“How is something like this even possible? Can supernatural abilities really do this?”
“No! That’s not right!”
It’s precisely because such things are possible that the true terror of these abilities is revealed!
But seriously, this power to cut off someone’s air supply is absolutely terrifying! Whether for humans or any other breathing creature, this is an extremely threatening ability.
“To be accurate, it’s not exactly cutting off the air. I’m just controlling the oxygen around your body, making it so you can’t inhale it.”
“I haven’t touched the oxygen inside your body. Right now, it’s essentially like you’re holding your breath. Given your current physical condition, holding on for five to ten minutes shouldn’t be a problem.”
Bai Xuan seemed to see what Huo Yu was thinking and explained with a smile.
Then, with a casual wave of his hand, Huo Yu found she could breathe normally again, but she couldn’t help gasping a little faster out of habit.
If it were normal breath-holding, there wouldn’t be much of an issue, since breathing is a conscious choice. But being forced not to breathe, unable to take in the oxygen you need—the fear and panic that causes is indescribable.
After a brief moment of silence, Huo Yu processed the shock Bai Xuan had just given her.
“What’s the range you can control?”
“And what about the time limit?”
There was nothing left to say. Regardless of Bai Xuan’s true ability, the mere fact that he could control oxygen was enough to make them take him very seriously.
For humans, oxygen is far too important!
Remember, oxygen is the gas that sustains normal human breathing. Without it, humans will die.
From early symptoms like dizziness, blurred vision, weakness in the limbs, and physical fatigue, to nausea, restlessness, and near suffocation—leaving a person feeling utterly powerless—until they finally lose consciousness, and then die.
Oxygen is one of the most critical factors for human survival!
Even though some experts have suggested that oxygen is actually the main culprit reducing human lifespan, and that without it, humans might live longer, the kind of human who could live without oxygen is definitely not the modern human being.
For today’s humans, it’s no exaggeration to say: no oxygen means death!
In this context, just how terrifying Bai Xuan’s ability to control oxygen is goes without saying.
Even more importantly, judging by Bai Xuan’s words, he might even be able to directly extract the oxygen from inside a human body!
What does that mean?
Let’s say, as spirit energy revives, everyone’s abilities get stronger and their bodies become more resilient. Some people might even be able to go an hour, a day, or even ten days without breathing.
Against such people, Bai Xuan’s oxygen control might seem less powerful. They could just kill him first, and then the oxygen would come back, right?
But if Bai Xuan can control the oxygen inside a person’s body, then no matter how powerful the ability user is, as long as they still need to breathe and need oxygen—no matter how long they can last without taking any in—they would die in the shortest possible time!
Take the brain, for example. If the oxygen circulation within the brain is completely cut off, the person would lose consciousness within ten seconds.
Ten seconds! Even with spirit energy revival enhancing the human essence, regarding the brain—the body’s most vital region—just how powerful would an ability user need to be to transform it? And how much longer could that transformation extend that ten-second window?
Could they kill Bai Xuan within that time?
And don’t forget, Bai Xuan’s abilities are far more than just controlling oxygen! We already know he can also control metal elements and lightning!
In terms of talent, Huo Yu didn’t think anyone could surpass Bai Xuan! Not even herself, or those prodigies from the military region!
“Range? Is that really important?”
“Or, even if I told you, would you believe me?”
Bai Xuan smiled and spoke calmly.
“Yeah, you’re right. Facing an ability like this, no matter what you say, there’s no way I could just believe it.”
“And I’m sure they wouldn’t believe it either.”
Huo Yu smiled bitterly. In the face of an ability like oxygen control, nothing Bai Xuan said really mattered.
Even if you got the complete data, people would still question its truth.
“Your abilities, man… they’re seriously terrifying.”
Huo Yu put away the documents and couldn’t help but sigh.
She didn’t know what words to use to describe Bai Xuan’s powers anymore.
Metal, lightning, and even oxygen… Could it be that he can control every natural element?
“Signing those documents is pointless now. The talent you’ve shown makes that kind of written agreement pretty much useless as a constraint.”
“Just don’t break any laws, harm the nation, or hurt the people. That’s enough.”
“But let me make one thing clear: I believe you because I’ve seen your abilities with my own eyes. Others might not be so convinced. So, unless something unexpected happens, there will probably be people coming to challenge you.”
“You can handle that however you see fit, but just don’t kill them.”
After realizing just how terrifying Bai Xuan was, Huo Yu’s tone became incredibly accommodating. Normally, she would never say something like this as an official representative.
But you have to treat talented people with a special attitude.
Especially now, during the spirit energy revival. This isn’t scientific talent we’re talking about; it’s raw physical power. If you don’t treat them well, what if they rebel?
Who knows what the upper limit of these abilities even is! What if they end up being stronger than a human nuke?
“That’s pretty accommodating of you.”
Hearing Huo Yu’s words, Bai Xuan had initially thought she was joking. There’s no way the country would give someone this much freedom, right? But now it seemed it was true.
“Like I have a choice?”
Huo Yu rolled her eyes and spoke with slight exasperation.
“I’ve looked into you, you know. Excellent grades, mature thinking, and you have your own plans for the future.”
“Normally, when it comes to recruitment by the state, neither smart people nor ordinary folks would refuse. They know the country can’t just let ability users, who gained significant power at the very beginning of the spirit energy revival, live freely among the public.”
“Because they’re unstable bombs. If they don’t go off, fine. But if they do, the public is at risk.”
“Joining the nation and accepting its monitoring is truly their best option.”
“And you, unless there was a condition that really attracted you, you were planning to refuse, weren’t you?”
“You couldn’t have possibly failed to see how the country treats its geniuses. Yet you still considered refusing. What does that tell me? It tells me you’re extremely confident in your own strength.”
“And this isn’t confidence in your future potential, but in your present strength. You believe your current abilities are enough to negotiate with the state.”
“You can’t be unaware of how powerful the state is. After all, we live in the information age. A lot of things can be looked up. Maybe not everything, but probably seventy or eighty percent.”
“Also, when you found out about me and the other ability users in the state—some similar to me, or even stronger—you didn’t show any panic. Instead, you looked relieved, like you were thinking, ‘Good, I’m not alone on this path.'”
“If you weren’t arrogant or conceited, that only points to one thing: the ability you’ve awakened is exceptionally powerful. So powerful that, even after considering all those factors, you still feel you have the leverage and the confidence to negotiate.”
