Rebirth before Apocalypse: My Whole Family are Bigshots!

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: Third Rank Crystal Core

”Sis, is this dog a zombie dog?” Bai Yifan frowned while looking at the mutated golden retriever with black blood dripping from its mouth.

If not for its long orange fur, you couldn’t tell it was a gentle dog before it mutated.

”This is a mutant animal. They aren’t zombies themselves, not as mad as zombie animals, but more ferocious than ordinary animals. They’re immune to the zombie virus, and some mutant animals won’t become zombie animals even if they eat zombies.”

Bai Xiqin took out a dagger and stabbed it straight into the mutant dog’s head.

The mutant dog was already dead. Its fur had loosened a lot, making it easy to cut open its brain.

A crystal core was cut out, appearing semi-transparent and pale yellow, shimmering with brilliance.

This crystal core contained a tremendous amount of energy.

Ordinary crystal cores are white and can be absorbed by all superpower users.

The crystal cores in the brains of some high-rank zombies, high-rank zombie animals, and mutant animals can appear in different colors.

Pale yellow indicates a Gold Ability; just now, the mutant dog’s fur was as hard as iron, which is the attribute of the Gold Ability.

These special crystal cores can also be absorbed by ordinary superpower users, but it’s quite wasteful.

If absorbed by a Gold Ability User, the benefits are far greater than for other ability users.

”Lucky you!”

Bai Xiqin tossed the pale yellow crystal core to Bai Yifan.

Once the crystal core was in his hand, Bai Yifan felt the difference.

The energy on it seemed to integrate seamlessly with his own superpower.

He had a premonition that absorbing it would certainly be faster than absorbing an ordinary crystal core.

”This energy is the same as the energy in my body,” Bai Yifan said, grinning from ear to ear as he touched the crystal core.

He’s one step closer to becoming the strongest high school student in history.

”It’s a Gold Ability mutant animal; the crystal core in its brain is most suitable for Gold Ability Users to absorb,” Bai Xiqin commented.

”So animals also have different abilities!” Bai Yifan mused, rubbing his chin, ”Wouldn’t our fierce beast at home also have a crystal core in its head?”

”If you can open its brain, the crystal core is yours,” Bai Xiqin smirked.

”...Forget it.”

Bai Yifan looked at the severed throat of the mutant golden retriever, his face twitching.

It’s not worth risking his life for a crystal core!

”Let’s go, continue collecting gasoline,” Bai Xiqin waved her hand, stashing the mutant golden retriever into her space, and stood up to head out for more gasoline.

”You still want this thing?” Wang Yiyun exclaimed as she widened her eyes.

The black blood in the golden retriever’s mouth would surely turn anyone into a zombie if consumed!

”It’s for Xiao Fan to eat; it helps boost his Gold Ability!” Bai Xiqin glanced calmly at Bai Yifan, ”Just clean out the black blood from its mouth and stomach. If Xiao Fan turns into a zombie, it’s just bad luck!”

Bai Yifan: ...

He could always choose not to eat it!

”Actually, some people don’t turn into zombies even if bitten by a zombie,” Bai Xiqin reassured, patting Bai Yifan’s shoulder.

”Really? Then I don’t need to worry about being scratched by a zombie?” Bai Yifan’s expression softened slightly.

He believed as a favored child of the heavens, he must be somewhat different from others, right?

After all, his sister is a prophet.

”I don’t think our family will be that lucky,” Bai Xiqin said calmly, ”Remember - don’t let benefits fall into the pockets of others?”

Bai Yifan: ...

”Whoever wants to eat it can eat it, I’m not!”

Wang Yiyun touched her wound, still trembling at the thought.

”Don’t worry, Xiao Fan, when the time comes, I’ll personally cook it, and I won’t let you turn into a zombie!” Bai Xiqin teased.

Bai Yifan: ...

So just eating it is enough for me?

Leng Yebai happened to glance at Bai Yifan, with a hint of... envy?

Indeed, Bai Yifan received such ”favor” from Xiao Niu, which made him quite envious.

Given crystals and meat to eat, Leng Yebai openly envied him.

Bai Yifan was so unnerved by Leng Yebai’s gaze that he quickly ran back to the bus to continue keeping watch.

He totally did not understand why the unlucky brother-in-law was envious of any of this!

”Mom, let me take a look at your wound.”

Bai Xiqin held Wang Yiyun’s arm.

There was a bloody scratch on her arm; luckily Wang Yiyun dodged quickly, or the wound would have been more terrifying.

Bai Xiqin’s fingers covered the wound, and pale green energy overflowed, slowly enveloping the bloody scratch.

”Hey, it doesn’t feel as painful anymore!”

Wang Yiyun was slightly astonished, looking at Bai Xiqin’s godly green hand.

”Wood Ability represents vitality, which can heal wounds and stimulate plants,” Bai Xiqin explained.

”Really?” Bai Zhengxuan suddenly became excited, ”I also have Wood Ability!”

His lifelong dream was to become a life-saving doctor.

Unexpectedly, well into his seventies, he could still fulfill that medical dream!

Excitedly, a green vine sprouted from amidst Bai Zhengxuan’s graying hair.

Compared to before the apocalypse, the green vine was even greener.

”With good control of Wood Ability, it’s possible to become an excellent doctor,” Bai Xiqin advised, ”But you must control your ability well, otherwise Healing Ability can turn into Attack Ability.”

In the post-apocalyptic world, there are many Wood Ability Users, mostly women filling the healer roles.

Women tend to be more meticulous and have better control.

Many male Wood Ability Users primarily focus on attack, with few specializing as doctors.

”Come on, let me try!”

Bai Zhengxuan said as he prepared to heal Wang Yiyun’s arm.

”No, no, no, I think I can bear it, no need for treatment!”

Wang Yiyun quickly took a step back, decisively refusing.

It’s not that she didn’t trust her father-in-law; she was just valuing her life.

Bai Zhengxuan, an elderly three-ability superpower user, was quick to absorb energy, eager to have a justified bite at braised pork knuckles.

His energy would occasionally swell and go out of control, making him somewhat unpredictable.

She was truly afraid he’d suddenly entangle her to death with a green vine.

Throughout history, there have been conflicts between in-laws, involving both mothers and fathers-in-law.

The Bai Family was a harmonious large family seemingly free of all sorts of conflicts.

But Wang Yiyun always suspected her father-in-law wanted revenge for not giving him braised pork knuckles before!

”Am I that unreliable?” Bai Zhengxuan snapped off the vine from his head and looked at Bai Anhai, ”Next time you get hurt, don’t bandage it, tell me, and I’ll heal the wound!”

Bai Anhai: ...

See?

That’s a real dad for you!

Always hoping his own son gets hurt!

After the incident with the mutant golden retriever, the family became more cautious in their actions.

Whenever collecting crystal cores from other houses, they’d have Bai Anhai and Bai Zhengxuan take the risks first.

Once cleared, Liu Jing and Wang Yiyun would enter to collect the cores.

Bai Xiqin gathered most of the gasoline and diesel from the gas station and collected some supplies from a nearby convenience store.

They returned fully loaded.

The family reboarded the bus. Bai Xiqin rolled up her sleeves, grabbing a mutant dog’s leg to start cooking.

The mutant dog was very large; one leg was enough to feed the whole family.

The fragrant aroma permeated the bus; despite its ugly appearance, the mutant animal’s meat smelled quite appetizing.

The higher the rank of an ability animal, the tastier it was.

Once tossed in the pan for a stir, the savory aroma instantly captivated the hearts of the Bai Family.

”Smells amazing!”

Wang Yiyun stood beside Bai Xiqin, taking a deep breath.