hard-earned provisions being plundered in the blink of an eye, the thought of death crossed his mind. Now, under the threat of these brutes, his heart plummeted into an abyss.
"I'm sorry, Wei, I have no choice but to give you up," Li Depiao muttered through clenched teeth, then revealed how he had acquired the food from Chen Wei.
"You're saying you actually bought this?"
"People can still grow crops?"
"Or is it robots doing the planting and harvesting?"
"Where is this place?"
"Spit it out, where!"
Li Depiao's wife, usually the fierce matriarch of their home, was now as meek as a mouse in the face of these menacing figures, crying out of sheer terror.
"So you won't talk? Fine, I'll start by chopping off one of your wife's hands! Let's see if that loosens your tongue!" The thug with the black hair grabbed Li Depiao's wife and drew a flexible knife from his belt. With a swift flick, the blade straightened, rigid and ready.
He pinned her hand to the table, lifting the knife high, poised to strike. Her screams filled the air, but to no avail.
"Stop, please don't cut her! I'll talk, I'll tell you everything!" Li Depiao cried out, desperate to save his wife from a gruesome fate.
____
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