Chapter 557: The Two Ice Souls
After the great battle with the Followers of the Snow God, the entire city fell into silence.
The major factions were all devastated, no longer capable of expanding their territories. Or rather, expanding territory had lost all meaning.
Among the remnants of the Followers of the Snow God, only a dozen people survived, including Li Jian and his wife.
Gathering those who had escaped the catastrophe, they established a new, peaceful home centered around St. John’s Cathedral.
One unexpected benefit came from the disaster—fewer living people meant resources were no longer as scarce.
The Followers of the Snow God had stockpiled enough supplies to sustain thousands, and with only a dozen survivors, they could now live quite comfortably.
Moreover, there was no longer anyone to fight over these resources.
The three surviving bases—Qingpu, Yangsheng, and Chaoyu—had suffered severe losses but managed to retain their foundations and continue surviving.
All three factions reached out to Zhang Yi, pledging their allegiance and begging for his protection.
However, Zhang Yi had no interest in becoming the ruler of Tianhai City.
All he wanted was to live in peace, undisturbed.
So, he simply told them to live their lives and not to bother him again.
Despite this, the three factions frequently tried to curry favor with him, sending him supplies as gifts.
But Zhang Yi lacked nothing at home.
The only time he was pleased was when Chen Jingguan and his people brought him fresh seafood.
Everything seemed to be settling into a peaceful rhythm.
But Zhang Yi had been focused on something else—studying Yang Siyah, who had awakened her Superhuman Energy through an Ice Soul.
With Yuan Kongye dead, Zhang Yi wasn’t sure if those who awakened their powers through Ice Souls would be affected in any way.
He still had two Ice Souls in his possession.
If Yang Siyah showed no adverse reactions, he would consider giving them to Zhou Ke’er and the others.
After all, in the apocalypse, having another life-saving ability was beneficial for both individuals and the team.
Ten days passed in a flash, and Yang Siyah showed no abnormalities.
Following Zhang Yi’s orders, Zhou Ke’er conducted daily check-ups on her, while Zhang Yi personally examined her in every possible way.
When he confirmed that there were no negative side effects, he finally relaxed.
"So, the Ice Soul acts as a kind of catalyst. It unlocks a person’s mutation potential without causing harm."
"The only drawback disappeared with Yuan Kongye’s death."
"Which means… it’s now a pure treasure!"
With that realization, Zhang Yi immediately decided to use the remaining two Ice Souls.
He summoned Yang Xinxin, Zhou Ke’er, and Lu Keran to his room and carefully explained his plan.
"I’ve confirmed that the Ice Soul still works even after Yuan Kongye’s death. I have two Ice Souls left, and they can be used by you."
"But… there are three of you, and only two Ice Souls."
"You are all important to me, and I don’t want to show favoritism. So, I’ll leave the decision up to you."
Yang Xinxin was the team’s strategist and a top-tier hacker.
Lu Keran was a mechanical engineer.
Zhou Ke’er was a doctor.
Each of them had immense value.
Zhang Yi didn’t want to create resentment by making the choice himself, so he let them decide.
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Keran and Zhou Ke’er’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
Of course, they wanted to awaken their Superhuman Energy.
After seeing what Superhumans could do, it was impossible not to be envious.
Surprisingly, Yang Xinxin remained calm.
"I don’t need it. Give the chance to them," she said indifferently.
Zhang Yi and the others were stunned.
This was a treasure that everyone in the apocalypse dreamed of, yet Yang Xinxin was giving it up without hesitation?
She explained, "My mind is my greatest power. Compared to me, they need this ability more."
Zhang Yi thought about it and nodded in agreement.
Yang Xinxin’s intellect was her true strength.
Having been paralyzed for years, she had long adapted to relying on her mind over her body.
As a support specialist, she wouldn’t get much use out of an ability anyway.
On the other hand, both Zhou Ke’er and Lu Keran clearly longed for this opportunity.
By stepping back, Yang Xinxin made the decision easier.
Lu Keran looked at her and hesitated. "Are you sure, Xinxin?"
Yang Xinxin smiled gently. "I’m sure. Don’t worry about me. Go and get your abilities."
Her eyes carried a soft warmth.
Seeing her resolve, Lu Keran and Zhou Ke’er stopped hesitating.
Their eyes burned with anticipation as they stared at the wooden box in Zhang Yi’s hands.
Opening the box, Zhang Yi revealed two silver-white Ice Souls.
"You already know how to use them—just place them on your forehead."
As he spoke, he watched them closely, ready to intervene in case anything went wrong.
Lu Keran and Zhou Ke’er eagerly took the Ice Souls.
The orbs felt ice-cold to the touch, soft and slightly elastic—almost as if they were alive.
Pressing them to their foreheads, the Ice Souls quickly melted into their skin and fused into their brains.
Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin watched in anticipation.
The fusion process was swift.
Both of them had strong constitutions, so unlike Yang Siyah, they didn’t suffer from rejection.
Still, they lay on Zhang Yi’s bed, letting their bodies adapt to the foreign power.
Zhang Yi sat nearby, patiently waiting for the changes to take effect.
After about ten minutes, Lu Keran was the first to recover.
She was drenched in sweat, her forehead, neck, arms, and chest covered in tiny droplets, as if she had just run a ten-kilometer marathon.
Physically, she looked the same, but Zhang Yi noticed that her eyes seemed sharper—like a pair of glistening black diamonds.
"How do you feel? Did it work?" Zhang Yi leaned forward curiously.
Lu Keran took a deep breath, still panting.
Then, with a gleam of excitement in her eyes, she looked at Zhang Yi and grinned.
"Big Bro, I did it! I awakened my Superhuman Energy!"