CHAPTER 1651: CHAPTER 51: POWER ENHANCEMENT

Lin Weiguo handed the Cosmic Sharp to Dantai and patted his shoulder with a big smile. As the vice team leader, he should have weapons befitting his status.

"Thank you!" Dantai, living up to his composed demeanor, thanked Jiang Xiuming politely. He received the sword yet didn’t examine it immediately, merely hanging it casually at his waist.

"You can pick one of the remaining two pieces of equipment!"

Tang Zheng, refusing to seem petty, gestured generously.

As soon as these words came out, Pang Meiqin and Fang Zhiwen frowned slightly, instinctively wanting to intervene but unsure how to phrase their objection.

"Haha, no need." Jiang Xiuming waved dismissively. "Hurry and divide them already. It looks like the underground palace is about to collapse."

Cracks spread across the wall as debris and fine sand fell, stirring up choking dust.

"Idiots, Uncle foresaw this outcome long ago." Lu Fan showed no surprise—only half the Tiger Talisman was here. Even if Jiang Xiuming got it, it wouldn’t matter. As for the other item, the healing-system flask, if he had a bit of sense, he wouldn’t touch it.

"Give the flask to Xueqi," Tang Zheng nodded and continued the distribution.

Dantai glanced at Jiang Xiuming inconspicuously. For someone who was very concerned with saving face, especially after experiencing death once, such a person wouldn’t take drastic steps to break off relations directly. A special agent could break through his guard and integrate him genuinely into the team. But if it were Yu Deye, Dantai might consider eliminating potential hazards in advance.

"Brother Tang, I’m also in the healing system." Fang Zhiwen protested meekly, tugging on Tang Zheng’s sleeve and putting on a pitiful expression.

Gu Xueqi, who had reached for the flask, froze and glanced at Tang Zheng.

"Don’t worry about her. It’s yours." Tang Zheng frowned slightly, but even a fool could see through his decision-making. "What stage are you at now?"

"Sorry, I haven’t reached Hero Level yet." Gu Xueqi had been trying her hardest, but for someone as naturally rational as her, breaking through was exceedingly difficult.

"Drink it, and you’ll be Hero Level." Tang Zheng refused to allow the school beauty to decline, pressing the flask into her hands.

Fang Zhiwen looked like an aggrieved young wife, brimming with resentment, twisting a corner of Tang Zheng’s clothes tightly with her fingers.

"Cold-hearted Tang Zheng! So heartless." The white, rich, and beautiful woman was utterly frustrated. Even after giving him her body, he still didn’t know to show her tenderness.

The team members noticed the unusual closeness between the two but wisely chose not to pry, even averting their eyes from the subtle actions.

"This b*tch needs a lesson." Pang Meiqin ground her teeth, nearly cracking silver ones in rage—how dare these lowlifes aim for her man?

"Doesn’t Tang Zheng have a specialized healing Daylily? She could drink it too." Li Huiwen, knowing she had no hope herself, tried her luck in asking Tang Zheng.

Qin Wang’s Immortal Elixir, 3S-grade rare potion—obtained in special scenes, rumored to be the result of Xu Fu commanding thousands of virgin boys and girls to venture to Penglai Island and returning with immortal nectar. When consumed, levels can rise by one stage, and healing-system magic power increases exponentially depending on the user’s aptitude.

"A one-stage leap—if Tang Zheng reached Hero Fourth Order, wouldn’t he be invincible?" Dong Zixuan suggested maximizing benefits. "Di Jingfei would be nothing, crushed outright. Then we’d reign as Asia’s top team!"

The others’ eyes lit up—not being overshadowed anymore would feel amazing, and everyone wanted a comeback.

"Tang Zheng, you should drink it instead!" Although Gu Xueqi begrudged giving it up, she hadn’t reached the point where she couldn’t let go. She knew what choice to make.

"Stop fighting over it. You drink." Tang Zheng shook his head.

"Quit hesitating, Gu Xueqi. Drink it." Mu Nianqi broke into the group’s bickering. "By the time Tang Zheng reaches this stage, even consuming unique potions won’t propel him directly by one stage. Fire Seed wouldn’t do it either, not to mention how inferior this elixir is compared to those two levels below. Such items bring the greatest boost only below Hero Level."

No one doubted Mu Nianqi’s expertise.

"There’s one thing I’ve always been curious about—Tang Zheng, what exactly have you fused with? Your life energy seems to generate incessantly, endlessly surging. At this rate, you might accumulate enough to blast into Hero Fourth Order soon." Mu Nianqi glanced at Tang Zheng. The stronger someone was, the sharper their perception of ambient energy. To her, this guy resembled a magnet, endlessly absorbing energy to remodel his body. Even Bingxu likely didn’t possess such a colossal energy throughput.

"Not sure." Tang Zheng admitted candidly.

"Your recovery is incredible. If it comes to a prolonged fight, no one can match you," Mu Nianqi commented out of curiosity, stopping short of probing Tang Zheng further, switching instead to making suggestions.

"Don’t waste time. Hurry up and drink."

Tang Zheng nodded. He had already noticed these abnormalities—not only did his injuries heal exceptionally fast, but his life energy recovered at breakneck speeds. Keeping incoming damage within limits, he could even maintain a perpetual motion-like state.

"Thanks!" Gu Xueqi opened the flask. A strange white mist with a peculiar fragrance immediately drifted out.

The mist morphed into children playing gleefully in a bamboo grove, their laughter ethereal before reverting to vapor. Then scenes of a woman giving birth unfolded—her shrieks chilling, followed by a baby’s cries as it took its first breaths...

"Are you sure about drinking this?" Even the steady-minded Gu Xueqi looked at the eerily shifting white mist with some apprehension.

"If you won’t, give it to me," Fang Zhiwen sneered at Gu Xueqi, muttering under her breath, "Pretentious b*tch."

The flask contained around 300 ml of liquid. Gu Xueqi tilted her head back and drained it in one go.

"What’s it taste like?" Watching the school beauty’s cheeks flush as if tipsy, her steps unsteady, Lu Fan asked curiously, poking her thigh lightly with his finger.

"It’s bitter at first—then an unbelievably refreshing sweetness." Gu Xueqi grasped Qin Yan’s extended arm and leaned against her.

With a thunderous burst, dark red life energy poured out, scattering dust from the ground—Gu Xueqi had entered Hero Mode.

"The Immortal Elixir can instantly raise someone by one stage. It feels even more potent than Cosmic Sharp." Chu Baichuan licked his lips. If not for the restriction that only one could use it, he’d have pleaded to get some for his wife.

"Even among unique props, quality varies greatly. Witch’s Blade and Undamaged Lake Light rank as top-tier, on par with Tiberium Command Book and Four Seas Scroll, but below Earl Qian Nian’s Nibelung Ring." Mu Nianqi educated the group. "Regardless, even supreme equipment needs compatibility to achieve ultimate power output."

"How’s Uncle’s compatibility?" Lu Fan grabbed a bottle of mineral water, twisted the cap open, and handed it to the school beauty.

The school beauty thanked him profusely, touched by the gesture. She thought about how she couldn’t have been this generous in Tang Zheng’s place. "Sigh, now I owe even more favors. How will I ever repay him?"

"Aww, is Sister Xueqi going to be so moved she’ll offer herself to him?" Lu Fan quipped, figuring Tang Zheng would hit the jackpot. With Gu Xueqi’s stubborn personality, she’d likely sacrifice herself instead before failing to repay kindness.

"Around thirty percent compatibility, I’d say. Unique props can merge with their users to achieve secondary liberation, but Tang Zheng’s got a long road ahead." Mu Nianqi’s comments were merciless on the surface but held underlying admiration. This guy’s growth rate was astonishing; given enough time, he’d undoubtedly reach Bingxu’s level.

"Strength isn’t just about weapons and attributes but also IQ, experience, combat instincts, and mental resilience. I believe Tang Zheng, even at his current level, would stand a fighting chance against Di Jingfei or Bingxu," Dantai remarked thoughtfully, stroking his chin.

"Agreed—battlefield dynamics shift in an instant. Sometimes a single detail determines victory or defeat." Lu Fan nodded. "Xueqi and Bai Guo are prime examples."

"Are you calling me stupid?" The Natural Stupid pouted, her expression crestfallen.

The group had initially sunk deep into thought, but this comment lifted their spirits with laughter again.

Qin Yan, smirking slightly, patted Bai Guo’s head comfortingly.

"The Tiger Talisman was wasted—there’s only half of it." Xu Biyun licked her chapped lips, looking a bit dispirited—she was injured.

"Bai Qi contributed the other half." Tang Zheng merged the two Tiger Talismans. A bronze-toned nebula radiated outwards, seemingly coming to life, imbued with a soul-crushing sense of murderous intent.

Qin Wang’s Tiger Talisman, 3S-grade rare, an evolutionary-type equipment capable of summoning Warring States generals to assist. They retain portions of their skills from their mortal lives and can form defensive armor suited for summoning-system users.

"Take it, Biyun." Without waiting for the group to interject, Tang Zheng handed it to the gamer girl.

"I don’t want it." Xu Biyun quickly declined, caught in her spiraling self-doubt.

"Tang Zheng, based on past experiences, you’d benefit the most from ancient military figures. Using the Tiger Talisman would offer immense gains." Jiang Xiuming was in awe of Tang Zheng’s generosity, truly believing his intentions were sincere rather than pretentious.

"We’ll give one to Biyun next time when something suitable comes along." Dantai stopped Tang Zheng from acting impulsively. This wasn’t the time for reckless actions.

"Just use it yourself. I’m not going to the Holy Land anyway." Xu Biyun felt like crying—she truly wanted to continue alongside everyone.

No one complained; Biyun couldn’t keep pace with the team anymore. If she stayed, she’d only drag them down.

Tang Zheng, who wasn’t skilled at comforting people, became speechless for a moment, venting his frustration on the Tiger Talisman instead.

Upon using it, black heavy armor draped over him, enhancing defense but lighter than leather armor. Moreover, the summoned generals were now the legendary Warring States figures.

"Isn’t this the infamous ’God of Slaughter’ Bai Qi?" Fang Zhiwen exclaimed, startled—she hadn’t forgotten the countless massacres attributed to him.

"Li Mu, Wang Jian, the Meng Brothers too... You’ve hit the jackpot this time." Yu Deye, envious of the power exuding from these generals, couldn’t help but grumble—Tang Zheng’s summoned forces alone could topple most Hero Second Order combatants.

"What’s going on with this knight?" Tang Zheng finally found time to ask about the female knight clad in complete medieval armor standing beside Tao Ran.

Back during the Qin Shi Huang confrontation, this knight merely protected Tao Ran and didn’t engage in combat, leaving her purpose shrouded in mystery.

(To be continued. If you enjoy this story, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)