Zhang Ping felt something was off.

He glanced at his hands, and in the next moment, they transformed into pure water.

“...”

The tent fell into a sudden silence. Liu Sishan’s eyes widened as she watched Zhang Ping’s entire body dissolve into a puddle of liquid.

It took her about a minute to process what had happened. Finally, she stepped forward with a serious expression and bent down near the puddle. She carefully dipped her finger into the liquid and frowned. “Pure water?”

At that moment, Zhang Ping’s voice emerged from the liquid. “Sisi, you just poked my stomach.”

“Zhang Ping, you’re still alive?” Liu Sishan retracted her hand, her tone full of surprise.

“I think so,” Zhang Ping replied. “But this state feels... weird. Give me a moment to adjust.”

The sensation he was experiencing was unlike anything he’d ever felt. His body seemed to have become a single unified entity.

No, that wasn’t quite right.

It was as if his entire being had transformed into a mass of water.

Still not accurate.

How could he describe it?

He no longer had a head, neck, torso, arms, or legs, yet he felt he could form them at will. In fact, he realized he could generate multiple heads if he wanted, even reshape his entire body to consist solely of heads.

But it wasn’t easy to control.

Zhang Ping focused on adapting. Slowly, he attempted to grow an arm, then another beside it.

No, that wasn’t right.

He realized he’d gotten it wrong and tried again, starting with a shoulder before attaching an arm to it.

Liu Sishan stood nearby, watching as Zhang Ping painstakingly reassembled himself into a humanoid shape bit by bit.

Finally, after half an hour, Zhang Ping managed to restore his form—but it was a human-shaped figure entirely made of water, not the appearance of an actual human.

Liu Sishan stared at the Water Man version of Zhang Ping and asked, “Zhang Ping, can you turn back to normal?”

“I think I can, but I haven’t figured out how yet. Let me identify myself first,” Zhang Ping replied.

He raised his watery hand and activated his Identification Skill immediately.

【Identification Complete】

【Summoned Beast：Zhang Ping】

【Master：Zhang Ping】

【Race：Human】

【Potential：⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐】

【Lifespan：99】

【Level：Beginner Level Awakener】

【Grade：9】

【Talent】

【Contract Gem: Consuming physical and mental energy to condense a Contract Gem. Once the target voluntarily accepts, their life, soul, and consciousness will be controlled by the Summoner, but they will also gain the Summoner's potential and luck. After the first use, subsequent uses will slightly enhance the user’s potential and have a 1% chance of awakening a new talent. PS. The talent abilities gained by Summoner Zhang Ping, derived from overdrawn intelligence, potential, and luck, are extremely powerful, but they also carry a great flaw—ambition may not always be a good thing.】

【Absolute Command: You have absolute control over Summoned Beasts. Your orders are unconditionally obeyed.】

【Absolute Obedience: You must obey the Summoner's orders without question.】

【Classic Identification Skill: Can be used to identify a target, with a 60% chance of obtaining target information. The first identification is guaranteed to succeed, and for subsequent identifications of the same target, the success rate will increase to 100%.

PS: This talent ability was born from the curiosity of both Summoned Beast Zhang Ping and Summoner Zhang Ping.】

【Nether Mist Night Walker: Grants Night Vision, significantly reduces presence at night, greatly increases movement speed, and decreases body weight. When in the shadow, complete invisibility is achieved. When the body is enveloped by Nether Mist, presence is drastically reduced.】

【Fire Eater: This ability allows the user to recover stamina by consuming flames and convert excess fire into elemental energy stored within the body. Upon releasing this energy, the user temporarily gains the Flame Wreath effect, which lasts until the stored fire energy is depleted.

Additionally, this ability gradually enhances the user's resistance to high temperatures.

PS: Potential is merely potential. Only when it is realized as strength does it become true power.】

【Wind Whisperer: The wind will bring you all sorts of messages, whether you want to know them or not.

PS: There are no walls that the wind cannot pass through, and no secrets the wind doesn't know.】

【Mutant Eater: When consuming special items, there is a 10% chance of gaining the corresponding special physique.

PS: Why does this kid eat everything?】

【Body of Nether Mist: Can absorb the fear of creatures and convert it into controllable Nether Mist.

PS: Your fear, my nourishment!】

【Body of Pure Water: The body can transform into a pure water state. While in this state, it can absorb water to restore physical strength and heal injuries.】

...

Sure enough, another ability had been added.

Zhang Ping closed the status screen, feeling like today was his lucky day.

Not only had his strength increased significantly, but his abilities had also become far more versatile.

He now felt fully confident about challenging opponents above his level. Forget about Intermediate Level—he believed that even against Advanced Level Awakeners or Mutated Beasts, he might stand a fighting chance.

“How is it? Can you change back?” Liu Sishan asked with concern.

Zhang Ping’s transformation was, in a way, her responsibility. If Zhang Ping had to live the rest of his life in this non-human form, she felt duty-bound to help him return to normal, no matter what it took.

“Yes, I can!” Zhang Ping replied with a smile.

From the description of his new ability, it was clear that his body could transform into a pure water form, which meant it should also be possible to revert back.

However, the exact method of reversing the transformation still needed to be figured out. After all, this ability had appeared out of nowhere, and he wasn’t even sure whether it was a result of the Contract Gem or the effect of Mutant Eater.

"Body of Nether Mist, Body of Pure Water..."

If the Body of Nether Mist is indeed the effect of Mutant Eater, then it’s highly likely that the Body of Pure Water is as well.

So far, most of the abilities granted by the Contract Gem are categorized as various 'roles'—Night Walker, Fire Eater, Wind Whisperer, Mutant Eater. However, the abilities derived from Mutant Eater seem to manifest as different 'forms.'

Zhang Ping speculated in his mind.

He couldn’t be entirely sure his guess was correct—after all, there was always the wildcard of the Identification Skill.

However, based on his hypothesis, Zhang Ping believed that the Body of Nether Mist and Body of Purified Water must share similarities. He focused his concentration, carefully attuning to his body. Slowly, his form began transitioning back into a human shape.

In the blink of an eye, he transformed from a Water Man back into a human.

“It worked!”

He opened his eyes, clenched his fists, and smiled with joy.

Then he noticed that all his injuries had vanished, and his body was completely clean, spotless as if freshly washed.

“Put some clothes on first!” Liu Sishan threw a clean set of clothes at him, turning her back to avoid looking at him.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Zhang Ping quickly put on his clothes. Only then did he realize he had been sitting on his old clothes, which were now covered in dust.

Body of Purified Water could also repel impurities?

Curious, he transformed his arm into water and swept the dust from the ground. Sure enough, the water arm remained pristine and unsullied.

“Go on, finish eating the Saltfrost Berry. Don’t let it go to waste.”

Liu Sishan turned back around, noticing Zhang Ping still holding his water-formed arm. She huffed in mild annoyance.

She couldn’t deny feeling a bit envious.

Zhang Ping’s growth was happening far too quickly—especially the Body of Purified Water. It was an ability she had long dreamed of possessing.

If she could transform into purified water, her strength would increase by at least 200%. She’d even have the confidence to take on Top-Level Awakeners.

And this transformation had happened overnight.

It confirmed her suspicions—Zhang Ping’s ability wasn’t Ineffective Rank, as their school had assessed, but rather Infinite Rank.

Infinite Rank was incredibly powerful, almost guaranteeing its user would become a legendary figure.

It reminded her of her most respected captain, Situ Shibai. Not only was he long-lived, but his abilities were nearly omnipotent, serving as the cornerstone of their entire team.

But she didn’t envy others' powerful abilities.

As Situ Shibai once said:

Every Awakener desires power beyond the ordinary, and every ability reflects an Awakener's deepest yearnings. The stronger the ability, the greater the price that must be paid. Some prices are clearly marked, while others remain invisible—only revealing themselves when payment becomes due.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, Liu Sishan woke Zhang Ping.

The two of them headed to a secluded valley. Zhang Ping munched on a compressed energy bar as he asked, “Sisi, what’s the plan for today?”

“We’re going to test your new abilities. Your growth rate is too fast, and I need to reassess whether my original plan is still suitable for you,” Liu Sishan replied.

Zhang Ping’s face fell, and he sighed bitterly. “Sisi, I honestly think your plans weren’t much use. If I hadn’t been lucky last night, that rabbit alone would’ve been the death of me.”

“...”

Liu Sishan said nothing, merely looking at Zhang Ping calmly.

The silence stretched between them.

Finally, Zhang Ping raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright! Let’s do it—let’s test.”

“Then let’s begin.”

Water lights shimmered around Liu Sishan, forming several water spheres in quick succession.

A stream of water lashed out like a whip at Zhang Ping. Instead of dodging, Zhang Ping shifted into his Body of Purified Water, allowing the whip to hit him directly. As the water merged into his form, Liu Sishan immediately felt her control over the water weaken.

“As expected... This ability counters mine perfectly!”

Liu Sishan thought to herself.

Awakeners, especially those with elemental abilities, naturally countered and complemented one another.

When she saw Zhang Ping’s Purified Water Form last night, she had a gut feeling that her usual attacks wouldn’t be effective against him.

His body was entirely composed of water, and the only water she could manipulate was her own. She couldn’t influence natural water or water created by other abilities.

Next, she tried attacking him with ice spikes and boiling water. Despite unleashing a barrage of attacks, Zhang Ping remained unharmed.

Although, his screams during the ice and boiling water attacks were particularly loud.

“Sisi, are we done yet?” Zhang Ping asked weakly.

In truth, his Purified Water Form wasn’t invincible. Fire, lightning, ice, boiling water—even punches—could all harm him. However, ordinary injuries could be healed by absorbing water molecules from the air, making it seem like he was unscathed.

But this healing had its limits. If the damage exceeded his capacity to recover, he would still die.

Liu Sishan encased herself in a water bubble and said, “Now it’s your turn to attack me. Let’s see how strong your offensive abilities are.”

“Oh, now this I like.” Zhang Ping nodded eagerly.

The moment he finished speaking, a Nether Mist Flying Bladematerialized an inch from Liu Sishan’s forehead, piercing straight through her protective water bubble.

Liu Sishan stared in shock at the dagger hovering near her brow, unable to react for a long moment.

If Zhang Ping had harbored any killing intent just now, she wouldn’t have had time to defend herself.

Though her carelessness was partly to blame, the Nether Mist ability was terrifying. Even an Advanced-Level Awakener, if caught off guard, could easily fall victim to it.

“Sisi, why does the Nether Mist Mutated Beast’s ability deal damage far beyond its level?” Zhang Ping waved, and the Nether Mist Flying Bladedissolved into black mist, returning to his hand. He asked curiously.

Liu Sishan snapped out of her daze and explained, “Some scholars speculate that the Nether Mist Mutated Beast might be the descendant of a King-Level Mutated Beast. If it inherited certain traits from its King-Level ancestor, its ability could naturally deal damage surpassing its tier.”

“King-Level, huh?”

Zhang Ping couldn’t help but think of the Lunara Prince.

If the Nether Mist Mutated Beast was extraordinary due to its King-Level Bloodline, then what about the Lunara Prince?

And what about the Lunara King, who was inherently King-Level?

The more Zhang Ping thought about it, the more despair crept in.

He wasn’t even sure if Mingzhu City could be saved anymore.