Otherworldly Affairs Office Chapter 15: What is intrinsic? What is ability?

"Instructor Hu, do you an to say that our abilities are actually because dinsional rifts have opened within our bodies?" Pei Yan asked in astonishnt as he listened to Hu Wenjun’s explanation.

"Yes, that’s correct. Fundantally, our abilities originate from alternate dinsions. So dinsional rifts open on the spatial barriers, causing energy leaks and cross-boundary activities from other dinsions, while others open within the human body, providing these individuals with a constant source of energy from alternate dinsions, granting them the energy to wield what you see as so-called superpowers, which we refer to as internal sources."

At this point, Hu Wenjun paused and extended his right hand. A ball of fiery red energy appeared in his hand. Pei Yan curiously reached out to touch it, but he already felt the heat as his fingertip was about to make contact.

Seeing this, Hu Wenjun quickly moved his hand and extinguished the light in his palm, continuing, "This situation appears randomly in the population, with no specific targeting or pattern! As for heredity, due to the few cases, it is still uncertain. What we know is that once an internal source channel forms, it becos increasingly stable, eventually forming a fixed dinsional passage within the body. As to the cause of this, there is currently no conclusion. Fortunately, this energy circulates within the body and operates as a system without adversely affecting the spatial stability between alternate dinsions and the real world."

Pei Yan clenched his right fist and struck his left palm, suddenly understanding, "Oh! So, doesn’t this an we could potentially learn their Cultivation Techniques just like those people?"

Hu Wenjun chuckled bitterly and shook his head, "You, ah, you’re too naive. Firstly, they wouldn’t teach you their Cultivation Technique for free, and secondly, even if they gave it to you, you wouldn’t be able to practice it."

"Why?"

Faced with Pei Yan’s question, Hu Wenjun looked up and pondered for a while, then gestured as he found suitable words, "For those who awaken their internal sources, most of the energy cos from two dinsions known as the principles of Dao and Magic. Cultivators and Mages have long lived in that environnt, developing their cultivation systems over the ages. No matter how incredible their abilities seem to us, there is a theoretical basis for them. Do you understand what I’m saying?"

Pei Yan thought for a mont and nodded in understanding. Hu Wenjun continued his explanation, "In their dinsion, the progress of abilities is also step-by-step and cannot be rushed. Through the so-called Cultivation Technique, they gradually sense and absorb the energy of heaven and earth, guiding it into their bodies, gradually transforming themselves to resonate with the cosmos, which allows them to perform those mighty feats. To give an example, they are like a small pond near a mighty river, accumulating more and more water gradually until it overflows and connects with the river."

Saying this, Hu Wenjun pointed to himself, "And we are like a dry swimming pool, suddenly connected to an unknown water supply, with the valve opened to pour water in. Such a pool quickly gets filled, but any overflowing water is simply lost. Moreover, the constant energy influx causes instability. If we forcibly adopt cultivation thods from other dinsions, it will be disjointed and ultimately disastrous."

"Oh, then who is superior between us and them?" After digesting the information provided by Hu Wenjun, Pei Yan asked, his fingers rubbing his chin.

"Each has their strengths. Once we awaken, our control and growth in abilities can be described as rapid compared to them. However, when reaching higher levels, our shortcomings beco apparent, suffering from overly simplistic attack thods due to reliance on individual ability traits and limitations in communicating with the energy of heaven and earth."

"Ah, so we’re like early heroes while they shine in the later stages. That’s a bit disheartening. Can our higher-ups not stand against them?" Pei Yan asked, feeling lost.

Hu Wenjun, craving a cigarette, rembered the no-smoking rule issued by that bespectacled professor, sadly licking his lips and said, "Not necessarily. In our community, there are truly exceptional individuals whose awakened abilities can be considered defying destiny. With each awakening, our swimming pool, as a reservoir, also becos larger. If they, at their highest cultivation, can borrow the power of the universe, we rely on our abilities to defy the odds."

"I like that - awakening and defying the heavens!" inspired by Hu Wenjun’s words, Pei Yan felt his youthful exuberance blazing brightly and rushed to ask, "Then, from which dinsion does my internal source originate? What level is my ability? Is it strong?"

"Want to hear the truth?"

"Of course!"

"Unclear!"

"Ahhh!!!"

After staring at each other for a good three minutes, Pei Yan couldn’t hold back his shock and asked, "How could it not be clear?"

Hu Wenjun touched his nose, sighed, extended his right hand, and conjured a kerosene lighter from thin air. Playing with it skillfully, the lighter danced between his fingers, sparking brilliantly before he finally clasped it shut, snuffing out the fla and making it vanish into nothingness once more.

"Before I answer your two questions, I need to explain the classification of our abilities. Based on our current statistics, the discovered abilities fall into three categories: Treasures of Nature and the Heavens, Heroes of Legend, and Universal Phenona." After a series of moves that rivaled a magic show, Hu Wenjun resud his explanation.

"For abilities, after our internal sources stabilize, we instinctively awaken our corresponding powers. So resonate with certain objects, like ." With that, the lighter appeared again in Hu Wenjun’s palm, transforming into a blazing fla that forced Pei Yan, who was peering closely, to retreat several steps while still feeling the residual heat.

Extinguishing the fla and blowing on his unscathed palm, Hu Wenjun leisurely said, "This type of ability is broadly categorized as Treasures of Nature and the Heavens. Those who resonate with historical or mythical figures, much like possession, are called Heroes of Legend."

"I must clarify this ability here: the figures they resonate with may not be real beings from alternate dinsions. They may be wholly fictitious, but due to long-standing oral traditions, an existence similar to Telekinesis has ford, empowering the individual. The magnitude of this power entirely depends on the ability user’s execution. Thus, if you encounter such an enemy in the future, do not be deceived by the identity of their Spirit Body; judge them based on their actual strength." Hu Wenjun specially instructed.

Pei Yan looked puzzled, "Aren’t we supposed to counter alternate dinsion invasions? Why would we fight our own kind?"

"In ti, you’ll understand the complexities of our work." Hu Wenjun glanced at Pei Yan, said aningfully.

At this point, a staff mber ran up to them, "Old Hu, the calibration on that side is complete and can begin anyti."

"Okay, I’ll finish speaking with him, and then I’ll co over." After the staff mber turned away, Hu Wenjun glanced at Pei Yan and concluded, "Finally, there is Universal Phenona. This type of ability resembles traditional perceptions of superpowers. Simply put, it’s a resonance with all things in nature, the Dao, natural elents, plants, and even words, images, ideas, and Spiritual Power, leading to awakened abilities."

"What ability do I have? Treasures of Nature and the Heavens? But I seem to resonate with more than one type of object?"

"Your ability isn’t the strangest; it’s your internal source’s peculiarity. Upon extensive investigation, your internal source doesn’t belong to any of the four primary dinsions."

"What!"