When Fu Shiwu and the group of five followed the two scientists upstairs to a spacious room, Ouyang introduced himself to everyone, saying, "I'm Ouyang Cheng, a physics PhD. This here is a PhD in biology, Zuo Chuan."
Zuo Chuan frowned and said, "Don't call me Dr. Zuo, call me Dr. Z or Z.Z, if you want."
Fu Shiwu and Tang Xuhai glanced at each other. Fu Shiwu said, "You know my name. They are Tang Xuhai, Wen Zhaoming, Miao Jia, and Liu Peiqi."
"You all came together," Zuo Chuan noted, pulling out a document from behind him. "This is your report, Fu Shiwu." His eyes sparkled as he looked at Fu Shiwu, saying, "Your body's source molecule content is four percent, yet your source cells are zero. Do you understand what this means?"
Fu Shiwu shook his head. "I don't. I'm not clear on the significance of these data. I just know that my abilities all show question marks here."
Ouyang raised an eyebrow. "So, you have abilities? What exactly are they?"
Fu Shiwu glanced at the others, hesitated, then said, "I'm not sure how to explain. It's like all my senses are heightened. Sometimes I can form clear three-dimensional images in my mind. It feels like I'm detached from my body, flying high above, looking down. Sometimes I can even see through floors, scanning underground."
Miao Jia, amazed, exchanged a look with Liu Peiqi, while Wen Zhaoming furrowed his brow.
They only knew Fu Shiwu had exceptional shooting skills and an uncanny knack for knowing things others didn't. This was the first time they heard him specifically mention his abilities.
"Is that so? Well, that's interesting," muttered Dr. Zuo, deep in thought.
Ouyang, seeing Zuo lost in thought and unreachable, addressed the others, "As you may know, the widespread outbreak of human diseases was caused by source molecules transmitted through the Firmament. Now, the surface of the entire Earth is contaminated with this substance."
Fu Shiwu and the others nodded, indicating their familiarity with this information.
"And when people developed fevers, the emergence of abilities was due to these source molecules. I'll explain how it happens." Ouyang presented a chart, explaining, "Look at this chart. This value represents the total sum of various substances in the human body. When the source molecule content reaches one and a half percent of the body's proportion, it triggers the human immune system. At this point, anyone who survives will develop a new cell in their body, called a source cell. This is a compromise for survival. These cells continuously transform, absorbing the source molecules absorbed into the body, maintaining the proportion within a certain range, enabling survival."
Pointing to another chart, Ouyang continued, "Now, our research reveals that source molecules themselves contain tremendous energy. However, this energy cannot disperse without external stimuli. Source cells, on the other hand, can harness this energy. When the number of source cells within the body exceeds one thousandth of the body's cells, abilities emerge. The types of abilities aren't specific; sometimes, they're environmental, and other times, they're based on genetics. Variations classify different types of abilities."
At this point, Ouyang took out another report from the stack of documents and held it up, facing everyone. "For example, Mr. Tang Xuhai."
"Me?" Tang Xuhai straightened up, arms crossed, looking sharply at Ouyang.
"Yes, your metal ability falls under a variant type. Your source cells differ from those of other ordinary metal ability holders. Can you tell me if there was anything unusual during your awakening process?" Ouyang politely inquired. "Of course, it's your choice whether to share."
Tang Xuhai straightforwardly said, "Nothing to hide. My fever was due to an inflammation in my leg. I had a compound fracture in my right leg, so there was a steel plate inside. When I had the fever, I found my steel plate had disappeared. Now I think my body absorbed it."
Ouyang was astonished but composed. He nodded and said, "Your experience is unique, likely causing your ability's variation."
Ouyang then presented Miao Jia's report. "Among you, the only person without an ability or variation is Mr. Miao Jia. The proportion of source cells in a non-varied human body is extremely low, sometimes even less than one thousandth, just a fraction of a percent. This data is prevalent now, but we have someone like Mr. Fu Shiwu here, who doesn't even have a single source cell."
All eyes turned to Fu Shiwu, who remained remarkably composed, showing no expression as he gazed back at Ouyang.
"It can be said that, so far, you're the only human on Earth who successfully immunized against source molecules, surviving solely by your own strength," Ouyang praised, filled with admiration. "You're more precious than giant pandas. How could biological scientists not be enthralled? If we can't find anyone else like you in the future, you'll be the last pure human on Earth!"
With this grand assertion, Fu Shiwu immediately felt a surge of pressure.
"I don't... How could that be?" Fu Shiwu, confused, said, "I was just a very ordinary person. How did this happen?"
Ouyang shook his head straightforwardly. "I don't know. It's an unsolved mystery. But I believe nature is incredibly miraculous; sometimes, it presents us with incomprehensible wonders."
Zuo Chuan blinked, seemingly coming out of a daze. In a dreamy tone, he said, "There's... one more possibility. I know it sounds unreliable, but it explains a lot. Of course, if it happened before the Firmament appeared, I wouldn't have believed it."
"What?" Ouyang looked at him, itching to interrupt his dreamlike expression.
Zuo Chuan took two steps forward, seemingly wanting to touch Fu Shiwu in reverence, but Tang Xuhai, looking displeased and wary, blocked him.
Ignoring Tang Xuhai's expression, Zuo Chuan, with fervent eyes, said to Fu Shiwu, "There's one more possibility—the possibility that Fu Shiwu himself had extraordinary abilities before the Firmament appeared. These abilities gave him an exceptionally strong defense. I think... he might have been what legends describe as a unique functionalist."
"What?!" Miao Jia looked at Zuo Chuan in astonishment.
Liu Peiqi blinked, hesitatingly saying, "Are you saying... our leader is like those X-Men, a superhuman from the legends?"
"Hahaha!" Tang Xuhai burst into laughter. "This idea is too ridiculous!"
Fu Shiwu found it quite humorous too. He nodded in agreement, saying, "I was really just an ordinary person before. Truly, there was nothing exceptional about me."
Tang Xuhai thought Zuo Chuan was getting more and more absurd. He scoffed, "Yeah, I can v
ouch for that. We were neighbors for two years. Not only was he ordinary, but he was even a bit of a shut-in!"
"That's not necessarily true." Ouyang stood calmly aside, supporting his friend's argument. "Before an opportunity arises, those with potential often seem very ordinary. Perhaps without the stimulus of source molecules, Mr. Fu Shiwu's superpower might never have emerged. He'd have just continued living his ordinary life."
"Do you really think you had nothing exceptional about you from childhood to now? Think carefully," Zuo Chuan asked earnestly.
Fu Shiwu shook his head. "Nothing."
"Alright! Listening to them is a complete waste of time!" Tang Xuhai impatiently grabbed Fu Shiwu, taking him away. "Your research isn't thorough enough. Fu Shiwu's ability might just be a kind of superpower!"
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