《Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies》 Chapter 1: Rebirth After the Apocalypse "Pain, such intense pain!"Zhang Yi''s entire body was engulfed in excruciating pain. This wasn''t just a sensation; it was a harsh reality happening to him. At this moment, he was being mercilessly beaten by friends and neighbors he once trusted and helped. Punches, kicks, and even sticks rained down on him. In this resource-scarce post-apocalyptic world, they didn''t care about Zhang Yi''s previous help and attacked him without hesitation. As he lay dying, he vaguely saw his dream girl, Fang Yuqing, standing at the back of the crowd. She pitifully shouted, "I made him open the door. Give me an extra share of the supplies!" It was this woman who tricked Zhang Yi into opening the door, leading to his death. Zhang Yi looked at her with eyes full of hatred and regret. He could only blame himself for being too foolish and kind-hearted, becoming a stepping stone for others in this apocalyptic world. He wished he could do it all over again. If he had the chance, he would not show anyone mercy and live for himself! Suddenly, Zhang Yi''s vision went black, and he lost consciousness. But the next moment, he abruptly opened his eyes and sat up from the couch. The hellish scene he had just experienced and the terrible pain were still vivid in his mind. Zhang Yi gasped for air, his body quickly soaked with sweat. "Whats going on? Wasn''t I killed by those beastly neighbors?" Coming to his senses, Zhang Yi began to examine his surroundings. This place was familiar; it was his own home. The comfortable temperature in the air felt oddly surprising. In December 2050, Earth was hit by a global Cambrian storm caused by the explosion of a supernova 500,000 light-years away. Global temperatures plummeted. In Tianhai City, where Zhang Yi lived, daily temperatures were minus sixty to seventy degrees Celsius. Blizzards lasted a month, burying the entire city. It was said that in northern China, temperatures reached a terrifying minus one hundred degrees, and the land was covered in ice and snow. Various species went extinct on a large scale, and even humans lost more than ninety-five percent of their population in this disaster. Zhang Yi stood up and took a bottle of water from the fridge, drinking more than half of it. Although the chilled water was icy, to him now, it was like nectar. In the apocalypse, people could only get water by going out in the extreme cold of minus sixty to seventy degrees, and digging snow to melt into water. This task could quickly freeze people to death. After drinking the water, Zhang Yi looked at his phone. The display showed the date "November 12." There was still a whole month until the apocalypse. "Looks like I''ve been reborn." Zhang Yi took a deep breath and quickly understood what had happened. That month''s experience couldn''t have been a dream, especially the pain of being dismembered; it was too real. Zhang Yi raised his head, feeling incredibly grateful for his second chance. At the same time, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. He remembered clearly who had killed him. In this life, he would live well and wouldn''t show mercy to those beasts. Moreover, he had to take revenge on those animals while ensuring his safety. But now, Zhang Yi first needed to consider how to survive the apocalypse a month later. Zhang Yi''s living conditions were relatively good. His parents had died early, and he had inherited a 120-square-meter house in Tianhai City. He also had over 2 million in savings, which would be pretty comfortable in ordinary times. However, when the apocalypse came, the world would face a severe shortage of resources. His savings wouldn''t last long. To survive, he needed a massive amount of supplies. With the chance to prepare in advance, Zhang Yi not only wanted to survive but also to maintain a certain quality of life in the future. Food, entertainment, everything needed to be taken care of, or long-term survival would drive him crazy. Moreover, weapons and equipment were essential to ensure his safety and complete his revenge on the neighbors. Just then, a beam of white light suddenly appeared before Zhang Yi. He thought his right eye was blurry and rubbed it. Suddenly, a strange idea emerged in his mind. It seemed this white light was a part of him, and information about it appeared in his brain. With a thought, Zhang Yi''s consciousness entered the white light. Inside, he found an enormous white space. He had no idea how big it was; it was just a vast expanse of whiteness. "Is this... a interdimensional space?" "Looks like I gained some special abilities after being reborn." Zhang Yi''s heart leaped with joy. It seemed the gamma rays had mutated his body, giving him extraordinary powers. With this enormous space, storing supplies for the apocalypse would be much easier. However, Zhang Yi wanted to know how much this space could store and whether there were any limitations. His consciousness returned to his room, and he started trying to put things into the space. He began with cups and basins, which quickly went in. Then he tried larger appliances. Television, fridge, washing machine, computer, air conditioner, vacuum cleaner. The white space accepted everything. Moreover, Zhang Yi could retrieve items from the space with just a thought. However, some objects subjected to strong external forces and not existing independently couldn''t be stored, like trying to remove a floorboard from the groundit did not react. "The interdimensional space seems to have many rules I need to explore." "But just this huge space that can store objects will allow me to hoard massive resources!" He licked his lips, a bold plan forming in his mind. Zhang Yi worked as a warehouse manager for Walmart''s South China warehouse. As the world''s largest supermarket, Walmart''s inventory had everything one could think of. In China, there were three giant warehouses: Central China, South China, and North China. These warehouses were incredibly massive, especially the South China warehouse. Built in 2040, it was 1500 meters long, 720 meters wide, and covered over a million square metersthe world''s most giant warehouse! Walmart''s Greater China president hailed it as the world''s eighth wonder! Of course, the world officially recognizes only seven wonders, and the so-called eighth wonders are self-proclaimed and number in the thousands. However, the size and storage capacity of the South China warehouse indeed dominate the global warehousing field. Its regular supplies could sustain millions of people in several cities for a week. In other words, if Zhang Yi could empty one warehouse and move everything into his space, he would have enough supplies to last several lifetimes! The critical point was Walmart''s strict quality control. The warehouse contained no low-end, substandard brands. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Food, household goods, and luxury items were all reputable brands. If Zhang Yi could empty a Walmart warehouse, he wouldn''t be free from worrying about supplies for the apocalypse; he would live quite comfortably. As the warehouse manager, Zhang Yi was extremely familiar with every shelf, surveillance equipment, and staff schedule in the warehouse. Emptying the warehouse wouldn''t be difficult for him. Having made up his mind, Zhang Yi felt much more relaxed. "Grumble~" Just then, Zhang Yi''s stomach protested loudly. He rubbed his belly and glanced at the yellow braised chicken rice on the table. After hesitating, he smiled and shook his head, deciding not to eat the takeout. "There''s only a month until the apocalypse. I should enjoy the good food while I can; I won''t have the chance later. Why be so stingy with myself?" Having endured cold and hunger for a month, Zhang Yi was eager to eat something hot and delicious. What''s the point of saving money now? After the apocalypse, money would become worthless paper. It was better to spend it all now and not waste it. Zhang Yi turned cheerfully, deciding to treat himself to a luxurious meal at a high-end restaurant he had previously been barely able to afford. Chapter 2: Femme Fatale Chapter 2: Femme FataleZhang Yi stepped out of his home, greeted by a tranquil scene brimming with human joy and serenity. Numerous parents played with their children in the neighborhood square, their faces adorned with happy smiles. But Zhang Yi knew that all this would turn into nothing but bubbles in a month. He quickly walked out of the neighborhood. Not far away, there was a Michelin three-star restaurant. A meal there would cost at least five to six thousand, and Zhang Yi had never been willing to splurge on dining there before. But now, he didn''t care at all. Having returned from the dead, he needed to celebrate properly! Upon entering the restaurant, Zhang Yi found a window seat and ordered all the most expensive dishes, along with a bottle of Lafite wine. This extravagant meal cost him fifty thousand yuan. Even the waiters in the restaurant looked at Zhang Yi with ambiguous expressions, assuming he must be a wealthy heir. After all, who else would eat such expensive food in one sitting? Zhang Yi ignored what others thought. He began to devour the food when the table was filled with delicious dishes. Perhaps because he had endured six months of an ice-bound apocalypse, the delicious food moved him to tears. His voracious eating drew the attention and gossip of the surrounding diners. But Zhang Yi couldn''t care less. In the apocalypse, people would kneel and bow for a pack of instant noodles. When that time comes, all civilization and morality will turn to dust. While Zhang Yi was eating in the restaurant, a woman passing by the window stopped in her tracks. She was a woman with long, flowing hair and delicate makeup. She wore Gucci high heels and carried an LV handbag. This woman was Fang Yuqing, the one who had killed Zhang Yi in his previous life. Beside her was her good friend, Lin Cainin. The two women couldn''t help but take a few more glances at the Michelin three-star restaurant as they passed by. They both longed for such a luxurious place, but their finances prevented them from splurging there. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. However, this didn''t stop them from scrutinizing the interior, hoping to spot a wealthy young man they could hook up with. To their surprise, Fang Yuqing spotted Zhang Yi inside, with a table full of top-tier food in front of him. "Isn''t that Zhang Yi? How does he have the money to eat here?" Fang Yuqing exclaimed. Lin Cainin was equally shocked, covering her mouth, "Is Zhang Yi really that rich?" As she spoke, she gave Fang Yuqing an ambiguous look and laughed, "Yuqing, you''re fortunate! The guy chasing you turns out to be a hidden rich kid." "Look at that table of food. It must cost at least fifty or sixty thousand. How can an ordinary person afford such an expensive meal?" Lin Cainin''s tone was envious. She knew that Zhang Yi had been pursuing Fang Yuqing for two and a half years. But Fang Yuqing had always kept Zhang Yi on a string, neither rejecting nor accepting him. Fang Yuqing was a total gold digger. She always believed she could marry a quality rich guy and become a young mistress. But she couldn''t bear to give up on Zhang Yi, who had a car and a house in Tianhai City. So, she always kept Zhang Yi as a backup. Her backup principle was: not proactive, rejecting, or committing. Seeing Zhang Yi enjoying a luxurious meal worth tens of thousands today made Fang Yuqing start to doubt. "Could it be that Zhang Yi is actually a hidden rich kid?" Fang Yuqing rested her chin in her hand, pondering. The more she thought about it, the more she felt it was possible. "Right, isn''t this a common plot in TV dramas?" "Someone who is very wealthy but pretends to be ordinary to find true love." Fang Yuqing believed her own words, her eyes lighting up. If that were true, she could save a lot of effort. After all, Zhang Yi had been pursuing her, and she believed that if she just nodded, Zhang Yi would immediately propose to her. Lin Cainin urged, "Yuqing, let''s go inside and find Zhang Yi!" In truth, she was eyeing the delicious food on the table. This was a Michelin three-star restaurant. Ordinary people wouldn''t get to taste such delicacies in their lifetime. Fang Yuqing hesitated momentarily but shook her head, "That wouldn''t be good! It might make him think I''m a gold digger." "Let''s wait outside and pretend to bump into him." Fang Yuqing wasn''t foolish. She wouldn''t lower her stance just for a meal. Even if Zhang Yi was wealthy, she had to maintain her goddess demeanor. Only then, when they were together, could she control Zhang Yi and keep him as her devoted admirer. So the two of them hid not far from the restaurant, waiting for Zhang Yi to come out. Zhang Yi ate for over an hour, happily rubbing his round belly. The taste of the Michelin three-star food was ordinary, but to someone reborn from the apocalypse, it was enough to move him to tears. Next, he planned to buy supplies at a nearby supermarket. This was to test the storage capacity of his interdimensional space, to avoid any problems later. Although he was confident about moving supplies from Walmart, it was better to be cautious. Having experienced hunger, he couldn''t allow any accidents. Zhang Yi happily paid the bill and walked out of the restaurant under the waiters'' enthusiastic smiles. At that moment, a familiar voice rang out. "Zhang Yi, what a coincidence!" Zhang Yi turned his head and saw Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin. Fang Yuqing tucked her hair behind her ear, deliberately exposing her fair neck and pink earlobes. Zhang Yi sneered inwardly. This classic green tea trick was designed to make men feel moved unintentionally. As a top drama queen and femme fatale, Fang Yuqing naturally knew this well. But unfortunately, the current Zhang Yi was no longer the naive admirer he once was. Not long ago, this woman had caused his death, a miserable and tragic death. She had even intended to break his ribs to make soup! Thinking of this, Zhang Yi''s gaze turned cold, filled with naked killing intent. Anyway, the apocalypse would soon arrive, and even killing her wouldn''t be a problem. Should he finish her off? Fang Yuqing shivered under Zhang Yi''s gaze and nervously said, "Zhang Yi... what''s wrong?" Zhang Yi quickly restrained his gaze and said lightly, "Nothing, I mistook you for someone else." He suddenly changed his mind. Letting this woman die so easily would be too lenient. Besides, killing her now would likely lead to legal consequences. Zhang Yi didn''t want to be in jail when the apocalypse came. It was better to let her experience the despair of the apocalypse before dealing with her. With the element of surprise on his side and his memories from before his rebirth, Zhang Yi had a hundred ways to make her die in agony. So, for now, there was no need to deal with her. The most important thing now was to build the safest refuge, ensuring he could live safely and comfortably in the apocalypse. Chapter 3: Shopping and Stockpiling Chapter 3: Shopping and StockpilingZhang Yis attitude towards Fang Yuqing was decidedly frosty. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin sensed something was amiss. However, after mistakenly believing Zhang Yi was a concealed wealthy heir, they didn''t get angry at his coldness but instead became more eager to approach him. After all, a bit of temper in a rich man is seen as a mark of distinction! Hey, Zhang Yi, were you dining at this restaurant just now? Lin Cainin said, feigning nonchalance. Zhang Yi frowned slightly. This woman was no better than Fang Yuqing; they were both of the same ilk. She had a hand in the food that tricked him and caused his death. Yes. Zhang Yi replied coldly, then turned around and walked towards the supermarket with his hands in his pockets. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin hurried to catch up. Zhang Yi, where are you heading? Fang Yuqing asked with a gentle smile. To the supermarket. Zhang Yi''s voice remained cold, tinged with impatience. If it weren''t for his desire to let her experience the despair of the apocalypse, he would have already killed her. Fang Yuqing glanced at Lin Cainin and quickly said, What a coincidence! We were just about to buy some things, too. We can go together! Zhang Yi had already figured it out by now. They must have seen him eating lavish at the Michelin three-star restaurant and mistakenly thought he was a hidden rich kid. That''s why they were suddenly so enthusiastic. He couldn''t be bothered to say anything to them and just headed towards the supermarket. The more indifferent he was, the more Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin believed he was a wealthy heir. Otherwise, how could he be so audacious? The two followed closely by Zhang Yi''s side, with Fang Yuqing occasionally brushing up against him on purpose. Whenever Zhang Yi looked at her, she would shyly turn her head, blushing like a bashful maiden. Zhang Yi sneered inwardly. Drama queen, youre quite the actress. If you went into movies, youd surely win an Oscar. Zhang Yi entered the supermarket, grabbed a shopping cart, and walked inside. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin quickly grabbed carts and followed him. Zhang Yi, were you dining with someone? Fang Yuqing asked with a smile. Zhang Yi approached the food section, responding coldly, Cant I eat alone? Fang Yuqings eyes lit up, and she quickly said, Oh, I didnt mean that. Its just that the food there is so expensive. I thought you might have been treating someone. Lin Cainin couldnt help but ask, Zhang Yi, you only make about ten thousand a month, right? That meal must have cost you half a year''s salary. Looks like your family left you quite a bit of money. Fang Yuqing glared at Lin Cainin harshly. Idiot, how could you say such a thing? As a top drama queen, the most important rule is: talk about romance with the rich and money with the poor! Realizing her mistake, Lin Cainin quickly tried to cover up. Haha, I was just kidding. Were all good friends, and money doesnt really matter. But Zhang Yi completely ignored them. He reached the food section and looked at the shelves full of goods like he was entering a treasure trove. In his previous life, he knew what it was like to make a pack of instant noodles last two days. So he had an infinite desire for food. Zhang Yi went straight to the shelves and threw food into the cart. Sausages, instant noodles, self-heating hot pots, and condiments were all bought in large quantities. His actions left Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin stunned. Zhang Yi, why are you buying so much food? Are you going camping? Yes. Zhang Yi replied indifferently. Lin Cainin grew suspicious and whispered to Fang Yuqing, Would a rich heir take this kind of food camping? Fang Yuqing was also puzzled but didnt want to give up the idea that Zhang Yi was wealthy after remembering the Michelin three-star meal. She hurried over to Zhang Yi and said eagerly, Do you need any help? With free labor available, Zhang Yi had no reason not to use it. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Plus, seeing Fang Yuqings pretend innocent smile sparked a desire for revenge in him. He had a month to prepare for the apocalypse. Building a perfect shelter to ensure his safety wasnt difficult. As for living supplies, he could get them from the Walmart warehouse. This way, he could ensure he lived safely and comfortably during the apocalypse. Why not let Fang Yuqing know he was storing supplies and have her come begging him later? As for Fang Yuqing leaking his whereabouts and attracting those bastard neighbors, that was easily solvable. He wouldn''t have to worry about being besieged as long as his safe house was strong enough. Instead, he could counterattack those neighbors! Thinking about their helplessness, Zhang Yis smile turned a bit twisted. Yes, this was indeed an option worth considering. Zhang Yi decided to contact a security company to build such a safe house. If feasible, he would go with this plan. If not, he would leave the city and find a secluded wilderness to build an underground shelter. This was a two-pronged strategy. Zhang Yis lips curled up slightly. You can help push the cart. Fang Yuqing quickly agreed. Zhang Yi also had Lin Cainin fetch another cart. Although they were filled with doubt, they did as told. Zhang Yi bought many non-perishable food, including instant noodles, sausages, preserved meat, and canned goods. He also filled one cart with fresh meat, fruits, vegetables, and some live fish. He wanted to test if his interdimensional space had any special effects on storing fresh goods. With three carts full of supplies, Zhang Yi had the cart full of beef, lamb, and canned goods pushed by the two women. It must have weighed at least five hundred kilograms, leaving them sweating profusely. Fang Yuqing pouted and complained, Zhang Yi, how many people are you feeding? Are you planning something and not telling me? Zhang Yi chuckled coldly and said, Weather is unpredictable. What if the world ends one day? I''m just stocking up on supplies! Zhang Yi was telling the truth, but no one would believe him. This had already been proven by a doctor named Li. Fang Yuqing thought Zhang Yi was joking and laughed, If you dont want to tell, just dont. Why joke like that? But you have to treat me to a meal for helping you so much today! Fang Yuqings eyes were full of expectation. She hoped Zhang Yi would take her to a Michelin three-star restaurant. Zhang Yis lips curled slightly, Sure, but I''m busy lately. Maybe next month. Fang Yuqing happily replied, Great, its a deal then! Lin Cainin quickly added, Yeah, lets all go together! Helping push a cart and getting a fancy meal in return made her very happy. Seeing Lin Cainins lack of awareness, Fang Yuqing glared at her again. But Lin Cainin pretended not to notice. Zhang Yi went to pay, spending over ten thousand yuan on supplies. He paid without batting an eye. These supplies would be worth tens of thousands of times more in the apocalypse! They could even be priceless. At that time, no matter how much money you had, you might not be able to buy a bite. Because Zhang Yi bought so much, the supermarket generously lent him the carts. Zhang Yi unhesitatingly ordered the two women to help push the supplies home. He could have driven his car to transport the supplies, but with free labor, why not use it? The two women complained about being tired, but they were motivated by the promise of a fancy meal. So, the three of them pushed the three carts of supplies back to the neighborhood. Chapter 4: Booking 500 Tables at a Five-Star Hotel Chapter 4: Booking 500 Tables at a Five-Star HotelZhang Yi and the two women pushed the three large carts of supplies back to the neighborhood. Along the way, many neighbors witnessed this scene and couldn''t help but start gossiping. Zhang Yi no longer cared about being seen stockpiling supplies. Since these two drama queens knew about his shopping spree, the news couldn''t be kept under wraps. If he were just trying to ensure his survival, he could sell all his assets and retreat to a desolate place to build an impregnable fortress. But how could he avenge himself on the neighbors who had dismembered him alive in his previous life that way? Without killing those people, Zhang Yi''s inner torment would never disappear. So, one of his post-apocalyptic plans was to stay in this neighborhood and exact brutal revenge on everyone who had wronged him! Of course, this plan''s prerequisite was that the security company could build him an impregnable shelter. Otherwise, he would still need to prepare a backup plan, which involved constructing an underground shelter in a remote location. Zhang Yi looked at the neighbors around him, who were smiling and gossiping about why he had bought so many supplies. He could already foresee the scene of these neighbors trying to break into his house to rob him during the apocalypse. He had experienced all this firsthand. But he wasn''t afraid because this time, he would be fully prepared. He intended to make those people see the supplies but unable to obtain them, ultimately driving them to despair. Zhang Yi and Fang Yuqing lived in the same apartment building. Because Zhang Yi managed the warehouse at Walmart, neighbors often asked him to help buy discounted items. Thus, everyone knew Zhang Yi. Seeing Zhang Yi and the two women returning with so many supplies, a grandma with her grandson walked over. She looked at the food in the carts, especially the fresh beef and lamb, and couldn''t help but feel tempted. "Zhang, why did you bring back so much stuff? Is it from the warehouse clearance?" "You can''t use all that; how about sharing some with the neighbors?" This was Aunt Lin from the neighborhood committee. She often used her small power in the community to boss around the neighbors, acting like a leader. In the past, she frequently asked Zhang Yi to help her buy discounted goods, as she loved getting bargains. In the previous life, she had also pestered Zhang Yi for some food. But when the neighbors stormed Zhang Yi''s house to rob him, she was more energetic than the younger people. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin didn''t want to provoke this woman, quickly saying, "These are all Zhang Yi''s purchases. We just helped him bring them back." Aunt Lin''s eyes immediately turned to Zhang Yi, smiling, "Zhang, it looks like these are from your warehouse. How about sharing some with Aunt Lin?" As she spoke, her grandson, Xiaohu, had already climbed onto one of the carts and grabbed a box of chocolates. Although he was young, he had a sharp eye. That box of imported chocolates sold for over two hundred yuan in the supermarket. Without a word, Zhang Yi snatched the chocolates back. He stated coldly, "Im keeping these for myself." s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. With the apocalypse approaching, he couldn''t be bothered to be polite anymore. Aunt Lin''s face turned soured, "You..." Zhang Yi''s outright refusal embarrassed her in front of the neighbors, and made her angry. Especially since her grandson, Xiaohu, started crying for the chocolates after being pushed away by Zhang Yi. He even pointed at Zhang Yi and cursed, "You bad guy, give me back my chocolates! Or I''ll beat you up!" Zhang Yi looked at him coldly and said sternly, "Say another word, and I''ll slap you." Xiaohu was scared into silence, then burst into loud sobs, rolling on the ground. Aunt Lin hurried to comfort her grandson and angrily reproached Zhang Yi. "How dare you, an adult, argue with a child?" "It''s just a box of chocolates. What''s wrong with giving it to the kid?" "Why don''t you just give him a box? I''ll pay you back later. We wont take advantage of you!" Zhang Yi sneered. Nowadays, with mobile payments, paying on the spot is incredibly convenient. Her talk of paying later was clearly an excuse to avoid payment. "I said these are for my own use. If you want some, go buy them at the supermarket!" Zhang Yi chuckled coldly, then called Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin to leave. As they walked away, they could hear Aunt Lin cursing behind them. Zhang Yi ignored it. Aunt Lin''s son and daughter-in-law worked elsewhere, leaving her alone to care for her grandson. The old lady usually bought groceries daily. So when the apocalypse arrived, their supplies would be the first to run out. In the previous life, Zhang Yi had helped them out of sympathy. But without his help this time, the immoral old woman and her mischievous grandson would be lucky to survive ten days. Zhang Yi had no intention of arguing with soon-to-be corpses. It''s not that he was heartless, but everyone would struggle to care for themselves once the apocalypse arrived. Others'' lives naturally came after his own. After pushing the three carts of supplies home, Zhang Yi dismissed the two women. "Zhang Yi, don''t forget to treat us!" Fang Yuqing said playfully, winking at him. But Zhang Yi only felt nauseous at her coquettish behavior. He gave a perfunctory response. The two women initially wanted to stay and look for clues that Zhang Yi was a hidden rich heir. But seeing his disinterest in hosting them, they had to leave. After they left, Zhang Yi opened his interdimensional space and stored all the supplies inside. He intended to observe whether the supplies would change after being stored in the space. After completing this task, it was already late. Zhang Yi didn''t rush to rest but took out paper and pen to meticulously plan the next month''s preparations. Although he was usually lazy, the will to survive could unleash immense potential. "To live comfortably in the apocalypse, first, I need to secure food. That''s easy." "Besides my regular purchases, I can get more from the warehouse. But I must proceed cautiously and only gather supplies a few days before the apocalypse to avoid attracting attention. Getting arrested now would be fatal." Zhang Yi wrote "Food" in his notebook and ticked it off. "Next is heating." "After the apocalypse, energy supplies will be extremely scarce, and air conditioning will soon become unusable." "Therefore, I need to use the simplest method. A fireplace is the best option!" Fireplaces are similar to traditional Chinese kang beds, using primitive methods to generate heat. This is a common way to survive the long winters in Europe, where winters are especially cold. "That means I need to remodel the house, preferably adding insulation." Thinking about remodeling, Zhang Yi recalled how his home was broken into in his previous life, making him anxious. "I need to turn my home into an impregnable fortress." "First, I need to install thick steel plates or alloy materials, strong enough to withstand explosions." After the apocalypse, people would do anything to survive, so thorough preparations were necessary. He couldn''t afford to gamble with his safety. Having tasted death once, he never wanted to experience it again. The security house problem could also be solved. Tianhai City had security companies that provided services for the elite, including building safe houses. Zhang Yi remembered reading about a top billionaire overseas who built a super fortress capable of withstanding small nuclear attacks. "Next, I need to ensure I have enough medicine. I can''t risk falling ill without treatment." "Walmart''s warehouse has plenty of common medications for colds and fevers, but that''s not nearly enough." "The post-apocalyptic storm will last for decades, so I need to be fully prepared." Fortunately, Zhang Yi had good connections in Tianhai City. As a warehouse manager, he knew people in hospital storage departments. He could get any medication he needed if he offered enough money. With these issues resolved, Zhang Yi tapped his notebook with his pen. "There''s one more critical issue to address." His gaze sharpened. "That is weapons!" Humanity would lose its moral compass in the apocalypse, and fights for resources would be commonplace. Lives would be as insignificant as weeds. To survive, one must have sufficient combat power. Zhang Yi wasn''t a martial arts expert; even the best fighters feared a well-wielded knife. He wouldn''t have to worry if he had prepared enough powerful weapons. "Machetes, crowbars, and axes are easy to get." "Bows, crossbows, and air rifles can be sourced too." "But the most formidable option is American-style cutlery. However, acquiring this within the country would require accessing the black market." "Going abroad to get it? That''s impractical. It''s a long trip, and I don''t have a foreign firearms license, so I can''t just buy from weapon stores." Zhang Yi scratched his chin. This problem wasn''t immediately solvable. But with a month left, he should be able to find a way if he was willing to spend money. He spent three hours crafting a perfect plan, then took a satisfying hot shower and fell asleep in his comfortable bed. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi got up from bed. He hadn''t slept well, waking up from nightmares several times. When he woke up and realized he was still in his warm, comfortable bed, he breathed a sigh of relief. The apocalypse had left a deep scar on his psyche. To avoid repeating past mistakes, Zhang Yi was more determined than ever to be fully prepared! After getting up, Zhang Yi made himself breakfast. He then opened his interdimensional space to check the status of the supplies stored overnight. To his delight, the meat, fruits, and vegetables were as fresh as the day before. Meat''s condition might not show much quickly, but fruits and vegetables typically lose freshness overnight. However, stored in the interdimensional space, they looked as fresh as the day he bought them. "My interdimensional space must be independent of this world''s time flow, perhaps even slowing or stopping time. This is fantastic news!" "Now, I can store as many things as I want without worry." Thinking this, countless items came to Zhang Yi''s mind. What about prepared meals if he could store fresh meat, vegetables, and fruits? Though he could cook, he wasn''t as skilled as professional chefs. Eventually, he''d get tired of his cooking. So, Zhang Yi immediately called Tianhai City''s largest five-star hotel, Grand Fortune. This hotel offered takeout, and their food was top-notch, which Zhang Yi loved. "Hello, this is Grand Fortune. How can I assist you today?" Zhang Yi quickly said, "I need to book 500 tables for a three-day feast at my home." The person on the other end was stunned. Five hundred tables would take a long time to prepare. Moreover, being a five-star hotel, their cheapest banquet table costs thirty thousand yuan. Five hundred tables would total over ten million yuan! The staff didn''t dare decide alone and quickly said, "Please hold, I need to consult our manager." After a while, another person took over the call. "Good day, sir. I''m Chen Dingfang, the manager of Grand Fortune. How may I address you?" Chapter 5: Loaning Money Chapter 5: Loaning MoneyZhang Yi responded, My name is Zhang Yi. Is there any issue with me ordering 500 tables of banquets? The manager was taken aback. Such an order was unprecedented in the hotels history. However, such a large order would definitely be accepted. Mr. Zhang, 500 tables will cost over a million yuan. If you want to proceed, we will start preparing immediately, but we will need a 200,000 yuan deposit upfront. Zhang Yi replied, No problem. Send me your account details, and Ill transfer the money. With money, things get done quickly. The manager readily agreed, added Zhang Yis contact information, and then sent him the bank account details. Without hesitation, Zhang Yi transferred the 200,000 yuan. Upon confirmation of the deposit, the manager immediately mobilized all departments. Hurry, weve got a big order! Tell the procurement department to stock up, and the kitchen should halt all other delivery orders! We need to prepare 500 tables of banquets within a day! ... On the other end, after hanging up the phone, Zhang Yi couldn''t help but sigh, Although money will be useless in a month, it''s still necessary for purchasing things now. He had about 2 million yuan, the combined inheritance from his parents and his own savings. Now, half of it was gone. It was a bit painful, to be honest. But then he thought, this wasn''t necessarily a bad thing. Many people had piles of cash that later turned into worthless paper. Not everyone had the chance to spend their money. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. However, there are still many expenses ahead, and I need to find a way to get more money. Zhang Yis eyes fell on his house. The property, located in the central ring of Tianhai City, covered 120 square meters and was built 10 years ago. It was worth over 4 million yuan per square meter at market prices. That meant the house was worth at least 5 million yuan. Got it, I can mortgage the house for a loan, and theres the money! Zhang Yi chuckled. Once the loan was taken, he wouldnt need to repay it, which was quite a comfortable thought. He immediately left home and drove to the bank to apply for the loan. On the way, he received a message from Fang Yuqing. Zhang Yi, weekends are so boring. I wish someone could accompany me for a walk. Zhang Yi glanced at it and tossed the phone aside. He arrived at the bank to process the loan. Given the large loan amount, complete documentation, and the fact that the house was fully paid off, the loan was approved swiftly, though the bank only granted him 4 million yuan. Zhang Yi didnt haggle. After all, it was essentially free money, and he didnt have the time to argue with the bank. After signing the documents, the bank transferred the money to his account. Now, after spending over a million on banquets, I still have about 5 million yuan. Remodeling the house should be enough. But I still need to buy a lot of medicine and weapons. This money might not suffice. Zhang Yi stroked his chin, contemplating how to get more money. At that moment, a guy with dyed yellow hair noticed Zhang Yi, deep in thought and approached him with a gleam in his eye. Hey, buddy, need some cash? Zhang Yi looked up at the guy. Who are you? The yellow-haired guy''s smile deepened, and he lowered his voice, Im asking if you need money, and the bank won''t lend it to you? Zhang Yi instantly understood the guys intentions. He must be a loan shark! An idea struck Zhang Yi. He sighed, pretending to be troubled, Yeah, my family''s business urgently needs funds. But the bank... Zhang Yi trailed off, looking troubled. The yellow-haired guy seemed to understand immediately. Anyone who could get a bank loan wouldn''t turn to loan sharks. He said to Zhang Yi, Yeah, banks are strict nowadays, with all sorts of rules, and loans take forever to get approved. But if you need money urgently, I can help you. Zhang Yi eyed the guy cautiously. You? Can you really help? I need several million. The guy''s eyes lit up excitedly hearing it was a big deal. He took out a business card and handed it to Zhang Yi. Our company specializes in helping people in urgent need. If you need money, look no further! Zhang Yi glanced at the card, which read Duoduo Loan Financial Services Co., Ltd. The guy''s title was Sales Manager Hu Minghua. Zhang Yi pretended to be excited, Can you lend me money quickly? I need 5 million. If you can help me through this tough time, I guarantee I can repay it within three months! Hu Minghua laughed, Thats negotiable. Our company is competent. Were here to help people like you who need funds urgently. Lets discuss this at our office. With a look of anticipation, Zhang Yi nodded and followed Hu Minghua to their company. The so-called company was in a secluded office building. Upon entering, Hu Minghua led Zhang Yi to the boss''s office. The loan companys boss was a burly man wearing a high-end Benetton suit, clearly trying to project a legitimate business image. However, there was a certain menace in his demeanor. Years of hustling in society would give someone that air. Hu Minghua introduced Zhang Yis situation to the boss, Manager, this is the client who wants to borrow money. The boss, Chen Xiong, smiled and invited Zhang Yi to sit. Mr. Zhang, how much do you want to borrow? True to a loan shark''s nature, the conversation was straightforward and blunt. Such companies were inherently illegitimate and didn''t follow many rules. They had ways of ensuring repayment, so they werent worried about defaults. Zhang Yi said, I want to borrow 5 million. Chen Xiong frowned, Oh, thats not a small amount. But Mr. Zhang, let me warn you that our interest rates are very high. You should understand that. Hu Minghua chimed in, Mr. Zhang''s business urgently needs funds. Once the business turns around, the money can be repaid quickly. Right? The two of them played off each other, which Zhang Yi noted with amusement. Feigning eagerness, Zhang Yi said, Yes, I can repay it quickly. A higher interest rate is fine as long as you lend me the money. Chapter 6: Building the Ultimate Safe House Chapter 6: Building the Ultimate Safe HouseChen Xiong''s face lit up with a smile. Great. Our interest rate is 4%. You borrow 5 million, and youll have to repay 7 million. So, you need to give me an IOU for 7 million. Additionally, you must have sufficient collateral. Houses, factories, cars, anything of value. Zhang Yi pretended to hesitate momentarily, then gritted his teeth and took out the property deed. He had used this for the bank loan, which was still on him. My house is worth over 5 million. Ill use it as collateral. I also have a Mercedes worth 300,000. If I cant repay, you can take it too. Chen Xiong had never encountered such a straightforward client before and quickly took the property deed to inspect it. After verifying the information, he felt even more satisfied. According to the current market price, that house was worth at least 5.5 million! With the car added, there was no way he could lose on this deal. However, Chen Xiong still expressed dissatisfaction. Mr. Zhang, your house is worth at most 5 million. If you want to take 5 million from me, Id be at a loss. Zhang Yi looked desperate and said, Mr. Chen, you have to help me! I urgently need the money. If you can get me the money today, I''ll settle for 4.5 million! Chen Xiong and Hu Minghua exchanged glances, amusement gleaming in their eyes. They were in the business of exploiting desperation. The more urgent someone needs money, the harder theyd fleece them! No, no, this deal isn''t worth it. Finally, after some haggling, they agreed on 4 million. However, Zhang Yi demanded that the money be transferred to his account that day. Though heartless, the loan company was highly efficient. After signing the contract, Zhang Yi quickly received 4 million in cash in his account. He chuckled inwardly. For Chen Xiong, this money was as good as thrown at the dogs, and it was never returned. Hmm theres something self-deprecating about that analogy. Zhang Yi happily walked out with the money. As he left, Chen Xiong and Hu Minghua''s laughter echoed from the office. Ha ha ha! This deal was way too easy. That fool actually walked out with 4 million. Chen Xiong said smugly, Well make at least 2-3 million from this deal. No worries about this months performance now! Hu Minghua leaned on the table, laughing, Boss, he signed the contract so easily. Could there be an issue with the house? Holding the property deed, Chen Xiong smiled, The deed is real, no issues. As long as the house is his, he cant escape. With the property deed and the 7 million IOU, they had ways to take over that house. Not only that, they had more methods to squeeze Zhang Yi dry completely. Chen Xiong sipped his coffee elegantly. If worse comes to worst, we can contact overseas organizations and see if he has any valuable organs to sell. We never do a losing deal! ... Zhang Yi left the loan company, grinning. He glanced back at the office building with a hint of disdain. Theyre so generous, giving me money for free. From now on, Zhang Yi would have no dealings with Chen Xiong and Hu Minghua. More likely, they would perish in the apocalyptic cold wave a month later. Zhang Yi now had about 9 million yuan in his hands. Enough to execute his plans. After all, with every purchase from now on, he could use prepayment methods. That 9 million would have the purchasing power of tens of millions! There is no need to scrape more funds; otherwise, he wouldnt mind milking various online lending platforms. Zhang Yi drove to Tianhai City''s renowned Zhanlong Security Company. Zhanlong was one of the largest security companies in China, specializing in services for billionaires and celebrities. Sometimes, even government officials hired them for protection. Zhang Yi chose them because he had heard in his previous life that Zhanlong had built a billion-dollar top-tier safe house for the wealthiest heir in Jiangnan Province! That heir, from a real estate tycoon family, lived lavishly even during the apocalypse, thanks to the safe house Zhanlong built for them. Zhang Yi arrived at Zhanlong and explained his needs to the receptionist. A staff member from the business department promptly escorted Zhang Yi to a lounge. The receptionist served him freshly brewed coffee. Shortly after, a burly man with a crew cut entered the room. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He wore a black suit, giving off an impression of a refined brute. One couldn''t help but worry that his suit might burst from his muscular frame. But such a person instilled a sense of security in clients. Hello, sir. My name is Wu Huairen, business manager. How can we assist you? Wu Huairen sat beside Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi sipped his coffee and said, I need you to build a safe house for me. One that can withstand the apocalypse, the highest level of safety. Upon hearing this, Wu Huairen''s expression turned serious. To others, such a statement might sound laughable. But for Zhanlong, it was no joke. The wealthiest and most powerful people often feared death the most. Years ago, billionaires abroad had spent billions on apocalypse shelters. In recent years, many wealthy people worldwide have followed suit. Some genuinely feared large-scale natural disasters. Others had too many enemies and sought extra security. Zhanlong''s doomsday shelters emerged to meet this market demand. Wu Huairen became more courteous upon hearing Zhang Yi''s request for an apocalypse-grade shelter. Such large orders were rare annually. Mr. Zhang, Zhanlong is a world-class security company. We can certainly meet your requirements. Zhang Yi immediately asked, If I need you to remodel a room on the 24th floor, can you do it? Wu Huairen found this request peculiar. Typically, such shelters were standalone villas or underground bunkers. Few wealthy individuals chose to build shelters in apartments. But Zhanlong aimed to please its clients. Wu Huairen confidently replied, Absolutely! Were the top security company globally. With our technology, we can fulfill your request. Hearing this, Zhang Yi was satisfied. If so, he would turn his house into a safe house! He chose to stay to witness the demise of those who had wronged him. Wu Huairen handed Zhang Yi a tablet. Our services are customized. You can select what you need from here, with corresponding prices listed. In the digital age, communication was convenient. Zhang Yi took the tablet and carefully reviewed the services. There was no doubt that Zhanlong was a professional company. With enough money, Zhanlong could meet any requirement. From building underground shelters 100 meters deep to constructing underwater safe houses. However, these projects were too slow for Zhang Yi, who had only a month. Chapter 7: Acquiring Equipment Chapter 7: Acquiring EquipmentAfter reviewing the information about the safe house, Zhang Yi promptly selected his service items. First, the entire house would be reinforced, with all materials replaced. Walls, ceilings, and floors would be entirely constructed using 200mm thick alloy, replacing the original structures. This aerospace-grade material weighs only one-third of steel but is ten times stronger than high-grade steel! Using this material for the safe house would allow it to be embedded into Zhang Yis building without causing load-bearing issues. The windows would be made of the best bulletproof glass in the world. Next, the ventilation system would be upgraded with air filtration capabilities. No harmful gases would be able to penetrate from the outside. Lastly, a comprehensive surveillance system would be installed, providing full coverage inside and outside the house. The doors would be replaced with heavy-duty security doors made from the same material as bank vaults, making them almost impossible to breach even with small explosives. In summary, Zhang Yi''s only requirement was to turn his house into an impregnable fortress! After selecting these features, Zhang Yi returned the tablet to Wu Huairen. Wu Huairen reviewed the selections, his eyes widening in astonishment. A house of only 120 square meters was being fortified like a tank. With weapons added, this would be practically a fortress! Wu Huairen muttered. Hearing this, Zhang Yi''s eyes gleamed. Oh, do you have expertise in fortresses? Wu Huairen chuckled, I used to be a mercenary abroad. Im well-versed in military weapons and fortifications. A spark of inspiration struck Zhang Yi. He lowered his voice and asked, Do you have a way to procure firearms? This question made Wu Huairen''s expression serious. In China, private ownership of firearms is strictly prohibited. Mr. Zhang, you must understand, in principle, such items are not allowed for private ownership. Wu Huairen also lowered his voice. Are you facing a dangerous enemy that has you this fearful? Zhang Yi seized the opportunity. Exactly, I''ve angered some dangerous people. They are ruthless and armed. I was wondering if I could get some guns for self-defense. Otherwise, hiding in my house wont be a long-term solution. Wu Huairen laughed, Mr. Zhang, Im afraid I cant help with that. We are a legitimate company. However, Zhang Yi could read from Wu Huairens eyes that it wasnt impossible; he just didnt want to get involved. Zhang Yi took a deep breath. Then he told Wu Huairen, This safe house project will cost me over 8 million yuan. If something happens to me later, it wont look good for your company either. He stared at Wu Huairen, speaking deliberately, I just want something for self-defense. If you can help me, Ill make it worth your while. Wu Huairen remained silent, frowning as he weighed the matter. He had the connections but wasnt sure about Zhang Yis background and thus was hesitant to make a referral. You should go home for now. I cant do this myself, but I can ask around. If I hear anything, Ill let you know. Wu Huairen was evidently indecisive. Zhang Yi didnt push further. Firearms were indeed a sensitive issue. He smiled, Alright, Ill wait for your news then. By the way, this matter is urgent. Please expedite the safe house construction. Wu Huairen said, It will be completed within two weeks. After their discussion, Zhang Yi immediately signed the contract. He also paid a 1 million yuan deposit. As for the remaining balance, thered be no chance to pay it in this lifetime. Leaving Zhanlong Security Company, Zhang Yi felt relieved about the living situation. Next, he got into his car and called an acquaintance, Liu Yang. Liu Yang ran a hunting ground in Tianhai City, having leased several hundred acres in the West Hills, filled with harmless animals for people to hunt for leisure. He had many legally obtained crossbows, compound bows, and air rifles. Zhang Yi had visited a few times before, so he had Liu Yangs contact. He called Liu Yang to request a batch of these items, even offering to pay a premium. Liu Yang, a businessman who knew he might need Zhang Yis help in the future, readily agreed. Brother Zhang, what do you need so many weapons for? Theyre only for hunting or personal use, not for harming people, right? Liu Yang asked, cautiously joking. After all, selling these weapons meant hed be partially responsible if they were used unlawfully. Of course, running a hunting ground in Tianhai City indicated Liu Yang had significant backing. But he had no reason to risk it for an ordinary friend like Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi laughed, giving a casual excuse, Youre overthinking it! Ive arranged a hunting trip with some friends to an African wildlife park. We need more equipment! Liu Yang clicked his tongue, Wow, Brother Zhang, you sure know how to have fun! But be careful; Africa has many lions and hyenas. Yeah, I will. How soon can you get the items ready? S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Oh, Ive got them here. Come by when youre free to pick them up. Not wanting to delay, Zhang Yi drove straight to the West Hills hunting ground to collect the items. Time was extremely precious now; he couldn''t afford any delays. He bought five high-quality steel crossbows, three advanced compound bows, and 300 arrows each from Liu Yang. Additionally, he purchased two top-notch hunting knives. Made of Damascus steel, these knives were incredibly durable and sharp, unlikely to get damaged unless used excessively on adamant objects. Perfect for self-defense (or combat). All these items filled the trunk of his car. Seeing the array of equipment, Zhang Yi felt a surge of security. He then drove home with the gear. Since all purchases were legitimate, and he had a hunting license, he wasnt worried about police inquiries. By the time he got home, it was dusk. Zhang Yi went out again, enjoying a hearty hot pot meal at Haidilao (Note: One of the most famous Chinese hotpot restaurants). Planning to make his hot pot in the future, he immediately ordered 10,000 packs of Haidilao hot pot base. The Haidilao staff were stunned, suspecting Zhang Yi of being a rival business causing trouble. However, Haidilaos excellent service prevailed, and they didnt confront Zhang Yi. Eventually, the store manager came out and accepted the order after verifying with Zhang Yi. The condition was cash payment to prevent potential sabotage by a competitor. Zhang Yi readily agreed, paying over a million yuan on the spot. Such generosity left the manager grinning from ear to ear, even throwing in 500 extra packs as a gift for Zhang Yi. Chapter 8: Supplies Gradually Arrive Chapter 8: Supplies Gradually ArriveZhang Yi left his address with the staff, instructing them to deliver the hot pot base later. As for the food supplies, he would retrieve those from Walmarts warehouse. Hot pot bases from the store would never be leaked. Usually, the retail packs available in the market were far inferior to what the restaurant used. Otherwise, no one would bother going to the restaurant for hot pot. After finishing his meal, Zhang Yi received a call from the hotel manager when he planned to return home. Mr. Zhang, your orders are ready to go. Should we deliver them right now? Yes, just deliver them. Zhang Yi returned home, waiting for the delivery of the feast. Those 500 banquet tables would be enough for him for two to three years at least. With eight to nine million yuan in his hands, he no longer cared about spending money; he was eager to spend it all. On his way home, Zhang Yi pondered what other foods he liked. He then placed orders with several major restaurants in Tianhai City, asking them to deliver a hundred tables each. He ordered thousands of tables covering the eight major Chinese cuisines and Western food! This effectively took care of his food needs for the next several decades. Shortly after, the catering trucks from the Grand Fortune Hotel arrived at the entrance of Yue Lu Community. A convoy of twenty to thirty vehicles caused a massive traffic jam, leaving the community residents stunned. The security guard, Uncle You, hurried over to stop them, asking about their purpose. The hotel manager explained the situation, but Uncle You insisted that the homeowner had to come down before he could open the gate. Given the scale of the operation and the trucks'' unknown loads, he couldnt let them in without ensuring the community''s safety. The hotel manager had no choice but to call Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi came downstairs to the entrance. The entrance was crowded with residents, including neighbors from his building and the onlookers Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin. Zhang Yi approached Uncle You, smiling, Uncle You, theyre delivering food for me. Let them in. Uncle You looked astonished. Food delivery? What are you ordering that needs so many trucks? The surrounding neighbors were equally shocked upon hearing it was a food delivery. Goodness, this must be at least several hundred tables! Where is he planning to put them? Could Zhang Yi be hosting a banquet at home? Is he getting married? But several hundred tables seem excessive! Look closely, it''s from the Grand Fortune, a five-star hotel! Ordering several hundred tables from there must cost at least a few hundred thousand yuan! My goodness, spending hundreds of thousands on a banquet. Zhang Yi must be a hidden millionaire! The neighbors chatted animatedly, their gazes towards Zhang Yi now tinged with awe and respect. Fang Yuqing, witnessing this, bit her lip and resolved to win Zhang Yi over. She walked up to him smiling, Zhang Yi, what have you been up to lately, buying so much? Zhang Yi ignored her and handed Uncle You a cigarette. Seeing the homeowner arrive, Uncle You opens the gate, allowing the Grand Fortune Hotel convoy to enter. Zhang Yi led the way. Though he didn''t acknowledge Fang Yuqing, she didnt mind, continuing to walk beside him, chatting merrily. Is there something going on at home that you cant tell me? Arent we good friends? In the future, I hope to learn more about you. Dont treat me like an outsider. Zhang Yi gave her a deep look, then sneered, These items are for my boss. The last time we visited the restaurant, it was his treat. He sighed, I wish I were that wealthy. Fang Yuqings expression changed instantly. You youre joking, right? Zhang Yi shrugged, Why would I lie to you? Weve known each other for years. You know my familys situation. My parents passed away years ago. Im just a warehouse supervisor. How could I have that kind of money? His explanation left Fang Yuqings face clouded with uncertainty. She suspected a true wealthy heir would have a substantial family business. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yis parents had been gone for years, and he had only a modest inheritance, so he couldnt be a wealthy heir. Now that Zhang Yi himself admitted he wasnt wealthy, her suspicions were confirmed. She silently distanced herself from Zhang Yi, adjusting her hair and smiling politely, Whether youre rich or not, were still good friends, right? Im not a gold digger. She emphasized the word FRIENDS. A schemer never burns bridges, always keeping backup plans and admirers for their convenience. Zhang Yi smirked, saying no more. Meanwhile, the Grand Fortune Hotel staff began unloading the banquet tables and moving them to the location Zhang Yi specified. Given his good rapport, Zhang Yi borrowed an underground storage space from the communitys management to temporarily store the items. Although 500 banquet tables were large, they didnt take up excessive space once packed in meal boxes. Zhang Yi ordered the finest foods: abalone, sea cucumber, shark fin, Australian lobster, truffles, caviar, and more. Moving these 500 banquet tables into the storage took some time. Even the hotel manager was astounded. He had never encountered such a massive takeaway order in his career. Zhang Yi simply told them to continue moving the items into the storage. He then discreetly waited for the movers to leave before storing everything in his interdimensional space. Others might find his actions odd, but who had the time to care about someone unrelated in this cold world? So, whether neighbors or hotel staff, they at most gossiped a bit, but none truly cared. Soon, all 500 banquet tables were stored in Zhang Yis interdimensional space. In the evening, Zhang Yi received a call from Wu Huairen, the manager at Zhanlong Company. Wu Huairen informed him they were ready and could start constructing the safe house anytime. He asked when Zhang Yi would be available for the work to commence. Zhang Yi told him they could start the next day. Meanwhile, he planned to move to a hotel temporarily. After discussing the safe house, Zhang Yi awaited further news from Wu Huairen. He had another crucial matter to discuss with Wu Huairenacquiring weapons. After a moment''s hesitation, Wu Huairen spoke in a low voice, If you genuinely need something like that, I can refer you to a source. However, it will be quite costly. Zhang Yi nodded, understanding the situation. Money was no longer meaningful for him now. Thats not an issue, as long as the quality is good. Wu Huairen relaxed, Alright, Ill make the arrangements. Ill let you know where to trade in three days. Chapter 9: The Super Warehouse Chapter 9: The Super WarehouseHaving secured a means to acquire firearms, Zhang Yi felt a significant weight lift from his shoulders. Possessing such weaponry would provide a profound sense of security in a post-apocalyptic world, whether faced with humans or other threats. Zhang Yi packed his important belongings into his interdimensional space the following day. Since his apartment was undergoing transformation into a safe house, he would temporarily move into a hotel. Early in the morning, three black vans drove into the Yue Lu Community. A large group of workers from Zhanlong Security Company, clad in uniforms, disembarked and began measuring Zhang Yis house. Several curious neighbors watched the scene unfold. Has Zhang Yi lost his mind lately? Why is he always up to such strange things? Some colleagues laughed, Yeah, just the other day, I saw him buying three carts full of food at the supermarket! Hahaha! Anyone who doesnt know better might think the apocalypse is coming. All that food will just get to rot! Maybe hes having some kind of mental breakdown! People couldnt comprehend Zhang Yis unusual behavior, treating him as a joke. Even Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin thought he had gone mad. Lin Cainin remarked, I get it now. No wonder he went to that Michelin three-star restaurant. His brain must be fried! Fang Yuqing frowned, feeling particularly displeased. She was filled with frustration when she remembered how she had gone out of her way to approach Zhang Yi, helping him push all those items home until her feet were sore. What on earth is Zhang Yi up to? Lin Cainin expressed concern, He did promise us a fancy meal. He wont forget, right? She had been eagerly anticipating a meal at the Michelin three-star restaurant. Fang Yuqing scoffed, Forget it! Seeing how unstable he is lately, I wouldnt go even if he invited me. It would be so embarrassing to be seen dining with him! She aimed to marry a wealthy man and couldnt afford to tarnish her reputation. Though disappointed, Lin Cainin had no choice but to give up. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi didnt care about his neighbors'' opinions. In a month, they would see who the real joke was. Zhang Yi left home and drove to the Walmart warehouse. It was Monday, time to go to work and scout the warehouse for future actions. The Walmart warehouse was located in the Economic Development Zone, on the outskirts of Tianhai City. Due to the lower land costs, many large corporations had their warehouses there, including pharmaceutical companies. This would make it easier for Zhang Yi to acquire essential medicines later. Upon arriving at the Walmart warehouse, Zhang Yi clocked in as usual. As the warehouse supervisor, Zhang Yi was intimately familiar with the place. He knew every warehouse and shelf like the back of his hand. What once felt mundane now filled him with excitement. Soon, all these goods would be his, vital for survival in the apocalypse. As Walmarts South China main warehouse, it held an unimaginable amount of supplies. There were tens of thousands of cases of coke alone! The entire warehouse spanned over a million square meters, packed with various necessities. It stored food, clothing, and hardware as well as cars, drones, diesel generators, and barrels of gasoline. Almost anything a supermarket sold could be found here. Having worked there for years, Zhang Yi knew exactly what was on each shelf. He was also well-acquainted with the work schedules and camera placements. Despite the tight security, he knew how to exploit its vulnerabilities to disable the surveillance system within ten minutes. Then, using his interdimensional space, he could take everything. But he wasnt in a rush to act. With plenty of time, he didnt want to arouse suspicion. After a round through the warehouse, Zhang Yi left. He walked to the neighboring Ruining Pharmaceutical Company warehouse, carrying a pack of Huanghelou cigarettes. (Translator Notes: Huanghelou is a Chinese premium cigarette brand) Since they worked nearby, he was familiar with the staff there. He sought out Zhou Hairun, a manager at the pharmaceutical warehouse. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. They knew each other well, given their shared workplace environment. In large corporation warehouses, some people always exploited their positions for personal gain. Zhou Hairuns brother-in-law was the vice president of Ruining Group. So, he frequently siphoned off pharmaceuticals from the warehouse to sell. After chatting for a bit, Zhang Yi subtly mentioned his need for several boxes of emergency medicines. Zhou Hairun was initially wary. But when Zhang Yi offered to pay double the market price, Zhou Hairun couldnt resist. They eventually agreed on 300,000 yuan for five large boxes of medicines. A normal person wouldnt use half of that amount in a lifetime of illnesses. With the medicines secured, Zhang Yi was nearly ready for the apocalypse. With less than a month until doomsday, he had no desire to continue working. He went to the warehouse managers office and requested twenty days off, citing a family funeral. Given Zhang Yis good standing and excellent rapport with the manager, the request, though lengthy, was granted without issue. For the next while, Zhang Yi planned to relax in a five-star hotel. He would wait for his purchased supplies to arrive and for the safe house to be completed. As he left the managers office, he saw Fang Yuqing bent over, making coffee at the machine. Despite her scheming nature, she did have an alluring charm, exuding an inherent sensuality. Her swaying hips attracted several eager young men. A colleague named Zhou Peng, whom Zhang Yi remembered well, invited Fang Yuqing to a Jay Chou concert, flaunting his tickets. Zhou Peng lived in the same community as Zhang Yi and was one of Fang Yuqings loyal admirers. In the previous life, he was among those responsible for Zhang Yis demise. Chapter 10: Confronting the Bootlicker Chapter 10: Confronting the BootlickerZhou Peng was fawning over Fang Yuqing, lavishing her with attention. However, it was evident that Fang Yuqing was indifferent towards men like Zhou Peng. Financially, Zhou Peng was worse off than Zhang Yi; he didn''t even own an apartment, living in a rented one instead. Despite this, Fang Yuqing smiled and said, Thank you, Zhou Peng. But I''ve already made plans with a friend that evening. Such a shame! Zhou Peng''s face fell with disappointment. He had spent an entire months salary on those concert tickets. He had hoped to confess his feelings to Fang Yuqing during the concert. But his plans were now in vain. Seeing this, Zhang Yis lips curled into a sardonic smile. He knew Zhou Pengs obsequious efforts would ultimately lead nowhere. However, Zhou Peng, embarrassed and frustrated, noticed Zhang Yis smirk and became incensed. To distract himself from his awkwardness, Zhou Peng approached Zhang Yi and said, Zhang Yi, you''re really something! Making a woman help you move things? How shameless can you be? Fang Yuqing came to work today complaining of a sore back. Next time, don''t bother her with such things! Zhang Yi glanced at Fang Yuqing. So, it was her who spread the word. Fang Yuqing feigned concern: It''s nothing. I''m fine. I just have a bit of back strain from overexerting myself. She even touched her lower back and winced, showing a pained expression. To assert his masculinity before Fang Yuqing, Zhou Peng boldly pointed at Zhang Yi, You should give Fang Yuqing 500 yuan for medical expenses. To his surprise, Zhang Yis eyes turned icy as he glared at Zhou Peng, She helped me voluntarily. I didn''t ask her to. Who the hell do you think you are? telling me what to do? Do you think you''re somebody important? Zhang Yis fierce retort left both Zhou Peng and Fang Yuqing stunned. Zhou Peng, merely an ordinary clerk with no power or influence, was taken aback by Zhang Yis sudden anger. He had dared to reprimand Zhang Yi only because Zhang Yi had always been mild-mannered and non-confrontational. But now, faced with Zhang Yis genuine fury, Zhou Peng backed down, stammering, Why are you yelling? I was just discussing this with you. Zhang Yi sneered and turned away. He couldnt be bothered to waste words on Zhou Peng. To him, everyone around him now seemed like walking corpses. In a month, 99% of them would die in the apocalyptic cold wave. Why argue with the dead? After Zhang Yi left, Zhou Peng scurried to Fang Yuqing and whispered, Fang Yuqing, I told you Zhang Yi is no good. Stay away from him. Fang Yuqing frowned, feeling puzzled. In recent days, Zhang Yi had seemed like a completely different person. He no longer greeted her warmly. He didnt chat with her or bid her good night anymore. There must be something weird! Fang Yuqing thought to herself. ... s?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After work, Zhang Yi drove to a five-star hotel in Tianhai City. It was the same hotel where he had placed his banquet orders, the Grand Fortune Hotel. Hearing of Zhang Yis arrival, the manager of Grand Fortune Hotel promptly arranged a guest room for him with a beaming smile. A night in a five-star hotel cost over a thousand yuan. But Zhang Yi didnt mind the expense at all. With millions still at his disposal, it would be wasteful not to spend it. That night, to Zhang Yis surprise, Fang Yuqing initiated contact. Fang Yuqing: Zhang Yi, I passed by your apartment today and saw it being renovated! Zhang Yi smirked, Yes. Fang Yuqing: Youve been acting quite odd lately, stockpiling goods and renovating your apartment. Is something about to happen? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. This schemer was cunning but not stupid. Clearly, his recent actions had piqued her curiosity. But Zhang Yi didnt care. Other peoples opinions meant nothing to him now. Nothings going on. He replied coldly and tossed his phone aside. On the other end, Fang Yuqing felt a pang of discomfort at Zhang Yis indifferent response. For the past two years, Zhang Yi had been nothing but attentive to her. He always checked on her, finding excuses to chat and wish her goodnight every evening. But recently, his demeanor had changed entirelycold and distant. This unsettled Fang Yuqing. She could ignore Zhang Yi but couldnt bear the thought of Zhang Yi ignoring her. To Fang Yuqing, it was as if a fish had escaped her pond. Though Zhang Yi wasnt a wealthy heir, he was still a decent middle-class guy. She could always fall back on Zhang Yi if she couldn''t marry into wealth. Fang Yuqing picked up her phone and sent another message. I feel like weve been out of touch lately. Its making me feel a bit lonely. But no reply came for a long while. Biting her lip, Fang Yuqing grew irritated. Whats wrong with Zhang Yi lately? Is he possessed? How dare he ignore my messages! Her roommate, Lin Cainin, overhearing Fang Yuqings complaints, approached with a giggle. Zhang Yi has been acting strange indeed. Who knows why hes hoarding so much food and drink or why he ordered so many banquets from the hotel. Its as if hes preparing for a shortage of supplies. Fang Yuqing frowned slightly. Do you think something is about to happen? Did Zhang Yi get a heads-up, which is why hes stockpiling? Lin Cainin paused, then burst into laughter. Yuqing, youre being silly! If something big were going to happen, the government would have issued a warning. Were perfectly fine. Stockpiling would just make us look foolish. Fang Yuqing laughed self-deprecatingly. True. ... Zhang Yi spent several days in the five-star hotel suite. He went nowhere, dedicating his time to ordering banquets from various hotels and practicing with his compound bow and crossbow. Fortunately, Zhang Yi had prior hunting experience, providing a solid foundation. Now, within a fifteen-meter range, his accuracy was remarkably high. With a professional-grade compound bow, even an ordinary person could shoot arrows rivaling those of ancient master archers. It wasnt just effective against humans; it could also significantly damage wild boars, wolves, and large dogs. Chapter 11: The Completion of the Safe House Chapter 11: The Completion of the Safe HouseThree days later, through Wu Huairens connections, Zhang Yi successfully acquired two guns and a hundred rounds of ammunition. Although the price was steep, Zhang Yi had no complaints. With these substantial weapons, his confidence in his safety during the apocalypse grew considerably. He also completed his transaction with Zhou Hairun, obtaining five crates of high-end imported medicines for the apocalypse. Another week passed. Wu Huairen called Zhang Yi to inform him that the safe house had been completed according to his specifications and invited him to inspect it. Zhang Yi finally left the hotel where he had been staying and drove back to Yue Lu Community. Wu Huairen personally guided Zhang Yi through the inspection of the house. Upon entering his apartment, Zhang Yi was impressed. Zhanlong Security Company lived up to its reputation as a top-tier domestic security firm. Their speed and quality in constructing the safe house were impeccable. The entire house had been fortified with 200mm thick alloy panels, just as Zhang Yi had requested. From the outside, it looked no different. Wu Huairen patiently explained every feature to Zhang Yi. The ventilation system uses military-grade technology, capable of filtering out any harmful gases, preventing any toxic attacks from outside. The entire houses insulation system has been redone using professional-grade materials from the Arctic Research Institute. Apart from the fireplace you requested, it can also prevent 99.5% heat loss. S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. At this point, Wu Huairen gave Zhang Yi a mysterious smile. We installed a surveillance system throughout the building to ensure your safety. A total of 300 cameras allow you to monitor every single floor. Zhang Yi was left speechless with astonishment. He could only marvel at how money could buy services beyond an ordinary persons imagination. He walked to the balcony and found it transformed into a large floor-to-ceiling window. Wu Huairen explained, The windows are made of bulletproof and explosion-proof materials, even sturdier than the 200mm alloy panels. They also allow ample light and necessary external observation. Zhang Yi was thoroughly satisfied with his safe house. No one could forcibly enter his home unless a heavily armed military force attacked. Even if the entire building collapsed, his room would likely remain intact. Im very pleased with the safe house youve built, Zhang Yi said with a smile. Wu Huairen also smiled broadly. He presented some documents for Zhang Yi to sign and said, If everything is satisfactory, please settle the remaining balance within three months. Zhang Yi cheerfully nodded, Of course! However, he no longer needed to pay the balance. The thought of securing a ten-million-dollar safe house for just a one million yuan deposit was exhilarating! Zhang Yi lounged on the sofa, surveying his near-perfect safe house. However, upon reflection, he realized he had overlooked something crucial: the source of life itselfwater. Zhang Yi smacked his forehead, How could I forget something as vital as water? After the Ice Age apocalypse, although the frozen environment would allow ice to be melted for water, the outside temperature would be minus sixty to seventy degrees, and going out would be perilous. Zhang Yi couldnt tolerate such a significant vulnerability in his safe house! He promptly used an online delivery platform to order 100 giant water barrels. It would be enough for several years with a total capacity of 500 cubic meters. Combined with the mineral water he could retrieve from the warehouse, his water supply problem was perfectly resolved. The delivery was impressively swift. A few hours later, the barrels arrived at Zhang Yis door. Zhang Yi went to the community entrance and asked Uncle You, the security guard, to let the deliveryman in. Seeing Zhang Yis peculiar purchases again, the surrounding neighbors gossiped. Is there something wrong with Zhang Yi? Yeah, he keeps buying all these strange things. A few days ago, I saw them carrying steel plates at least ten centimeters thick into his house. Haha, maybe hes gone mad, trying to build a safe house like in the movies! I saw videos of rich people doing this abroad, but its just paranoia. Now hes buying so many water barrels. Does he think Tianhai City will run out of water? Hahaha! Come on, Tianhai City is by the sea! Zhang Yi couldnt be bothered to argue with his neighbors. He just sneered inwardly, thinking that when the Ice Age apocalypse arrived, they would realize how foolish they had been. He had no interest in explaining to them. These people would just mock him and ignore his well-intentioned advice. Some might even turn on him, accusing him of spreading rumors and disturbing the peace, possibly leading to his arrest. Uncle You was chatting with an elderly neighbor, Mr. Tang, at the entrance. Seeing Zhang Yi, Uncle You walked over warmly, Zhang, why do you need so many water barrels? If you need help, just let me know. Zhang Yi felt a pang of emotion for the kind-hearted Uncle You. Uncle You, a retired soldier with no children, had been a diligent security guard in the community for over a decade. In his previous life, he had given his last bit of food to a starving mother and daughter and had starved to death himself. He was one of the few beacons of humanity Zhang Yi had encountered in the apocalypse. So, Zhang Yi said, Uncle You, this winters weather will be extreme. I have inside information that its going to be harsh. To be safe, you should stock up on food and water to avoid price hikes later. Uncle You, knowing Zhang Yi to be a kind-hearted young man, frowned at this advice. Zhang, is this true? Zhang Yi nodded, Look, Ive prepared so much already. Stock up on instant noodles and bottled water; these things dont spoil easily. Uncle You nodded thoughtfully. Living alone, he already liked to keep a stock of instant noodles and sausages conveniently. With Zhang Yis warning, he decided to buy more for peace of mind, knowing they wouldnt go to waste. However, Mr. Tang, listening to their conversation, came over and cautioned Zhang Yi, Zhang, you shouldnt say things like that. Our society is stable and prosperous; we wont run out of supplies. Spreading such rumors could get you reported and in trouble. Zhang Yi rolled his eyes but said nothing more. He had done his part in warning them. Whether they believed him was their choice. Chapter 12: Emptying a Billion-Dollar Warehouse Chapter 12: Emptying a Billion-Dollar WarehouseZhang Yi had the deliveryman bring the 100 giant water barrels to the warehouse and then placed them into his interdimensional space before bringing them home. Once home, Zhang Yi began filling the barrels by turning on all the faucets. At this rate, it would take at most a week to fill all 100 barrels. As the days passed, Zhang Yi didn''t idle for a moment. He spent every penny he had without hesitation. He dined and bought large quantities of food from top-tier restaurants, storing them in his interdimensional space. During this time, he also practiced archery and firearm shooting on Tianhai Citys shooting range, honing his skills. Transforming into a combat expert in a month was unrealistic. But with a bow, crossbow, guns, and a super safe house with a full metal shell, he would fear no danger. Naturally, his actions did not escape everyone''s notice. However, everyone around him viewed Zhang Yi as a joke, thinking he had lost his mind, and laughed at him privately. Even Fang Yuqing deliberately distanced herself from him, unwilling to interact. Thus, time slipped by. Soon, more than twenty days had passed, and the apocalypse was drawing near. Zhang Yi had amassed a massive stockpile of supplies, including food, weapons, and heating equipment. But these alone didn''t provide him with enough security. He decided to target the giant Walmart warehouse. By securing this warehouse, he could obtain a lifetime''s worth of supplies! He chose not to wait until the last day to act, remembering a detail from his previous lifehe had heard rumors that the authorities had prior knowledge of the incoming gamma-ray burst. They had quietly started transferring large amounts of supplies without the public''s knowledge. Zhang Yi couldn''t take any chances; he had to act early. Moreover, even if all the supplies in the Walmart warehouse disappeared, the authorities, preoccupied with seeking refuge, wouldn''t have the resources to investigate thoroughly. This gave Zhang Yi a suitable buffer period. Returning to the warehouse, Zhang Yi resumed his job as usual. Although the Walmart warehouse had staff on duty 24 hours a day, only ten people worked the night shift. Zhang Yi decided on a straightforward and crude method: spiking their tea with sleeping pills. With only three days left until the apocalypse, he wasn''t worried about getting caught. As all the staff were his old acquaintances, Zhang Yi easily succeeded. Once the pills took effect and the staff were deeply asleep, Zhang Yi went to the monitoring room and shut down all the warehouse cameras. Knowing the layout of the warehouse by heart and having meticulously planned and rehearsed in his mind countless times, Zhang Yi executed his plan smoothly. He donned gloves and shoes two sizes larger, then swiftly approached the warehouse. Staring at the colossal warehouse, Zhang Yi took a deep breath and began collecting the supplies. By simply glancing and willing, the entire shelf would move into his interdimensional space. He started with the beverage section. Tons of mineral water, drinks, and alcohol, including high-end wines and spirits, were all stored here. Zhang Yi didn''t discriminate; he stored everything in his space. In no time, thousands of cubic meters of beverages vanished. Next, he moved to the fuel section, which was stocked with smokeless coal, canned gasoline, and alcohol. These were household items for storage or outdoor activities. Tens of thousands of boxes of smokeless coal, countless cans of solid alcohol, and barrels of gasoline were found. These quantities would last Zhang Yi several centuries! He had no intention of leaving anything for others. Post-apocalypse, these supplies wouldnt reach ordinary people anyway. Without hesitation, he stored everything, organizing the items in his interdimensional space using his years of warehouse management experience. Then, he proceeded to the food section, which was even more abundant. Tens of thousands of tons of supplies were packed into several warehouses that looked like small mountains. Canned food, packed roast chicken, roast duck, snacks, and high-end treats filled the shelves. This will last me ten lifetimes! Zhang Yi remarked. He wasn''t picky; he took everything he could. After clearing the food section, Zhang Yi moved to the sports equipment area. Exercise equipment was essential for maintaining his health and strength in his safe house. Despite the limited space in his safe house, the unlimited capacity of his interdimensional space allowed him to take everything he wanted. Among the valuable items were baseball bats and fencing equipment, excellent for self-defense. He also found skiing and mountaineering gear, including professional-grade cold-weather clothing capable of withstanding temperatures as low as minus 100 degrees Celsiusthe latest technology from 2050. Zhang Yi''s eyes lit up. These would be the best cold-weather gear when the Ice Age Apocalypse hit. He wasted no time storing all the top-tier cold-weather clothing and sleeping bags in the warehouse. After two hours, Zhang Yi had emptied the Walmart warehouse, which spanned over a million square meters. With the warehouse emptied, Zhang Yi felt an indescribable satisfaction. Even in the face of the impending Ice Age, he felt confident he could live comfortably. Returning to his post, Zhang Yi removed his gloves and oversized shoes and stored them in his interdimensional space. Then, he drank some of the tea laced with sleeping pills and slumped over the table, feigning sleep. After an unknown period, he was awakened by urgent shaking. Supervisor, supervisor, something big has happened! Wake up! Zhang Yi slowly opened his eyes, feigning confusion as he looked at his colleagues. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Whats wrong? A warehouse employee, trembling, pointed at the warehouse. Its like weve seen a ghost! The entire warehouse has been emptied! What! Zhang Yi feigned shock, slamming his hand on the table as he stood up. Pretending to be dumbfounded, he saw the empty warehouse. Though he knew exactly what had happened, he played his part perfectly, his legs giving out as he stammered, What happened here? How did all the supplies disappear? The employees around him were equally nervous. Yes, the warehouse held supplies worth at least a billion! Even with large trucks, it would take days to empty it all. How did it vanish overnight? No one mentioned the earlier nap; taking a quick snooze during a night shift was a common, albeit unspoken, practice. Zhang Yi, with a stern face, pretended to pace in worry. This is too bizarre for us to handle. We need to report this to the higher-ups immediately! The employees, though tense, didnt panic. The situation had escalated to a level beyond their responsibility. With the warehouses billion-dollar inventory gone in just two hours, it was apparent none of them could be held accountable. Given their modest salaries, risking their lives for the company was out of the question. So, they all agreed with Zhang Yi''s suggestion. Zhang Yi promptly called the warehouse manager to report the incident. Upon hearing the news, the manager was stunned, initially thinking Zhang Yi was joking. Chapter 14: Extreme Cold, Watching the Outside World Chapter 14: Extreme Cold, Watching the Outside WorldThe Ice Age had begun. Tianhai city is in the south of China, where snow is rare. Now the heavy snowfall there stirred up much discussion online. Some people complained, while others felt fortunate. But none of them knew that this snowfall and drastic temperature drop were not temporary but would persist and intensify. Eventually, this would bring about a disaster that no one could endure. At this moment, Zhang Yi lay comfortably on his sofa at home, enjoying the twenty-something degrees Celsius inside his safe house, sipping a chilled Budweiser beer, feeling utterly content. Just then, Zhang Yis phone rang. He picked it up and saw that there were a lot of chat group messages. His former classmates, hobby groups, and community groups were discussing the unexpected blizzard. Oh my Gosh, why did it suddenly start snowing so heavily? The weather forecast didn''t say anything about this! I was woken up by the cold in the middle of the night. I had to get up and turn on the heater. Sigh, my heater is terrible at warming the place. Its getting colder and colder. I wonder how long this cold weather will last. I haven''t even bought my winter clothes yet! Everyone was chattering, expressing their feelings in various ways. However, Zhang Yi could sense that most people werent taking the sudden cold snap seriously. Some were even pleasantly surprised. Zhang Yi knew very well that this was only temporary. Yawning, he decided not to continue watching. He returned to his warm bed, covered himself with a plush velvet quilt, and comfortably closed his eyes. His bed was incredibly comfortable, an upscale item he had taken from the Walmart warehouse. Especially the mattress, rumored to be the same model used by a certain female celebrity, worth 3 million yuan. S?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Outside, the snow was falling heavily, and the wind was howling, while inside, the fireplace was blazing warmly, making the temperature pleasant. In such a cozy environment, Zhang Yi quickly fell asleep. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi was woken up by his phone ringing. He opened his eyes and saw that it was Fang Yuqing calling him. Being woken from a good dream, Zhang Yi was naturally in a foul mood. He picked up the phone and asked irritably, Why are you calling me so early? Fang Yuqing was startled by Zhang Yis cold tone. However, she quickly said, Zhang Yi, its so cold outside today! Did you stock up on supplies because you knew it would get this cold? Fang Yuqings voice trembled as if she was trying hard to endure something. Zhang Yis lips curled into a mocking smile. Indeed, this bitch wouldn''t call unless she needed something. He lazily replied, I just heard a friend mention it. I didnt expect it to get this cold. He threw off his quilt. The room was so warm that he was starting to sweat. Putting on his slippers, Zhang Yi walked towards the floor-to-ceiling window, and the familiar scene before him narrowed his eyes. The heavy snow had buried the entire city. He could no longer see the streets or the bushes by the roadside. Only the outlines of the city buildings were faintly visible, with many houses ground floors half-buried. And the snow was still falling, with no signs of stopping. On the phone, Fang Yuqing continued, No wonder you stocked up on so much stuff. Zhang Yi, you could have told me about this. Now Im freezing! Zhang Yi frowned, annoyed that she dared to complain to him. He hung up the phone and tossed it aside. Then he went to the bathroom for a comfortable hot shower. Afterwards, he took out a piece of top-grade A5 Wagyu beef from his space. For breakfast, he would have steak with pasta. While eating breakfast, he turned on the TV. The cold snap had just begun, so there hadn''t been any power outages yet, and the TV worked fine. But even if there were outages, Zhang Yi was prepared with various backup power sources, dozens of generators, and a massive gasoline supply. Energy wouldnt be a problem for at least three hundred years! After turning on the TV, Zhang Yi switched to the morning news channel. Even though he, as a reborn individual, knew the situation outside, watching the news was still a way to pass the time. On the news channel, the anchors were wearing thick down jackets. Remember, TV stations usually have central heating and a priority power supply. But for the anchors to need down jackets meant the temperature had dropped beyond what central heating could handle. The female anchor, trying to maintain a steady tone, reported, Last night, a strong cold front hit globally, causing drastic temperature drops everywhere. The average drop ranged from 70 to 100 degrees Celsius. Meteorological departments are investigating the cause of this cold front. In the coming days, please keep warm to avoid frostbite. Try to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary. The authorities will handle this issue appropriately. Please remain calm. Dont spread or believe rumors, and refrain from panic buying. This snowstorm will soon pass. Hearing this, Zhang Yi scoffed. With the Ice Age descending, survival depended on oneself. Doing nothing and staying home would only lead to an early death. The top right corner of the TV screen showed that the outdoor temperature in Tianhai City had reached minus 65 degrees Celsius! Yesterday, the highest temperature was still 15 degrees Celsius, meaning it had dropped by 80 degrees overnight! Zhang Yi shrugged. This temperature drop matched his previous lifes experience. But now, wearing pajamas and sipping wine, eating steak and pasta, he felt no outside cold. After all, his 8-million-yuan safe house, with emphasized insulation, ensured almost no heat loss inside. Just then, Zhang Yis phone rang again. Curious, he wanted to see what his previously mocking neighbors were saying. First, he saw a message from Fang Yuqing. Zhang Yi, why did you hang up on me? The snow outside is so heavy, I cant go out. Didnt you stock up on a lot of food? Can you lend me some? Ill pay you back after the snowstorm. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, a cold smile forming on his lips. This bitch was smart, knowing that with such heavy snow, food prices would skyrocket. Unwilling to venture out in minus 60 to 70 degrees cold, she wanted Zhang Yis supplies. But Zhang Yi knew this Ice Age would last long, not pass quickly. And he certainly wouldnt give Fang Yuqing any food! In his previous life, he was deceived by this bitch, giving her much of his food. In the end, she betrayed him, causing his death, and even wanted to cook his ribs into soup! Such a woman, Zhang Yi now only wanted to toy with her and watch her suffer. With a playful smile, he messaged Fang Yuqing. You should have said earlier; Ive nearly finished my stock. Look, I just cooked steak for breakfast! He then took a selfie with the steak and red wine, making sure to include himself in pajamas, and sent it to Fang Yuqing. Chapter 15: The Bitch Begs for Supplies Chapter 15: The Bitch Begs for SuppliesAt this moment, Fang Yuqing was curled up in her rented apartment, tightly wrapped in two quilts. Despite setting the air conditioner to 40C, the room temperature couldn''t even reach 0C. She shivered all over, feeling the cold air infiltrating the quilt. Seeing the photo Zhang Yi sent, Fang Yuqing''s eyes widened in disbelief. She couldn''t fathom that in such frigid weather, Zhang Yi was comfortably wearing thin pajamas, eating steak, and drinking red wine. They lived in the same building, yet it seemed like they were in entirely different worlds. Seeing the delicious steak and the bottle of high-end red wine on his table made Fang Yuqing''s mouth water. As a top-notch gold-digger, she was well-versed in high-end goods. From her knowledge, the steak Zhang Yi was eating was undoubtedly premium Wagyu beef. And the French wine beside him was definitely grand cru class, costing at least twenty or thirty thousand yuan per bottle! While she was freezing to death, Zhang Yi was living comfortably, which made Fang Yuqing seethe with jealousy. She immediately messaged Zhang Yi. S?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi, I wish I could dine with you! She felt her hint was undeniable. Based on Zhang Yis past behavior, he would undoubtedly offer to bring her steak and wine. But Zhang Yi, upon seeing this message, laughed happily. Did she still think he was her devoted admirer? He leisurely replied with a message. If you want some, go buy it at the supermarket! Fang Yuqing''s face froze upon seeing this message. Isnt that obvious? It was minus sixty or seventy degrees outside; exposing even a bit of skin would risk frostbite. How could such a delicate girl like her be expected to go out in this weather?! Biting her lip, Fang Yuqing angrily said, Zhang Yi, youre not a real man! Im giving you such a good opportunity, and you don''t even know how to seize it. Hmph! At this moment, Fang Yuqing still had some pride. Though she craved steak and high-end red wine, she saw Zhang Yi as just another fish in her pond. She didnt believe the snowstorm would exist too long. So, she maintained her aloof goddess image, not directly asking Zhang Yi for food. Zhang Yi ignored her and checked other chat groups to see some drama. In the neighborhood group chat, he saw Aunt Lin from the community committee urging everyone to stay calm and stay indoors. Dont panic; this is just a sudden drop in temperature; it will pass in two or three days. Dont hoard supplies; trust in our government. Our community committee will help everyone get through this snowstorm. Please follow orders and dont make trouble. A homeowner expressed dissent. With such heavy snow, who knows when it will stop? Its hard to go out now; shouldn''t we stock up on supplies? Exactly, lets go buy some groceries. Prices might skyrocket soon. Aunt Lin immediately raised her voice. What are you doing? Youre making trouble! Hoarding supplies will only drive up prices. Then everyone will have to pay more. If anyone hoards supplies and I find out, Ill report them for disrupting public order! Zhang Yi smirked at Aunt Lins authoritative tone in the chat. On the first day of the Ice Age, the weather was brutally cold, but the supermarkets were not yet emptied of supplies. Venturing out in the heavy snow was risky, but one could still stock up on some essentials. However, Aunt Lins intimidation made many people complacent, staying indoors without buying food. The consequences were foreseeable. At that moment, Aunt Lin turned her attention to Zhang Yi. She tagged Zhang Yi in the group chat. Zhang Yi, youve been stockpiling at home for some time. With the severe snowstorm, you must not set a bad example. Stay home these days. If I catch you going out to buy things, dont blame me for reporting you! Zhang Yis face darkened. This old hag, holding a grudge because he didnt give her supplies last time, now took the opportunity to target him. However, community committee members like Aunt Lin were insignificant to Zhang Yi now. He replied with a cold smile, Aunt Lin, no one knows how long this snowstorm will last. If it lasts a long time and people run out of food, can you take responsibility? Zhang Yis question resonated with many. People were dissatisfied with Aunt Lins words but hesitant to oppose her due to her position. With Zhang Yi leading, others began to voice their concerns. Right, if we dont stock up and run out of food, who will be responsible? Can you bear that responsibility? Aunt Lin, seeing the backlash, felt a bit panicked and grew more resentful towards Zhang Yi. How dare he openly defy her in the group, undermining her authority! Rest assured, our community committee guarantees there will be no shortage of supplies. The snowstorm will pass soon. And you, Zhang Yi, stop stirring trouble. Your behavior is illegal! Curled up at home, Aunt Lin gritted her teeth, thinking, This Zhang Yi is too audacious. Ill find a way to deal with him later. Zhang Yi laughed heartily. Even in these dire times, this old woman still clung to her petty authority. It was laughable. Oh my, I can''t take such an accusation. Dont worry, Aunt Lin. I wont go out. You do as you please! His supplies were fully stocked; there was no need to join the crowds at the supermarket. Those who believed Aunt Lins nonsense would suffer later. Zhang Yi felt a bit of pity. The apocalypse would freeze and starve countless people. But some deserved their fate, especially those neighbors who had wronged him in his past life. Their fate was irrelevant to him now; his only goal was to survive. Other people''s lives or deaths had nothing to do with Zhang Yi. Chapter 16: Aunt Lins Retaliation, Zhang Yi Fires Back Chapter 16: Aunt Lin''s Retaliation, Zhang Yi Fires BackZhang Yi yawned, sitting idly on his sofa. While others were enduring hunger and freezing cold, he lived more comfortably than in paradise. His home was equipped with the perfect insulation system and an endless fuel supply to keep his safe house at the most comfortable constant temperature all winter. He had nothing more to do but ensure each day was filled with joy and contentment. There was nothing interesting on TV at the moment. All live broadcasts had been halted due to the extreme cold. After all, the beautiful anchors he usually enjoyed watching couldn''t possibly endure temperatures of minus sixty or seventy degrees, or even over a hundred degrees below zero, to perform in skimpy outfits. If anyone could, Zhang Yi would have to give them a thumbs-up and say, "What a trooper!" When he opened his interdimensional space, he saw many electronic devices, including numerous gaming consoles and AAA video games. He had stacks of PS5s, Switches, and Xboxes, all brand new and unopened. As for game cartridges, there were tens of thousands. Zhang Yi pulled out the latest PS5 and hooked it up to his 100-inch Sony TV, starting up a game. He was playing the latest AAA action game, Bayonetta 3. Nearby were games like Elden Ring, The Witcher 3, and Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. These were perfect for passing the time. If he found the game durations too short, other games like Civilization and Cities: Skylines were notoriously time-consuming and could keep him entertained for days. Without worrying about work or social obligations, this life was even better than before the apocalypse! Since he was alone at home, Zhang Yi wore only pajamas, snacked while gaming, and thoroughly enjoyed himself. After a while, his phone rang. He glanced at it and saw that the annoying Aunt Lin from the community committee had tagged him in the group chat. "Zhang Yi, the roads outside are blocked by snow. Come out with tools and help clear the snow!" Her tone was imperious. Zhang Yi noticed she was rallying everyone in the group to clear the snow, but few responded. Unexpectedly, she had specifically targeted him. Zhang Yi glanced at the heavy snow outside, which had nearly buried the entire first floor. Three meters of snow was almost impossible to clear manually. Moreover, Zhang Yi knew this snowstorm would last for at least three more months. Going out to clear snow now was futile. S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He immediately refused, "It''s so cold outside, you''d freeze just stepping out. We should wait until the snow stops to clear it." Others in the group agreed with Zhang Yi. "Yeah, it''s minus seventy degrees outside. We''d get frostbite in no time." "We''re not living in the Northeast of China (Translator Notes: Northeast is the coldest region in China); we don''t have proper cold-weather gear. How can we go out?" Aunt Lin was furious. "What kind of attitude is this? Clearing snow is for everyone''s benefit, not just mine!" "You young men should step up during a disaster and help the community instead of shirking responsibilities." She directed her ire at Zhang Yi, who had led the opposition. "Zhang Yi, as a community committee member, I order you to go out and clear the snow!" "In these critical times, we must unite and follow the committee''s instructions!" "Anyone who opposes will be dealt with by the committee once the disaster ends!" Aunt Lin played the community committee card, silencing the residents. With the disaster just starting and social order still in place, no one dared to disobey. Though the committee''s power seemed insignificant, their authority impacted daily life, making residents hesitant to defy them. Everyone remained silent, hoping Zhang Yi would confront Aunt Lin and speak up for them. Zhang Yi understood their thoughts and felt a deep disdain for them. However, he wasn''t one to swallow his pride. He decided to confront Aunt Lin openly. Reviewing the chat history, he saw that Aunt Lin had tagged a few easy-going young people in the community. She had avoided the troublesome ones or those with power and influence. Zhang Yi sarcastically remarked, "Aunt Lin, you''re right. Since it''s for everyone''s benefit, the community committee should lead by example in clearing the snow." "And if we''re talking about strength, plenty of strong young men are in the community. Why did you only tag a few of us?" "Do you think we''re easy targets? You didn''t tag any of the people with social resources and background." "What, are you too scared to confront them?" The other residents nodded in agreement, satisfied with Zhang Yi''s response. "Zhang Yi is saying what we''re all thinking!" "Exactly, she always picks on the easy-going ones. Why not ask Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao?" Everyone knew who Zhang Yi was referring to. Living in the same community, they were well aware of the influential figures among them. For instance, Chen Zhenghao in unit 601 was a notorious local big shot, running earth-moving projects with hundreds of men under him. Xu Hao, in unit 802, was the son of a famous real estate developer in Tianhai City, with family ties to officials. Aunt Lin had deliberately avoided mentioning them because she didn''t dare to provoke them, knowing they wouldn''t give her the time of day. Zhang Yi exposed Aunt Lin''s cowardice, making her lose face. She felt humiliated and, in her anger, flooded the chat with lengthy voice messages. "Clearing snow is a public service for everyone''s benefit. Some people are just petty and lack any sense of contribution!" "Such individuals are a blight on our community!" "If you don''t want to help, fine. There are plenty of others with higher awareness than you." "And I''m not playing favorites. I just didn''t see the need to tag everyone. Get your facts straight!" "If you continue to slander me, I''ll report you!" Aunt Lin''s defense only made things worse. Especially her threat to call the police made Zhang Yi laugh out loud. Some residents, intimidated by Aunt Lin, reluctantly took their tools to clear the snow. But Zhang Yi remained unafraid. Not only were Aunt Lin''s demands unreasonable, but the police wouldn''t support her actions either. Besides, did she really think all societal functions were still operating normally? Chapter 17: Aunt Lin, the Bully Chapter 17: Aunt Lin, the BullyZhang Yi completely disregarded Aunt Lin''s words, treating them as nonsense. However, feeling idle and wanting to have fun at the old woman''s expense, he provoked her. "Wow, Aunt Lin, you seem quite capable! Why dont you ask Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao to come down and clear the snow?" He mentioned their names in the group, showing no regard for anyone''s face. Chen Zhenghao, also known as Brother Hao, was a notorious gangster. In his previous life, Chen had broken into Zhang Yi''s home, wielding a hatchet. Xu Hao was an arrogant and domineering wealthy heir, the first to attack Zhang Yi with a knife. These neighbors, with only a few exceptions, had all participated in the attack and robbery against Zhang Yi in his past life. He suspected that each of them had taken a share of his belongings after his death. So Zhang Yi had no intention of sparing anyone''s feelings; he exposed their dirty secrets openly, sickening them. Aunt Lin''s face turned pale as she looked at her phone. Zhang Yi had named them directly, putting her in a difficult position. If she backed down now, she would become a laughingstock, losing all authority. She tagged Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao in the group with no other option. "Neighbors, the community is our home. Clearing the snow is everyone''s responsibility. Please bring your tools and join us." Soon, Chen Zhenghao, with an ID of 25#602, responded with several question marks. Then he posted a voice message in the group. "Clear the snow? Clear your damn head! Are you blind? Can''t you see it''s still snowing heavily outside?" "Are you brain-dead? If you''re sick, find a doctor. Don''t bark here. Tag me again, and I''ll kill you!" Chen Zhenghao''s tirade against Aunt Lin was harsh and vulgar. The residents, listening to the tirade, couldn''t help but laugh, holding their stomachs. S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Aunt Lin thought she was important, but people didn''t take her seriously. A minor community committee member held some sway over ordinary residents but meant nothing to someone like Chen Zhenghao. Xu Hao, the wealthy heir, also sent a voice message. "Why should I care about clearing the snow? I don''t need to go to work. I can stay in bed all day." He even posted a picture of himself lying in a thick quilt, holding a woman. Xu Hao had bought this house to keep his mistress and was now stuck here by chance. Aunt Lin asking him to clear the snow made him think she was crazy. Unable to retort to Chen Zhenghao, Aunt Lin tried to stand her ground with Xu Hao. "You''re also a resident here! Clearing the snow is your duty." Xu Hao scoffed, "Bah! I pay property fees every month. Without my money, you community committee members would starve." "Taking our money and acting high and mighty, as if you''re in charge. Hilarious!" Rich kids like Xu Hao were no pushovers. Although idle, they had seen the world and wouldn''t be intimidated by a minor community committee member. He continued, mocking her, "I am where I am because of my family''s power, unlike you paupers. Go clear the snow if you need to. I want to leave this hellhole as soon as possible." His arrogant words enraged everyone. But they couldn''t refute him, for his statements were painfully true. Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao''s defiance dampened everyone''s spirits. Aunt Lin''s authority was reduced to a joke, and no one paid her heed. Furious, Aunt Lin didnt blame Chen Zhenghao or Xu Hao but instead targeted Zhang Yi. She believed her mobilization had succeeded until Zhang Yi had disrupted it. So, she privately messaged Zhang Yi, seething with anger, "Zhang Yi, are you deliberately making things difficult for me?" "What do you want? I asked everyone to clear the snow. Was that unreasonable?" "No one will do it, and we might be trapped. Do you want that?" Zhang Yi''s eyebrows lifted. Oh, someone wants to be scolded? "You old hag, stop pretending! Bullying the weak and fearing the strong, barking like a dog!" "You didn''t dare to respond to their insults, but you come to me to feel powerful?" "Listen, I''m not to be messed with. Bark at me again, and I''ll destroy you!" Zhang Yi had perfectly gauged Aunt Lins charactera bully who cowered before the strong. His harsh words terrified Aunt Lin. Living with her grandson, Aunt Lin depended on her community committee status for respect. If someone disregarded her position and threatened her life, she was powerless. Terrified, she blocked Zhang Yi, trembling, unsure if it was from the cold or fear. "That bastard! He''s a complete psycho!" "I better not provoke him now, but I''ll make his life difficult later!" She imagined using her committee power to trouble Zhang Yi, withholding supplies or excluding him from community events. She fantasized about Zhang Yi begging for mercy, while she would coldly refuse, saying, "Weren''t you arrogant? Keep being arrogant!" Thinking about this, she smiled smugly. "Sooner or later, you''ll beg me!" "Right now, I won''t stoop to your level." Satisfying herself with this petty victory, Aunt Lin continued urging others in the group to clear the snow. Despite their disdain, some honest residents, worried about future travel, reluctantly ventured out in the minus seventy degrees to clear the snow. Having dealt with Aunt Lin, Zhang Yi didnt expect another troublemaker. His phone rang, showing a call from Chen Zhenghao. Angered by Zhang Yis earlier comments, Chen Zhenghao seemed intent on scaring him. Zhang Yi, already harboring resentment towards this thug, narrowed his eyes at the incoming call. Hoping the fool would confront him, Zhang Yi prepared for a nasty encounter. He answered the call. Chapter 18: Whos Afraid to Play Rough Chapter 18: Who''s Afraid to Play RoughThe moment the call connected, a torrent of vicious curses spewed forth. "Are you looking for death, you little shit? Who the f**k gave you the balls to talk about me in the group?" "Do you have a death wish, you little punk? You must not want to live if you dare mess with me." "I have a hundred ways to f**k you up. Believe it or not?" Chen Zhenghao was a notorious thug in Tianhai City, with a gang of several hundred men. Rumor had it that he had been involved in several murder cases. Living in the same neighborhood as him, all the residents avoided him, not daring to provoke him. To assert his dominance, Chen Zhenghaos style was ruthless; anyone who dared to offend him, even slightly, would pay a hefty price. This was what they called maintaining face in the underworld. So, even though Zhang Yi had merely mentioned him in the chat group, Chen Zhenghao saw it as a challenge to his authority. Over the phone, he roared, "You really want to die! You talk big, huh? Daring to mention me." Zhang Yi wasnt about to coddle him. He sneered, "And what are you, exactly?" "Stop pretending to be tough, you worthless piece of trash. If you think you''re a big deal, come here and show me!" Cursing at him felt immensely satisfying. In his previous life, this man had led the charge into his home, resulting in his death. Zhang Yi had been harboring this anger for a long time. On the other end, Chen Zhenghao was stunned. He hadn''t expected Zhang Yi to talk back! He was enraged, spewing even filthier curses. Zhang Yi interrupted, "You''re just a useless piece of garbage. All you can do is run your mouth. Who are you trying to scare? Go eat sh*t!" After that, Zhang Yi hung up the phone and blocked him. Blocking him right after cursing him out felt incredibly satisfying, imagining Chen Zhenghao fuming on the other end. Zhang Yi walked to the TV and turned on the surveillance cameras. When Zhanlong Security Company built his safe house, they installed cameras throughout the entire building. In essence, the entire building was now under his surveillance. Zhang Yi glanced at the sixth floor where Chen Zhenghao lived. Sure enough, the door soon burst open violently. Chen Zhenghao stormed out, dressed in a down jacket and wielding a baseball bat, looking menacing. However, the moment he stepped outside, he shivered. With the temperature at minus seventy degrees outside, he had put on only a down jacket over thermal underwear, leaving the zipper open to show off his chest tattoos. The freezing cold quickly taught him a lesson. Seeing no one around, Chen Zhenghao rubbed his hands together and hurriedly got into the elevator. Zhang Yi, sitting on his sofa, leisurely picked up a crossbow from under the coffee table. This hunting crossbow was powerful enough to shoot through a 300-kilogram wild boar, with its 20-centimeter bolts piercing deeply into flesh. He hummed a tune as he loaded a bolt into the crossbow. After practicing for a while, he had become quite skilled with it. Within a 15-meter range, while not a sharpshooter, he wouldnt miss a head-sized target. As the elevator ascended, Zhang Yi grabbed the loaded crossbow and went to the door. His giant security door had a special shooting hole at a height of two meters. Zhang Yi stood on a chair and opened the doors shooting hole, which could only be operated from inside. He then aimed the crossbow at the hallway outside. For extra precaution, he also had a handgun in his pocket. Even if Chen Zhenghao were made of iron, he wouldnt escape unscathed today. Soon, the elevator dinged, and Chen Zhenghao came out cursing. He quickly found Zhang Yis apartment from the notes in the chat group. At the door, he started banging with the baseball bat, cursing loudly. "Zhang Yi, you coward, come out!" "Weren''t you talking big just now? Come out and see how Ill f*** you up!" He raged and pounded on the door, but the security door, 20 centimeters thick and bulletproof, was more challenging than some armored vehicles. Naturally, it couldnt be broken with a baseball bat. Instead, the impact hurt Chen Zhenghaos hand. He kept cursing, oblivious to the fact that he was being aimed at with a crossbow. Watching Chen Zhenghaos ferocious demeanor, Zhang Yi smirked. He aimed the crossbow at Chen Zhenghaos head but then changed his target. In this post-apocalyptic world, everyone in the building would eventually die, except himself. Chen Zhenghao was no exception. Killing him now would be too easy and not nearly as satisfying. After all, in his previous life, these crazed neighbors had dismembered and eaten him alive. Zhang Yi''s smile turned wicked. He wouldnt let this scum die so quickly! So, he adjusted his aim. With a subtle whoosh, the sharp bolt flew and pierced Chen Zhenghaos leg. The bolt, capable of killing a wild boar, went clean through his calf! Chen Zhenghao screamed in agony, collapsing to the ground, clutching his leg and wailing. In such extreme cold, a through-and-through wound like that would render his leg useless. Without proper medical treatment, infection was inevitable. Chen Zhenghao would die miserably from pain and the freezing cold. Writhing on the ground in pain, Chen Zhenghao finally realized he had provoked a formidable opponent. Thugs like him thrived on their fearlessness and audacity, banking on the fact that ordinary people wouldnt fight back. But facing someone who dared to use a crossbow, even they felt fear. Terrified, Chen Zhenghao had no idea where the bolt had come from. Despite the excruciating pain, he dragged himself back to the elevator, one leg useless. Zhang Yi chose not to shoot again. He wanted Chen Zhenghao to live a little longer. After all, he wasnt a demon. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Back in the elevator, Chen Zhenghaos cold sweat froze in the sub-zero temperature. But his heart felt even colder. The ruthless attack had shown him pure killing intent. In todays society, anyone who dared to shoot a crossbow at a person was not to be trifled with! Looking at his crippled leg, Chen Zhenghao saw that the bolt had completely pierced his calf. Blood stained half his pants before freezing. In the ultra-low temperature, his pain was somewhat numbed. But this didnt bring relief, only more fear. He knew that without treatment, his leg would be unable to keep within half an hour. Chapter 19: Giving Them an Ice Water Bath Chapter 19: Giving Them an Ice Water BathTranslator: Duckpond; Editor: AOH888 Chen Zhenghao finally felt a wave of fear wash over him. He took out his phone and dialed 120 for an ambulance, but the call wouldn''t go through. For over two minutes, he kept trying, only to see the busy line message. Chen Zhenghao''s heart sank. The extreme cold had brought the entire city, including hospitals, to a standstill. Even if some hospitals were still operating, the heavy snow had sealed off the city, making it impossible for ambulances to get through. Chen Zhenghao was a tough guy. After much hesitation, he decided to operate on himself. At the very least, he had to remove the crossbow bolt from his leg. Struggling back home, he fetched a knife, an alcohol lamp, gauze, and some hemostatic medicine from a drawer. As someone who often got into fights, he always kept such items at home. Chen Zhenghao cut open his pants leg with the knife. Seeing the wound, his face turned pale. Under the extreme cold, the wound on his leg had already frozen. Although this temporarily stopped the blood loss, the area around the wound had started turning purple, and his calf was completely numb. Chen Zhenghao felt hopeless. He knew that, at this moment, he could only rely on himself. Fortunately, he was a hardened thug. After a brief moment of thought, he started operating on himself. Since the cold already numbed his leg, he managed to complete the operation without anesthesia. The process was excruciating, and he nearly passed out from the pain. However, his calf was clearly ruined. Lying on the sofa, breathing heavily, Chen Zhenghao''s eyes were filled with murderous intent towards Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, you little b*stard, I will kill you, I swear!" Chen Zhenghao wasn''t joking. He genuinely planned to kill Zhang Yi. Otherwise, how could he continue living in Tianhai City? Chen Zhenghao picked up his phone. Since Zhang Yi had blocked him, he could only tag him in the owner''s group chat. "Zhang Yi, you dog, wait and see. If I don''t kill you, my name isn''t Chen Zhenghao!" The other residents didn''t know what had happened but were worried for Zhang Yi, knowing he had offended Chen Zhenghao. Chen Zhenghao was a notorious thug, and his retaliations were vicious. However, if they knew Zhang Yi had shot him with a crossbow and crippled his leg, they would be speechless with fear. Some people, though, were excited. Aunt Lin, who had been humiliated by Zhang Yi, was particularly gleeful. "Let the dogs fight! Neither of them is any good!" she said, delighted. "It would be best if that thug Chen Zhenghao beats Zhang Yi to death for cursing me!" Fang Yuqing also saw the group messages. She smirked, hoping Chen Zhenghao would deal with Zhang Yi. How dare Zhang Yi be so cold to her and refuse to bring her food? However, no one dared to speak up, fearing involvement. Seeing the message, Zhang Yi laughed out loud. As long as he stayed inside his safe house, even a hundred Chen Zhenghaos couldn''t touch him. Zhang Yi sent a voice message to the group. "Who do you think you are, barking like a dog? Try messing with me again, and I''ll cripple your other leg too!" The residents were shocked. They couldn''t believe Zhang Yi dared to stand up to Chen Zhenghao. It seemed Zhang Yi had already injured Chen Zhenghao. Chen Zhenghao gripped his phone tightly, nearly breaking it. "Zhang Yi, you wait! I will kill you!" Zhang Yi responded unflinchingly, "Bring it on, dog! Let''s see who dies first!" In the post-apocalyptic world, Zhang Yi did not need to be polite. Social norms and moral constraints were meaningless to him now. On the other side, Chen Zhenghao was furious. Back in his room, relying on the minimal heat from the air conditioner, he regained feeling in his leg, though the pain was excruciating. Now needing a crutch to move, he contemplated his next move. Chen Zhenghao realized killing Zhang Yi wouldn''t be difficult. He believed he had been caught off guard by the crossbow bolt. Now prepared, he could call his henchmen to storm Zhang Yi''s home and kill him. The freezing weather meant hospitals and police stations were non-functional, making this the perfect time for murder. Chen Zhenghao called his henchmen, ordering them to bring weapons and come to his aid. Many of Chen Zhenghao''s goons lived nearby. Upon receiving his orders, they armed themselves with machetes, baseball bats, and steel pipes and gathered at Chen Zhenghao''s place. Seeing his injured leg, they loudly vowed to kill Zhang Yi to avenge him. Despite his injury, Chen Zhenghao coldly declared, "I''ll be fine after resting for a few days and getting treatment at the hospital once the snow melts." "But this dog dared to shoot me. That''s an affront to my authority." "If I don''t kill him, how can I maintain my reputation?" One of his goons, holding a steel pipe, shouted, "Boss, just tell us his apartment number, and we''ll chop him up right now!" Chen Zhenghao nodded, "He''s in apartment 2401 in this building. Be careful, though. That little bastard has a crossbow. He ambushed me with it." Another goon, wielding a bat, shouted, "What a dishonorable move, using a crossbow to ambush someone!" Chen Zhenghao instructed, "Be cautious. I know he''s alone. Just avoid getting shot, break down his door, and kill him!" His henchmen were fearless thugs. Despite knowing Zhang Yi had a weapon, they were excited. With the snow sealing off the city and no law enforcement to fear, they could attack openly. Human malice thrived under such lawlessness. Armed, they headed to Zhang Yi''s apartment, intending to break in and kill him. Zhang Yi, fully aware that Chen Zhenghao would seek revenge, remained untroubled. He continued playing his game, monitoring the building through the surveillance system. Seeing Chen Zhenghao''s henchmen approach, Zhang Yi calmly prepared for their arrival. His table was covered with weapons, ready for action. These scum deserved no mercy. Soon, Chen Zhenghao''s henchmen reached Zhang Yi''s door. Cautious of the crossbow, they carried wooden boards as makeshift shields. Upon reaching Zhang Yi''s door and finding no immediate threat, they began their assault. "Open the door!" "You dared to shoot our boss? We''ll kill you today!" "Today will be your death day. Open the door!" They cursed and hammered the door with their bats and iron rods, trying to break in. Annoyed by their noise, Zhang Yi shouted, "Can''t you use more strength? Did you skip breakfast?" Enraged by Zhang Yi''s taunt, they intensified their assault. However, the 20-centimeter-thick alloy door, designed to withstand small explosions, was impervious to their primitive attacks. After a long effort, they barely scratched the surface, leaving a few minor dents and chipped paint. Stunned, the thugs realized the door was pure metal, incredibly thick and solid. "This door is solid metal! How are we supposed to break it?" "Who does this guy think he is? How many enemies does he have?" The goons were dumbfounded. S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. They had promised Chen Zhenghao they would beat Zhang Yi half to death and bring him back. Failing to break the door, they continued cursing and hammering, not knowing what else to do. Zhang Yi, losing another life in his game, finally had enough. Irritated by the constant noise, he went to the kitchen, attached a hose to the faucet, and climbed up to the shooting hole. None of the thugs outside noticed the activity above them, still shouting and cursing. Zhang Yi chuckled, turned on the faucet, and sprayed them with a torrent of water. The water poured down like a storm in the narrow hallway, drenching the thugs instantly. Chapter 20: Starting a Life of Comfort Chapter 20: Starting a Life of ComfortCan you imagine what it feels like to be drenched in freezing water at minus seventy degrees? Holding the hose, Zhang Yi sprayed the water on those thugs outside his door. With a temperature difference of about a hundred degrees between the inside and outside, the water steamed as it left the hose but quickly froze upon contact with the thugs. They were all wearing down jackets and sweaters in the freezing cold. The cold water soaked them completely, making them feel like they were plunged into an ice cellar. "Damn! It''s freezing! I''m going to die of cold!" "Ahhh, stop! Stop it!" At that moment, they would have preferred a severe beating to this torturous cold. S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Their lips turned purple one by one, and some even fainted from the extreme cold. Instinctively, they fled from Zhang Yis door. In just a few seconds, they were completely drenched. They didn''t even make it to the elevator before their clothes froze solid. Seeing them flee, Zhang Yi finally turned off the water. He had initially planned to use the crossbow to teach them a lesson. However, reloading it was too slow, and they might retaliate through the shooting hole. Spraying them with water proved far more effective. Those thugs, now thoroughly chilled, quickly ran back to Chen Zhenghao''s apartment. Seeing them return in such a sorry state, Chen Zhenghao was furious. "Where''s that little bastard? Did you bring him back?" But the thugs hurriedly grabbed blankets and sheets to warm up. Their clothes were soaked and frozen stiff. The dozen men scrambled for dry clothes and blankets in the room. But there werent enough to go around, so some had to huddle together for warmth, a rather bizarre sight. Chen Zhenghao was livid, slamming the table and shouting, "Someone explains what happened!" After regaining warmth, a few thugs shakily explained the situation to Chen Zhenghao. "That Zhang Yi is too despicable. He sprayed us with a hose. We couldn''t bear it!" "Their door is ridiculously thick. We spent ages hitting it, and all we did was chip the paint." Chen Zhenghao frowned deeply. When he went to Zhang Yis door himself, he noticed how sturdy it was. It seemed that forcing their way in would be difficult. However, he soon sneered. "No matter how fortified his place is, there must be a flaw somewhere." "And I don''t believe he can stay indoors forever!" "Keep watch nearby. The moment he steps out, kill him!" Chen Zhenghao''s order was met with shivering but eager nods from his henchmen. Despite their freezing state, they tried to appear fierce. Yet, they couldnt imagine that Zhang Yi had no intention of ever leaving his home. Outside was hell, while his room was a paradise. Why would he ever leave paradise for hell? ... After dealing with Chen Zhenghao and his thugs, Zhang Yi returned to his game. He knew they wouldn''t give up but could not break into his home. As for going out? He would never take that risk, even if it were one in a million. Why venture out when he could live comfortably at home? Later, Zhang Yi went to the floor-to-ceiling window to check the outside. Some people were trying to clear the snow. He spotted Uncle You, the security guard, a dedicated and enthusiastic retired soldier who always took the lead in such situations. Among those shoveling snow were some good-natured young people from the owners'' group. However, Aunt Lin and the other community committee members were nowhere to be seen. They were struggling to dig through two to three meters of thick snow. But Zhang Yi knew their efforts were futile. Clearing a path from the building to the community entrance would take an entire day. And even if they managed that, the roads outside were completely covered. Such thick snow could only be cleared by professional snowplows. However, in the South of China, such vehicles didnt exist. Going out had become impossible. Moreover, in minus seventy-degree weather, they couldnt last long outside. Without proper cold-weather gear, their bodies couldnt handle such low temperatures. Staying outside for more than half an hour risked frostbite. Zhang Yi shook his head. These honest people were quite pitiful. However, since it was their choice, Zhang Yi had no intention of intervening. After all, it had nothing to do with him. He just wanted to survive comfortably. By afternoon, Zhang Yi felt hungry. He retrieved a sumptuous meal from his interdimensional space. Today''s meal was simple: a plate of Australian lobster, a serving of Wellington steak, two Huangshan pancakes, and a bottle of cola. Such delicacies were abundant in his space. Living at home all the days, Zhang Yi''s schedule had become relatively free. He slept when tired and ate when hungry without distinguishing between day and night. Outside, the snow continued to fall. Zhang Yi glanced out the window and saw that the snow-clearing effort had ended. The ground they had cleared was quickly covered again by the snow. They must have realized that their efforts were futile against nature. Lying on his sofa in thermal underwear, Zhang Yi enjoyed the 27C warmth of his home. He turned on the TV to watch some programs. Many TV stations across the country had ceased broadcasting. Only a few provincial channels and CCTV were still on the air. These channels mainly broadcast messages encouraging and reassuring the public. "At this moment, our eyes are on Beijing, where officials are strategizing and commanding the fight against the snow disaster!" "Reports indicate that due to inadequate snow disaster management in the United States, two hundred million people are affected, with tens of millions of deaths!" "In contrast, our countrys snow disaster management is under control, and everything is improving." "We urge everyone to stay calm and trust in the government!" Zhang Yi shook his head. The scale and severity of this snow disaster were beyond human comprehension. Despite the authorities'' efforts, human power was too insignificant to go against nature. Chapter 21: Two Bitches Chapter 21: Two BitchesTranslator: Duckpond; Editor: AOH888; In the chat group, Aunt Lin continued to prattle on. "Everyone has seen the news, right? Our country has the power to handle this snow disaster!" "Don''t worry, all problems will be resolved smoothly." "Also, if anyone needs supplies, those who can help, please do. After all, this snow disaster will soon pass, and there''s no need to hoard supplies." However, very few responded to her. Clearly, after two days with no signs of the snow disaster ending, many people were beginning to worry. Fang Yuqing sent Zhang Yi another message. "Zhang Yi, are you okay?" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Fang Yuqing probably thought Chen Zhenghao had already dealt with him. However, he didnt believe Fang Yuqing was genuinely concerned. "I''m fine." "Oh, that''s good." Fang Yuqing was actually a bit disappointed. But she quickly added, "We''ve run out of food at home. I remember you bought a lot of stuff. Can you give me some?" "I''ll treat you to a meal later, okay? ?( ???` )" Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a cold smile. It is too apparent that this woman had a motive for contacting him. He remembered that during their last trip to the supermarket, Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin had also bought some supplies. Although they didn''t buy as much as he did, it was enough to last more than two days. "Oh, that was a long time ago. I didn''t keep those things at home. Honestly, I don''t have much either." Fang Yuqing persisted. "Then how about a few packs of instant noodles? You manage a warehouse, so you must have plenty at home." Zhang Yi responded bluntly. "I really don''t have any instant noodles left. Look, I have to make do with these." He took a picture of his table, laden with Australian lobster and Wagyu steak, and sent it to Fang Yuqing. On the other end, Fang Yuqings eyebrows shot up in anger. "Damn you, Zhang Yi! What do you mean by this? Are you trying to provoke me?" Beside her, her friend Lin Cainin peeked out from under the covers. Because it was too cold, the two of them were sharing a bed. Seeing the delicious food in the picture, Lin Cainin''s eyes gleamed with envy! These pampered women never cooked for themselves. They always ordered takeout or had men treat them to meals. The heavy snow had trapped them in the city, leaving them to subsist on instant noodles and canned food they usually wouldn''t touch. Seeing Zhang Yi enjoying lobster and steak, the two women were both angry and envious. They were angry because Zhang Yi was indulging alone and not offering them any. Lin Cainin immediately commented sourly, "Wow, Zhang Yi is too much! He has all this good food and didn''t think of you!" "And to think he used to say he liked you. Hmph, he''s totally insincere!" Fang Yuqing was equally displeased. This wasn''t the first time Zhang Yi had sent her such pictures. She knew Zhang Yi was deliberately provoking her. However, she believed Zhang Yi still liked her and was just trying to make her yield. "Hmph, foolish! Does he think a bit of food will make me his girlfriend?" "Zhang Yi, you are too naive!" Fang Yuqing dismissed him with disdain. As a proud gold digger, she needed to maintain her aloof image. But the sight of Zhang Yi''s food made her hunger impossible to hide. Lin Cainin, understanding her well, suggested, "Yuqing, why not tell Zhang Yi youll have dinner with him? But make him provide the food!" "This way, you keep your dignity and get to enjoy lobster and steak." "Im sure he''ll be thrilled to agree!" Fang Yuqing frowned, considering the idea. To her, Zhang Yi was just a high-level backup. Though he was handsome and had some wealth, he was far from her ideal of a wealthy and powerful man. As in regular days, she would never lower herself for him. But now, she was tired of eating instant noodles and canned food every day. "Alright, Ill give him a chance to have dinner with me!" Fang Yuqing reluctantly agreed. She picked up her phone and sent Zhang Yi a message. "Zhang Yi, its been a while since we hung out. How about coming over for dinner tonight?" Zhang Yi laughed when he saw the message. "Oh! Did you prepare me for dinner? Sure, many thanks!" This response made Fang Yuqing''s face turn pale with anger, though it could also be from the cold. She fumed at Lin Cainin, "Zhang Yi is so ungrateful! I gave him a chance to have dinner with me, and he expects me to host!" Lin Cainin was equally taken aback. She hadn''t expected the formerly eager-to-please Zhang Yi to be so difficult now. "Strange, could a simp really grow a backbone?" Fang Yuqing threw her phone aside in frustration. "Zhang Yi, I originally planned to keep you as a backup. Now youll have to take a backseat!" "I''m truly angry now!" "From now on, I wont speak to him again. Even if he begs, it won''t help!" Lin Cainin, though craving the food, agreed and fanned the flames. "Exactly, he should know his place!" "Trying to pursue you while being so stingy? Such a man deserves to be single forever!" The two continued to curse Zhang Yi. During this time, Fang Yuqing kept checking her phone, expecting an apology from Zhang Yi. But no messages came, darkening her mood further. Seeing this, Lin Cainin decided to take matters into her own hands. She secretly messaged Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, youre so foolish! Yuqing is upset. Do you realize how serious this is?" Zhang Yi saw the message and chuckled. Reading chat group messages had become a form of entertainment for him. s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. What could be more intriguing than human nature revealed during an apocalypse? Reading through Lin Cainins message, Zhang Yi laughed even harder. "Playing good cop, bad cop, huh? You two really know how to put on a show!" He had long seen through their scheming. Lin Cainin usually acted as the go-between to maintain Fang Yuqing''s pure goddess image. Asking for gifts or hinting for Zhang Yi to spend money on Fang Yuqing were always Lin Cainin''s jobs. Chapter 22: The Backup is Still Useful Chapter 22: The Backup is Still UsefulZhang Yi pretended to be clueless, "What''s wrong? I haven''t done anything bad!" Lin Cainin responded, "Are you stupid? The heavy snow has trapped the city, and we''re almost out of food at home." "This is the perfect time to show your loyalty to Yuqing by bringing over some delicious food." "If I were you, I''d send over all the good stuff like steak and lobster from home." "Yuqing would be so touched, and your chances would definitely improve!" Reading Lin Cainin''s message, Zhang Yi could already imagine the gold digger drooling at the thought. He sneered coldly. This behavior was no different from begging. But the ridiculous part was that they wanted to beg while acting like they were doing him a favor. As if Zhang Yi giving them food was them giving him a chance. Their hypocrisy made Zhang Yi want to slap them hard! Despicable! Zhang Yi decided to toy with these two bitches. He replied, "But I don''t have much food left either! Just enough for me." Lin Cainin frowned and immediately scolded, "Are you out of your mind? How long could the snowstorm last? Starve for a bit and use this chance to win over Yuqing. Isn''t that a great deal?" "If you can''t even part with a bit of food, you clearly don''t care about Yuqing at all!" Zhang Yi laughed even harder. These two women were playing the good cop, bad cop routine, thinking they had it all figured out. But Zhang Yi, having been reborn, saw through their shameless tactics long ago. Facing Lin Cainins manipulation, he merely replied with a single "Oh," and then tossed his phone aside, ignoring her. Seeing the "Oh," Lin Cainin was furious. "Oh? What do you mean by ''Oh''!" "I''ve been talking for so long, and this is your attitude?" "Hurry up and send over the food! I want steak and lobster too!" Lin Cainin was a glutton. She hadnt eaten anything good for the past two days and was drooling over Zhang Yis feast. She had planned to use Fang Yuqings name to trick Zhang Yi into sending all the good food over. But things didnt go as expected. That single "Oh" nearly made her lose her cool! Could it be thathe no longer had any interest in Fang Yuqing? No, no, thats impossible! Recalling how diligently Zhang Yi had pursued Fang Yuqing over the past few years, Lin Cainin shook her head. "He must be having a momentary lapse in judgment!" Angry, Lin Cainin went to Fang Yuqing and exaggerated the situation. Of course, she told Fang Yuqing she was only asking Zhang Yi for supplies to help her. Fang Yuqings face remained cold as she replied, "Hmph, who is Zhang Yi? Do I know him? Dont mention him again!" For Zhang Yi to regain her favor, he would need to apologize sincerely for the past few days and pay a hefty price for her forgiveness. Lin Cainin nudged Fang Yuqing, "Zhang Yi doesn''t get it, but you have other admirers, dont you?" Their neighborhood had several of Zhang Yi''s colleagues from the warehouse. Among them was Zhou Peng, the biggest simp for Fang Yuqing. Fang Yuqing knew exactly who Lin Cainin was referring to. She sneered, as Zhou Peng wasnt even worthy of being her backup. Though he worked at Walmart, he didnt even own a house in Tianhai City and was still renting. Fang Yuqing merely used him for small favors and had no real feelings for him. Lin Cainin persuaded, "It''s so cold outside, and the snow is so heavy. We can''t go out to buy anything. Why not use him to help us out?" Fang Yuqing''s gaze shifted, realizing Lin Cainin had a point. So, she messaged Zhou Peng. Unexpectedly, Zhou Peng arrived within five minutes, bringing a backpack full of food. Working at the Walmart warehouse, he often took discounted items home, so he had some stockpiled. A single message from Fang Yuqing had him eagerly delivering the best items. Zhou Peng pounded his chest, "Yuqing, just tell me what you need. You know I''d do anything for you!" Fang Yuqing rarely smiled at him but did this time. "Thank you, Zhou Peng! You''re so sweet!" A few sweet words, and she sent Zhou Peng off. Back inside, her demeanor changed instantly. "Hmph, Do you think you stand a chance with me? Maybe in your next life!" ... In the entire building, the atmosphere was growing tense. Despite running the air conditioners constantly, the indoor temperature remained below freezing. Residents in Tianhai City were not used to such extreme cold. Additionally, they didnt have the habit of stockpiling supplies. Two days of being snowed in they had nearly emptied their fridges. Although Aunt Lin kept saying everything would be fine and the snowstorm would soon pass, people were starting to have doubts. Zhang Yi, however, was quite content observing everything. In this apocalypse, he was well-prepared and living more comfortably than before it began. He watched the chaos outside like a detached observer. S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After Zhang Yi had taught Chen Zhenghao and his henchmen a lesson, they hadnt returned to bother him. They knew Zhang Yi''s home was well-fortified. Besides, Chen Zhenghaos leg was essentially crippled. Without hospital treatment, he would be permanently disabled within days. The others, drenched in freezing water, were now suffering from colds and fevers. Without proper heating, they might die from high fevers even before running out of food. Zhang Yi spent his days at home playing video games and reading chat groups. Sometimes he exercised, making use of the many gym equipment he had. He also read various professional books he had downloaded, like The Barefoot Doctor''s Manual and The Militia Training Manual. Better safe than sorryknowing such skills might save his life in an emergency. Outside, the snow continued to fall, the sky cloaked in clouds, making it hard to distinguish day from night. On the third morning, Zhang Yi got out of bed and feasted on a fresh Peking duck while checking the time. "It''s about time. The real show should be starting." Zhang Yi said calmly. At that moment, the group chat on his phone exploded. Chapter 23: Power and Water Outage Chapter 23: Power and Water OutageThree days after the apocalypse began, the real chaos finally started. Zhang Yi knew exactly what would happen today, so he stayed up all night, eagerly waiting to watch the show unfold. The event was quite simple. The entire Yue Lu community suddenly lost power! Shortly after, the water supply company couldn''t function properly due to the cascading effects of the power outage. The water supply system malfunctioned, cutting off water to every household. All of this was within Zhang Yis expectations. At the start of the apocalypse, no one could predict how long this extreme cold disaster would last. The authorities were still struggling to address the snow disaster. However, as days passed, by the third day, they realized this wasn''t something that could be resolved by human effort. The extreme cold had caused major hydroelectric power plants to shut down, and thermal power plants also stopped functioning because staff couldnt get to work. Once the stored power in cities across the country ran out, power outages became inevitable. At this point, only a few nuclear power plants were still operating. However, the electricity they generated was reserved entirely for government use. The power and water outage plunged the lives of ordinary people into darkness! Zhang Yi had anticipated this. He had already started two silent generators to power his home. After setting everything up, Zhang Yi checked his phone and saw that the chat groups were flooded with messages. "Do you have power at home?" "We lost power! And the water''s out too. What is going on!?" "Were out of power and water too! It''s freezing cold, the heaters are useless, and we can''t use electric heaters. How are we supposed to live like this?" "Why isnt the government doing anything about this? If this continues, people will freeze to death." Zhang Yi shook his head silently. At this point, the government couldnt take care of everyone. To survive, people would have to rely on themselves. He knew that the true apocalypse started today. Without modern societys electricity and food, humanity would face mass deaths. Thinking about this, Zhang Yi glanced around his home with lingering fear. Seeing his house, warm as spring and as secure as a fortress, and his interdimensional space filled with endless supplies, he felt a surge of warmth and security. The chat group was filled with anxious complaints. If it werent for advanced technology keeping phone batteries operational in the cold, they wouldnt even be able to use their phones. But without power, even phones would eventually become useless. "How long will this snow last? The heaters dont work, and its minus thirty degrees inside." "If this continues, well freeze to death!" "The water''s out too. Are we supposed to drink snow?" "We dont have much food left either. The snow has blocked the doors, and we cant go to the supermarket. What are we supposed to do?" People started tagging Aunt Lin. "Aunt Lin, didnt you say everything would be fine?" "Yeah, I believed you and didnt go out to buy supplies. What do we do now?" "When will the government come to rescue us? Say something!" Facing her neighbors'' questions, Aunt Lin was filled with anxiety and fear. She was even more terrified than her neighbors. The owners didnt know how the government would rescue them. However, Aunt Lin, through the community committee, had already received some insider information. "Right now, the entire world is experiencing heavy snow. They say its a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-year snowstorm. We might be facing another mass extinction, another apocalypse!" "The authorities are trying their best, but with a population of over a billion, its impossible to take care of everyone." "Major cities in the country have already fallen!" "To survive, we must rely on ourselves. Stock up on supplies, especially food and heating fuel." "Ive already started collecting supplies from households under the guise of the community committee." "But isnt that harming others?" "Harming others? If I dont, well freeze or starve to death within three days! I cant worry about others right now!" "This snow disaster will kill many. I must ensure my family and I survive first." "Yes, while we still have some influence, lets gather as many supplies as possible. Surviving is the most important thing right now!" Aunt Lin stared intently at the messages in the community committee group, her whole body trembling violently. Despite the indoor temperature being minus thirty degrees, cold sweat dripped from her forehead. Lying in bed, wrapped in three thick blankets that nearly suffocated her, she didnt dare uncover herself. The room was like an ice cellar. Her grandson, Hu, nestled under the blankets, asked, "Grandma, why is it so cold outside? When will Dad and Mom come back?" Aunt Lin''s heart sank as she looked at her grandson. She had just spoken with her son and daughter-in-law today. They were stuck in their rented apartment in another city, and their situation wasnt much better. "I must protect us both. We have to survive!" Aunt Lin bit her lip hard, her eyes flashing with determination. "Hu, dont worry. Dad and Mom will be back soon." After comforting her grandson, Aunt Lin picked up her phone and started speaking in the chat group. "Everyone, this snowstorm is temporary. The weather is too cold, so power and water outages are not surprising." "Rest assured, workers are already repairing the issues." "The government has issued a notice that in these extraordinary times, our community committee will manage the neighborhood." "We hope everyone will cooperate with us. If anyone doesnt cooperate and causes serious consequences, well ask the police to arrest and interrogate them later!" Aunt Lins severe words sparked intense dissatisfaction among the owners. They hadnt expected the community committee to intimidate them instead of addressing their concerns. But they were also scared and didnt dare to oppose her openly. Zhang Yi leisurely watched Aunt Lins messages on his phone, chuckling. He knew Aunt Lin was lying. In his previous life, she had used such despicable tactics to swindle many supplies from others. But he had no intention of exposing her lies. After all, the fate of the other neighbors was irrelevant to him. Zhang Yi turned on the TV and resumed his game. s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Power and water outages? That was no problem. His warehouse was stocked with a massive amount of backup batteries, generators, fuel, and solid alcohol. As for water, he had stored 500 tons of tap water, not to mention tens of thousands of tons of bottled water and drinks in his warehouse. And if necessary, he could melt snow for water. In short, he lacked neither fresh water nor energy. Chapter 24: Aunt Lins Threat Chapter 24: Aunt Lin''s ThreatWhile playing his game and enjoying snacks, Zhang Yi was living comfortably despite the harsh conditions outside. Tianhai City, or the entire world, was experiencing widespread power and water outages. The water issue was somewhat manageable. Those who couldn''t stand it anymore could venture out to collect snow for water. But the power outagethat was the absolute nightmare! Modern people, accustomed to comfort, couldn''t survive in sub-zero temperatures without electricity. It wasnt entirely the governments fault, as most power plants could not operate simply because engineers and workers couldn''t get to work. Zhang Yi recalled that in the following days, there would still be a brief period of limited power supply each day. The government didn''t want everyone to freeze to death. However, the power generated by the 21st-century nuclear and renewable energy plants was quite limited. At most, it would allow people to charge their phones or heat some water. As for high-power appliances like air conditioners and heaters, those were out of the question. Meanwhile, the community chat group was filled with cries of despair. Fear had driven them to band together, hoping someone could bring them some hope. Chen Zhenghao, who had been crippled by Zhang Yi, was nearly frozen to death in his own home. Already injured, the extreme cold only worsened his condition. His henchmen were in even worse shape. Although Zhang Yi had only drenched them with a hose, the extreme cold left them with no means of warming up. Indoor temperatures had dropped to minus fifty or sixty degrees. Many of them had developed high fevers, with temperatures reaching 39 or even 40. They hadn''t thought to stock up on medicine like ibuprofen, and going out to buy it was impossible. Thus, they could only endure the hardship. This was why Zhang Yi hadn''t killed them outright. Watching them slowly freeze to death in despair was far more satisfying than killing them swiftly. Sitting on the carpet, Zhang Yi was engrossed in his game. Outside, the cold wind howled, and snowflakes swirled, but inside, the temperature was a comfortable 27C. The lights were bright, food and entertainment were plentiful, and he lacked nothing. If there was one thing missing, it was a female companion. However, Zhang Yi wasnt foolishly driven by lust. Having suffered because of women in his previous life, he now prioritized his safety and quality of life above all else. Unless he was sure it was safe, he wouldn''t let anyone into his safe house. In the apocalypse, human nature was unpredictable. He had witnessed a woman kill her husband for a packet of instant noodles. Just then, his phone lit up again. With interest, Zhang Yi saw that Aunt Lin had tagged everyone in the owners'' group chat. "Due to the severe snowstorm impacting everyone''s lives, we have received official notification that the snow will continue for a short while." "To help everyone get through these tough times with dignity, the community committee will collect supplies from each household for redistribution." "This is an official directive, so everyone must cooperate! Anyone who is selfish and refuses to follow the organizations arrangements will face consequences later!" "Remember, you all have your own weaknesses!" Zhang Yi sneered. This was the same tactic she used in his previous life. As a community committee member, Aunt Lin had access to more information than the average person. She knew that the apocalypse had already paralyzed the authorities in Tianhai City. She was trying to use deception and intimidation to collect supplies from others. However, Aunt Lin''s tactics were relatively crude. After all, she was just an old woman with a middle school education. Any intelligent person could see through her lies. Even if the authorities were to coordinate resources, they wouldn''t issue such an order. However, in a building with over fifty households, there would always be some who were scared and would listen to Aunt Lin out of fear. Zhang Yi had no intention of intervening. He just wanted to watch the drama unfold. Sure enough, Aunt Lin''s forceful demand for supplies finally pushed some people too far. Wang Min, who lived on the 15th floor and was also Zhang Yi''s colleague, often brought things home from the warehouse. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Everyone knew this. Aunt Lin''s order to collect supplies meant their household couldnt escape. Wang Min argued, "We can''t go out with the snow blocking our doors, and each household barely has enough to eat. Now you want to collect and redistribute everything? That''s ridiculous!" Another resident, Sun Zhichao, added, "It''s hard enough for everyone to have some food stored up. Collecting it all is too much!" Aunt Lin, gritting her teeth, pressed the voice message button hard. "Ive already said this is an extraordinary time, requiring extraordinary measures!" "The snowstorm will soon pass. Dont worry. We just need to redistribute supplies for now." "Many families dont have enough to eat. Are you all so selfish?" "Think about your neighbors too!" Some families had stored up supplies, while others lacked them. So, those lacking supplies naturally supported Aunt Lin. "That''s right, we''re all neighbors. What''s wrong with helping each other?" "It''s just some food and drink. Normally, we can afford these things, but now the situation is special!" "This is an official decision. If you dont comply, the consequences wont be something everyone can handle." The group chat quickly turned into a debate. Zhang Yi remained silent, and so did Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin. They had plenty of supplies at home but would never hand them over. Zhang Yis hope to just watch the drama soon faded. Even though he stayed silent, Aunt Lin messaged him directly. "Zhang, you work at the warehouse, so you must have plenty of food and drink at home, right?" "I remember you bought three cartloads of stuff last time!" "Now, with everyone in trouble, it''s time for you to step up and help out." "Dont worry; once the snowstorm is over, well return everything to you, and everyone will remember your kindness." Aunt Lin had incited fear and then began targeting households one by one. If she could trick even one household, it would provide enough supplies to keep her and her grandson alive for a few more days. Naturally, as the Walmart warehouse supervisor, Zhang Yi was her prime target. Chapter 25: Berating the Old Hag Chapter 25: Berating the Old HagZhang Yi sneered. In his previous life, he underestimated the severity of the snow disaster. Thinking he could earn goodwill from his neighbors, he handed out some of his stored supplies. But what was the result? Instead of gratitude, people assumed he had an abundance of supplies at home. In the end, his door was broken down, and he was killed, his body used for food. It could be said that his death in his previous life was partly due to this old woman! A sly smile crept across his face as he lazily sent a voice message. "That''s great! Im out of food at home too. Aunt Lin, when you collect supplies, could you spare some for me?" Aunt Lin, infuriated, started cursing loudly in her house. "Bah! Who do you think you''re fooling? You must have plenty of supplies at home." "Humph, working at the warehouse for so many years, you can''t tell me you didn''t stash anything away!" Her confidence came from Zhang Yi''s history of helping neighbors buy discounted items from the Walmart warehouse. Damaged packaging or near-expiry goods were sold at very low prices. As an employee, Zhang Yi had priority in buying them, and sometimes the warehouse even distributed them as benefits. Aunt Lin''s face turned blue with anger, and she bit her lip, refusing to give up. She was convinced that Zhang Yi was a big fish; if she could pry his supplies loose, she and her grandson could live comfortably for at least another week! Taking a deep breath, Aunt Lin tried to sound firm yet gentle. "Zhang, don''t joke with Auntie. Everyone knows you''re the supervisor at the Walmart warehouse. How could you be short of food and drink at home?" "This is an official directive. You must comply! Your contribution will be remembered by everyone and the government." "Be a pioneer, and bring your supplies over to Auntie''s place." Zhang Yi picked his teeth with a toothpick, having just finished a meal of roast lamb leg, and replied lazily. "I''m not lying, Im really out of food. Even rich landlords don''t have surplus grain nowadays!" "Aunt Lin, why don''t you give me a few packs of instant noodles? As a member of the community committee, you should set a benchmark and be a pioneer!" Seeing Zhang Yi''s resistance, Aunt Lin knew being soft wouldn''t work. She hardened her tone, her voice growing stern. "Zhang Yi!" "Talking nicely doesn''t work with you, does it?" "Do you think I''m speaking on my own behalf? I''m representing the government!" s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Refusing to hand over your supplies means opposing the government. I will make sure to deal with you!" Zhang Yi laughed coldly. "Bah!" "Representing the government? You''re just waving a chicken feather as a token of authority!" "You''re just a community staff, not even a civil servant." "Usually, you can fool the old folks, but trying to act tough with me? Are you out of your mind?" "Do whatever you want. I''ll be waiting at home!" Zhang Yi mercilessly exposed Aunt Lin''s true nature. Community staff weren''t official government employees, not even in the civil service. Aunt Lin wasn''t even a minor leader in the community committee. On the other hand, even if she were a high-ranking official, Zhang Yi wouldn''t care at this moment. After berating Aunt Lin, Zhang Yi hung up and blocked her number. He had no time to argue with this shrew. His actions nearly drove Aunt Lin mad with rage! Zhang Yi had repeatedly opposed her, humiliating her. As someone who fancied herself the leader of the community, how could she endure this? "Zhang Yi, you despicable creature! I wish I could kill you!" Aunt Lin roared in fury. But in reality, she was powerless against Zhang Yi. She thought about kicking Zhang Yi out of the owners'' group chat but realized it wouldn''t harm him much. She also considered rallying the others in the group to condemn Zhang Yi, but that would only expose his refusal to hand over supplies. If others followed his response, she wouldn''t be able to deceive them. No matter how she thought about it, there was nothing she could do to Zhang Yi. The more she thought about it, the angrier and more frustrated she became. In the end, she had to swallow her rage. Her priority now was to deceive others while they were still oblivious, to gather as many supplies as possible! ... Over the next two days, Aunt Lin managed to deceive a few households into handing over some supplies through a mix of coaxing and intimidation. However, not everyone was foolish. In the apocalypse, people''s first concern was their own survival and that of their families. Some chose to ignore Aunt Lin. Others, with more aggressive personalities, cursed her out and sent her packing when she came to their doors asking for supplies. And for the likes of Chen Zhenghao and Xu Hao, Aunt Lin didn''t even dare to approach. Zhang Yi watched all of this through his surveillance cameras, clear as day. But he continued his life as usual, playing and eating without bothering with others'' affairs. From the onset of the snowstorm, five days had passed. Most households had only stored enough food for three to five days. In this community, some people had more supplies because they worked at large warehouses. However, due to the extreme cold, heating requires fuel and food, leading to faster supply consumption. These days, the chat group started showing signs of hostility. Initially, people had waited patiently for the government''s rescue. But now, lacking heating and food, their attitudes were changing. Especially those who had been deceived by Aunt Lin. They couldn''t hold back any longer and began questioning her in the group. "@25#1 Unit 1502-Lin Chunxia, Aunt Lin, you said the supplies would be redistributed?" "Our food is all gone. It''s been two days. Can you give us some now?" "Yeah, you promised to redistribute so everyone would have something to eat!" The residents were clamoring, including those who hadn''t handed over any supplies, hoping to take advantage of the situation. But Aunt Lin remained silent. She could see the messages but had no intention of giving any supplies back. She and Zhang Yi were the only ones who truly understood the gravity of the situation. Outside, chaos reigned. Only those with supplies could survive; the rest could only wait for death. Clutching her grandson, curled up under five blankets, Aunt Lin seethed, "No way I''m giving back the supplies I worked so hard to trick out of people!" Chapter 26: Double-Crossing Chapter 26: Double-CrossingSeeing Aunt Lin''s lack of response, the neighbors finally realized they had been duped by her. The chat group was suddenly filled with "kind words" directed at Aunt Lin. But Aunt Lin had decided to deceive her neighbors from the very beginning, and she certainly didn''t care about their curses. However, someone had his eyes on the supplies she had swindled from others. For example, the thug Chen Zhenghao! Although it had been five days since the apocalypse began, people still didn''t know what the situation outside was like. So, they hadn''t yet reached the point of fighting desperately for supplies. In Zhang Yi''s memory, Chen Zhenghao later led a group of his thugs to rob others, even resorting to murder. But at this moment, he hadn''t yet decided to rob his neighbors of their supplies. Even a thug has some sense. He hadn''t chosen to break into Zhang Yi''s home after Zhang Yi shot his leg because he wasn''t sure he could succeed. Now, their supplies were running low as well. As a thug, Chen Zhenghao didn''t have the habit of stockpiling supplies at home. His fridge was full of beer, but it was frozen solid and not filling, and it could only be consumed by smashing and gnawing on ice. Seeing Aunt Lin''s actions gave him an idea. Aunt Lin had claimed she would collect supplies and then redistribute them. Although he scoffed at Aunt Lin''s words, it was obvious now that she had swindled some supplies from her neighbors. So, he had a legitimate reason to take them! Even if the snow melted and the matter blew up, Aunt Lin wouldn''t dare do much out of guilt. Thus, Chen Zhenghao picked up his phone and called Aunt Lin. At that moment, Aunt Lin was at home, happily eating cookies with her grandson, Xiaohu. Instant noodles had to wait for the brief daily power supply to boil water. Just then, the phone rang urgently. "Grandma, the phone!" Hu pointed at the phone. Aunt Lin snorted disdainfully, thinking it was one of the neighbors she had swindled. She felt no guilt towards those fools and even thought they were idiots. But when she picked up the phone and saw the caller''s name, her face turned pale with fear. "Chen Zhenghao? What does he want with me?" Chen Zhenghao was a notorious thug with many underlings and a powerful background. Not someone a small-time community staff like her could mess with. Aunt Lin answered the call. Chen Zhenghao''s voice came through, "Hey, Aunt Lin! You''ve got quite the skill, getting everyone''s supplies into your hands." Hearing the word "supplies," Aunt Lin instantly became alert. S~?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. She coughed, "Ahem, as a community staff, it''s my duty to manage supplies for everyone." Chen Zhenghao laughed coldly, "Heh, thats perfect. Were running low on supplies at home, so send some over quickly!" Aunt Lin''s face froze. She hadn''t expected this thug to demand her supplies! She seemed to forget that she had also used unscrupulous means to swindle these supplies from her neighbors. Though Aunt Lin didn''t dare provoke Chen Zhenghao, she didn''t want to give up the supplies she and her grandson needed to survive. Gritting her teeth, she said, "I still need to organize these supplies. Not everyone has handed them over yet, so I can''t redistribute them." Chen Zhenghao was already losing his patience. This old hag didn''t know her place, trying to brush him off! He cursed, "You old hag, don''t push your luck!" "Those supplies have all been pocketed by you, right?" "I''m telling you, if you hand them over obediently, I''ll let it go. Otherwise, hehe, I''ll come and take them myself!" Aunt Lin was terrified, trembling and speechless. She had always bullied the weak and feared the strong. When dealing with ordinary residents, she was sharp and overbearing. But she had no idea how to handle someone like Chen Zhenghao. Mustering her courage, she said, "What do you want? I warn you, don''t mess around! I''m a community staff!" Chen Zhenghao laughed even harder, "Pah, what nonsense! Do you really think you''re important? If you don''t give them to me, I''ll come and take them myself!" With that, Chen Zhenghao hung up. Because of the extreme cold, he had gathered his thugs at his place. Not only to keep warm but also because many of them had fallen ill after being doused by Zhang Yi. Someone needed to care for them. Furthermore, as a thug with some brains, Chen Zhenghao realized the situation was worsening. So, he gathered his men to maintain control. If things got really bad, having manpower would give him absolute authority! However, with so many people, they needed food. After hanging up, he immediately called his thugs and headed to Aunt Lin''s place. Using a mop as a crutch and carrying a baseball bat, Chen Zhenghao led his men to Aunt Lin''s door with great momentum. Zhang Yi watched the whole scene through his surveillance cameras. Sitting on his sofa with his legs up on the coffee table, he munched on chips while watching the monitor. "Oh, it looks like a dog-eat-dog show is about to start!" Zhang Yi chirped. Only five days into the apocalypse, such an interesting drama was unfolding, involving people he despised. Zhang Yi felt very pleased. Suddenly, he thought of the foolish neighbors who had been tricked by Aunt Lin. Based on his memories from his previous life and his understanding of these neighbors, he knew that despite this incident, some would continue to fall for Aunt Lin''s tricks. People always have a tendency for wishful thinking, and the Confucian culture ingrained in them made them instinctively submit to figures like Aunt Lin. Thus, Aunt Lin would continue to exploit them. Zhang Yi stroked his chin, "What if I record this and share it in the group?" A mischievous smile appeared on his face, "That would be quite entertaining!" So, he pressed the record button. When Chen Zhenghao and his men reached Aunt Lin''s door, they began shouting for her to open up. Yuelu Community was a mid-range residential area, and every household had security doors. But everyone knew that security doors were meant to keep out petty thieves, not withstand a determined break-in. Aunt Lin''s home was no fortress like Zhang Yi''s. Though she tried desperately to block the door, the lock couldn''t withstand the determined assault of a group of thugs. Using baseball bats, steel rods, and crowbars, they quickly broke the lock. It was clear this wasnt their first time doing something like this. Once the lock was broken, the tables and sofas Aunt Lin used to block the door were no match for them. Through the camera, Zhang Yi saw Aunt Lin''s pale, terrified face. Chapter 27: Kicking Lin Xiaohu Chapter 27: Kicking Lin XiaohuTranslator: Duckpond; Editor: AOH888 Soon, Zhang Yi heard Aunt Lin''s shrill scream, like that of a pig being slaughtered. After storming into the apartment, Chen Zhenghao slapped Aunt Lin hard across the face. "You old hag, tricking the neighbors out of their supplies! I''m doing this as a service to justice!" Chen Zhenghao laughed heartily. Aunt Lin was knocked to the ground, her head spinning, unable to speak for a long time. Chen Zhenghao ordered his men, "Search the place! Take all the food and drink. This was collected from the neighbors and shouldnt go to waste on her!" His henchmen laughed, winking at each other, and swarmed into the kitchen and bedrooms, ransacking every corner of Aunt Lin''s house. They quickly found a large stash of instant noodles, bread, biscuits, bottled water, and more. Aunt Lin crawled over, crying, and clutched Chen Zhenghao''s leg, pleading, "You can''t take everything. Some of this is for my grandson and me. How are we supposed to survive if you take it all?" Chen Zhenghao stared at her coldly and sneered, "Not my problem! Get lost!" With that, he used his good leg to kick her in the face. "Ah!!" Aunt Lin screamed and fell backward. At that moment, a shout came from the bedroom, "You bastards, get out of here!" It was Aunt Lin''s grandson, Lin Xiaohu, who had seen them take the chocolate biscuits he had hidden. His eyes turned red with rage. He pulled out a fruit knife from a drawer and stabbed one of Chen Zhenghao''s henchmen in the buttocks. In such extreme cold, any injury could be fatal. The henchman yelled in pain. When he turned and saw it was a child who had stabbed him, his eyes flared with anger! "Damn you!" Enraged, the henchman kicked Lin Xiaohu in the stomach with all his strength. The full-force kick from an adult was not something a six-year-old could withstand. Lin Xiaohu screamed and was sent flying through the air, crashing into the wall and sliding down like a rag doll. The scene was exactly like the saying, "hitting someone like hanging a picture." S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chen Zhenghao and his men burst into laughter at the sight. "Haha! Fifth Brother, when did you get so good at kicking?" "You actually sent that little brat flying. Impressive!" The henchman, nicknamed Fifth Brother, pulled the knife out of his buttocks and said smugly, "How''s that? Too bad you didn''t get that on video!" Aunt Lin, herself injured, had initially wanted to play dead on the floor. But seeing her beloved grandson kicked so hard, she cried out in despair, "Hu, my grandson!" She crawled over to Lin Xiaohu. Chen Zhenghao pointed at Aunt Lin and said righteously, "This is the price you pay for deceiving your neighbors. I''m doing this as a service to justice!" With that, his group laughed heartily and left Aunt Lin''s house with their spoils. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow at this brutal scene. Seeing the despicable Aunt Lin and her family beaten up brought him immense satisfaction. He felt no sympathy for them. However, this scene also signified the beginning of the collapse of civilized society within the building. From now on, violence and savagery would only increase. After all, once a crack appears in the ice, it rapidly expands. "Alas, it''s a shame it doesn''t concern me." "Watching them fight to the death over a few supplies, while I lie at home comfortably, is quite dull." Lying on his imported sofa, Zhang Yi smiled contentedly. Then he uploaded the recorded video to the group chat. The chat was filled with residents cursing Aunt Lin for deceiving them. When they saw the video Zhang Yi had uploaded, showing Chen Zhenghao breaking into Aunt Lin''s house and beating her and her grandson, they cheered. "Haha, the swindler got what she deserved!" "Brother Hao is awesome! This is how you deal with such people!" "That''s the price for being a liar!" "Hehe, trying to steal a chicken but losing the bait. Hilarious!" Although they knew Chen Zhenghao wouldn''t return the stolen supplies, they were delighted to see Aunt Lin beaten. Some even started praising Chen Zhenghao as a hero. "Brother Hao is the best!" "No wonder he''s a big shot. He has a strong sense of justice!" "If it weren''t for Brother Hao, we wouldn''t have known what to do with that shameless old hag." "Brother Hao, be careful. That old hag might report you to the police." Some even offered advice to Chen Zhenghao, showing concern for him. Chen Zhenghao had gained both fame and fortune, not facing any collective opposition from the residents and securing a large amount of supplies. Zhang Yi watched the chat and smirked, shaking his head. The residents failed to realize one crucial point. If Chen Zhenghao could break into Aunt Lin''s house today, he could do the same to theirs tomorrow. As people gradually lost hope for the outside world, such events would only become more common. However, seeing the residents still chatting happily in the group suggested one thing. Despite their complaints, they still had some supplies. Many residents worked in warehouse districts and had a habit of stockpiling supplies. Even those who didn''t work in such areas had purchased discounted goods through various channels. A box of nearly expired instant noodles could sustain a family of three for five days if rationed carefully. Therefore, while staying warm and well-fed was challenging, survival was still possible with careful rationing. In his previous life, Zhang Yi survived for a month before starving neighbors broke in and devoured him alive. Everyone knew the saying "Don''t flaunt your wealth," and in the current situation, no one dared show they had supplies. They all pretended to be in dire straits to avoid others asking to borrow from them. However, they were merely surviving, with no quality of life. Zhang Yi stopped reading the chat. He took out a target from his interdimensional space and set it up against the wall. Then he picked up his crossbow and compound bow, practicing his shooting skills. Even though his safe house was as solid as a fortress, survival in the apocalypse required constant vigilance. Only by practicing survival skills daily could he ensure his continued survival. Moreover, practicing shooting was an enjoyable pastime for Zhang Yi. He didn''t need to practice his marksmanship with firearms. As a member of the shooting association, he knew how to use guns. While not an expert marksman, holding a gun was inherently intimidating! With only a hundred bullets, unlike reusable arrows, he needed to conserve them. Chapter 28: One Pack of Instant Noodles for 2000 Yuan! Chapter 28: One Pack of Instant Noodles for 2000 Yuan!Aunt Lin had been robbed of her supplies by Chen Zhenghao, and both she and her grandson Lin Xiaohu were severely beaten. Though the old woman managed to hold on, she was still able to move around. However, her grandson Lin Xiaohu, who had been kicked hard in the stomach by one of Chen Zhenghao''s underlings, was in a dire situation. A six-year-old couldn''t withstand such a blow, and his internal organs were severely injured. In her desperation, she could only plead for help in the group chat, hoping someone would help save her grandson. But due to her previous deceit in swindling supplies, no one felt any sympathy for her. "Please, I know what I did before was wrong, but my grandson is innocent!" she cried. "He''s just a child. Please, someone save him!" Aunt Lin''s desperate cries filled the chat, but no one offered to help. Instead, they mocked her. "Who knows if this is true or another scam." "Yeah, besides, were not doctors. We can''t help you." "If you hadnt swindled supplies from everyone, Brother Hao wouldnt have beaten your grandson. It''s all your fault." Aunt Lin broke down, sobbing uncontrollably, "It''s all my fault! Ill kneel and beg if someone can save my grandson!" At that moment, a woman named Zhou Ke''er sent a message. "Let me take a look at the child. I can''t guarantee I can save him, though." Zhang Yi immediately pictured a tall, imposing woman with a long ponytail. Zhou Ke''er was a doctor at Tianhai City''s First People''s Hospital. In his previous life, she had saved many lives with her medical knowledge and was one of the few good people among the neighbors. Usually aloof and not one to chat much in the group, she spoke up now because she saw Lin Xiaohu was in critical condition. Aunt Lin, remembering the doctor in their community, profusely thanked her and quickly sent Lin Xiaohu over. Half an hour later, Aunt Lin''s anxious voice rang out in the group again. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Does anyone have hemostatic drugs, anti-shock medication, or antibiotics?" "My grandson needs surgery. Please, help us! Ill kneel and beg!" Lin Xiaohu was severely injured, his liver ruptured by the kick. Although Zhou Ke''er was a doctor, she didnt have the necessary medications at home. The residents laughed off Aunt Lin''s plea. "No one keeps those kinds of medications at home!" Chen Zhenghao added sarcastically, "How about kneeling and begging right here in the group?" A wave of "hahaha" messages followed. Aunt Lin''s voice, trembling with tears, pleaded, "If you can help, Ill kneel and beg right now!" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. He did have those medications in his interdimensional space, but he had no intention of giving them up to save Lin Xiaohu. Firstly, in the apocalypse, medications were as crucial as food, and he didnt want to expose his supplies. Secondly, he despised Aunt Lin and her spoiled grandson. Even if Lin Xiaohu miraculously survived, he wouldnt last through the harsh winter. It was better to keep the medications for himself. No matter how much Aunt Lin begged in the group, no one stepped forward to help. Eventually, Zhou Ke''er sent another message. "I''ve temporarily stabilized Lin Xiaohu, but it''s just an emergency measure. He needs proper surgery at a hospital to survive." She also offered to treat any urgent medical issues the residents might face. The group chat quickly filled with praises for her. Even Chen Zhenghao and the wealthy heir Xu Hao eagerly lauded Zhou Ke''ers benevolence. On regular days, the aloof doctor didnt receive much attention from the neighbors. But now, everyone feared death, so they showered her with praise. Zhang Yi stayed silent, merely observing the situation unfold. For the past few days, Fang Yuqing hadnt contacted him. Zhang Yi was quite content with the peace, knowing she would eventually come to him for help. For now, she maintained her pride, considering herself too superior to lower herself for a man. Except for wealthy men, of course. But what about later? The snow continued to fall, burying the entire first floor. Leaving the community was impossible, and even exiting the building meant facing over five meters of snow. Running out of supplies was inevitable. When that time came, Fang Yuqings nature would drive her to seek Zhang Yis help. ... A week had passed since the apocalypse began. Seven days might not seem long, but for those enduring extreme cold, confined to their homes, it felt like an eternity. Initially, they held onto hope, but now, most had come to terms with reality. Waiting for rescue was a slim possibility. News of the global snow disaster, a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-year event, had reached them through the internet. The entire world was buried in snowstorms, with temperatures in some northern cities dropping to below minus one hundred degrees, making rescue operations impossible. Although the government encouraged unity and survival through limited channels, the sight of the frozen city had crushed their spirits. As supplies dwindled, the situation became more desperate. Aunt Lin''s food had been taken by Chen Zhenghao, and her grandson lay critically injured, driving her to madness. She ranted in the group, demanding everyone hand over their supplies, claiming her authority as a community staff. But now, the residents were wiser and ignored her. In the chat, a mother named Xie Limei, who lived on the 12th floor suddenly sent a message. "Does anyone have food? My child and I haven''t eaten in two days. I can pay a high price!" This message caused a subtle shift in the group. Previously, everyone believed the disaster would soon pass and the city would reopen. While there were food transactions, the prices were only slightly higher than usual. But now, as supplies ran out, food became life itself. Soon, someone responded, "I have a few packs of instant noodles. If you want them, its 1000 yuan per pack." A pack of instant noodles for 1000 yuan! In the past, this was unimaginable. No one realized the impact this transaction would have on the entire building. Zhang Yi, resting his chin on his hand, looked at his phone and murmured, "Interesting times are ahead." Xie Limei hesitated, still holding onto a sliver of hope that the snow disaster would end. But then, Xu Hao, the wealthy heir who hadnt spoken in the group for a while, suddenly chimed in. "Ill pay 2000 yuan per pack! How many do you have? Ill buy them all!" Chapter 29: The Tenth Day Chapter 29: The Tenth DayWealthy heir Xu Haos outrageous offer instantly set the group chat ablaze. "What? 2,000 yuan for a pack of instant noodles? Did I hear that right?" "Hey, dont drive up prices like this! Im really scared now." Some trembled as they spoke, "The snowstorm will pass, right? Theres no need to do this." The shaky voice message revealed the sender''s inner panic. People hadn''t completely given up hope. Each morning, they hoped to see the snow stop, the sunrise, and life return to normal. But the high-priced food transactions between Xie Limei and Xu Hao deeply shook their fragile minds. Someone tried to stay calm, saying, "Are you kidding? 2,000 yuan for a pack of noodles? Do you really think its the end of the world? Hahaha!" "It''s just a heavy snowfall, winter coming early. Its not like we''re facing a zombie apocalypse!" Zhang Yi read the message and chuckled, shaking his head. A zombie apocalypse? Don''t compare such trivialities to this ice age. Zombies, though terrifying, could still be fought by humans. But against the forces of nature, humanity was as fragile as insects before the universe''s might. They still didnt realize the true scale of the disaster they were facing. Xu Hao arrogantly said in the group, "Don''t worry about it! I have money, and I''m willing to spend it for peace of mind. If you want to sell, private message me. If not, forget it!" Xu Hao tried to appear indifferent. But Zhang Yi saw through his facadehe was terrified. Otherwise, he wouldn''t offer such an exorbitant price for a pack of noodles. It wasnt hard to understand. Though Xu Hao was wealthy, with assets worth billions, in this apocalypse, he couldnt even order takeout. Wealth didnt equate to stupidity. Realizing the crisis''s severity, Xu Hao began to buy supplies at high prices from his neighbors. Xie Limei, the mother, was desperate, "How can you do this? We have no food left. Buying food is a matter of life and death." Xu Hao replied bluntly, "Im not competing with you. I just offered a higher price, and it''s up to them to decide who to sell to. It''s none of your business." Seeing Xu Hao ignore her, Xie Limei cried in the group, "Please help us. My daughter is only eight months old. Without food, I can''t feed her, and well both starve!" The group remained silent to Xie Limei''s pleas. This was the moment when humanity''s selfish nature was most apparent. Xu Hao''s offer of 2,000 yuan per pack of noodles was too tempting. Xie Limei could only offer half that price. In Tianhai City, the average salary was about 5,000 yuan. Who would sell their hard-earned supplies cheaply? Many privately messaged Xu Hao, negotiating transactions. Xie Limei realized what was happening and continued to cry for help in the group. But no one responded, not even a word of comfort. People feared that showing sympathy would lead Xie Limei to latch onto them for help. This helpless mother sobbed uncontrollably. Taking care of herself was already difficult, let alone caring for an eight-month-old baby. Zhang Yi remembered Xie Limei from his previous life. His impression of her was vague, as she always appeared as a weak, pitiful mother, earning sympathy and surviving by exchanging supplies. But strangely, both she and her daughter survived well into the apocalypse. Zhang Yi''s eyes flashed with insight. This woman wasnt as simple as she seemed. Beneath the soft exterior was a cunning survivor. She likely benefited from his death, too. Zhang Yi understood that in an apocalypse, excessive compassion was a death sentence. So, he watched Xie Limei with cold indifference. Too many would die in the apocalypse; he only cared about his own survival. Others'' lives or deaths didnt matter to him. However, Xie Limeis cries eventually had some effect. Uncle You, the security guard, softened and agreed to give her some food. Xie Limei thanked him profusely, claiming shed remember his kindness forever. Through his surveillance, Zhang Yi saw Xu Hao successfully buy supplies It wasnt a vast amount, but enough for him and his girlfriend to survive a few weeks. Zhang Yi sneered, "This is the last warmth money can buy in the apocalypse." Soon, people would realize that money was worthless and only supplies mattered. Then, many would regret selling their supplies. Xu Hao had indeed set a harmful precedent in the group. Given that many residents in the 25-unit complex were friends or colleagues, Xu Haos high-priced purchases affected everyone. When he used real money to set high prices for supplies, everyone realized how scarce supplies were. People clung even tighter to what they had. At the start of the snowstorm, some still shared or traded supplies with neighbors. But now, they were more miserly than Scrooge. Even best friends were refused food with various excuses. The tenth day of the ice age had arrived. At Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin''s home, supplies were nearly gone. Once picky eaters of gourmet food, they now fought over a pack of instant noodles. The food they bought earlier and what Zhou Peng, the simp, brought over was almost finished. At this rate, theyd starve within a week. The two sat on the sofa, wrapped in blankets, their faces pale. S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. On the coffee table lay an opened pack of compressed biscuits. Lin Cainin looked at the biscuits and said to Fang Yuqing, "Yuqing, this is our last pack of compressed biscuits." Pain filled Fang Yuqing''s eyes. In the past, she would never touch such coarse food. Now, she ate every bit, even crumbs that fell to the floor. Chapter 30: The Perfect Backup Chapter 30: The Perfect BackupLin Cainin continued, "We have five packs of crispy noodles and three packs of instant noodles left. There''s half a jar of Lao Gan Ma (Translator Notes: A famous chili source in China) in the kitchen, but the mantou and noodles are long gone." Fang Yuqing clutched her head in anguish. "Crispy noodles! Crispy noodles! That stuff doesn''t fill us up at all!" Lin Cainin stared at her, "Yuqing, the situation outside is getting worse. Do you think this snowstorm will ever stop?" Fang Yuqing froze for a moment, then turned her head to look out the window. Through the ice-covered glass, she could faintly see the snowflakes continuously falling from the sky. It had been snowing for ten days without a moment of respite. The second floor was completely buried, making it impossible to go outside. The streets were eerily silent, with no sign of snowploughs dispatched by the authorities. Fang Yuqing''s heart sank to the depths of despair. She had no idea how long this snowstorm would last. Or if it would ever end. Covering her eyes, Fang Yuqing cried in pain, "Lin, what should we do? If this continues, we will starve to death." Lin Cainin gritted her teeth and asked, "Does Zhou Peng have any food left?" Fang Yuqing shook her head, "I''ve asked him several times, even pretended to befriend him. But hes completely drained, not a crumb left." "The last time he brought me two packs of instant noodles, that was his final stash. Now he''s as skinny as a skeleton. He definitely doesn''t have any more food." Lin Cainin clenched her fists in frustration, "Is there anyone else we can try?" "Look, we''re both beautiful. If we make a move, there will definitely be men willing to help us." Fang Yuqing glanced at her, annoyed, "Are you stupid? Everyone treats their supplies as their lifeline now." "Even if they are attracted to us, they won''t easily give up their supplies." "And with the weather so cold, even if we offered ourselves to them, theyd be too frozen to do anything." S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. As she spoke, a flash of pain crossed Fang Yuqing''s eyes. Lin Cainin didnt know that Fang Yuqing had already tried this method. She had hoped to use her beauty to trade with men for supplies. But her standards were too high. She wanted someone at least 1.85 meters tall, a civil servant, and earning 50,000 yuan a month before she would consider sleeping with them. Even the sixty-year-old grandpa next door said, "You''re too late. If you''d come half a month earlier, I might have been able to rise to the occasion." Lin Cainin bit her lip, deeply afraid. As a woman with some beauty, she had planned to use her looks as her last resort for survival. But the cold had turned out to be an excellent deterrent against such plans. Suddenly, an image of a man flashed in her mind. She said to Fang Yuqing, "Yuqing, did you forget you have another simp?" Fang Yuqing knew exactly who Lin Cainin was talking about. She pursed her lips stubbornly, "Hmph, that disgusting man. Unless he comes and begs for my forgiveness, I will never contact him first!" She had approached Zhang Yi several times, intending to give him a chance to bring her supplies and win her favor. But Zhang Yis cold attitude, even sending her pictures to provoke her, had left her furious. She vowed to make Zhang Yi come and grovel at her feet. If she contacted him now, it would ruin her image as a cool, aloof goddess. No, for Fang Yuqing, this was absolutely unacceptable! Her image had to be maintained, or how would she ever attract a wealthy heir suitor? Lin Cainin reminded her, "Did you forget? Zhang Yi stocked up a lot of food before. Even after a month, he must have more than the average household." "If you go to him, he''ll definitely agree to give you supplies." Hearing about the food, Fang Yuqing felt tempted. But she hesitated, "But when I asked him before, he was so cold." Lin Cainin said, "You''re so naive! He probably thinks he doesn''t deserve you and wants to give up. After all, youve been pretty cold to him lately." Fang Yuqing immediately got excited. "Well, that''s his own fault! Hes just a nobody, pretending to be a wealthy heir. I wasted so much affection on him for nothing!" Lin Cainin grinned, "But hes a perfect backup, isnt he? A backup is meant to be used when needed." "Just give him a little smile, rekindle his hope, and then hell give you whatever you want." Fang Yuqing nodded, feeling her heart waver. She decided to try contacting Zhang Yi again, this time using all her charm to get what she needed to survive. Chapter 31: Zhang Yis Wealth, the Bitch Cries with Envy Chapter 31: Zhang Yi''s Wealth, the Bitch Cries with EnvyAfter Lin Cainin''s persuasive words, Fang Yuqing found her arguments quite reasonable. The most compelling reason, however, was her extreme hunger. Remembering the pictures Zhang Yi had sent her beforesteak, lobsters, desserts, and fruitsmade her mouth water. All her pretensions could be set aside for a good meal. So she picked up her phone and sent Zhang Yi a voice message in her most gentle tone. Zhang Yi was at home, lounging on his sofa and watching TV shows. Most global TV stations had stopped broadcasting, but he had already downloaded many classic films and variety shows to pass the long, tedious hours. "Ding-dong!" His phone rang. Zhang Yi glanced at it and saw Fang Yuqing''s name. His lips curled into a mocking smile. So, this woman finally couldnt hold on to her pitiful pride any longer. He opened the voice message and immediately heard Fang Yuqing''s trembling, affectedly sweet voice. "Humph, Zhang Yi, you annoying guy! You haven''t chatted with me for so many days. You''re so bad!" "I just said a couple of things the other day, but I regretted it immediately!" "But I''m a girl; its embarrassing to speak first. You''re so inconsiderate!" As a professional gold diggerFang Yuqing was adept at acting coquettishly. Otherwise, she wouldnt have been able to fool Zhang Yi in their previous life. Hearing her cutesy voice, Zhang Yi felt a momentary softness. If he didnt know her true malicious nature, he might have given in. Zhang Yi replied with a message. "Ive been feeling unwell lately, probably sick, so I haven''t checked phone." Fang Yuqing immediately asked, "Are you Sick? Did you catch a cold in this freezing weather? You must keep warm." "No, it''s heatstroke." Zhang Yi replied. Fang Yuqing stared at his message, stunned. Heatstroke? Are you kidding me? Their house was already at minus fifty or sixty degrees. They had to wrap themselves in blankets and huddle together for warmth, struggling to sleep soundly every night. And he says he has heatstroke? "Zhang Yi, stop joking. How could anyone get heatstroke in such cold weather?" Zhang Yi sent back a curious emoji. "Cold? Oh, I have a fireplace, so I don''t feel it." "With the fire burning, it gets quite hot inside. I probably got sick from sleeping too close to the fire." S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. As he spoke, he took a picture of the roaring fire in his fireplace. In the photo, he included his bare legs and the pile of snacks, leftover lamb chops, and chicken drumsticks on his coffee table. Then, he sent the photo to Fang Yuqing. Seeing the photo, if the previous ones had only made her a bit jealous, this one set her eyes ablaze with envy! A fireplace! In such cold weather, a fireplace was a godsend. Even in the far north, with one of these, the temperature outside could be minus dozens of degrees without a problem. A fireplace''s heating ability was even better than a heater''s, providing direct warmth. For the past 10 days, Fang Yuqing''s whole body had almost lost all sensation due to the cold. Now, besides food, her most desired thing was a way to stay warm. A few days ago, she and Lin Cainin had burned a chair for warmth. Although it only provided about ten minutes of heat, the high temperature from the flames moved her to tears on the spot. But there werent many things left at home to burn. After burning that chair, she could only long for that feeling again. Who would have thought Zhang Yi would have a fireplace at home? Tianhai City was in the south, where winter didnt usually require down jackets. Who would install a fireplace at home? Fang Yuqing didnt have time to ponder this. Her eyes were fixated on the photo, with only one thought in her mindshe wanted to go to Zhang Yis place! Seeing Zhang Yi lounging with bare legs and a pile of food on the table, Zhang Yi had become her biggest hope! Lin Cainin, wrapped in a blanket beside her, noticed Fang Yuqing''s expression change. She leaned over and exclaimed, "My goodness! Is this photo real? How can someone live so well in such times!" "This place is heaven!" Fang Yuqing snapped out of her daze. "Yes, everyone else is starving and freezing at home. Why is Zhang Yi living so comfortably?" "Maybe this photo and the previous ones were all photoshopped." She had an idea and called Zhang Yi on a video call. To see if it was real or not, she just needed a look. Lin Cainin also leaned in, staring at the screen. Zhang Yi saw the call request and smirked. He was curious to see this bitch beg him humbly. If he couldnt see her die in despair, how could he avenge his tragic death in the previous life? So he accepted the call. As soon as the call connected, they saw each other''s current situation. Zhang Yi had just finished exercising and was lounging shirtless on the sofa. His room was brightly lit, with fitness equipment behind him and stacks of food visible in the kitchen. He occasionally cooked meals himself for fun. So, in his kitchen, there were boxes of dried scallops, fish maw, and abalone, along with instant noodles, caviar, truffles, and other gourmet canned foods. To him, these were just occasional snacks. But to the two women on the other end, these were the most desirable foods! Compared to Zhang Yis comfort and leisure, Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin looked extremely disheveled. Both were wrapped in thick blankets, their faces pale from the cold. They couldnt use most of their cosmetics due to the low temperature, making them look rather haggard. They no longer appeared as refined as they once did. Seeing Fang Yuqing, a trace of disappointment flashed in Zhang Yi''s eyes. The goddess he had pursued so fervently in the past, in her natural state, was just a six out of ten. Reflecting on his past obsession with this so-called beauty, he cursed himself internally. The two women didnt notice Zhang Yis expression. Their eyes were completely drawn to the things in Zhang Yis house. His bare torso indicated a comfortably warm indoor temperature. The bright lights were unimaginable in a time when power was rationed to less than an hour a day. Officials had even banned the use of high-power appliances, threatening to cut off power for violations. But the food piled like a small mountain in Zhang Yis kitchen made their eyes light up with envy! These two women, who had been living on compressed food for days, couldnt help but feel a pang of hunger and jealousy. Chapter 32: The Bitchs Pleas Chapter 32: The Bitch''s PleasThrough the video call, Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin saw Zhang Yi''s current living conditions. The comfortable temperature and abundant food made them feel like they were staring at heaven itself. They couldn''t fathom how, ten days into the apocalypse, someone could still live so comfortably. Zhang Yi asked indifferently, "How have you been? You both look thinner. Congratulations!" Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin felt like cursing. Did they want to lose weight? No, it was all from hunger! They had been rationing one pack of instant noodles per day to stretch their supplies. Lin Cainin, her eyes greedily fixed on the food in Zhang Yi''s home, swallowed hard and said enviously, "Zhang Yi, how come you have so much food? Is it all from that time we shopped together?" Zhang Yi glanced at the kitchen and said nonchalantly, "Oh, that stuff? It''s just junk food. I eat a bit when I''m too lazy to cook. I don''t usually touch it." He was telling the truth. His interdimensional space was filled with gourmet foods he had ordered from top restaurants. Plus, the Walmart warehouse held supplies worth billions, including tens of thousands of food items. For Zhang Yi, these words were casual, but to Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, they were a blatant display of wealth. S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Especially since a pack of instant noodles in their community group was now worth 2000 yuan! Zhang Yi could clearly see their throats moving as they swallowed their saliva, obviously drooling over his food. But Zhang Yi said nothing, simply enjoying their envious gazes. "Zhang Yi, you have so much food at home. That''s amazing! Many people outside can''t even eat!" Fang Yuqing said, giggling. "You''re so smart. No wonder you bought so much back then. You must have planned it all along!" she continued. Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a slight smile. "Oh, its just luck." Fang Yuqing then asked, "Zhang Yi, your home looks so warm. And it''s not the scheduled power supply time, yet your house is so bright. Why?" This was her biggest question. Nothing is more desirable than warmth when you''re freezing. Zhang Yi smiled and turned his phone camera to show the fireplace. "I installed a fireplace! It''s really warm, makes the whole place hot." He added deliberately, "By the way, you two look really cold. Is it that bad outside?" "I haven''t gone out in over ten days, so I dont know what its like outside." These words were intentionally provocative. Of course, Zhang Yi knew the situation outside; just checking the community chat gave him all the details of everyone''s suffering and how cold their homes were. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin were seething with rage. They knew Zhang Yi was deliberately rubbing it in their faces. But they couldn''t deny the truth: he was living in luxury. Fang Yuqing now had one thought: she had to move into Zhang Yis place! Seeing Zhang Yi''s food supplies and the warm environment, who wouldnt want that? Fang Yuqing immediately adopted a pitiful tone, blinking her eyes and sweetly saying, "Zhang Yi, youre so impressive. I really admire you!" "Can I come visit you? I havent seen you in so long, and I miss you!" She believed this tactic would work. It had worked on many men before, making them do anything for her. She thought of Zhang Yi as a perfect backup who would eagerly agree if she offered him a bit of affection. If she could get into his home, she had many ways to make sure she could stay. After all, she could give him some benefits in return. Weren''t all men like this? But Zhang Yi, seeing her coquettish demeanor, felt nothing but disgust. He couldn''t believe he had chased after this woman for two years. When they worked in the warehouse, there were few female employees. Fang Yuqing, with her coy and flirtatious behavior, was like a goddess to him. Blinded by infatuation, he had idolized her, treating her as the light of his life. But after being betrayed and killed in his previous life, any romantic illusions he had about her had shattered completely. Seeing her bare face, Zhang Yi felt no emotional stirrings, just irritation. He smirked mockingly, then lazily leaned back on the sofa, resting his cheek on his hand. "It''s really cold outside, so you should just stay home and rest. Dont wander around." "I dont know how cold it is outside, but judging by how you look, it must be pretty bad." Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin were stunned by his refusal. Fang Yuqing, in particular, felt her confidence shatter. She had always considered Zhang Yi a reliable backup who would do anything for her with a single gesture. But now, even though she offered to visit him, he rejected her without hesitation! This seriously hurt her pride. And Zhang Yis nonchalant tone added salt to the wound. She couldn''t accept this outcome. Knowing there was a warm, food-abundant haven just a few floors away while she starved at home was unbearable. After all, she considered herself a goddess! Fang Yuqings face stiffened, and then she forced a smile. "Zhang Yi, dont joke around!" "You used to treat me so well." "How can you refuse when I want to visit you? Im not asking for anything else." She pouted, looking aggrieved, hoping to evoke his sympathy. Most men, seeing her like this, would feel protective and agree to her requests immediately. But Zhang Yi was different. Since Fang Yuqings betrayal and his subsequent death, he felt nothing but hatred for her. Zhang Yi replied, "You know, every time I asked you to visit me, you always had excuses, saying it wouldn''t be appropriate for two single people to be seen together." "I think you were right. We should keep our distance to avoid gossip." When Zhang Yi pursued Fang Yuqing, he had to go through elaborate efforts just to have a meal or watch a movie with her. He prepared gifts, surprises, and booked high-end restaurants for a chance to be with her. But whenever he suggested she visit his home, she always found some excuse. Now, he threw her past words back at her tauntingly. Chapter 33: Humiliating Rejection Chapter 33: Humiliating RejectionFang Yuqing''s expression faltered. She was well aware of her past actions. Despite her demure facade, she knew she was far from innocent. In her mind, Zhang Yi was still a backup, someone she could easily manipulate. Despite Zhang Yis cold attitude, Fang Yuqing believed he was just playing hard to get. She was convinced that if she pushed a little harder, she could win him over. So, she pouted and said coquettishly, "I did all that for you! Zhang Yi, don''t be so petty!" "It was all my fault? Let me come over right now and apologize in person, please." She bit her lip gently, a blush appearing on her cheeks. "At the very least, let me come over and massage your legs and shoulders." Zhang Yi couldn''t help but inwardly exclaim, "Holy Shit!" In such cold weather, her acting skills, making her appear like a shy maiden, were impressive. It was a shame she didnt pursue a career in acting! However, Zhang Yi was not swayed. "That won''t do. We''re not a couple, and such intimate actions are unacceptable." Zhang Yi replied righteously, "I am an old-school person." Fang Yuqing was nearly driven mad by his words. She practically offered herself to him, yet he continued to act aloof! Did he really need her to spell it out? As long as he let her stay at his place, shed shower him with benefits, potentially even sleep with him. Perhaps she hadn''t made herself clear. Desperate to live in Zhang Yis comfortable home, Fang Yuqing ignored Lin Cainin''s presence. "Zhang Yi, actually, Ive always had a good impression of you." "Being boyfriend and girlfriend is not out of the question!" "After all, affection can grow over time!" She covered her face, pretending to be shy. "Oh, Im so embarrassed. Do I need to spell it out?" Her coy behavior, coupled with her flirtatious glances, was indeed seductive. If it had been the old Zhang Yi, he might have been so overwhelmed that he would have immediately let her in. Being a manipulative and deceitful woman wasnt easy. It required years of honing ones skills. Her performance showcased her mastery. But Zhang Yi quickly pondered whether to let this deceitful woman into his home. Don''t misunderstand. He wasnt being saintly. He simply thought that, after pursuing her for two years, it might be worth it to finally sleep with her and settle past grievances. However, this thought was immediately dismissed. This was the apocalypse, and any potential risk had to be eliminated. Thus, he would not open his door to let anyone into his fortress-like home. Survival was paramount. Zhang Yi sneered, looking at Fang Yuqing with a mocking gaze. "Fang Yuqing, have you misunderstood something?" He spread his hands, saying, "I admit, we had a decent relationship in the past." "But," he leaned closer to the camera, smirking, "did you really think I liked you?" This statement was a severe blow for someone as vain as Fang Yuqing! Sure enough, her face turned pale. Lin Cainin glanced at her, a hint of schadenfreude in her eyes. Fang Yuqing demanded, "Zhang Yi, what... what do you mean? Didnt you love me the most?" Zhang Yi laughed. "Don''t get me wrong. You are pretty, but I never intended to date you, just to have fun." "With my conditions, finding a hot girl in Tianhai City is not difficult." "Where do you get the confidence that Ive been desperately pursuing you?" Zhang Yis tone was dismissive. He was telling the truth. As a native of Tianhai City, owning an apartment worth millions, and having a stable job with a monthly salary exceeding ten thousand yuan, plus being tall and handsome, Zhang Yi was a top-notch prospect in the local dating market. If it werent for his kindness and naivety in the past, he could have had many women. His words felt like daggers to Fang Yuqing''s heart. The worst blow for someone who prided herself on her allure was her charm being dismissed, as it was her lifeline. She had always viewed Zhang Yi as a simp, keeping him around while pursuing wealthier men. Now, Zhang Yi was telling her she was just another fish in the pond. This was unbearable for her! Her voice quivered with anger, "Zhang Yi! You... youre too much!" Zhang Yi sneered, adding more fuel to the fire. "Alright, enough pretending to be an innocent girl." "Ive observed you long ago. Youre just a gold-digger, always thinking about hooking a wealthy man. Do you think rich men are idiots?" "By the way, youre infamous among the wealthy heirs in Tianhai City." "One day you entice Mr. Zhang, the next Mr. Li. They just toy with you for a few days, and you really think you could marry a rich man?" "Do you know what they call you behind your back? A bus, a communal socket!" Zhang Yis ruthless taunts left Fang Yuqing trembling with rage. In her eyes, Zhang Yi had always been a backup, a simp, yet now he mercilessly mocked her. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. It was a complete destruction of her self-esteem! "Zhang Yi! Shut up!" she screamed. Zhang Yi laughed, "Im just speaking the truth. Why are you so upset?" "Arent these all things you did yourself? " With that, Zhang Yi cut off the call, not giving Fang Yuqing a chance to retaliate. Chapter 34: Ugly People Cause Trouble Chapter 34: Ugly People Cause TroubleZhang Yi ruthlessly berated Fang Yuqing, exposing her manipulative and gold-digging nature as a two-faced schemer. This deeply struck a nerve with Fang Yuqing. Despite being materialistic, promiscuous, and playing with men''s feelings, she still believed herself to be a good girl. Zhang Yi''s harsh criticism shattered her self-confidence. If even someone like Zhang Yi could disdain her so openly, it meant her charm wasn''t enough to attract the wealthy men she dreamed of marrying. After Zhang Yi hung up, Fang Yuqing quickly sent several voice messages. He didn''t need to listen to know she was cursing him. But did Zhang Yi care? Of course not. In the apocalypse, this manipulative woman would die slowly in the extreme cold and hunger. Zhang Yi only toyed with her, enjoying her misery. Why get angry with a dead person? Seeing her furious and helpless expression filled Zhang Yi with satisfaction. "Hahaha!" Zhang Yi laughed heartily. He went to the kitchen and took a bottle of Romanee-Conti from the fridge. This wine was worth 200,000 yuan and stored in a temperature-controlled wine cabinet at Walmart''s warehouse. Zhang Yi didnt have much of this high-end wine, just a few dozen bottles. Feeling good today, he decided to celebrate. His home was never short of electricity. During renovations, he had installed backup power and noiseless generators. He had plenty of energy supplies. He went to the living room and set up a grand feast with a sense of ceremony. French escargot, tomahawk steak, Stargazy pie, Jinling salted duck, paired with a bottle of Romanee-Conti. In the apocalypse, societal rules were rapidly disappearing. Zhang Yi ate whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, in whatever combination he desired. He could even eat caviar as a meal. Such a luxurious life was likely unmatched in the ordinary world. The sudden onset of the apocalypse meant even the world''s most powerful and wealthy people didn''t have time to prepare adequately. Take Xu Hao, for example. His father was a renowned corporate magnate in Tianhai City. But according to Zhang Yi''s memory, his father died within half a month of the apocalypse. All his wealth became worthless, and the overweight, out-of-shape man lacked the survival skills needed for the apocalypse. ... Meanwhile, in the apartment shared by Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, Fang Yuqing was having a meltdown. She smashed things in a rage, cursing Zhang Yi. Under normal circumstances, she wouldn''t be so furious. But now, seeing Zhang Yis home filled with warmth and luxury like a paradise, while she suffered in the freezing cold and hunger, was unbearable. She couldn''t accept that such a paradise was just out of reach. "Zhang Yi, you bastard! Who do you think you are to insult me!" "If it weren''t for this snowstorm, I wouldn''t even look at you!" Fang Yuqing gritted her teeth in fury. On the sofa beside her, Lin Cainin watched her with a hint of contempt in her eyes. "It''s your fault for playing around too much. Otherwise, we''d be enjoying the food and warmth at Zhang Yis place now!" Fang Yuqing snorted, "He''s nothing! Just owns an apartment and some savings!" "I, Fang Yuqing, aim to marry into a wealthy family and become a rich wife!" Lin Cainin frowned, "But now, Zhang Yi has plenty of food and a fireplace. Thats better than any wealthy heirs." She looked outside at the falling snow, which showed no sign of stopping. She worriedly said, "Will this snowstorm ever end?" S?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The remaining official TV channels were still encouraging people. Experts, dressed in thick down jackets, shivered as they claimed the disaster would soon pass. They urged people to stay strong and endure. But there was no sign that the disaster was abating. Lin Cainin hugged herself tightly, "If the snow doesnt stop, well either freeze or starve to death!" Her words turned Fang Yuqings anger into fear. Ten days had passed since they were trapped indoors. These ten days felt like ten years. Anyone who hadnt experienced it couldnt understand the torment. It could even drive a person to a mental breakdown. Despite being manipulative and superficial, Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, as women in their twenties, had fragile hearts. Facing the relentless snow, they thought of death. Fang Yuqing curled up on the sofa, her mind filled with images of Zhang Yis warm, food-filled home. She angrily said, "Its not fair! Why should Zhang Yi live so comfortably while I, so beautiful, suffer?" Lin Cainin glanced at her but said nothing. She wrapped herself in a blanket, pulled out her phone, and searched her contacts for Zhang Yi. Soon, Zhang Yi received a message from Lin Cainin. When he saw the message, he was enjoying premium red wine with a luxurious meal. His eyes glinted with amusement. Watching these bitches struggle in the apocalypse was more entertaining than a movie! He read Lin Cainin''s message. "Zhang Yi, Im so glad you finally saw through Fang Yuqing." "I always knew she was a gold digger, never truly caring about you." "I hoped youd teach her a lesson one day. Congratulations on waking up!" Zhang Yi chuckled. "Such plastic friendships! So quick to betray Fang Yuqing." But it made sense. Birds of a feather flock together. Lin Cainin and Fang Yuqing were both manipulative schemers. He replied, "Its nothing." Lin Cainin continued, "Seeing you chase after Fang Yuqing always made me sad." "Zhang Yi, did you know... Ive always been secretly in love with you." "Now that youve let go of Fang Yuqing, how about us being together?" Zhang Yi almost spat out his wine. "Damn, this gold digger is shameless!" He shook his head. "Tsk tsk, reality hits hard. She must have been having a tough time these past ten days." In the past, Lin Cainin had always looked down on Zhang Yi. Despite her own mediocrity, she considered herself a goddess. Now, seeing Zhang Yi reject Fang Yuqing and live in such luxury, she wanted to take advantage. Chapter 35: Fake Friends Chapter 35: Fake FriendsZhang Yi sighed. "Does this woman think I''m some kind of trash collector?" Fang Yuqing, despite being a gold digger, at least knew how to flirt and dress up. But Lin Cainin? Aside from being cheap and narcissistic, what did she have? However, out of a perverse sense of humor, Zhang Yi grinned and said, "Oh, is that so?" "But I just gave Fang Yuqing a thorough scolding. You two are such good friends. If you stay with me, won''t it affect your relationship?" Lin Cainin''s eyes lit up, sensing an opportunity. Without hesitation, she said, "Friends? We''re just roommates." To gain Zhang Yi''s trust, she began to reveal Fang Yuqing''s dark secrets. "You have no idea how much I despise her!" "She''s incredibly lazy. These days, she says she''s afraid of the cold and won''t even go to the bathroom. She uses mineral water bottles to pee in. It''s disgusting!" "Don''t be fooled by her innocent act. She goes to nightclubs every night to find men." "If she meets a rich guy, she throws herself at him." "When shes out of money, she sells herself. Otherwise, how could she afford all those cosmetics and designer bags on a 5,000 yuan monthly salary?" "She charges 1,500 yuan a night. She''s so cheap! I despise her." Zhang Yi was surprised to learn about Fang Yuqing''s side activities. He bit his lip, feeling that the world was truly absurd. Fortunately, he wasnt foolish. While he pursued Fang Yuqing, he never became a pathetic simp like Zhou Peng. Lin Cainin continued to reveal more of Fang Yuqing''s secrets to gain Zhang Yi''s trust. "Don''t be fooled by her pure act. She''s had multiple abortions." "In college, she even had several sugar daddies." ... Zhang Yi silently watched and recorded their conversation. Lin Cainin clearly had long harbored resentment against Fang Yuqing. After all, Fang Yuqing, better at flirting and more attractive, always overshadowed Lin Cainin, making her just a sidekick. No woman willingly plays second fiddle. Why else do you think the pretty girls in college always have unattractive, overweight friends? After venting her feelings towards Fang Yuqing, Lin Cainin continued her confession to Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, you have no idea how much it hurt watching you chase Fang Yuqing all these years." "Now, I finally have a chance to confess my feelings to you. Let me be your girlfriend! I promise to love you wholeheartedly." "And during these lonely times at home, having a woman by your side can be very comforting. I can help you with many things." Lin Cainin was practically begging Zhang Yi to let her stay with him, willing to do anything for the chance. But Zhang Yi had no interest in someone like her. He forwarded their conversation to Fang Yuqing and then replied to Lin Cainin, "I''m touched, but let''s just forget about it." Lin Cainin, unwilling to give up, asked, "Why? Don''t you need a woman right now?" Zhang Yi, suppressing his nausea, said into his phone, "Yes, I like women. But you''re too ugly!" He then muted his phone and tossed it aside. Lin Cainin turned red with anger after hearing Zhang Yi''s voice message. Did he just call her ugly? S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. That was a severe insult! Whenever she posted her photos online, she received countless compliments calling her beautiful. Just as Lin Cainin was fuming, she heard an angry scream. "Lin Cainin, you wretched woman!" Fang Yuqing, seeing the messages where Lin Cainin slandered her, exploded with rage. The two started fighting, pulling each other''s hair and scratching arms. They fought until they were exhausted, glaring at each other with hatred. If it werent for the freezing weather and the need to live under the same roof, they might have killed each other. Both Lin Cainin and Fang Yuqing despised Zhang Yi. But deep down, their envy for him overshadowed their hatred. If Zhang Yi agreed to let them into his home, they would abandon their dignity and crawl over like dogs. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi continued his simple, mundane, yet wealthy life. Every night, he watched news, something he never did before. Although the news was still heavily filtered, it provided some information about the outside world. "Tianhai City officials announced that to meet the publics electricity needs, power will be supplied daily from 1 to 2 PM." "High-power appliances cannot be used. The electricity is only for small devices like kettles and phones." "Most power plants have halted operations. We hope everyone will conserve electricity to avoid long-term outages." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow at the news. In the past few days, power had sporadically returned for less than an hour each day, sometimes just for a few minutes. The officials, even with limited resources, were trying their best to provide electricity to the public. Most power plants worldwide had shut down, and energy resources were dwindling fast in this new Ice Age. What caught Zhang Yi''s attention wasnt the news content but the tone of the female anchor and the way the news was presented. The anchor spoke sternly, and the news was no longer aimed at comforting the public. This meant the officials had stopped downplaying the disaster''s severity. Unable to control the situation, they decided to reveal the full extent of the disaster, urging people to face reality and find ways to survive. Sure enough, when Zhang Yi checked his phone, he saw that the chat groups had exploded. People cursed the officials, cried in despair, and frantically sought supplies at exorbitant prices. The price of instant noodles had skyrocketed from 2,000 yuan per pack to 5,000 yuan per pack in just two days! Zhang Yi shook his head in disbelief. Human greed was blatantly evident. Despite knowing the world was ending, people still traded food and water for money. Saying nothing, Zhang Yi continued to observe everything like a detached observer. Life had to go on. Even without hope, no one wanted to die. They would struggle to survive, even if just barely. Chapter 36: Vicious Women Chapter 36: Vicious WomenWith the water pipes frozen, the community faced a severe water shortage. The only way to get water was to brave the outside temperatures of minus seventy degrees Celsius to fetch snow from the ground floor. But even bringing back the snow posed a problem: how to melt it. S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The temperature in the building was even minus fifty or sixty degrees, turning the ice as hard as cement. Driven by thirst, some residents tried licking the ice, only to have their tongues stuck and severely injured by the cold. During these days, Zhang Yi noticed through his surveillance cameras that Chen Zhenghaos thugs came to spy every day. They believed Zhang Yi would eventually come out to fetch water and planned to ambush him then. However, after many days, they never saw Zhang Yi leave his home. They couldnt imagine how well-stocked Zhang Yis house was. In his fortified home, he could live comfortably for the rest of his life without worrying about food or drink. Is Chen Zhenghao still alive? Hes quite tenacious, Zhang Yi mused. Chen Zhenghao had been shot in the leg. Without proper treatment, his leg would be useless, and infection could even claim his life. In such extreme cold, any injury could lead to a fatal fever. Surviving was a miracle. Maybe the cold is too extreme for the virus to survive, and thats why he hasnt died yet? Zhang Yi pondered, not well-versed in medical matters. However, he didnt care much whether Chen Zhenghao lived or died; it wouldnt significantly impact him. Chen Zhenghaos death was merely a matter of time. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi woke up, still groggy, and grabbed his phone. Checking the chat groups and forums for news was now his primary source of entertainment. Seeing others struggle desperately in the extreme cold while he lived in comfort in this apocalyptic world brought him immense satisfaction. This stark contrast quelled his boredom and occasional loneliness. Compared to those freezing or starving to death, he was incredibly fortunate. Opening his phone, he was surprised to see messages from Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin. Fang Yuqing wrote, "Zhang Yi, Im sorry. I was too cold yesterday, and my emotions were out of control. I shouldnt have taken it out on you." "You were right. I was too naive and ignorant before, not recognizing who truly cared for me." "Now I realize youre the one who treated me the best. I actually have strong feelings for you." "Can you forgive me? Lets live together from now on." "I want to be your woman. You must be lonely living alone during this apocalypse." "I can come over to keep you company so you wont be alone." Zhang Yi sighed. The once arrogant Fang Yuqing had finally shed her dignity and pride in the face of disaster. Despite his merciless taunting, she had to swallow her pride and beg him. "Tsk tsk tsk," Zhang Yi shook his head. In his past life, he had been foolish. He could have had her easily if he had known she was this kind of woman. Women like Fang Yuqing, pretending to be pure goddesses, were utterly worthless. Zhang Yi replied, "A bad apple can quench thirst, but Im not that desperate." In his interdimensional space, he could help himself and plenty of high-end products from Japan. It wasnt that Zhang Yi desired them, but Walmarts warehouse had everything. After closing Fang Yuqings chat, he opened Lin Cainins messages. This woman was even bolder. Perhaps knowing she wasnt as attractive as Fang Yuqing and thus at a disadvantage in competition, she sent him suggestive selfies. These would have caused a scandal in the past, but now, she was desperate. Zhang Yi quickly replied, "I feel nothing, not even a stir, just laughter." Then he ignored her. He knew that after seeing the comforts of his home, these two women would stop at nothing to get in. They had already discarded their dignity and would soon resort to any means necessary. But what did it matter? Zhang Yi had fortified his home into a steel fortress to handle any situation. ... Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, upon receiving Zhang Yis responses, erupted in anger. They had thrown away their dignity, begging him humbly. Lin Cainin, in particular, sent every possible suggestive selfie. Yet Zhang Yi said her photos made him laugh. A great humiliation! Even though she couldnt put on makeup or dress up, she was still a woman, wasnt she? Both women grew increasingly resentful. Their current lives were hellish, enduring both hunger and extreme cold. Zhang Yis home was their last hope. Fang Yuqing gritted her teeth, her eyes filled with venom. If worse comes to worst, well break into his house! I must live in his home. I cant endure this suffering anymore! If necessary, Ill kill Zhang Yi! She was willing to do anything to stay in Zhang Yis home. However, as a woman, she knew she couldnt overpower Zhang Yi. Thinking this over, Fang Yuqings cold gaze turned to the neighboring apartment. She and Lin Cainin had already fallen out, their former fake friendship shattered. But now, Fang Yuqing needed help. She went next door and said to Lin Cainin, That damned Zhang Yi is watching us starve and freeze without letting us into his home. We cant just sit here and die! That apartment is too good for him. Lets find a way to take it from him! Lin Cainins eyes gleamed with greed at Fang Yuqings suggestion. If begging Zhang Yi didnt work, theyd have to deceive or rob him. Alright, I agree! Why should that bastard Zhang Yi live in such a good house? He should be thrown out to freeze and be eaten by wild dogs! Were the ones who should live in his home! Chapter 37: Intrusion Chapter 37: IntrusionDriven by their hatred for Zhang Yi and their desire for his home, the two bitches temporarily formed a united front. However, when it came to figuring out how to seize Zhang Yi''s apartment, they needed to discuss it thoroughly. "If we go to take the house by force, the two of us may not be able to overpower Zhang Yi. We still need external help," one said. Even on a normal day, two of them couldn''t defeat Zhang Yi. Not to mention, they were now cold and hungry, while Zhang Yi was well-fed and full of energy. Lin Caining bit her lip. "What if we call a few neighbors to join us?" Fang Yuqing shot her a cold glare. "Are you stupid? Even if Zhang Yi has a lot of supplies, it won''t be enough to share with that many people! The fewer people who know about this, the better." Lin Caining anxiously asked, "Then what do you suggest?" Fang Yuqing replied smugly, "We can call Zhou Peng!" Zhou Peng was her loyal simp, always at her beck and call. Unlike Zhang Yi, who had at least a brain and wouldn''t let Fang Yuqing manipulate him at will. Zhou Peng was utterly brainless. He might even die for her if she asked. Fang Yuqing planned to use Zhou Peng to help seize Zhang Yi''s house. Lin Caining clapped her hands and laughed. "Great idea! That simp is really a good choice." Fang Yuqing immediately called Zhou Peng. At that moment, Zhou Peng was already starving. As a warehouse staff, he initially had plenty of food at home, but he had given most of it to Fang Yuqing. Completely unaware that she was merely playing him, Zhou Peng believed that his sacrifices would make Fang Yuqing marry him in the future. When he saw Fang Yuqing''s call, he forgot his hunger and cold, and eagerly ran over. Upon arriving at Fang Yuqing''s apartment, she immediately came over, looking pitiful, and told him how Zhang Yi had harassed her. "Boohoo, Zhang Yi is such a beast! I just asked him for some food, and he said I had to sleep with him in exchange." "Zhou Peng, you know I''m not that kind of woman!" Fang Yuqing''s tear-streaked face made Zhou Peng''s heartache. Seeing her distressed and thinking she came to him for help instead of anyone else made him feel special. This must be love, he thought. Zhou Peng felt it was time to show his manliness. Maybe he could seize the opportunity to win Fang Yuqing over once and for all. He pounded his chest and said, "Zhang Yi is such a bastard! How dare he treat you like that? I''ll kill him!" Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining exchanged glances, thinking how easy it was to manipulate him. They didn''t even need to use their prepared tricks; Zhou Peng volunteered to deal with Zhang Yi. Fang Yuqing clung to Zhou Peng''s arm, gazing at him seductively. "Zhang Yi has stored a lot of food at home, and he has a fireplace too. It''s so warm there. Why should someone like him live in such a place?" "Zhou Peng, let''s find a way to take his house. Then we can live there together, okay?" Zhou Peng already disliked Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi was better-looking and wealthier than him and had always been favored by Fang Yuqing. Now, feeling the faint touch of Fang Yuqing through layers of clothing, Zhou Peng felt a surge of triumph. "Haha, alright! Yuqing, don''t worry. Leave it to me!" Zhou Peng agreed, feeling victorious. Fang Yuqing warned, "But you have to be careful. Zhang Yi is selfish and shameless. If we go to seize his house, he might fight back. We need to bring weapons and strike first." Lin Caining added, "I say we should just kill him right away!" She hated Zhang Yi the most because she had once sent him her private photos, only for Zhang Yi to respond that she was too ugly. If this got out, she''d be humiliated. Thus, Zhang Yi had to die! Zhou Peng hesitated. Killing someone was easier said than done. After all, they had lived in a civilized society for over twenty years. Starting something like this wasn''t easy. Seeing his hesitation, Fang Yuqing scowled. "What, you disagree? Zhang Yi bullied me so much, and you still pity him? So all your past declarations of love were lies, huh?" s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Peng''s nature as a simp re-emerged. "No, no, don''t be angry, Yuqing. I''ll listen to you, alright?" To get Fang Yuqing, he would kill. After all, in this apocalyptic world, people''s morals were crumbling. Fang Yuqing said, "Alright then, let''s go now! We''ll trick Zhang Yi into opening the door, and once he does..." She made a throat-slitting gesture. Lin Caining brought the prepared tools: two kitchen knives and a steel pipe she had dismantled from a clothes rack. Zhou Peng took one of the knives and hid it in his thick down jacket. Once they were ready, they headed to Zhang Yi''s house with murderous intent. At Zhang Yi''s door, Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining hid with their weapons to avoid being seen through the peephole. They signaled Zhou Peng to knock and lure Zhang Yi out. Zhou Peng nodded, feeling the knife in his coat for reassurance. He knocked on the door. "Zhang Yi, are you home? It''s Zhou Peng!" Hearing the voice outside, Zhang Yi was curious. "Zhou Peng?" Although they both worked in the warehouse, they weren''t on good terms, especially since they both had a thing for Fang Yuqing, which led to conflicts. This guy couldn''t be here for anything goodin an apocalypse, there was no good news. Instead of opening the door, Zhang Yi turned on the monitor to check the surveillance footage. He saw two women hiding on either side of the door, armed and looking murderous. A chill ran down his spine. "Trying to kill me? How dare you bitches want to kill me!" Zhang Yi sneered, his eyes filled with cold determination. We''ll see who kills whom. Chapter 38: “Golden” Shower Chapter 38: Golden ShowerZhou Peng, getting no response, knocked harder on the door. "Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi! It''s Zhou Peng! Open the door, I have something important to tell you." Zhang Yi sneered, grabbed his gun, and unlocked the safety with a click. He walked to the door. "Who''s there?" Hearing Zhang Yi''s reply, Zhou Peng signaled Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining to prepare. The two women, nervous about their first attempt at murder, became resolute at the thought of living in Zhang Yi''s warm, food-stocked house once he was dead. Zhou Peng pleaded, "Zhang Yi, it''s Zhou Peng. We''re out of food. For old times'' sake, could you spare some?" Feigning a pitiful look, he secretly prepared to draw his knife. Zhang Yi leaned against the door and replied nonchalantly, "We don''t have any food left. I can''t help you." Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining cursed silently. How could he have no food? The kitchen was stocked with boxes of delicacies. They had planned for this. Zhou Peng, gritting his teeth, took out a box of ibuprofen from his pocket. "Zhang Yi, I won''t take it for free. I''ll trade you this box of ibuprofen." In the freezing weather, many were suffering from colds and fevers, making medicine as valuable as food. To lure Zhang Yi, Zhou Peng offered his precious ibuprofen. Behind the door, Zhang Yi pondered how to deal with them. Killing them with his gun or crossbow would be easy but tedious. In this apocalyptic world, death was a relief; living was the actual hell. He wouldn''t let them off that easily. An idea struck him. He grabbed an empty bottle and, feeling the urge from his earlier beer, began to fill it. "Ibuprofen? That''s valuable. Let me think about it," he said lazily, urinating into the bottle. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The people outside heard the faint sound of water but couldn''t tell what Zhang Yi was doing. Thinking they were close to success, their faces lit up with excitement. Zhou Peng urged, "Open the door so we can trade. I only need two packs of instant noodles." Given the current prices, ibuprofen could be traded for at least five packs. He offered a low price to trick Zhang Yi into opening the door. "Two packs? I wouldn''t want you to suffer a loss," Zhang Yi finished filling the bottle with a frothy, warm liquid. Thinking Zhang Yi was about to agree, Zhou Peng leaned against the door. "It''s fine. I''m starving, and we''re colleagues. Better you than someone else. Open up!" Zhang Yi climbed onto a stool to reach the shooting hole in the door and poured the warm, fresh liquid onto the three people outside. They were startled by the sudden dousing. Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining screamed. "Ah! What is this? It''s hot water!" Feeling the warmth, they were briefly pleased until they caught the pungent smell. "It''s... urine!!!" The women screamed like slaughtered pigs and began vomiting. Zhou Peng, enraged, pounded on the door. "Zhang Yi, you bastard! Get out here, I''ll kill you!" The heavy alloy door didn''t budge, only hurting Zhou Peng''s hand. Inside, Zhang Yi laughed heartily. "How''s the taste? Good? You idiots thought you could trick me? Pathetic!" Realizing they had been exposed, the trio cursed Zhang Yi furiously. Zhou Peng yelled, "Damn it, shouldn''t have wasted time talking! I''ll kill you when I get in!" He drew his knife and furiously hacked at the door, but it was made of reinforced alloy, capable of withstanding RPG blasts. The knife rebounded, narrowly missing his head and leaving an extended cut on his cheek. His hand bled from the impact. In winter, human skin is more fragile, and pain is more intense. Zhou Peng was terrified; the near-miss could have killed him. His fear was interrupted by the sharp pain. "Aahhh!!!!" he screamed. Seeing this, the women fled in terror, leaving Zhou Peng behind. Zhang Yi, watching through the camera, considered shooting them but decided against it. Why risk his life? In this apocalyptic world, better to play it safe and outlast them. "I''ll outlast them. Let''s see how long they survive in this frozen hell," Zhang Yi thought, returning to his game. Zhou Peng, shaken, sat trembling on his sofa at home. Fang Yuqing, seeing him covered in urine, screamed, "Get off my couch!" Chapter 40: Gunshot Chapter 40: GunshotZhang Yi lit the stink bomb and quickly threw it through the shooting hole above the door. As soon as the stink bomb hit the ground, a thick black smoke began to rise. The acrid smell quickly spread through the corridor. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, upon smelling it, felt as if they had opened a can of ten-year-old sealed feces, and immediately started vomiting. Ugh What is this, ugh Zhang Yi, ugh Youre despicable! As the smell intensified in the corridor, the two women hastily fled. However, Zhang Yi wasnt worried about the smell returning to his house. After closing the shooting hole, the house became semi-sealed. Although air could still circulate, the house was specifically built with an air filtration system, preventing odor or harmful air from entering. Watching the two women staggering and retching through the surveillance cameras, Zhang Yi laughed heartily. Soon, however, he received a complaint from his neighbor. Zhang Yi, what did you throw at your door? It smells awful! Could you please consider your neighbors? Zhang Yis neighbors were a young couple who had moved in two years ago. However, Zhang Yi hardly interacted with them, only occasionally nodding when they met in the elevator. At this point, he didnt care about maintaining neighborly relations. In the apocalypse, he did everything solely for his own safety, not caring about others. He wouldn''t hesitate to eliminate others as long as he could live safely and comfortably. In the apocalypse, any hint of altruism had to be immediately eradicated! If you dont like it, come and fight me! Zhang Yi said, then blocked the neighbor. Again, he wasnt in the mood to argue and waste his breath. Soon, Zhang Yi noticed the neighbor complaining about him in the group chat. But unfortunately, no one cared about their trivial matter. Zhang Yi chuckled. It felt terrific to be shameless. That afternoon, Zhang Yi was suddenly awakened from his sleep. Bang! A loud noise echoed through the corridor, quickly spreading throughout the building. Zhang Yis expression turned serious. It sounded like a gunshot. Could someone in their community have a gun? Zhang Yi wasnt sure if it was a gunshot or fireworks. He quickly went to the living room, turned on the TV, and checked the surveillance cameras. The scene he saw made his pupils contract involuntarily. In front of the third-floor apartment, Chen Zhenghao, with one leg broken, was holding a black gun. The cold, dark gleam of the gun was enough to make anyone shiver. The apartment door was open, and from the surveillance angle, two legs could be vaguely seen inside. Chen Zhenghaos subordinates, holding some food and candles, walked out with grins on their faces. It was clear that the residents of the third-floor apartment were dead. Even if they werent, having been shot and losing all their supplies, they wouldnt last long. It was 10 AM, usually when every household went out to dig snow for water. Everyone going out together temporarily raised the temperature in the corridor, preventing it from getting too cold. No one could survive without water, so this activity happened daily. Chen Zhenghao seized this opportunity to kill and rob. Ding dong! Zhang Yis phone rang. He glanced at the phone and saw a message in the group chat. Chen Zhenghao had sent a voice message. Now that were snowed in, we cant rely on anyone but ourselves. I, Chen Zhenghao, will take on the responsibility of being the leader of Building 25th. From now on, everything here will be under my control! If you follow my order, I can ensure your survival. But if anyone dares to challenge me, hehe! Chen Zhenghao then sent two pictures. One was of the gun in his hand, and the other was of the third-floor resident lying in a pool of blood. The usually noisy group chat fell silent. Everyone was shocked by the bloody and brutal scene. Most residents were likely filled with fear. They had never seen such scenes in peacetime, nor could they even imagine them. But now, the bloody reality was right in front of them. In this building sealed off by a snowstorm, others were hell! No one dared to contradict Chen Zhenghao. Everyone feared death. Sitting on the sofa, Zhang Yi couldnt help but say, Chen Zhenghao is smart! No wonder he thrived in society. Chen Zhenghao used both intimidation and incentives, not just scaring the residents. He only had one gun, and no one knew how many bullets he had. But Zhang Yi knew the quantity wouldnt be much, given how tightly controlled guns were in the country. Zhang Yi had spent a lot of money, and they only sold him 100 bullets. Moreover, Chen Zhenghao had only about five or six underlings. With fifty households and over a hundred people in the building, if pushed too far, a cripple like him wouldnt stand a chance. So, the best way to keep the residents in line was to use threats and promises, intimidating and enticing them. Human nature always fears death. Even though they understood that if Chen Zhenghao could kill the third-floor resident today, it could be their turn tomorrow, they still harbored a fluke mentality. For instance, those living on higher floors might think Chen Zhenghao would deal with others before reaching them, giving them at least half a months reprieve. Thus, they wouldnt risk their lives, expecting others below to resist. And those on other floors might think Chen Zhenghao wouldnt follow a sequence in his killings. They might feel that resisting would surely get them killed, so its better to stay hidden, hoping someone else would die first. Zhang Yi shrugged. None of this mattered to him. While others might fear Chen Zhenghao, Zhang Yi didnt. If Chen Zhenghao dared to appear at his door, his fate would be entirely in Zhang Yis hands. Whether the neighbors lived or died had nothing to do with Zhang Yi. If they chose to be ostriches and not resist, Zhang Yi had no interest in playing the hero to save them. At that moment, his phone suddenly beeped urgently. Zhang Yi picked it up and saw hundreds of new messages! He found himself being added to a new group chat. Curious, Zhang Yi checked it out. The residents had created a new group, excluding Chen Zhenghao and his men. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Apparently, Chen Zhenghaos death threats had prompted some to consider banding together for warmth. Zhang Yi remained silent, confident in his own safety. He was just interested in seeing what this group could achieve. Chapter 39: Stink Bomb Chapter 39: Stink BombChapter 39: Stink Bomb Fang Yuqing, upset about her sofa, was disgusted by the urine-soaked Zhou Peng. He had been doused the most while standing at the door. She yelled at him to get off the couch immediately. Zhou Peng felt deeply wronged. He had only followed Fang Yuqing''s orders to trouble Zhang Yi, and now, covered in urine, freezing, and injured, Fang Yuqing was treating him this way! However, being the simp that he was, he quickly rationalized that Fang Yuqing had every right to scold him. After all, he hadn''t done his job well and was now dirtying her sofa. He felt even more that he deserved the reprimand. He promptly stood up and apologized, "I''m sorry, Yuqing. It''s my fault. Please don''t be disappointed." Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining, eager to change out of their urine-soaked clothes, waved him off. "Get out, we need to change." Zhou Peng quickly left Fang Yuqing''s home. The two women rushed to change out of their soiled clothes, but even after changing, the pungent smell lingered. It wasn''t just on their clothes; their hair and skin were also contaminated, and some had even flowed inside their collars. Given the freezing weather, bathing was out of the question, so they had to endure the stench. Their failed attempt and the humiliating shower only fueled their hatred for Zhang Yi. "What do we do now? Zhang Yi is too cunning to handle easily!" "Whatever it takes, we have to get his apartment!" "We''ll come up with a plan. He must have a weak spot!" While the two women were scheming, Zhang Yi sent Fang Yuqing a message: "This time it was urine. Next time, I''ll pour feces on you! " He hadn''t prepared much this time, but he would have drenched them in filth if he had the time. Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining turned green at the thought. If they were covered in feces, they''d rather die. Zhang Yi turned off the chat without reading Fang Yuqing''s replies. Although he had muted the notifications, the number of unread messages quickly climbed, indicating they were unpleasant. He checked the neighborhood group chat and was amused by what he saw. Ever since Chen Zhenghao took over her home, Aunt Lin seemed mentally unstable, constantly sending voice messages demanding everyone''s supplies. "I''m the community committee staff! If you don''t listen to me, I''ll have you all arrested once the snow melts!" "Did you hear me? Bring all your food to my place today!" This time, few people paid her any mind. After over ten days, everyone had realized the true state of the world. The authorities couldn''t help everyone, and Aunt Lin''s community title was meaningless now. Instead, people ridiculed her. S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Crazy old woman, why don''t you just die already?" "Remember when you scammed us out of a box of instant noodles? I haven''t forgotten!" Others brought up the start of the snow disaster. "Remember when you said everything would be fine and discouraged us from stockpiling? Look where we are now!" This reminder ignited everyone''s anger. Early on, some wanted to stock up despite the cold, but Aunt Lin assured them it wasn''t necessary and threatened those who did. Days later, when snow sealed all exits, it was too late. Without her interference, they could have had enough supplies for an extra two weeks. "Curse you, you troublemaker!" "It''s all your fault we''re suffering!" The neighbors bombarded Aunt Lin with curses. Wealthy heir Xu Hao then chimed in, offering exorbitant amounts of food: "I''m buying food at high prices, any kind. I''ll pay 10,000 for a pack of instant noodles and 5,000 for a water bottle!" Instant noodles now cost 10,000 each, showing Xu Hao''s desperation. His money, unused, was becoming worthless. Zhang Yi shook his head. "At this time, he still thinks money can buy things." As soon as Zhang Yi spoke, someone replied, "I have some food to sell." Zhang Yi was speechless. Even in dire times, some people were willing to risk everything for money, betting the snow disaster wouldn''t last long. But Zhang Yi knew better; this snowstorm would drag on, and the world would take a long time to recover, rendering money useless. Recalling a mischievous thought, Zhang Yi remembered he had plenty of toilet paper, unlike his neighbors. If their toilet paper ran out, what would they use? He chuckled but then dismissed the thought. "They''re barely eating; they probably don''t need much toilet paper." This foreshadowed the impending breakdown of the fragile peace. Once food ran out completely, people would become terrifying beasts. The next day, Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining were back at Zhang Yi''s door, pleading to be let in, claiming they were freezing to death. Zhang Yi ignored them. Freezing to death was exactly what he hoped for. When he didn''t respond, they begged for food, invoking their past connection. Zhang Yi, watching through his monitor, saw they had come with umbrellas, clearly traumatized by yesterday''s urine shower. He wasn''t foolish enough to open the door. He suspected they were armed, ready to kill him and steal his home and supplies. Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then opened his interdimensional space. There were many miscellaneous items he had collected, knowing they might be useful someday. Now was that day. He retrieved two stink bombs from the toy section. These prank toys released an incredibly foul odor when ignited, which was hard to wash off, even with soap and water. Hearing Fang Yuqing and Lin Caining''s voices outside, Zhang Yi grinned and approached with the stink bombs. Chapter 41: Neighbors Who Only Shout Slogans Chapter 41: Neighbors Who Only Shout SlogansAs soon as the new group was formed, neighbors began to talk in a panic. "Chen Zhenghao is a devil! He broke into and robbed three households." "The two young people in 301 tried to resist and were immediately shot dead by him." "The other two households, 302 and 401, were so scared that they handed over all their food and drinks." "Living without food or water means waiting for death, doesn''t it?" Someone angrily said, "We must unite and fight against this tyrant, Chen Zhenghao!" Immediately, others responded. "Yes, there are so many of us. How can we fear five or six of them?" "If we all unite, he''s no threat!" "But he has a gun!" "Humph, so what if he has a gun? How many bullets can he have?" "Exactly, if we rush him, he can''t stop us!" "I can take him down with a left kick and a right whip!" "He''s a cripple now, not worth mentioning. If he didnt have a gun, I could handle him alone!" Everyone was filled with righteous anger, as if they couldn''t wait to rush to Chen Zhenghao''s place and execute him right now! However, someone interrupted at this moment. "So, when do we act?" This question caused a brief silence. Talking tough was easy, but risking their lives was a different matter. Everyone understood the reasoning, but no one wanted to be the first to get shot. They talked big to persuade others to take the risk. "Well, this isn''t a problem. We can definitely handle him!" "After all, he''s a desperado with a few punks. We need to plan carefully." "Right, rushing in without a plan is foolish. We need to win with wisdom!" S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smirked. Just a moment ago, they were saying Chen Zhenghao was nothing and boasting about their martial prowess. Now, when it was time to act, they started talking about winning with wisdom? He found it quite amusing. At this moment, Uncle You, the security guard, suddenly spoke up. "We can''t let Chen Zhenghao continue. If this goes on, we''ll all be killed by him." "Even if we''re not shot, being robbed of food and water is a death sentence." "I can lead the charge. Let''s teach these scum a lesson together!" Uncle You was usually quiet. He was a retired soldier with a straightforward and passionate character. He was well-respected in the community. Facing scum like Chen Zhenghao, who disregarded human life, he was filled with rage. "Wow, Uncle You, you''re awesome! No wonder you were in the army. Impressive!" "Uncle You, I support you. Do you need a weapon? You can use my kitchen knife." "I have a sword I bought on a trip last year. It''s very sharp. I''ll lend it to you." "Chen Zhenghao is just a cripple. Uncle You, just find a chance to sneak up on him from behind, and don''t give him a chance." Everyone praised Uncle You, giving all sorts of advice. But no one said they would go with him to deal with Chen Zhenghao. Uncle You was somewhat speechless. "Chen Zhenghao has five or six men and a gun. I can''t do it alone." "At least, we need a dozen young men to come with me. Only then can we be safe." "I have military training and some skills. I can lead the charge." Residents with adult males fell silent. Meanwhile, women like Fang Yuqing, who had no adult males at home, were energized. "Right, we women are weak and can''t handle such scum. It''s time for the men of Building 25 to show their manliness!" "The men in our building are amazing. You must succeed!" "It''s time to show your chivalry. I hope you succeed quickly and protect us weak women." The adult males in the group were naturally unhappy. Some were single, either living alone or with friends. They might risk their lives to fight the thugs, but the attitude of the female tenants made them reluctant. It was clear that the women expected them to risk their lives as their duty. The men were not pleased. "No way! You always want female priority. Now, in danger, you want us to go first. Why?" "We''re giving you the equality you wanted. If we go, everyone goes together." "You were so tough online. Why not show it to Chen Zhenghao?" "I''m not unwilling to risk my life, but I''ll only protect my own wife and kids." The female tenants, seeing the men unwilling to face Chen Zhenghao, began to scold them. "Are you men or not? Isn''t your turn to step up now?" "Asking women to take risks, how can you say that!" "You''re all cowards! Disgusting! I''ll never marry someone like you!" The new group was supposed to discuss how to deal with Chen Zhenghao. But it turned into a gender confrontation. Zhang Yi watched with amusement. This situation was exactly the same as in his previous life. That''s why, in his past life, Chen Zhenghao killed half the building''s residents and still managed to control the rest with just a gun. They didn''t even struggle, just closed their eyes and accepted their fate. Uncle You, seeing this, anxiously called for calm in the group. "Stop arguing. Dealing with Chen Zhenghao is the priority." A female tenant from the seventh floor, named Liu Tiantian, was one of the main combatants in the gender argument. At 22 years old, she had just graduated and was a self-proclaimed goddess. With tempers flaring, Liu Tiantian responded to every male comment with a spray of insults. Even kind-hearted Uncle You wasn''t spared. "Uncle You, stop pretending to be nice! You were in the army, so you should be the first to charge." "There are so many men in our building. If each one takes one down, everyone else will be safe!" "In today''s society, women are clearly more important. Your only role is to serve us." "I hope the useless men in this group understand this and don''t make me repeat myself!" Chapter 42: Reserve Rations Chapter 42: Reserve RationsLiu Tiantian''s comments were immediately met with ridicule from a group of male residents. "Its the apocalypse, who cares about pampering little princesses like you?" "Haha, do you really think youre that important?" s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Risking our lives to protect you? In your dreams!" Uncle You, who was being criticized, was left speechless. He couldnt understand why everyone was reacting this way when he was genuinely trying to help. Since he wasnt good at arguing, he simply stopped talking. Zhang Yi watched the group chat with amusement, finding it quite entertaining, considering the limited ways to pass the time. In conclusion, Zhang Yi felt that most people in the group deserved their fate. The argument in the group chat grew increasingly intense. Maybe because they had been repressed for so long, everyone found a rare outlet to vent. The chat was filled with vile and filthy words, becoming unbearable to read. Eventually, they forgot the original purpose of creating the group. Zhang Yi set his phone aside and went to the kitchen. Although he had plenty of ready-made food in his dimensional space, he occasionally enjoyed cooking to add a bit of joy to life. He took out fresh ingredients from his space. The potatoes, green onions, ginger, and garlic were as fresh as if just dug out from the ground. The beef brisket was also very tender, with its bright red color looking quite appetizing. Walmart, the worlds top supermarket brand, certainly didnt disappoint with the quality of its goods. Zhang Yi prepared a pot of potato and beef brisket stew and made some flatbread, sticking them to the sides of the pot. The flatbread absorbed the stews juices, becoming exceptionally tasty. Picking up his phone, he saw that Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin had messaged him again. This time, their voices were filled with desperate pleas. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin were crying heavily, obviously terrified by Chen Zhenghaos killings. These two bitches could not resist evil. Thus, they were likely to become Chen Zhenghao''s following targets. Especially after witnessing Zhang Yi''s fortified security door, they saw his home as a haven and wanted to move in. "Zhang Yi, no matter how big our past conflicts were, you once loved me, didnt you?" "You can''t just watch me die, can you?" "I know you act tough, but you have a soft heart. Please, save me!" Lin Cainin was even more shameless than Fang Yuqing. "Zhang Yi, I don''t want to die. Let me stay at your place, and I''ll do anything you want! Just don''t let me die at their hands." Zhang Yi could feel their fear. Honestly, if his home wasnt fortified and he lived in a cold, foodless house, his despair wouldnt be any less than theirs. But would he pity these two women? Ha, of course not! In fact, he had been longing for this moment. The more desperate they were, the more thrilled Zhang Yi felt. Without responding, he leisurely recorded a video for them. In the video, a large pot of potato and beef brisket stew simmered in front of Zhang Yi, while a fireplace roared nearby. The warm, peaceful atmosphere of his home contrasted sharply with the snowy storm and howling wind outside. For the two women, this was an immense provocation. At this moment, they werent worried about being full; they were struggling just to stay alive. They continued to beg Zhang Yi to let them live with him. Zhang Yi chose to ignore them. He neither agreed nor refused. He wanted to leave them a sliver of hope, making them grovel even though they knew it was unlikely. The day passed in such dullness. After seizing some supplies, Chen Zhenghao and his men werent in a hurry to act again. They understood that pushing too hard would provoke a united resistance from the residents. Their strategy was to subdue some, appease some, and kill some, which was the most rational approach. However, that night, Zhang Yi noticed through the surveillance that Chen Zhenghao''s men were up to something. The entire Tianhai City had no power at night, except for Zhang Yis home, which the other residents hadnt noticed. Zhang Yi saw Chen Zhenghaos men carrying two corpses out the door. Zhang Yi took a closer look and found the faces familiar. He remembered clearly because he knew almost all the residents in the building. But these two were not from their building. So, they must have been Chen Zhenghao''s henchmen, who had been called over when the snow first fell. Thinking for a moment, Zhang Yi understood what had happened. When Chen Zhenghao and his men attacked Zhang Yi''s home, Zhang Yi had drenched them with a hose. In the extreme cold of minus sixty or seventy degrees, this was deadly. These two must have frozen to death. Catching a cold and developing a fever in such low temperatures could be fatal without a comfortable environment and medication like ibuprofen. This explained the short lifespans in ancient times. The two corpses were stripped of all clothing and thrown at the stairwell. Zhang Yi frowned, initially puzzled by their actions. If they just wanted to dispose of the bodies, they could have thrown them out the window, where the snow would cover everything. Why leave them at the door? Then, a chilling thought crossed Zhang Yis mind, making his pupils contract. Could it be that Chen Zhenghao left the bodies as reserve rations? The idea made Zhang Yis hair stand on end and sent shivers down his spine. But it was the most plausible explanation. The freezing temperatures turned the world into a giant refrigerator, eliminating worries about food spoilage. Many modern perceptions of the apocalypse came from movies, where cannibalism wasnt uncommon. Historical records also mentioned horrifying practices like eating children during times of great famine. Years of peace had made people forget those stark historical records. Now, with the apocalypse upon them. Zhang Yi took a deep breath, calming his racing heart. Compared to others, he accepted this reality more quickly. After all, he had experienced an apocalypse before and had even been eaten as food. He knew that when pushed to the brink, hunger could drive humans to commit any atrocity, consuming anything edible. "Chen Zhenghao is truly ruthless!" Although Zhang Yi detested the gangster, he couldnt help but be impressed. Many understood the theory. But to actually consider their comrades'' bodies as reserve food before running out of supplies, was almost inhumane. Chapter 43: Shes Panicking Chapter 43: She''s PanickingAfter Chen Zhenghao killed the resident of 301, the atmosphere in the entire building became extremely tense. The group chat had fallen silent; no one dared to speak anymore. Chen Zhenghao seemed to realize that everyone had secretly formed a new resident group without him. But such things couldnt be stopped. All he could do was threaten and coax the residents in the group. "The situation is tough now; everyone is just trying to survive. No one wants to kill." "If that kid in 301 hadnt attacked my men first, I wouldnt have killed him by mistake. Im not a devil!" "I hope we can get along peacefully from now on. If we need some food, please lend us some." "If you cooperate, I guarantee we can all live peacefully." Hearing this, some people indeed let down their guard. Some even believed that perhaps the resident of 301 died because he made the first move, as Chen Zhenghao said. This type of behavior is known as Stockholm Syndrome, where victims start to empathize with their abuser when shown any kindness. Zhang Yi continued to watch from the sidelines, neither commenting nor participating. However, he became more cautious of Chen Zhenghao. Although his home was well-fortified and Chen Zhenghao and his few men with a single gun had no chance of breaking in, being extra cautious in an apocalypse was never wrong. "If he really causes trouble, Ill find an opportunity to kill him," Zhang Yi said calmly. This brief peace was shattered the next day. Despite fearing Chen Zhenghao, residents had to go downstairs to break ice for water to survive. So, someone quietly opened their door, intending to sneak down and dig for snow, but they were caught by Chen Zhenghaos men, who were on the lookout. The hungry thugs had already consumed the supplies they had looted on the first day. Now, they were seeing all the residents as their prey, ready to rob anyone they caught. The new group chat was filled with urgent cries for help. When Zhang Yi opened the chat, he was amused. The one crying for help was Liu Tiantian, who lived on the seventh floor, right above Chen Zhenghao. That morning, she had tried to sneak downstairs to dig for snow under the cover of darkness but was caught. Living alone, she was an easy target for Chen Zhenghao''s men, who were also desperate and frustrated after being cooped up for almost half a month. They were eager to find a woman to relieve their frustrations. Liu Tiantian wasnt particularly beautiful, but she was young and had a decent figure. Given the limited choices, they werent picky. So, Chen Zhenghao''s men, armed with wrenches and iron rods, came laughing. Liu Tiantian quickly shut her door and, in desperation, turned to her neighbors for help. "Sob, someone, please save me! Theyre breaking down my door. Ill be killed!" "@Uncle You, Uncle You, please save me! Didnt you serve in the army? They cant beat you." "Theyre brutal. We need to unite!" "If something happens to me, you could be next!" Liu Tiantian, crying, sent voice message after voice message to the group. But she wasnt so arrogant when she was berating the male residents in the group chat yesterday. Uncle You replied, "Miss, this is too sudden. I cant take on so many of them alone!" Uncle You, though kind, wasnt going to throw his life away. Chen Zhenghao had five or six men and a gun, which even an ex-soldier like him couldnt handle alone. If they had formed a security team yesterday, there might have been hope to scare them off. Liu Tiantian felt a cold chill at Uncle You''s words. She cried, "You cant do this! Cant you protect a single woman? What kind of men are you?" "Sob, if I die, Ill haunt you!" Some had initially sympathized with her, but her shameless moral coercion sparked anger. Combined with the insults she hurled at the male residents yesterday, old and new grudges combined. "Yeah, were all useless. Little princess, youre so amazing. You dont need our help!" "Haha, go and fight them off with your punches!" "Werent you shouting yesterday? Turns out you still need us." "You might as well die. Your death would bring happiness to many families!" The group chat was filled with laughter. There was no sympathy for Liu Tiantians plight, only a sense of schadenfreude. With her home being robbed, at least the others felt safe for now. Liu Tiantian, seeing these cold responses, fell into despair. She turned to the female residents for help. But their replies were equally unhelpful. "Were all sisters, but we cant do anything in this situation." "Hang in there! We support you spiritually." "You have to hold on, or they might do something terrible to you if they break in!" "Yeah, with so many of them, they might really hurt you." Some offered perfunctory comfort, while others cruelly scared her. After all, human emotions didnt connect universally. Long periods of confinement and the threat of death had twisted many minds. More people joined the chat, but the topic had shifted. "At least take one of them down with you before you die, as a service to the community!" "Yeah, if your home is raided, you wont survive anyway. Might as well take one down with you." Liu Tiantian, trembling with rage, tried to respond when her door was kicked open with a bang. S~?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. In Zhang Yi''s home, he watched the surveillance feed as Liu Tiantian screamed and was dragged out by her legs by Chen Zhenghao''s thugs. "Exercising in this freezing weather? These guys have some serious stamina!" Zhang Yi commented. It made sense, though. In dire times, when people did not know when they might die, biological instincts to reproduce kicked in. Zhang Yi took a bite of his chocolate bar and said to the surveillance screen, "At this temperature, exposing any skin is life-threatening." Chapter 44: Why Should I Give Alms? Chapter 44: Why Should I Give Alms?Although no one saw Liu Tiantians end, everyone could guess what happened. A girl falling into the hands of a group of wolveswhat outcome could there be? Even if Chen Zhenghao spared her life, she would still die, having lost all her resources for survival. However, there wasnt much sorrow among the residents. Instead, they breathed a sigh of relief. At least Liu Tiantian could keep Chen Zhenghaos group fed for a while. Yet, this served as a wake-up call for the other residents. If things continued like this, none of them would survive for long. That afternoon, Zhang Yi found himself added to yet another chat group. He chuckled wryly. In such an unstable environment, peoples suspicions grew, forming more and more small groups. As if gathering in numbers would make them stronger. Zhang Yi glanced at the group members, noticing only six or seven people. Zhou Peng, Fang Yuqing, Lin Cainin, and a few other neighbors were among them. Zhang Yi frowned slightly, unsure of their intentions. Soon, someone reached out to him. Fang Yuqing: "@Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi, its too dangerous outside. Chen Zhenghao will eventually come for us. We must unite." Zhang Yi replied indifferently, "Im fine on my own right now." Lin Cainin added, "Thats not the point. Youre alone, but Chen Zhenghao has five or six men and a gun! So youre not safe either." S?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smirked. Why didnt they ask Chen Zhenghao who broke his leg? Chen Zhenghao hadnt dared to retaliate because he knew Zhang Yi was tough. Zhang Yi asked, "So, what do you want?" Fang Yuqing quickly responded, "Living scattered is too dangerous. We decided to move in together. This way, even against Chen Zhenghao, we have strength in numbers." Zhang Yi laughed, "What, gathering together makes you unafraid of his gun?" Ridiculous. If numbers mattered, the buildings fifty households and over a hundred people could easily stomp Chen Zhenghao to death. They were all cowards, gathering only for psychological comfort. Another member, Sun Zhichao, a finance white-collar worker, spoke up. "With more people, at least theyll be cautious. We can also barricade the door together, making it harder for them to break in." "But we need a good stronghold." Fang Yuqing quickly added, "Zhang Yi, your place has a balcony and a sturdy security door, perfect for resisting Chen Zhenghao." "So, we hope you can join our team. Lets fight Chen Zhenghao together!" Zhang Yi understood now. Fang Yuqing must have told them about his fortified home. They probably knew he had a perfect insulation system and ample food. Zhang Yi sneered. Their plan was loud and clear to him! Zhang Yi curtly replied, "I dont need it, thanks. Im quite comfortable on my own. If you want to cohabit, find your own place!" Letting seven or eight people crowd into his home? Who knew who was human and who was a ghost? That would only bring danger to himself. Besides, Zhang Yi owed them nothing. Why should he help them? After Zhang Yis refusal, the group members were obviously displeased. Sun Zhichao: "Zhang Yi, were all in danger. You cant be so short-sighted! Only together can we survive!" Another member, Wang Min, added, "We chose your place because it has a balcony for fetching snow. Were not taking advantage of you; we can protect you too!" Zhang Yi laughed so hard his mouth twisted. He sent a message to the group: "Protect me???????" The string of question marks showed his ridicule. Did they know how he was living now? Protect him? The audacity! Cuddled under a blanket, Fang Yuqing pursed her lips and began her moral coercion. She knew Zhang Yi disliked her and wouldnt let her in. So, she used the group to pressure Zhang Yi. She thought that, in such a life-and-death situation, Zhang Yi should be magnanimous despite past grievances. Lin Cainin: "Zhang Yi, okay, I admit we need your help. But think about it, letting us into your home could save seven or eight lives!" "Can you really watch us be killed by Chen Zhenghao? Weve been friends and neighbors for years!" Of the seven or eight people, Zhang Yi indeed knew them all. Some were even on good terms, including a colleague from the same workplace. They all pleaded for Zhang Yi to let them in, considering their past friendship. But after being persecuted to death in his previous life, Zhang Yi was no longer soft-hearted. Many in this group had shared his suffering back then. In the apocalypse, humanity meant nothing. Survival was the only rule! So he said, "At this point, whether we survive depends on our own abilities. Youre of no value to me, so why should I protect you?" With that, Zhang Yi immediately left the group. Trying to exploit him was a dream! Without morals, he wouldnt be morally blackmailed. After the chat, Zhang Yi took out a box of potato chips from his space. He sat by the window, in his soft recliner, eating chips and enjoying the view. Ignoring the extreme cold outside, the snowy landscape was indeed beautiful. The ground was covered in a pure white blanket, pleasing to the eye. At that moment, he saw a black dot moving on the 18th floor of the opposite building, followed by a desperate scream. Looking closely, Zhang Yi saw a person falling through the air. In an instant, the person disappeared into the six or seven-meter-deep snow. With temperatures below minus seventy degrees, anyone buried in the snow was doomed. It seemed that the situation in other buildings was just as dire. As supplies ran out, fights for resources, even violence and murder, were breaking out everywhere! Every inhabited place was becoming a hell on earth. While munching on chips, Zhang Yi contemplated the future. It seemed he needed to be wary not only of his neighbors but also of survivors outside. In the apocalypse, anything could happen. Chapter 45: Deciding to Launch an Attack Chapter 45: Deciding to Launch an AttackWithin Building 25, Chen Zhenghao and his men had raided several residents, directly or indirectly causing the deaths of five people. This situation prompted many residents to band together. Their solution was not to live separately but to stay together. They used heavy objects to block the doors, preventing Chen Zhenghao and his men from breaking in. As for getting water, they did so through the windows. Some floors had balconies that caught snowfall. Fang Yuqing and her group moved into Wang Min''s apartment on the 18th floor. Wang Min was Zhou Peng''s cousin. She ran a cosmetics business in Tianhai City and was an independent, successful woman. Therefore, she had some assets, and her home was a three-bedroom, two-living room apartment, the same layout as Zhang Yi''s. The others were her colleagues and close friends. In an apocalypse, even if people wanted to group up, they only dared to invite those they trusted. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin were allowed in because Zhou Peng vouched for them. As a token of their loyalty, they shared the situation at Zhang Yi''s apartment. At this moment, everyone sat in the living room, wrapped in thick down jackets, scarves around their necks, trying to seal every part of their bodies. Since Zhang Yi refused their offer to live together, everyone was in a bad mood. Wang Min looked at Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, saying coldly, "I let you stay here because of my cousin, and you promised to convince Zhang Yi to let us move into his place." "But now Zhang Yi refuses. What do you propose we do?" Zhou Peng was a simp, but Wang Min was sharp and could tell these two women were difficult. If they hadnt mentioned Zhang Yi, Wang Min would never have let them join. Fang Yuqing hurriedly said, "Sister Wang, listen to me. Zhang Yi''s supplies are abundant, and he even has a fireplace!" "If we can move into his apartment, life will be much easier." After being repeatedly refused by Zhang Yi, Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin gave up hope of his help. So, they sold out Zhang Yis situation. They showed the photos and videos Zhang Yi had sent them. Lin Cainin added, "Yes, youve seen the videos. You know how comfortable Zhang Yis apartment is now." "If we work together to move into his place, not only can we resist Chen Zhenghao, but we can also live comfortably." Hearing this, Wang Min and the others couldnt help but take out their phones to watch the videos again. The footage of Zhang Yis home, warm and inviting, made their eyes light up with envy. Wang Min frowned, "But he made it clear he doesnt want us to move in." At this moment, Sun Zhichao, a bespectacled man, adjusted his glasses and spoke in a low voice, "Hes too selfish, ignoring everyone else''s survival." "We dont need to be polite to such a person. I suggest we use special methods!" Everyone understood what Sun Zhichao meantbreaking into Zhang Yi''s home and forcing him to give up his apartment! His friend, Lu Tao, loudly supported him, "I think its a good idea! Hes selfish and only cares about himself. Why should he live in such a good apartment?" Wang Min frowned slightly, "But according to Zhou Peng, their security door is very sturdy. Were not like Chen Zhenghao and his men; were not good at this." Zhou Peng added, "Yes, and Zhang Yi is particularly nasty. Last time we knocked on his door, he poured urine on us from above!" Mentioning that incident made Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin nauseous, almost vomiting. Even now, they still had the smell left by Zhang Yi on their hair and skin. If not for their stuffy noses from the cold, the smell might have driven them away. Sun Zhichao adjusted his glasses and sneered, "Its easy. We just need to cover ourselves well, wear masks, and use umbrellas. Then we wont be affected by his tricks." "As for breaking in, hehe!" He looked at Lu Tao. Lu Tao coughed and said, "I used to work for a locksmith company. Im very familiar with these things. I can unlock most of the common locks on the market!" Hearing this, Fang Yuqing and the others almost jumped for joy. "Great! Once we open their security door, with so many of us, lets see how Zhang Yi resists!" Fang Yuqing cursed through gritted teeth. She had begged Zhang Yi, but he refused to let her in, humiliating her in various ways, making her hate Zhang Yi to the core! "When we get in, Ill shove his head into the toilet and make him eat!" Zhou Peng, the sycophant, eagerly added, "Ill make sure to do the honors!" Zhou Peng''s crudeness disgusted Fang Yuqing, but she needed him now, so she smiled, "Alright, eat more beans and onions." s?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The group was cheerful and harmonious. They believed that with so many of them, Zhang Yi wouldnt be able to resist. They found umbrellas and wrapped themselves tightly, carrying tools to break in, and headed to Zhang Yis place. Zhang Yi had installed an alarm system that would alert him to any movement on his floor. So, he knew immediately when they climbed up the stairs. He saw the group during the surveillance, but since they were covered up, he thought it was Chen Zhenghaos group. "Perfect timing. I didnt finish you last time, so this time youll learn another lesson." Zhang Yi sneered. But he still didnt plan to kill Chen Zhenghao yet. If Chen Zhenghao died, who would clean up these scumbag neighbors? That would be no fun. The group was well-wrapped and, once near Zhang Yis place, opened several umbrellas. This way, Zhang Yi couldnt use water or stink bombs to drive them away quickly. All this was information provided by Fang Yuqing. She naively thought that no matter how many defenses Zhang Yi had, supplies in one apartment would eventually run out. Using water and stink bombs would be Zhang Yis last resort. Chapter 46: High Voltage Chapter 46: High VoltageThe group had reached Zhang Yis door, holding umbrellas. However, Dragon Security Company had installed numerous pinhole cameras on this floor. These cameras captured every move from various angles. As they approached the door, Zhang Yi saw one person pull out some shiny metal tools from his pocket and insert them into the keyhole of his security door. Picking the lock? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow but wasnt concerned. If their security door could be easily picked, then Dragon Securitys professionals might as well eat dirt. Not only was this door world-class, comparable to a bank vault, but it also had five layers of defense. To open the outermost lock would require a top-notch locksmith. Moreover, Zhang Yi had installed a physical bar inside. The more complex the mechanism, the simpler the solution. However, simple mechanisms could be complex to counter. For instance, Zhang Yis door. Since he didnt plan on going out, he had inserted a 10 cm thick steel bar inside! Unless hit repeatedly by a car, it couldnt be broken by human force. Zhang Yi had considered the possibility of someone trying to pick the lock, so he installed a particular defense system. Watching the surveillance on the TV, Zhang Yi took out his phone, opened the control app for his safe house, and pressed a button. Instantly, a massive electric current surged through the security door! Lu Tao, who was focused on picking the lock, screamed as the powerful current coursed through his body! The others, terrified, quickly backed away. Help...help me! Lu Tao, his face contorted in pain, begged his companions. The powerful electric current gripped him like a vice, making it impossible to break free. Fang Yuqing, Zhou Peng, and the others were stunned. They hadnt expected this and had no suitable insulating tools. Soon, smoke began to rise from Lu Taos body, filling the air with the smell of burning flesh. Boom! He collapsed to the ground, his clothes charred, and the skin on his arms and face carbonized. Clearly, he was beyond saving. Ahhh!!! Fang Yuqing, Lin Cainin, and the others screamed. Witnessing someone die before their eyes was a tremendous shock. Inside the room, Zhang Yis lips curled into a slight smile. Oddly, he felt a sense of satisfaction. But who could they blame? If they dared to target Zhang Yi, they deserved to die! Wang Min and the others were horrified, and their plan to pick the lock had failed. Sun Zhichao, a longtime friend of Lu Tao, had eyes blazing with anger. Zhang Yi, you b****rd! Get out here! he yelled, smashing the iron shovel against Zhang Yis door. The loud noise echoed through several floors. However, the heavy iron door remained undamaged. The surface paint chipped away, revealing the thick alloy beneath. Zhang Yi stood by the door, hands in his pockets, smirking. Trying to break my door? Are you looking for death? He shook his head, sighing, Why not just live peacefully? Hearing Zhang Yis mocking tone, the people outside were both furious and frightened. Wang Min shouted, Zhang Yi, we came to discuss living together peacefully, and you killed someone! Youre worse than Chen Zhenghao, a murderous devil! Hearing a womans voice, Zhang Yi realized it wasnt Chen Zhenghao outside. But he felt no remorse for killing Lu Tao; people like him deserved to die. After thinking for a moment, he figured out who was outside. It had to be Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainins group! They were the only ones who knew how comfortable Zhang Yis house was. Zhang Yis face darkened as he angrily shouted, Pretending to be righteous? You came to my house, tried to break in, and wanted to rob me. You deserved to die! How dare you bark here like dogs! Its hilarious! Sun Zhichao pretended to stay calm. Zhang Yi, we mean no harm. We just want to talk. But you killed our good friend Lu Tao without warning. Isnt that too much? Dont you owe us an explanation? Zhang Yi laughed heartily. Just here to talk? Breaking in without invitation, picking my lock, and you call that talking? Hah, after breaking in, youd probably kill me or throw me out to die. S?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Then youd enjoy the safe house I prepared, right? The group exchanged glances, realizing Zhang Yi had guessed their intentions. Sun Zhichaos frown deepened. His friends gruesome death fueled his hatred for Zhang Yi. But breaking in was now their priority. He took a deep breath and shouted, Zhang Yi, this is your last chance! Open the door and let us in. Otherwise, youll face consequences you cant handle! Fang Yuqing also shouted, Zhang Yi, we wont hurt you. We just want to live together and against this disaster. Dont be ungrateful! Lin Cainin added, Yes, well even let you stay in the master bedroom and use the supplies first! They were extremely anxious. Just a wall away was paradise, and they had waited long enough. Zhang Yi scoffed at their words. Are you insane? This apartment is mine, yet you act like its yours. Bring it on. Lets see if you can break in! As he spoke, Zhang Yi readied his pistol and crossbow. The hunt was about to begin. Through the surveillance, he could see everything outside and even hear their whispered discussions. The group gathered to discuss their next move. The most timid, Ge Jialiang, nervously asked, What do we do? Lu Tao is dead. We cant pick the lock. Should we retreat? We dont want to attract Chen Zhenghaos attention. Sun Zhichao retorted, What are you afraid of? Were on the 24th floor. Chen Zhenghaos group would be exhausted climbing up here. If they want to kill and rob, theyll start with the lower floors. Wang Min, looking severe, said, Zhang Yi is really tough. Its like he knew the apocalypse was coming and prepared thoroughly. Chapter 47: Tetanus Arrows Chapter 47: Tetanus Arrows S?a?ch* Th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Indeed, some people started noticing the peculiarities of Zhang Yi. In this frozen apocalypse, everyone was starving and freezing. Even those who had stocked up supplies were living miserably. Yet, he was well-fed and warm, even having installed a fireplace in Tianhai City, a southern city. With his sturdy security door, it was clear he had prepared for such a situation. Zhou Peng scowled and angrily said, If thats the case, Zhang Yi is even more detestable! He knew about the snow disaster but didnt warn his neighbors and only took care of himself! Pah! He spat fiercely. Holding a personal grudge against Zhang Yi, Zhou Peng never missed an opportunity to defame him. Wang Min and the others still frowned, ignoring Zhou Peng. If it were them, theyd prioritize themselves and their families, too, not caring about others survival! The problem is, what do we do next? Picking the lock didnt work. Can we break the door down? Wang Min asked, looking at Zhou Peng, Sun Zhichao, and Ge Jialiang. These three were the few men in their group, and they would be the main force if they had to break down the door. They murmured and discussed for a while. Through the surveillance, Zhang Yi saw them leave the staircase. Holding a gun in his left hand and a crossbow in his right, he leisurely watched them go. He could have acted and killed two people, but he wasnt in a hurry. Life had been too dull; he needed some excitement. He wanted to see how they planned to break down the door. This was also preparation for dealing with more difficult people in the future. After a while, they returned. This time, they carried a large, thick wooden beam. It looked like it was dismantled from a bed. The women held umbrellas to prevent Zhang Yi from pouring cold water on them. The three men hoisted the beam and rammed it against the door with a loud Duang! The sound was loud, and Zhang Yi could feel the walls trembling. But he wasnt worried. The 20 cm thick steel door wouldnt break unless the Hulk was on the other side. Zhou Peng, Sun Zhichao, and Ge Jialiang put all their strength into it. Zhang Yi just sat on the sofa, watching them ram the door, occasionally checking his houses status through the mobile app. The app, designed by Dragon Security Company, allowed users to monitor their homes status at all times. He didnt let his guard down, holding his weapons steadily, ready to act if necessary. However, despite their efforts, the door remained intact after several minutes, with only some white marks and no dents. After five minutes, the group was utterly dumbfounded. How thick is this door? Even bank vault doors arent this strong! Who uses such a door at home? Sun Zhichao and the others were nearly desperate, roaring in frustration. The sight of this on the surveillance made Zhang Yi smile, feeling reassured about his safe house''s quality. Alright, time to teach you a lesson. Zhang Yi stood up, put the gun in his pocket, and opened an iron box. Inside were 20 crossbow bolts, all covered in rust. These alloy bolts were hard to rust, but Zhang Yi had deliberately made them rusty. A slight scratch could cause tetanus. In this medical-less environment, it wouldnt kill quickly but would cause infections and festering wounds. Anyone hit by these bolts would either have to amputate to survive or die in extreme pain. Zhang Yi learned this trick from Chen Zhenghao. Although Chen Zhenghao survived with a crippled leg, Zhang Yi wondered how hed survive another tetanus arrow. With a devilish grin, Zhang Yi climbed to the shooting hole. Fang Yuqing and the others, holding umbrellas, couldnt see what was happening below. Zhang Yi didnt care; he just shot at the umbrellas. If they died, so be it. If not, even better! Whoosh! The first tetanus arrow pierced an umbrella, followed by a blood-curdling scream. Without waiting, Zhang Yi quickly loaded a second arrow and shot without aiming since they were all clustered together. Another scream followed the second shot. Zhang Yi calmly reloaded, drawing the bow again. The group finally realized what was happening, screaming and scattering. Zhang Yi, unhurried, aimed and shot at their arms and legs, avoiding vital areas. Out of the remaining six, three were hit, and one was shot twice. Due to the slow reloading speed of the crossbow, Zhang Yi couldnt shoot them all before they escaped his line of sight. He shrugged. No matter; those hits were already as good as dead, destined to die painfully. As for the rest, Zhang Yi had all the time to play with them slowly. Time was on Zhang Yis side. Even now, he didnt open the door to finish them off, remaining cautious. Not even a one in ten thousand chance of injury was worth the risk for Zhang Yi. The only issue is the consumption of crossbow bolts. Zhang Yi frowned, thinking ahead. He had bought 300 crossbow bolts and 300 arrows. After each use, retrieving them was difficult. Though he still had plenty left, foresight was essential. After some thought, he had an idea. He opened his storage space and rummaged through it, quickly finding what he needed. The warehouse had many ball bearings that could be fired from the crossbow. Even toy glass marbles could be lethal when shot from a professional-grade crossbow. If he ran out of crossbow bolts, there were plenty of metal items in the storage that could be modified. Zhang Yi felt relieved. With these, I can last a lifetime! While Zhang Yi felt at ease, others were in misery. Fang Yuqing and her group initially planned to rob Zhang Yis house by force. Instead, they ended up losing one person and had three others hit by tetanus arrows, fleeing in disgrace. They didnt even dare to retrieve Lu Taos body. Chapter 48: Without Medicine, Death is Certain Chapter 48: Without Medicine, Death is CertainFang Yuqing, Wang Min, Sun Zhichao, and the others fled back like defeated dogs. Once inside, they shut the door and all collapsed, drenched in cold sweat, gasping for breath. The injured, in particular, were in agony, biting their lips as they lay on the sofa. Zhang Yi''s arrows had hit Sun Zhichao, Zhou Peng, and Ge Jialiang. After all, they were the main attackers closest to Zhang Yi''s door. Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, having experienced Zhang Yi''s methods before, stood further back and were unscathed. Thus, among the seven who went, the three men were either dead or hit by tetanus arrows. Initially, due to the extreme cold, they didnt feel much pain. But once home, enduring the intense cold, they had to grit their teeth to remove their clothes. Seeing the wounds, their faces turned pale! If it were ordinary arrows, they could pull them out, disinfect with alcohol, and take some anti-inflammatory medicine. But these arrows were rusty! Without antibiotics, an infection in this environment meant a horrible death. "No, no! How could this happen?" Sun Zhichao''s pupils contracted in terror, understanding the implications as fear of death enveloped him. Slap! A sharp sound echoed as Wang Min slapped Fang Yuqing hard. The injured were her close friends and relatives. All this was because Fang Yuqing persuaded them to rob Zhang Yis house. How could she not be furious? Bitch, its all your fault! You said his door was just strong! Why are there arrows? Did you know this and stand back on purpose? Why are you unharmed? Wang Min, taller and stronger than Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, terrified Fang Yuqing with her slap. Fang Yuqing covered her face, tears of grievance streaming down. "I didnt know! The last two times we went, he didnt use arrows." Zhou Peng, hit in the arm, saw his beloved being hit by his cousin and hurried over to protect her. S?a??h th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Cousin, dont! I can testify, Yuqing really didnt know!" Wang Min was furious with her cousins stupidity. She pointed at Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, "Then why are they unharmed? I saw them stand far back!" Lin Cainin, displeased, muttered, "Werent you unharmed too? How can you accuse us?" Wang Min, enraged, cursed, "I was just lucky! Were all in this mess because of you two. Get out!" Sun Zhichao, however, stopped Wang Min, signaling her with a look. Were injured and need care. He whispered. He didnt want to die, but the arrows had to be removed, and they had to pray not to get infected. Wang Mins chest heaved with rage, glaring at Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin. Help them! Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, eyes flashing with resentment, still went to tend to the injured. Seeing the arrow wounds, their faces turned pale. Zhang Yi''s arrows were professional-grade, capable of hunting wild boars and wolves. Embedded deeply in human flesh, removing them was a considerable risk. They had no professional medical personnel or equipment, making treatment impossible. One wrong move could lead to massive bleeding and death. Wang Min thought for a moment and said, We need to call Dr. Zhou for help! She meant Zhou Keer. Previously, Lin Xiaohus ruptured liver was saved by her. Wang Min stepped aside to call Zhou Keer. Soon, Zhou Keer arrived. Wang Min rushed over, gripping her hands excitedly. Dr. Zhou, our lives depend on you! Zhou Keer, in a long black down jacket, still couldnt hide her tall, slender figure. She carried an iron medical box on her shoulder. Seeing the injuries, her brow furrowed. Arrow wounds again? Wang Min, curious, asked, "Again? Who else got shot?" A flicker of unease crossed Zhou Keers face. No one, just patients at the hospital before. Wang Min found it odd but had no time to dwell on it. Dr. Zhou, please, help them quickly! Zhou Keer said no more and checked the injuries. By now, their faces were deathly pale. With the arrows stuck, they couldnt stop the bleeding, and in temperatures of minus sixty or seventy degrees, it was deadly. Zhou Keer frowned, Their wounds are too deep! Without professional equipment, I cant guarantee a successful surgery. Wang Min urged, Dr. Zhou, please do it! We trust you. Zhou Keer shook her head. The arrows are rusty. This will cause infections. I can only remove the arrows, but without antibiotics, they will get infected. And then She didnt finish, but everyone understood. In this environment, infection meant certain death! Wang Mins tears flowed. Sun Zhichao and the others were her close friends, and Zhou Peng her cousin. In the apocalypse, people were already insecure. Losing so many loved ones in one day would be unbearable! "That Zhang Yi is so cruel! He did it on purpose. How could he be so vicious?" "Even if we took his house, we wouldnt kill him!" Wang Min cursed in grief. Zhang Yi? Zhou Keer recalled meeting him. She remembered him as a sunny, handsome man. But her cold nature meant they didnt interact much. Anyway, without medicine, removing the arrows still poses a great risk. I hope you understand. Zhou Keer said calmly. In this apocalypse, everyone had to be prepared to die at any moment. Suddenly, Fang Yuqing seemed to remember something. Excitedly, she said, Medicine? I remember Zhang Yi has some! Chapter 49: Shamelessly Begging Zhang Yi for Medicine Chapter 49: Shamelessly Begging Zhang Yi for MedicineHearing that Zhang Yi had medicine, Wang Min and Sun Zhichao immediately became excited! When facing death, people grasp at any straw to save their lives. Struggling, Sun Zhichao asked, Is it true? Does he really have medicine? Wang Min glared at Fang Yuqing, You better not be lying! Because of you, several of us are seriously injured. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Hearing Zhang Yi''s name now sent shivers down her spine. Fang Yuqing explained, About a month ago, Zhang Yi suddenly changed. He started hoarding supplies like crazy. Every day, I saw trucks delivering things to his home. One time, I saw a medical company''s truck come to our community, and Zhang Yi went to receive it. They carried two large boxes into his house. They must have been filled with medicine! Hearing this, Zhou Keer also said, Antibiotics arent rare. If he foresaw the disaster and stockpiled supplies, he would definitely have a lot of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. As a doctor, Zhou Keer was confident in this assessment. Seeing a glimmer of hope for survival, Sun Zhichaos eyes shone with a crazed light. Then go to Zhang Yi and make him give us the medicine to save my life! He caused my injury, so he must save me! Wang Min, biting her lip, looked conflicted. But after what just happened, he probably hates us. Why would he give us medicine? Ge Jialiang, writhing in pain on the sofa, groaned, Oh, I feel like Im dying. Think of something! Go beg Zhang Yi, you must save us! Fang Yuqing added, We didnt hurt him. We even planned to leave some supplies for him after breaking in. Instead, he didnt appreciate our kindness and attacked us. We are the righteous ones, whats there to fear? Hearing their words, Zhou Ke''er understood what had happened, but her eyes filled with disbelief. But this matter didnt concern her, so she didnt comment. She opened her medical box, taking out gauze to stop the bleeding for the injured. Her medical supplies were almost gone. She had kept a small amount of emergency supplies at home, not much. In recent days, she had helped several neighbors, depleting her stock. If Wang Min and the others couldnt get medicine, she might only be able to remove the arrows and bandage the wounds. At the very least...she could make their deaths less painful. Despite their bold talk, they still believed they were in the right. They were just trying to survive, so how could that be wrong? Zhang Yi was to blame for being too selfish. Why should he enjoy such good living conditions alone? After a moment of thought, Wang Min pointed at Fang Yuqing, Youre the best person for this! I know Zhang Yi pursued you before, so youre the most suitable. Sun Zhichao and Ge Jialiang weakly agreed. After all, it was Fang Yuqing who told them about Zhang Yis situation and assured them that his defenses were weak, leading them to risk everything foolishly. Although Zhou Peng was reluctant to send Fang Yuqing to beg Zhang Yi, the intense pain in his arm and the threat of death made him side with Wang Min. He said to Fang Yuqing, Yuqing, were a team, right? Please, just this once. We all need to survive to protect you. Fang Yuqing was conflicted, and deeply unwilling. After all, Zhang Yi had humiliated her before. But now she had no choice. Her connection with Zhou Peng allowed her to join this group. Otherwise, a fragile woman like her would be of little use against the likes of Chen Zhenghao. Other groups wouldnt choose to take her in. Even if they did, she might end up as a plaything. In the apocalypse, a woman with no skills other than being pretty and coquettish was cheap. Zhou Keer took out her surgical knife. With limited resources, sterilization was impossible. Even alcohol lamps would freeze at these temperatures. Besides, without medicine, sterilization was meaningless. She had Sun Zhichao bite on a towel, and then started extracting the arrow. Without anesthesia, the procedure soon filled the room with screams like those of a slaughtered pig. Sun Zhichao nearly bit through the towel! The horrific scene terrified everyone, hastening Fang Yuqings plea for medicine from Zhang Yi. With no choice, Fang Yuqing dialed Zhang Yi''s WeChat voice call. Buzz...buzz...buzz... Zhang Yi, at home, was about to eat something. Strangely, despite killing for the first time, he felt remarkably calm. There was no fear, only a sense of triumphant revenge. This pleased him. In the apocalypse, such a mindset was essential for survival. He had feared vomiting or losing sleep. But having experienced more crises than anyone else, little could shake his mental state. When the phone rang, Zhang Yi, intrigued, saw it was Fang Yuqing calling. His eyes widened with a surprised smile. Oh? After such a beating, calling to curse me out? Zhang Yi answered without hesitation. The worse their situation, the happier he was. He put it on speaker and continued making lunch in the kitchen. Hello, how may I help you? Zhang Yis voice was gentle as if he hadnt just killed Lu Tao or shot arrows at Sun Zhichao and the others. His calmness made Fang Yuqing and the others feel even more terrified. Fang Yuqing, with everyone watching, used the speakerphone. She pleaded, Zhang Yi, Lu Tao is dead. Zhou Peng and the others are dying from your arrows. Sob She cried pitifully, hoping to win Zhang Yis sympathy. But Zhang Yi coolly said, Oh, dead is dead. We all die eventually. Holding a knife near the microphone, he added, You dont really think youll survive this snow disaster, do you? His voice, like a devil''s, sent chills down Wang Min and the others spines. Zhang Yi had voiced their deepest fear. With the city snowbound, their building was an isolated island. Even if they survived, for now, supplies would soon run out. If not killed by Chen Zhenghao, theyd freeze or starve to death. Trembling, Fang Yuqing cried, Zhang Yi, I know I was wrong. Its my fault for not accepting your advances. But Ive changed. Can you forgive me? Chapter 50: Toying with the Bitch Chapter 50: Toying with the BitchZhang Yi asked indifferently, "What do you think?" Besides Fang Yuqing, Wang Min and the others nudged her to get to the point. Sniffling, Fang Yuqing tearfully said, "Zhang Yi, Zhou Peng and the others were badly injured by your arrows. Without medicine, they will die from infection." "Didn''t you stockpile a lot of medicine? Please, lend us some." "I... I promise we won''t bother you again!" Zhang Yi paused, bewildered by Fang Yuqing''s twisted logic. "Fang Yuqing, do you know why I used rusty arrows on them?" "I want them to suffer and die from the infections. That''s the whole point!" "And now you come to ask me for medicine? Are you insane?" Zhang Yi laughed mockingly. Fang Yuqing and the others understood this. But if they didn''t shamelessly beg Zhang Yi, they could only watch their companions die. The three menZhou Peng, Sun Zhichao, and Ge Jialiangwere their hope for survival. Crying, Fang Yuqing pleaded, "Zhang Yi, we were wrong. Please, spare them this time. We promise never to trouble you again." "And in these tough times, we should help each other." "Don''t be so heartless. Wouldn''t their deaths make you feel worse?" Before she finished, Zhang Yi firmly said, "No, I feel great." Fang Yuqing was at a loss for words. Wang Min, desperate, approached Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, Im Wang Min. Do you remember? I even treated you to a meal before!" Zhang Yi rolled his eyes. Previously, Wang Min had asked for his help to get a batch of goods from the warehouse at a low price. Zhang Yi had indeed had a meal with her but had later helped her make a substantial profit. "Do you think that matters?" Zhang Yi sneered. Wang Min swallowed hard, hearing Zhou Pengs screams from the living room. Zhang Yi, relishing their misery, wished he could see their wretched faces. Wang Min continued, "Zhang Yi, were all struggling to survive, and theres also Chen Zhenghao, a dangerous thug. We should leave room for future aid." "If you give us medicine this time, I, Wang Min, will remember your kindness and repay you." Zhang Yi dismissed her, "Kindness? Do you think Im an idiot?" "Those idiots were hurt by me, and youve got a corpse at my door." "No matter what I do, were enemies. Helping you would only invite future revenge. Thats laughable!" Wang Min tried to explain, "We arent that kind of people!" "Enough! This is pointless." Zhang Yi clicked his tongue. "Whether you are or not doesnt matter. What matters is I dont believe you, so I wont help." Saving those who want to harm you? Thats pure naivety. No matter how persuasive they were, Zhang Yi wouldnt waver. Seeing Zhang Yi unmoved, the group grew desperate. Wang Min, eyebrows raised in anger, said, "Zhang Yi, dont push us too far! If you force us into a corner, we dont know what we might do!" Zhang Yi sneered, "Havent you already tried everything?" "If you had the capability, youd have broken in, killed me, and taken everything already." "Im not scared of threats." Fang Yuqing grabbed the phone, tearfully saying, "Zhang Yi, do we have to end up like this? We used to be so close." "Cant we let go of our grudges and start over? Ive always had feelings for you!" Next door, Zhou Peng bit on a towel during his surgery. Hearing this, his eyes nearly bulged out, and he groaned louder. Faced with such hypocrisy, Zhang Yi was impressed by her shamelessness. In this environment, Zhang Yi was like a rich tycoon. Gold-digging women clinging to rich men were nothing new. Suddenly, an evil idea crossed Zhang Yis mind. He knew the others were nearby and Zhou Peng could hear their conversation. So Zhang Yi deliberately said, "Sigh, Yuqing, I still have feelings for you. But you hurt me too deeply before." This lit a spark of hope in Fang Yuqing. Ignoring the angry glares around her, she trembled with excitement, "Yi, I knew you still cared for me!" "Youre silly. Ive always liked you. Everything before was just a test. How could you not understand my feelings?" Wang Min and the others felt nauseated, while Zhou Peng was furious. However, they hoped that if Fang Yuqing won over Zhang Yi, they might gain access to his house and supplies, so they stayed silent. "Yi, let me move in with you! Ill be your woman from now on. Ill do anything you want, okay?" Zhang Yi smiled slightly. "Alright!" Fang Yuqing was so excited she almost jumped, more thrilled than drinking soy milk. Lin Cainin quickly added, "Take me too, take me!" Fang Yuqing coldly glanced at her, laughing inside. Zhang Yis voice came through the phone again. "But Yuqing, I only love you. So, I can only accept you alone." "As for those others, you should distance yourself from them. In these hard times, we dont need a bunch of people dragging us down. Right?" Everyone''s faces changed. They had hoped Fang Yuqing would get Zhang Yi to help them all. But Zhang Yis words suggested he wanted to cut ties with them. Fang Yuqing, too excited to care, eagerly nodded. "Okay, okay, everything you say. Ill listen to you!" "Then come over now, and leave the others behind." "Okay, Ill come right away. Wait for me!" Fang Yuqings face flushed with excitement. The thought of escaping her hellish life made her forget everything else. S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. She ran toward the door. Wang Min and the others, filled with rage, watched as Fang Yuqing prepared to leave them for Zhang Yi. Lin Cainin grabbed her, "Dont leave us! Ive had enough of this life too!" Before Fang Yuqing could respond, Wang Min slapped her hard. "You shameless bitch! After causing all this, you want to leave us? No way!" Chapter 51: No Medicine, Wait for Infection Chapter 51: No Medicine, Wait for InfectionWang Min and the others were furious. It was Fang Yuqing who had tempted them to attack Zhang Yis house. Now, they were either dead or wounded, while she wanted to abandon them to enjoy herself? Absolutely not! Zhou Peng, undergoing surgery, was enraged to hear Fang Yuqing planning to go to Zhang Yi. Yuqing, how could you do this to me? Didnt you say you hated Zhang Yi the most? Dont you remember saying you wanted to be my woman? Fang Yuqing, slapped by Wang Min, covered her face but stubbornly said, Is it wrong for me to pursue my happiness? Staying with you all is only temporary. When our supplies run out, wont we all die? Zhang Yis house is so comfortable, with food and warmth. Whats wrong with me going to him? She looked at Zhou Peng, who was in pain, with a look that seemed to plead for understanding. Zhou Peng, youre a good man, and youve always been kind to me. But if you love someone, shouldnt you want them to be happy? Although youve helped me, you shouldnt stop me from seeking a better life. Can you give me more than Zhang Yi can? Zhou Pengs face turned deathly pale, stuttering, unable to respond. Zhou Keer frowned and said, Dont move! If I cut an artery, youll die! Wang Min, nervous, rushed over to hold Zhou Peng down. Cousin, dont get so angry over this wretched woman. Your life is more important! She took a deep breath, glaring at Fang Yuqing. Fang Yuqing, if you want to leave, we wont stop you. But only if Zhang Yi brings us medicine in exchange! Lin Cainin blocked the door, raising her chin, Fang Yuqing, if youre leaving, were going together! Fang Yuqing glared at them in frustration, turning to Zhang Yi, Yi, you heard them. They wont let me go! Why dont you give them some medicine? Zhang Yi, enjoying the drama in his kitchen, smiled slightly, saying, Medicine is precious. How can I trust theyre not lying? They might even be deceiving you. They could hold you hostage to blackmail me! Yuqing, we cant fall for that! With the speakerphone on, everyone heard their conversation clearly. Zhou Peng yelled, Yuqing, dont believe him! Hes just playing you. Indeed, outsiders would think so. But Fang Yuqing, desperate in this situation, saw Zhang Yis words as a lifeline. Even though she rationally knew it might not save her, she clung to it desperately. She nodded repeatedly, Youre right, Yi. Then she crazily lunged at Lin Cainin blocking the door. You vile woman, get out of my way! Dont stop me! The two women immediately started fighting. Desperate to reach Zhang Yis apartment, Fang Yuqing went berserk, tearing at Lin Cainins hair and biting her arm. Lin Cainin, in pain, fought back just as fiercely. They fell to the ground, looking like two madwomen. Wang Min couldnt stand it anymore. The patients needed surgery, and their fight could jeopardize it. So she joined in, helping Lin Cainin subdue the hysterical Fang Yuqing. Ahhh!!! Let me go! Let me go! Let me go! Fang Yuqing screamed, looking insane. Wang Min frowned and slapped her face six or seven times. s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Fang Yuqing, dazed by the blows, finally quieted down. Wang Min sneered, You want to leave? Dream on! She picked up Fang Yuqings phone and called Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi. Fang Yuqing is with us. If you want to save her, bring us medicine! Zhang Yi shrugged. There are too many of you. Im scared. What if you kill me? So, Yuqing, although I want to be with you, they wont allow it! Dont blame me! Zhang Yi deliberately spoke loudly. Fang Yuqing, hearing this, screamed in agony, her eyes filled with hatred as she looked at Wang Min and the others. Zhang Yi ended the call, an evil smile on his face. The cruelest thing was to give the desperate a glimmer of hope, only to snatch it away. He had no intention of letting that bitch in; he just wanted to disgust the others. At worst, they might kill Fang Yuqing. Back in their room, Fang Yuqing wailed for a long time before her cries turned into bitter sobs. But she didnt hate Zhang Yi; she hated Zhou Peng and Wang Min. She believed that without them stopping her, she would be in Zhang Yis house, eating fine food and enjoying a warm fireplace. Wang Min sneered at Fang Yuqing. She looked at Lin Cainin, who had fought against Fang Yuqing, and felt pleased. At least Lin Cainin wasnt siding with Fang Yuqing. Good friends turning on each other in times of crisis. You see, this woman only thinks of herself, never considering others. If you want to stay with us, keep an eye on her! Dont let her escape. Wang Min coldly instructed Lin Cainin. Lin Cainin nodded eagerly, I will, Sister Wang! She glanced at the crying Fang Yuqing, her eyes filled with hatred, saying word by word, I wont let her run! If we suffer, she will too. Why should she alone enjoy a good life! In the living room, Zhou Keer finished the makeshift surgeries on the three men. Without sterilization or anesthesia, she could only quickly remove the rusty arrows and stop the bleeding with gauze. Tragically, there werent even disinfected cotton balls, as the medical alcohol had frozen. The only upside was the extreme cold numbed their pain, causing them to pass out. But the downside was also severe; the extreme cold made their bodies prone to necrosis. Zhou Keer, after cleaning her hands of blood, closed her medical kit. This is just a temporary fix. Without medicine, theres a high risk of infection. Be prepared. Wang Min and the others looked hopeless. With Zhang Yi refusing to help, how could they get medicine? Chapter 52: Exposing Zhang Yi’s Wealth Chapter 52: Exposing Zhang Yis WealthZhou Keer extended her hand to Wang Min. Naturally, she wouldnt help for free. Wang Min understood and handed her a pack of biscuits. Although not much, it was enough for Zhou Keer to eat for two days if rationed. Zhou Keer was satisfied and left. After she left, the room''s atmosphere became extremely oppressive. The pain from the wounds was still intense, making the three men lie on the sofa, wrapped in blankets, unwilling to move. Zhou Peng looked at Fang Yuqing on the floor, his eyes filled with sorrow. As for the others, their gazes towards her were hostile. Sun Zhichao took a deep breath, We cant just wait to die. We must get medicine from Zhang Yi! Otherwise, if the wounds get infected, well die horribly! He looked at Wang Min and Lin Cainin, saying seriously, You must understand that without men to protect you, its hard to survive in this apocalypse. Wang Min and Lin Cainin''s faces looked grim. They knew Sun Zhichao was right; otherwise, Wang Min wouldnt have chosen to team up with them from the start. But... we have no way to deal with Zhang Yi. Wang Min sighed deeply, filled with helplessness. Their forced assault had failed, costing them dearly. What other options did they have? Sun Zhichao, gritting his teeth against the pain, said, I have an idea. Its worth a try! Everyones eyes lit up, looking at Sun Zhichao. What idea? If theres hope, we must try it! Yes, waiting here is just waiting to die. We might as well take a risk! Sun Zhichao said, Zhang Yi has a fireplace, which means he has a lot of fuel. And judging by his videos, he has plenty of food. Only a few of us know this. But clearly, we cant break into Zhang Yis house on our own. Lets spread the news to the entire building! Sun Zhichaos eyes gleamed maliciously like a cobras. If we cant deal with him, a few hundred people can! And theres that mad dog Chen Zhenghao with a gun! His gang are ruthless killers; theyll definitely go after Zhang Yi! Once they deal with Zhang Yi, we should easily get some medicine and food. As soon as he finished, Ge Jialiang exclaimed excitedly, Thats a great idea! I agree! The others quickly nodded in agreement. Given their current situation, they had no better options. Fang Yuqing suddenly started cursing at everyone, Youre despicable! How can you do this? If you ruin Zhang Yi, what will happen to me when I go live with him? Wang Min, face cold, walked over and slapped Fang Yuqing hard. Her face was already swollen like a pigs head. Wang Min grabbed Fang Yuqings hair, dragging her to the bedroom amid her screams. Then Wang Min called out, Zhou Peng, come here and deal with her! Zhou Pengs arm was injured, but not too severely. Zhang Yi hadnt aimed for vital spots; he intended for them to die slowly from infection. So, Zhou Peng was still capable of physical activity. Hearing Wang Mins command, Zhou Peng hesitated, Cousin, isnt this wrong? I really like her. How can I hurt her? Fang Yuqing trembled on the bed, pleading for mercy. No, you cant do this to me! Zhou Peng, didnt you say you love me? Wang Min spat, You little vixen, causing us so much pain. Letting you sleep with my cousin is a favor! She said to Zhou Peng, Dont be foolish! This woman is cheap and has probably slept with many men. Isnt your goal to sleep with her? Heres your chance. Afterward, lets see if she can still fool you! Wang Min knew how to deal with Fang Yuqing. Once Zhou Peng slept with her, his infatuation would fade. Zhou Peng shouted and rushed into the bedroom, pushing Wang Min aside. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Dont talk about her like that! I truly love Yuqing, and I wont force her! He stood with his neck stiff. Wang Min, furious, pointed at Zhou Peng, unable to speak. You useless simp! She underestimated the loyalty of a simp. Zhou Peng said, No, Im not a simp! Yuqing is genuinely good to me. I believe if I win her over with time, shell love me! He turned and gave Fang Yuqing what he thought was a charming smile. Dont be afraid. Im here. He remembered when he first came to the city, young and alone, with just a middle school education. People looked down on him. Only Fang Yuqing had been kind, even letting him help her move things. During his lonely times, she gave him a chance to treat her to meals. That trust warmed his heart. Hed rather hurt himself than Fang Yuqing. Even after her harsh words, he blamed Zhang Yi, thinking Fang Yuqing was just deceived. He believed that if he waited patiently, she would realize he was the best man for her. Seeing Zhou Pengs silly smile, Fang Yuqing felt relieved. Though letting him have his way wouldnt be a big deal, she still found him disgusting. The others, seeing Zhou Pengs simping, were speechless. But now, their focus was on uniting the others to against Zhang Yi. So they ignored Zhou Peng. ... Wang Min and the others decided to expose Zhang Yis stockpile to everyone. Using collective strength, they planned to break into Zhang Yis house. Only by doing so could they get the medicine and save Sun Zhichao and the others. Wang Min posted Zhang Yis videos and photos in the chat group. She wanted Chen Zhenghao to see them too. Wang Min: Guys, did you know someone is living so comfortably? This selfish behavior is utterly shameless! These videos were taken at Zhang Yis place recently. Think about how weve been living, and look at his life! Is this fair? Lets discuss how to handle this. Usually, this group was silent, with only Chen Zhenghao occasionally threatening the neighbors. Wang Mins posts quickly grabbed everyones attention. Neighbors eagerly watched the videos. Seeing the luxurious life in the videos, everyone was almost driven mad with excitement! Hes wearing pajamas inside? Its over minus seventy degrees in our place. How does he stay warm? They have lights on at night! Wheres the electricity coming from? Are these recent videos? Arent they from before? Some doubted. Everyone was starving and freezing; it was unimaginable that someone could eat hot meals and live in a warm house. Chapter 53: Neighbors Begging Zhang Yi Chapter 53: Neighbors Begging Zhang YiWang Min immediately said, "I can assure everyone that these videos were taken recently." "Zhang Yis home is well-stocked with all kinds of supplies, whether its food or fuel. So hes living a life like heaven!" Lin Cainin also spoke up, "Thats right, I can confirm it! I helped him when he went to the supermarket to buy things." "He bought so many things for his home, dont you all remember?" Lin Cainins words sparked many memories. "Yes, there were trucks coming and going at Zhang Yis house all the time. I didnt know what he was up to." "Could he have known about the snow disaster in advance? Thats outrageous! He didnt even warn us!" "Zhang Yi is so immoral! How could he do something so unethical?" "Weve been neighbors for years, living together. Hes too selfish!" Everyone was filled with righteous indignation, blaming all their current suffering on Zhang Yi. They didnt consider that even if Zhang Yi had warned them about the apocalypse, would they have believed him? Of course, they didnt think about that. They just felt Zhang Yi owed them. Immediately, someone said, "Zhang Yi must be held accountable for this!" "Yeah, why should we suffer while he lives the good life?" "He has so much food, fuel, medicine, and energy. He must share it with all of us." "Were suffering; he should bear the main responsibility!" All the neighbors were red-eyed. They couldnt tolerate the current situation. If everyone was suffering, it would be tolerable. Why should they live like dogs while he enjoys paradise? No, if they had to die, everyone should die together! Chen Zhenghao and his men also saw the videos in the group chat. Chen Zhenghaos eyes turned red. "Zhang Yi, you dog! How dare you live so comfortably!" One of Chen Zhenghaos legs was crippled, all thanks to Zhang Yi. Among the residents, he hated Zhang Yi the most. He hadnt continued attacking Zhang Yi because Zhang Yis apartment was too hard to break into, and hed suffered a loss. He wouldnt act unless necessary; besides, he didnt know Zhang Yi had so many resources! If he had known, he would have risked his life to attack Zhang Yi. The group chat quickly filled with over a hundred messages. Many people started tagging Zhang Yi, demanding an explanation. "@Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi, were all suffering, freezing and starving. You have so much food and fuel. Share some with us!" "Yeah, well remember your kindness. Dont be ungrateful." "Zhang Yi, weve been neighbors for years. You cant just watch us die!" "Zhang Yi, Im Aunt Wang from the 20th floor. Remember, I lent you two green onions before? We have such a good relationship; you should give us some supplies!" "Brother Zhang, its me, Liu Wenqiang. Were like brothers! Let me stay with you. Its dangerous out here, and I can protect you." ... They came with moral coercion, begging, and reasoningall demanding Zhang Yi share his supplies. Messages popped up continuously, and Zhang Yi noticed them. S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Everyone in the group demanded he share his supplies, but Zhang Yi just watched coldly, not in a hurry to respond. He wanted to see how amusing their true faces could be. Aunt Lin said, "Zhang Yi, Im the community committee director! And Im the elder of this building. Ill decide how to distribute the supplies!" Another, a mother named Xie Limei, said, "Zhang Yi, my baby and I are starving. You praised my baby before. Save us! Ill let the baby call you godfather. Even... if you have other demands, I can agree." The wealthy heir, Xu Hao, said, "Zhang Yi, let me stay with you. Ill give you all my assets! No, my father is dead; our familys billions in assets are all yours!" After watching this drama for a long time, Zhang Yi slowly typed a single word. "Oh?" That single word made everyone even more excited. The moral coercion continued, and the begging became more desperate. After a while, Zhang Yi calmly asked, "Are we even close? Why should I share my things with you?" At this point, everyone was on the brink of despair. Reasoning with them was pointless. To survive, they were ready to abandon all moral boundaries. Zhang Yi knew this and had no intention of reasoning with them. He simply wanted to play with them. His gaze turned wicked, remembering the scene from his previous life. Back then, he had opened his door out of kindness. Then, these neighbors had rushed in, struck him with an axe, and, before he was even dead, started tearing him apart and eating him! He wanted revenge. So he would toy with these pathetic yet hateful people to his hearts content! Immediately, someone in the group got angry. "Zhang Yi, how can you say that? Weve been neighbors for years; mutual help is the right thing!" "Whats the point of you surviving alone? Young people shouldnt just lie around enjoying themselves; you should think about others!" "If you hadnt kept this to yourself and hoarded supplies, we wouldnt be in this situation!" "Right, were suffering because of you. You must atone!" ... Zhang Yi replied, "Oh." "And then?" More pleas, threats, and insults followed. They were like shipwreck survivors in the icy waters of the North Atlantic, surrounded by sharks. Then they saw a small fishing boat nearby. The boatman was leisurely enjoying hotpot and singing as he rowed past. Desperately, they swam over, begging to be pulled aboard. The closer they were to the edge of despair and hope, the more their minds collapsed, revealing their twisted nature. Watching their distorted faces, Zhang Yi smiled, taking out a bottle of Grange from his wine cooler and some top-grade French foie gras from his space. Red wine and foie gras were a perfect match. The bitterness of the foie gras and the tannic astringency of the wine combined to create a delightful flavor. This allowed even Chinese people unaccustomed to red wine to appreciate its taste. While eating foie gras and drinking red wine, Zhang Yi watched his neighbors desperate performance. Some sent him private messages, and some even called him. Zhang Yi opened each message with interest. Mother Xie Limei: "Zhang Yi, please save me and my baby! If you let us stay with you, you can do anything you want to me." College student Zhang Siyu: "Brother Zhang Yi, Im still young. I dont want to die. Take me in! Just give me something to eat." Many other women, including those with husbands, sent private messages. They knew the current market value and understood that money couldnt sway Zhang Yi. So they all offered their bodies in exchange for Zhang Yis protection, hoping to get some food at least. Chapter 54: Zhou Keer Chapter 54: Zhou Ke''erHow did Zhang Yi react to the messages from the female residents? He simply treated them as entertaining little stories and didnt bother to reply. Some daring ones even sent him private selfies, but Zhang Yi glanced at them without much interest. These women were overly confident. A few looked decent, but most were average. Unlike professional influencers who knew how to pose, these women had little appeal. Testing men with this? What men could resist such a test? As for the male residents, it was even more straightforward. Some addressed him as a brother, asking for help. Others were elderly, morally coercing Zhang Yi to take care of them. The most disgusting was a gay man whose requests Zhang Yi didnt even want to discuss. After scrolling through the messages, Zhang Yi felt bored. He placed his phone on a stand in front of him, waiting for some more creative ideas to pop up. Then he lay on the sofa, drinking red wine and eating foie gras, admiring the beautiful snow outside. Half a month had passed, and the snow hadnt stopped. The entire city was covered in snow. According to Zhang Yis memory, after a month, everything below the west building would be buried. How long it would snow, he wasnt sure. But he had no reason to go outside. People ventured out searching for survival, but now no one knew where they could surviveexcept Zhang Yi. He lazily mused to himself, Staying home every day is boring. Maybe I should go out for a bit? Once most people in the building died, he could go out and explore. Zhang Yi remembered he had several snowmobiles in his warehouse. These were meant to be delivered to a nearby city for use at an artificial snow park. So, even if the snow outside was ten meters deep, he had a way out. Though I can''t leave now, with this method, I can go out safely later. Feeling tempted, Zhang Yi considered it. Staying home all the time could get boring; going out to relax might be nice. He had state-level cold-resistant clothing and snowmobiles, so he wasnt afraid of minus sixty or seventy degrees. Zhang Yi continued to scroll through the neighbors messages out of boredom. Among them, one caught his attention. Zhou Keers message wasnt about pleading or sending private photos. She calmly proposed a trade. "Mr. Zhang, our food and medicine are running low. I hope you can provide some help. In return, I can offer medical assistance." Zhou Keer? Zhang Yi quickly recalled her appearance. She was a doctor at Tianhai Citys First Peoples Hospital, 26 years old, tall and slender, about 175 cm. What impressed Zhang Yi most was not her cool, ascetic beauty but her impressive figure with a 36D bust. Especially in winter, when she wore black sweaters, her figure was hard to ignore in the elevator. No wonder shes a doctor. Very rational. Not begging for charity, but proposing a trade. Zhang Yi appreciated Zhou Keers approach. In the apocalypse, only valuable people deserved to survive. Zhou Keer showed her value through her medical skills. Without certain abilities, she couldnt have worked at Tianhai Citys top hospital. In the apocalypse, medical skills were crucial. Although Zhang Yi had prepared many medicines and studied this area, he wasnt arrogant enough to think he could handle all diseases. Having a doctor around would significantly enhance his chances of survival. Moreover, Zhang Yi had assessed Zhou Keers character. In his previous life, she died after giving food to Xie Limei. Whether out of complete despair or genuine kindness, Zhang Yi saw a glimmer of humanity in her. Adjusting his posture, Zhang Yi pondered aloud, Maybe I should keep her around to take care of me and my little brothers? While Im living comfortably, my brothers arent doing so well. Thats a problem. Zhang Yi was a young man with needs. In a world where morals and laws had collapsed, people didnt need to suppress their desires. Hahaha! Zhang Yi suddenly laughed, slapping the armrest. Im tempted, but unfortunately, Im very afraid of dying. Although Zhou Keer is a good candidate, without complete control over her, I cant let her in. Lets wait and see! Survivors will appear eventually. With my resources, finding good doctors and women wont be hard. Zhang Yi was pragmatic, a man who had died once. He replied to Zhou Keer, Im healthy now and dont need a doctor. But I do have plenty of medicine and food. If you want to trade, offer something useful to me. No matter how beautiful or talented she was, Zhang Yi wouldnt let her take advantage of him. He never made a losing deal. After a long silence, Zhou Keer replied. Can it be an advance payment? I... I really cant hold on any longer. Her tone carried hesitation and shame. It was clear that, without other options, she wouldnt easily plead with a man she barely knew. After pondering, Zhang Yi responded, I can give you food and medicine. But you have to do me a favor. What favor? Zhou Keer asked. Zhang Yi said, The neighbors are likely to attack me. If you find out their plans, inform me. Zhang Yi knew the desperate neighbors would come for his supplies. But he wasnt afraid. He spent a fortune building his steel fortress, choosing various features personally. The goal was to withstand such an assault! His home was like a war bunker, albeit with less firepower. Even armed soldiers couldnt breach his house without heavy weapons. s?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Let alone these half-dead neighbors, starving and freezing for half a month. He proposed this condition to give Zhou Keer an excuse. Moreover, having an inside informant added an extra layer of security, allowing him to prepare in advance. Chapter 55: The Neighbors Plan to Attack Zhang Yi Chapter 55: The Neighbors Plan to Attack Zhang YiAfter much hesitation, Zhou Ke''er finally agreed to Zhang Yi''s proposal. Her morals and conscience didn''t allow her to be a despicable person. However, in her eyes, the neighbors'' decision to rob Zhang Yi out of jealousy was even worse. So she chose to help Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi said, Alright, I need to see useful information from you first, then I''ll give you what you want. Let''s see how you perform! Zhou Ke''er replied, I understand. She was kind-hearted but definitely not stupid. She wouldn''t foolishly expect Zhang Yi to help her unconditionally. Their conversation ended there. Zhang Yi glanced at the large group chat, which had over 99+ messages, still full of moral coercion and threats directed at him. Zhang Yi, where are you? Give us an answer! Will you hand over your supplies or not? Some were getting impatient. Zhang Yi smirked coldly. It looked like they were planning to attack his house. Go to hell! Zhang Yi replied with a smile. Immediately, the group chat exploded with curses and vile insults. Zhang Yi didnt care. If they had the guts, they could come. Having killed with his own hands and feeling no guilt, he didnt mind killing more. Fine, Zhang Yi, you asked for this! Dont say we didnt give you a chance, you selfish, despicable person! From now on, you will bear all the consequences! The cursing gradually subsided. Zhang Yi guessed they had probably created a new group, excluding him, to plan their attack. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yi felt a mix of tension and excitement, his body trembling slightly. Even though he knew his home was an impregnable steel fortress, facing an attack from over a hundred people was still nerve-wracking. But the excitement ignited his blood. He had longed to personally punish those who had cannibalized him in his previous life! S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. His eyes gleamed coldly as he summoned his weapons to the living room. Five steel crossbows, three professional-grade composite bows, over 290 crossbow bolts, and 300 arrows. There were also two large iron boxes of steel rods, machetes, a 1.2-meter-long crowbar, baseball bats, and hunting knives. All laid out on the table, they were perfect tools for killing. In addition to these physical weapons, he had pepper spray, electric batons, gasoline, a large number of chemical reagents, and dozens of Molotov cocktails made from bottles, cloth strips, and gasoline. Zhang Yi''s eyes glowed with a chilling light. Bring it on, as many as you want! ... Just as Zhang Yi expected, the neighbors were furious when they saw he wouldnt hand over his supplies. Sun Zhichao created a new group chat, adding all the living residents except Zhang Yi. They even included Chen Zhenghao. Seeing Chen Zhenghao made some people uneasy. However, Chen Zhenghao reassured them, Everyone, our top priority now is to deal with Zhang Yi. His supplies are likely more than all of ours combined! If we take him down, we can get a huge amount of supplies. So, dont worry. I wont attack anyone else for now. But I want half of the supplies from this operation! Chen Zhenghao had suffered at Zhang Yis hands and knew his house was well-defended and equipped with crossbows. He didnt dare to attack alone, so he planned to use the residents as cannon fodder. He figured over a hundred people should be able to breach Zhang Yis house. How many weapons could Zhang Yi have? How many could he kill? Even though Chen Zhenghao and his men were only six, no one thought his demand for half the supplies was unfair. Instead, they saw him as a good person. He had a gun but was willing to share half with everyone. How generous! Sun Zhichao said, Right, we should temporarily set aside our past grievances. The main goal is to breach Zhang Yis house and reclaim the collective supplies! With these two leading the charge, everyone naturally followed. Seeing Zhang Yis comfortable life made them all jealous, their eyes red with hatred, wanting to kill him and take his place. Knives in hand, follow me! Kill Zhang Yi, seize the supplies! Kill that shameless selfish jerk! They roared with anger. Only a few remained silent, like Uncle You and Zhou Keer. Even those who usually had a good relationship with Zhang Yi, those he had helped, put everything aside for survival. Nothing was more important than living. To survive, they could abandon all morals! ... Zhang Yi was at home, cleaning his gun. He was familiar with it, having used it often at the shooting club. In the month before the apocalypse, he had intensified his training. He had no pressure hitting a person at close range. At that moment, Zhou Keer sent a message. Theyre planning to attack your apartment. Seeing the message, Zhang Yi replied with an Oh, got it. Sitting on her sofa, Zhou Keer frowned at his calm reply. She tightened the two layers of blankets around her and tucked her white feet inside. Theyve gone to every resident. Theyve seen your videos and have gone mad. Arent you going to do something? Zhou Keer believed the most rational approach was to hand over some supplies to appease the crowds anger. Otherwise, one person couldn''t fight off so many. Over a hundred people could easily tear down an apartment! Zhang Yi smiled without explaining much. He simply said, Remember, dont come over this time. Im warning you once. Then, just watch the show! Zhou Keer frowned, filled with curiosity. She couldnt understand where Zhang Yis confidence came from when facing over a hundred people alone. This wasnt a joke. If his home was breached, the crazed crowd would surely kill him! Could he be insane? Zhou Keer muttered to herself. But it was Zhang Yis choice, and there was nothing she could do. She decided to follow his advice and not join the attack. She had moral boundaries and wouldnt partake in such a bloodthirsty act, whether it involved Zhang Yi or the other neighbors. Chapter 56: The Assault Chapter 56: The AssaultZhang Yi sat quietly at home, awaiting the arrival of the crazed neighbors. His expression was serious, and a large array of weapons was laid out in front of him. At that moment, he received a message from Uncle You, the security guard. Zhang Yi, you better run! Theyre all coming for you with weapons. A warm feeling surged in Zhang Yis heart. In such a world, it was rare to find good people. He smiled and replied, Uncle You, dont worry. I can handle this. Uncle You was silent for a moment, seemingly understanding that there was nowhere to run now. Resistance was the only option. He said, Zhang Yi, I hope you can survive. Im sorry I cant help you this time. Uncle You felt deeply ashamed. He owed Zhang Yi a favor because Zhang Yi had reminded him to stock up on supplies, enabling him to gather plenty of instant noodles and sausages. Now, his living conditions were still manageable. But seeing Zhang Yi about to be besieged by so many people, he felt powerless. Zhang Yi replied calmly, Your kindness is already shown by not joining them. Dont worry about me. Uncle Yous choice was the most prudent. Coming over to help Zhang Yi now would likely result in being hacked to death by the more than one hundred residents. After a brief chat with Uncle You, Zhang Yi remained cautious and didnt reveal any details about his home. Trust no one fully, regardless of who they were. Before long, Zhang Yi felt a slight tremor beneath his feet and heard a rumbling sound from outside. Theyre here, Zhang Yi murmured. He knew that was the sound of over a hundred people flooding up the stairs. However, Zhang Yi lived on the 24th floor. With the elevators out of service, those climbing the stairs would be utterly exhausted. Of course, not only were the people from the lower floors coming. At least, through the surveillance on his large screen, Zhang Yi saw his neighbors from the adjacent 2402 apartment also coming out with kitchen knives and wrenches. Next door was a young couple, the woman holding a kitchen knife and hiding behind the man. Their eyes glowed with envy as they stared at Zhang Yis door. Knowing that their neighbor had been living a heavenly life for the past half month must have driven them mad with jealousy. The crowd soon filled the corridor outside Zhang Yis door, making it completely impassable. A few held umbrellas over their heads to prevent Zhang Yi from pouring cold water on them. Before long, someone couldnt hold back and started banging on the door. Bang! Bang! Bang! Zhang Yi, get out here! This is your last chance if you dont want to die! Dont wait for us to break in, or itll be too late for words then! Through the surveillance, Zhang Yi didnt see Sun Zhichao or Chen Zhenghao among them. This confirmed one thing: Sun Zhichao and Chen Zhenghao hadnt told them about the actual situation in Zhang Yis house. In other words, they intended to use the other neighbors as cannon fodder, letting them bear the brunt of Zhang Yis crossbow and high-voltage attacks first. Zhang Yi didnt hesitate, as he had plenty of energy and wasnt worried about the electricity. He pressed the high-voltage button. A fierce electric current immediately seized the young man banging on the door, his face contorted in pain! The most terrifying part was that with over a hundred people packed into the corridor, the electric current passed through him to many others behind him! Ahhh!! Its high voltage, get back! Those behind him, feeling the shock, quickly let go. If not for their thick clothing, they wouldnt have had a chance to escape. Everyone got a taste of the high voltage, their muscles twitching in pain. The man banging on the door and the seven or eight people around him suffered the worst, unable to escape, their bodies charred black by the electricity. The others, terrified, didnt dare to help. After about ten seconds, Zhang Yi cut the power. Nine people collapsed to the ground, smoke rising from their bodies, filling the air with the smell of roasted meat and burnt clothes. Bang!! The nine fell together, their bodies charred black, uncertain if they were dead or alive. But everyone knew that even if these people had a breath left, in their current state, they were as good as dead. Everyones eyes widened in terror at the scene before them. They hadnt expected so many to die instantly, right before their eyes. The expressions of those electrocuted were extremely grim, their eyes wide open in death. Several women in the crowd couldnt bear it, screaming and bending over to vomit. But their stomachs were empty, and they could only retch. Some felt the urge to flee. But when they reached the stairwell, they found it blocked by Chen Zhenghao and his men. What do you think youre doing? Get back! Chen Zhenghao, holding a gun, spoke menacingly. The stairwell was their only escape route, and Chen Zhenghao blocked it to force everyone to fight Zhang Yi. If they died, Chen Zhenghao could rightfully take their resources. Sun Zhichao and a few others, dragging their wounded bodies, were also present. They looked at the nine corpses with cold expressions, clearly sharing the same intention as Chen Zhenghao. Seeing the crowds fear, Sun Zhichao shouted, That damn Zhang Yi is a beast! Hes killing his neighbors. Brothers and sisters, we must kill Zhang Yi to avenge them! Dont be afraid. Use wood to break the door; just dont touch it! Hes out of tricks. Hes desperate! S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Once we break down this door, theres warmth and endless food waiting for us! Sun Zhichaos words rekindled the crowds anger. They had endured hunger and cold for over half a month. For a bite of food and a moment of warmth, they were willing to risk everything! Someone quickly fetched a piece of wood, seemingly dismantled from a large cabinet or bed. Brothers, lets break it down! Open the door and kill that dog Zhang Yi! A group of people, holding the wood, began frantically ramming Zhang Yis door. Bang! Bang! Bang! The violent ramming caused the water on Zhang Yis table to ripple. But Zhang Yi found it not intense enough. He retrieved a large Sennheiser speaker from his storage space, connected it to his phone, and played his favorite song, "Love While Doing." The energetic song blared inside, further enraging the people outside. Zhang Yi, youre dead! Well kill you today! You will pay with your life for my brothers death! They rammed the door harder. But after dozens of hits, they were dismayed to find the door barely budged. A dozen strong men exerting force together, totaling over a thousand pounds, left only white marks and tiny dents on the black iron door. Despair filled their hearts. What kind of door is this? Why is it so strong? At this rate, how long will it take to break it down? Everyone was panting heavily. They were working in temperatures below minus seventy degrees, and with insufficient food, they had little strength. Many felt their legs weakening and had to rotate shifts. But at this rate, they would all be exhausted before breaking the door. One man approached, stared at the door for a while, and then exclaimed, This... this is a bank vault door! He worked in a bank and recognized the details. Despair spread among the crowd. Does that mean it cant be broken? The bank employee shook his head bitterly, Forget using wood. Even with explosives, you couldnt break this top-grade vault door! Without the key, only the worlds top lockpickers could possibly open it. At this point, Zhang Yi, holding a crossbow, moved to the shooting hole. Chapter 57: Heavy Casualties Chapter 57: Heavy CasualtiesZhang Yi watched the crowd outside his door, discussing their strategies. This time, Zhang Yi didn''t bother to aim carefully. Since they wanted his life, there was no need to be polite. He wasn''t a saint. He raised his crossbow and began shooting. Soon, several people were hit by arrows and fell. Only then did the people outside realize how deadly Zhang Yis crossbow was. He has weapons! Be careful! someone shouted. The crowd panicked, trying to scatter. However, the corridor was so crowded, with over a hundred people crammed together, that there was no room to move. In their fear, their hurried attempts to escape caused a chain reaction, with many tripping and falling. Zhang Yi didnt care. He just focused on his work. The sound of arrows whistling through the air was like a death knell, terrifyingly relentless. This only made the crowd more desperate, as they frantically tried to squeeze into the stairwell. Some people who fell were trampled by others before they could get up. Screams of pain echoed everywhere. Chen Zhenghao, standing at the stairwell with his gun, aimed at those trying to flee. What are you afraid of? Hes just one man! Go get him! he shouted, his cold eyes and the black muzzle of his gun forcing the crowd back into action. Chen Zhenghaos goal was to use them as cannon fodder, depleting Zhang Yis defenses. He couldnt let them escape. Sun Zhichao and the others, hoping to survive, stayed far back, avoiding the arrows. Zhang Yi fired dozens of crossbow bolts. In such a densely packed crowd, almost none missed their mark. This caused immense suffering for the neighbors. However, the desperation of the neighbors brought out their resourcefulness. Someone noticed the shooting hole in the door and shouted, Hes shooting from that hole! Just block it! Immediately, someone raised a mop and broom to block the shooting hole. Others tried to throw objects into Zhang Yis room. Zhang Yi remained calm, quickly closing and locking the iron door behind the shooting hole. This door could only be opened from the inside and was impregnable from the outside. With this, Zhang Yi had neutralized a significant part of the threat, taking down dozens of their fighters. Seeing Zhang Yi could no longer shoot arrows, the neighbors slowly recovered from their terror. The corridor was a mess, with many injured by arrows, their wounds varying in severity. Some had been hit in vital areas and died on the spot. When the neighbors saw the rust-covered tetanus arrows, their hearts sank. They knew that all who had been hit were unlikely to survive. Some, having lost loved ones, cursed Zhang Yi loudly through their tears. Zhang Yi, you damn scoundrel, youre despicable and shameless! Come out if you have the guts! Fight me one-on-one! You devil, Ill fight you to the death! S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi! I will kill you! Their shouts and curses filled the air, but the only response was the loud music blaring from Zhang Yis room. The lively song lyrics echoed provocatively. After love, you understand how deep love is Only after losing do you know what to cherish... Outside, the curses continued, while inside, Zhang Yi''s room was filled with lively music, a stark contrast that seemed to mock everyone. Indeed, it was a direct provocation. Zhang Yi had fired dozens of crossbow bolts and felt his arm getting sore. He went to the kitchen, grabbed a bottle of Coke from the fridge, and gulped it down. Ah! So refreshing! Zhang Yi exclaimed, then continued to monitor the crowd on his screen. Seeing that Zhang Yis door was unbreakable, the neighbors were both anxious and desperate. What do we do now? someone muttered. Just then, Sun Zhichao shouted, Dont worry, I have an idea! Everyone turned to look at him, struggling to walk with his injured leg. He pointed to the wall of Zhang Yis apartment and smiled, The door is made of alloy, but the walls are just bricks and cement. We can definitely break through them! Hearing this, everyones eyes lit up with realization. Why didnt I think of that! We cant break the door, but we can break the walls! There are so many of us. It wont take long to smash through the wall. Haha, Zhang Yi, you scoundrel, you wont expect this! Inside, Zhang Yi saw the neighbors suddenly cheering and raised an eyebrow. The music was too loud, so he couldnt hear what they were saying. However, Zhang Yi remained calm, planning to watch their next move. He wasnt worried; he had considered all possible threats when building his fortress. If these people could easily breach his defenses, then he deserved to die. The crowd, armed with tools, quickly lined up in front of Zhang Yis outer wall, swinging iron hammers and axes. Bang!! A burly man used all his strength to smash the hammer against the wall, causing cracks and white dust to fall. Seeing this, everyones eyes filled with excitement, thinking they had found Zhang Yis weak point. They attacked with even more vigor. But as the burly man swung the hammer for a second blow, a metallic clink sounded. Clang! The man screamed, dropping his hammer, his hands bleeding profusely and freezing in the cold. Whats going on? Everyone was confused. What kind of wall could withstand such a heavy blow? Someone brushed away the white dust, revealing the underlying material, and was shocked. This... this wall is made of steel! Everyone was stunned and rushed over to see. Indeed, beneath the outer layer of plaster was thick, heavy black metal, the same material as the door. One person couldnt help but scream to the sky, Why would anyone build an apartment with steel walls? I cant believe the entire apartment is made of iron! Several people desperately hammered at other parts of the wall, hoping to find a weak spot. But wherever they hit, they found the same solid steel walls. Inside, Zhang Yi smirked. You think I didnt foresee this? Sorry, my home is built with 20 cm thick steel plates. Even a cannonball cant break it, let alone your iron hammers and axes. Zhang Yis greatest trait was his fear of death. He had considered every possible scenario and fortified his apartment accordingly. During the final inspection, he checked every inch with a hammer to ensure its durability. Having been invaded and eaten in his previous life, the psychological trauma was immense. He would do anything to prevent it from happening again. The hammering continued outside, but Zhang Yi, annoyed by the noise, activated the noise-cancellation feature in his room. This feature also prevented anyone from using sound-based attacks against him. After about twenty minutes, the noise finally ceased. The entire buildings residents stared blankly at the solid metal walls, their hopes as cold as the snow outside. How can this be? Why would anyone build a apartment like this? Someone covered their face, screaming in despair. Zhang Yis neighbors, the young couple, also expressed their frustration, We knew they were renovating, but we didnt expect this. Few normal residents would construct such a fortress. Sun Zhichao, Zhou Peng, and Ge Jialiangs eyes were bloodshot. If the entire buildings residents couldnt break into Zhang Yis home today, they were doomed to die. Sun Zhichao bit his lip so hard it bled, but he didnt notice. Zhang Yi knew about the snow disaster all along! He did everything to prepare for it! He pointed at Zhang Yis apartment, shouting in anger. The neighbors glared at him, cursing Zhang Yi through their tears. Despicable Zhang Yi, thinking only of himself! If we all die, whats the point of you living alone? Wont you be lonely if youre the only one left? One day, youll regret not warning us or helping us! Youll be consumed by guilt and remorse! How can you sleep at night? Dont you feel any guilt? Realizing they couldnt do anything to Zhang Yi, some resorted to self-comforting thoughts. They hoped that one day, Zhang Yi would face divine retribution for his actions. Little did they know, Zhang Yi was living comfortably inside, caring little about these familiar strangers. Chen Zhenghao, supervising with his gun, also saw the steel walls and recognized the challenge they posed. Now, he was only interested in taking Zhang Yis apartment. Whats the rush? This is just the beginning! Even if the walls are made of steel, what about the ceiling? The floor? I dont believe he turned his home into an iron box! Chen Zhenghaos words reached Zhang Yi through surveillance. Zhang Yi nodded in approval. This guy is clever. But he sighed, shaking his head, Too bad, Im not stupid either. The neighbors, encouraged by Chen Zhenghao, moved to the floors above and below Zhang Yis apartment. They used hammers, axes, chisels, and wooden sticks, trying every method they could think of. They were just 20 centimeters away from their hope of survival. But soon, they fell into more profound despair. They discovered that Zhang Yis apartment was indeed an iron box! Every angle, up and down, left and right was sealed with thick steel plates. In this powerless environment, without electric saws or drills, they would have to chisel away for a year without food or drink to break through these walls. Chapter 58: Despair Chapter 58: DespairChen Zhenghao and his group spent the entire morning hammering away at Zhang Yi''s walls. However, after peeling off the plaster and flooring, they discovered a thick layer of steel plates. The 20 cm thick steel plates were nothing short of a nightmare for them! Using only human power, there was no hope of breaking through. Operating in the extreme cold, without sufficient food to replenish their energy, they were only hastening their own deaths. Many were exhausted, collapsing to the ground. Their stomachs rumbled loudly, a symphony of hunger. They clutched their empty bellies, feeling the gnawing hunger take over. There wasn''t much food left among them. S~?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Some began eyeing their neighbors, their thoughts turning dark as they noticed the white flesh peeking through the gaps in clothing. A horrifying idea started to form in their minds. This is meat. The terrifying thought sent chills down their spines as they tried to banish it from their minds. But once the idea took root, it provided a desperate option in their bleak situation. They knew that if it came to it, cannibalism would become inevitable. Is there really no other way? Sun Zhichao asked in anguish, feeling his arm start to fester and swell. Without antibiotics or even basic anti-inflammatory medicine, they couldn''t effectively clean their wounds. The rust from the arrows still lingered in their injuries. Under such conditions, death seemed unavoidable. Damn Zhang Yi, why are you so ruthless? Why should you live while so many of us die? Whats so wrong with sacrificing yourself for the greater good? Sun Zhichao screamed at the sky, his soul twisted by despair. At that moment, a neighbor spoke up. Maybe you can try the balcony. When they renovated their house, they turned the balcony into a large floor-to-ceiling window. You might have a chance to break in! The other residents couldn''t see the back of Zhang Yi''s house, but this neighbor could. Building 25 had some floors with balconies, and Zhang Yi''s apartment on the 24th floor had a small platform. Normally, he used it for growing flowers and drying clothes. Hearing this, the desperate crowd looked up. The window? Yes, if theres a window, theres a way in! It cant be sealed off completely! If theres a window, we can break in! Without hesitation, the group stormed into Zhang Yis neighbor''s apartment. The two balconies were separated by about 15 cm and had a fence in between. But these barriers were nothing to the crazed crowd. However, the balcony wasn''t as insulated as the hallway. While the hallway was sealed off by each household, retaining some warmth, outside, the north wind howled, and the heavy snow could freeze a person in hours. But Chen Zhenghao and his group didnt care. As long as they could break into Zhang Yis house, they believed they would have everything they needed! Howling like madmen, they jumped onto Zhang Yis balcony. Naturally, Zhang Yi noticed this. The two sides locked eyes for less than a second before the neighbors, wielding their tools, began hammering at the large floor-to-ceiling window. Zhang Yi dragged his white recliner to the window, leisurely lying down and pouring himself a steaming cup of coffee. The small balcony quickly filled with a dozen people. Their faces, pale and twisted with madness, resembled living corpses. Their crazed expressions were utterly devoid of humanity. Zhang Yi thought, if there were real zombies, they would probably look like this. Bang! Bang! Bang! The dull sound of hammering echoed off the glass. Braving the wind and snow, the group frantically smashed the window. Even when accidentally injuring themselves, they felt no pain, letting their blood flow and then freeze. While hammering the walls, the desire hadnt been as strong. But now, separated only by a layer of glass, they could clearly see how luxurious Zhang Yis life was! Inside, the fireplace roared with flames. Zhang Yi, wearing only light clothing, lay like a lord in his white recliner. Next to him was a cup of steaming coffee, likely a cappuccino, judging by the foam. Weapons cluttered the coffee table, but that wasnt the focus. The focus was the pile of half-eaten snacks beneath the table. Chips, burgers, soda, pizza, roast chicken, roast duck, even spicy noodles! These items drove the neighbors on the balcony mad. Though only half a month away from such luxuries, they were as excited as seeing long-lost family. Roar!! Ahhhh!!! Their excitement made them forget how to speak, resorting to desperate howls. They hammered the window with all their might, using every ounce of strength. Zhang Yi sipped his coffee, enjoying the show. He calmly remarked, Who said glass is weaker than metal? The cost of this wall had been astronomical. For the sake of living quality, Zhang Yi had declined Dragon Security Companys proposal to use metal, opting instead for custom-made bulletproof glass. He remembered the security companys manager, Wu Huairen, saying, This wall is so thick it can withstand not just bullets, but even cannonballs! The bulletproof glass used in vehicles for Western leaders was made from this material, though only half as thick. Soon, the hammering crowd noticed something wrong. They had expected the glass to shatter after a few hits. But after dozens of people hammered away for a long time, there wasnt even a crack. What kind of glass is this? Is it bulletproof glass? The term bulletproof glass came from a bespectacled mans throat, filled with despair, like a voice from the depths of hell. If it could withstand cannonballs, it certainly wouldnt yield to their tools. No, I dont believe it! A young man roared, My fate is mine to control, not the heavens! I refuse to believe I cant break it! If I break it, the fireplace, the food, and drink inside will be mine. I must break it! Perhaps it was the extreme cold or the vacillation between hope and despair, but their minds seemed frozen. They chose to abandon reason and brute force their way to a future! Zhang Yi clapped for them, moved by their determination. But he felt a bit hungry. So he retrieved some food from his storage space: braised pork knuckles, caramelized bananas, and some snacks, including pure cocoa chocolate. He continued to eat while watching the show outside. Chapter 59: Use More Force, Haven’t You Eaten? Chapter 59: Use More Force, Havent You Eaten?Separated by just a window, the people outside braved the fierce wind and snow, hammering at the glass with twisted expressions. Inside, Zhang Yi lay leisurely in his recliner, enjoying his delicious food. The stark contrast drove the neighbors outside nearly mad with jealousy. They cursed loudly, their voices hoarse and eyes bloodshot. Zhang Yi, you just wait! Ill kill you soon! When I break this glass, youre dead, you selfish scum! You wont be arrogant for much longer; today is your death day! All that food and hot coffee, its all mine, all mine!! Hearing this, Zhang Yi raised his coffee and gestured toward them. Keep it up, you can do it! Soon, the people outside grew tired. This was the 24th floor, with strong winds and heavy snow quickly lowering their body temperatures. They had to switch out every ten minutes. But after half an hour, the glass only had a few small scratches. Their hearts sank further into despair. However, the sight of Zhang Yis comfortable life behind the transparent glass filled them with jealousy, preventing them from giving up. Half an hour later, they were still at it. Zhang Yi noticed a few of Chen Zhenghaos subordinates among the crowd. Clearly, Chen Zhenghao wasnt completely uninvolved in this. Zhang Yi decided it was time. He got up from his recliner, walked to the coffee table, and picked up a bottle. The glass outside was frosted, and the neighbors didnt know what Zhang Yi had, thinking it was just a drink. But then they saw him light something with a lighter. A hole appeared above them, and a ball of fire was thrown out. As a countermeasure, Zhang Yi''s home had shooting holes at the front and back. The bottle arced through the air, and in the shocked eyes of the crowd, it hit the ground. Smash! A clear sound, followed by roaring flames! Zhang Yi had made Molotov cocktails. Even in extremely low temperatures, gasoline could burn fiercely, releasing heat. Gasoline splattered everywhere, igniting immediately! S?a?ch* Th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The balcony was small, and the down jackets and cotton pants of the dozen people caught fire, quickly engulfing them in flames. Zhang Yis mouth twisted into a playful smile as he lit another Molotov cocktail and threw it outside. Ah!!! Fire, fire!!! The dozen people crowded together, with the divided balcony making it hard to jump to the neighbors balcony. They couldnt escape, and the flames consumed them. Zhang Yi watched them turn into twisted, burning fireballs. Some tried to roll on the ground, using the snow to extinguish the flames, but the effect was too weak. Gasoline can burn even when wet. Others tried to climb to the neighbors balcony but lost their grip in their panic and fell from the 24th floor. With a long scream, they plummeted. From that height, the snow below might not cushion their fall enough to save them. Physics dictated that even if they survived, theyd be severely injured, their internal organs ruptured. Essentially, they were as good as dead. Zhang Yi laughed, At least falling to your death is better than burning to death! Bang! A grim face suddenly pressed against the glass, twisted and terrifying, glaring hatefully at Zhang Yi. Help me, save me! In extreme pain, he begged Zhang Yi for help. Zhang Yi raised his coffee cup in a mock salute. Save you? Go to hell, trash! The mans desperate cries were drowned out as the flames consumed him. On the neighbors balcony, sixty or seventy people waiting to take turns were pale with fear at the sight of this hellish scene. Help, save me! I dont want to die, please help! The burning people tried to climb over, grabbing the railings. But a man on the neighbor''s side kicked their hands without hesitation. Get away! Youre already done for; dont drag us down! He kicked harder when they wouldnt let go, eventually kicking their fingers off. The man struggled for a while, then looked at them in despair before falling at the railing. The smell of burning flesh filled the air, a scent familiar from summer street vendors. In a short time, all the dozen people had died. Some had only been lightly burned initially but were prevented from escaping by their neighbors, who feared the flames would spread to them. Some, in too much pain, jumped from the 24th floor. The burning fire brought a rare warmth to the people. Slowly, they moved closer, warming their hands, sneaking looks of satisfaction. The fire burned for over twenty minutes before dying down. The neighbors looked at the charred bodies with fear in their hearts. They had lost over thirty people trying to get to Zhang Yi! With no way to break down the doors or walls, how could they seize Zhang Yis supplies? Despair filled the air. But another feeling grew stronger, changing the neighbors expressions. Starving for so long, they couldnt ignore the horrifying thought creeping into their minds. Their throats moved constantly. Suddenly, a woman started crying. I cant take it anymore! After working all day, they had hoped to break into Zhang Yis apartment easily. But the results left them in despair! So many dead, yet they hadnt even cracked Zhang Yis walls or windows. She ran to Zhang Yis balcony, and Zhang Yi thought another group was coming to hammer the glass. But she suddenly knelt before the glass. Zhang Yi, Im starving, please save me! Just give me a piece of bread! She wasnt alone. Others came, kneeling and crying, begging Zhang Yi for food. Their plight was truly heart-wrenching. Most of those kneeling were women, hoping to gain Zhang Yis sympathy. Chapter 60: Bounty on Chen Zhenghao Chapter 60: Bounty on Chen ZhenghaoThe pitiful cries of the women outside the window continued unabated. Their foreheads were bleeding from kowtowing so forcefully, presenting a heartbreaking scene. Zhang Yi sighed, walked to the window, and said, "Everyone, dont do this. It makes me feel bad." He lifted a steaming bowl of noodles in his hand. "When I feel bad, I just want to eat." "Slurp" Zhang Yi took a big mouthful of noodles, making the neighbors drool with hunger. They couldn''t have been more envious. Upon hearing this, the cries intensified, and they kowtowed even more vigorously. "Zhang Yi, we were wrong. We just want to survive!" "Please spare us some food. Let us live like dogs if we must." "We''ll do anything you ask from now on, just please help us." Zhang Yi continued eating his noodles. In times of hunger, being able to eat large mouthfuls of noodles was an unimaginable blessing. After eating half the bowl, he casually placed the remaining noodles right in front of the floor-to-ceiling window. The neighbors, separated by a single pane of glass, could see the noodles but couldnt reach them. They pressed their faces against the glass, hoping somehow to eat. "Dont say I didnt give you a chance. Whoever brings me Chen Zhenghaos head will get noodles like this from me for a week, every meal until full!" Zhang Yi had no intention of pitying these people. But their constant hammering on his walls and windows was irritating. So, why not let them turn on each other? That would be the most interesting thing to watch. He posted his message in the group chat, informing everyone in the building. The neighbors outside his window hesitated upon hearing his words. Chen Zhenghao had a gun; going after his head might cost them their own lives. But facing Chen Zhenghao was still better than facing Zhang Yi. The piles of corpses around Zhang Yis apartment proved that he was much more dangerous than Chen Zhenghao! At that moment, Chen Zhenghao was observing from the neighboring balcony, unable to hear Zhang Yis words but sensing the growing tension. He had already lost two more men in this failed assault. To continue controlling the building, he needed more manpower. As he contemplated his next move, Chen Zhenghao felt a sharp, pricking sensation on his back, making his hair stand on end. He turned suddenly, gun in hand, to find everyone staring at him with strange expressions. "What are you all doing?" he demanded. Seeing his gun, they hesitated, stepping back. "Get lost!" Chen Zhenghao roared. Their expressions remained odd, almost like they were looking at food rather than a person. Feeling a chill, Chen Zhenghao quickly gathered his remaining men and left. "What about Zhang Yis place?" Sun Zhichao asked. "Fuck it, we cant break in. Think of something else later!" Chen Zhenghao cursed and left in a huff. The neighbors outside Zhang Yis window, unable to withstand the bone-chilling wind and snow, gradually dispersed. Zhang Yi lay comfortably in his warm home, waiting for the real show to begin. After this battle, the building had lost around thirty people. Almost everyone had participated in the attack, exhausting their energy. With fewer resources, the internal conflicts would become even more terrifying. ... Soon, Zhang Yi received numerous private messages. After the battle, the neighbors were thoroughly intimidated. Their limited strength was nearly depleted, preventing them from launching another large-scale attack on Zhang Yis home. Facing Zhang Yis impenetrable defenses, they had lost all hope. Many started begging Zhang Yi for mercy or offering trades. For instance, Xu Hao, a rich second-generation, sent pictures of his girlfriend, offering her in exchange for food. "Zhang Yi, Ill give you my woman. Just give me some food, okay?" "Shes a famous car model in Tianhai City. Look at her figure and face, shes top-notch! I guarantee youll like her. Help me, please!" Zhang Yi recognized the model. Xu Hao had bought an apartment here just to be with her. She always dressed provocatively, exuding a constant allure. In the past, she wouldnt even glance at the men around her. Now, Xu Hao was willing to trade her for a few meals. And the woman seemed eager for the trade, knowing Zhang Yis home had plenty of food. "Such worthless goods!" Zhang Yi sneered. He had to admit, the model had an impressive figure and stunning looks. But Zhang Yi would never let a woman like her into his home. She might stab him in his sleep and take over his home. A woman willing to sell her body for money had no moral bottom line. S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi disdainfully watched her video five times before closing the chat window. There were other messages too. Men rarely contacted him, knowing they had nothing valuable to trade for food. Uncle You was the exception, happily congratulating Zhang Yi on repelling the attackers. However, many women reached out. For instance, Fang Yuqing messaged excitedly, "Yi, youre amazing! I knew youd be fine." "Theyve locked me up at home. Dont worry, Ill find a way to come to you!" Zhang Yi chuckled, ignoring her message. The sky quickly darkened. It was only about 5 PM, but the nights were long and cold, with temperatures dropping another ten degrees. The remaining TV stations continued broadcasting. "Thanks to official efforts, the snow disaster is improving. Please stay calm, the problem will be resolved soon." "Due to severe cold, avoid going out to prevent frostbite. Provide assistance to those in need." "Lets unite to overcome the current difficulties. Tomorrow will be better!" Zhang Yi found the news more entertaining than comedy shows. He was curious how these TV stations maintained operations and where they had relocated. Listening to the amusing news, Zhang Yi scrolled through the chat records, reading the neighbors curses, pleas, and groveling. Those cursing him had lost family members. When in a good mood, Zhang Yi responded with mocking blessings. "Congratulations to those who lost family members. You can roast them for a funeral feast and mix their ashes with rice!" His sarcastic remarks provoked even harsher curses from them. Suddenly, he noticed movement on the balcony. Curious, Zhang Yi walked to the window. The bright snow outside provided ample light, revealing people moving corpses. Specifically, they were moving the charred bodies. These people were wrapped up tightly. When they noticed Zhang Yi watching, they jumped in fright. "Zhang Yi, were not here to harm you. Dont misunderstand!" "Were just here to move the corpses." Their voices trembled, avoiding Zhang Yis gaze. Zhang Yi smirked. "Oh? Moving corpses? Are they your family?" "And why not just throw them below? Are you building a grave at home?" They stammered, "Well... these corpses are useless to you, so just ignore us." Forcing themselves to stay composed, they quickly dragged the bodies away. Zhang Yi waved at them through the glass. "Youre quite ruthless, finally reaching this point?" Chapter 61: Zhou Ke’er Can’t Stand It Chapter 61: Zhou Keer Cant Stand ItThe next day, Zhang Yi heard gunshots in the corridor. "Bang!" "Bang!" Two gunshots echoed like two large firecrackers. This was undoubtedly Chen Zhenghao''s doing. It was clear that Zhang Yi''s words from yesterday had already taken effect. In the face of imminent death, people''s fear of death began to fade away. The promise of a weeks worth of hearty meals was an irresistible temptation. Zhang Yi opened the surveillance system and saw the conflict erupt. Two men holding wrenches and kitchen knives lay on the ground, blood staining the corridor red. But Chen Zhenghao didn''t fare much better either. He leaned against the wall, holding his gun, looking visibly shaken. They had intercepted people fetching water here, so naturally, others could take the opportunity to retaliate against them. Chen Zhenghao signaled his subordinates to drag the two bodies away while he quickly retreated to his apartment. He gripped his handgun tightly. This was now his last line of defense. Dragging the bodies back home, Chen Zhenghao gave his men a look, and they immediately dragged the corpses to the back of the kitchen. Chen Zhenghaos eyes were cold as he sat on the freezing sofa, unable to find much warmth. After returning yesterday, he saw the messages in the group chat and realized that Zhang Yi had placed a bounty on him. This made him furious. He considered himself the hunter, with Zhang Yi merely the prey! Prey had no right to fight back against the hunter! However, he underestimated the desperation of people on the brink of death. Early this morning, two desperate young men had come for his life. This made Chen Zhenghao feel a sense of danger, but it also drove him to even greater madness! "Die! I''ll kill you all. If you want me dead, you die first!" Chen Zhenghao roared. As he calmed down, he suddenly felt a pain in his back. He called over one of his men to check it out. His subordinate took one look and exclaimed, "Boss Hao, youve been stabbed!" Chen Zhenghaos down jacket had a 30 cm long cut made by a kitchen knife, and fresh blood was visible on the black jacket if one looked closely. The extreme cold outside and the adrenaline rush had numbed his pain initially. s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. But now, hearing his subordinate, the pain hit him hard. "Damn those bastards, they dared to ambush me!" Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he quickly grabbed his phone to call Zhou Keer. "Dr. Zhou, Ive been hurt. Come over and bandage me up!" Before long, Zhou Keer arrived at Chen Zhenghaos place with her medical kit. Her eyes were filled with loathing as she looked at the murderous thug, but she had no choice but to treat his wounds to survive. In fact, Chen Zhenghaos arrow wound didnt cause an infection because Zhou Keer had treated it. Though she was unwilling, facing the thugs gun, she had no choice. "I wont do this for free," Zhou Keer said coldly. Chen Zhenghao laughed, pointing to the kitchen, "Ill give you a share of the food later!" Zhou Keer sniffed the air, smelling the strong stench of blood. Her face changed. With years of hospital experience, she knew exactly what it was. Suppressing her urge to vomit, she said coldly, "No need." Chen Zhenghao laughed, "Still so high and mighty, Dr. Zhou? One day youll eat it too. If not, youll die!" "Id rather die." Zhou Keer frowned. "I can''t let that happen! In this world, having a doctor around is too important," Chen Zhenghao sighed. Had Zhou Keer not treated his leg injury back then, he would have lost more than just a leg; he would have lost his life! "Dont worry, if it ever comes to it, Ill save you for last," Chen Zhenghao said, his eyes gleaming with lust. He had long desired this beautiful woman, but her usefulness kept him in check. Zhou Keer, frowning, stayed silent and treated his wound. In no time, the wound was bandaged. Zhou Keer picked up her medical kit, intending to leave. But Chen Zhenghao signaled his man, who blocked the door. Zhou Keers heart raced, "What do you want?" Chen Zhenghao replied, "Nothing. You cant leave until Im fully healed." Chen Zhenghao was genuinely afraid. Countless people wanted him dead, and with limited medicine, having a doctor by his side gave him some peace of mind. Ignoring her resistance, he forced her to stay. Soon after, his subordinate brought out a pot of cooked food. Zhou Keer, thinking about what it might be, nearly vomited. Luckily, her hospital experience helped her keep her composure. Chen Zhenghao offered her some food, but she refused. He sneered, ignoring her. He believed she was just pretending to be virtuous. One day, when hunger overcame her, she would eat. "This cant go on. Those bastards are rebelling against us. It''s not good." "Only by killing Zhang Yi and taking over his apartment will we be safe." "His place is like a fortress with ample supplies, enough to last us for months. By then, the snow disaster might be over." "So, we need to focus on dealing with Zhang Yi." Chen Zhenghao told his men. They exchanged worried glances. "Boss Hao, weve attacked Zhang Yis place several times but always failed." "His place is like a turtle shell, impenetrable!" Chen Zhenghao said, "I dont believe there are no flaws. He must leave his home at some point!" "Let''s move next door to his place and take turns watching him. The moment he steps out, well kill him!" "Living on the higher floors is safer too." His men, feeling lost, nodded in agreement. Zhou Keer overheard their conversation. Using the excuse of going to the bathroom, she secretly messaged Zhang Yi, informing him of their plan. Zhang Yi read it and chuckled. "Think Ill step out? Not a chance!" "Got it. You stay and keep observing." As a doctor, Zhou Keer was valuable, and Chen Zhenghao wouldnt kill her. For now, she was safe. Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry. He had placed a bounty on Chen Zhenghao, and someone would eventually take the risk of killing him. Chen Zhenghao and his men packed their supplies and moved to the 24th floor, bringing Zhou Keer with them. The young couple living next door to Zhang Yi were terrified by Chen Zhenghaos arrival. Chapter 62: Live-Streaming a Feast for the Neighbors Chapter 62: Live-Streaming a Feast for the Neighbors"Open the door, open the door!" "It''s Chen Zhenghao. We''re swapping houses with you. Open up, or I''ll shoot!" Inside, the young couple clung to each other in fear. "What do we do? Theyre here to take our house. We wont even have the last bit of food left," the wife said, looking at her young husband with despair. The husband, a bespectacled office worker, hugged his wife, trying to comfort her, "Dont worry, itll be okay. If they want the house, well give it to them." "Quick, hide the remaining food on us." The couple hid their scarce food in their clothes and, trembling, opened the door. Seeing the fierce-looking Chen Zhenghao and his men, the man swallowed nervously and bowed, "Brother Hao, this house is yours now. Well leave immediately!" As he tried to leave with his wife, one of Chen Zhenghaos men sneered and raised an iron pipe. "Bang!" With a dull thud, the mans vision went black as he collapsed, disbelief etched in his eyes even in unconsciousness. He didnt understand why, even though he had complied, they still attacked him. The woman screamed in terror, watching her husband fall, only for another pipe to strike her head, silencing her screams. Two of Chen Zhenghaos men approached, ensuring the couple would never speak again. Zhou Keer, witnessing the murders, covered her mouth, utterly shocked. She had never seen such brutality and couldnt maintain her composure despite her strong psychological resilience. Chen Zhenghao glanced at her, smirking coldly, "It''s too cold. They were going to die sooner or later. Dr. Zhou, you need to get used to this." Having killed many, Chen Zhenghao had lost all respect for life. Moreover, he feared Zhang Yis bounty and the recent attack had instilled fear in him. He needed to suppress the residents more brutally to make them submit. Zhou Keer stifled her nausea and said nothing. Chen Zhenghao arrogantly entered the apartment, instructing his men to clean up the bodies. ... Over the next few days, Zhang Yi often heard noises coming from the apartment next door. He knew it was Chen Zhenghao and his men searching for weaknesses in his defenses. They also took turns monitoring Zhang Yis front door and back window, hoping to catch him when he went out to dump trash or fetch snow for water. But Chen Zhenghao didnt know Zhang Yi had a huge storage space with ample water supplies. However, Zhang Yi couldnt risk opening the window to throw out trash since Chen Zhenghao had a gun. Yet, having more trash wasnt a big deal for a homebody like Zhang Yi. When bored, he played games or watched downloaded movies and TV shows. The resident chat group still echoed with pleas and furious curses directed at him. "Zhang Yi, youre an inhuman bastard!" "You could extend our lives, but youre too selfish!" "Youre destined to be lonely forever!" "Dont you have a heart? By not helping us, youll live your life in guilt and regret!" Facing the neighbors curses, Zhang Yi had a simple response. He decided to live-stream his meals, recording his daily life to show them. "Hello, everyone. Today, Im making braised pork!" He tossed a large piece of pork belly, weighing at least two pounds, onto the cutting board. The neighbors went crazy with envy. S~?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Why use so much pork belly for braised pork? If you cant finish it, dont waste it. Give it to me!" "Zhang Yi, youre a beast! You dont deserve that pork belly!" "Zhang Yi, I havent had meat for a week. Please, just let me have some pork skin!" "Even a sip of the oil would do. You dont need it, right? Give it to me, please!" The starving neighbors had no resistance to such high-fat food. Zhang Yi cooked skillfully, the aroma of the braised pork seemingly wafting through the screen. After a while, Zhang Yi frowned, tasted a piece, and spat it into the trash. "Too much soy sauce! Damn, the whole pot is ruined." Although he cooked often, Zhang Yi rarely made large dishes, and an excess of soy sauce had ruined the taste. The caramelized sugar was also overdone, making the meat bitter. "How can I eat this? Such a waste, such a waste!" Zhang Yi shook his head, frustrated. Intending to show off his cooking skills, he had messed up. Regrettably, he had no dogs at home to eat the ruined pork, so he had to throw it all away. The group chat exploded instantly, the neighbors going mad. "Dont throw it away! My mouth is a trash can; throw it to me!" "Why did you throw it away? Why, why, why? Ahhhh!!" "Throw out your trash now, and Ill pick it up!" "Master, your old servant is late. Do you need a dog to handle your trash?" Some were so angry they nearly fainted. Their hearts bled at the thought of the wasted food. In the freezing cold, with no gas for cooking, even a hot meal was a luxury, let alone braised pork, which they couldnt even dream of. Yet, Zhang Yi had thrown away an entire pot! "Better eat something ready-made." Zhang Yi shifted the camera to his clean, neat table, filled with various dishes. The warm yellow lamp made the food look even more appetizing. Zhang Yi pointed to each dish, enthusiastically introducing them. "Tonights dinner includes oil-braised shrimp, scallion-braised sea cucumber, specialty tofu, sweet and sour Yellow River carp, nine-turn intestines, marinated fish fillets, sweet and sour pork tenderloin, blackfish egg soup, and candied yams." "Folks, the dishes are ready. Time to eat!" He set up his phone like a food vlogger, picking up his chopsticks to feast. The group chat went wild. "Zhang Yi, just give me a bite. Ill kowtow to you!" "Zhang Yi, let my child have a bite of fish, even just the tail!" "Zhang Yi, youre my father, and Im your son. Let me have a sip of soup!" The desperate pleas filled the chat, with some even bombarding Zhang Yis phone with calls. Ignoring them, Zhang Yi enjoyed his meal, savoring each bite. Seeing the furious expressions of his neighbors made the meal even more delicious for him. Chapter 63: Infection Chapter 63: InfectionZhang Yi''s ostentatious display of wealth made the entire apartment building''s residents feel like their hearts were bleeding. Even the leftover food scraps from Zhang Yi''s meals were considered delicacies by them. Yet, Zhang Yi wouldn''t share even that with them. In Sun Zhichao''s home, the aftermath of the failed assault on Zhang Yis house was becoming apparent. Their hopes of acquiring antibiotics had been dashed. Only two days had passed, and the consequences were already evident. The three injured men felt unbearable itching around their wounds. The bandages were starting to show unusual yellowish stains. Unable to bear it any longer, Sun Zhichao tore off his bandage to inspect his wound, only to find it festering and pus-filled, emitting a nauseating stench akin to that of a rotting animal carcass. No, no, no! I dont want to die! Sun Zhichao cried out, tears and snot streaming down his face. Zhou Peng and Ge Jialiang, seeing this, were even more terrified. They unwrapped their own bandages, praying they werent infected. Unfortunately, the reality was harsh; they found their wounds similarly infected. They might have had a chance at healing if they had only sustained minor cuts. However, their injuries were deep, caused by rusty crossbow bolts embedded in their flesh. The combination of the injuries, bacterial infection, and lack of adequate nutrition and medication made wound deterioration inevitable. The three men screamed in agony, driven nearly insane by the pain and fear. In the room, Fang Yuqing trembled, clutching her phone. She sent a message to Zhang Yi. Yi, theyve gone mad. Im so scared. Can you come and save me? Ill do anything you ask if you come. After a while, Zhang Yi replied. Yuqing, it pains me to see you like this. But I cant leave; Chen Zhenghao is right next door. If you come to me, be careful not to get caught by them. Yesterday, they killed my neighbors next door. If they see you, they might target you too. Hearing that Chen Zhenghao was next door, Fang Yuqing hesitated, her face full of dread. Chen Zhenghao had killed many people, and she didnt dare to take the risk. Yi, Im too scared. Can you come and get me? You have weapons, right? Zhang Yi cursed her in his heart. This shameless bitch expected him to go get her? Id like to, but after what happened the other day, Im feeling unwell. Lets talk later; Im a bit tired. Bye-bye! Hearing the screams outside, Fang Yuqings face turned pale. She sent another message to Zhang Yi, but he ignored her. In the following days, Zhang Yis life was affluent and leisurely. With no need to work, he could sleep whenever he wanted and wake up whenever he liked. There was no need to worry about survival or to pander to anyone. If anyone dared to upset him, he could just curse them back. His life was utterly satisfying. Next door, Chen Zhenghao constantly schemed to kill Zhang Yi and take over his house. But he hadnt seen Zhang Yi leave his home for days. Without Zhang Yi stepping out, Chen Zhenghao had no chance to deal with him. Ironically, because Zhang Yi had placed a bounty on him, Chen Zhenghao lived in constant fear, unable to trust even his closest men. He slept with his gun in hand, his nerves fraying. Chen Zhenghao eventually came up with a plan. Zhang Yi monitored the entire building through his surveillance. He noticed that Chen Zhenghao seemed to be plotting something. Gradually, more young, strong men started entering Chen Zhenghaos home. Some came willingly, others were forced at gunpoint. Chen Zhenghao''s group expanded to ten people, more than before. S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi realized what was happening. Hes scared, so hes recruiting people to protect himself from being killed and having the bounty claimed. But Zhang Yi saw this as a futile effort. The buildings residents, now reduced to about seventy people after Zhang Yi had killed dozens, were running out of supplies. Soon, their food would run out, leading to inevitable cannibalism. Chen Zhenghaos recruitment meant he now had to provide food for ten people, which was unsustainable. His gun could only maintain his power for so long, and it likely had few bullets left. Zhang Yi messaged Zhou Ke''er, asking about the situation with Chen Zhenghao. After a long wait, Zhou Ke''er replied. Chen Zhenghao and his men have gone mad. Theyve run out of food and started eating people! I havent eaten in two days and feel like Im starving to death. Zhang Yi wasnt surprised. He might also choose death over eating human flesh, but he wasnt in that desperate situation yet. Zhou Ke''er continued, They go out every day looking for people. If they find anyone, they attack and kill them. Its ironic; the people you killed allowed some to survive a bit longer. Theyve faced resistance and have casualties too. After a long pause, Zhou Ke''er sent another message. Zhang Yi, can you still save me? Zhang Yi sensed her desperation. The once proud doctor had been reduced to begging for survival. After thinking for a long time, Zhang Yi decided he couldnt let Zhou Ke''er die. A top-tier surgeon was invaluable and hard to find. I need you to do something for me. If you succeed, Ill save you. Chapter 64: Enjoying the Benefits of Scheming Chapter 64: Enjoying the Benefits of SchemingZhang Yi could accept Zhou Ke''er, but she had to prove herself first. Zhang Yi''s requirements were simple: be useful, pose no threat, and above all, dont be a saint. He had confidence in the first two points but wanted to see if Zhou Ke''er could be ruthless when necessary. He assigned her a task. Zhou Ke''er did not immediately respond, clearly struggling with the decision. Zhang Yi wasn''t in a hurry; time was on his side. If Zhou Ke''er couldn''t pass the test, he would abandon her without hesitation. After all, Zhang Yi was in good health and the likelihood of sudden illness was low. He also rarely went outside, minimizing the risk of injury. Zhou Ke''ers survival, however, was uncertain. ... The next day, Zhang Yi slept until ten in the morning. After getting out of bed and freshening up, he changed into his workout clothes and started exercising on the treadmill. In the apocalypse, maintaining good physical fitness was crucial for dealing with danger and avoiding illness. He ran for an hour, sweating profusely, then took a hot shower. The sense of pride he felt was overwhelming; such luxuries were unimaginable for many people now. Suddenly, there was a loud noise from outside. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Zhang Yi quickly wrapped himself in a towel and went to investigate. He heard cursing from Zhou Peng. Turning on the surveillance, Zhang Yi saw Zhou Peng hacking at his door with two kitchen knives. "Zhang Yi, get out here! All you do is hide inside like a coward, you useless piece of trash!" Zhang Yi smirked, "Oh, really? Go on, then. What''s next?" It was laughable. Those who couldn''t survive dared to use provocations against Zhang Yi? They were the ones desperate, not him. Zhou Peng was using his left hand to strike the door, barely able to lift his right arm. Zhang Yi realized Zhou Peng''s arm was infected. Upon closer inspection, he saw that it was swollen. Approaching the door, hands in his pockets, Zhang Yi calmly said, "Zhou Peng, feeling the effects of infection?" "I remember in biology class, the teacher told us about wound infections." "Tetanus bacteria on the rusted iron enter your wound, proliferating like maggots on a corpse." "Your arm''s wound must be at least ten centimeters deep. Despite the cold outside, your flesh is warm, a perfect breeding ground for bacteria." "The wound festers, exuding pus, as the bacteria multiply and eat away your flesh. Eventually, they travel through your bloodstream, infecting your entire body." Zhang Yi''s vivid description made Zhou Peng''s arm ache even more. Cold sweat poured down his face as he felt the bacteria consuming his body. Even knowing Zhang Yi was trying to scare him, he couldn''t suppress the terror. "Ahhh! Zhang Yi, I''ll kill you!" Zhou Peng had lost his mind, knowing he was doomed. He made one last desperate attempt, though it was futile. In the next room, Chen Zhenghao''s subordinates heard Zhou Peng''s screams and asked, "Should we kill him?" Chen Zhenghao thought for a moment and said, "He''s nearly dead from infection. You want to eat diseased meat?" They exchanged looks and decided not to take the risk. Zhou Peng continued hacking at the door, cursing Zhang Yi, until he was exhausted and slumped to the ground, crying for mercy. Zhang Yi sighed, "You''re done for. Your wound is rotten and beyond saving. You might as well do something you''ve never dared to do while you''re still alive." Tears filled Zhou Peng''s eyes. Hearing Zhang Yi''s words, he fell into deeper despair. Was he really going to die? Fear consumed him, but soon, anger took over. With nothing left to lose, he was no longer afraid. Struggling to his feet, Zhou Peng kicked Zhang Yi''s door, but the pain from the hard door almost made him faint. Ignoring the pain, he staggered back to his place, seeing Sun Zhichao using a candle to heat a knife before pressing it to his wound. "Sizzle" The sound of burning flesh and the smell of smoke filled the air as Sun Zhichao screamed in pain despite biting down on a cloth. He hoped this would kill the bacteria, but it was a futile, ignorant attempt. "Brother..." Wang Min watched Zhou Peng with sorrow, unable to offer any comfort. She knew Zhou Peng wouldn''t last much longer. The stench of rotting flesh filled their home, an unbearable pain for the living. Zhou Peng ignored Wang Min and headed to where Fang Yuqing was held. Seeing Zhou Peng, Fang Yuqing screamed, "Zhou... Zhou Peng? What are you doing?" Zhou Peng approached her, his bloodshot eyes fixed on her. "Yuqing, will you marry me?" Even at the end of his life, this pitiful man only wished to marry Fang Yuqing, a ridiculous yet humble request in the apocalypse. Fang Yuqing, pinching her nose in disgust, replied, "No, I won''t!" Zhou Pengs heart shattered. He had given so much for Fang Yuqing, even his life, yet she had never felt a thing for him. "No!! You love me, you do! I must have you, even if I die!" S~?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Losing his mind, Zhou Peng was determined not to die without getting what he wanted. Outside, no one cared about the noise. To them, Fang Yuqing was the cause of their misery and deserved her fate. "Get away from me! You stink, it''s disgusting!" Fang Yuqing yelled. "You dare call me disgusting?" Enraged, Zhou Peng ripped off his bandage. His wound was swollen, black, and oozing pus. In a horrifying move, he grabbed the rotting flesh and stuffed it into Fang Yuqings mouth. "Eat it! Eat it!" Fang Yuqing gagged and retched, but Zhou Peng forced the rotten flesh into her mouth. Zhou Peng grinned maniacally, feeling unprecedented satisfaction as he humiliated his so-called goddess. Chapter 65: Zhou Keers Decision Chapter 65: Zhou Ke''er''s DecisionZhou Peng tore off Fang Yuqings clothes, disregarding the rooms temperature of over minus sixty degrees Celsius. Fang Yuqing lay there helplessly, her eyes vacant. But when Zhou Peng took off his pants, he discovered a cruel realityhe couldnt get an erection. In such extreme cold, and with his deteriorating physical condition, even given the chance, he couldnt perform. Get up! Get up! Zhou Peng tried various ways to stimulate himself, but nothing worked. It seemed like that part of him had lost all sensation. Seeing this, Fang Yuqing sneered, You really are useless! Ahhhhhh!!!! Zhou Pengs desperate scream echoed through the room, resembling the howl of a defeated beast. ... Zhou Ke''er, after a night of deep contemplation, finally gave Zhang Yi a definitive answer. She knew this was Zhang Yis test for her. Although it was extremely dangerous, if she didnt do it, she knew she would soon die at the hands of Chen Zhenghao and his men. She had to take the risk. That evening, Chen Zhenghao and his men were sitting in the living room, and he sent one of his lackeys to the kitchen to cook. Zhou Ke''er, who was observing from the corner, suddenly stood up and said, Ill help him. Chen Zhenghaos cold gaze fell on her, and he smiled eerily. Hahaha, I knew you couldnt hold out any longer! Zhou Ke''er''s whole body tensed, her blood nearly freezing. Chen Zhenghao continued, Two days without foodanyone would break. Dr. Zhou, its not shameful to want to live! S?a?ch* Th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Ke''er breathed a slight sigh of relief and bit her lip. Youre right, I dont want to die; I want to live. Chen Zhenghao, thinking she had come around, nodded, Thats the right attitude. Youre still useful to me. I dont want you to die too soon! Zhou Ke''er took a deep breath and silently turned to help in the kitchen. The kitchen was filled with bloodstains, and even with a stuffy nose, the stench was overwhelming. Suppressing her nausea, she began chopping wood and lighting a fire as directed by the lackey. Given the energy crisis, they were forced to burn furniture for cooking. The makeshift stove in the kitchen held a large iron pot. Once the fire was lit, snow in the pot began to melt into water. The melted snow was murky and filled with impurities, but in these dire times, no one could be choosy. While watching the lackey, Zhou Ke''er also observed the activity outside the kitchen. Her palms sweated nervously because if she were caught, she would surely die. After a while, the lackey threw some ingredients into the pot and added some random spices. Watch it, the lackey said coldly, leaving the kitchen. After ensuring it was safe, Zhou Ke''er took a small bottle from her pocket. She hurriedly unscrewed the cap and poured a heap of white powder into the pot. Afterwards, she quickly hid the bottle and stirred the powder into the soup. Despite the danger, no one noticed her actions. Later, Zhou Ke''er brought out a large pot of food, and everyone eagerly gathered to eat. Zhou Ke''er also took a bowl of soup to gain their trust and returned to her room. No one cared about her; they only focused on eating the hot food that represented survival. Sitting on her bed with the bowl of soup, Zhou Ke''er waited. She had added a large dose of sleeping pills to the pot. As a doctor, she knew the effects wellthis amount would knock out even an elephant. Soon, she heard the snores from the living room. Cautiously, she found everyone asleep on the sofas and chairs. Zhou Ke''er held her breath and messaged Zhang Yi. I drugged them heavily. Theyre all unconscious. Whats next? Zhang Yi had been waiting for her message to confirm she could complete the task and prove her value. Drag them to the balcony, Zhang Yi replied. Zhou Ke''er bit her lip. This was a terrifying task, as she could be killed if they woke up. However, as a professional doctor, she was confident in the drugs potency. Following Zhang Yis instructions, she dragged each person to the balcony. Even in the freezing cold, they remained deeply unconscious. Zhang Yi watched everything from his window, satisfied. After completing the task, Zhou Ke''er asked with trembling voice, What now? Wait a moment, Zhang Yi said, putting down his phone. He retrieved a thick winter coat and ten child-sized ropes from storage space. Armed with a loaded crossbow, a machete, and a handgun for extra safety, he felt a sense of security. Opening the locks on his balcony dooreach with fingerprint, electronic, and physical mechanismsZhang Yi stepped outside for the first time since the apocalypse began. Despite the cold wind, his professional-grade winter clothes kept him warm. Zhou Ke''er shivered near the window, hugging herself. Are you going to kill them? she asked. Zhang Yi grinned, raising his gun at the unconscious thugs and tossing the ropes at Zhou Ke''er''s feet. Not me, you are. Chapter 66: The Oath of Loyalty Chapter 66: The Oath of LoyaltyZhang Yi stood on his balcony, leaning against the window, ready to retreat at any moment if the situation turned dire. Chen Zhenghao and his subordinates lay unconscious on the neighboring balcony, appearing lifeless. However, Zhang Yi couldn''t be sure they were truly unconscious. What if they had set this up with Zhou Ke''er to lure him in? It was possible that once he crossed over, they would get up and attack him. Additionally, the gap between the two balconies was around ten centimeters, with a slippery stainless steel railing made treacherous by the snow. If Zhang Yi tried to climb over, Zhou Ke''er could push him, causing him to fall from the 24th floor. Thus, Zhang Yi pointed his gun at the unconscious Chen Zhenghao and his men. "Use these ropes to tie their hands behind their backs!" "And I remember Chen Zhenghao has a gun. Hand it over." Zhou Ke''er, exhausted from two days without food and from dragging ten people to the balcony, looked at Zhang Yi with frustration. "You''re too cautious!" "Caution keeps you alive. I won''t take unnecessary risks," Zhang Yi said coolly. Reluctantly, Zhou Ke''er complied, tying their hands behind their backs with the ropes. When she retrieved the gun from Chen Zhenghaos pocket, Zhang Yi aimed his gun at her head. "Remove the magazine and throw it to me." Zhou Ke''er bit her lip, "How can I trust you? What if you go back on your word after I do all this?" Zhang Yi replied, "You have no other choice but to trust me. Only by trusting me can you survive in this harsh environment." After a moments thought, Zhou Ke''er realized she had no other options. She couldn''t break her moral code and resort to cannibalism, so she would eventually starve to death. Following Zhang Yi''s instructions, she removed the magazine and threw it at his feet. Zhang Yi glanced at it, confirming it was indeed Chen Zhenghaos gun, and then said, "Go back inside." Nervously, Zhou Ke''er returned to the room. She was on edge, knowing that if Chen Zhenghao woke up, Zhang Yi could retreat, but she would be left to die. Yet, as Zhang Yi had pointed out, she had no choice. Once Zhou Ke''er was back inside, Zhang Yi didnt immediately cross over. He picked up the gun from the ground, checking the magazine to find three bullets left. He tossed the gun into his storage space and then returned to his room to fetch a water hose. Spraying a hose was less noisy and conserved bullets, and it avoided attracting unnecessary attention. Spraying from a three-meter distance, Zhang Yi watched the water, warm at first, quickly turn to ice as it landed on the unconscious bodies. Inside, Zhou Ke''er watched in horror, hugging herself as the scene unfolded. From a room temperature of over twenty degrees Celsius to an outside temperature of minus seventy, the almost hundred-degree difference caused the warm water to emit steam before freezing on contact. The ice water woke them up, causing them to scream in terror as the cold water soaked through their clothes, freezing them solid. "Ahh!!!" One of Chen Zhenghaos men, lips turning purple, screamed in horror. Trying to get up, he slipped on the ice-covered balcony, unable to rise due to his bound hands. Chen Zhenghao awoke with ice water on his face, realizing he had been drugged. But there was no time to think about who had betrayed him. The ice water left him feeling like he was being pierced by thousands of needles. They struggled and shouted, but with their hands tied and the ground frozen solid, they couldnt get up. "Zhang Yi!!" Chen Zhenghao spotted Zhang Yi spraying them from the adjacent balcony and roared in rage. Zhang Yi finally stepped out of his room, opening the previously sealed window slightly. But it was too late for Chen Zhenghao to retaliate; his life was slipping away. "You''ve caused enough trouble. It''s time to die," Zhang Yi said coldly. Chen Zhenghao and his men had killed nearly half the buildings residents, almost catching up to Zhang Yis body count. Leaving them alive would mean a future showdown with Zhang Yi. Although Zhang Yi wasnt afraid, he preferred to avoid unnecessary risks. Nothing was safer than a dead enemy. Chen Zhenghao and his men used their last bit of strength to struggle and curse, but they couldnt get up. The cold water soaked through their clothes, turning them into solid ice blocks. Within two minutes, their skin turned purple, their bodies convulsing violently. After three minutes, they stopped moving, having become ten large ice blocks. Five minutes later, the ice blocks became a solid mass, freezing them into a single chunk of ice. To conserve water, Zhang Yi stopped spraying. Frozen like that, without modern medical intervention, they were as good as dead. Zhang Yi returned to his room, locking the floor-to-ceiling window securely. Changing out of his heavy winter gear, he called Zhou Ke''er. "You passed the test. You can come over now." In the neighboring room, Zhou Ke''er sighed in relief upon hearing Zhang Yis voice. "Okay, Ill come right over," she replied, trembling. She grabbed her medical kit and fled the hellish room. Zhang Yi unlocked the heavy security doors multiple locks, then stepped back, aiming his gun at the entrance. Watching the surveillance, he ensured Zhou Ke''er''s state was stable before unlocking the final electronic lock via his phone app. "You can come in now!" S?a??h th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Outside, Zhou Ke''er pushed the heavy door with all her strength. As soon as it opened a crack, a wave of warmth enveloped her, making her eyes shine with joy. This warmth was something she hadnt felt in a long time. She pushed the door harder and stepped inside, feeling like she had entered paradise. The ice-cold feeling that had gripped her body began to melt away, replaced by a soothing warmth like a hot bath. Soon, the six layers of clothing she wore became unbearably hot. Desperate, she hurriedly stripped off her layers, not caring that Zhang Yi was pointing a gun at her. Chapter 67: Proving Youre Harmless Chapter 67: Proving You''re HarmlessThe room was incredibly warm. Zhou Ke''er felt as if she was being roasted in a furnace while wearing her thick down jacket. She couldn''t stand the discomfort any longer and quickly took off the heavy clothing to cool down, not caring that Zhang Yi was pointing a gun at her. She panted heavily, tears of joy welling up in her eyes. The warmth was overwhelming. Such a comfortable indoor temperature was the only environment suitable for human life. She hadn''t felt such a simple happiness in a long time. "Have you forgotten something? For example, this is my home, and you haven''t fully passed my test yet," Zhang Yi said coldly. Only then did Zhou Ke''er remember the man in front of her. Zhang Yi''s gun was still aimed at her. Zhou Ke''er forced a smile, "You are really cautious. I''ve done everything you asked, dealt with your enemies. Isn''t that enough to earn your trust?" Zhang Yi replied calmly, "Those people were also a big problem for you. Eliminating them wasn''t entirely for me; you had your own survival needs." "Getting rid of them only proves you''re somewhat useful and meets the basic conditions for being my helper." "But now, you need to prove that you''re harmless!" Zhang Yi pointed out the crucial issue. Having survived the apocalypse for a long time, he couldn''t trust anyone easily. Regardless of who a person was before, they could lose their humanity in the apocalypse. He could only trust himself, ensuring his survival. Zhou Ke''er felt helpless. She had followed Zhang Yi''s instructions but didn''t know how to make him trust her. However, she absolutely did not want to leave this warm house! "What do I need to do to prove that I''m harmless to you?" Zhou Ke''er asked, her eyes filled with a nearly humble plea. Zhang Yi looked at her cautiously, "You''re not carrying any weapons, are you?" Zhou Ke''er raised her hands, "Look, I dont have any dangerous weapons on me." Zhang Yi remained expressionless, shaking the gun in his hand. "Raise your hands!" Zhang Yi intended to search her to ensure she wasn''t hiding any weapons. Zhou Ke''er felt embarrassed but knew she wasn''t in a position to negotiate. This warm house was too precious compared to her previous environment; it was practically heaven. She understood that to gain something, one must pay a corresponding price. "Okay, I understand," Zhou Ke''er said, gathering her courage and complying with Zhang Yi''s request. She was smart enough to know what to give up to get what she wanted. Zhang Yi''s eyes were fixed on her, preventing her from suddenly pulling out a deadly weapon. This was entirely for safety; he had no other intentions. Zhou Ke''er slowly raised her hands and placed them behind her head, pressing her body against the door as if mimicking scenes from TV shows. Zhang Yi cautiously approached her and conducted a thorough search. "Is this good enough now?" Zhou Ke''er asked after Zhang Yi finished the search. Zhang Yi confirmed she wasn''t carrying any weapons. He then glanced at the medical kit on the floor and said, "I suggest you take a shower first." Zhou Ke''er''s face turned redder. She hadn''t showered in a long time and knew she might smell, but there was nothing she could do about it. Embarrassed, she hurried into the bathroom. Zhang Yi retrieved some women''s clothes from his storage space and placed them outside the bathroom door. "Here are some clothes for you to change into. I picked a set based on your size. Try it on and let me know if it fits. If not, I''ll find another set." Zhang Yi''s experience managing the warehouse had honed his eye for sizing clothes. From inside the bathroom, Zhou Ke''er replied softly, "Okay." Then came the sound of water running. Zhang Yi sat down on the sofa, waiting for Zhou Ke''er to finish her shower before continuing their conversation. In the bathroom, Zhou Ke''er turned on the shower. She couldn''t hold back her tears as the hot water sprayed over her. Only after losing everything did she realize what happiness was. The conveniences of everyday life, which she once took for granted, now felt precious. Human civilization''s advancements had made life so comfortable. After half a month without a shower, Zhou Ke''er meticulously cleaned herself. After half an hour, she remembered this was Zhang Yi''s house and hurriedly finished up, conscious that water was a valuable resource. Zhang Yi didnt rush her. He had plenty of water stored, and even if it ran out, there was an abundance of ice and snow outside. The bathroom door opened with a click. Zhang Yi looked over and saw a steaming arm reach out to grab the clothes he had left outside. Soon, Zhou Ke''er stepped out wearing pajamas, her wet hair cascading down her back, creating a striking beauty. S~?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi, holding his gun, remained unmoved by her beauty. His gaze was still cautious. He wouldn''t let down his guard until he was sure this woman could be trusted. In the apocalypse, even seemingly harmless women or children could be deadly threats. "Thank you, Zhang Yi. I haven''t had a shower and used up some of your water in a long time. I hope you dont mind," Zhou Ke''er said, feeling embarrassed. Being in a strange man''s house, she felt very uneasy. She didnt know much about Zhang Yi and wanted to be cautious and respectful to avoid angering him and being thrown out. Having experienced the comfort of a safe house, she didn''t want to return to the freezing outside world. Chapter 68: A Settled Matter Chapter 68: A Settled MatterZhou Ke''er noticed that Zhang Yi still harbored a sense of caution towards her, thinking to herself, "No wonder he can live so comfortably in the apocalypse." "Sit down," Zhang Yi gestured to the sofa beside him, holding a gun in his hand. Zhou Ke''er obediently sat down on the sofa about two meters away from Zhang Yi, her hands neatly placed on her knees, like a well-behaved child. "Listen, the reason I let you stay here is because you hold some value to me," Zhang Yi said. "But you must always remember, this is my home. Your ability to live here is a gift from me." "So, you must obey all my commands. Otherwise, I will throw you out." "If I find that you have any ill intentions towards me, I will kill you without hesitation!" Hearing Zhang Yi''s cold words, Zhou Ke''er couldn''t help but think, "So cold-blooded." Though she understood his reasoning, she wished he could speak a bit more gently; it would have moved her more. She didn''t know that Zhang Yi had once been gentle, but his gentleness had always been wasted. Zhang Yi pointed to a room. Their house had three bedrooms and a living room. In addition to Zhang Yi''s master bedroom, there were two guest rooms. "You will stay in that room. But let me tell you upfront, every corner of this house is monitored." "So you will always be under surveillance, with no privacy." "The door is a security door, only slightly thinner than the front door, but it can''t be opened by force." "I hold the key, and you can only come out when I allow it." "If you have any objections," Zhang Yi pointed to the door, "you can leave now!" There was no way Zhou Ke''er would leave. Even with Zhang Yi''s harsh conditions, this house was a paradise compared to the harsh environment outside. She nodded, "Okay, I will listen to you." Zhou Ke''er''s compliant attitude pleased Zhang Yi. She was indeed a smart woman, making communication easy. If it were someone like Fang Yuqing or Lin Cainin, they would probably cry and fuss. They deserved to die in this apocalypse. Zhang Yi put away his gun and adjusted another gun''s position. Looking at Zhou Ke''er, his tone softened slightly. "You are very smart, which makes things easier for us all." "You should understand that outside is a hell. Besides relying on me, you have no other way to survive." "So now, I will tell you a secret, and you should listen carefully." Zhou Ke''er widened her eyes in surprise. "A secret? You... are willing to tell me?" She thought that someone as cautious as Zhang Yi wouldn''t easily reveal secrets. It must not be simple. Zhang Yi said, "Telling you this secret is to ensure your loyalty. But even if you leak it, Im not too worried. After all, everyone is struggling to survive in this world, and Im not afraid of anyone posing a threat to me." He shrugged, "Those who tried to kill me before were all dealt with. You saw it yourself." Zhou Ke''er nodded, looking at Zhang Yi seriously, eager to hear what he had to say. Zhang Yi spoke slowly, "You might have read on the media about the cause of this snow disaster. It was caused by a supernova explosion, leading to a gamma-ray burst." "This radiation can affect the human body, possibly causing mutations." "So, I gained a superpower: an independent alternate space." Ignoring Zhou Ke''er''s astonished look, Zhang Yi continued, "The reason I can live so comfortably now is because I stored a large amount of supplies in my space." "Otherwise, you can see that my house alone wouldn''t hold much." "Therefore, if Im alive, you can enjoy these supplies with me. There will be food to eat and hot water to shower with." "If I die, this house will soon become no different from other houses, and you will still starve to death." Zhang Yi didn''t fully trust Zhou Ke''er, even though he knew she was kind. He only believed in interests, not human nature. Human nature can be twisted with little effort. By telling Zhou Ke''er that her survival depended on his, Zhang Yi ensured she would become his loyal ally. To gain Zhou Ke''er''s trust, Zhang Yi took a long sandwich from his space and threw it to her. Seeing Zhang Yi seemingly perform a magic trick, taking out a sandwich with empty hands, a trace of trust finally appeared in Zhou Ke''er''s surprised eyes. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Superpower? Does such a thing really exist?" Looking at the sandwich in her hand, she swallowed hard but didnt dare to eat it, waiting for Zhang Yi''s order. Such a large sandwich, outside, would be enough for two families to fight over! Especially since she hadn''t eaten for two days. Zhang Yi said calmly, "Eat it, its yours." Zhou Ke''er couldn''t hold back any longer. She took a big bite of the sandwich. Seeing her eating hurriedly, Zhang Yi worried she might choke and handed her a glass of water. Zhou Ke''er ate the sandwich in big bites, moved to tears by the food she once scorned. Why did this sandwich taste so good? Zhang Yi, meanwhile, gently laid out the rules for living there. "I don''t trust you that much, so you need to be sensible." "Cleaning, cooking, dont make me give orders." "The sewer is frozen, so use special plastic bags for the toilet and throw them out through the hidden door in the window. Youll handle this." "In other words, youre my maid now. Youll earn a comfortable living environment and food through labor. Understand?" Zhang Yi''s house couldnt support idle people. Zhou Ke''er finished eating and nodded repeatedly, "I understand, mamaster." She shyly called him "master." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, finding her adaptability impressive. It was no wonder she became a chief physician at a young age. Seeing her full and content, Zhang Yi smiled. He rested his chin on his hand, his eyes on her fair neck. "Do you know why I chose you, even though we werent the closest?" Zhou Ke''er pursed her lips, "Because Im a doctor." "You lack nothing, but you cant ensure you wont get sick or injured." Zhang Yi nodded slightly, "Thats one reason. Although Im healthy, one must always be prepared." He took out half a bottle of wine from under the coffee table, and with another sleight of hand, two wine glasses. Pouring two glasses of wine, he pushed one towards Zhou Ke''er. "So, do you know the second reason?" Zhou Ke''er took the wine, hesitated, and then drank a sip, realizing there was no free lunch. "Because Im a woman, and a beautiful one at that." She had a clear understanding of her situation. Putting down the glass, she stood up. Before Zhang Yi, she untied her bathrobe. Zhang Yi, not pretending to be a gentleman, felt the need to release the pent-up negative energy accumulated over half a month. So, today was settled. Chapter 69: A Good Nights Sleep Chapter 69: A Good Night''s SleepThis night was destined to be exceptionally long. Zhou Ke''er finally got the warm room she desired. Now, she could sleep comfortably for the first time since the apocalypse began. Zhang Yi locked the door from the outside, keeping the only key with him. Business was business, and basic principles had to be maintained. Even though Zhang Yi knew Zhou Ke''er was a kind person, letting her in and allowing her to survive was already a great act of kindness. He couldnt completely let his guard down around her in the short term. After showering, Zhang Yi returned to his bedroom to rest. He slept for half a day, waking up feeling refreshed, his eyes brighter than usual. Having a woman around added some fun to life; living alone, he worried he might eventually go insane. Humans are, after all, social animals. However, Zhou Ke''er had to be obedient and absolutely harmless. S~?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi checked the surveillance and saw that Zhou Ke''er was still sleeping soundly in bed. She hadnt had a proper rest for a long time, so she was sleeping very deeply, not having woken up yet. Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Yi got dressed, washed up, and went to the living room to prepare breakfast. He took some food out of his storage space and placed it on the coffee table. Then he went to Zhou Ke''er''s door, unlocked it, and knocked. "Come out and eat something!" It was amusing. Zhang Yi could see everything in the house clearly, but he still lacked politeness. Basic respect was necessary if they were to live together long-term. Zhou Ke''er''s soft, tired voice came from inside. "Okay, I''ll be right out." Zhang Yi went to the dining table, picked up a cheese burger, and walked to the window while eating. Overnight, the large block of ice on the neighboring balcony had grown bigger. Snow had fallen on it, turning it pure white, and the twisted shapes of ten corpses could be faintly seen inside. Zhou Ke''er came out of her room, blushing slightly at the sight of Zhang Yi. As a well-educated doctor from a prestigious university, she had always been proud and aloof, maintaining her chastity until now. People from high society valued these things greatly. However, she hadnt given herself to her husband or lover but exchanged her chastity for survival with a relatively unfamiliar man during the apocalypse. Yet, looking at Zhang Yis tall figure and his cold, rational, handsome face made her feel strangely secure. Women often have special feelings for their first man. Zhang Yi liked Zhou Ke''er because she was beautiful. What man wouldnt love a woman with a great figure and a pretty face? However, love was out of the question for now. Perhaps, once he completely trusted her, he might develop feelings. Living alone in the apocalypse was exhausting; emotional support was needed. Zhang Yi pointed to the food on the table. Zhou Ke''er saw the hot burgers, fried chicken, and fries. Zhang Yi had ordered these items in large quantities from KFC and McDonalds before the apocalypse. Thanks to the space''s preservation ability, they were still hot when taken out. Zhou Ke''er swallowed hard and couldnt resist picking up a burger and taking a big bite. Fast food she used to disdain now tasted so delicious it made her want to cry. Within ten minutes, she finished all the food on the table. Lying back in her chair, she let out a satisfied burp. Seeing Zhang Yis amused expression, she covered her mouth in embarrassment. Zhang Yi didnt mind. "Finished?" he asked. Zhou Ke''er tilted her head, "Not quite. But I shouldnt eat too much at once; it can cause stomach issues." "Then get to work." Zhang Yi pointed outside. Zhou Ke''er obediently walked over. Zhang Yi took two sets of cold-resistant suits from his space, making her eyes widen in amazement, even though she had seen it before. Her resolve to follow Zhang Yi strengthened. In the apocalypse, survival chances increased by following powerful individuals. Zhang Yi threw her one set, and they both put them on. "What are we doing?" Zhou Ke''er asked curiously. "Breaking that block of ice," Zhang Yi replied, pointing to the neighboring balcony. Zhou Ke''er shuddered. The bodies were merged with the ice; breaking it would shatter the corpses. "Why do this if theyre already dead?" she asked. Zhang Yi shrugged, "Maybe I just really hate them." Seeing her surprised expression, Zhang Yi added, "Everyone in this building wants to kill me and take my supplies. I need to show them Im not to be messed with." "In the past, they thought I was a coward hiding at home. I dont mind their opinions, but it gets annoying over time. They need a reminder." There was another reason Zhang Yi didnt mention: vengeance. Chen Zhenghao had repeatedly tried to kill him, which infuriated Zhang Yi. Simply freezing them to death was too lenient. Realizing something, Zhou Ke''er pointed at herself, "Youre not making me do it, are you?" She was exasperated. She had eliminated Chen Zhenghao and his men, and now Zhang Yi was still cautious. "This is called being cautious!" Zhang Yi replied seriously. If he went over and she closed the window, what would he do? Though he wouldnt starve, living comfortably was preferable. Zhou Ke''er rolled her eyes, finding Zhang Yis extreme caution amusing. He gestured for her to proceed, handing her a baseball bat. She noticed his defensive stance and felt even more exasperated by his caution. Despite her reluctance, she took the bat, climbed over the railing, and onto the neighboring balcony. Zhang Yi took out his phone and began recording. Chapter 70: Intimidation Chapter 70: IntimidationZhou Ke''er raised the baseball bat in her hand and, staring at the huge block of ice in front of her, gritted her teeth and decisively smashed it down! Having studied medicine, she wasn''t particularly squeamish about dealing with corpses. "Crack!" The ice block shattered with a sound, sending a painful shock up her hand. "Ouch!" she exclaimed, dropping the baseball bat. Frowning slightly, Zhou Ke''er rubbed her sore hand. "It''s so hard!" Without waiting for Zhang Yi to say anything, she went back inside and returned with a large iron hammer. "This is more useful!" she said with determination. Zhang Yi remained silent for a moment, realizing he had underestimated this woman. Zhou Ke''er raised the hammer and smashed it down hard. Since there wasn''t too much water poured on the ice block, the ice layer wasn''t overly thick. Her strength was considerable, and she managed to shatter a large piece. Zhang Yi filmed the entire process with his phone. After the first hammer blow, Zhou Ke''er became more daring, and the fear she initially felt dissipated. With the sounds of cracking ice, the block shattered into several pieces. At this point, the contents were unrecognizablejust a mess of colorsbut Zhang Yi knew exactly what they were. After finishing Zhang Yi''s task, Zhou Ke''er climbed back over. "What''s the point of recording this?" she asked while changing clothes, curious. A smirk played on Zhang Yi''s lips as he sent the video to the buildings chat group. Zhou Ke''er suddenly understood. "You want to intimidate them so they won''t bother you again?" Zhang Yi smiled faintly. "Not just that. I want to replace Chen Zhenghao in their minds." The neighbors feared Chen Zhenghao far more than they did Zhang Yi. Chen Zhenghao had a gun and would kill them and take their supplies without hesitation. Even though Zhang Yi had killed many people, he was still seen as a guy hiding at home, relying on sneak attacks. Zhang Yi wanted to take control, preparing for the day he might need to leave his house. He couldnt guarantee hed never need to go out. Zhou Ke''er nodded, supporting Zhang Yi''s approach. Zhang Yi sat on the sofa to rest and check the group chats reactions. Zhou Ke''er, obedient and close like a kitten, leaned beside him, watching the group chat with him. They looked like a pair of lovers deeply in love. Zhou Ke''ers feelings for Zhang Yi were rooted in dependency and a woman''s inherent admiration for strength. To Zhang Yi, she was more of a servant at this point. If feelings developed later, he wouldn''t mind, but for now, she was just a useful companion. The internet seemed to have worsened lately. It took a minute for the video to upload completely, likely due to the heavy snow affecting the surrounding base stations. Nevertheless, Chinas infrastructure was world-class, so communication hadn''t yet become impossible, though long-distance communication faced more interference. Curious neighbors clicked on the video, and upon seeing the gruesome deaths of Chen Zhenghao and his men, many laughed madly, tears mingling with their laughter. Chen Zhenghao, that devil is finally dead! Cui, you can rest in peace now! Finally... hes finally dead! We can go out again! Good riddance, you bastard! Hahaha! Hahaha... The neighbors hated Chen Zhenghao deeply. If he hadnt led the violent chaos, many people in the building wouldn''t have died. Their family, friends, and loved ones were brutally killed by Chen Zhenghao and his gang, leaving them with an indescribable hatred. Zhang Yi posted a message in the group chat: Chen Zhenghao is dead. I, Zhang Yi, killed him. Zhou Ke''er glanced at him with slight resentment, thinking, "Wasn''t it me who did it?" Zhang Yi continued, From now on, this building is under my control. The neighbors suddenly remembered the video was posted by Zhang Yi and that Zhou Ke''er was seen helping him. Zhang Yi... did you kill Chen Zhenghao? Youre amazing! Thank you for getting rid of that monster! Zhang Yi, do you have any food? Im starving. My son is dead, my daughter is dead. But I want to live! Zhang Yi, there must be food in your house, right? Please give me some. Ill do anything you want! The neighbors'' reactions disappointed Zhang Yi. They seemed to beg more than they feared him. He turned to Zhou Ke''er. I killed Chen Zhenghao, but why arent they afraid of me? Without hesitation, Zhou Ke''er replied, Because compared to Chen Zhenghao, youre a good person! Zhang Yi laughed at the idea. Me, a good person? Dont flatter me. Zhou Ke''er seriously said, To me, you are a good person. Youve never killed anyone without reason. S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. As for Chen Zhenghao, he deserved to die. Zhang Yi chuckled but said nothing. He didnt think of himself as a good person, but at least he hadnt lost his basic moral principles yet. Then, someone sent a voice message. Zhang Yi, is Zhou Ke''er living with you? Why only her and not me? Seeing Zhou Ke''er in the video sparked a realization and jealousy among the neighbors. Many now saw a chance to gain Zhang Yi''s favor. Zhang Yi, I can do anything Zhou Ke''er can do, and better! Please let me in, too! Zhang Yi, Ive liked you for a long time. Can you be my boyfriend? Zhang Yi, even though Im a man, Ill do anything for you... Zhang Yi found their messages disturbing. Zhou Ke''er was equally stunned and felt a sense of crisis. As a woman and a doctor, she knew she wasnt irreplaceable. She bit her lip, determined to show her value and cling to Zhang Yi. The neighbors'' jealousy and resentment towards Zhou Ke''er grew, and they all pleaded with Zhang Yi. Especially Fang Yuqing, who was furious when she saw these messages. Fang Yuqing: Yi, are you with Zhou Ke''er now? Zhang Yi ignored her. Fang Yuqing panicked. In her filthy room, she looked like a madwoman. Sun Zhichao, Zhou Peng, and Ge Jialiang had been dead for days, but she still had hope. She believed she would one day enter Zhang Yi''s house and live a good life. With trembling hands, she typed: Zhang Yi, now that Chen Zhenghao is dead, can I come to your place? Didn''t you say we would be together? Didn''t you promise to take care of me? You said youd keep me warm and happy. You promised! You have to take me in! Dont stay with other women; youre mine! Zhang Yi didnt expect Fang Yuqing to be alive. He coldly replied, Are you still alive? Fang Yuqings eyes lit up. Zhang Yi must have thought I was dead and let Zhou Ke''er in. Now that he knows Im alive, hell choose me over her. Her lips trembled with excitement. Im fine, Zhang Yi. You liked me so much; you wouldnt change your mind, right? Dont let Zhou Ke''er stay. Let me come. I love you the most! Kick her out! At that moment, the disheveled Wang Min and Lin Cainin noticed Fang Yuqing''s excitement. Realizing she was chatting with Zhang Yi, they rushed over, faces contorted with rage. Fang Yuqing, dont think you can abandon us and live well alone! They fought over the phone, desperately sending messages to Zhang Yi. Lin Cainin: Zhang Yi, Im better than Fang Yuqing. I can do anything she can and more. I wont treat you as a backup. Wang Min: Zhang Yi, Im older, but that means I know how to care for you. Young girls dont understand tenderness. Give me a chance! Zhang Yi found their messages amusing. Zhou Ke''er, feeling even more insecure, clung tightly to Zhang Yi''s arm, afraid he might leave. Chapter 71: Stop Contacting Me, I Dont Want Her to Misunderstand Chapter 71: Stop Contacting Me, I Don''t Want Her to MisunderstandZhou Ke''er''s initiative made Zhang Yi feel a hint of happiness and warmth in his heart. Although he wasn''t easily swayed by women, he also needed tenderness and care. Zhou Ke''er was undoubtedly a beauty, and her charm was naturally impactful. He enjoyed the process of her coming closer to him, both physically and emotionally. A mischievous idea crossed Zhang Yi''s mind. If Fang Yuqing saw him and Zhou Ke''er being so intimate, would she go mad with jealousy? Thinking this, Zhang Yi immediately picked up his phone and took a selfie with Zhou Ke''er clinging to his arm. He then sent the photo to Fang Yuqing. "Qing, you''re a good person. But unfortunately, you came too late. I''ve found someone better now." "You will bless us, won''t you?" Fang Yuqing, who was still desperately fighting for her phone, saw the message notification and quickly grabbed the device. The three women stared at the message in shock. They saw Zhou Ke''er and Zhang Yi snuggled together, clearly a couple. No matter in terms of education, talent, or looks, Zhou Ke''er was far superior to them. Fang Yuqing had only a modest education and worked as a warehouse clerk. Compared to Zhou Ke''er, a high-class, well-educated beauty, she felt utterly crushed. Jealousy burned within them, consuming their hearts. "Yi, no! You can''t do this to me. I love you, I love you the most." "She must be deceiving you. She doesn''t really love you! Give me a chance, and I''ll prove that I''m the one who truly loves you!" Zhang Yi sneered and replied, "No need. Ke''er and I are truly in love. She''s far better than you. Do you really think you stand a chance?" "So, let''s not contact each other anymore. I don''t want her to misunderstand." Zhang Yi knew his words would drive Fang Yuqing mad with anger because he understood he was her last hope in this apocalyptic world. Destroying a person''s hope in such a manner was incredibly satisfying for him, especially doing it in this way. Fang Yuqing always considered herself a goddess, expecting men to worship her. But today, another woman had taken what she believed to be hers. The key point was that this other woman was indeed better and more beautiful than her. The pain and despair were doubled! She regretted deeply, wanting to beat herself up for not marrying Zhang Yi when she had the chance! s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Just as Zhang Yi predicted, Fang Yuqing went almost insane, screaming hysterically. "I don''t believe it, I don''t believe it!" "Zhang Yi, you were my simp! You worshipped me for two years. Why are you not devoted now when I''m so willing?" "That bitch, why did you take what''s mine? You deserve to die!" "Yes, Zhou Ke''er, it''s all that bitch''s fault!" Seeing Zhang Yi''s message, Lin Cainin and Wang Min pointed at Fang Yuqing and laughed heartily. "Hahaha, you pathetic whore, you''re getting what you deserve. This is your karma!" "Spit! You deserve every bit of this!" Her former best friend, Lin Cainin, cursed with gritted teeth, full of contempt. With red eyes, Fang Yuqing tried to send another message to Zhang Yi, only to find she had been blocked. This meant Zhang Yi had completely cut her off. Soon, she would die in this apocalyptic world, and the torment and humiliation Zhang Yi had inflicted on her gave him immense satisfaction. Zhang Yi put down his phone, a happy smile on his face. The more pain that wretched woman suffered, the happier he felt. Zhou Ke''er snuggled closely to him, curiously looking up at him. Zhang Yi turned his head, and their eyes met. Suddenly, he frowned and gripped her hand tightly. "Do you think I''m cruel?" Zhou Ke''er''s breath became rapid, her face flushed with nervous excitement. "You... you must have your reasons for doing this." Zhang Yi''s gaze deepened as he recalled how Fang Yuqing had treated him in his previous life. He had given her everything, only to be betrayed and tricked into opening his door, leading to his gruesome death at the hands of his neighbors. The excruciating pain of being slowly dismembered was beyond human imagination. "Good that you understand," Zhang Yi said, not wanting to explain further. It had nothing to do with Zhou Ke''er, after all. ... After Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er dealt with Chen Zhenghao, the atmosphere around them became much quieter. At least, there were no more daily disturbances and surveillance from the next door. Chen Zhenghao himself never knew that Zhang Yi killed him largely because he was too much of a nuisance. The overall atmosphere in Building 25 relaxed slightly, no longer as oppressive as before. But Zhang Yi knew this was just an illusion. The longer the apocalypse lasted, the more twisted human nature would become. Even without Chen Zhenghao, those who had tasted human flesh might still resort to killing. But, as always, what did it matter to him? That morning, Zhang Yi got up and went to open Zhou Ke''er''s door. Blushing, Zhou Ke''er went to the bathroom and then returned to prepare breakfast for Zhang Yi. Her cooking skills were average, but still better than Zhang Yi''s. Occasionally, Zhang Yi would want freshly made food and would ask her to cook. Of course, Zhang Yi always made Zhou Ke''er taste the food first before eating it himself. While eating, Zhang Yi scrolled through WeChat and some still-functioning news apps. Currently, a few apps were still operational, maintained by the authorities. Most people couldn''t survive the extreme cold, but the higher-ups always had disaster response plans, allowing some so-called important people to live. Suddenly, he saw a familiar face in a group chat. It was the crazy troublemaker, Aunt Lin. Aunt Lin: "The snow disaster will soon be over! My brother, the secretary of Jiangnan Province, told me over the phone." "You all need to listen to me now, or I''ll have you all executed when this is over!" "Did you hear me? Bring me food right now!" But no one in the group paid her any attention. "She''s gone mad. But it''s a miracle she''s still alive! I remember Chen Zhenghao targeted her first," Zhang Yi said nonchalantly. Across from him, Zhou Ke''er''s face showed a trace of sadness. "When I treated Lin Xiaohu, I pitied them and gave them some supplies," she said softly. Chapter 72: Uncle Yous Request for Medicine Chapter 72: Uncle You''s Request for MedicineUpon hearing Zhou Ke''er mention her previous aid to Aunt Lin, Zhang Yi glanced at her. Zhou Ke''er quickly explained, fearing Zhang Yi would think she was too saintly. "At the time, the snow disaster had just begun. I thought it would pass quickly." Zhang Yi chuckled dismissively, placing his phone on the table and folding his hands. "Thats not the issue." "The supplies you gave them should have been used up by now. What has she been surviving on?" Zhou Ke''er, still chewing on a piece of rib, paused and placed the rib back into her bowl. "Lin Xiaohu died about ten days ago because there were no medications." Zhang Yi nodded. "That makes sense then." He laughed suddenly. "Aunt Lin always said Lin Xiaohu was her darling, and she would do anything for him. Looks like she did just that." Zhou Ke''er couldn''t help but cover her mouth, giving Zhang Yi a reproachful look. "I''m eating!" "Hahaha!" Zhang Yi laughed heartily, pleased with his successful joke. Having someone to talk to made life more enjoyable. While they were chatting, they suddenly heard shouts from outside. They both turned to look out the window. On the balcony of building 18, about ten meters to the west of their building, a naked man stood, raising his arms to the wind and shouting. Then, as they watched, he jumped off like a diver. Zhou Ke''er frowned slightly, sighing. "When will this snow disaster end?" In these apocalyptic times, many people chose to end their lives out of despair. Zhang Yi shook his head. "Who knows? Changes in nature arent something humans can control with current technology." "As long as we can stay alive, that''s all that matters." Just then, Zhang Yi''s phone rang. He picked it up and saw it was Uncle You, the security guard. With his experiences from his past life, Zhang Yi only trusted two people in this life: Uncle You and Zhou Ke''er. Both had sacrificed themselves for others, adhering to human moral principles until their deaths. Thats why Zhang Yi allowed Zhou Ke''er to live in his house as a servant. Uncle You was the second most well-prepared person in the building after Zhang Yi. As a single man in his sixties, without children, and working as a security guard, he had stocked up on cheap instant noodles and sausages to save on living costs. Zhang Yi answered the phone. "Hello, Uncle You." "Zhang Yi, hey... how... how are you doing?" Uncle You stammered, his voice carrying a hint of awkward laughter. Knowing Uncle You for many years, Zhang Yi understood that such behavior usually meant he needed something but felt embarrassed to ask. Considering Uncle Yous background, Zhang Yi figured he could lend him some supplies. After all, as a former soldier with good combat skills, Uncle You could be a useful ally in dangerous situations. So, Zhang Yi was happy to extend small favors to him. "Uncle You, Im doing alright. Its just that with another person in the house, supplies are running out faster." He glanced at Zhou Ke''er, who blushed and continued eating her meal. "Oh, that is a problem. More people mean more consumption. Yes, thats true." Uncle Yous tone grew weaker, indicating he was finding it hard to ask his favor. After hesitating for a while, he finally spoke. "Zhang Yi, I need to ask you something." S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Uncle You, no need to be polite. Just say it. If its within my power, Ill help." Uncle You, embarrassed, said, "Its like this. Xie Limeis daughter Tang Bao has a fever, and I dont have any medicine." "Her whole body is red, and Xie Limei and I are worried sick. Do you have any medicine?" His voice trembled with urgency and pleading. Zhang Yis eyes widened in surprise. He didnt expect Xie Limei to find herself a caretaker like Uncle You! She certainly had good taste, finding the second most resourceful person in the building after him. However, remembering Xie Limeis situation from the past life, Zhang Yi quickly understood. She looked pitiful but had survived longer than him, clearly not as simple as she seemed. Xie Limei, not yet thirty, was quite attractive, scoring a solid six, and her figure was voluptuous despite having given birth. A lifelong bachelor, Uncle You was naturally drawn to her allure. Zhang Yi decided not to meddle in others'' private affairs. If Xie Limei could secure someone to care for her child, that was her skill. "Congratulations, Uncle You!" Zhang Yi said. Uncle You, embarrassed, replied, "Congratulations for what? Were just surviving together. You know my situation. If not for this snow disaster, I wouldnt have found a partner." Zhang Yi said, "I still have some medicine. You can come and get it later." His tone was light, but mentioning "some" conveyed an important messagethat he didnt have much left. Yet, in these harsh conditions, he was still willing to give it to Uncle You, showing his generosity and reliability. Uncle You was moved, struggling to speak. "This... Zhang Yi, how can I thank you?" "Youve helped me twice now. If you ever need me, and I say no, then Im not human!" Moved, Uncle You made a vow. Zhang Yi smiled. "Uncle You, weve known each other for years. In my eyes, youre like my own uncle!" "Dont be polite. Come and get the medicine." Zhou Ke''er, sitting across from him, pouted playfully and made a funny face at Zhang Yi. She realized that beneath his stern exterior, he had a cunning side. After hanging up, Zhou Ke''er asked curiously, "Are you really that close with Uncle You?" Zhang Yi picked up his bowl and chopsticks, replying casually, "Human relationships are based on mutual benefit. This is especially true in the apocalypse." "Uncle You is kind and strong. Making him owe me a favor could be useful in the future." He paused for a moment. "And on a personal level, I dont want his humanity to be lost in this apocalypse. Thats a precious thing." Chapter 73: The Scheming Mother Chapter 73: The Scheming MotherAfter a while, Zhang Yi heard a knock on the door. Following that, Uncle You''s voice came through. "Zhang Yi, it''s You Jiguang. Are you home?" Zhang Yi habitually checked the surveillance monitor. However, his brow quickly furrowed because standing at the door wasnt just Uncle You; there was also a woman holding a child. Despite being wrapped in a thick down jacket, Zhang Yi knew she was Xie Limei, the child''s mother. "What is she doing here?" Zhang Yi thought. He had a good impression of Uncle You, but he had no particular relationship with Xie Limei. Based on his experience from his previous life, he knew this woman was not simple. Zhang Yi got up from his chair and walked to the door. Zhou Ke''er took a glance but didnt act, understanding that Zhang Yi was the master of this house. Zhang Yi approached the door but didn''t open it. "Is it Uncle You?" he asked, pretending not to know. Uncle You replied, "Yes, its me." At that moment, Xie Limei interjected, her voice filled with a sobbing tone, "Zhang Yi, my daughter Tang Bao has a high fever that won''t subside. Please help her!" Zhang Yi took out a prepared box of acetaminophen suspension drops and a box of Little Sunflower Cold Medicine, then threw them out through the shooting hole above the door. "Take the medicine and give it to the child quickly. Being sick at a time like this is no small matter," Zhang Yi said. Uncle You quickly picked up the medicine, his eyes full of gratitude. "Zhang Yi, thank you, thank you so much!" Xie Limei took the medicine, and while Uncle You was about to leave with her, a strange light flashed in her eyes. She said, "Zhang Yi, I have a request. Can we let the baby stay at your place for a while?" "I know you have a heater and its warm inside, but our place is freezing!" "With the baby being sick, I worry shell get worse. Can you do us this favor?" Uncle You looked startled. Xie Limei hadnt mentioned this to him on the way here. He felt awkward, realizing he hadnt discussed this with Zhang Yi beforehand. Now, Xie Limeis sudden request put him in an uncomfortable position. Seeing her pleading eyes, he didn''t know what to say. Inside, Zhang Yi smirked at her boldness. "Is this Xie Limei? Sorry, but in these times, I cant let people into my home. Besides, were running low on coal too, and its not much warmer here than outside," Zhang Yi replied, not intending to be swayed. Xie Limeis plea sounded noble, but Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er had no experience taking care of a child, nor did they want the hassle. Letting the child in would inevitably mean letting Xie Limei in too. It would be hard to get rid of her once she was inside, especially if she had bad intentions. Zhang Yi didnt want the trouble of constant vigilance. Uncle You, sensing Zhang Yis firm stance, gently said to Xie Limei, "Zhang Yi has already done us a great favor by giving us the medicine. Let''s go back and bundle up more clothes; the child wont freeze." S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xie Limei wiped her tears, speaking pitifully, "Youre a man; you dont understand. The baby is so small and fragile." She then turned back to Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, I know this request is a bit much, but I have no other option!" "Sister knows you have a kind heart, which is why I''m shamelessly making this request." "Please, for the babys sake and for Uncle Yous sake, let her stay at your place for a while!" Her plea was designed to tug at heartstrings and included Uncle You in her request, making it hard for anyone not to relent unless they were truly hard-hearted. But Zhang Yi wasnt easily moved. "Sister Xie, in times like these, I can''t let anyone into my home. You know everyone in this building wants to take over my house and kill me." "Im scared, really scared. I cant let strangers in." "I believe you understand, dont you, Uncle You?" Uncle You nodded repeatedly, feeling embarrassed but also understanding Zhang Yis concerns. "Yes, Zhang Yi has already been very good to us. Who else would give us medicine? You know how hard it is to get medicine now," Uncle You said to Xie Limei. Xie Limei bit her lip, not refuting Uncle You but looking tearful and pitiful. "But didn''t you let Zhou Ke''er stay in your house?" she asked. Zhang Yi laughed dismissively, "Zhou Ke''er is my girlfriend. Is there a problem with that?" Though Zhou Ke''er knew Zhang Yi was just making an excuse, she couldnt help but smile slightly. Women often value sweet words from men more than the truth. Even knowing it was a lie, she found comfort in it. Xie Limei frowned, seeming to think of another argument. But Uncle You, feeling ashamed and not as thick-skinned, pulled her back firmly. "Let''s go. Dont bother him anymore. Zhang Yi has been kind enough. Dont be too demanding!" Uncle You said, a bit sternly. Seeing Uncle You was genuinely angry, Xie Limei immediately switched to a more aggrieved expression. "I know, I dont want to push it. It''s all for the child." Uncle You turned back to the house and apologized, "Sorry, Zhang Yi. Dont mind her. Thank you so much for your help!" Zhang Yi replied, "No worries. Its understandable. Lets support each other through these times." Watching through the surveillance, Zhang Yi saw Uncle You take Xie Limei and the child downstairs. Returning to the dining table, Zhang Yi told Zhou Ke''er, "This woman is a bit tricky." Zhou Ke''er shrugged indifferently, "There are plenty like her." Zhang Yi nodded, "True, but Uncle You and I get along well. Im worried she might disrupt our relationship." Uncle You was Zhang Yis ideal helper. Zhang Yi didnt want Xie Limei to influence him negatively. He decided to stay wary of Xie Limei. At the very least, she had her eyes on his house and supplies. Chapter 75: The Power of White Phosphorus Chapter 75: The Power of White PhosphorusZhang Yi reacted swiftly. Still in his pajamas, he jumped out of bed, immediately retrieved his handgun from the alternate space, unlocked the safety, and held it firmly. S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He turned on his phone to check the surveillance footage. The living room was intact. In Zhou Ke''er''s room, she was curled up in a corner, clutching her blanket and looking terrified. Seeing that everything inside was safe, Zhang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Then he checked the footage outside. He noticed a group of more than ten people sneaking around. They were armed mainly with shovels, rebar, wooden boards, and axes. However, the wooden boards caught Zhang Yi''s attention. Upon closer inspection, he realized they were red composite boards commonly used on construction sites. Zhang Yi remembered clearly that there were no construction workers living in their building. However, in neighboring building 26, over twenty workers lived in a company-rented house. As the dust settled, the intruders rushed to the door to check if the explosion had been successful. It was evident that they had come well-prepared, with a clear goal: Zhang Yi''s supplies! Zhang Yi''s gaze turned icy. It seemed the news of his well-stocked home had spread outside. Outside the door, Second Uncle and his group were dumbfounded by the intact, heavy metal door. "Old Donkey, what kind of job did you do? This thing didn''t even scratch the door!" one of the workers angrily questioned Old Donkey. Old Donkey was equally surprised. "This isnt right! The explosives I prepared were fine." "Maybe they got damp," he suggested. Old Donkey was a demolition expert in the engineering team, but he used primitive methods. So, while the explosion was loud, it lacked the power of professionally made explosives. If it had been more potent, it would have at least damaged the surrounding walls, if not breached Zhang Yi''s door. In short, it was more of a scare tactic than a real threat. Zhang Yi felt relieved after confirming via his phone app that his house was undamaged. But his anger flared up. These people wanted him dead! Well, he''d kill them first! The group outside was still complaining, with some trying to break down the door with their shovels. They didnt notice the small window above the iron door opening. Zhang Yi lit a Molotov cocktail and threw it outside. Flames instantly erupted. Unsatisfied, he retrieved several small white bottles from his space, containing a nearly transparent liquid. These were bottles of white phosphorus dissolved in sulfur dioxide, essentially makeshift white phosphorus grenades. White phosphorus grenades, known as "hellfire," burn at temperatures exceeding 1000C, incinerating all biological matter within their range. The explosion produces intense light and splattering burning fragments that are nearly impossible to remove once they contact skin, creating horrifying wounds and psychological terror. Internationally, the use of white phosphorus grenades is banned. But Zhang Yi didnt care about such restrictions. He would use any means necessary to effectively kill his enemies! The Molotov cocktail fell to the ground, creating a blaze. However, its lethality wasnt significant since the attackers'' clothes were soaked from the snow, making them harder to ignite. Yet, the flames on the ground caused the sulfur dioxide to evaporate rapidly, igniting the dissolved white phosphorus! Instantly, the temperature in the air soared to over a thousand degrees! The fire splattered onto their clothes, which wouldnt extinguish no matter how hard they tried. The hallway outside turned into a sea of fire within moments. Zhang Yi''s swift action caught the attackers off guard, giving them no time to react. Many were engulfed in white phosphorus flames. Their down jackets and cotton clothing became perfect fuel. "Ah!!!" "Help! Save me!" Their agonizing screams echoed like cries from hell. Being burned alive is one of the most excruciating ways to die. Even a matchstick burn causes intense pain, let alone being engulfed in flames. Feeling unsatisfied, Zhang Yi retrieved his handgun and started shooting outside. Bang! Bang! Bang! He no longer cared about conserving bullets, shooting wildly like setting off firecrackers. One by one, bodies fell. Of the more than ten attackers, eight corpses remained. Only five or six managed to escape. Zhang Yi didnt chase them, adhering to his principle of safety first. After ensuring the attackers were dead, he closed the shooting window and turned on the air filtration system to prevent smoke from entering the house. Zhang Yi looked at his empty gun, shaking his head. "This thing runs out of bullets too quickly. Good thing I didnt buy a machine gun, or Id run out of hundreds of bullets in no time." He realized he needed to find more firearms and ammunition. Previously, his sense of danger hadnt been as strong. But todays attack using explosives served as a wake-up call. Surviving in the apocalypse meant facing formidable opponents. If someone came with enough explosives, they might blow up his entire building! Of course, that was an exaggeration. Such a large quantity of explosives would be hard to come by. Still, the incident made Zhang Yi more vigilant. "Ill kill every last one of those bastards!" Zhang Yi muttered angrily. He walked to Zhou Ke''er''s room and opened the door. Zhou Ke''er was curled up in a corner, her head buried between her knees. "It''s over," Zhang Yi said. Hearing his voice, Zhou Ke''er felt a sense of security wash over her. Though he was overly cautious and often cold, at this moment, he was her greatest comfort. She looked up at Zhang Yi and tried to sound defiant. "I wasn''t scared. I just thought it was an earthquake, so I hid in the corner." Zhang Yi chuckled. "On the 24th floor, hiding wouldn''t save you from being crushed in an earthquake!" Zhou Ke''er stood up and asked, "What happened?" Zhang Yi sat on her bed. Before Zhou Ke''er moved in, the room was bare, with no bedding. But now it had a cozy feel, with a pink velvet blanket, yellow bedspread, and black lace underwear and stockings hanging on the windowsill. It was clear she was a meticulous woman. Her daily cleaning kept not just her room but the entire house, including Zhang Yi''s bedroom, spotless. Zhang Yi thought, "Having a sensible woman around is really nice. If it weren''t for the apocalypse, a woman like this would cost a fortune in bride price." Chapter 76: The Tianhe Gang from Building 26 Chapter 76: The Tianhe Gang from Building 26 S~?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Zhang Yi recounted the events that had just transpired to Zhou Ke''er. "It was those workers from Building 26!" "There''s a new development nearby, so many workers have rented places around here." Zhou Ke''er was curious. "Our neighborhood is considered middle to upper-class. Would they really spend that much money?" Zhang Yi replied, "Ten people crammed into one room. How expensive do you think that is?" Zhou Ke''er nodded in understanding. Then, a look of concern appeared on her face. "So, these guys are actually more dangerous than Chen Zhenghao!" Zhang Yi nodded in agreement. "Chen Zhenghao was just a common thug. In peaceful times, ordinary people were afraid of him because they didnt want trouble. But now, everyones survival is uncertain. If not for his gun, hed have been beaten to death long ago." "But these workers are different. They do physical labor every day, so theyre much stronger than ordinary people. Their combat abilities are also more formidable." "Moreover, they know each other well and work in groups, making them more coordinated and dangerous." Zhang Yi took a deep breath. "Luckily, I killed that demolition expert last night. Otherwise, I wouldnt sleep well." Zhou Ke''er asked, "So whats our next move? Do we retaliate?" Zhang Yi''s eyebrows furrowed. "Of course we retaliate!" "But Im not going over there. Its unwise to step onto their turf. Look what happenedhalf of them got killed by me." Zhou Ke''er rolled her eyes. "But you have a gun!" "Even with a gun, its not wise," Zhang Yi said firmly. "Even if I kill them all, getting hit with a shovel would be a huge loss for me." Zhou Ke''er shook her head. "You''re really... cautious." "But if you dont go out and find them, how will you retaliate? They dont seem afraid to die; they act like desperados!" Indeed, who would play with explosives in an apartment building? One wrong move, and they could bury themselves alive. Zhang Yi rubbed his chin, already formulating a plan. "It seems like if we want to live peacefully, well need to find some cannon fodder." He picked up his phone and opened the Building 25 group chat. Due to the recent explosion, the neighbors were all awake and chatting frantically in the group. "What was that noise just now? An earthquake? Or a bomb?" "The sound came from upstairs. Could it have been a meteorite?" "Quite possibly. Why else would the temperature be so strange? Maybe humanity will go extinct like the dinosaurs." The chat was filled with wild speculations. Zhang Yi typed, "The workers from Building 26 broke into our building and tried to kill and rob us. I discovered them in time and drove them away." "Zhang Meng from the 16th floor was killed." "And the noise was from the explosives they used." The neighbors were immediately on edge upon hearing Zhang Yis words. "What? We just dealt with Chen Zhenghao, and now those laborers are coming after us!" "Theyre ruthless. I heard there were frequent fights at their construction site." "How did the people from Building 26 get here?" Zhang Yi replied, "They dug a tunnel through the snow on the first floor and attacked us." Someone quickly responded, "Collapse that tunnel and lock the door!" Zhang Yi countered, "That wont work. Such doors can be easily broken. Even if you block it, they can climb in through the fourth-floor windows." The neighbors were terrified. "If Zhang Yi hadnt driven them away, they might have broken into our homes and killed us!" "What do we do? How can we fight those laborers?" "Half the people in our building are dead. Most of the survivors are the elderly, women, and children." Most able-bodied people had died near Zhang Yis home earlier. "Thank goodness we have Zhang Yi!" "Zhang Yi, youre amazing! You drove away so many of them alone." "With you here, we feel safe. Youre our hero!" After some initial panic, people started praising Zhang Yi, realizing he was their strongest defense. They started calling him a hero, hoping he would continue to protect them. Zhang Yi found it amusing. Previously, they had cursed him in the group chat, calling him selfish and despicable. Many had lost family members to him and hated him deeply. But now that they needed him, they called him a hero. Did they really think he was an idiot? Zhang Yi smirked and typed, "Fighting them used up a lot of my weapons. Now, its hard for me to even protect myself. Youll have to fend for yourselves." Laughable. Why should he protect them? Whether they lived or died had nothing to do with him. After sending the message, Zhang Yi fell silent, ignoring the increasingly desperate pleas from the neighbors. "Zhang Yi, you cant just let us die!" "If we all die, itll be just you two left. Wont you feel lonely?" "If we all die, youll become a target. Who knows how many people are watching you!" Zhang Yis eyes grew cold. That last point was true. Many people were likely eyeing him, especially after the video he had posted in the group chat. His neighbors would have forwarded it, and now other residents knew about his well-stocked home. The people outside might just be envious, but the nearby buildings could make a move to seize everything from him. Uncle You sent Zhang Yi a private message, expressing his concern. "I know those scumbags from Building 26. Ive had drinks with them before!" "The bastards came to target you? I wont let them get away with it." "Zhang Yi, if you need help, tell me. Ill help you deal with them." Zhang Yi smiled. "Uncle You, how many of them are there?" Uncle You replied, "They had over thirty people initially, but about ten have died recently. There are around twenty left." "I know their leader, Huang Tianfang. We chatted before. But those bastards caused a lot of trouble in Building 26." "Spit! Ill never team up with those scumbags." Uncle You and the workers both came from rural backgrounds, but while the workers had mixed in society, Uncle You had spent many years in the military. Their mindsets were completely different. Chapter 77: Zhang Yi, If You Don’t Come Out, Ill Kill Your Neighbors! Chapter 77: Zhang Yi, If You Dont Come Out, I''ll Kill Your Neighbors!Based on Uncle Yous introduction, Zhang Yi got to know a bit about those attackers. The group of workers was employed by an engineering company called Tianhe Group. They weren''t official employees but were hired by a contractor who had taken on the job, and they followed him. However, they boasted about being employees of Tianhe Group to save face. Hence, their group called themselves the Tianhe Gang, and their leader was the small, gaunt man named Huang Tianfang. Zhang Yi, do you have any plans against them? Just let me know if you need my help, Uncle You offered. S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled faintly. It was impossible for him to attack this so-called Tianhe Gang. His greatest advantage was his steel fortress. Leaving his room to face nearly twenty people, even with a gun, was incredibly risky. Uncle You, let''s play it safe! I dont have any plans for revenge right now. Its just me, and even if I include you, theres no guarantee of success. Unless, a glint appeared in his eyes, we can mobilize all the neighbors in the building. Uncle You understood Zhang Yis intention. You mean we should unite everyone in the building against them, just like how Huang Tianfangs gang operates? Yes, exactly, Zhang Yi affirmed. Uncle You agreed, Alright, Ill propose this idea in the group chat to see how many people are willing. Zhang Yi laughed, No need to rush. If you eagerly try to recruit them, they might think you have ulterior motives or even take advantage of your goodwill. Uncle You asked, So what should we do? Zhang Yi chuckled, Were in no hurry. We have enough supplies; well just wait it out. The Tianhe Gang will definitely come back for revenge after losing so many people to me. When that happens, the neighbors will naturally come to us for help. Uncle You couldnt help but admire, Zhang Yi, youre truly clever! They quickly agreed to temporarily ignore the Tianhe Gang. In the group chat, neighbors tried to coerce Zhang Yi and Uncle You into leading the fight against the Tianhe Gang, using moral pressure and compliments. While they praised Zhang Yi and Uncle You, calling them good people (though Zhang Yi found it offensive, thinking, Youre the good person; your whole family are good people!), they also made excuses, claiming they were too weak, lacked food, or were elderly or women, and thus couldnt fight. Zhang Yi knew these shameless neighbors well and chose to ignore them. He believed they would feel the pain once the threat hit closer to home. ... In the following two days, Zhang Yi began gathering intelligence from the outside. He wouldnt risk going out himself, as too many people coveted his supplies and might feed him false information. Instead, he asked Zhou Ke''er and Uncle You to gather intel. As a doctor and a security guard, they had broad networks. Zhang Yi wanted to know who in the Yue Lu neighborhoods 30 buildings posed a threat to him. This information was easy to obtain; a quick inquiry revealed who had the most kills and the largest forces. Zhou Ke''er diligently compiled a list for Zhang Yi, detailing the size and weaponry of various factions. After reviewing it, Zhang Yi felt more at ease. Despite being a middle-to-upper-class neighborhood, Yue Lu didn''t harbor too many ruthless individuals. According to the intel from Zhou Ke''er and Uncle You, two factions were notably troublesome. One was the Tianhe Gang from Building 26, formed around a small construction team from Tianhe Group, boasting strong combat abilities. Their main weapons were shovels and rebar, without any guns. The explosives used against Zhang Yi were homemade by one of their demolition workers, who had been killed by Zhang Yi. Therefore, they couldnt make any more. "Still, there''s no certainty they dont have some explosives left. We need to be cautious and look for opportunities to send some cannon fodder to exhaust their supplies," Zhang Yi mused. Besides the Tianhe Gang, another faction caught his attention. In Building 21, a group of young people called themselves the Mad Wolf Gang. Despite the cringey name, their combat skills were formidable. The group, consisting mostly of students and street thugs, was led by two notorious loafers, Wang Qiang and Xiao Lu, well-known troublemakers in the Yue Lu neighborhood. They had grown powerful in the absence of a dominant figure like Zhang Yi. Only these two factions could pose a significant threat to Zhang Yi. Other buildings had few residents left, as many had committed suicide or killed each other over scarce resources. Feeling more confident, Zhang Yi instructed Zhou Ke''er, Keep gathering intel. Make sure we understand their armaments thoroughly, especially whether they have guns. Zhou Ke''er obediently nodded and continued her efforts. ... Over the next few days, Zhang Yi and Uncle You agreed to stay home, never stepping outside. The Tianhe Gang, having suffered heavy losses and injuries, vowed revenge against Zhang Yi but were temporarily too fearful to act directly against him. Instead, they turned their wrath on his neighbors. Huang Tianfang, unable to kill Zhang Yi, decided to take out his anger on the neighbors. He thought, Zhang Yi, if I cant kill you, Ill kill your neighbors. Watching them die should make you feel guilty. How will you face their accusations? Killing your neighbors is the best revenge! Embracing this twisted logic, Huang Tianfang led another raid on Building 25, attacking several households. After each kill, they wrote bloody messages in the hallways. "Zhang Yi, if you dont come out, Ill kill all your neighbors!" Chapter 78: Neighbors Seek Protection Chapter 78: Neighbors Seek ProtectionChapter 78: Neighbors Seek Protection Huang Tianfang thought he was clever, killing many people in Building 25 to force Zhang Yi out. If this were a movie with a saintly protagonist, Zhang Yi would surely come out to negotiate with Huang Tianfang. Unfortunately for Huang, Zhang Yi felt no guilt and was instead delighted. Zhang Yis goal was to incite fear among the neighbors by letting Huang Tianfang kill a few more, making them turn to him for help. Just two days later, the neighbors couldn''t take it anymore. They saw the bloodstained messages Huang Tianfang left behind and unanimously believed that only Zhang Yi could resolve the situation by confronting Huang Tianfang. The group chat was flooded with messages, private messages, and voice calls directed at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi glanced at the neighbors'' reactions in the group chat. "Zhang Yi, this is your mess to clean up! The Tianhe Gang came because of you and got killed by you. This has nothing to do with us!" "Yeah, you caused this, so you should deal with it. You can''t make us bear the consequences!" "They said they won''t stop killing until you come out. Zhang Yi, if you have any conscience, you''ll go solve this!" "Do you really have the heart to watch us die because of you?" Reading these messages, Zhang Yi laughed. He wasn''t angry because he knew his neighbors'' nature very well. He casually sent a few messages to the group. "I didnt invite them here. They came to kill me, and I fought back. Now its my fault?" "You can''t defend yourselves, and that''s my problem? How?" "You said theyre too dangerous. Thats exactly why Im staying inside. My house is safe! " He even added a smiling emoji at the end. The neighbors were furious. "Zhang Yi, youre safe, but what about us?" "You''re leaving us to die! How could you be so heartless?" "You brought them here. Why should we face the consequences? Do you have no conscience?" Zhang Yi laughed out loud at their indignation. He knew his neighbors were shameless. He coldly retorted, "Why should I care about you? Your lives or deaths mean nothing to me." "Don''t talk to me about conscience. When you attacked my home, didn''t each of you take part?" "I''m generous enough not to shoot each of you dead. Now you want to talk about conscience?" He added menacingly, "Do you really think I won''t kill you?" His last message silenced many. They remembered Zhang Yi wasn''t someone to mess with. How did Chen Zhenghao die? He was frozen into an ice block and shattered by Zhang Yi! Zhang Yi stopped responding and sent a message to Uncle You. "Uncle You, its your turn to step up!" Uncle You replied, "Don''t worry, Ive got this!" The group chat fell into confusion after Zhang Yi''s harsh words. Their moral blackmail had failed, and negotiations had broken down, meaning they still had to face the murderous Tianhe Gang. With most of the men in Building 25 dead or injured, only Zhang Yi and Uncle You had any real combat ability left. "What should we do? We thought killing Chen Zhenghao would let us live, but the Tianhe Gang is even worse!" "Chen Zhenghao killed to assert dominance and get food. Huang Tianfang kills for revenge. They kill anyone without hesitation!" "Are we really going to die here?" "Damn it, why has the world come to this? Are we headed for a future of barbarism?" "The snow disaster isnt ending soon. Were all going to die in this snow." Many fell into deep despair, believing they wouldnt survive much longer. At that moment, Uncle You, usually silent, spoke up in the group chat. "Everyone, don''t panic. The Tianhe Gang has only about twenty members. If we unite, we can fight them!" His words brought a glimmer of hope to many. As a retired soldier and security guard, Uncle You was known for his reliability. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Uncle You, thank goodness youre here!" "We thought you were dead because you were so quiet lately." "With you here, were safe!" "Uncle You, tell us what to do. Well support you!" Reading the neighbors'' messages, Uncle You felt a twinge of frustration. They wanted him to lead while they watched from the sidelines. He sighed, "I cant do it alone." "My supplies are exhausted. I haven''t eaten for days and have no strength left." "Youre likely in the same situation. How can we fight in this state?" Some neighbors stayed silent, while others, who had been eating well on roasted meat, said nothing. "Uncle You, were all short on food. We cant help you either." "What should we do? Well follow your lead." Once again, they said flattering words. Uncle You suggested, "To confront the other buildings, we need Zhang Yi." "His house has plenty of weapons, and hes well-fed and strong." "Hes the best choice to lead us!" The neighbors exchanged uneasy glances. They had just angered Zhang Yi, and now they needed his leadership. "But Zhang Yi just told us to fend for ourselves." "He wont leave his house, and we cant get him to come out." "But if he leads us, that would be the best." Though they found Zhang Yi detestable, they acknowledged his strength. He had killed many people and defeated the formidable Chen Zhenghao. Uncle You offered, "Let me talk to Zhang Yi. Maybe I can convince him to come out." The neighbors quickly responded, "Uncle You, its all up to you!" Chapter 79: Subduing the Neighbors as Cannon Fodder Chapter 79: Subduing the Neighbors as Cannon FodderZhang Yi watched the conversation unfold in the group chat. He then received a private message from Uncle You. "Zhang Yi, what do we do now?" Zhang Yi replied, "It''s almost time. When the moment comes, back me up. We need to make these people listen to me obediently." "A balance of rewards and threats will keep them in line. Only then will our building be safe." Whether or not the others were safe didn''t matter to Zhang Yi; he only cared about his own safety. Moreover, many of these neighbors had family members killed by him and would seek revenge if given a chance. Therefore, it was best to deal with them now. After discussing the plan with Uncle You, they returned to the group chat. Uncle You pretended to tag Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, everyone here needs you now. If you''re the only one left in this building, wouldn''t you feel lonely?" "So please show some kindness and help everyone out! They will surely be grateful to you from the bottom of their hearts!" The neighbors chimed in quickly. "Yes, yes, if you save us, we will be eternally grateful to you!" "From now on, you''ll be in charge of the building." "Zhang Yi, the lives of my whole family are in your hands!" Flattering words poured in, but Zhang Yi only sneered. "I''m only here because of Uncle You. Otherwise, I wouldnt bother talking to you. Why should I care about you when I''m doing fine by myself?" "Going out to risk my life for you seems pointless to me!" The more Zhang Yi spoke like this, the more anxious the neighbors became. "Zhang Yi, please dont say that! Well do anything you ask if you save us!" Desperate to survive, even in the face of despair, they clung to any hope of staying alive. Zhang Yi coldly asked, "Oh? Really? Will you do whatever I ask?" "Do all of you agree?" The neighbors hesitated for a moment. Someone said, "As long as you dont ask us to die, we agree to any other condition!" Zhang Yi questioned, "What if I ask you to take up arms and fight the Tianhe Gang? Will you do it?" The chat fell silent. No one spoke, each hoping someone else would volunteer. Zhang Yi laughed loudly, "So you just want me to risk my life, right? Fine, I won''t bother with you then." "When Huang Tianfang comes with his men, just stretch out your necks and let them cut. Goodbye!" Uncle You quickly intervened, "Zhang Yi, dont leave us! Well all listen to you." "Given the choice of certain death or fighting back for a chance to live, Ill fight with you!" He then began rallying the others. "What are you hesitating for? If we fight together, theres hope. Otherwise, well be killed one by one!" Uncle Yous encouragement worked. Realizing they might have a chance if they fought, the neighbors reluctantly agreed to follow Zhang Yis orders. Zhang Yi and Uncle You, playing good cop and bad cop, thus gained control over the entire building. Zhang Yi calmly stated, "Alright, from now on, everyone must follow my commands." "The situation is dire, and the enemy could attack at any moment. Any signs of lethargy or negativity will be seen as a betrayal of the entire building!" "And when that happens, dont blame me for killing that person first!" He scanned the list of group members. "Don''t let me find anyone hiding and refusing to fight. If I do, Ill kill them first! No one gets to sit back and reap the benefits without risking their necks!" s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi said this because he noticed only about twenty people had spoken in the group chat. Clearly, some intended to hide and let others fight. Hearing this, those who agreed to follow Zhang Yi were also displeased. "Fang Lin, come out! I saw you yesterday, dont pretend youre dead!" "Liang Yulu, where are you? Stop hiding and pretending not to see the messages. Well come find you!" The neighbors, eyes red with anger, tagged the ones they knew were hiding. Seeing no way out, those hiding sheepishly responded. "I just woke up and saw the messages." "Huh? Whats going on? Are we fighting back? Great!" "Im not afraid of death; I just didnt see the messages." A group of people offered feeble excuses. Zhang Yi ignored them. "In any case, since you chose me as your leader, you must obey my orders. Anyone who chickens out is betraying everyone and deserves to die!" The neighbors fell silent, knowing Zhang Yi meant business. With over fifty people already dead at his hands, there was no doubt hed kill them if they defied him. After wielding the stick, Zhang Yi decided it was time for some carrot. "Rest assured, Im a kind-hearted person. I wont let you starve. If you follow my orders, Ill help you find supplies." Zhang Yi had been planning this for a while. With an engineering team capable of using explosives, there was no guarantee that even stronger enemies wouldnt emerge in the future. He lived on the 24th floor. While his house was built of metal, a collapse on the floors below could still affect him greatly. Therefore, he intended to use the neighbors as cannon fodder, keeping them on lower floors to act as sentries and, if necessary, sacrifice themselves. Feeding them was necessary for this plan. But Zhang Yi wasnt willing to use his stored supplies. He needed to go out and find more. He also needed more weapons and ammunition, as he had used up twenty bullets in the recent fight. Traveling was simple. With the snow over ten meters deep, vehicles were useless. However, there were vehicles specifically designed for snowsnowmobiles. Zhang Yi had five snowmobiles in his storage space, two with cockpits and three small snow scooters. In this snowbound era, while others struggled to leave their homes, he could travel freely around the city. The chat exploded with excitement. "Zhang Yi, you can go out and find supplies?" "With all that snow and no way to drive, are you going to walk through it? Youd freeze to death!" Zhang Yi replied, "The environment outside is harsh, but for everyones sake, Ill try my best." "Dont worry, Ive worked in warehousing for many years. I know where all the warehouses, large malls, and supermarkets are in Tianhai City." "Finding supplies isnt difficult for me." Chapter 80: Snowmobiles Chapter 80: SnowmobilesThe neighbors were like people who had met their savior. Even those who had lost all hope and were wrapped in blankets waiting to die now had a glimmer of light in their eyes. "Zhang Yi, can you really go out and bring back supplies?" S?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "If you can do that, we can survive!" "Although the blizzard has sealed off the city, the resources produced in the past few decades should be enough for us to live on!" "Zhang Yi, I''m really... so touched!" "We treated you so poorly before, and now you''re still..." Some people choked up. Previously, many of their family members had been killed by Zhang Yi. But now, their hatred seemed to vanish, replaced by gratitude. Zhang Yi spoke deeply, "Since I''ve become the head of this building, I have to take responsibility for everyone!" "Besides, my own supplies are running low. Going out to find more is our only way to survive." Zhang Yis words reassured everyone. In a post-apocalyptic world, when someone claimed to be doing good deeds, others often found it hypocritical. But if the person had their own interests at stake, it seemed more believable. After all, the apocalypse had lasted for almost a month. Many families had already starved to death. So, they thought, even if Zhang Yi had hoarded a lot of supplies, it would run out eventually, especially with two people now consuming it faster. The neighbors were immensely grateful, praising Zhang Yi as if he were a deity. Even Zhou Ke''er joked, "If you started a religion now, you could be a prophet!" In times of disaster, religion often grew rapidly because people needed spiritual support. Zhang Yi smiled faintly, "There''s no need to complicate things with cannon fodder." "Just a moldy bun is enough to make them see me as dearer than their own fathers." Zhou Ke''er asked curiously, "But are you really going out?" Her eyes showed a hint of worry and guilt. Zhang Yi understood she genuinely thought his supplies were running low and felt she was a burden. He pinched her soft cheek, smiling, "Don''t worry, there''s enough here to feed you." "I''m just looking for a good opportunity to see what''s outside." Normally, Zhang Yi wouldnt dare venture out, fearing ambushes from crazy neighbors. But now, he had become everyone''s hope for survival, so they wouldnt attack him. Zhou Ke''er nodded, "Then let me go with you!" She knew Zhang Yi didnt fully trust her, so she volunteered to accompany him. Zhang Yi looked at her deeply and slowly shook his head, "We''re in this together now; do you think I still doubt you?" "A woman should stay home and wait for her man to return!" Zhang Yi stood up slowly. Zhou Ke''ers eyes filled with emotion. But it didn''t last long because Zhang Yi quickly packed the remaining food and coal into his alternate space. "I trust you completely!" Zhang Yi said with a smile. Zhou Ke''er was speechless, feeling both touched and exasperated. Just when she was moved by Zhang Yi, he reverted to his usual self. Ignoring Zhou Ke''er''s helpless expression, Zhang Yi returned to his room to change clothes. This was his first time leaving the building since the apocalypse began. Despite the snow sealing the city, making it devoid of life and less dangerous, Zhang Yi took precautions. He wore a cowhide jacket, hard to pierce without significant force. He placed a frying pan on his front and back for added protection against bullets. Finally, he put on a heavy coat, feeling both bulky and secure. He took a crowbar from his space, testing its weight. In a real fight, a heavy crowbar was more effective than a machete. A crowbar strike could incapacitate someone immediately, unlike a knife wound. Fully armed, he loaded his handgun''s magazine and put it in his pocket. Once ready, Zhang Yi left his home. Despite wearing professional-grade cold-weather gear, he could still feel the cold. However, it wouldn''t hinder him; physical activity would warm him up. Holding the crowbar, Zhang Yi cautiously descended the stairs, observing his surroundings. Being careful was paramount. He encountered no incidents on his way. Most people weren''t foolish enough to challenge him. Zhang Yi entered the west building, finding it deserted due to the Tianhe Gang''s activities, which had driven residents to the upper floors. The place was a mess, with broken windows and dismantled security bars letting the wind howl through. Zhang Yi carefully climbed out through a hole in the window. His feet sank into knee-deep snow. Fortunately, the snow had compacted, preventing him from sinking further, but it was still hard to walk through. He surveyed the silent Yue Lu neighborhood, hearing only the wind. No one seemed to be watching. Zhang Yi took out a snowmobile from his space, filled with gas beforehand. Operating the snowmobile wasnt complicated. Zhang Yi quickly learned from the manual and hopped on. The engine roared to life, and Zhang Yi drove the snowmobile out of the neighborhood. He sensed eyes watching him from windows but wasn''t concerned. The noise from the snowmobile was loud and drew attention, but he didnt fear exposing it. Many already had designs on his supplies; this wouldnt change much. He drove through the snowy landscape, familiar enough with the area to navigate by landmarks despite the buried streets. Chapter 81: The Police Stations Armory Chapter 81: The Police Station''s ArmoryThe once bustling Tianhai City lay silent and desolate. Snow blanketed everything, and from high above, only the silhouettes of tall buildings could be seen amidst the vast expanse of white. Zhang Yi raced across the snowy landscape on his snowmobile. Having isolated himself at home for nearly a month, he felt exhilarated to be speeding through the snow. The wind howled past his ears, and the thrill was indescribable, making him let out a few joyful howls. The snowmobiles noise was particularly attention-grabbing. Zhang Yi saw fleeting shadows behind the glass of high-rise buildings. Despite the apocalypse, resilient humans managed to survive, much like tenacious locusts. This extreme cold was akin to pesticide; those who survived would gradually adapt. s?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Feeling the gun in his pocket gave Zhang Yi a sense of security. In this city, every survivor was a potential threat. In the apocalypse, one should never trust human nature. Zhang Yi''s first target wasnt the nearby supermarket. Instead, he headed straight for the Tianhai City Police Station, knowing it would have weapons. He remembered the saying, "All fear comes from insufficient firepower." Therefore, he aimed to acquire as many weapons, especially firearms, as possible. After half an hour, Zhang Yi arrived at the Tianhai City Police Station. Most of it was buried in snow, and the six-story building''s bottom three floors were completely covered. Luckily, the police station was an independent structure with higher ceilings than residential buildings. Otherwise, Zhang Yi would have found nothing if he had arrived a few days later. He parked the snowmobile in front of the western window, turned off the engine, removed the key, and grabbed his crowbar. With a loud crash, he shattered the tempered glass and climbed inside. The interior was pitch black, but Zhang Yi was prepared. He took out a miner''s lamp from his space, a small yet highly bright device used by underground miners. Once turned on, it illuminated the surroundings like a miniature sun. Unfamiliar with the police station''s layout, Zhang Yi had to search room by room. On the snow-covered second floor, he pried open a locked room and was slightly moved by the sight inside. In the corner, seven or eight police officers were huddled together, wrapped in thin blankets. Their bodies were as pale as the snow. Zhang Yi sighed deeply, feeling a twinge of sadness. These officers were likely on night duty when the blizzard struck, lacking proper winter clothing. They appeared to have frozen to death. Zhang Yi considered burying them but decided that leaving them in the building where they had dedicated their lives was a fitting end. He bowed his head in respect, mourning those who had once protected the city, and then continued his search. The police station was cluttered, making the search time-consuming. When he got tired, Zhang Yi took a piece of pure cocoa butter chocolate from his space and ate it to replenish his energy before resuming his search. After nearly two hours, Zhang Yi found the armory, but it was locked. He spent a long time trying to pry it open before realizing he needed the key. Knowing it would be in the duty room, he went to retrieve it. With the key, Zhang Yi opened the armory and was amazed. It contained numerous firearms, including pistols and rifles, amounting to dozens of guns. He even found a sniper rifle, though he didnt recognize its make or model. Zhang Yi didnt care; he collected everything, planning to study them later. The sniper rifle excited him the most. Even if his marksmanship wasnt perfect, it could still intimidate people. Zhang Yi considered himself talented with guns, especially handguns, and his rebirth had made his shooting more decisive. He had hit almost every target during his previous encounter with the Tianhe Gang. Feeling like a sharpshooting genius, Zhang Yi laughed at himself. He also found over a thousand rounds of ammunition, old confiscated guns, and other equipment like bulletproof vests, riot helmets, shields, and batons. "These are enough to form a formidable combat team!" Zhang Yi thought happily, collecting everything. Just these finds made the trip worthwhile. Leaving the police station, Zhang Yi found his snowmobile covered in a thick layer of snow, realizing he had been out for most of the day. "I should find some food for those bastards," he muttered, thinking of his neighbors. After circling the area, he found a supermarket that wasnt completely buried. Breaking a window to enter, he discovered it had been thoroughly looted, with shelves as clean as if freshly bought. Only a few frozen vegetable scraps remained. "This place is too close to the residential area, no wonder its empty," Zhang Yi mused, noting it was a convenience store. "Larger malls further from residential areas should still have supplies." Having worked in warehousing, Zhang Yi knew Tianhai Citys layout well. He decided to head to the Economic Development Zone, where a Wanda Plaza mall had been built two years ago. It was far from residential buildings and less likely to have been looted. Climbing back on his snowmobile, Zhang Yi drove towards the Economic Development Zone, anticipating another successful haul. Chapter 82: Food for the Neighbors Chapter 82: Food for the NeighborsZhang Yi arrived at the Wanda Plaza in the Economic Development Zone. As expected, only the roof was visible above the snow. Following his usual method, he broke the glass on the roof and used climbing ropes to lower himself inside. Inside the mall, traces of its former bustling atmosphere remained. The circular layout showcased various stores filled with exquisite goods. Expensive clothes, shoes, and various household items were now worthless and could be taken freely. Zhang Yi selected some useful items, filling his space with everything from entire stores. The supermarket was located on the basement level. After collecting some supplies, Zhang Yi headed down. As he anticipated, being far from residential areas, the supermarket was still fully stocked. However, the quality of the goods left much to be desired. The mall had partially collapsed under the weight of the snow, letting cold air in, which ruined the food. Shelves were covered in frost. Snacks and cookies had ice layers, and the vegetable section, though not rotten, was severely dehydrated and tasteless. The meat section fared better, with frozen solid meats that resembled zombie flesh. The fish tanks had burst, leaving no chance for fresh fish. In normal times, this food would be thrown away or sent to factories to be repurposed. Zhang Yi shrugged, "I wouldnt eat this even if it were free!" However, to his starving neighbors, this subpar food would be a luxury. Zhang Yi took out two large duffle bags and filled them with rotten vegetables, zombie meat, and some waterlogged bread and cookies. Soon, both bags were full. He left the rest of the food, thinking it might save others lives in the future. After finishing, Zhang Yi checked his Rolex. Even in extreme cold, it kept running, though the time might not be precise. It showed 3:30 PM. Returning to Yue Lu neighborhood would take another hour. Not wanting to waste time, Zhang Yi left the supermarket with the supplies and rode his snowmobile back. By the time he reached Yue Lu, it was getting dark. The engine''s noise was particularly noticeable in the quiet neighborhood. As Zhang Yi returned, faces appeared in windows, staring intently at him. On the 15th floor of Building 26, Huang Tianfang, the Tianhe Gang leader, squinted at the new snowmobile. Half his face, burned and scarred from the fire, looked even more menacing. "There''s such a thing, as a vehicle that works in the snow. If we had it, we could find food outside instead of eating rotten meat," he murmured. A burly man beside him said, "Second Uncle, in our region, this is called a snowmobile." Huang Tianfang''s eyes locked on the snowmobile. "Whatever its called, we need to get it!" Others watching Zhang Yi had similar thoughts. After half a month of isolation, many were on the brink of insanity. Leaving the neighborhood was their only hope for survival, and Zhang Yi''s snowmobile reignited that hope. Zhang Yi felt the greed and murderous intent in their gazes but felt secure knowing the weapons he had found. He parked the snowmobile in the underground garage, where it was out of sight, and stored it back in his space. Carrying the two duffle bags, Zhang Yi walked towards his building. His heavy footprints excited the neighbors, who shouted from their windows. s?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Huang Tianfang''s men also noticed. "Second Uncle, do you think it''s food?" one asked. "Of course! Why else would he go out?" Huang Tianfang replied. Excited murmurs spread among his men. "If he found food, we''re saved!" "Lets rob him and take the snowmobile too!" Their eyes turned red with greed, but Huang Tianfang cautioned them. "Don''t rush. That kid is Zhang Yi, the one who killed Chen Zhenghao. He''s ruthless and has a gun. We need to be careful." Some workers grumbled at Huang Tianfang''s caution, believing they should strike while Zhang Yi was outside. A few decided to sneak down, armed with knives and wrenches. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi, carrying the supplies, entered the building. He texted Uncle You to meet him for assistance. Uncle You, hearing the snowmobile, had already rushed down. Seeing the two large duffle bags, he exclaimed, "Zhang Yi, you found so much stuff!" Zhang Yi smiled, "Professional tasks need professional people." The two hurriedly carried the supplies upstairs. Zhang Yi knew some of Huang Tianfangs men had followed, but he wasnt worried. He had anticipated this and was fully prepared. Chapter 83: The Assailants Chapter 83: The AssailantsZhang Yi spoke calmly, "Indeed, it''s very difficult to find supplies outside. As soon as I went out, I visited all the supermarkets and malls I could remember in the vicinity." "As a result, all the nearby malls were already looted, leaving nothing behind!" "But I didn''t give up. I knew everyone was waiting for me. To make sure everyone could eat, I was determined to search the entire Tianhai City if necessary to bring back food for everyone!" "Finally, I had to go to the western part of the city. Only then did I manage to get this small amount of supplies." Zhang Yi handed the two bags to Uncle You, then went back to open the door for Zhou Ke''er, bringing her down with him. Afterwards, he sent a message in the group chat, summoning the neighbors to come and get the food. Before long, the neighbors swarmed in. The staircases were filled with people, all skinny and starving, their eyes filled with anticipation and greed as they stared at the bags in front of Zhang Yi. Some seemed ready to pounce and grab the bags, but when they saw the black metal object in Zhang Yis right hand, they became fearful. Squinting, Zhang Yi smiled, "I went to great lengths to get these supplies for you all!" He signaled Zhou Ke''er to open the bags. She obediently unzipped them and dumped the contents on the ground. "Whoosh!" A pile of food appeared before everyone''s eyes. There were vegetables, meat, bread, and cookies! Although the quality seemed dubious, and in the past, even dogs wouldn''t have eaten these, now the starving neighbors were ecstatic, their eyes gleaming green! Uncle You raised his fist and shouted, "Long live Zhang Yi! Long live Zhang Yi!" The neighbors quickly caught on, shouting, raising their fists. "Long live Zhang Yi! Long live Zhang Yi!" "Zhang Yi, youre our great hero!" "Brother, from now on, you''re my real brother. Please accept my bow!" At this point, even if Zhang Yi asked them to crawl like dogs, they would obey. The temptation of food was simply too great. Among the crowd, Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin struggled to the front. They looked extremely disheveled, with greasy, messy hair, like two madwomen. Seeing Zhang Yi bring back so much food, Fang Yuqing waved excitedly, "Yi, its me, Yuqing!" She gazed at Zhang Yi with admiration, feeling that he still had feelings for her, even though he had Zhou Ke''er by his side. Surely, he would give her more food. Next to her, Lin Cainin bitterly pleaded, "Qinger, were best friends. Help me get more food from Zhang Yi." Fang Yuqing glanced at Lin Cainin with disdain and pushed her away, "Get lost! You wretched woman!" Their quarrel made Zhang Yi frown. Someone immediately growled at them, "Stop causing trouble and listen to Brother Zhang Yi!" The surrounding people glared at Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, making them quiet down. Fang Yuqing muttered, "Why are you yelling? Do you know my relationship with Brother Zhang Yi?" Seeing everyone settle down, Zhang Yi spoke, "I went through great efforts to bring back these supplies. Naturally, I intend to share them with you all." His tone suddenly turned cold, "But now is a time of crisis. I absolutely wont feed idlers! If you eat this food, you must take up arms against the enemy." "If anyone dares to eat without contributing, Ill make sure they vomit back more than they ate!" Looking at the gun in Zhang Yi''s hand and the food on the ground, everyone nodded, submitting to Zhang Yis carrot-and-stick approach. "Alright, lets distribute the food!" Zhang Yi said, ready to start calling names. Just then, two arms appeared outside the west window. Several workers from the Tianhe Gang had broken in. Seeing the pile of food on the ground, their eyes lit up with excitement! "Brother Zhao, so much food! Weve struck gold!" one worker exclaimed. "No need to say more, grab it!" another worker shouted, pulling out a weapon and rushing at Zhang Yi. These men were truly ruthless. Despite facing dozens of people, they didnt hesitate. S?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. They saw the others as sheep, recognizing only a few capable fighters. Zhang Yis pupils contracted. Instinctively, he drew his gun but then changed his mind. Instead of shooting, he retreated, shouting, "This food is for you. Dont let them take it!" "Anyone who takes down one of them gets food for five!" Hearing this, the initially terrified neighbors stopped running. Indeed, Zhang Yi brought this food back for them. If it were taken, what would they eat? Food was life. Without it, they were as good as dead. Moreover, Zhang Yi had promised food for five for each enemy taken down! The neighbors glanced around. With dozens of them here, what was there to fear? Several young men gritted their teeth, pulled out weapons, and charged. Nowadays, people carried weapons whenever they went out, making it convenient. Zhang Yi retreated, gun pointed forward, to prevent anyone from stealing food amid the chaos. The Tianhe Gang men were caught off guard. Expecting the crowd to flee, they were shocked to see them suddenly attack as if injected with adrenaline! In a blink, chaos erupted. The west hall wasnt large. With dozens of people crammed inside, the clash of shovels, steel pipes, and kitchen knives echoed loudly. For the food, everyone fought desperately. The extreme cold numbed the pain of their wounds. Quickly, people were injured. But those who could still stand kept swinging their weapons frantically. Uncle You was a key fighter, wielding an iron rod with fierce intensity, smashing down while shouting. Though the Tianhe Gang men were fearless, they couldnt withstand such numbers. They were quickly overwhelmed. The air filled with the sounds of rage. It was a cathartic release of emotions. Living in constant fear of death and frequent attacks from the Tianhe Gang, dealing with them swiftly now brought a sense of relief. Their fear of the Tianhe Gang lessened significantly. After the fight, six bodies lay on the ground. Besides the Tianhe Gang members, two neighbors had fallen. Zhou Ke''er frowned slightly at the sight. As a professional surgeon, she knew these two might still be saved but required proper surgical conditions, ample medicine, and blood transfusions. Given the current survival conditions, that was impossible. She sighed helplessly, "Is this the lost world?" Chapter 84: I, Zhang Yi, Do Not Keep Useless People Chapter 84: I, Zhang Yi, Do Not Keep Useless PeopleZhang Yi looked at the neighbors in front of him and nodded with satisfaction. s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After this fight, they could now become suitable vanguards and cannon fodder, making it easier for him to handle future attacks from other buildings. All he had to provide was a bit of junk food and various empty promises. "Clap! Clap! Clap!" Zhang Yi clapped his hands and smiled. "Well done! Did you see? As long as we stand united, there''s nothing to fear from these people!" He gestured to two of the most vigorous young men. "You two, come over here!" The two young men were overjoyed, ignoring the bloodstains on their faces as they approached Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi grabbed a large handful of food from the ground and stuffed it into one person''s arms. One handful wasnt enough, so he added more! Inflated buns, moldy cookies, dehydrated vegetable leaves, and a big piece of white zombie meatall good stuff! The other neighbors watched this scene, swallowing hard, wishing those things were theirs. Zhang Yi gave both men a large pile of food and patted their shoulders. "Keep up the good work, and I wont let you go hungry!" The two young men, Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, were so excited they trembled. This food was enough for them to eat well for several days! Tears flowed down their facesthey hadnt eaten decent food in a long time. "Brother Zhang Yi, well follow you loyally from now on!" "We''ll listen to you. Youre like our brother!" At this moment, they looked at Zhang Yi with eyes full of gratitude. Seeing the hope in their eyes, the other neighbors regretted not putting in more effort earlier. This was precisely what Zhang Yi wanted to see. After rewarding the two most diligent young men, Zhang Yi addressed the rest, "Now, it''s time to distribute the food. Come one by one!" Zhang Yi had observed everyone''s performance during the fight. Those who worked hard got more food; those who didn''t got less. Most people received just a piece of bread or a couple of cookies smaller than a child''s palm. Having raised dogs before, Zhang Yi knew one thing: if you feed a dog too much, it becomes lazy and less obedient. The best way to keep it obedient is to keep it hungry but not starving. The same principle applied to people. The neighbors, disappointed by the small amount of food they received, dared not complain, seeing the two exemplars who got more. Zhang Yi pointed at a wealthy heir young man, Xu Hao, who quickly stepped forward and extended his hands. "Where''s my food?" Zhang Yi looked at him disdainfully, kicked the ground, and casually threw a piece of fruit candy into his hands. "That''s your food." The surrounding neighbors laughed mockingly. Even those who received little felt better seeing someone get even less. Xu Hao stared in disbelief, humiliation overwhelming him. He shouted angrily, "Are you kidding? Why do I only get a piece of candy?" Zhang Yi sneered, "You have the nerve to ask? While others were fighting, you were hiding at the back. Even giving you this candy is an act of charity!" Xu Hao had pretended to be brave, shouting loudly and holding a stick, but he stayed at the back during the fight. Now, facing Zhang Yi, he felt wronged. "It wasnt my fault! They surrounded the enemies so tightly I couldnt even get close!" Zhang Yi replied coldly, "Not my problem. I care about results, not excuses." Xu Hao, enraged and unwilling to accept the injustice, shouted, "This is unfair! Youre targeting me!" Zhang Yi laughed contemptuously, "Fair? Who do you think you are to talk about fairness with me? Im not here to reason with you; Im giving orders. Understand, you useless piece of garbage?" He glanced at Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei. "What do we do with those who dont follow orders?" Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, now loyal followers, put their food down carefully and approached Xu Hao. Despite his initial protests, Xu Hao was quickly beaten into submission, his body convulsing in pain. In the apocalypse, reasoning was a fool''s game. Only fists mattered. After the beating, Zhang Yi ordered, "This is what happens to those who disobey the leaders orders!" "If anyone thinks Im being unfair, you can leave now. Just drop your food and go; I wont hold a grudge." No one stood up, unwilling to part with their food. Seeing their compliance, Zhang Yi nodded, "Good. Now we have an understanding." He approached the beaten Xu Hao, who was still clutching the piece of candy. Zhang Yi cruelly stepped on his hand, making him release it in pain. Kicking the candy away, Zhang Yi coldly said, "Learn your lesson. I, Zhang Yi, do not keep useless people!" After this demonstration, everyone obediently waited for their food distribution, not daring to voice any objections. Zhang Yi quickly finished distributing the food, leaving only a few without any. Chapter 85: Humiliating the Bitches Chapter 85: Humiliating the Bitches"Alright, the supplies have been distributed." Zhang Yi motioned for Zhou Ke''er to put away the remaining supplies into the bags. At this moment, a desperate shout erupted from the crowd. "Yi, I haven''t received any food yet! I haven''t!" It was Fang Yuqing. She had assumed Zhang Yi would surely take special care of her and give her the most food. However, after waiting anxiously for a long time, she had received nothing. Beside her, Lin Cainin also pleaded, "Yi, how could you forget me too?" Zhang Yi looked at them mockingly. "I didnt forget you." Their faces lit up with joy, and they thought Zhang Yi was saving the best for last as a special treat. But Zhang Yi''s next words plunged them into despair. "You two were never going to get any." Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin stared in shock, as if they couldn''t believe their ears. Lin Cainin blurted out, "Why? Everyone else got food, why didn''t we?" Fang Yuqing, unable to accept this, rushed forward with tears in her eyes, "Yi, you''re joking, right? You wouldn''t do this to me." "Didn''t you say you liked me?" Zhang Yi crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow, "I did say I liked you. But did you take it seriously?" "I say that to many girls. We were just having fun, and everyone knew it." "Now I''m no longer interested in you, so don''t bother me anymore. I have a girlfriend now." As he spoke, he deliberately pulled Zhou Ke''er into his arms. Standing next to Zhou Ke''er, Fang Yuqing looked pitiful by comparison. Zhou Ke''er was a graduate of a prestigious university, a chief physician at a top hospital, with impeccable looks, figure, and temperaments. Fang Yuqing, on the other hand, was a small-time office worker, constantly flirting with various men, spending her nights at clubs. It was clear to anyone who was the better choice. Especially now, with Fang Yuqing looking disheveled and dirty, while Zhou Ke''er was well-dressed and neatly groomed, the contrast was stark. Fang Yuqing couldnt bear the blow. Her greatest prideher looks and charmwas being trampled by Zhang Yi. She cried, pointing at Zhang Yi, "No, this can''t be true! You invited me to stay at your place not long ago. Why are you treating me like this now?" Zhang Yi sneered, "Are you talking about that? I was just playing with you. Look at how ridiculous you are now." He then looked at Wang Min and Lin Cainin, "Hey, didnt she always brag about how I liked her and would let her in?" Wang Min and Lin Cainin nodded eagerly. "Yeah, she was always dreaming. Said you would let her stay." "This kind of trash doesn''t know her place. She even caused my cousin''s death. She deserves to die!" Zhang Yi publicly humiliated Fang Yuqing, stripping her dignity bare. Everyone around looked at her with disdain. Fang Yuqing, face pale, covered her ears, "No, stop saying that! Please, stop!" Zhang Yi ignored her pleas and continued, "You think you''re some kind of goddess, always aiming to snag a rich second-generation guy." "But dont you know, in Tianhai City, you''re infamous in the wealthy circles? Everyone knows you''re just a cheap thrill." He turned to Xu Hao, "Xu Hao, what''s her nickname?" Xu Hao, cowering on the ground, gritted his teeth and replied, "The high-minded gold digger!" Laughter erupted from the crowd. "Hahaha!" "Never thought there''d be such a person in our building." "I used to have a crush on her. Damn, knowing it wouldve taken just a few hundred bucks, I wouldnt have wasted so much effort!" "What a shameless woman!" Surrounded by ridicule and insults, Fang Yuqing tried to cover her ears but couldnt block out the noise. "Ah!!!!" She screamed hysterically and ran out. Zhang Yi took out a small packet of cookies and threw it in front of Xu Hao. "Smart move. Here''s your reward." Rewarding obedience was necessary, even like training a dog. Xu Hao, eyes filled with joy, didn''t expect to regain the food he thought he had lost. Despite the recent beating, his resentment toward Zhang Yi faded significantly. He began to see Zhang Yi as a fair leader, realizing his previous defiance was misplaced. S?a??h the N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Thank you, Brother Zhang Yi. Ill obey from now on!" Lin Cainin then stepped forward, "Zhang Yi, Fang Yuqing offended me before, but I have no quarrel with you. I even spoke up for you earlier. Shouldnt I get more food?" Zhang Yi glanced at her, "No." Lin Cainin exploded, "Why not? You pursued her, not me!" Zhang Yi, serious, replied, "I just find you annoying and don''t want to give you any. Is that not enough?" Lin Cainin was left speechless. "You" Zhang Yi said, "The supplies are mine to distribute. I decide who gets what. Got a problem? Keep it to yourself!" "It''s not fair!" Lin Cainin cried bitterly. "Only fools talk about fairness." Zhang Yi ignored her. The others watched with schadenfreude. Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, understanding Zhang Yis intent, quickly escorted Lin Cainin away, preventing her from causing more trouble. With the supplies distributed, Zhang Yi spoke up, "Now, lets discuss how to fortify our defenses." Standing beside Uncle You, Xie Limei frowned and whispered, "Why didnt we get any? You killed two, so we should get food for eleven!" Uncle You reassured her, "Zhang Yi wont forget us. Be patient." Xie Limei glared at him, muttering under her breath while eyeing Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi addressed the group, "There are 47 people in our building, excluding the children." "Excluding myself, Zhou Ke''er, Uncle You, and Xie Limei, there are 43 left. We''ll divide into six groups, with seven to eight people each." "We''ll take turns on 24-hour shifts to prevent attacks from other buildings." "If anyone sees intruders, knock on the stair rails or other metal objects to alert everyone." "Once people wake up, use the same method to notify those on higher floors." Zhang Yi put his hands in his pockets and said seriously, "The rewards I mentioned earlier still stand. Kill an enemy, get food for five!" "If you dont achieve anything but still stand guard, youll get food for one daily. However, others will choose their portions first, and your share wont be guaranteed." Turning to Uncle You, Zhang Yi said, "Uncle You, youll handle the arrangements." Uncle You nodded, "No problem!" Chapter 86: The Sniper Rifle Chapter 86: The Sniper RifleAfter Zhang Yi finished speaking, the neighbors bowed their heads, weighing the pros and cons. Someone asked, "Zhang Yi, it''s understandable that you and Zhou Ke''er don''t need to be on guard duty. But why doesn''t Uncle You need to either? He''s our best fighter!" Zhang Yi stared at the man and said firmly, "Precisely because Uncle You is a key combatant, he needs to conserve his strength for critical battles. Understand?" This reasoning was somewhat flimsy, but no one dared to contradict Zhang Yi. In truth, Zhang Yi''s real intention was to ensure Uncle You''s safety. While the others were on the front lines, tasked with defending against enemy assaults from other buildings, effectively serving as cannon fodder or, more politely, expendables, Uncle You was skilled and loyalan ideal subordinate for Zhang Yi, someone he wanted to keep alive for future usefulness. After organizing everything, Zhang Yi instructed the neighbors to return to their homes, leaving only those on duty near the west wing. Any attacks on their unit would have to pass through the west wing, whether through tunneling from below or climbing through fourth-floor windows. Guarding this area would allow them to detect any intruders promptly. Once everyone else had gone upstairs, Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er returned to their apartment. Zhang Yi never left his back exposed to those he didn''t trust. With no one else around, Xie Limei finally couldn''t hold back any longer. "Zhang Yi, did you forget about our food?" Zhang Yi looked up at Xie Limei, his eyes coldly amused. Uncle You quickly pulled her arm, "What are you saying?" Xie Limei insisted, "Uncle You did the most, yet we get nothing. That''s too..." Zhang Yi interrupted, "The supplies I brought back arent just what''s been handed out. The good stuff is still with me." "Uncle You, come to my place later and get some." Xie Limeis expression brightened instantly. "I knew you wouldn''t let him work for nothing!" Uncle You gave her a sideways glance, "I told you, Brother Zhang Yi is a trustworthy man!" Zhang Yi smiled silently. Back at home, Zhang Yi retrieved a box of instant noodles from his alternate space and placed it at the door, notifying Uncle You to come by in ten minutes. He then quickly shed his cold-weather gear. Clang! The frying pan hidden inside his leather jacket fell to the floor. Zhou Ke''er laughed as she picked it up. "There probably wasnt a soul outside. You''re overly cautious!" Zhang Yi grinned, "I wont need this thing anymore." He had found something better. Police-issued bulletproof vests were snug and secure. Back in his warm home, Zhang Yi felt a profound sense of happiness. Even in cold-weather gear, the chill was pervasive, especially when riding the snowmobile, despite temperatures of minus seventy degrees. He placed some food from his alternate space on the table. Since he had taken all the food with him, he and Zhou Ke''er had fasted all day. Now, they sat at the table, eating heartily. Zhou Ke''er asked curiously, "Whats it like outside?" Zhang Yi replied, "What do you expect? The city is snowed in, with the lower floors completely covered." "At this rate, even if the snow stops and temperatures normalize, itll take over half a month for the snow to melt." Zhou Ke''er nodded. "But now it''s about to be winter, so the temperature will only drop further." "That''s not a problem for us," Zhang Yi said. "The real threat now is people." "People in the apocalypse are more terrifying than demons." After their meal, Zhou Ke''er cozied up to Zhang Yi, hugging his shoulder. Zhang Yi glanced at her. "What are you doing?" Her face flushed slightly. "Getting warm!" She pressed her body, rich in fatty layers, against him. Ever since Zhang Yi had awakened her desires, she clung to him daily. Fortunately, Zhang Yi was young and vigorous; an average man wouldn''t have been able to keep up. Zhang Yi smiled and playfully slapped her on the butt. "I have no time for you now. Go take a shower and wait for me in bed!" Zhou Ke''er flirtatiously winked at him before heading off to bathe. What could make Zhang Yi set aside even the allure of beauty? Naturally, it was a man''s true passionguns! He took out all the firearms he had collected today. Zhang Yi had some knowledge of guns, having been a member of Tianhai City''s shooting club and frequenting the range. Police firearms, with their superior performance, easily replaced his black market purchases. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He swapped out his old guns for two police-issue pistols, fully loaded. With the gun holsters and tactical belts, he strapped them to his waist. Then, he turned his attention to the rifles and a sniper rifle. While the shooting range in Tianhai City had rifles for target practice, it didnt have sniper rifles. Fortunately, the internet was full of detailed information on various firearms. Zhang Yi praised the large companies whose servers still operated, likely in cooperation with the government, to maintain civilizations remnants. He quickly learned how to use these guns, thanks to his prior experience. "Even if my aim isnt perfect, I know how to fire and reload. That''s enough." The presence of firearms alone was a significant deterrent. He loaded all the magazines and safety-checked the guns before storing them back in his alternate space for quick access in emergencies. Zhang Yi found the sniper rifle particularly appealing. Guns are a man''s romance, and his fascination with firearms was natural. He lifted the rifle, using the scope to look at the opposite building. The window lock fifty meters away was clearly visible through the scope. "I need to try out this rifle. It''s the perfect weapon for ambushes," Zhang Yi thought, smiling. He preferred covert attacks over direct confrontations. Sneaking in a corner and taking out enemies unseen was his style. Chapter 87: The Tianhe Gang’s Revenge Chapter 87: The Tianhe Gangs RevengeZhang Yi felt a thrill as he held the sniper rifle, using the scope to observe the entire neighborhood. It was nighttime, and without electricity, the apartment buildings were pitch black inside. However, the snow reflected enough light that the outside remained a white expanse where some scenery could still be seen. Suddenly, Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. When he looked toward the garage, he saw two small black dots moving. "The garage, people. Looks like theyre going after my snowmobile!" Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a mocking smile. Earlier, he had pretended to store the snowmobile in the garage. Sure enough, someone had come sneaking around at night. Unfortunately for them, it was a futile effort. A while later, Uncle You arrived. Seeing the unopened box of instant noodles at the door, his eyes welled up with emotion. "Didn''t expect it to be Bai Xiang brand. Zhang Yi, youre so generous!" This box of instant noodles, if rationed, could feed his group of three for a week. Uncle You felt deeply touched when he thought about how Zhang Yi didnt have much food left yet still gave him so many noodles. Zhang Yi didnt have many of these instant noodles at home, only around twenty thousand boxes in his warehouse. He hadnt even eaten one yet, preferring the gourmet meals prepared by top chefs at home. Uncle You picked up the instant noodles, knocked on the door, and said, "Zhang Yi, Im taking the noodles. Thank you!" Zhang Yi put down the sniper rifle and went to the door, saying, "Uncle You, no need for thanks between us!" Zhang Yi didnt care about others, but he made sure Uncle You had enough to eat. Only by ensuring Uncle You was well-fed could he be a top fighter and human shield. Zhang Yi wasnt heartless; he wouldnt let Uncle You die unless absolutely necessary. Well, unless absolutely necessary. s?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Uncle You scratched his head and chuckled. "Dont take what Xie Limei said to heart. She tends to be a bit sharp-tongued." Zhang Yi lowered his eyelids and smiled lightly. "Why would I hold a grudge against a woman? Im not that petty!" "But Uncle You, are you really going to raise someone else''s child?" Zhang Yis tone carried a hint of probing. He didnt like Xie Limei but didnt want to sour his relationship with Uncle You either. So, he planted seeds of doubt subtly. Uncle You laughed. "In these times, what can we say? Finding a woman like her is already fortunate." Zhang Yi nodded. "True. Sister Xie is a good woman, not bad-looking, and she can bear children." "I dont mean anything else. Just think youre underestimating yourself, Uncle You." "In these times, strong men who are good fighters are in high demand! Jokingly, you could even get a celebrity if you wanted." Uncle You was pleased by the praise. "Am I really that good?" Zhang Yi replied, "Look at the current situation. Those pretty boys who can sing, dance, and rap are useless, unable to fend for themselves." "Only men like us can give women a sense of security." Then Zhang Yi changed the subject. "But still, Sister Xie is quite good. Work hard, and maybe shell give you a child too!" "After all, every man should have his own child. Raising someone elses kid is... well..." Uncle You felt uneasy. Zhang Yis words stirred thoughts in him. He liked Xie Limeishe was well-built, skilled, and satisfied him, an old bachelor. But her child was a burden, often waking him at night and disrupting his rest. If the child were his own, hed accept it. But raising someone elses child was different. People are inherently selfish. Uncle You had been suppressing these thoughts, but Zhang Yis words made him reconsider. "Haha, thinking about children now is unrealistic. Maybe later, when things stabilize," Uncle You said, forcing a smile. "Right, right, just saying. I hope you and Sister Xie find happiness." Uncle You nodded. "Ill be going now. Contact me if you need anything!" After Uncle You left, Zhang Yi loaded the sniper rifle''s magazine and stored it in his alternate space. These rifles and sniper rifles would be his secret weapons. A while later, the sound of water in the bathroom stopped. Zhou Ke''er came out, wrapped in a pink towel. Her milk-white skin and long, shapely legs glowed under the light. Lying on the sofa, Zhang Yi massaged his temples and lazily said, "Im a bit tired today. Come and give me a massage." Zhou Ke''er nodded, walked over, and began massaging his body gently. ... That night, the weakened Tianhe Gang launched another attack on Building 25. Their recent successes made them dismissive of everyone in Building 25 except Zhang Yi. This time, they were surprised to encounter resistance. Leading the attack was Huang Tianfang''s nephew, Huang Wei, known for his stealth attacks. Around 2 AM, he led eight men into Building 25 under the cover of darkness. They were met with a barrage of bricks from above. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The guards quickly retaliated with whatever they hadkitchen knives, sticks, stones, and brickshurling them down to delay the attackers. They also banged on stair rails and windows to alert everyone else. Soon, the entire building was awake. Driven by revenge and desperation for supplies, Huang Weis men pressed on despite their small numbers. But their numbers and fierce fighting skills were no match for the well-prepared residents of Building 25. The promise of food for every kill spurred the residents into a frenzy, each eager to claim the bounty. The fight lasted only a few minutes, leaving three bodies behind. Seeing the unfavorable situation, Huang Wei shouted, "Retreat, now!" As they fled, the residents of Building 25 cheered, chasing after them. One worker, too slow to escape, was struck on the buttocks with a kitchen knife, screaming in pain as he struggled to climb out. The residents didnt dare pursue further into the night, unsure of what awaited outside. Zhang Yi, awakened by the commotion, went to the balcony and watched the fleeing Tianhe Gang members. An idea struck him. "Could I take them out with the sniper rifle from this distance?" Chapter 88: Precision Shooting, Perfect Aim Chapter 88: Precision Shooting, Perfect AimWhen a man encounters a beautiful woman, his first thought is often to get into know her better. Similarly, when he gets his hands on a good weapon, he can''t resist trying it out. This instinct is ingrained, like the childhood habit of picking up a good stick and pretending its a sword. And now, Zhang Yi had a sniper riflea weapon most ordinary people in China couldn''t even dream of handling, let alone use against others. Lets see how well this thing works! Zhang Yi retrieved the sniper rifle from his alternate space and stood on the balcony of his 24th-floor apartment, aiming downwards. The 8x scope was incredibly powerful. What looked like tiny ants from the 24th floor were now clearly visible. Zhang Yi held his breath to prevent his exhaled warm air from fogging the scope. The seven people escaping through the snow were moving slowly, making it easy to aim. S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Yi aimed at one person''s back and pulled the trigger. For some reason, at the moment the bullet left the chamber, he had a strange feelingthis bullet would hit for sure! Bang! The gunshot rang out loudly in the silent night, waking countless people from uneasy dreams. Through the scope, Zhang Yi saw the person fall to the ground, blood staining the snow. Wow, how am I such a good shot? Could it be that Im a natural talent? Zhang Yi was both surprised and delighted. He had only wanted to test the gun, not expecting a perfect shot. What was that strange feeling just now? He was puzzled but didnt have time to dwell on it. The remaining men quickened their pace upon hearing the shot and seeing their comrade fall. Zhang Yi quickly reloaded and aimed at the next person. As he focused on his target, that mysterious feeling reappeared. Bang! Another gunshot, another person down. Zhang Yi realized he wasnt just lucky. This was a special ability! Excited, he mumbled to himself, It seems my awakened ability isnt just about the alternate space. I didnt realize my full potential until now. He could now confirm his ability was related to precision shooting. Switching from close-range combat with bows and handguns to a sniper rifle, the feeling became more pronounced. Thrilled, Zhang Yi reloaded and aimed for another headshot. Bang! The persons head exploded in a cloud of blood mist. Confirming his incredible accuracy, Zhang Yi continued shooting. Bang! Bang! Bang! With each shot, a body fell. The remaining men couldnt escape back to their base, all dying midway. Seven bodies lay in the snow, blood staining the white landscape. Zhang Yi couldnt stop smiling. From now on, he could stay hidden and take down enemies from a distance! Downstairs, the neighbors, hearing the gunshots and seeing Huang Weis men fall one by one, were terrified. That gunshot came from upstairs! It must be Zhang Yi! A sniper rifle, from that distance, one-shot kills. Zhang Yi must be a sharpshooter! Stunned and fearful, they realized Zhang Yi could kill them as easily as squashing an ant. Their imagination ran wild, making Zhang Yi seem like an elite soldier hiding in the city. Its best to obey Zhang Yi from now on. Yes, were only alive because Zhang Yi hasnt turned against us. This night, Zhang Yis reputation skyrocketed. Anyone with some knowledge of firearms knew the difference between the power of a handgun and a sniper rifle. When a handgun could dominate a building, the thought of someone wielding a sniper rifle was terrifying. Zhang Yi put away the sniper rifle and massaged his shoulder. The recoil had made his shoulder ache. Uncle You sent a message, asking if Zhang Yi was the one shooting. Recognizing the sound as a sniper rifle, he was curious if Zhang Yi had military experience. Zhang Yi replied, I got it from the police station today. Uncle You, impressed, asked, Were you in the military? Your marksmanship is incredible. Zhang Yi laughed, Just a natural talent. Uncle You didnt press further, assuming Zhang Yi didnt want to talk about it. He was relieved to know it was Zhang Yi''s shooting. If it were someone else, they would be in danger. After chatting briefly, Zhang Yi went back to his room, lying in his warm, soft bed. The next morning, he woke up around nine, washed up, and let Zhou Ke''er out of her room. Make something to eat. I want some freshly made food. How about two bowls of spicy noodles? Zhang Yi said. Zhou Ke''er smiled, My cooking isnt as good as the restaurants. Zhang Yi shrugged, Just practice more. We have plenty of time. Tired of restaurant food, Zhang Yi craved some homemade dishes for a change. Zhou Ke''er obediently went to the kitchen and soon returned with two bowls of spicy noodles. Zhang Yi took a bite, finding the taste quite good. As they sat at the table, Zhou Ke''er curiously asked, I heard gunshots last night. Were you shooting from the balcony? Chapter 89: The Warehouse District Chapter 89: The Warehouse DistrictZhang Yi glanced at Zhou Ke''er and smiled. "Yes." He took a bite of the noodles. Zhou Ke''er''s cooking was average, but noodles are relatively simple to make, so they were decent enough. "I found it while I was out. It''s a sniper rifle," Zhang Yi said casually. Zhou Ke''er''s beautiful eyes sparkled with excitement. "A sniper rifle? Do you know how to use it?" "Not only do I know how to use it, but I''m also very good at it," Zhang Yi boasted. "Last night, I took down seven people with seven bullets." Men love showing off their trophies to women, and Zhang Yi was no exception. He felt proud and wanted to impress Zhou Ke''er. Zhou Ke''er looked at Zhang Yi with admiration. Being with such a capable man gave her a stronger sense of security. "Zhang Yi, you''re amazing!" she exclaimed, resting her chin in her hands and gazing at him with admiration. Zhang Yi chuckled, "Aren''t you curious about how I know how to use a sniper rifle?" Zhou Ke''er shook her head. "What does it matter to me? Even if you were a murderer or a psychopath in the past, I''m sticking with you now. It''s better than dying out there, right?" Zhang Yi nodded, "You''re smart, unlike some foolish women who always ask too many questions." ... In Building 26, the Tianhe Gang discovered the bodies of Huang Wei and his men in the morning. Huang Tianfang had felt something was wrong when he heard the gunshots last night but didn''t dare check until morning. Seeing the ten corpses piled outside, he was filled with rage, but his fear was ten times greater. The Tianhe Gang was now down to nine people, significantly weakening their combat power. Even if they forced the remaining residents to join, it wouldn''t compensate for the loss of skilled workers. If a fight broke out with another building, they''d be at a severe disadvantage. "They have guns, not just any guns, but possibly rifles or sniper rifles," Huang Tianfang said gravely. "The shots last night were dense, which means they have plenty of ammunition. This opponent is not to be underestimated." His men were equally terrified. "Boss, what do we do now? Big Wei and the others are dead. Weve lost half our people. Do we still fight?" Huang Tianfang looked viciously towards Building 25. "Fight my ass! They have guns. What do we fight with?" His men grew anxious. "But if we dont rob his supplies and snowmobile, we won''t have enough food to last a few days!" After a moment of silence, Huang Tianfang said, "Tonight, well go and retrieve Big Weis body." His men exchanged uneasy glances. They had been through thick and thin together, and now they had to They felt a pang of sorrow but remained silent. Survival took precedence over everything else. ... After Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er finished eating, Zhang Yi stood up. "I''m heading out." Zhou Ke''er quickly stuffed a bag of chips into her pocket. Zhang Yi didn''t say anything but, this time, he didn''t put away the two boxes of food in the kitchen. After living together for a while, he trusted Zhou Ke''er''s intelligence. She wouldnt betray him unless a better opportunity presented itself. Zhang Yi went downstairs. The guards on duty straightened up immediately upon seeing him. "Brother Zhang, are you going out?" Zhang Yi nodded, "Keep up the good work!" He climbed out of the west wing window, then pretended to go to the garage. Soon, he rode his snowmobile out of the neighborhood. Many eyes watched him from behind windows, their gazes filled with complex emotionsexcitement, envy, and anger. In Building 21, the self-proclaimed Tianlang Gang, composed of young men in their twenties, watched Zhang Yi leave. Tianlang Gang leader Wang Qiang, holding a bloodstained machete, frowned. "Where does he hide his snowmobile?" Last night, he had sent people to steal Zhang Yi''s snowmobile. His second-in-command, Xiao Lu, replied, "Our neighborhood is quite large, and he''s hidden it well. It''s hard to find." Wang Qiang scoffed, "We must get that snowmobile no matter what! With it, we can search for supplies and expand our gang." Xiao Lu nodded, "Indeed. Heroes rise in troubled times. This era is our opportunity!" He looked in the direction Zhang Yi had gone, his eyes bloodshot. "But first, lets find some cigarettes. I havent smoked in half a month; Im going crazy!" Elsewhere, leaders of other units discussed Zhang Yi. To them, Zhang Yi was both a threat and an opportunity. He had guns, including high-powered rifles, but also a snowmobile for fetching supplies. Some wanted to fight him, others to cooperate, but one thing was certainthey would soon confront him. ... Zhang Yi first checked nearby supermarkets but found they were all buried under snow. Even the small ones were completely covered. "It seems the entire city is off-limits for food unless the snow melts. Only large supermarkets and warehouses are viable options." S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi thought of the place where he used to work. In the southwest direction of the Economic Development Zone, there was a large area of warehouses built by various companies due to cheap land prices. Zhang Yi had already looted the Walmart warehouse, but other companies goodsmedical supplies, food, cars, toyswere still there. "Lets take a look. Maybe theres something useful." He decided and headed towards the warehouse district. The warehouse was about ten kilometers away, so he arrived in under twenty minutes. The area was vast, with tall factory buildings that hadnt accumulated too much snow. As Zhang Yi approached, he could still see some rooftops. Chapter 90: The Gas Station Chapter 90: The Gas StationZhang Yi knew this area too well. Hundreds of companies'' warehouses, varying in size, were concentrated here in Tianhai City. "If I could gather all the supplies, it wouldn''t just be enough for me; it could feed thousands of people." However, the real question was whether those supplies were still here. Zhang Yi took out his handgun and crowbar, heading to check the nearby RT-Mart warehouse first. He smashed the window from the top and peered inside, only to find the huge factory building empty. "Did they move everything out?" Zhang Yi was not surprised; he had expected this. He continued to other warehouses, finding the same results. Medical equipment, daily necessities, food, even snacks, and pet foodeverything had been cleared out. "Just as I thought." "When a disaster strikes, the experts notify the authorities first. They would prioritize moving the supplies." This was why Zhang Yi had emptied the Walmart warehouse a week before the disaster. He knew that when a disaster struck, those in power would only think of themselves, disregarding ordinary people''s lives. Zhang Yi didnt give up searching. There were hundreds of warehouses here; he might find something useful. After half a day, he found a warehouse storing cars. The massive area, over a million square meters, was filled with cars neatly arranged like sardines. Among them were many luxury cars worth millions before the apocalypse, but now they were practically useless. Even though they couldnt be driven in the snowy conditions, Zhang Yi decided to collect some. "Men love cars. Seeing these luxury cars, I might as well collect a few for fun, even if I cant drive them now." He chose a dozen of his favorite cars and stored them in his alternate space. The rest of the day was spent combing through the warehouse district. Most warehouses had been emptied, leaving behind large machinery and building materials that were too cumbersome to move. There was no food or daily necessities to be found. Zhang Yi bit his lip, collecting various items like a scavenger. Heavy trucks, excavators, a Rolls-Royce Phantom, bulldozersanything that might be useful in the future. "If I need them, theyll come in handy," he convinced himself. Finally, Zhang Yi decided to stop. He had gathered everything useful from the area and didnt need anything urgently for now. He took out a piece of chocolate, quickly ate it, and then gulped down some snow to wash it down. Drinking hot water was impossible in this freezing weather; it would cool down within minutes. As he finished, he thought of one more place to checkgas stations. He had gathered many vehicles and thought of gasoline and diesel. His current stock of fuel in the alternate space was enough for daily life, but given the situation, he would rely heavily on the snowmobile for transportation. This meant his fuel reserves might not last. Out of caution, Zhang Yi decided to visit a gas station and see if he could get more fuel. He rode his snowmobile towards the largest gas station in Tianhai City. When he arrived, the sight made him exhale a long breath of white smoke. The huge gas station was completely buried under snow, and he could only identify its location by the tall buildings around it. Though he had expected this, Zhang Yi couldnt help but feel disappointed. "Gas stations dont have high-rise buildings, so how am I supposed to find a place to refuel?" "Damn it!" Zhang Yi frowned at the situation. With the snow depth, digging it out manually was nearly impossible. Plus, who knew how long this snow disaster would last? Would he have to ration fuel strictly? Based on his current fuel reserves and the snowmobiles consumption, he might run out in twenty years. "Humans are so weak. If only I could use heavy machinery to dig," Zhang Yi thought wryly. Just as he was about to leave, an idea struck him. "Excavation equipment?" "An excavator might work!" He had just collected several work vehicles from the warehouse, including excavators. He had originally picked them for future use, not expecting to need them so soon. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Although using an excavator to dig through snow was unusual, the idea seemed feasible. The snow had accumulated for less than a month and hadnt formed a hard ice layer yet. An excavator could easily handle it. He only needed to dig down to the doors or windows and break in. "It can work!" Zhang Yi decided to act immediately, taking a large excavator out of his alternate space. "Boom!" The nearly twenty-ton excavator hit the ground and sank more than a meter into the snow. Zhang Yi laughed. "This makes it easier. Saves me some digging." The snow on the surface was still relatively thin and couldnt support such weight. The snow below, however, was compacted and firmer. Though it was his first time operating an excavator, it wasnt difficult. During his warehouse job, he operated cranes, forklifts, and large trucks. After a bit of tinkering, he figured out how to drive it. His technique wasnt perfect, but it was enough to get the job done. Chapter 91: Found a New Path Chapter 91: Found a New PathOperating the excavator was relatively straightforward, primarily involving two push levers and a control stick for the bucket. Zhang Yi found the fuel tank and filled it with diesel from his alternate space. Then he climbed into the control room and turned the key. "Rumble!" Fortunately, the low temperature didnt severely affect the new machinery, and the excavator started without issue. Zhang Yi began maneuvering the excavator, shoveling the snow to the sides. Initially slow, he gradually picked up speed. After half an hour, he had dug a three-meter-deep pit, and the tracks could move slowly. The excavators tracks, instead of wheels, made it remarkably effective in the snow. Zhang Yi even thought that in special circumstances, this machine could serve as a transport vehicle. Though slow, the excavators tracks moved smoothly over the snow. They could handle even muddy swamps, proving to be extremely versatile! Despite his lack of experience, Zhang Yi managed to excavate the snow for nearly two hours until he hit solid building structures. Overjoyed, he began clearing the snow along the buildings outline, revealing the large rooftop platform of the gas station. Finding the gas station''s building made the task easier. Following the structure, he methodically cleared the snow. Due to his lack of proficiency, it took Zhang Yi a full five hours to reach the convenience store window of the gas station. Thankfully, he used the excavator, not his hands, or he would have been exhausted to death. Zhang Yi climbed down from the excavator, stored it back into his alternate space, and broke the window to jump inside. He was startled by the sight inside. The snow had breached the doors, filling most of the space. Fortunately, the back door was still visible. Walking carefully on the snow, Zhang Yi searched for the fuel storage area. Gas stations typically have underground storage tanks, reducing the risk of being buried by snow. It didnt take long for Zhang Yi to find the entrance to the storage area. Despite the spacious front, the back area was compact, making the entrance easy to locate. Using a crowbar, he pried open the iron door and illuminated the space with his miner''s lamp. The sight made him gasp. Five massive storage tanks, each holding about 200 cubic meters of fuel, stood before him. The sheer volume was overwhelming. Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then carefully stepped back outside to remove any static electricity from his body before daring to re-enter. The gas station had ceased operations, and the place was pitch dark. Using the miners lamp, Zhang Yi sealed the fuel pipes with plastic and cling film to prevent leaks. Then, he stored the enormous tanks in his alternate space. With three tanks of gasoline and one diesel, he no longer had to worry about fuel for his vehicles in the future. "Wait a minute!" A sudden thought struck Zhang Yi. "If I can use the excavator to dig through the snow, doesnt that mean I can uncover other buried places as well?" "This means the entire world could become a massive treasure trove!" "Possibly a treasure trove for me alone!" Zhang Yi''s mind raced with excitement at this realization. Underneath the snow, countless treasures awaited discovery. "All valuable items, all valuable items!" Zhang Yi thought, feeling a surge of confidence. He no longer feared any shortage of supplies. The whole world could be at his disposal! Following the tracks left by the excavator, Zhang Yi climbed back to the surface, mounted his snowmobile, and decided to end his search for the day. It was getting late. He made another trip to the supermarket in Wanda Plaza, grabbing two bags of junk food to take back. As soon as the snowmobile appeared outside the neighborhood, many people peered through their windows, watching him intently. Zhang Yi parked the snowmobile behind his building, pretending to put it in the garage, then carried the two bags of food back to Building 25. Without needing to be summoned, the neighbors gathered at the entrance. This time, Fang Yuqing didnt come. She seemed to have accepted that Zhang Yi wouldnt give her any more food. However, Lin Cainin remained hopeful and tried to get some food. Zhang Yi didnt even glance at her. "Everyone worked hard dealing with the intruders yesterday. Todays food is your reward." "Lets distribute it according to our agreed-upon rules." He distributed the food based on contribution. Since the food was limited, those who did less work received less food. In simple terms, those who slacked off shouldnt expect to eat much. Because of the sniper rifle incident, the neighbors were more fearful of Zhang Yi and didnt dare complain. They also knew that Zhang Yi had killed the most enemies. Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, who hadnt been on duty the previous night, received only single portions, which were barely enough to fill them. They looked disappointed. Li Chengbin said, "Brother Zhang, just waiting for them to attack could take forever." "You killed more than ten of them. Theyre probably too scared to come back. How are we supposed to earn our rewards?" Young men tend to be impatient. Zhang Yi, touching his nose, smiled calmly. "Opportunities come to those who are prepared. I only said that killing one enemy would earn you five portions of food. But I never said you had to wait for them to attack." Li Chengbin and Jiang Leis eyes lit up. "You mean we can take the initiative?" "We can kill people from other buildings for rewards?" They were thrilled. S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. They desperately needed food and wanted to prove themselves within the group. They hoped to become Zhang Yis trusted followers. Zhang Yi pondered. So far, only the Tianhe Gang from Building 26 had attacked Building 25. But who knew what might happen in the future? Especially after Zhang Yi revealed his snowmobile, more people in the neighborhood would surely target him. Li Chengbin and Jiang Leis suggestion intrigued Zhang Yi. These people were originally recruited as cannon fodder. If they wanted to risk their lives, so be it. Besides, the junk food was of little value to Zhang Yi. Smiling approvingly, Zhang Yi said, "Of course you can! Anyone from outside our building is an enemy. Killing them ensures our collective safety." "From now on, you can kill anyone from other buildings and exchange their bodies for rewards." That was the rule. Given the harsh cold and heavy snow, they could only target nearby buildings. Naturally, their first target would be Building 26, home of the Tianhe Gang. Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei cheered excitedly. The others had mixed reactions but were visibly interested. After all, who wouldnt want more food? Chapter 92: If You Dont Save My Grandson, You Deserve to Die! Chapter 92: If You Don''t Save My Grandson, You Deserve to Die!After distributing the food, Lin Cainin caused another commotion but was beaten badly by Zhang Yi''s lackeys, Jiang Lei and Li Chengbin. Then, Zhang Yi sent everyone back home. s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. As Zhou Ke''er walked beside him, she linked her arm with his and whispered, "Something feels off in the neighborhood today." Zhang Yi subtly withdrew his arm and asked indifferently, "Oh? What''s going on?" Zhou Ke''er hesitated momentarily, realizing that Zhang Yi didn''t want to be restrained in any way, especially outside their home. "I have this strong feeling that many eyes are watching us. Its quite unsettling." Zhang Yi laughed lightly, "Its not surprising. The appearance of a snowmobile is bound to attract envy. This is the South, and such a vehicle is extremely rare. Having it means being able to go out and search for supplies, which translates to survival. Who wouldnt want that?" Zhou Ke''er looked worried. "Do you think people from other buildings might attack us too? It could become very dangerous." Zhang Yi looked around to ensure no one was nearby and then lowered his voice. "We have plenty of cannon fodder, dont we? And besides, no matter how capable they are, breaking into our home is nearly impossible." Zhou Ke''er laughed, "But if people are desperate, who knows what they might do!" Zhang Yi nodded, "Youre right about that." As they conversed, Zhang Yi habitually scanned their surroundings. He noticed a black crack at the edge of his vision. As they passed the 13th floor, he saw the iron door of the stairwell slightly ajar with a blood-red eye staring through the gap. "Who''s there!" Zhang Yi''s muscles tensed. Even with his bravery, the sudden encounter made him uneasy. The stairwell door burst open with a bang. A disheveled woman rushed out, wielding a bloodstained kitchen knife, and aiming at Zhang Yis head. "Ah!!" Zhou Ke''er screamed. Zhang Yi quickly pushed Zhou Ke''er aside, causing himself to fall as well. The knife missed its target. The woman, however, continued her assault. Zhang Yi rolled down the stairs, protected by his thick clothing and bulletproof vest, preventing serious injury. As he steadied himself several floors down, he recognized the womanAunt Lin, who had disappeared for a long time. She relentlessly pursued him, eyes bloodshot, brandishing the knife. "Zhang Yi, you must pay for my grandson''s life!" "Damn old hag!" Zhang Yi, now composed, retrieved a thick crowbar from his alternate space and swung it at her. The narrow stairwell left Aunt Lin no room to dodge. The crowbar didnt hit her head but struck her shoulder instead. "Crack!" Zhang Yi heard the sound of bones breaking. The frail woman crumpled to the floor, clutching the bloodstained knife, glaring at Zhang Yi with hatred. "Kill... kill you! Avenge my grandson!" Zhang Yi coldly stared at her and then smashed the crowbar onto her hand, shattering her fingers and making her drop the knife. "Ah!!!" Her screams echoed through the stairwell. Hearing the commotion, the patrol team rushed over. Seeing Zhang Yi and Aunt Lin, they asked, "Brother Zhang, what happened?" Zhang Yi replied icily, "This old hag tried to kill me!" The men cursed, "This old woman deserves to die!" "Brother Zhang is our hope. If she wants to kill you, we should just kill her!" "She''s crazy. Shes going to be a problem if left alive." Aunt Lin had indeed lost her mind, constantly spouting nonsense in the group chat before disappearing. Zhang Yi said, "Go back. Ill handle this." They didnt dare disobey and left quietly. Zhou Ke''er, standing on the stairs, looked worriedly at Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, are you hurt?" Zhang Yi pointed at Aunt Lins head, "She can''t hurt me!" Aunt Lin defiantly glared at Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, you deserve to die! You killed my grandson. Youll go to hell for this!" Zhang Yi didnt immediately act. He calmly asked, "Your grandson wasnt killed by me. Why are you seeking revenge from me?" Aunt Lin had timed her attack perfectly, waiting for Zhang Yi to return and then ambushing him. Zhang Yi had been momentarily distracted by his conversation with Zhou Ke''er, allowing her to get close. Normally, his vigilance would have prevented such an ambush. Zhang Yi wanted to know why this madwoman had targeted him. Aunt Lin, eyes filled with hatred, snarled like a rabid dog. "My grandson died because of you! You deserve to die! I should drink your blood, eat your flesh, and bite you to death!" Zhang Yi remained calm. "But I didnt kill your grandson. In fact, Im your benefactor. It was Chen Zhenghaos men who kicked your grandson to death. I killed Chen Zhenghao for you. You should be thanking me." Aunt Lin hesitated, and then her anger flared. "Dont pretend to be a good person! My grandson didnt die right away. He suffered and died because you wouldnt give me the medicine to treat him. Youre the murderer!" Spittle flew as she raged, her eyes bloodshot like a vengeful ghost. Chapter 93: The One at Fault Is You Chapter 93: The One at Fault Is YouZhang Yi finally understood the whole story. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Oh, so that''s how you see it, he said, nodding. But isnt there some misunderstanding here? He looked down at Aunt Lin, meeting her hateful gaze. Then he lowered his voice, speaking softly, You know, Im actually quite soft-hearted, despite my tough exterior. How could I bear to watch a child die in agony? So, later on, I did bring medicine to your house. Aunt Lins eyes widened. Youre lying! No, Im not lying. I really did go to your house. Think carefully. Oh, maybe you were too focused at the time and forgot. A hint of regret appeared in Zhang Yis eyes. Actually, Lin Xiaohu was still alive then. I clearly saw his chest moving. But why did you...? Zhang Yi sighed. He had a chance to survive, but you took that away from him. Youre such a good grandmother! His gaze turned cold, and his tone became icy. Aunt Lins already unstable mind became even more chaotic upon hearing Zhang Yis words. Her eyes showed a mix of panic and confusion. Could it be that Hu wasnt dead? Did I really kill him by mistake? No, impossible! Hu was dead. You killed him! Aunt Lin screamed. Zhang Yi laughed, pointing at Zhou Ke''er. If you dont believe me, ask Doctor Zhou! Could Lin Xiaohu have been saved? Aunt Lin turned her head blankly to look at Zhou Ke''er. Seeing Zhang Yis sinister smile, Zhou Ke''er felt a chill run down her spine. She finally understood why Zhang Yi hadnt killed Aunt Lin right away and instead engaged in such a long conversation with her. He didnt just want Aunt Lin dead; he wanted to destroy her mentally and emotionally. Zhou Ke''er nodded slowly. Yes, Lin Xiaohu could have been saved. I contacted Zhang Yi at the time, and he agreed to send the medicine. But you didnt wait. You wrongly assumed Lin Xiaohu was dead. If you had waited a little longer, maybe he wouldnt have died. Zhou Ke''er didnt finish her sentence, knowing it was already devastating enough. Aunt Lin clutched her face, wailing in agony. No, that cant be! I didnt know he was still alive. I thought he was already dead! Her already broken mind further fragmented. She couldnt distinguish reality from her chaotic memories. Her hatred for Zhang Yi had kept her going, but now his words and Zhou Ke''ers confirmation shattered her world. Could it be that I, not Zhang Yi, was the one who killed my grandson? Zhang Yi suddenly shouted, Hahaha, so thats how it is! This is the great grandmother of the Lin family, who claimed to love her grandson but ended up killing him herself! You really loved him! Your son and daughter-in-law entrusted their child to you. Can you face them now? Aunt Lins eyes grew vacant, and she clutched her head, howling in pain. No, thats not true! Its not true! Yes, it is! Zhang Yi taunted. No, its not true! Yes, it is! You did it! Aunt Lin wailed in despair, while Zhang Yi stood by, adding fuel to the fire. Even Zhou Ke''er felt a chill. Zhang Yi was terrifying in his methods. It was a mistake to provoke someone like him. Ah! Aunt Lin suddenly screamed and ran headfirst into the wall. She had lost all will to live. For her, death was the only escape. But at the critical moment, Zhang Yi decided to play the hero. Stop! he shouted, kicking Aunt Lin away. She tumbled down the stairs, her body falling to the next floor. Zhang Yi sighed deeply. Aunt Lin, you have to look ahead. Dont give up on life! After all, his smile grew colder, you survived by sacrificing your grandson. How will you face your family if you die now? Aunt Lin coughed up blood, unable to speak, but her eyes were filled with pleading. Please, stop. Please, dont say anymore! Neighbors, alerted by the noise, came to see what was happening. Look everyone, Aunt Lin wants to kill herself! Zhang Yi called out. How did she survive this long? Do you still have food at home? The neighbors looked at Aunt Lin with disgust. Despite doing whatever it took to survive, no one could stomach the idea of harming their own loved ones. Aunt Lin, overwhelmed by the scornful gazes, coughed up more blood, her eyes filled with pain and struggle. She wont last long. Half an hour at most before she freezes to death, Zhou Ke''er said quietly to Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi had beaten her so severely that her internal organs were damaged. Freeze to death? Zhang Yi frowned. Thats too cruel. In this cold weather, letting her freeze to death is inhumane! The neighbors were shocked by Zhang Yis words. Was Zhang Yi going to spare Aunt Lin? Zhou Ke''er, knowing Zhang Yi well, glanced at him. What are you planning? Zhang Yi sighed, Its hard for an old woman. Lets make her warm before she goes. He pretended to reach inside his coat but actually took out a bottle of alcohol from his alternate space. He unscrewed the cap and poured it over Aunt Lin. The neighbors then understood Zhang Yis intention. Despite their shock, they found it fittingafter all, this was Zhang Yi. When had he ever shown mercy? After emptying the bottle, Zhang Yi quickly stepped back, lit a cigarette, took a few puffs, and then flicked it at Aunt Lin. Whoosh! Flames erupted, engulfing Aunt Lin in seconds. Her screams echoed through the stairwell. Zhang Yi turned away, not bothering to look back. The neighbors, terrified, quickly made way for him, their eyes filled with fear. Chapter 94: Chen Lingyu from Building 9 Chapter 94: Chen Lingyu from Building 9After Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er returned to their room, Zhang Yi threw off his cold-weather gear, sat on the sofa, and cursed vehemently, "That damned crazy woman!" He sprawled out on the sofa, relaxing. Zhou Ke''er walked into the bathroom, and after a while, she came out carrying a basin of hot water. Smiling, she knelt in front of Zhang Yi, gently removed his cotton socks, and began to wash his feet. "Did that scare you just now?" she asked softly. Zhang Yi leaned back against the sofa and replied, "Not really. Ever since the apocalypse began, nothing surprises me much anymore. In chaotic times, even the most absurd things can happen." He was wearing a police-issue bulletproof vest. Unless the old woman was a nimble assassin capable of precisely targeting his neck, she couldn''t hurt him. And Zhang Yi wasnt a stationary target; he could dodge. "Did anything happen in the neighborhood while I was out? Especially in the other buildings, any unusual activity?" Zhang Yi inquired. Zhou Ke''er nodded slowly. "I was just about to tell you." Zhang Yi sat up slightly, his eyes filled with curiosity and caution. "Oh? What happened?" While massaging his feet, Zhou Ke''er explained, "The person in charge of Building 9 is a former patient of mine, named Chen Lingyu. She contacted me today, hoping I could bridge a connection between you and her. She said she wanted to discuss something with you." Zhang Yi frowned slightly. "Building 9, Chen Lingyu?" The name was unfamiliar to him. Despite living in the same neighborhood, Yue Lu was vast, stretching about 500 meters from north to south. Building 25, where he lived, and Building 9 were like the ends of a village, with no daily interaction. "What does she want to discuss?" Zhang Yi asked. Zhou Ke''er shook her head. "She just said she wanted to talk about a collaboration with the head of Building 25. But the specifics need to be discussed with you." Zhang Yi sneered. "Collaboration? Nonsense!" "I lack nothing, while theyre just waiting to die in their building. What can they offer in collaboration?" Zhou Ke''er smiled lightly. "So, should I tell her youre not interested?" Zhang Yi waved his hand. "No need to rush. Hmm... tell me about her and the situation in their building." Zhou Ke''er then shared the information she had gathered. Chen Lingyu owned a beauty and cosmetics company in Tianhai City valued at two billion yuan. Although it was called a cosmetics company, it was essentially a multi-level marketing enterprise. Chen Lingyu, 38 years old, had above-average looks and a strong, assertive personalitya typical tough businesswoman. She had met Zhou Ke''er during a visit to the First People''s Hospital for treatment. Their relationship was limited to occasional nods of acknowledgment. Building 9 was now under Chen Lingyus and her subordinates'' control. According to Zhou Ke''er, it was well-managed, with only ten deaths so far. After hearing this, Zhang Yi cracked his knuckles and nodded. "In times like these, a woman managing a building? This Chen Lingyu is quite capable!" Zhou Ke''er sighed lightly. "Yes, after all, shes been brainwashing people for years through her MLM business. Shes skilled at manipulating people." Zhang Yi laughed. "That''s a ruthless person! Truly ruthless, willing to betray even family. Such a woman must not be underestimated!" s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Ke''er nodded in agreement. "I dont have a good impression of her either. We hadnt been in touch for a long time, and today she suddenly reached out, asking me to relay a message." Zhang Yi shrugged. "Its not surprising. News of my snowmobile and ability to gather supplies has spread throughout the neighborhood. Who wouldnt be jealous? Who wouldnt want my snowmobile?" Zhou Ke''er nodded again. "So, do you still want to talk to her?" Zhang Yi placed his hand under his chin, pondering for a few minutes. "Lets talk." "I want to know what the other buildings are planning. At least I shouldn''t provoke them all at once. Otherwise, if all 29 other buildings turn against me, it wont be good." If Zhang Yi stayed in his fortified home, he wouldnt fear them. But now that he knew the outside world was a treasure trove, he needed to continue going out to gather supplies. For that, he couldnt afford to antagonize all the other buildings just yet. While enjoying Zhou Ke''er''s meticulous massage, Zhang Yi opened his WeChat. He had over 99 friend requests, most of which he ignored, as they were usually people begging for supplies. Among the friend requests, the first one he noticed was from "A: Chen Lingyu, President of Furong Group." Her profile picture showed a woman in a business suit, white shirt, arms crossed, with an exaggerated smilethe typical profile picture of someone in MLM. Just as Zhang Yi was about to accept, another slightly familiar profile picture caught his eye. Business people often used their personal photos as avatars, and Zhang Yi immediately recognized this one. It was Li Jian, the CFO of Walmart South China. Zhang Yi had met him once at a company annual meeting. Li Jians friend request was sent just this morning, around 10:30 AM, shortly after Zhang Yi had left the neighborhood. "It seems hes reaching out for the same reason," Zhang Yi thought. After a brief consideration, Zhang Yi decided to accept both friend requests simultaneously. Both responses were almost immediate. "Mr. Zhang, hello! Im Chen Lingyu from Building 9. Im currently in charge here. Id like to discuss something with you." "Hello, Mr. Zhang. Im Li Jian from Building 18. Thank you for accepting my friend request. Id like to discuss cooperation on behalf of the residents of Building 18." Zhang Yi opened Chen Lingyus chat first. "What do you want to discuss?" Chen Lingyu replied quickly, "Text chat is inconvenient. Can we have a voice call?" "No, Im not available for that. Just say what you need to here." Zhang Yis response was cold. He knew MLM women too well; give them an inch, and theyd talk your ear off for days. "State your business concisely. Im not a patient man and dislike wasting words." Chapter 95: Discussing Cooperation and Attitude Chapter 95: Discussing Cooperation and AttitudeZhang Yi decided to first give Chen Lingyu a taste of his authority, ensuring she knew he wasn''t to be trifled with. In Building 9, Chen Lingyu paced back and forth in her room. She wasn''t nervous but rather trying to stay warm by walking around. She wore many layers of clothing, yet made an effort to look sophisticated, even donning a coat with a fox fur collar. Receiving Zhang Yi''s cold message, she took a deep breath and murmured to herself, "He really is a formidable character! I can''t be careless." Despite her composed exterior, Chen Lingyu was inwardly quite tense and even fearful of Zhang Yi. After all, his reputation had spread far and wide. It was said that he single-handedly killed half of his buildings neighbors. Moreover, he possessed an array of weapons, including a terrifying sniper rifle! The various rumors made those who heard about Zhang Yi deeply afraid. Chen Lingyu calmed herself and typed out a message she had rehearsed countless times in her mind. "Mr. Zhang Yi, its an honor to finally speak with you. We have long heard of your remarkable deeds. I sincerely hope we can meet." "I understand you have a snowmobile that allows you to go out and gather supplies. We, in Building 9, hope to collaborate with you." Zhang Yi glanced at the message and sneered. "Collaboration? What can you offer me in return? Collaboration must involve a fair exchange, you should understand that." Chen Lingyu quickly replied, "Our building is quite harmonious, with very few deaths. We have ample manpower!" "With your snowmobile, you can venture outside to gather supplies. We can provide you with 76 people, all strong laborers." "The world outside is now an unclaimed territory buried under snow. In other words, whoever can reach it first can claim it." "You have the transportation and weapons, and I have obedient workers ready to follow orders. Together, we can achieve great things!" Zhang Yi yawned and rubbed his ears. "It sounds impressive, but its all empty promises." "Tell me, how do you plan to survive tomorrow before talking about development?" Chen Lingyu swallowed hard. "Thats where you come in. We need you to gather food to ensure our survival. After that, our people can assist with any projects you have in mind." Zhang Yi shook his head, losing interest. "A leader of an MLM group might be good at deceiving desperate residents, but trying to fool me is a joke." Too lazy to type, he sent a voice message instead. S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Im not interested in what youre offering. Goodbye!" Chen Lingyu, hearing Zhang Yis message, panicked. She gritted her teeth and quickly typed another message. "You''ve become the object of envy in the entire neighborhood. Just provide us with food, and well remain neutral towards you." "You don''t want us as enemies, do you?" Reading this, Zhang Yi''s expression turned slightly serious. This was what he wanted to hear. Why beat around the bush with useless chatter? "Ah, these pesky MLM people!" "Oh, so many buildings are planning to attack me? I find that hard to believe. Im doing just fine; no ones attacking me," Zhang Yi probed. Chen Lingyu knew Zhang Yi was testing her. To show sincerity, she had to reveal some information. "Zhang Yi, youre a smart person. You must understand the principle that possessing valuable items brings disaster. The entire neighborhood houses thousands of people, all waiting to starve to death in their homes." "Youre the only one who can venture out for food. Wouldnt you be jealous if you were them?" "People havent acted yet because theyre weighing the pros and cons. But it''s only a matter of time before they attack you." "All we ask is that you provide us with basic food supplies, and our building will never turn against you." Hearing this, Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. This was, in a way, a threat. "Oh? So, if I dont agree, Building 9 will attack Building 25, correct?" His voice was icy and filled with menace. Chen Lingyu shivered but quickly replied with firmness, "I believe you wont choose to do that. Fighting us gains you nothing." She was confident because of the distance between Building 9 and Building 25. If Zhang Yi attacked, hed cut off his own escape route and risk attacks from other buildings. "We only need some food, nothing more." "And with my leadership and your military strength, we could dominate the entire neighborhood!" Chen Lingyu said, her excitement growing. Zhang Yis smile turned contemptuous. "This is the first time I''ve seen someone beg so confidently." Chen Lingyu inhaled sharply, "This... this is cooperation!" Zhang Yi replied indifferently, "Let me think about it. Ill give you an answer later." He closed the chat window, not wanting to continue the conversation. Placing his phone on his lap, Zhang Yi began pondering the future developments. He didnt care much about Chen Lingyu. Building 9 alone was no threat. They had no idea how many guns and how much ammunition Zhang Yi possessed. If they attacked, he could wipe them out single-handedly with his assault rifle and his precision shooting ability. The real problem was the other buildings. If they all banded together to attack Building 25, Zhang Yi would have to kill a lot more people, which would be exhausting. He glanced at his fortified home. The aerospace alloy shell could withstand even artillery fire. Even if the entire neighborhood attacked, they couldnt break through. "How likely is that?" Zhang Yi wondered. If all 29 buildings united against him, the chances were significant. "Given the current power constraints, they cant use high-powered tools like jackhammers or electric drills." "Manually demolishing a building in these freezing conditions and with a severe food shortage is impossible." "Considering their physical state, theyd freeze after walking outside for a bit. Where would they find the strength to demolish a wall?" Chapter 96: Should I Kill Them All? Chapter 96: Should I Kill Them All?After careful consideration, Zhang Yi came to a satisfactory conclusion: as long as he stayed put in Building 25, leveraging his firepower and the fortress-like strength of his safe house, even if the residents from the other 29 buildings united against him, they couldnt do much. In the current situation where food was extremely scarce, and the temperature was unbearably cold, just walking a few steps in the bitter cold was an immense struggle. Twenty people couldnt match the strength of one person from the old days. "My personal safety isnt an issue. Worst case, Ill ride my snowmobile and break through their siege, using my weapons to engage them in guerrilla warfare until theyre all worn down." "But doing so is incredibly troublesome. How long will it take to kill people from 29 buildings?" "If I dont kill them, they will certainly attack me." Zhang Yi mulled over his options. Should he spend the time and effort to eliminate everyone in the neighborhood who posed a threat to him, or should he find another solution? He hadnt made a decision yet. Glancing at his phone, Zhang Yi decided to chat with Li Jian as well. He needed to see if all the building leaders had similar thoughts. Opening the chat with Li Jian, he saw that Li Jian had already started introducing their situation enthusiastically. "Mr. Zhang, I come to you with sincere intentions, hoping to cooperate in building a harmonious home, an apocalypse utopia." "So far, Building 18 has only lost five elderly people due to complications from the extreme cold." "By reasonably planning and distributing resources, weve maintained harmony among the residents." "I believe this is the best way to survive the apocalypse, preserving the seeds of human civilization and facilitating post-disaster reconstruction." "Currently, we lack an effective food source. We hope to cooperate with you, offering manpower and resources in return for your assistance in gathering supplies to meet our needs." "We can also help mediate relationships with other units to prevent conflicts." Zhang Yi felt much more comfortable after reading Li Jians message. As expected from the CFO of a major corporation, his emotional intelligence was leagues ahead of someone like Chen Lingyu from an MLM business. His message was clear, concise, and respectful. However, what intrigued Zhang Yi the most was the mention of a harmonious community. Despite the apocalypse having lasted over twenty days, they hadnt had any deaths from conflicts. Turning to Zhou Ke''er, who was massaging his feet, Zhang Yi asked, "Ke''er, do you know anything about the situation in Building 18?" Zhou Ke''er thought for a moment and replied, "Ive heard a bit. Their building leader is very charismatic. After the apocalypse began, he united all the residents and adopted a centralized resource distribution method, allowing most people to survive till now." Zhang Yi nodded. "Indeed, it takes a skilled manager to not only manage accounts but also maximize benefits." Li Jians approach was the most reasonable one Zhang Yi had encountered so far. Unlike other buildings, Building 25 had suffered massive resource wastage due to internal conflicts. Theoretically, if a person minimized physical and mental exertion, theyd need very little energy and could survive on one meal a day. "Li Jian is quite the talent," Zhang Yi mused. "But surviving long-term in an apocalypse like this is still impossible." Li Jian excelled at establishing order and had early on united everyone in Building 18. But if faced with external attacks from groups like the Tianhe Gang or ruthless individuals like Chen Zhenghao, theyd likely be slaughtered. "It''s like how ancient Central Plains civilizations repeatedly fell to nomadic invaders. Without military protection, all stability and harmony are illusory." Zhang Yi asked, "What will you do if I refuse your offer?" Li Jian pondered for a long time before replying. "We extend our invitation to cooperate in a spirit of friendship." "If you refuse, Ill regret it deeply, but Ill still hope for future opportunities to work together." Zhang Yi chuckled. This kind of official response was pleasing. "So, you wont join other buildings in attacking Building 25? Or join them if they do?" Li Jians reply was frank. "Our force is for self-defense only. We wont actively attack others." "Its not that we lack the capability, but pointless internal conflicts will only result in mutual destruction." Zhang Yi almost applauded. Li Jian, though cautious, framed his words righteously. Building 18s harmonious community had survived half a month without conflict, simply because they lacked the courage to fight. Li Jian was a sensible person, knowing that if Zhang Yi fought others, they wouldnt gain much by joining in. Theyd rather wait and see. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "If Zhang Yi loses, they can collaborate with the victor." "Wait for my response," Zhang Yi messaged, then checked his friend requests. Initially, he had ignored numerous friend requests from people asking for supplies. Now, he saw requests from several building leaders, all seeking to talk and request Zhang Yis help in gathering supplies for survival. However, their offers were limitedlabor, women, and promises not to attack during conflicts. The only difference was the manner of their request. Lying on the sofa, staring at the ceiling, Zhang Yi muttered, "Now, I have two choices: fight or cooperate." "Fighting means killing everyone who poses a threat. Its doable but time-consuming and resource-draining." "Exterminating the residents of all 30 buildings in the neighborhood would exhaust my ammunition. The police station only had about a thousand rounds." "This is assuming ideal conditions. If they hide in buildings, I cant risk going in." "Moreover, while I have no qualms about killing, Im not a psychopathic butcher." "Most people in the neighborhood dont have deep grudges against me. Killing them all would be too much." "Plus, it might mess with my own mental state." Rubbing his temples, Zhang Yi concluded that killing everyone in the neighborhood wasnt a viable option. It was far too troublesome. Chapter 97: The Attitudes of Each Building in the Community Chapter 97: The Attitudes of Each Building in the CommunityListening to Zhang Yi''s murmuring, Zhou Ke''er felt her heart race with anxiety. At this moment, no one in the entire community knew they were teetering on the edge of hell, dancing madly between life and death. Their fate rested on Zhang Yi''s whims. "Thank goodness I chose to stay with him," Zhou Ke''er thought, feeling a deep sense of relief. Suddenly, Zhang Yi looked at Zhou Ke''er and patted the sofa beside him. "Come here." Zhou Ke''er walked over and sat next to him. The room was warm, so both of them were dressed casually in comfortable loungewear. Zhou Ke''er had no clothes of her own here; everything she wore was chosen by Zhang Yi. Naturally, the style was to his liking, making her look incredibly cute and suited to her figure. Sitting close to Zhang Yi, she was as gentle as a Siamese cat. Zhang Yi picked up a glass of water from the table, took a sip, and asked Zhou Ke''er, "Ke''er, from your perspective, should I fight them or make peace?" Zhou Ke''er was surprised that Zhang Yi was asking for her opinion. It was a sign of trust, and she was happy about it, even though she had initially thought he was about to say something more intimate. Slightly disappointed, she was still glad he valued her input. After thinking for a moment, she replied, "If you fight them, can you withstand the combined assault of the residents of the other 29 buildings?" "Yes, no problem at all," Zhang Yi said confidently. In truth, he felt a bit uncertainhe was 99.99% sure, but that 0.01% still lingered in his mind. He couldnt guarantee that no one in the other buildings had explosives powerful enough to bring down his building. But such a scenario was as likely as an H-bomb falling from the sky and hitting his house. If it happened, he couldn''t do anything about it, so he chose not to dwell on it. Zhou Ke''er looked at Zhang Yi with surprise. She had thought he might say it was impossible, but his certainty caught her off guard. After all, he had never disclosed how many weapons and supplies he had. Thinking about his abilities, she realized that with Zhang Yi''s supernatural powers, anything was possible. Taking a deep breath, she continued, "But if you make peace, won''t you have to provide for everyone in the community afterward?" Zhang Yi laughed heartily. "Based on their proposals, that''s exactly what they expect." Zhou Ke''er immediately protested, "Thats impossible! Even if each building has only 50 survivors, thats 1,500 people! Providing for so many people would require an enormous amount of supplies. Expecting you to bear that burden alone is unreasonable!" Zhang Yi waved his hand dismissively. "The calculations aren''t that simple. They propose high demands, waiting for me to negotiate. Also, dont consider them as good people. Anyone controlling a building has their own group. Theyll prioritize their own people. The rest are just reserves. Do they need to waste food on reserves?" Zhou Ke''er agreed, nodding. "Even so, providing for 30 buildings'' worth of supplies is a huge burden!" Zhang Yi nodded, "Exactly. So I need to avoid this trouble." "I could kill them all, but its a complicated and risky process. Id have to leave my house and engage them directly." He rubbed his head. "Do you have any ideas on how I can avoid both the hassle of killing everyone and the trouble they bring?" Zhou Ke''er pondered deeply. Zhang Yi wrapped his arm around her slender waist, lost in thought. After a while, Zhou Ke''er said, "Theres no clear solution. To them, youre their only hope. If you dont help them, theyll definitely try to kill you." "But theres a theoretical solution, though impractical." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? What is it?" Zhou Ke''er smiled, "Avoidance might be shameful but effective. You could leave this community and live elsewhere to escape them." Zhang Yi stared at her, initially finding her suggestion absurd and laughable. Leave his hard-built safe house? However, an idea suddenly struck him. Could he store the safe house in his alternate space and take it with him? He had previously attempted to store large items, but they had to be standalone objects. His safe house was integrated into the buildings structure. Taking it would require dismantling it, but how? "If it could be dismantled, those scoundrel neighbors would have done it already," he thought. This idea, though bold and almost impossible, intrigued him. Maybe in the future, under certain conditions, he could try it out. But for now, it wasnt feasible. Seeing Zhang Yis serious contemplation, Zhou Ke''er laughed, "I was just joking. Youre not really considering it, are you?" S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled, pinching her nose. "Then what do you suggest?" Zhou Ke''er pouted, "I don''t know!" Zhang Yi''s eyes grew deep. "Then let''s wait and see. Time is on our side, and we have the advantage!" For now, Zhang Yi planned to continue observing the situation and making a decision based on the developments. He held the initiative, and with his arsenal of firearms and precise shooting ability, he wasnt afraid of a group attack. Currently, the only potential trouble was the other 29 buildings uniting against him. However, given the post-apocalyptic mistrust and self-interest, such unity was unlikely. Each building had its own way of surviving: Zhang Yi, the Tianhe Gang, and the Wolf Gang through force and slaughter; Chen Lingyu through brainwashing and control; Li Jian through scientific management creating a harmonious community. These differing ideologies meant mutual distrust and potential enmity among them. Uniting them all would be difficult. Zhang Yi intended to keep observing and adjust his strategy accordingly. With control over the situation and sufficient firepower, he remained confident in his ability to handle whatever came his way. Chapter 98: Establishing Authority Chapter 98: Establishing AuthorityZhang Yi had made up his mind to wait and see how the situation developed. However, he also knew that some people would not be able to contain their greed and would attempt to take action against him. Therefore, he needed to be extra vigilant about safety for the foreseeable future. He had a police helmet to protect his head and a bulletproof vest for his body. But when he looked at his legs, he frowned. While his upper body was protected, he lacked bulletproof pants. After some thought, Zhang Yi came up with an idea. He took out a bulletproof vest from his alternate space and handed it to Zhou Ke''er. "Is this for me?" Zhou Ke''er asked, excitedly. "No, help me take it apart. I need to use it," Zhang Yi replied. Disappointed, Zhou Ke''er pouted but obediently took the vest and used scissors to cut the seams. The threads were tough, designed to withstand immense impact. It took her considerable effort to finally separate the vest into two pieces of fabric. Zhang Yi took the pieces, measured them against his legs, and nodded in satisfaction. Wrapping the fabric around his legs and covering them with winter pants, he effectively created makeshift bulletproof pants. "The legs also have major arteries; I can''t be careless," he muttered. Once he was fully equipped, Zhang Yi pondered for a while, realizing he couldn''t let his neighbors feel too complacent. He needed to instill a sense of crisis, prompting them to take the initiative to fight others. After all, he had organized them as cannon fodder, not to pamper them. Given the signals from other buildings, he had to respond. So, he sent a message to the residents'' group chat, informing everyone of the current situation. "@Everyone: Brothers and sisters, family of Building 25! We are facing a significant crisis. Some people want to steal our food." "Nearby buildings are envious of our ability to go out and find food, so theyve threatened us. They claim that if I dont share our food with them, they will attack our building." As soon as Zhang Yi''s message went out, the group chat exploded with activity. The neighbors, who had just glimpsed a hope of survival and now relied on Zhang Yi to bring back food daily, were outraged. They couldnt accept the idea of other buildings wanting to rob them. "Damn it, what are those bastards thinking? If they have the guts, they should go find food themselves!" S?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Fight them to the death! We wont give them a single grain of our food!" "Yeah, we have Zhang Yi with us! If it comes to a fight, we can take them on!" However, some people expressed concerns. "But there are only about thirty people in our building now. If all the other buildings attack us, can we really hold out?" "That... does seem difficult." "Cant we negotiate with them, ask them not to attack us?" "Haha, do you really think thats possible? Everyone is fighting for food to survive. Whos going to listen to reason?" "Ah? Then what should we do?" "Fight! Without food, well die anyway!" The neighbors argued fiercely. While many were outraged, a significant number were also fearful. The thought of opposing the entire neighborhood, with potentially thousands of attackers, felt like suicide. Zhang Yi sent another message at an opportune moment. "You all know the situation outside. The heavy snow has buried all low-rise buildings, including most grocery stores." "Finding supplies is extremely difficult and largely dependent on luck." "There are thousands of people outside. If we give them our food, you will have nothing to eat." "I, Zhang Yi, dont want to provoke them. I still have enough supplies for a few days. The decision is up to you." "Do you want to keep the food for yourselves or give it to them for temporary peace? The choice is yours." Zhang Yis ultimatum was like putting a gun to someones head and asking if they wanted to live or die. In reality, there was no choice. Hearing his message, the neighbors realized they had no retreat. Without food, they were as good as dead. Fighting gave them a chance to survive. "I understand now. Lets fight them!" "This food is ours. Why should we give it to them?" "They can go to hell!" "Yeah, if they cant get their own food, they shouldnt think about stealing ours. How despicable!" "I, Luan Qiang, hate people like that the most. Disgusting!" Seeing the mood sufficiently roused, Zhang Yi declared, "Alright, we cant let them look down on us! We need to show them our strength." "Tonight, Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, youll lead a team to attack Building 26. The Tianhe Gang doesnt have many people left. Finish them off!" "This will avenge our fallen family members and serve as a warning to the other buildings!" Li Chengbin responded enthusiastically, "Got it, Brother Zhang!" Jiang Lei echoed, "Yes, Brother Zhang!" Zhang Yi continued, "As for me, Ive been busy all day and am quite tired. I wont join you tonight. Next time, for sure." Li Chengbin reassured him, "Brother Zhang, we understand. Youve worked hard today!" Jiang Lei added, "Brother Zhang deserves the credit. We cant let you handle everything, right, everyone?" The neighbors responded in unison, "Absolutely right!" Zhang Yi smiled, "Good brothers, off you go!" After riling up the neighbors, Zhang Yi tossed his phone aside, picked up Zhou Ke''er, and headed to the bedroom. She let out a playful scream. An hour later, Zhang Yi lay on the sofa, a cigarette in his mouth, while Zhou Ke''er lay exhausted but content on his chest. "Ding!" A WeChat notification sounded. Zhang Yi picked up his phone and saw a message from Jiang Lei. "Brother Zhang, the Tianhe Gang is tougher than we thought!" Zhang Yis lips curled into a smile. "Of course, its tough! If it were easy, I would have already stormed in and wiped them out myself." The Tianhe Gang members were construction workers, strong and armed with makeshift weapons. They understood how to use the terrain to their advantage. Jiang Lei and his team would undoubtedly suffer heavy casualties in an assault on the well-prepared gang. Zhang Yi didnt mind. These neighbors were expendable to him. Feigning concern, he asked, "How are our casualties?" Jiang Lei reported, "We lost eight men and only managed to kill three of theirs." Zhang Yi was pleased with the outcome. The Tianhe Gang didnt have many members left, but they were all tough fighters. Losing three more members would almost leave Huang Tianfang alone. Chapter 99: Ambush Chapter 99: AmbushZhang Yi asked with concern, "Are you alright?" Jiang Lei, surprised that Zhang Yi would inquire about his well-being, quickly responded, "Just a scratch, I''m fine." Zhang Yi immediately adopted a tone of righteous indignation. "These Tianhe Gang scoundrels nearly injured one of my key men!" "Jiang Lei, you don''t have to stand guard tomorrow. Take a day off to rest." Then he addressed the group chat, "Tonight, everyone performed admirably. Tomorrow, we will reward your efforts. Everyone who participated in the assault on the Tianhe Gang will receive at least double portions of food!" "Jiang Lei was wounded bravely in action, an example for us all. He will rest tomorrow and receive an extra-large serving of braised pork rice!" The neighbors were thrilled by Zhang Yi''s words of encouragement. Despite the loss of eight neighbors, death had become a numbing reality. The prospect of double food portions tomorrow was what truly excited them. Jiang Leis reward was especially enviablean extra-large serving of braised pork rice! Even though they had some ingredients, they lacked the spices to cook properly and couldnt afford to light fires. Eating whatever was available had made them forget the taste of braised pork rice. "Zhang Yi is amazing! Hooray!" "Following Zhang Yi is the way to go. Theres meat to eat!" "Damn it, I didnt get any kills this time. Next time, that braised pork rice will be mine!" Many secretly resolved to fight even harder next time. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi put on his full-body gear before leaving the house. He planned to visit some well-known malls and hotels nearby to see if there was anything useful. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He climbed out of the west wing window, noticing a large, bloodstained depression in the snow. Reflecting on the recent frequent battles, Zhang Yi sighed briefly and then focused, preparing to retrieve his snowmobile. Riding out of the neighborhood, he felt the familiar sensation of being watched. He couldnt see through the windows, but he knew many eyes were on him. Zhang Yi raised his head, his cold gaze sweeping across the high-rises. These people might become his enemies and fall by his hand in the future. As his gaze moved closer, he suddenly sensed something was off. Building 21. The red "21" on the wall stood out, triggering a strong sense of unease. "Building 21, the Wolf Gang..." Zhang Yi frowned, quickly piecing together the oddity. The Wolf Gangs building wasnt far from his. Despite knowing Zhang Yi had supplies and a snowmobile, they hadnt made any moves against him. Initially, Zhang Yi thought they were cautious and feared him. But now it seemed too strange. Even if they were cautious, they were still a group of young, hot-blooded men. How could they be indifferent to the tempting snowmobile? Moreover, leaders from other nearby buildings had approached Zhang Yi to discuss cooperation, but the Wolf Gang never contacted him. This behavior was abnormal, extremely abnormal! In Zhang Yi''s understanding, this behavior could only mean one thing: the quietest dog is the most vicious. They were planning a secret attack! Feeling more confident with the gun in his pocket and the loaded weapons in his alternate space, Zhang Yi sent a message to Uncle You and Zhou Ke''er, instructing them to lock their doors and stay alert for potential ambushes from other building residents. He then started his snowmobile and rode out. As he reached the edge of the neighborhood, an ambush occurred! Snow burst from the ground in front of him, and a door panel suddenly stood upright, blocking his path. Zhang Yi couldnt stop in time, quickly turning the handlebars. "Bang!" The snowmobile hit the door panel sideways, throwing two people hiding in the snow into the air. They had tied the door panel with ropes, using it as a makeshift barrier. However, the lightweight panel didnt trip Zhang Yi but instead was flung away. TV shows often misled viewers into thinking such traps worked effortlessly. In reality, it was impractical. Zhang Yi immediately realized he was ambushed! Seven or eight people quickly emerged from the snow, brandishing weapons and charging at him. Taking a deep breath, the cold air helped Zhang Yi stay calm. He quickly drew his gun, and by the time he disengaged the safety, the attackers were already close. Zhang Yi fired! "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" Ordinary people, even armed with a gun, might panic at such close quarters. But Zhang Yis precise shooting ability ensured his bullets didnt miss. Three shots took down three men, each shot a headshot! Barely pausing for breath, Zhang Yi saw more attackers approaching with knives, mere meters away. One raised his machete high, aiming to strike Zhang Yi. In a split second, Zhang Yi turned his gun. Before the attacker could bring his knife down, Zhang Yis gun was already in his mouth. The attackers body froze, words forming but never spoken. "Bang!" A bullet blew his brains out. The sight stunned the other attackers, who had never seen someone so ruthless with a gunevery shot a kill, wiping out five of their comrades in an instant! Terrified, the remaining attackers froze. Zhang Yi gave them no chance to recover, firing two more shots, killing two more men. The last three attackers, now terrified, turned and fled. Zhang Yi aimed at their backs, then changed his mind. Biting the gun barrel, he started his snowmobile and pursued them. Running in the snow, the attackers couldnt move fast. More like crawling than running. Hearing the snowmobile''s roar behind them, they panicked, wetting their pants in fear. Catching up to the last attacker, Zhang Yi rammed him with the snowmobile. The mans body was flung into the snow. Zhang Yis snowmobile crushed his upper body, snapping his spine and then his skull. The remaining attackers, hearing the screams, turned paler, running as if pursued by a demon. Chapter 100: Kill to Your Heart’s Content! Chapter 100: Kill to Your Hearts Content!After Zhang Yi rode over the last man, he glanced back. Although the snow cushioned the mans fall, the 400-kilogram weight still caused him to spit blood. Zhang Yi ended his suffering with a single shot and continued to leisurely chase the remaining men. He wanted to know where these attackers came from. Anyone who dared to harm him must pay the price. The direction of their escape seemed to be Building 21, the territory of the Wolf Gang. Inside Building 21, on the seventh floor, Wolf Gang leader Wang Qiang and deputy leader Xiao Lu watched the scene below, their hearts bleeding. They had spent days preparing for this robbery, gathering intel on Zhang Yis travel routes and times. They even sent ten men to ambush him. They believed it was a foolproof plan, but they hadnt accounted for Zhang Yis exceptional marksmanship or his ample supply of bullets. Not only had they failed to kill Zhang Yi and seize his snowmobile, but they had also lost many men and now faced Zhang Yis wrath. Wang Qiang ordered, "Gather everyone at the entrance and set up traps. Also, beware of his gun!" Xiao Lu nodded, "Dont worry. Our corridors are well-prepared. If he dares to come in, well kill him here. The result will be the same!" Despite their tough talk, both men retreated from the windows, fearing Zhang Yis sniper rifle. Poking their heads out was akin to suicide. Inside Building 21, the Wolf Gang members huddled in fear, praying Zhang Yi wouldnt storm in. Outside, Zhang Yi continued his pursuit, casually shooting each man he encountered. The last man barely reached the front of Building 21 when Zhang Yis snowmobile roared beside him. Zhang Yi glanced at the dark room ahead, aware that the Wolf Gang members were likely lying in ambush. He didnt use his gun this time but took out his Damascus steel hunting knife, a weapon designed for hunting beasts but never before used on a human by him. "Swish!" The knife slashed through the mans neck effortlessly, sending his head flying and then rolling on the ground. s?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The sight chilled the hiding Wolf Gang members to their core. All ten men they sent out had been killed by Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi parked his snowmobile, got off, and picked up the severed head, tossing it into a room in the west wing. The head rolled several times before stopping, its empty eyes staring at the people inside. Silence filled the room. The Wolf Gang members were tense, knowing a fierce battle awaited if Zhang Yi decided to come in armed. Many would die. Zhang Yi stood outside Building 21, not entering. He knew there were traps and ambushes inside. Not wanting to risk his life, he chose not to charge in. He didnt want to let the Wolf Gang off easily, though. The gunshots had alerted everyone in the community, including those in Building 25. Uncle You and Li Bin, leading the patrol team, came rushing to support Zhang Yi. "What happened, Zhang Yi? How did you get into a fight with them?" Uncle You demanded angrily. "They ambushed me outside, so I killed them all," Zhang Yi replied coldly. The ten bodies lying at the entrance to Building 21, covered in blood, were a stark sight. "Those damn bastards, so despicable!" Uncle You roared. "If anything happens to Zhang Yi, our food supply is cut off, and well have no chance of survival!" The realization hit everyone, and they became frightened, understanding the gravity of the situation. Zhang Yi waved his hand. "Go back and gather everyone. Bring them all here." The group returned to Building 25 and called all the residents. Zhang Yis expression was grim, his mood foul. He wasnt afraid of ambushes; such dangers were inevitable in the apocalypse. He had prepared well, with full body armor and assault rifles in his space. Ordinary people couldnt harm him. But he was furious because he knew someone in Building 25 had betrayed him to the Wolf Gang. The explanation was simple. Zhang Yi deliberately varied his departure times to avoid predictable patterns. The temperature made it impossible for anyone to lie in wait in the snow for long. Yet today, they ambushed him perfectly, indicating an insider had tipped them off. Though Zhang Yi wasnt angry about the betrayal, knowing his neighbors werent trustworthy, he wanted to kill the informant. The problem was, anyone in the building could have done it. Since he couldnt identify the traitor, he decided to treat everyone equally. Inside Building 21, the Wolf Gang members fortified their positions, expecting heavy casualties if Zhang Yi attacked. Zhang Yi decided to let them fight amongst themselves, feeling no sympathy for either side. His cold gaze swept over the residents. They sensed his foul mood and felt fearful. After a while, Zhang Yi spoke coldly, "Building 21 attacked me. If I die, you all die too. Their attempt on my life is an attempt on yours. We must kill them all!" "Uncle You, youll come with me this time. Li Chengbin will lead the rest to launch an attack on Building 21. For every enemy you kill, Ill reward you with food for ten!" The generous reward stirred many hearts. Some who missed their chance to prove themselves the night before were eager. However, some voiced objections. "Attacking now isnt wise. Theyll be expecting retaliation. Better to strike at night," said a man named Guo Dahai, suggesting they leave Uncle You behind as he was a key fighter. Many murmured in agreement. "Hes right. Attacking at night is better." "Is Zhang Yi too angry to think clearly? We need to stay calm." "Uncle You is our strongest fighter; he should lead the attack." Hearing their doubts, Zhang Yis cold gaze swept over them. Chapter 101: Disobedience Leads to Death Chapter 101: Disobedience Leads to DeathHearing their objections, Zhang Yi smirked. S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. His smile made everyone immediately fall silent. "Have I been feeding you so well recently that you''ve grown fat and fearless?" Zhang Yi''s gaze swept over the crowd, landing on Guo Dahai. The chubby, balding man took two steps back in fright. "When I became the building leader, I made it clear that everyone must obey me." He revealed a sinister smile. "Heh, it hasn''t even been a few days, and youve already forgotten?" With that, Zhang Yi suddenly pulled out a handgun and aimed it at Guo Dahais head, pulling the trigger. "Bang!" Guo Dahai''s head exploded in a spray of blood, causing several female neighbors to scream in horror. No one had expected Zhang Yi to shoot without hesitation, killing someone on the spot. "Anyone who disobeys will die." Zhang Yi coldly addressed the crowd. At this moment, everyone suddenly remembered that Zhang Yi wasnt their gentle neighbor who brought them food. He was a demon who had killed most of the building''s residents! The scene was deadly silent; no one dared to make a sound. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, acting nonchalant. "Now, go and wipe out those Wolf Gang members! Who''s in favor? Who''s against?" After a few seconds of silence, Li Chengbin raised his hand and said, "Im in favor. Lets follow Zhang Yis lead!" The others then slowly raised their hands. "Follow... follow Zhang Yi''s lead!" Seeing this, Zhang Yis face relaxed into a gentle smile. "Thats more like it! Were all family, and family should help each other." "Look, Im not setting you up. I killed ten of their men myself! The rest are left for you dozens to handle. Isnt that fair?" "Do your best. Uncle You and I will go out and find food for you. Tonight, well have a feast!" Zhang Yis strategy of combining rewards and threats was effective. Though the neighbors were initially terrified by Guo Dahais death, they felt less resentful knowing it wasnt them. Moreover, Zhang Yi promised to bring back more food, quelling their discontent. Zhang Yi, holding his gun, watched them head towards Building 21. Whether willing or unwilling, they had no choice but to grab their weapons and charge towards Building 21. Soon, the sounds of chaos and shouting could be heard from within. Zhang Yi checked his watcha simple yet unassuming golden Rolex. "Let them fight. I have to go. Otherwise, who knows what time I''ll return." He turned to Uncle You. "Lets go. Ill need your help this time." Today''s outing was a routine search, with no particular targets in mind. Bringing Uncle You along was no problem. Uncle You grinned, glancing at the distant Building 21, and nodded. "Alright, lets go!" Zhang Yi winced, pretending to clutch his ribs in pain. "I can''t drive the snowmobile. I hurt my ribs in the fight earlier." Uncle You, seeing the snowmobile, volunteered, "Let me drive!" Zhang Yi smiled and nodded. "Alright." So, Uncle You took the drivers seat, and Zhang Yi sat behind him. The injury was fake; Zhang Yi simply didnt trust others with his back. The two left the neighborhood together. Uncle You, without a helmet and goggles, squinted as the icy wind battered his face. Despite the discomfort, he felt exhilarated. It had been a long time since hed left the neighborhood. The half-month of confinement had left him feeling oppressed. "Haha, it feels great to be out!" "So, Zhang Yi, where are we heading?" Zhang Yi casually replied, "The city is vast. We can go anywhere. Lets check out the World Trade Center first!" The World Trade Center was a famous commercial district in Tianhai City. Uncle You nodded and drove towards the World Trade Center, relying on his memory of the surroundings. After over half an hour, they arrived. The World Trade Center area looked like a forest of high-rise buildings, half buried in snow. Zhang Yi and Uncle You got off the snowmobile and began scavenging inside the buildings. For Uncle You, everything in the commercial street felt new and exciting. Especially in the upscale malls, he saw counters full of luxury brandsgold, silver, jewelry, designer clothes, and luxury cars in showrooms. What once were untouchable luxury items were now ownerless and available for the taking. Overjoyed, Uncle You started stuffing a bag with items, mainly clothes, especially children''s clothes. Zhang Yi found it both amusing and annoying. He approached Uncle You. "Uncle You, theres no food here. Seems we came to the wrong place." Uncle You laughed. "True, but were not short on food at home. The real problem is that kids grow fast and outgrow their clothes." Zhang Yi chuckled, sitting on a nearby chair. "You and Aunt Xie seem to be getting along well." Uncle You grinned. "Whats there to get along or not? Were just getting by together. Having a woman to warm the bed gives life some hope, doesnt it?" Hearing this, Zhang Yi''s eyes gleamed with a mischievous light. "If thats what you like, I can introduce you to some well-endowed women who can take good care of you." Uncle You''s body noticeably trembled, though he was facing away from Zhang Yi. "That... that wouldnt be right. You know, Im not that kind of person." Zhang Yi gave him a knowing look. He knew Uncle You frequently visited Yuhu Street, where a barber shop offered more than just haircuts. Uncle You was straightforward but not immune to feminine charm. Otherwise, he wouldnt have been so easily taken by Xie Limei. "Dont worry, were buddies. Ill take care of it!" Zhang Yi threw his arm around Uncle Yous shoulder, grinning. "Oh, you... always joking! Im a decent man." Uncle You licked his lips, his words contradicting the smile he couldnt hide. "Yeah, yeah!" Zhang Yi assessed the situation. Uncle You had feelings for Xie Limei, but they werent deep. If Xie Limei caused trouble in the future, Zhang Yi could deal with her without straining his relationship with Uncle You. He could simply find him another woman. With their immediate search proving unfruitful, Zhang Yi decided they needed to explore further. Chapter 102: Weapon Intel Chapter 102: Weapon IntelZhang Yi and Uncle You strolled aimlessly outside, casually collecting supplies. As they chatted, the topic shifted to the current situation in the neighborhood. Uncle You asked, "There are already people planning to make a move against you. They''re envious of your snowmobile!" "The situation is going to get more complicated. Do you have any plans?" S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi, rarely in a conversational mood with Uncle You, sighed. "Youre asking me? I was going to ask you the same thing!" He let out a long sigh. "Everyone is eyeing my snowmobile, knowing it''s the only viable means of transportation now. Everyone wants to take it from me." "What can I do? Just protect it as best as I can, and of course, protect myself too." Uncle You nodded gravely. "You''re right. In this situation, its already a struggle for you to take care of us. Taking care of the entire neighborhood of over a thousand people is impossible!" Zhang Yi agreed, "Exactly. So now, I can only take things one step at a time and find solutions as they come." After a moment of contemplation, Uncle You said, "Actually, this morning, Huang Tianfang contacted me." Zhang Yi''s sharp eyes instantly turned icy. "What did he want?" Uncle You, facing away, didn''t notice Zhang Yi''s expression change. He continued, "Huang Tianfang is scared of you now and wants to make peace." "He also mentioned that the other buildings are forming an alliance to pressure you." "Someone invited him to join. He can refuse their invitation, but he wants you to provide food and cold-weather supplies." Zhang Yi snorted. He had heard such demands so often that they had become repetitive. "Everyone wants a piece of me now, huh? Scary!" Although his tone was casual, his eyes betrayed no fear. If not for concerns about ammunition, he could wipe out the entire neighborhood given enough time. But safety first. "Huang Tianfang and his Tianhe Gang need to be dealt with. The same goes for the Wolf Gang. I won''t let any of them go!" His voice was calm, almost indifferent, but his words carried a chilling intent. They had attacked him first, so he had to ensure their death. To survive the apocalypse, he couldn''t tolerate any threats to his safety. Uncle You agreed, "They deserve to die. They''ve killed too many innocent people and attacked you without provocation." "But do you have enough weapons to fight them?" Since emptying the police station''s armory, Zhang Yi had amassed a substantial arsenal. But Uncle You wasnt aware of the exact amount, thinking Zhang Yi might have depleted his ammunition after several battles. A gleam flashed in Zhang Yi''s eyes before he sighed. "Im running low on bullets. But as long as the battles arent too large-scale, I should manage." Uncle You scratched his head. "Zhang Yi, if we had enough weapons, could we successfully protect ourselves and your snowmobile?" Zhang Yi''s eyes lit up instantly. "Uncle You, do you know where we can find more weapons?" Though he still had plenty of ammunition, his sniper rifle bullets were running low. The police station only had a limited supply, and finding more would be beneficial. All fear stems from insufficient firepower. Uncle You grinned proudly. "Did you forget what I used to do? I served in the army for five years!" Zhang Yi eagerly asked, "Did you serve in Tianhai City?" If so, Uncle You could lead him to the military camp to gather weapons. Uncle You replied, "No, I served elsewhere. But I have old friends in the Tianhai City garrison and know where its located." "If we can reach the military camp and find their ammo reserves, youll never have to worry about running out of bullets again." Admiration shone in his eyes. "A sharpshooter like you without ammo would be a terrible waste!" The military valued strength and a sharpshooting expert like Zhang Yi was revered among soldiers. Having witnessed Zhang Yi''s terrifying marksmanship, Uncle You was naturally in awe. Overjoyed, Zhang Yi hadnt expected such a pleasant surprise! "What are we waiting for? Lets go!" Military weapons were abundant. If they could find tanks and armored vehicles, he could use them to eliminate anyone who opposed him. "Uncle You, youre a treasure!" Zhang Yi''s eyes sparkled with excitement. Uncle You scratched his head, slightly embarrassed by Zhang Yi''s enthusiasm. "Dont get too excited. Theres more to it." "The place is quite remote, in the northwest of the city, over a hundred kilometers from here." "Even if we get there, the snow might have buried everything, making it hard to find anything useful." Zhang Yis mysterious smile appeared. Excavation? That was something he was familiar with. "No worries. Lets locate the place first. If we can find it, we might figure out a way to access it later." His tone grew serious as he patted Uncle Yous shoulder. "Were facing potentially numerous enemies. We need more weapons to protect ourselves and our loved ones!" Uncle You nodded firmly. "Youre right. Lets go find it!" They hopped onto the snowmobile, braving the cold and snow as they headed northwest towards Tianhai City. Chapter 103: Found the Military Camp Chapter 103: Found the Military CampThe wind and heavy snow meant the snowmobile couldnt go too fast; otherwise, there was a risk of overturning. Zhang Yi and Uncle You maintained a speed of about fifty kilometers per hour. After more than two hours, they reached the northwest wilderness. They left the city''s buildings behind and lost most landmarks. The snow was more than ten meters thick, covering almost everything on the ground. In front of them lay a vast expanse of white. Uncle You stopped the snowmobile by the roadside and observed multiple times to confirm their direction. He pointed to a protruding white hill in the distance. "Fortunately, we still have that to guide us! It''s not far, about five kilometers away." Zhang Yi nodded, his heart filled with anticipation. Soon, they arrived at the base of the hill. Scattered protruding structures were still visible on the ground. Uncle You said, "Were close. As for the exact location of the military camp... I need to confirm it again." "Alright, lets search carefully," Zhang Yi replied. They parked the snowmobile by the roadside and began to search for the camp. Military camps rarely had tall buildings; the dormitories were typically two or three stories high for easy assembly in emergencies. The camp''s large area added to the difficulty of the search. Without Uncle You, who knew the way, Zhang Yi might have taken ten days to half a month to find it. After searching for a while, Uncle You''s eyes lit up as he spotted a building not far away. "Found it!" "Found the military camp?" Zhang Yi asked eagerly. Uncle You shook his head, pointing at the building''s golden signboard. "Found a bathhouse!" Zhang Yi''s expression turned speechless as he glanced sideways at Uncle You. Uncle You chuckled. "Don''t worry! Finding this means I can confirm the camp''s location." He explained that the bathhouse was owned by a comrade. Uncle You visited annually to catch up and spend money. "Bathhouse...? Curious, he asked, "A bathhouse outside the military camp? Does it get business?" Uncle You laughed. "You don''t get it, do you? Business is great here! Life in the military is dull, and most soldiers dont have girlfriends. Young men with high energy need an outlet. They dont have anywhere to spend their monthly allowance inside the camp, so they come here. Soldiers are strong and disciplined, so theyre welcomed by the bathhouse." Uncle You spoke passionately about his past in the military, his eyes shining with memories. Zhang Yi smiled. "And the camp leaders dont care?" Uncle You shrugged. "Of course, its against regulations, but leaders understand the soldiers'' needs and turn a blind eye." Pointing at the bathhouse, he said, "Seeing this confirms the camp''s general location." Uncle You turned to the north, carefully observing for a while before pointing to a distant spot. "There! Do you see the watchtower?" Zhang Yi squinted, spotting a black dot in the snow. "Yes, I see it." Uncle You said, "The camp is there." Zhang Yi asked, "But the camp is large. How will we find the armory?" Uncle You replied, "Years ago, I visited my comrade and entered the camp. I remember the armory''s approximate location." "Lets go check it out!" Zhang Yi urged. Knowing the general location, he could use an excavator next time to dig it out. They hopped on the snowmobile and sped toward the spot. Soon, Uncle You pointed out the area. "It''s around here. Its a shame we came too late. Everythings buried under the snow!" Uncle You looked guilty. "Sorry, Zhang Yi. This trip might have been in vain." He had hoped the place wouldnt be completely buried, but reality proved him wrong. Zhang Yi studied the snowy ground, memorizing prominent landmarks like the watchtower and the officer''s office building, which werent fully covered. "Dont worry. You meant well! Maybe when the snow melts, we can come back," he reassured Uncle You. Uncle You smiled sheepishly and nodded. Zhang Yi patted his shoulder. "Lets head back!" It was getting late, and the return trip would take another two to three hours. They couldnt delay further. Uncle You quickly started the snowmobile. ... Back in the neighborhood. S?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Retreat, quickly!" Li Chengbin led a large group of neighbors, hastily retreating from the Wolf Gangs territory in Building 21. Their assault had failed miserably, resulting in heavy losses with over ten people killed. Fighting away from home put them at a disadvantage. Despite their numbers, the Wolf Gang was well-prepared, with traps set up, making the fight one-sided. However, they did manage to kill five or six enemies. Exhausted and gasping in the freezing cold, they decided further attacks were unwise and retreated. On the way back, Li Chengbin calculated potential rewards from Zhang Yi, feeling pleased. But not everyone shared his enthusiasm. Some were deeply unhappy, their faces showing displeasure. "What was the point of this attack? We lost over ten people for nothing!" "The last assault on the Tianhe Gang was the same. We lost more people than we killed. If this continues, well all die!" "Are we just fighting for Zhang Yi''s sake? I nearly lost my head out there!" "Zhang Yi orders us to attack while he and Uncle You stay back. Theyre the best fighters but avoid the battle." These complaints came from a few middle-aged men in the group. Cunning and experienced, they contributed the least but complained the most. Facing the fierce Wolf Gang, some were injured or narrowly escaped death, fueling their resentment towards Zhang Yi. Hearing this, Li Chengbin frowned and shouted, "Watch your mouths! Dont talk nonsense!" "If Zhang Yi hadnt brought us food, many in our building would have starved to death. How dare you complain now?" Chapter 104: Getting Greedy Chapter 104: Getting GreedyLi Chengbins words didnt silence the complainers. Instead, a chubby man with glasses sneered, "Li Chengbin, youre about the same age as Zhang Yi, and yet youve made him your father already?" "Cant you see hes just using us as cannon fodder?" The term "cannon fodder" had a powerful impact, changing the expressions of many neighbors. Given their losses in recent days, attacking both the Tianhe Gang and the Wolf Gang, they had lost over a dozen people. Realizing this could be their fate sent chills down their spines. Li Chengbin pointed at the man and shouted, "Stop talking nonsense! At the very least, were eating because of Zhang Yi." The chubby man, named Luan Qiang, scoffed, "Sure, he gives us food. I was touched at first." "But then he started forcing us into fights, pushing us into the fire pit!" "We could just stay in our own building. Why do we have to fight others?" "We should ensure our own safety and let Zhang Yi find food for us. Thats the best outcome." "But no, he has to cause trouble, making enemies with everyone. What happens if they all come to attack us?" Then Luan Qiang dropped a bombshell. "And from what Ive seen, he never eats the food he brings us." "So he must be keeping the good stuff for himself and giving us the trash!" "There are so many supermarkets and malls out there. Do you really believe its hard for him to find food?" "Hes just fooling us!" His words resonated with many. Initially, they thought they only needed to guard Building 25 and Zhang Yi would bring them plenty of food. But now, Zhang Yi was making them fight othersthis was too cruel! They didnt want to die. Why should they be sent to their deaths? A woman in the crowd muttered, "Zhang Yi is going too far, making us risk our lives unnecessarily." Emotions are contagious, especially among people in the same situation. Gradually, others began expressing their dissatisfaction. "We risk our lives every day while he just goes out and finds some food." "Hes just lucky to have a snowmobile. His contributions arent greater than ours." "Right, if I had his snowmobile, I could find food too. Whats so hard about that?" "I think Luan Qiang is right. Zhang Yi just wants us as cannon fodder, risking our lives for him!" Li Chengbins grip on his shovel loosened. He suddenly shouted, "Enough! Stop saying such things. If Zhang Yi finds out, hell kill you all!" Everyone fell silent, realizing the truth of his words. Luan Qiang, with a sinister smile, approached Li Chengbin and whispered, "Weve all said it. Are you going to report us and have Zhang Yi kill us all?" All eyes turned to Li Chengbin. If he said anything unsatisfactory, they would kill him to keep him quiet. Li Chengbin felt a chill down his spine, swallowing hard. "I have no such intentions. Were all neighbors." "And if you die, do you think Ill survive? Dont worry, I wont report anything." Luan Qiang finally smiled. "Good!" "Were just venting. Nothing more." Others echoed, "Right, were just complaining." "Just like when we used to complain about our bosses at work. But we still went to work, right?" Everyone smiled, but their eyes held something else. They had lost too many people in recent days, and everyone had their own thoughts. Soon, Zhang Yi and Uncle You returned with two bags of junk food. After hearing about the battle, Zhang Yi pretended to comfort everyone and publicly rewarded Jiang Lei and Li Chengbin with two servings of braised pork rice each. The other neighbors also received more than two servings of food each. However, Zhang Yi noticed something off about their attitudes. While they didnt say anything, their eyes held a trace of rejection towards him. He sneered inwardly, knowing they had begun to doubt him. But so what? He knew these neighbors wellthey had the intention but not the courage. When Chen Zhenghao first appeared with a gun, they were terrified and submissive. Now, no matter how much they disliked being cannon fodder, Zhang Yi only needed a gun and a piece of moldy bread to make them obedient. These contemptible people didnt deserve to be treated like humans. Meanwhile, Uncle You happily handed the clothes he had collected to Xie Limei. Her eyes lit up as she gratefully accepted the clothes. Uncle You had picked out branded clothes, even asking Zhang Yi for guidance. Xie Limei, never having worn such expensive clothes, was overjoyed to have new clothes for herself and her child. She hugged Uncle Yous arm affectionately. "Youre so kind, Uncle You!" Seeing the new clothes, the neighbors were envious. Empowered, Luan Qiang asked Zhang Yi, "Next time you go out, can you bring us some clothes, too?" "Preferably down jackets, or..." He eyed Zhang Yis professional-grade cold-weather gear greedily. "Like the ones youre wearing. You should be able to find some, right?" Everyones eyes filled with longing as they looked at Zhang Yi. Luan Qiang continued, "Since Uncle You can find clothes, why not help us, too, next time?" Zhang Yi frowned, sneering inwardly. They were already lucky to have food, yet they now wanted better clothes. Smiling, Zhang Yi nodded. "Ill see what I can do." "But my snowmobile is small and cant carry much. Should I stop bringing food and look for clothes instead?" Everyone immediately objected. S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "No, we still have clothes. Theyre not as warm, but we wont freeze to death. Without food, its unbearable!" Zhang Yi nodded slowly. "Alright, Ill keep finding food first. If theres a chance, Ill look for warmer clothes too." "To ensure you never feel cold again!" He smiled brightly. Chapter 105: Using Fire Chapter 105: Using FireAfter distributing the food for the day, Zhang Yi noticed the stockpile had significantly increased due to the deaths of over ten people in the past few days. Many familiar faces had vanished, including Fang Yuqing and Lin Cainin, who had likely starved or frozen to death. Returning home, he was greeted by Zhou Ke''er, who emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron. Her gentle smile lightened his mood slightly. Over time, Zhou Ke''er had become accustomed to her role as Zhang Yi''s servant. She was a smart woman, understanding that in the apocalypse, clinging to a strong protector was the safest path. Thus, she always aimed to fulfill Zhang Yi''s every need, even anticipating tasks he hadnt asked for. "What are you cooking?" Zhang Yi asked as he removed his cold-weather gear. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Ke''er knelt down, handed him slippers, and placed his snow boots on the shoe rack. "Im making beef stew with potatoes. I know you like it, so Im trying my best. Not sure if its any good." Craving something warm to soothe his stomach, Zhang Yi sat on the sofa. Zhou Ke''er brought him a basin of warm water to soak his feet. The comfort and relaxation from the hot water made his tense body unwind. Despite having various cold-weather gear, running around in the snow all day still left him feeling chilly. At times like this, he deeply appreciated having a warm home. Overall, he was in a good mood today. Having pinpointed the military camp''s location, he could go alone next time to excavate the armory. The camp''s weaponry and ammunition would far surpass the police stations supply. They might even have powerful military weapons like grenades and RPGs, though tanks and armored vehicles were unlikely due to their weight sinking into the snow. "But there should be plenty of weapons and ammo!" he thought. "With these, no one here will be able to threaten me." Amid his joy, unwelcome thoughts crept in, like the recent ambush by the Wolf Gang. Fortunately, his body was well-protected, and he had a gun with ample bullets. In a close-quarters fight in the snow, he would never have managed against ten attackers. "I must eliminate the Wolf Gang. Theyre hiding after realizing my firepower. I cant storm in recklessly. How should I deal with them?" Zhang Yi fell into deep thought. "Attacking a high-rise directly is foolish. They have plenty of retreat space, while the attackers struggle in the snow without cover. Narrow hallways make it hard to fight from below. And if they use Molotov cocktails like I did, well either burn or suffocate from the smoke." An idea suddenly struck him. "Fire attack? Yes, I can use a fire attack!" Recalling news reports about residential fires trapping and suffocating upper-floor residents, Zhang Yi saw potential. "People can''t enter, but smoke can! And smoke rises. Even if they flee to higher floors, it wont help." "The low-temperature outside means they keep windows and doors sealed, so theyll suffocate faster. If they try to escape through windows, I can shoot them one by one." Zhang Yi clapped his hands in delight at the brilliant strategy for dealing with hidden enemies. "But for this to work, it must be a big fire. Most buildings have dismantled flammable materials except for the doors." He quickly devised a plan. "There are plenty of trees outside. Ill chop down more in the coming days. Fresh wood is damp, producing thicker smoke when burned. Just need to douse it with gasoline. Perfect!" Satisfied with his plan, Zhang Yi relaxed. Zhou Ke''er brought dinner, and he praised her cooking. "Your skills are improving!" "Really? If you like it, I can cook for you every day!" Zhou Ke''er beamed with happiness. Zhang Yi nodded, smiling. While they ate, Zhou Ke''er sat across from him. His mind wandered to resolving the neighborhood''s troublesome neighbors. He planned to avoid large-scale conflicts until he had gathered enough wood and excavated the military camp''s weapons. Only then could he confidently eliminate those plotting against him. As they ate, Zhou Ke''er suddenly remarked, "Many people have died in our unit recently." Her comment broke Zhang Yis train of thought. He looked at her, his tone neutral. "Oh, really? And?" Zhou Ke''er continued, "I think they might resent you. Be careful." Her eyes showed concern for Zhang Yi. Women are perceptive, and she had sensed the neighbors changes. Zhang Yi smiled warmly, rubbing her soft cheek. "Dont worry. If I needed your reminders for such things, Id have died countless times already!" Zhou Ke''er seriously added, "The death rate is too high. Some might betray you, collaborating with others to harm you." Zhang Yi nodded but remained nonchalant. "It doesnt matter if they betray me. Ive never trusted any of them." "In fact, I plan to kill them all eventually." His neighbors betrayal was no surprise to Zhang Yi. Shocked, Zhou Ke''er covered her mouth. Then she sighed. "Ive been worrying for nothing. Youre far more ruthless than them!" Her words conveyed disappointment, but she felt reassured. Having such a reliable man by her side made her feel secure. A thought suddenly struck her. Zhang Yi said he trusted no one. What about her? Living together for some time, Zhou Ke''er had given him her most precious self and grown deeply dependent on him. Women are emotional, and even the smartest can''t help but get attached. She hoped she was different. "Zhang Yi, do you trust me?" Zhou Ke''er asked, her eyes filled with anticipation and even a hint of pleading. In such a cold, untrustworthy world, she longed for a bit of warmth. Zhang Yi looked at her and replied without hesitation, "Ke''er, youre the only person I trust in this world!" Stars seemed to twinkle in Zhou Ke''ers eyes, her face blushing. "You... you''re just lying to make me happy, arent you?" Zhang Yi shook his head. "Of course not. Youre unique. No one else matters but you!" His gaze was firm, as if his words were genuine. Tears welled up in Zhou Ke''ers eyes, and she felt deeply moved, almost believing his words. Zhang Yi gently smiled and offered her a piece of beef. "Here, have some food." Seeing her happiness, Zhang Yi sighed inwardly. Women are easy to manipulate if you lie without hesitation. He did like Zhou Ke''er, but his only true love was himself. However, he needed her to believe he loved her to ensure her loyalty and stability. Like a company calling employees "family" only to discard them when convenient, Zhang Yi used emotions to secure her devotion. After dinner, Zhang Yi decided to take a bath. Zhou Ke''er blushed and asked, "Do you need help washing your back?" Seeing her affectionate gaze, Zhang Yi nodded. "Sure, its hard to reach on my own." ... Chapter 106: Tianhai Military Camp Chapter 106: Tianhai Military CampAt this moment, the neighbors in Building 25 were huddled in their homes, eating the food Zhang Yi had provided. They hadn''t bathed in almost a month, their bodies itching and some even developing skin diseases. They couldn''t afford to use hot water for bathing, reserving every bit for drinking. Falling ill after a bath meant certain death. Jiang Lei and Li Chengbin, college roommates and best friends working at the same company, were in high spirits that night. Zhang Yi had given each of them a box of braised pork rice. Though the food was rock-hard from the cold, they managed to warm it up by tucking it inside their down jackets. In the pitch-black room, wrapped in thick blankets, only their heads were visible. Jiang Lei struggled to scoop a piece of braised pork with his spoon, savoring it like a gourmet meal. "Thank goodness we sided with Zhang Yi. Were eating braised pork now!" he exclaimed happily. However, Li Chengbin was silent, gnawing at his frozen rice. Unlike Jiang Lei, who used a spoon, Li Chengbin found it easier to eat by biting directly into the frozen food. Seeing his friends silence, Jiang Lei nudged him with his elbow. "Dont you agree? We should stick with Zhang Yi." "Look at Zhou Ke''erstill looking glamorous in brand-name clothes, even Canada Goose jackets. She can even take baths!" Jiang Leis eyes were full of envy. Li Chengbin glanced at him, mumbling, "Whats the use of envying them? We dont have what it takes." Jiang Lei sighed, "Youre right. If we had their resources, Id try my luck too. But before that, Id let you enjoy first," he joked. "Shut up. I wouldnt touch you if you were the last person on earth!" Li Chengbin retorted. Jiang Lei insisted, "Don''t be so quick to judge. Its not that bad." "Shut up! The more you talk, the grosser it gets!" Li Chengbin snapped. After a moment of silence, Li Chengbin finally spoke seriously, "Jiang Lei, dont you think Zhang Yi is using us as cannon fodder? He doesnt care if we live or die." Jiang Lei looked shocked. "What do you mean?" Li Chengbin recounted the neighbors'' conversations from earlier. Jiang Lei fell silent too. "Talking about it wont change anything," he said finally. "We thought about killing him and taking his supplies, but we couldnt. He almost killed us instead." s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "In this world, the one with the strongest fists is the boss. He gives us food, so we have to obey him." Li Chengbin remained silent. Just then, their phone rang. Li Chengbin pulled it out from his pocket, his expression turning serious as he read the message. There was a mix of tension and excitement in his eyes. ... The next day, Zhang Yi rode his snowmobile out of the neighborhood as usual. After yesterday''s ambush, he took a different route this time. He didnt bring Uncle You along today because he planned to dig up the buried weapons and gather more wood for future use. The previous night, Li Jian and Chen Lingyu had contacted him again, asking about his decision. Zhang Yi brushed them off, saying he needed more time to think. But he sensed their impatience growing. He didnt care about their attitudes; he was focused on their actions. The 29 buildings forming a united front would take time, and Zhang Yi intended to use that time to prepare thoroughly. After two and a half hours, Zhang Yi reached the spot from the previous day. The vast white expanse lay before him, broken only by a few landmarks. He retrieved his excavator from his alternate space and began digging. With his improved skills, Zhang Yi quickly unearthed a building. He wasnt sure if it was the armory, but finding any building was progress. He jumped down to investigate and found a soldier''s dormitory instead. The neatly made beds and lack of bodies surprised him. "Strange. Why are there no bodies?" he wondered. Checking several dormitories, he found the same scene. "Could they have all left?" he thought. The realization dawned on him: the soldiers were likely relocated to protect high-ranking officials who knew about the impending disaster. The officials had moved to shelters, taking the soldiers with them for protection and logistics. This explained the empty warehouses Zhang Yi had seen before. The officials had likely moved their supplies as well. Understanding this, Zhang Yi grew wary. These officials could reemerge as a significant threat once the disaster passed. However, for now, their presence maintained some semblance of order, delaying the rise of armed factions. Chapter 107: A Big Harvest Chapter 107: A Big HarvestZhang Yi didn''t have much time to think here; the days were long, but the nights were short. If he didnt find the armory quickly, it might be dark by the time he returned. However, finding the dormitory at least provided a reference point. Zhang Yi climbed out of the dormitory onto the snow and began comparing the surrounding landmarks in his memory with those described by Uncle You. The excavator resumed its work. It didnt take long for Zhang Yi to find the armory. The armory was heavily fortified, resembling a concrete box covered in snow, making its full appearance unclear. Zhang Yi found an iron door with a heavy silver lock. He took out a crowbar and exerted all his strength, but after struggling for a long time, he couldnt break the lock. "Military armories arent so easily breached! But I can''t use a gun either." With his hands on his hips, deep in thought, Zhang Yi suddenly remembered he had driven the excavator here. Slapping his forehead, he quickly climbed back into the excavator and used it to break the lock. Impatiently, he entered the armory. Pushing aside the steel door, the sight inside would make any mans blood boil. Zhang Yi saw his first real armory, different from his imagination, without mountains of bullet boxes in large iron cabinets. The armory had many iron racks against the walls, holding numerous black rifles. On the racks, there were also gray-green boxes made of some unknown metal, looking very heavy. Camouflage uniforms and helmets hung on the walls, with some camouflaged paint underneath the racks. Zhang Yi took a deep breath and first stored all the rifles in his alternate space. He now had so many guns, that it seemed impossible to ever use them all unless he formed a post-apocalyptic survival squad someday. Regardless, he stored them for potential future use. His main interest was in finding bullets, grenades, and RPGs. Cautiously, he opened the metal boxes, finding various types of bullets. Having learned about firearms at a shooting club, Zhang Yi understood which bullets matched which guns. The armory contained around 2,000 handgun bullets, over 5,000 rifle bullets, and more than 3,000 sniper bullets. He also found a military sniper rifle, different from his police model, with better environmental adaptability, water, dust, and cold resistance, though less precise. For Zhang Yi, precision wasnt an issue, as his superpower ensured accurate shooting. What delighted Zhang Yi even more was finding ten boxes of grenades, each holding five grenades, for a total of fifty grenades! This discovery was already a big harvest for Zhang Yi. "If they all went on missions, theyd need to take their gear. Thats why over half the equipment in this armory is gone." The sudden snow disaster caught them off guard, and they left these supplies behind in their haste. For Zhang Yi, the amount was more than sufficient. "However, there should be more than one armory in the military camp." According to Uncle You, the Tianhai City garrison had a regiment of around 1,500 soldiers. It was unlikely to have only one small armory. After collecting everything, Zhang Yi continued clearing the snow along the concrete walls with the excavator. Soon, he found another armory nearby. This armory had fewer weapons and equipment, but Zhang Yi still found several thousand bullets and two boxes of grenades. "Considering everything, this is more than enough!" S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled in satisfaction. With these weapons, no one in Tianhai City could pose a threat to him in terms of firepower. He had never used grenades before but could ask Uncle You for guidance or find instructions online. He didnt find any heavy weapons. The Tianhai City garrison was an infantry unit, lacking artillery and armored vehicles. Heavy machine guns and similar weapons were likely taken on missions. If not for the snow disasters rapid onset, Zhang Yi wouldnt have found these weapons and ammunition. "No matter what, these weapons are more than enough for me." "This also points me in a direction. In the future, I can gather weapons from police stations and military units across different cities." Every sizable city had police stations and garrisons. With his means of transportation, Zhang Yi could cross cities to seek weapons and equipment in nearby satellite towns. After ensuring he had found everything valuable in the vicinity, Zhang Yi drove away from the military camp. He didnt go far. The surrounding area was a wilderness with many trees, perfectly matching his needs. He used the excavator to break the trees at the waist and stored them in his alternate space. Busy for a long time, he returned home at nightfall. The neighbors were waiting for him to distribute food, but this time Zhang Yi returned empty-handed. Seeing the neighbors, Zhang Yi spread his hands. "I searched many places today but found no food. Everyone, please bear with it!" People shouldnt be fed too well; a full belly leads to rebellious thoughts. Just yesterday, some neighbors had started asking for clothes. Today, Zhang Yi deliberately brought back nothing to remind them: "Youre all my dependents. Dont overstep your bounds! If you want to eat, behave!" Hearing Zhang Yis words, the neighbors began murmuring. "What? No food today?" "Impossible, there are so many places to search. Cant you try harder?" "Its tough without food tonight!" "You worked all day and found nothing?" Zhang Yi smiled at the chattering crowd. "Are you done talking?" Everyone fell silent, their faces unhappy but their mouths shut. "Recently, you all seem to be getting complacent, forgetting that you begged me to save you." "Has it only been a few days, and you already think Im obligated to bring you food?" "If thats the case, we can part ways. You can find your own food from now on." Everyone was shocked. Li Chengbin quickly said, "Brother Zhang, thats not what we meant. We understand how hard you work! The snow outside makes it difficult to find food. Please go and rest first!" Chapter 108: Training the Neighbors Chapter 108: Training the NeighborsZhang Yi shrugged. "So that''s how it is today." After saying this, he waved his hand to dismiss everyone. But just then, Luan Qiang, who was standing in the crowd, spoke up. "Zhang Yi, it''s hard for you to find things on your own. Why don''t you take a few more people with you?" "I think your snowmobile can seat three people easily. If everyone helps, we''ll surely find things faster!" Others turned to Zhang Yi with eager eyes. The idea of going out to find supplies was very tempting. Especially after seeing Uncle You bring back clothes for Xie Limei and her daughter last time. If they could go out, they could take whatever they wanted. "Zhang Yi, if you need help, we''re all willing!" a woman bravely said. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes slightly, then laughed. "So, you''re all eyeing my snowmobile now? If thats the case, we might as well part ways. From now on, I won''t be responsible for you anymore!" Luan Qiang hurriedly tried to explain, but Zhang Yi was done wasting words. He pulled out his handgun and loaded it expertly. "Click!" The sound of the safety being disengaged caused everyone''s faces to change drastically. They quickly backed away. "Zhang Yi, don''t act rashly! We were just discussing, no other intentions." "Right, if you don''t agree, let''s forget about it, okay?" "We actually appreciate you finding food for us and were just worried you''d tire yourself out. Don''t misunderstand!" Zhang Yi sneered. "In the future, dont say things that harm our unity." "Or maybe Ive been feeding you too well lately." S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. With that, Zhang Yi raised his gun and shot Luan Qiang dead. No one expected Zhang Yi to start shooting without a word. They thought he would reason with them, and then they could use their numbers and words to pressure him into agreeing to their demands. But they forgot, the relationship between them and Zhang Yi was never equal. Dialogue required enough capital! Screams erupted as the neighbors fled in terror, tripping over each other in the narrow stairway. "Without killing a few, you wont understand your place," Zhang Yi said coldly, firing several more shots, killing six more people before stopping. He watched the rest scatter like frightened dogs. Only Uncle You and Xie Limei stayed behind. Uncle You stood by Zhang Yi''s side, while Xie Limei hid behind him, playing the ostrich. Uncle You said to Zhang Yi, "They''ve forgotten their place, getting too full of themselves." Zhang Yi thought, "If it werent for keeping them as cannon fodder, Id have killed them all already." Outwardly, he shrugged generously. "Its okay. Im a kind person. I forgive them." With his ample firepower, Zhang Yi now acted with impunity. Xie Limei clung to Uncle Yous arm, looking at Zhang Yi with fear. "Kind? You wish..." "Lets go back," Zhang Yi said, carrying his gun and walking with a disdainful stride. He was almost ready. These cannon fodder wouldnt last long. Even if they didnt die in the upcoming conflicts, Zhang Yi planned to eliminate most, if not all, of them. He didnt care whether they lived or died. Even after killing a few, theyd still come begging for food. ... Just as Zhang Yi anticipated, the residents of Building 25 were terrified, fleeing back to their homes and locking their doors tightly. At that moment, they recalled the fear of being controlled by Chen Zhenghao. They hid in their homes daily, unsure when death would come. They created a new chat group privately, excluding Zhang Yi, Zhou Ke''er, Uncle You, and Xie Limei. Since the glacial apocalypse began, dozens of groups had formed within the building, reflecting the deep mistrust and deceit among people. "What do we do now? Zhang Yi is enraged and wants to kill us! We dont have guns. How can we fight him?" someone anxiously asked. After a while, the residents, recovering from their shock, began discussing. "Zhang Yi doesnt reason at all! We were just discussing, and he started shooting." "Whats scary is hes been killing so many with a gun these days. How many bullets does he have? Why does a regular person have so many bullets, even a sniper rifle?" "Ive been saying Zhang Yi is a city war god or a retired special forces soldier. You didnt believe me!" "Who cares who he is? We shouldnt have trusted him in the first place!" "Hes very selfish. Everything he does for us comes with a price." "Helping us was all fake! Hes not kind at all." "Yes, he wants us as cannon fodder, to fight for him and seize supplies and territory!" ... The chat group exploded with curses directed at Zhang Yi, including Zhou Ke''er, Uncle You, and others associated with him. Although they couldnt oppose Zhang Yi openly, they regained their self-respect and became warriors against him. After a round of venting, they felt much better, but a new problem arose. "Though Zhang Yi is selfish and gives us food with ulterior motives, what will we eat if he stops providing food?" The chat fell silent for a long time. Hiding in their rooms, the residents were shocked and gripped by fear. They remembered how they lived before Zhang Yi provided foodeating anything edible, even boiling leather belts and jackets. Some desperate enough to eat excrement, like dogs surviving through secondary digestion. Nothing is more unbearable than falling from hope back into despair. If they had never seen the light, they wouldnt fear the darkness. But having experienced Zhang Yis food, they couldnt return to their former lives. Finally, someone spoke up, "If you think about it, Zhang Yi isnt so bad. Those he killed deserved it." Chapter 109: The Whole Neighborhood Pressures Chapter 109: The Whole Neighborhood PressuresFaced with the terror of imminent death, the residents began to reminisce about Zhang Yis good deeds. Once someone initiated the thought, others were easily swayed, especially now that they were all hungry, making them appreciate the food Zhang Yi had provided even more. "Come to think of it, maybe we were too harsh on Zhang Yi?" "He braves the harsh wind and snow to find food for us, and he has to find enough for dozens of people." "Yeah, so he didn''t find any today. We won''t starve to death; we can endure for a bit." "Those who got killed brought it on themselves. They spoke out of turn." "Exactly, who are they to think they can take his snowmobile? They deserved to die!" "Oh, I remember now. Luan Qiang was a real jerk. He let his dog off the leash once, and it almost bit me!" "Is that so? Well, he truly deserved to die then! And he got us into this mess before dying." "Regardless, we need to convince Zhang Yi to continue finding food for us!" "Right, that''s our only way to survive." "He''s right. Zhang Yi''s house is made of alloy; we can''t break in. We have to beg for his mercy!" Just as Zhang Yi predicted, a little kindness made the neighbors audacious, while harsh treatment had them groveling. Confucius was right: it is difficult to manage both women and petty people; being close makes them impertinent, while distancing them causes resentment. Not long after Zhang Yi returned home, someone in the Building 25 group chat tagged him and apologized. "Zhang Yi, we were wrong today. We sincerely apologize." "We hope you''ll overlook our behavior for the sake of our long-term neighborly relations." "It was all Luan Qiangs fault! None of us had such intentions. Please understand!" "We will follow your instructions from now on." "And, if you could, please go out to find food again tomorrow. We are really starving." Seeing these messages, Zhang Yi smirked coldly, too lazy to respond. "Let them stew in their own guilt and despair," he thought. "Maybe I should use them as a death squad one last time?" "Throw a couple of moldy pieces of bread their way, and theyd scramble to do it." Just then, a series of "Ding Dong! Ding Dong!" notifications caught his attention. He had most group chats muted, so why these alerts? Curious, Zhang Yi checked and understood the situation. Chen Lingyu from Building 9 had added him to a new group chat. He glanced at the members and realized the significance: exactly 30 people, including many familiar names like Li Jian from Building 18, Huang Tianfang from Building 26, Wang Qiang from Building 21, and Zhang Yunan from Building 5. These were the leaders of all 30 buildings in the neighborhood. Sharp-eyed and contemplative, Zhang Yi muttered, "Looks like theyre finally ready to confront me." Zhang Yi knew this day would come. Unlike him, with an endless supply of resources, the other buildings were barely scraping by. Each day was a struggle for them. Once Zhang Yi entered the group, Chen Lingyu announced, "I''ve added Zhang Yi. Let''s discuss the matter." Silent, Zhang Yi waited to see what they had to say. His nemesis, Wang Qiang from Building 21, spoke first, his tone hostile. "Zhang Yi, I hear youve been living comfortably in Building 25, eating well every day, while ignoring us poor neighbors!" Zhang Yi chuckled but didn''t bother arguing. Talking against 29 voices, especially online, was pointless. "If you dragged me in just to hear you babble, I''m leaving now." Huang Tianfang quickly interjected, "Dont be hasty, Zhang Yi. If you leave now, who knows what might happen!" Zhang Yi sneered, "Are you threatening me, Huang Tianfang? Ive killed so many of your Tianhe Gang members. How dare you bark here?" "Believe me, I could wipe you all out by tomorrow!" Behind his phone, Huang Tianfang felt a chill down his spine and hastily sent a voice message, "Don''t scare me! The leaders of the other 29 buildings have formed a united front. Attacking one of us means attacking all of us." "No matter how strong you are, can you handle so many of us?" Zhang Yi''s eyes flashed. Indeed, they had united. A front of 29 buildings against him. Li Jian, the good guy, intervened, "Alright, everyone, calm down. We created this group to negotiate, not to kill each other." Wang Qiang snorted, "Alright, Old Li, tell him our plan." Li Jian explained, "Alright, Zhang Yi, let me explain our agreement." "The leaders of the 29 buildings have formed a united front to pressure Building 25. If you attack any of us, all the other buildings will provide aid." "Second, we ask you to provide resources to ensure our basic survival." "In exchange, we won''t attack Building 25." "Third, to ensure you fulfill your promises, we want your snowmobile to be shared among everyone, not kept for personal use." "Fourth, we need you to disclose any resource locations you know. With the city buried in snow, not everyone can find supplies, even with a vehicle." Li Jian concluded, "Zhang Yi, thats it. Have you understood?" A sneer curled Zhang Yi''s lips. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. These demands were outrageous. They wanted his snowmobile, expected him to lead them to resources, and demanded he ensure their survival. In return, they simply promised not to attack Building 25? They were dreaming. Although ridiculous, Zhang Yi understood the logic behind their demands. Negotiations were about extracting benefits, and their absurd demands were just an opening gambit. They believed they could overpower Building 25 with their combined might, underestimating Zhang Yi''s firepower. They didnt know he had amassed a considerable arsenal of weapons and ammunition. A fight between them wouldnt even be close. Sheer numbers didnt guarantee victory. Just as a single alien weapon could decimate Earths fleet, Zhang Yis superior firepower could annihilate them. Silent, Zhang Yi contemplated his next move. Chapter 110: Compete with Me on Resources? Are You Sure? Chapter 110: Compete with Me on Resources? Are You Sure?Zhang Yi stayed silent, mocking these people''s foolishness. He was eager to see their astonished and panic-stricken faces when they finally witnessed his true strength. "Should I just kill them all now and clean up Building 25 while Im at it?" Zhang Yi muttered, stroking his chin. With ample firepower and a method to deal with people hiding in buildings, killing everyone in the neighborhood wouldnt be too difficult for him. Additionally, the useless neighbors in Building 25 could also be eliminated. "No, doing that would still leave security gaps. Even if I decided to eliminate them, Id have to do it one building at a time." "But what if they all decided to fight me to the death? With thousands of them, they could crush me under their sheer numbers alone." "Although these people are cowards, the probability of this happening isnt zero. My life is far more valuable than theirs, so I cant take unnecessary risks." "I need a more foolproof plan." As Zhang Yi pondered, the building leaders in the chat group grew impatient with his silence. They believed they had the upper hand, thinking Zhang Yi had no other choice but to bow to their demands. S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. In their minds, it was impossible for anyone in Yue Lu Community to fight against thousands of people simultaneously. If such a person existed, it would be a myth. Wang Qiang began to urge, "Why arent you speaking? Hurry up and respond! You have to agree to this whether you want to or not. Otherwise, we wont show mercy!" Chen Lingyu chimed in, "Zhang Yi, no one wants to die. We all just want to survive. While you might feel its unfair, sometimes one has to bend to circumstances. Remember, a wise man knows when to yield!" Li Jian added, "Mr. Zhang, you should seriously consider this matter. We dont want to resolve this through conflict, but we also want to survive." "If you agree to cooperate, the resource issue for the entire community can be well managed. Perhaps we can even return to the civilized state we had before." Others chimed in with various comments, some playing good cop, others bad cop. Ultimately, their message was clear: Zhang Yi had to agree to their demands, or he would die. Zhang Yi glanced at the group messages, and an idea formed in his mind as he read through the names of the building leaders. "Capture the ringleader first!" If he could eliminate the leaders of each building, the remaining people would undoubtedly descend into chaos. Letting them tear each other apart would mean fewer people for him to deal with. He then slowly responded, "I need time to consider this. Youve had plenty of time to discuss this, but you havent given me any time to think." "Moreover, I suggest we meet in person to discuss. It''s difficult to communicate clearly with so many voices here." "Why dont we arrange a meeting of all the building leaders in a few days to discuss cooperation? What do you think?" As soon as Zhang Yi proposed this, Wang Qiang sneered and responded, "Are you suggesting we all gather together so you can kill us all?" "We can meet, but you must come to our territory. Lets say Building 21." Zhang Yi smiled, knowing they wouldnt agree easily. After all, surviving this long meant none of them were fools. He wasnt in a hurry and replied calmly, "You can also send representatives to meet, but the meeting must be in Building 25." His tone was firm, brooking no argument. Wang Qiang laughed loudly, "Why should it be on your terms? Do you take us for idiots?" Huang Tianfang added, "Zhang Yi, stop playing tricks. Were not fools." Zhang Yi snorted, "If youre too afraid to send a few representatives, whats the point of talking?" "Dont like it? Fine, lets fight then. Forget the talks." Both sides were incredibly stubborn, unwilling to show any weakness. Maintaining a strong stance in negotiations was crucial; otherwise, youd end up being manipulated. Once again, the mediator, Li Jian, stepped in. "Everyone, calm down. We can work this out." He asked Zhang Yi, "How do you propose we talk?" Zhang Yi replied, "I''m not unreasonable. Send representatives from the 29 buildings to meet and discuss how we can cooperate." "Given that you all covet my resources and snowmobile, why should I risk coming to your territory?" "My terms are clear. Its up to you whether you come or not." "Im sure youve done your research on me. To be honest, I knew about this unprecedented cold wave long before it hit." "Thats why my house is fortified and impregnable. You cant breach it. If it comes to it, we can see who can outlast whom." After sending his message, Zhang Yi stared at the screen, testing to see if anyone in the community could potentially breach his house. Although the probability was low, the imminent battle might involve facing thousands of attackers, so he had to be thorough in his considerations. Mathematics never lies, and indeed, the low-probability event did not occur. After some deliberation, the group seemed disheartened. They knew Chen Zhenghao had been killed by Zhang Yi, and Huang Tianfangs attempt to use explosives had failed, leaving Zhang Yis house intact. These were ordinary people, lacking access to large quantities of explosives to demolish a building. If Zhang Yi chose to stay inside, they had no means to force him out. After a while, a leader spoke up, "You might be able to protect yourself, but can you protect everyone in your building?" Zhang Yi rolled his eyes. Did they think he was a saint? Clearly running out of ideas, they resorted to moral blackmail. "In a situation like this, of course, Ill prioritize my own survival. Dont waste time with meaningless moral arguments," Zhang Yi replied. Chen Lingyu, growing anxious, added, "Even if your house is sturdy, youll eventually run out of food. Do you plan to hide forever?" "Escaping reality like an ostrich is meaningless." Zhang Yi couldnt stop grinning. "Well see who can outlast whom." Compete with him on resources? Zhang Yi had one response: "Ive never cared how many resources others have because none of them have more than I do." Chapter 111: Zhou Keers Massage Techniques Chapter 111: Zhou Ke''er''s Massage TechniquesNone of the other building leaders anticipated Zhang Yi would handle the situation this way. Given that Zhang Yi had to go out every day to find supplies, they naturally assumed he needed to venture out to survive. However, now Zhang Yi stood with his hands in his pockets, revealing his true stance. "So, you want to fight me? Fine, Ill just hide inside my impenetrable fortress and see what you do!" As everyone hesitated, Li Jian broke the deadlock. "I think negotiation is the best solution. Its better than a mutually destructive fight," Li Jian said. "If it comes to negotiating, Im willing to step forward." s?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled and said, "Mr. Li, Ive always admired your sensible approach. Back when we worked together, I thought you were the most reasonable person." "Come over and talk. I trust you more than those who prefer sneak attacks." By calling Li Jian "Mr. Li," Zhang Yi signaled familiarity, subtly undermining Huang Tianfang and Wang Qiang. Internal discord was key to such temporary alliances. Though these 29 buildings had formed a united front against Zhang Yi, there were inherent conflicts among them. Theyd been rivals before, only uniting due to the common threat Zhang Yi posed. Indeed, Zhang Yi''s words had an effect. Wang Qiang sneered, "Li Jian, do you think you can represent all of us?" Huang Tianfang added coldly, "We cant let you go alone to talk!" Chen Lingyu chimed in, "If thats the case, I should go too!" Each leader feared the others might make a secret deal with Zhang Yi. This disruption caused chaos, with everyone demanding to negotiate. Zhang Yis eyes gleamed with a hint of malice. "Im not afraid of you coming; Im afraid you wont come!" "Fine, tomorrow at 2:30 PM, Ill be waiting in Building 25. If youre late, I wont wait!" He left no room for bargaining and promptly exited the chat. If successful, he could eliminate these 29 leaders tomorrow. Although it might incite collective resentment from their followers, leaderless chaos would prevent swift reorganization, giving Zhang Yi time to dismantle them one by one. Confident in his superior firepower and impenetrable fortress, Zhang Yi feared no opponent! The footbath had cooled. Zhang Yi lowered his head and said to Zhou Ke''er, "Alright, dry my feet." Zhou Ke''er nodded and used a cloth to dry his feet before emptying the water and returning to massage him. As Zhang Yi watched the beautiful doctor, he reached out his hand. "Dont use your phone for the next few days. Give it to me for safekeeping." With a potential battle looming, Zhang Yi needed to eliminate all security risks. Zhou Ke''er hesitated briefly before handing over her phone. "Is there going to be a fight?" She asked softly. Zhang Yi replied calmly, "Maybe. I need to prepare for war. This time, the number of enemies is unprecedented." "Oh, I understand," Zhou Ke''er nodded and continued massaging without further questions. Knowing Zhang Yi well after living together for so long, she knew not to ask too many questions when he was serious. Seeing his stern expression and occasionally sharp eyes, Zhou Ke''er understood he was deeply contemplating his strategy. She focused on fulfilling her role. After a moments thought, Zhou Ke''er moved behind Zhang Yi, placing her soft, white hands on his shoulders and massaging with perfect pressure. Recently, she learned new massage techniques and began applying them to Zhang Yis head. "Whats this" Zhang Yis eyes glazed over. Zhou Ke''er''s expert fingers pressed into his scalp, sending a wave of delight through his nerves. "Feels good," Zhang Yi murmured. Zhou Ke''er blushed with joy. "Im glad you like it. I just learned this recently." Leaning back on the sofa, Zhang Yi felt utterly relaxed, his mind clearing. He closed his eyes, thinking about tomorrows meeting with the 29 building leaders. If they all showed up, he would kill them without hesitation. Their followers would be thrown into disarray, giving him a chance to eliminate them one by one. However, not all of them were fools. Some might not show up, maintaining a wait-and-see stance. What should he do if that happened? Zhang Yis mind drifted into the massage-induced tranquility. After pondering for a while, he made up his mind. If fewer than half showed up or none at all, hed temporarily agree to their terms, lulling them into a false sense of security. Then, through a series of maneuvers, hed incite internal strife among them, weakening their combat strength before finding the right opportunity to kill them all. Time was on Zhang Yis side. Unless he actively attacked other buildings, he could crush any of them with ease. "Patience is key. Rushing leads to mistakes, and one mistake could put me in danger." "Ill be a patient hunter, setting traps and waiting for the prey to walk into them." With his thoughts organized, Zhang Yi attributed his clarity to Zhou Ke''er''s new massage technique. Preparing for tomorrow''s negotiations, he needed capable people to manage the situation. Naturally, he thought of Uncle You first. He messaged Uncle You, explaining the plan for tomorrow. Uncle You replied immediately, "Just tell me what to do. Im at your service!" Zhang Yis continuous small gestures of kindness and his impressive marksmanship had thoroughly won Uncle You over. He was now unwaveringly loyal, ready to follow Zhang Yis orders without hesitation. Chapter 112: Deployment of Troops Chapter 112: Deployment of TroopsZhang Yi spoke to Uncle You, "You dont need to do anything special. The negotiations tomorrow will be on our turf." "The representatives from the other 29 buildings might come. I need someone to maintain order." "I want you to lead this task." Uncle You nodded. "Thats easy. When they arrive, well search them and make them discard any weapons." "Exactly," Zhang Yi replied. "Ill inform the other neighbors." Uncle You agreed. "Alright, thats settled then." S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After confirming with Uncle You, Zhang Yi opened the group chat for the residents of Building 25. The residents were still begging Zhang Yi not to abandon them, hoping he would continue providing food as he had before. Zhang Yi was done with their pleas. He typed, "Tomorrow, representatives from the other 29 buildings will come to pressure me. They want me to decide whether or not to provide them with resources." "If that happens, I might have to abandon you. You know I can protect myself just fine." "Or you can follow my orders, stand guard tomorrow, and perhaps we can survive. Ill try my best to secure resources for you." Hearing this, the neighbors grew anxious. No one dared to object. They all agreed, promising to follow Zhang Yi''s orders. After all, most of Building 25''s combat power came from Zhang Yi. Without his protection, they could be wiped out by the Tianhe Gang or the Wolf Gang at any time. After making his plans, Zhang Yi patted Zhou Ke''er''s hand. "Rest early tonight! Tomorrow is a big day." Zhou Ke''er bit her lip and whispered in his ear, "In that case, should I help you relax tonight?" Zhang Yi smiled, "I need to conserve my strength. Lets keep it simple." Zhou Ke''er nodded and positioned herself in front of Zhang Yi. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi woke up at seven. Glancing at his Rolex, he saw it was still early but couldnt fall back asleep. He got out of bed and began preparing his gear for the negotiations. He equipped himself with a bulletproof vest, modified bulletproof pants, a police helmet, a crowbar, and a machete. He also placed two military knives in his pants pockets for close combat, which were more practical than the machete. He strapped on two fully loaded police handguns and six additional magazines on his waist. Then, he retrieved two assault rifles from his alternate space, each fully loaded. He planned to use these to quickly take out a large number of people if necessary. Finally, he equipped his beloved sniper rifle. Surveying his arsenal, Zhang Yis gaze fell on the boxes of grenades in his alternate space. "If they all gather in one room, I could just throw a grenade and cripple them, if not kill them outright." A cold smile played on Zhang Yi''s lips. He had learned how to use grenades from online tutorials. This weapon, with its mid-range area of effect, was simple to use. He had never used one before, but after surviving so long in the apocalypse and killing dozens, his resolve was as hard as steel. "Next, we just need to wait for the fish to take the bait!" Zhang Yis cold eyes gleamed with anticipation. ... By twelve noon, Zhang Yi was fully armed and went downstairs, instructing everyone to gather on the seventh floor. Apartment 1301 was a spacious one-bedroom unit, ideal for hosting many people. Its height made it safe from attacks from below, and even if a fight broke out downstairs, Zhang Yi could quickly return to his safe house. It was very secure. The neighbors, desperate for Zhang Yis food, complied without objection and gathered in the unit. Zhang Yi glanced at them without a word, then threw two black duffel bags on the floor. "This is todays food. Distribute it." In reality, Zhang Yi had collected food yesterday but had withheld it. After a day without food, the neighbors lunged at the bags, ravenous. Zhang Yi watched them devour the food without saying a word. Today might involve a fierce battle, and these cannon fodder might not survive. He wasnt being kind by feeding them one last meal; he needed them to be strong enough to fight for him. Once they had eaten, Zhang Yi addressed them. "Todays task is simple. Ill be negotiating with the other building leaders." "We aim for peaceful communication, with little chance of a violent conflict. Your job is to stand guard and maintain order." "If the negotiations succeed, youll no longer live in fear and can return to a normal life." "So, stay vigilant and dont let anyone disrupt the negotiations. Understood?" Zhang Yi painted a promising picture of returning to a normal life. Hearing the words "normal life," the neighbors were moved to tears. Some squatted down and cried, overwhelmed by memories of their previous harmonious life and the harsh reality of the past month. One neighbor asked, "Zhang Yi, is it true? Can we go back to the way things were?" "Yes!" Zhang Yi nodded confidently, his gaze unwavering. "If we conclude these negotiations successfully and resolve the food issue, there will be no more bloodshed." "So, for the sake of a brighter future, give it your all today!" The neighbors were motivated, vowing to follow Zhang Yis lead in the hope of a better future. Chapter 113: Does Having More People Make You Great? Chapter 113: Does Having More People Make You Great?After the neighbors had eaten, Stockholm syndrome made them feel grateful to Zhang Yi. When he mentioned the possibility of returning to normal life without constant fear, their spirits were immediately lifted. "If that''s the case, let''s do it!" "I''m sick of this life. If I can return to a normal life, I''m willing to risk my life!" Seeing their morale boosted, Zhang Yi slowly stood up from his chair. "Alright, let''s assign tasks to everyone." They were about to face the ruthless individuals from the other 29 buildings. To ensure Zhang Yis safety, preparations had to be thorough even if everyone else had to die, they needed to buy enough time for him to return to his safe house. Aside from Zhang Yi and Uncle You, there were 28 usable people on site. Zhang Yi instructed Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei to lead 18 people to guard the west entrance of the building. The entrance was booby-trapped, leaving only a narrow passage for one person at a time, surrounded by various appliances and equipment. If anyone attacked, they would have to enter one by one, essentially walking into a death trap. A full-frontal assault would require removing the obstacles, which would take a considerable amount of time. Even if the other 29 buildings launched a sudden attack during the negotiations, Zhang Yi could use the delay to kill everyone on site and leave calmly. Uncle You was assigned to maintain order on the 13th floor with 10 people. Zhang Yi''s remaining manpower mainly served as a fa?ade. Even if 29 people came, Zhang Yi could kill them all in such an open space. Everything was going according to his plan. After setting up, Zhang Yi waited for their arrival. The agreed time was 2:30 PM, but given the urgency, people began emerging from other buildings after 2 PM. It looked like a swarm of ants coming out of an anthill. Black shadows dotted the snowy landscape, and the number of people kept increasingthere were at least five or six hundred, and the number was still growing! The central area of the community was packed, with almost no empty space. "Playing tricks with me, huh?" Zhang Yi sneered, pulling out his phone to send a message in the building leader group chat. "Have everyone back off. If you don''t, don''t bother coming today." After sending the message, he pocketed his phone and took out a sniper rifle, hiding it under a table by his feet. He shouted out the window, "Uncle You!" Uncle You, holding a thick crowbar, entered. "Zhang Yi, what are your orders?" Zhang Yi said, "There are too many people. I''m afraid the boys can''t hold the line. Go assist them! Don''t worry, I''ll provide fire support from here." Uncle You glanced outside, his pupils shrinking, but he nodded firmly. "Got it, I''ll handle it!" Even after Zhang Yi''s message, the crowd didn''t stop. They halted five meters from Building 25, blocking it so densely that the light was dimmed. Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei felt chills down their spines. If the crowd charged, even with the terrain advantage, they could only delay for a short time. "How do we stop so many people?" "They said they were coming to negotiate, but this looks more like an invasion!" "We''re doomed!" The guards at the west entrance felt a cold chill in their hearts, unsure how to respond. A calm voice came from the stairs. "Why the panic? If they wanted to fight, they would have already charged." Uncle You, holding a crowbar, calmly walked down. His presence reassured the others, knowing his combat prowess. S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Li Chengbin frowned, "Uncle You, there are too many people! Did the entire community come? How do we fight?" The others looked at Uncle You with fearful eyes, seeking guidance. Uncle You reassured them, "No need to worry. Their target isn''t you, but Zhang Yi, to pressure him in negotiations." "And think about it, what do you have that they want?" His explanation calmed the group. Realizing they had nothing of value, they felt less threatened. The real target was Zhang Yi, not them. For the first time, they felt grateful for their insignificance. Suddenly, the crowd parted, and five people emerged, flanked by subordinates. They were Huang Tianfang from Building 26''s Tianhe Gang, Wang Qiang from Building 21''s Wolf Gang, Li Jian from Building 18''s Harmony Home, Chen Lingyu from Building 9, and Zhang Yunan from Building 5. They approached Building 25 with confident expressions, especially Wang Qiang, the 22-year-old street punk, feeling invincible backed by a thousand men. Facing Zhang Yi seemed trivial. "We''re sure to win this negotiation!" Wang Qiang said smugly. Huang Tianfang''s sallow face twisted into a triumphant grin. "Zhang Yi is probably wetting his pants now. He has no choice but to comply with our demands." With a thousand against thirty, they couldn''t imagine losing. To them, Zhang Yi was just a small obstacle. Li Jian adjusted his glasses, his demeanor calm yet proud. Organizing such a large group was a feat he had never imagined. Chen Lingyu, arms crossed, said haughtily, "Stop dawdling in the cold. Let''s go in and tell Zhang Yi our terms. He has no choice but to accept." Chapter 114: Fire in the Hole! Chapter 114: Fire in the Hole!The five representatives from the other buildings looked at each other before Huang Tianfang shouted loudly, "Where is Zhang Yi? Were here to negotiate!" Uncle You, carrying a crowbar, walked over. The scene reminded him of his days in the military, making him feel twenty years younger with his blood boiling with excitement. Fearlessly, he looked at the five building leaders and said, "Our boss is upstairs waiting for you. What, didnt the 29 of you agree to come together?" Li Jian adjusted his glasses, maintaining his polite and humble smile. "We discussed it yesterday and decided it wasnt suitable for everyone to come. So we selected the five most capable among us to represent the rest." They had their concerns too, fearing Zhang Yi might take the opportunity to eliminate all the leaders in one fell swoop. After lengthy discussions, they decided to send the five most influential leaders to negotiate with Zhang Yi. Uncle You, following Zhang Yis instructions, frowned slightly and said, "Fine, come in. But only the five of you, no one else." "And for safetys sake, if you have any weapons, its best to put them away. It would be unpleasant if we had to search you." S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. This demand changed their expressions. Chen Lingyus eyebrows shot up as she angrily exclaimed, "A body search? What does Zhang Yi mean by this? Is this his attitude?" Wang Qiang laughed maniacally, drawing a machete and pointing it at Uncle You. "Zhang Yi must have a death wish to be making demands at a time like this! Are you people really not afraid of dying?" Huang Tianfangs cold smile deepened. "Is Zhang Yi blind? Cant he see the situation here? With just a few dozen of you, we could drown you in our spit!" Uncle You didnt waste words, pulling out his phone. He had been in constant contact with Zhang Yi to keep him updated on the situation below. Hearing the arrogance in their voices, Zhang Yi laughed, "I understand. Wait a moment." He realized he needed to curb their arrogance. These guys needed to understand that having more people didnt always mean things would go their way. Zhang Yi walked to the window and opened it, letting the cold wind rush in. He glanced down, seeing the crowd below. Retrieving a grenade from his alternate space, he swiftly pulled the pin, as he had learned from online tutorials, and threw it into the crowd. Those at the back were watching the scene unfold. Although their numbers were large, most were just there to make up the numbers. They didnt take the situation seriously, believing that with so many people, someone would be forced to provide them with food, clothing, and other supplies for free. They chatted happily, dreaming of an easy future. Suddenly, they heard a whistling sound and instinctively looked up to see something falling. "Whats that?" someone asked, thinking it was just a thrown stone, paying it no mind as it was still far away. Before they could react, the grenade hit the ground. "Boom!!!" The explosion sent flames skyward. Seven or eight people near the blast were immediately blown apart, with blood and shattered limbs flying alongside the snow. "Ah!!!" The deafening explosion triggered a wave of panic and screams. One grenade had instantly killed seven or eight people, with two at the center torn to shreds by shrapnel. The blast and shrapnel injured ten more, leaving them bleeding heavily. In this environment, they were as good as dead. The sudden explosion shocked everyone. Ordinary people rarely encountered grenades in their lifetime. Even in the apocalypse, they hadnt imagined being attacked by grenades. Chaos ensued. Despite the large crowd, most were there to make up numbers, and they were completely disorganized. In the panic, they trampled over each other trying to escape. The building leaders turned pale, trying to calm the chaos. "Dont panic! Dont panic!" they shouted, trying to assert control. But this was no disciplined army. Even their most loyal followers were terrified, hugging the ground or huddling together. Just then, Uncle Yous phone rang with a mocking voice. "Does having more people make you great?" Wang Qiang and the others were stunned. The grenade had come from Zhang Yi! Where did he get a grenade? Why did he have one? Even Uncle You and Li Chengbin were shocked, realizing what had happened only after hearing Zhang Yi''s voice. A wave of relief washed over them. Uncle You, still in shock, cleared his throat and addressed Wang Qiang and the others. "Any objections now?" They were too frightened to speak, exchanging looks that revealed how deeply they had underestimated Zhang Yi. Having guns was one thing, but pulling out a sniper rifle was another. Now, even grenades? Facing Zhang Yi with just sticks and knives seemed impossible now. With a somber face, Wang Qiang said, "We came to negotiate. No need for this kind of aggression." Zhang Yis voice dripped with contempt, "Do you need over a thousand people for a negotiation? I found them annoying, so I helped clear them out." Looking at his watch, Zhang Yi said, "Oh, its almost 2:30. You have five minutes. If youre not here by then, theres no need to negotiate. Lets fight instead!" "Fight?" they thought, realizing they were outmatched. Wang Qiang and the others broke into a cold sweat. Chen Lingyu clenched her legs, biting her lip in pain. She had wet herself when the grenade exploded but couldnt let anyone know. "Please, we came in good faith to cooperate. Just wait, were coming up!" Li Jian said urgently. He walked up to Uncle You, "Can you tell us where Zhang Yi is?" With a slightly smug expression, Uncle You replied, "13th floor!" That meant climbing nine floors, which would leave them breathless. Without delay, they dropped their weapons and rushed up the stairs. Chapter 115: Let’s Go Plant Corn Chapter 115: Lets Go Plant CornFrom the window on the 13th floor, Zhang Yi saw the thousand-plus neighborhood residents scattering in panic, and he couldn''t help but gasp. This was his first time using a grenade. To be honest, he hadnt expected it to have such a powerful effect. Maybe it was because he had watched too many TV shows where heroes shrugged off grenades and other explosives without a scratch. But in reality, modern firearms'' lethality to ordinary people was unimaginable! With just one grenade, Zhang Yi had turned over a thousand people into terrified mice, directly and indirectly killing nearly twenty. Initially, he had planned to throw more grenades, but after the first explosion, the rest of the people scattered like birds and beasts. Continuing to throw grenades wouldnt have been as effective. Seeing how useless they were, Zhang Yi didnt bother wasting his grenades. After all, he only had twenty boxes of grenades and needed to use them sparingly. He sat in his chair, waiting for Wang Qiang, Huang Tianfang, and the others to arrive. After a few minutes, the winded individuals finally reached him. In such cold weather, climbing nine floors in one go was beyond most people''s stamina. Only the construction worker Huang Tianfang and Zhang Yunan, the leader of Building 5, managed slightly better. Zhang Yi knew Zhang Yunan ran a boxing gym and was skilled in martial arts, but it didnt matter to him. After all, he had a gun. Beyond seven steps, the gun was faster; within seven steps, it was both fast and accurate! "Is it just you guys?" Zhang Yi asked in a flat tone. Seeing so few people, Zhang Yi felt a bit disappointed. If he couldn''t capture all the building leaders in one go, hed have to resort to his backup plan. After catching their breath, the previous arrogance of Wang Qiang and the others had mostly vanished. Facing someone who could casually toss a grenade, what were they in comparison? Li Jian, still catching his breath, said, "Yes, we are... the representatives!" "Oh." Zhang Yi responded indifferently, "Then lets talk." Wang Qiang and the others, having caught their breath, found places to sit down but kept their distance from Zhang Yi. Everyone knew he was armed. Li Jian, as usual, took the lead. Looking at Zhang Yi seriously, he began, "Zhang Yi, you know the situation is difficult. Everyone is short on food and clothing, and many people are starving or freezing to death." "Ive even heard that some buildings have started resorting to cannibalism!" "If this continues, none of us will survive." "So I hope you understand, we arent targeting you specifically. We just want to survive, which is why we have to negotiate with you in this way." Li Jian''s tone was much more polite than before. Without the grenade, his approach would have been very different. However, Zhang Yi remained unmoved. "Dont try to play the emotional card with me. Do you think that works now?" "Let me hear your conditions first." From the outset, Zhang Yi had dominated the conversation. Even though they tried to maintain a composed front, the fact that they had just climbed nine floors meant they were physically at a disadvantage. This was all part of Zhang Yi''s calculation! The leaders exchanged glances. Wang Qiang nodded at Li Jian, signaling him to speak. Knowing that negotiation was their only option now, Li Jian frowned, thought for a moment, and slowly began, "What we want are essential supplies." "First, we need food, and we need your help to gather it from outside." "Second, we need materials for warmth, such as clothes and blankets." At this point, Li Jian paused, and the others stared intently at him. Reluctantly, he continued, "If our cooperation goes well, we can even assist you in gathering supplies. If we can find more materials together, it would benefit everyone." After finishing, Li Jian felt he had spoken well and asked Zhang Yi, "Mr. Zhang, what do you think?" No matter what Li Jian said, it always sounded pleasant. However, Zhang Yi wasnt naive and understood the underlying meaning of his words. Language is an art. Even with the same demands, the way they were phrased made all the difference. Zhang Yi quickly grasped the implications and sneered. "I get what youre saying. You want me to help you gather food and supplies without any limit." "And you also want to use my snowmobile, correct?" Li Jian tried to explain further, but Zhang Yis expression darkened. Without another word, he pulled out his gun and slammed it on the table. The five leaders instinctively tried to escape, but Uncle You and his men had already blocked the door. Wang Qiang, trying to appear fierce, shouted, "What do you mean by this, Zhang Yi? Im telling you, even if you kill us, the whole neighborhood wont spare you!" Li Jian tried to calm the situation, "Mr. Zhang, dont get excited. We can talk this through!" Zhang Yi, however, smiled faintly. "Why are you so nervous? I just find this handgun a bit cumbersome and wanted to air it out. Dont be so jumpy! Come, lets continue." The five leaders, faces pale, reluctantly sat back down. Zhang Yi continued, "First, let me tell you that I cant agree to your demands!" They tried to interject, but Zhang Yi raised his hand to stop them. "Dont rush, let me finish." "Youre asking me to take care of the entire neighborhood? Thats a joke. No one can do that." "Thirty buildings, over a thousand peoples suppliesit would be exhausting just to gather that much each day!" S?a?ch* Th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "The key point is, as far as I know, none of you are so kind-hearted that you''d worry about your neighbors starving while youre barely getting by yourselves." Zhang Yis tone was sarcastic as he glanced at the five leaders. They looked at each other, remaining silent. Only Li Jian seemed deep in thought, weighing the pros and cons. His building, Harmony Home, survived at the highest rate because it shared resources equally and avoided internal conflict. But if they had to divide limited supplies among so many, their harmonious setup would collapse into chaos. Seeing no objections, Zhang Yi said, "Now, let me tell you my conditions for cooperation. Whether you accept them or not, they won''t change. Otherwise, we fight!" The leaders'' expressions were mixed. Despite their fear of Zhang Yis strength, they knew he could easily overpower any single group or even multiple groups working together. Zhang Yi raised one finger, "First, I can provide you with supplies, mainly food. But the quantity is limitedIll supply enough for ten people per building." "Who gets the food and how its distributed is up to you. Thats your internal matter." "This means Ill be supporting over 300 peoples worth of supplies daily, which is my limit." As Zhang Yi spoke, the five leaders fell silent, deep in thought. They hadn''t expected Zhang Yi to agree to supply the entire neighborhood. Their primary concern was ensuring their own factions'' survival. "Ten peoples worth of supplies is too little," Chen Lingyu protested first. "There are 76 people in our building. I have over 20 employees under me. How do we divide such a small amount?" Zhang Yi gave her a cold look. "So, no deal then?" His tone carried a deadly threat, and Chen Lingyu remembered his earlier statementif negotiations failed, they would fight. Huang Tianfang quickly intervened, "Wait! Chen Lingyu, youre not speaking for all of us!" "I think the supply amount can still be negotiated." Huang Tianfang was eager to agree, knowing that with Zhang Yis firepower, resisting was futile. His own gangs numbers had dwindled significantly, so ten people''s worth of supplies was more than enough for him. Wang Qiang, calculating, also thought ten was too few but kept quiet for now, considering other options. Zhang Yis expression remained cold, "Providing for 300 people daily isnt a small task. Do you think thats easy?" Just this single issue had already exposed cracks in their alliance. Those with more people under them needed more supplies, while those with fewer were more willing to agree. Li Jian, deeply troubled, knew that with only ten portions of supplies for over eighty people, his leadership would collapse into chaos and infighting. After some thought, Li Jian said, "Let us consider this further. What are your other conditions?" Zhang Yi smiled, "Fine. Next, regarding the supplies Ill provide, theres a cost." He placed his right hand on the table, inches from his gun, tapping lightly. "Since we need to sustain 300 people, we must develop self-sufficiency." "Relying solely on scavenging isnt sustainable. Who knows how long this snow will last?" "So, we must start farming!" With a flourish, Zhang Yi produced a bag of corn seeds and tossed it in front of them. "While scavenging, I found a batch of seeds. I think we should plant crops to ensure a stable food supply." Jokingly, Zhang Yi added, "Like our ancestors, food should come from hard work!" Chapter 116: Teammates from Hell Chapter 116: Teammates from HellLi Jian and the other four building leaders exchanged baffled looks, unsure of what Zhang Yi was up to. "Planting crops?" Huang Tianfang scoffed, his displeasure evident. "Have you ever farmed before? In this freezing weather, the crops will all die." Zhang Yi calmly replied, "Hey, you cant say that! Back in Siberia, didnt they promote corn farming extensively?" "If you think corn wont work, I have other seeds: potatoes, wheat. One of them is bound to work." Li Jian and the others were speechless. "Zhang Yi, this isnt a joke. How cold do you think it is outside? And where would you plant them in this icy snow?" Li Jian asked incredulously. Zhang Yi, however, remained serious. "What does the cold matter? Havent we survived this long?" "This snow disaster could last indefinitely. You might have noticed that the higher-ups have all vanished, preparing for a long-term situation." "This suggests the apocalypse will continue for quite some time. If we dont start growing crops, our food will soon run out, and well all die." "As for where to plant them, thats easy." Zhang Yi pointed outside the window. "Isnt there land everywhere? We just need to clear the snow, and theres land beneath!" "To combat the cold, we can use underground planting methods. Although its tough, we have to try." "Only by maintaining a sustainable ecosystem can we survive this apocalypse!" Among the five leaders, Huang Tianfang and Li Jian seemed interested. Huang Tianfang had farming experience, and solving food issues through agriculture would give him an advantage over the city folks. Li Jian, seeing the potential labor force among his building''s many residents, realized that transitioning to an agricultural model could boost his influence in the community. Wang Qiang, skeptical, eyed Zhang Yi. Farming wasnt something hed ever do, but as the boss of Building 21, he could easily make others do the work. Li Jian raised a pertinent question. "If were going to start farming, we need sufficient food. Three hundred portions wont be enough." Zhang Yis lips curled into a smile. "I dont need three hundred people. Three hundred is already too many." He spread his hands. "Alright, lets discuss my second condition." "Each building must send people to clear the fields daily. I need to see your progress." "After all, Im not working hard to find food just to feed freeloaders!" Zhang Yi tapped his fingers on the table, watching the leaders mentally calculate their next moves. "These are my two conditions. Agree to them, and Ill provide supplies." "And if you accept, the quality of the food will be guaranteed. In the future, I might even provide cigarettes, alcohol, clothes, and medical supplies!" This promise caused a stir. s?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Wang Qiang shot up from his chair. "You can get cigarettes??" His eyes were filled with longing. Huang Tianfangs lips trembled with excitement. "Do you have any cigarettes? Give me one to try! I havent smoked in over half a month; Im going crazy!" Both men were heavy smokers, and going without cigarettes for more than two weeks was driving them mad. Their recent irritability was partly due to withdrawal. Zhang Yi grinned, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and tossing one to each of them. The two men greedily grabbed the cigarettes and rushed to light them up. "Got a light?" Wang Qiang asked urgently. "Here, quickly!" Huang Tianfang replied. They fumbled to light their cigarettes, deeply inhaling the smoke, and exhaling with expressions of pure bliss. They could forgo meals, but not smoking was unbearable. Zhang Yis smile widened. "So, do you agree to my terms now?" Chen Lingyu, meanwhile, was too preoccupied with her wet pants to care, shivering in silence. Zhang Yunan, a muscle-bound, simple-minded man, was too baffled by the farming conditions to speak up. Li Jian, hoping to negotiate further, was abruptly interrupted by Wang Qiang. "As long as you can guarantee my cigarette supply, Ill agree to any conditions!" Wang Qiang demanded. "But make sure I get at least two packs a day!" Huang Tianfang echoed, "Same for me." Zhang Yi replied, "I can only give you one pack a day each. Any more, and I cant find enough." Both men quickly agreed. "Deal! Just make sure we get our daily pack!" Zhang Yi spread his hands, "So, were in agreement, right?" Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang, easily swayed by their addiction, had no objections. Li Jian, however, remained stone-faced, silently cursing them for their betrayal. Seeing the internal conflict, Zhang Yi''s grin widened. "Until you give me a clear answer, nothing is official. If you want your cigarettes, youll have to confirm your agreement first." Wang Qiang, lost in his smoky haze, impatiently turned to Li Jian and the others. "What are you waiting for? We got what we wanted. Lets agree and be done with it!" Li Jian protested, "But this is" Wang Qiang snapped, "Enough! I said we agree. Stop wasting time. I hate long-winded people!" Huang Tianfang, blowing out a smoke ring, added, "We should be reasonable. Zhang Yis been accommodating. We should understand his position too." Li Jian, face dark, silently cursed Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang. These two idiots had already caused infighting right in front of Zhang Yi! Chapter 117: The Power of the Sniper Rifle Chapter 117: The Power of the Sniper RifleWang Qiang and Huang Tianfang, driven by their addiction to cigarettes, were eager to agree to Zhang Yi''s conditions just to secure a daily pack. Meanwhile, Chen Lingyu, preoccupied with her own discomfort, was barely able to focus. Li Jian, forced to speak up, said, "These conditions are indeed harsh. We cant make such decisions alone. Otherwise, the other buildings wont agree." Zhang Yunan, the simple-minded leader of Building 5, followed suit. "Yeah, we cant decide on this so easily. We need to discuss it further." Zhang Yi''s expression turned cold, and his voice followed suit. "Discuss further? Are you messing with me? If the five of you cant decide for the whole neighborhood, why did you come here as representatives to negotiate?" Outside, Uncle You and his men tightened their grip on their weapons and moved closer to the door, their faces stern and cold. Wang Qiang and the others felt a chill run down their spines. They realized that Zhang Yi could easily kill them if he wanted toafter all, he had a gun, and they had brought nothing. Wang Qiang quickly intervened, "Wait, who said we cant decide? Weve already agreed that the five of us would make the decisions. Do you think the others wont listen?" "Honestly, Zhang Yis conditions are acceptable," he added, exposing his eagerness and lack of negotiation skills. As a young street punk, he lacked the experience for such critical talks. S?a??h th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Li Jian and Chen Lingyu were furious at Wang Qiang''s recklessness. But once the words were out, they couldn''t be taken back. Huang Tianfang also supported Zhang Yi''s conditions, seeing it as a beneficial arrangement. "Everyone should be reasonable. Zhang Yi has his own difficulties. We shouldnt push too hard," Huang Tianfang said, trying to gain Zhang Yis favor. "Zhang Yi, I agree to your terms!" Wang Qiang followed suit, "Me too!" Zhang Yunan, still unsure what to say, just kept frowning and pretending to think deeply. Only Li Jian and Chen Lingyu had some sense, but Chen Lingyu, distracted by her own situation, couldnt contribute effectively. Li Jian was left alone, struggling to maintain a cohesive front. Zhang Yi watched them with interest while keeping an eye on the situation outside. Suddenly, he noticed something alarming. The crowd he had dispersed with a grenade was regrouping and quietly moving towards Building 25. Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a sneer. "Taking advantage of the negotiations to launch a surprise attack? Classic move." He turned to the five leaders and asked, "Did you arrange for people to attack while were negotiating?" Wang Qiang and the others were bewildered. Wang Qiang laughed dismissively, "What are you talking about? Were all here. Who would attack and risk their own lives?" Zhang Yi remained indifferent. "I agree, but youd better investigate when you get back." He suspected the attackers weren''t acting on the leaders orders. Either other leaders had decided to sacrifice these five to distract Zhang Yi, or their own men were attempting a power grab, disregarding their leaders lives. Li Jian''s face turned pale as he realized the situation. "Theyve started the attack!" Wang Qiang, Huang Tianfang, Chen Lingyu, and Zhang Yunan were shocked. "Those idiots! Who told them to do this?" Zhang Yi''s smile remained cold. He suddenly reached down and grabbed his black sniper rifle. "Everyone, sit down!!" Zhang Yi shouted, aiming the black barrel at the five leaders. Uncle You and his men quickly sealed off all exits. The sight of the sniper rifle left the five leaders terrified. "Zhang Yi, we swear it wasnt us! Please dont shoot!" Wang Qiang pleaded, sweating profusely. Chen Lingyu, already struggling, collapsed to the floor, her pants even wetter. Ignoring them, Zhang Yi turned and set up his sniper rifle at the window. Below, the attackers were gathering at the temporary main entrance, ready to storm Building 25. Zhang Yi aimed at a tall figure in the crowd and pulled the trigger. "Bang!" The deafening sound echoed through the community as the head of the leader from Building 11 exploded, splattering the snow with red and white. The attackers froze in shock. "Bang!" Another shot, another head exploded. Finally, the attackers realized what was happening and either fled or dropped to the ground in panic. Zhang Yi, his eyes cold, methodically targeted those lying on the ground. "Think youre smart? Lying down like that? Ill kill you all!" The booming sound of the sniper rifle echoed through the community, each shot sending a chilling message. In the negotiation room, the five leaders were petrified, realizing the true terror of Zhang Yi. Chapter 118: Zhang Yis Kindness Can Never Be Repaid Chapter 118: Zhang Yi''s Kindness Can Never Be RepaidZhang Yi killed over a dozen people in one breath. "Have you ever played that game where you smash tadpoles?" he asked. In spring, there are many tadpoles in small streams, swimming in groups. When you throw a stone into the water, the tadpoles scatter instantly. It''s quite interesting. When Zhang Yi killed people, it felt similar to smashing tadpoles. Seeing people clustered together, he would pick off the most conspicuous ones. The rest would be scared out of their wits and flee in panic. The remaining residents watched in horror as the people beside them died. Blood and brain matter from their neighbors splattered onto them. This kind of deterrent was enormous, leaving them with no courage to resist for the foreseeable future. Seeing them so terrified, Zhang Yi slowly put away his sniper rifle. He turned back to face the five stunned leaders. "Have you made up your minds?" he asked calmly. Even the usually vicious Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang felt their legs trembling at this moment. It was human nature to fear firearms. Wang Qiang gulped and raised his hand. "I agree to your two conditions." Huang Tianfang followed suit, "I have no objections either!" Zhang Yunan and Chen Lingyu, too stunned to speak, simply raised their hands to indicate their agreement. Seeing the others capitulate, Li Jian bitterly raised his right hand. "I agree too." A slight smile played on Zhang Yis lips. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Good. Starting today, youll begin working. Tomorrow afternoon, Ill notify you to collect supplies." "And be diligent! Ill be watching you. Dont try any tricks." They all nodded in agreement. Zhang Yi waved them off. "You may leave." Li Jian, disheartened, was the first to leave the negotiation room, followed by Zhang Yunan. Chen Lingyu, trembling and almost unable to stand, walked out with an odd gait. Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang lingered, hesitant to leave. "Zhang... Zhang Yi, could you give me that pack of cigarettes? After all, were comrades now!" Wang Qiang pointed at the pack in Zhang Yi''s hand, eyes full of longing. Huang Tianfang, afraid of missing out, quickly added, "Wang Qiang, dont think you can hog it all! Zhang Yi, I havent had a cigarette in ages. Could you give it to me?" Zhang Yi glanced at them, picked up the half-empty pack, and tossed it to the floor. "Split it yourselves." The two men lunged at the pack like wild dogs, wrestling each other on the ground. "Little brat, how dare you grab from me!" "Old man, let go! Give it here!" In the end, the pack was torn apart, each managing to grab a few cigarettes before glaring at each other and leaving. The crisis at Building 25 was temporarily resolved. Zhang Yi put away his sniper rifle and sat back in his chair, his expression serene. Today''s outcome wasnt the best he had hoped for, which was to kill all 29 building leaders in one fell swoop. However, this outcome wasnt bad either. Outwardly, he had reached an agreement with them, but he planned to incite them to destroy each other and then strike at the opportune moment. Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry. With ample supplies and a well-protected living environment, he held the advantage of time. After the five building leaders left, the residents of Building 25 breathed a sigh of relief and hurried over to ask Zhang Yi about the meeting''s outcome. Under his armed deterrence, Zhang Yi explained that they had compromised and agreed to provide food for 300 people in exchange for peace. Moreover, everyone needed to participate in labor to develop land for sustainable agriculture. The neighbors were stunned. "Food for 300 people? Can we manage that?" "And if we give them all the food, what about us?" No one understood why Zhang Yi proposed such conditions without consulting them first. Zhang Yi calmly explained, "If we dont reach this agreement, what do you suggest? Fight the entire neighborhoods thousand-odd people?" He scoffed, "I dont mind. They can have the numbers, but Im not afraid. Can you hold up?" The neighbors exchanged awkward glances, unable to respond. Ninety-nine percent of Building 25s firepower was concentrated in Zhang Yi. With his superior firepower and almost impregnable fortress, he could survive well alone. But what about them? Theyd be killed and cooked as kebabs by the enraged community members. Zhang Yi softened his tone, "Dont worry, Ill try my best to find food. I wont let you starve." The neighbors looked up, their eyes filled with gratitude and disbelief, tears welling up. "Zhang Yi, you..." A woman choked, "Youre truly... making me cry." "Zhang Yi, youre taking the burden of all of Building 25 on your shoulders! Were so grateful!" "Zhang Yi, we were right to trust you. Youre a leader worthy of our respect!" Moved to tears, the neighbors realized the pressure of finding food was solely on Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi sighed softly, his tone gentle and sincere. "Stop crying. I know some of you had opinions about me and thought I was a bad person." "But no matter what you think, I genuinely want everyone to live well. Not just me, but each and every one of you!" Jiang Lei, wiping his tears, shouted, "Brother Zhang, we wont disappoint you! Well always remember your kindness!" The neighbors nodded and whispered among themselves. "Looking back, Zhang Yi only killed those who deserved it. He never attacked anyone unprovoked." "He was just defending himself. Hes actually been good to us. Maybe we misunderstood him. Hes truly a good person!" "From now on, Ill fully support Zhang Yi and all his decisions!" "Zhang Yis kindness can never be repaid!" Chapter 119: An Open Strategy Chapter 119: An Open StrategyZhang Yi''s emotional speech moved the neighbors to tears, sending them back to work with renewed determination. Only Uncle You remained behind. He approached Zhang Yi, scrutinizing him as if seeing him for the first time. "Why are you looking at me like that? Do I have something on my face?" Zhang Yi asked with a smile. Uncle You shook his head, embarrassed. "No, it''s just that you seem different today, not quite like your usual self." Zhang Yi knew what Uncle You was thinking. With a smile on his lips and half-closed eyes, he asked, "Are you wondering why I made that cooperation agreement with them?" Uncle You nodded. "Yes, it doesnt seem like your usual style to compromise. Providing food for 300 people daily is a lot of work! With just your snowmobile, how many supermarkets would you need to raid to feed that many mouths?" S?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi took his time answering. He glanced outside, then pointed. "Is there anyone out there?" Uncle You immediately went to check, returning after confirming no one was around. "No, no ones there." Zhang Yi nodded. Some words had to be kept secret; otherwise, his recent efforts to deceive the neighbors would be wasted. He explained, "Cooperating with them is just a temporary measure. I initially planned to gather all the building leaders here and kill them all. Without leaders, the buildings would fall into chaos, giving me a chance to destroy them one by one." "But today, they only sent five people. Even though they are the most powerful leaders, killing them wouldn''t solve the problem. The others have already formed an alliance." "So, I had to hold back my urge to kill, appearing weak and making them think I was too scared to take on all 29 buildings. Thats why I seemed to compromise." Uncle Yous eyes lit up. "That makes sense! I knew your behavior earlier wasnt like you!" Zhang Yi felt relieved that Uncle You understood. "Did you get all that?" Uncle You shook his head, confused. "Not really, but it sounds very reasonable." Zhang Yi sighed deeply. "Alright, to put it simply, Im lulling them into a false sense of security. Once they show a weakness, Ill take them down." "And Ive also set two big traps for them!" Zhang Yis lips curled into a devilish smile. Uncle You, intrigued, urged, "Tell me about these traps!" Zhang Yi looked outside again. "Go check if theres anyone there." Uncle You, thinking he saw someone, rushed out to check again, finding no one. Confused, he returned. "I didnt see anyone!" Zhang Yi shrugged. "Neither did I. Just double-checking. What if someone approached while we were talking?" Uncle You was speechless. Clearing his throat, Zhang Yi continued, "First, the limited supply of resourceseach building gets only ten portions." "That wont be enough, and as the saying goes, it''s not the scarcity thats the problem, but the uneven distribution. When I distribute food, everyone will see it." "But once the building leaders take the food back, they wont distribute it to everyone. What do you think will happen?" Uncle You quickly responded, "Theyll have internal strife!" "Exactly! Internal strife!" Zhang Yi nodded. "Those who dont get food will fall from hope back into deep despair, which is worse than death!" "Before, everyone was starving, so it was fair. Even if they died first, others wouldnt escape freezing or starving to death." "But now, knowing that ten people per building can get stable food, how will their mentality change?" After a moment of thought, Uncle You felt a chill. This manipulation was too cruel! Giving hope only to snatch it away, forcing everyone to face death equally but making some survive at the expense of others. This feeling of being trampled on, discriminated against, and treated unfairly would drive people mad. Looking out the window as the five leaders left, Zhang Yi saw the other building residents gradually dispersing. Soon, each building would face brutal internal conflict and fighting. "Those in utter despair forget their fear of death and will drag someone down with them before dying!" "Things will get interesting then," Zhang Yi said with a smile. Uncle You admired Zhang Yis calm demeanor, both respecting and fearing him. He felt fortunate not to be on Zhang Yis bad side. "Zhang Yi, youre incredibly smart and terrifying!" Uncle You remarked. Zhang Yi shook his head, maintaining his calm gaze. "No, I have some intelligence, but I dont see myself as a genius manipulator." "The current situation is because Im more composed than them." "I have enough food and warm clothes, I sleep well, and I dont worry about food or temperature." "I have strong firepower, giving me confidence to face them head-on. My fortress is strong, and Im not afraid of their threats." "When you have these conditions, you dont fear or panic. They, on the other hand, are constantly cautious, their intelligence clouded." Zhang Yi then joked, "Even a world champion boxer, after starving for thirty days, would lose to me in the ring. Dont you think?" Uncle You was puzzled. "Starve for thirty days? That person would be dead!" Zhang Yi replied confidently, "Exactly! A dead person cant beat me!" Initially thinking it was a clever retort, Uncle You reconsidered and found it to be a profound truth. Chapter 120: The Strategy of Wearing Down the Enemy Chapter 120: The Strategy of Wearing Down the EnemyZhang Yi spoke to Uncle You, "What Im using isnt a scheme, its an open strategy." "Not everyone among that group is an idiot. People like Li Jian and Chen Lingyu are very cunning, always thinking ahead." "They must have guessed my intention is to weaken their strength." "But what can they do about it? Ive already demonstrated my formidable strength and used substantial benefits to attract the fools among them." "In a crowd of unruly people, the proportion of fools is much higher than that of smart ones. Li Jian and Chen Lingyu don''t hold much sway and dont have enough power to convince everyone." "Those who only see immediate benefits and cripple themselves are always the majority." Zhang Yi couldnt help but sigh, "Even ancient emperors did such stupid things, let alone people in this little community of Tianhai." Uncle You listened in awe. His level of education wasnt enough to fully grasp Zhang Yis words, so he just looked at Zhang Yi with wise eyes. Scratching his head, he said, "What youre saying makes a lot of sense! Hehe... hehe." He could only use a smile to cover his embarrassment. Then he changed the topic and asked, "But why do you want them to farm? In this cold weather, its impossible to grow crops, right?" Zhang Yi looked out the door. This time, Uncle You had learned his lesson and proactively checked the surroundings. "Theres no one outside; you can speak freely," he said. Zhang Yi smiled. "Some things are actually simple; dont overthink them." "Im having them farm just to intensify their conflicts and wear them down." He spread his hands. "Right now, the only thing they can offer is their labor." s?a??h th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Uncle You pondered for a long time before saying, "So, this is a strategy to wear them down?" "Precisely," Zhang Yi said, narrowing his eyes slightly. "Since I didnt kill all their leaders today, the next time we fight, there will be even more to kill. I need to weaken their combat power as much as possible." Zhang Yi leaned closer to Uncle You, a serious look in his eyes. "None of these people can be trusted. The conflict between us is irreconcilable and will inevitably lead to a fight. So, we must not let our guard down." "Also, keep everything I say to yourself!" Uncle You, deeply impressed by Zhang Yis wisdom, nodded slowly and firmly. "I understand! Zhang Yi, our whole familys hope for survival is pinned on you. Ill do whatever you say!" Zhang Yi nodded with satisfaction. "Good. Lets stick to the plan and see how far they can go." Zhang Yi had only shared part of the truth with Uncle You. In reality, he had more tricks up his sleeve that he didnt disclose. He already knew there were traitors in Building 25 colluding with people from other buildings. These traitors had previously tried to harm him and would certainly try again in the future, such as the ambush by the Wolf Gang in the snow. Zhang Yi returned to his residence and checked on Zhou Ke''er through the surveillance camera. He had become stricter with her, locking her in her room whenever he went out, as he couldnt afford to risk his life, especially with the impending battle. Despite the tight control, Zhou Ke''er adapted well. She was smart and knew what to do and what not to do. At least, she didnt challenge Zhang Yis authority and obediently did whatever he asked, acknowledging that she was a maid and Zhang Yi was her master. The masters orders were absolute. At that moment, Zhou Ke''er was practicing yoga in her room. She wore a pink tank top that highlighted her full figure and brown yoga pants that accentuated her perfect legs. Her graceful movements were both elegant and mesmerizing. Zhang Yi walked to her door, took out the key, and unlocked it. Zhou Ke''er looked up, her forehead glistening with sweat, a lock of hair sticking to it, giving her a slightly alluring look. "Youre back!" Zhou Ke''er greeted him with genuine joy, bending her legs to stand up. Her eyes sparkled with a sincere smile. She knew Zhang Yi had been out for something important today, and seeing his relaxed expression, she assumed the negotiations had gone well. She walked up to him, wrapped her hands around his neck, and eagerly asked, "How did the negotiations go?" Her close proximity naturally pressed her ample chest against Zhang Yi, giving him a sensation described by a single phrase: "Any closer and he would explode." Instead of feeling overwhelmed, Zhang Yi felt more invigorated. He hugged Zhou Ke''er tightly, kissed her passionately, and then led her to the couch. "Heres what happened in the negotiations..." Zhang Yi told her everything. Maybe it didnt mean much, but sometimes, a man just wants to share his experiences with a woman. "The next few days might be chaotic. Stay home and dont go anywhere," Zhang Yi warned, his tone becoming cold. "Soon, all the trouble will disappear." Zhou Ke''er, nestled against Zhang Yis chest, listened intently, not fully understanding as Zhang Yi only gave a brief overview without touching on the critical details. Nonetheless, she smiled happily, feeling cherished that Zhang Yi didnt want her to take any risks. "Zhang Yi, you must be carrying a heavy burden, and I cant help much. Sometimes I feel quite useless," Zhou Ke''er said, a hint of guilt in her voice. Zhang Yi looked at her, thinking, "I didnt buy insurance to get my moneys worth but to have a safety net in case something goes wrong. Id rather never need you, my primary doctor." Blushing, Zhou Ke''er held Zhang Yi tightly. "But there are things I can do, like helping you relieve stress." Chapter 121: Harmony Chapter 121: HarmonyFor the next period, the focus of conflicts shifted away from Zhang Yi and toward the other units and the internal affairs of each building. Through a successful negotiation, Zhang Yi managed to create cracks in their loose alliance and leveraged the condition of only providing ten portions of food per building to instigate significant internal unrest. Now, he observed when and how the conflicts would arise. Regardless of the outcome, it would only benefit him. As expected, the moment Wang Qiang, Huang Tianfang, Li Jian, Chen Lingyu, and Zhang Yunan returned, conflicts erupted! While the five of them were negotiating with Zhang Yi, some people had already disregarded their safety and tried to storm Building 25. If not for Zhang Yi''s deterrence with the sniper rifle, those five wouldnt have survived. Naturally, these five were furious. After leaving Building 25, they immediately began to settle scores with those who made the decisions to attack. Throughout the entire afternoon, the neighborhood echoed with screams as a bloody purge commenced. However, the next day, life seemed to return to normal. No matter how many had died, the survivors had to continue struggling to live. Each building sent people to the central plaza to clear the snow. Zhang Yi knew that the building leaders had likely conspired to hide the "ten portions of supplies" detail. Otherwise, most residents wouldnt obediently come down to work. Today''s snowstorm seemed milder than usual. The long-missed harmonious gathering of over a thousand people in the community wasnt for a scramble over supplies, but for collective labor. Holding their tools, everyone looked at their neighbors working around them. Their smiles were awkward at first but gradually turned warm. "Its been so long since we all came out together like this!" "Before the snow disaster, our community was so lively!" "Yes, every evening, everyone would come out for a walk. I remember your family had a golden retriever, so adorable!" "Ah, yes! Our dog, Little Jin, was so well-behaved, that even if you hit it with a stick or a knife, it wouldnt bite back. Such a sweetheart." "Hehe, lets not talk about it. After the snow disaster, maybe well get another one!" "By then, we might only be able to keep polar bears." "Lets get to work! Our building leader said the more we work, the more food we get." "Yes, lets work hard. We can experience the life of farmers!" "With hope for the future, life is looking up!" An elderly man looked up at the sky. It was a bleak gray, but he fancied he could see a faint sun, as if the snow clouds were about to clear and bright sunshine would soon spread, driving away all the cold. "Weve reached a peace agreement in our community. No more fighting and killing every day. We can eat and stay warm." "Life is getting better and better!" The elderly man smiled contentedly. The entire community atmosphere turned harmonious. Everyone worked together, chatting and laughing. Despite the ongoing snowstorm, having hope made the hard work seem easier. The large gathering even made it feel warmer. Wang Qiang and the other building leaders oversaw the work with their subordinates. The residents had long been used to this and even felt it was natural for the leaders to enjoy the most resources without doing any work. Only Li Jian, as a leader, still worked diligently, shoveling snow with a serious expression while the others enjoyed themselves. Fully armed, Zhang Yi came downstairs. Seeing this scene, he smiled slightly. "Hey, Zhang Yi, heading out to find supplies?" Huang Tianfang from the neighboring building greeted Zhang Yi from afar, waving and signaling for the cigarettes Zhang Yi had promised. Zhang Yi smiled warmly, "Yes, everyone is working hard. I can''t slack off! Dont worry, your cigarettes are safe." From another direction, Wang Qiang shouted, "Zhang Yi, can you manage alone? If theres too much stuff, I can help!" Zhang Yi laughed heartily, "No need, I have my snowmobile. It can carry as much as needed!" "Alright then, wait for me to return! And make sure everyone works hard. Ill check the progress when I get back. If its not good enough, Ill deduct supplies!" He spoke with a big smile, then pretended to head to the back garage. Soon, the sound of an engine roared, and Zhang Yi rode off on his snowmobile. Watching Zhang Yi leave, Wang Qiang''s face darkened. "Where the hell does he keep that vehicle? I''ve searched everywhere and can''t find it!" Huang Tianfang muttered, "So its called a snowmobile, not a sled." ... Leaving the community, Zhang Yi glanced back at the harmonious scene, feeling a strange sense of irony. However, he had no time to sympathize with the residents. Their large numbers posed a threat to him, and letting them solve their problems themselves only benefited Zhang Yi. This time, Zhang Yi didn''t head to the supermarket but to Tianhai Pearl Mall, a famous old mall with a history of seventy years in Tianhai City. Known for its affordable and good-quality products, the twelve-story building housed mostly small shops selling cheap jewelry, knock-off clothes, underwear, hardware, and more. Zhang Yi went there because he knew of a veterinary shop in the mall. Upon arrival, he found the upper half of the building sticking out of the snow. Finding a suitable spot, he broke in through a window. Ignoring the other stores with little interest, he headed straight for the veterinary shop. Inside, Zhang Yi used a crowbar to smash the glass and began rummaging through the medicine cabinets. Nowadays, you couldn''t buy arsenic from pharmacies, but rat poison was still available, colorless and tasteless, yet deadly. S~?a??h the ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 122: We All Have a Bright Future Chapter 122: We All Have a Bright FutureThe rat poison in the veterinary shop was a hot commodity, so the store had quite a bit in stock. Soon, Zhang Yi found two boxes, totaling over thirty bottles of rat poison. "This amount should be enough to poison three hundred people, right?" Zhang Yi mused. "Even if it doesn''t kill them outright, it''ll cause organ failure, and without treatment, theyll die for sure." Looking at the small bottles in his hands, Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a smile. They had asked him to help collect food, so he had no reason to refuse. If they werent afraid of death, he had nothing to say. He could only thank them for their trust. However, poisoning them couldn''t be rushed. Especially in the first few instances, theyd be cautious and have others eat first. But they couldn''t always be that careful, especially with the current food shortages. He had researched that rat poison takes ten to thirty minutes to take effect. Even if they tested for poison, not everyone would know about this. "Finding the right opportunity to poison all of them would be the best outcome!" Zhang Yi smiled, putting all the rat poison into his alternate space. Having secured the poison, Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry to return. He needed to make it look like he had gone to great lengths to find food for 300 people. Leaving the veterinary shop, Zhang Yi looked around. Most of the shops sold cheap clothes and underwear. An idea suddenly struck him. "I don''t need clothes, but I do need fuel. These clothes are mostly made of synthetic fibers, which are harmful when burned, producing thick black smoke." "Hehe, this will be perfect for dealing with those hiding in buildings who refuse to come out!" Zhang Yi''s eyes lit up with excitement at the thought. He felt like a destructive genius. Every boy is a natural-born troublemaker from a young age. The thought of setting a big fire with no one to stop him filled him with anticipation. "Who isn''t a little rascal at heart, hehe!" Zhang Yi chuckled and immediately began using his alternate space to collect random clothes. In no time, dozens of stores worth of clothes were in his space. He didnt take more than needed, just enough for fuel. What would he do with so many cheap womens underwear? Keeping them would be perverted. Once he deemed the timing right, Zhang Yi headed to the Wanda Mall in the development zone. The large Yonghui Supermarket below the mall had plenty of supplies. Gathering food for 300 people was easy. Maintaining this for another month wouldnt be a problem, as he was only providing basic survival rations, not enough to fill them up. He packed the food in large burlap bags, then removed two iron sheets and tied them to his snowmobile, creating a simple sled. With everything ready, Zhang Yi rode back to Yue Lu Community. By around five in the afternoon, the sky was getting darker, and the community was deserted. They couldnt work outside all day. Zhang Yi cautiously pulled out his handgun, chambered a round, and went to observe. The snow had been dug into numerous pits, piled around the perimeter. Estimating the labor involved, he figured they had worked for at least two or three hours. "Given their lack of food and clothing, they must be exhausted after such work." "Im eager to see their despair and madness when they realize theyve worked all day and havent received the promised food." Zhang Yi''s tone was cold, as if discussing something irrelevant to himself. He took out his phone and contacted Uncle You, Jiang Lei, and Li Chengbin, asking them to bring weapons. Soon, they arrived armed, shocked to see the large amount of food Zhang Yi had brought back. "Zhang Yi, where did you get so much food?" Their eyes were filled with suspicion. Previously, Zhang Yi had only brought back about thirty portions of food each day. Now, he had ten times that amount! This imbalance made them think Zhang Yi was deliberately rationing their food. As he notified the building leaders to send people to collect the food, Zhang Yi casually explained, "I had to go further away to find it. The city is big, and the farther you go, the more dangerous it gets. I didn''t want to go before, but now I had no choice." In such cold weather, the farther you went from home, the more dangerous it became. A neighbor nodded, "Thats true. Zhang Yi risks a lot every day to find food." "I agree. If his snowmobile broke down, that would be disastrous!" Li Chengbin frowned slightly, clearly not convinced by Zhang Yi''s explanation, but he said nothing and stood aside with his weapon. Soon, people from the other buildings arrived, but none of the building leaders came, only their subordinates. Zhang Yi smirked at their caution, worried hed capture them all at once. He didn''t waste time, calling out, "Start from Building 1, come get your food!" He took out a knife and slit open a burlap bag, revealing large plastic bags of food. Each bag contained ten portions of food. Zhang Yi tossed a bag a few meters away, letting them pick it up themselves. They said nothing, collected the food, and left quickly. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After distributing all the supplies, Zhang Yi called the residents of Building 25 to the hallway to distribute their share. Their faces finally showed joy. With everyone fed, Zhang Yis expression became warmer. He smiled and said, "From now on, there''s no need to be so tense. Although we cant abandon our weapons, we can see the dawn of hope." "We all have a bright future." Neighbors looked at each other, their excitement unspoken. If this continued, they wouldn''t mind working daily. Zhang Yi clapped his hands, "Alright, everyone, head back! We have work to do tomorrow." They obediently returned to their homes. That night, for the first time, they could relax a little and enjoy a good meal. Chapter 123: Watching from the Sidelines Chapter 123: Watching from the Sidelines S?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Zhang Yi temporarily didnt need to do anything complicated. He only needed to go out every day, pretending to collect food, and then distribute it to the neighbors in the community. The enjoyable part was watching the conflicts within the other buildings unfold! Dismantling enemies from within is always the fastest. Zhang Yi returned home and, as usual, checked the surveillance footage on his phone. After confirming that there was nothing unusual inside the house and that Zhou Keer was still in her room, he opened the door and went in. He opened Zhou Keers door and then took a long, hot shower. Being outside all day, his cold-weather gear kept him from getting frostbite, but his skin still felt the cold, causing his pores to contract. Only when the hot water from the shower sprayed over his head and body did he fully relax. Zhang Yi washed his face vigorously, feeling incredibly fortunate. "This state wont last long," he thought. "Once I get rid of those troublemakers, Ill find a comfortable place to live a new life." Having been reborn for a month, Zhang Yi had already dealt with most of the people responsible for his death in his past life, using methods far crueler than what they had used against him. Next, he planned to clean up the entire community, dealing with them along the way. Afterward, he would dismantle his safe house and move it elsewhere. The quality of the safe house was incredibly sturdy. Zhang Yis current plan was to find a large amount of explosives and blow up the entire building. The other items in the safe house could be stored in his alternate space. The outer shell of the safe house was made of lightweight and sturdy aerospace metal, almost indestructible even if it fell into the snow. After all, it was designed to withstand the friction of reentry from space! "It won''t take long to deal with these guys," Zhang Yi smiled joyfully. In the near future, he would bury his hatred and pain in this place and start a new life. After his shower, Zhang Yi wrapped himself in a towel and went to open Zhou Keers door. She sat on the bed, her face flushed, her long legs tightly crossed, trying to endure something. As soon as Zhang Yi opened the door, she dashed to the bathroom without meeting his eyes. Zhang Yi scratched his chin, wondering, "Whats going on?" Soon, he heard the sound of running water and realized, "I locked her in all day; she must have been bursting!" His lips curled into a mischievous smile. "Shes quite particular, not even willing to use a bottle." Zhou Keer emerged from the bathroom, her face still red. She looked exhausted after holding it in for so long. Zhang Yi approached, wrapping an arm around her slim waist and holding her white wrist. "Are you really that weak?" Zhou Keer rolled her eyes at him. "Try it yourself next time!" Zhang Yi shrugged. "Im not that picky. If I can''t hold it, Ill use a bottle." He rubbed his stomach, feeling hungry. He hadnt noticed it outside, but now that he was in a warm room, the hunger hit him. "Make some food, with extra meat. I''ve been burning a lot of energy lately." Zhou Keer smiled and nodded. "Alright, Ill make braised pork for you today!" She happily ran to the kitchen, like a gentle and virtuous wife. ... While Zhang Yi enjoyed the comforts of home, the leaders of the other buildings received the food brought by their subordinates. Seeing the plastic bag of food, their expressions varied, but most were disappointed. Ten portions of food were just the basic daily ration, fitting into a single plastic bag. In the Wolf Gang, Wang Qiang ignored his subordinates, rushed up, and tore open the plastic bag. After rummaging for a while, he found a pack of cigarettes. His eyes lit up, holding the pack like a treasure. His subordinates, all long-time smokers, eyed the pack with hunger. They hadnt smoked in nearly a month, driving them to madness. The second-in-command, Xiao Lu, couldnt help but ask, "Boss, can I have one?" Other subordinates, emboldened, also asked, "Boss, give us one too!" "Were going crazy without a smoke. Its driving us nuts!" Wang Qiang frowned, displeased. He usually smoked a pack a day. This pack was just enough for him. If he shared, it would be half gone. Seeing the bloodshot, crazed eyes of his subordinates, he was startled. After some thought, Wang Qiang said, "These cigarettes are hard to come by. I forced Zhang Yi to get them! Youre my good brothers, so Ill let you have a taste. Work hard from now on!" The subordinates, desperate for a smoke, readily agreed to anything Wang Qiang said. Grudgingly, Wang Qiang handed out cigarettes, his hands trembling, his heart bleeding. When his men received the cigarettes, they immediately lit them up, their eyes tearing up with happiness. Only true smokers understood the bliss of that moment. Like widows long without a man, meeting a robust young man. But the joy was short-lived. The cigarettes were soon smoked up. Wang Qiang quickly pocketed the rest, pretending not to see their longing looks. "Alright, lets distribute the food!" he announced. Opening the plastic bag, Wang Qiang saw the low-quality bread and biscuits, but to him, they were treasures. They had been eating roasted food for so long, they craved normal human food. "Swallowing hard," Wang Qiang gestured to a subordinate, who walked over dazedly. Wang Qiang handed him a piece of bread, smiling. "Xu Yi, Youre the weakest, you eat first!" Chapter 124: Conflict Chapter 124: ConflictWang Qiang didnt dare to be the first to eat the food, fearing Zhang Yi might have poisoned it. Xu Yi, thinking Wang Qiang was being kind, grabbed the food eagerly and began stuffing his mouth. Wang Qiang and Xiao Lu watched him eat, waiting for some time to see if anything happened. When Xu Yi showed no signs of distress, they relaxed. Come on, everyone, theres enough for all! Wang Qiang called out. Similar scenes unfolded in other buildings. Zhang Yis notorious reputation had spread. After all, he was the one who single-handedly dealt with more than half a buildings worth of people and caused significant losses to the fiercest gangs in the community, the Crazy Wolf Gang and Tianhe Gang. Everyone was extremely wary of him. Despite the wariness, they couldnt refuse the food sent to them. Most building leaders had people test the food first. Understanding human nature, Zhang Yi had provided untainted food on the first day to gradually lower their guard and incite internal strife. He planned to wait for the opportune moment to strike decisively. That night, every building leader and their subordinates devoured their share of the food. Meanwhile, the ordinary residents at home waited in vain for their portion, still naively believing that the food was meant for everyone. Wife, we dont need to worry anymore. Theyll bring us food as long as we work hard, a man said optimistically. Yes, dear. Well survive this snow disaster! When its over, I want to have three children with youone like you, one like me, and one like both of us! his wife responded with hope. Elsewhere, a young man prayed, Mom, Dad, you must be watching over me from heaven. Dont worry, everything is getting better. There will be no more hunger and killing. I will live well! That night, the building leaders and their subordinates ate their fill, while the ordinary residents went to bed with empty stomachs but hopeful dreams. ... The next morning, Zhang Yi woke up around seven. He no longer slept late because the room temperature was maintained between 25C and 27C, making the bed less appealing. While brushing his teeth, he heard the commotion outside. With a small devilish smile, he walked to the window, his muscular upper body exposed. From several directions, he heard intense arguments coming from at least five or six buildings. Ge Damin, didnt you say wed get food as long as we worked? Wheres the food now? a resident shouted. I told you, this is the situation were in. We need to discuss food distribution in a meeting to come up with a plan that satisfies everyone, Ge Damin responded evasively. In another building, a resident questioned, Brother Huang, we worked hard as you instructed, but you didnt give us any food! Old man, you dare question me? Your work was pathetic. How dare you ask for food! Huang retorted angrily. But... But what? Work harder today, and you might get some food. No work, no food! Huang snapped. In Wang Qiangs territory, a subordinate timidly said, Boss, you promised us food yesterday... Hah! Who else wants food? Step forward! No one? Good. Remember, letting you live is my greatest charity. Anyone who disrespects me will be dealt with! Zhang Yi watched, smiling silently, knowing the purging had begun. He and Zhou Keer had a simple breakfast of spicy soup, fried dough sticks, and steamed buns. The spicy soup was made from a soup packet, the fried dough sticks were semi-finished, and Zhou Keer had made the steamed buns herself. Zhang Yi enjoyed her homemade food more than the ready-made delicacies stored in his alternate space. Having a woman at home, bustling in the kitchen in the morning, brought a sense of normalcy and life to his days. After breakfast, Zhang Yi left Zhou Keer with lunch and locked her in her room. He then went out, pretending to gather supplies. At the community center, residents were still busy working. Uncle You, Jiang Lei, and Li Chengbin had Zhang Yis permission to supervise rather than labor. The other residents, under their building leaders supervision, continued shoveling snow. However, their spirits were visibly lower than the previous day, their expressions numb, anxious, and filled with unease. Before leaving, Zhang Yi whispered to Uncle You, Be extra cautious. With the food shortage in other buildings, chaos is imminent. Protect ourselves and avoid trouble. Uncle You, already aware of Zhang Yis plan, nodded. Dont worry, I know what to do. Satisfied, Zhang Yi left the community. He wandered around for half a day, eventually arriving at a library. This city library was well-built and had not been buried by snow, with most of its books remaining dry. Zhang Yi had never been much of a reader in the digital age, where consuming information on phones was more convenient. But now, with the internet nearly collapsed, he found himself seeking solace in books. He hoped to find comfort and warmth in literature amidst the harsh apocalyptic reality. After spending half the day in the library, Zhang Yi chose a copy of Haruki Murakamis Norwegian Wood and tucked it into his large pocket, feeling the weight of culture. He left the rest of the books for future visits, thinking that taking them all at once might overwhelm him. Returning to the community at dusk, Zhang Yi followed his routine, first calling Uncle You and others to maintain order and then notifying residents to come down for their food. This time, he noticed shadowy figures at every building windowfaces full of hope watching him distribute food. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 125: Dead Silence, Decay Chapter 125: Dead Silence, DecayThe leaders of each building sent people to collect the food in an orderly manner. Zhang Yi also distributed food to the residents of his own building and returned home as usual. The next day, apart from Li Jian, none of the building leaders distributed any food to the ordinary residents. That night, seeing their last hope completely destroyed, the residents of the community went utterly mad! The community became unprecedentedly chaotic. At some point, the sounds of shouting and killing began to emanate from each building. The desperate screams and furious curses echoed through the corridors, barely muffled by the northern wind. The pitch-black night was their only cover. When these cowardly ordinary people no longer feared for their lives, the ruling leaders of each building finally realized how powerful they were! Not everyone had Zhang Yis perfect defensive fortress and terrifying firepower. Still stuck in the era of cold weapons, the advantage of numbers had a massive impact on the battle. Zhang Yi sat on his warm, cozy white velvet quilt, quietly watching out the window. The lights were off, creating a tranquil silence that starkly contrasted with the howling wind, snow, and agonizing screams outside. He had no idea what was happening outside but knew that the more people died tonight, the better it was for him. Before going to bed, Zhang Yi checked the security of his room one last time, reloaded his handgun and assault rifle, and then lay down with a satisfied sigh. ... The next morning. When Zhang Yi stepped out of his building, the sight before him made him gasp in shock. What had been a pristine white snowy landscape was now covered in blood. In the courtyards center, fifty or sixty bodies lay strewn about haphazardly! Judging by their appearance, it seemed they had been forced to jump from high places. Some curled up into balls before they died, not killed by the fall but frozen to death from their injuries in the icy snow. Zhang Yi lifted his head, scanning the surrounding buildings. He saw darkened, congealed bloodstains on many windows. It was clear how brutal the battle had been the previous night! By this morning, no one had come out to shovel snow, not even to remove the pile of bodies. Residents of Building 25 stood at the entrance, terrified, not daring to breathe too loudly. They felt incredibly fortunate to be under Zhang Yis protection. Otherwise, they too would have faced a similar fate. Uncle You approached Zhang Yi and asked, "Zhang Yi, do we still need to work today?" Zhang Yi glanced at Uncle You, and then at the nervous neighbors behind him. He replied calmly, "If you want to keep eating, you have to work!" "Unless," he pointed to the bodies on the ground, "you want to end up like them." The crowd shuddered. Compared to the dead, they were extremely fortunate! At least they didnt have to fight for scarce food or risk their lives. "Its just work. As long as were alive, its fine!" they thought. "Yes, yes, well get to work right away!" The neighbors, stimulated by the grim scene, eagerly grabbed their tools and started shoveling snow. S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the scene around him, Uncle You asked Zhang Yi, "It seems like no one from the other buildings is out shoveling snow. Should we notify them?" Zhang Yi glanced at him and then smiled, "Do you think they have the time for that now?" Uncle You was puzzled, "Huh?" Zhang Yi explained, "Last night was just the beginning. This conflict is between the ruling leaders and the ordinary residents of each building." "Unless they can solve the food distribution issue, one side must be completely eliminated!" "One night isn''t enough for that!" Hearing Zhang Yi''s explanation, Uncle You felt a chill run down his spine. "Is this what they call the strategy of killing with borrowed knives?" "So, what do we do next?" he asked. Zhang Yi replied nonchalantly, "What does it matter to us? Let them kill each other slowly!" The right moment had yet to arrive, and he wasnt in a hurry. In the afternoon, Zhang Yi returned and distributed food to his residents as usual. However, he noticed that the people from some buildings had changed; they were no longer the same group he was familiar with. It seemed that control over some buildings had shifted hands during the scramble for food. But it didnt matter to him who the leader was; he would cooperate with whoever was in charge. However, that night, Zhang Yi sent a message to the building leaders group chat. "If I don''t see any labor results tomorrow, I can''t guarantee there will be food, including cigarettes." The next day, when Zhang Yi stepped out, he saw everyone gathering to work once again. However, today, the number of people had decreased by at least a third compared to two days ago! In other words, the issue of unfair food distribution had resulted in the deaths of at least 400 people in two days. Uncle You, unable to comprehend the scene before him, asked Zhang Yi, "These people clearly know that there are only ten portions of food per building, not enough for everyone. Why don''t they resist and fight for a chance to survive?" Zhang Yi chuckled, "Maybe they haven''t reached the point of life and death yet." "Or perhaps, in extreme despair, theyve accepted their fate and see death as a form of relief." "Human nature is a complex thing, beyond anyones complete understanding. Not even mine." Shaking his head, Uncle You murmured, "But this cant last forever. Are we just going to watch them continue like this?" Zhang Yi shook his head, smiling. "It wont last long. Whether due to a lack of resources or continuous conflict, theyll quickly perish in this apocalypse." Uncle You swallowed hard, at a loss for words. At that moment, a woman in a fur coat trudged through the snow towards them. "Zhang Yi, I want to discuss cooperation with you again." It was Chen Lingyu, the leader of Building 9. She was covered in blood, clearly having survived a brutal fight the previous night. But she had survived. Zhang Yi smiled disdainfully, "You? What can you discuss with me?" Chen Lingyu stared into Zhang Yis eyes, trying to use the skills she had honed in years of sales. "The community will collapse if it continues like this! The internal conflicts are too severe, making effective management impossible." "Even if you can bring back more food, there will always be people using force to take more. This will only escalate the conflicts, leading to more deaths!" Zhang Yi watched her calmly, "Oh, and then?" Of course, he knew this would happen. The current situation was exactly what he had orchestrated. Chapter 126: No Help Possible Chapter 126: No Help PossibleChen Lingyu continued, "I can help you manage the community scientifically. If this model works well, it could even expand to other areas." S?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "In these apocalyptic times, the world''s systems are in chaos. We could even establish our own kingdom!" "You be the king, and I''ll assist you. What do you think?" Zhang Yi just smiled. Despite having graduated from Tianhai Industrial University and having five years of social experience, he wasn''t naive enough to be persuaded by a smooth-talking woman selling a pyramid scheme. "Not interested," he said coldly, dismissing the topic. "But..." Chen Lingyu tried to persuade him further, but Zhang Yi waved her off. "No need to say more. We don''t know each other well, and I don''t want to hear your spiel." Zhang Yi''s firm gaze made Chen Lingyu''s face pale as she took two steps back, as if losing her strength. After the fierce battle last night, this woman was obviously scared. She was here more to seek Zhang Yi''s protection than to genuinely propose a partnership. But who was she? She wasnt pretty; she was getting on in years, and she had no remaining value. Zhang Yi had no reason to protect her. Chen Lingyu said sadly, "If this continues, we might die one day." Zhang Yi glanced at her and emphasized, "Take out that ''we'' from your sentence." You might die, but not me, Zhang Yi. Chen Lingyu shook her head helplessly. Zhang Yi looked at this woman who could barely be considered a strong figure and curiously asked, "A woman like you, surviving alone in the apocalypsedon''t you have a husband?" Chen Lingyu smiled bitterly and shook her head. "We separated long ago." "Oh, all alone, huh?" Chen Lingyu shook her head. "Not exactly. I have a daughter. She''s been studying in the U.S. since she was ten, attending a private school." When she mentioned her daughter, Chen Lingyu''s eyes lit up noticeably. "My life doesn''t depend on men. After my divorce, I raised my child by myself. I started by washing dishes for others and working as a trainee in a beauty salon. Step by step, I became the CEO of a pre-IPO company!" "I''m no worse than any man! Zhang Yi, if you refuse to cooperate with me for this reason, it''s your loss!" Chen Lingyu made one last effort. Zhang Yi rubbed his nose and said slowly, "Generally speaking, only the heads of group corporations are called CEOs. As the owner of a small company, you should be called the general manager." Chen Lingyu''s face turned awkward. "Well, it''s not strictly like that. There''s no rule that only the head of a group can be called a CEO!" Zhang Yi found it somewhat amusing. It seemed Chen Lingyu''s educational level didn''t surpass junior high school. In a corporation, there are only shareholders, and the CEO is just a job position. Not understanding such basic corporate roles, what kind of entrepreneur was she trying to be? "Alright then, go back to your business," Zhang Yi said, walking around Chen Lingyu, not wanting to argue with a pyramid scheme promoter. However, as he looked into the distance, he saw a surprising scene. Building 18, managed by Li Jian, presented a completely different scene from the other buildings. Li Jian, wrapped in a thick black down jacket, was energetically shoveling snow. Though he was short and inconspicuous from a distance, Zhang Yi felt a certain resilience in him. In front of Building 18, everyone worked in an orderly fashion. After ten minutes of work, each person rested, and then new people took over. Zhang Yi was deeply moved. Such a scene was unimaginable in the apocalypse. He couldn''t help but walk over, standing quietly near Li Jian and watching them work. Li Jian soon noticed Zhang Yi. He looked up, his eyes shadowed with fatigue, his body noticeably thinner. "Zhang Yi? Why are you here?" he asked. Zhang Yi didn''t answer directly. He looked at the people of Building 18. Although their faces were pale, there was a glimmer of hope in their eyes, unlike the people from other buildings who were numb and living like walking corpses. Zhang Yi felt both relief and curiosity. He asked Li Jian, "How did you manage this?" "Manage what?" Li Jian asked back. "While other buildings have been fighting fiercely over food distribution, your building hasnt. How did you avoid such conflicts? Did you conceal the truth?" Zhang Yi asked. Li Jian''s face showed a proud expression. Despite his short stature, he straightened his back and said, "I didnt hide anything! From the beginning, I told everyone in our building the results of the negotiations." This result surprised Zhang Yi. He was amazed that Li Jian dared to do so, not fearing internal chaos. "But there are only ten portions of food. It''s impossible for all of you to survive on that. Why didnt they revolt?" Zhang Yi asked. Li Jian seemed to anticipate this question. He calmly said, "No one in our building wants to become a beast. So, we share the ten portions equally. If theres one portion, we share that as well." Zhang Yi snorted, crossing his arms mockingly. "But this way, youll all die. None of you will survive." "You think youre smart, but youve made the most foolish choice!" Li Jian fell silent, unable to refute Zhang Yis words. He knew Zhang Yi was right. In harsh environments, beastly nature suited survival better than human nature. Zhang Yi shook his head, not intending to delve further into the topic. His curiosity brought him here, but he had no interest in their fate. As Zhang Yi turned to leave, Li Jian called out, "Zhang Yi, wait! Cant you help us?" "Sorry, thats not possible!" Zhang Yi replied firmly, with no room for negotiation. He looked down at the short middle-aged man before him and said indifferently, "With your ability, you could easily rally the most promising people, divide the resources, and ensure your survival." "But youre hesitant, trying to save everyone. Yet you lack the ability to protect them all. By doing so, youre committing a crime!" "The path you chose, you walk it yourself!" Chapter 127: Taking the Bait Chapter 127: Taking the BaitZhang Yi ignored Li Jian''s request and turned to leave. Li Jian was a typical idealist. However, achieving ideals required strength, not just slogans. Returning to Building 25, Zhang Yi passed by Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang. Both men had cigarette butts in their hands, sucking so hard it looked like they might swallow the filters. Seeing Zhang Yi, they immediately put on fawning smiles and hurried over. "Brother Zhang, aren''t you going out today? Or did you collect all the food yesterday?" Wang Qiang asked with a wide smile, looking enthusiastic enough to be Zhang Yi''s cousin. "I''m going out in a while," Zhang Yi replied with a smile. Huang Tianfang also came over, grinning. "Zhang Yi is the biggest contributor to our community! Not like these useless folks," he said, pointing at the residents shoveling snow, "They can''t even do a simple task and just keep asking for food! Hmph!" Zhang Yi laughed. "If they don''t know how to work, you should teach them!" Wang Qiang glanced at the obedient residents he had tamed and sneered. "They have arms and legs, don''t they? A good beating will make them obedient!" Then, with a sly smile, he turned to Zhang Yi. "Brother Zhang, this Jinwan is too strong for me! Next time, could you get me some Yuxi cigarettes?" Huang Tianfang interjected, "Yuxi? Why not ask for Zhonghua? Just be glad you have cigarettes at all. Don''t burden Zhang Yi!" S~?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled. "That''s not a big problem. I''ll look for some and bring them if I find any. It shouldn''t be too difficult." "Besides, at this time, cigarettes are precious, but there''s no concept of whether they are valuable or not. If you ask for Yuxi or Zhonghua, that''s fine. But if you ask for brands like Dajiang or Hong Sanhuan, I might have trouble finding those!" The three of them laughed heartily, the atmosphere very congenial. "By the way, I''ll see if I can find some good liquor for you guys. A bit of alcohol in this cold weather will warm you up!" Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang were thrilled by Zhang Yi''s words. Both loved drinking, and alcohol was indeed a great way to keep warm in this cold. "Brother Zhang, you''re so generous! I misjudged you before. If you need any help, just let us know!" Wang Qiang gave Zhang Yi a thumbs up, genuinely moved. Huang Tianfang, not wanting to be outdone, said, "Zhang Yi, you''re our savior! I owe you my life, and from now on, I''m yours to command!" Zhang Yi smiled warmly, patting their arms. "We''re partners now! We''re all just trying to survive this apocalypse, and only cooperation will lead to a win-win situation." "Feel free to ask for anything you need! If I can provide it, I will." With that, Zhang Yi pointed outside. "Im heading out now!" Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang quickly responded, "Take care!" Zhang Yi nodded with a smile and went to get his snowmobile, leaving the Yue Lu community. Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang watched Zhang Yi''s departing figure, their expressions turning a bit complex. They glanced at each other, neither liking the other much, and then walked away separately. On his way back, Wang Qiang pondered, "Why has Zhang Yi suddenly become so nice? Giving me cigarettes and even offering to bring back alcohol." "Did I misunderstand him before?" He furrowed his brows, deep in thought. After the apocalypse, he coveted Zhang Yi''s snowmobile, tried to steal it, and even ambushed Zhang Yi in the snow. Only then did Zhang Yi retaliate against the Crazy Wolf Gang. Wang Qiang slapped his forehead. "So it wasnt Zhang Yi being untrustworthy; it was me who was wrong first. Zhang Yis a good guy, someone I can get along with!" A sinister smile slowly crept across his face. "I like dealing with straightforward people!" ... On the other side, Huang Tianfang also pondered Zhang Yi''s sudden friendliness. "Why is he being so nice to me? Logically, he shouldn''t fear me with his strength." "Maybe he genuinely wants peace and doesnt want to fight anymore. After all, hes alone, and his followers arent truly loyal to him." "If the fighting continues, he might die one day too. So hes scared!" Feeling he understood Zhang Yi''s change in attitude, Huang Tianfang smirked smugly. "This is good news!" ... After leaving the community, Zhang Yi headed to the library again. "Norwegian Wood" by Haruki Murakami was fascinating, its subtle melancholy embodying post-war Japanese culture. He leisurely finished the book, put it back on the shelf, and left. He wasn''t the type to bring books home only for them to gather dust in his alternate space. Zhang Yi belonged to that group of people who loved buying books at bookstores but lost interest once they got home. Checking his Rolex, he saw it was afternoon. He should gather some food and return to the community. He murmured to himself, "I wonder when those guys will fall for it. I need to slowly lower their guard and then find the right moment to strike." Leaving the library, he gathered the necessary supplies at a supermarket and rode his snowmobile back to the community. This time, among those collecting supplies, were several building leaders. Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang were among them, eagerly eyeing the burlap bags at Zhang Yi''s feet. Of course, their goal was the cigarettes and alcohol Zhang Yi had promised. They came in person to ensure they got the rare goodies and prevent conflicts with their subordinates. Seeing them, Zhang Yis lips curled into an almost imperceptible smile. "Alright, everyone line up and collect your food in order!" Zhang Yi called out. The leader of Building 1 stepped forward and whispered to Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, since you can get cigarettes for Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang, could you get some for us too?" Chapter 128: Closing the Net Chapter 128: Closing the NetThe fact that Huang Tianfang and Wang Qiang had cigarettes was no secret. These two werent the type to keep things hidden. While others worked, they would openly smoke outside. It didnt take long for the other building leaders to figure out that Zhang Yi was the one providing them with cigarettes. Soon, other leaders who were addicted to smoking began to make requests. They hoped Zhang Yi could also provide them with cigarettes. Zhang Yi hesitated for a moment, then smiled and said, "Providing cigarettes for so many people might be a bit difficult." The other building leaders immediately became anxious. "Zhang Yi, you can''t be biased!" "We dont ask for much, just one pack a day!" "This is my lifelong request!" With a helpless sigh, Zhang Yi said, "Alright, I''ll try my best. Starting tomorrow, Ill provide cigarettes for those who need them." Seeing the smokers'' success, those who didn''t smoke also stepped forward with their requests. "I don''t smoke, but I like chewing betel nuts. Can you get some?" "I want to drink a little. Even the cheapest wine will do!" ... Zhang Yi, feigning exasperation, said, "Alright, alright, I''ve noted down all your requests. I wont favor anyone, everyone will get what they want!" Satisfied with his response, everyone left with their supplies, smiling. After they left, Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei approached Zhang Yi, visibly upset. S?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Brother Zhang, arent you being too generous with them?" "Giving them food is already a huge favor, and now theyre asking for more!" Zhang Yi calmly replied, "Their requests aren''t unreasonable. I cant afford to be biased. Its fine, lets just go with it." The others looked at Zhang Yi as if seeing a stranger. They couldnt believe how the once ruthless Zhang Yi had become so soft. But since Zhang Yi was the one finding the supplies, they had no right to complain. After distributing the supplies, Zhang Yi returned home. He took a hot shower, then lay comfortably on the sofa in his pajamas, staring at the ceiling. "Its about time." The infighting among the other buildings had already caused significant casualties. The initial death toll exceeded 400, with hundreds more injured during the fights. These injured individuals were unlikely to survive, and even if they did, they wouldnt pose any immediate threat. That morning, Zhang Yi walked around the community and observed the number of active people. There were about 700 left. Using cigarettes and alcohol as bait, he had successfully lured the building leaders out. The time to close the net had arrived! Zhang Yi didnt plan to delay any longer. Since major conflicts were unlikely to break out again in the short term, dragging it out served no purpose. Additionally, the food he provided would restore their strength, increasing their threat to him over time. "Tomorrow is the day!" Zhang Yi''s eyes narrowed, a flash of cold killing intent passing through them. ... The next day, Zhang Yi left the community as usual. He didnt inform anyone, not even Uncle You, about his plan. This operation was crucial, and if he missed the opportunity, it would complicate future actions and increase the risks. Zhang Yi trusted no one. After leaving the community, he went straight to the supermarket. He collected a large amount of food, mainly bulk buns, steamed buns, and bagged bread. Today, Zhang Yi made sure to find higher-quality food and brought more than usual. "The last meal should be a good one. Ive been kind enough." After piling up the food, Zhang Yi retrieved the rat poison he had obtained earlier from his alternate space. The colorless and odorless powder was lethal even in small amounts. Since the food was slightly spoiled and discolored, the poison would be undetectable. Wearing a gas mask, he found in the military camp, Zhang Yi carefully sprinkled the rat poison on the food. This process took him half an hour to complete. "Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang might have someone test the food for poison, but theyre too greedy to share cigarettes and alcohol. Old smokers and drinkers tend to drop their guard when it comes to their vices. I''ll poison the cigarettes and alcohol." Zhang Yi took out several packs of cigarettes, removed the plastic wrapping, and carefully mixed rat poison into the tobacco. He knew that Wang Qiang and others were used to receiving unsealed cigarettes from him. This familiarity would reduce their suspicion. For the alcohol, Zhang Yi dissolved the rat poison in alcohol and used a syringe to inject it through the bottle caps. It was a crude method, but effective. Returning home near dusk, the dim lighting would make it hard for the drinkers to notice any flaws. After two hours of preparation, Zhang Yi packed the food into bags and loaded them onto the sled behind his snowmobile. Despite the lighter snowfall, the wind was still fierce. Leaning against the mall''s wall, Zhang Yi lit a cigarette, taking small puffs to avoid freezing his lungs with the cold air. "Perhaps today is the end. Everything seems to be going smoothly, almost too smoothly," Zhang Yi murmured. The behavior of the other buildings'' people matched his expectations perfectly. This cooperation made Zhang Yi feel uneasy. "Everything has been too smooth. Theyre not fools. How could I play them all so easily?" Zhang Yi mused, narrowing his eyes. "This false harmony is temporary. Theyre not dumb. Theyll act against me sooner or later. Are they waiting for an opportunity?" "There''s a mole in Building 25. Who could it be? Are they still alive or already dead?" These questions plagued Zhang Yi, but he found no answers. He wasn''t Sherlock Holmes or Detective Conan, lacking the skills to uncover such secrets. However, he had something better in this post-apocalyptic worldhis fortress and his guns! Zhang Yi tossed the cigarette on the ground, crushed it with his foot, and said coldly, "No matter what plans you have, against absolute strength, all schemes are meaningless." Chapter 129: First Strike, Counterkill! Chapter 129: First Strike, Counterkill!After everything was prepared, Zhang Yi carried the "special" food, rode his motorcycle, and returned to the Yue Lu community. Upon arriving at the community, Zhang Yi first called Uncle You, Jiang Lei, and Li Chengbin over to maintain order. Soon, they arrived at the courtyard, armed with iron rods, shovels, and kitchen knives. "Zhang Yi, we''re here!" Uncle You called out. s?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi glanced at them and nodded. "Alright, wait here. I''ll call everyone down to collect their supplies." Zhang Yi took out his phone and notified the building representatives to come over. Uncle You, holding an iron rod, stood beside him like a loyal guard. Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei stood slightly behind Zhang Yi, leading others to protect him. Zhang Yi glanced at them out of the corner of his eye. Today, Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei seemed more focused than usual. Out of habit, Zhang Yi stepped back a few paces, positioning himself behind the crowd. Soon, the representatives from various buildings began arriving. Seeing them, a smile flashed across Zhang Yis eyes. His plan had succeeded! Using rare items like cigarettes and alcohol, he had successfully lured the building representatives out. Except for Li Jian from Building 18who adhered to his principles of fairness and refused to personally come to collect suppliesmost of the representatives were here. The cigarettes and alcohol they collected were laced with high doses of rat poison. Once ingested, it would take 10 to 30 minutes for the poison to take effect, leading to their deaths. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Alright, everyone come and collect your supplies!" Starting with Building 1, Zhang Yi threw the supplies two or three meters away, letting the representatives pick them up themselves. One by one, the representatives walked over and took their respective supplies. "Building 21!" Zhang Yi called, looking at Wang Qiang. Wang Qiang, head down, walked over. Zhang Yi bent down to pick up a bag of food. Just as he was about to stand up, he heard a shout, "Now!!" Wang Qiang pulled a handgun from his pocket and fired at Zhang Yi! Zhang Yi''s pupils contracted, and he instinctively tried to dodge. At that moment, Uncle You, standing nearby, pushed him away. "Bang!" ... "Bang!" ... "Bang!" Three gunshots rang out right beside Zhang Yi''s ear. The sudden attack made each shot feel like an eternity. Uncle You''s body slowly collapsed, knees buckling as he fell to the ground. A ringing filled Zhang Yi''s ears as he looked up, seeing a group of people with ferocious expressions charging at him. Wang Qiang held a handgun, Huang Tianfang brandished a kitchen knife, and Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, less than two meters away, had betrayed him. Out of the thirty or so people present, at least half were rushing towards Zhang Yi, weapons gleaming coldly. They had waited a long time for this moment. Zhang Yi intended to lull them into a false sense of security and then eliminate them, but they, too, had grown tired of Zhang Yi and wanted him dead. Zhang Yi was the strongest in the community, and as long as he lived, others could die at any time. Moreover, they knew Zhang Yi''s home was a perfect shelter, comfortable and well-stocked with food. Regardless of their motives, they couldn''t allow someone as powerful as Zhang Yi to exist in the Yue Lu community. Many of them had even bought off Zhang Yi''s close aides, Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei. They believed Zhang Yi''s death was inevitable. Even with a gun, Zhang Yi couldn''t kill everyone at such close range. As Uncle You fell, Zhang Yis gaze grew cold and terrifying. Todays plan had been kept secret from everyone, including Uncle You, who didnt know Zhang Yi was wearing a bulletproof vest and pants. Even if the bullets hit him, they wouldn''t have harmed him. But Uncle You, grateful for Zhang Yis help, had unhesitatingly taken the bullets for him. This stirred a rare feeling of guilt in Zhang Yi, followed by overwhelming rage. Jiang Lei, the closest to Zhang Yi, roared and swung his shovel at Zhang Yi''s head. Zhang Yi quickly rolled on the ground, dodging behind his snowmobile. He adjusted his stance and stood up, a black assault rifle suddenly appearing in his hand, loaded and ready. The attackers'' expressions turned from ferocity to confusion, then to fear. "Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat..." Facing a life-or-death crisis, Zhang Yi squeezed the trigger tightly, holding the gun handle firmly as he began to spray bullets. Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei, the closest to him, were riddled with bullet holes in an instant. Ignoring everything else, Zhang Yi fired at anyone standing. Behind Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei were a dozen patrol team members, who were stunned when Wang Qiang started shooting. They hadnt joined in the attack, but Zhang Yi couldnt differentiate friend from foe in this chaos. The bullets didnt spare anyone. With too many enemies, Zhang Yi couldnt take chances. He assumed everyone was an enemy. Killing them all was his only option. Rows of people fell, including the once-arrogant Wang Qiang, who hadnt even reached Zhang Yi before being riddled with bullets. His eyes remained wide in disbelief, unable to fathom where Zhang Yi got the assault rifle. If not for the rifle, they would have won. The handgun had given Wang Qiang false confidence. But just as Zhang Yi didnt know about Wang Qiangs handgun, Wang Qiang was unaware of Zhang Yi''s bulletproof vest and assault rifle. The difference was that Zhang Yi was prepared for a gunfight, so Wang Qiang never stood a chance. "He has an assault rifle! Run!" Huang Tianfang, terrified, dropped his knife and fled. The other building leaders screamed in fear and ran, cursing their parents for not giving them more legs. Zhang Yi, consumed by rage, saw Uncle You lying in a pool of blood, motionless. Even with his hardened heart, he felt a pang of sorrow. "Uncle You, thank you for taking the bullets for me. Ill avenge you and kill them all!" Zhang Yis voice was icy. This was the first time since the apocalypse that he faced so many opponents, yet it turned into a one-sided slaughter. As Zhang Yi had said before, in the face of absolute strength, all schemes were meaningless. Chapter 130: Leave None Alive Chapter 130: Leave None AliveA full magazine was quickly emptied. Zhang Yi didn''t have time to reload and immediately threw the assault rifle to the ground. Then he drew two police pistols from his waist. The attackers couldnt run fast in the snow, and Zhang Yi shot them all, each bullet a headshot. In less than twenty seconds, almost everyone was dead! A few individuals, trembling with fear, stood in the snow with their hands raised, faces filled with terror and pleas. "Zhang Yi, were not with them, this has nothing to do with us!" "I swear, I swear this has nothing to do with me! Please dont kill me!" Zhang Yi recognized these building leaders. They hadnt moved when Wang Qiang and the others attacked him, so they were likely uninvolved in the assassination plot. Therefore, Zhang Yi pulled the trigger. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" The heads of the building leaders exploded, and they fell into the snow. Zhang Yi then aimed at the last person alive, Chen Lingyu, the leader of Building 9. She was so scared that she soiled herself, tears and snot running down her face. "Zhang Yi, this really has nothing to do with me. Please believe me! I have a thirteen-year-old daughter abroad, and I need to live to see her return." Zhang Yi looked at her coldly and, after two seconds of silence, fired, ending her life. The white snow was stained red with blood. Zhang Yi stood alone amid dozens of corpses. Even in the apocalypse, it was the first time he had killed so many people in one go! He knew that most of these people were probably not involved in the plot to kill him. For example, Chen Lingyu and other patrol team members. But Zhang Yi had no choice. He couldnt let anyone who might harm him live. If he spared them today, they could become a future threat. Dead people are the safest. "You would all die sooner or later. Living is so painful; let me send you to heaven." Zhang Yi exhaled a puff of white smoke, holding his gun. "From this perspective, Ive relieved you of your suffering. You should thank me." If these neighbors knew this after their deaths, they might sarcastically say: "Thank you, indeed!" After killing all his enemies, Zhang Yi scanned the surroundings. The loud gunfire had already drawn all the neighbors to their windows. They watched this brutal battlefield, eyes filled with awe and respect for Zhang Yi. Some were even grateful for what Zhang Yi had done. Zhang Yis gaze turned towards Buildings 26 and 21, the territories of the Tianhe Gang and the Crazy Wolf Gang. Wang Qiang and Huang Tianfang had initiated the attack on Zhang Yi. Originally, their subordinates were waiting at the entrance to rush in and seize supplies as soon as their leaders made a move. However, when Zhang Yi pulled out the black M4 carbine, they hesitated. Zhang Yi''s gaze made them even more afraid. Crazy Wolf Gangs second-in-command, Xiao Lu, trembled as he backed away. "Retreat, quickly retreat! Dont let that demon come over!" Terrified underlings scattered, fleeing down the corridors in panic. Zhang Yi didnt chase them. Instead, he walked over to Uncle You. Not far away, Li Chengbin and Jiang Leis bodies lay with over a dozen bullet holes still bleeding. They had been Zhang Yis loyal subordinates, fighting alongside him many times. But now, they had betrayed him. Zhang Yi didnt care. He considered betrayal normal, even expecting it from Uncle You and Zhou Ke''er. But after today, Uncle Yous status in Zhang Yi''s heart would rise significantly. At least, he would trust him with important tasks. "Uncle You, are you still alive?" Zhang Yi half-knelt, examining the surroundings to prevent a sneak attack, while checking Uncle Yous pulse. "No pulse!" Zhang Yi was shocked, but he quickly remembered he was wearing cut-resistant gloves, which made it impossible to feel a pulse. He turned Uncle You over, seeing three clear bloodstains. The bullets hadnt hit the heart, so Zhang Yi didnt know if he could be saved. But he had to try. From his alternate space, Zhang Yi took out a tube of adrenaline and stabbed it into Uncle Yous chest. Then he shouted towards Building 25, "Help me!" The neighbors at the entrance stood in fear, shocked by Zhang Yi''s display of killing. They didnt dare approach. Zhang Yi''s cold gaze swept over them, startling them into action. Afraid of Zhang Yi, they rushed to help. "Lift him carefully and take him to my home! Be gentle; if he gets hurt, Ill burn you with him as paper offerings for Uncle You!" Terrified, the neighbors carefully carried Uncle You, more cautiously than they would their own parents. Zhang Yi followed closely, holding his gun. As they reached the seventh floor, they heard a womans cry. "Uncle You, what happened to you? You cant leave us! If something happens to you, how will we survive?" Xie Limei, carrying her child, ran down the stairs, crying. Zhang Yi noticed that Uncle Yous eyelids twitched as Xie Limei cried. He sighed inwardly, "Uncle You, youre too kind-hearted! If you werent so righteous, I might have killed you first." If someone couldn''t be used and was highly skilled, they became a significant threat. Zhang Yi would kill them without hesitation. However, now he owed Uncle You a great favor, so he couldnt be angry with Xie Limei. The neighbors, knowing Xie Limei''s relationship with Uncle You, made way for her. Xie Limei, holding her child, knelt beside Uncle You, purposely staying close to Zhang Yi, and began crying loudly. "Honey! Look at me! Im Limei, you promised to marry me!" "And our baby, you said you wanted to watch her grow up. Once the apocalypse is over, we can live happily together." S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Hubby!!!" (A five-second wail here.) "You cant break your promise!!!" (Same as above.) "If you leave, how can we live? You might as well take us with you." "Why did you try to be a hero? Blocking bullets might show your righteousness, but what about us?" ... Zhang Yis skin crawled. Xie Limei didnt mention Zhang Yi once, but every word implicated him. She cried for Uncle You, but it was clear she was telling Zhang Yi that Uncle You had taken bullets for him. If Uncle You died, Zhang Yi would have to take care of her and her child. Chapter 131: Shameless Old Woman Chapter 131: Shameless Old WomanZhang Yis face twisted in disgust. This wretched woman was truly revolting. She had started calling Uncle You "husband" now? Since when? Zhang Yi had never heard her call him that before. Great, now she was using Uncle Yous act of shielding Zhang Yi from bullets as moral leverage to make him take care of her and her daughter. You truly deserve to die! Zhang Yi glanced at Uncle You, who was still barely alive. Whether he could survive depended on Zhou Ke''ers skills. If Uncle You weren''t still breathing, Zhang Yi would have already slapped Xie Limei senseless. But Uncle You was still alive, so Zhang Yi had to endure for now. After all, the man had taken bullets for him. He couldnt just deal with his woman and her child while he was still breathing, could he? So Zhang Yi kept a cold, silent expression. S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xie Limei cried for a long time, but Zhang Yi showed no reaction, making her anxious. Uncle You was her carefully chosen long-term provider. Now that her provider was on the verge of death, she needed a new one to support her and her daughter. Uncle Yous death wouldnt particularly sadden her, but taking advantage of the situation to emotionally manipulate Zhang Yi was something she was more than willing to do. Sniffling, Xie Limei turned to Zhang Yi, her eyes full of tears. "Zhang Yi, will my husband be alright?" Husband, my foot! Zhang Yi thought, already cursing her in his mind. "Dont worry, Ill do everything I can to save Uncle You! Zhou Ke''er is a chief physician at a major hospital. With her around, theres hope for Uncle You''s recovery." Zhang Yi had stored a lot of things in his alternate space, including three large containers of medicine and medical equipment found in the warehouse district. "I will do everything I can to save Uncle You," he repeated. "But whether it works or not is up to fate." Xie Limei, still crying, said, "If anything happens to him, I dont want to live either!" Zhang Yi remained silent, not wanting to engage in this topic. Seeing Zhang Yis lack of response, Xie Limei silently cursed him. How could he be so heartless? Uncle You had taken bullets for him, and Zhang Yi couldnt even look after them in return? Hating Zhang Yi inwardly, she didn''t dare say it aloud. Instead, she cried and extended the baby wrapped in her arms toward Zhang Yi. "Zhang Yi, if my husband dies, I dont want to live either. But please, for his sake, take care of our child. I beg you!" Zhang Yi quickly said, "Sister Xie, what are you saying? I will do everything to save Uncle You!" He waved his hand, rejecting the notion of taking on the burden. Xie Limei pressed, "What if he doesnt make it?" Zhang Yis expression turned serious. "I will do everything I can!" "But what if thats not enough?" "Trust me, Ill do my best. You surely hope Uncle You will be fine, right?" Zhang Yi stared into Xie Limei''s eyes, speaking each word deliberately. Caught off guard by Zhang Yis directness, Xie Limei stammered, "Of course, I... I certainly hope my husband recovers!" Seeing Zhang Yis debating skills, she dared not argue further and continued crying, holding her child. Zhang Yi instructed the neighbors to carry Uncle You to his home. Since they lived on the 24th floor, the neighbors had to swap out twice to carry him up, each panting heavily by the time they reached the door. No one dared to complain, knowing Zhang Yi would kill them without hesitation if he was displeased. At the door, Zhang Yi told them, "Leave him here and go." Relieved, the neighbors hurried downstairs. Xie Limei, holding her baby, cried while watching Uncle You. Frowning, Zhang Yi said, "Sister Xie, please go home. Were about to perform surgery on Uncle You to remove the bullets. You can''t help here." Xie Limei resolutely replied, "No! He needs someone by his side now. I wont leave him!" She knelt down and grasped Uncle Yous hand tightly. Seeing the pain lessen on Uncle Yous face, Zhang Yi was annoyed but restrained himself. Saving Uncle You was the priority. He couldnt afford any more delays, so he opened the door. For Xie Limei, stepping inside felt like entering a paradise. Having survived a month in freezing conditions, she and her baby had only managed thanks to Uncle Yous body heat. Feeling the warmth and seeing the familiar yet distant comforts of civilized society brought tears to Xie Limeis eyesthis time, genuine tears. Zhang Yi called Zhou Ke''er to help move Uncle You, while Xie Limei, uninvited, entered the house, carrying her baby. Spotting a water dispenser in the corner, she eagerly picked up a cup and began filling it with hot water. Zhou Ke''er and Zhang Yi watched, Zhou Ke''er was surprised that Zhang Yi allowed her inside. Seeing Uncle You covered in blood at the door, she understood. Zhang Yi''s eyes showed disdain as Xie Limei used his cup, drinking the hot water with bliss. "Ah, hot water is so good!" Xie Limei looked at her baby. "Zhang Yi, do you have any formula at home?" Busy moving Uncle You, Zhang Yi''s face darkened at the question. "What did you say?" Startled by his glare, Xie Limei realized the situation. Holding the cup, she stammered, "The baby needs to drink too! My husband loved the baby very much." Zhang Yi''s cold gaze bore into her. "Come help now! Or I''ll kick you out!" Terrified, Xie Limei followed, holding her baby. Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er moved Uncle You into an empty room. Zhang Yis three-bedroom apartment had one room for a soundproof generator, powering the safe house. Chapter 132: Counterattack and Annihilation Chapter 132: Counterattack and AnnihilationZhang Yi moved the generator aside and then took out a large white bed from his alternate space. This scene left Xie Limei completely dumbfounded. "Is this some kind of magic trick?" she murmured, unable to comprehend what was happening before her eyes. Zhang Yi couldnt be bothered to explain. He turned to Zhou Ke''er and said, "Save Uncle You at any cost! Tell me what medicine and medical equipment you need, and I''ll do my best to provide them." Zhou Ke''er, used to handling crises, remained calm despite Uncle Yous bloodied state. She calmly listed the items she needed. Zhang Yi retrieved the required medicine and equipment from his alternate space and handed them to her. "Hows the situation? Is there still hope?" Zhang Yi asked in a deep voice. Zhou Ke''er changed into her surgical clothes, mask, and gloves, her demeanor becoming professional and even somewhat sacred. She cut open Uncle Yous clothes with scissors, her brows furrowing deeply. "The situation is very grim! The bullets are in dangerous positions. If theyve damaged any internal organs, he might not make it with the current conditions," she said. Zhang Yi took a deep breath and patted her shoulder. "Do your best!" he said. He had done everything he could. If Uncle You couldn''t pull through, there was nothing more he could do. Xie Limei began crying again. Annoyed by her wailing, Zhang Yi snapped, "Shut up! Don''t disturb the surgery. If you interfere, you know the consequences!" Xie Limei''s crying stopped abruptly. She bit her lip, looking fragile. "Maybe I should go outside. I cant help here anyway." The living room outside was comfortable, with soft sofas, hot water to drink, and a big TV to watch. When she arrived, she noticed food in the kitchen. Xie Limei was eager to leave the blood-soaked room and enjoy herself outside. A cold smile formed on Zhang Yis lips. He stared at Xie Limei and said, "This surgery is crucial for your husband''s life! So, you need to stay and help." "But I dont know how to treat patients!" Xie Limei protested. "Then help pass instruments and wipe the sweat. Even if you cant do anything, your presence will encourage Uncle You," Zhang Yi said. Before Xie Limei could argue, Zhang Yi added in a tone that brooked no argument, "This is decided! Stay here and help. I need to go out." With that, Zhang Yi stepped outside and locked the door from the outside. He couldnt let Xie Limei mess around in his place. "I dont have time to deal with you now. Ill handle those damned people first and find a dark spot to bury you later!" he muttered coldly. He sat on the sofa, throwing the cup Xie Limei had used into the trash in disgust. Then he went to the kitchen, took a can of milk from the fridge, and drank it in one go. Returning to the living room, Zhang Yi started organizing his weapons. Once all his weapons were sorted, with assault rifles, pistols, and sniper rifles fully loaded, and grenades counted, Zhang Yi left his home. ... In the central area of the community, patches of red stained the ground like blooming plum blossoms. The ground was littered with corpses. The snowmobile, left in the snowstorm, along with the scattered food bags, remained incredibly tempting. S~?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After Zhang Yi left with Uncle You, some desperate or starving people emerged from the buildings to drag the supplies back. Zhang Yi walked steadily, his steps firm and measured, unaffected by anger. The other side had fired the first shot. Not retaliating would be impolite. Originally, he had planned to poison them peacefully. However, since they chose a more violent approach, Zhang Yi had no qualms about reciprocating. The sky darkened as Zhang Yi descended the stairs, pulling out his phone to send a message to everyone in the communitys group chat. "Everyone, gather on the fourth floor." He put the phone in his chest pocket, then, armed with a rifle, moved to the fourth floor, waiting quietly for everyone to arrive. Soon, the neighbors began to appear. They looked at Zhang Yi with trepidation, afraid of angering him and inviting death. But they didnt dare disobey. Without Zhang Yis food, they faced certain death. Only about twenty people were left in Building 25. They gathered together, looking at Zhang Yi with fear. "Brother Zhang, those who attacked you have nothing to do with us!" "We know nothing. We are your most loyal supporters!" Zhang Yi raised his hand, silencing them. He slowly turned his gaze toward the group, his eyes filled with murderous intent, making it impossible for anyone to meet his gaze. Having killed nearly a hundred people, Zhang Yi exuded a palpable killing aura that instilled fear in everyone who met his eyes. "Those people betrayed me, ambushing Uncle You and me, leaving Uncle You severely injured. They must pay the price!" Zhang Yis voice was cold. "Tonight, we will launch a counterattack," he declared. The crowds faces grew even more fearful. "A counterattack? With just us?" they thought Zhang Yi had gone mad. In the courtyard battle, he had an advantage with an assault rifle. But launching a nighttime raid with a dozen people was too risky! A simple stone dropped from above could crush him. Zhang Yi reassured them, "Leave the building to me. You just need to guard the perimeter. If anyone jumps out, finish them off." The crowd still didnt understand why anyone would jump from the building, but as long as Zhang Yi didnt force them to launch an assault, they agreed. Zhang Yi pointed to Building 21, the Crazy Wolf Gang''s territory. "Now, surround that building!" Chapter 133: Smoked Duck Chapter 133: Smoked DuckThe neighbors of Building 25 followed Zhang Yis orders, picked up their weapons, and surrounded Building 21. They weren''t sure what Zhang Yi planned to do. If a fight really broke out, this loose encirclement seemed pointless. Meanwhile, the members of the Crazy Wolf Gang upstairs noticed the unusual activity. "Zhang Yi has brought people to surround us!" one of the gang members warned. Everyone felt a chill run down their spines, their hair standing on end! Zhang Yi had just killed so many people, including their leader Wang Qiang, leaving these wolf cubs pale with fear. Knowing Zhang Yi was coming made them panic even more, pushing some to the brink of madness. "Were doomed! We can''t possibly fight that demon! Hes too terrifying!" a yellow-haired gang member wailed, clutching his head. At this moment, Xiao Lu, the second-in-command of the Crazy Wolf Gang, rushed over, grabbed him by the collar, and slapped him twice. Then he yelled at the group, "What are you afraid of? This building is our stronghold. Even if Zhang Yi has a gun, hell lose a layer of skin if he tries to get in here!" "Pull yourselves together and fight him to the death!" With Xiao Lus command, the gang members barely held themselves together. They gripped their weapons tightly, guarding every trap, ready to fight Zhang Yi to the death. But Zhang Yi didnt enter as they expected. He merely instructed his neighbors to watch every window to prevent anyone from escaping. Then, Zhang Yi went to the fourth-floor entrance of Building 21. His right eye flashed with a white light, and a large pile of freshly cut, wet wood filled the room. Next, he piled in cheap synthetic fiber clothes, nearly filling the entire room. Only then did he take out a barrel of gasoline and spill it on the floor. After completing these tasks, he stepped out of the room. No one was at the front entrance, so none of his neighbors saw what he did. Zhang Yi took out a handgun and fired, breaking the gasoline barrel. Gasoline gushed out, forming a natural fuse leading to the door. Zhang Yi walked over and lit the gasoline trail with a lighter. "Whoosh!" Flames roared to life, illuminating the entire room. Zhang Yi quickly retreated, and within seconds, the fire blazed ferociously! The synthetic clothes caught fire instantly, and the flames engulfed the whole room. The wet wood, with its moisture evaporated, also caught fire quickly. However, the incomplete combustion produced thick black smoke, which mixed with the smoke from the burning synthetic clothes and rose into the air. In this cold weather, every window in the building was tightly shut. The smoke had nowhere to go but up, seeping through every crevice like a black dragon, quickly engulfing floor after floor! Upstairs, the Crazy Wolf Gang members were waiting for Zhang Yi to attack. Instead, they were greeted by an unbearably acrid black smoke. "Cough, cough, cough... Theyre setting a fire!!" "These people are despicable, shameless! Zhang Yi, that coward, even with a gun, is too scared to fight us directly!" "Quick, open the windows, let the smoke out!" "Cough, cough, cough... cough, cough..." "Water, is there any water? Wet your clothes and cover your nose." "Wheres the water? Its all ice!" "Pee, pee on the clothes!" "Ah, my eyes! My eyes are burning, I cant see anything." "Cough, cough, cough... I... cough, cough..." The thick smoke quickly filled the entire building. When the people inside realized the problem and tried to open the windows, they found them sealed shut by ice and snow. There was no way to open them. The building had turned into a giant oven, and they were the ducks inside. However, calling them roast duck wasnt quite right. They were more like smoked duck. Zhang Yi stood outside the building, holding his rifle. The yellow flames illuminated his face, and he felt incredibly warm. He reminisced about his college days, when his department organized a bonfire party. Everyone sang and danced around the fire, and those times were truly memorable. But tonight''s bonfire was much larger and wilder than that. At this point, the surrounding neighbors finally understood what Zhang Yi was doing. They could hear the screams and coughing from inside the building, sending chills down their spines. The building had become a death trap, and Zhang Yi blocked the only way out. People inside could either wait to die or come out and be killed. Soon, someone couldnt bear it any longer. They braved the smoke, rushing down the stairs, trying to escape. But with his eyes stinging and vision blurred, he stumbled and fell into the flames. Amidst the terrifying screams, he soon succumbed to the fire. "Crash!" Someone upstairs smashed a window and jumped out. From seven or eight floors up, faced with death, they jumped without hesitation. But after landing, before they could celebrate surviving the fall, a waiting woman with a knife slashed them dead. "Li Yun, youre getting good at this. You used to be afraid to even kill a chicken!" a neighbor commented, laughing. Proud of the compliment, Li Yun wiped the blood off her face. "Everyones working hard; I cant slack off!" Just as she spoke, she noticed another person falling from above. Blood spurted from their mouth, and their eyes were filled with soot. Barely alive, their body convulsed. "Ah, heres another one. Let me handle it!" Li Yun said cheerfully. She walked over, raised a cleaver, and with a "thud," chopped off their head. The other neighbors were doing the same. The people upstairs had no idea what awaited them below. They believed breaking the windows and jumping was their only way to survive. The neighbors worked diligently, feeling the warmth of the flames on their faces, smiling with contentment. "This fire is beautiful!" "Yes, we should do this more often." While everyone was busy, Zhang Yi stood by the entrance, enjoying the warmth. Residents of other buildings also saw the flames, and smoke, and heard the screams, filling them with fear. "What should we do? Will Zhang Yi use the same method on us?" Every resident had this thought. Rather than waiting to die, why not fight Zhang Yi? But how? Fight Zhang Yi and his assault rifle with their bare hands? S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The memory of Wang Qiang and over ten others being shot like a sieve was still fresh in their minds. They didnt dare. "Its okay. Zhang Yi wont kill everyone. He wont!" "Grievances have a source. I wasnt involved in this." They clung to the hope of mercy, preferring to pray rather than confront Zhang Yi. Chapter 134: Burning Chapter 134: BurningBuilding 21 burned fiercely for more than half an hour before the flames began to diminish. However, the thick smoke continued unabated. By this point, it was impossible for anyone inside the building to still be alive. Without ventilation, they had no way to prevent the toxic gases from entering their bodies. The only outcome for them was a painful death. Even if a few people miraculously survived, staying inside the building would eventually kill them, as the smoke wouldn''t dissipate quickly. Zhang Yi turned and walked towards Building 26. "Let''s go to the next one!" he called out. The neighbors from Building 25, their bloodlust aroused, followed eagerly. They had never experienced such an exhilarating way of killing, where they controlled others'' lives. The thrill of it excited them beyond measure. A group of them roared, following Zhang Yi towards Building 26, the territory of the Tianhe Gang. The residents of Building 26 watched the scene from their windows. Seeing Zhang Yi and his group approaching, they were terrified. Someone inside shouted, "Zhang Yi, Huang Tianfang is already dead. This has nothing to do with us!" "Injustice has a source, and debts have a master. You can''t kill innocent people!" Hearing this, Zhang Yi laughed heartily. "Innocent people?" "Do you consider yourselves innocent?" Zhang Yi asked, his eyes filled with sarcasm. "Everyone alive in your building has blood on their hands. Besides, even if you are innocent, what does that have to do with whether I kill you or not?" Zhang Yi didn''t care how many people were involved in the attack on him. As long as anyone was even slightly suspicious, he would eliminate them without mercy. In the apocalypse, there was no room for any mercy. Otherwise, it would bring disaster upon himself in the future. "Let''s continue!" Zhang Yi commanded, instructing his people to seal off Building 26 and setting it on fire from the ground floor. Screams and curses echoed from the building. Several people, shouting like madmen, charged down the stairs, only to be shot in the head by Zhang Yi the moment they showed themselves. Soon, thick smoke enveloped Building 26 as well. Zhang Yi took his time, methodically killing one building at a time to ensure no one escaped. He quickly dealt with the people in Building 26 and continued to the other buildings previously confirmed to have been involved in the attack on him. Five buildings burned, their flames reaching the sky, with thick smoke billowing. The entire community was illuminated, and the surrounding temperature rose, causing nearby ice and snow to melt, lowering the horizon. The residents of other buildings were terrified, many urinating themselves in fear. Zhang Yi calculated the time and, realizing he wouldn''t be able to kill everyone in one night, decided to rest and check on Uncle Yous condition. To avoid trouble from the remaining people, Zhang Yi decided to appease them temporarily. He took out a megaphone from his alternate space and shouted into the community, "Everyone, rest assured, I, Zhang Yi, never harm the innocent. This time, I''m only targeting those who attacked me." "For those who have been friendly to me, I will not harm you. Do not be afraid!" Hearing this, the residents of other buildings felt like they had grasped their last hope. Even though they knew Zhang Yi might be deceiving them, they chose to believe him. People tend to deceive themselves, always hoping for the best outcome. "Zhang Yi isn''t going to kill us? That''s great news!" "Yes, we didn''t attack him. This has nothing to do with us. Zhang Yi shouldnt be targeting us." "He killed so many people; he must be tired. I don''t believe he can kill everyone in the community." People don''t fight when not in absolute desperation. Zhang Yi gave them hope, but they chose to be ostriches, burying their heads in the sand and pretending there was no danger around them. After finishing his speech, Zhang Yi told his neighbors, "Alright, that''s it for today''s activity. Go rest!" The neighbors, though reluctant to leave the warmth of the fires, said, "We''ll stay here and warm up for a bit!" The flames were so warm! Going back inside meant facing the cold, so staying by the fire was much more comfortable. "Suit yourselves," Zhang Yi said indifferently, then turned and walked back to Building 25. The neighbors, unwilling to leave, gathered around the fire, their eyes filled with delight. However, the flames slowly began to diminish as the fuel Zhang Yi provided ran out. "What do we do now? The fire is getting smaller!" one person exclaimed anxiously. Another looked around and suddenly had a bright idea. Whispering to two others nearby, they quickly grabbed a corpse and threw it into the fire. "Crackling!" The sound of oil sizzling in the high heat was followed by the flames roaring back to life. "Great idea! Haha, how could we forget that animal fat is excellent fuel!" There were plenty of bodies around, enough to keep the fire going for a while. If they got hungry, they could even cook some meat. What a wonderful barbecue feast! ... On his way back, Zhang Yi passed by the bodies of Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei. He paused briefly, feeling a curious urge. These two had been useful, obedient, and diligent. They had at least been well-fed while following him. So why had they suddenly turned on him? Zhang Yi wasnt surprised, just curious. He searched their bodies and found their phones. Using the firelight, he unlocked the phones using their faces. Browsing through their chat histories, his expression became playful. "So that''s what happened!" Zhang Yi chuckled, tossing their phones into the snow. Returning home, Zhang Yi opened the temporary hospital room door. Zhou Ke''er stood against the wall, her long legs crossed, her blue surgical gown unable to hide her graceful figure. Zhang Yi glanced at the hospital bed. Uncle You lay with an oxygen mask on, and the heart monitor showed stable waves. Zhang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed Uncle Yous life was saved, sparing Zhang Yi from feeling too guilty about his fallen comrade. S?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 135: The Second Mutant Chapter 135: The Second MutantZhang Yi looked at Zhou Ke''er and said, "Ke''er, thank you for your hard work!" Zhou Ke''er smiled and shook her head. "I''m happy to help you." As they were chatting, Xie Limei suddenly walked over, holding her child. Her face showed a pitiful expression as she spoke to Zhang Yi, "Zhang Yi, we haven''t eaten all day. Could you please get something for me and the baby?" Zhang Yi looked down at her with a mocking gaze. If it weren''t for Uncle You, he would have thrown this troublesome woman into the snow long ago. But now, she had successfully earned Zhang Yi''s disdain, making her as good as dead in his eyes. For now, he had other people to deal with, so he temporarily spared her life. Without saying much, he waved his right hand, and a box of instant noodles appeared in front of Xie Limei. "Take these. After all, you are Uncle You''s family, and I won''t let you go hungry." Xie Limei stared in shock. "What... what kind of magic trick is this?" Zhang Yi couldnt be bothered to explain. He didn''t care if Xie Limei knew about his abilities. After all, a dead person couldn''t reveal secrets. Zhang Yi wrapped his arm around Zhou Ke''er, intending to take her back to rest. After hours of surgery, she was very tired. As they were about to leave, Xie Limei followed and said, "Is there anything else besides instant noodles?" "I saw eggs in the kitchen, and there are chicken bones in the trash." She looked weak, but her eyes were fixed on Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, annoyed, remarked, "There are only instant noodles. Eat it or leave it." Seeing Zhang Yis anger, Xie Limei stepped back and quietly said, "Alright, instant noodles are fine. I was just asking." Zhang Yi supported Zhou Ke''er back to her room. She smiled and said, "Now we have another troublemaker at home." Zhang Yi replied calmly, "She wont be a trouble." Seeing Zhou Ke''ers legs were weak from fatigue, Zhang Yi placed her on the bed and gently removed her shoes. Her toes, covered in black stockings, curled up cutely. "Ive been standing all day, my feet might smell..." she murmured. Smell? Perfect! Zhang Yi''s smile turned a bit wicked, but seeing Zhou Ke''er so tired, he decided to let her rest for now. "How is Uncle You? How long will it take for him to recover, or is it just a temporary recovery, and he won''t last long?" Zhang Yi asked. Zhou Ke''er''s eyes showed a strange expression. She said, "He was seriously injured and lost a lot of blood. We didn''t have any blood bags. Initially, I thought it would be very hard to save him." Zhang Yi frowned. He hadnt considered the need for blood bags, not being a professional medical worker. "Then how did you manage to save him?" he asked. Zhou Ke''er looked puzzled. "At first, his heart rate was close to zero, but suddenly, his body seemed to undergo some change. The activity of his cells increased rapidly, and even the bleeding reduced significantly." She spread her hands, indicating her confusion. "I can''t explain it." Zhang Yi was stunned. He was all too familiar with such extraordinary occurrences because he had experienced them himself! Uncle You might have awakened some special ability. Since his rebirth, Zhang Yi had considered the possibility. Gamma rays had altered his genetic sequence, turning him into a mutant. So, could others also develop abilities? Over the past month, in a community of over a thousand people, no second mutant had appeared, suggesting that the conditions for mutation were extremely stringent. Genetic mutations are rare, and the direction of mutation is uncertain. Yet, Uncle You had become the second mutant, besides Zhang Yi himself! "Could near-death situations trigger awakening? That might be a prerequisite," Zhang Yi thought. "If so, the conditions are too harsh. If the mutation doesn''t include self-healing, the person would die even after awakening." "If Uncle You hadn''t met me, he would have died." Zhang Yi relaxed, realizing the probability of encountering other mutants in the future was extremely low. He wondered what kind of ability Uncle You had awakened. After some thought, Zhang Yi told Zhou Ke''er, "From now on, give Uncle You a daily dose of muscle relaxants or sedatives. It shouldn''t affect his health but will control his actions." Zhou Ke''er was surprised but quickly understood. "Is Uncle You like you, having developed some special ability?" Zhang Yi nodded. "I think so, but we have no experience with this. We dont know what he might become." "Do you know the Hulk? He mutated due to gamma radiation." Zhang Yi spread his hands and smiled wryly. "If Uncle You turns into the Hulk and loses control, he might destroy the house!" He exaggerated, but in reality, given the principle of energy conservation, even if Uncle You transformed, he wouldn''t possess great strength in his current state. For safety, Zhang Yi needed to observe him to ensure his mutation wasnt harmful. Zhou Ke''er nodded. "Thats simple. Leave it to me." Zhang Yi kissed her and gently said, "Youre tired today. Get some rest." Zhou Ke''er glanced outside. "What about Uncle You? Can Xie Limei take care of him?" Zhang Yi smiled faintly. "Shes a troublesome woman but not stupid. She knows that if anything happens to Uncle You, I''ll kick her out immediately. So shell take better care of him than you." Zhou Ke''er nodded in agreement. "That makes sense." Zhang Yi told her to rest and then left the room, only to find Xie Limei making instant noodles, her eyes darting around as if looking to steal something. Zhang Yi approached and said, "Sister Xie, you can stay with Uncle You. Youll be able to take care of him at night." s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xie Limei nodded obediently, appearing very compliant. Zhang Yi gestured for her to enter the room. She complied, and Zhang Yi locked the door from the outside. Chapter 136: Stabbing to the Point Chapter 136: Stabbing to the PointAfter taking care of matters at home, Zhang Yi grabbed his gun and left. It was time to settle a lingering issue. The building was almost empty. Most of the neighbors had gone out to barbecue, leaving only two occupied apartments. Zhang Yi approached the door of one of the remaining occupied apartments, the one where Lin Caining and Fang Yuqing used to live. S~?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He pulled out his handgun and shot the lock twice, then kicked the door open. With a riot shield in his left hand and the gun in his right, he stepped inside. The room was dark, so Zhang Yi turned on his headlamp, illuminating the entire room. Every corner became as clear as day. Suddenly, a woman with disheveled hair rushed at him with a kitchen knife, screaming. Unfazed, Zhang Yi raised the riot shield. The weak slash had no impact, and the woman fell to the ground from the recoil. Zhang Yi turned to face her, a mocking smile on his lips. "Long time no see, Fang Yuqing!" he said, shining the headlamp directly at her face, forcing her to squint. Fang Yuqing, covered in blood and filth, looked like neither a person nor a ghost. The room reeked of rot, bones littering the floor. In one corner lay a half-eaten corpse, its remaining clothes revealing it to be Lin Caining. "No wonder youve survived. You truly are a fake friend," Zhang Yi taunted. Fang Yuqing shielded her eyes from the light and, recognizing Zhang Yi, let out a cry of despair and rage. "Zhang Yi, why arent you dead? Why?!" "Those useless fools couldnt even kill you. Theyre worthless!" she screamed, her voice filled with hatred. Zhang Yi smirked. "You foolish woman, did you think colluding with Wang Qiang and turning Jiang Lei and Li Chengbin against me would kill me?" "Pathetic. Youre nothing but a pawn, easily manipulated and discarded." It had been Fang Yuqing who tipped off Wang Qiang, leading to his ambush in the snow. She had also turned Li Chengbin and Jiang Lei against Zhang Yi, orchestrating their attack. Her skill at manipulation was exceptional, but in the end, she had only brought destruction upon herself. "I hate you, Zhang Yi! All of this is your fault!" Fang Yuqing raged, her voice breaking. "You chased me for two and a half years but suddenly stopped. How dare you betray me? If you had just persisted a little longer, I would have agreed to marry you! But you abandoned me for that bitch. I hate you both!" Growing more agitated, she lunged at Zhang Yi. He didnt even bother using his gun. He simply raised the riot shield and knocked her down. "What a bitch," he muttered. Dealing with such a delusional woman, Zhang Yi felt no need for further words. He put away his gun and took out a crowbar, advancing towards Fang Yuqing. Without hesitation, he smashed her wrists and ankles. Her emaciated body offered little resistance; her bones snapped easily under the crowbars force, her screams like a twisted symphony. Fang Yuqing writhed in pain, her defiance crumbling. She began to sob and beg for mercy. "Zhang Yi, please, dont kill me. I dont want to die!" Ignoring her pleas, Zhang Yi yanked her by the hair and dragged her to the window. He smashed the bars of the balcony window with the crowbar. Fang Yuqing knew what was coming. He was going to throw her from the eighth floor, ensuring she would either die from the fall or freeze to death in the snow. Tears and snot streamed down her face as she begged, "Zhang Yi, spare me! Ill do anything you want!" Zhang Yi felt a twisted satisfaction hearing her pitiful cries. Memories of his past life surfaced, where her manipulative charm had lured him into a trap, leading to a gruesome fate. "You deserve this," Zhang Yi said coldly. He put away the crowbar and pulled out a sharp knife, slicing her clothes with swift, precise motions until she was left shivering and naked. She thought he intended to assault her and stammered, "You can have me, just let me live." Zhang Yi looked at her skeletal frame and sighed in disappointment. "Youre nothing but skin and bones now. No appeal left." He had once desired her and chased her for years. Now, the sight of her repulsed him. Grabbing her thin ankle, he dangled her out the window. Fang Yuqing screamed, struggling like a dying animal. Zhang Yi enjoyed her terror before letting go, sending her plummeting into the snow below. He watched her fall, seeing her body make a crater in the snow. Zhang Yi sighed, "Am I too kind? Letting her die so quickly seems too merciful." If he had more time, he would have preferred to slowly torture her. But he had too many targets to deal with and couldn''t waste time on her. "I really am a kind person," Zhang Yi mused, walking away. Chapter 137: The Billion-Dollar Super Shelter Chapter 137: The Billion-Dollar Super ShelterThe next morning, Zhang Yi asked Zhou Ke''er to check on Uncle Yous condition. The results left Zhou Ke''er astonished. She reported to Zhang Yi, "His recovery is excellent, at least ten times faster than an average person!" This confirmation reassured Zhang Yi that Uncle You had indeed awakened a special ability. "I understand. Take good care of him and make sure he recovers fully!" Zhang Yi said, patting Zhou Ke''ers hip and giving her a meaningful look. Zhou Ke''er nodded knowingly and took a syringe from the medicine box, slowly injecting it into Uncle Yous arm. Watching them finish their work, Xie Limei walked over with a smile and made a request. "Zhang Yi, I forgot to bring my charger. Could you help me get it? And we also need diapers for our baby." Her demeanor was calm, as if she intended to stay indefinitely. She believed Zhang Yi owed Uncle You a life debt, and by extension, she and her child deserved his care as well. Zhang Yi glanced at the unconscious Uncle You. He knew that people in comas could still hear things around them, so he smiled at Xie Limei and said, "I have urgent matters to attend to outside. Ill help you with that once I''m done." Xie Limeis smile grew wider. "Alright, just dont forget!" After providing them with food and water, Zhang Yi locked Xie Limei and her child back in the small room. He was forming a plan to deal with the troublesome woman. ... S?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Fully equipped, Zhang Yi gathered all the neighbors downstairs to continue clearing out other buildings. The neighbors were surprised. "Zhang Yi, didnt you say yesterday that youd only clear out the buildings where the main attackers lived?" Zhang Yi smiled and replied, "Yes, but after further investigation, I found that several other buildings also had people involved in the attack on me." "Dont worry, I wont harm innocent people, only those who are evil. After the action, our building will control the entire community. I will assign these buildings to you to manage." Spreading his hands, Zhang Yi painted a bright future for the neighbors. "Only by clearing out the pests can we have true peace and happiness. Dont you agree?" Many neighbors were pleased by Zhang Yis words, envisioning a future where they could become building leaders themselves and live more comfortably. Some doubted his claims but dared not voice their concerns due to their fear of Zhang Yi. Among the crowd was a former rich kid, Xu Hao, whose eyes revealed a mix of terror and anxiety. His body trembled slightly. A neighbor noticed and asked, "Xu Hao, whats wrong?" Xu Hao quickly lowered his head and replied, "Nothing, just feeling a bit cold." The neighbor advised, "Oh, then make sure to keep warm. Catching a cold in this weather can be deadly." Zhang Yi led his group to begin a systematic purge of the buildings with stubborn resistance. Early in the morning, many were still in bed when Zhang Yis infernal barbecue began. By the time the smoke woke them up, it was too late to escape. Zhang Yi set fire to each building while announcing through a loudspeaker, "Im not a man who kills indiscriminately! My investigation shows that people in these buildings participated in the attack on me." "Hand over those people, and Ill let the rest of you go. If you refuse, Ill consider you accomplices and eliminate you all!" Upon hearing this, the unaffected buildings fell silent. "Zhang Yi is reasonable. Those people deserved it." "As long as the fire doesnt reach us, Zhang Yi will stop once hes done with them." "This has nothing to do with us. He wont kill us for no reason." "Better to stay home. Going out means getting shot. I trust Zhang Yi is reasonable." Holding this mindset, they watched the spectacle from a safe distance. Moreover, the fires benefited the community by raising the temperature, making everyone a little warmer. As the flames roared, the upstairs residents couldnt stand it anymore. They pushed a few people out and pleaded with Zhang Yi, "These are the ones who tried to harm you. Please, let us go!" Zhang Yi glanced at them and calmly raised his gun. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" He shot them all and said indifferently, "Nonsense! Youre just accusing each other. Do you have proof?" By noon, Zhang Yi had cleansed seven more buildings. Twelve buildings in total were now empty, and the remaining eighteen housed fewer than 500 people. These survivors were from the weakest buildings and hadnt attacked Zhang Yi. Rubbing his temples, Zhang Yi felt it was time to stop the slaughter. The remaining people posed no threat to him. Continuing the massacre might affect his sanity. "Todays cleansing ends here. Ill deal with the other buildings later," he announced, then turned to leave, ready for a well-deserved rest. As he walked away from the burning funeral feast, a figure broke away from the crowd and followed him. Hearing footsteps behind him, Zhang Yi turned coldly and asked, "What do you want?" Xu Hao raised his hands quickly. "Brother Zhang, dont misunderstand. I have important information for you!" Zhang Yi sneered. "Important information?" With the community under his control, what could be so important? Xu Hao glanced around nervously and whispered, "Brother Zhang, have you heard about the billion-dollar apocalypse shelter built by Wang Siming, the son of the richest man in Jiangnan?" Chapter 138: Fishing or Surrender? Chapter 138: Fishing or Surrender?Xu Hao''s words immediately triggered Zhang Yi''s memories from over a decade ago. In the 2030s, sci-fi movies suddenly gained worldwide popularity, with apocalyptic films being the hottest genre. This trend supposedly started with the Chinese film series "The Wandering Earth." Those years saw a surge in apocalyptic films dominating box office charts annually. The influence of these movies led some people, including the world''s top billionaires, to start building shelters. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. At the time, most people saw this as a joke. Few genuinely believed the apocalypse would come. Zhang Yi remembered a particular event that stayed on the trending topics list for months and became a popular meme. The story involved Wang Siming, the son of the richest man in Jiangnan, who spent $1 billion to build a shelter claimed to be indestructible. Incidentally, this shelter was built by the War Dragon Security Company, which Zhang Yi later sought out for related reasons. However, there was no follow-up on that shelter afterwards. Gossip was rampant, but people generally dismissed it as a rich kid''s whimsy. Zhang Yi quickly recollected these past events and looked seriously at Xu Hao. "Do you know where that shelter is?" he asked. If such a $1 billion super shelter existed, it would undoubtedly be one of the safest places in the world. Its safety, interior space, and facilities would be far superior to the shelter Zhang Yi built for 8 million yuan. It was a true apocalypse fortress, even capable of withstanding H-bombs, which piqued Zhang Yi''s curiosity. Xu Hao looked around cautiously and said, "There are too many eyes here. Let''s talk back at your place." Zhang Yi nodded and had Xu Hao lead the way. Xu Hao complied, demonstrating his sincerity by walking ahead obediently. They returned to Building 25 and went to Zhang Yi''s room on the eighth floor. Zhang Yi closed the door behind them, leaned against the wall, and crossed his arms. "Now theres no one here. Tell me everything," Zhang Yi commanded. Xu Hao didn''t hesitate. He knew Zhang Yi''s personality and dared not waste time. "That shelter is actually Yunque Manor 101!" Xu Hao revealed. "Yunque Manor 101?" Zhang Yi repeated the name, recognizing it immediately. Yunque Manor was one of the most expensive villa districts in Tianhai City. The land was so valuable that even calling it "worth its weight in gold" was an understatement. The cheapest villa there cost over 100 million yuan. The residents were all extraordinarily wealthy. Yunque Manor 101 was Wang Siming''s villa, rumored to be worth 250 million yuan. After his father passed away, Wang Siming inherited billions. Though he indulged in luxury and wasnt adept at business, causing him to drop off the rich list, he was still known as the "First Prince of China" due to his extravagant lifestyle over the past decade. Rumors claimed he had affairs with over 80% of China''s top actresses and had dated tens of thousands of women. Zhang Yi eyed Xu Hao with a playful smile. "Why are you telling me this?" he asked skeptically. Xu Hao quickly explained, "I want to follow you. Just let me be your subordinate, and I''ll help you take over that shelter!" Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the man before him. A billion-dollar super shelter was incredibly enticing to Zhang Yi. He was almost done with his business at the Yue Lu community, having eliminated most threats. Some people outside likely knew he had a large stockpile of supplies. Moving to a better shelter and keeping a low profile would be wise. However, could he trust Xu Hao? Zhang Yi sneered, "You think I''m an idiot? Why would you tell me about such a valuable place?" Xu Hao hurriedly clarified, "I know where it is, but Wang Siming currently controls it. I can''t take it by myself, so I need your help." "That''s why I''m asking to follow you. As long as you provide for me, I''ll do everything I can to help you." Zhang Yi''s face remained impassive. "If its such a top-tier shelter, it won''t be easy to conquer." "Besides, we have no relationship. You suddenly offering such a gift makes me suspicious. Do you think I''ll believe in free lunches?" Xu Hao saw Zhang Yis caution and knew he had to convince him further. He revealed more crucial information, "I not only know the location but have been inside. I understand the layout well." "Previously, Wang Siming and I were still in contact. He heard about you and planned to lure you there to steal your supplies and snowmobile." Zhang Yi''s eyes flashed with killing intent. Xu Hao panicked and explained, "But I refused him! I wouldn''t dare plot against you!" Zhang Yi coldly remarked, "Perhaps you''re still trying to fish for information now." With that, Zhang Yi pressed his handgun to Xu Haos forehead. "I could shoot you right now," he threatened. Xu Hao trembled, his legs nearly giving out. "Dont kill me! I swear, Im telling the truth! Please, believe me!" A gunshot rang out. Chapter 139: Wang Simings Hundreds of Thousands of Girlfriends Chapter 139: Wang Siming''s Hundreds of Thousands of Girlfriends S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.The gunshot made Xu Hao''s pupils shrink in fear, and his body went limp. Zhang Yis shot had intentionally missed his head, passing by his ear instead. The near miss scared Xu Hao to death. He sat on the ground, gasping for air. "Brother Zhang, please don''t kill me. Everything I said is true!" Xu Hao pleaded. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes and slowly squatted down, staring directly into Xu Haos eyes. "Give me a reason to believe you''re not conspiring with Wang Siming to trap me. Then, you might have a chance to live." Xu Hao took several deep breaths, trying to calm himself. "Because following you offers a better chance of survival than opposing you." "I''ve seen what you''re capable of. I''m not stupid enough to be your enemy. Wang Siming, living comfortably in his shelter, is easier to deal with compared to you." Xu Hao clenched his teeth and continued, "Besides, Id rather see that mother fucker Wang Siming dead than you." A glimmer of interest flashed in Zhang Yis eyes. "Oh? Weren''t you two friends?" "Friends? Ha!" Xu Haos laugh was filled with resentment and bitterness. "To him, I''m probably no better than a dog." Xu Hao went on to explain their relationship. "My family is wealthy and influential in Tianhai City. My fathers company is worth billions. By all rights, I should be one of the top young elites in the city, right?" "But when Wang Siming returned from abroad, everything changed. His familys wealth and power far surpassed ours. In the eyes of others, I might be a rich and influential young master. But to Wang Siming, Im nothing." Zhang Yi nodded slightly, finding the story interesting. "I remember Wang Siming saying something once: ''I dont care if my friends are rich or not; theyll never be richer than me.''" Xu Hao nodded. "Exactly." Zhang Yi didnt fully understand. "So, you hate him just because he''s richer than you?" "No, you dont understand our circle," Xu Hao said, shaking his head. "My family is in the construction business, and the Wang family is our biggest client. We practically depend on them to survive." "So, when Wang Siming returned, I had to bend over backwards to please him." Xu Haos eyes filled with humiliation and his fists clenched tightly. "As a privileged young master for over twenty years, having to stoop so low to please someone else was humiliating. Worse, if he fancied my woman, I had to send her to his bed personally." Xu Haos face turned red with anger. "That was my woman! Mine! But I had to send her to him several times." "Because of this, I became a laughingstock among the young elites in Jiangnan." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, feeling somewhat sympathetic. A prominent young master, forced to offer his girlfriend to another man to curry favor, was indeed degrading. Curious about women, Zhang Yi asked, "Ive heard Wang Siming has a fondness for beautiful women. Some say hes had hundreds of thousands of girlfriends. Is that true?" Zhang Yi had always been skeptical of such claims. Even if one lived to be a hundred, that would only be 36,500 days. It seemed impossible to have that many girlfriends. Xu Hao laughed. "Brother Zhang, no offense, but the lives of the truly wealthy are beyond your imagination." "You might think the lives of the rich in web novels are exaggerated, but the reality is even more outrageous." Zhang Yis interest was piqued. "Oh? How so?" Xu Hao explained, "Wang Simings women arent just in the thousands; they number in the hundreds of thousands!" Zhang Yi was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. "Are you kidding me? Even emperors like Sima Yan, with his thousands of concubines, couldnt manage that many women." Xu Hao, feeling Zhang Yis disbelief, said, "Brother Zhang, it''s true! The rich have their unique ways." "Explain," Zhang Yi said, now genuinely curious. Xu Hao detailed, "Wang Siming has people all over the country scouting for women. These women range from top actresses and online influencers to local socialites and ordinary girls." "He has dozens of phones, each representing different provinces. Each phone contains numerous WeChat groups filled with local beauties." "Whenever he travels, he can summon hundreds of women from these groups. Even when hes not traveling, he can still have his pick of women from all over the country with a single message." Xu Hao paused, then added, "Have you seen those videos online of girls writing messages on their bodies? Things like congratulating EDG for winning or Messi for his victories?" "Those videos come from women in Wang Simings groups. He just needs to give an order, and theyll perform various acts. Writing on their bodies is the least of it." Zhang Yi listened in amazement. He never imagined the lives of the super-rich could be so extravagant. "So, he keeps these women as a kind of reserve, using them whenever he pleases?" "Exactly," Xu Hao confirmed. "With his wealth, he can afford to indulge in such extravagances." Xu Hao added humorously, "In a way, its a form of wealth redistribution, isnt it?" Zhang Yi shook his head in disbelief. "No wonder there are so many single women in big cities." Now convinced of Xu Hao''s sincerity, Zhang Yi decided to give him a chance. "Alright, Xu Hao. Ill consider your offer. But remember, betray me, and youll wish you were dead." Xu Hao nodded vigorously, relieved. "Thank you, Brother Zhang. I wont let you down." Chapter 140: Three Conditions Chapter 140: Three ConditionsXu Hao''s revelation gave Zhang Yi a glimpse into the lives of the elite. But that wasn''t important now. After listening to Xu Haos story, Zhang Yi looked at him calmly and asked, "So, tell me your plan. If I agree to cooperate, how exactly will you help me?" Xu Hao, sensing that he had piqued Zhang Yis interest, became more animated. "I still have contact with Wang Siming. When I told him about you, he became very interested in your supplies and your snowmobile," Xu Hao explained. "So, we can stage a play. Pretend that I''ve lured you there, and once Wang Siming opens the door, you can use your skills to take him down in no time." Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then looked at Xu Hao and asked, "If Wang Simings shelter is worth $1 billion, would he really need my supplies?" Having watched sci-fi movies, Zhang Yi knew that such large-scale shelters usually had enough supplies to last for years. It seemed unlikely that Wang Siming would be in need of more after just one month. Xu Hao scratched his head, showing a wry smile. "Well... the shelter was built over ten years ago." "When Wang Siming first built it, it was more of a whim. After his initial interest waned, he didnt take it seriously anymore and used it more like an ordinary villa." "The supplies stored there were eventually discarded as trash, and the space was converted into entertainment rooms and sports areas." Listening silently, Zhang Yis mind began constructing a mental blueprint of the super shelter. "What about weapons and defenses? A shelter of that caliber must have some serious security measures, right?" Zhang Yi asked, his concern evident. Xu Hao suddenly fell silent. He then said, "Unless you agree to work with me and ensure my survival, I can''t tell you that information." Xu Hao was not foolish. If he disclosed everything, he would lose all his leverage. Zhang Yi sneered, shaking his handgun. "If you wont tell me, why should I keep you alive?" Xu Hao swallowed hard. "Even if you kill me, I wont tell you. This information is my only hope for survival!" "I know you plan to kill us all eventually, right?" Zhang Yis eyes flashed with a peculiar light. Xu Hao was spot-on. Zhang Yi did intend to eliminate most of his neighbors once the other building threats were neutralized. Keeping the residents of his building around was a temporary measure to deal with external threats. "You seem quite smart. How did you figure it out?" Zhang Yi asked with a chilling smile. Xu Hao, biting his lip, said, "Because youre not a kind person. Youve kept us around only to deal with the other buildings'' threats. Now that most of those threats are gone, you have no reason to keep us." Zhang Yi lowered his gun. Xu Hao was right; he was indeed clever. "So, instead of waiting to die, I''m gambling on a chance to live by trading my information," Xu Hao added. Zhang Yi squinted, weighing the pros and cons. According to Xu Hao, the $1 billion super shelter was far superior to his current safe house. If Zhang Yi could take it over, his quality of life would significantly improve. But there were risks: Zhang Yi didnt trust Xu Hao. Regardless of his convincing story, Zhang Yi couldnt fully believe someone with whom he had a poor relationship. Establishing mutual trust was crucial. Even if everything Xu Hao said was true, the operations risks were unknown. Zhang Yis current safe house was secure and had helped him fend off numerous attackers. Wang Siming''s shelter, which could withstand H-bombs, was hundreds of times more secure. Zhang Yis existing weapons might not be enough to breach it. After a long silence, Zhang Yi made his decision. He looked at Xu Hao coldly and said, "Ill let you work with me, but there are conditions you must follow." Xu Hao, tense and anxious, suddenly relaxed, his face lighting up with joy. He had gambled and won. "Of course! Whatever you say!" Xu Hao responded eagerly. Zhang Yi began, "First, you must give me a detailed explanation of the shelters layout, especially its security systems and firepower." Xu Hao nodded quickly. "Thats no problem. After the shelter was built, Wang Siming showed it off to many people. I was one of the visitors." Zhang Yi continued, "Second, I need you to kill someone for me." Xu Hao was puzzled. "Who do you want dead that you cant kill yourself?" Zhang Yi smiled. "Someone inconvenient for me to deal with directly. Just wait for my instructions." Xu Hao didnt hesitate. Killing one person was a small price to pay for his survival. S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Alright, what''s the third condition?" Xu Hao asked, swallowing nervously as he noticed Zhang Yis smile turning sinister. Zhang Yi said, "Come with me. I need to get something for you." Not knowing what to expect, Xu Hao obediently followed Zhang Yi to the 24th floor. Zhang Yi left him at the stairwell. "Wait here. Ill be right back." With that, Zhang Yi entered his apartment, leaving Xu Hao standing anxiously by the stairs. Chapter 141: Poison Chapter 141: PoisonXu Hao waited outside for a few minutes before he heard the door open. He quickly peeked out to see Zhang Yi walking over with a silver briefcase. Xu Hao''s eyes were drawn to the mysterious case, wondering what was inside. Zhang Yi approached Xu Hao and spoke in a calm tone, "Do you know what I did before all this?" Xu Hao shook his head, confused. In the past, Xu Hao had been a wealthy heir, and Zhang Yi was just an ordinary young man in the community. Xu Hao had never cared about Zhang Yi''s background. Zhang Yi continued, "I was a fighter. In 2041, I won my first Southeast Asian free combat championship. In 2042, I defeated Japanese Heavy Artillery Raylong and then went on to sweep through Japan''s karate masters for three consecutive years." "Later, I joined the French mercenaries and fought in the Middle East for years. They called me the Half Fox." "Growing tired of the constant fighting, I returned to China and became a simple warehouse manager and part-time hitman." Xu Hao was taken aback. He had never imagined that the man before him, besides being handsome, had such a hidden past. It made sense now why Zhang Yis marksmanship was so precise and why he was so ruthless in killing. Xu Hao thought to himself, "No wonder. No wonder his marksmanship is so accurate, and hes so merciless when killing." S?a?ch* Th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "This man is either a retired urban war hero or a professional hitman. It all makes sense now!" "This is a real boss. Following him in the apocalypse is the only way to survive!" As Zhang Yi spoke, he opened the silver briefcase. Inside, he took out a syringe filled with a blue liquid. The deep blue color made Xu Hao instantly think of poison. Movies often depicted scenes like this, and the sight filled Xu Hao with dread. He took several steps back, fear gripping him. "Brother Zhang, what are you doing?" Zhang Yi smiled slightly and approached with the syringe. "This is a slow-acting poison we commonly used. It takes a week to take effect, and without the antidote, it''s fatal." "If you want me to believe you, let me inject this. Don''t worry; once we take Wang Simings shelter, I''ll give you the antidote." Xu Haos eyes widened in terror. "Poison? No, please dont come near me!" Zhang Yi, losing patience, replied, "You dont have a choice now. Whether you want it or not, youre getting the injection." With that, he pinned Xu Hao against the wall, pulled down his pants, and slowly injected the needle into his buttock. Xu Hao felt humiliated and began to cry. Zhang Yi quickly finished, put away the syringe, and smiled, "From now on, youre one of mine." Xu Hao, shaking, pulled up his pants, but suddenly felt dizzy and collapsed to the floor. "Ugh... ugh..." he dry-heaved, feeling extremely unwell. His head spun, and he had difficulty breathing. This convinced Xu Hao that he had been poisoned. Zhang Yi spoke calmly, "No need to panic. This is a slow-acting poison. I did this so we dont have to doubt each other." "If you betray me, youll die too. And once I get the shelter, theres no reason for me to kill you. In fact, Ill provide you with ample food and a comfortable living environment." After dry-heaving for a while, Xu Hao realized he had gained Zhang Yi''s trust, even though he felt resentful. "I understand. Ill contact Wang Siming as soon as I get back. Lets move quickly." Zhang Yi nodded. "Good. Go back now. Ill give you further instructions soon." Xu Hao, breathing heavily, struggled down the stairs. Zhang Yi watched him go, feeling slightly relieved. Agreeing to work with Xu Hao and investigate the billion-dollar shelter was a significant challenge. In truth, the so-called poison didnt exist. Zhang Yi had used methylene blue injection, a treatment for methemoglobinemia. If injected too quickly, it caused dizziness, dry heaving, and chest tightness, mimicking poisoning symptoms. This ensured Xu Hao wouldn''t deceive him and prevented any future betrayal. "First, I need to clear out the remaining problems in the community. Then, Ill check out the shelter," Zhang Yi planned. Returning home, Zhang Yi checked the surveillance footage of the sickroom. Uncle You was awake, and Xie Limei sat beside him, whispering. Zhang Yi couldnt hear but guessed it wasnt anything good. He smiled and walked over to open the door. Hearing the door, Xie Limei immediately stopped talking and pretended to comfort her child. Ignoring her, Zhang Yi approached Uncle You with a smile. "Uncle You, youre awake! You scared me. Im glad youre okay." Uncle You, looking weak, managed a smile. "Thanks to the doctor here, I wouldve died without them." "I heard you dealt with Huang Tianfang and the others? Well done!" Zhang Yi laughed, "They were nothing. Not worth mentioning." He opened his jacket to reveal his bulletproof vest. "I was wearing this. They thought their gun was some secret weapon, but it was useless against me." Uncle You, eyes wide in surprise, looked embarrassed. He had risked his life to protect Zhang Yi, not knowing Zhang Yi had been wearing a bulletproof vest all along. Zhang Yi said, "I should have told you earlier. Who knew they would suddenly attack?" "Luckily, youre okay. Otherwise, Id feel guilty." Uncle You, still embarrassed, said, "I didnt do much. You saved me." Zhang Yi waved his hand, "No need for formalities. Your intention was enough for me." In a few words, Zhang Yi made it clear that he didnt owe Uncle You much, just acknowledging his good intentions. This clarified their relationship, preventing future complications. Chapter 142: Surgery Chapter 142: SurgeryZhang Yi comforted Uncle You for a while. At this moment, Uncle You held a different significance for Zhang Yi. Uncle You''s body had mutated, and although the specific abilities were still unknown, based on Zhou Ke''er''s description and current observations, it seemed to enhance his physical abilities. This was crucial for Zhang Yi! What he needed was someone reliablewell, it might sound harsha strong laborer and a meat shield. "Take your time recovering; you don''t need to worry about other things right now," Zhang Yi comforted. Uncle You, sounding weak, said, "No, I feel like I have no strength at all right now. I can''t even lift my arms. If this continues, I don''t know how long I''ll be a burden to you." Zhang Yi knew it was the muscle relaxants taking effect. "Don''t worry, just focus on getting better. I''ll handle everything else!" Uncle You looked gratefully at Zhang Yi and nodded. Overhearing this, Xie Limei quickly chimed in, "Zhang Yi, youre so good to my husband. Our family doesnt know how to thank you! From now on, we will rely on you!" Uncle You blushed and weakly said, "Amei, we can''t always trouble him. Once I''m better, I''ll take care of you." Xie Limei placed her hand on his shoulder and, sounding aggrieved, said, "It takes a hundred days to heal from bone injuries, and you were shot! Who knows how long it will take for you to recover? Even when you do, your body wont be the same. What can you do?" "Zhang Yi is so capable. If he wants to take care of us, why would you refuse? It would just waste his goodwill." Uncle You''s face turned red. Being naturally inarticulate, he didn''t know how to refute Xie Limei''s words. S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled slightly and said, "Sister Xie is right. I will take care of your family." Xie Limei''s eyes lit up, and she excitedly said, "Zhang Yi, you promised! You can''t go back on your word!" Zhang Yi smiled and nodded. "Of course, I never go back on my word." Uncle You, feeling extremely embarrassed, stammered, "Zhang Yi, I... I..." Zhang Yi stopped him. "Just focus on recovering!" With that, Zhang Yi stood up to leave. As he reached the door, he mentally counted down: 3, 2... Before he reached 1, Xie Limei''s voice called out, "Zhang Yi, wait a moment. I need to talk to you!" Zhang Yi curled her lips slightly. Xie Limei had been confined in this room for a day. Although he provided food and hot water, people always wanted more, and she would undoubtedly have more requests. When she came, she hadnt brought any personal belongings for herself or the baby. Turning around with a smile, Zhang Yi asked, "Sister Xie, what do you need?" Xie Limei said, "Zhang Yi, we''ve been here all day. My phones out of battery, and the baby needs a diaper change. Could you get some things for us?" Zhang Yi smiled wryly. "Sister Xie, I''ve been busy all day and am really tired. You know, my days are filled with fighting and killing, which is physically and mentally exhausting." "Besides, I''m not familiar with your place or Uncle You''s. I dont know where anything is. Why dont you go get it yourself?" Xie Limei hesitated, glancing at the bedridden Uncle You for reassurance. Pretending to joke, she said, "Just make sure you let me back in when I return!" Zhang Yi laughed, "Come on, do you think Id do that? Uncle You is still here. If I didnt let you back in, what would that make me?" Xie Limei slyly smiled, suddenly placing the baby in Zhang Yi''s arms. "Alright, you take care of the baby for a bit. I''ll be back soon!" She thought Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er couldnt handle a baby, so by leaving the child, Zhang Yi would have to let her back in. Zhang Yi saw through her little scheme and laughed internally. You think I can''t abandon this child? Outwardly, he smiled and said, "No problem. But make sure to come back quickly. Im not good with kids." Xie Limei beamed, "Don''t worry; I won''t stay out long. It''s such a nice place; I wouldn''t want to leave!" She glanced around the comfortable apartment, satisfaction evident in her eyes, as if she were inspecting her new home. Zhang Yi opened the door, letting her out. After closing the door, Zhang Yi looked down at the swaddled baby. The child had fair, tender skin, cool to the touch, like a piece of delicate jelly. Zhang Yi felt a rare pang of tenderness. He touched the babys cheek, feeling the cool, soft skin. Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "I''ll find someone to take care of you later." He then took out his phone and messaged Xu Hao. With the baby in his arms, he returned to Uncle You''s room to chat. ... Leaving Zhang Yi''s apartment, Xie Limei was hit by a bone-chilling cold. She shivered, quickly putting on her hat and shoving her hands into her pockets. "So cold! It''s freezing out here!" She glanced back at Zhang Yis sturdy door, her eyes filled with jealousy and longing. "Its so warm inside. Compared to this, outside is like an ice hell!" she thought. "For my baby to grow up healthy, we must live here. We cant leave!" Imagining her child''s future in that warm apartment, Xie Limei smiled contentedly. However, the biting cold soon snapped her back to reality. Hugging herself, she hurried downstairs. When she reached Uncle You''s apartment and took out the key, a shadow appeared behind her. Xu Hao raised a blood-stained kitchen knife and swung it at her neck. "Thud!" Blood sprayed like a fountain. Xie Limei collapsed to the ground, her eyes wide with fear and reluctance. Xu Hao delivered a few more blows to ensure she was dead. Satisfied, he quickly left the scene. Back at Zhang Yi''s place, he held the baby and chatted with Uncle You. "I''ve decided. Let Sister Xie and the baby stay here. Once you''re fully recovered and the baby grows up, they can move back." Uncle You nodded, touched by Zhang Yis kindness, unaware of the sinister plot unfolding outside. Chapter 143: Making an End Chapter 143: Making an EndUncle You was deeply moved by Zhang Yi''s words, unsure how to express his gratitude. "This... this is too much trouble for you. Your resources are limited! Adding three more people means wed need more than double the coal just for heating." "I''ll move out once I''m healed. I have arms and legs; I can''t just let you support us." Zhang Yi smiled and replied, "Let''s not talk about that now. Just focus on your recovery. We''ll discuss the future when the time comes." Just then, the baby in Zhang Yi''s arms suddenly started crying loudly. Zhang Yi had no experience with babies. The way he was holding the child was incorrect, which quickly woke the baby up and made her cry nonstop. Zhang Yi tried to soothe the baby, but no matter what he did, she wouldnt stop crying. The noise was giving him a headache. Even though he had faced dozens of killers, he had never felt such a headache. Uncle You, equally helpless, said, "It''s always been Xie Limei who took care of the baby at home." With no other option, Zhang Yi went to ask Zhou Ke''er for help. "Can you think of a way to calm this baby down?" Zhang Yi asked, looking desperate. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. However, Zhou Ke''er was just as clueless when she saw the crying baby. "I... I don''t know how to take care of a baby either!" she admitted. Zhang Yi had a sudden idea. "How about giving her a sedative? If that doesn''t work, maybe a bit of a sleeping pill?" Zhou Ke''er looked at him in disbelief. "Giving a baby sleeping pills would be very harmful to her body. That''s not a good idea. Where is her mother?" Zhang Yi replied coldly, "She went back to get some things." With no other choice, Zhou Ke''er took the baby from Zhang Yi. Both of them were inexperienced in handling babies, and Zhou Ke''er couldnt calm her down either. Suddenly, Zhang Yi had a thought. "Could it be that she needs a diaper change?" Zhou Ke''er realized the same thing. She opened the swaddling clothes and found that the babys diaper was indeed full. Zhang Yi coughed and stepped back a few paces. He took out a bag of diapers from his alternate space and placed it on the ground. "It''s all yours," he said, stepping further back. Zhou Ke''er rolled her eyes but had no choice. She spent a good amount of time changing the babys diaper, and the crying finally subsided. Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er then went to Uncle Yous room to keep him company and have Zhou Ke''er check on his condition. Zhang Yi asked, "Uncle You, have you noticed any changes in your body? Anything unusual?" Uncle You weakly shook his head. "I feel completely drained. The only thing I notice is that my wound itches." Zhou Ke''er reassured him, "That means your wound is healing. It''s a normal phenomenon." Zhang Yi learned that Uncle You''s mutation didnt grant him immunity to drugs. This was valuable information. They chatted for another half hour, but Xie Limei still hadnt returned. Uncle You began to worry. "Why isn''t she back yet?" Zhang Yi''s pupils narrowed as he replied, "Could she have encountered danger?" He quickly stood up, looking concerned. "The situation outside is chaotic. People are still fighting between buildings. Even Jiang Lei and Li Chengbin attacked me yesterday." "We can''t guarantee there are no traitors among the remaining people." "This is bad. Sister Xie might be in danger!" Zhang Yi looked tense. Uncle You, equally worried, said, "Zhang Yi, please go check on her! Make sure shes safe." Zhang Yi nodded. "Ke''er, take care of Uncle You and the baby. Ill go check!" After saying that, he quickly left the room. Zhang Yi returned to his apartment and began gearing up. A bulletproof vest, bulletproof pants, tactical belt, pistol, and knife. An M4 slung over his shoulder, and a bulletproof helmet clicked into place. Fully prepared, Zhang Yi took out his phone and sent a message to the communitys group chat. "Everyone, gather in room 1301 on the 13th floor. I will distribute supplies and decide the allocation of units in the Yue Lu community." "You can choose any unit. First come, first served." After sending the message, Zhang Yi specifically messaged Xu Hao: "Stay put at home." Then he put his phone away and walked out the door. Zhang Yi''s pace was slow, but he could hear the rush of footsteps echoing in the stairwell. The neighbors, knowing that Zhang Yi was going to distribute supplies and allocate units, were thrilled. They scrambled to the 13th floor, eager to claim the best units. Zhang Yi, with an assault rifle in hand, walked down the stairs at a leisurely pace. It took him five minutes to descend the stairs from the 11th floor. When he reached the 13th floor, he heard excited chatter from room 1301. The neighbors were ecstatic, imagining a future filled with peace and prosperity. "With the other buildings subdued, our community will be ours to rule!" "Haha, Zhang Yi is generous, letting each of us manage a building. Imagine having the other units as our servants!" "The main concern is the supply of resources. Zhang Yi needs to keep providing food or share the snowmobile with us." "I think hell agree. The community is stable now; he wont want to disrupt the peace." "We can support Zhang Yi as the community leader, and in return, he provides food and safety. Its fair." "In return, we can offer labor and help defend the community from outsiders." They didnt know Zhang Yi was outside the door, listening to their fantasies. He smiled coldly, hearing their naive plans. With a mocking grin, Zhang Yi pulled out two grenades from his alternate space. He also grabbed a riot shield, positioning it in front of him. Prepared, Zhang Yi pulled the pins from the grenades and rolled them into the room. He quickly raised the riot shield and stepped back. Inside, one of the neighbors noticed the rolling objects. "Huh, whats this?" He bent down to take a closer look. When he recognized the grenades, it was too late. A burst of fire swallowed him instantly. "Boom!!!!!!!" The explosion blew apart the dozen people inside, shaking the entire building. Chapter 144: Not a Single One Left Chapter 144: Not a Single One LeftZhang Yi leaned against the corner of the hallway, using the riot shield to protect himself. The explosion was louder than he had anticipated, causing his eardrums to ache. However, the blast''s power didnt reach him; only some dust fell from the walls. Zhang Yi let out a long breath. Holding the riot shield firmly, he gripped his loaded assault rifle and slowly walked to the door of Room 1301. Seeing the scene inside, Zhang Yi''s body relaxed. The grenades had worked excellently. The room was a mess, with bodies scattered everywhere. The furniture had been knocked over, crushing some of the people underneath, leaving only parts of their bodies visible. In a corner of the room, a man covered in blood struggled to get up but failed. He glared at Zhang Yi with intense hatred. "We helped you so much... Why did you kill us?!" As he spoke, blood filled his mouth, but he continued to roar in anger. He felt betrayed, believing they had helped Zhang Yi for so long, only to be discarded like used tools. "You helped me? I don''t think so," Zhang Yi replied coldly. He raised his gun, aimed at the man''s head, and ended his life with a single shot. Pathetic neighbors. They still thought they had helped Zhang Yi until the end. Without Zhang Yis protection, they would have died long ago. Allowing them to live until now was Zhang Yis greatest kindness to them. Zhang Yi then aimed his gun at each person or corpse on the ground, shooting them all in the head. Sure enough, one of them couldnt keep pretending and got up, screaming and trying to fight Zhang Yi. But he was met with a cold, merciless bullet. "Bang!" ... "Bang!" ... "Bang!" ... Each bullet fired from the carbine took a life, the sound slow but powerful. s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Every shot from Zhang Yi hit its mark; he never wasted a bullet. Ammunition was incredibly precious in the apocalypse. After five minutes, Zhang Yi had shot every person. During that time, some cursed, some begged, and others screamed in despair. But Zhang Yi was fair, treating each one equally with a single bullet. "One, two, three, four... fifteen, sixteen... hmm?" Zhang Yi frowned slightly and counted again. "The number doesnt seem right." He had previously counted. Excluding himself and Uncle Yous families, there were 18 survivors in the unit. Subtracting Xu Hao, there should be 17 left. But no matter how he counted, there were only 16 bodies. "Indeed, theres a clever one who realized I intended to kill them, so they didnt come." Zhang Yi smiled faintly, then thoughtfully stroked his chin. "It seems... it was that guy, right?" Zhang Yi recalled the person, a real estate agent. "Damn, why struggle so hard? It''s not like you can survive!" Zhang Yi sighed, then raised his gun. He started searching floor by floor. Zhang Yi knew where the person lived, so the search area was greatly reduced. An hour later, Zhang Yi found him hiding in a kitchen cabinet. "You think youre smart?" Zhang Yi mocked. Under the man''s despairing gaze, Zhang Yi gave him a taste of brain surgery with a bullet. With that, the entire Building 25 had only five survivors left. The culprits who had invaded Zhang Yis home and tried to eat him alive were all dead. Although Xu Hao was an outsider, he had suffered a worse fate in the previous life. As a high-profile wealthy heir, he had drawn attention by buying supplies in the group, making his family one of the first to be attacked and overrun. Zhang Yis revenge journey had finally come to an end. With no more obstacles in his heart, Zhang Yi felt the world become clearer, even his breathing smoother. "Feels great!" Zhang Yi exhaled contentedly. From now on, there would be no one in the Yue Lu community who could threaten him. In the days to come, he would enjoy a peaceful life. Of course, this depended on him and Xu Hao successfully taking over Wang Siming''s doomsday shelter, said to be capable of withstanding H-bombs. Then he would leave this place, completely disappearing from everyones view. Zhang Yi sheathed his assault rifle and returned home. He approached Uncle Yous sickroom, putting on a sorrowful expression. "Uncle You, I have some bad news. Sister Xie... sigh!" Zhang Yi clenched his fist and sighed deeply. Uncle You, realizing something was wrong, asked in disbelief, "What happened to Xie Limei?" Zhang Yi explained, "The neighbors have been dissatisfied with us for a long time. They secretly colluded with people from other buildings, planning to kill us and take our supplies and my home." "Although I killed Jiang Lei and Li Chengbin, there were still traitors among the remaining people." "Fearing my retaliation, they acted first, killing Sister Xie... sigh!" Zhang Yi''s face was full of grief, his expression one of profound sorrow. Uncle You closed his eyes in pain and slammed his fist onto the bed. "Bang!" The steel-framed bed''s corner collapsed from the impact. Zhang Yi''s eyes gleamed. It seemed he was right; Uncle Yous mutation was strength-based. This was perfect, complementing Zhang Yis abilities well. With Uncle You handling heavy labor, there would be no shortage of manpower for physically demanding tasks. "Uncle You, dont worry! I made sure they didnt get away. I killed them all, avenging Sister Xie!" Uncle You slowly opened his tear-filled eyes. He was a sentimental man. Although he initially stayed with Xie Limei for her body, they had grown attached over time, making it impossible for him not to feel heartbroken. "Those people deserved to die. I knew they were unreliable. Despite all our efforts for this building, they neither appreciated us nor even resented us!" "They deserved to die!" Uncle You said angrily. He had no doubts about Zhang Yis words. Firstly, over the past month, he had witnessed the neighbors ingratitude firsthand. He had also seen Jiang Lei and Li Chengbins attack on Zhang Yi. Thus, Zhang Yis claim that the neighbors had conspired with outsiders to kill them made sense. Secondly, and most importantly, Zhang Yi had been with him in the sickroom for a long time after Xie Limei left, making it impossible for Zhang Yi to have been the one who killed her. Zhang Yi approached, speaking sincerely, "Uncle You, I bear responsibility for this, too. I didnt expect them to be so ruthless! Dont worry, Ill find you a young and beautiful wife with great skills!" Uncle You was silent for a moment. He then slowly said, "I prefer mature and voluptuous women." Chapter 145: Entrusting the Orphan Chapter 145: Entrusting the OrphanUncle You seemed to understand things clearly. Those who have experienced the apocalypse tend to see life and death with more clarity, having been through so many separations and losses. Moreover, he and Xie Limei were a couple who got together late in life and didn''t have a deep emotional foundation. Her death didn''t plunge him into unbearable grief. Seeing Uncle Yous reaction, Zhang Yi smiled in relief. "No problem, Ill make sure to find someone wholl satisfy you!" As they spoke, Zhou Ke''er came over, holding the crying baby, looking lost and helpless. "Zhang Yi, Uncle You, she''s crying again. What should I do?" Zhang Yi and Uncle You exchanged glances, both equally clueless. They were an old bachelor and an experienced driver, neither with any experience in taking care of a baby. "Maybe... she''s hungry?" Zhang Yi suggested, glancing at Zhou Ke''er, his gaze lingering on her well-endowed chest. Her face turned red with embarrassment. "What are you thinking? I havent had a child, so I dont have milk for her!" she said, a bit flustered. Zhang Yi said, "We really arent equipped to take care of this child. We need to find someone experienced." He looked at Uncle You. "Uncle You, should we send this child to someone else?" When Xie Limei was alive, Uncle You could take care of the baby for her sake. But with Xie Limei gone, expecting Uncle You to take care of the baby was unreasonable. Uncle You wasn''t foolish; he wouldn''t do such a thankless task. However, as he looked at the baby wrapped in the swaddling clothes, he hesitated, feeling a bit conflicted. "But if we send the child away, will she survive?" Zhang Yi nodded affirmatively. "Dont worry. After this battle, the community is unlikely to face large-scale conflicts again. Ill find a reliable family to take her in and provide some essential supplies. Shell be fine!" S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Uncle You felt relieved by Zhang Yis assurance and nodded. "Yes, that seems to be the best solution." Seeing Uncle You agree, Zhang Yi went over to Zhou Ke''er and took the baby from her. The baby seemed to understand what was about to happen and started crying even louder. "I''ll find a good family for you," Zhang Yi said coldly, looking at her pink little face. "Sorry, though youre innocent, I can''t carry this burden. Too many innocent people have died in this world; blame it on the world." Zhang Yi knew that sending the child away meant she had less than a 1% chance of survival. Both he and Uncle You understood this. Sometimes, pretending ignorance was the only way to cope. Avoiding the truth might be cowardly, but it was practical. Zhang Yi couldnt bear to harm the child, but he couldnt take care of her either. Leaving her with someone else was the only option. Her fate would be left to the heavens. Zhang Yi found a backpack and packed two packs of diapers, two bags of formula, and a ten-pound bag of rice in it. Carrying the backpack and holding the crying child, he left the house with his gun in hand. Building 25 was now eerily quiet. The neighbors were all dead, and the world seemed to have become peaceful. Zhang Yi walked down the stairs and headed towards Building 18. The entire community was silent. Zhang Yi had killed most of the people in a single battle, especially all the combatants. The remaining residents were not a significant threat, at least not to Zhang Yi. Some people peeked through their windows, eyes filled with fear as they watched Zhang Yi. "Is Zhang Yi coming to kill us?" they whispered in terror. Zhang Yi walked steadily towards Building 18, a place known for its slogan of harmonious living. The residents of Building 18 were scared to death. The building still housed over sixty people, with deaths mainly due to freezing or complications. Li Jian has managed to maintain his ideals as an idealist until now, which is why Zhang Yi hasn''t attacked Building 18. Zhang Yi stood at the entrance of Building 18 and fired two shots into the air. "Li Jian, come out!!" Soon, Li Jian appeared before Zhang Yi, his short, frail body looking even more exhausted. Dark circles under his eyes and a sallow complexion made him look like he could collapse at any moment. "Zhang Yi, I''m here," Li Jian said, summoning the courage to stand before him. Zhang Yi observed Li Jian, noting that the man wasnt trembling. Understandable, given all he had been through, Li Jian was likely numb to the prospect of death. "Arent you afraid of me?" Zhang Yi asked with a smile. Li Jian swallowed hard. "I am. But fear is useless. And I think you didn''t come here to kill us today." He pointed to the swaddled baby in Zhang Yis arms, from which crying could still be heard. "You came alone, holding a child. Knowing your character, you wouldn''t come to kill with a child in your arms." Zhang Yi nodded. "You''re right. I always knew you were a smart man. I came to bring you a child. Your building has the most survivors. Are there any nursing mothers among you?" Li Jian''s eyes lit up with excitement. He saw a chance for survival in Zhang Yis words. "Yes, yes, we have! Are you looking for a wet nurse for the baby?" Li Jian nodded quickly, eagerly affirming. Zhang Yi nodded. "Good! This child is now yours to care for. In return, I won''t kill any of you." He handed the child to Li Jian. Overwhelmed, Li Jian took the baby, looking at her with deep gratitude. The child had just saved the lives of everyone in his building. Zhang Yi dropped the backpack on the ground. "This contains diapers, formula, and a bag of rice." "I know you might not use the formula for the baby, but just make sure she stays alive. If you cant manage, I wont blame you. But dont deliberately harm her. Baby meat is tender and fatty; keep an eye on your people." "Since Im entrusting her to you, I expect you to show some respect." Li Jian nodded quickly, glancing at the heavy backpack and listening to Zhang Yis blatant threat. "Rest assured, we will take good care of this child! Shell be fine." Zhang Yi nodded, satisfied, and turned to leave. Chapter 146: Hope Chapter 146: HopeLi Jian turned back and called out loudly into the building, Liu Mei, Liu Mei! Come down quickly! Soon, a long-haired woman ran over. Li Jian solemnly handed the baby to her and said, From now on, this child is in your care. Treat her as if she were your own daughter who passed away. She mustn''t suffer any harm. She is our lifeline, understand? The woman named Liu Mei, who had recently lost her daughter, looked at the baby girl with intense emotions. She hugged the baby tightly, unwilling to let go. Zhang Yi smiled casually, Looks like I can be at ease, right? Li Jian nodded repeatedly. Yes, you can be completely assured! Zhang Yi said nothing further. He felt he had done his part for the baby; her fate was no longer his concern. He glanced at the emaciated Li Jian and then looked up at Building 18. Suddenly, he asked, How many people are still alive in this building? Li Jian cautiously replied, There are 66 people left. 66? Zhang Yi laughed happily. That number is quite lucky. It looks like Ill have good luck soon! Li Jian forced a smile in response. Zhang Yi continued, Whats your plan for survival? I wont be providing you with any food, you know! Li Jian hesitated for a moment before saying, Well find a way! Weve survived this long, facing many hardships. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. As long as were alive, theres hope. Heaven never seals off all exits, I firmly believe that! Zhang Yi smirked and leaned in closer to Li Jian, speaking temptingly, Solving the food problem is simple. See those buildings I burned down? Theres enough food in there to last you a while! Li Jians face turned ashen. He shook his head firmly, No, we wont stoop to that level. Once you start down the wrong path, destruction is inevitable. Id rather die with dignity than live dishonorably. At least our conscience will be clear. Zhang Yi was genuinely surprised. He hadnt expected to find someone with such unyielding principles in these desperate times. Its rare to see someone maintaining their integrity in these conditions, he thought, genuinely impressed. He smiled slightly at Li Jian, Honestly, I admire you. Li Jian struggled to smile, Thank you, but I admire you more. You have the ability to survive and thrive, even in the apocalypse. Thats something I cant do. Gathering his courage, Li Jian tried one last time, Zhang Yi, I have a request... Stop! Zhang Yi raised his hand to cut him off. I know what youre going to say, but theres no need. I wont help you. I dont have the time. Li Jian, puzzled, asked, Why not? You provided 300 portions of food before. Now the whole communitys population is about that number. With your ability, managing the community and leading everyone to survive is possible! Zhang Yi chuckled. All beings suffer. Im not a Buddha who can save everyone. Even if I did save them, they might not be grateful. I understand the principle of a bushel of rice gives thanks, but a peck of rice breeds resentment. In these chaotic times, taking care of oneself is already a great feat. I dont have the ambition or the capacity to care for everyone. I just want to live well. Li Jians last hope crumbled, his face showing his despair. Despite his optimistic words about finding hope, he knew their chances of survival were slim. Zhang Yi looked at him and suddenly said, In life, you have to rely on yourself. Youve somewhat touched me, proving that humanity still has some light even in the apocalypse. So, Ill give you a chance. Zhang Yi theatrically reached into his pocket and pulled out a bag of corn seeds. He threw it on the ground and continued rummaging, soon pulling out seeds for wheat, rice, soybeans, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. These are your chances. You can try to grow your food. Of course, you can also eat them if you want. Its up to you. This is all I can do for you. Zhang Yi didnt know much about farming, so he provided various seeds and tubers. It was like tossing fish into a pond, hoping for a miracle. If Li Jian and his people survived, it would show that heaven favored those who maintained their integrity. If not, they would perish. Having done his part, Zhang Yi turned and left Building 18 without hesitation. Li Jian stood there, stunned, looking at the seeds and tubers on the ground, feeling overwhelmed. Can these things grow in temperatures of minus 60 to 70 degrees? Suddenly, a white-haired old man hurried out of the hallway. Ignoring the cold, he picked up the seeds and tubers, stuffing them into his clothes to keep them warm. Quick, gather these seeds. If we can grow them, we wont have to worry about food! the old man urged. Li Jians eyes lit up. This was a retired professor who had specialized in crop studies at an agricultural university. Due to his advanced age, he had survived in Building 18. Professor Ge, can you grow these crops? Even in this cold weather? Li Jian asked excitedly. Professor Ge, trembling from the cold, replied, Theres a chance. We must try! Even if hope is slim, if we succeed, we can survive! Li Jian realized the opportunity and quickly helped gather the precious seeds and tubers, stuffing them into their clothes for warmth. ... After completing his task, Zhang Yi returned home, feeling immensely relieved. The grudges and conflicts within the community were finally over. Now, he just needed to complete one more task before he could enjoy a peaceful life with Zhou Ke''er, perhaps having ten children together. As Zhang Yi lay lazily on the sofa, Zhou Ke''er emerged from the room after changing Uncle Yous bandages. Seeing Zhang Yi, she asked, Are you done with everything? Zhang Yi nodded, Yes, Im hungry. Go make us some food. Alright, what do you want for lunch? Zhou Ke''er asked, heading to the kitchen and putting on an apron. Zhang Yi walked into the kitchen, hugging her from behind, and whispered, I want you! She blushed, What are you doing? Uncle You is still next door! Dont worry, the soundproofing is good. He cant hear us. I need to cook. Cant you wait a bit? You cook, Ill handle my own business. No conflicts. ... Chapter 147: Xu Haos True Colors Chapter 147: Xu Hao''s True ColorsThat night, Zhang Yi stayed up very late. With the community''s issues finally resolved, he felt an immense sense of relaxation. He had been holding back, but this time he indulged without reservation. Zhou Ke''er, having accumulated her own desires, also released everything that night. However, there was still a disparity between them. Zhang Yis stamina and energy were robust, and he was still full of vigor the next morning. Zhou Ke''er, on the other hand, was exhausted and could barely get out of bed to make breakfast. Zhang Yi, in a good mood, took some food from his alternate space and ate. Next, he had to see how Xu Haos contact efforts had gone. Once he received word from Xu Hao and felt confident about their chances, he would go check out the situation with him. Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry, but Xu Hao was very anxious. After being injected with what he believed to be poison, Xu Hao hadnt slept well all night, convinced he was on the verge of death. In the morning, Xu Hao messaged Zhang Yi. "Brother Zhang, Ive already communicated with the other side. When are we going over?" Zhang Yi smiled slightly and quickly typed back, "Come over to my place; let''s discuss this in detail." Soon, Xu Hao arrived at Zhang Yis door. When Zhang Yi opened the door and let him in, Xu Hao''s expression mirrored the shock and delight previously seen on Zhou Ke''er and Xie Limei. He looked around, his face lighting up with a foolish smile, as if a beggar had entered a paradise filled with gold and jewels. "It''s so warm here; is this heaven?" Xu Hao said foolishly. Zhang Yi rolled his eyes. "This is my home." Xu Hao snapped out of it, immediately feeling unbearably hot. Wrapped in six or seven layers of clothing, the 26-degree temperature inside made him feel like he was in an oven. He quickly stripped off several layers of down and cotton clothes, then approached Zhang Yi somewhat awkwardly. "Brother Zhang, Ive talked with Wang Siming. Ill pretend to cooperate with him and then bring you over. When he opens the door, well take the opportunity to take him down!" Xu Hao said eagerly. Zhang Yi, sitting on the sofa with his legs crossed, pointed to the sofa opposite and said, "Sit! No rush, let''s talk this through." Xu Hao looked at the high-end, pristine white sofa but didnt dare sit on it, fearing hed dirty it after not having bathed for a month. Instead, he sat on the carpet, still feeling immensely satisfied. "An entire month, a whole month! I finally feel warmth again!" Xu Hao thought, filled with gratitude. From his seated position, Zhang Yi looked down at Xu Hao. The once arrogant wealthy heir, now resembled a humbled stray dog. No, he was indeed a stray dog. Xu Hao looked up at Zhang Yi, trying to curry favor. "Brother Zhang, let me tell you how the conversation went," Xu Hao began. Zhang Yi smiled slightly and extended his hand. "No need for that trouble; Ill see for myself." Xu Haos face froze. "Wh-what? See for yourself?" "Give me your phone. I want to read the chat history between you two!" Zhang Yis smile was bright, but to Xu Hao, it looked terrifying. There were things in his conversation with Wang Siming that he couldnt let Zhang Yi see. Just as he had disparaged Wang Siming in front of Zhang Yi, he couldnt let Wang Siming know either. "Hurry up and give me the phone. Youre not hiding anything from me, are you?" Zhang Yis narrowed eyes revealed a slit of murderous intent. "No, I... I..." Xu Haos forehead started to sweat, his eyes darting, his right hand instinctively covering his pocket. Zhang Yi, losing patience, pulled out a black handgun and pointed it at Xu Hao''s head. "Cant you behave when I talk nicely?" Xu Hao quickly pleaded, "Brother Zhang, don''t shoot! I did say some bad things about you to him, but it was only to mislead him. I didnt mean any of it!" Zhang Yi, growing impatient, barked, "Give it to me now!" Terrified, Xu Hao shakily handed over his phone, unlocking it first. "The battery... its dead," Xu Hao whispered, trying one last time to resist. Zhang Yi took the phone and saw that the battery was indeed almost dead. Given the limited daily power supply for ordinary residents, it wasnt surprising. Xu Hao and Wang Siming must have talked for a long time. Zhang Yi grabbed a power bank from under the coffee table and plugged it in. S~?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xu Haos face turned deathly pale, his body deflating like a punctured balloon. Zhang Yi flipped through the chat history with Wang Siming, scrolling back. "Oh, youve been in contact for half a month already?" Zhang Yi noted with a smile. Xu Hao stayed silent, unable to utter a word. Zhang Yi scrolled further, his lips curling into a disdainful smile. No wonder Xu Hao hadnt wanted him to see the chat history. The content was quite rich. Initially, Xu Hao had planned to have Wang Siming deal with Zhang Yi and then take over Zhang Yis safe house and supplies. At that time, Xu Hao had referred to Zhang Yi as "that damned dog, strutting around just because he has a gun. Why does he get to live in such a nice place?" "Hmph!" Zhang Yis cold laugh made Xu Hao tremble with fear. As Zhang Yi continued reading, he saw how Xu Haos evaluation of him changed over time. When Zhang Yi had subdued the entire building and defeated the Tianhe Gang and Crazy Wolf Gang, Xu Haos comments turned to, "This guy is ruthless, killed dozens of people in one go. Not easy to deal with." After Zhang Yi wiped out nearly all the building leaders and burned down twelve buildings, Xu Hao''s tone shifted again, "Zhang Yi is tough, really capable. Brother Ming, I cant handle him alone, but the two of us together can definitely take him down." Xu Hao had used numerous insulting terms to describe Zhang Yi in the early conversations, filled with disdain. He had indeed planned to lure Zhang Yi to Wang Simings place, hoping Wang Simings trap would eliminate him. Zhang Yi, sneering, shook the phone in front of Xu Hao. "How do you explain this?" Xu Hao swallowed hard, hastily explaining, "Brother Zhang, let me explain! I said those things to mislead him, to make him think I was on his side. Only by doing that could I deceive him!" Raising his right hand to the light, Xu Hao swore, "If I have any ill intentions towards Brother Zhang, let me die a horrible death!" Zhang Yi scoffed, "Swearing doesnt mean anything now. Be practical." Chapter 148: The Fake Surrender Plan Chapter 148: The Fake Surrender PlanAfter reading through Xu Hao''s chat history, Zhang Yi felt a sense of calm. There were no surprises; everything Xu Hao said matched what Zhang Yi had anticipated. He never believed that someone like Xu Hao, who was opportunistic and self-serving, would be loyal to anyone but himself. Xu Hao was merely hedging his bets between Zhang Yi and Wang Siming, choosing whichever side benefited him the most. Xu Hao, panicked, knelt before Zhang Yi, trying to justify his actions. "Brother Zhang, you injected me with poison. I can''t harm you. If anything happens to you, Im dead too. Yes, I spoke ill of you before, but I never acted against you. Now, I''m fully on your side!" Zhang Yi remained silent, stroking his chin in thought. From the chat logs, he gathered several important pieces of information. Firstly, Xu Hao had revealed Zhang Yis weaponry to Wang Siming, but only mentioned the handgun. He hadnt disclosed Zhang Yis assault rifles, sniper rifles, or grenades. This suggested that Xu Hao had considered betraying Wang Siming to join Zhang Yi earlier than expected. Secondly, Wang Siming''s primary interest was Zhang Yis vast supplies and the snowmobile. Xu Hao had described Zhang Yi''s safe house as a treasure trove of resources, enough to last a couple of years. This showed Wang Siming''s shelter was indeed running low on supplies, likely because he lost interest and cleared out most of the stored food. After processing all this, Zhang Yi had a basic plan forming in his mind. He threw the phone onto the table and asked Xu Hao, "Tell me more about the specifics of Wang Siming''s shelter, especially the weapons and defense systems. Don''t leave anything out." Relieved by Zhang Yis calm demeanor, Xu Hao detailed everything he knew. "After the shelter was built, Wang Siming invited many people from our circle to visit. Hes always been ostentatious, eager to show off. The shelter has five floorstwo above ground and three below. The ground floors look like a regular villa. The underground floors house a sports arena, waterbed room, entertainment rooms, storage, and a control room." Zhang Yi nodded, urging Xu Hao to continue. "What about the defense systems?" Xu Hao thought for a moment and replied, "The shelter was built to withstand nuclear attacks, using materials similar to those in spacecraft. Its nearly impossible to breach it directly. However, it lacks heavy weaponry due to strict domestic regulations. The strongest firepower inside includes a couple of gold-plated Desert Eagles Wang Siming collected." "But there are gas and flame traps. There are devices that can release tear gas and sleeping gas, and the entrance has a high-temperature flame thrower. During a demonstration, Wang Siming showed us how it could roast a chicken in a second. It can turn the passage into a giant oven, reaching temperatures of 1800 degrees Celsius. Even steel would melt." Zhang Yi listened carefully, not missing a word. He began mentally mapping out the shelters layout and defensive systems. Then, he took a piece of paper and started sketching. Ensuring his safety was paramount. No matter how enticing the shelter was, if the danger exceeded 3%, Zhang Yi would abandon the plan. His current safe house was risk-free and provided a decent quality of life. However, staying there indefinitely wasnt viable, as rumors about his supplies would inevitably spread, attracting trouble. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Now, Wang Simings primary targets are my snowmobile and supplies. If he cant get those, killing me serves no purpose. We have no personal grudge. So, Ill hide the snowmobile when we go. The worst-case scenario is being captured, but he wont kill me outright," Zhang Yi reasoned aloud. Concluding his thoughts, Zhang Yi turned to Xu Hao. "Your plan is to pretend to cooperate with Wang Siming and lure me there. He won''t kill me but will use gas to capture me. Once he opens the door, we can attack him together, right?" Xu Hao nodded eagerly. "Exactly! Once were inside, Ill pretend to capture you, then take the chance to kill him!" A hint of joy flashed in Xu Haos eyes. Zhang Yi realized that Xu Hao didnt know about his gas masks. In Xu Haos mind, he would use Zhang Yi as bait, then kill Wang Siming himself. It was a classic "fake surrender" strategy Chapter 150: The Power of Spatial Ability Chapter 150: The Power of Spatial AbilityThe man was still frightened by Zhang Yi''s words, but he had no way to escape. He had to follow Zhang Yi''s command. So, he waved the fake knife in his hand and rushed at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi''s expression was extremely focused. When the man charged at him, a white light flashed in Zhang Yi''s right eye. After a month of use, opening and closing his spatial ability had become instinctive. In an instant, an invisible and intangible spatial portal appeared in front of Zhang Yi. As the man swung the fake knife towards Zhang Yi''s shoulder, something terrifying happened. His arm vanished into thin air right in front of Zhang Yi, as if it had entered an unseen world. Panicking, the man tried to stop himself. Zhang Yi grabbed his arm and yanked him into the spatial space. Zhang Yi''s perspective switched to inside the spatial space, where he observed the man he had just brought in. The man was completely still, not even his breathing or heartbeat showed any signs of life. Zhang Yi frowned slightly, unsure if the man had died upon entering the space or if his time had stopped and he would revive upon leaving. S?a??h th? N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He quickly released the man from the spatial space. As soon as the man emerged, his face turned pale, and he collapsed, gasping for air. "Oh? It seems this does affect living beings. If they stay too long, they could die!" Zhang Yi nodded, gaining critical information. "What did you feel just now?" Zhang Yi asked. The man, weak and pale, replied, "I felt like I entered a world of white, with mountains of supplies stacked everywhere. It felt like I stayed there for a century; it was terrifying. I might have been hallucinating." Zhang Yi''s pupils shrank. It turned out that while the body remained still in the spatial space, the consciousness continued. This meant the time in the spatial space wasn''t completely static; it was just incredibly slow compared to the outside world. Staying there for too long would be unbearably painful, potentially causing mental collapse and death. "So, if a living being stays too long in the spatial space, they might die from mental breakdown? Interesting!" Zhang Yi gained more insight into his spatial ability. He gestured for the man to stand up, who trembled as he got to his feet. Zhang Yi tried to pull him back into the spatial space, but it felt as difficult as moving a skyscraper. "Does this mean it doesn''t work on large living beings? Or is there another reason?" Zhang Yi frowned, approached the man, and pulled a knife from his leg. Before the man could react, Zhang Yi slashed, severing two of his fingers. "Ah!!" The man fell to the ground, clutching his wound and screaming. Unfazed, Zhang Yi used his spatial ability to collect the severed fingers, which worked without issue this time. "Live bodies don''t work, but severed parts do. Why is that?" Zhang Yi returned the fingers, curious about his spatial ability. However, he had gathered valuable information. Looking at the man groaning on the ground, Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then took out a roast chicken from the spatial space and placed it before him. "Eat this as compensation." He also gave the man a roll of gauze to bandage his wound. Despite the pain, the man eagerly grabbed the hot chicken, his eyes filled with tears. He was too hungry, having even gnawed on his leather sofa at home. Ignoring his pain, he started devouring the chicken. Zhang Yi patiently waited by the fire. Once the man finished eating, Zhang Yi said, "Now let''s continue. This time, throw something at me." Instead of resenting Zhang Yi, the man seemed grateful and eagerly nodded. After bandaging his wound, he continued to assist Zhang Yi in his experiments. A few hours later, Zhang Yi had all the experimental data he needed and a deeper understanding of his spatial ability. First, there were limitations on collecting materials; it couldn''t collect objects with strong external forces and didn''t work on living beings. Second, he could open a portal connecting the real world and the spatial space. While he hadn''t figured out an offensive use, he could transfer physical attacks and redirect them. These insights were a treasure trove for Zhang Yi. "Now I know how to deal with Wang Siming''s sanctuary." His last bit of concern vanished. Looking at the man who helped him, Zhang Yi sincerely said, "Thank you for your help." Before the man could respond, Zhang Yi''s knife swiftly cut his throat. "Spurt!" Blood splattered, and the man fell. Fear flashed in his eyes before giving way to relief. He even died with a smile, glad to escape the cruel world, at least after eating a delicious roast chicken. For the next two days, Zhang Yi brought someone in daily to continue his experiments and practice his new skills, ensuring he could use them seamlessly for his safety in upcoming actions. Each person who assisted him got a full meal before being killed, as Zhang Yi couldn''t risk anyone learning about his abilities. Three days passed quickly. Zhang Yi had mastered his skills and called Xu Hao, "We can go now!" Xu Hao looked much older these days, his face pale, lips purple, and deep dark circles under his eyes, even though he wasn''t actually poisoned. "Brother Zhang, I feel like I''m dying." Zhang Yi chuckled internally. These days, he had provided food for Xu Hao, and logically, Xu Hao had been living easier than before. Pretending to think, Zhang Yi fetched a vial of saline solution and said, "I can give you an injection to temporarily alleviate your symptoms." Xu Hao, seeing hope, quickly bared his arm. "Give me the shot!" Zhang Yi injected the saline and calmly said, "This will ease your symptoms for at most five days, but you''ll still die from the poison. So, you''d better hope this mission succeeds, or neither of us will survive." Feeling the saline''s effect, Xu Hao''s spirits lifted. "Brother Zhang, I won''t gamble with my life. This time, I''m fully committed to following you!" Chapter 151: Cloud Manor Chapter 151: Cloud ManorZhang Yi instructed Xu Hao to contact Wang Siming and prepare for departure. Xu Hao said, "That''s easy. I told him to give me some time to lure you into a trap. So he''s just waiting for my message!" "Its clear that he covets your supplies, especially the snowmobiles and food. If you agree, we can go tomorrow!" Zhang Yi nodded, "Alright, then contact him right now in front of me." Zhang Yi confiscated Xu Hao''s phone to prevent him from doing anything behind his back. Xu Hao obediently communicated with Wang Siming in Zhang Yi''s presence, and they arranged to meet the next day without any issues. "Wait for my signal," Zhang Yi said, taking the phone and heading home to prepare his weapons and gear. When Zhou Ke''er saw him busy again, she asked, "Haven''t you solved all the problems in the community? Where are you going now?" "To a better place. Don''t ask too many questions; you''ll find out when the time comes," Zhang Yi replied calmly. Zhou Ke''er wisely kept silent, knowing better than to pry. Before leaving, Zhang Yi thoughtfully left half a month''s worth of food for Zhou Ke''er and Uncle You. In case something happened to him, the food would keep them alive for two weeks. Zhou Ke''er looked worried. Zhang Yi had never done anything like this before. She suddenly felt scared and hugged him tightly. s?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Zhang Yi, you''re not going to do something dangerous, are you? I''m a bit scared." Her tall, slender figure combined with her soft curves made her embrace particularly enticing, a natural advantage she might not have intended to use as temptation. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and smiled, "What, you want one last time before I go?" Zhou Ke''er''s face turned red, "It''s up to you. This time, I''ll go along with whatever you want. I can just wear a white shirt or an apron." Zhang Yi chuckled, pinching her delicate chin. "Don''t worry, I never do anything I''m not sure of. Im more afraid of dying than anyone else and won''t put myself in danger." "But I always prepare for everything in advance; it''s a personal habit." He pulled her head closer and kissed her deeply, not letting go until she was almost out of breath. A thin thread of saliva broke and hung from her lips as he pulled away. "I have important things to do this afternoon. I''ll deal with you properly when I get back!" Zhou Ke''er lay weakly on the couch, blushing, and nodded shyly, "Okay." Zhang Yi left the house and knocked on Xu Hao''s door. "Xu Hao, open up!" Xu Hao opened the door and was surprised to see Zhang Yi. "Brother Zhang, what do you need?" Zhang Yi, wearing cut-resistant gloves, gestured with his thumb, "Let''s go. We''re leaving now!" Xu Hao''s eyes widened. "Didn''t we agree to go tomorrow?" "Tomorrow?" Zhang Yi scoffed. "The best strategy is deception. If we told him tomorrow, surprising him today will catch him off guard!" Xu Hao thought, Youre too cautious! But he had to admit, "Smart, very smart!" Zhang Yi had another reason for this strategy. People are naturally suspicious, and while Wang Siming might seem carefree as a wealthy heir, he wasn''t a fool. If things went too smoothly, he might grow suspicious. Zhang Yi''s sudden decision would make Wang Siming believe he had truly fallen into the trap. Zhang Yi led Xu Hao downstairs, pretending to fetch the snowmobiles. Xu Hao was about to get on but was stopped by Zhang Yi, who took out a white tie. "Put your hands out," Zhang Yi ordered. These plastic ties were used on construction sites to bind steel pipes, incredibly strong and tightening with any struggle, almost as good as handcuffs. Xu Hao pleaded, "Brother, dont you trust me by now? I''m on your side, and I''m still poisoned!" Zhang Yi said calmly, "No special reason, I just feel more secure this way. And when we get to Wang Siming, he''ll only believe you if you''re bound." Xu Hao was reluctant but knew resisting was pointless, so he obediently stretched out his hands to be tied. After that, Zhang Yi had him sit at the front of the snowmobile while he drove from behind. "Vroom!" The snowmobile roared to life, heading out of the community. The wind and snow whipped Xu Hao''s face like tiny knives, making it painful and hard to keep his eyes open. If not for his thick turtleneck sweater, his face might have frozen. "Brother, this wind hurts! Do you have an extra helmet?" Xu Hao called out. Zhang Yi, wearing a bulletproof helmet, replied coldly, "No. Just bear with it. Besides, looking more miserable makes it more convincing." Xu Hao felt like crying inside. ... An hour later, they arrived near Cloud Manor, the most exclusive villa district in Tianhai City. Seeing the surroundings, Zhang Yi was momentarily stunned by the beauty. The place was exceptionally good, beyond words. While Zhang Yi had seen luxurious villas and skyscrapers, this villa district stood out for its geographical location. Cloud Manor backed onto two mountains and faced the Lu River in Tianhai City. From a distance, it resembled a grand armchair, with Cloud Manor sitting in the middle. The mountains provided a natural barrier, with wind funneled between them towards the river. This perfect feng shui was clearly chosen by an expert. Southern businessmen were particularly obsessed with feng shui, so it was natural for a luxurious villa district to have excellent feng shui. What struck Zhang Yi most was that Cloud Manor''s location created a natural wind shelter. The snow was blown from the mountains to the river, so while other places had snow piled up to over ten meters, here it was only two or three meters. "I used to think the apocalypse was fair to everyone," Zhang Yi mused. "But it seems even the wealthy get extra favor from heaven." Xu Hao flattered, "What good does it do? Compared to you, Brother Zhang, theyre not living the life!" Zhang Yi smiled, "Stop flattering and lead the way!" Xu Hao asked curiously, "Arent we riding in? Its quite a walk otherwise." Zhang Yi said lightly, "I said walk, so walk. No more questions!" Chapter 152: The Foul-Mouthed Man Chapter 152: The Foul-Mouthed ManAfter Xu Hao got off the snowmobile, Zhang Yi stored it in his spatial space. Xu Hao stood by, his eyes wide open. "What... What is this?" Zhang Yi gave him a casual glance. "Never seen it before?" Xu Hao was speechless, thinking, Id be shocked if I had! "So, Brother Zhang, you''re a mutant!" Zhang Yi replied, "I prefer terms like superhuman or empowered individual. ''Mutant'' feels a bit derogatory." Xu Hao, full of curiosity, said, "I''ve learned something new today!" Zhang Yi trudged through the snow, with Xu Hao quickly following, his face full of flattery. "Brother Zhang, I''ll stick with you from now on! You''re like a real brother to me. Look after your little brother!" Zhang Yi replied, "That depends on your performance." Xu Hao nodded vigorously, "Don''t worry, don''t worry. I know Wang Siming very well. This operation will be foolproof!" Zhang Yi sneered, "You''d better be right!" Storing the snowmobile was to prevent Wang Siming from killing him. Although Zhang Yi had mastered new abilities with his spatial space, he avoided unnecessary risks. The two walked into the community. Cloud Manor had over a hundred villas. The blizzard had mostly been blown away, covering only half of the doorways. Additionally, being near the river, the temperature was higher than in the Yue Lu community. As they walked through the snow, they gradually attracted some attention. Zhang Yi clearly noticed figures appearing behind some windows. He asked Xu Hao, "Why do I feel like there are still many survivors here? Do wealthy people normally stockpile food?" Xu Hao was very familiar with this. "Actually, they do. But their stockpiles are different from what regular families store." "For example, my dad once stored over a hundred top-quality Spanish hams in our cold storage!" "And the people living here are all famous tycoons. Almost every villa has a wine cellar and specially supplied food." "Since everyone lives separately, they don''t face the widespread hunger and conflict like in the Yue Lu community. So, they can survive a bit longer." Zhang Yi nodded, "I see." He wasn''t too concerned about this. After all, nobody here knew him, and due to the food shortage, these wealthy people would eventually starve. They walked along the road towards Wang Siming''s villa, which was centrally located and numbered 101. Zhang Yi observed the surroundings as they walked, both to check for dangers and to familiarize himself with the area for future plans. As they passed a villa, they suddenly heard an excited shout. "Hey, are you here to rescue us?" Zhang Yi and Xu Hao turned to see a man bundled up in a black down jacket, energetically waving from an open window. "Who is it?" Zhang Yi glanced at Xu Hao. "Your friend?" Xu Hao was unsure. He had many acquaintances nearby. "I don''t know. But Brother Zhang, let''s ignore him and let him die!" Xu Hao didn''t care. Zhang Yi nodded and was about to continue. Seeing their indifference, the man became anxious. "Damn it, are you deaf? F***, I''m calling you over and you don''t hear me?" The man trudged through the snow, quickly blocking their path. Zhang Yi frowned slightly. Such foul language? Why did it sound familiar? His hand moved to his thigh, tempted to kill the man. However, considering the upcoming mission, he didn''t want to alarm anyone and refrained from acting. S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He just coldly stared at the man, trying to figure out his identity. Xu Hao stepped up, not wanting Zhang Yi to dirty his hands. "Who the f*** are you?" The man pulled down the scarf covering his face, revealing a pale, chubby face. "Don''t you recognize me? I''m Zhang Yuan Zheng, the famous TV host!" Zhang Yi laughed. No wonder the voice sounded familiar. That foul mouth had become his trademark in the entertainment industry. Zhang Yuan Zheng didn''t notice their expressions and started cursing again. "You two are like candles, aren''t you? Why don''t you light up?" "Damn, we''ve been calling for so long, and now you show up to rescue us. What have you been doing with our taxpayer money?" Zhang Yi wanted to slap him but became curious about his mention of calling for help. Could Zhang Yuan Zheng contact the hidden organization in Tianhai City? "What do you mean by that? We..." Zhang Yi started to ask, but Zhang Yuan Zheng interrupted. "I''m telling you, we need to leave here now. The villa is expensive, but were out of food and fuel." "You need to take us to the shelter and arrange separate housing for me and my partner. We can''t live with others." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow at the mention of a "shelter." This was the first hed heard of such a place in Tianhai City. However, it made sense. Every city had plans for emergencies like floods or air raids. The hidden organizations were likely in those shelters. "Do you know where the shelter is?" Zhang Yi asked. Zhang Yuan Zheng widened his eyes, "You''re asking me? How can you ask me? Aren''t you from the shelter to rescue us?" Zhang Yi was getting annoyed by his shrill voice. This man had been rude from the start, always acting superior. Zhang Yi wondered where his confidence came from. "We''re not from there. And stop dreaming. They can''t even take care of themselves, let alone you." "What... what?" Zhang Yuan Zheng held his head in shock. "How is that possible? We pay a lot in taxes. We''re celebrities. Don''t they fear public backlash if they abandon us?" Zhang Yi and Xu Hao looked at him as if he were an idiot. Xu Hao whispered to Zhang Yi, "The villa area has few people, so news doesn''t spread much. He probably doesn''t know the real situation outside." Zhang Yi asked, "Doesn''t he go online?" Since the apocalypse, communications were severely restricted. For Zhang Yi in the Yue Lu community, only local contacts were possible. Distant friends or relatives were unreachable. However, official media still used super servers to broadcast nationwide. Had Zhang Yuan Zheng received no external information? Suddenly, Zhang Yi recalled the official broadcasts filled with empty reassurances. "According to Hopkins University, this snowstorm will last three months, after which global temperatures will rise above freezing." "China has launched comprehensive relief efforts and achieved remarkable results." "In response to public demands, we persistently fight the snowstorm..." "New mechanisms, new directions, new income sources, new advantages, new paths..." "Key, fundamental, crucial, core, guaranteed..." "We''ll fully adapt to the cold, a short-term pain for long-term gain." He realized why Zhang Yuan Zheng was so clueless. Chapter 153: Zhi Yin, You’re So Beautiful Chapter 153: Zhi Yin, Youre So BeautifulLooking at the foul-mouthed Zhang Yuan Zheng in front of him, Zhang Yi found him somewhat pitiable. This man still deluded himself into thinking someone would come to rescue him. He probably believed that the snow disaster would soon end, allowing him to return to his life as a star and continue looking down on ordinary people. It was no wonder that those with higher status and wealth feared the apocalypse the most; they had the most to lose. "Let''s go," Zhang Yi said, not wanting to waste any more time with Zhang Yuan Zheng, and called for Xu Hao to leave. However, Zhang Yuan Zheng wasnt happy about being ignored. "Where did you come from? Do you have food? We''re far from the supermarkets and stores that common folks go to. We used to get our food flown in from abroad, but now it''s too cold for planes to fly. Damn, those useless people took my money and did nothing. When this is over, I''m going to sue them!" He continued in a commanding tone, "You have food, right? Sell me some, I''ll pay ten times the market price!" Zhang Yi sighed. "I have things to do and didnt want to bother with you. But you are really asking for it!" With that, Zhang Yi swung his hand, slapping Zhang Yuan Zheng hard across the face. The force knocked Zhang Yuan Zheng to the ground, blood and teeth flying. Zhang Yuan Zheng held his face in shock, pointing at Zhang Yi with trembling fingers. "You... you dare hit me! Do you know who I am? Im Zhang Yuan Zheng! Youll pay for this!" Zhang Yi, truly angered, rushed forward and kicked Zhang Yuan Zhengs face repeatedly with his heavy snow boots. "You idiot, do you really think youre so important? Trying to act tough with me? I''ll beat you to death!" Xu Hao joined in, kicking Zhang Yuan Zheng several times. Zhang Yuan Zheng, initially defiant, soon started crying and begging for mercy. "Stop, stop it!" A voice called out from the villa, interrupting the beating. Zhang Yi and Xu Hao looked up to see a slender figure emerging from the house, wrapped in layers of clothing. The figure approached, and as they got closer, they removed their hat and scarf, revealing a delicate, pale face. "Is it really him?" Zhang Yi and Xu Hao both exclaimed. The face belonged to none other than Cai Mingyu, a well-known idol who had risen to fame over the past few years. Seeing their surprised expressions, Cai Mingyu smiled confidently. "I see you recognize me. Im the famous idol, Cai Mingyu. This person youre beating is my friend. I hope you can spare him for my sake." Zhang Yuan Zheng, emboldened by Cai Mingyu''s presence, got up and sneered, "Im Mingyu''s close friend! Youll regret this when his fans come after you!" Zhang Yi found their ignorance pitiful. Cai Mingyu frowned and pulled out a lip balm from his pocket. "The air is so dry, my lips are cracking," he said, applying the balm. As he did so, he asked, "Arent you sent by Director Shi to take me away?" Zhang Yi, puzzled, replied, "No, we''re just passing by." Cai Mingyu''s eyes dimmed, looking like a jilted lover. "How could she abandon me like this? She promised to love and care for me forever." Zhang Yi understood the nature of Cai Mingyu''s relationship with Director Shi. "We have things to do, so well be leaving. Goodbye." Cai Mingyu blocked their path, "Wait! You must have food. Please share some with us. I can give you my autograph in exchange." Zhang Yuan Zheng chimed in, "Youre lucky! Mingyus autograph is worth thousands online!" Zhang Yi laughed, "Not interested." If not for his principle of not hitting women, Zhang Yi might have already attacked. Cai Mingyu, biting his lip, seemed to steel himself and said, "Fine, we can take a photo together! How about that?" Zhang Yuan Zheng''s eyes widened, almost in tears. "Mingyu, no! You cant just take photos with anyone. They dont deserve it!" Cai Mingyu, determined, replied, "Dada, we need food. Im willing to make this sacrifice." Zhang Yuan Zheng, wiping his nose, reluctantly agreed, "Fine, I respect your decision!" Turning to Zhang Yi, he said, "You hear that? Mingyu will take a photo with you. This is your lucky day! Just give us some food." The two of them were so absorbed in their self-congratulation that they didnt notice Zhang Yi''s bewildered expression. Shaking his head, Zhang Yi muttered, "I can''t believe people like this exist." Xu Hao laughed, "Brother Zhang, dont think celebrities are any better than regular people. Many of them are worse." S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Ive slept with quite a few ''pure'' idols and pretty boys. Their private lives are a mess!" "Take Cai Mingyu, for example. Hes been kept by a female bigwig in Tianhai. Otherwise, how could he live here?" Ordinarily, Zhang Yi might have enjoyed toying with these clowns, but he had important things to do today. He waved them off, "Move aside. I dont have time for this." Hearing this, Cai Mingyu and Zhang Yuan Zheng''s faces changed, as if they had heard the most unreasonable request. Chapter 154: The Pretty Lady Chapter 154: The Pretty LadyCai Mingyu trembled, pointing at Zhang Yi, "He... he actually refused! Does he know how many people dream of taking a photo with me?" Zhang Yuan Zheng, while comforting Cai Mingyu, angrily yelled, "Who the hell are you two? Do you know where you are and the difference in status between us? You dont appreciate the opportunity before you and deserve to remain lowlifes forever!" He was afraid Zhang Yi and Xu Hao would leave, as their food supplies were running low. So he grabbed Zhang Yi''s sleeve and did not let him go. "Let me tell you, since you''re here, you must give us some food! Otherwise, you won''t leave!" Zhang Yuan Zheng shouted hysterically. Xu Hao sighed, "This guy is finished." Sure enough, Zhang Yi was irritated by Zhang Yuan Zheng''s shrew-like behavior. He didn''t want to cause unnecessary trouble, but some people just loved asking for it. What else could he do? Without a word, Zhang Yi grabbed Zhang Yuan Zheng by the hair and pulled out his gun. As Zhang Yuan Zheng opened his mouth to scream, Zhang Yi shoved the gun into his mouth and aimed at his cheek. "Bang!" A muffled gunshot echoed, and Cai Mingyu froze for a second before screaming in terror. Half of Zhang Yuan Zheng''s face was blown open, teeth shattered, and blood poured out. It was a gruesome sight. "Ugh... ugh ugh ugh..." Zhang Yuan Zheng writhed in pain on the ground. Zhang Yi coldly said, "Why be so foul-mouthed? You brought this on yourself." He glanced at Cai Mingyu, whose face, heavily covered in makeup, turned even paler. Cai Mingyu retreated a few steps, crying, "Don''t shoot! We can talk this out. Just dont kill me. Ill give you whatever you want, even if it''s..." His face showed a shameful expression as he bit his lip, "Even if you want me." Zhang Yi''s face twitched. "Seriously?" Xu Hao laughed, "Thats common in high society. Nothing new." "Too bad Im not interested," Zhang Yi said indifferently. Cai Mingyu shouted, "Whether you like men or women, just say the word, and I can arrange it!" Zhang Yi realized that this idol, when faced with disaster, was more useless than ordinary people. Pointing his gun at Cai Mingyu, Zhang Yi mockingly said, "Sing your hit song. Sing it a hundred times, and Ill let you go." "A hundred times?" Cai Mingyu hesitated but started to sing. "Hey hey hey" Zhang Yi frowned, "What the hell are you singing?" Cai Mingyu looked aggrieved, "That''s my hit song! It even won awards!" Zhang Yi sneered, "Stop playing games. You know which song I mean. Sing it!" Xu Hao added, "And you have to dance and rap, too!" Cai Mingyu''s face darkened with shame as he adjusted his middle part. "Zhi Yin, youre so beautiful..." Zhang Yi nodded in satisfaction, "It''s best when the original performs it. Right?" Xu Hao agreed, "Absolutely. Nobody else can replicate this." Zhang Yi kicked Cai Mingyu, making him turn around. "Dance a hundred times, and you can stop. Otherwise, Ill shoot you!" Cai Mingyu''s body stiffened as he danced more energetically. Zhang Yi and Xu Hao left them behind. The gunshot had alerted many in the neighborhood, including Wang Siming. But it didnt matter. Wang Siming already knew Zhang Yi had a gun, so hiding it was pointless. Instead, showing up openly might make Wang Siming underestimate him. As they walked through the community, more people appeared at their windows, eyeing Zhang Yi and Xu Hao. For some, the sight of armed men was a threat, but for others in despair, it was a glimmer of hope. In Villa 204, a stunningly beautiful woman peered through the window. Wearing a black cashmere robe, her snow-white skin contrasted starkly. Her delicate face, flawlessly maintained with high-end cosmetics, reflected her status. She watched Zhang Yi and Xu Hao pass by, biting her pink lips in indecision. Her villa, equipped with a fireplace, was warmer than outside, but her carbon fuel was almost gone, and her food had run out three days ago. Now, she felt dizzy from hunger, and without food or fuel, she feared she would soon die from starvation or cold. Such deaths were torturous, slow and filled with despair. Despite being neighbors, there was no interaction among the residents. She had tried contacting friends, but they turned her down as soon as she mentioned needing supplies. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The world had become harsh. Seeing these strangers, the woman felt a spark of hope. If they could survive in such harsh conditions, they must have enough food and supplies. "I must try to contact them if I want to survive. No, I must survive!" She looked at herself in the mirror. Her reflection showed a beautiful, captivating woman. As a top celebrity, she had been a national goddess for many men. She believed she could try to persuade them. After all, who could refuse such a stunning star? Chapter 155: Cloud Manor 101 Chapter 155: Cloud Manor 101Zhang Yi remained unaware that he was being targeted. His mind was intensely focused on the impending life-and-death showdown. Before long, they arrived near Cloud Manor 101. From a distance, Zhang Yi could already see it. If Cloud Manor was a luxurious city for the rich, then Cloud Manor 101 was the palace. It was a black luxury villa constructed from unknown materials. Although the exterior paint made it look similar to other villas, the metallic texture was unmistakable. Covered in snow, it looked majestic and luxurious, reminiscent of a Nordic castle in the snow. Though it appeared to be only two stories high, it was nearly twenty meters tall, with steps rising two to three meters above the snow. As soon as Zhang Yi arrived, he opened a portal to his spatial space in front of him. This portal was invisible and intangible, a two-dimensional plane without thickness. Anything attacking Zhang Yi would pass through it into another space. While he hadn''t figured out how to use it offensively, its defensive and counterattack capabilities were maxed out, suiting Zhang Yi''s cautious approach. Although Xu Hao had assured him there were no heavy weapons in the shelter, Zhang Yi chose to trust himself. Zhang Yi pushed Xu Hao forward, making him stumble, then pointed a gun at his head. "This is the shelter you mentioned? Go open the door!" Xu Hao looked up at the black metal door and shouted, "Wait a moment, I''ll open it for you." Inside the villa''s control room, a man in a yellow silk robe watched the surveillance feed intently. This was the famous Chinese tycoon Wang Siming. Seeing Xu Hao give a signal, Wang Siming remained unmoved, not pressing the button to open the door. Though they had agreed to meet tomorrow, Zhang Yi''s arrival today caught him off guard. He hadn''t had time to prepare everything, and he didn''t see the snowmobile he coveted. Despite having food and women in the shelter, Wang Siming, who valued freedom above all, longed to leave and breathe the free air outside. "Wheres the snowmobile?" Wang Siming frowned in dissatisfaction. So he continued to watch silently, not opening the door. S?a?ch* Th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xu Hao pretended to unlock the door with a retinal scanner, which was obviously ineffective. Growing impatient, Zhang Yi aimed the gun at Xu Hao''s head, "You bastard! Trying to trick me? Believe me, Ill shoot you right now!" Panicking, Xu Hao pleaded, "Don''t shoot! I can open it, really! Just let me try again." Trembling, he approached the door, signaling to the camera, "The door can open, it can open! Dont waste our efforts, weve worked too hard to fail now!" In the control room, Wang Siming understood Xu Hao''s message. Xu Hao was indicating that if they didnt capture Zhang Yi this time, he would die, and without Xu Hao, thered be no one to lure Zhang Yi again. Though Wang Siming didnt fully trust Xu Hao, he knew the shelter''s defenses were impregnable from a modern physics standpoint, so he had nothing to fear. "If you try any tricks, Ill roast you alive!" Wang Siming smirked, then pressed the button to open the door. Outside, hearing the mechanical sounds, Zhang Yi grabbed Xu Hao, using him as a shield, and pressed the gun to his head. Though it looked like an act, it wasnt entirely. If anything unexpected happened, he would use Xu Hao as a shield or shoot him without hesitation. In front of Zhang Yi and Xu Hao, a heavy black metal door slowly opened. Three meters high, it had no lock, instead using an interlocking mechanism that left no gaps. The door opened, revealing a sleek, futuristic design. Behind the door was a ten-meter-long corridor, sealed with dark silver metal, lit by dozens of small lights, making it very bright. It was hard to believe this shelter was built ten years ago, as it looked extremely advanced even by today''s standards. Such was the power of money. Xu Hao pointed inside, "Brother Zhang, lets go. Theres another door inside that leads to the shelter." At the end of the corridor was another dark gold metal door, the gold and silver combination looking both luxurious and magical. Zhang Yi pressed the gun against Xu Hao''s head, pushing him forward step by step. He was secretly prepared for any imminent danger. When they reached the middle of the corridor, the door behind them quickly closed. In the control room, Wang Siming held a glass of red wine in one hand and pressed a green button on the control panel with the other. Suddenly, hundreds of small holes appeared in the corridor, spewing white gas that quickly enveloped Zhang Yi and Xu Hao. Wang Siming listened to the sounds coming from the corridor, hearing angry curses. "Xu Hao, you damn dog! How dare you trick me!" "Open the door or Ill kill you!" "Hahaha, Zhang Yi, stop struggling! If you kill me, you''ll die too! Just accept your fate. I dont want your life, just your supplies." "In your dreams! Ill kill you right now!" "Go ahead, shoot! If I die, so do you!" Gunshots echoed in the corridor. Wang Siming swirled his wine, waiting patiently. The shelter used high-strength sedative gas, causing a 24-hour coma with just a bit of inhalation. Even upon waking, one would be weak and powerless. After waiting five minutes for the gas to fill the corridor, ensuring Zhang Yi and Xu Hao had inhaled a large amount, he stopped the gas. "Go tie them up!" Wang Siming smiled confidently, feeling everything was under his control. Little did he know, Zhang Yi wore a gas mask and had used his spatial space to absorb the gas. Zhang Yi only pretended to be unconscious while Xu Hao was genuinely knocked out. Zhang Yi, slightly squinting, positioned himself to face the dark gold metal door. The moment Wang Siming appeared, he would draw his gun and take him down. Chapter 156: The Sleeping Gas Chapter 156: The Sleeping GasLeaning against the wall, Zhang Yi waited quietly for Wang Siming. As he had predicted, Wang Siming didnt go for an immediate kill with high-temperature flamethrowers. After all, killing Zhang Yi outright wouldn''t serve any purpose for him. After a while, the dark gold door slowly opened. Zhang Yi opened his eyes a sliver, his right hand ready to draw his gun. However, upon seeing the face of the person who entered, he paused. It wasnt Wang Siming. Zhang Yi cursed internally. Damn, Xu Hao! He hadnt mentioned that there were other people in the shelter. Under normal circumstances, people wouldnt let anyone but their closest family into their shelter during a crisis. Unless, like Zhang Yi, they had unlimited resources and had chosen highly useful partners like Zhou Ke''er and Uncle You. The person who entered was tall and burly, holding a kukri knife and a bundle of ropes at his waist. Zhang Yi recognized him as Lin Geng, a movie star often seen on TV and a close friend of Wang Siming. Suppressing his urge to attack, Zhang Yi knew he had to be patient. His life wasnt in immediate danger, and he couldnt confirm that there were no other traps in the shelter until he saw Wang Siming himself. Lin Geng poked Zhang Yi with the kukri, causing a sharp pain, though Zhang Yi''s thick clothing dulled it. He gritted his teeth, watching Lin Geng closely. If Lin Geng made any threatening moves, Zhang Yi would retaliate instantly. Fortunately, Lin Geng only tested him briefly, then took Zhang Yis gun and tied him up tightly with the ropes. Xu Hao, already unconscious from the sleeping gas, lay like a dead pig. Lin Geng carried Zhang Yi on his shoulder into the shelter. Zhang Yi squinted, observing the interior. The lives of the wealthy were beyond ordinary imagination. They passed through a circular hall, full of futuristic metallic dcor like a sci-fi spaceship, but more luxurious. Lin Geng threw Zhang Yi onto the floor. "Here he is. This guy was easy to deal with, no trouble at all." Lin Gengs voice carried a tone of contempt. To him, Zhang Yi, bound and sedated, was already defeated. A man in a yellow robe emerged from a nearby door. "Wasnt that expected? I spent ten billion dollars on this shelter. If it couldnt handle one person, my money would have been wasted." Zhang Yi recognized the man and smiled slightly. The main target had arrived. Seeing Zhang Yi tightly bound, Wang Siming relaxed and started chatting with Lin Geng. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi opened his spatial space and released the high-strength sleeping gas he had absorbed earlier. Wang Siming and Lin Geng didnt notice anything unusual, continuing their conversation. "How about we take that snowmobile for a spin? I wonder what the outside world is like." "Sure, we can get some food too." They planned how to use Zhang Yis snowmobile, laughing. Suddenly, Wang Siming saw Lin Geng swaying. "Lin Geng, stop moving!" Lin Geng, confused, replied, "Im not moving. Youre the one swaying. Wait, why do you look like six people?" Realizing something was wrong, they both collapsed. Zhang Yi, free from the ropes, quickly cut his bonds and released himself completely. He confiscated their weapons, including Wang Siming''s two gold Desert Eagles. "Showy but useless," Zhang Yi remarked, finding them less practical than his police pistol. He stored everything dangerous in his spatial space. Next, he used professional-grade rope to bind Wang Siming and Lin Geng, ensuring they couldnt escape. He even used zip ties on their wrists, thumbs, and legs to secure them further. With his captives secure, Zhang Yi turned his attention to the shelter, which was reportedly the world''s most expensive. The spacious living room alone was over a hundred square meters, decorated in a warm yellow with elegant silver-gray furniture, exuding an air of high class. A large 100-inch TV hung on the north wall, with gaming consoles and cartridges below it. Clearly, they were avid gamers. The living room''s centerpiece was a high-end imported sofa, with a large bar stocked with various liquors in one corner and an open-plan kitchen on the other side. Beyond the living room was a door. Zhang Yi, gun in hand, gently opened it, revealing a bright light that momentarily stunned him. He had expected a backyard with a pool and garden, but what he saw was a vast ecological garden filled with rare plants and tropical vegetation, even in the cold. A portion of it was a farmland, now mostly abandoned. Curious, Zhang Yi explored further, delighted to see such lush greenery in the apocalypse. The garden''s temperature was higher, aided by UV lamps for photosynthesis. Many plants had wilted due to lack of care, but the setup was impressive. S?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. At the end of the garden was an empty zoo-like area, with cages and traces of animals long gone. "This is a billion-dollar shelter? Its a mini-ecosystem!" Zhang Yi marveled. Continuing his exploration, Zhang Yi admired the advanced, sustainable design. The shelter''s team had done an excellent job. He reached the edge of the shelter and saw a large yard through frosted windows. "This place is amazing. From now on, it''s mine!" Zhang Yi declared, smiling. Living here would be far better than his cramped apartment. Eager to explore more, Zhang Yi climbed to the second floor. The decor was even more extravagant, with numerous sofas, lounge chairs, and scattered clothes, suggesting a life of indulgence. The floor was littered with bottles, cigarette butts, and trash. Each room had a label indicating its use: game room, pet room, entertainment room, waterbed room. Zhang Yi felt like he had found an exciting treasure trove, eagerly opening each door. The game room alone was over a hundred square meters, filled with every imaginable gaming console and cartridge, plus a wall of rare collectibles worth millions. "Playing games here would be awesome. Damn, rich people know how to have fun!" Zhang Yi couldn''t help but curse in envy. He shut the door and eagerly moved to the next room. Opening it, he was stunned to see three beautiful women inside. They were huddled in a corner, terrified by the armed stranger. One girl, with large, fearful eyes, asked, "Who are you? What do you want?" Chapter 157: What Is a Chicken Chapter 157: What Is a ''Chicken''The room contained three girls, all dressed seductively, each with a unique allure. One appeared mature and alluring, with a figure like a ripe peach, seemingly ready to burst with a touch. Another looked petite and innocent but had an astonishingly voluptuous figure, the classic combination of a youthful face with a mature body. The third had a high-class, cold demeanor, with a slender figure about 1.8 meters tall, and a perfect body ratio. Zhang Yi recognized her as a famous model with over five million online followers. Seeing them, Zhang Yis gaze inevitably wandered, unsure where to settle. He couldn''t help but sigh, "The way the rich enjoy themselves is indeed sophisticated and professional." Holding his gun, Zhang Yi walked into the room. The three girls, frightened, huddled together in a corner. One looked sad, another pitiful, and the last one disdainful. The mix of these emotions only made them more enticing. "No wonder theyre professionals. Just a look and a move can be so captivating." If it were any other typical man, he might have lost control by now. But this was Zhang Yi, and the outcome was slightly different. He scanned them with his eyes and asked, "Are you ''Chicken''?" The girls'' faces instantly turned ugly upon hearing this term. "How can you insult us like that? We are not ''Chicken,'' were guests here!" one protested. Zhang Yi glanced at their scantily clad bodies, his meaning clear. "Whose family lets guests dress like this? Is it some kind of family tradition?" The sarcasm made the girls feel embarrassed, trying to cover up with their hands, but there was too much exposed skin to cover. Zhang Yi pulled a chair over and sat in front of them, his gun casually swinging. "So, where are you ''Chicken'' from?" Although the women were beautiful and had stunning figures, possibly skilled in various advanced techniques, Zhang Yi had a particular sense of cleanliness and didnt like sharing women. If they had no other skills, he would throw them out. He didnt keep freeloaders. Yes, this billion-dollar shelter was now his. Seeing the gun, the girls dared not resist. The tall, high-class-looking girl, however, stubbornly said, "Im not a ''Chicken''!" S?a?ch* Th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Not a ''Chicken''? Then what are you?" Zhang Yi asked. "Im a socialite!" she declared proudly. "A socialite?" Zhang Yi nodded. "Oh, that means ''Chicken''!" In Tianhai City, socialites were essentially high-class ''Chicken,'' a fact well-known to locals like Zhang Yi. The high-class girl stomped her foot in anger, "Im not! I have a master''s degree from Tianhai University, an English major with a level eight proficiency, and a national level seven in ballet!" Zhang Yi nodded, "Oh, so youre a ''Chicken''?" The girls were furious. The mature, sexy one took a deep breath and said, "Thats a prejudice against us. The men we interact with are all high society. We elevate ourselves through these interactions." "Dont compare us with ''Chicken.'' To integrate into high society, you need more than a pretty face and a good body. We also need high-level education and rich inner qualities." Zhang Yi clapped his hands, "Well said! So, does your way of interacting with high society men include intimate relations?" The girls exchanged glances. The mature one argued, "That does happen, but were not ''Chicken.'' We have choices. Only when we deem the person worthy do we engage in intimate relations." The high-class girl added, "My body, my choice. Its modern times, and your view is discriminatory against women." The cute girl, pouting, said, "Dont be prejudiced against us!" Zhang Yi laughed. "So, youre still ''Chicken''!" The three girls shouted in unison, "We are not!" Zhang Yi waved dismissively, "Whats the big deal? Making money isnt shameful. Being able to get into Wang Simings house means youre top-tier ''Chicken.'' If society allowed it, youd deserve an award." The cute girl couldnt take it anymore. Glaring at Zhang Yi, she said, "Do you know how hard we work? I won a national piano competition and can play ''Flight of the Bumblebee.'' Have you heard of it?" ''Flight of the Bumblebee'' made Zhang Yi raise an eyebrow. He was familiar with the piece from a movie he liked, "The Legend of 1900." The climax featured the protagonist playing this complex piece, leaving Zhang Yi awestruck at the pianist''s skill. He looked at the cute girl in surprise, "You can really play it?" Proudly, she lifted her chin, "Of course! I play it excellently!" The high-class girl also said, "I can play it too!" Zhang Yi laughed. Playing ''Flight of the Bumblebee'' required at least an eighth-grade proficiency in piano, with nine being the highest. These girls were among the nations best pianists, yet they turned to this life. "It''s a laughable world. The apocalypse brings fairness in death," Zhang Yi thought. Despite their talents, the lure of money was irresistible. Zhang Yis lustful gaze diminished as he looked at them. Raising his gun, he ordered, "Turn around and lean against the wall." The girls, misunderstanding his intent, smirked. Men were all the same, they thought, wanting to take advantage in the end. Pretending to be scared, they turned and leaned against the wall, skilled in the act. Zhang Yi took out some ropes and zip ties from his spatial space, binding them tightly, using a professional technique known as ''tortoise shell binding.'' At first, they thought he wanted to play bondage games, but soon realized he was serious. After securing them, Zhang Yi threw them into the pet room and locked the door. There was no time to relax. Zhang Yi was not driven by lust and needed to ensure the house was safe. He had more exploring to do. Chapter 158: Let’s Talk Chapter 158: Lets TalkZhang Yi searched through the other rooms on the second floor again, finding that this level was mainly for entertainment. Besides the pet room, there was a room full of various props called the Hehuan Room and an intriguingly themed Waterbed Room. However, the Waterbed Room was no longer in use. The overall temperature in the shelter was around 10C, likely because they had started conserving energy due to high consumption. In the Waterbed Room, Zhang Yi found five or six corpses on the ground. No wonder there was such a chill when I came in! So this is the problem, Zhang Yi remarked. He had seen enough corpses to remain unfazed by the sight. The six bodies were all women, and very beautiful ones at that. Zhang Yi guessed they were similar to the three girls in the pet roomso-called socialites. This shelter isn''t as harmonious as it appears, Zhang Yi said flatly. Surviving in a shelter with nine women and two men could easily revert to a primitive societal state. Although Zhang Yi didnt know exactly how they had died, he could guess. Regardless, the girls in the pet room were likely involved. I need to deal with them. These women, willing to sell their bodies for money, are a menace, Zhang Yis eyes flashed with a determined killing intent. While it was a pity, he would act rationally and do what needed to be done. Having explored the two floors above ground, Zhang Yi remembered Xu Hao mentioning an underground level. He found the entrance to the basement and descended. The two underground floors were designed primarily for doomsday survival. B1 looked like the interior of a spaceship, with eight independent rooms, all sealed with heavy alloy doors. There were no keyholes; Zhang Yi guessed they used magnetic cards or retinal scans. After half a day''s effort, he couldnt open any of the rooms. Looks like Ill need to pry information from Wang Siming, the owner, Zhang Yi muttered to himself. Realizing that only strength ensured survival in the apocalypse, Zhang Yi returned to the first floor after spending over half an hour touring the shelter. Wang Siming and Lin Geng were still unconscious, as was Xu Hao, who had inhaled even more sleeping gas than the other two and lay on the ground like a dead fish. Zhang Yi had no patience to wait for them to wake up. He fetched a bucket of water from the kitchen sink and dumped it on Wang Simings head. Though the room temperature was around 10C, the cold water was still a shock. Wang Siming shivered and slowly opened his eyes. Awake? Zhang Yis deep voice reached his ears. Wang Siming saw Zhang Yi, fully armed, sitting before him. Trying to move, he found himself tightly bound. How did you do it? Wang Siming couldnt understand how Zhang Yi had turned the tables. He had seen Zhang Yi bound tightly like a mummy. In the apocalypse, one needs some survival skills, Zhang Yi explained briefly, then continued, You dont have the luxury to discuss this now. Lets talk about other things. For instance, how you will cooperate with me to save your life. As Wang Siming woke fully, he realized the gravity of his situation. He felt intense frustration. How could his supposedly impregnable shelter be breached so quickly? Ten billion dollarswasted! S?a?ch* Th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. What do you want? Wang Siming asked solemnly. Zhang Yi smiled slightly. No need to be too nervous. You didnt kill me when I arrived, so I wont harm you either. Though Im not exactly a kind person, I have my principles. Besides, killing you, the heir of the Wang family and the future head of the Lin Group, wouldnt benefit me. Before the apocalypse, Wang Siming''s status was indeed significant. His parents were influential tycoons with substantial backing. Hearing Zhang Yis assurance, Wang Siming relaxed a bit. He took a deep breath and said, What do you want? We can negotiate. Just dont harm me. Chapter 159: Relax, Dizziness Is Normal Chapter 159: Relax, Dizziness Is NormalZhang Yi calmly took out a pack of Jinling Thirteen Hairpins cigarettes, lit one, and put it in his mouth. Do you smoke? Zhang Yi offered a cigarette to Wang Siming. Wang Siming instinctively turned his head away. Thanks, but I dont smoke this brand. Zhang Yi smiled slightly. Despite the dire situation, Wang Siming''s preferences remained evident, showing he hadn''t been short of supplies recently. Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry to negotiate terms. He smoked leisurely, flicking the ash onto the floor. To be frank, I came here to find a safe place to live, Zhang Yi said. The outside world is too dangerousshort on supplies and unbearably cold. Your place is big; having one more person wouldnt make a difference, right? Wang Siming felt a bit calmer hearing Zhang Yis tone. So, you just want to move in? You dont plan to kill me and take over this place? Zhang Yi chuckled. Why would I need to kill you? He spread his arms. This place is huge, even if a hundred people moved in, it would still feel spacious. I have no reason to kill you without cause. Besides, Id like to use this opportunity to become friends with you. Zhang Yis sincere attitude made Wang Simings eyes shift. Oh? You want to be friends? Zhang Yi nodded seriously. Exactly! He stood up and began to pace. This snow disaster is troublesome and has caused societal chaos, but such abnormal weather cant last forever. One day, society will return to normal. As a small-time guy, if I could befriend someone like you, Id rise quickly when things stabilize. Wang Simings face showed a proud expression. Of course! A small gesture from me could elevate you significantly! In the past, just slapping you would bring a compensation that could save you thirty years of struggle! He spoke arrogantly but thought, It seems this guy believes the snow disaster will end soon, so hes still fearful of civilized order and wont kill me. Zhang Yi laughed. Exactly. We can help each other. I move in, and in return, I provide you with security. Youve seen what I can do! I also have transportation and can go out to find supplies and take you to other places. I believe we will cooperate well. Theres no need for violence; thats for barbarians. I, Zhang Yi, am not like that! Wang Siming relaxed further. Alright, I agree. Untie me first. Zhang Yi shook his head. Youre being too hasty. Ive shown my sincerity, but what about you? How can I trust you? Wang Siming frowned. What do you want? You can take anything from this house. If you need women, there are three socialites on the second floor. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. I dont need those things. To show your sincerity, I need you to give me the user manual for this shelter! Only then can I fully trust you. Wang Siming hesitated. Zhang Yi continued, Without it, I cant guarantee my safety here. Its just a user manual. Even if you dont give it to me, I could eventually figure it out myself. Wang Siming frowned deeply. Its not that easy. This shelter is more complex than you think. Zhang Yis expression hardened. Im being very sincere with you. If youre willing to cooperate, well get along. But, he took a deep breath, his gaze turning cold, dont push me. Wang Siming shivered internally. He was very afraid of death, more so than the survivors in Yue Lu community who had faced life-and-death struggles. Being wealthy, he could still enjoy life once the disaster was over, so he cherished his life deeply. Okay, if I give you the user manual, can you guarantee not to kill us? Wang Siming asked. Zhang Yi nodded slowly, his gaze steady. I told you, Im not a murderer. And once the snow disaster is over, I hope to be your friend. Wang Siming believed Zhang Yi because he had no other choice. Zhang Yi could kill him anytime. Following Wang Siming''s instructions, Zhang Yi found the shelter''s user manual on his computer. After examining it, Zhang Yi was impressed by the shelters complexity and precision. Without the manual, any random operation could trigger the control panels self-destruct mechanism, turning the shelter into a steel tomb. Now, can you untie me? Wang Siming asked. Zhang Yi didnt look up. Dont rush. I need to verify the manual first. He went to the control room with the computer and tried various functions. After confirming everything worked, he nodded in satisfaction. From now on, I, Zhang Yi, am the owner of this shelter! He put down the laptop, returning to the first-floor living room. Wang Siming, seeing him, asked, So, is everything in order? Untie me, Im getting numb! Alright, wait a moment. Zhang Yi laid a blanket on the floor, then approached Wang Siming, pulling out a golden claw knife from his waist. He hugged Wang Simings head and plunged the knife into his neck. Blood gushed out like a spring. Wang Siming stared at Zhang Yi in shock, unable to understand why he was being killed despite cooperating. Unable to speak, blood foam bubbled from Wang Simings throat. Zhang Yi gently lowered him onto the blanket, soothingly saying, Relax, relax, take a deep breath. Yes. Itll be dizzy at first, but thats normal. Soon, you wont feel any pain. Wang Siming soon felt nothing, dying with his eyes open, full of unwillingness. Zhang Yi wrapped him in the blanket to prevent blood from staining the floor, making cleanup easier. Sorry, I couldnt explain everything. Youre useless to me now. I cant keep a deadweight, Zhang Yi softly explained. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 160: Release Chapter 160: ReleaseAfter dealing with Wang Siming, Zhang Yi also killed Lin Geng, who was still unconscious, sparing him any pain. Zhang Yi placed both corpses into his spatial space, planning to dispose of them later. He cleaned the remaining bloodstains on the floor with a mop from the bathroom. Xu Hao was still unconscious. Zhang Yi stared at him for a minute. He could kill Xu Hao now without him ever knowing, but he hesitated. "To kill or not to kill?" Zhang Yi debated. Without Xu Hao''s help, Zhang Yi wouldn''t have found this place. Without his cooperation, Zhang Yi wouldnt have successfully infiltrated the shelter and taken control. However, Zhang Yi couldn''t accept living under the same roof with someone he couldn''t trust. After much thought, Zhang Yi made a decision. He didnt immediately deal with Xu Hao but instead returned to the second floor. There were still the three women to deal with. Keeping them would be a waste of resources, so it was better to handle them quickly. Zhang Yi went to the second floor and opened the pet room door. The three women, tied up tightly, sat back-to-back on the soft carpet. Their large areas of exposed white skin and intentionally revealed seductive flesh would make any normal man drool. Honestly, if Zhang Yi didnt know they were "chicken," he might have considered keeping them around, even just for occasional performances of "Flight of the Bumblebee." Their mouths were gagged, and they whimpered, eyes full of pleading. They seemed to sense that this man was very dangerous and began to fear for their lives. Zhang Yi walked over, pulling them up from the floor and leading them downstairs. Passing through the second-floor central living room, he saw clothes, underwear, stockings, uniforms, and condoms scattered everywhere. Zhang Yi paused. The three women thought he was interested and looked at him with pleading eyes, trying to get closer. Zhang Yi ignored them, picked up their clothes, and continued pushing them downstairs. As they neared the entrance hall, the women realized what was happening and shook their heads in fear. Zhang Yi pulled out a claw knife, cutting their bonds, and threw their clothes at them. "Leave here! Go fend for yourselves outside." Zhang Yi had no grudge against them, so he didnt want to kill them; that was his bottom line. However, he also couldnt keep these scheming "Kun" in his house, as they would pose a danger. Their fate outside was none of Zhang Yi''s concern. "The world will kill you, not me!" Though it felt like an unnecessary move, Zhang Yi didnt want his hands stained with blood from people he had no personal enmity or conflict of interest. It was one of the few remaining aspects of his humanity. The three women, realizing they were being expelled into the snow-covered world, cried bitterly, pleading desperately with Zhang Yi. Despite their promises of providing the highest level of service, Zhang Yi remained unmoved. Faced with the choice between his principles and desires, Zhang Yi chose to protect his integrity. He didnt believe in the humanity of these "Kun." With his gun pointed at them, the three women, in despair, quickly dressed and left the shelter. Once they were outside, Zhang Yi closed the entrance. Seeing their upper bodies in fur, and lower bodies in black stockings and high heels, Zhang Yi shook his head. "Freezing to death would at least preserve their beautiful bodies as specimens. Better than being killed by my own hand!" Now, only Zhang Yi and Xu Hao remained in the shelter. Xu Hao, having inhaled a large amount of sleeping gas, would wake up at an unknown time. For safety, Zhang Yi also tied him up. S?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Having just taken control of Cloud Manor 101, Zhang Yi began to explore the shelters internal structure. He opened previously inaccessible doors using the access keys he foundblack metal key cards. In the basement, Zhang Yi was eager to see how many supplies were left. He used an access card to open the heavy metal door to the warehouse. The circular door opened with a rumbling sound, releasing a wave of cold air that made Zhang Yi shiver. Inside, he found a mess. Many canned goods were scattered on the floor, their contents spilled but not spoiled due to the low temperature. Zhang Yi, wearing snow boots, slowly walked in, finding a 200-square-meter warehouse with dwindling supplies, mostly canned food. "No wonder the cans are scattered everywhere. It seems Prince Wang was sick of eating them." Zhang Yi shook his head in disbelief. The warehouse''s food could sustain one person for at least half a year. However, Prince Wang, used to lavish meals, found these ten-year-old cans unappetizing. Moreover, he had to share with Lin Geng and the "Kun." "Rich peoples consumption habits are indeed vastly different from ordinary peoples. If it were me, this warehouse would be full of cans and compressed food, enough for one person for decades!" Zhang Yi sighed. The security company that designed the shelter considered doomsday survival but overlooked Wangs eating habits. According to Xu Hao, many cans had been cleared out by Wang Siming. Zhang Yi opened a can of luncheon meat with his claw knife. "If this were thrown into Yue Lu Community, people would fight to the death for it." But Zhang Yi wasnt interested in these foods, as his spatial space had fresh ingredients and gourmet meals prepared by top chefs. He left the food for future use, just in case. Exploring the rest of the shelter, Zhang Yi found more rooms, all secured with thick metal doors, only openable with magnetic cards. The highest level of access was now his. Satisfied with his new stronghold, Zhang Yi realized it had an enormous energy consumption problem. Powering and heating this multi-level, thousand-square-meter shelter required fifty times the energy of his small safe house. With his current energy reserves, he could only maintain the shelter for five years. "Not a huge problem," Zhang Yi mused. "There are plenty of large gas stations outside. I''ll just empty a few more to solve this issue." After thoroughly checking the shelter, Zhang Yi felt completely secure. Compared to his small 800,000 yuan house, this place offered unmatched defense and comfort. Even the furniture was top-notch from world-class manufacturers. Back in the first-floor living room, Zhang Yi added six months worth of energy to the shelter, raising the temperature to a comfortable 27C. "From now on, this will be my home. If only I had a few obedient and sensible women to play poker with, life would be perfect." "To have a full deck, Id need at least four women!" Zhang Yi imagined. "They could play cards while I watched from under the table. Heh, what a life!" Lying on the sofa, Zhang Yi closed his eyes, smiling at the thought of his future life. Chapter 161: Go, Before I Change My Mind Chapter 161: Go, Before I Change My MindAfter resting for a while, Zhang Yi took out some stimulants from his spatial space and administered them to Xu Hao. To wake him up faster, he also splashed some ice water on his face. After a bit of this, Xu Hao finally opened his eyes, exhausted. "Ugh, so cold!" Seeing Zhang Yi in front of him, Xu Hao was momentarily stunned, then filled with joy. "Brother Zhang, did you... did you succeed?" He looked around for Wang Siming but saw nothing. Zhang Yi didn''t speak; he just untied the ropes around Xu Hao. Xu Hao never expected that this time he would wake up to find they had taken over Wang Simings luxurious shelter without any effort on his part. This made him incredibly happy. He was curious, though. Both of them had been hit by the sleeping gas in the trap, so how had Zhang Yi woken up so quickly and taken control of the shelter? "Brother Zhang, where is Wang Siming? How did you deal with him?" Xu Hao asked curiously. Zhang Yi replied calmly, "Did you forget? I''m a city soldier king, an expert from the mountains, a mercenary returned from the battlefield. Taking down someone like Wang Siming is nothing." Xu Hao burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Brother, youre amazing. I knew I was right to trust you." "From now on, I''ll follow you without any reservations! With you protecting me, Ill never have to worry about survival again." Zhang Yi picked up a heavy backpack from the sofa and placed it in front of Xu Hao. "These are your rewards. Take a look." Xu Hao''s eyes lit up, and he rubbed his hands together, "This... how can I accept this?" "No need to be polite; it''s what you deserve," Zhang Yi said flatly. Xu Hao, no longer holding back, opened the backpack in front of Zhang Yi. "Wow" Inside was a pile of food: biscuits, bread, chocolate bars, chicken legs, cream cakes, rice cakes... The entire backpack was packed full, easily weighing twenty or thirty kilograms! Xu Hao''s smile stretched from ear to ear. "Brother Zhang, youre truly like a brother to me! Just say the word if you need anything, and I wont hesitate!" As Xu Hao tore open a bag of chicken legs and expressed his loyalty to Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi finally smiled slightly. "Oh? You said it yourself! I didnt force you." He pointed outside with his chin. "Take these things and leave." S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi couldnt let Xu Hao stay, but his conscience wouldnt let him be ungrateful either. Xu Hao, though troublesome, had indeed helped him a lot in this matter. So, Zhang Yi decided to give him enough food to survive on his own. Xu Hao, halfway through tearing the packaging, froze upon hearing this. Time seemed to stand still as he stared at Zhang Yi, his body stiffening. Zhang Yi looked down at him calmly, his gaze containing an unyielding will. After a long pause, Xu Hao came to his senses, his heartbeat accelerating wildly, causing a ringing in his ears as if electricity was coursing through them. He couldnt accept this reality. He had thought he had successfully joined Zhang Yi''s team and helped him secure this luxurious and safe shelter. Why wouldnt Zhang Yi let him stay? Xu Haos eyes reddened as he looked at Zhang Yi with pleading eyes. "Brother Zhang, what did you just say? I didnt hear clearly." He hoped he had misheard. But Zhang Yi, word by word, said clearly, "You cant stay here. Take your reward and leave." Tears instantly streamed down Xu Haos face. Clutching the backpack, he retreated a few steps, curling into a corner for security. "You promised to keep me! You said so yourself!" Zhang Yi shook his head with a bit of helplessness. "I did promise you. But I can always go back on my word. We''re adults; we should know that verbal agreements are the easiest to break. Its always been this way, especially now." Zhang Yis bluntness was shocking. To ensure his own safety, he was willing to discard any moral principles. This behavior made Xu Hao cry even harder. He curled up like a helpless child, shouting angrily at Zhang Yi, "You cant do this to me! You cant go back on your word!" "I helped you so much, and I dont want anything else from you, just your protection so I can survive. Cant you even accept that?" "If you keep acting like this, youll die alone, with no one to trust or stand by you!" Zhang Yi just smiled indifferently, his expression showing disdain. "Oh, so what? At least Ill still be alive." "But if I let my soft heart get me killed, Ill have nothing!" He didnt bother arguing with Xu Hao because it was pointless. They werent on the same level of strength. Whatever Zhang Yi wanted Xu Hao to do, Xu Hao had to comply. Zhang Yi waved outside. "Go! These foods will last you a month if you ration them. In that month, find a way to survive. I''ve already been as kind as I can to you." Xu Hao shook his head desperately. "No, I wont go!" It was too cold outside. From Yue Lu Community to here, it was a world of snow and ice. Leaving here meant certain death sooner or later. After experiencing the warmth and comfort of the shelter, how could he leave? Zhang Yi smiled. Then he raised his gun. "Do you really want to force me to do this? I hoped we could part peacefully without me having to point a gun at your head." Seeing Zhang Yi raise the gun, Xu Haos face showed even more fear. "I cant leave! I still have your poison in me!" Zhang Yis tone grew colder. "Theres no poison. It was just a colored common drug; you wont die." Xu Hao''s face turned pale. He realized he had been tricked by Zhang Yi. "Even so, you cant kick me out! How can you be so ungrateful?" He raised the backpack. "I helped you take over a shelter, and this is all I get? Its far from enough!" Zhang Yi took a deep breath. His patience was wearing thin. He stared at Xu Hao, his tone becoming emotionless. "Dont forget, you owe me your life too!" "What? When?" "Of course. Back in the community, I should have killed you! But I didnt. So, you owe me your life." Zhang Yi continued, "Now, I use your life and this bag of food as payment. Youve made a huge profit!" He pointed the gun at the door and used a remote to open it. "Go quickly! If you delay, I might change my mind." Chapter 162: I Gave You a Chance Chapter 162: I Gave You a ChanceZhang Yi''s gaze had already turned icy as he pointed the gun at Xu Hao''s forehead. The dark gun barrel brought back memories of Zhang Yi''s cold and ruthless killings, making Xu Hao realize Zhang Yi wasn''t joking. Xu Hao felt extremely aggrieved, his heart filled with hatred for Zhang Yi. The hatred in his eyes was evident, with bloodshot veins covering his pupils. "Fine, I''ll go!" Xu Hao gritted his teeth, walking towards the passage with a face full of reluctance. As he walked, he looked around the luxurious decorations of the shelter. Such an opulent survival environment, even better than anything he had experienced before, filled him with a strong sense of resentment. When Xu Hao reached the passage, he suddenly turned around, glaring at Zhang Yi with malice. "Zhang Yi, you''re untrustworthy! You''ll get your comeuppance one day!" Zhang Yi merely glanced at him calmly. Xu Hao sneered, turned around, and walked into the passage. Zhang Yi stared at his back for several seconds, hesitating. Then he raised his gun, aiming at the back of Xu Hao''s head. "Bang!" A hole appeared in Xu Hao''s head, clean through from the back to the front. He died instantly and painlessly, collapsing limply in the passage. Zhang Yi sighed, looking at Xu Hao''s body. "Anger won''t make you stronger; you need strength." He walked over to Xu Hao, picking up the backpack he had left behind. "I intended to let you live, but why did you seek death yourself?" Zhang Yi had been hesitant about killing or not killing Xu Hao. Out of his principles, he had decided to let Xu Hao leave. But Xu Hao''s last words changed his mind. "I already let you go, so I''m not ungrateful. We were square at that point. But then you threatened me. Killing you is reasonable!" Satisfied with his logic, Zhang Yi nodded to himself. In Cloud Manor, Xu Hao was the only one who knew his identity and had knowledge of the shelters layout. He could bring trouble to Zhang Yi someday. S?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi felt somewhat grateful to Xu Hao for giving him a valid reason to kill him. After killing Xu Hao, he stored the body in his spatial space. Then he turned on the multi-million dollar sound system in the room, playing a cheerful song: "Mama, just killed a man. Put a gun against his head, pulled my trigger, now he''s dead. Mama, life had just begun. But now I''ve gone and thrown it all away..." Zhang Yi fetched a mop and bucket from the bathroom, whistling cheerfully as he cleaned up the bloodstains on the floor. "I hope this is the last time I have to kill someone. No one here knows my past, and no one will come to disturb me. If I could live here until the end of the apocalypse, or until I die of old age, that would be wonderful!" "But it''s probably very unlikely," Zhang Yi smiled to himself. He soon cleaned up the bloodstains. The entire room was now quiet, with only him alive, making it unusually silent. The house was so big, it felt a bit lonely. "I should go get Ke''er. A mature man always needs a beautiful woman by his side to make life interesting." "As for Uncle You..." Zhang Yi had other thoughts. The shelter was large with many rooms, but Zhang Yi didn''t really want Uncle You to move in. Since he and Zhou Ke''er were still in their honeymoon phase, they wanted their space. Ke''er always managed to come up with something new, and having others in the house hindered her creativity. For example, she would wear only a white shirt or an apron. With another man in the house, they wouldn''t be able to enjoy themselves freely. "I already have a better shelter. I might as well let Uncle You stay in the safe house. He once took a bullet for me; I owe him. Providing him a good living environment is fair repayment." "Also, I can''t move the safe house into my spatial space right now. Its better to leave it in Yue Lu community as a backup base. If needed, I can return and live there, with someone to look after it." Zhang Yi''s plan was clear, solving the problem perfectly. Uncle You would likely be very grateful. However, Zhang Yi still needed to solve one issue for Uncle Youthe problem every man understands. Both Zhang Yi and Uncle You were physically healthy men, one in his twenties, the other in his sixties. Naturally, they had physical and psychological needs. After killing Xie Limei, Zhang Yi felt he owed Uncle You a woman. "I promised Uncle You Id find him a better one. But there aren''t many women left alive in the community, and even fewer who meet the criteria." "Hmm, it''s a bit difficult. I''ll leave this problem for later. If worse comes to worst, he can find a few women in the community to get by." Given the limited conditions, one couldnt be too picky. Zhang Yi sat on the sofa, in front of a 100-inch TV. Curious about what Wang Siming usually watched, he found the remote and turned on the TV. The black screen slowly lit up. Zhang Yi walked to the bar, filled with various branded drinks, many of which he had never heard of, supplied by foreign vineyards. Pouring himself a glass of fresh beer, he watched the TV. He expected to see the few remaining official channels but was surprised to see a white female host speaking in English. "#$&&^(^*)&..." Zhang Yi admitted his English was only CET-6 level, and his spoken English was terrible. He couldn''t understand a word. "Strange, how can it receive foreign channels? The blizzard should have affected signal transmission. Even phones have limited signal range. How did he do it?" Zhang Yi, surprised, switched channels. Each channel was still a foreign one. As he flipped through dozens of foreign channels, he realized something. "This shelter must have a super-strong network system!" Excited, Zhang Yi checked the control room. Following the lines, he found a hidden door revealing a closet-sized independent server! "He actually set up a server in his own home. Impressive!" Zhang Yi laughed, eyes brightening. Though he didn''t fully understand how it worked, the signal reception indicated the network system in this shelter was incredibly powerful, capable of global signal transmission. This meant Zhang Yi could access global information through the network. Chapter 163: Sweet as Honey Chapter 163: Sweet as HoneyThe ten-billion-dollar shelter was undoubtedly top-tier, even by the standards of a decade later. With such an advanced network setup, Zhang Yi could now access information from the outside world more accurately. Domestic news channels often focused on entertainment, presenting them as serious news. Sitting down, Zhang Yi began browsing international networks, eager to learn about the current global situation beyond Tianhai City. The information he found aligned with his expectations. The extreme cold had killed most living creatures, and due to poor communication, the exact global death toll was unknown. However, according to a mathematical model from Hopkins Universitys underground lab, the global population had plummeted from 8.5 billion to about 2 billion. "In just one month, nearly three-sevenths of the population wiped out. If 5% survive, it will be a miracle," Zhang Yi sighed. Despite the harsh environment, humans continued to fight and kill each other, with extremely low temperatures halting production activities. No crops could be grown, and resources couldnt be extracted, leading to a severe shortage of food and energy. Wars broke out everywhere, from personal conflicts to international disputes, all over these precious resources. "Fortunately, Im well-prepared," Zhang Yi took a deep breath, feeling grateful for his foresight. As he continued browsing, he stumbled upon information about "mutants." A mysterious American website used this term for those who had mutated, inspired by their once-popular comics. Zhang Yi straightened up; he was eager to learn more about this, given his own spatial abilities resulting from mutation. Through his research, Zhang Yi discovered widespread mutations across the globe. Hundreds of countries reported the appearance of mutants, including humans, animals, insects, and plants. The mutations varied, some positive, granting extraordinary abilities, while others negative, distorting bodies horribly. For instance, he saw a video of a girl in Russias icy wilderness who could conjure fire from her hand. Unfortunately, the flame lasted only two seconds before extinguishing, leaving the girl unconscious. "In this cold, awakening to fire abilities is rather tragic," Zhang Yi mused. He also saw other mutants, such as a person whose body had turned a ghastly green, resembling a grotesque version of the Hulk. Another had a body capable of detaching parts while keeping them functional. Though details were scarce, these mutants represented a biological evolution, albeit sometimes for the worse, with some suffering severe radiation damage without gaining any powers. Zhang Yi meticulously noted all available information. Although the number of known mutants was low, he suspected many were hiding their abilities, making the world outside still very dangerous. Resolving to stay hidden in the shelter, Zhang Yi decided to bring Zhou Ke''er over. Used to her company, he found life more interesting with a beautiful, understanding woman by his side. As for Uncle You, Zhang Yi had other plans. He didnt want Uncle You living in the shelter since he and Zhou Ke''er were still in their honeymoon phase, enjoying intimate moments that would be hindered by another mans presence. S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi equipped himself and opened the shelters heavy metal door, admiring its futuristic design. Outside, he saw footprints, likely from the three women he had released earlier. Dressed inadequately for the cold, they probably wouldnt survive long. "Am I wasting resources?" Zhang Yi wondered, noting the high quality of Tianhai Citys "socialites." They rivaled some celebrities in looks. He had considered giving them to Uncle You but decided against it, fearing their manipulative nature might cause trouble. "Never mind, there will always be better women," Zhang Yi muttered as he walked out. He decided not to use the snowmobile to avoid drawing attention. As he neared Villa 204, he suddenly heard a womans voice. "Please wait!" "Hmm?" Zhang Yi paused, finding the voice very familiar, as if he had heard it often. "Wait?" he thought. "Wait for what?" Recalling a classic movie line that had once gone viral, Zhang Yi turned towards the voice, his finger on the trigger. At the door of Villa 204 stood a figure wrapped in a black down jacket. Seeing Zhang Yi turn, she moved towards him excitedly. "Please wait, I... I have something to tell you." Hearing the childlike, high-pitched voice, Zhang Yi confirmed the persons identity. His eyes lit up with surprise and delight. "Are you Da Mi Mi?"??. Chapter 164: Under the Same Roof Chapter 164: Under the Same RoofThe woman in the long black down jacket panted as she walked up to Zhang Yi. She pulled down her scarf, revealing a delicate, fair face. Zhang Yi recognized her immediately. Few netizens in China wouldnt know her: she was Yang Siya, one of the hottest stars of recent years, the woman countless men dreamt of. According to Xu Hao, Cloud Manor was home to many wealthy and influential people, including top celebrities. Yang Siya, with her wealth, naturally had the means to buy property here. Seeing her, Zhang Yi felt a ripple of excitement. Though he wasnt one to chase after stars, as a normal man, he naturally admired beautiful actresses, especially those with perfect figures. Zhang Yi had been a fan of Yang Siya for a long time. Many lonely nights had been spent with her photos and videos. Although she was a few years older than Zhang Yi and had been married before, these werent disadvantages to him; in fact, they made her even more appealing. Yang Siya looked at Zhang Yi with large, pitiful eyes and said timidly, I havent eaten in three days. Can you take me with you? I dont want to die here. Her eyes seemed to have hooks that could snatch a man''s soul. As an actress, her acting skills might have been criticized, but seducing men came naturally to her. This time, she decided to gamble with her beauty to secure a chance to survive. Zhang Yi looked at her, silent. To be honest, he was quite tempted. After all, here was his favorite actress, practically throwing herself at him. Who wouldnt want to live under the same roof as a star and experience the joy of having her serve him as a maid? But he had to consider safety. He frowned, In these times, everyones life is tough. If you want me to take you with me, you need to give me a good reason. Yang Siya bit her lip lightlya gesture both pure and seductive. Her lips were pink and shiny, like cherries, making one wonder how troublesome eating would be with such lips. This woman was inherently alluring. S~?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Some said that Yang Siya might not be the most beautiful of the popular actresses, but she was certainly the most capable of stirring male fantasies. The celebrity halo made Zhang Yi feel even more desirable in her current helpless state. Looking at Zhang Yi with her rabbit-like eyes, she took a step forward and said softly, I just want something to eat. If you give me that, Ill agree to any condition you have. Her words were suggestive, making it hard for Zhang Yi to refuse. Looking at her cherry lips, Zhang Yi sighed internally. She appeared so helpless, like a fragile little white rabbitor rather, a big white rabbit. However, she didnt hesitate when it came to subtly agreeing to Zhang Yis suggestive request. Yang Siyas thoughts were more mature than those of someone like Zhou Ke''er, which explained how she could run her own film company and be both an artist and a boss. Zhang Yi knew she wasnt as easy to bully as she looked, which made her even more attractive to him. Follow me! Zhang Yi finally said. He turned back, abandoning his plan to return to Yue Lu community to fetch Zhou Keer. They still had plenty of supplies, and there was no immediate rush. Seeing this, Yang Siya breathed a sigh of relief. Her charm still worked, and luckily, Zhang Yi was a young man. Yang Siya followed Zhang Yi to Cloud Manor 101, her eyes widening in surprise at the villa before them. Isnt this Wang Simings house? Zhang Yi smiled slightly. Its mine now. He took out the magnetic card key and opened the door. Yang Siya, full of curiosity, followed him inside. The room was warm, with a temperature of 27C, making it cozy and comfortable. Soon, Yang Siya felt hot and hurriedly took off her thick clothes, revealing her figure wrapped in a black sweater. Despite the modest clothing, her impressive figure was still evident, making Zhang Yis jaw clench. Sensing Zhang Yis unabashed gaze, Yang Siya bit her lip lightly. She knew what he was thinking, but having chosen to use her beauty to seek protection, she couldnt afford to act reserved. Calmly, she sat down opposite Zhang Yi. Even in her modest clothing, her figure left much to the imagination. Thank you for letting me in, she said in her soft, cute voice. Whats your relationship with the previous owner? Zhang Yi asked cautiously. Yang Siya admitted she knew Wang Siming, but when she saw Zhang Yi acting as the owner, she was curious. Zhang Yi, however, didnt answer her question and instead asked, How well do you know Wang Siming? She nodded slightly. In our circle, who doesnt know him? But its not like were close. Hes rich and famous, so wed occasionally meet at events. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and poured her a glass of water. Then dont worry about him. Just remember, Im the owner here now. Thank you. She took a sip, feeling itchy all over as her body warmed up, not having bathed for a while. She looked at Zhang Yi pleadingly. Can I use the bathroom here? Go ahead, Zhang Yi said generously, pointing her to the bathroom . Chapter 165: A Clever Woman Chapter 165: A Clever WomanWhose bathroom is bigger than their bedroom and equipped with all sorts of recreational amenities? If the person is poor, we call it frivolousness. If the person is rich, we call it the playful taste of a playboy or the refined interest of the wealthy. Wang Siming, known for his lecherousness, excelled in this area, making his bathroom uniquely extravagant. Zhang Yi, ever polite, didnt demand to check Yang Siya upon entry. However, for safety reasons, he felt he had no choice but to thoroughly inspect her once she was clean, ensuring she had no hidden weapons or poison. This was a matter of principle, and no one was exempt. Inside the spacious bathroom, over 80 square meters with a massive gold-plated massage bathtub resembling a fish pond, Yang Siya turned on the water, letting it flow over her body. She sighed with relief, savoring the long-missed comfort of a hot bath. Such luxuries seemed mundane until they were lost. For someone who valued beauty and cleanliness, being unable to bathe was akin to torture. As the hot water soaked her hair and washed over her delicate face, she felt warm and relaxed. Yet her mind remained active. From the moment she entered this villa, she had been contemplating her next move. Encountering Zhang Yi in this desperate situation, she decided to gamble with the only asset she had lefther body, which many men dreamed of. In the face of life and death, many things can be set aside. Yang Siya found herself somewhat relieved upon meeting Zhang Yi. Despite his dangerous aura, he was handsome and tall, far from the ugly old men she had feared. "If its with this man, staying with him for a while might not be such a loss," she thought, a resigned smile on her lips. Given the choice, she wouldnt be doing this. Unlike many in the entertainment industry who climbed up using the casting couch, Yang Siya relied on her abilities and her familys prominent background in Beijing. Even though she had been married, her body and spirit remained clean. "Ive decided. Ill talk to him and ask him to stay here for a while. Im prepared to offer something in return," she murmured, embracing herself under the hot water. "I just need someone to protect me, provide food and shelter. Once the snow disaster ends, Ill leave, and no one will know. Ill still be the dazzling star," she said with newfound determination. After a while, Yang Siya emerged from the bathroom, her wet hair draped over her shoulders like a lotus flower blooming from the water. "Zhang Yi, can you let me stay here?" she asked, looking pitiful. "Im weak, and in this harsh environment, its hard to survive alone. I need a man to protect me. Dont worry, I wont trouble you for long. Once the snow disaster ends, Ill leave, and this memory will remain just between us." Her sincerity was a strategic move, hoping to secure Zhang Yis protection. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, impressed by her approach. "Shes a clever woman. This makes things easier," he thought. He disliked foolish women who often acted like saints and caused trouble. Yang Siya, understanding the transactional nature of using her body for survival, made things straightforward. This way, Zhang Yi didnt have to waste time on false emotional exchanges. He needed companionship to fulfill his fantasies as a fan and to bring life to the empty house. With Yang Siya and Zhou Keer, two intelligent beauties, his life wouldnt be dull. Even playing cards would be more fun. "This is a fair deal," Zhang Yi thought, enjoying the simplicity of it. He appreciated Yang Siyas pragmatic approach. Yang Siya, hoping the world would return to normal so her efforts wouldnt be wasted, bit her lip. "The world will return to normal," she insisted, gazing at the snow outside. Zhang Yi shrugged. "Its unlikely. Even if the ice age ends, the world wont be the same." Yang Siya remained hopeful. "If it doesnt, all my efforts would be in vain." Zhang Yi didnt mind her hope. If she chose to leave one day, hed remember the good times they shared. There were many obedient and understanding girls outside; he wouldnt dwell on her departure. In the apocalypse, he lived for the present. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Seeing her intentions clearly, Zhang Yi decided not to waste time on emotional pretense. "Alright, you can stay, but in my house, you must follow my rules. Thats a basic principle," he said firmly, his seriousness unchanged regardless of who she was??. Chapter 166: The Three Rules Chapter 166: The Three RulesYang Siya, being a savvy businesswoman, understood the importance of clear transactions. Zhang Yi appreciated this straightforward approach, as he disliked unnecessary complications. Zhang Yi glanced outside. It was getting dark, being wintertime, and it seemed they wouldnt be able to leave tonight. "It''s getting late. Let''s rest," he suggested. ... As the wind and snow calmed outside, Zhang Yi retrieved some clothes from his spatial space and placed them by the bed. "Here are some new clothes. You can change into them." Seeing Zhang Yis ability to retrieve items seemingly out of thin air, Yang Siya''s eyes widened in astonishment. "What kind of ability is this?" "A little trick," Zhang Yi smiled. As he turned to leave, her soft, pleading voice stopped him. "Dont go." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, smiling. "Whats the matter?" S~?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality."There are some things we need to discuss," Yang Siya said, her face slightly reddening. Despite preparing herself mentally, she still felt confused and hesitant about her relationship with Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi stretched and said, "Im a bit hungry. Lets go to the living room. We can talk while we eat." Yang Siya nodded, her eyes lighting up at the mention of food. Shortly after, they sat on the living room sofa. Freshly washed, Yang Siya had regained her elegant appearance, her hair styled in a bun, exuding the aura of a refined housewife. She wore a black off-shoulder dress, highlighting her smooth shoulders and deep cleavage. Elegance never goes out of style. Even in the apocalypse, her presence was pleasing. Just having her around, even as a beautiful decoration, was worthwhile. Zhang Yi reclined on the sofa, placing hot food on the table, which amazed Yang Siya, thinking it was some kind of magic trick. "Eat up! Well talk as we eat. Lets clarify some things to avoid future troubles," Zhang Yi said, biting into a hot cheeseburger and laying down the rules. "My house is quite big, and having one more woman wont be a problem. My only requirement is that you obey me." "Youre smart; you should understand what I mean, right?" Yang Siya, still embarrassed by recent events, bit her lip. "I understand. In our industry, such things arent unusual." Zhang Yi nodded in satisfaction. Smart people were easier to deal with. He didnt have many demands from Yang Siya. Keeping her was like having a beautiful ornament at home. With Zhou Keer joining soon, the two women could share household chores and alternate duties without much pressure. Zhang Yis sudden thought made him frown. "I remember buying some medicines from Zhou Hairun. Let me check later." Yang Siya, suppressing her shyness, boldly addressed Zhang Yi. "I can agree to your demands, but I have some conditions I hope youll respect." Zhang Yi spread his hands, indifferent. "Lets hear them." Yang Siya, in her soft voice, said, "First, our relationship is limited to the duration of the snow disaster. If we ever part ways, I hope you wont reveal anything that happened here. As a public figure, if people find out what we did, my career would be over." Zhang Yi slightly pursed his lips. Like Zhang Yuan Zheng and Cai Mingyu, she hoped society would return to normal after the disaster. Those who enjoyed societal benefits most were least willing to see it collapse. "Alright, I promise not to reveal anything we did," Zhang Yi replied, easing her concerns. As a popular national idol, any relationship with her would excite men, making them eager to boast. "Second, Ill follow your requirements, but you cant force me to do things I dont want to do." Her voice grew softer. She needed the courage to set such terms. She felt shame over using herself as a bargaining chip. Despite acting tough, she had lost her autonomy and was now at Zhang Yis mercy. She hoped he would respect her in some way. Zhang Yi found joy in her mix of humiliation and shyness. "Ive learned my lesson. I used to value young girls, but now I see the appeal of mature women," Zhang Yi thought. Moving closer, Zhang Yis approach frightened her. Her instinctive attempt to keep distance failed as he pulled her into his arms. Her face flushed, she looked away, unable to meet his gaze. Zhang Yi grinned, holding her chin to make her face him. "You came to me willingly. Dont act so pitiful. Even if it''s a temporary arrangement, as a top actress, I expect your best performance. Itll make me happier, and its better for you too, right?" His domineering gaze made her heart tremble. Despite her hopes, she realized she had little choice. "Fine, but you must agree to my conditions first," she insisted. Zhang Yi laughed lightly. "Dont worry. Im not a demon. As long as you behave, I wont make things too difficult for you." "Not too difficult," he thought, "but I didnt say not at all." Yang Siya glared at him but could only pout in silent frustration. Chapter 167: Zhou Haimei Chapter 167: Zhou HaimeiZhang Yi made a three-point agreement with Yang Siya, allowing her to move in as she wished. However, Zhang Yi could sense that she still felt some shame and anger inside. After all, being a top-tier popular actress, she was tightly controlled by a man, which naturally made her somewhat unwilling. But instead of feeling unhappy, Zhang Yi found it even more enjoyable! Men inherently enjoy conquest; the more untamable the wild horse, the more he wants to tame it. This woman was damned sweet! Because of Yang Siya, Zhang Yi didnt return to Yue Lu District. On the one hand, he inquired about the situation at Cloud Manor to facilitate moving in later. On the other hand, he subtly probed Yang Siya to prevent her from becoming a threat to him. Thus, a full day passed. Zhang Yi left a room for Yang Siya, but like he did with Zhou Keer before, he didn''t give her a key. I need to go out for a while. You stay in the room and behave, Zhang Yi said, leaving some food for Yang Siya. As for the bathroom, it was not an issue since all the rooms here had private bathrooms. When the shelter was built, everything was well thought out. Hearing that Zhang Yi was going out, Yang Siya showed a nervous expression. When will you be back? After the apocalypse hit, she had spent a considerable time in loneliness and fear. Now, even though she had been taken advantage of by this bad man, as a woman, she felt a certain sense of security. Honestly, if Zhang Yi had been courteous and didnt take advantage of her at all, she would be more afraid that he had other schemes. Now that Zhang Yi was leaving, she was once again scared. She didn''t want to be alone anymore. Don''t worry, I''m just going out to pick someone up. I''ll be back soon! Seeing Yang Siya''s timid demeanor, Zhang Yi couldn''t help but smile. The hard shell on the surface was slowly crumbling. What an interesting woman! Yang Siya pursed her lips, her face showing a cold expression again as she sat primly on the sofa. Alright, come back soon. Just as Zhang Yi was about to leave, a thought struck him. He turned back to Yang Siya and asked, A lot of rich people and celebrities live here, right? Yang Siya blinked, Yes, this is the largest wealthy district in Tianhai City. Even the poorest here are billionaires! Zhang Yi nodded. A mischievous smile appeared on his lips. So, are there any big-breasted, simple-minded rich women around? Yang Siya''s eyes widened, and she stood up excitedly. Are you serious? Are you serious? If you keep joking like this, I''ll... I''ll get mad! She glared at Zhang Yi, clenching her little fists. Zhang Yi blinked, realizing she was projecting herself. Hmm, she indeed fit the big-breasted criterion but wasnt brainless. Zhang Yi explained with a smile, You misunderstood! I wasnt talking about you but other people. Yang Siya was stunned, covering her mouth in surprise and stepping back a couple of paces. You... you scoundrel! That''s too much! How long had it been, and he was already planning to find another woman? Did she have no charm at all? Ah, what am I thinking? He''s just a bad guy, a pervert! Yang Siya felt a mix of shame and anger. Zhang Yi, however, was speechless. He admitted he was a bit lustful, but not to the extent of looking for women everywhere. The reason he asked was purely out of consideration for Uncle You, hoping to find a suitable companion for him. After all, he was quite lonely. As for women, Zhang Yi wasn''t that desperate. If it werent for his youthful crush on Yang Siya, he wouldnt have let her into the shelter so easily. Honestly, even the three women he drove away had looks not much worse than hers. Moreover, their skills in that regard were undoubtedly better than hers. Its like this. I have a friend back home who has been very kind to me. But he was hurt by a bad woman and now needs some comfort from the opposite sex. I wanted to find him a companion, thats why I asked. After all, your connections among wealthy women are quite extensive. Hearing Zhang Yi''s explanation, Yang Siya realized her misunderstanding. Yet, with her current view of Zhang Yi, she still thought of him as a lustful wolf. However, since she was under his roof, she couldn''t refuse his request. Moreover, since Zhang Yi had the ability to survive in the apocalypse, his friend was likely not much worse. Introducing her friend to him could also mean saving a life. Yang Siya said, There are still some rich women around, but finding one who is simple-minded is tough. She frowned slightly, then cautiously asked, Would it be okay if she''s a bit older? Hmm? Older? Thats great! Zhang Yi hoped to find a mature, sensible woman for Uncle You, unlike Xie Limei, who was always reckless. My friend is in his fifties. He prefers mature women. Sorry, Uncle You. Even if you liked eighteen-year-old girls, I couldn''t help. Young women are too much trouble. Yang Siya sighed in relief, If that''s the case, its easier! She looked at Zhang Yi and asked with a smile, You know Zhou Haimei, right? Zhang Yi''s pupils shrank slightly at the mention of the name. Zhou Haimei was his childhood goddess! Not only Zhang Yi, but even his father liked her a lot when he was alive. Back then, Zhou Haimei was known as the nation''s sweetheart and had won many film and TV awards. Now in her fifties, she was transitioning to motherly roles but often outshined the lead actress due to her stunning looks. Even at her age, Zhou Haimei remained beautiful and voluptuous. Even Zhang Yi had to praise her mature charm. Uncle You, Ive found the best for you this time! Zhang Yi quickly had Yang Siya contact Zhou Haimei. s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Soon, Zhou Haimei arrived at Zhang Yi''s home. The once exquisite beauty looked a bit thinner and more exhausted due to the snowstorm, but deep in her eyes, there was undeniable excitement at the chance to survive. Yang Siya said to Zhang Yi, Ive explained everything to her. She has no objections. Of course, in the face of life and death, most people cannot maintain their pride and arrogance. Chapter 168: The Fishermen Chapter 168: The FishermenZhang Yi brought some food to Zhou Haimei. Seeing the food, her eyes lit up. She thanked Zhang Yi with the last bit of her dignity before sitting on the sofa and devouring the food ravenously. After she finished eating, Zhang Yi asked, You understand everything, right? Zhou Haimei nodded, Yes, youve found me a home, right? A woman in her fifties could see things more fairly. Perhaps at their age, they didnt place as much importance on so-called love. Marriage and living together were more about matching each other''s status. As long as the conditions were met, they could be together. So when Yang Siya told her that she could find her a long-term meal ticket, she agreed without hesitation. The only regret was that she initially thought the man would be Zhang Yi. With Yang Siya paving the way, Zhang Yi saved a lot of trouble. Before setting off, he sternly reminded the two women that the safety house and the shelter must be kept secret! They must not reveal it to anyone outside under any circumstances. Otherwise, it could attract greedy people to seize it. If I find out that anyone leaks information about this place, there will be no need for them to live anymore, Zhang Yi said calmly but coldly, his eyes filled with pure killing intent. Both women were terrified and quickly assured him they wouldnt do anything stupid. Zhang Yi nodded and didnt say more. These two women were not young, and having fought in the entertainment industry, they were not naive. His warning was just a precaution. After giving instructions, he sent Yang Siya back to her room and prepared to take Zhou Haimei to Yue Lu District. ... The cold wind howled, the icy northern wind carrying snow as it blew across the Lu River. Compared to when the snow disaster first hit, the snowfall had decreased significantly. After all, in the extreme cold, there weren''t many water molecules in the air to condense into ice. The low temperature continued, and the wind remained as biting as ever. Across the river from Cloud Manor was a small town called Xu Family Town. On one side of the river was the villa district where the richest people in Tianhai City lived, and on the other side was a suburban rural area. In the past, people in Xu Family Town lived by growing grains and vegetables. Every household built greenhouses, growing grains and vegetables to sell in Tianhai City. Over the years, although they weren''t as wealthy as city dwellers, their lives were decent. After the extreme cold storm hit, their lives were better than those in the city. Although they faced the same freezing temperatures, they didnt lack food. Moreover, their physical strength was better than city folks. Despite the ice and snow, they lived relatively comfortably, which was somewhat ironic. At noon, the warmest time of the day, the outside temperature rose to minus sixty degrees, and the snow slightly decreased. On the Lu River, a group of Xu Dong Village villagers appeared, wrapped tightly in their clothes. They brought five or six dogs, all sled dogs like Alaskan Malamutes and Huskies, all wrapped in cotton coats due to the low temperature. The villagers cherished these dogs, treating them better than themselves because, in the south, they were the only animals still useful for labor. However, these sled dogs were different from the goofy ones seen in normal times. Their eyes were filled with fierce hostility, their mouths revealing sharp teeth, and their fur stained with blood. Led by a fifty-something dark-faced man, the group reached the ice. The dark-faced man walked back and forth on the ice, sometimes lying down to look into its depths. After a while, he tapped a spot with the stick in his hand. Here, start digging! As soon as he spoke, a dozen people behind him moved forward. They unloaded large ice-breaking tools from the sled and placed them at the designated spot, tying them to the dogs with ropes. Run, run! The dog handlers firmly held the ropes and shouted, and the dogs began to run, pulling the ice-breakers to crack the ice. With the dogs'' strength, the ice-breaking was efficient, and soon a huge round hole was opened on the ice. Alright, weve got fish! The dark-faced man waved, and the handlers quickly stopped the dogs and lifted the icebreakers out. Under the broken ice were a dozen or so frozen fish. After the river froze, the oxygen levels in the water decreased, causing the fish to rise for air. Though they didnt find a breathing hole, they died near the ice surface, providing the fishermen of Xu Family Town with a good food source. By breaking the ice, they could dig out the frozen fish, their main protein source. Led by Xu Dahai from Xu Dong Village, the group was busy as usual. Xu Dahai, once just a fisherman with average status in the village, became an important figure after the apocalypse due to his fishing skills. For instance, he only needed to designate spots for fishing while others did the physical labor. A villager, Xu Manjin, approached Xu Dahai, chatting idly. Uncle, do you think the city folks are all frozen by now? Xu Dahai snorted disdainfully, hands in his pockets. Those city folks, they dont even know how to farm, relying on us to feed them. Now they probably cant even eat a full meal, likely frozen to death already. Xu Manjin nodded, grateful. Good thing were from the countryside. No matter how bad the weather, we have food and strength, so were not afraid of surviving! This weather is too chilling. When will it pass? Xu Manjin glanced at the luxurious villas across the river, his eyes a mix of disdain and uncertainty about the future. Surviving was true, but this wasnt the life they wanted. Xu Dahai frowned slightly, squinting against the snow. Hard to say! But in this weather, well survive. As long as we work hard, we wont starve! I remember when I was in Mohe, it was just as cold. We even swam shirtless! The men chatted idly. They used to gather and discuss international affairs, always mentioning Europe and the US, belittling other countries. But now, without news sources and no mood for foreign affairs, they only talked about the city''s suffering. S?a?ch* Th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Suddenly, a distant engine sound reached them from across the river. Though faint, it was distinct in the silent, snowy world. Xu Manjin paused, I think I hear an engine? Xu Dahai listened carefully, then looked astonished. No mistake! The sound was just like the motor on his fishing boat. At this time, how can there be a vehicle? Arent the city folks all frozen? Everyone stopped their work, looking toward the direction of the engine sound. Chapter 169: You Dare to Rob Me? Chapter 169: You Dare to Rob Me?Zhang Yi rode the snowmobile with Zhou Haimei towards Yue Lu District. Driving along the riverbank, the snow-covered Lu River looked majestic. However, there was noticeably less snow on the ice surface compared to the ground. The Lu River, connecting to the East China Sea, had a large specific heat capacity, causing its temperature to change more slowly. They even saw people fishing on the ice. As Zhang Yi observed the scenery, he felt a rare sense of human presence. However, a sudden realization struck him. "Fishermen? Have they adapted to this extreme cold?" Zhang Yi was astonished. During his month in Yue Lu District, he witnessed the misery people endured. Yet, across the river in Xu Family Town, the villagers had adapted to the cold. It wasn''t surprising, though. Farmers work year-round, getting up early to labor in the fields regardless of the weather. Their ability to adapt far surpassed that of city dwellers spoiled by air conditioning and heating. "Human adaptability is truly frightening! If it were me, I wouldn''t know how to survive a winter without heating or air conditioning," Zhang Yi mused. But his thoughts were cut short by terrifying barking from the ice ahead. Zhou Haimei screamed, pointing at the river, Dogs! Zhang Yi saw them too. Eight ferocious dogs were charging towards them, dragging two makeshift sleds with four men on them. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed, realizing trouble was aheadnot just now, but future trouble. Originally, he planned for the city''s inhabitants to perish quickly in the snow disaster, leaving him and a few others in shelters to survive. But he hadn''t accounted for the countryside adapting to the severe cold, posing a potential threat. For now, his snowmobile was a target. Hold on tight! Zhang Yi revved the engine, speeding up to avoid a confrontation. Fighting one person could lead to dealing with an entire village. He sped ahead, the dogs frantically chasing, their eyes wild with savagery. These dogs had survived many battles, even eating human flesh during desperate times, making them extremely dangerous. The snowmobile was fast, but so were the sleds. The fishermen had anticipated his path, blocking his way. One fisherman hurled a fish spear at Zhang Yi. D*mn it! Zhang Yi cursed. The spear would have taken a chunk of his arm if it hit. He swerved the snowmobile sharply, braking suddenly, causing Zhou Haimei to be thrown off into the snow. The once-famous actress cried in fear, unable to get up. Two sleds blocked Zhang Yis path, the eight sled dogs barking ferociously, baring bloody teeth. Zhang Yis scalp tingled. He feared the dogs more than the men; humans could be reasoned with, but dogs were relentless. The fishermen approached, armed and holding the dogs leashes. Leave the vehicle and the woman, then get lost! one man with a machete shouted. Zhang Yi coldly assessed them, memorizing the position of each man and dog. Then he drew his pistol, aiming at them. Fellas, let us pass. I dont want trouble, and you dont want to die. The sight of the gun made them step back. Zhang Yi gestured with the gun. How about you move aside? The four men exchanged glances, their hostility undiminished. They were survivors, not easily scared. A young man with a rogue look asked, Buddy, whered you get the snowmobile and the gun? Zhang Yi sneered, Inherited. They eyed each other, seemingly debating whether to retreat. But the lure of the snowmobile and Zhou Haimeis presence reignited their greed. The snowmobile was a top-tier vehicle, far superior to dogs. And a woman, especially a well-maintained celebrity, was a rare commodity in the apocalypse. The rogue, Xu Xingwang, said, Buddy, this is Xu Dong Villages territory. If you want to pass, pay a toll. He pointed at the snowmobile and Zhou Haimei. Leave either the vehicle or the woman! Zhang Yi couldnt believe their audacity, treating his gun as a bluff. He frowned and sneered, You see this gun in my hand, right? The four men hesitated but didnt back down. Survivors in the apocalypse were tough and bold. Another skinny man with a felt hat taunted, Who are you scaring? There are four of us and eight dogs. How many bullets do you have? Leave the woman and the vehicle, or else try your luck! Zhang Yis gaze turned icy. He saw more people coming from the river. The river was less than a hundred meters wide, with Xu Family Town on the other side. If more villagers arrived, theyd surround him. Zhang Yi could protect himself, but Zhou Haimei might be torn apart by the dogs. He took a deep breath. They were forcing his hand. With no more room for negotiation, Zhang Yi swiftly drew a second gun, shooting each of the four men in the head. They fell instantly, blood splattering. With the men dead, the eight dogs charged at Zhang Yi and Zhou Haimei, barking ferociously. S?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 170: Enmity with Xu Family Town Chapter 170: Enmity with Xu Family TownThe gunshots did not scare off the rabid dogs. Instead, they became even more frenzied, baring their teeth and lunging at Zhang Yi and Zhou Haimei. Zhou Haimei screamed, paralyzed with fear as the dogs closed in. Gritting his teeth, Zhang Yi quickly shot and killed the two dogs near Zhou Haimei. But the remaining six dogs were already upon him, making it too late to use the gun. "Dimensional Gate!" Zhang Yi shouted, opening a portal to a different dimension in front of him. The barking of the dogs abruptly vanished as they were swallowed by the portal. Zhang Yi took a deep breath. If he had been bitten on an unprotected part of his arm, he might have lost a chunk of flesh, and there was a high risk of infection. This was his first time using his dimensional ability in combat, and it proved incredibly effectivealmost invincible in terms of defense. The dogs would suffocate and die in his alternate space due to lack of oxygen. With his nerves steadying, Zhang Yi saw more people approaching from the distance on the ice. Knowing he couldnt stay, he quickly helped the terrified Zhou Haimei onto the snowmobile and sped away. He also collected the two dead dogs into his space. Not long after Zhang Yi left, Xu Dahai arrived with his men. The villagers of Xu Dong Village saw the four bodies on the ice, their eyes filled with grief. They had sensed something was wrong when they heard the gunshots. Ive always said not to act rashly when encountering strangers. Now look what happenedtheyve lost their lives! Xu Dahai said with a pained voice. The four young men had been impulsive, ignoring Xu Dahais caution and deciding to intercept the stranger with their sled dogs. Now, they lay dead. Xu Manjin looked around and noticed something strange. Where are the dogs? Where did they go? The village''s dogs were well-trained and would not run away easily. The absence of the dogs was baffling. The villagers looked around but found no trace of them. Somethings not right. This guy isnt ordinary. He had a snowmobile and a gun. Hes definitely someone special! Xu Dahai said, his face darkening. This incident would be difficult to explain to the village. No matter what, he killed our people. This wont end here! Xu Dahai declared. We should go back and inform the village chief. This guy might have extraordinary abilities, just like Chunlei. The others nodded in agreement, taking the bodies back to Xu Dong Village. Xu Dong Village, located at the eastern edge of Xu Family Town, was a remarkable sight in the snowy landscape. Hundreds of igloos of varying sizes formed a cluster, with a white castle made of snow bricks at the center, resembling something out of a Japanese anime. Inside the castle, the furnishings were also made of snow, including chairs, tables, and chandeliers. In the castle owner''s room, strange sounds occasionally emerged. Eri, naughty children must be punished! a voice said. Ah! Not there another voice responded. A chubby young man was engrossed in his laptop, surrounded by tissues. Just as he was about to reach his peak, the doora wooden boardwas pushed open. Several burly men entered, led by a stern old man with a long beard. Chunlei, something has happened! the old man announced. The young man, Xu Chunlei, was startled, his moment ruined. He quickly closed his laptop, but the sounds continued from under the covers. The burly men, seeing the scene, were taken aback, realizing they had interrupted something private. The old man, Xu Dongsheng, the village chief, scolded, Youre a grown man, yet youre still doing this! Xu Dongsheng tried to pull the blanket off Xu Chunlei, who resisted fiercely. This is my hobby! So what if Im a bit perverted? You ungrateful brat! Ive been trying to set you up with someone from the village, and you still act like this! Xu Dongsheng shouted. Who cares about those old women? I dont want them! Xu Chunlei retorted. After a brief struggle, the blanket was yanked off, leaving the men in an awkward silence, trying to stifle their laughter. Xu Chunlei, now exposed, reluctantly asked, Whats the matter? Xu Dongsheng nodded to Xu Dahai, who explained, Today, we went fishing, and Xu Kang, Xu Guangzhi, Xu Youbin, and Xu Xingwang were killed. Xu Chunleis face turned serious upon hearing about the deaths. How did this happen? We had subdued the nearby villages, hadnt we? This time, it wasnt anyone from Xu Family Town. It was someone from across the river, Xu Dahai explained, recounting the events. Xu Chunlei listened intently, his expression growing grim. Village Chief Xu Dongsheng said, This person is very strong. He killed four men and eight dogs with ease. I worry he might pose a future threat to our village. Chunlei, could this person have powers like yours? Xu Dongsheng asked. Xu Chunlei nodded. Its possible. Though I am the chosen one, there could be others with powers destined to challenge me, to make me stronger! He propped his chin on his hands, deep in thought. Perhaps this is my first trial outside the beginner village! The elders were used to Xu Chunleis dramatic expressions. Xu Dongsheng said, The Xu family must avenge our kin. No one can kill our people without facing consequences! Chunlei, this person is formidable. Its up to you to handle this. The elders praised him, boosting his confidence. Xu Chunlei, feeling proud, covered his right eye and laughed deeply. Leave it to me! Ill see just how strong I can become! Meanwhile, Zhang Yi sped towards Yue Lu District with the shaken Zhou Haimei. He felt troubled. Xu Family Town was just across the river from Cloud Manor, less than a kilometer away. Killing the four villagers could provoke a retaliatory attack. Im not afraid, but I left Yue Lu District to avoid trouble, and now Ive stumbled into new trouble. I just want a peaceful life with some beauties. Why force me into conflicts? Zhang Yi thought. He realized his abilities were more defensive than offensive, but he was nearly invincible in defense. His dimensional skills and fortified shelter were impregnable against most threats. If theyre smart, theyll leave me alone. But if they seek their own doom, Ill wipe them out completely! Zhang Yi resolved. Soon, they reached Yue Lu District. Zhang Yi parked the snowmobile outside building 25. The area was quiet since he had cleared it of threats. Building 25 was now a strict no-go zone for others. Were here. Get off, Zhang Yi said to Zhou Haimei, who was still shaken. Her heart pounded as she followed him. s?a??h th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The person I want you to meet is upstairs. Come with me, Zhang Yi said. Zhou Haimei sighed, feeling resigned. She knew she was no match for younger women but hoped to find a semblance of peace. She followed Zhang Yi up the 24 flights, pausing to rest twice along the way. Before entering, Zhang Yi checked the surveillance feed on his phone. Everything was normal. Zhou Ke''er was reading in the living room, and Uncle You was resting. Satisfied, he opened the door and led Zhou Haimei inside. Hearing the door, Zhou Ke''er looked up, her face lighting up with joy. She was about to run into Zhang Yi''s arms but stopped when she saw the woman with him. Her expression turned wary. Zhang Yi, youre back! Congratulations on your success! Zhou Ke''er said, helping Zhang Yi remove his heavy coat while eyeing Zhou Haimei. She recognized the former actress immediately, feeling a pang of insecurity. Would Zhang Yi prefer this older, still-beautiful woman? This new addition threatened her position in the household. One woman could lie low, but with two, competition was inevitable. In these times, good positions and good men were always contested. Chapter 171: Uncle You, Do You Want a Wife? Chapter 171: Uncle You, Do You Want a Wife?After helping Zhang Yi take off his coat, Zhou Ke''er clung tightly to his arm, her face full of tenderness. "Are you thirsty? Do you want a hot drink? Or are you hungry? I can make you something to eat." She pressed his arm between her ample bosom, almost completely engulfing it. Zhang Yi was somewhat taken aback; she had always been obedient, but this was the first time she had been so forward. He quickly realized that Zhou Ke''er saw Zhou Haimei as a competition. Indeed, competition breeds improvement! Zhang Yi found this amusing. With Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya vying for his favor, he would be the one to benefit. This was a classic case of "when two mussels fight, the fisherman profits." Turning to Zhou Haimei, Zhang Yi said, "You can sit here for a while." Zhou Haimei, though amused by Zhou Ke''er''s hostility, said nothing. She simply nodded and sat down on the sofa. Zhang Yi then pulled Zhou Ke''er into her room. Once inside, Zhou Ke''er stared at Zhang Yi with a jealous look. "I just realized you like mature women, don''t you?" "Don''t overthink it. I brought her to take care of Uncle You," Zhang Yi explained with a smile. "Though, you''re not wrong about my preference for mature women." Zhou Ke''er sensed there was more to his words. "Hmm?" Changing the subject, Zhang Yi asked, "How is Uncle You''s condition?" "His recovery is astonishing. Normally, it would take at least three months, but he has almost fully healed. I also injected him with a muscle relaxant as you suggested, but even that couldn''t fully contain his strength," Zhou Ke''er explained. Zhang Yi nodded, now certain that Uncle You''s mutation was a physical enhancement type. "And his mental state? Is it normal?" s?a??h th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "I haven''t noticed any changes. He seems as normal as ever," Zhou Ke''er replied. Relieved, Zhang Yi said, "That''s good!" He then instructed Zhou Ke''er to chat with Zhou Haimei in the living room to establish a good relationship since she would be Uncle You''s woman. Realizing Zhou Haimei wasn''t a rival, Zhou Ke''ers hostility vanished. She happily went to chat with Zhou Haimei, eager for some company. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi went to Uncle You''s room. Opening the door, he saw Uncle You sitting on the bed, holding a phone and laughing strangely. Hearing the door, Uncle You quickly hid his phone under the pillow. "Zhang Yi? You''re back! Why didnt you knock?" Uncle Yous face turned red with embarrassment. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, understanding what he was doing. "Uncle You, were you just reading The Spring and Autumn Annals?" Uncle You coughed, "Just passing the time. Never mind that. What kept you busy outside all day?" Zhang Yi hadnt told Uncle You about the shelter before, but now it seemed appropriate. He sat by the bed and explained the situation. Uncle You was astonished. "These rich folks really know how to prepare! I used to think they were wasting money on useless stuff, but theyve outlasted us in the apocalypse. Were the fools!" "Indeed, with their resources, the wealthy are more likely to survive," Zhang Yi agreed. Uncle You laughed heartily, "Lucky for me, I have a good friend like you. That''s why I''m still alive." Zhang Yi smiled warmly. If he had any friends left in the apocalypse, it was undoubtedly Uncle You. "So, how has your body changed recently?" Zhang Yi asked. Uncle You didnt hide anything. "My body is different. Such severe gunshot wounds, yet Ive almost fully healed in just a few days." He lifted his shirt to reveal a muscular, well-defined abdomen, still bandaged but free of bloodstains. "My strength has increased too." To demonstrate, he grabbed the iron bedframe and twisted it effortlessly. Zhang Yis eyes gleamed with interest. Such strength could easily kill a tiger in close combat! "I feel like a monster," Uncle You admitted, both thrilled and apprehensive. Zhang Yi reassured him, "Youve simply awakened a powerful ability." He explained the concept of biological mutations and shared some information he had gathered online. Understanding now, Uncle You relaxed. To build trust, Zhang Yi revealed his own mutation and demonstrated by retrieving an item from thin air. Uncle You was astonished, smacking the bed in disbelief. "No wonder you always seem to have everything! So that''s your secret!" His excitement caused the bed frame to bend under his weight. Zhang Yi watched with amusement, pleased with Uncle Yous growing strength. His loyalty and newfound abilities would be invaluable. Suddenly, Zhang Yi asked, "Uncle You, do you want a wife?" Uncle You was taken aback. "What?" "If you want, I can bring you a wife," Zhang Yi continued. "Beautiful, well-built, and maturejust your type!" With a knowing look, Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Uncle Yous eyes widened, and he swallowed hard. After Xie Limeis death, he had been deeply saddened. Being a fifty-something bachelor, finding a woman had been challenging. Now, hearing that Zhang Yi had found him a wife, Uncle You was overjoyed. "Of course, I want a wife! Where is she? Let me see her!" Chapter 172: Generous Gift of Car and House Chapter 172: Generous Gift of Car and HouseWhen Uncle You heard that Zhang Yi was sending a wife to him, he got so excited that he jumped out of bed. Zhang Yi looked at the door, "She''s right outside!" Uncle You, upon hearing this, felt a bit embarrassed. "Zhang Yi, did you explain our situation to her?" Zhang Yi felt a bit speechless inside. It''s no wonder he''s been single for over ten years; even at a time like this, he feels embarrassed. If not him, who else should be single? "Don''t worry, she knows everything. She''s willing to live with you!" Zhang Yi rolled his eyes at him. Uncle You was still slightly bashful, but Zhang Yi dragged him outside. They went to the living room where Zhou Ke''er was happily chatting with Zhou Haimei. Upon hearing the noise, Zhou Haimei turned her head to look. She and Uncle You locked eyes. Uncle You, seeing Zhou Haimei''s appearance, was momentarily confused, but soon realized who she was and opened his mouth in surprise. "You... you are Zhou Haimei?" Zhou Haimei, seeing the honest, dark-skinned man in front of her, sighed inwardly. From an aesthetic standpoint, the man in front of her was not her type. But at this moment, she had no other choice. Zhou Haimei stood up gracefully, walked over, and said with a smile, "Hello. You must be Mr. You?" Uncle You nodded quickly, like a pile-driving machine. Zhang Yi said, "You two are acquainted now. From now on, take care of each other and solve each other''s problems together." "In urgent times, I''ll skip the pleasantries." "This house will be your marital home. Live here steadily. Zhou Ke''er and I will move out for now and won''t disturb your life together." Zhang Yi didn''t want to go through the typical matchmaking routine, saving time. Moreover, from Uncle You''s excited eyes, Zhang Yi could tell that he was looking forward to spending time alone with Zhou Haimei. Hearing that Zhang Yi was leaving the house for him, Uncle You felt a bit uneasy. "This... how can I accept this? This house is your hard work!" Zhang Yi said, "I''ve found a new place. It would be a waste for this place to sit empty. You staying here will be like watching the house for me, and I''ll feel reassured!" His memories of the Yuelu neighborhood were mostly bloody. Although most of the people he killed deserved it, there were still some collateral damages. Leaving here and living in a different environment was necessary for his mental health. Zhang Yi moved close to Uncle You and smirked, "Also, with everyone living together now, isn''t it inconvenient for some things?" Uncle You licked his dry lips and nodded repeatedly, agreeing with Zhang Yi. Zhou Haimei also nodded happily. S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The house was very comfortable to live in, equipped with a fireplace and a perfect insulation system. Living here was much better than her mansion at Cloud Manor! Zhang Yi said to Zhou Ke''er, "Go pack your things. I''ll take you to the new house later!" Zhou Ke''er nodded happily and went to pack her things. Zhang Yi called Uncle You aside to explain other matters. "Before I go, there are some things I need to tell you." "First, about your abilities. You need to train and explore them yourself; they have great potential and room for improvement. The stronger your abilities, the better you can protect yourself." "Second, personal safety. Don''t have any mercy on the neighbors in this community. You''ve seen the complexity of human nature this past month. So don''t easily trust them, and don''t pity them." At this point, Zhang Yi pointed towards Zhou Haimei. "Especially don''t let a woman influence your thinking. A capable man will never lack women; you need to know who is the head of the household!" Uncle You nodded repeatedly, but whether he really took it to heart, Zhang Yi would have to see. Soon, Zhou Ke''er had packed her things. They were mostly personal items. She didn''t have many belongings, but Zhang Yi had given her many stockings and underwear, which filled up a suitcase. Zhang Yi put the items into his interdimensional space. Before leaving, he stocked the kitchen with enough food to last Uncle You and Zhou Haimei for two months. As for food after that, Uncle You would have to manage himself. After all, he was now a person with abilities and couldn''t rely on Zhang Yi forever. Leaving the house, Zhang Yi took one last look at his home. This safe house cost 8 million Huabi and had helped Zhang Yi survive many crises. Now, it seemed small and simple. But the memories of this past month were unforgettable. Zhang Yi touched the heavy metal door and smiled contentedly. Uncle You and Zhou Haimei escorted them downstairs. As they were leaving, Zhang Yi glanced at the snowmobile. He smiled and said to Uncle You, "You can''t go out looking for food without a vehicle. This snowmobile is yours!" "Feel free to visit me anytime." If Zhang Yi ever needed help from Uncle You, this vehicle would allow him to get there immediately. Uncle You was moved to tears by Zhang Yi''s generosity and repeatedly refused. "No, I can''t accept this! You''ve already given me so much, Zhang Yi. I can''t take more!" Zhang Yi said seriously, "You need to think about the future." "But if you give this to me, what about you?" Uncle You looked worried. Zhang Yi shrugged, "I''ll manage with something else." He walked to the door, and a white light flashed from his right eye, revealing a snow car in the snow. It was a snow car, not a snowmobile. With a sleek silver-grey body, it looked like a supercar. It had red sleds on both sides at the front and a combination of wheels and tracks underneath. The interior was spacious, with plenty of room for passengers. If not for the base, it was essentially a supercar! Its appearance made the difference between it and the snowmobile stark. It was like comparing a Ferrari to a Suzuki motorcycle! Uncle You, Zhou Haimei, and Zhou Ke''er were stunned. Goodness, you call this "something else"? Zhang Yi sighed and said to Uncle You, "I''m reluctantly giving you my beloved snowmobile. I''ll just have to manage with this!" "I don''t really like it; it consumes too much fuel. But what can I do? We''re good friends!" Uncle You: Ah, alright, alright Is this the advantage of having spatial abilities? It''s freaking enviable! Chapter 173: Moving to the New Home Chapter 173: Moving to the New HomeZhang Yi pulled Zhou Ke''er into the car, waving goodbye to Uncle You and Zhou Haimei. He had been reluctant to use this vehicle before, partly due to fuel economy. This large snow car consumed a lot of fuel, and driving on snow was entirely different from driving on flat ground. Plus, it had been more convenient to use a motorcycle when he was going out alone every day. However, from now on, he would hardly need to go out, so there was no need to be stingy. After Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er left, Uncle You looked at Zhou Haimei with eagerness in his eyes, making Zhou Haimei feel a bit embarrassed. "Let''s go back and rest; it''s pretty cold outside," Uncle You said, rubbing his hands and chuckling. Zhou Haimei nodded. Now, she had to adapt and live with Uncle You, regardless of the circumstances. But it only took one day for her to have no complaints whatsoever. Uncle You''s awakened ability to strengthen his physique made him exceptionally energetic. As the saying goes, women are like wolves at thirty and tigers at forty. Even a woman like Zhou Haimei, who was over forty, was thoroughly impressed by him. She decided to follow him wholeheartedly from then on. "You can''t judge a person by their appearance. You need to get to know them deeply before making a judgment," Zhou Haimei later liked to share her experiences with other women. ... Zhang Yi drove the motorhome, taking Zhou Ke''er back. Along the way, Zhou Ke''er excitedly watched everything outside. She had been confined to the neighborhood for so long, with the furthest she had ever been being the fourth floor. Now that she could go out, her mood brightened significantly as she eagerly looked around, wanting to take in all the scenery. However, soon, her eyes showed disappointment because, between the vast heavens and earth, only ice and snow remained eternal. The traces of human civilization were left as mere steel and concrete, without the bustling streets. "Zhang Yi, is our new home beautiful?" Zhou Ke''er could only place her hopes on the new residence. Zhang Yi smiled slightly. "It''s big and beautiful. It''s much more comfortable than the house we lived in before!" Zhou Ke''er''s eyes lit up. "No wonder you could be so generous! I was wondering, with your personality, how could you give away a meticulously built safe house." Zhang Yi corrected her, "I''m not giving it away, just lending it to them temporarily. If we ever need it, we''ll come back." He still had the highest authority and the key to the safe house. Whenever he wanted, he could take it back. It wasn''t that he didn''t trust Uncle You, but it''s prudent to be cautious in the apocalypse. People can change, and he had to be prepared. "By the way, there''s someone new at home. I''m telling you in advance so you can be mentally prepared," Zhang Yi said calmly. A trace of suspicion flashed in Zhou Ke''er''s eyes. "Someone new?" "Ah! I get it!" She giggled, "Is it the original owner of the house?" "No, I killed him," Zhang Yi said, suddenly remembering something and pulling over to the side of the road. If it hadn''t come up, he might have forgotten to dispose of those bodies. Zhou Ke''er didn''t know what Zhang Yi was doing. She tightened her coat and followed him. She saw Zhang Yi pull a pile of bodies from the interdimensional space and throw them down a slope into a ditch. These bodies included those who died in the shelter, as well as Wang Siming, Lin Geng, and Xu Hao. Zhou Ke''er recognized the three instantly, her eyes widening in surprise. "You mean the house is Wang Siming''s villa?" "Yeah, is there a problem?" Zhang Yi asked, habitually clapping his hands. Zhou Ke''er sighed, shaking her head. "Nothing, it''s just hard to believe someone as once influential as him died so easily." Zhang Yi scoffed, "In the apocalypse, life is cheap, and everyone dies coldly. Don''t be sentimental. Just staying alive is enough; who cares about others!" He left the bodies by the roadside, knowing they would soon be buried by snow. Back in the car, Zhou Ke''er followed him. "Is the person you left behind one of his women?" Zhou Ke''er asked, a hint of jealousy in her tone. Zhang Yi saw her pout through the rearview mirror and found her especially cute. When he first met her, she was a cool and aloof doctor. But now, their close relationship had made her reliant on him, turning her into a jealous girl. Women are indeed amazing creatures. "Don''t overthink it. I just needed someone to help with the housework," Zhang Yi explained. Zhou Ke''er pouted, her long black hair falling over her collarbone, looking like an unhappy girl. Zhang Yi felt a wave of affection. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He smiled, "Don''t be upset! She''s just a helper. The one I love most is you! My feelings for you are as high as a mountain! How could she compare?" Zhou Ke''er''s pout slowly disappeared, and she asked, "Really?" Zhang Yi nodded, "Of course! You''re young, beautiful, and became an attending physician at a top hospital at a young age. How could I not like such a wonderful girl?" Zhang Yi was good with words, effortlessly sweet-talking. Perhaps after being deceived by Fang Yuqing, he lost his awe of beautiful women. Without the burden of morality, he was naturally composed and confident. When pursuing a girl, never be humble; show confidence. Only then can you attract them. Zhou Ke''er murmured, feeling pleased by Zhang Yi''s words. Though she had a medical PhD, she was inexperienced in relationships. The end-of-the-world bridge effect made her deeply love the dangerous and powerful man beside her. She hugged his arm and rested her head on his shoulder. "I knew you liked me!" Her sweet face was full of happiness. Zhang Yi glanced at her, feeling a slight stir in his heart. Her current demeanor reminded him of his once innocent self. Zhang Yi couldn''t help but question if living selfishly was right. But soon, he felt at ease. If being selfish brought more happiness, why not? At least he had never wronged Zhou Ke''er, so he shouldn''t be considered a scumbag. Chapter 174: Ice and Snow Abilities Chapter 174: Ice and Snow AbilitiesZhang Yi drove the snow car, taking Zhou Ke''er to Cloud Manor. They had to pass the road by the Lujang River. Zhang Yi observed the river surface, feeling cautious. He had killed several villagers and eight precious sled dogs; they certainly wouldn''t let it go easily. However, as he looked along the way, Zhang Yi saw no signs of people on the river. "It''s best if they don''t cause trouble," he thought. As they drove back, the snow gradually became heavier. Recently, the snowfall wasn''t as intense as it had been initially. The moisture in the air was limited, resulting mostly in light snow or dry, biting winds. But now, the snow was getting heavier, prompting Zhang Yi to turn on the wipers to clear the windshield. The road ahead was becoming hard to see, causing Zhang Yi to frown slightly. "Why does this snow feel worse than when the snowstorm first started?" The wind and snow intensified, and even inside the car, they could hear the howling wind outside. The wipers couldn''t clear the snow fast enough, as if the snowflakes were being drawn towards the snow car. Zhang Yi realized something was wrong. "This snow... doesn''t seem natural!" Suddenly, a large snowdrift appeared ahead and crashed into the car. With a loud "bang!" the car shook. Zhou Ke''er screamed, grabbing Zhang Yi''s arm tightly. "Zhang Yi, why is the snow so heavy?" Zhang Yi''s expression turned serious. "It''s probably more than just heavy snow!" The road ahead was completely obscured, making it difficult for the car to move. This situation had two possibilities: either the snowstorm had suddenly intensified, or someone was causing trouble. In the apocalypse, with the emergence of abilities, what was once impossible had become possible. Zhang Yi''s right eye flashed with white light as he opened the interdimensional space gate in front of the snow car. The raging snowstorm was drawn into the space, disappearing without a trace. Clearing a path, Zhang Yi accelerated forward. Soon, noticing the snow car''s speed wasn''t slowing down, the snowstorm shifted direction. Zhou Ke''er looked ahead and suddenly pointed in fear, "A... a snow tornado!" A snow tornado formed in front of the car, quickly growing to dozens of meters high and heading straight for them! Zhou Ke''er turned pale with fear. In the face of such natural power, human strength seemed insignificant. Even the snow car felt like a toy. Zhang Yi knew this was no natural phenomenon but an attack from someone with abilities. Likely from Xu Family town, or possibly Cloud Manor. He needed to stay calm; panicking would be fatal. Facing his first enemy with abilities, Zhang Yi had no prior experience in such battles. Online information told him that everyone''s mutations were unique, making it impossible to predict others'' powers or their extent. The key to victory was understanding the opponent''s abilities. "My ability is absolute defense. As long as I stay calm, they can''t kill me. Their ability clearly involves manipulating ice and snow. They must be nearby to control it so precisely. I need to understand their attack methods," Zhang Yi thought, quickly assessing the situation. Facing the massive snow tornado, Zhang Yi opened the interdimensional gate in front of the snow car. The gate''s range covered the entire car, shielding it from front to back. With a "whoosh," the tornado reached them. Zhou Ke''er shut her eyes in terror, screaming. But the giant snow tornado vanished in an instant, leaving only gently falling snowflakes. Not far away, behind a snowdrift, Xu Chunlei was stunned. His seemingly unstoppable attack had disappeared suddenly. He couldn''t understand what kind of ability could negate his powerful snow tornado attack. The move had visibly drained him, leaving his face pale. The two Xu family members with him, holding homemade rifles, asked quietly, "Chunlei, are you okay?" Xu Chunlei gritted his teeth. "I''m fine! But this guy is tough. He must also have abilities, but I can''t figure out what." "Retreat!" Xu Chunlei ordered decisively. People always fear the unknown, and as Xu Dong Village''s strongest, his orders were absolute. The two men prepared to leave with him. Inside the snow car, Zhang Yi had put on tactical goggles. He took out an assault rifle from his interdimensional space, loading it with a click. "The attacks have stopped. It seems that attack was exhausting for them," Zhang Yi said. "Let''s see where they are!" Zhang Yi was a firm believer in science. Even if people gained powers through genetic mutations, they still had to comply with physical laws. Such a snow tornado required immense energy, leaving the user temporarily vulnerable. His interdimensional space was a bit of a cheat. It didn''t require energy to store or release items, merely redirecting attacks. Now was the time to counterattack. With the tactical goggles'' night vision, Zhang Yi saw three human-shaped heat signatures a few hundred meters away, across the Lujang River. Zhang Yi quickly got out of the car, aiming his rifle at the three figures and firing. "Bang! Bang! Bang!" Bullets flew through the space, one hitting a man''s leg. "He has an assault rifle!" the man screamed in pain. Xu Chunlei''s pupils shrank as he looked towards the other side of the river. At such a distance, they could barely see each other as small dots. "Too far," Zhang Yi muttered, quickly putting the assault rifle away. Despite precision aiming aids, the rifle''s performance and wind made precise hits difficult. He then pulled out his favorite sniper rifle, aiming at the middle figure, whose heat signature stood out. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 175: The First Encounter Chapter 175: The First EncounterZhang Yi pulled the bolt of his rifle and pulled the trigger. However, during the brief moment he switched guns, Xu Chunlei on the other side of the river seemed to sense the danger. With a fierce wave of his right hand, a large spiral of ice and snow whirled up, forming a thick snow mist around them, obstructing Zhang Yi''s view. The thermal signals in Zhang Yi''s tactical goggles disappeared. His shot hesitated for a moment, and although he fired, his intuition told him he had missed. Undeterred, he opened the dimensional gate and returned Xu Chunleis snow tornado back to him. Xu Chunlei was shocked. "How can he use my skill? Is he... a copy ninja like Kakashi?" The snow tornado, stronger than before, shattered the snowy mist. Despite his weakening state, Xu Chunlei hurriedly summoned more ice and snow to block the attack. Zhang Yi, holding his gun, meticulously searched for their positions, ready to take the shot as soon as an opening appeared. "Boom!" The clash of ice and snow resounded loudly, followed by swirling snow mist, like a cloud of dust rising over the Lujang River. The view was completely obstructed, leaving no chance for a clear shot. Zhang Yi frowned. Through this brief encounter, he realized that his opponent was not skilled in using their abilities. The second attack was notably weaker. Driving over to attack might successfully eliminate them, but Zhang Yi decided against it for several reasons: Crossing the river would mean entering Xu Family Town, the opponent''s territory, likely filled with traps. It was their home ground, potentially harboring unknown dangers. S~?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Zhou Xueer was still in the car. Weighing the risks, Zhang Yi put away his sniper rifle, cautiously retreated a few steps, and got back into the snow car. "If you have the guts, come after me. But next time, it will be on my turf." He quickly drove away towards Cloud Manor. On the other side of the river, Xu Chunlei, pale with fear, was filled with terror. Since gaining his abilities, he had established Xu Dong Village''s dominance in Xu Family Town, subduing surrounding villages single-handedly. This was the first time his power was countered so completely, almost costing him his life. "This isn''t how the story is supposed to go! I''m the protagonist, aren''t I?" Xu Chunlei almost wanted to cry. Next to him, a man hit by a stray bullet in the leg reached out to him, "Chunlei, stop lamenting and get me back home. I can''t make it!" Xu Chunlei wore a bitter expression, "You can''t make it? I''m barely holding on too!" The intense battle had drained him significantly; such extraordinary powers were not easily wielded. The uninjured man sighed, "Stop talking, both of you. I''ll have to take you back myself, won''t I?" He helplessly supported them, slowly making their way back to Xu Family Town. ... Zhang Yi and Zhou Ke''er encountered no further obstacles on their way to Cloud Manor. The battle had been a valuable experience for Zhang Yi, giving him a deeper understanding of his abilities. "I must train my powers thoroughly when we get back. The future world will likely belong to those with abilities." Zhou Ke''er, still shaken, patted her chest. "That was so scary. I''m glad you were there! Did you kill him?" she asked curiously. Zhang Yi shook his head. "It was too far, and it was night. I couldn''t pursue him. But I think I scared him enough not to trouble us easily." His most effective weapon against other ability users was a sniper rifle. His fighting style was best suited for defensive counterattacks or ambushes. Zhou Ke''er worried, "What if he comes back for revenge? He can manipulate ice and snow from a distance. What if he buries our place in snow?" Zhang Yi smiled faintly. "Don''t worry. Our new shelter is very safe. Even if buried in snow, it won''t affect our lives. And with my abilities, I''m not afraid of his attacks." His ability to reflect all physical attacks was like an absolute defense. Zhou Ke''er felt reassured and smiled. They arrived at Cloud Manor, and Zhang Yi led her to Villa 101. The large black villa standing in the snow filled Zhou Ke''er with anticipation. It was far more grand than their previous safe house. Zhang Yi opened the door and led her through the passage inside. "Lights on!" he commanded, and the lights in the living room lit up, revealing a luxurious space. The nine-tier crystal chandelier from abroad, costing over ten million yuan, sparkled like a piece of art. Even Zhou Ke''er, from a well-off family, was captivated by the beauty, her eyes filled with joy and curiosity. "Is this our new home? It''s so beautiful!" Zhang Yi checked the surveillance on his phone, showing Yang Siya lying on a bed in black lace lingerie, lost in thought, unaware she was being watched. Her relaxed posture and seductive figure were alluring. Zhang Yi smiled and said to Zhou Ke''er, "Wait here for a moment." He needed to introduce the two women. Zhou Ke''er nodded and sat on the sofa, curiously looking around the room. Zhang Yi went downstairs to Yang Siya''s room. Chapter 176: How Can It Be You! Chapter 176: How Can It Be You!The room in the basement was spacious, about fifty square meters. It had a double bed, a private bathroom, a desk, and a bookshelf filled with books. Yang Siya, still adjusting to her new environment, felt a mix of comfort and confusion being kept like a canary by a handsome stranger. She was somewhat at ease yet uncertain about how long this situation would last. Suddenly, the thick metal door opened with a "screech." Startled, Yang Siya quickly sat up and grabbed her clothes to cover her body. Zhang Yi walked in, glanced at her alluring figure with a smile, and said, "Come on, I want to introduce you to a friend." "A friend?" Yang Siya asked, puzzled. "You''ll understand when you meet her." Zhang Yi thought for a moment and added, "Since she was here first, you''ll have to call her ''sister.''" Yang Siya instantly understood. "Is she your girlfriend?" "Sort of, sort of." Yang Siya''s head spun at the unexpected turn of events, realizing she was stepping into a complicated situation. "Get dressed and come up quickly!" Zhang Yi said before leaving. Biting her lip, Yang Siya felt a mixture of emotions. She, a top-tier Chinese celebrity, now had to share her space with another woman. But she had no choice but to comply under the circumstances. She placed her long, black-stockinged legs on the floor and began dressing in the black dress Zhang Yi had given her. Determined, she knew that the first meeting between women often determined the power dynamic, so she decided to dress well. Back on the first floor, Zhang Yi waited patiently, understanding that women never left without taking their time. As expected, it took Yang Siya a full twenty minutes to come up from the basement. Zhou Ke''er, sitting beside Zhang Yi, was equally alert, pulling out her makeup bag to touch up her appearance. Both women were silently competing. Yang Siya entered the living room, ready to greet Zhou Ke''er with a smile, but as soon as their eyes met, the atmosphere became tense. Both women stared at each other in shock, anger, and shame. "How can it be you!" they exclaimed in unison. Zhou Ke''ers eyes were filled with anger and indifference, while Yang Siya''s gaze darted away, avoiding Zhou Ke''er''s eyes. Zhang Yi, surprised by their familiarity, asked, "Whats your relationship?" S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhou Ke''er, biting her lip, replied with frustration, "She''s my cousin!" Zhang Yi was stunned by the coincidence that the two women he had saved were cousins. "But it seems like you two have some issues," he remarked. "Yes, we have some disagreements," Zhou Ke''er said angrily, folding her arms. Sensing something was off, Zhang Yi noticed Yang Siya signaling him to come over. She pulled him aside, pleading, "Zhang Yi, please don''t let her know about us." "About what exactly?" Zhang Yi asked, feigning ignorance. "About our... arrangement," Yang Siya said shyly. Seeing their contrasting reactions, Zhang Yi''s curiosity deepened. He decided to get to the bottom of their relationship and called them over for a conversation. From their attitudes, he could tell Yang Siya was the more guilty party, while Zhou Ke''er harbored some resentment towards her. After some questioning, Zhang Yi learned the whole story. Yang Siyas mother was a Zhou, making her Zhou Ke''er''s aunt by blood. Both families were renowned scholarly households with many distinguished members. The Zhou family excelled in the medical field, while the Yang family had produced numerous professors, including Yang Siyas grandfather, a former president of Qingyuan University. The conflict arose from Yang Siya''s choice to enter the entertainment industry, which both families viewed as disgraceful. Especially for a woman to enter such a morally ambiguous field was seen as tarnishing the family name. Zhou Ke''er resented the ridicule their family faced because of Yang Siya. "People in Shengjings elite circles mocked our family because of her. Even I was ridiculed for having an actress as a cousin. How could I not be angry?" Zhou Ke''er said. Yang Siya sighed softly. "But I love acting and the spotlight. Is that so wrong?" Zhou Ke''er scoffed, "It would be fine if you were a respectable actress. But you became famous because of your looks. Don''t you know why you''re popular?" Zhang Yi''s eyes roved over Yang Siya''s body, clad in a low-cut black dress that highlighted her full bust and slender legs in black stockings. He nodded in agreement with Zhou Ke''er. Yang Siya, unable to retort, knew that from a prestigious family, becoming a star known for her body was disgraceful. She felt guilty towards her cousin, especially now that she was her cousins boyfriends mistress. Zhang Yi intervened, "Let''s not dwell on the past. Here, you are neither a scholarly lady nor a top-tier actress. Youre neighbors helping each other survive." His tone was firm, leaving no room for argument. Zhou Ke''er had to suppress her grievances, while Yang Siya looked at her with a guilty expression. Zhang Yi then assigned them tasks, mainly housekeeping and managing the garden and farmland. "Dont let those areas go to waste. Take good care of the garden and the fields. Understood?" Both women were happy to have something to do, as doing nothing would drive them crazy. Tending to plants and growing vegetables would keep them occupied and fulfilled. Chapter 177: Petty Jealousy Chapter 177: Petty JealousyZhang Yi arranged a room for Zhou Ke''er on the second floor, where his room was also located. After explaining the basic requirements, he instructed Zhou Ke''er to tidy up her room. Zhou Ke''er obediently went upstairs, and once she was out of sight, Yang Siya finally breathed a sigh of relief. She looked at Zhang Yi with heartfelt gratitude. "Zhang Yi, thank you for not telling her about us." "I already feel guilty enough towards her. So, I hope you can keep our relationship a secret from her." Knowing that Zhang Yi was Zhou Ke''er''s boyfriend filled her with a strong sense of guilt. A twisted smile slowly formed at the corners of Zhang Yi''s mouth. This house was large, but with three people living together, it would be nearly impossible to keep Zhou Ke''er from finding out. Yang Siya''s request was essentially self-deception. But why refuse her? "First of all, Zhou Ke''er and I aren''t exactly boyfriend and girlfriend," he said with a cheerful nod. "But since you asked, I''ll respect your wishes." Yang Siya was surprised at how readily Zhang Yi agreed. She let out a long breath and bowed slightly to him. "Thank you!" "Do as you please," Zhang Yi replied lazily, lying back on the sofa. Now that they were away from Yuelu Community, he could finally relax and enjoy life. With two beautiful women managing the household chores, he could spend his days playing games and eating delicious foodtruly the life of a winner! So what if the apocalypse was harsh on everyone else? It didn''t concern Zhang Yi. Yang Siya then suggested, "I''ll cook dinner." Zhang Yi was surprised. "You can cook?" With a hint of pride, Yang Siya said, "Of course! Don''t think all celebrities are useless in daily life. When Im bored, I like to cook to relieve stress." She walked to the open kitchen in the corner of the living room, bent down, and began looking for ingredients in the cabinets. "Hey? There''s no food here!" she exclaimed. Zhang Yi walked over to her. "If you need any ingredients, just let me know." With that, he pulled a large amount of food from his interdimensional space and placed it on the table. "Is this enough?" Yang Siyas eyes widened in astonishment at the sight of fresh chicken, duck, bass, pork, abalone, sea cucumber, and dried scallops appearing out of thin air. "How do you have all these things?" she asked, barely believing her eyes. She hadn''t seen such ingredients in a long time, and they were remarkably fresh. Though raw, the sight made her mouth water with hunger. "That''s how we''ll eat from now on," Zhang Yi said softly. Yang Siya felt a great sense of relief. She had expected to survive on canned food and preserved meat, but this richness made her feel much more balanced. "Okay," she said, her eyes sparkling with joy. "You get started; I''ll explain everything later," Zhang Yi said, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek before leaving. Yang Siya gave him a helpless look before eagerly selecting a few ingredients to start preparing dinner. Soon, Zhou Ke''er finished organizing her room and came downstairs. Zhang Yi noticed that Yang Siya would need some time to finish cooking, so he stretched and went to take a shower. With nothing else to do, Zhou Ke''er sat on the sofa and turned on the TV to watch some recorded shows. Zhang Yi, fresh from his shower and now in comfortable pajamas, found the atmosphere quite enjoyable. Yang Siya was still diligently cooking in the kitchen, putting extra care into the meal, likely out of guilt towards Zhou Ke''er. But Zhou Ke''ers resentment was not easily dispelled. When Zhang Yi was not around, the two women did not speak a word to each other. Zhou Ke''er sat on the sofa with her back to Yang Siya, turning up the TV volume. Zhang Yi observed the situation with amusement. He walked over to watch Yang Siya cook. Several dishes were already prepared, and the aroma was mouthwatering. "You really cook on your own?" he asked, surprised. In his mind, such a celebrity should never have to cook. Yang Siya smiled slightly. "The Yang family has strict household rules. I learned to cook from my mother when I was very young." Zhang Yi raised his eyebrows, pleased. The household indeed needed a good cook. Neither he nor Zhou Ke''er were particularly skilled in the kitchen, and eating their own cooking every day would get boring quickly. ... Feeling content, Zhang Yi retrieved a bottle of beer from the fridge and sat beside Zhou Ke''er on the sofa. Zhou Ke''ers face showed a wary expression as she kept her eyes glued to the TV screen. Zhang Yi noticed her expression and smiled oddly. "Dinner''s ready; come eat," Yang Siya called out, trying to sound cheerful. Zhou Ke''er bit her lip, reluctant to get up, but Zhang Yi pulled her over. Yang Siya adjusted her hair, looking slightly embarrassed. She wondered if Zhou Ke''er had noticed anything between her and Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, with a cheerful smile, pulled Zhou Ke''er to sit beside him. "Come, try the celebrity chef''s cooking." There were six dishes on the table: braised bass, stir-fried kidneys, pork with jellyfish skin, and black fish egg soup. Zhou Ke''er tasted the bass and scoffed, "Too salty! How can anyone eat this?" Yang Siya lowered her head, pushing rice around her bowl, unsure of how to respond. Zhang Yi could see she was flustered. Yang Siya had indeed been startled earlier, making it hard to gauge the seasoning properly. Zhang Yi inwardly smiled. He intended to stir up jealousy and competition between the two women. If they became too friendly, they might team up against him. Discovering that they were cousins had made him more cautious. He realized he could become an outsider if they united. S?a??h the n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. While the possibility of them overthrowing him was slim, especially with all the supplies in his interdimensional space, he believed caution was always wise. So, he purposefully showed affection to Yang Siya in Zhou Ke''er''s presence to maintain a delicate balance of rivalry. With a mischievous smile, Zhang Yi took a piece of stir-fried kidney and offered it to Zhou Ke''er. "Here, try this! It''s really good for you." Zhou Ke''ers expression softened a bit. She opened her mouth, allowing Zhang Yi to feed her. "Ah!" Zhang Yi laughed, putting the food in her mouth. She chewed, licked her lips, and gave him a seductive look before glancing at Yang Siya, as if declaring her territory. Zhang Yi felt ecstatic. Creating a competitive environment was indeed the best way to keep everyone motivated. Chapter 178: Love is a Disease Chapter 178: Love is a DiseaseThat night, Zhang Yi slept in Zhou Ke''ers room. He knew he had to balance his attention between the two women to maintain harmony. Zhou Ke''er leaned against Zhang Yi, looking up at him with wide eyes. "Zhang Yi, do you love me more or her?" Zhang Yi smiled and patted her head. "Silly girl, of course, I love you more! How could she compare to you? You are my precious healer. She''s just an actress; it''s nothing serious." "But you two look like a couple in a TV drama," Zhou Ke''er remarked. "Silly, don''t overthink it. How can you doubt your place in my heart?" Zhang Yi reassured her. His words werent entirely untrue. From a practical standpoint, Zhou Ke''er was more valuable to him than Yang Siya. Yang Siyas only advantages were her cooking skills and celebrity status. Hearing his words, Zhou Ke''er beamed with joy and hugged him tightly. "I knew you loved me the most!" Zhang Yi smiled faintly at the sight of the little woman in his arms. Love? He shook his head, indifferent to the concept. He thought to himself, "I dont need love, nor do I have time for it. I am a man; sometimes, I need a woman. But once my desires are satisfied, I am ready to move on to other things. Women only talk about love because they can do nothing else, elevating it to an absurd level. They try to convince us that life revolves around love. In reality, love is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. I only understand desire. That is natural and healthy. Love is a disease." ... In the following days, Zhang Yi kept a close watch on the relationship between Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya. To fuel their rivalry, he deliberately showed affection to Yang Siya in Zhou Ke''er''s presence. Even subtle gestures like a glance or a touch would stir Zhou Ke''ers jealousy. Zhou Ke''er never complained to Zhang Yi, but her jealousy deepened her hostility towards Yang Siya. Meanwhile, Yang Siya, burdened by guilt and undeserved animosity, diligently did most of the housework, empathizing with Zhou Ke''er''s feelings of losing her man. Zhang Yi enjoyed this dynamic. Yang Siyas lingering celebrity pride was slowly being eroded by Zhou Ke''er, reducing the risk of the two women teaming up against him. A harmonious household was not his goal; he preferred them divided, ensuring his dominance. Zhang Yis days were filled with leisure activities: playing cards, badminton, and video games with the women. Zhou Ke''er developed a keen interest in video games, often seen lounging in her pajamas, engrossed in various games with Zhang Yi. The ability user from Xu Family Town never reappeared, likely deterred by Zhang Yi''s formidable defenses. Life for the trio was comfortable and pleasant. Yang Siya, out of guilt, took on most of the household chores, and Zhou Ke''er didn''t hesitate to let her. This arrangement suited Zhang Yi perfectly, as Zhou Ke''er''s medical skills were invaluable. Yang Siya proved not to be just a pretty face; she had a keen sense of quality living, excelling in cooking and gardening. She turned the neglected garden into a thriving space, with Zhang Yi providing seeds from his interdimensional space for her to cultivate. In his spare time, Zhang Yi focused on two activities: gathering global intelligence using his supercomputer and training his abilities in the underground gym. He thought this peaceful life would continue indefinitely, safe and self-sufficient in their secure shelter until the apocalypse ended. But one day, a phone call shattered this tranquility. While practicing precision shooting with a composite bow in the basement, his phone rang unexpectedly. It wasnt a regular call but a traditional phone call, which was unusual. He hadnt received calls from anyone familiar for years, relying on voice messages instead. In the current apocalyptic world, there were no service calls or scams. So, where was this call coming from? Curious, Zhang Yi saw an unfamiliar number with no saved contact. His instinctive caution in the apocalypse made him wary. The caller must have bad intentions. He considered the risks and hung up. But the phone rang again almost immediately. "Who could be so desperate? A familiar face perhaps, surviving and needing to contact me?" Zhang Yi doubted the likelihood. Even if it were an old acquaintance, he had no interest in helping. He hung up again and blocked the number. Yet, as he was about to put his phone away, it rang again from the same number. Zhang Yi was genuinely shocked. He had already blocked the number; how could they call again? Swallowing hard, Zhang Yi realized something strange was happening. His mind echoed one thought repeatedly: Dont answer! Taking a deep breath, he hung up and re-blocked the number, convinced he must have made a mistake earlier. He watched the number enter his blacklist, then stared at his phone screen. If it rang again, something was truly off. Moments later, the phone rang with the same number. S?a?ch* Th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi''s heart pounded. This was truly abnormal. Chapter 179: Strange Call Chapter 179: Strange CallZhang Yi was utterly speechless. There were indeed many things in this world that he couldn''t understand. "Why didn''t you answer my call?" a ghostly voice emanated from his phone. The call had connected on its own after the number dialed in again! s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi felt a chill run down his spine, but he quickly calmed himself. As bizarre as this situation was, there could still be an explanation. If the caller was a hacker, they could potentially manipulate his phone in such a way. "Who are you?" Zhang Yi asked coldly. The person ignored Zhang Yi''s question and began reciting some information. "Zhang Yi, born in 2025, currently 25 years old, resident of Jinwan District, Tianhai City, living in Room 2401 of Building 25, Yuelu Community..." The person accurately listed Zhang Yi''s personal details, which confirmed to Zhang Yi that he was dealing with a top-tier hacker who had somehow accessed his personal information through the Internet. Listening to this recital, Zhang Yi''s initial alarm gave way to a sense of calm. He had nothing particularly noteworthy in his past. Knowing his details was one thing, but what could anyone really do with that information? He was confident enough to challenge, "So what if you have my details? You think that will make me send you supplies? If you''re so bold, go ahead and expose them. Let''s see if I''m scared!" There was a brief pause on the other end before the voice resumed. "I also know that you''re currently staying in Room 101 of Cloud Manor. That house belonged to Wang Siming, whom you''ve killed, right?" A cold glint flashed in Zhang Yi''s eyes. The fact that the caller knew his current location was alarming. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. He had been careful not to let anyone know his whereabouts, understanding the added danger each new person knowing posed. "Who are you and what do you want?" Zhang Yi demanded, his tone colder now. Sensing Zhang Yi''s change in tone, the caller grew more confident. "I''m your current neighbor. I also live in Cloud Manor. But you''d better not get any ideas. I can expose your information at any time." "I suppose you wouldn''t want others to know about your residence here, right?" Zhang Yi realized why the person had found him and painstakingly gathered his personal information. If the caller was indeed in Cloud Manor, this was manageable. Zhang Yi could find an opportunity to eliminate this threat. "So, is that all you wanted to say? What do you really want?" Zhang Yi pressed. "Simple. I see you have plenty of supplies and can afford to keep women around. I want you to share some of your supplies with me," the caller said. "Share with you? Why should I?" Zhang Yi sneered. "You think just because you have some information on me, you can make demands? Even if you expose me, it won''t matter much." "Well, what if people find out you have the stolen supplies from the Walmart warehouse?" the caller suggested, his tone turning smug. The mention of the Walmart warehouse made Zhang Yi more cautious. He had looted the entire South China warehouse of Walmart three days before the apocalypse, amassing goods worth billions. These supplies were his lifeline, ensuring his survival. "You''re talking nonsense. The Walmart warehouse heist involved a massive amount of goods. Do you really think a small-time supervisor like me could have done it?" Zhang Yi replied, feigning ignorance. The caller, sitting in a dimly lit room with only the glow of a laptop screen, grinned. "No need to play dumb with me. That heist is definitely linked to you. Even if you''re not the mastermind, you have a significant amount of those supplies!" "Even a single shelfs worth from that warehouse would be enough to last you a year," the caller continued, his small eyes gleaming with intelligence behind thick LOTOS glasses. "I won''t hide my identity. I''m Lu Fengda from Zhiyun Group. You''ve heard of me, right?" Zhang Yi had more than just heard of him. Lu Fengda''s name was renowned. Zhiyun Group was one of the top three information security firms in the country, and Lu Fengda was its powerful chairman. With someone like Lu Fengda involved, it made sense how Zhang Yi''s phone had been hacked. But there was a more pressing concern: if Lu Fengda could hack his phone, could he have also breached the security of the shelter, which was managed by a supercomputer? The shelter had been built by a top security company at a cost of $10 billion, complete with independent large-scale servers. It should have robust network security measures in place. Moreover, Lu Fengda didn''t seem to be at his office but rather at home, lacking the network infrastructure to perform such advanced hacking. If he had control over the shelters network, he wouldnt need to contact Zhang Yi via phone but would instead directly demonstrate his power over the shelters systems. This deduction gave Zhang Yi some reassurance. "Ah, Mr. Lu. I''ve heard a lot about you. No wonder you could hack my phone," Zhang Yi said, maintaining a calm demeanor. "For survival, I had no choice. You have plenty of supplies, enough for two women. One more mouth to feed shouldn''t be a problem," Lu Fengda said. "Provide me with supplies, and I''ll keep your secret. Plus, I can help secure your network from future hacks. What do you think?" Zhang Yi wasnt about to admit any involvement with the Walmart heist. Lu Fengda was likely bluffing to get a reaction. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. I have no connection to any warehouse theft. But let''s say hypothetically, what if I don''t cooperate?" Zhang Yi asked, testing the waters. "Think it over. I''m sure you dont want to risk your current comfortable life. I can be a valuable ally or a dangerous enemy," Lu Fengda replied, his tone menacing. Zhang Yi realized he needed to handle this carefully. He needed to find a way to eliminate this threat without compromising his position. Chapter 180: Extortion Chapter 180: ExtortionZhang Yi calmly said, "Mr. Lu, don''t joke around like this. Do you think a small manager like me has that power?" Lu Fengda snorted coldly. "Zhang Yi, I''ve lived many years and seen more things than you can imagine. Do you think I''d say this without evidence?" "Let me tell you, through your phone network, I can gather much information about you." He spoke firmly, "You definitely have the stolen goods from the Walmart warehouse!" Killing intent filled Zhang Yi''s eyes as he cursed inwardly: Damn old man! I''ll definitely kill you! Cloud Manor truly lives up to its reputation as the top wealthy district in Tianhai City, with hidden talents everywhere. This was something Zhang Yi hadn''t considered, and he couldn''t have anticipated it. The world is unpredictable! Zhang Yi knew he couldn''t hide things any longer and coldly replied, "I do have some of the goods, but I sold most of them for cash. After all, there''s not enough space at home to store everything." Lu Fengda nodded, finding this explanation reasonable. He didn''t believe all the stolen goods were in Zhang Yi''s possession because, in his logic, there was no such thing as a spatial ability. "That doesn''t matter. As long as I spread the word, your life won''t be easy." "So, do you agree to my terms?" Zhang Yi knew that Lu Fengda could spread the word and possibly let everyone know he had the stolen goods. Not to mention, the whole city of Tianhai would covet his goods. If investigated deeply, his spatial ability could be exposed. That would be the end! Zhang Yi knew there were many powerful forces hidden in Tianhai City. Those with power and influence were lying low, armed to the teeth. Even with strong protection, Zhang Yi didn''t want to invite trouble. He rubbed his forehead and said to Lu Fengda in a deep voice, "Fine, I can give you some goods. But you must keep this absolutely secret! Otherwise, I''ll kill you first!" Lu Fengda was ecstatic and repeatedly agreed, "Don''t worry, I''m not stupid. This matter stays between us. Let''s work happily together, haha!" Seeing his goal achieved, Lu Fengda laughed heartily. Then he started listing his demands, "I need food, white liquor, underwear, and cotton socks... Bring these to me." Zhang Yi asked, "How should I deliver these to you?" Lu Fengda hesitated momentarily and said, "I live in Villa 302. Drop the goods at my door!" "Don''t try any tricks, or I''ll expose your secret. Then you''ll have no peace!" Zhang Yi said, "Rest assured, I''m living quite comfortably now and don''t want any trouble." After saying this, Zhang Yi hung up the phone, his eyes filled with intense killing intent. He had been extorted! Lu Fengda must die, no doubt about it! Killing intent flooded Zhang Yi''s mind. He wanted to grab a gun and storm into Lu Fengda''s house to kill him immediately! But reason told him this was unwise. Lu Fengda, an old fox, wouldn''t give his address if he feared Zhang Yi would come after him. Zhang Yi took several deep breaths. He rubbed his head, feeling unable to stay calm, his thoughts overheating. Thinking this, he left the basement to find Zhou Ke''er. Zhou Ke''er was sitting on the couch in the living room reading a book. She wore a light purple tank top and shorts, her long, smooth legs crossed on the couch, her fair feet delicate and cute. Zhou Ke''er, with her model''s body, had particularly eye-catching legs, which Zhang Yi liked the most. He walked over, covering her face with his hands from behind and kissing her lips hard. Sweet, cool, and tasty. "Baby, I need to talk to you about something." Zhou Ke''er smiled, curling her legs up and tilting her head, "Sure!" Zhang Yi sat next to her, took her water cup, and drank a sip. "Here''s the thing, our location has been discovered." He briefly explained Lu Fengda''s situation to Zhou Ke''er, hiding his plundering of the Walmart warehouse. He only told her that Lu Fengda knew he had a lot of goods and was blackmailing him. After listening, Zhou Ke''er also felt it was troublesome. Zhang Yi said, "You''ve dealt with people like this more than I have. In your understanding, what will he do?" Zhou Ke''er thought seriously for a while before cautiously sharing her thoughts. "I''ve indeed dealt with such people. They may not be as omniscient as ordinary people think, but their intelligence is definitely high!" She looked at Zhang Yi and added, "And their moral standards are extremely low!" "A person with high moral standards cannot be a successful businessman." s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi nodded, "I understand that!" Countless well-known entrepreneurs have ended up in jail. The dirty secrets behind the scenes are unavoidable. Without a low moral baseline, building a big business is impossible. "I want to kill him. But I''m worried he has contingencies, so I don''t dare to act." "But letting him live means being blackmailed by him, which I absolutely cannot tolerate!" Zhou Ke''er nodded. She understood Zhang Yi''s temper. "His greatest threat to you is his information. If leaked, it could pose a threat to you, right?" Zhang Yi nodded, "Exactly." Zhou Ke''er frowned, lightly biting her pinky finger, mumbling, "That would be terrible!" "What do you mean?" Zhang Yi asked. Zhou Ke''er looked at him, her eyes shining. "I heard a story before. An internet mogul was colluding with a corrupt official. Later, the official was investigated, leading to the mogul. To eliminate evidence, the official had the mogul killed. But eventually, the evidence in the mogul''s possession was exposed online!" Zhang Yi said, "I seem to have heard that story too. The mogul stored evidence on a cloud drive with an automatic upload program. Only by manually stopping it daily could he prevent it from uploading." "So, once he died, the evidence spread online the next day." Zhou Ke''er nodded. "That''s my biggest fear! Even if you kill him, it might not stop our information from leaking!" Chapter 181: Truth Hidden Among Lies Chapter 181: Truth Hidden Among LiesZhang Yi fell into silence. The current dilemma left him with no perfect solution. If he didn''t kill Lu Fengda, he would be at the mercy of his blackmail. Lu Fengda, an old fox who had long dominated the business world, was far more skilled in scheming than he was. Over time, Lu Fengda would only take more and more from Zhang Yi. But if he killed him, Zhang Yi worried about the risk of his secrets being exposed. It felt like a Trisolarans'' dilemma: having the power to easily destroy the opponent but not daring to act out of fear. Zhou Ke''er frowned slightly, also trying to come up with a solution for Zhang Yi. Feeling frustrated, Zhang Yi grabbed one of her white, tender feet, playing with it to help him think. Zhou Ke''er''s face blushed, and her thoughts started to scatter. Her beautiful eyes showed a hint of seduction as she looked shyly at Zhang Yi. "If we can''t think of a solution, maybe we should relax first. There''s no rush. We can pretend to cooperate with him for now and slowly figure out a countermeasure." Zhang Yi shook his head. "Dragging it out too long isn''t good for us. The key is, if I can''t find a way to resolve this, I''ll feel stifled." Neither of them could come up with a good idea. At this moment, Yang Siya returned from the botanical garden. Seeing Zhang Yi looking so serious on the couch, she couldn''t help but ask, "Is something wrong?" Zhang Yi looked at Yang Siya. He still didn''t fully trust her and hadn''t planned to discuss this with her. However, an extra mind might bring more ideas, and Yang Siya, with her rich social experience and background as a boss, might offer some useful suggestions. "Honey, come here! I need to discuss something with you." Zhang Yi called Yang Siya over to sit beside him and briefly explained the situation. Hearing what Lu Fengda had done, Yang Siya also frowned deeply. "This is really tough! He''s a very cunning person and must have precautions against you." She sighed, "This is what we call ''a lie spreads fast, the truth takes time to catch up.'' Those of us in the entertainment industry have suffered a lot from this. It''s truly hateful!" Yang Siya''s offhand remark sparked an idea in Zhang Yi''s mind. A flash of inspiration hit him. "Wait a minute! You mentioned spreading lies?" Yang Siya said, "Yes, isn''t he spreading your information just like those unscrupulous media in the entertainment industry spreading rumors about celebrities?" "He doesn''t have any solid evidence, does he?" Zhou Ke''er snorted disdainfully. "The problem is that even if it''s a lie, once it''s out of Lu Fengda''s mouth, people will believe it." Zhang Yi propped his chin on his hands, his mind racing. "Lu Fengda has my information, but it''s not solid evidence. However, if spread, it could still cause trouble. We can''t stop him from spreading it; we don''t have a computer expert to counter it. But if we treat it as spreading rumors, we might have a way!" Zhang Yi''s eyes began to shine as a plan formed in his mind. Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya looked at him curiously. "What are you planning to do?" Zhang Yi smiled mysteriously and didn''t tell them. "I need to prepare first. I''ll let you know when I''m ready!" He kissed both women on the cheek. Having someone to brainstorm with was indeed better than racking his brain alone. He then left the living room and headed to the control room on the first floor. After closing the door and ensuring no one could disturb him, he took out his phone and dialed Lu Fengda''s number. The call was quickly answered. "Hey, Zhang Yi, is everything ready?" Zhang Yi, sounding impatient and irritated, said, "Why are you so anxious? Do you really think I have that much stuff? Damn it, if you didn''t have dirt on me, I''d kill you!" Zhang Yi''s hostile tone angered Lu Fengda, who laughed loudly, "You stupid kid! If you kill me, you won''t last long either!" "I''m telling you, don''t even think about it. Once I''m dead, your information will automatically be sent to every phone in Tianhai City within 24 hours!" "Imagine the consequences then!" Within 24 hours. Zhang Yi quickly grasped the concept. It seemed Lu Fengda had set the information to auto-upload after their call. S?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Hmph, you''re ruthless! Wait for a while, and I''ll send the stuff." Zhang Yi hung up, a smile playing on his lips. He then turned on the supercomputer in the control room. This computer had a built-in server and could connect to the global internet via the Nebula Satellite Network, naturally covering Tianhai City. After a moment of thought, Zhang Yi devised a plan. He didn''t know much about computers but enough to use them. For instance, posting on the few remaining city forums and using mass messaging software to send messages to everyone. "South China Walmart warehouse theft mystery solvedconfirmed as internal theft, goods transferred back home early." "Where did Walmart''s hundred-billion-yuan goods go? According to eyewitnesses, armed forces appeared that night for a secret escort. Police remain silent." "Revealed! Tianhai City''s biggest theft case is connected to the snow disaster, with UFO sightings." Zhang Yi racked his brain to create various sensational news. The best way to bury the truth was to hide it among a heap of lies, making it impossible to discern. It might not deceive everyone, but it would make most people think it was all nonsense. Thus, Lu Fengda''s delayed information could not be trusted, greatly reducing Zhang Yi''s exposure risk. Zhang Yi edited and saved the content but didn''t send it out immediately. The target audience was everyone in Tianhai City, the only ones who could pose a threat in this frozen world. "So far, this should do it. I''ve done all I can. Whether it succeeds depends on fate!" Zhang Yi prepared for the worst outcome. However, Lu Fengda had to die! Chapter 182: Sniping Chapter 182: SnipingZhang Yi followed Lu Fengda''s instructions and packed the necessary supplies into a canvas bag. After gearing up, he carried the bag and walked towards Lu Fengda''s residence. Zhang Yi was extremely cautious, holding a riot shield to prevent potential gunfire from Lu Fengda. Step by step, he approached Villa 302, placed the canvas bag on the steps at the front door, and then walked away from the villa. He went a considerable distance before hiding behind a pine tree. The branches, covered with snow, provided excellent visual cover. In his hands appeared a sniper rifle wrapped in white cloth. This was no longer the police sniper rifle he had used before but a military model with better adaptability to extreme environments, ensuring optimal performance. Kneeling and using a branch as a support, he aimed at the canvas bag at the door. From 500 meters away, as soon as Lu Fengda appeared, he could take the shot. After making all the preparations, Zhang Yi took out his phone and texted Lu Fengda, "The items are at your door." There was no response. Zhang Yi frowned slightly, holding the gun, waiting quietly for Lu Fengda to appear. However, there was no movement from the house after a long time. "Hmm?" Zhang Yi found this unusual. Was it possible that the old man hadn''t received the message? Instinctively, he wanted to call Lu Fengda, but he stopped himself when he touched his phone. "No, if I call or send another message, it would imply that I know he hasnt picked up the items yet. If he''s doing this on purpose, hell suspect I''m nearby." Zhang Yi took a slow breath, his eyes still glued to the scope. "Wait a bit longer! He wouldn''t risk his life to contact me for supplies if he wasnt going to come out. Unless he''s already dead." Zhang Yi kept kneeling, never taking his eyes off the canvas bag. Luckily, he wore the best winter gear, or his right leg would have frozen within ten minutes. Minutes passed slowly. After about fifteen minutes, the door to Villa 302 finally opened slowly. The barrel of a double-barreled shotgun cautiously scanned the surroundings before a short old man emerged from the house. Lu Fengda''s face was easily recognizable to anyone who had been online, confirming his identity immediately. He looked down at the canvas bag, preparing to pick it up. "Bang!" The deafening sound echoed through the neighborhood as Lu Fengda''s head was blown open, his body collapsing and crashing against the door before falling heavily to the ground. Seeing the successful hit, Zhang Yi quickly packed up his sniper rifle and pulled out an assault rifle, charging towards Villa 302. He first shot Lu Fengda in the head again, then decisively rushed into the house. Lu Fengda''s villa wasn''t as large as Wang Siming''s shelter, but it was still spacious. Zhang Yi was looking for the computer capable of sending timed messages. He searched every corner, destroying any electronic device he found immediately. He quickly reached Lu Fengda''s room, where he saw a large computer tower and three monitors on a workbench. Raising the butt of his gun, Zhang Yi was about to smash it but hesitated. Lu Fengdas computer was likely valuable and contained precious data. "I''ll store it in my alternate space; the information inside won''t be able to be sent out that way!" Zhang Yi was frugal, never wasting even a grain of rice, so he stored the entire computer in his alternate space. After doing this, Zhang Yi exhaled deeply. "Now, its up to fate!" He had destroyed all physical devices, but Lu Fengda might still use cloud-based technology. Zhang Yi wasn''t familiar with high-tech computer systems and was unsure if Lu Fengda could manage this. Given that Lu Fengda was a top computer expert in the country, this was a strong possibility. "I need to get back and spread disinformation online. Even if my info gets out, I need to create enough confusion to cover my tracks." Zhang Yi left Lu Fengda''s house, leaving his corpse with blood already frozen into crimson ice crystals at the door. He searched the body, finding an expensive Patek Philippe watch worth at least millions, and a high-quality jade Guanyin pendant, worn so much it had developed a patina. He also found a phone in his pocket. Zhang Yi tossed the Patek Philippe watch and phone into his alternate space but left the jade pendant with Lu Fengda as a burial item. In the apocalypse, luxury items were less valuable than a piece of bread. Zhang Yi then returned to the shelter and began spreading disinformation online. By the time he finished, night had fallen. Zhang Yi cracked his neck, stretching as he left the control room. Zhou Ke''er approached, concerned. "Zhang Yi, what have you been doing in there for so long? You must be hungry. I made bullwhip stew and chicken soup. Come have some!" s?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled, "Sure, I am a bit hungry." Having two considerate women at home made life worth protecting at all costs. Yang Siya was also in the living room. They knew Zhang Yi was handling something crucial, so they waited for him to finish. Zhang Yi sat at the table; one woman handed him chopsticks while the other served him soup. As Zhang Yi drank the soup, he asked, "Have you received any messages on your phones?" Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya both said they had received messages about a theft at a Walmart warehouse. "A bunch of random stuff, several messages. We don''t know what it means!" Zhou Ke''er looked puzzled at her phone. Yang Siya added, "It seems like someone''s trying to cover something up." Zhang Yi took a sip of turtle soup. The soup was indeed delicious. "Exactly, it''s a cover-up. Those are the smokescreens I released." Over the next 48 hours, hundreds of messages would be sent across Tianhai City''s social forums and to everyone''s phones. Since he couldn''t completely prevent Lu Fengda from sending messages, he would bury the truth in a sea of useless information. Chapter 183: Setting Traps Chapter 183: Setting TrapsZhou Ke''er, resting her chin in her hands, pondered aloud, "But won''t this just make people more suspicious?" Yang Siya also frowned slightly. "Yeah, suddenly stirring up this topic could easily draw attention." Zhang Yi ate a fish ball and replied calmly, "Attracting attention is unavoidable. Whether I send these messages or not, Lu Fengda will spread information anyway. By releasing these smokescreens, I can confuse the situation. With so much information out there, I doubt anyone has the energy to verify each piece." S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. He sipped his soup. "Moreover, compared to the big organizations and enterprises in Tianhai City mentioned in the messages, the possibility of me acting alone becomes the least likely." Yang Siya''s eyes lit up as she looked at Zhang Yi. "That''s really smart! It''s like in our entertainment industry. If a scandal breaks out but a bigger celebrity makes headlines, the previous story quickly gets forgotten." She leaned on the table, her small, white hands propping up her chin, inadvertently revealing her impressive cleavage, showing a large expanse of fair skin and deep valleys. As she gazed at Zhang Yi''s profile, a look of admiration appeared in her eyes. It seemed the man before her was not only handsome and capable but also very clever. At that moment, Zhou Ke''er looked at the information on her phone and tilted her head. "But all these messages are coming from your computer. If someone traces the IP address, won''t they find you immediately?" Yang Siya''s expression changed subtlety. She was right. Whether Zhang Yi sent the messages anonymously or from multiple accounts, the IP address remained unique. If someone with the right skills or organizational capabilities investigated, they could easily pinpoint Zhang Yi as the culprit. His suspicion would then be the greatest. Zhang Yi''s face remained impassive as he continued drinking his soup. Zhou Ke''er sensed the tension and quickly apologized. "I didn''t mean it like that! Given that there are probably very few people left alive in Tianhai City, and even fewer who understand how to trace IP addresses, your approach is still very successful, Zhang Yi!" Zhang Yi took another sip of soup, picked up a piece of turtle shell, and began to gnaw on the skin. In a composed tone, he said, "Unless the world reverts to a primitive state, or we live like cavemen, it''s impossible to hide our tracks completely. I never expected to deceive everyone entirely. But by doing this, I can at least make most people less likely to suspect me first." "As for those powerful organizations with strong network capabilities, it''s inevitable that we''ll come into contact with them." Zhang Yi had already come to terms with this. Even in an apocalyptic world, network communications still existed, and finding someone was not too difficult for high-level officials. If not for the unexpected appearance of Lu Fengda, Zhang Yi thought he could have enjoyed a peaceful year or so. Instead, his tranquil life was disrupted in less than half a month. He had no regrets. He despised feeling coerced, so killing Lu Fengda was a necessary action. "And although I dislike the idea of anyone discovering our shelter''s location, with this stronghold, no one can threaten our safety unless they have top-tier armed forces." His combat skills and an almost inexhaustible supply of food and a shelter built for $1 billion, capable of withstanding nuclear attacks, were his ultimate safeguards. Seeing Zhang Yi''s calm demeanor, Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya felt reassured. No matter how smart they were, they were still women. In times of crisis, most women tend to rely on men, except a few strong individuals. "Knowing you have things under control, we feel at ease!" Yang Siya said, patting her ample chest with a happy expression. Zhang Yi glanced at her with a smile. "Don''t be too happy yet! While I''m confident in defending this home, you can''t just sit idly by!" Yang Siya blushed, gently biting her lip and glancing at Zhang Yi, hinting that others were present. Zhang Yi felt a bit speechless. Good grief, was that all she thought about? In reality, Yang Siya was quite innocent. She felt she couldn''t help Zhang Yi much, aside from doing household chores every day. Raising his hand, Zhang Yi flicked her smooth forehead. "I need you to help me set traps!" "Ouch!" Yang Siya covered her forehead, casting a reproachful look at Zhang Yi. She and Zhou Ke''er looked at him in confusion. "Traps?" Zhang Yi nodded. "This house has incredible defensive capabilities, built to withstand nuclear war or large-scale natural disasters. But it lacks adequate defense against human threats, which is understandable given Huaguo''s strict weapon controls." "So, I plan to set up tight traps around the shelter." A cold glint flashed in his eyes. "If anyone dares to come after us, they''ll never leave!" Zhou Ke''er immediately nodded. "Zhang Yi, tell me what I can do to help!" Ever since Yang Siya arrived, Zhou Ke''er had felt a growing sense of urgency, becoming more proactive in helping Zhang Yi. Yang Siya added quickly, "I don''t know much about traps, but I''ll do my best with whatever task you give me!" Zhang Yi nodded. "Alright then." He retrieved a large pile of items from his alternate space, mostly hardware products. "Clatter" The floor was soon covered with items, including dozens of boxes of steel nails as long as a palm, ropes, steel wires, and animal traps. The two women were dazzled by the array. Zhang Yi picked up a 20-centimeter steel nail from the floor and said, "Setting traps in this snowy terrain is the hardest for anyone to notice!" "Let me teach you how to do it. Listen carefully and remember the positions when setting the traps. Otherwise, if we accidentally fall into our own traps one day, it''ll be disastrous!" Chapter 184: Setting Traps Chapter 184: Setting TrapsZhou Ke''er and Yang Siya realized that real danger might be approaching, making them extremely vigilant and focused on learning. Zhang Yi took out a wooden board and a hammer. "Nails scattered on the ground won''t hurt anyone! So, you need to nail them to the boards. Once buried in the snow, they can instantly pierce through someone''s foot!" "But using just nails isn''t enough. They''re too smooth and can be easily pulled out." Zhang Yi explained while taking out a box of long screws. "Combine these with the nails. The nails have better penetration, while the screws increase the damage. Understand?" The two women listened attentively. Seeing the sharp nails and the spiral grooves on the screws, they could imagine the excruciating pain when pulled out, taking chunks of flesh with them. Yang Siya''s feet instinctively curled up at the thought of such pain, while Zhou Ke''er, being a doctor, was more composed. Zhang Yi took a few minutes to craft a simple trap with the board and nails. "We need to make at least 1000 of these nail traps! Spread them within a 100-meter radius around the villa!" Next, he pulled out a large animal trap with jagged, sharp teeth that looked terrifying. "You''ve seen these on TV. They can snap a wolf''s leg clean off. For humans, it can pierce through flesh and hit bone, essentially incapacitating a person." S~?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "These need to be placed within the inner ring of the nail traps to avoid being detected by probing tools." "You two handle these traps while I take care of the rest!" Zhang Yi instructed. Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya nodded and started making the nail traps, hammering away diligently. Zhang Yi was also busy, observing the terrain outside from a window. The only routes to Villa 101 were two pathways. Zhang Yi recalled finding two explosive landmines in the Tianhai City military armory, perfect for burying in these routes. Caution was paramount; the mines could destroy tanks and armored vehicles, let alone people. Zhang Yi realized the traps'' first use would be the most effective. If someone used tools to clear the nails, he needed a countermeasure. After half a day, the three finished making 1000 nail traps. Yang Siya''s hands were blistered, but she didn''t complain, knowing her value to Zhang Yi was less than Zhou Ke''er, a doctor. She needed to prove her worth to maintain Zhang Yi''s favor. Zhang Yi appreciated her effort, even if he didn''t say it. "Alright, let''s get to work!" They put on their winter gear and went outside to set the traps around Villa 101. Zhang Yi meticulously supervised their placement and corrected any mistakes. "The nail boards shouldn''t be too loose! Ideally, when someone steps on one, they fall and land on another, which could pierce their chest, face, or neck, killing them instantly." "Bury the boards just enough to cover them. The snow will hide them completely soon." Despite this being Zhang Yi''s first time setting traps like these, his survival experience in the cutthroat environment of Yuelu District had given him a wealth of knowledge in killing enemies effectively. Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya followed his instructions carefully, though they were nervous about stepping on the traps themselves. Zhang Yi kept a close watch to ensure their safety. Once the nail traps and animal traps were set, Zhang Yi cautiously avoided them and moved to the two pathways. Using an entrenching tool, he dug two deep pits over a meter deep and carefully placed the explosive mines inside. Fully armored for safety, with a dimensional gate ready to absorb most of the blast if something went wrong, he buried the mines and smoothed the surface with snow to leave no trace. These remote-detonated mines wouldn''t go off from pressure but could be triggered electronically by Zhang Yi when needed, making them perfect for ambushing large groups or powerful enemies. Next, Zhang Yi devised a plan to prevent anyone from clearing the traps with tools. He tied steel wires to grenade pins and buried them in the snow. Whether kicked or triggered by tools, these would explode, creating further obstacles. After meticulously placing about 30 grenade traps around Villa 101, Zhang Yi ensured that anyone approaching would have to sacrifice many lives, possibly dozens. "That should do it," Zhang Yi muttered, exhaling a breath of white steam. The traps might be less effective against professional armed forces, but approaching the villa would be lethal for untrained enemies. Zhang Yi had two more defenses besides the traps. He glanced back at the fortress-like shelter, its 10-meter-long tunnel equipped with sleep gas, tear gas, and high-temperature flamethrowers capable of melting steel. And the final line of defense was Zhang Yi himself. Chapter 185: Waiting Chapter 185: WaitingAfter setting up the traps, the three of them returned to the room. Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er were participating in this kind of dangerous activity for the first time. Moreover, someone might die because of the traps they set up. This feeling made them extremely nervous, but also inexplicably excited. After all, they had never experienced anything like this before. Yang Siya''s eyes sparkled with a complex light, even showing some eagerness. "Zhang Yi, when will the enemy come?" Yang Siya asked, her eyes filled with anticipation. Zhang Yi couldn''t help but laugh at her hopeful expression. "I wish I had wasted my efforts, but you seem to be hoping they will attack us." "However, it probably won''t be soon," he added, pointing to his head. "Anyone with a bit of sense wouldn''t easily attack at a time like this. Anyone who has survived until now isn''t simple." Yang Siya propped her chin on her hand, looking out the window. "Is that so?" She wasn''t sure if she wanted someone to step on her traps or if she preferred to stay in a peaceful yet boring safe environment. As she was lost in thought, she suddenly heard a piercing noise. Turning her head, she saw Zhang Yi installing door bolts with a welding machine in the corridor. "What are you doing? Aren''t these two thick metal doors secure enough?" she asked. Zhang Yi thought of the late Lu Fengda. Continuing to install the door bolts on both sides of the corridor, he replied, "Most areas of this villa are automated. Someone who hacks into our control center could easily open these two doors. Sometimes, technological advancements bring great flaws, but the basic principles of physics don''t lie!" He installed three door bolts in the corridor, each inserted with ten-centimeter thick construction steel bars. Even if someone got to the corridor, breaking all three steel bars in a short time would be impossible. S~?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Better safe than sorry!" Zhang Yi said, taking a deep breath with a serious expression. Seeing how cautious Zhang Yi was, Yang Siya felt somewhat speechless, while Zhou Ke''er, already used to it, looked at Zhang Yi with admiration in her eyes. Thinking carefully, Yang Siya realized that Zhang Yi''s actions made sense. A very cautious and death-fearing man might live longer than the average person. Looking at the layout inside and outside the shelter, Zhang Yi felt much more at ease. The only thing that still worried him was network security. "It would be great to have a network expert here!" Zhang Yi couldn''t help but mutter. Hearing this, a hint of sadness appeared on Yang Siya''s face. "Xinxin is pretty good with networks. Unfortunately..." Zhang Yi looked over at her. "What happened?" Zhou Ke''er suddenly remembered something and asked Yang Siya, "Isn''t Xinxin studying in Tianhai City? Do you know how she''s doing? Is she... still alive?" Zhou Ke''er''s voice grew weaker as she spoke. Under the blizzard, how many people could survive? If not for meeting Zhang Yi, she might have become a frozen corpse by now, or worse, someone''s food. Seeing Zhang Yi''s questioning gaze, Zhou Ke''er explained. Yang Siya had a cousin, Yang Xinxin, who studied in Tianhai City. Yang''s family was well-educated; everyone was a genius except for Yang Siya, who entered the entertainment industry due to poor academic performance. Zhou Ke''er, for instance, had already earned a PhD from a top medical school at 26 and was a chief physician in a top-tier hospital. Yang Xinxin, 18, attended Tianqing Academy, a prestigious school in Tianhai City. Despite her physical disability due to polio, she was exceptionally smart with a talent for computers, winning numerous international awards by 16. According to Zhou Ke''er, she was also a top hacker, responsible for hacking the White House''s website two years ago and placing the Chinese flag on it. Hearing Zhou Ke''er''s story, Zhang Yi couldn''t help but marvel at the disparity between people. "So, where is she now? Can you find her?" Zhang Yi urgently needed a computer expert to secure his network. Yang Siya, closing her eyes in pain, slowly shook her head. "She''s been out of contact for a long time. After the snowstorm hit, I tried to reach her, but there''s been no word. She would have found a way to contact me if she were alive. The fact that she hasn''t..." Yang Siya''s voice choked, her eyes tearing up as she turned away. Zhou Ke''er, too, looked sad. Although she didn''t often contact Yang Xinxin, they were still cousins. Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then said to Yang Siya, "Maybe she just doesn''t want to deal with you?" "Huh?" Yang Siya expected comfort but was surprised by his nonsensical question. Angrily stomping her foot, she shouted, "Why are you saying that?" Zhang Yi replied calmly, "Think about it: everyone in your family is a genius, but you''re just a fool in their eyes. If they were in trouble, who would seek your help?" "You... you''re so mean!" Yang Siya couldn''t help but punch Zhang Yi lightly in the chest. It felt good. Keep going! The previously heavy atmosphere lightened up. Zhang Yi still felt some regret. If Yang Xinxin were still alive, having her join the team would be beneficial. Being paralyzed, she wouldn''t threaten him much, and given Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er''s beauty, she probably wasn''t bad-looking either. Genes don''t lie! "Such a pity!" Zhang Yi sighed. But since he couldn''t get what he wanted, there was no point in dwelling on it. The shelter already had a strong firewall. Without a top network expert, it wouldn''t be easily breached. "From now on, we have only one taskwait!" Zhang Yi said, squinting his eyes deeply. Chapter 186: Developing Superpowers Chapter 186: Developing SuperpowersEverything that happened next unfolded exactly as Zhang Yi had predicted. As it turned out, Lu Fengda had set up an automatic message-sending program. Twenty-two hours after his death, the program sent a message to everyone in Tianhai City. The content of the message revealed Zhang Yi''s identity, current location, and the news that he might possess a large amount of stolen goods from the Walmart warehouse. Zhang Yi had been expecting this message. When he finally saw it, he felt a strange sense of relief. According to Lu Fengda''s message, it only mentioned that "Zhang Yi possesses some of the stolen goods from the Walmart warehouse, a significant quantity." The term "significant quantity" did not mean "all," and it wasn''t quantified. After all, Lu Fengda himself had no idea how much Zhang Yi actually had, and he couldn''t have imagined that Zhang Yi possessed a space superpower. "This is a good thing! At least it lowers the level of danger I''m facing," Zhang Yi thought. In this age of extreme scarcity, if people knew he had an entire super warehouse''s worth of supplies, no one in the world would remain calm. However, Zhang Yi had already buried Lu Fengda''s message under a sea of fake information. Ordinary people or forces would find it difficult to discern the truth from the mass of misinformation. s?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "If someone can find me, they definitely aren''t ordinary, or they have a computer expert," Zhang Yi murmured. But all of this was within his calculations, so it was unsurprising. Zhang Yi put his phone aside and looked at a target 400 meters away. A target at this distance looked no bigger than a mosquito''s head. Yet, it already had seven or eight arrows stuck in it. Zhang Yi raised his high-tech compound bow with his left hand and took an arrow from the quiver at his waist with his right hand, placing it on the bowstring. Thanks to the pulley system, drawing the compound bow was quite easy. His gaze was intensely focused, and a strange power surged into his right eye, attaching itself to the arrow with his will. "Whoosh!" The arrow flew out swiftly, seemingly wrapped in an invisible force that made it fly even faster. "Thud!" The arrow hit the target squarely in the center, its tail shaking violently. After more than half a month of relentless training, Zhang Yi had developed some new abilities from his superpowers. This was an extension of his "precision shooting" ability, a power that could affect space. By deliberately attaching his superpower to objects, he could enhance their power. For flying objects, it also increased accuracy, as if he could influence their movement in space with his will. For instance, the effective range of his highly accurate compound bow was originally 200 meters. But with his superpower, the range extended to 400 meters! This level of precision rivaled that of a regular sniper rifle. And when Zhang Yi used a sniper rifle, its power naturally doubled. The bow and arrow were merely training tools. In a real fight, using a gun would undoubtedly be more efficient. But through continuous practice, his precision shooting ability had given him a pleasant surprise. By amplifying the accuracy and power of flying objects, he wondered what would happen if he applied this ability to melee weapons or even his own body. This thought quickly became an obsession. Zhang Yi started experimenting on himself bit by bit. The results were astonishing! His accuracy undoubtedly improved. For example, he could precisely chop a vertically standing coin with a hunting knife. Moreover, when he wrapped himself in his superpower, air resistance greatly decreased, allowing him to move at twice his normal speed. As a famous naval admiral once said, "Speed is power." Although his physical strength hadn''t increased, doubling his speed also doubled his destructive power. Faster speed also meant better evasion, making escaping much easier. "My superpower may seem simple, but it has limitless potential for development," Zhang Yi thought, increasingly pleased with his abilities. He felt that he had only scratched the surface and that many more abilities were yet to be fully developed. What would it be like if he could completely master his superpowers? He couldn''t even imagine. "Grumble" Zhang Yi''s stomach suddenly growled. Rubbing his belly, a wave of uncontrollable hunger hit him. Zhang Yi stuffed two chocolate bars from his space into his mouth. Although the newly developed abilities were exciting, they were also extremely energy-consuming. Power came from cells, and since he couldn''t photosynthesize, he had to gain energy from food. Using his powers required eating more to replenish his strength. As he munched on the high-calorie chocolate bars, Zhang Yi thought, "Even for superhumans, food is essential to replenish strength. In other words, no matter how powerful we are, without enough food, we can''t use our superpowers." He suddenly laughed, "Who would have thought that in the end, the decisive factor for the strength of superhumans would still be the amount of food?" Looking at the massive training ground, Zhang Yi squinted his eyes contentedly. "In that case, doesn''t that make me invincible?" At least in a battle of attrition, he was unbeatable. ... Everyone still alive in Tianhai City recently received countless messages about the theft at Walmart''s South China warehouse. These messages were overwhelming, with hundreds arriving in just two days. Most people were puzzled, not knowing where these messages came from or what they meant. However, some astute individuals sensed something was amiss. After all, all the platforms that generated spam messages were gone, and very few could spread messages so widely. The words "Walmart warehouse" carried immense allure at such a time. When the incident happened, it caused a huge stir in Tianhai City. It was said that the stolen goods were worth billions! "If we could find those supplies, we could live comfortably in this post-apocalyptic world!" Many people reached the same conclusion. Chapter 187: The West Hill Base Chapter 187: The West Hill BaseThe widespread rumors caught the attention of some keen individuals. They sensed that these rumors were deliberately concealing something. However, with hundreds of messages, they couldn''t verify each one, leaving most people helpless. Yet, some managed to extract useful information through analysis. Fifty-two kilometers west of Cloud Manor lies the West Hill area, named after the mountain range. Since the 1960s, Tianhai City officials had built shelters across various locations. Initially, the goal was air defense and protection against nuclear attacks. According to data, Tianhai City now has 356 shelters. However, most of these shelters are simple air raid shelters and underground emergency facilities, lacking substantial food supplies and being quite basic in construction. These are for ordinary city residents. In contrast, special shelters for military and high-ranking officials were far superior in security and resource supply. One such shelter lay 200 meters underground in West Hill. Although the entire West Hill was now covered in snow, many people still lived underground. This vast underground facility could accommodate over ten thousand people and resembles a grand subterranean city. Constructed from the sturdiest alloy, it was like an underground fortress. Inside the West Hill organization''s leader''s office, a middle-aged man in a gray Zhongshan suit with slicked-back hair was reading a document behind a mahogany desk. A cup of hot tea was beside him, and the room''s temperature was pleasant, making it impossible to feel the cold outside. The room''s decor was antique, with even the centuries-old bookshelves. This man was Chen Xinian, a former high-ranking official of Tianhai City and now the leader of the West Hill organization. Chen Xinian glanced occasionally at the computer screen on his desk while reviewing the document in his hand. "Is the base''s energy problem still unresolved?" he muttered. "The power supply can be supplemented by the people in the Fourth Life Pod generating electricity, but without access to large amounts of fossil fuel, the troops can only travel by foot or dog sled." "And relying solely on manpower to generate electricity won''t cover the future energy shortfall of the base," he mused. Quickly, he devised a solution. He picked up his Hero pen and wrote his directive on the document. "Increase the working hours in the Fourth Life Pod to 12 hours daily to earn nutrient solutions. Additionally, cut off their power supply for six hours each night to reduce unnecessary energy consumption." After signing the document, Chen Xinian placed it on a pile of papers on his desk. Just then, his secretary, Ge Rou, knocked and entered, placing a report in front of him. "Leader, we have results regarding the previously received information." "Most of the messages originated from Villa 101, Cloud Manor, in Lijiang District. However, one message came from the phone of Lu Fengda, Chairman of Zhiyun Technology, located at Villa 302 in Cloud Manor." Chen Xinian nonchalantly accepted the report. "Tell me about Zhang Yi mentioned in this message." He was too lazy to read the detailed report, so he focused when he heard Lu Fengda''s name. Ge Rou recited Zhang Yi''s information meticulously. When Chen Xinian learned that Zhang Yi was merely a small manager at a Walmart warehouse in Tianhai City, his interest waned. "A mere warehouse supervisor couldn''t be behind this. Even if he gained something, it wouldn''t be significant." "He probably embezzled supplies during his tenure and has been living off those stolen goods," Ge Rou added, nodding in agreement. Chen Xinian smiled knowingly. "This is all a plot by the Americans. They must have sensed something was wrong before the gamma rays arrived and hoarded supplies. But trying to create supernatural events is just self-deception!" Ge Rou flattered him, "How could they know their foolish actions had long been seen through by you, Leader?" "Should we investigate Zhang Yi?" Ge Rou asked. Chen Xinian tapped his desk thoughtfully. "Send a few people to check out Lijiang District. We haven''t searched that area yet. We might find some supplies." Ge Rou nodded, "I''ll arrange for a team to investigate immediately!" This matter wasn''t of great concern to Chen Xinian, and Ge Rou went to make the necessary arrangements. Xu Family Town, Xu Dong Village. The villagers received those hundreds of messages, too. The messages were no different from spam for these long-isolated villagers, and they didn''t pay much attention. Instead, the constant notifications irritated them. Only one person took it seriouslyXu Chunlei, the top fighter of Xu Dong Village and an ice-elemental ability user. After his last fight with Zhang Yi, he had warned the villagers about Zhang Yi''s formidable strength. Despite their resentment over their kinsmen''s deaths, the villagers, led by Xu Dongsheng, decided to lay low temporarily due to their fear of Zhang Yi. S~?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Life in Xu Dong Village returned to normal. It was sustained by stockpiled vegetables and grains and fishing on the ice, which ensured they didn''t worry about food. However, the otaku Xu Chunlei was deeply troubled. "Wasn''t I supposed to be the chosen one, with top-tier abilities and countless beauties at my command? Why do I have to run when facing him?" His frustration was compounded by the villagers'' disappointment in him, which stung his sensitive nature. So, upon receiving a lot of information and noticing the mention of Cloud Manor, he suspected a connection to the mysterious figure who had scared him off. "What if I analyze this information and find something useful?" Xu Chunlei, being a computer-savvy otaku, decided to dig into the data, having little else to occupy his time. He was a disciplined person, limiting himself to only five or six self-rewards a day. With plenty of free time, he began analyzing the messages. Chapter 188: Xu Chunlei Discovers a Secret Chapter 188: Xu Chunlei Discovers a Secret"I... I found it!" Xu Chunlei exclaimed excitedly as he sat in front of his computer. He adjusted his glasses, his chubby body shaking with excitement. Zhang Yi wasnt skilled with computers, so he hadnt encrypted the messages he sent. Cracking Zhang Yi''s IP address was easy for Xu Chunlei, and he quickly discovered that the hundreds of recent messages originated from two IP addresses. Most came from a single computer, with only one message from a different IP address. Following this lead, Xu Chunlei easily uncovered Zhang Yis identity. "Zhang Yi, Walmart warehouse supervisor..." The name sparked a glint in Xu Chunlei''s eyes, and his excitement grew. "The Walmart warehouse theft! Over a billion worth of goods were emptied overnight!" He had once thought it was a case of the thief crying "thief," but now it seemed this Zhang Yi was highly suspicious. Xu Chunlei, an anime and manga enthusiast with a wild imagination, got up and paced the room, his chubby body wobbling with each step. After a few steps, he got tired and plopped back into his chair. "Could he really have emptied the entire Walmart warehouse?" he pondered. "With abilities like these, anything previously impossible becomes plausible. But to pull off such a feat, he''d need spatial abilities, like a vacuum cleaner capable of holding vast amounts of items." He remembered the fight where his attacks suddenly vanished in front of Zhang Yi but were later returned. "Its not just about deflecting attacks; its like storing them somewhere and releasing them later," Xu Chunlei thought, his eyes shining brighter. "I get it! He must have spatial abilities, and all the stolen goods from the Walmart warehouse are probably in his hands! That would also explain how he owns a luxurious snowmobile, which is rare in the south." Xu Chunlei''s face quivered with excitement. But then, reality set in, and he slumped back into his chair, feeling disappointed. "Compared to his abilities, my ''Snow Blast'' is not on the same level. Could it be that he is the protagonist, and Im... the villain?" This thought sent chills down his spine as he recalled countless games he had played. "In games, there are always mini-bossestougher than regular enemies but ultimately there to give players experience points." Realizing his inferiority, Xu Chunlei grew fearful. "I must never cross him again. I should try to befriend him instead. And I need to warn the whole village not to provoke him!" Worried about the village''s daredevils, Xu Chunlei left his house immediately to find Xu Dongsheng, the village head and patriarch of the Xu family. Xu Dongsheng greeted him warmly, surprised to see him out. "Chunlei, it''s rare to see you outside! If it werent for your mother making you go for a walk, youd never leave the house." S?a??h the ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Gasping for breath, Xu Chunlei said, "Grandpa, something big has happened, and I need to tell you." Xu Dongsheng stroked his beard and smiled, "Oh, what''s the big news?" Usually, he wouldn''t take Xu Chunlei''s words seriously, but given Chunlei''s abilities, Xu Dongsheng decided to listen. Xu Chunlei urgently shared his findings with Xu Dongsheng. "Grandpa, Zhang Yi is very powerful. His abilities counter mine completely. We must avoid any conflict with him!" "Xu Dong Village is just across the river from Cloud Manor. You should inform the villagers to stay away from that place, even when fishing!" he advised. Xu Dongsheng, however, was fixated on another detail. "So, youre saying that the Walmart warehouse theft was his doing? And the stolen goods worth billions are with him?" Xu Chunlei, in his earnestness, nodded, "Based on my analysis, that''s the most likely scenario! Only a spatial ability user could empty a giant warehouse in such a short time!" Confirming this, Xu Dongsheng''s eyes sparkled with a sly glint. He stroked his beard and mused, "If we could get those supplies for Xu Dong Village, they would last us years!" Realizing where the conversation was heading, Xu Chunlei grew alarmed. "Grandpa, you mustn''t get any ideas about him!" Xu Dongsheng dismissed his caution. "Chunlei, youre too timid! Our village has hundreds of residents and thousands more in Xu Family Town! Do you think one person can stand against so many?" Xu Chunlei hesitated, unable to argue. "But I can feel that he is very dangerous!" Scoffing, Xu Dongsheng replied, "He has broken your courage! In my youth, the nearby villages fought fiercely, often dragging back the dead. We fought over water, land, and even minor disputes!" Recalling those times fondly, he continued, "For the survival of Xu Dong Village, we would give our lives!" Chapter 190: The Power of Traps Chapter 190: The Power of TrapsZhang Yi''s senses were the sharpest. Upon hearing the sound, he immediately looked out the window. The outside was pitch black, making it difficult to see anything in the distance. He stood up silently and said, "I''ll go check it out. You two keep eating." Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya glanced curiously out the window but saw nothing in the dark. Zhang Yi slowly ascended to the second floor. Keeping the lights off ensured the floor remained dark from the outside. He stood by the window, pulling out his infrared binoculars to scan the villa''s surroundings. Under the night sky, numerous red silhouettes were slowly encircling the villa. A smirk appeared on Zhang Yis face. "They arrived faster than I expected!" He had already guessed their identity. Only the residents of Xu Family Town could have reached here in just two days. And only such short-sighted people would rush in without proper investigation. "If you''re so eager to die, then come on!" A murderous gleam flashed in Zhang Yis eyes. Anyone who disturbed his peaceful life deserved to die! Moreover, such a large force was definitely not here for a friendly visit; they were here to rob him of his supplies! "Ordinary people can''t threaten the safety of the shelter. Let''s see if any ability users from their village have come. If they have, Ill take this opportunity to eliminate them!" Zhang Yi put away his binoculars and retrieved a tactical visor and a sniper rifle from his dimensional space. Setting the rifle on the window sill, he aimed through the thick nano-grade bulletproof glass. He waited for the right moment to open the window and take out the ability user. As for the other cannon fodder, hed let them test the effectiveness of his traps first. Meanwhile, the first team from Xu Family Town had reached the outskirts of Cloud Manor and were on the edge of Zhang Yis trap zone. Seeing the brightly lit villa in the distance, they felt like they were dreaming. In the post-apocalyptic world, they had survived by building an ice village with Xu Chunleis abilities, relying on ancient fishing techniques and stored food. They couldnt imagine someone still enjoying such a luxurious lifestyle! A villager couldn''t resist and took a step forward. Suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his foot. "Ahhh!" he screamed, falling to the ground. The others quickly checked and found his foot impaled by a wooden plank covered with sharp steel nails that had pierced through his foot. The villagers face turned pale. In this severe cold, such a severe injury could be fatal. "Quick, carry him back!" The team leader ordered, and they angrily cursed Zhang Yi. "Despicable! Setting traps in the snow!" "Notify everyone to be careful. The ground is filled with nail boards!" Commanding from the rear, Xu Dongsheng issued orders upon hearing the news: "Proceed with caution. That man is prepared, but such elementary traps wont stop us! Move slowly. Use sticks and branches to clear the traps." The six teams, approaching from different directions, intended to surround Zhang Yis shelter. Following Xu Dongshengs orders, they improvised toolssticks, shovels, and branchesto clear the snow-covered traps. Zhang Yi observed all of this. S?a?ch* Th? N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "They think they''re smart? The second wave of traps activate," Zhang Yi muttered mockingly. Why wouldn''t he have accounted for that if they knew to clear traps this way? The first group acted as sappers, clearing several nail boards from the snow. Encouraged by their success, they sped up. Suddenly, one person felt resistance from his stick, like it had hit a string. The buried wire triggered a grenade. "Boom!" An explosion ripped through the night, sending nearby people flying. "Bombs!" shouted the panicked villagers, retreating in fear. However, they barely took a few steps before sharp pains struck their chests and faces. Inspecting themselves, they found their chests covered in blood. Although they avoided the blast, they were struck by shrapnel. "Ahhhh!" The air filled with screams of agony. The commotion unsettled the other teams. Another unfortunate villager triggered another grenade, causing another explosion that killed or injured over ten more people. "Bombs! We cant move forward!" In terror, many villagers scrambled to retreat. But in their panic, they stepped on the nail boards again, not fully cleared before. Losing direction in the dark, they stepped into the traps, nails piercing their feet and causing them to fall, some even landing face-first onto the nails. "Ahhh!" screamed one unfortunate man, blind and desperate, trying to pull the nails from his face. In his struggle, he ripped off his skin, leaving a bloody eye hanging. The villagers, never having seen such carnage, were utterly terrified. While they had fought with neighboring villages, those conflicts were over resources and land, not intended to kill. Zhang Yis traps were designed to kill from the start. The scene turned chaotic, with people inadvertently injuring each other in their panic, resulting in more deaths and injuries. In the first moments alone, the Xu Family Town lost over ten people, with twenty more injured, and they had barely reached the outskirts of Villa 101. Chapter 191: Greed is a Deadly Poison Chapter 191: Greed is a Deadly PoisonThe villagers of Xu Family Town suffered heavy casualties, with the ground littered with the wounded. Though they were alive, their agony was worse than death. Some had their feet impaled by the traps and were trying to pull out the nail boards to stop the bleeding. The boards were not just studded with smooth nails but also with threaded screws. Any forceful attempt to remove them only made things worse, tearing the flesh like barbed hooks. "How did it come to this?" they wondered. They had always been victorious in their skirmishes around Xu Family Town, never facing such a humiliating defeat. Finally, someone realized the core issue. "Chunlei didn''t come!" The moment this was said, everyone understood. Xu Chunlei, with his ability to manipulate ice and snow, was like a cheat code in these wintry conditions. Their strength had never been their own; it was always because they had Xu Chunlei. The leaders of the teams, with grim faces, decided to temporarily retreat. They approached Xu Dongsheng. "Village Chief, we need Chunlei! Theres still over a hundred meters to go, and we don''t know how many more traps are hidden beneath the snow. We need Chunlei to clear the way!" Everyone started speaking at once, urging Xu Dongsheng to call for Xu Chunlei. Xu Dongshengs expression soured. He had harshly scolded Xu Chunlei earlier, calling him a coward and declaring that Xu Family Town could take down the shelter without him. Now, after the first wave of attacks, the villagers were at a loss. In the shelter''s second-floor window, Zhang Yi, holding his sniper rifle, watched silently. "Why hasnt the ice and snow ability user made a move yet?" There were too many people for him to identify the ability user. If the user revealed themselves, Zhang Yi could quickly target them. The distance from the villa to the frontline of the villagers was less than 200 meters. Even if the ability user was cautious and attacked from a greater distance, as long as it was within 2000 meters, Zhang Yi could still take the shot. "Hurry up and come," Zhang Yi muttered. Meanwhile, Xu Dongsheng faced mounting pressure from the villagers. Asking him to seek help from Xu Chunlei? The thought of a grandfather begging his grandson was unbearable. He gritted his teeth, unable to bring himself to do it. S~?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Are we helpless without Chunlei?" he barked. "This guy laid traps around his house, but in our youth, we set snares and traps in the mountains. Its nothing new! Lets move forward slowly, dismantle every trap. Hes here; he cant escape!" The villagers were apprehensive, but Xu Dongsheng handed his binoculars to a nearby man. "Take a good look inside that villa." The man eagerly took the binoculars and looked towards the villa. Through the brightly lit windows, he saw a lavish interior, warm and inviting. He saw two stunningly beautiful women sitting at a table, eating and occasionally glancing outside. The table was covered with delicious, steaming food. "Gulp" The man swallowed several times, drooling over the food and the women. Others grabbed the binoculars, each seeing something they desired: food, a warm and comfortable home, and the beautiful women. "If you can get past those traps, everything in that villa is yours!" Xu Dongsheng declared, pointing at the villa less than 200 meters away. The villagers were tempted. Returning home after losing so many people felt unacceptable. "But the traps and bombs in the snowhow do we deal with them?" someone cautiously asked. Another suggested, "Lets call Chunlei. His abilities can clear the snow, exposing all the traps." Nods of agreement followed. Xu Dongshengs face reddened. As the elder of the Xu family and the village chief, his pride was at stake. Asking Chunlei for help was out of the question. "Humph! Cowards!" he spat. "It seems without Chunlei, the rest of you are useless! If anyone is scared, go back and spare us the shame!" His harsh words stung the villagers, who felt both ashamed and angry. "Were not cowards, Grandpa!" a young man shouted. "Ill capture Zhang Yi myself!" Driven by anger, the young men grabbed their tools and turned to clear the traps. Xu Dongsheng nodded approvingly. "That''s the spirit! Be careful, and these traps will be nothing!" Learning from the first wave, the villagers became more cautious. They started throwing chunks of ice ahead of them, triggering traps from a distance and paving a safer path. Zhang Yi watched their efforts from the shelters second floor, noting their strategy. "The ingenuity of common folk," he thought. "This method will neutralize many of the traps. But high-tech traps won''t be so easily overcome." The villagers moved forward, clearing more traps and even triggering a few grenades, which boosted their confidence. Xu Dongsheng smiled triumphantly. "Keep moving! Hunters, stay ready. If Zhang Yi fires, shoot back immediately!" Xu Dongshengs cousin, Xu Dongping, an old hunter, grinned, holding his ancient rifle. "Dont worry. If he shows his face, Ill put a hole in his head!" Chapter 192: Your Tribesmen Are Flying Chapter 192: Your Tribesmen Are FlyingThe villagers from Xu Family Town continued dismantling traps as they advanced. By using thick blocks of ice and snow to pave the way, they managed to cover the nail boards hidden underneath. Although Zhang Yi''s traps were relatively simple, they were easy to neutralize once revealed. He noted this for future improvements. There were two routes from outside Cloud Manor to Villa 101: the south gate and the west gate. All the villagers from Xu Family Town had come from the south, so they were now concentrating on the southern route. Zhang Yi wasn''t particularly concerned about them. The villagers couldnt fathom the strength of a well-fortified shelter. They probably thought it was just another concrete structure, easy to breach. Their ignorance would be their downfall. Through his sniper scope, Zhang Yi continued to scan the area, particularly wary of the ice and snow ability user he had encountered before. But despite waiting, he saw no sign of any significant changes in the snow or weather. "Is he waiting for me to show myself, or did he not come at all?" Zhang Yi wondered, slightly puzzled. The name Xu Family Town indicated that many of the townspeople shared the surname Xu and were likely related. It seemed unlikely that the ability user would let his kin march to their deaths without helping to clear the snow and traps. "Is he really not here? Was he injured by my stray bullets last time?" Zhang Yi''s frown turned into a cold smile. "Good, better if he''s dead!" Meanwhile, the villagers, numbering in the hundreds, were slowly advancing up the southern path towards the shelter. As they dismantled traps, their pace quickened. Being closer, they could now clearly see the villas luxurious interior. In the past, only the wealthiest and most powerful people could live in Cloud Manor. Each villa, costing over a billion, was decorated with top-tier furnishings. Even the curtains were made from fine silk. Not to mention, there were two stunningly beautiful women standing by the window, watching the approaching villagers. One young mans breathing grew heavy, and his steps quickened. Inside, Yang Siya watched the approaching crowd with mounting fear, her heart pounding. She instinctively stepped back, clutching her chest. But beside her, Zhou Ke''er remained calm, sighing softly. "How many more will die this time?" Zhou Ke''er mused. Yang Siya hugged herself tightly, her face pale. "Where is Zhang Yi? Will they break in?" If those men broke in, she dreaded to think what might happen to her. Despite everything, Zhang Yi had been relatively kind to her, never forcing her into anything. These villagers, however, gave off a vibe of pure greed, lust, and brutality that made her shiver. Zhou Ke''er, noticing Yang Siyas terror, smirked arrogantly. She lifted her chin, showing off her swan-like neck. "Is this all it takes to scare you? How will you ever stay by Zhang Yis side?" Zhou Ke''er had spent a month with Zhang Yi in Yue Lu Community, surviving numerous betrayals and witnessing Zhang Yis deadly prowess. What was happening now was a minor event to her. She knew Zhang Yi had planned the demise of these villagers. From the second-floor window, Zhang Yi, like an experienced hunter, waited for his prey to walk into his trap. As the villagers approached within fifty meters of the villa, Zhang Yi confirmed the density of the crowd. He activated the villa''s active noise-canceling system, muting all external sounds. Then, he pressed an electronic button. A massive explosion erupted on the road outside the villa. Even with the noise-canceling, the blast was clearly audible. Flames shot into the sky, lighting up the night and revealing the colorful fragments of what seemed like fireworksexcept they were the dismembered bodies of the villagers. The explosion created a five-meter-deep crater, tearing up the concrete beneath the snow. The explosion occurred right in the middle of the Xu Family Towns formation, killing dozens instantly and sending shockwaves that hurled others into surrounding traps. Nail boards and animal traps inflicted further injuries on the already wounded villagers. Zhang Yi watched the gruesome scene unfold. Villagers screamed in pain, clutching their pierced feet or impaled faces, some with nails driven deep into their flesh, others trapped in animal traps, desperately trying to free themselves. Seeing their agony, Zhang Yi shook his head and sighed. "If only I had more landmines, I could kill them all quickly and spare them the suffering." S?a?ch* Th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Outside, the air was filled with agonized screams, resembling the cries of crows in a graveyard. Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya, witnessing the carnage, instinctively stepped back. They could see some injured villagers stumbling closer, pleading for help with contorted faces. "Help me, help me!" one villager, missing his lower half, crawled towards the window, staring at Yang Siya with desperate eyes. His lower body was a horrific mess. Yang Siyas hair stood on end, and she bent over, vomiting uncontrollably. Even Zhou Ke''er, despite her toughness, turned pale and looked away. Only Zhang Yi remained unfazed. He had seen too much death and destruction to be affected anymore. Living or dead, the strong survived, and Zhang Yi was unflinchingly ready to face it head-on. Chapter 193: The Hunter and the Cold Arrow Chapter 193: The Hunter and the Cold ArrowThe sudden explosion instantly claimed over thirty lives, with countless more deaths following due to the ensuing chaos. The agonized cries of the villagers from Xu Family Town echoed across Cloud Manor. The horror left the survivors pale with fear, with some younger ones driven insane, screaming and running away. Those who were still alive were in shock from the explosion. Some were temporarily blinded, others were knocked unconscious, and some had their eardrums ruptured, leaving them deaf. Xu Dongsheng and the other senior members of the Xu family stood in stunned silence, their expressions blank and their eyes lifeless. They couldn''t accept the reality before them; the shock was too great for their minds to process. A mentally disturbed young man ran over and clung to Xu Dongshengs leg, yelling hysterically, "They''re dead! They''re all dead! Blown to piecesarms, heads, everything!" "Grandpa, theyre all dead!" Even in his delirium, the young man instinctively sought the comfort of his elders, hoping for some reassurance. But, hearing his words, Xu Dongsheng felt his brain slowly rebooting, only to collapse in despair. He looked at the carnage before him, his breathing rapid and sweat freezing on his forehead in the extreme cold. "He''s a demon... not a man, but a demon! We just wanted his supplies, and he killed dozens of us!" Xu Dongsheng''s eyes were wild, his speech incoherent. The seventy-year-old man was breaking down, unable to withstand the blow. With so many dead and as the instigator of this doomed attack, Xu Dongsheng couldnt escape blame. The villagers, who had hoped the elders would lead them, now saw their leader in a state of mental breakdown. They became like headless chickens, running in panic, only to fall into more traps. Zhang Yi, watching from the second floor, confirmed the absence of the ice and snow ability user. He put away his sniper rifle. At a distance of 200 meters, there was no need to waste bullets. A white flash in his right hand revealed an exquisite compound bow and two quivers of arrows. Zhang Yi hung the quivers on his waist and held the bow in his left hand, issuing a command to the shelter''s intelligent system. "Open the window in front of me." The large bulletproof glass window slowly lifted, letting the icy wind and snow rush in. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes and quickly drew three arrows, placing them on the bowstring. Thanks to his precision shooting ability, he didn''t need extensive aiming. In half a month, he had mastered shooting three arrows simultaneously. Standing in the dark, Zhang Yi began his hunt, targeting the remaining villagers without mercy. "Swish!" "Swish!" "Swish!" Three sharp arrows whistled through the air, unaffected by the wind and snow due to the enhanced abilities. They struck three fleeing villagers, piercing through their chests cleanly. Combined with precision shooting, the modern compound bow was powerful enough to penetrate wild boars, let alone villagers in down jackets. In the pitch-black night, with Zhang Yi''s floor remaining unlit, the silent arrows went unnoticed by the panicked villagers. Zhang Yi calmly continued to draw and shoot arrows, systematically picking off the fleeing villagers. Each arrow claimed another life, and soon Zhang Yi had personally killed twenty-six villagers. It was only then that the remaining villagers noticed something was wrong. "There''s a hunter!" one villager shouted. The armed villagers hurriedly raised their guns to return fire. But Zhang Yi was using a bow, so there was no muzzle flash or light to give away his position. Equipped with infrared tactical goggles, Zhang Yi had a massive advantage over those relying on their eyes. s?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Seeing the armed villagers, Zhang Yi prioritized taking them out. He opened a portal before him that swallowed any incoming projectilesa top-tier defensive measure akin to a cheat. The old hunters only managed a single shot before arrows pierced their heads, leaving them with eyes wide open in disbelief. They couldn''t comprehend how arrows could reach such a distance. As villagers fell one by one, many of them close friends and relatives, Xu Dongsheng and the other elders felt immense regret. Especially Xu Dongsheng, who now recalled Xu Chunlei''s warnings. He had never taken Zhang Yi seriously, but now he realized his arrogance and self-confidence had cost them dearly. Xu Dongsheng slapped his face hard. "I deserve to die! I''m the Xu family''s sinner!" He shouldn''t have ignored Xu Chunlei''s advice. Things might have been different if he had at least brought Xu Chunlei along. For his pride, he had condemned over a hundred villagers to death. Zhang Yi continued to shoot, and each arrow was released into groups of three. His ability-assisted shooting felt exhilarating, like playing a game with cheats. Against an ability user, ordinary people stood no chance, highlighting the disparity in power. "Since you came, none of you will leave!" Zhang Yi''s voice was cold. He intended to kill every one of them. At that moment, the wind and snow intensified, obscuring Zhang Yi''s view like a blizzard. His eyes lit up with excitement. "Why are you just showing up now!" The ice and snow ability user from Xu Family Town had finally made a move! Zhang Yi switched to his sniper rifle. In such a storm, arrows were insufficient. A sniper rifle was necessary! Chapter 194: Chase in the Snow Chapter 194: Chase in the SnowXu Chunlei finally arrived, drawn by the explosion across the river. As an ability user, he understood the vast difference between ordinary people and those with powers. Having faced Zhang Yi before, he knew his abilities were completely countered by Zhang Yi''s. If Zhang Yi hadnt been cautious of an ambush, Xu Chunlei would have died that day. But he couldn''t stand by and watch his entire village die. The villagers of Xu Family Town, recognizing the familiar sight, breathed a sigh of relief. They knew Xu Chunlei had come to their rescue. Struggling from the riverbank, Xu Chunlei used his power to create a snowstorm, blocking Zhang Yis line of sight while shouting to the villagers, "Run! Run!" Awakening from their shock, the villagers realized the attack had failed, and they had suffered heavy casualties. Unsure of what other traps Zhang Yi might have in store, they hurriedly gathered their injured relatives and carried the bodies of their fallen family members. Some, reduced to pieces, could only be taken in larger chunks, further slowing their retreat. Xu Chunlei was extremely nervous, terrified of dying, yet he knew he couldnt live with the guilt if everyone died here. He maintained the snowstorm, giving the villagers time to escape, the same tactic he had used to escape before. Zhang Yi watched the snowstorm inside the shelter, obscuring his vision and putting away his sniper rifle. His defensive abilities were incredibly strong, but his offensive capabilities, particularly at long range, were more limited. Shooting blindly into the snowstorm would only waste bullets. However, Zhang Yi had prepared to deal with the ice and snow ability user. Maintaining such a large snowstorm consumed a lot of energy. The distance from the shelter to the riverbank was over 700 meters. "Let''s see how long you can keep this up!" Zhang Yi muttered as he closed the window, letting the snowstorm rage outside. He opened his dimensional space and methodically suited up: bulletproof vest, pants, helmet, thermal clothing, and cut-resistant gloves. He armed himself with a knife, grenades, a claw knife, and a pistol, leaving heavier items in the dimensional space for easy access. Fully equipped, Zhang Yi quickly descended the stairs. He glanced at Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya, leaving them with a brief "Wait for me here," before heading out. Yang Siya, having just finished vomiting, felt weak on the couch. Watching Zhang Yi''s decisive and vigorous demeanor filled her with a strong sense of security. The attack showed her how weak and powerless she was and how strong and composed Zhang Yi was. She couldn''t help but wonder how lucky she was to be by his side, yet she felt guilty for being unable to contribute more. All she could think to do was try harder in bed, feeling inadequate in every other way. Zhang Yi left the shelter, bypassing the chaotic southern route and opting for the western path to avoid his own traps. He wasnt worried about the villagers escaping because he had a vehicle. Zhang Yi took out his snowmobile and drove out of Cloud Manor via the other route, circling back to the riverbank for the chase. Xu Chunlei struggled to maintain the snowstorm, blocking Zhang Yis line of sight. After a while, noticing the gunfire had ceased and Zhang Yi hadnt followed, he felt a brief sense of relief. But soon, everyone heard the sound of an engine. The snowmobile roared down the path, Zhang Yi using autopilot while firing an assault rifle at the retreating villagers. Bullets sprayed out like fire, taking seven or eight lives in an instant. The villagers screamed in terror. "Chunlei, stop him!" someone shouted. Hearing the call, Zhang Yi scanned the crowd, spotting a conspicuous figure: slightly overweight, facing Zhang Yi with raised hands while everyone else fled. "It''s you!" Zhang Yi tossed the assault rifle to the passenger seat and set up his sniper rifle. "Boom!" The shot rang out, but an icy barrier suddenly formed, diverting the bullet. The enhanced bullet, wrapped in energy, pierced through the ice but veered off course, missing Xu Chunlei by just twenty centimeters and slamming into the ice. Xu Chunlei felt a chill run through him, narrowly escaping death. With Zhang Yis improved spatial abilities and the power of the sniper rifle, he could now penetrate the snowstorm. However, the bullets trajectory was still affected. "Chunlei, go!" A sled pulled up, and a man extended a hand. Realizing Zhang Yis threat, they were all fleeing for their lives. Xu Chunlei grabbed the hand and was pulled onto the sled. Zhang Yi stopped at the riverbank. The wide river, its thick ice formed over a month of freezing temperatures, was likely five or six meters deep. After briefly hesitating, he turned and drove onto the ice in pursuit. s?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. This was the perfect chance to eliminate the enemy ability user. They had caused too much trouble already, and Zhang Yi had no reason to let them go. The snowmobile roared across the ice, rapidly closing the distance on the sleds. Despite the sled dogs'' efforts, they couldnt outrun the snowmobile. As he closed in, Zhang Yi set up his sniper rifle, seeking an opening to target Xu Chunlei. Killing the ability user would turn the remaining villagers into defenseless sheep. In the face of danger, Xu Chunlei summoned incredible strength, maintaining the snowstorm to block Zhang Yis view. Knowing his attacks couldn''t harm Zhang Yi, he focused on obstructing his aim. However, the fleeing crowd was scattered. Spotting Xu Chunlei protecting himself, Zhang Yi turned his gun on the villagers instead. "Boom!" The shot echoed across the river, piercing through three people huddled on a sled and dropping them onto the ice. Chapter 195: Breaking the Ice Chapter 195: Breaking the IceXu Chunlei''s ability could disrupt Zhang Yi''s vision, but its range was limited. He could protect himself, but not the others. On the ice, villagers from Xu Family Town fled in panic, making them easy targets for Zhang Yi. He had no qualms about killing them since they attacked first. With his military-grade sniper rifle enhanced by his abilities, Zhang Yi''s shots were devastating. One shot penetrated three people, filling the air with a mist of blood. Reloading, Zhang Yi aimed again and fired, killing two more villagers. Each sled was crowded with three or four people carrying their relatives'' bodies, slowing them down. Realizing this, someone shouted, "Drop the bodies! Run!" The villagers were torn. They were carrying their loved ones'' bodies, adhering to their belief in proper burial for peace and blessings. But the relentless killing machine behind them left them no choice. Reluctantly, they abandoned the bodies on the ice, hoping it would slow Zhang Yi down. It did little to impede his progress, as a vehicle would always outrun dogs. The gunfire continued, each shot echoing with death as villagers fell. Xu Chunlei watched in agony as his fellow villagers fell. His cousin, Xu Yongzhi, shouted desperately, "Chunlei, do something!" The others looked to Xu Chunlei with pleading eyes. Only an ability user could stop another ability user. Xu Chunlei, under immense pressure, felt his mind breaking. In his desperation, an idea struck him. He stretched his right hand towards Zhang Yi''s path, his eyes glowing blue. With a slow, deliberate motion, he clenched his hand. "Crack!" A sharp sound echoed as a long fissure appeared on the ice, expanding rapidly. Zhang Yi''s snowmobile tilted dangerously as it hit the fractured ice. He grabbed the window frame as the vehicle lost balance, the auto-pilot system quickly applying the brakes. The snowmobile tilted, forcing Zhang Yi to halt the chase. He jumped out, assessing the situation. The ice had cracked significantly, forming a ten-meter-long fissure that ensnared one of the snowmobile''s wheels. Zhang Yi realized that while Xu Chunlei couldn''t break through the five or six meters thick ice completely, his potential to control ice could grow stronger. From afar, the villagers were escaping into the trees, taking advantage of the pause in Zhang Yis pursuit. He raised his sniper rifle and fired twice more, killing two more villagers before they disappeared. "Looks like fighting on the ice is out of the question from now on," Zhang Yi muttered, observing the long fissure. "If his ability was stronger, or the ice thinner, Id be in the water right now," Zhang Yi thought. He exhaled, white vapor escaping his lips. He used his spatial ability to reposition the snowmobile, then drove back to Cloud Manor. The southern route was in disarray, with most of the traps destroyed, leaving only the last fifty meters intact. Zhang Yi wasnt concerned; he had killed enough invaders. He planned to clear and re-establish the traps later. Returning home, he found Yang Siya pale and weak on the couch, having vomited all her food from the day. Despite her outward disdain, Zhou Ke''er was massaging Yang Siya''s head, helping her relax. Seeing Zhang Yi return, Zhou Ke''er asked, "Did you get the ability user who attacked us last time?" Yang Siya, weakly, looked up at Zhang Yi. He shook his head, "No. The guy is a coward, won''t face me head-on. His abilities make it hard to kill him." Zhang Yi was cautious not to engage on unfavorable terms, but he was confident he could win in a direct confrontation. Yang Siya''s gaze dropped, and she softly asked, "Arent you afraid of being held accountable for killing so many people? Killing is illegal." Her tone was weak, reflecting her shaken belief that the world would return to normal. Zhang Yi smiled, walked over, and pinched her soft cheek. "What do you think?" Yang Siya remained silent, knowing deep down that her hope for a return to civilization was a dream. Zhang Yi stood up, feeling hungry after the fight. "Ke''er, I''m hungry. Make me something to eat." Zhou Ke''er immediately stood up, "Sure, what do you want?" S?a??h th? N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Roasted pig brain, spicy duck blood, duck gizzards with garlic, and nine-turn pig intestines," Zhang Yi replied. Yang Siya''s face turned even whiter at the names of the dishes. "Ugh" she gagged. Zhang Yi chuckled, "Feeling weak? You should eat something to regain your strength." Yang Siya, flushed with anger, snapped, "Are you a devil?" Seeing her angry expression made Zhang Yi happy. He leaned in and whispered, "How about something more nutritious later tonight?" Yang Siya blushed but didnt reject his advance this time. Chapter 196: Hero or Coward? Chapter 196: Hero or Coward?Xu Family Town, Xu Dong Village. The villagers fled back, looking miserable and defeated. Many were so traumatized by the horrors they had witnessed that their eyes were vacant, and they collapsed into the snow. The air was filled with the cries of the wounded and the mourning of those who had lost loved ones. s?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The women who had stayed behind were horrified by the sight. They had expected to welcome back victorious heroes laden with spoils of war. Instead, the once proud and robust group returned halved in number, broken and bleeding. "Where''s my son? Where is he?" "Little Zhi, Little Zhi!" "Wait, where''s my husband? Did something happen to him?" The women frantically searched for their fathers, husbands, and sons, only to be met with grief and despair. Xu Chunlei stood in the snowy square, feeling profoundly uneasy as he observed the villagers'' plight. "I warned them," he sighed and quickly retreated to his home, unwilling to face the grieving villagers. However, it wasn''t long before someone barged into his house. "Xu Chunlei! Why are you hiding here?" His cousin, Xu Yongzhi, grabbed his arm, his voice urgent, "Come quickly, Grandpa is dying! He wants to see you!" Shocked, Xu Chunlei hurried to Xu Dongsheng''s house, dragging his plump body along. When he arrived, he found the entrance crowded with people, their expressions a mix of complexity and accusation. Xu Chunlei felt a chill run down his spine, as he saw no gratitude in their eyes, only blame and resentment. "Ugh!" An elder spat on the ground. A weeping woman, her eyes red with tears, gritted her teeth and said, "Chunlei, I heard you didn''t go with them. Why didn''t you go? You''re the one with the powers in our family. When trouble comes, you should be the first to face it. But instead, you stayed home like a coward. Do you know how many people died because of you?" Xu Chunlei, sweating profusely, tried to explain, "I... I told them not to go. I warned them." But no one listened, or if they did, they didn''t care. With so many dead, nearly every family had lost someone, and the atmosphere was thick with resentment. People pointed fingers and hurled accusations at him. "If you had been there, you could have used your powers to prevent the bombings. What were you thinking?" Xu Chunlei felt angry but couldn''t bring himself to shout back. Years of reclusive living had made him timid, and he couldn''t stand up to his elders. A scholarly-looking old man with glasses and neatly parted hair stepped out at that moment. "Enough!" he commanded. The villagers fell silent but continued to glare at Xu Chunlei. The old man, Xu Dongtang, Xu Dongsheng''s younger brother and a respected figure in the family, gave Xu Chunlei a meaningful look. "Go in. Your grandpa wants to see you." Xu Chunlei lowered his head and walked into the house. The structure was one he had built using his ice abilities. After the heavy snowfall, he had used his powers to build shelters for everyone. These ice houses were well-insulated and windproof, although they required regular maintenance to prevent melting from indoor fires. Inside, Xu Dongsheng lay on his ice bed, looking frail. The recent shock had taken its toll on his already old body, causing him severe distress. Seeing Xu Chunlei, Xu Dongsheng''s face showed guilt. "Chunlei, you''re here." Xu Chunlei rushed to his side, "Grandpa!" Xu Dongsheng weakly said, "It''s my fault for not listening to you. If I had, so many of our family wouldn''t have died." Xu Chunlei felt a lump in his throat. The villagers'' accusations had deeply hurt him, but his grandfather''s understanding comforted him. Xu Dongsheng continued, "I was foolish, thinking we were unbeatable just because we won fights with the neighboring villages after the snowstorm. Now I see it was because of you. Without you, we''re just farmers and fishermen, pretending to be warriors." As he approached death, Xu Dongsheng realized his mistakes, though it was too late. He looked at the chubby young man by his bed, holding his hand. "I''ve told the others to blame me, not you. We''re just ordinary people; we can''t fight those with great powers. They might say harsh things, but don''t hold it against them. We''re family, and we must support each other to survive." Xu Chunlei nodded, feeling touched. "I understand, Grandpa. I won''t hold it against them." Xu Dongsheng smiled weakly. "I''m dying, and I''m worried about our family. Chunlei, please protect the Xu family after I''m gone." Xu Chunlei was taken aback and gripped Xu Dongsheng''s hand tightly. "Grandpa, don''t say that. You''ll be fine!" But Xu Dongsheng''s smile was strained. At his age, he knew his body''s limits and could sense his approaching death. "Chunlei, take care of the family," he said, waving his hand weakly. "Now, let me rest." Xu Chunlei called out several times, "Grandpa!" but Xu Dongsheng only muttered, "I''m tired. Let me sleep." With that, his head fell to the side, and he passed away. Xu Chunlei called for the others, and the villagers rushed in, finding Xu Dongsheng lifeless. They wept and wailed, mourning their loss. Seeing no one paid him attention, Xu Chunlei slipped away quietly, burdened by grief and guilt. Chapter 197: Xu Chunleis Awakening Chapter 197: Xu Chunlei''s AwakeningXu Chunlei felt defeated today. His mind was clouded with conflicting thoughts and a sense of frustration. Was the disastrous outcome really his fault? If so, he had warned Xu Dongsheng many times and ultimately saved the remaining villagers. Without his intervention, none would have survived Zhang Yi''s relentless assault. But if it wasn''t his fault, perhaps fewer would have died if he had joined the initial attack. As he walked home slowly, these thoughts weighed heavily on him. "Grandpa entrusted me with protecting the Xu family before he died. But what can I do? If that killer comes, I can''t stop him; I can only run." He lamented, "I thought awakening my abilities would make me a hero, but why do so many troubles find me? I just want to be a lazy, carefree guy!" Xu Chunlei couldn''t make sense of it all. Just as he reached his home, he saw a girl waiting at the door. She was about eighteen or nineteen, wearing a long white down jacket with brown fur trim around the hood. Her small face peeked out from under the hood. Seeing Xu Chunlei, she walked over quickly. "Are you Chunlei?" Xu Chunlei''s heart skipped a beat. As an otaku, he was naturally awkward around real-life women. Her sweet voice made his mind race. "Uh... yeah, I''m Chunlei. Who are you?" Though they were from the same village, he didn''t recognize everyone. The girl smiled sweetly. "I''m Xu Lili. Thank you for saving my father today." Her eyes were filled with gratitude. "My father said if it weren''t for you, they would have all died there." Xu Chunlei''s previously confused eyes brightened. He wasn''t a villain; he was a hero. He was supposed to be a hero! "Ha, it was nothing," he said modestly. Xu Lili continued, "My father is too weak to come himself, so he sent me to thank you." She lowered her head, embarrassed. "Sorry, we don''t have anything to give you. I came empty-handed." Xu Chunlei quickly waved his hands, "No, no, were from the same village. No need to be so formal! If you ever need anything, just come to me." Xu Lili chatted with him for a bit, then waved goodbye and disappeared into the snow. Watching her leave, Xu Chunlei''s heart pounded. Although he didn''t see her face clearly, he felt he had fallen in love with her. "Xu Lili? We must be distantly related," he thought, contradicting his self-proclaimed indifference to real-life women. He clenched his fist, determination in his eyes. "I will protect this family. I must give her and our future children a safe environment." Back home, he pondered how to handle the upcoming crisis. His encounters with Zhang Yi had shown him the man''s terrifying resolve. Zhang Yi killed without hesitation, using traps and weapons designed for maximum lethality. Xu Chunlei imagined Zhang Yi as a bloodthirsty demon. "He must be furious. He might come to attack Xu Dong Village and kill everyone!" Xu Chunlei promised his grandfather he would protect the village and now had love to fight for. But how could he confront Zhang Yi directly? Xu Chunlei couldn''t bear the thought of fighting Zhang Yi head-on. He had never killed anyone; the most he had done was use his abilities in skirmishes with neighboring villages. After much thought, he concluded there was only one solution: negotiation. Excited by his idea, he thought, "I''m a genius! It''s dangerous, but to protect the Xu family and Lili, it''s worth the risk!" He quickly sat at his computer, searching for a way to contact Zhang Yi. "Lili must like me, right? I saved her father. She must have feelings for me." As he fantasized, he convinced himself of her affections, even imagining their future children. In reality, she was just being polite and building rapport with him, an ability user in their village. But Xu Chunlei, lacking real-world experience with women, was swept away by a small gesture of kindness. The next morning, Zhang Yi carefully cleaned up the damaged traps around the villa. The most powerful grenade traps and explosive mines had been triggered, but animal traps and nail boards were still scattered everywhere. The ground was littered with corpses, some whole, others in pieces. He buried the remains to avoid waste and reset the traps. With most of the traps destroyed, only those within fifty meters of the villa remained intact. But Zhang Yi wasnt worried. He had killed enough invaders, and Xu Dong Village was unlikely to dare approach again. The traps would remain for any future threats. Reflecting on the recent battle, Zhang Yi admired the ice ability user who had maintained a cautious distance throughout the fight. Both he and the user shared a common trait: a fear of death. Zhang Yi respected that pragmatism. However, he also recognized the potential danger. The ice ability was incredibly versatile, offering both offensive and defensive capabilities and the ability to alter terrain. It was like having an ice mage from an online game. "I need to find a way to eliminate him," Zhang Yi decided. "Such a powerful ability user could become a major problem in the future. If he cant be an ally, he must be dealt with as an enemy." S?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 198: Negotiation Chapter 198: NegotiationAfter setting up the traps, Zhang Yi returned to his shelter. The villagers from Xu Family Town were not his main concern; the ice and snow ability user was. However, after witnessing the user''s potential, Zhang Yi decided not to cross the river for battle. He would wait for the right moment to snatch an opportunity and take down his opponent with a sniper rifle, now enhanced to a formidable range of 1500 meters. Back in the living room, Zhang Yi sat on the sofa as Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya attentively came over to massage his shoulders and legs. Afterwards, Yang Siyas attitude became noticeably more affectionate. Recognizing the harsh reality and her own helplessness, she smartly chose to depend on the man before her. Life was enjoyable for Zhang Yi. The two women wore the outfits he provided: Yang Siya displayed her impressive figure in a low-cut slip dress with black stockings by Balenciaga. Zhang Yi insisted she walk around barefoot, finding great pleasure in watching her graceful movements. Zhou Ke''er, with her tall, model-like figure and elegant demeanor, embodied the image of an ideal wife. Zhang Yi constantly pushed her boundaries, making her wear increasingly provocative clothing, with his favorite being a nude apron look, which was both arousing and suggestive of domestic bliss. As Zhang Yi relished this lifestyle, his phone suddenly rang. It was an unknown number. He thought of Lu Fengda from a few days ago, who had accessed his personal information through the internet. Zhang Yi''s information was not hard to find, being sold by various platforms. The phone kept ringing. Zhang Yi, more composed this time, answered casually. "Hello." An excited voice responded, "Zhang Yi! Hello, I''m Xu Chunlei! Thank you for taking my call. Can we talk? I have something important to discuss." S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Xu Chunlei? You''re from Xu Family Town," Zhang Yi noted, his eyes narrowing. Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya also tensed up. They held no goodwill towards the people who had attacked their shelter the previous day. Xu Chunlei clarified, "I''m from Xu Dong Village in Xu Family Town, but that''s not important. I called to propose a truce. Let''s not have any more conflicts. How about we make peace?" Zhang Yi chuckled coldly. "Peace? Are you joking? Youve been causing trouble from the start. Now that you can''t win, you want to make peace? The world doesnt work that way." Xu Chunlei, feeling nervous, started sweating. To him, Zhang Yi was a powerful and terrifying figure. "No, I mean we seek your forgiveness. It was our village''s fault. We haven''t harmed you, but we''ve suffered greatly. Can you forgive us? We''re willing to meet any conditions you set." Zhang Yi sensed the fear in Xu Chunlei''s voice and found it curious. If Xu Dong Village really wanted peace, they would have sent someone more reliable. The nervous voice on the other end didnt seem experienced. He rubbed his chin, pondering. "Can I ask if you can represent Xu Dong Village in this negotiation?" Xu Chunlei swallowed hard and nodded. "Yes, I can." "Why? Who are you?" "I''m the ability user who fought you twice," Xu Chunlei admitted, revealing his identity to gain Zhang Yi''s attention. Zhang Yi''s demeanor shifted upon realizing the person on the other end was the ice and snow ability user. "So, it''s you." "Yes, it''s me. Zhang Yi, do you think I''m qualified to negotiate?" Given his abilities, Xu Chunlei indeed had the qualifications. Zhang Yi, wary of his potential, took him seriously. "Oh? So if I agree to peace, Xu Dong Village will meet any of my demands?" Xu Chunlei laughed nervously, "As long as the conditions aren''t too difficult, I can agree." Xu Chunlei, having seen Zhang Yi''s abilities, was certain Zhang Yi controlled a large cache of Walmart supplies. Thus, he doubted Zhang Yi needed food or other basic resources. Xu Chunlei wasn''t foolish, just reclusive. Zhang Yi smiled, realizing Xu Dong Village had little interest. Their stored grains and fish catches paled compared to his resources. However, there was one thing he coveted. "Alright. What I want is you, Xu Chunlei!" Zhang Yi declared. He desired Xu Chunlei''s limitless potential with his ice and snow abilities. If he could recruit Xu Chunlei, it would be immensely beneficial in the future. Chapter 199: Lap Pillow Chapter 199: Lap PillowXu Chunlei was startled by Zhang Yi''s words. He shouted in fear, "Don''t do this! I''m... I''m a virgin!" Zhang Yi rolled his eyes, while Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya couldn''t help but giggle. "Idiot! What are you thinking? I mean I''m interested in your abilities," Zhang Yi clarified. "Here''s the deal. If you really want to make peace, come here yourself. Show me you''re worth negotiating with!" Zhang Yi emphasized, "Otherwise, I won''t tolerate your repeated harassment. Your powers don''t work on me. If I cross the river, wiping out your entire village will be a piece of cake!" Zhang Yi''s threat succeeded in scaring Xu Chunlei. "No! Don''t!" Xu Chunlei shouted, standing up and pacing nervously. Facing Zhang Yi terrified him. "Destroying Xu Dong Village gains you nothing! Besides, don''t think we have no defenses," Xu Chunlei attempted to sound confident. Zhang Yi sneered, "Defenses? I''d like to see what you have. Remember, I have a sniper rifle. I don''t need to get close to kill every one of you. Unless you plan never to leave your houses again!" Xu Chunlei was extremely nervous. He had attempted a heroic act, hoping to use his abilities to negotiate peace and earn Xu Dongshengs approval, and perhaps win Xu Lili''s admiration. But if he messed this up and angered Zhang Yi, he would become Xu Dong Village''s biggest traitor. "Wait! Zhang Yi, don''t get angry. Let''s talk more, okay?" Xu Chunlei pleaded. "Keeping Xu Dong Village around is beneficial to you too. Xu Dong Village and Cloud Manor can help each other against external threats in the future!" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and scoffed, "Enemies? Right now, you''re my biggest enemy. You tried to take everything from me, failed, and now want peace without paying a price. Does that make sense to you? As far as I''m concerned, only you, Xu Chunlei, have the right to talk to me." "You can come or not. Whether I cross the river depends on my mood," Zhang Yi said, pushing Xu Chunlei to make a choice. Xu Chunlei''s fear of Zhang Yi grew, the shadow of Zhang Yis power looming large in his mind. He remembered how Zhang Yi had slaughtered his people like animals. "I''ll come! I''ll come, okay?" Xu Chunlei blurted out, desperate not to lose this last chance. Zhang Yi, seeing Xu Chunlei had taken the bait, smiled. "Good. Come at 2:30 PM. It''s a bit warmer then." Zhang Yi hung up before Xu Chunlei could change his mind. On the other end, Xu Chunlei stood in shock. He couldn''t believe he had agreed so impulsively. The reality of facing Zhang Yi was terrifying. He had survived before by staying hidden and using his abilities from a distance. If he got closer, he could imagine a hundred ways he might die. Xu Chunlei collapsed to his knees, his face dark with despair. "I''m doomed this time." S~?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi placed his phone on the table, contemplating how to handle the afternoon meeting. He understood Xu Chunleis abilities well: controlling snow and ice for attacks and defense, and creating large-scale environmental effects. But Zhang Yi''s dimensional gate could nullify physical attacks, and he could snipe Xu Chunlei from 1500 meters away. Up close, Zhang Yi''s equipment would give him a decisive advantage. "Should I kill him?" Zhang Yi wondered. A highly potential ability user could be a great threat but also a valuable ally. Xu Chunleis abilities were appealing. If abilities were ranked, Xu Chunlei''s would be above Uncle You''s physical enhancement, and only slightly below Zhang Yi''s spatial abilities. "I''ll test him first. Decide to kill or recruit later," Zhang Yi decided. He had no deep hatred for the villagers of Xu Dong Village, having already killed over a hundred. They were like ants trying to invade his shelter, unworthy of his anger. But Xu Chunlei intrigued him. After lunch, Zhang Yi took a nap. Yang Siya wanted to join him, but he refused. "I have important business this afternoon. Ill deal with you later!" he said, declining her request to sleep together but allowing her to sit on the bed and provide a lap pillow. Yang Siya obediently sat on the large bed, lifted her lace nightgown, and revealed her smooth, rounded thighs. Zhang Yi rested his head on her legs, enjoying the soft and elastic feel. He put aside thoughts of Xu Family Town, focusing on resting to maintain his best condition for the meeting with the ice and snow ability user. "Wake me up at two," he said lazily. "Okay, rest easy," Yang Siya replied. As Zhang Yi closed his eyes, she smiled subtly at his handsome, determined face. The more time she spent with him, the more she liked his character. She had initially thought of him as a bad man, but now found his badness intriguing and felt safe with him. "Rest well, my little man," she whispered, gently caressing his face. "Stop it," Zhang Yi muttered, blinking up at her. Chapter 200: The Dutiful Grandson Chapter 200: The Dutiful GrandsonAt 2 PM, Zhang Yi, fully equipped, stood by the window, waiting for Xu Chunlei to arrive for their negotiation. From this vantage point, he could spot anyone stepping onto the river ice, well within the 1500-meter range of his sniper rifle. Zhang Yi removed his Rolex and placed it on the table, checking the time. If Xu Chunlei showed up, it would give Zhang Yi full control. Even if negotiations failed, he could kill Xu Chunlei instantly. Should the talks collapse, Zhang Yi wouldn''t massacre Xu Dong Village but would regularly patrol the riverbank, sniping any villagers who ventured out to fishan essential food source they couldnt afford to give up. After waiting a while, a shadow emerged from the chaotic snow and trees on the other side of the river. Zhang Yi raised his sniper rifle and looked through the scope. He clearly saw a plump figure in a black down jacket, legs resembling two square blocks, and a comical furry hat. "It''s him!" Zhang Yi recognized the figure, having seen the same silhouette through his tactical visor the previous night. As Xu Chunlei stepped onto the ice, he immediately slipped and fell hard on his backside. Zhang Yi couldnt help but burst into laughter. "Is this the ice and snow ability user I was so cautious about? The one with limitless potential?" he chuckled but quickly reminded himself not to judge by appearances. Xu Chunleis next clumsy attempt to stand up ended with another face-first fall into the snow. Zhang Yi struggled to contain his laughter, finding it hard to take Xu Chunlei seriously. After a few more embarrassing slips and falls, Xu Chunlei cautiously got back on his feet and started his precarious journey across the ice. Zhang Yi watched closely, making sure there were no signs of an ambush. After several minutes of Xu Chunleis awkward trek, it was clear he was alone. Zhang Yi relaxed slightly. "Looks like I''ve really scared them." Satisfied that it wasnt a trap, Zhang Yi put away his sniper rifle and prepared to meet this interesting ability user. Xu Chunlei finally reached the shore, his breathing labored, and called Zhang Yi from his iPhone. "Hello, I''m at the shore. How do I get to you? I''m afraid of the traps around your place." "No need. I''m already here," came Zhang Yi''s cold voice from ahead. Xu Chunlei looked up to see Zhang Yi''s piercing gaze. One was heavily armed, the other bundled up and breathless. Zhang Yi found the scene somewhat amusing, far from his envisioned dramatic encounter. S?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xu Chunlei, however, felt his legs go weak with fear. "You... you''re Zhang Yi?" he stammered. Zhang Yi nodded, "And you must be Xu Chunlei?" "Yes, that''s me," Xu Chunlei replied, mustering his courage. "I came to negotiate peace. Continuing this fight benefits no one. It''s pointless." Zhang Yi sneered, "Whether it has meaning isnt for you to decide. As the aggressors, you should be ashamed." Xu Chunlei scratched his head awkwardly. "I understand. It was our fault. What will it take for you to agree to peace?" Xu Chunleis humble approach caught Zhang Yi off guard. He had expected a more confrontational stance. Instead, the plump, clumsy man before him was far from a shrewd negotiator. Zhang Yi felt like he was hitting a soft target. Not showing his thoughts, Zhang Yi crossed his arms and sternly asked, "What are you willing to sacrifice for my forgiveness?" Xu Chunlei blinked and quickly responded, "Anything but the lives of our villagers. Whatever you want, we''ll do our best to meet your demands." The situation was peculiar. Zhang Yi lacked nothing, while Xu Dong Village had nothing to offer. Yet Zhang Yi needed to assert his dominance. "Who ordered the attack on my shelter? That person must die for us to talk." Unexpectedly, Xu Chunlei answered eagerly, "That''s easy! It was Grandpa who decided. He died from fright when he got back. So, you should be satisfied now, right?" His genuine smile made Zhang Yi''s eye twitch. "You''re pleased about this, arent you?" Zhang Yi thought, impressed by Xu Chunlei''s apparent sincerity. "Youre quite the dutiful grandson," he muttered sarcastically. Xu Chunlei scratched his chubby face. "The dead are gone. The living must move forward. And this was our fault to begin with, so we can''t blame you." Seeing Xu Chunleis earnest attitude, Zhang Yi contemplated his next move. It would be highly beneficial if he could turn this powerful ability user into an ally. Otherwise, Xu Chunlei would remain a significant threat. "Alright," Zhang Yi finally said. "I have some conditions. Let''s see if you can meet them." Chapter 201: Surrender Chapter 201: SurrenderFatty Xu''s simple and honest appearance gave Zhang Yi an inexplicable sense of familiarity. He had known people like this before. People who were not good at socializing, who grew up in ordinary environments, often developing a sense of inferiority. Their poor social skills made it hard for them to make friends as they grew up. So, when someone showed them a bit of kindness, they would give their all. After being betrayed by their so-called friends, they would start doubting reality and immerse themselves in anime. Fatty Xu exhibited these traits, especially his excessive empathy. He could even consider things from Zhang Yis perspective, the man who had killed hundreds of people from Xu Dong Village. Seeing Fatty Xu like this, Zhang Yi''s desire to kill him diminished. However, he didnt fully trust him and intentionally said, "Youre quite magnanimous, arent you? Surely, I killed some of your relatives this time? Dont you want to avenge them?" Zhang Yi stared intently at Fatty Xu''s face. If there was any unusual expression, he would act immediately and take him down first! However, the sudden change in expression he anticipated did not appear. Fatty Xu merely lowered his eyelids, slightly saddened, and said, "My parents... they both died shortly after the snowstorm." "My dad had a heart attack on the first day of the drastic temperature drop. The snow was too heavy. We couldnt get him to a hospital or find an ambulance, so he died at home." "And my mom, who was in poor health, died in bed a week later." Fatty Xu''s face showed a hint of apology: " I''m Sorry. I didnt mean to tell you these things." "After all, theres nothing happy about them. I apologize if it affected your mood." He smiled awkwardly, looking somewhat embarrassed. Zhang Yi was silent momentarily before asking, "What about the rest of your family? Arent the people in Xu Jia Village all one family?" "One family? Hmm... sort of!" Fatty Xu''s expression was slightly confused, as if he didnt see a problem with this statement but also found it puzzling. "Though we''re of the same clan, no one in my family ever thought much of me. In their eyes, Im probably just a worthless guy who only knows how to play on the computer at home!" Fatty Xu scratched his head and smiled, "You see, they all treat me like this. How much feeling can I have for them?" "So, I dont hate you for killing the people of Xu Jia Village. On the contrary, I admire you." "You were so cool, chasing us down with a sniper rifle while driving!" At this point, Fatty Xu looked at Zhang Yi with eyes full of admiration. He dreamed of being a hero as cool as that, making everyone in the village admire him and stop seeing him as a useless fat nerd. Zhang Yi stared at Fatty Xu for a long time. Fatty Xu was also very nervous inside. He knew little about Zhang Yi''s abilities and could only guess they were related to space. But one thing was sure, Zhang Yi''s abilities completely restrained his. So, if they fought, he had no chance of winning at this distance! After a full minute, Zhang Yi slowly spoke, "Alright, since youve come to make peace, Ill give you a chance!" "I have no interest in your village. Those muggles cant affect me much. But you, youre interesting. For your sake, Ill spare Xu Dong Village!" Zhang Yi knew exactly how to deal with people like Fatty Xu. He was timid and sensitive but would give his all if you showed him some recognition. He needed to be treated gently, not coerced. Sure enough, Fatty Xu was thrilled to hear this. For his sake? Did this mean Zhang Yi recognized him? It was a great honor for someone as powerful as Zhang Yi to recognize him! "Thank you!" Fatty Xu said, moved. "Don''t be in such a hurry! I have other conditions." Zhang Yi continued, "From now on, you must follow my orders! You cannot refuse any of my demands." Zhang Yi very much wanted a powerful ice-based ability user under his command. Since killing him and the people of Xu Dong Village wouldn''t benefit him, he might as well show kindness to Fatty Xu and recruit him. Fatty Xu hesitated a bit upon hearing this condition. "Any demand?" This vague concept worried him. What if Zhang Yi had his eyes on him one day? Zhang Yi saw his concern and smirked. "I wont send you to your death!" Keeping Fatty Xu was to have a useful helper when facing tough enemies in the future. Seeing Fatty Xu''s hesitation, Zhang Yi thought for a moment and pulled out his trump card. "A die-hard otaku like you shouldn''t be able to resist this!" Zhang Yi reached out and took something from a huge warehouse in another space, then handed it over. "If you follow me, you wont be mistreated." Fatty Xu looked up and saw what Zhang Yi had handed over. His eyes were glued to it, and his whole body trembled with excitement. "Rei Ayanami!!!" What Zhang Yi took out was an unopened Rei Ayanami figure. It was a limited edition from 2024, with only 50 released worldwide, and its online price had soared to 25,000 yuan, but it was still hard to get! This was the most coveted treasure for an old otaku like Fatty Xu! Fatty Xu couldn''t believe his eyes and pointed at himself, "This... is this for me?" Zhang Yi nodded, "I have plenty more like this. I also have some generational rare collectibles." "If you follow me, I guarantee you''ll have enough figures, pillows, and game cartridges!" You need to use the right means for the right person. For someone like Fatty Xu, other things might not work, but this definitely would! Fatty Xu let out an excited yelp, pounced on the precious Rei Ayanami figure, and hugged it tightly, his eyes burning with passion. "Zhang Yi, youre an otaku too! Do you... like Ellie?" S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Fatty Xu looked at Zhang Yi with anticipation. Zhang Yi was silent for a moment and then slowly shook his head. "I''m not a kid anymore." Fatty Xu''s face fell, and he lowered his head in disappointment. "Yeah... that''s true." Zhang Yi sneered, "Only newbie otakus like you would like her! In my heart, Rinko Nanase is the true eternal goddess!" The light in Fatty Xu''s eyes, which had dimmed, lit up again. It was the feeling of finding a kindred spirit. Chapter 202: The Best Tool Chapter 202: The Best ToolJust like that, Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu unexpectedly became partners. Zhang Yi naturally liked Fatty Xu because this harmless little fatty seemed easy to handle. Being around someone without any scheming always gave a sense of security, much like having a pet cat or dog. Of course, the main reason Zhang Yi took him in was his powerful ice ability. If Fatty Xu grew stronger, he would become a valuable asset under Zhang Yis command. And for Fatty Xu? As an adult man who loved anime but was misunderstood by those around him, it had always been a source of pain. Meeting someone like-minded in Zhang Yi made him instantly feel close. "Zhang Yi, lets add each other on WeChat! Then we can talk about anime more often, hehe!" he said, sidling up to Zhang Yi. "Ive got 100TB of great stuff! Some limited editions from Japan you cant find here!" Zhang Yis expression twisted a bit. "Actually I have a girlfriend." Fatty Xu''s face stiffened, then he bitterly retorted, "Three-dimensional women are so boring!" Zhang Yi ruthlessly replied, "You only say that because no real woman likes you, right?" Fatty Xu''s face turned pale, and he stepped back, looking at Zhang Yi in horror. "How did you know? Why did you have to say it out loud?" "And it''s not true that no one likes me. Hmph, theres a pretty girl chasing after me right now, and Im just thinking about whether to accept her or not!" he added stubbornly. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, "Oh, really?" He didnt believe it for a second. "But since youre here, I need a favor," Zhang Yi said as an idea popped into his head. Fatty Xu blinked, "What favor?" "Follow me, and youll see!" Zhang Yi replied, pulling out a snowmobile from thin air. This display of pulling objects from thin air made Fatty Xu even more envious and awestruck. "Time cant compare, space is king! Brother Zhang, your ability is unique in the whole world!" Zhang Yi opened the car door and got in, curious, "Where do you get these theories? Theyre quite elaborate." Fatty Xu chuckled, "Its from our anime circle." Zhang Yi sneered, "Time is hidding, space is king?" He suddenly thought of something about himself. When he was on the brink of death, he had traveled back to the time before the apocalypsewasn''t that a form of time travel? "Could it be that I have a time-related ability that hasnt been developed yet?" Zhang Yi had always suspected this. His rebirth, or time reversal, might be linked to his awakened powers. But so far, he hadnt found any signs of such abilities. "No matter. My abilities are just in their early stages. Maybe I''ll discover higher-level uses with more practice and refinement," he thought. Fatty Xu excitedly sat in the passenger seat, looking around curiously after fastening his seatbelt. "Its been a long time since Ive been in a car! The last time was two years ago when I visited my dad in the hospital." Zhang Yi glanced at him, "You dont go out often?" Fatty Xu nonchalantly replied, "I rarely go out unless my mom forces me to go downstairs for some activity." Zhang Yi nodded, "Oh, your mom forced you." S~?a??h the N?v?l(F)ire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Fatty Xu nodded, "Yeah, my mom forced me." As they chatted, Fatty Xu slowly realized something was off. "Wait, why does it feel like Ive been insulted?" Zhang Yi held back his laughter and started the car, driving away. "Brother Zhang, where are we going?" Fatty Xu asked. "Taking you to find something good!" Zhang Yi replied, heading towards a large gas station ten kilometers away. The shelter consumed a lot of energy; with his current reserves, it would only last about five years. Cautiously, Zhang Yi wanted to stockpile more. However, if he had to do it himself, he would have to use a digging machine, which would be time-consuming. Thats why he hadn''t rushed to do it yet. But with Fatty Xu, the perfect ice-based tool, Zhang Yi first thought of using his ability to excavate the resources buried under the snow! They stopped in a vast, snowy expanse. Zhang Yi checked the surrounding buildings to confirm the location, then told Fatty Xu, "Help me clear out this snow!" Fatty Xu didnt know what Zhang Yi was planning, but since he had acknowledged Zhang Yi as his leader, he obediently complied. He walked over, extended his hands towards the snowy ground, and his eyes glowed an icy blue. Zhang Yi felt a familiar surge of power from Fatty Xu, similar to the one he felt when he used his precision shooting skills. Quickly, the snowy ground began to tremble violently. The accumulated snow, compacted into a solid layer like ice, started to crack, making a deep rumbling noise. "Poof" "Poof" "Crack" The ground cracked like a dense spiderweb, and then large chunks of ice and snow floated up and were thrown to the sides. Zhang Yi observed Fatty Xu closely. Although Fatty Xu had surrendered and became his subordinate, Zhang Yi still needed to understand his skills. As the saying goes, "Never drop your guard." Fatty Xus expression was relaxed initially, but as he cleared more snow, he began to strain. After five minutes, he had cleared a ten-meter-wide pit, revealing the gas station buried underneath. "Huff" Fatty Xu withdrew his power and collapsed to the ground, panting heavily. "Brother Zhang, is this good?" Zhang Yi nodded, maintaining a calm exterior but feeling ecstatic inside. With Fatty Xu as a top-tier tool, acquiring resources would be so much easier in the future! He handed Fatty Xu two chocolate bars. "Eat something to replenish your energy!" Fatty Xus eyes lit up at the sight of the chocolate bars. They were his favorite, but he hadnt had any in a long time. "Thank you, Brother Zhang!" He took the chocolate bars, tore open the wrappers, and stuffed them into his mouth. The rich cocoa flavor melted in his mouth, and he felt like crying with happiness. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi slid down the edge of the snow pit and collected the fuel stored in the gas stations underground tanks. Chapter 203: You Really Are a Genius Chapter 203: You Really Are a GeniusWith this haul, Zhang Yi secured several years'' worth of fuel. Climbing out of the snow pit, he saw Fatty Xu and nodded, Yes, its done. This statement acknowledged the successful fuel collection and praised Fatty Xu. Without his help, this task wouldnt have been completed so easily. Fatty Xu was thrilled, clapping his hands, Thats great! Brother Zhang, youre amazing! His genuine admiration made Zhang Yi feel a bit embarrassed. In reality, all Zhang Yi did was use his spatial ability to collect the fuel tanks. Fatty Xu did the heavy lifting. Didnt you guys ever think about digging for resources before? Zhang Yi asked. Fatty Xu sighed, Of course we did. But we couldnt venture far from the village with the bitter cold. Even with sled dogs, our breeds arent suited for prolonged activity in such harsh conditions. So, we just excavated nearby supermarkets and granaries, which were enough for us. There was no need to go further. Zhang Yi smiled warmly at Fatty Xu, liking him more and more. He was a top-tier helper. Thats not a problem for me. Just stick with me, and you wont be shortchanged! Zhang Yi said slyly, Ill even give you a can of the diesel and gasoline we collected! S?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Fatty Xu was initially pleased, but then his face fell. Brother Zhang, I appreciate the thought, but I cannot transport a gasoline can back home. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, Oh, thats a shame. Im not the kind of guy who shortchanges his brothers. I guess Ill have to compensate you another way. He pulled out a backpack from his spatial storagethe one he had given Xu Hao. It was packed full of food. Handing it to Fatty Xu, he said, Heres some food as a reward for your help. Fatty Xus eyes lit up as he eagerly took the backpack. It was so heavy that he almost dropped it. Opening the zipper, he saw it was filled with high-quality foodchocolate, chicken legs, cream breadall from well-known brands, unlike the small, inferior products from his villages supermarket. Brother Zhang Fatty Xus eyes filled with tears. No one had treated him this kindly since his parents passed. Arent these too much? Fatty Xu asked, feeling a bit shy. He felt he hadnt done muchjust clearing some snow while Zhang Yi did the main work. I always treat my people well. If you stick with me, youll eat and drink well! Zhang Yi assured him, patting Fatty Xu on the shoulder with a smile. Determination filled Fatty Xus eyes. He saw Zhang Yi as a mentor who recognized his worth. Yes, Brother Zhang! Ill follow you and work hard! Zhang Yi thought that otaku was so easy to please. With the needed supplies secured, Zhang Yi drove Fatty Xu back. On the way, he asked about how Fatty Xu awakened his abilities. Fatty Xus face turned beet red, clearly uncomfortable. Zhang Yi, sensing something was odd, pressed him for answers. Unable to evade, Fatty Xu hesitantly explained, After my mom died, I didnt want to live either. But I couldnt bring myself to commit suicide, so I just lay in bed, hoping to starve to death. It seemed easy enough, since we were out of food. Zhang Yi asked, So you awakened your ability when starving? No, not exactly, Fatty Xu scratched his chubby face awkwardly. I was warm under the covers, and since I hadnt starved yet, I decided to enjoy myself one last time. My parents always warned me that too much self-gratification was bad for your health and lifespan, but I didnt care about that anymore. So, I overindulged a bit, Fatty Xu admitted. Zhang Yis eyelid twitched, understanding how Fatty Xu awakened his ability. How many times? Fatty Xus face almost buried itself in his pants. I lost count. Maybe twenty times? Until I couldnt feel anything anymore. Then, after I passed out, I felt a strange and wonderful change in my body, Fatty Xu added. Zhang Yi was speechless. Awakening an ability from excessive self-gratification was unheard of! He could only think that everyone has their unique path. Zhang Yi dropped Fatty Xu off by the river. Fatty Xu looked at the several-hundred-meter-wide Lujang River and timidly asked, Brother Zhang, cant you take me across? Given his physique, running several hundred meters was challenging. Zhang Yi smiled, My car slides easily on ice. After the car broke down on the river last time, Zhang Yi had been extra cautious. This was Fatty Xus territory; Zhang Yi needed to stay alert. Fatty Xu asked, Isnt your car a snowmobile? Yes, but its not an icebreaker. It can only drive on snow, not ice, Zhang Yi explained. Fatty Xu thought the explanation made sense, though he remembered Zhang Yi driving across the river skillfully the night before. However, he didnt question it and unbuckled his seatbelt to get out. Before he left, Zhang Yi warned, Chunlei, be careful. Fatty Xu felt a surge of warmth hearing his name. Brother Zhang, what is it? Zhang Yi seriously replied, The apocalypse is dangerous. Your Xu Jia Town is famous for its grain and vegetable production. People might come to steal your food. Be cautious! Fatty Xu gulped nervously. Yes, Brother Zhang, Ill remember! Chapter 204: Tranquil Times Chapter 204: Tranquil TimesFatty Xu trudged along the ice-covered Lujang River, heading back. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi drove back to Cloud Manor. He had a deeper purpose for telling Fatty Xu those words. Warning the people of Xu Jia Town? He wasn''t that kind-hearted. They had attacked him twice; if they were wiped out one day, he wouldnt feel a thing. Zhang Yi knew that other groups might attack Cloud Manor in the future. Xu Jia Town, nearby, served as a natural shield. By instilling this mindset in Fatty Xu, anyone approaching would be seen as a potential enemy. This way, Xu Jia Town could help absorb some of the animosity aimed at Zhang Yi. "Having such a tool is not bad at all," Zhang Yi mused, watching the clumsy figure on the ice. However, he knew he must remain vigilant. Fatty Xu sought his protection because of his displayed strength. Without it, he might have already been killed by Xu Dong Village. From now on, Zhang Yi needed to continue strengthening himself to remain a formidable force. He turned away, feeling confident about his secure rear. But there was one thing Zhang Yi hadn''t anticipated: Fatty Xu, the strongest fighter in Xu Dong Village or Xu Jia Town, wasn''t the one with the most power in the village. Back at the village, Fatty Xu excitedly reported the good news to the current clan leader, Xu Dongtang. He believed that making peace with Zhang Yi meant safety for the village. However, Xu Dongtang''s face darkened after hearing the report. After a long silence, Xu Dongtang coldly said, "Who told you to act on your own?" Fatty Xu expected praise, so Xu Dongtang''s reaction felt like a cold slap. "Sixth Grandpa, but I prevented our village from being attacked! You''ve seen Zhang Yis strength; we can''t compete with him." Xu Dongtang sneered, "You dare speak of yesterdays events? Would we have lost so many people if you hadn''t hesitated?" Fatty Xus face paled, unable to retort. Xu Dongtang continued, "If not for you, would your third grandpa be dead now? You made peace without permission and think its a great achievement!" "Your arrogance is astounding!" Fatty Xu felt a stinging pain and deep disappointment on his face. "But I promised Third Grandpa that I would protect the village. Peace is the best way..." "Silence!" Xu Dongtang''s sudden shout silenced Fatty Xu. His elders authority made him avert his eyes. "That was presumptuous and foolish! I am the clan leader now; you must seek my permission for any action! No more acting on your own!" Fatty Xu looked down, feeling very wronged. He believed he had done the right thing. Xu Dongtangs tone softened, patting Fatty Xus shoulder, "Chunlei, I know you meant well, but you''re young and inexperienced. Because of you, our family suffered greatly. I stood up for you, or they would have expelled you from the village." He sighed, "You need to stay here and atone. Dont do anything foolish again. Just follow the villages orders. Understand?" Fatty Xu, feeling like he had no choice, nodded. "I understand." "Good, you can go now. Remember, no more unauthorized actions!" Fatty Xu left Xu Dongtang''s house, feeling despondent. Xu Dongtang watched him go, adjusting his glasses, and muttering, "Young people, you are so arrogant. Dont think you can disrespect your elders just because you have some ability!" He then took out his phone and messaged the heads of the villages branches, "Dont worry about Zhang Yi. Ive contacted him, and he agreed to a truce. He won''t threaten our safety anymore!" The heads, who had been worried about Zhang Yi attacking, breathed a sigh of relief and praised Xu Dongtang. "Sixth Grandpa, you''re amazing! You settled that scoundrel immediately!" "We should have made you the clan leader earlier. Third Grandpa was too old and confused, making such mistakes." "Lets not speak ill of the dead." S?a?ch* Th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Having Sixth Grandpa leading us is a blessing." Back at Cloud Manor, Zhang Yi discussed the situation with Fatty Xu and Xu Dong Village with Zhou Keer and Yang Siya, hoping to ease their worries. Yang Siya patted her chest, "That''s such a relief!" Zhou Keer teased, "Really? You were that scared?" Yang Siya huffed, "I wasnt! I just didnt want to see such bloodshed again." If the fighting had continued, Zhang Yi would have wiped out the entire village of a thousand people. Zhang Yi could definitely do it. Zhou Keer smirked, "Yeah, yesterday you were vomiting like crazy." Yang Siya blushed with embarrassment, "Zhou Keer!" "Hmph!" Zhou Keer, smugly holding Zhang Yi''s arm, said, "Honey, youre amazing!" Zhang Yi shrugged, "Those villagers are just like stray cats and dogs, no threat to me. But if some underground forces show up, that will be troublesome." Yang Siya comforted him, "You always think the worst. Since weve solved the immediate problem, lets celebrate!" Zhang Yi thought, trouble will come if you don''t think ahead. But seeing their happy faces, he didnt voice his concerns. Zhou Keer walked to the bar, picking out two bottles of Burgundy wine, "Lets have a drink tonight to celebrate!" Yang Siyas eyes gleamed mischievously, "Ill cook my best dishes!" Known for her social prowess and impressive drinking skills, she planned to teach Zhang Yi and Zhou Keer a lesson. Zhang Yi chuckled, "Just a little. Im not good with alcohol." Zhou Keer and Yang Siya laughed even more. "Tonights special! Well drink just enough." The three of them ended up drinking until they were senseless. Late at night, Zhou Keer was the first to pass out. Yang Siya, who drank half a bottle more, also succumbed. Only Zhang Yi, supposedly a poor drinker, sat at the table, completely sober. Watching the two women who tried to get him drunk, Zhang Yi smiled. "I forgot to mention, I used to work in the alcohol sales business." But looking at them, his throat tightened. Both women, dressed in light pajamas, lay on the couch, their clothes in disarray. Yang Siyas slip dress exposed her smooth shoulders and half of her bosom, while Zhou Keers disheveled pose exuded a wild allure. Zhang Yi remembered Yang Siyas earlier request and couldnt help but smile wickedly. ... After teaching Xu Jia Town a painful lesson, they never crossed the Lujang River again. Zhang Yis days were peaceful, enjoying time with two beautiful women. With ample supplies and entertainment, life was enjoyable. On the other hand, Zhang Yi frequently received messages from Fatty Xu. "Brother Zhang, I''m bored at home. When will you take me on a mission?" "Brother Zhang, we should form a superpower team. Five members, each representing a color. Youd be the leader, Flame Dragon Hero, and Id be Snow Mastiff Hero." "Brother Zhang, why arent you responding? If you dont like it, we could be the Rainbow Team. Id be the Blue King, and youd be the Colorless King. How about that?" Since meeting Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu felt he had found a kindred spirit. Alienated in his village after the battle, he longed for Zhang Yis companionship and comfort. To win him over, Zhang Yi chatted with him occasionally and gathered information. Over time, Zhang Yi found it hard to keep up. Fatty Xu had too much energy with no girlfriend, sending hundreds of messages a day. Even without replies, he kept talking. Fatty, dont you have anything better to do? Zhang Yi asked, exasperated. After a brief pause, Fatty Xu''s shocked voice replied, "Damn! Brother Zhang, how did you know? Are you that calculating? Impressive, Im convinced!" Zhang Yi: "..." Covering his face, Zhang Yi was speechless. He understood that people like Fatty Xu were often unappreciated. Theyd give their all for someone who treated them well, even if it was for ulterior motives. Feeling pity, Zhang Yi used ChatGPT to respond to Fatty Xu. It only took a few Oh, Hmm, or Really? to make him happy. Wait, am I acting like a jerk? Zhang Yi shook his head, dismissing the thought. Days passed peacefully. Yang Siya tended to the garden, reviving many withered plants. She also planted vegetables, especially scallions, and peppers, which tasted best when fresh. Zhang Yi inspected the shelter, eliminating many safety hazards. Yet, one problem lingered: cybersecurity. Looking at the huge supercomputer in the control room, Zhang Yi frowned. This computer controlled the shelter, providing numerous conveniences. Without it, the shelter would be paralyzed. If the shelters network were hacked, the consequences would be dire. "How to solve this problem?" Zhang Yi pondered. He recalled Lu Fengda, who easily accessed his personal data. Even Fatty Xu found his phone number. Network security was a significant issue that must be addressed to prevent the shelter from falling to a top-tier hacker. Chapter 205: Yang Siyas Secret Chapter 205: Yang Siya''s Secret S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.When the sky was dark that night, Yang Siya quietly tiptoed into the living room and carefully walked upstairs. She glanced at Zhang Yis room, a complex expression flashing in her eyes. Changing direction, she approached Zhou Keers door and gently knocked. "Come in," Zhou Keer whispered, her beautiful face appearing as she opened the door. Seeing Yang Siya, she said softly, "Come in." Yang Siya slipped into the room, and Zhou Keer cautiously checked Zhang Yis room before slowly closing the door. Yang Siya took out her phone and handed it to Zhou Keer. Sitting on the bed, Zhou Keer looked at the message on the phone and immediately frowned deeply. "This..." Her expression was very complicated, filled with conflict and reluctance. She seemed at a loss for what to do. Yang Siya walked over and pleaded softly, "Keer, you have to help with this. Youve been with Zhang Yi for a long time; hell listen to you more than to me." Zhou Keer looked very hesitant. She placed her white hand on her chest and helplessly said, "I understand how you feel. But I know Zhang Yi too well. He wont do something like this!" Yang Siya grew anxious. "But we cant just watch and do nothing! Shes your sister, too!" Zhou Keer bit her lip, and her eyes were pained. "But we dont even know whats happening over there. Zhang Yi is excessively cautious, and thats whats kept us alive. He wont take this risk!" Yang Siya closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and when she opened them, her gaze was firm. "If we dont try, how will we know it wont work?" Zhou Keer, seeing her determined expression, curiously asked, "What do you plan to do?" Yang Siyas right hand moved down her neck, over her chest, and down her body. "A womans best weapon is her body." Zhou Keer suddenly grew wary. "So, youre planning to seduce him, right?" Yang Siya blushed. "Its not like that! Im doing this for Xin Xin!" Zhou Keer snorted. "Dont think I dont know what youve been up to!" Yang Siyas eyes avoided Zhou Keers as she said, "Just tell me if youll help or not." Zhou Keer frowned slightly. "Help you?" She was a smart woman and quickly understood what Yang Siya meant. Her face turned red with embarrassment. "I I wont do that! Its too shameful!" While the two women discussed how to win over Zhang Yi, there was a knock on the door. Both Zhou Keer and Yang Siya were startled. The only person who could be knocking at this time was Zhang Yi. Yang Siyas heart raced. They hadnt finished their conversation, and now Zhang Yi was here. How would they explain? Zhou Keer hurried to open the door. Zhang Yi stood there in black pajamas, looking at her and the seated Yang Siya with a playful expression. He had noticed Yang Siya sneaking upstairs. His cautious nature, or perhaps his spatial abilities, made him sensitive to his surroundings. He was curious about what these two women had to discuss at night that couldnt wait until daytime. Both women were in pajamas, Zhou Keer in pink and Yang Siya in purple, both very revealing as Zhang Yi had chosen them. These pajamas covered just enough while revealing tantalizing glimpses of their skin. The sight of their white legs, exposed cleavage, and small, bare feet was highly stimulating. Zhou Keer blushed, and Yang Siya looked like a child caught with her hand in the cookie jar, making Zhang Yi suspicious. "Are you two that close?" he asked, tilting Zhou Keers chin and looking into her eyes. "You dont have to hide it from me. Im pretty open-minded. If you ever want to do this again, feel free to do it in front of me." "People are naturally curious," Zhang Yi teased. Even Zhou Keer, normally innocent, understood his insinuation. "Oh, youre awful! Im not into girls!" she protested, playfully hitting Zhang Yis chest. "Oh, youre not? Then why are you two in bed together in the middle of the night? Sharing techniques?" Zhang Yi asked, looking at Yang Siya with playful suspicion. Yang Siya, quick on the uptake, explained, "Its not like that, Zhang Yi. We were just discussing a family matter." "Family matter?" Zhang Yi paused. His parents had passed away years ago, and his relatives in Tianhai City were distant. He had no close family ties. However, not everyone was like him. Zhang Yi entered the room, closed the door, and sat with the two women on the bed. "Tell me. I hope there are no secrets between us." Zhang Yi smiled at them. "Do you have any relatives you want to bring here?" They had grown close, having spent time together. If they wanted to leave, Zhang Yi would be reluctant but wouldnt stop them. "Its not that," Zhou Keer shook her head, looking sad. "I lost contact with my family after the snowstorm. I dont know if theyre alive or dead." Zhou Keers family was far away, some even abroad, making communication impossible. They were likely dead in the snowstorm. Zhang Yi nodded and looked at Yang Siya, who seemed uneasy. "Actually... my family contacted me." Chapter 206: The Genius Female Hacker Chapter 206: The Genius Female HackerHearing this, Zhang Yi lowered his eyelids. He hadnt spent much time with Yang Siya; from the beginning, she never gave up on the idea of leaving. He hadnt expected this day to come so soon. But so be it. Though he felt a bit reluctant, he wouldnt cling to herafter all, everyone had to move on with their lives. "Are they coming to take you away?" Zhang Yi asked. Yang Siya quickly shook her head. "No, its not like that! Actually... actually..." She hesitated, her black-stockinged feet curling uneasily. Zhang Yi found this strange. "What do you mean? I dont understand. Your family has found you, but they dont want to take you away?" Yang Siya gave a bitter smile. "Its true that a family member contacted me. But its not about taking me away. Its that..." She struggled for a while before looking at Zhang Yi with pleading eyes. "Its that shes in danger and hopes I can save her!" Her pleading look was heart-wrenching, making Zhang Yi want to hold her and never let go. Understanding why she had kept this from him and secretly discussed it with Zhou Keer, Zhang Yi smirked. "Ohso thats how it is!" Save someone unrelated to him? Was he supposed to be some saint? Realizing her secret was out, Yang Siya threw caution to the wind. Crawling over the bed, she clung to Zhang Yis arm, begging, "Zhang Yi, please help me this once! Shes my only family; I cant lose her!" Her scent wafted into Zhang Yis nose, intoxicating. She was using her body to persuade himan age-old tactic. Even Zhou Keer joined in, "Zhang Yi, I know this has nothing to do with you, but shes our family. If we let her die, well feel guilty forever!" Zhang Yi smiled at them, "You want me to rescue someone? Do you know whats going on outside?" "My information is already out there. Many people covet my resources and this super shelter! Leaving here means venturing into danger. Why would I do that for a stranger?" Without hesitation, Zhang Yi refused. Beauty tricks didnt work on him. Time spent together didnt cloud his judgment. Seeing his resolute refusal, Yang Siya and Zhou Keer grew desperate. This was their last hope to save her. "Zhang Yi, I cant just watch her die!" "If you save her, Ill do whatever you ask from now on!" Yang Siya was willing to sacrifice everything to save her cousin. Zhou Keer, too, bit her lip and whispered something into Zhang Yis ear, lighting his eyes up. "Really?" Zhang Yi asked. Recently initiated into intimacy, Zhou Keer had been shy about trying new things. Yet now, she suggested some bold ideas, which greatly tempted Zhang Yi. "So, will you do it?" The two women looked at him expectantly. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yi was about to refuse when Yang Siya added, "Xin Xins legs arent good. In this cold, she wont survive long outside. Just thinking about it breaks my heart!" Zhang Yi paused. "Xin Xin?" He remembered this name. Yang Siya mentioned her cousin, Yang Xinxin, who had studied at a prestigious school in Tianhai City. Eighteen years old, very beautiful, and a top-notch hacker. Eighteen, beautiful, and a top hacker. These keywords made Zhang Yi thinkshe was a rare gem! His main concern now was cybersecurity. Finding a reliable computer expert was challenging in these times, and trust was paramount. If not for trust issues, he would have brought in Lu Fengda, the computer expert. But Yang Xinxin was Yang Siyas cousin and Zhou Keers relative, making her trustworthy. An eighteen-year-old, paralyzed beauty fit the criteria of "beautiful, talented, and tragic." Swallowing his initial words, Zhang Yi held Yang Siya and Zhou Keers hands, looking at them affectionately. "Alright, you dont need to say more!" "If shes your sister, shes my sister too! How could I ignore her danger?" Yang Siya and Zhou Keer were overjoyed, especially Zhou Keer, who couldnt believe these words came from Zhang Yi, known for his selfish pragmatism. His agreement made her incredibly happy. Zhou Keer thought sweetly: Zhang Yi must be doing this for me. He really loves me! S?a?ch* Th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. With tears of joy in her eyes, Yang Siya exclaimed, "Thank you so much, Zhang Yi!" Wiping her tears, Zhang Yi told them, "Do you think Im a heartless person who only cares about benefits? My coldness is just a facade. For those close to me, Im very caring!" He kissed their hands lightly, making the two women blush. Their opinions of him changed significantly. Zhou Keer felt even more in love, and Yang Siya suddenly became attracted to him. The two women exchanged glances and then playfully pushed Zhang Yi onto the bed. Biting her lip, Yang Siya gazed at him seductively, "Zhang Yi, let us reward you once tonight!" This was the only way she could think of to repay him. Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Yi teased, "Just once? You underestimate me?" "How many times depends on your ability!" Yang Siya retorted, biting her cherry lips. Chapter 207: The Monster Chapter 207: The MonsterZhang Yi decided to rescue Yang Xinxin. After all, the shelter''s biggest issue was cybersecurity. An automated house under network attack could pose unimaginable threats. This decision wasnt made lightly; Zhang Yi planned it carefully and gathered all necessary information beforehand. After a tiring night, Zhang Yi called Yang Siya and Zhou Keer to discuss the rescue plan. "Tell me in detail about her current situation," Zhang Yi said cautiously. Zhou Keer glanced at Yang Siya. "You should tell him. Youre closer to Xinxin and know more." Yang Siya, sitting upright, spoke seriously, "Xinxin is trapped at Tianqing Academy!" "Tianqing Academy is the top private school in Tianhai City. Its not open to the public, so ordinary people know little about it. Its an integrated school from kindergarten to university, only for the children of the elite and a few geniuses." "Everyone who graduates from there becomes a key player in politics and business." Zhang Yi nodded, familiar with this. By 2050, education had become polarized. Ordinary people, elites, and the powerful received entirely different levels of education with no intersection. This led to the creation of exclusive educational institutions, or aristocratic schools. While degrees still mattered to ordinary people, they meant little to the true upper echelons. "If shes in school, how has a disabled girl survived until now?" Zhang Yi wondered. Schools were densely populated with limited resources. Survival might be possible through fighting for food, but Xinxin, who had polio from childhood, seemed unlikely to survive such conditions. Yang Siya explained, "Tianqing Academy has food supply channels with ample stored food. Xinxin and others took refuge in the school cafeteria, so they didnt starve." Zhang Yi nodded, finding this reasonable. "But if she could contact the outside world, why didnt she reach out sooner? Why wait until now?" This puzzled Zhang Yi. In dire straits, people would try every possible way to survive, seeking help from anyone. Why did she wait almost two months into the apocalypse? Yang Siya was stumped by this question, her expression uncertain. "I was so worried I didnt think to ask her," she said. She took out her phone. "Ill call her now." Zhang Yi nodded, watching her silently. Yang Siya dialed the number on the speaker. "Beepbeepbeep" "Sorry, the number you dialed is temporarily unavailable. Please try again later..." Yang Siya looked embarrassed. "Ive tried calling her again, but its always unavailable." Zhou Keer covered her mouth, laughing, "Maybe she thought you were dead and didnt call you!" "Not true!" Yang Siya glared at her. Zhang Yi rubbed his left hand with his right. "How far is Tianqing Academy from here?" Yang Siya thought for a moment. "About ten kilometers." "About?" Zhang Yi chuckled at her vague grasp of distance. He pulled out his phone and checked the map. Though signals were poor and satellite positioning was problematic, pre-apocalypse maps were still useful for distance measurements. After some searching, Zhang Yi found the answer. "Tianqing Academy is in the West Hill area. From Cloud Manor, its 22.6 kilometers as the crow flies." "Given that distance, its a miracle you got through once." Yang Siya and Zhou Keer suddenly understood. "No wonder!" Zhang Yi teased Yang Siya, "But its also possible she thought you were dead and didnt bother calling." Yang Siya clenched her fists, "No way! Im an adult, you know!" Zhang Yi stood up, "Follow me to the control room." Ordinary phones couldnt use the Nebula satellite chain to transmit signals, but the super server could. Yang Siya and Zhou Keer, who knew little about computers, followed Zhang Yi obediently. Zhang Yi used the computer in the control room to make a network call to Yang Xinxin. Soon, a static-filled noise came through, suggesting strong interference. "They must be in an area with very unstable signals," Zhang Yi concluded. After a few seconds, a soft, cute voice came through. "Who are you?" Hearing this, Yang Siya and Zhou Keer became excited. "Its Xinxin!" Yang Siya quickly leaned in, "Xinxin, its your sister! Where are you? Tell me, and Ill come get you soon!" The voice on the other end was intermittent and full of static. "Im at the school cafeteria... very dangerous... take me... away..." Hearing "dangerous," Zhou Keer and Yang Siya grew tense, and Zhang Yis eyes sharpened. "Whats the danger?" Zhang Yi asked. "Cats... they... kill..." The noise grew louder, making it hard to hear. Suddenly, a chilling scream came through, not a human sound but a long, eerie howl. Zhang Yi, Yang Siya, and Zhou Keer all felt a chill down their spines. Yang Siya and Zhou Keer, terrified, clung to Zhang Yi. Chaos erupted on the other end. "Run!" "Mon-mon-mon... monster!" The voices were filled with terror and despair. The eerie howl continued without pause. Zhang Yi even heard the sounds of flesh tearing and bones being chewed. These sounds were more horrifying than anything he had heard while surviving in Yue Lu District. S~?a??h the Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Crack... crash..." "Beepbeepbeep" The call abruptly ended, leaving only a busy signal echoing urgently. Chapter 208: Three Superhumans Chapter 208: Three SuperhumansThe call abruptly ended, leaving only the beep beep sound echoing in the control room. Zhang Yi sat in his chair, eyes half-closed, deep in thought. Initially, he thought it would be a simple rescue mission, but now it seemed more complicated, involving unexpected dangers. He disliked complications. At this moment, Yang Siya nervously clung to Zhang Yis arm. "Zhang Yi..." Her eyes were full of pleading, even teary. Her sisters danger made her desperate, hoping Zhang Yi would save her. Zhang Yi smiled reassuringly at Yang Siya and Zhou Keer. "Dont worry. I said I would save her, and I will." Though the situation might be troublesome, it wasnt difficult for Zhang Yi now. After all, he had two superhuman allies. With Uncle You acting as a tank in front, Fatty Xu controlling the field as a mage, and Zhang Yi finding the right moment to strike from behind, the formation was perfect. In the early days of the apocalypse, a trio of superhumans could sweep through most territories. Besides, he desperately needed a top-tier computer expert now. With Zhang Yis promise, Yang Siya and Zhou Keer felt relieved. After comforting them, Zhang Yi contacted Uncle You and Fatty Xu, asking them to join him for the rescue mission. Uncle You agreed immediately. Fatty Xu, not daring to disobey Zhang Yi, saw it as a simple rescue operation and agreed too. Given the potential danger surrounding Yang Xinxin, Zhang Yi decided to depart for Tianqing Academy the next day. As for the eerie, ghostly wail heard during the call, Zhang Yi could guess its nature. It was either a gene-mutated superhuman or another mutated creature. Though it sounded terrifying, the fact that Yang Xinxin, a paralyzed girl, had survived a month suggested it wasnt beyond their capability to handle. The night before departure, Zhang Yi meticulously checked his weapons and equipment. Facing mutants required more caution than dealing with ordinary people. Despite their higher recoil, he even switched his handguns to models with greater power, loaded with armor-piercing rounds. All equipment was prepared as usual: small items carried on him, large weapons stored in his spatial space, ready for immediate use. The next morning, Yang Siya and Zhou Keer prepared a lavish breakfast for Zhang Yi. He wasnt going to take them along. Despite their exposure to some brutal scenes, they would likely freeze up in a life-and-death situation, having no combat skills and becoming liabilities. Seeing the table full of food, Zhang Yi ate sparingly, sampling each dish but avoiding overindulgence. Eating too much could hinder his actions, and drinking too much soup or porridge could lead to inconvenient bathroom breaks in the freezing weather, risking frostbite. Having learned from past mistakes, Zhang Yi never ate too much before going out and drank little water. If he exhausted his energy, he had ample food and water in his spatial space. After breakfast, Zhang Yis phone rang. It was Fatty Xu. He answered, "Hello." "Brother Zhang, Ive crossed the river! Waiting by the roadside for you!" Fatty Xu knew Zhang Yis area was full of traps and didnt dare approach. Under the snow lay the buried bodies of his second brother and sixth grandpa. S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Wait for me. Ill be there soon." Zhang Yi hung up and turned to Yang Siya and Zhou Keer. "Im leaving now. For your safety, stay in the basement while Im gone." Yang Siya, puzzled, asked, "Why the basement? Isnt this house safe?" Zhou Keer tugged at her sleeve. "Just do as he says!" Zhou Keer knew Zhang Yi too well and understood his intention. The information came from Yang Siya and Zhou Keer, and the person to be rescued was their relative. There was a chance this was a trap they set up. Though this was highly unlikely, Zhang Yi never trusted probabilities, only himself. Feeling confused, Yang Siya followed Zhang Yi and Zhou Keer to the basement. Zhang Yi locked them in separate alloy rooms with his high-security key, ensuring no one could let them out until he returned. "This way, even if someone breaks in, they wont threaten your safety," Zhang Yi said with a smile. He left them with enough food and water, and the rooms had private bathrooms, so cleanliness wouldnt be an issue. Zhou Keer smiled warmly. "Thank you, Zhang Yi. Well wait for you to come back!" Now understanding the situation, Yang Siya felt slightly uncomfortable being suspected but wasnt angry since Zhang Yi was risking his life to save her sister. "Zhang Yi, please bring Xinxin back safely!" Zhang Yi patted his nose, smiling. "If shes safe when I arrive, Ill bring her back safely." With his promise, Yang Siya sighed in relief, her ample chest rising and falling. She blew Zhang Yi a kiss. "Ill be waiting to keep you company when you return!" "Now I have to hurry back, or Ill feel bad for neglecting you," Zhang Yi replied with a grin. Sweet words, though cheap, were effective. Yang Siya shyly bit her lip, murmuring, "As long as you care for me, Ill be happy." This promise to rescue her sister stirred something in Yang Siyas heart, making her believe Zhang Yi was doing it for her. If this wasnt love, what was there to hope for? A gentle ripple spread in her heart, lingering long after. ... Locking the two women in the alloy rooms, Zhang Yi left the house, taking a deep breath. He didnt like guarding against those close to him, but to live safely in these times, he had to be cautious and never let his guard down. Moreover, the basement rooms were comfortable and warm, and he left them plenty of food. They were much better off than him, who had to face danger outside. With this thought, Zhang Yi felt his actions were justified. Chapter 209: Tianqing Academy Chapter 209: Tianqing AcademyZhang Yi headed down the road towards the river. Fatty Xu, bundled up tightly, stood with his hands in his pockets, stomping his feet to stay warm. Upon seeing Zhang Yi, he waved enthusiastically. "Brother Zhang, Im here!" Zhang Yi approached, saying, "I told you to meet at nine in the morning. What time is it now?" Fatty Xu scratched his head and chuckled. "I was worried Id be late and delay your plans, Brother Zhang." Zhang Yi sighed. He took the snowmobile out from his spatial space, opened the door, and said, "Get in. Its too cold outside!" Fatty Xu happily climbed into the passenger seat, and Zhang Yi turned on the car heater. Despite the high fuel consumption due to the cold weather, Zhang Yi wasnt concerned since Fatty Xus abilities made fuel acquisition easier. With the heater on, Fatty Xu relaxed significantly, thinking gratefully, "Brother Zhang is so considerate, worried I might freeze." "Brother Zhang, where are we going today?" Fatty Xu asked. "Were going to a school to rescue someone," Zhang Yi replied. "Rescue? Oh, I see! It must be someone very important to you, right?" Fatty Xu looked serious. Zhang Yi smirked slightly. "Important? You could say that." Yang Xinxins computer skills were indeed critical to him now. After a brief moment of gratitude, Fatty Xus chatty nature resurfaced. He chattered endlessly about his life, making Zhang Yi wish he could use his smart speaker to fend him off. Without earplugs, he could only let Fatty Xus words in one ear and out the other. "Our villages Xu Lili, shes totally into me! Every time she looks at me, its different from how she looks at others. She even came over to thank me! Girls these days are just shy. If she likes me, she should just say so!" Zhang Yis forehead was full of black lines. If not for the upcoming mission, he would have kicked Fatty Xu out of the car. "By the way, whats the villages current attitude towards me?" Zhang Yi asked. Fatty Xus babbling ceased abruptly, and his expression turned awkward. "Uh well" Did it even need to be said? Zhang Yi had killed or maimed half the villages men. They would never be grateful. If not for fear of Zhang Yis power, they would seek revenge. But Fatty Xu couldnt say this out loud. At least Zhang Yi enjoyed a moment of silence. As they waited, a black snowmobile approached from the distance. "Hes here," Zhang Yi said. Fatty Xu looked curiously towards the approaching vehicle. Soon, Uncle You parked his snowmobile nearby. "Zhang Yi, long time no see!" Uncle You greeted cheerfully. Zhang Yis eyes lit up with admiration. Uncle Yous ability was a physical enhancement, increasing his bodily strength and cell activity, making him a perfect tank. Despite the heavy clothing, his robust physique was evident. "Long time no see, Uncle You. Youre looking great!" Uncle You proudly flexed his arm. "I feel ten years younger, like a man in his thirties. My stamina and strength are at their peak!" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Especially your stamina, right?" Uncle You chuckled. "All of it." After some friendly banter, Zhang Yi introduced Fatty Xu to Uncle You. "This is Fatty XuXu Chunlei, an ice-based superhuman who can manipulate ice and snow." "And this is Uncle You, You Jiguang, a physical enhancement superhuman and a respectable veteran." Fatty Xu and Uncle You greeted each other, though both were puzzled by the gathering of three superhumans. In the early days of the apocalypse, superhumans were rare. The odds of three of them coming together were slim. Uncle You, unable to hide his curiosity, asked, "Zhang Yi, what mission needs the three of us?" Fatty Xu was also curious. S?a?ch* Th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Three superhumans for this task means the enemy must be formidable," he said. Zhang Yi waved his hand dismissively. "Its not that complicated. Were just going to a school to rescue a girl." "A girl?" Uncle You and Fatty Xus eyes lit up. "What grade in college?" "What grade in elementary school?" Zhang Yi glared at Fatty Xu. "Keep your otaku tendencies in check!" Fatty Xu innocently covered his mouth. Zhang Yi explained, "Shes my girlfriends sister. We just found her in a school about 20 kilometers away. There seem to be some anomalies there, possibly mutated creatures. For safety, I called you both." Uncle You nodded. Fatty Xu noticed something odd in Zhang Yis wording. "Mutated creatures? Not superhumans?" Zhang Yi sneered. "Who said only humans can mutate? Any cellular organism can mutate. It could be a pet or seafood from the market. Who knows whats mutated?" "It could be human, but if so, theyve gone insane," Zhang Yi added, recalling the eerie sound that couldnt come from a normal human. Uncle You laughed heartily. "No matter what it is, with the three of us, we can handle it." Zhang Yi nodded. "Exactly. With the three of us, nothing can threaten us." Uncle You agreed. "So, lets get going!" "Alright, lets move out!" Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu got on the snowmobile, and Uncle You rode the motorcycle Zhang Yi had given him. Zhang Yi used his smartphones GPS to navigate to Tianqing Academy. Despite the satellite issues, positioning still worked fairly accurately. Once positioned, Zhang Yi drove towards Tianqing Academy, with Uncle You riding alongside on his motorcycle. Chapter 210: The Survivors Chapter 210: The Survivors[A Few Days Ago] At the original site of Tianqing Academy, the entire campus was buried under white snow, with only a few bell towers and the tips of tall buildings protruding above the surface. This once bustling elite school, spanning 2,000 acres, had completely vanished under the snow. It was hard to believe anyone could still be alive beneath this icy cover. The students'' survival was due to the sturdy construction of the Tianqing Academy buildings and the immense funds invested in their construction. After all, the children studying here were the offspring of high-ranking officials and wealthy businessmen. The quality of their school was a hundred times better than that of public schools. A group of students had taken refuge in one of the schools gyms. Beneath the snow, the air was thin, and the terrifying events they faced left everyone physically and mentally exhausted. Small groups huddled together, faces pale and filled with fear and anxiety. Their teacher had just gone to the warehouse for food, leaving them to rest. In a corner of the gym, a long-haired girl in a wheelchair stared blankly at the basketball court floor. Her skin was sickly pale, even whiter than the snow outside. Her frail frame seemed like a breeze could blow it away. But beneath her black hair was an exquisitely beautiful, small and delicate face, with features resembling Yang Siya but a different demeanor. Yang Siyas face always bore a look of determination and strength, while this girls delicate and pitiable appearance could stir any mans protective instincts. In short, she was an absolutely pitiful beauty, as fragile as a flower that might wither at any moment. She was Yang Siyas cousin, Yang Xinxin. Despite being a genius hacker, Yang Xinxin looked lonely. Only one long-time friend stayed by her side; the other students kept their distance, looking at her disdainfully. It wasnt that Yang Xinxin had done anything wrongshe was simply a burden due to her disability and the fact that she was still alive. Everyone feared the unknown terror lurking in the shadows in these dire times. Having a cripple around meant more trouble. Their teacher, a person of strong moral integrity, insisted on taking her along whenever danger approached. Initially, everyone sympathized with and took care of Yang Xinxin. However, their attitudes changed as their numbers dwindled from over a hundred to just a few dozen. Yang Xinxin, despite doing nothing wrong, became a scapegoat, with some blaming her for the deaths of their friends. "Why are you still alive when others are dead?" "Is it your fault everyones dying?" In the face of death, some humans reveal rare kindness, while others unleash hidden malice. The latter is easier, as hatred is easier learned than forgiveness. This malice twisted their hearts. Under the pressure of death, they needed an outlet for their negative emotions. Bullying the weak provided a perverse satisfaction. With oxygen running low, the students had little energy left. They leaned against the walls or sat on gym mats, starting to converse. "Do you think we can survive?" a girl asked slowly. The nearby girls, their faces weary, showed fear and resignation. Another girl hugged her knees, trembling, "We will survive. We must." "But so many have died!" "Li Huimin, Yuan Sisi, Zhao Huan, Tong Siya..." Each name sent a chill through their hearts. These were their classmates, people they had watched die. At this moment, a girl with wavy hair glanced at Yang Xinxin in her wheelchair. A surge of loathing rose within her. "Why is this cripple still alive when so many are dead?" Once started, this topic was hard to stop. The students found an outlet for their anger, glaring at Yang Xinxin. "We always have to bring her when we run. Its so annoying! If only we could feed her to the monsters!" "Yeah, whats the point of her living? She might just die from her illness anyway." S?a?ch* Th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "I think shes a jinx. Instead of dying, she drags us down!" Their expressions grew twisted with perverse delight. Criticizing Yang Xinxin gave them a twisted sense of pleasure in their despair. They convinced themselves that her death would save them all. Similar discussions about the necessity of protecting Yang Xinxin arose on the boys'' side. "Weve protected her long enough. Isnt that enough?" A boy with a buzz cut frowned. "Maybe we should stop bringing her." Leaning against the wall, a boy with styled hair spoke wearily, "Does it matter? Teacher Liang never leaves anyone behind. But people keep dying." He was the class monitor, Wu Chengyu. Then, a girl with a ponytail stood up among the first to criticize Yang Xinxin. With a strange smile, she approached Yang Xinxin. Yang Xinxin looked up, fearful, "Zhang... Zhang Mengning..." Zhang Mengning stood over her, her gaze growing venomous. She bent down and whispered, "Yang Xinxin, why dont you just die?" "Youre a total burden, so disgusting!" The harsh words hung in the cold air, and the resentment of the group seemed to crystallize in their hearts, directed squarely at the frail girl in the wheelchair. Chapter 212: Dinner Time Chapter 212: Dinner TimeZheng Yuncong''s body was lifted like a rag doll. Her entire body went rigid as blood began to seep from her head. Before she could scream for help, she was swiftly yanked out the window. The enormous black monster brought her to its face, its scarlet tongue licking her, the barbs on its tongue tearing her flesh until her face was unrecognizable. "Ahhh!!!" The gym erupted in terrified screams. Everyone scrambled to the back of the gym, trying to escape. No one thought of Yang Xinxin, except for Lu Keran, who pushed her wheelchair as fast as she could. A group of students reached the back door only to find it sealed shut. No matter how hard they tried, they couldnt open it. "Damn, it''s frozen shut!" "Open it, or were all dead!" The students were pale with fear, some wetting themselves in panic. Meanwhile, the black monster had already entered the gym. Standing over ten meters tall, it was entirely black, its body covered in blood and grime. Its hair was as sharp as steel needles, completely blocking the gym''s main entrance. The monster held Zheng Yuncong, licking her for a moment before casually biting off her head. "Splash" Blood gushed out like a fountain. "Ahhh!!!" The girls screamed, collapsing to the floor in terror. The boys frantically tried to open the back door, but it was frozen solid and blocked by tons of ice and snow, impossible to move. The monster tossed Zheng Yuncongs body aside and walked into the gym, blocking the door with its massive frame. It tilted its head, seemingly assessing the frightened students. They saw a mocking intelligence in its eyes, chilling them to the bone. This was no mindless beast but a sentient monster. The students huddled in a corner, paralyzed by fear, unable to muster any will to fight. Suddenly, someone shoved Yang Xinxin, wheelchair and all, towards the monster. She fell forward, hitting the floor hard. The monsters attention was immediately drawn to her, and it took a step closer. "Xinxin!" Lu Keran screamed, her legs paralyzed with fear, unable to move. The monster loomed over Yang Xinxin, who lay helpless on the floor. Just then, the boys who had pushed her made a run for the door. The monster''s head turned slightly, its amber eyes locking onto them. Its mouth curled into a mocking smile. "Smack!" The monster''s huge claw slapped down, instantly crushing two boys to the ground. S?a??h th? N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Spurt!" The slight pressure was enough to rupture their internal organs, causing them to vomit blood. Desperately, they tried to crawl away, unwilling to die. They were sons of wealthy families, destined for great futures. How could they die here? Ignoring the motionless Yang Xinxin, the monster turned its attention to the fleeing boys. Its claws, sharp as knives, slashed at them, tearing their bodies open and splattering blood everywhere. With the monsters back turned, Lu Keran mustered her courage and rushed to help Yang Xinxin up. Wu Chengyus eyes lit up as he whispered to his friends, "I get it. The monster attacks moving targets. Yang Xinxin pretended to be dead and survived." His friends nodded, realizing why Li Yong and Zhou Keqiang had died when they tried to run. "So what do we do? Play dead?" Wu Chengyus eyes turned cold. "Playing dead might not work. This monster could be toying with us. Heres what well do." After a quick discussion, Wu Chengyu incited the others, "Quick, while the monster is distracted, let''s make a run for it!" "If we stay here, were dead. Someone needs to go get Teacher Liang!" Some were too scared to move, but others, desperate to avoid death, decided to take the risk. "Everyone rush it! It can''t kill us all. Staying here is certain death!" Fueled by extreme fear, a few boys, their eyes red with rage, decided to act. The monster, still toying with the struggling boys, had its back turned. Li Yong and Zhou Keqiang, covered in blood, still fought to live, calling out for help. "Help us! Dont leave us behind!" "Please, Wu Chengyu, Xiao Ran, were best friends!" Rather than killing them outright, the monster seemed to enjoy their struggle, batting them around like toys. Meanwhile, the other boys crept behind the monster, trying to escape. Ignoring their classmates'' pleas, they moved stealthily, but Li Yong and Zhou Keqiangs cries drew the monsters attention. "Look, theyre running!" The monsters eyes narrowed, its head rotating 180 degrees to spot the fleeing boys. They froze, terror gripping them. In a desperate bid for life, they sprinted for the door. "Smack!" "Smack!" "Smack!" The monster''s claws struck quickly, crushing the boys chests and leaving them lifeless on the ground. Chapter 213: The Tang Sword and the Female Warrior Chapter 213: The Tang Sword and the Female WarriorThe three students stopped by the monster glared furiously at Li Yong and Zhou Keqi. "Bastards!!!" Knowing they wouldn''t survive, Li Yong and Zhou Keqi laughed despite the blood streaming from their mouths. "No one lives! If we die, you all die with us!" The monster now had seven new playthings, and its excitement grew. It raised its massive black tail, claws scraping the ground. Taking advantage of the distraction, Wu Chengyu and two others darted out of the gym, faces alight with relief. Wu Chengyu grinned triumphantly. "Sorry, but better you die than us!" His companions praised him. "Chengyu, youre so smart! You used them to distract the monster so we could escape." As they fled, Wu Chengyu explained, "I figured it was a mutated cat. Cats love to play with their prey before eating. Unless theyre starving, theyre not interested in dead mice." The monster noticed a few had escaped inside the gym but wasnt concerned. The rest of the students were still there. The gym was like its personal pantry, full of food. Other students huddled in corners, envious of those who escaped. Some attempted to imitate them, sneaking away. But the monster was now alert and wouldnt let them succeed. "Smack! Smack!" Louder than before, the monster ended its play, crushing the students beneath its claws. The remaining students screamed in horror, nearly breaking down. At that moment, a shout echoed, "Damn monster, dont hurt my students!" Despair turned to hope as the students saw their teacher return. "Teacher Liang is back!" A tall woman with a high ponytail stood at the door, wielding a traditional Tang sword. She charged at the monster, the blade glinting with a faint blue light. The monster, recognizing the danger, shrieked and dodged. Seeing the bodies on the ground, Teacher Liang Yue''s eyes filled with sorrow, but she saw the surviving students and decided not to engage the monster inside. She slowly moved deeper into the gym, clearing a path to the door. Understanding her intent, the monster smirked and grabbed a students body before slinking out. Holding her sword tightly, Liang Yue cautiously followed. Outside, she found only the monsters burrowed snow tunnels. She sighed in relief but also felt an overwhelming exhaustion. How long could she protect her students in this deadly game of cat and mouse? For over a month, most of her students had died, not from the cold, but at the hands of this monster. If not for her exceptional combat skills and awakened superhuman abilities, she too would have become its meal. But constantly defending against the monster while protecting her students was wearing her down. Liang Yue sheathed her Tang sword. Class representative Shen Miaoke approached timidly, "Teacher Liang!" Liang Yue nodded and gestured to the sack at her feet. "Distribute the food to everyone." She found a corner, sat down with her sword, and closed her eyes to rest. She was utterly exhausted. Since the apocalypse began, the school had become a graveyard. The monster had killed most people, not the cold. Only Liang Yues strength and abilities had kept her alive. But protecting so many students and constantly defending against the monster was draining her completely. Shen Miaoke and a few girls handed out the food to the survivors. Soon, Wu Chengyu and his companions returned, nonchalantly grabbing some food. They acted as if nothing had happened, ignoring their earlier betrayal. Just then, Zhang Mengning, who had previously scolded Yang Xinxin, snapped. The death of her best friend, Zheng Yuncong, had pushed her over the edge. She rushed at Yang Xinxin, screaming, "Why are you still alive when everyone else is dead? You should be the one dead, you useless cripple!" "Why wont you just die?" Yang Xinxin remained silent. What could she say? She understood too well that blame needed no justification. Lu Keran defended her friend, "Zhang Mengning, be reasonable! How is this Xinxins fault?" Zhang Mengning, tears streaming, stomped and cursed, "I hate her, so what?" Shen Miaoke tried to calm her, "Zhang Mengning, please stop." She handed some food to Yang Xinxin. "Xinxin, eat something." Zhang Mengning slapped the food to the ground. "Stop wasting food on her! The schools supplies are limited. Shell die eventually. Better save it for those who can use it!" S?a?ch* Th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Liang Yue, eyes closed, opened them briefly at the commotion. Seeing the students fighting again, she closed her eyes. She was too tired. These conflicts happened daily. Someone would snap, argue, or even fight. She had no energy left for these issues, needing all her strength to combat the monster. Zhang Mengnings shouting filled the gym. In a corner, a girl sat on a gym mat, clutching her head, eyes filled with despair. "Its useless. All this arguing is pointless. Were all going to die, eaten by that monster!" "Dont you see? Were all just food for it, kept alive because it likes fresh meat!" Chapter 214: The Mutated Creature Chapter 214: The Mutated CreatureThe girls outburst left everyone with chills. It was true; the monster always picked a few people to kill each time it appeared, never slaughtering too many at once. It was as if it were raising chickens and ducks, selecting a few to eat when it was hungry. We have no hope left! the girl screamed in despair. There will be no rescue! This world is already doomed! Class president Wu Chengyu, however, bit his lip and retorted, There will be hope! There has to be! We are the elite of this society, destined for greatness. We wont die here! He gazed at the sky, sealed off by thick layers of ice and snow. Once we get out of here and contact the outside world, my father will come and rescue me! But escaping to the surface was a monumental challenge. Despite her formidable abilities and martial arts background, Liang Yue couldnt fend off the mutated monster while protecting a large group of students. After an hour-long drive, Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and Uncle You arrived at the former site of Tianqing Academy. The landscape was a vast, white expanse, but a small hill near the academy provided a reference point to confirm their location. The three got out of the car, Zhang Yi holding his handgun and instructing the others, Stay alert. There could be danger. Fatty Xu gulped and instinctively stepped back. Uncle You, however, stood resolutely at the front, his military training and sense of duty compelling him to protect the others. Everything is buried under the snow. How do we know where to find the person youre here to rescue? Uncle You asked, a bit perplexed. Zhang Yi pulled out his phone to contact Yang Xinxin, but the call wouldnt go through. The signal is poor here. Lets search around. This school is huge, and some tall buildings must be sticking out, Zhang Yi suggested. The map shows the schools layout. Once we find a building, we can figure out where Yang Xinxin might be. Fatty Xu looked disheartened. This elite school is massive. I heard it even has a golf course. Zhang Yi nodded. The campus covers 3,000 acres. Well drive around and look. Theres no rush. Without a car, searching would take forever. Uncle You suggested, Lets split up to search faster. Zhang Yi shook his head. No, we stick together for safety. Slow and steady. Uncle You agreed, and they resumed their search. Soon, they spotted the top of a building. Theres a tower up ahead! Lets check it out, Zhang Yi said. Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu approached the structure. Using the map, Zhang Yi identified it as the astronomy center. The astronomy center is in the southeast. The dorms and cafeteria are in the north, quite far apart. Fatty Xu suggested, Could they hide in classrooms or the gym? Theyd need a large space to move around and enough oxygen. Zhang Yi considered this. Maybe. The dorms and cafeteria are the best bets because of the food and shelter. But we should also check places like the gym and classrooms. As Zhang Yi analyzed the possible locations, Fatty Xu and Uncle You entered the astronomy centers tower. Fatty Xu used his ability to manipulate the ice and snow, clearing a path to a window. We can get in here! Fatty Xu exclaimed. Zhang Yi dismissed the idea. Were not here to collect telescopes. Fatty Xus face fell, but Zhang Yi softened his tone. Those telescopes might be useful later for scouting. We might as well grab them while were here. Fatty Xus confidence surged, and he and Uncle You prepared to enter the building. Suddenly, Zhang Yi felt a chilling presence, the sensation of being watched by a predator. He turned, guns ready, and his eyes widened. A massive black creature lay silently in the snow, its eyes fixed on him. The beasts head was as large as a Tyrannosaurus rexs, its black fur bristling like steel needles, and its amber eyes gleamed with an unsettling intelligence. A mutated creature! Zhang Yi thought, recognizing it from Yang Xinxins descriptions. The creatures gaze remained locked on Zhang Yi, but it didnt attack. Zhang Yi noted the absence of the usual bloodthirsty intent. The beast seemed more curious than hostile. S?a?ch* Th? N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Whats going on? Zhang Yi wondered, puzzled by the creatures behavior. Chapter 215: The Snow Tunnel Chapter 215: The Snow TunnelThe sudden appearance of the gigantic monster startled Zhang Yi. However, he quickly composed himself. After facing numerous life-and-death situations, his nerves were steel-like. What surprised him was that the monster showed no hostility towards him. As Zhang Yi pondered how to deal with it, Fatty Xu and Uncle You climbed out of the snow and approached, looking for some ropes to descend further. Their emergence caught the monster''s attention. Fatty Xu, upon seeing the enormous creature, screamed in terror. Instinctively, he thrust his right hand forward, unleashing his power. Snow and ice erupted from the ground, surging towards the monster. "Stop!" Zhang Yi shouted, but it was too late. In the snowy terrain, Fatty Xu''s power was unrivaled. The snowstorm, mixed with heavy ice, pummeled the black monster. It let out a piercing scream and moved like lightning across the snow. "So fast!" Zhang Yi''s eyes widened. The massive creature moved swiftly, dodging the ice attack effortlessly and charging at Fatty Xu. Realizing the threat, Zhang Yi immediately enveloped himself with his spatial ability. "Double speed!" With his spatial ability enhancing his speed, Zhang Yi could double his movements, necessary to counter the beasts attack. As the monster closed in on Fatty Xu, Zhang Yi raised his guns and fired rapidly. "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" The casing fell to the ground as Zhang Yi unleashed a flurry of bullets. The monster was fast, but Zhang Yis enhanced speed allowed him to aim accurately. Armor-piercing rounds struck the beast, sparks flying as some of its hard fur was clipped. It roared in anger but appeared not seriously injured. Zhang Yi gasped. Those were armor-piercing bullets, yet they only managed to trim its fur. During the brief distraction, Uncle You stepped in front of Fatty Xu. His muscles bulged, and his body grew to over two meters tall, his skin turning stone-like. He punched the monster squarely in the face. "Boom!" The impact created a large depression in the snow as the beast''s face twisted nearly 90 degrees, forcing it back several steps. It let out an infuriated roar. "It''s a feline!" Zhang Yi thought, noting the monsters roar. Whether it was a mutated cat or something from the zoo, it was extremely dangerous. Felines were apex predators of their size class, barring mustelids. Unhesitatingly, Zhang Yi holstered his handguns and switched to a sniper rifle. Against this beast, a handgun wasnt sufficient. The power of a sniper rifle was necessary. The monster saw three opponents: the robust Uncle You and Fatty Xu together and Zhang Yi a dozen meters away. It naturally chose to charge at Zhang Yi first. Zhang Yi, acting quickly, fired the sniper rifle. "Bang!" His deafening shot was even more powerful. The monster sensed danger and tried to dodge, but it couldn''t outpace the sniper bullet, enhanced by his ability. "Crack!" The bullet struck its cheek, shattering rows of its steel-like whiskers and causing blood to spurt. Enraged, the monster curled into a ball, its body covered in spikes, and rolled towards Zhang Yi. "Damn it!" Zhang Yi didnt expect this maneuver. The rolling spiked ball plowed through the snow, creating deep fissures. Zhang Yis speed made dodging impossible, but he didnt need to. "Dimensional Gate, open!" He opened a gate to a parallel dimension in front of him. While he enjoyed offense, defense was his strong suit. Once in the parallel dimension, any creature would be trapped in a frozen world, slowly perishing. Sensing the danger, the monster abruptly changed direction mid-air and rolled away, disappearing hundreds of meters away. "Damn, so close!" Zhang Yi cursed, frustrated at missing the chance to trap the beast. He wanted to study this mutant and understand the differences between mutated creatures and superhumans. Fatty Xu and Uncle You quickly joined Zhang Yi, all eyes on the retreating monster. Zhang Yi aimed his sniper rifle but didnt fire. The monster, realizing their threat, retreated cautiously before turning and vanishing into the snow. "Where did it go?" Uncle You was astonished. Such a massive creature disappearing so suddenly was baffling. Fatty Xu speculated, "Could it have spatial abilities, too?" Zhang Yi shook his head. "Doesnt seem like it. If it did, it would have used them earlier." His spatial senses told him the monster had simply run off. They approached where the monster vanished and found a large tunnel leading into the snow. "A tunnel!" Uncle You exclaimed. "With this thing nearby, finding the people were looking for will be tricky," Fatty Xu said seriously. "If that monster is around, there shouldnt be any survivors in the school." "Brother Zhang, are you sure your information is accurate?" S~?a??h the N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 216: A Desperate Struggle Chapter 216: A Desperate StruggleFatty Xu''s doubts were not unfounded. It was hard to believe that ordinary people, let alone someone with his abilities, could survive an encounter with such a monstrous creature without thorough preparation. Considering its size, the amount of food it needed was enormous, likely dozens of times that of a normal human. Fatty Xu couldnt fathom how it had survived all this time without preying on the people at the school. However, Zhang Yi had a different perspective. "You didnt notice one crucial thing," he said. "That creature didnt intend to harm us initially." Zhang Yi looked at Fatty Xu. "If you hadnt suddenly attacked it and provoked it, we might not have ended up in this situation." Fatty Xu was bewildered. "Did I really provoke it? I was just terrified!" Zhang Yi recalled the monsters eyes, sensing an intelligence there, not just the mindless hunger of a beast. "Its possible the mutation enhanced its intelligence significantly, maybe even comparable to humans." "And I did hear Yang Xinxins voice during that phone call. The monster couldnt have made that call," Zhang Yi continued. He approached the large hole the monster had created, peering into its depths. The tunnel was enormous, big enough for a vehicle to pass through, and provided a crucial air supply that could explain why people hadnt suffocated underground. After contemplating for a while, Zhang Yi made a decision. "Lets go down and take a look." "What? Go down there?" Fatty Xu exclaimed, frightened. "What if we encounter that monster again? This is its territory!" Zhang Yi looked at Fatty Xu hard. "Have you forgotten your own abilities? Youre an ice and snow manipulator and scared to fight in the snow?" Fatty Xu realized his oversight. In the snowy environment, his powers were at their peak. If the monster attacked, he could bury it under tons of snow. Feeling embarrassed, Fatty Xu scratched his head. "I guess I was just too scared earlier." Zhang Yi didnt criticize him further. Fatty Xu had the least combat experience and was the most timid among the three. Over time, with more battles, his strength would undoubtedly grow. Superpowers alone didnt determine combat effectiveness; intellect, courage, and even luck played crucial roles. With Fatty Xus powers as their foundation, Zhang Yis absolute defense, and Uncle You as a strong shield, they were not afraid of facing the monster underground. Zhang Yi stored their snowmobiles in his spatial space, and the three descended into the monsters tunnel. Upon landing, they discovered an intricate network of tunnels beneath the snow, all carved out by the monster. The tunnels were dark, so Zhang Yi lit a mining lamp, illuminating a hundred meters ahead. Even in the darkness, the monster couldnt ambush them. Zhang Yi also produced two boxes of crayons, explaining, "Well use these to mark our path so we dont get lost." S?a??h th? ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "But how will we find our way in this labyrinth?" Fatty Xu asked. Uncle You sniffed the air cautiously. "Theres a strong smell of blood." Fatty Xu quickly added, "It must be from the monster. Who knows how many it has eaten? We should follow the tunnels with the least blood scent." Zhang Yi rolled his eyes. "With all three of us here, especially in the snow, you should be more confident. If we encounter the monster, it should be the one running away." He retrieved a golden handgun and methodically loaded bullets. Uncle You recognized the weapon immediately. "Golden Desert Eagle!" "Yes," Zhang Yi replied. The Desert Eagle, one of the most powerful handguns in the world, had ten times the firepower of the police handgun he had previously used. It surpassed even the renowned AK-47 in terms of kinetic energy. Its drawbacks were its weight and strong recoil, making it difficult for an average person to handle. Armed with armor-piercing rounds, Zhang Yi was confident that the Desert Eagle could significantly damage the monster if they faced it again. After loading the weapon, he chambered a round and said, "Uncle You, your scouting skills are the best. Lead the way following the monsters path. It will head towards any living people for food, and well find them by following it." Fatty Xu was still nervous, but Zhang Yis confident words reassured him. "Yes, Boss!" Following Uncle Yous lead, they traced the scent of blood. Zhang Yi marked their path with crayons, embedding the tips into the snow walls to avoid detection and destruction by the monster. Teacher Liang Yue and the dozen or so surviving students had been at the Tianqing Academy gymnasium for three days. Their last food search was also three days ago, leaving everyone hungry. Liang Yue faced a difficult dilemma. The monster circled nearby, ready to strike if they showed any weakness. She couldnt leave the students to search for food alone, but sending others would be a death sentence. Due to the thin air, they risked suffocation in the confined space under the snow. Liang Yue had the strength to fight the monster but couldnt simultaneously protect the students and search for supplies. They had tried before, and the monster had ignored her, attacking the students instead, resulting in heavy casualties. Liang Yue guarded the gym entrance for three days with her Tang sword. The monster hadnt attacked again, but her instincts told her it was still nearby. "We cant hold out any longer," she thought, fatigue evident in her eyes. She had eaten very little, and the hunger made her anxious and uneasy. Protecting all her students was her duty as a teacher and a hired bodyguard, but the reality was harsh. She had to make difficult choices. Chapter 217: Meditation Chapter 217: MeditationLiang Yue gripped her Tang sword tightly. Despite the gnawing hunger, it could also ignite a fierce will to survivean instinctual drive. The students'' faces were filled with numbness and madness in the gymnasium. Over the past month, they had constantly faced death, witnessing their friends die one by one. This relentless strain had fractured their sanity. Just last night, a girl hanged herself from the basketball hoop while everyone was distracted. The next morning, when the others discovered her body, no one cried; they remained eerily calm. Liang Yue knew things couldnt go on like this. As the only teacher in the group, she felt responsible for giving these kids a fighting chance for the future. As she pondered their situation, class president Wu Chengyu and youth league secretary Shen Miaoke approached her. "Ms. Liang," Wu Chengyu began. s?a??h th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Liang Yue looked up at them. "Shouldnt we go out to find some food?" Wu Chengyu suggested. "If this continues, well starve to death." Shen Miaoke, with her hands clasped in front of her, looked sorrowful. "Youre our only hope. What will happen to us if you stay here resting instead of looking for food?" Liang Yue was taken aback. She realized they thought her reluctance to search for food was due to fear of the monster, that she was afraid to die. Taking a deep breath, Liang Yue reminded herself not to get angry with her students. "What if the monster attacks while Im gone?" she asked. Shen Miaoke frowned. "Thats why you need to be quick! Grab the food and come right back!" Wu Chengyu added, "Dont worry, Ms. Liang. Well do our best to protect everyone." He looked at Liang Yue with a touch of disdain. At a time like this, still thinking about protecting everyoneare you stubborn or just foolish? But he also acknowledged her utility, thinking, At least youre useful enough to keep us alive. Just listen to smart people like me, and everything will be fine. If the monster comes, well sacrifice a few to buy time until you return. Shen Miaoke clasped her hands together, pleading, "Ms. Liang, please! Our lives depend on you!" Liang Yue gazed deeply at the two students. Without a word, she used her Tang sword to help herself stand up. "Alright, Ill go out now. Take care of yourselves," she said. Wu Chengyu and Shen Miaoke readily agreed. Wu Chengyu had learned the monsters habits well over the past month. It enjoyed toying with its prey and stored food, so it only killed a few at a time. Liang Yue walked out of the gym, Tang sword in hand, stepping into the icy corridor. Several students quickly closed the door behind her. Exhaling a puff of white breath, she looked towards the end of the ice corridor before heading towards the cafeteria. She hadnt gone far when she quickly hid in a corner of the ice tunnel, pressing her back against the wall and closing her eyes. She entered a state of meditation. Meditation wasnt a mystical ability. Even ordinary people could learn it with proper guidance and achieve a state of inner peace. For martial artists, it was a required practice to clear their minds and focus inwardly. Legends spoke of martial masters who, through meditation, entered a profound inner realm. Liang Yue hadnt reached such heights, but as a top martial artist, she could use meditation to calm and conceal her presence. I cant wait any longer. Rather than being picked off individually, taking a decisive stand is better. Liang Yue resolved, determined to either kill the monster or die trying. She was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice, driven by her duty to protect her students. Meanwhile, she overlooked that felines, as natural hunters, were experts at concealing their presence. Back in the gym, the students instinctively huddled in the corners after Liang Yue left. Yang Xinxin sat in her wheelchair, looking fragile like a crystal rose. Lu Keran knelt beside her, gently touching her arm and leg. "Does it still hurt?" she asked. Yang Xinxin had been used as bait a few days earlier and was pushed out to lure the monster. Luckily, the creature was more interested in moving targets, and she had survived, though bruised and injured. Forcing a pale smile, Yang Xinxin replied, "Im okay. Its so cold I cant feel the pain anymore." Lu Keran relaxed a bit, seeing her friend smile. "Dont give up hope. We have to survive, right?" Yang Xinxin nodded firmly. "Yes, well survive. We have to." Nearby, Zhang Mengning sneered, her face twisted in madness. "You think youre so lucky, dont you? You believe luck will always be on your side?" "Even if you survive, what good will it do? Youre just a cripple, a burden to everyone." "If I were you, Id have killed myself already. Youre living a painful life and dragging others down with you." Other students also looked at Yang Xinxin with twisted smiles. They felt it was unfair that she, despite being disabled, had the same right to live as they did. "Whats the point of clinging to life?" "When the monster comes next time, you wont be so lucky." Yang Xinxin remained silent. She was never good at arguing, preferring to avoid confrontation unless online. Lu Keran, unable to bear it any longer, was about to speak up when she noticed a huge amber eye peering through a nearby window. Chapter 218: Mind Your Own Business Chapter 218: Mind Your Own Business"Run!" Lu Keran screamed in terror. The black monster had silently appeared outside the gymnasium, unnoticed until it was seen. They couldn''t fathom how such a massive creature could move so stealthily. Run? But where to? Realizing the danger, the students screamed and tried to flee in all directions. The monsters claw easily shattered the reinforced window, reaching inside. The five- to six-meter-long arm, with sharp claws like gleaming steel blades and hair like sharp spikes, raked through the gym. It seemed almost playful, like a giant cat playing with mice, though the sight would appear absurdly comical from an outsider''s perspective. But this enormous cat was not cute as it clawed at a group of helpless humans. The razor-sharp claws swiftly slashed through the air, leaving several bodies with long gashes, their innards spilling out immediately. The hellish screams were even more terrifying, especially coming from their classmates. Wu Chengyu and his group, though terrified, were prepared. They hid in the back, pushing unlucky students forward as shields. One wasnt enough; they pushed forward another and another, selecting the strongest students they had roped into their plan. The rest, even if they realized the betrayal, could do nothing but curse in futility. At that moment, Lu Keran, pushing Yang Xinxin, was the fastest to react. Ironically, having a wheelchair gave them a survival advantage. Meanwhile, while hiding and waiting, Liang Yue seized the opportunity to strike. A faint blue mist emanated from her body as she gripped her sword sheath with her left hand and the hilt with her right. With a fierce shout, she dashed towards the black monster like lightning. "Ha!!" The white blade gleamed as it sliced through the air, aiming for the monsters neck. Liang Yue had poured all her strength into this attack, determined to fight to the death. If she won, it would be a hard-fought victory that would ensure their survival. If she lost, she would be the first to die. The monster, engrossed in toying with the students, was unprepared for the sudden assault. As Liang Yue approached, its black fur bristled like a porcupine''s quills, each hair as hard as steel. "Meow" The piercing roar threatened to burst eardrums. Cats are known for quick reflexes, but Liang Yue was equally fast. Her blade flashed, severing large clumps of fur that fell to the ground with metallic clinks. "Shhhrkk!" A gash over a meter long opened on the monsters neck, spraying blood. Enraged, the creature retreated, roaring furiously. Liang Yue, abandoning defense, pressed her attack with a do-or-die resolve. Like a ghost, the monster retreated ten meters, but Liang Yue stayed close, her blade slashing through the air. Her eyes conveyed a deadly determination, which the monster sensed. "Meow" Its screams grew more desperate as it began to defend itself. Liang Yues Tang sword was incredibly powerful. She had mastered numerous martial arts, including national techniques, kenjutsu, Krav Maga, and Muay Thai, seeking the strongest combat skills. Her strikes were deadly, focused solely on attack. As they fought fiercely, snow walls crumbled, covered in terrifying gashes from her blade and the monster''s claws. The students inside the gym, hearing the battle outside, were too scared to move. They watched as cracks appeared on the walls, some from the sword, others from the monsters claws. Their only hope was to pray silently for Liang Yues victory, their last chance for survival. During this intense battle, Zhang Yi, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu followed the noise and found an exit. Their sudden appearance caught both Liang Yue and the monsters attention. Liang Yue, seeing the newcomers, thought, Ive never seen them before; they must be outsiders! Hope sparkled in her eyes. Rescuers from the outside? Surely, they were here to save them, considering the schools prestigious students had powerful and wealthy parents. "Help me defeat this monster!" she shouted to Zhang Yi and his team. Fatty Xu raised his hand to attack but was stopped by Zhang Yi. "Brother Zhang?" Fatty Xu was confused. He thought it was their duty to help fellow humans against the monster. Why was Zhang Yi stopping him? "Wait!" Zhang Yi commanded, watching Liang Yue intently. Her sword skills were sharp and deadly, far beyond ordinary. She wasnt just a martial artist; her strength and speed suggested she was a superhuman with exceptional combat abilities. Zhang Yi couldnt tell if she was a friend or foe. His mission was to find Yang Xinxin, not to save unrelated people. The black monster was formidable, and engaging it could risk their safety. There was no need to intervene. "No need to get involved. She seems to be handling it. Lets go rescue the others," Zhang Yi said, heading towards the gym. Fatty Xu paused, scratching his head. Zhang Yis reasoning made sense. He initially wanted to help because she was young and beautiful, but he realized it was unnecessary. Helping a stranger might lead to awkwardness if misinterpreted, he thought, remembering past embarrassments. "Better not be the fool here," he decided, following Zhang Yi. Uncle You, recognizing Liang Yues formidable skills, felt cautious. He knew hed stand no chance against her despite his military training. Deciding it was wiser to follow Zhang Yi and avoid unnecessary danger, he joined them in searching for survivors. Liang Yue was shocked and frustrated as she saw the three ignore her plea and head into the gym. Unable to spare attention, she focused on the monster, battling fiercely. She could only watch helplessly as Zhang Yis group entered the gym. s?a??h th? ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "What are you doing?" she shouted but had no choice but to continue fighting. Her students safety was in her hands, and she couldnt afford distractions. Chapter 219: The Paralyzed Girl Chapter 219: The Paralyzed Girl"Bang!" The gymnasium doors were forcefully pushed open, the equipment barring them no match for Uncle Yous titan-like strength. Zhang Yi stepped inside, his gaze sweeping over the frightened students. The students nearly screamed, but seeing that three humans had entered, they felt a bit more at ease. Zhang Yi quickly spotted the girl in the wheelchairYang Xinxin. He had seen her photo before and recognized her immediately. "Good, youre still alive," Zhang Yi sighed in relief. If she had died before he arrived, all his efforts would have been in vain. As Zhang Yi walked towards her, Wu Chengyu stepped forward, adjusting his hair and straightening his custom blue uniform. "Are you from the West Hill Base? Did my father send you?" he asked. "West Hill Base? Whats that?" Zhang Yi replied, puzzled by the unfamiliar name. Seeing them fully armed, Wu Chengyu mistook them for personnel from a refuge organization. With a slight smile, he introduced himself: "Im Wu Chengyu. My father is Wu Jianguo, the director of the Tianhai City CZ Bureau. You must be familiar with his name." Wu Chengyus appearance was somewhat comical. Despite his expensive hairstyle and custom uniform, over a month in the apocalypse without a bath or clean clothes left him looking barely better than a beggar. Yet he still flaunted his status, which only made him more laughable. Zhang Yi, smiling, asked, "Are you familiar with the West Hill organization?" He wanted to gather intelligence about this group. Wu Chengyu, however, looked confused. "Youre not from West Hill? Then you must be from another refuge. Strange, this place is closest to West Hill; why would they send you instead?" Zhang Yi deduced multiple high-level refuges in Tianhai City, recalling similar mentions by Zhang Yuan and Cai Mingyu at Cloud Manor. These refuges were not the emergency shelters set up for the public but more secure and exclusive locations. "How much do you know about the refuges?" Zhang Yi probed further. Sensing something amiss, Wu Chengyu realized these people werent sent to rescue him. "Youre not from a refuge? I dont know much, just that there are some places like that." He bit his lip. "If we had known the snowstorm would get this bad, Id be there now!" Seeing Wu Chengyus lack of useful information, Zhang Yi moved past him towards Yang Xinxin. Seeing Zhang Yis group as saviors, the other students rushed to surround Uncle You and Fatty Xu. "My father is Wang Chongming, chairman of Chongming Group. Get me out of here, and hell pay you any amount!" "My dad is Li Gang, and my mom is Zhang Cuiyun. You know what those names mean in Tianhai City!" "Take me out, and Ill pay you. If you want to be an official, my parents can arrange that too!" The students eyes were filled with desperation and a strange madness. They had been surviving in this dire situation for too long, and seeing a glimmer of hope, they clung to it desperately. Uncle You and Fatty Xu, uncomfortable with the situation, realized they couldnt rescue everyone without burdening themselves. Unlike Zhang Yi, they lacked the heart to dismiss the students harshly. Despite their awkwardness, they couldn''t bear to refuse outright. However, none of the students dared approach Zhang Yi, sensing an intimidating aura around him, enhanced by the golden Desert Eagle he held. Zhang Yi, exuding a palpable killing intent, walked to Yang Xinxin. Lu Keran, pale and frightened, instinctively wanted to flee but couldn''t muster the courage. Yang Xinxin, on the other hand, raised her delicate face, looking at Zhang Yi with innocent eyes. Crouching down, Zhang Yi looked into her pretty eyes, asking gently, "Youre Yang Xinxin, right?" "Yes," she nodded. "Im Zhang Yi. Your sisters, Yang Siya and Zhou Keer, have sent me to rescue you. Will you come with me?" he asked. "Okay," Yang Xinxin replied without hesitation. In her current situation, anyone willing to save her wasnt an enemy. Zhang Yi nodded. "Alright, lets go." "Wait please wait!" Yang Xinxin suddenly said. Curious, Zhang Yi tilted his head. "What is it?" "Can you do me a favor?" Yang Xinxin asked earnestly, her eyes clear and bright like gems. S?a??h th? N?v?lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "What kind of favor? Dont ask for something too complicated, like saving all your classmates," Zhang Yi joked. Yang Xinxin looked towards the icy corridor, where the sounds of battle still echoed. The clashing metal noises were nerve-wracking. "Can you stop them from fighting? Im worried for him," she said. "Oh?" Zhang Yi looked towards the corridor, hearing the ongoing fierce fight. The battle was intense but not one-sided. "Just stopping them is doable," he said, thinking it wouldnt be too hard. With plans to have Yang Xinxin help him with network maintenance at the refuge, gaining her favor now would be advantageous. Seeing Yang Xinxin nod, Zhang Yi smiled. He stood up, approached Fatty Xu, and whispered, "Come with me." As Zhang Yi moved, the students instinctively stepped aside, not wanting to get too close. Fatty Xu, relieved to escape the students pleas, followed Zhang Yi out the door. Chapter 220: Why Are You the Nations Hope? Chapter 220: Why Are You the Nation''s Hope?Zhang Yi and his companions entered the corridor where Liang Yue was fiercely battling the black monster. The ground was littered with steel needles, emitting a dark, eerie glow. Zhang Yi, wearing cut-resistant gloves, picked up two of the needles and stored them in his spatial space for later study. "Fatty, do it!" Zhang Yi signaled to Fatty Xu. Fatty Xu stepped forward, raising his hands towards Liang Yue and the black monster, activating his powers. "Crack" Huge cracks appeared around the ice and snow corridor. Liang Yues pupils contracted as she quickly retreated. The next moment, hundreds of tons of ice and snow collapsed from above, completely blocking the corridor and separating Liang Yue from the black monster. Enraged, Liang Yue turned to Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu, trembling with fury. "You!" she shouted. Fatty Xu hid behind Zhang Yi, terrified. Zhang Yi, however, smiled and placed his hand on the trigger of his Desert Eagle. "No need to thank me. We''re all human, and it''s only right to help each other." Liang Yue was furious, her whole body shaking. She raised her Tang sword, pointing its tip at Zhang Yi''s face. "Do you know what youve done? I was just about to defeat that monster!" "This was my last chance. If I missed this opportunity, the monster wouldnt fall for my trick again!" she shouted, her voice filled with despair. Liang Yue had burned all her strength for this showdown, and failure meant death for her and her students, one by one. Zhang Yi looked innocent. "Oh? I just wanted to help, afraid youd lose to the monster." He pointed to the classroom where Yang Xinxin was. "If not for your student worrying about your safety and asking for my help, I wouldnt have intervened." Liang Yues eyes blazed with anger and hatred for Zhang Yi. "You bastard!" She charged at Zhang Yi, her speed like a whirlwind, not inferior to the black monsters. Seeing her intent to kill, Zhang Yis expression turned serious. "Such a pretty woman, but anger doesnt suit you!" he said, raising his Desert Eagle. "Bang!" The enormous recoil shook Zhang Yi''s shoulder. The bullet''s power, enhanced by his abilities, was immense. Liang Yue, determined to kill Zhang Yi, swiftly slashed her sword, creating a fan-shaped arc that deflected the bullet into the walls on either side. A top-tier iaido master could cut through a tennis ball traveling 820 km/h. With her abilities, Liang Yue could even split a bullet. Within moments, she was upon Zhang Yi, her sword ready to strike. Zhang Yi smiled, waiting for this moment. A Dimensional Gate opened in front of him. Liang Yue sensed the danger but couldnt stop in time. "Whoosh" She disappeared into the gate. Zhang Yi counted to two and released her, ensuring she wasnt trapped long enough to die. Reappearing, Liang Yue collapsed, exhausted and terrified. "What was that?" she gasped, weak from the fight with the monster and her drained energy. Days of hunger and fatigue left her unable to stand. Zhang Yi shrugged. "I tried to help, but you attacked me. What a difficult woman to understand." He walked over and took her Tang sword. "Ill keep this dangerous weapon safe for you," he said with a smile. The sword, capable of splitting bullets, was a rare and valuable weapon. Liang Yue glared at him, seething with anger. "Give me back Loong Roar Sword!" She nearly fainted from the loss of her precious sword. "Alright, calm down. Getting angry is bad for you. Students, help your teacher to rest," Zhang Yi instructed. Several students nervously approached, helping Liang Yue to a corner. She leaned against the wall, too weak to stand, glaring at Zhang Yi with impotent rage. "Who are you? Why are you here?" she demanded. Zhang Yi looked at Yang Xinxin and replied, "Im here on behalf of her family to take her away." "Take her away?" Liang Yue and the other students looked hopeful. "Can you take us too?" they pleaded. "Its too dangerous here. That monster has killed hundreds of us already!" "Please, take us with you! My father will reward you greatly! You can name any price!" "My father is a director!" S?a?ch* Th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "My father is a minister!" Zhang Yi grew impatient with their pleas. "Im here only to take her away. The rest of you should contact your own families for help." The students, realizing Zhang Yi wouldnt help them, grew desperate. "We cant reach our families! Please help us! Well reward you richly later!" Liang Yue recognized Zhang Yi and his companions'' strength and knew they were exceptional. "You must have a good place to live and plenty of food," she said. Please, save these children. They are the future hope of our nation!" The students looked at Zhang Yi eagerly, but he only laughed coldly. "The nations hope? Are you saying only the children of officials and the rich are the hope, while ordinary children are not?" "I dont see anything special about you. Is it your arrogance?" Zhang Yi scoffed, shaking his head. "If youre so exceptional, you should be able to survive on your own. Sorry, Im just an ordinary kid. I cant save you elites." Chapter 221: You Are Useless Chapter 221: You Are Useless"Are you kidding? You want me to save you?" Zhang Yi thought incredulously. He wasnt inclined to rescue these elite students. Raised with silver spoons in their mouths, their lives had been more extravagant and fulfilling in twenty years than many people''s sixty-five. These young masters and mistresses would be a burden if rescued. "Im only here for Yang Xinxin. The rest of you are on your own!" Zhang Yi declared, turning to take Yang Xinxin away. However, these cunning children of officials and wealthy businessmen quickly realized Zhang Yi had no intention of taking them along. Several students approached Yang Xinxin, seizing her. "You must take us with you! Or well kill her!" Zhang Mengning threatened, her face twisted with malice. Lu Keran, shocked by her classmates actions, rushed to free Yang Xinxin but was pushed to the ground by a tall boy. "Dont! Youre all classmates; you cant do this!" Liang Yue weakly protested, but no one listened. To them, she was merely a glorified bodyguard. Several students restrained Yang Xinxin. Zhang Mengning glared at Zhang Yi, "If you dont take us, no one leaves!" Zhang Yi scoffed, turning to Fatty Xu and Uncle You. "Why are there so many self-righteous people in this world?" he asked, seemingly casual but ready to act. With a quick, nonchalant turn, he switched to his police-issue handgun, more manageable for precision shots. "Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!" Four consecutive shots echoed as Zhang Yi fired without hesitation. The students holding Yang Xinxin collapsed, blood oozing from bullet holes in their foreheads. Their eyes widened in shock before life left them, and they fell to the ground, dead. "Killing! Ah!!!" The surrounding students screamed and scattered, looking at Zhang Yi with fear as if he were a wild beast. Liang Yue, furious and shocked, pointed at Zhang Yi, "You... you killed those children!" Zhang Yi laughed coldly, "Children? They knew how to use a classmates life to threaten others, and you call them children?" Ignoring their moral arguments, Zhang Yi walked to Yang Xinxin. The dead bodies didnt faze her, her expression detached. "Desensitized?" Zhang Yi wondered, hoping she wouldnt be too psychologically scarred. Liang Yue continued to berate Zhang Yi for his cold-blooded actions, pleading for him to take the other students, too. Zhang Yi paid her no mind, extending his hand to Yang Xinxin. "Lets go. Im taking you home." For the first time, Yang Xinxins light blue eyes showed emotion. "Okay," she nodded, taking his hand. "Can you take my friend too?" she pleaded, looking at Lu Keran nearby. "Shes a special student at Tianqing Academy, just like me." "Special student?" Zhang Yi asked, intrigued. Yang Xinxin explained, "This school has two kinds of students: children of the elite and those specially admitted for their talents. Lu Keran is a mechanical genius, on par with engineering graduates from Caltech. She built this custom wheelchair for me." Zhang Yi examined Lu Keran, a short-haired girl with a robust physique, essential for a mechanical engineer. "What can you do?" he asked. Lu Kerans eyes brightened, seizing the opportunity. "Im skilled in vehicle design and repair, and I know a lot about firearms. If you take me, I can modify cars and guns for you. Ive also studied swordsmithing and can forge weapons if conditions allow." Impressed by her skills, Zhang Yi clapped, "Alright, you can come too." S?a??h the N?velF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin exchanged glances, excitement in their eyes. "Thank you What should we call you?" Lu Keran asked. "Call me Zhang Yi. You can call me Brother Yi," he replied with a smile. "Thank you, Brother Yi!" Lu Keran beamed, overjoyed. Zhang Yi had Lu Keran push Yang Xinxins wheelchair as they prepared to leave. The remaining students, on the verge of tears, begged, "Mr. Zhang, we have skills too! Im a great driver!" "I know eight languages; I can be your translator!" "Im well-versed in literature and can recite Dream of the Red Chamber backwards!" Despite their elite education, their skills were mostly impractical in the apocalypse. The remaining students, realizing their futile pleas, turned to Shen Miaoke, the brave girl with long, wavy hair. "Now that Ms. Liang is weak, and the monster is still around, what will we do if it comes back to kill us?" she asked Zhang Yi. "Without your intervention, Ms. Liang might have killed the monster. Are you just going to leave us to die?" she argued, trying to appeal to his sense of responsibility. Zhang Yi remained unmoved. "You speak as if youd survive if we hadnt intervened. Maybe youd all be dead by now." Chapter 222: Not as Frail as She Seems Chapter 222: Not as Frail as She SeemsThe students were reluctant to accept reality and wanted to argue further, but Zhang Yi waved his gun, and their mouths instantly fell silent. They could only watch with envy and hatred as Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin followed Zhang Yi. As they watched them leave, the remaining students exchanged resentful glances, full of anger but powerless to do anything. Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran bowed in gratitude as they passed Liang Yue. "Thank you for caring for us during this time, Teacher Liang," Yang Xinxin said sincerely. Despite their classmates'' cruelty, Liang Yue was a responsible teacher who cared for them. Yang Xinxin knew Liang Yue couldn''t abandon the others and leave with them, so she didn''t invite her along. Liang Yue, too exhausted to speak, merely nodded faintly. Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran said nothing more and followed Zhang Yi and his group. Once they had walked far, Liang Yue struggled to her feet. "Follow them!" she commanded. "Im seriously injured, and that monster wont be much better off. Now, while it doesnt dare come out, we should follow them and at least find a way out of here." The students finally understood. "Thats right! If we want to survive, this is our only chance!" they realized. Two girls came forward to help Liang Yue, and the group followed Zhang Yis party out. They had considered leaving before, but the maze of tunnels dug by the monster made it impossible to find the right path. With Zhang Yis group leading the way, they hoped not to get lost. Fatty Xu noticed the group following them and whispered to Zhang Yi, "Those people are following us. What should we do?" Zhang Yi smiled, "What, do you feel sorry for them?" Fatty Xu shook his head, "Not really." "Then do you want to bury them all? With your power, you could collapse the tunnel and bury them alive," Zhang Yi suggested. Fatty Xu was startled, "No, I don''t mean that. They haven''t done anything to me." Zhang Yi shrugged, "Then just ignore them. We can''t save everyone. We''re not capable of supporting dozens of people." Fatty Xu nodded, finding Zhang Yis reasoning sensible, and continued walking. The markers Zhang Yi had made earlier came in handy as they followed them back to the snowy surface. Zhang Yi immediately retrieved two snowmobiles from his spatial storage without wasting time. "Fatty, you ride with Uncle You," Zhang Yi instructed. Fatty Xu grimaced, "A motorcycle in this cold? Its going to be freezing!" Zhang Yi placed a helmet on his head, "This will help." "Oh, this isnt so bad! Ive always wanted to try riding a motorcycle!" Fatty Xu eagerly ran to sit on the motorcycles sidecar with Uncle You. Zhang Yi then opened the front passenger door, carefully placing Yang Xinxin inside and storing her wheelchair. Lu Keran sat obediently in the back seat. "Lets go! Time to head back!" Zhang Yi said, honking the horn and signaling Uncle You to start the engine. The snowmobiles roared to life and quickly sped away from Tianqing Academy. Not long after, Liang Yue and her group emerged from the snow tunnels. Their hopes were dashed as they saw only the exhaust trails of the departing snowmobiles. "Where do we go now?" a girl asked, bewildered, looking at the endless white landscape. At least underground, they had shelter and food, but now they had nothing. Wu Chengyu stepped forward, smiling confidently as he pulled out his phone, "Leave it to me!" With a signal restored outside, he intended to contact his influential father to send help from the West Hill Base. s?a??h th? Nov?lF?re .??t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. On the way back, Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran relaxed in the warmth of the car, gradually showing signs of comfort after over a month trapped beneath the snow, constantly facing monster attacks. Seeing their dirty and fatigued appearance, Zhang Yi smiled and extended his hand, producing two bottles of mineral water, several chocolate bars, and some bread. "Have something to eat to replenish your energy. Be careful not to eat too quickly, or you might get stomachaches. Getting sick now would be very painful," Zhang Yi advised. Lu Kerans eyes filled with tears of gratitude, "Brother Yi, youre such a kind person! Thank you!" Despite her tomboyish nature, Lu Kerans personality was pleasant and easy to get along with. Yang Xinxin, though appearing frail, politely thanked Zhang Yi before starting to eat. Zhang Yi glanced in the rearview mirror, his smile growing. Once they had finished eating and rested comfortably, Zhang Yi began conversing with them. "Xinxin, youre really impressive," he said. Yang Xinxin looked puzzled, "Brother, are you talking about me? I dont think Im impressive at all." She smiled softly, like a budding flower. "Ive always been a burden to everyone. I''d be dead by now if it werent for Lu Keran''s protection." Lu Keran laughed, "Were good sisters; no need to be so polite!" Zhang Yi smiled, not entirely agreeing with Yang Xinxin. "Is that so? But I think youre quite remarkable." Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran looked curious, wondering why Zhang Yi thought so. Zhang Yi explained, "Youve had polio since childhood, confining you to a wheelchair, yet you survived in such dangerous conditions. Thats quite extraordinary." Zhang Yi continued before Yang Xinxin could respond, "You might attribute it to luck or Lu Kerans protection, but surviving multiple monster attacks over a month isnt just luck." He smiled at Yang Xinxin, "I think theres more to it. Am I right?" Yang Xinxins pure and innocent expression slowly faded. "Brother, youre very smart. No wonder youve survived and even cared for those two silly sisters." Her smile turned somewhat sinister, her demeanor changing entirely. "Youre very clever in figuring it out. I didnt just survive by luck." Lu Keran was shocked, "What are you two talking about?" Zhang Yi remained calm. "Its not about being exceptionally smart. From an outsiders perspective, there were too many coincidences. And when you asked me to stop the fight between your teacher and the monster, it wasnt to protect your teacher but the monster." He concluded, "Youve been feeding that monster, havent you?" Chapter 223: The Target is You, Brother Chapter 223: The Target is You, BrotherAfter listening to Zhang Yi''s words, Yang Xinxin''s mouth curled into a meaningful smile. "Brother, you''re very smart! You''ve guessed about sixty to seventy percent of the truth." "But I''m not as bad as you think!" Yang Xinxin adjusted her hair, revealing her fair and slender neck. "I''m not the owner of Huahua, nor did I command it to kill my classmates and teachers. However, it has indeed been protecting me all this time." Upon hearing Yang Xinxin call the monster "Huahua," Lu Keran''s eyes widened in astonishment. "Huahua? Is it... is it the stray cat you used to feed?" she asked, shocked. Zhang Yi waited quietly for Yang Xinxin to explain. He was very interested in the mutated cat. When he arrived at Tianqing Academy, he couldn''t quickly determine Yang Xinxin''s location. The monster''s appearance seemed almost deliberate, as if leading him to her. If Fatty Xu hadn''t attacked and angered it, it might not have intended to harm him. Such a smart and powerful mutant would be perfect if tamed! After all, animals are far more loyal than humans. Yang Xinxin, looking into the distance, began to explain, surprising Lu Keran with her story. The monster was indeed a mutated stray cat. Due to her polio, Yang Xinxin spent most of her time in the dormitory, feeding a stray cat named Huahua behind the building. Their bond grew strong during that time, so Huahua never attacked her. Lu Keran, taking a long breath, said, "No wonder! It scared me every time it showed up but never attacked us. I thought we were just lucky!" Zhang Yi, however, wasn''t satisfied with her explanation. "Is it really that simple? Just gratitude for feeding it?" he asked. He looked at Yang Xinxin, his expression playful. "So it led us here and didn''t attack us just out of instinct?" Yang Xinxin, smiling, responded, "Brother, your observation skills are impressive! Nothing escapes you." "Yes, Huahua became incredibly intelligent after mutating. It understands my words. I told it that someone would come to take me away and not to harm you." "Although, I didn''t expect you to be so strong!" she added, glancing at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. "So, did you also instruct it to kill your classmates?" "No, not that," Yang Xinxin replied, smiling. "Although many were annoying, I didn''t hate them enough to kill them." "Initially, they died because some had abused Huahua before and because Huahua needed to eat." Her gaze darkened. "But things changed later." "You have no idea how many times they considered me a burden and wanted to leave me to distract Huahua. They even deliberately overturned my wheelchair or pushed me out." Yang Xinxin''s smile grew cold. "It''s hilarious. They had no idea Huahua wouldn''t harm me, so I survived every time, deepening their hatred towards me!" S?a??h the N???lFire.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "They wanted me dead because my survival reminded them of their evil intentions. As long as I lived, they felt guilty and uncomfortable, realizing their own wickedness." "That made them even more desperate to see me dead!" Lu Keran fell silent, recalling the many accidents she and Yang Xinxin had faced. Despite being aware of the truth, she felt powerless to resist. Liang Yue had done her best to protect everyone, but her strength was limited and couldn''t cover every student. "Now I understand," Lu Keran said quietly. "I often thought we were doomed." Yang Xinxin, caressing the bottle in her hand as if it were a cat, smiled brightly at Zhang Yi. "So, Brother, when Huahua started toying with them and gradually killing them, it was indeed related to me." "Do you think Xinxin is cruel?" she asked. Zhang Yi looked at her for a few seconds before smiling. Cruel? Maybe a little. But instead of being repelled, he felt a sense of admiration. This girl was like himof the same kind. "They have nothing to do with me. Whatever you did is your business. I don''t care," Zhang Yi replied. "I''m rescuing you because I promised your sister and need your skills as a top-notch hacker." Yang Xinxin nodded, unsurprised. "In this world, only those with value are saved." Zhang Yi reassured her, "Dont worry. Join my team, follow orders, and work diligently, and youll never face cold, hunger, or death again. I guarantee it." Hiring new, talented members, he needed to make them feel secure. What he promised was mostly true. As long as nothing unexpected happened, following him would ensure a comfortable life. "Thank you, Brother Yi," Lu Keran said. "Thank you, Brother," Yang Xinxin echoed with a smile. Zhang Yi checked the rearview mirror before asking, "Xinxin, I have one more question." "Please ask, Brother." "The apocalypse has been going on for a while. Why didnt you contact your sisters earlier? Why only recently? And how did you manage the signal issue buried so deep under the snow?" Yang Xinxin giggled, "Brother, I''m a world-class hacker. Handling signals is easy for me. Besides, Huahua helped." "As for contacting my sisters..." She opened her eyes, revealing a sly glint. "I never intended to contact my foolish sisters." "From the start, my target was you!" Chapter 224: Both of You Are Talented Chapter 224: Both of You Are TalentedSnow continued to fall, albeit lighter than a month ago, but the wind was fierce. The snowmobiles headed towards Cloud Manor, cold outside, but warm and comfortable inside the vehicles. Zhang Yis expression remained unchanged, though his eyes showed a flicker of surprise. "Your target is me? What do you mean by that? Weve never had any prior contact," Zhang Yi said, intrigued. Yang Xinxin explained softly, "I originally thought my foolish sister was dead. With her intellect and capabilities, she could manage in the entertainment industry but saving lives? Shed be lucky to save herself." "Therefore, I never placed my hopes on her." Zhang Yi asked, "And then?" "Then, my phone received messages from the outside world." She pulled out her phone from her clothesa device Zhang Yi had never seen before. It seemed to be a custom-made product, hence its powerful signal reception. "Its performance rivals that of a supercomputer. Just a little analysis, and I could find all the information about you, Brother," she said, tilting her head to examine Zhang Yis handsome, determined profile. "Xinxin really admires you, Brother! Even though you were just an ordinary warehouse manager, you achieved so much in the apocalypse." Zhang Yi felt a chill down his spine. A top hacker could easily access your information in an era of highly developed information technology. "How much do you know about me?" Zhang Yi asked, uneasy. "Almost everything!" Yang Xinxin said confidently. "Anything that can be found online, I can uncover with a few keystrokes." S?a??h th? ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Like your involvement in the Walmart South China warehouse theft case, your bank transfer records, and the numerous neighbors you killed in the Yue Lu District!" She suddenly covered her face with her hands, her cheeks flushed, and her eyes filled with infatuation. "After reading your story, Xinxin became obsessed!" Zhang Yi thought Shes a yandere! Being targeted by a beautiful, tragic, and crazy girl was both thrilling and unsettling. Not knowing if it was a good or bad thing, Zhang Yi took a deep breath and said, "So you knew I was living with Yang Siya and Zhou Keer, and you used them to contact me. Is that right?" Yang Xinxin nodded, "Yes, exactly! Although I wasn''t sure if you would come to save me, I knew if you didnt, Id come to find you." "But you did come to save me, and Xinxin is so happy!" she exclaimed, lightly grasping Zhang Yis coat hem and blushing. Zhang Yi was speechless. He thought he had everything under control, only to be caught in someone elses plan. This cunning girl was indeed someone to be kept on his side rather than as an enemy. "Xinxin, I have a question. You and that monster cat seem to have a good relationship. Will it follow your orders completely?" Zhang Yi asked. Yang Xinxin pondered, placing a slender finger on her lips, then shook her head. "Brother, have you ever kept a cat?" "With cats, you can be their friend. Theyll be close to whoever treats them well. But being their master is too difficult." "Especially with stray cats." Zhang Yi rubbed his head in frustration. "Thats tricky then! I was hoping to recruit a powerful ally!" Looking through the rearview mirror, Zhang Yi sensed something following them through the heavy snow. His instincts told him it was the monster cat. "Is it reluctant to part with Yang Xinxin?" Zhang Yi mumbled. Cats are unpredictable creatures. Domesticated pets aside, stray or rural cats retain their wild nature, are distrustful of humans, and are difficult to tame. "Maybe I can try. Plenty of cat food, fish snacks, and treats are in the warehouse. Those might be more appealing than human food," Zhang Yi mused. "I havent tried them, so I cant compare, but its worth a shot!" Back at Cloud Manor, Zhang Yi thanked Fatty Xu with a food package and a limited-edition Madoka Kaname pillow, which Fatty Xu joyfully clung to. For Uncle You, Zhang Yi provided two large barrels of gasoline, a precious resource for him. "Thank you both for your hard work today," Zhang Yi said, smiling. Happy with the generous reward and easy mission, Uncle You and Fatty Xu left contentedly, offering their help again in the future. Zhang Yi, generous to his allies, never hesitated to reward them. "See you next time!" they parted ways, and Zhang Yi brought Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran back to the shelter. Starved and frozen for over a month at Tianqing Academy, the two girls were thrilled to find themselves in the warm, luxurious refuge. "Wow, this place is like a dream!" Yang Xinxin exclaimed, while Lu Keran, usually tough, cried tears of joy. "As long as you help me and ensure this places security, you can live here happily forever," Zhang Yi promised. Lu Keran swore her loyalty, "Big Brother, Ill follow you wholeheartedly from now on!" Yang Xinxin shyly asked, "Does helping you include... daily life?" Zhang Yi, slightly exasperated, knelt in front of her, patting her cold cheek. "Such a young girl, yet you know so much!" "But your main task is to help me maintain the security of this shelter. Got it?" Despite her beauty, Zhang Yi saw Yang Xinxin primarily as a top computer expert. Her usefulness far exceeded her attractiveness. His words relieved her caution but left her feeling slightly disappointed, and she wondered if he found her disability repulsive. Women are complicated creatures. If Zhang Yi showed interest, shed be wary; if he didnt, shed feel rejected. Chapter 225: Mechanical Expert Chapter 225: Mechanical ExpertZhang Yi quickly brought Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er to the living room. Seeing Yang Xinxin safe and sound, they burst into tears of joy and rushed forward. "Xinxin! Its so great that youre alive!" "Do you know how worried we were about you?" Yang Siya knelt in front of Yang Xinxin with a fawning smile. "Why didn''t you contact me earlier? You must have suffered a lot out there!" However, Yang Xinxin showed little warmth towards her celebrity cousin. With a cold snort, she replied, "My lowly sister! You only became famous by exploiting mens fantasies. Aside from relying on your body, what else can you do?" "If it werent for discovering you were with Brother Zhang Yi, I wouldnt have contacted you at all!" Yang Siyas face turned awkward. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, realizing the strained relationship between the cousins. It was no wonder, given Yang Siyas reputation and Yang Xinxins intellectual prowess. "Brother Zhang Yi?" Zhou Ke''er remarked, intrigued by Yang Xinxins respectful address. "Since when did Xinxin become so polite to anyone?" In her memory, Yang Xinxin, due to her extraordinary intelligence, rarely acknowledged anyone. After brief introductions, Lu Keran shared her background. Although not from a prominent family, her parents were university professors, making her upbringing respectable. Clapping his hands, Zhang Yi assigned tasks to Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er. "Mimi, prepare a good meal to welcome Xinxin and Keran." "Keer, organize their rooms." Zhou Ke''er cheerfully agreed, "Sure! Ive already prepared Xinxins room; I just need to set up one more." Yang Siya began working in the kitchen to prepare the dinner. As for Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin, who had just arrived, Zhang Yi didnt rush them into work. Given the lack of proper bathing conditions at Tianqing Academy under the snow, he sent them to take a bath first. Lu Keran pushed Yang Xinxin to the bathroom. Knowing their measurements, Zhang Yi provided several sets of clothes for them to choose from. In the kitchen, Yang Siya glanced at Zhang Yi, her knife moving slower. Zhang Yi sighed, "Still holding onto that after so long?" Yang Siya pouted, "You can do whatever you want to me, but dont think about doing the same to those innocent students." Zhang Yi chuckled. He had no such intentions. His previous treatment of Yang Siya stemmed from knowing she came with her body as a bargaining chip for survival. But Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin were differentthey were skilled talents essential for the shelters security. Zhang Yi wasnt desperate. They needed to focus on fortifying the shelter. If emotions developed over time, well, that was beyond his control. The two girls spent a long time in the bathroom. Coming from decent families, the long period without proper bathing had been tough. In a comfortable environment with hot water, they thoroughly cleansed themselves. After their baths, the girls emerged in the clothes Zhang Yi had prepared. Feeling refreshed, they looked at Zhang Yi with growing affectionafter all, he was their savior, providing them with a safe and comfortable home. "Big Brother, were done!" Lu Keran said cheerfully. Zhang Yi, smiling, invited them to sit, offering hot drinks to replenish their energy. With a coffee machine available, Yang Siya served Yang Xinxin a cappuccino while Lu Keran opted for an Americano. Crossing his legs, Zhang Yi casually chatted with them. "Xinxin, youll be responsible for the shelters network security. Is that alright?" Though Zhang Yi knew little about computers, he knew Yang Xinxins expertise. Yang Xinxin nodded confidently, "Leave it to me!" Turning to Lu Keran, Zhang Yi asked, "Youre skilled in mechanics. Can you manufacture weapons and ammunition?" Lu Keran sat up straight, "Big Brother, I can! But Ill need specialized mechanical equipment." "And for ammunition, the necessary materials arent readily available in the market." "But for cold weapons, the materials can be sourced from other metals at home. However, forging tools are required." Zhang Yi smiled, "Thats not a problem." He stood and led Lu Keran to the basement, revealing a spacious room filled with industrial machinery he had salvaged. From CNC machines to various high-end equipment, they were invaluable. "Can you use these? If not, I can find more from steel factories," Zhang Yi offered. Lu Kerans eyes sparkled at the sight of the advanced machinery. "These are perfect! Even if some arent directly useful, I can modify the parts." Her enthusiasm reassured Zhang Yi. Her mechanical skills would be crucial for their survival. "First, organize the equipment. Later, you can help create whatever we need," Zhang Yi instructed. Zhang Yi had plenty of chemical supplies for ammunition materials in his spatial storage. Large firearms were abundant, but he needed bullets and suppressorsespecially for his sniper rifle, which made too much noise, hindering stealth operations. S?a?ch* Th? ?ov?l?ir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Rest assured, Big Brother! Leave it all to me!" Lu Keran said confidently, flexing her well-toned arms. Watching her enthusiasm, Zhang Yi felt delighted. He initially expected less, but her talents were a pleasant surprise. "Since youre familiar with materials, check this out," Zhang Yi said, handing her the Loong Roar Sword from Liang Yue. "Is this an ancient artifact? When I took it, your teacher seemed ready to fight to the death," he mused. Lu Keran, familiar with the sword, eagerly examined it. As she unsheathed the blade, a cold gleam, and a clear ringing sound emerged. "This is Teacher Liangs treasured sword! Finally, I can see it up close," Lu Keran admired the sword, studying it like a rare gem. After a long while, she reluctantly sheathed it and returned it to Zhang Yi. "This sword, Loong Roar, was crafted by Yuan Lin, the greatest swordsmith in China. Its not an ancient relic but a modern masterpiece made of Adamantium, said to be the hardest metal, capable of slicing through diamonds." Zhang Yi was astonished. "Thats impressive!" Lu Keran explained, "Adamantium was developed ten years ago for military applications but was too costly and scarce. Some used it for cold weapons, creating indestructible blades." "This one, Loong Roar, was given to Teacher Liang as a reward for saving a high-ranking officials life. It symbolizes immense honor to her, which is why she values it more than her life." Zhang Yis eyes glowed as he admired the sword. It was no wonder Liang Yue could fight the mutant catordinary blades would have dulled. "This is a great weapon. Ill keep it safe," Zhang Yi decided, preferring it over his previous Damascus steel hunting knife for self-defense. Chapter 226: Changing Winds Chapter 226: Changing WindsIn the evening, Zhang Yi and his companions hosted a banquet to welcome Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. Having gone so long without such good food, even these elite students from a prestigious school quickly abandoned their initial restraint and began eating with enthusiasm. Zhang Yi quietly put down his chopsticks, amused by the sight of the two girls eating. While watching with concern, Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er kept adding food to their plates while asking about their time at Tianqing Academy. With her mouth full, Lu Keran explained, "The school wasnt short on food! There were over three hundred students, but we had twelve dining halls and an internal supermarket. We had plenty of supplies." Zhang Yi smiled faintly, trying to imagine the aristocratic school based on Lu Keran''s description. She swallowed a meatball and gratefully looked at Zhang Yi, "But if you hadnt come to rescue us, even with all the food, we wouldnt have lasted long in such cold weather." Zhang Yi nodded, "It''s fortunate you were underground with a large group. The temperature would have been less severe." Snow and ice are good insulators, at least effective against wind. In Xudong Village, the snow-covered houses maintained warmth thanks to Xu Chunlei''s efforts to build them with ice and snow. "As long as you work hard here, you wont go hungry," Zhang Yi assured them. He appreciated Lu Kerans straightforward personality, not because he had ulterior motives, but because he preferred dealing with honest people. Lu Keran kept nodding, "Thank you, Brother!" Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er exchanged glances, relieved that Zhang Yi didnt see the two newcomers as burdens. They had worried that the extra mouths to feed would strain their resources, unaware of the vast supplies in Zhang Yi''s spatial space. Even if they all ate freely every day, their supplies would last over two hundred years. Moreover, Zhang Yi could always find more frozen supplies, so food was never an issue. After dinner, Yang Siya took the initiative to clean up, a task she had recently taken over entirely. Even when Zhou Ke''er was around, Yang Siya would take on the chores, transitioning from initial wariness to trust and feeling guilty. In this household, Zhou Ke''er was a doctor, Yang Xinxin was a computer genius, and Lu Keran was a mechanical expert. But what about her? Apart from keeping Zhang Yi company, what could she do? Although Zhang Yi never criticized her, Yang Siya was a strong-willed woman who disliked being a useless ornament. At the dinner table, Zhang Yi discussed the shelters rules with Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. Their harmonious interaction left Yang Siya feeling a bit left out. She wished to be as indispensable as Zhou Ke''er and the others. After dinner, they relaxed on the sofa, watching TV. Zhang Yi leaned back, with Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya beside him. Given the presence of the two younger girls, they refrained from being too affectionate. Yang Xinxin, observing the dynamic, noticed something unusual but kept quiet, understanding that such relationships were common in the apocalypse. Only Lu Keran, sitting cross-legged and barefoot on the bed, was completely engrossed in the giant TV. They could watch stored movies and TV shows or official news from around the world. Domestic news was largely ignored as it held little valuable information. As they watched, the atmosphere in the living room grew tense. Todays news delivered a crucial yet unsettling message: "The snow disaster has shown no signs of stopping after over a month, with extremely cold temperatures remaining. Connections between most global regions have begun to break down, leading to increasing resource conflicts, especially between countries and regions. The extreme weather has caused many official institutions to lose control, with armed organizations rising to seize resources and survivors." This news was alarming, indicating that the world had officially entered a state of anarchy in which armed forces would no longer be restrained. "This is bad!" Zhang Yi muttered, arms crossed. Yang Siya didnt quite understand, "Hasnt the chaos already started? I didnt expect it to become so dire." She sighed, having once hoped the world would return to normal so she could resume her life as a beloved star. But now, she no longer dared to entertain that thought. "Its different," Zhang Yi explained. "Previously, even armed organizations feared higher authorities. But after a month of extreme cold, its clear the ice age wont end soon. Without fear of retribution, these groups will act without restraint." Yang Xinxin added, "Its like regulations in an organization. Not everyone follows them strictly, but their existence keeps people in check. Now, theres no order left in the world!" "Not entirely," Zhang Yi glanced at Yang Xinxin. "The most powerful forces still belong to the highest levels. However, the extreme cold has hampered their ability to manage other regions effectively, leading to the rise of warlord-like powers." "Its akin to the Shang and Zhou era," he continued. "The Zhou king controls the central power, while local armed forces govern their areas. This situation will persist unless the apocalypse ends." Yang Xinxin nodded in agreement. Yang Siya, blinking, remarked, "Isnt that somewhat positive? At least theres still some deterrence." Zhang Yi laughed, "Not at all!" "Why not?" Yang Siya asked. "In the past, all power belonged to the central authority. Now, local armed forces have control, signaling the start of a chaotic warlord era," Zhang Yi explained, taking a deep breath. "An era where human lives will be as cheap as grass." S~?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Battles between ordinary people resulted in limited casualties. However, when superhumans got involved, the death toll would rise sharply, though still incomparable to the devastation wrought by armed forces vying for resources. The safety of civilians would become even more precarious. Chapter 227: The Cat Chapter 227: The CatZhang Yi always monitored the changing external situation, as it directly affected the safety of his future life. He might have been overly cautious, thinking powerful organizations wouldn''t attack his shelter, but he had to prepare for everything. "Xinxin, come and see your new equipment!" Zhang Yi called out, standing up from the sofa and motioning for Yang Xinxin to follow him to the supercomputer room. Yang Xinxin wheeled herself into the control room, eyes lighting up at the sight before her. The setup was so luxurious it felt like being in outer space. Wang Siming, who pursued luxury, had even installed OLED screens on the control room floor. A blue light flowed like a galactic river, and the large control panel''s buttons were neatly arranged. "From now on, the network security here is your responsibility!" Zhang Yi said, patting her shoulder. He couldn''t help but glance at her immobile legs. Despite her polio and paraplegia, Yang Xinxin was a genius hackerperfect for this role. Yang Xinxin nodded, rolling her wheelchair to the control panel. Zhang Yi granted her secondary access, allowing her to maintain network security without altering the core system. Without a word, Yang Xinxin placed her white hands on the control panel and began working like a pianist. Black and blue panels filled the large screen, code flashing rapidly. Unable to understand, Zhang Yi stood beside her, watching with interest. Yang Xinxin had scanned the shelters network in under ten minutes. "Are there any vulnerabilities?" Zhang Yi asked. S~?a??h the N?v?lFir?(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Yang Xinxin replied, "This Galaxy Light system, from ten years ago, was the top personal network system. It''s incredibly powerful and can still outperform most systems worldwide. Its AI is excellent, theoretically making it invulnerable." "But," she continued, "a top hacker can create vulnerabilities." "In the past two weeks, the system has faced thousands of attacks. If not detected in time, the entire network could collapse in a month." Zhang Yi''s eyes narrowed. His suspicion was confirmed. After the Lu Fengda incident, the shelter had drawn the attention of capable adversaries. "Can you fix the vulnerabilities and block these attacks?" Zhang Yi asked. Yang Xinxin smirked. "Brother Zhang Yi, don''t forget my specialty!" As a world-class hacker, network security, especially offensive tactics, was her forte. Though her opponents were skilled, they were no match for her. "Fixing vulnerabilities is easy. Ill also set up a new encrypted network. Stop using the old routerwireless hacking is too simple." Zhang Yi agreed. "Do as you see fit!" In no time, Yang Xinxin completed her task and looked up with a smile. "Brother, Im done!" Zhang Yi praised her, "Xinxin, youre amazing!" Yang Xinxin, pleased by his praise, added, "That was just simple maintenance. But now, Ill find out whos trying to hack us." She licked her lips, excited by the challenge of counter-hacking. Taking on more difficult tasks was instinctual for a top hacker like her. Zhang Yi thought for a moment before asking, "How confident are you? Whats the risk if you fail?" Curious about the organization spying on him, Zhang Yi preferred gaining information over direct attacks. Yang Xinxin responded, "It''s hard to say without knowing their exact strength. So far, their attacks havent been very strong." "But don''t worry. Even if I cant break into their network, I can hide my tracks well enough to avoid detection." Satisfied, Zhang Yi nodded. "Alright, go ahead!" If someone provoked him, hed retaliate. As they spoke, Zhou Ke''ers panicked voice echoed outside. "Zhang Yi, something''s wrong! A... a monster!" Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin exchanged glances. "That cat of yours seems very attached to you," Zhang Yi joked. Yang Xinxin tilted her head. "It probably trusts only me among humans. Worried about me, it followed us here." Zhang Yi noticed the cat following them. He intended to tame it as a weapon and now was the time to do so to prevent further casualties. "Let''s check it out!" Zhang Yi said, pushing Yang Xinxins wheelchair out of the control room. Zhou Ke''er, pale and trembling, clung to Zhang Yis arm. "Zhang Yi, theres a huge monster outside! It''s meowing at the window." "Keran said Xinxin needs to go to it. It followed her here." Zhang Yi reassured her, "Dont worry, its Xinxins friend. Lets go see." They pushed Yang Xinxin to the living room and saw the monster cat outside. Its huge red eyes glowed in the night, staring into the house. It meowed, not aggressively but as if urging them to come out and feed it. Upon seeing Yang Xinxin, the cat sat quietly in the snow, looking almost like an oversized pet despite its sharp, steel-like fur. Yang Siya hid behind a table, watching it cautiously, while Zhou Ke''er stayed close to the glass window but kept a safe distance. The cats calm demeanor reassured them somewhat. Chapter 228: Building Trust Chapter 228: Building Trust S?a?ch* Th? n0v?l(?)ire.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality.Zhang Yi observed the giant mutant cat, Huahua, sitting in the snow for a long time, now covered with snow. Despite this, Huahua displayed no hostility, just a vigilant gaze directed at them. Occasionally, when it blinked, Zhang Yi noticed signs of fatigue. "It looks like the battle with Liang Yue took a toll on it," Zhang Yi remarked. The fight between Huahua and Liang Yue had drained both of them significantly. Liang Yues sword, Loong Roar, had left several wounds on the cat. This likely prompted Huahua to follow Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin here, seeking the only human it trusted. Zhang Yi saw an opportunity to tame the cat. "Lets go feed the cat," he told Yang Xinxin. He equipped himself and helped Yang Xinxin put on a thick coat before leaving the shelter. "Meow" Huahua uttered a cautious cry upon seeing Zhang Yi but showed no aggressive behavior. Its gaze held wariness and fatigue. Sitting in her wheelchair, Yang Xinxin waved at Huahua. "Huahua, dont be afraid! Come to your sister." However, Huahua only watched her, occasionally glancing at Zhang Yi, and whimpered softly, not approaching. Clearly, some caution was still harbored towards Zhang Yi, especially after their earlier conflict at Tianqing Academy. Zhang Yi smiled and opened his spatial gate. "Whoosh" A mountain of cat treats, dried fish, and bags of cat food poured out. "Come on, Huahua! Have some food! The outside world is too harsh. If you agree to be my pet, Ill ensure youre well-fed and sheltered," Zhang Yi coaxed. Huahua stared intensely at the pile of food. Zhang Yi even noticed its throat move in anticipation, a good sign. However, Huahua remained cautious, backing away a few steps while watching Zhang Yi and the food. "Meow" Huahuas cry became a mix of challenge and skepticism, as if to say: Do you think you can tame me with just this? From her wheelchair, Yang Xinxin smiled. "Brother, Huahua is a stray cat, highly vigilant. It took me over a month to build trust with it initially." Zhang Yi rubbed his face and smiled. "Over a month? I dont mind, but Im worried it might attack the village across the river where Fatty Xu lives." While he didnt care about the villagers lives, he valued Fatty Xu as a loyal subordinate. Any trouble caused by Huahua might strain their relationship. Turning to Huahua, Zhang Yi said, "Hey, Huahua, I know you dont trust me yet, but I can provide food for you. However, you must promise not to attack the villagers across the river. Can you agree to that?" He pointed towards the southern village. Believing in Huahuas intelligence, Zhang Yi was relieved to see Huahua look in the direction he pointed and then at the pile of food, nodding slowly. "Meow" It was a sign of agreement. "Alright, thats settled then!" Zhang Yi knew building trust with a stray cat required patience, especially one as intelligent as Huahua. He had plenty of pet snacks and could afford to feed Huahua gradually. However, he noted, "Such a big cat has a huge appetite. Ill need to find more food for it." As Zhang Yi wheeled Yang Xinxin back inside, they heard excited cries from the women inside. Turning back, Zhang Yi saw Huahua had disappeared. "Zhang Yi, look!" Zhou Keer exclaimed, pointing to the pile of cat food. Zhang Yi looked closely and couldnt help but exclaim, "Whoa!" The enormous mutant cat had shrunk to the size of a normal tabby cat. The women, who hadnt seen a cat in a long time, were now gushing over the adorable sight through the window. "It can change its size?" Zhang Yi was surprised and delighted. This ability meant Huahuas feeding requirements would be significantly reduced. Lu Keran laughed, "Of course, big brother, your biology knowledge seems lacking!" "If it always stayed big, those at Tianqing Academy wouldnt have been able to feed it enough." Yang Xinxin added, "I suspected as much. Its sudden appearances and disappearances, without causing a commotion, suggested this. Even Liang Yue, a martial arts master, couldnt detect it." "Given its food intake, its size-changing ability makes sense." Zhang Yi relaxed, smiling, "That makes things easier! Feeding a tabby cat is much simpler." Yang Xinxin, frowning, pointed out, "Huahua is injured!" Zhang Yi noticed the fresh bloodstains on Huahua, likely from Liang Yues sword, Loong Roar. Though the blood had frozen, indicating recent wounds, Huahua didnt seem bothered while eating. "Ill provide some medicine for its recovery tomorrow," Zhang Yi thought, knowing not to approach while it was eating. Stray cats might perceive it as a threat and attack. He preferred handling this himself to build trust with Huahua, rather than having Yang Xinxin intervene. That night, Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran shared a spacious room. Decorated in warm pink and yellow tones, the room had an 80-square-meter floor area, a huge double bed with cloud-like soft bedding, and warm velvet covers, as the room temperature was high enough to not need thick blankets. The room was neatly arranged with a wardrobe, dressing table, and desk, and even had some cute oversized plush toys in the corner, making it a princess-like bedroom. Yang Xinxin wore white silk pajamas, her long, silky hair falling like satin behind her. She sat on the bed with a happy smile. Lu Keran, in green pajamas, sat cross-legged on the bed, chatting happily. Having been through the apocalypse, they hadnt slept soundly in a long time. Lu Keran exclaimed, "Xinxin, pinch me! This feels like a dream!" "Just this morning, we were starving and freezing under the snow, and now were in such a comfortable room!" Yang Xinxin smiled gently. "Isnt this wonderful? We owe it all to Brother Zhang Yi." Mentioning Zhang Yi, she hugged a pillow, her face showing an uncontrollable smile. Zhang Yis calm, rational, and strong image was deeply imprinted in her mind. Lu Keran also admired, "Yes, Brother Zhang Yi is incredible! To create such a haven in the apocalypse." She raised her fist with determination, "Ive decided to work hard and not disappoint Brother Zhang Yis kindness!" Yang Xinxin curiously asked, "What did he ask you to do?" Lu Keran explained, "He asked me to familiarize myself with and modify some equipment. Besides repairing equipment, Ill likely make weapons too." Yang Xinxin smiled, "Weapons arent easy to make, right?" Lu Keran nodded, "Yes. Simple firearms are manageable, but complex ones need specialized equipment and molds. Even then, the precision might be off." Yang Xinxin suggested, "Brother probably doesnt lack simple firearms. Bullets and bombs might be more useful to him." Lu Keran realized, "Youre right!" Making high-end firearms was challenging, but bullets and explosives were easier. Even basic demolition experts could create makeshift bombs. For a professional like Lu Keran, making more powerful, stable bombs was no problem. "Ill discuss it with Brother tomorrow!" Lu Keran said happily, determined to repay Zhang Yis kindness. The next morning, Lu Keran eagerly approached Zhang Yi with her ideas. Zhang Yi was intrigued, considering his traps too simple to handle stronger enemies. More landmines and explosives would be ideal. "Great! Make a batch of those. Be careful, and let me know what materials you need," Zhang Yi said. Lu Keran confidently patted her chest, "Leave it to me, big brother!" Zhang Yis eyes momentarily glanced at her chest, slightly worried for her future children. "Work hard, I have high hopes for you!" he encouraged, patting her shoulder. Chapter 229: Arrival from West Hill Base Chapter 229: Arrival from West Hill BaseAs the story unfolds, after Zhang Yi, Yang Xinxin, and Lu Keran left Tianqing Academy, Liang Yue led the remaining students to climb up the snow-covered surface. Unbeknownst to them, the cat demon, Huahua, had also followed Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin. They might have stayed obediently at Tianqing Academy if they had known, given that the supplies there were still enough to sustain them for some time. But fate is unpredictable, and they were unaware of the full situation. Upon reaching the snow-covered surface, the group was hit by a bitter cold wind that made them shiver uncontrollably, forcing them to retreat back into the snow cave for shelter. The class monitor, Wu Chengyu, was thrilled as he pulled out his phone and called his father, Wu Jianguo, for help. When the call connected, Wu Chengyu indeed heard his father''s voice on the other end. After inquiring about the situation at Tianqing Academy, Wu Jianguo instructed them to stay put, assuring them he would send someone to rescue them. The group was elated by this news. Finally! We''re saved! We wont have to stay in this hellhole any longer! Monitor, youre amazing! Truly dependable. Although others had tried contacting their families, they were all children from wealthy backgrounds with prominent family connections. Yet, none of them managed to reach their families, except for Wu Chengyu. This left a bad feeling in their hearts. Could it be that their families had already met with disaster? The students dared not dwell on such dreadful thoughts. The ongoing pain and despair over the past few days had already numbed them. The inability to get through on the phone perhaps still left them with a sliver of hope. However, as Teacher Liang Yue observed the commanding presence of Wu Chengyu, a peculiar feeling stirred in her heart. Could Wu Chengyu''s father really have the capability to rescue them? If he did, wouldnt he have already sent someone to investigate, even if Wu Chengyu hadnt been able to make contact earlier? Why wait until now? But why would he agree to come if Wu Jianguo couldn''t save them? Liang Yue couldnt explain it, but she instinctively felt something was off. The group waited in the snow cave for several hours until they suddenly heard a commotion outside. My dad''s here! Wu Chengyu excitedly scrambled out of the snow cave. The other students quickly followed, afraid of being left behind if they were too late. Liang Yue, who had regained some strength, also stood up and climbed to the snow-covered surface with the help of two students. On the snow, they saw several dog sleds, each pulled by large Alaskan Malamutes, wrapped in custom-made winter gear. These were clearly well-trained, specialized dogs. Seven or eight people disembarked from the sleds, dressed in white clothing, helmets, and even weapons wrapped in white cloth, blending almost seamlessly with the snowy landscape. Yet, their presence exuded an aura of authority and danger. Being familiar with such individuals, Liang Yue recognized them at once as battle-hardened veterans, and not just any soldiersthese were elite troops! The soldiers glanced at Liang Yue and the students, exchanged a few words among themselves, and then started inspecting them, nodding occasionally. Their eyes seemed to be assessing a group of goods, though the excited students failed to notice this. Wu Chengyu stepped forward and asked, My dad is Wu Jianguo. Did he send you to rescue us? At that moment, a man stepped out from behind the soldiers, lifting his mask to reveal a somewhat haggard face. He spoke excitedly to Wu Chengyu, Xiaoyu, Xiaoyu! Its me, your dad! Wu Chengyu stared for a moment, taking a couple of seconds to recognize his father. It was no wonder he didnt recognize him immediately. In the past, his father, who held a high-ranking position in Tianhai City, was rather plump with a face full of wealth. But after just over a month, his once chubby face had slimmed down so much that he was almost unrecognizable! Although puzzled, Wu Chengyu was still overjoyed and rushed forward to hug his father. Dad, you finally came! You have no idea what I''ve been through during this time. Wu Jianguo patted his son''s back, equally emotional, Its alright as long as youre safe, thats all that matters! Wu Chengyu, however, was a bit dissatisfied, Dad, why didnt you send someone to rescue us earlier? Ive suffered so much here. I almost died! Wu Jianguo''s expression became somewhat awkward, Lets not talk about that now. What matters is that youre safe! Come, lets go home. Wu Chengyu pointed to his teacher and classmates, What about my teacher and classmates? At this point, the soldiers in white armor approached. The team leader asked, We heard your school has stored a lot of supplies. Could you show us the way? We need to take all the supplies back to the base. Liang Yue frowned, sensing something was off. Werent they supposed to be here to rescue people? Why, after all this time, hadnt they mentioned rescuing anyone but instead started asking about supplies? Wu Chengyu eagerly responded, The supplies are beneath the snow! But theres a mutated creature down there. We didnt dare go near it! The soldiers discussed this among themselves briefly before the team leader said, No need to worry. Any monster that shows up, well take care of it! Young man, why dont you lead the way for us? Wu Chengyus face suddenly turned pale. I He certainly didnt want to go back to that dangerous place. The team leader assured him, Dont worry, we have experience dealing with mutated creatures. Theres no need to be afraid! Despite the reassurances, Wu Chengyu was still extremely anxious. After thinking for a moment, he gritted his teeth and pointed at Liang Yue. Its always been our teacher, Ms. Liang, who handled the supply searches. She knows better than I do where the supplies are! Without hesitation, Wu Chengyu threw Liang Yue, who had protected them for so long, under the bus to save his own skin. Many classmates secretly looked at him with disdain. Liang Yue felt a heavy weight settle in her heart. But she only sighed, then stepped forward. Ill show you the way, she said. The soldiers confirmed Liang Yue''s identity and then followed her down. The other students approached, asking the soldiers how they would be cared for. Dont worry, arrangements will be made for you later, one soldier responded coldly. The students dared not press further, sensing that something was off and that the situation wasnt what they had imagined. After a while, two soldiers came out and instructed the students, Come help move some things! S~?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The students obediently followed. Since Huahua had already left, there was no longer any danger. The soldiers directed the students to pack up all the supplies they could find and carry them to the surface. Chapter 230: Entering the Base Chapter 230: Entering the BaseAs the students were put to work, complaints began to surface among them. Arent they here to rescue us? Why are they making us do all this work? Weve suffered so much already, and we thought the rescuers would take good care of us. Who knew theyd treat us like laborers? One student approached Wu Chengyu and whispered, Monitor, this isnt what you told us would happen. Wu Chengyu looked embarrassed. He had always boasted about his father, Wu Jianguo, being an important leader in the West Hill organization. But now, it seemed like the situation wasnt quite as he imagined. His father didnt seem to hold a very high position in the West Hill organization. However, with the soldiers around, it wasnt the time to discuss such matters. Wu Chengyu whispered back, This is a critical time. They wont keep idle people around! Just do your work. Theyre just short on manpower. Once we reach the base, well be able to rest. With no other choice, the students complied. The soldiers outside loaded the supplies onto the sleds. Unexpectedly, there were still quite a few supplies left at Tianqing Academy, enough to fill the sleds completely. The soldiers nodded in satisfaction. After a brief arrangement, some of them set off first with the sleds, escorting the supplies back, and Wu Jianguo was also sent along to escort the supplies. Given his condition, he wouldnt make it back without a ride. Only two soldiers remained to escort Liang Yue and the students back to West Hill Base. Lets go! one soldier commanded. Watching the sleds disappear into the distance, the students were stunned. You mean we have to walk there? Where are the vehicles? Why didnt they bring any? These students pampered their whole lives, and they had never walked such long distances before. The journey from Tianqing Academy to the West Hill organizations base was at least ten kilometers. After being hungry and cold for so long, they didnt have the strength to walk such a distance through the snow. Hearing the students protests, the two soldiers exchanged a glance, their eyes full of mockery. Shut up, all of you! one soldier shouted, his military authority and air of killing intent immediately silencing the students. If you want to live, follow me. If anyone doesnt like it, you can get lost right now! the soldier added impatiently before turning and walking away without looking back. The other soldier coldly remarked, Let me remind you, whatever status you had before, its gone now. The apocalypse has come, and your previous identities mean nothing. If you want to survive, youd better obey. After saying this, he tossed them a bag of energy bars and then turned to leave. The students were left speechless, clearly unable to accept this new reality. Liang Yue spoke up, Lets follow them. The students were clueless, but the teacher knew better. Even though Liang Yue said so, the panic-stricken students had no choice but to stick close to her. Once again, Liang Yue became their greatest source of support. A ten-kilometer journey felt like an eternity to them. Cold and hungry, the wind howled around them, and many students collapsed along the way. The two soldiers didnt bother to help them, only pausing briefly if someone lagged behind. If anyone couldnt get up, they had no intention of offering assistance. Liang Yue organized the students to help each other. Listen up, we have no other choice. We must reach West Hill Base if we want to survive, she urged. Everyone, hang in there. Were almost there! With Liang Yue as their anchor, hope slowly rekindled in their hearts. They trudged forward, encouraging each other step by step. It took them most of the day to cover the ten-kilometer distance. They''d eat an energy bar whenever they were on the verge of collapse. These military-grade energy bars were remarkably effective, keeping them from collapsing in the snowa scientific marvel indeed. After some time, they finally reached West Hill. The West Hill organizations base was located in the West Hill range near Tianhai City. Its entrance was at the foot of a mountain. Following the two soldiers, Liang Yue and the others struggled to reach it. A massive iron door slowly opened at the mountain''s base, revealing a deep staircase leading underground. The two soldiers didnt say a word. They just stood guard by the door and signaled them to enter. Despite their exhaustion, the group mustered the strength to head inside, seeing this place as a safe haventheir beacon of hope for a better life. Liang Yue and the others descended the stairs, not knowing how long they walked until they finally arrived in a spacious room resembling a bomb shelter. Several corridors branched off from the room, each sealed by thick green metal doors. What now? What are we supposed to do? The students were filled with anticipation and fear, unsure of what awaited them. Dont worry, they wouldnt have gone to all this trouble to bring us here if they meant to harm us, Liang Yue reassured the students. At that moment, the door to the right corridor suddenly opened with a loud rumble. People wearing protective suits and carrying equipment similar to pesticide sprayers emerged. As soon as they appeared, they raised their spray guns and began dousing Liang Yue and the others with heavy disinfectant mist, enveloping them completely. S?a??h the ?0velF?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The students coughed repeatedly but understood that this was necessary for entering a shelter, so they gritted their teeth and endured it. After the disinfection, a middle-aged woman approached them. Everyone, line up in two rows! she instructed. I need to explain something to you. To ensure the safety of the shelter, we must conduct thorough disinfection and health checks. Please cooperate with our procedures. Medical personnel brought over two tables and set them up in the room. Liang Yue and the others had no choice but to obediently line up as instructed. The medical staff took blood samples from each of them and then led them to an empty room to wait for the test results. By this point, Liang Yue and the others were so exhausted that they simply followed instructions without question, lacking the strength or courage to speak up. They were locked in the room, where someone in a protective suit brought them food. The food was served on platessome kind of thick, white liquid. No one knew what it was, but they were too hungry to care and devoured it quickly. The substance had a texture somewhat like yogurt, though it definitely wasnt yogurt. After eating, they regained some strength, and some of them began to sleep. After an unknown amount of time, a plump woman in her fifties appeared, wearing glasses. Wu Jianguo accompanied her. Wu Chengyu, upon seeing his father, was overjoyed. Dad! Wu Jianguo shot him a glare, signaling him to keep quiet. The woman with the glasses glanced at Wu Chengyu, a hint of amusement in her eyes. She asked Wu Jianguo, Is this your son? Now somewhat hunched, Wu Jianguo replied obsequiously, Yes, Director Xu. This is my son, Wu Chengyu. Director Xu nodded without further comment. She addressed the group, The tests show that you dont carry any infectious diseases or suspicious pathogens. Thats very good! Next, youll come with me for a thorough cleaning and then be sent to The Fourth Life Pod. Chapter 231: No Paradise Chapter 231: No ParadiseFollowing Director Xu''s orders, Liang Yue and the students were escorted for deep cleaning. Wu Chengyu, expecting to join them, was stopped by Director Xu. Come with me, she instructed. Wu Chengyus eyes lit up excitedly as he turned to his classmates. See? I told you my dad isnt just any ordinary person here. His classmates looked at him with envy as he eagerly approached Director Xu and his father, Wu Jianguo. S~?a??h the ??v?l_Fir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Wu Jianguo leaned in close to his sons ear and whispered, Xiaoyu, you must obey your superiors here. Whatever Director Xu tells you to do, you do it. Understand? Wu Chengyu, still thrilled, nodded, thinking he was about to be assigned to an important position. Director Xu smiled warmly. Xiaoyu, come with me. As Liang Yue and the others were led down the left corridor, Director Xu took Wu Chengyu away. His classmates watched with envy as he left. Lucky him! ... Wu Chengyu followed Director Xu through the vast underground complex of West Hill Base. Though not high, the temperature was around six or seven degrees Celsius. He was curious about everything he saw. Soldiers in white military uniforms guarded the area with guns, giving the place an air of strict discipline. Few people were around, and those moved purposefully, making the entire scene feel orderly. Director Xu brought Wu Chengyu to a private room, pointing to the bathroom. Take a shower first. Wu Chengyu found the room peculiar. It had womens clothing and seemed like someones personal space. But after so long without a proper shower, he didnt think much of it and eagerly rushed in to clean up. After half an hour, feeling refreshed, he stepped out of the bathroomonly to freeze in shock at what he saw. The rooms lighting had changed to a suggestive pink from a rose-shaped bedside lamp. Now wearing nothing but a loose piece of lingerie, Director Xu lay on the bed, propped up on one hand, looking at him seductively. Her massive legs resembled thick slabs of pork piled together. What are you waiting for? Come here, she cooed, patting the bed. ... Meanwhile, after Liang Yue and the students finished their showers, they were given new clothesstandard uniforms in a dull gray color, practical but far from attractive. Follow me, a woman who seemed to be in charge said as she approached. Two armed soldiers followed her closely. A sense of dread began to settle in the hearts of the students. Life in this shelter was nothing like what they had imagined. The atmosphere felt more like a prison, deep underground with dim lighting and armed guards. They instinctively huddled closer together, looking to Liang Yue for guidance. She frowned slightly but remained silent. It wasnt the time to act rashly, not before understanding the rules here. Liang Yue quietly signaled the students to stay quiet, and they nodded in understanding. She led them as they obediently followed the woman deeper into the shelter. The place was enormous, with countless corridors branching off in different directions. After hours of walking, they had no idea where or where they were going. The dim lighting overhead flickered occasionally, adding to the students pale, exhausted faces. Eventually, their long march ended as the woman led them to a massive workroom. When the doors opened, they found themselves in a three-meter-high, thousand-square-meter underground cavern. Inside, they heard a rhythmic creak, creak sound. To their amazement, the cavern was filled with stationary bicycles bolted to the ground. Around a thousand people were inside, pedaling away relentlessly. The scene resembled a gigantic fitness center, but the expressions on the cyclists faces were far from those of people exercisingthey were blank, numb, and exhausted. Yet, no one dared to stop. What are they doing? a wealthy young lady gasped. The woman glanced at them and then at Liang Yue. This is where youll be working from now on. Your job is to generate electricity for the base. These bikes are actually generators, connected to the bases power system. The bases code of conduct will be given to each of you shortly, she added, her tone calm but chilling undertone as if she were addressing a group of tools rather than survivors. Finally, she emphasized, Remember, if you want to stay in this base, you must fully obey the rules. The consequences of disobedience are severe. After briefly introducing the bases operations, the woman sternly ordered them to start working immediately. A girl suddenly broke down in tears, clutching Liang Yues sleeve. Ms. Liang, Ms. Liang she sobbed, not even knowing what to say, just calling out in despair. The others shared her feelings. The brutal reality of their situation had crushed their spirits. Life in the shelter, with its oppressive environment, felt like something out of a sweatshop from two centuries ago. Even though their time at Tianqing Academy had been dangerous, at least they had freedom there. Liang Yue had protected them. The woman showed no sympathy for the girls tears. You can cry, but youll work first. Liang Yue quickly comforted the girl. Lets just get to work. With two armed soldiers standing nearby, Liang Yue dared not take any risks. She had assumed this was a government-run shelter where they would be properly cared for, but now she realized how naive she had been. The students, still tearful, followed Liang Yue to the bikes. ... The red light bathed the scene in Director Xus room as she dressed herself with a satisfied expression. Clearly, the new boy had been to her liking. After getting dressed, she stepped out of the room. Wu Jianguo, who had been waiting outside, greeted her with a sycophantic smile. Director Xu, were you satisfied with my sons service? Director Xu gave him a pleased smile. Not bad at all. The son of a bureau chief has quite the skill in bed. Did he inherit it from you? Wu Jianguo laughed obsequiously. Not at all! Please, dont call me that. That was in the past. Director Xus tone became businesslike. Make sure to clean up afterward. Ill ensure logistics takes good care of you two, allocating extra supplies. Wu Jianguo was overjoyed, bowing and thanking her profusely. Thank you, Director Xu! Thank you! Let me know if you need anything, and Ill bring him right over! Director Xu walked away, her large figure swaying as she left. Wu Jianguos expression darkened as he opened the door to the room. The red light illuminated the space, heavy with the scent of hormones and blood. Wu Chengyu sat on the bed, wrapped in a sheet, his eyes unfocused. His body was bruised, with blotches of purple and blue, and the sheet beneath him was stained with blood. It was hard to imagine what he had endured during that time. Wu Jianguo closed the door behind him and sighed. Son, are you alright? he asked as he approached, saying, To survive here, you must learn to accept all of this. Its okay. Youll get used to it. Wu Chengyu looked up at his father, tears streaming down his face. Dad, why didnt you ever tell me it would be like this? Werent you the chief of a bureau? How could this happen? He couldnt understand. He thought he would continue living as the privileged son of an official, even here. Wu Jianguo sat beside him, his voice low and heavy. This is how things are now. My title as bureau chief is worthless here. He began to explain what had happened since the apocalypse began. At first, the people who arrived here were the elite of Tianhai City and their families. Wu Jianguo had some status in the city but wasnt at the top. His positions nature determined his place in the hierarchy. Thanks to a tip from a friend, he had only managed to get here at the last minute. In the beginning, everyone treated each other respectfully, believing that the snowstorm would last a month or two, after which they could return to their roles. But soon, it became clear that the effects of the supernova were much more severe than anticipated, plunging the world into an ice age that could last years or even decades. Wu Jianguos voice was filled with sorrow. This meant that our former identities and statuses were gone. Soon after, those who controlled the armed forces staged a coup, killing the bases leaders. The leader of the rebellion became the new head of the West Hill organization. Hes ruthless, punishing anyone who defies him harshly. Hes the one who introduced the class system here. Wu Jianguo looked at his son with a heavy heart. Of course, there will be a hierarchy in any society with human activity. Even without ordinary civilians, there will still be those who supply and those who control. What happened today is your first lesson on how to survive here. For those at the bottom to survive, they must unconditionally obey those in power. You should be gladthis might be your way out of the lower class. Wu Jianguo forced a smile as he patted his sons head. Even if it means using your body, selling yourself, it doesnt matter. In this circle, nothing is off-limits if it leads to success. Chapter 232: The Organization Chapter 232: The OrganizationAfter a grueling day, Liang Yue and her students finally had a chance to rest. By the end of the day, they better understood their current situation. They were required to wake up at six every morning, with just half an hour to wash up before participating in group activities, after which they could eat breakfast. Their main task was pedaling stationary bikes to generate electricity. Each bike had a meter to track the amount of power generated, and if they failed to meet the required quota, their food rations would be reduced. No one forced them to work, but their workload directly impacted the food they received. To meet the standard, an adult had to pedal continuously for eight hoursthis didnt include breaks or meals. Most of their day was spent on the bikes outside of eating, sleeping, and group activities. They were given a bland, protein-based paste, supposedly a high-tech meal replacement that provided the necessary energy in the smallest possible quantity. They had one day off every six days, but breaks were staggered even then, so it was a rotating shift schedule. The pampered students, unaccustomed to such intense labor and the oppressive environment, struggled on their first day. As a result, they received no more than half of a normal portion of food. At night, they slept in dormitories with bunk beds shared by more than a dozen people. Electricity was scarce, and the dim lighting barely illuminated the room. There were no entertainment facilities like TVs; even charging their phones was strictly regulated to prevent waste. After their workday ended, everyone gathered in one of the dormitories surrounding Liang Yue, sobbing. Ms. Liang, why do we still have to work? Why is life in the shelter so hard? This is nothing like what we imagined! I pedaled all day, my butt is raw, and my thighs hurt so much! If we have to live like this every day, Id rather die! Just one day, they felt like their lives had turned into hell. Liang Yue felt sympathy for her students, but what could she do? These are extraordinary times. Just being alive is already a blessing, she said, trying to console them. Did you notice the people pedaling around you today? None of them were of lower status than you before all this. I even saw a few bureau chiefs from Tianhai City pedaling. Liang Yue took a deep breath and sighed. A world where everyone is happy and carefree doesnt exist. But at least were all alive and dont have to worry about survival, right? As an adult, Liang Yue could accept the harsh reality of their current life. She even felt somewhat relieved. Back at Tianqing Academy, she had been solely responsible for protecting all the students, constantly on guard against attacks from the demon cat. Now, in the shelter, they could rely on their own efforts to obtain food. As a martial arts expert, the labor wasnt much of a burden for her. Most importantly, she no longer had to worry about the safety of her students. But her students didnt see it that way. In their world, it was natural to get something for nothing. They were used to being on top, born as winners in life. Words like work, labor, and hardship had never been part of their lives. One student immediately cried out, But were elites! The world will need us to rebuild it in the future. Were so young, just kidswhy do we have to suffer like this? Ms. Liang, cant you do something? Liang Yue felt a bit helpless. Im just a teacher. Here, my status is no different from anyone elses. She was well aware that even the lowest-ranking person in the power generation department outranked her several times over in the old world. She had no say in the matter. The door suddenly opened at that moment, and everyone fell silent, cautiously looking outside. Wu Chengyu walked in, looking despondent. He was wrapped tightly in his clothes, his collar pulled up to hide his neck. When the others saw Wu Chengyu, their eyes lit up with hope, and they left Liang Yue to surround him. Wu Chengyu, youre finally back! Is your dad a leader in the base? Can he help us so we dont have to work here? Even if we could work in an office, I could be a clerk! Wu Chengyu glanced at his classmates and said coldly, Stop dreaming. Here, everyone has a role. Based on your status, all you can do is pedal these generators. Ignoring the others, Wu Chengyu walked over to Liang Yue. Ms. Liang, he greeted. Liang Yue nodded. Wu Chengyu, where have you been? A pained look flashed in Wu Chengyus eyes. I went on a tour of the base with my dad. I now have a general understanding of the situation at West Hill Base. A classmate hurriedly brought a chair over. Class monitor, please sit! Wu Chengyu quickly waved it off. No, no, Ill stand. Dont be polite! Were all counting on you now! No! Wu Chengyu gritted his teeth, instinctively clenching his buttocks. The memory of what the old woman had done to him still made his heart bleed. His classmates were taken aback by his attitude. I I just wanted you to sit and rest. Wu Chengyu kept his head down as he carefully sat on the edge of the bed. Ms. Liang, from now on, we can only rely on you, he said, looking at her earnestly. Liang Yue pondered for a moment, understanding Wu Chengyus implication. If their former statuses no longer mattered, then in the apocalypse, power would determine ones place. As a martial arts expert who had awakened supernatural abilities, Liang Yue could eventually become an important figure in the base. She calmly asked Wu Chengyu, Do you know the current situation at West Hill Base? Wu Chengyu nodded and shared the information he had gathered from his father. The West Hill organization was now led by Chen Xinian, who was once a high-ranking official in charge of Tianhai Citys armed forces. The organization had no ordinary members; even Wu Jianguo, Wu Chengyus father, was considered mid-to-low tier in terms of status. Besides the top leaders, the base was home to many skilled professionals, including doctors and scientists. Additionally, a large group of elite soldiers was tasked with defending the base. Chen Xinian divided the base into four sections, each known as a Life Pod to maintain order. The First Life Pod housed Chen Xinian and his family, who enjoyed the highest resources. Their living conditions were as luxurious as they had been outside. Supplies that the other three Life Pods couldnt even dream of were easily accessible to them. The Second Life Pod was reserved for Chen Xinians inner circle, including his trusted aides and top-tier scientists and doctors. Although their living conditions werent as lavish as those in the First Life Pod, they still enjoyed a comfortable environment and delicious food. The Third Life Pod housed the elite soldiers who protected the base. West Hill Base had over a thousand soldiers, all top-tier warriors with the best combat skills and equipment in Tianhai City. Their living conditions were second only to those in the Second Life Pod, with no worries about daily necessities. Finally, the Fourth Life Pod was where Liang Yue and her group currently resided. The people here had little value to the base, so they were relegated to manual labor, generating electricity for the base or performing other menial tasks. The living conditions in the Fourth Life Pod were abysmal, barely sufficient to sustain life. Resources, energy, and entertainment were scarce. Most of the West Hill organizations population resides in the Fourth Life Pod, Wu Chengyu explained. But dont even think about rebelling. The Third Pods soldiers stand between us and the higher pods. Wed never be able to fight against those well-equipped warriors! Given their privileged backgrounds, Wu Chengyu deliberately warned his classmates, knowing they might be tempted to rebel. He had considered fighting back when the fat woman was on top of him, but the sheer power difference had forced him to submit. When the others learned that over a thousand elite soldiers were stationed just outside their area, their hopes were crushed. So, does that mean were stuck here for the rest of our lives? I cant take it. Id rather die! Several girls broke down, crying. They had never lifted a finger for manual labor, and now, after just one day, their thighs were raw, and their delicate skin was chafed. They had to look forward to this every day from now on. The others were also on the verge of tears, faces filled with sadness and despair. Wu Chengyu closed his eyes, his voice cold as he spoke. Do you think they let us come to West Hill Base out of the goodness of their hearts? They needed to replenish their labor force. A lot of people couldnt accept this reality and chose to end their lives. The base doesnt care about us. If they need more workers, they can just capture other survivors to replace us. Suddenly, one of the boys grabbed Wu Chengyu by the collar, his face twisted with rage. This is all your fault! If you hadnt exposed our location, we wouldnt have ended up in this hellhole! Wu Chengyu simply looked at him coldly. If we had stayed at Tianqing Academy, would you have survived? The boy was momentarily speechless. Freedom or lifea choice between two evils. Wu Chengyu pushed the boy away and then turned to Liang Yue, who had remained silent. S~?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Ms. Liang, if we want to change our situation, we can only rely on you! he pleaded. Youre a Superhuman, and in West Hill Base, Superhumans are granted special privileges. Teacher, please help us! Chapter 233: Morning Meeting Chapter 233: Morning MeetingWu Chengyus words struck a chord with the students, and they all turned to Liang Yue with pleading eyes, crowding around her and tugging at her clothes, hoping for her protection. Ms. Liang, you have to help us! Youre our teacher. Its your responsibility to care for us! We cant handle hard labor. Please talk to the base and see if we can get work done more easily. After a day of rest, Liang Yues strength had almost fully recovered. She was now formidable in combat, capable of quickly taking down armed soldiers. However, she was rational and wouldnt act impulsively out of emotion. After listening to Wu Chengyu, Liang Yue didnt find any severe issues with the West Hill Base; it was simply a case of social stratificationa common occurrence throughout human history. She didnt agree with her students desire to avoid labor either. I will protect your safety, but I need more time to observe the situation before making any decisions about work, she replied. The students were clearly dissatisfied with her answer, but since Liang Yue was now their last hope, they didnt dare to express their displeasure as openly as before. Instead, they continued to plead with her, whispering in her ear. Feeling overwhelmed, Liang Yue finally said, Its getting late. Everyone should go back and rest. We have work tomorrow, and youll need your energy. Reluctantly, the students left, but not before reminding Liang Yue to help them negotiate lighter duties. Liang Yue did intend to talk to the base leaders the next day. The current living conditions were oppressive, and if she could do something to improve the situation, she was willing to make the effort. ... The next morning at six, the dormitory loudspeakers blared, waking everyone up. The newly arrived students followed the others to wash up, completing their morning routine in the allotted half-hour. S?a??h the N0v?lFire(.)n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Liang Yue and the rest then joined the larger group in the cafeteria. The female leader of the power plant, accompanied by several soldiers, greeted them. She looked out over the hundreds of workers and forced a smile. Good morning, everyone! Today marks the 48th day of our survival. Thank our great leader, Comrade Chen Xinian, for guiding us to this day of safety and happiness! Immediately, someone raised their hand and shouted, Long live our great leader, Comrade Chen Xinian! The rest quickly raised their fists and echoed, Long live our great leader, Comrade Chen Xinian! They chanted this three times before stopping. The woman continued, Yesterday, our team rescued another group of survivors from the outside. From now on, they are part of our family! She looked toward Liang Yue and her group, smiling as she added, Come on, family members, please introduce yourselves to everyone! Applause erupted as everyone turned to look at Liang Yue and the others. Liang Yue felt a chill run down her spine. She recognized this scenario all too wellit was brainwashing. The scary part was that Liang Yue knew how effective this kind of brainwashing could be. It wasnt just about being smart or staying vigilant to avoid being assimilated. The herd mentality could make you gradually identify with the group and environment to the point where, even if you kept telling yourself it was just brainwashing, your mind and body would adapt, trapping you in that environment. This was why so many intelligent people, including college students and professionals, had fallen into the traps of organizations like pyramid schemes. Theyre using this to manage the lower classes? Liang Yue thought, taking a deep breath. She understood but felt powerless to change it. The herd mentality was a natural, pervasive force. Reluctantly, she led the students to the front and, as instructed, introduced themselves one by one. Now, lets proceed with our daily morning meeting. Whos leading today? the woman asked. A middle-aged woman raised her hand. Its my turn today! Alright, lets get started! The woman didnt leave but joined the others in the front row. Brimming with enthusiasm, the middle-aged woman took the stage, smiling with satisfaction as she looked out at the crowd. She seemed to relish the opportunity to feel like a leader again. The first item of our morning meeting: Praise the Organization! she announced, leading everyone in a song. With the light of the rising sun, we illuminate the dreams of West Hill. Hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, we face the snow and frost together. With our passionate aspirations, we ignite the strength of West Hill! You and I, together we create new glory! We fulfill our dreams, our passion soaring, embracing the next moments brilliance! We fulfill our dreams, our blood boiling, together we sail through the storm, together we set sail! Liang Yue and her group mumbled along to the song, trying to keep up. The host reminded the newcomers that they had three days to learn the song, as someone would check. But that wasnt the end of it. Next came a series of games. They played three games: Carrot Squat, Draw and Guess, and a group exercise routine. After all this, the workers were returned to their posts to generate electricity for the base. Liang Yue noticed a subtle change in her students expressions after the morning meeting. Though they still looked unhappy, they seemed to slowly integrate into the group, chatting with coworkers they had met during the games. This might be for the best. If we cant resist, we might as well accept this life. At least well survive, Liang Yue thought. If life continued like this, it was better than waiting to die outside. But in life, you never know whether a surprise or an unexpected event will come first. Around ten in the morning, a group of heavily armed soldiers arrived at the power plant, immediately drawing everyones attention. The factory leader hurried over to greet them. The soldiers stood at the entrance, and then a young woman in a suit, wearing burgundy glasses, slowly walked in. Secretary Ge, why did you come here in person? If you need something, just tell me, and Ill take care of it, the factory leader said, her tone ingratiating. Secretary Ge didnt even glance at her, instead asking, There was a group of survivors rescued yesterday. Is Ms. Liang Yue here? Chapter 234: Adopting a Cat Chapter 234: Adopting a CatHearing Liang Yues name, the surrounding students turned to look at her. Wu Chengyu quickly whispered, Ms. Liang, dont forget about us! S?a??h the ??v?lF?re.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Liang Yue dismounted from the stationary bike and said, I am Liang Yue. Secretary Ges gaze met Liang Yues, and after a brief pause, she smiled and walked over. Everyones eyes were on them, curious as to why such an important figure would personally come to the Fourth Life Pod. Secretary Ge extended her hand and shook Liang Yues. Hello, Ms. Liang. Im Ge Rou, the secretary to our leader. The leader would like to meet you. The workshop instantly buzzed with excitement. The leader of the West Hill organization wanted to meet this newcomer? This surely meant she was about to rise to a position of power. The students were even more excited, calling out to Liang Yue. Ms. Liang Ms. Liang Secretary Ge heard the murmuring and glanced around, silencing everyone with a look. She smiled at Liang Yue and gestured, Please, come with me. Liang Yue was curious about what kind of person Chen Xinian, the leader, might be. Besides, any opportunity to escape the grueling work in the power plant was welcome. She nodded and followed Secretary Ge out. After they left, a soldier called out two more students'' names, Luo Nianchen, Dongfang Qingming. You two, come here! The two students, filled with excitement, quickly scrambled off their bikes and ran over, leaving the others watching enviously as they were led away from the power plant. Liang Yue followed Secretary Ge through the underground complex of West Hill Base, eventually arriving at the office of Chen Xinian, the organization''s leader. He was a middle-aged man in his fifties with neatly combed graying hair, giving him a sharp and capable appearance. When he saw Liang Yue, he approached with a warm smile and shook her hand. The kindness in Chen Xinians expression brought a long-lost sense of warmth to Liang Yue. Caring for the students from Tianqing Academy had left her exhausted, and she had almost forgotten that she, too, needed someone to offer her a safe harbor for her weary soul. After a brief conversation, Liang Yue was captivated by Chen Xinians vision for West Hill Base, particularly the structured hierarchy of the Life Pods. She agreed with the necessity of such a system to preserve the seeds of Chinese civilization and ensure the base''s survival. To preserve the legacy of our civilization and keep this base operational, I hope youll lend us your strength, Ms. Liang, Chen Xinian said sincerely. After a moments thought, Liang Yue nodded. If theres anything I can do to help, please dont hesitate to ask. Chen Xinians smile grew broader, and he immediately called Secretary Ge back to arrange a new living space for Liang Yue. She was promptly promoted from the Fourth Life Pod to the Second Life Pod, where she was given a private room with all the comforts of a high-end office building. The bright lighting made it easy to forget that they were deep underground, and there were delicious meals to enjoy, along with unlimited hot water. This place isnt so bad after all, Liang Yue thought, feeling a sense of warmth fill her heart. She believed she had made the right decision to come here. Meanwhile, the students still toiling in the power plant anxiously awaited her return. ... Over at Cloud Manor, Zhang Yis main task had been feeding the cat. The demon cat, Huahua, was the first mutated animal he had encountered. Its formidable size, needle-sharp fur, and natural feline hunting skills had deeply fascinated Zhang Yi. He had made up his mind to tame this demon cat and make it his pet, believing that animals were often more reliable than humans. With a good relationship, it could become a trusted and formidable ally. Perhaps because Zhang Yi had previously had Fatty Xu intervene to stop its fight with Liang Yue, Huahua had started to warm up to him. By now, its attitude towards Zhang Yi had noticeably improved. One afternoon, Zhang Yi crouched by the door, a large cat bowl in front of him. It was filled with cat treats, premium cat food, and even a few fresh fish. Not far from him, Huahua had returned to its normal size and was eating heartily. No cat could resist the allure of delicious cat treats, often dubbed stray cat bait. Zhang Yi smiled and said, Huahua, Ive been feeding you for a week. Look at all the food youve eaten. From now on, youre my cat. How about coming home with me? Meow Huahua glanced at Zhang Yi, squinted slightly, and then resumed eating. If you come with me, I promise youll have plenty of this food every day! The house is nice and warm, and theres a fireplace where you can bask in the heat. Look at how cozy it is inside. Why stay out here in the cold? Zhang Yi coaxed gently. After finishing the large food bowl, Huahua cleaned its paws and fur. When Zhang Yi mentioned the warm room, Huahua looked through the glass at the fireplace inside, and for the first time, hesitation flickered in its eyes. At first, Huahua had followed the group because of the girl who had once fed it. But with intelligence far surpassing that of an ordinary animal, it also realized that this mans home was very comfortable. After Zhang Yi had spent so much time feeding it and treating its injuries, Huahua began to think that following this man might not be such a bad idea. Zhang Yi noticed the longing in Huahuas eyes as it gazed at the warm room. Cats were not naturally cold-resistant animals; they had an innate desire for warmth, possibly because their ancestors once roamed the deserts of Egypt. Sensing that the time was right, Zhang Yi slowly walked towards the house and opened the door. Huahua, why not come in and take a look? Its nice inside, he said gently, fatherly. In recent days, even Zhou Keer and Yang Siya had felt a twinge of jealousy. Zhang Yi treated the cat better than he treated them! However, for Zhang Yi, animals were more trustworthy and easier to care for without any emotional burden. Huahua tilted its head, licked its fur a couple of times, and finally raised its tail and cautiously approached the open door after a moment of consideration. Zhang Yis eyes lit upit was working! Theres even more good food inside. Why not come in and try it? he continued to coax the cat step by step. And Huahua followed him into the house! Success! Zhang Yi was overjoyed. Once inside, Huahua curiously explored the room, quickly leaping onto the expensive sofa and starting to scratch at it with its claws. The floor and sofa were soon marked with dirty paw prints. Instead of being upset, Zhang Yi smiled and encouraged, Its okay! Feel free to explore. This is your home now! Zhou Keer, watching from nearby, remarked jealously, Good thing this cat cant turn into a woman, or Id have no standing in this house at all! Chapter 235: The Network Intruder Chapter 235: The Network IntruderOn the first day that Huahua arrived at the shelter, it began causing havoc everywhere. The shelter was enormous, and Huahuas curiosity led it to explore every corner, leaving paw prints and even breaking an antique vase. However, Zhang Yi was incredibly patient, allowing the cat to roam freely and make a mess without concern. He knew the key to building a relationship with a cat was establishing trust from the start. If that initial trust was broken, it would be nearly impossible to rebuild it later. After hours of rampaging through the house, Huahua finally seemed to tire out. It leaped over to the fireplace, stretched out lazily, and lay on the floor. Zhang Yi took a long breath, recognizing that Huahua was finally content with its new environment. He carefully approached, hoping to pet its head from behind. Meow Huahua turned its head to look at him, causing Zhang Yi to pause his movements. For a few seconds, they locked eyes, and then the cat rested its head back on the floor. Zhang Yi exhaled in relief, thinking, "Dealing with women isnt even this tricky!" Despite the tension, Zhang Yi was delighted when Huahua started purring contentedly, accepting him as its new caretaker. "Success!" Zhang Yi thought, a genuine smile spreading across his face. The joy of successfully adopting a cat was indescribable. Huahuas presence brought a new sense of happiness to the shelter. The girls in the house competed to feed and pet it, but for some reason, Huahua still preferred to stay by Zhang Yis side. It even started sleeping at the foot of Zhang Yis bed at night, a place it chose over anyone elses. Even Yang Xinxin, who had previously fed the cat, could compete with Zhang Yi for Huahuas affection. It seemed that cats often preferred the company of men. During this time, the two new arrivals, Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, also kept themselves busy. Yang Xinxin was responsible for the shelters network security. With her presence and the shelters supercomputer, it was nearly impossible for anyone to breach their defenses. However, as a top hacker, Yang Xinxin wasnt content with playing defense. She used her advanced hacking skills to track down the source of any incoming network intrusions, launching counterattacks. It took her only a few minutes to pinpoint the origin of a recent intrusion. When Zhang Yi received the news, he immediately rushed to the control center. Xinxin, whats the emergency? Did you discover something new? Zhang Yi asked. Yang Xinxin flashed a sly smile. I found the person trying to hack into the shelters network! She showed Zhang Yi the laptop on her knees, displaying a map of Tianhai City. Zhang Yi noticed a pentagram marking the location of Cloud Manor, with a blinking red dot indicating the intruder''s location. After examining it closely, he realized that the red dot was located where the southwest of Xishan District and the northwest of Lijiang District met, just about thirty kilometers away from the shelter. Theyre that close? Zhang Yis expression grew serious. He hadnt expected a powerful organization to be hidden so near. Yang Xinxin, however, seemed unimpressed. Their hacking methods were quite rudimentary. Its likely the work of an amateur engineer. Their equipment wasnt sophisticated, and I had no trouble hacking into their system. The data on their computer is encrypted, so itll take some time to crack, but based on what Ive seen so far, there does seem to be a large organization in the Xishan District. Yang Xinxin looked up, her light blue eyes calm. We might be running into them soon. Zhang Yi crossed his arms and said calmly, If its inevitable, we wont shy away. Im not one to seek trouble, but if anyone tries to disrupt my peace, Ill make sure they pay for it. S?a??h th? ???el F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi was no longer the person he used to be. He now had a fortress-like shelter and a team of elite fighters. Among them were three Superhumans, including himself. Even if they encountered a formidable armed group, he was confident they could handle it. Xinxin, keep tracking their signal and crack the data. I want to know more about that organization, Zhang Yi instructed, patting Yang Xinxin on the shoulder before leaving the control center to find Lu Keran. Thanks to Zhang Yis support, Lu Keran had set up her mechanical workshop. As a genius specially recruited by Tianqing Academy, Lu Keran was highly skilled in mechanical engineering. Although she couldnt handle extremely sophisticated machinery alone, manufacturing weapons and ammunition wasnt particularly challenging. In 2050, industrial technology had advanced to the point where, with the right equipment, even something as complex as a firearm could be produced with a 3D printer. Making bullets and explosives was relatively straightforward. Lu Keran was now busy fulfilling Zhang Yis request to produce a large quantity of bullets, focusing primarily on sniper and pistol rounds, as these were the types of ammunition he was currently most in need of and the ones he used most frequently in combat. When Zhang Yi reached the workshop, he knocked on the door. Keran, its me. The door opened, and the clanging of metal filled the air. As Zhang Yi stepped inside, he immediately noticed the sweltering heat in the room, making him sweat even though he was only wearing a light shirt. Lu Keran was working at the bench, dressed in shorts and a green tank top, with a black apron tied around her chest. Her entire body was drenched in sweat, with her hair sticking to her skin. When she saw Zhang Yi, she greeted him with a bright smile, Big Brother, what brings you here? Zhang Yi chuckled. Just wanted to see how your work is coming along. At eighteen years old, Lu Keran had a naturally bubbly personality, almost like a big kid. Zhang Yi couldnt help but think of her as a little sister. Lu Keran grinned, revealing her pearly white teeth. She eagerly reached for something on a nearby shelf. Big Brother, check this outIve got something cool for you! Zhang Yi took the item from her and saw that it was a silencer for a sniper rifle. His eyes lit up. This is great! For him, this was incredibly valuable. Zhang Yis Superhuman ability, Precision Shooting, allowed him to double the power of any firearm. He could take targets up to 3,000 meters away with a sniper rifle. The only downside was that the sound of the gunfire could give away his position. With this silencer, that problem could be solved, allowing him to eliminate enemies from the shadows without fear of being detected. Chapter 236: Good Brother Chapter 236: Good Brother"Good job!" Zhang Yi praised with a smile. Lu Keran, with her hands clasped behind her back and her fingers fidgeting shyly, smiled and said, "Try it out first and see if it fits! I made it to match the dimensions of your sniper rifle, but if it doesnt feel right, I can still make adjustments." Zhang Yi nodded, "Its well done!" Hearing Zhang Yi''s praise, Lu Keran''s cheeks turned rosy with excitement. "Big Brother, if you need anything else, just let me know. Ill do my best to make it for you!" Zhang Yi smiled, "Thats exactly why Im here." He put his arm around Lu Kerans shoulder and guided her to a nearby chair. Feeling Zhang Yis warm hand on her shoulder, Lu Kerans heart began to race. Despite often presenting herself as a tomboy, she felt something new and unfamiliar stirring within her. "Keran, can you make grenades, landmines, and explosives?" Zhang Yi asked. Lu Keran turned to him, her eyes wide with surprise as if she had just heard something unbelievable. Zhang Yi blinked and asked with a grin, "Is it too difficult?" "Not at all!" Lu Keran suddenly stood up, seemingly a bit displeased. "Big Brother, youre underestimating me! I thought you were going to ask for something complicated." "Hmph, the things you mentioned arent even as challenging as making a new energy battery!" She pouted slightly, clearly unhappy that Zhang Yi had doubted her abilities. "You dont appreciate my skills enough, asking me to make such basic stuff." Zhang Yi was momentarily speechless. For a genius like her, were those things really that simple? Seeing Zhang Yis surprised expression, Lu Keran understood what he was thinking. She explained, "Those items arent particularly useful in modern warfare. Maybe they were effective in single-soldier operations a hundred years ago, but making gunpowder is something even a high school student could do with the right materials. It''s just sulfur, saltpeter, and charcoal." Zhang Yi laughed, "Things arent like they used to be. With the arrival of the extreme cold era, aircraft carriers and planes have become nearly obsolete. Now, wars are fought on a much smaller scale between individuals. In this environment, landmines and explosives have their place again." Zhang Yi then told her about the discoveries Yang Xinxin had made. "Our shelter has been targeted. We dont know whos behind it, but its likely a well-armed organization. I must upgrade our defenses and set up more traps around the area to ensure our safety. Do you understand?" After hearing Zhang Yis explanation, Lu Kerans expression turned serious. "I see. Im sorry, Big Brother. I didnt realize the situation was so serious." Given her lack of experience with human conflict, her ignorance was understandable. Zhang Yi smiled reassuringly, "Its okay. Just focus on your work. You dont need to worry about anything elseIll take care of it." "Ill protect you," Zhang Yi said gently, his hands resting on her shoulders, his eyes full of sincerity. Lu Keran, who had little experience with the world, couldnt help but be moved to tears. "Big Brother Youre so good to me. I I dont know how to repay you!" Tears began to fall from her eyes. Zhang Yi gently wiped her tears away and said softly, "The first time I met you, I felt an instant connection. You look so much like the little sister I once had. The moment I saw you, I just wanted to protect you." Lu Keran sniffled, her wide, innocent eyes blinking at him. "Really?" "Of course. Why would I lie to you?" Zhang Yi replied with a warm smile. Lu Keran beamed with joy. In the chaos of the apocalypse, having such a kind man treat her like a little sister was a blessing. Yet, for some reason, her heart had a slight sense of dissatisfaction. A sister? Is that all I can be? Before she could dwell on the thought, Zhang Yis hand had gently touched her flushed cheek, making her face even hotter. Her head started to spin. "Listen to your brother, okay? Dont worry about anything elseIm here to care for you." "As long as Im around, no harm will come to you." Lu Kerans mind was completely muddled, her eyes dazed. Never before had she been treated so affectionately by a man. "Mm, mm, mm." She could only nod repeatedly, unable to speak, agreeing with everything Zhang Yi said. Zhang Yi smiled and said, "Alright, then. You get back to work, but take care of yourself. Dont overwork, okay?" With that, he left the workshop, leaving Lu Keran with a dreamy, faraway look in her eyes. After stepping outside, Zhang Yi took a deep breath, reflecting on how he had once again captured the heart of an innocent young girl. But when it came to Lu Keran, a true treasure, he knew he had to keep her close. She needed to be completely loyal to him. Using a bit of charm was a small price to pay if necessary. After all, weapons were too dangerous to be entrusted to anyone but those he could fully trust. Zhang Yi thought momentarily and then took out his phone to send a message to Uncle You and Fatty Xu, informing them about the potential threat and urging them to stay vigilant. "Recently, Ive noticed an unknown presence nearby. Its close, so be careful. Dont trust anyone too easily in these times." "Due to the snow disaster, official organizations are no longer able to effectively manage different regions. Be especially cautious of anyone claiming to represent the government." "And remember, under no circumstances should you reveal our abilities. This is extremely important, so please keep it in mind!" S?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. After reading Zhang Yis message, Uncle You and Fatty Xu were startled into action. They quickly agreed to stay alert and follow Zhang Yis advice. For Zhang Yi, this was all he could do. After all, he had no intention of leaving the safety of the shelter. With this fortress-like stronghold, he was confident that he could handle any enemy, no matter how powerful. "However, the most dangerous situation right now might be with Fatty Xus group," Zhang Yi thought, recalling the location on the map. The signal source spying on them was positioned right along the path between the Cloud Manor and Xus Town. Zhang Yi frowned and sent another message to Fatty Xu: "If you run into trouble and cant handle it, head straight for my place." As an ice-element Superhuman, Fatty Xu was too valuable to lose. Zhang Yi couldnt afford to let anything happen to him. Chapter 237: The Scouts Chapter 237: The ScoutsA smile spread across Fatty Xus chubby face after reading Zhang Yi''s warning. It felt good to be cared about, but he didnt take the message too seriously. After all, Xus Town had always been a quiet, insignificant village on the outskirts of Tianhai City. The property prices were low, and the people of Xus Town held little status in the eyes of city folk. If anyones planning something, it would be to target Zhangs villa, not our humble town, Fatty Xu thought as he tossed his phone aside and returned to flipping through his manga. Meanwhile, 27 kilometers west of Xus Town, two figures emerged from the snow-covered buildings in what was once a newly developed area of Tianhai City. It was an unusual pair: a towering man, over two meters tall, with the build of a bear, and a slender, nimble woman dressed in minimal clothing. They were clad in white, making them nearly invisible against the snow unless closely observed. The womans scant attirea form-fitting white leather outfithighlighted her curvaceous figure. Despite the severe cold, where temperatures dipped below minus sixty degrees, she wore no hat or scarf yet seemed entirely unfazed by the freezing weather. Beside her, the giant man carried a rifle wrapped in white cloth. His every step left deep imprints in the snow, and he found the trek exhausting. This snow... I wonder how long itll keep falling! If it goes on for a few more months, the whole world might get buried, Liu Ziyang grumbled, looking up at the snowy sky, his square-jawed face etched with frustration. The woman, Xishan Base Second Lieutenant Xie Huanhuan, smiled softly and said, The snow wont fall forever. The water molecules in the air have nearly all condensed. Without more evaporation from other regions, how could there be more snow? She caught a snowflake in her pale hand, adding, Ive heard that even the equator is now down to minus twenty degrees. So, the cold will persist, but the snowfall will gradually lessen. This might be the last bit of mercy the world receives. Liu Ziyang scratched his head, clearly not understanding Xie Huanhuans poetic language. She, however, paid him no mind and walked over to a sled tied to the side of the road. She mounted the sled with effortless grace, her light frame barely pressing into the snow. She pulled out a small palm-sized device from a pouch at her waist. This was their communication link with Xishan Base. Their mission was to survey the surrounding areas of the base. Original Hai Xiang Road, Dong Yixin City inspection complete, Xie Huanhuan reported into the device, which now had several marked locations displayed on it. Where to next? Liu Ziyang asked. Our survey was originally limited to Xishan District, but weve been given orders to conduct a special search in one more area, Xie Huanhuan replied. Special search? Liu Ziyangs curiosity was piqued. Xie Huanhuans role was superior to his, as she determined their route. Its a special task from the higher-ups, but no specific details were given. It doesnt seem to be anything too important, though. As usual, well just check it out and report back. Xie Huanhuan suddenly stood on the sled, shading her eyes as she looked into the distance. There, a large river gleamed under the cold light. The place were heading to is by the river. We just need to follow it, and well find it! she said. S~?a??h the N0??F?re.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. The extreme cold had damaged many communication towers worldwide, making most positioning devices unreliable. Even if they could see a location on a map, the maps were outdated, from before the apocalypse, and still needed to be verified manually. Lets go! One last stop, and then we can head back, Xie Huanhuan said, sitting back down on the sled. Liu Ziyang whistled to the Alaskan Malamutes leading the sled, then pushed it until it gained speed before hopping onto the back. Given his massive size, only these large sled dogs could pull him. ... Over an hour later, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang arrived at Xus Town. The sight before them left them both astonished as they approached the snowy expanse. Their original destination had been Cloud Manor by the river. Still, as they followed the river, they came upon a village entirely made of ice and snow, with a massive snow fortress dominating the center. Compelled by curiosity, they decided to investigate. As the sled neared Xus Town, the villages sled dogs quickly sounded the alarm. Woof, woof! The barking started with one dog and quickly spread throughout the village, alerting everyone. The entire village was immediately on high alert. Ever since their failed assault on Cloud Manor, where Zhang Yi single-handedly wiped out a hundred of their men, the villagers had lived in constant fear. Even though Zhang Yi had promised not to harm Xus Town in the future, the villagers were still terrified of him. Any unusual sound now made them worry that Zhang Yi might be coming to attack them again. As a result, the villagers grabbed their weapons and gathered their dogs, ready to defend themselves. Upon seeing so many people, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang couldnt help but be surprised. Who wouldve thought there were so many survivors here? Not only have they survived the cold and hunger, but theyve also maintained the villageits incredible! Their curiosity about the village grew. The villagers, however, were wary and blocked their path. A group leader holding a hunting rifle coldly asked, Who are you? What do you want in Xus Town? Liu Ziyang frowned his right hand already on the safety of his rifle. But Xie Huanhuan stepped forward with a gentle smile, saying, Im Second Lieutenant Xie Huanhuan of the Tianhai Military Subdistrict. Im here on behalf of the government to search for and assist survivors of the snow disaster. Theres no need to be alarmed! She pulled out her identification and showed it to the villagers, fully aware that these people likely still held out hope for the government. Showing her credentials could avoid a lot of unnecessary trouble. Chapter 238: Guiding Inspection Chapter 238: Guiding InspectionAs expected, once Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang introduced themselves, the villagers of Xus Town immediately became much more welcoming. Even in the post-apocalyptic world, the ingrained respect for authority was still deeply rooted in their bones. The newly appointed village head, Xu Dongtang, stepped forward to closely examine Xie Huanhuans credentials. Seeing their official uniforms and bearing, he was convinced they were who they claimed to be. His demeanor changed instantly from stern to obsequious, with a broad smile spreading across his face. "So, its the leadership visiting us! Welcome, welcome!" Xu Dongtang said enthusiastically, and the villagers quickly lowered their weapons. They curiously eyed Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, brimming with questions. Communication networks were no longer as reliable as before the apocalypse, so they had little information about the outside world. They were unsure about the state of the world, whether the government was still functioning, and how it planned to handle the snow disaster. However, none of this dulled Xu Dongtangs eagerness to curry favor with the two officials. He invited them into the village, ordering the villagers to prepare food for their guests. "Prepare a feast! Today, we have higher-ups visiting for an inspection. We must treat them well!" Xu Dongtang commanded, instructing the villagers to bring out some stored food. Someone questioned, "Sixth Uncle, we dont know what theyre here for. Why are we treating them so warmly?" Xu Dongtang responded with a knowing smile, "As long as they represent the government, thats all that matters. In these troubled times, when the world is in chaos, its our chance as farmers to rise. If we can establish a connection with the government, who knows? The Xu family might just ascend to great heights! And besides, its just some foodwe can afford it." The villagers, convinced by Xu Dongtangs reasoning, returned to their homes to gather their best provisions to offer Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang. For their part, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were surprised to find such a lively and well-organized village. It seemed almost untouched by the snow disaster, which they found remarkable. As they strolled through the village, accompanied by Xu Dongtang and several elder members of the Xu family, they observed everything with keen interest. S?a??h the N?v?lFir?.n?t website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Xie Huanhuan asked, "Old sir, despite this heavy snow, it seems your village hasnt been affected much. How have you managed that?" Xu Dongtang puffed out his chest, eager to impress the officials. "First and foremost, we in Xus Town are resilient and self-reliant. We didnt let the snow disaster defeat us! Secondly, as village head, I played a role in guiding the people. You see, Ive always advised them to stockpile food in emergencies. So when the snow disaster hit, our villagers didnt have to worry about food. Not to brag, but not everyone in Xus Town has starved!" Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang exchanged a meaningful glance. Meanwhile, the older villagers were internally rolling their eyes at Xu Dongtangs self-congratulatory speech. Hed only been village head for a few days, and the previous head, Xu Dongsheng, had led the real efforts. Moreover, Xus Town had always been an agricultural and fishing community with a longstanding tradition of stockpiling food. But now, Xu Dongtang was taking all the credit. Casually, Xie Huanhuan asked, "So, your village has plenty of food stored up, then?" Proudly, Xu Dongtang replied, "Leader, it seems youre unfamiliar with Tianhai Citys agricultural market. To put it bluntly, Xus Town supplies a third of Tianhai Citys vegetables!" Realizing he might have said too much, Xu Dongtang quickly tried to backtrack. "But, of course, the heavy snowfall over the past month has ruined much of our food. Right now, were just managing to get by." Xie Huanhuan smiled gently. "Even so, for a village with over a thousand households, being able to get by is quite impressive." Xu Dongtang chuckled, "In all of Xus Town, our village is in the best shape. Just look at these ice houses weve builtthey solve our housing problem perfectly! Other villages werent so clever; many homes were buried under the snow, and a lot of people died." He pointed to the ice houses with a smug expression, claiming all the credit for the idea, while the other villagers, though exasperated, refrained from contradicting him due to his position. Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were genuinely impressed. They thought, "This old man has some serious talent!" Liu Ziyang gazed at the massive snow fortress in the village and remarked, "These ice houses were all built by hand? Thats incredibleyour village has some skilled craftsmen!" Xu Dongtang shamelessly claimed, "Were farmers. We need skills to make some extra money and support our families!" Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang nodded, not questioning his explanation. Xu Dongtangs self-aggrandizing had the unintended effect of keeping the existence of Xu Chunlei, the real skilled craftsman behind the ice houses, a secret. After touring the village, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang didnt find anything particularly noteworthy. The villagers had prepared lunch, and Xu Dongtang enthusiastically invited them to join. Having been on the road eating only compressed food, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were eager for a hot meal, so they gladly accepted. They were taken to Xu Dongtangs home, where several senior members of the Xu family joined them. The ice houses, surprisingly good at retaining heat, were also wind-resistant. Once a fire was lit, and with many people inside, the cold became more bearable. The meal was cooked over a makeshift stove, with everyone gathering to enjoy a hotpota rare luxury in these times. To host their esteemed guests, the villagers brought out the best of what they had: preserved meats, dried chicken, and the locally popular frozen fish, all tossed into the pot to create a hearty dish. "Please, help yourselves! Dont be shyeat as much as you like!" Xu Dongtang and the Xu family elders warmly urged Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang to dig in. Looking at the steaming pot filled with delicacies, Xie Huanhuan couldnt help but think, "This village is certainly prosperous." Chapter 239: The Leak Chapter 239: The LeakXu Dongtang and the others subtly probed for information about the official organization as they ate. "Leader, when will the government start addressing the snow disaster?" Xu Dongtang asked, pouring a glass of his prized aged liquor for Liu Ziyang. Liu Ziyang downed the drink, feeling a warm sensation spread through his chest, bringing a flush to his face. He remained silent, continuing to eat. Meanwhile, Xie Huanhuan responded, "Rest assured, the government has already formulated a plan to tackle the snow disaster, and it will be implemented soon." Hearing this, Xu Dongtang and the villagers showed visible signs of relief and hope. "Thats great news! This dreadful weather has been unbearable!" "We common folk cant do muchwe need the government to step in and fix the situation so we can return to our lives." One villager couldnt help but ask, "Do the experts have any idea when the snow will stop?" Xie Huanhuan smiled gently, "Soon. The snowfall wont last much longer. Youve probably noticed that its already less intense. In a few months, it should stop altogether." Liu Ziyang glanced at her, but Xie Huanhuan maintained a calm, confident demeanor, as if everything she said was true. Not one for words, Liu Ziyang focused on the food before him. Xie Huanhuan took a sip of the liquor, her cheeks flushing slightly. She didnt dare drink too much, knowing she was on duty, but the cold weather and the warmth of the alcohol were too tempting to resist. Although she wasnt bothered by the cold due to her special physique, the pleasant sensation from the alcohol was something she couldnt refuse. After a drink, Xie Huanhuan began questioning the villagers. "Has anyone in your village experienced any strange changes recently?" Xu Dongtang frowned slightly at the question, as did the other villagers, who immediately thought of Xu Chunlei. However, Xu Dongtang feigned ignorance. "What do you mean by strange changes? Everyone in our village is perfectly normal." One of Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyangs primary tasks was investigating population centers and resource points around the base. They also had a special mission to identify and bring back any Superhumans. However, the number of Superhumans was so rare that their base had only discovered a few. Xie Huanhuan asked more questions than expected out of routine. Nevertheless, as a soldier, Xie Huanhuan was highly observant and quickly noticed the subtle changes in the villagers expressions. She set down her cup and said calmly, "Im talking about people whose bodies have mutated, granting them abilities beyond those of ordinary humans. If someone in your village had undergone such changes, you would have noticed." "If you can provide useful information, the organization will reward you generously!" The villagers avoided her gaze, their eyes betraying their thoughts as they considered the implications of her words. But no one spoke up. With Xu Dongtang, the village chief, present, it wasnt their place to talk. Behind his gold-rimmed glasses, Xu Dongtangs eyes flickered with uncertainty. The person she was referring to was undoubtedly Xu Chunlei. Should he reveal Xu Chunleis existence? Xu Dongtang didnt rush to answer. Instead, he asked, "If I may ask, what does the organization want with these people?" Xie Huanhuans suspicions deepenedshe was certain the villagers knew something about a Superhuman. With a friendly smile, she replied, "These individuals are valuable assets to the nation. We need to harness their abilities to help rebuild our homeland." "Village Chief, if you know of anyone like that, you must report it immediately! The organization will greatly reward you." Xu Dongtang nodded. "Oh, I see!" He poured more liquor, but his eyes held a glint of cunning. Her words sounded promising, but where was the tangible benefit? Xu Chunlei was the villages most valuable asset. Without him, who knew what would become of the village? He wasnt about to hand him over. "Ill keep an eye out. If I find anyone like that, Ill report it right away," Xu Dongtang said, pulling out his phone and smiling as he offered it to Xie Huanhuan. "Leader, lets exchange contact information." But Xie Huanhuans expression suddenly changed. She looked up at Xu Dongtang with a knowing smile. "Village Chief, are you hiding something from me?" "Being dishonest with the organization is a serious offense." The atmosphere in the room instantly grew tense. The villagers were paralyzed with fear, unsure of what to say, while Liu Ziyang continued to eat heartily. Xu Dongtangs hand froze in midair, his face showing confusion as he frowned and said, "No, of course not! Leader, what do you mean? Im completely loyal to the organizationId never tell a lie!" Xie Huanhuan asked coldly, "So theres no Superhuman here?" "Think carefully before you answer. This is a matter of great importance to the organization, and withholding information could have serious consequences!" Xie Huanhuan was indeed concerned. Discovering a Superhuman would earn her significant recognition from the organization. She could tell that Xu Dongtang and the others were hiding something importanttheir expressions gave them away. Caught in his lie, Xu Dongtangs smile wavered momentarily. But then, inspiration struck. S?a??h th? N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. "Ah, Leader, if you put it that way, there is someone Im suspicious of. But hes not from our village, so we dont know much about him. Thats why I hesitated to mention it," Xu Dongtang said, suddenly eager to shift the focus. "Who is this person?" Xie Huanhuan asked. Biting his lip, Xu Dongtang replied, "His name is Zhang Yi. He lives across the river at Cloud Manor." The mention of Zhang Yi made the villagers grit their teeth in anger. Many had lost family members in the failed attack on Cloud Manor that nighthow could they not hate Zhang Yi? Xie Huanhuans eyes lit up at the name. It matched the one mentioned in the special mission she had received. If there were no mistakes, Xu Dongtangs Zhang Yi was the person she was supposed to investigate. "What a coincidence!" Xie Huanhuan murmured to herself. This was a perfect opportunity to gather intelligence on Zhang Yi from the villagers of Xus Town. Chapter 240: Target, Cloud Manor Chapter 240: Target, Cloud ManorTo cover up his earlier slip of the tongue, Xu Dongtang quickly threw Zhang Yi under the bus, hoping to divert attention away from Xu Chunlei. After all, Zhang Yi was a Superhuman, so mentioning him could effectively fill the gap and keep Xu Chunlei''s existence hidden. "That Zhang Yi is a terrifying figure! He single-handedly killed over a hundred people from Xus Town! We cant do anything but swallow our anger and keep quiet about it," Xu Dongtang lamented. "Leader, now that youre here, please, you have to stand up for us!" Following Xu Dongtangs lead, the villagers eagerly shifted all their problems onto Zhang Yi, desperate to keep their guardian, Xu Chunlei, a secret. As it happened, Zhang Yi was the exact person Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were sent to find. Their mission aligned perfectly with the information they had just received, filling them with satisfaction. Now, they only needed to complete this final task to return to the base and report their findings. Moreover, discovering Xus Town was an unexpected bonus. S~?a??h the N0v?lFir?.?et website on G??gl? to access chapters of n?vels early and in the highest quality. Eager for more details, Xie Huanhuan pressed the villagers for information about Zhang Yi. However, Xu Dongtang realized they knew little about Zhang Yis age, height, or appearance. After all, the villagers had fought him in the dead of night, being hunted like dogs by Zhang Yi, who wielded a powerful sniper rifle. "We only know that traps surround his home, hes armed, and he has a vehicle that can traverse the snow," Xu Dongtang reported. Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang noted these details, especially the information about the weapons and traps, which would be crucial for their investigation. "And what about his Superhuman ability? Do any of you know what it is?" Xie Huanhuan asked, focusing on the most important detail. Superhuman abilities varied greatly. Some mutations were detrimental, while others offered only minor advantages. However, a powerful ability could be incredibly valuable to West Hill Base. The question left Xu Dongtang and the others stumped. During their encounter with Zhang Yi, they were too busy dealing with traps and sniper fire to witness any use of supernatural powers. Their knowledge was limited to what they had heard from Xu Chunlei. Awkwardly, Xu Dongtang laughed. "We wouldnt know about that! Were not familiar with Superhuman abilities. All we know is that hes not normalsomething about him is off." "Leader, this is something only you can investigate!" he added, deflecting the responsibility back onto Xie Huanhuan. Disappointment flickered in Xie Huanhuans eyes. Understanding a Superhumans ability was crucial for knowing how to counter them, but she could not obtain this critical information. Despite her repeated questioning, the villagers genuinely knew nothing. Even Xu Chunlei wasnt entirely sure about Zhang Yis abilities, only that they were related to space manipulation. Zhang Yi had done an excellent job keeping his powers and arsenal a secret, leaving even those close to him, let alone these villagers, in the dark. After finishing their meal, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang prepared to leave Xus Town, having gathered all the information they could. Before departing, Xu Dongtang, still hoping for a favor, hinted at wanting an official position. To him, a second lieutenants rank was as good as a high military honor. Xie Huanhuan smiled and nodded, "From now on, youll be responsible for this area. If you come across any valuable information, report it to me immediately." Xu Dongtangs heart swelled with joy. "Of course, Ill do everything I can for the organization! You can count on me!" Before they left, Xu Dongtang sent them off with gifts, and while Xie Huanhuan didnt take much, she did keep a few bottles of good liquor. Once outside the village, Xie Huanhuan reported back to West Hill Base using her device: "Discovered a large village, Xus Town, with approximately 2,000 survivors and significant food reserves. No Superhumans detected." After completing her report, Xie Huanhuan put away her device. Standing guard nearby, Liu Ziyang asked, "Back in the village, why did you lie to them?" Liu Ziyang couldnt understand why Xie Huanhuan had told Xu Dongtang and the villagers things that were almost entirely untrue like the snow disaster ending soon or helping them rebuild after the disaster. Xie Huanhuan glanced at the simple-minded soldier and smiled dismissively. "If we told them the truth, do you think theyd still treat us as honored guests, feeding us and providing us with information?" Liu Ziyang scratched his head. "I get that, but it still doesnt feel right. Those villagers were nice to us." Xie Huanhuan chuckled softly, her voice laced with irony. "Thats why youre just my subordinate." Liu Ziyang could only smile wryly and shake his head. While an elite warrior, he wasnt as savvy in dealing with people as Xie Huanhuan. "They heard what they wanted to hear. Far from resenting me, theyll be grateful that I gave them hope," Xie Huanhuan explained. "But wont they eventually realize you were lying? What will you do then?" Liu Ziyang asked, puzzled. "Ill have new explanations ready by then," Xie Huanhuan replied confidently as if everything was under control. "As long as we represent the government in their eyes, whatever we say will be considered the truth." Liu Ziyang was left feeling uncertain. Could they claim to represent the government? After all, West Hill Base had undergone a power shift, with control taken from the former government officials and placed in the hands of Chen Xinian, who now commanded the military. Strictly speaking, they were rebels. But in these chaotic times, the lines between right and wrong had blurred. Liu Ziyang knew only one thing for sure: as a soldier, his duty was to follow orders. He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on such complicated matters. Xie Huanhuan, for her part, didnt care what Liu Ziyang thought. She was in charge of this mission, and Liu Ziyang was merely her subordinate. "Next stop, lets go see Zhang Yi!" she said, brushing her hair back with a curious gleam in her eye. "From what the villagers of Xus Town said, this guy is something else. He might even be a Superhuman!" Liu Ziyang smiled eagerly. "If we can bring him back, thatll be a major achievement!" A knowing smile spread across Xie Huanhuans lips. "Theres more to it than just him." Whether Zhang Yi was a Superhuman was uncertain, but her briefing had instructed her to investigate his connection to the Walmart warehouse theft. Initially, the leaders at West Hill Base hadnt paid much attention to Zhang Yi, but after hearing the villagers accounts, Xie Huanhuan suspected there was more to the story. Perhaps, through Zhang Yi, she could uncover the whereabouts of the stolen goods from what was once the largest warehouse in South China. Excitement sparkled in Xie Huanhuans eyes. "If I can find those supplies, the credit Id earn could make me the second-most powerful person at the baseor maybe even more..." Chapter 244: No Possibility Left Behind Chapter 244: No Possibility Left Behind Xie Huanhuan''s body fell onto the snow, the scene so abrupt that it seemed unreal. Just moments earlier, she and Liu Ziyang had been joyfully discussing their bright futures. Now, she was a cold corpse. In this dangerous world, there was never a moment of absolute safety. A Superhumans head wasnt necessarily tougher than an ordinary person''s and was certainly no match for a 5.8mm sniper rifle, especially one enhanced by supernatural abilities. Liu Ziyang watched in stunned horror as his longtime partner died before his eyes. Though it took less than a second, it felt like an eternity for him. His instincts took over as he quickly drew his gun and aimed it behind him. In the distance, under the dark sky, he saw a massive shadowa giant black cat, Huahua. On its back sat Zhang Yi, holding a sniper rifle. From 2,000 meters away, Zhang Yi had shot the wall-passing woman dead with precise accuracy. In Liu Ziyangs line of sight, Zhang Yi and Huahua were mere specks far beyond the range of his weapon. Yet before he could react further, Zhang Yi had already reloaded and fired another shot. With the silencer attached, the sound was minimal, and from such a distance, the only way to determine Zhang Yis position was by tracking the bullet''s path. Zhang Yi had hoped this shot would take out the large man, but to his surprise, the mans body suddenly blurred, leaving behind afterimages as he narrowly dodged the bullet. "Damn it, just how many Superhumans are there?" Zhang Yi felt a chill run down his spine. He had anticipated such an encounter, but facing two Superhumans simultaneously was still shocking. Regardless of who they were, he had to kill them both to prevent any information about him from reaching their superiors. But when Zhang Yi hesitated, Liu Ziyang grabbed Xie Huanhuans body and took cover in a snow pit. As he stared at Xie Huanhuans lifeless form, Liu Ziyangs heart twisted with pain. Despite their long working relationship and the feelings, he had never dared to express due to their professional roles, seeing her die right in front of him was a devastating blow. "I swear, Ill kill you!" Liu Ziyangs eyes were filled with fury, but as a disciplined soldier, he didnt lose his composure. The opponent was an extremely skilled sniper, capable of killing Xie Huanhuan with a headshot from such a distancesomething Liu Ziyang couldnt have managed even during his time in the military. He suspected the snipers accuracy was enhanced by supernatural ability. Knowing he had no advantage in a long-range fight and would only become a target if he attempted to flee, Liu Ziyang calculated his best move. "Wait, I cant rush. The one who should be anxious is him! If Im right, hes the owner of that villa, Zhang Yi. After spotting us, hes desperate to kill us to keep us silent." "So, my best move is to stay put and call for backup!" It would take about two and a half hours for reinforcements from West Hill Base to arrive by snowmobile or five hours by sled. Liu Ziyang quickly retrieved his equipment and sent a distress signal to the base. As Liu Ziyang had predicted, Zhang Yi was eager to eliminate him. But after missing his shot, Liu Ziyang had gone into hiding, leaving Zhang Yi without a clear target for a second shot. Judging by Liu Ziyangs quick reflexes, Zhang Yi could tell he was up against a highly skilled close-quarters combatant. In a hand-to-hand fight, Zhang Yi wasnt confident he could win. "If this drags on, he might send out my intel or even call for backup," Zhang Yi thought, weighing his options. "Should I call Fatty Xu over? But he doesnt have transportation, and it''ll be daylight by the time he gets here." Looking at Huahua beneath him, Zhang Yi suddenly got an idea. "Huahua, go flush him out, and Ill cover you with sniper fire!" he ordered. Jumping off Huahuas back, Zhang Yi took cover in the snow and gave his instructions. Huahua understood what he wanted but responded with a dissatisfied "Meow," as if protesting the danger. Zhang Yi reassured the cat, "Dont worry, youre tough, and he wont be able to hurt you. Make him show himself, and I promise Ill take him down with one shot!" He added a tempting offer, "If you do this, Ill give you a hundred fish treats when we get back!" Huahua licked its big paw, then nodded in agreement. Huahua had a strong sense of territoriality as a cat, and it already despised the two intruders. With the added promise of a reward, it was fully motivated to act. At first, Huahua charged across the snow, but soon, it curled into a massive black spiked ball, rolling towards Liu Ziyangs position with a rumble. Liu Ziyang planned to dig in and wait for reinforcements, but the roaring sound alarmed him. He cautiously used his phone as a mirror to peek out, and what he saw made his pupils contract in shock. "What the hell is that!" he thought, seeing the enormous black ball barreling towards him, something beyond his wildest imagination. Reacting quickly, Liu Ziyang rolled to the side just in time. "Boom!" Huahuas spiked form tore through the spot where he had just been, leaving a deep trench in the snow. Liu Ziyang barely had time to catch his breath before the massive black ball suddenly stopped and transformed into a giant black beast not far from him. "Meow!" Huahua roared, its fur standing on end like steel needles as it charged at Liu Ziyang in a zigzag pattern. Liu Ziyang hastily raised his gun and fired, but the ordinary bullets barely affected Huahua, sparking off its steel-like fur. Though Huahua felt the sting, it wasnt seriously hurt, and it screeched even more ferociously as it lunged at him. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liu Ziyang dodged with his ghostly agility, moving through the snow with a speed that matched the cats, an eerie display of skill. However, while he could evade Huahuas attacks, he couldnt conceal his movements from Zhang Yi, who was waiting in the distance, sniper rifle at the ready. The moment Liu Ziyang showed himself, Zhang Yi pulled the trigger. Author''s Note Chapter 245: Devour Chapter 245: Devour Zhang Yis bullet didnt immediately kill Liu Ziyang. Liu Ziyangs supernatural ability, which enhanced his speed and agility, allowed him to narrowly evade the shot. Despite the close call, he was not out of danger yet. Zhang Yi quickly reloaded, determined to see how long Liu Ziyang could keep dodging. Facing Zhang Yis sniper fire and Huahuas relentless attacks, Liu Ziyang struggled under the combined pressure. This time, Zhang Yi fired another shot with even greater precision and power. The bullet, charged with his supernatural ability, was strong enough to pierce through body armor. Liu Ziyang dodged again, but not without costblood trickled from his mouth as he pushed his ability to its limits. In midair, his figure blurred, leaving behind ghostly afterimages as he narrowly escaped death once more. But just as Liu Ziyang felt a fleeting sense of relief, a massive shadow loomed over him. "Roar!" Huahua pounced, its jaws clamping down on half of Liu Ziyangs body with a sickening crunch. The sound of breaking bones echoed through the air, accompanied by Liu Ziyangs blood-curdling scream. In a desperate attempt to take Huahua down with him, Liu Ziyang raised his gun to shoot the cat in the eye. However, Zhang Yi was quicker, finishing him off with a precise shot to the head. With Liu Ziyang and Xie Huanhuan dead, Zhang Yi finally allowed himself a moment of relief. He drove his snowmobile to the site where Huahua had defeated Liu Ziyang. When Zhang Yi arrived, Huahua had already returned to its normal size and was sitting beside Xie Huanhuans body, looking expectantly at Zhang Yi. "Meow!" Huahua uttered a loud cry, clearly tired from the energy it had expended during the battle. Zhang Yi smiled and rewarded Huahua with several cans of tuna, which the cat eagerly tore open with its claws and began to eat. Zhang Yi then examined the bodies of the two intruders. The tall man, fully armed in thick white armor, had a crescent-shaped wound on his body from Huahuas bite. The armor made of an unusual material likely used by special forces, was only partially damaged. Zhang Yi decided to take the armor back for further study. As he turned to Xie Huanhuans body, Huahua meowed insistently, drawing Zhang Yis attention. He recognized the woman as the one who had infiltrated his shelter earlier, a feat that had driven him to kill her without hesitation. The shelter was his havenany threat had to be eliminated. Xie Huanhuans body was frozen stiff, but her thin, white bodysuit was made of a material designed to protect against the elements. Zhang Yi reached out to search her body, but as soon as he touched her, an indescribable sensation surged through him as if a primal instinct had been awakened in his brain. Huahua blinked slowly, meowing softly as if encouraging him. Zhang Yi swallowed hard, realizing what Huahua was trying to tell him: he could absorb this womans power. He placed his hand on her forehead, and a powerful energy began flowing into his body through his arm. The sensation was exhilarating, nearly overwhelming, as he absorbed Xie Huanhuans supernatural ability. It was the first time Zhang Yi had ever absorbed another Superhumans power, and he could feel himself growing stronger with each passing second as if a starving man had just eaten his fill. "So, Superhumans can devour each others powers?" Zhang Yi mused, staring in disbelief at his hand. By the time he had finished absorbing her ability, Xie Huanhuans body had become nothing more than an empty shell. Huahua, sensing the change, meowed again. Animals often have keener instincts than humans, and Huahua sensed the potential to devour Xie Huanhuans power. But instead of doing so itself, the cat had left the opportunity for Zhang Yi, an act that touched him deeply. Moved, Zhang Yi couldnt resist picking up Huahua and giving the cat a couple of affectionate kisses. "Thank you, Huahua! Youre such a good cat!" Huahua nuzzled against him briefly before jumping down to continue eating its tuna, clearly satisfied with its reward. Still puzzled, Zhang Yi turned his attention back to Liu Ziyangs body. "He was a Superhuman, too, so why didnt I feel the same urge when I touched him?" he wondered. "This world and its mutated beings are filled with mysteries that defy understanding." Zhang Yi decided to store both bodies in his dimensional space and carefully cleaned up the scene, though the footprints leading to the area were too long to erase. "I cant do anything about that," he sighed. "They already know where my shelter is, so if they come looking for trouble, Ill be ready." "But now that the woman who could walk through walls is dead lets see who else dares to invade my shelter!" Zhang Yi steeled himself for the challenges ahead, knowing that these two were not lone operativesthey were part of a larger, powerful organization. Their uniforms and equipment made that clear. It was likely that more warriors, perhaps even entire squads, would be sent after him. Returning to the shelter, Zhang Yi couldnt help but feel a growing sense of urgency. He needed to bolster his defenses even further, for he knew that life in this apocalyptic world left no room for complacency. Author''s Note Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 246: West Hill Shelter Chapter 246: West Hill Shelter When Zhang Yi and Huahua returned home, the living room lights were still on. The commotion caused by Huahuas earlier cries had woken up Zhou Keer and the others. When they realized Zhang Yi was not in his room, they waited for him in the living room, as Zhang Yi was the backbone of their shelter. Upon seeing everyone awake, Zhang Yi said, "It''s good youre up. I have some tasks I need you all to take care of." Curious, the women asked, "What do you need us to do?" Zhang Yi briefly recounted the night''s events, explaining how he had dealt with the two intruders. The mention of someone being able to pass through the shelter''s solid walls made them all anxious. But they were relieved when Zhang Yi assured them that the intruders had been taken care of. Zhou Keer, hugging herself, frowned in thought, "But the fact that two Superhumans appeared together suggests they must be part of an organized group. Taking them out might lead to retaliation." Zhang Yi responded confidently, "You dont need to worry about that. This shelter is incredibly sturdyit could withstand artillery fire during wartime. Besides, with all the snow outside, large weapons are unusable. I made sure to eliminate that woman who could pass through walls to prevent any chance of our shelter being compromised." Hearing this, the women sighed in relief. None of them could fight, and their peaceful, happy life depended entirely on Zhang Yis protection. They were all deeply reliant on him, especially in times of crisis. "Now, Im going to assign you some tasks," Zhang Yi continued. "We might be facing a powerful and unknown force, and we dont know how strong they are. So, we need to be as prepared as possible." He turned first to Lu Keran, the mechanical genius. "Keran, I need you to create a large number of explosive devices and set them up around the house. Let me know what materials you need, and Ill go out and find them." Being a native of Tianhai City, Zhang Yi knew the locations of the citys major chemical factories and laboratories, so sourcing the necessary materials wouldnt be a problem. Lu Keran nodded firmly, "Dont worry, big brother. Leave the weapons to me!" Zhang Yi then took out the bodies of Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, removing all their electronic devices, including phones and other communication tools, and handed them to Yang Xinxin. "Xinxin, I need you to gather as much information as possible about these two and their organization." Yang Xinxin responded calmly, "Understood." Next, Zhang Yi turned to Zhou Keer. "Keer, I want you to do a full autopsy on these bodies. Its rare to get our hands on Superhuman corpses, so lets see if we can uncover any secrets." Zhou Keer nodded, "Alright, Zhang Yi." After assigning tasks to everyone, only Yang Siya remained without a job. Feeling left out, she approached Zhang Yi and asked, "What about me? I want to help, too." Everyone else in the group was a talented genius in their field, but Yang Siya, with her relatively ordinary skills, felt she needed to prove her worth. Zhang Yi thought momentarily and said, "You can assist Keer and take care of the household chores." Though the idea of dissecting bodies made Yang Siya uncomfortable, she steeled herself and agreed, determined to contribute. After delegating the tasks, Zhang Yi, feeling exhausted, went to his room and slept deeply. The next morning, around nine o''clock, he instinctively checked the shelters surveillance system, ensuring everything was normal. Only then did he feel at ease. Though he had killed Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, he knew their deaths would alert their organization. However, he also understood that if this organization was well-structured, they wouldnt act rashly. This would give him time to prepare. Zhang Yi dressed and went downstairs, finding Zhou Keer and Yang Xinxin waiting for him in the living room. Both women looked tired, but there was a gleam of excitement in their eyes. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Brother, Xinxin discovered some important information!" Zhou Keer exclaimed. "And the autopsy results are quite unusual," Yang Xinxin added. Zhang Yi approached them, curious about their findings. Yang Xinxin, holding a laptop, was the first to share her discoveries. "From analyzing the devices found on those two, I traced their origin to an organization called the West Hill Shelter," she began. "Its a massive facility with thousands of survivors." "The West Hill organization is highly structured, with a few hundred armed personnel, including a powerful unit known as the ACE Special Forces, made up of elite soldiers and Superhumans." As Zhang Yi reviewed the information, he was struck by the scale of the operation. The West Hill Shelter was likely one of several large government shelters established in Tianhai City. Such shelters were designed to protect key government figures during emergencies and had evolved into powerful entities. What reassured Zhang Yi was that the shelters armed forces numbered only about 500, which made sense given that Tianhai City lacked a major military presence, with only one regiment stationed there. Even accounting for police and security personnel, their numbers would only reach a few thousand, and not all were concentrated in the West Hill organization. Although the West Hill Shelter was formidable, Zhang Yi felt less intimidated now that he understood its strength. "Ordinary soldiers, even well-trained ones with standard weapons, wont pose much of a threat to the shelter," he reasoned. "As for the ACE Special Forces, unless they have another wall-passing Superhuman, they wont be able to breach our defenses." Superhumans, after all, had their limitations. Unlike Zhang Yi, who had the bug-like ability of the Dimensional Gate that didnt consume energy, others couldnt use their powers indefinitely. For example, despite his combat prowess, Fatty Xu could be silently killed by a well-trained special forces operative. "Looks like we can handle this," Zhang Yi thought, finally allowing himself a relieved smile. For too long, he had imagined the unknown threats out there to be more powerful than they were. "Intelligence is criticalknowing your enemy is key to victory." Zhang Yi now fully appreciated the importance of Yang Xinxin, the genius hacker, to his team?. Author''s Note Chapter 247: Researching the Superhuman Bodies Chapter 247: Researching the Superhuman Bodies After receiving intelligence about the West Hill organization from Yang Xinxin, Zhang Yi felt more at ease. The greatest fear comes from the unknown, and now that he had a clearer understanding of his opponent''s strength, he could better plan his response. He praised Yang Xinxin, who responded with confidence, saying, "This was just a small matter for me, brother! Just waitIll hack into the entire West Hill Base network soon!" Zhang Yi laughed and nodded, "Im looking forward to it!" After their conversation, Zhang Yi turned to Zhou Keer, who was eager to share the results of her all-night research. "Keer, what did you find?" Zhang Yi asked with a smile. Zhou Keer excitedly grabbed his hand and led him to her lab. Yang Xinxin, uninterested in the dissected bodies, chose not to follow. Zhang Yi and Zhou Keer entered the lab, which Zhang Yi had specifically set up for her. Although it was called a lab, it was essentially a surgical room equipped with all the medical tools Zhang Yi had gathered, though he kept the most important medicines to himself. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The lab was well-stocked with equipment, making it capable of performing surgeries. Even if they were missing something, Lu Keran could easily craft it. As soon as Zhang Yi entered the lab, he saw the two dissected bodies lying on the table. Their bodies had been thoroughly examined, with many parts sliced for analysis. Zhang Yi used to seeing corpses, didnt find the scene disturbing. Zhou Keer enthusiastically led him to the workstation, pointing at the slides under the microscope. "Through researching these two bodies, I discovered that their cells have undergone mutations. Their cellular activity is dozens of times that of an ordinary person!" Zhou Keer explained. "Moreover, the energy produced from glycogen metabolism is released unusually." She picked up two brain tissue slides and continued, "The most significant changes are in their brain cells. This could indicate that the source of their abilities is primarily the brain!" Zhang Yi couldnt help but recall that it was through her brain when he absorbed Xie Huanhuans ability. He nodded, finding the discovery interesting, but it didnt concern him the most. He wasnt particularly interested in scientific research; he focused on what he could gain from it. Zhou Keer noticed his lack of enthusiasm and pouted, "You dont understand how important this discovery is!" "How important?" Zhang Yi asked, humoring her. Zhou Keer seriously explained, "So far, human mutations have all been influenced by gamma rays, resulting in natural mutations. However, this group is limited, and the mutations are not always beneficial. Even if someone gains abilities, they might not be useful." "However, if someone could fully understand the principles behind these mutations or apply cell transplantation techniques, they might be able to artificially create Superhumans!" This piqued Zhang Yis interest. "According to you, could the entire world be filled with Superhumans in the future?" Zhou Keer playfully stuck out her tongue, "Theres indeed such a possibility. But the likelihood is only about 0.0000001%." She added seriously, "With current medical and biological technology, its far from possible to perfectly replicate natural Superhumans. After all, humanity hasnt even perfected cloning!" Zhang Yi shrugged, "So, its not quite there yet." Zhou Keer continued, "But if more aggressive methods are used, some... strange results could occur." She looked at Liu Ziyangs body on the operating table and said, "For example, this mans cellular mutation is very strange." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, "How so?" Zhou Keer explained, "The womans cells underwent a natural and complete mutation, but the mans mutation is only partial, with many cells showing malignant mutations leading to necrosis, which could even harm his body." "Moreover, the damage worsens each time he uses his ability." "I suspect he might have been an artificially created Superhuman, but currently, hes just a flawed prototype." This intrigued Zhang Yi even more. "An artificial Superhuman? Thats possible?" Zhou Keers findings answered several questions Zhang Yi had been pondering, such as why he couldnt absorb the mans abilities. If Liu Ziyang was indeed an artificial Superhuman, it made sense that his abilities wouldnt be as easily transferable as those of a natural Superhuman. It also explained why his abilities were so underwhelminghis speed and agility enhancements were nothing compared to the natural abilities of other Superhumans Zhang Yi had encountered, like Uncle You or Liang Yue. "So hes an artificial creation, just slightly stronger than a normal person, but with a capped potential," Zhang Yi concluded, feeling a sense of relief. "This means that the so-called ACE Special Forces of the West Hill organization, which is said to have many Superhumans, are likely composed mostly of these creations," he speculated. "Their powers come at the cost of their health, which makes them far weaker than natural Superhumans. The only advantage is that they can be mass-produced, but at the end of the day, theyre just expendable resources in the eyes of West Hills leaders." With this new understanding of West Hill Bases strength, Zhang Yi felt even more confident about defending against their attacks?. Author''s Note Chapter 248: Warning Fatty Xu Chapter 248: Warning Fatty Xu Zhang Yi called Fatty Xu, who quickly came over and treated Zhang Yi like an elder brother. Fatty Xu was always eager to help because Zhang Yi rewarded him generously each time, whether with plush toys, collectibles, or snacks. All Fatty Xu had to do was help clear snow, which was an easy task for him, especially since Zhang Yis cautious nature ensured that Fatty Xu never had to worry about safety. Zhang Yi drove to the riverbank, and soon, huffing and puffing, Fatty Xu climbed into the passenger seat. "Whew, it''s warm in here!" Fatty Xu unzipped his coat, enjoying the blast of warm air from the cars heater. "Boss, where are we headed this time?" Zhang Yi glanced at him and replied, "Were going to a chemical plant to pick up some supplies." S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Sure thing, just tell me what to do!" Fatty Xu lost interest after hearing "chemical plant," but he was still willing to help. As they drove through the snowy landscape, Zhang Yi began discussing the West Hill organization members he had encountered nearby. "That areas been targeted by a big organization. Youd better be careful with Xus Townits an obvious target and could easily be wiped out," Zhang Yi warned. Fatty Xu scratched his head, confused. "Big organization? I havent noticed anything unusual around Xus Town." When Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang visited Xus Town, Fatty Xu had been napping, and the villagers had kept his presence hidden, so he was completely unaware of what had happened. "Hopefully, it stays that way," Zhang Yi said, shaking his head at Fatty Xus carelessness. "Boss, youre too cautious! Xus Town is just a bunch of farmers and fishermen. Who would bother with us?" Fatty Xu said with a goofy smile. Zhang Yi looked at him seriously. "But you do have a stockpile of food, dont you? Are you that naive, or do you not understand how valuable food is in the apocalypse?" Fatty Xus smile faded a bit. "Yeah, we do have a tradition of stockpiling food. But there are over a thousand people in Xus Townanyone who tries to take our food would have to face all of us." Zhang Yi continued driving, calmly explaining, "Ive already said that ordinary civilians are not a threat to us Superhumans. But what if its a well-armed organization?" Fatty Xu hesitated. "Weapons are tightly controlled in our country. Only a few people have access to them. And any well-armed force would likely be part of the governmentthey wouldnt target ordinary people like us." Zhang Yis expression darkened as he tried to explain the situation more clearly. "But with the collapse of law and order, every group is fighting for survival. Theres no one to represent the government anymore. Think of them as private armies, doing whatever it takes to survive." "When they run out of food, Xus Town is like a giant pantry they can raidrequisitioning would be the polite term." After hearing Zhang Yis explanation, Fatty Xu began to grasp the seriousness of the situation. His hands fidgeted nervously as he asked, "Boss, what should I do if that happens?" Zhang Yi looked at him and suggested, "If youre terrified, you could move to Cloud Manor. Theres an empty house beside mine, and I can arrange a place for you. Ill also ensure you have enough food and heating, so you wont have to worry about anything." Fatty Xu was valuable, and Zhang Yi didnt want to lose him. However, Fatty Xu hesitated. "But what about the people in my village? What will happen to them if I leave?" Despite the potential danger, Fatty Xu couldnt abandon his village, where everyone was family or close friends. He lacked the courage to leave the safety of the group. Zhang Yi smiled slightly. "Its up to you. Im just giving you an option. Things might not get that bad." Zhang Yi wouldnt force him to move. While having Fatty Xu on his side would be helpful, Zhang Yi was confident he could handle any threats independently if necessary. After collecting the materials from the chemical plant, Zhang Yi dropped Fatty Xu back at Xus Town, giving him some food and his favorite collectible figures as a parting gift. "Stay alert, Fatty. I might not contact you for a while, but if you need anything, call me. And be careful," Zhang Yi said, offering a final caution before they parted. Fatty Xu, grinning as he carried his haul, cheerfully agreed. But just as he was about to leave, Zhang Yi added, "One more thing, Fatty. If the West Hill organization or any other group comes to attack me, you and the villagers can choose to stay neutral. But if I find out youve helped them against me... Well, you can guess what Ill do." Zhang Yis smile remained, but Fatty Xu shivered with fear. "Boss, I would never betray you!" Zhang Yi patted his shoulder, laughing. "Im just jokingdont take it so seriously. I know you wouldnt betray me." With that, Zhang Yi got into his car and drove away?. Author''s Note Chapter 249: The Foolish Ones Chapter 249: The Foolish Ones On his way back to Xus Town, Fatty Xu couldnt stop thinking about the warnings Zhang Yi had given him. The more he thought about it, the heavier his heart grew. Zhang Yi was his only confidantno one else was willing to listen to him ramble on, though he didnt realize that Zhang Yi often used AI to chat with him. Zhang Yi had always treated him well, and Fatty Xu didnt want to do anything that would betray him. However, the villagers of Xus Town harbored a deep hatred for Zhang Yi. If another organization showed up, the villagers would probably wish for nothing more than to see Zhang Yi wiped out, Fatty Xu thought, scratching his head in frustration. The situation was too complicated, even for someone like him, a so-called "chosen one," who usually didnt worry about such things. Upon returning to the village, Fatty Xu found his friend, Xu Ping, who he trusted. Xu Ping, have any outsiders come to the village recently? Fatty Xu asked, trying to sound casual. Xu Ping laughed. You really should get out more, Spring Thunder! How could you not know about such a big event? Fatty Xu felt a chill run down his spine. What big event? Xu Ping explained, Yesterday, two high-ranking officials visited our village. They were big shots, supposedly from the military. We dont know much about them, but Sixth Uncle was incredibly hospitable, ensuring every household brought out their best to entertain them. Fatty Xus eyes widened, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. These two must be the people Zhang Yi warned him aboutenemies scouting for information. What did Sixth Uncle tell them? Fatty Xu asked nervously. Xu Ping shrugged. How would I know? Im not important enough to ask. But I did hear that Sixth Uncle has been in a great mood since then, even saying hes now the mayor of Xus Town. Fatty Xu felt panic rising as Zhang Yis words echoed in his mind. If they run out of food, Xus Town is just a giant grain warehouse, ripe for the takingthough theyll call it requisitioning. When that time comes, what can you do? Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I need to talk to Sixth Uncle! Fatty Xu decided, ignoring Xu Pings calls as he ran to Xu Dongtangs house. At that moment, Xu Dongtang was basking in the glory of his new title. He had just announced to the other village leaders of Xus Town that the higher-ups had appointed him as the towns mayor. Although it was just a verbal promise from Xie Huanhuan, Xu Dongtang took it as a serious promotion. The other village leaders, wary of Xus Towns strengthespecially Fatty Xus Superhuman abilitiesdidnt dare to object. Xus Town was already the dominant force in Xus Town, so it made sense for Xu Dongtang to assume the title of mayor. As the leaders began addressing Xu Dongtang as Mayor, he felt immense pride, believing he had brought honor to his family and would be remembered in the family records. Just then, Fatty Xu barged in, looking panicked. Sixth Uncle, did you meet with two outsiders? What did you tell them? Fatty Xu asked, his voice filled with urgency. Xu Dongtangs face darkened at Fatty Xus lack of respect. Xu Chunlei, is that any way to speak to your elders? Where are your manners? Fatty Xu, still somewhat intimidated by his elders, quickly apologized. Im sorry, Sixth Uncle, but this is important. Please, just tell me what happened. Xu Dongtang, who held little regard for Fatty Xu despite his abilities, looked at him with disdain. Yes, its true. Two high-ranking leaders visited us to inspect Xus Town. They were very pleased with our situation. Puffing his chest with pride, he added, And they appointed me as the mayor of Xus Town! Fatty Xu, however, was not concerned with titles. Did you tell them about our food supplies? he asked anxiously. Thanks to Zhang Yis warning, Fatty Xu realized how crucial it was to keep their food stores a secret. But Xu Dongtang just laughed. Why would we hide our achievements from our superiors? Our food reserves are a testament to our villages success! Fatty Xus heart sankZhang Yi had been right. Clenching his teeth, he asked, Did you mention anything about Zhang Yi? At the mention of Zhang Yis name, Xu Dongtangs expression twisted with anger. That demon! He killed 128 people from our villagehe deserves to die a thousand times over! We cant take him down, but some people can. Ive already reported everything about him to the higher-ups. They promised to deal with him severely! Fatty Xus legs suddenly gave out, and he collapsed onto the ground. Its over. Were doomed! he muttered, his face ashen. He knew Zhang Yi did not tolerate betrayal, and Xu Dongtangs actions would surely provoke his wrath. Zhang Yi had already massacred over a hundred people in Xus Town; he wouldnt hesitate to do it again. Seeing Fatty Xus pitiful state, Xu Dongtang snorted in disgust. What are you so afraid of? Zhang Yi is nothing against a trained army! Once the troops arrive, hell be wiped out in no time. Then, the deaths of those 128 people will be avenged! Fatty Xus face grew even paler. He realized there was no point in arguingXu Dongtangs arrogance might lead the entire village to disaster. Xu Dongtang didnt understand how powerful Zhang Yi was nor understood what a Superhuman truly meant to ordinary people. Xus Town still existed only because Zhang Yi found Fatty Xu useful and the villagers posed no threat to him. However, if Zhang Yi decided to kill them, none would survive. Stop with the nonsense and go home. Forget everything youve said to me today, Xu Dongtang ordered coldly, glaring at Fatty Xu. Just do as youre told and follow my orders. You dont need to have your own opinions! Fatty Xu could only nod weakly, knowing he was trapped between his loyalty to Zhang Yi and his ties to Xus Town?. Author''s Note Chapter 250: Power Boost Chapter 250: Power Boost After returning to the shelter, Zhang Yis first stop was Lu Kerans workshop. He had previously given her the armor from Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang to study, hoping she could either replicate it or repair Liu Ziyang''s damaged armor, as it was much more advanced than his bulletproof vest?. When Zhang Yi arrived, Lu Keran was deeply engrossed in examining the white armor. He entered and placed the chemical materials he had collected from a large factory warehouse in Tianhai City into her workspace. The sheer volume of materials he had brought left Lu Keran stunned. Big Brother, where did you find all this? she asked, eyes wide with amazement. Zhang Yi simply smiled and patted his hands. Dont worry about that. I told you before Ill handle the materials. You just need to turn them into bombs for me! Lu Keran, filled with confidence, pounded her chest. Dont worry, Big Brother! Making advanced weapons might be challenging, but explosives? Thats childs play! S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yis gaze shifted to the two sets of armor. What about these? Can you replicate them? Lu Keran grinned. Of course! But remember, mass-produced items are made with cost in mind, not peak performance. If I were to create armor specifically for you, it would be far superior to these! Her words excited Zhang Yi. Then go ahead, make the best armor possible. Dont worry about the costuse whatever materials you need. Im not concerned with value for money; I want the highest performance. Lu Keran was thrilled by Zhang Yis request. As a mechanical genius, she longed for a patron who would support her wild ideas without constraint. Ill make you the best armor in the world! she promised, her face flushing with excitement. Zhang Yi encouraged her before leaving the workshop, making sure not to take up any more of her work time. Afterward, he took a quick shower, changed into workout clothes, and headed to the third-floor gym. The shelters residents often used this space for exercise, but when Zhang Yi practiced his abilities, the area was off-limits to everyone else. As a result, none of the others knew the specifics of his powers. Zhang Yi closed the gym door and removed a compound bow from his dimensional space. Since absorbing Xie Huanhuans powers, he had felt a noticeable increase in his physical energy and cellular activity, as if a vibrant new force was bubbling up from within him. He was eager to see just how much his abilities had improved. He nocked an arrow and drew the bow, his right eye flashing with a white light. An invisible, colorless energy wrapped around the arrow, a force Zhang Yi could somehow perceive. Everything felt faster, sharper, stronger. He aimed at a target 500 meters awaya distance he had never attempted. The bowstring pulled taut, and with a soft "whoosh," the arrow shot out. In the blink of an eye, the target exploded into splinters. Zhang Yi heard the target shattering only after it had already been destroyed. His arrow had traveled faster than the speed of sound. Even Zhang Yi was startled by the power of his enhanced abilities. He looked at his hands, amazed at how much stronger he had become from absorbing the stolen power. His arrows now packed more punch than a typical firearm. Curious about his newfound limits, Zhang Yi shifted his focus. He retrieved the Loong Roar Sword, a treasure he had taken from Liang Yue, and decided to test his speed. "Double speed!" he commanded, feeling his movements quicken immediately. But he sensed there was more power waiting to be tapped into. "Triple speed!" "Quadruple speed!" As he pushed his abilities further, Zhang Yi finally felt a strain at quadruple speed, but his movements were so fast they left afterimages in the air. He continued to practice, cutting through wooden training dummies with the Loong Roar Sword, the blade slicing cleanly through the thick wood with a mirror-smooth finish. After twenty minutes of intense practice, Zhang Yi began to feel fatigued and quickly stopped, replenishing his energy with some power bars. Reflecting on his enhanced combat prowess, he realized he was much stronger. Even against highly skilled warriors, he felt confident in his chances. However, Zhang Yi also recognized his greatest advantage was his long-range sniping abilities. If he could avoid close combat, he would. But if forced into a fight, he would surely surprise any opponent with his true strength. Zhang Yi sighed, wishing he could learn a few advanced combat techniques to become a more well-rounded fighter. Despite his newfound power, he remained cautious, never underestimating any opponent. He knew that even a lion uses all its strength to hunt a rabbit. What Zhang Yi didnt realize was how much fear he had already instilled in the leaders of West Hill Base?. Author''s Note Chapter 251: Following Protocol Chapter 251: Following Protocol A day earlier, at midnight, the West Hill Base. The information department received an urgent distress signal from Liu Ziyang, a member of the ACE Special Forces, sending the department into a state of emergency. This was the first time a special forces member had sent a distress signal during a mission, and the staff on duty were unsure how to handle the situation. The West Hill Base had only recently established its internal organizational structure, and the communication and responsibilities between departments were still somewhat loose. The staff didnt know what to do with this unprecedented situation. The staff member who received the distress signal immediately reported it to Information Minister Geng Yilin, seeking his instructions. Geng Yilin frowned deeply when he saw the report. "A distress signal?" The information department didnt have the authority to command troops, so Geng Yilin could only report the situation to the leader, Chen Xinian, and wait for his decision. However, there was a problemChen Xinian was very strict about his schedule and had already gone to bed. Waking him up at this hour could be risky; if Chen Xinian was displeased, Geng Yilin could lose his position. Seeing Geng Yilins hesitation, a subordinate said, "But if we dont report it and something goes wrong, wont we be held responsible?" Geng Yilins frown deepened. Having spent decades navigating the complexities of bureaucratic life, he knew the importance of avoiding blame. His priority was always to protect himself from potential fallout. But this situation left him in a difficult position. After a moment of thought, Geng Yilin made a decision. He didnt want to personally take the risk, so he decided to report the situation to Ling Feng, the captain of the ACE Special Forces. Since the two personnel in question were from the special forces, Ling Feng would be more invested in their well-being than anyone else. Geng Yilin hurried to the special forces area and woke Ling Feng through the duty soldiers. Soon, a group of fierce-looking special forces members gathered before Geng Yilin. The ACE Special Forces were the most elite warriors at West Hill Base, consisting primarily of specially trained soldiers and Superhumans, although most of the Superhumans were artificial creations. Ling Feng, a short but powerfully built officer with dark muscles bulging under his green short-sleeved shirt, led the group. Despite his lack of height, the other, taller special forces members around him looked up to him respectfully. The groups fierce demeanor intensified when they saw Geng Yilin, their eyes radiating hostility. "What happened to Liu Ziyang and Xie Huanhuan?" Ling Feng asked, arms crossed. Geng Yilin quickly explained the situation, "We received their distress signal five minutes ago. Weve confirmed their location but cant act without the leaders permission." Ling Feng saw through Geng Yilins hesitation immediately. But for the sake of his team members, he decided to go directly to Chen Xinian and request permission to launch a rescue operation. After all, in the post-apocalyptic world, many of their comrades had died in blizzards or during experiments to create artificial Superhumans. Those who survived were few, making each one invaluable. Ling Feng and a few of his subordinates quickly went to the First Life Pod, where Chen Xinian residedthe most heavily guarded place in West Hill Base. Without Chen Xinians permission, no one could enter. In terms of defense, this place surpassed even Zhang Yis shelter. Upon arrival, Secretary Ge Rou stopped Ling Feng. "Captain Ling, its late. Please dont disturb the leaders rest. Report whatever it is tomorrow." Ling Feng replied urgently, "Two of our special forces members, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, are in danger and have sent a distress signal to the base. I must report this immediately!" Ge Rou responded with a faint smile, "I understand your concern, Captain Ling, but you need to realize that no matter how hard your team members work, it cant compare to our leader''s daily effort for the base''s survival. Hes just gone to bed, and waking him now would be irresponsible to the entire base." The special forces members behind Ling Feng grew furious. "Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang are likely facing life-threatening danger, or they wouldnt have sent a distress signal. If we delay, they could die!" Ge Rou maintained her calm demeanor, "Trust in your comrades. Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang are excellent special forces members with strong combat skills. They can take care of themselves." The special forces members anger was evident, with veins bulging on their foreheads as they glared at Ge Rou, barely restraining themselves from attacking her. Ling Feng remained stern as he spoke to Ge Rou, "Lives are at stake here. Please relay the message to the leader." Ge Rous polite smile didnt waver, but her tone turned firm, "Captain Ling, do you think the safety of two special forces members is more important than our leaders rest? The entire West Hill Base could be at risk if the leader doesn''t sleep enough. Were talking about the lives of thousands of survivors here!" The special forces members erupted angrily, "What kind of talk is that? Are the lives of special forces members not important?" Ge Rou replied gently, "Im not saying that. Im just stating that in West Hill Base, the leaders well-being is paramount." Ling Feng raised his arm, stopping his enraged team members from lashing out. He asked Ge Rou one last time, "Is there no way to make an exception? Every special forces member is a valuable asset to the base." Ge Rou bowed slightly, "Im sorry, but I cant do anything." After a moment of silence, Ling Feng turned away. "Lets go, back to the base!" His voice was hoarse as he gave the order. The special forces members were distraught, unwilling to abandon their comrades who might be facing a life-or-death situation. But soldiers were bound by their duty to follow orders, no matter how reluctant they were. Ge Rou watched them leave, her smile fading as she resumed her standard, emotionless posture in front of Chen Xinians door?. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 252: Managing Thousands of Affairs Chapter 252: Managing Thousands of Affairs Meanwhile, in a room just beyond a wall, Chen Xinian, the leader of West Hill Base, was enjoying his luxurious accommodations. Despite being underground, his living conditions were top-notch, rivaling the comfort of Zhang Yis home. Chen Xinian was lying on a sofa, dressed in a white cotton pajama set, with two beautiful girls by his side. These girls, Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan were survivors of Tianqing Academy, both from noble families. They had maintained their youthful looks through years of expensive self-care. Chen Xinian enjoyed the company of these young women, as it made him feel youthful again. After spending time with them, he began discussing his thoughts and ambitions, particularly the current challenges faced by West Hill Base. Adopting a concerned expression, he spoke of the severe issues plaguing the base. "There are still many serious problems at West Hill Base," Chen Xinian lamented. "Our energy supplies wont last long, and food is becoming scarce. As the leader, Im under constant pressure, worried that any misstep might cause the people to lose faith in me." He took a slow sip of a glass of Rmy Martin, worth tens of thousands, and continued to speak. Deeply moved by his words, Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan gazed at him with admiration. "Leader, it must be so difficult for you! Managing the entire West Hill Base on your own is an enormous burden," they exclaimed. Chen Xinian, enjoying their adoration, replied modestly, "Someone has to take responsibility. If I dont do it, no one else will. For the survival and development of West Hill Base, I must shoulder this burden, no matter how exhausting it is." As he looked down at the two young, beautiful women, their eyes filled with admiration, Chen Xinian felt deeply satisfied. However, feeling tired from his activities, he decided to call it a night. He picked up his phone and used the smart system to open the door, summoning Ge Rou inside. Several hours had passed since Liu Ziyangs distress signal had been sent. When Ge Rou entered, she asked the two girls to get dressed, which they promptly did, knowing they were not needed for the time being. Ignoring their presence, Ge Rou asked Chen Xinian, "Should these two stay or be sent back?" Chen Xinian thought momentarily before deciding, "Let them stay for now." This meant he might need their company again in the future. Ge Rou understood and instructed the attendants to take the girls to the Second Life Pod, where they were assigned rooms to stay in temporarily. The girls were overjoyed, knowing they wouldnt have to return to the grueling task of generating power by pedaling. After they left, Chen Xinian casually asked, "Someone came to see me earlier. Who was it?" Ge Rou replied, "It was Captain Ling Feng of the special forces." "Oh? What did he want so late at night?" Chen Xinian asked with mild interest. Ge Rou smiled slightly. "Two special forces members encountered trouble while on a mission and sent a distress signal to the base. Ling Feng came to request permission to send a rescue team, but I stopped him." Chen Xinian nodded indifferently. "Two special forces members? No matter their importance, theyre not worth disturbing my rest." He mused aloud, "I named the ACE Special Forces because they are supposed to be my most powerful trump card. If two ace members are out on a mission and need to call for help, could it be that they encountered an opponent they couldnt escape from?" Sensing his doubt, Ge Rou cautiously suggested, "Should we send someone to investigate, if only to give Ling Feng an answer?" Chen Xinian laughed at the idea. "Give Ling Feng an answer? Im the leader of West Hill Base. Even before all this, Ling Feng was just a soldier under my command. Soldiers are supposed to follow orders, not demand explanations from their superiors." Realizing her mistake, Ge Rou quickly apologized, "Im sorry, Leader. I misspoke." Chen Xinian dismissed it with a wave. "Send a few people to check it out, but dont send any high-ranking officers. We cant waste valuable resources on a situation we dont fully understand." Ge Rou nodded, "Understood, Leader!" She immediately went to the special forces area to relay Chen Xinians decision. Meanwhile, in the Second Life Pod, where the core members of the ACE Special Forces were gathered, the atmosphere was tense. Captain Ling Feng had called all the team leaders to discuss the situation with Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang. Although Ling Feng would not act without orders from above, he was prepared to move as soon as he received the command. In the dimly lit meeting room, the seven people present, including Ling Feng, waited silently, their expressions heavy with worry. Among them was Liang Yue, who had recently joined the group. She sat quietly in a corner, holding a newly acquired Tang sword, ready to act as soon as Chen Xinians orders arrived. Everyone in the room was deeply concerned, especially Ling Feng, closest to Liu Ziyang. He appeared calm, but those who knew him well could sense his anxiety. They waited, lost in their thoughts until the sound of high heels clicking on the floor echoed down the hallwaya sound everyone recognized. The group immediately turned their attention to the door, knowing that Ge Rou was approaching?. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 253: The Disappearing Students Chapter 253: The Disappearing Students As expected, Ge Rou entered the meeting room. Ling Feng stared at her and slowly stood up. "Secretary Ge, do you have good news for us?" Ge Rou maintained her usual friendly smile. "I made an exception for you and reported the situation to the leader. He has permitted you to send people to investigate, but theres a conditionno captain-level personnel are allowed to participate!" The captains in the room exchanged dissatisfied glances. One of them voiced his concern, "If someone could pose a threat to Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, how can we send anyone less experienced?" Ge Rous smile remained unfazed. "Liu Ziyang is just a soldier, and while Xie Huanhuan is a captain, her abilities are more suited for reconnaissance, not combat. All of you are West Hill Bases most valuable combat power, and we cant risk you needlessly. Sending regular soldiers to scout the situation is the most appropriate action." Ling Feng, clearly impatient, responded, "Understood! Ill send someone else." S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ge Rou nodded, adjusted her black-framed glasses, and left with an air of confidence. The other captains began voicing their frustrations as soon as she was gone. Fang Zun, a wiry man, expressed his dissatisfaction. "Captain, it seems Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang ran into serious trouble. Can we just send regular soldiers?" Ling Feng glanced at him and then frowned. "Fang Zun, you may have been born with natural abilities, but your current combat power isnt necessarily much greater than our other brothers. Even if they dont have abilities, theyre still well-trained soldiers. Dont underestimate them!" He added, "Since its the leaders order, well follow it strictly. No more complaints." Despite the captains dissatisfaction, Ling Feng contacted other team members to organize a mission. As the captains were no longer needed, Liang Yue, one of the newer members, felt relieved and slightly disappointed. Having been in the underground base for so long, she occasionally longed to go outside. More importantly, she hadnt yet participated in a mission since joining the so-called ACE Special Forces. Ling Feng left to arrange for regular team members to take on the mission while Liang Yue, carrying her Tang sword, prepared to head back to her quarters for some rest. Suddenly, she felt a tap on her shoulder and turned to find Ye Ronghua, one of the other two women in the squad. Ye Ronghua, unlike the others, was somewhat frail-looking and didnt seem to have a military background. However, what struck Liang Yue the most was Ye Ronghuas incredibly bright eyes, which always seemed to carry an intense, soul-piercing power. With a smile, Ye Ronghua greeted Liang Yue, "Feeling a bit disappointed that you didnt get a chance to go on a mission?" Liang Yue smiled back. "Just a little." Ye Ronghua shook her head. "Theres no need to rush or expect too much. When captains-level members are called into action, it usually means were dealing with a very serious problem." Liang Yue shrugged. "But Ive been here for so long and havent done anything. I cant help but wonder what I can contribute to the base." Ye Ronghua humorously explained, "Were like H-weaponsnever to be used, but must always be present. The world is more complicated than you might think. Youre still new here and dont understand many things yet. Youll come to realize it in time!" She added, "For now, its more important to improve your abilities. Powers are gifts from the heavens; no one knows how much they can be developed." Ye Ronghuas words seemed to carry a deeper meaning, and Liang Yue felt she understood something, though Ye Ronghua didnt elaborate further. With that, Ye Ronghua left, leaving behind an air of mystery. Her piercing gaze left Liang Yue feeling as though her soul had been momentarily ensnared. Liang Yue shook her head, choosing not to dwell on these troublesome thoughts. She wasnt particularly concerned about Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang since she had no deep connection with them, having only recently joined the team. She left the meeting room, heading back to the living quarters. As Liang Yue unlocked her door, she caught sight of a familiar figure out of the corner of her eye. Startled, she turned to see a girl emerging from a room nearby, fresh from the shower. "Meng Zixuan!" Liang Yue instinctively called out. The girl turned, and upon seeing Liang Yue, she smiled brightly. "Teacher Liang! What a surprise to see you here!" She ran over, her eyes shining with excitement. Liang Yue was just as surprised. Wasnt Meng Zixuan supposed to be living and working in the Fourth Life Pod? "What are you doing here?" Liang Yue asked, confused. The Second Life Pod was a high-level area of West Hill Base, reserved only for Chen Xinians trusted aides and special talents like Liang Yue. Meng Zixuan brushed back her hair and smiled mysteriously. "I have my special abilities." "Youve awakened powers too?" Liang Yue asked, her curiosity piqued. Meng Zixuans smile turned even more enigmatic. She placed her hand on her chest, emphasizing her well-endowed figure. "In a way, you could say its a natural talent!" Just then, Shen Moling, another former student of Liang Yues, heard the commotion and exited her room. Upon seeing Liang Yue, Shen Molings expression grew cold. "Teacher Liang." Liang Yue was even more surprised. "Both of you are in the Second Life Pod? What about the other students?" At this question, Shen Moling and Meng Zixuans expressions shifted subtly. They both averted their gaze, clearly unwilling to discuss the matter. "Teacher Liang, were now part of the Second Life Pod. Theres no need to concern ourselves with those in the Fourth Life Pod," Meng Zixuan said with a trace of disdain in her voice. "People arent equal. Once were no longer on the same level, its impossible to interact as we did before." Liang Yue stared at the two girls in shock, anger welling inside her. "How can you say that? Theyre your classmates, your friends for so many years! How can you just forget them like that?" Shen Moling looked up and sneered. "And you have the right to say that, Teacher Liang? Werent you the first to abandon us students?"?. Author''s Note Chapter 254: Secrets Chapter 254: Secrets Shen Molings words left Liang Yue stunned. "I... I never abandoned any of you!" Liang Yue protested, feeling a pang of hurt. She had done everything she could to protect her students; how many of them would have survived without her efforts? "Never abandoned us? Then why did you choose to leave us behind in that horrible place?" Shen Moling shot back, her gaze piercing. "If we hadnt used our bodies to secure a chance to escape, we might have ended up disappeared like the others!" she added, her tone full of bitterness. "Disappeared? What are you talking about?" Liang Yue asked, feeling a chill run down her spine. She had left the students behind when she moved to the Second Life Pod, but she believed there was nothing wrong with that decision. Societys roles should be divided according to ones abilities. Her students werent Superhumans nor had any particularly outstanding skills, so staying in the Fourth Life Pod, where they could generate power, was the best choice for them. What had she done wrong? Shen Moling let out a cold laugh as if she wanted to say more, but Meng Zixuan quickly covered her mouth. "Enough! Stop talking, or youll get us into trouble," Meng Zixuan warned, pulling Shen Molings hand away from her mouth. Shen Moling shot Liang Yue a resentful glare before turning on her heel and retreating to her room. Meng Zixuan, left behind, looked apologetically at her former teacher. "Binger, dont be mad at her. Shes just been through some bad experiences," Meng Zixuan said, bowing to Liang Yue in apology. Liang Yue took a deep breath, trying to steady her nerves. Could things be happening in the Fourth Life Pod that she was unaware of? "Zixuan, what happened in the Fourth Life Pod?" Liang Yue asked, her voice filled with concern. Meng Zixuan hesitated, biting her lip. Finally, she spoke, "After you left, many of our classmates disappeared." "Disappeared? How could that happen?" "We dont know why. They were taken away, and we never saw them again," Meng Zixuan explained, her tone filled with sorrow. "Im sorry, Teacher Liang, but thats all I know. If you want to discover what happened, you should investigate yourself." "Or maybe just pretend none of it ever happeneddont ask any more questions," she added before quickly turning and fleeing down the hallway as if afraid of being implicated in something dangerous. Liang Yue stood there, her mind racing. The students she had worked so hard to protect had disappeared in West Hill Base inexplicably? "Could it be a misunderstanding? Maybe they were reassigned to other tasks, and no one else knows?" Liang Yue thought, but she knew this was a flimsy excuse. The Third Life Pod was guarded by regular soldiers stationed at West Hill Base. The Second Life Pod, where she now lived, housed only top-tier talent, including Superhumans like herself. Those missing students couldnt have gone to the Third Life Pod, and she would have seen them if they had been brought to the Second Life Pod. Something major was behind their disappearance. Liang Yue felt a growing unease. She couldnt rest until she found out the truth. After all, she was a teachera protector of her students. She led them out of Tianqing Academy and felt responsible for their safety. Taking a deep breath, Liang Yue decided to investigate the Fourth Life Pod herself, despite the late hour. West Hill Base had strict security, with access between the different Life Pods tightly controlled. It was easy for someone from a higher-ranked pod to visit a lower one, but the reverse was strictly forbidden. However, Liang Yues status as a captain in the ACE Special Forces granted her the authority to move freely. She went to the Fourth Life Pod, where the power generators ran 24/7 to supply the entire base with electricity. She went directly to the student dormitories and woke several students. Seeing Liang Yue, the students immediately burst into tears and hugged her, desperate for help. "Teacher Liang, youre finally here! Are you here to take us away?" "Its so hard hereIm so tired!" "Teacher Liang, several of our classmates were taken away and never came back. Are they dead? What kind of place is this?" Their cries woke the other students, who crowded around Liang Yue, seeing her as a beacon of hope. Everyone begged her to take them away. Liang Yue comforted them as best she could before asking about the missing students. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The remaining students exchanged uneasy glances. Some were terrified, others indifferent, and a few even seemed envious. Some speculated that the missing students had been taken away as food, while others thought their families had rescued them to live in comfort. Theories ranged from optimistic to pessimistic, leaving Liang Yues head spinning. These students knew little about the actual situation. However, one thing was certain: every so often, someone would come to select one or two students, and those taken never returned. "Teacher Liang, Im so scared! What if Im next?" one girl cried, clutching Liang Yues sleeve with tearful eyes. Beside her, a boy shrugged it off. "What are you so scared of? We have nothing; why would they harm us? Those people probably just went to work somewhere else. Dont overthink it." Liang Yue was equally confused. She seemed to need to inquire with someone from a higher Life Pod to learn the truth. "Ill see Ge Rou tomorrow and demand to know where my students are!" Liang Yue resolved, determined not to let anything happen to her students. After calming the students, she left the dormitory. The hallway was pitch black, as the lights were turned off at night to conserve energy. A low, familiar voice spoke from the shadows as she reached a corner. "Teacher Liang, do you want to know where those students went?" Liang Yue turned sharply towards the voice. "Wu Chengyu?" The voice belonged to Wu Chengyu, the class monitor. As a student leader, he interacted more with the teachers, so Liang Yue immediately recognized his voice. Wu Chengyu stepped out of the shadows, cautiously glancing around before whispering, "Teacher Liang, come with me?." Author''s Note Chapter 255: Test Subjects Chapter 255: Test Subjects Wu Chengyu, tightly bundled in his clothes despite the underground shelter being less cold, had his jacket zipper pulled up. The dim lighting made it hard for Liang Yue to see clearly, but she could still make out his face''s bruises and nail marks. "Wu Chengyu!" Liang Yue exclaimed, realizing why she hadn''t seen him around before. Wu Chengyu led her to a secluded room with faint lighting, making the darkness feel somewhat comforting. His voice, trembling with emotion, carried a plea for help. "Teacher Liang, this base is so strange! You have to find a way to get us out of here!" His words were mixed with sobs, and he seemed on the verge of breaking down completely. Shocked and concerned, Liang Yue tried to console him while probing for more information. "Wu Chengyu, tell me, what exactly have you discovered?" she asked gently. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wiping his tears, Wu Chengyu began, "Because of some special duties, I occasionally get taken to the Second Life Pod. One day, I saw a few people in white protective suits carrying two long bags. They looked like sleeping bags, but inside, they appeared to be... people." Driven by curiosity, he had quietly followed them. "You wont believe what I saw," Wu Chengyus voice quivered as if the memory itself was too horrifying to recount. "What did you see?" Liang Yue prompted, her heart pounding. "I saw them pull two bodies out of the bags and throw them into a huge machine," Wu Chengyu said, covering his head with his hands, his expression twisted with fear. "On one of the bodies, I saw Hu Xiaoyus tattoo!" Liang Yue staggered back three steps, her mind reeling from the shock. Though she had feared the worst, hearing the confirmation was unbearable. "Are you sure it was Hu Xiaoyu?" she asked, hoping against hope that he was mistaken. "Theres no doubt! I went swimming with Hu Xiaoyu many times, and a famous foreign artist did his tattoo. I would recognize it anywhere!" Wu Chengyu insisted. With that, the last sliver of hope Liang Yue clung to vanished. West Hill Base had killed her students. But why? What reason could they possibly have for murdering a group of harmless students? Liang Yue couldnt wrap her mind around it. She was furious, confused, and desperate for answers. Still trembling with fear, Wu Chengyu begged her, "Teacher Liang, were counting on you now! Please find a way to protect us. Our classmates are disappearing one by oneif this keeps up, well all be dead soon!" Liang Yue, the only person the remaining students could rely on, took a deep breath to calm herself. She couldnt afford to panic; she had to do something. She was their teacher and their only hope. "Wu Chengyu, have you told anyone else about this?" she asked. Wu Chengyu shook his head. "No, I didnt dare. Even if they knew, theres nothing they could do." "Good. For now, dont tell anyone, not even your classmates," Liang Yue instructed. "Now, tell me where you saw them handling the bodies, and Ill investigate it myself." After Wu Chengyu shared the location, Liang Yue committed it to memory and sent him back. Before leaving, Wu Chengyu pleaded with her, "Please hurry, Teacher Liang. If you dont, I might be next." Liang Yue nodded resolutely. "I will." She decided to investigate that very night. Although underground, people in the First and Second Life Pods maintained regular sleep schedules. Most of the bases residents wouldnt be active at night, except for some guards. More importantly, the ACE Special Forces, West Hill Bases main armed force, were distracted by the mission to rescue Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang. This provided the perfect opportunity for Liang Yue to act. After leaving the power plant, she headed to the location Wu Chengyu had mentioned, a secluded corner where the Second and Third Life Pods intersecteda place rarely frequented by anyone. When Liang Yue arrived at the Second Life Pod, she was in a familiar area. She activated her supernatural ability, entering a meditative state that made her movements silent and her presence nearly undetectable. This allowed her to approach the site without drawing attention. However, as she reached the location, she saw two armed guards at the door. Frowning, Liang Yue realized that dealing with these guards would be easy for her, but she wasnt ready to provoke West Hill Base. Doing so would be tantamount to suicide. But if she missed this opportunity, more students might disappear, and she would lose the perfect chance to uncover the truth. As she pondered her options, Liang Yue suddenly heard footsteps approaching. She quickly hid in a corner and watched as two people in white protective suits walked by, carrying body bags. When they reached a restroom, the rear two stopped. After gesturing to the others, they dropped the body bags on the ground and entered the restroom. Seeing her chance, Liang Yue swiftly entered the womens restroom, where she knocked out a female worker from behind. Working quickly, she changed into the womans protective suit and walked out as if nothing had happened. Outside, the male worker who had been waiting nodded at her, and the two of them picked up the body bags and carried them to the secure room. The guards at the door glanced at them but didnt intervene, allowing them to enter. The male worker knocked on the door, and the heavy, silver-gray metal door swung open. Inside, another worker in a white protective suit looked at the body bags and remarked with a grin, "Failed again! This is the eighth one recently!" The male worker shrugged. "Nothing we can dotheir bodies just cant adapt." Liang Yue, listening silently, was filled with questions. "Adapt to what?" she wondered, but she held her tongue and followed the male worker into the room. Inside, other workers quickly took over, pulling out a body from one of the bags. The sight shocked Liang Yue to her core. The body was a grotesque blend of human and something else as if infected by a deadly virus. One side was still human, but the other was a terrifying crimson mass of swollen muscle with visible blood vessels and bones. "What on earth is this base researching?" Liang Yues eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding with curiosity and fear?. Author''s Note Chapter 256: High-Quality Protein Chapter 256: High-Quality Protein Liang Yue observed the laboratory calmly, taking in everything inside. The first thing she noticed was a massive machine that took up nearly a third of the lab, consisting of a long pipeline and numerous other parts. Because it was nighttime, there weren''t many people on duty. The staff who had brought in the bodies were lounging around, some even playing games on handheld consoles. The atmosphere was unusually relaxed, with no sense of seriousness. Everyone was busy with their own tasks, and no one seemed to notice Liang Yue''s presence. Two workers brought out a strange corpse, opened a machine resembling a crematorium, and threw the body inside. A loud "rumble" followed, and soon a thick, milky white, viscous liquid flowed from a large pipe into a big metal barrel below. When Liang Yue saw it, her stomach churned violently. The milky white substance was identical to the white paste she had eaten on her first day here. Did that mean what she ate was actually... Liang Yue covered her mouth, struggling not to vomit. It took all her strength to suppress the urge. Her worldview felt utterly shattered. She had thought West Hill Base was a sanctuary in a ruined world, but it was a horrifying hell instead. Were they actually turning dead bodies into food? And not just for anyoneonly for those in the Fourth Life Pod. The First to Third Life Pods were eating regular food. The staff went about their business as usual, dividing the milky substance into several portions and adding other ingredients. "Is there any banana-flavored seasoning left?" "Some, but not much. We''ll have to ask the lab for more later." "This stuff is high in protein and rich in nutrients. If you don''t know what it''s made of, it''s actually quite good for energy." "Heh, you say that now. Who knows, maybe one day you''ll end up in someone else''s stomach too." "Well, at least it saves on burial costs. It''s still a contribution to the base, right?" The workers laughed casually, treating the corpses as if they were nothing more than livestock. Liang Yue''s expression twisted in horror. She now realized her missing students had likely been dealt with in the same silent way. Her hatred for the West Hill organization surged. "But why would they kill my students? Has West Hill Base''s food shortage reached such an extreme? Wouldn''t young labor be more valuable to them?" Liang Yue still couldn''t understand it all. At that moment, a door in the adjacent room suddenly opened. A tall man struggled to carry a wooden crate out and brought it to the machine, opening the lid. The crate was filled with countless black, wriggling creaturescockroaches! Liang Yue nearly screamed. The man casually poured the cockroaches into the machine. Just like with the human body, the machine accepted everything without hesitation. A few cockroaches escaped, crawling towards Liang Yue''s feet, causing her to jump back in fright. Soon, another batch of white protein was produced. Liang Yue''s stomach churned to its limit. Though she knew cockroaches were a high-protein food source, seeing them turned into food was still nauseating. Fighting her revulsion, she snuck over to the next room to take a look inside. What she saw next would haunt her forevera giant, warm room filled with countless wooden boxes, each crawling with enormous cockroaches! "Gulp" Liang Yue''s throat kept making sounds as her stomach contents threatened to rise. She quickly left the lab and rushed to the bathroom. The other staff members laughed as they watched her flee. "She still hasn''t gotten used to it after all this time!" "Can''t blame her. Women have a natural fear of cockroaches." "From now on, we should keep women out of that room. They can just manage the machines." Liang Yue ran into the bathroom, stripped off her protective suit, and vomited violently into the sink. It wasn''t until she had emptied her stomach that she felt somewhat better. "If I had known it would be like this, I would''ve stayed at Tianqing Academy! At least the monster there just ate peopleit was still manageable." "But this place... this is a nightmare." Liang Yue was utterly desolate. Even if she wanted to escape with her students, it was impossible. "I can''t stay here any longer! I need to find a way out." "But if I leave, where can I take the children?" Liang Yue felt lost. She had no choice but to pretend she hadn''t seen anything and continue to bide her time, waiting for an opportunity. After a while, she emerged from the bathroom, and the female staff member she had knocked out earlier had already been placed back into her protective suit. Liang Yue had acted so quickly that the woman hadn''t even noticed. When she woke up, she would probably think she''d fainted from exhaustion, as it was common for those living and working underground in such an environment to experience health issues. Even if she had suspicions, she wouldn''t be able to trace anything back to Liang Yue. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Back at West Hill Base, after some arrangements by Ling Feng, a thirty-person special operations team set out. Although the two leaders were not born Superhumans, they were highly trained and formidable warriors. One was named Shen Hong, and the other was Yu Lang; both soldiers were trained by Ling Feng. The team, led by the two, took sleds to the location where Liu Ziyang had sent his distress signal. After several hours of travel, they finally arrived at the scene, but it was already past 10 a.m., more than ten hours since Liu Ziyang''s call for help. By then, Zhang Yi had cleaned up everything. There wasn''t a single drop of blood left, let alone the bodies of Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang. Before leaving, Zhang Yi had even let Huahua roll around to erase most of the traces. Combined with delays caused by internal issues at the base and the snowfall, it was extremely difficult to find any signs of battle at the scene. The team couldn''t use professional equipment, but the sled dogs, with their keen noses, caught the scent of blood and barked frantically at one spot. Author''s Note Chapter 257: Attack on the Shelter Chapter 257: Attack on the Shelter After searching the scene, Shen Hong and Yu Lang both felt a deep sense of unease. The absence of any bloodstains was unnervingly clean. There were only two possibilities: either Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang had been captured alive, or both had been killed, and the enemy had leisurely cleaned up the battlefield before leaving. Neither outcome was good news. At that moment, a soldier discovered snowmobile tracks and reported to the two men, "Boss, I found snowmobile tracks!" Shen Hong and Yu Lang exchanged a glance. "Let''s go check it out!" They followed the tracks and indeed found snowmobile treads that hadn''t been fully covered by the snow. They were instantly relieved. "As long as we follow these, we can find where the person responsible is hiding!" "We have no time to waste. Let''s go before the snow completely covers the tracks!" They immediately gathered all the soldiers and followed the tracks on sleds. In the vast snowfield, human traces were rare, so the trail was as clear as a signpost. Before long, they arrived outside Cloud Manor. "Stop!" Shen Hong ordered everyone to halt outside the manor and secure the sled dogs. "The person must be inside the manor. Everyone, form teams of three and move forward, following the footprints on the ground." The team, familiar with each other from years of working together, quickly formed a combat formation, advancing cautiously with their weapons drawn. The path they had taken led to the west gate of the manor, not the southern one, so the traps on this side were mostly intact. As Zhang Yi returned, his footsteps had left varying depths of prints on the ground, leading directly to Villa 101. The soldiers from West Hill Base cautiously followed the footprints. Suddenly, a soldier''s foot stepped on something. He quickly lifted his foot and saw what was underneath. He couldn''t help but chuckle. "Heh!" The others looked over and saw him pull out a spiked board from the sole of his thick military boot. "In this day and age, there are still such traps?" Holding the spiked board, the soldier smiled playfully. His comrades couldn''t help but smirk, too. "Looks like the enemy we''re facing doesn''t have much combat skill," the soldier laughed. Shen Hong''s expression softened slightly when he saw the crude trap, but still warned, "Stay alert; they did manage to defeat two of our warriors." However, Shen Hong knew well that Xie Huanhuan wasn''t a combat-type Superhuman. If the manor was hiding a large number of people, they could have overpowered them with sheer numbers and weaponry. But this time, they had brought thirty fully armed soldiers and two modified Superhuman leaders. Failure was not an option! The soldiers continued to advance, and another soldier stepped on a spike, but the spikes had been buried for so long that the snow had hardened, greatly reducing their lethality. Moreover, they were wearing special military boots with excellent puncture resistance, so the spikes did no harm. The soldiers joked about it, treating the traps like a joke, which made them let their guard down. Just then, a soldier felt a slight resistance on his leg as he advanced. He looked down and saw a tripwire buried in the snow, triggering the pull ring of a grenade. "Boom!!" A grenade exploded right under the soldier''s feet, sending him flying. The rescue team was shocked! Shen Hong and Yu Lang rushed over to find the soldier''s face red like a pig''s liver, blood already trickling from his mouth. "Xu Wei!!" Shen Hong shouted in pain. Although Xu Wei was fully armored, the grenade exploded right in front of him, inflicting severe internal injuries. Some rushed to help, but internal wounds were the hardest to treat. Without a medic, even bringing him back wouldn''t help. Someone took out adrenaline to try to keep him alive, but it was futile. Within moments, Xu Wei coughed up blood and died on the spot. Everyone''s eyes turned red. In the apocalypse, the bonds between old comrades were stronger than ever; they were brothers who had faced death together. Seeing a brother die before their eyes filled them with hatred. "D*** bastards!" someone cursed, gritting his teeth, glaring at Villa 101 ahead. The footprints stopped there, and the killer was undoubtedly inside. A soldier immediately raised his gun and began firing at the shelter. But the bullets, hitting walls and windows, were like toy bullets, leaving no marks whatsoever. Not even a scratch on the glass. However, the series of noises had already alerted those inside the house. Zhang Yi had just come up from the basement when he heard the grenade explosion and gunfire. He immediately realized the people from the West Hill Base had arrived! In the living room, Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya nervously looked out the window, seeing a group of white-uniformed soldiers firing at them from a distance. Zhang Yi called to the shelter''s AI, "Activate the optical protection system!" "Confirmed. Activating now." As soon as the command finished, the shelter''s windows turned into one-way glass, allowing them to see outside while appearing pitch black from the outside. Zhang Yi had never used this function before because it slightly affected room lighting. But now, faced with a real armed team, there was no room for carelessness. Zhang Yi walked to the window, looked at the group of dozens outside, and muttered to himself, "Finally, a worthy opponent has shown up." "This is perfect. If it weren''t for professional soldiers like these, wouldn''t having such a high-level shelter be a waste?" He glanced back at the nervous Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya, smiling as he said, "If you''re scared, you can stay in the basement." Hearing this, Zhou Ke''er''s frown immediately softened. She walked up to Zhang Yi with a smile and said, "We''ve faced storms together; what''s there to be scared of now?" With Zhang Yi around, she feared nothing, knowing he never fought unprepared. Yang Siya also mustered her courage, stepping up beside Zhang Yi and gazing at the intense gunfire outside. "We''re in this together, no matter the danger!" Zhang Yi smiled faintly. "Danger? Aren''t you exaggerating a bit?" He squinted, looking out the window confidently, crossing his arms. "These people alone? They''re not qualified." He had already noticed they were not carrying any heavy firepower, only rifles and grenades. He didn''t even need to intervene personally. The shelter''s defenses alone could withstand their attacks for years without breaking! "Bring me a chair," Zhang Yi calmly instructed Yang Siya while bullets whizzed outside. She quickly fetched a chair, and he sat in front of the window, legs crossed, watching the assault leisurely. His calmness left Yang Siya and Zhou Ke''er in awe. Even though they knew the windows were specially made and could withstand large explosions, the intense fire outside still made them nervous. Meanwhile, the rescue team outside realized something was wrong. "What kind of building is this? It feels like a fortress!" "We''ve been shooting for so long, and we haven''t even scratched the windows!" The soldiers were on high alert, knowing they were dealing with a tough opponent. Shen Hong and Yu Lang exchanged glances. Shen Hong said, "This opponent is no ordinary person! I''m convinced now that whoever''s inside has the skills to capture or even kill Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang." Yu Lang smirked coldly, glaring at the one-way glass. "Perfect. Isn''t it our mission to rescue them? And besides, whoever killed our comrades must pay with their lives!" If Zhang Yi had heard this, he would surely have protested his innocence. Your people died triggering landmines; what does that have to do with me?! Shen Hong ordered everyone to stop the futile shooting. "Be cautious of more traps around us! Clear the traps first!" He didn''t want to see more of his men hurt the same way. The soldiers immediately put on tactical goggles and began demining. Had they not been careless initially, no one would''ve been killed by the grenade. Modern armies have advanced bomb disposal methods, and soon, they found every hidden grenade in the snow. Not just grenades, they even discovered the deeply buried anti-tank mine Zhang Yi had set. However, finding them didn''t guarantee defusing them. As soon as they found the mine, Zhang Yi pressed the remote detonator in his hand. The mine''s power was far greater than that of a grenade. The nearest two soldiers were blown to pieces, their advanced combat suits unable to protect them from the blast. Three others nearby were also thrown by the shockwave, suffering severe internal injuries likely shattering their organs. Shen Hong''s eyes filled with fury. "Who the hell is he? How does he have access to equipment that only our military has?!" sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His anger boiled over. These soldiers were the elite of the elite. With proper intel, none of them would have died so senselessly. But in this ice age, many high-tech weapons couldn''t be used, forcing them to revert to combat tactics from a century ago. The frustration of it all made Shen Hong want to spit blood! Author''s Note Chapter 258: Terrifying Chapter 258: Terrifying Five more comrades had fallen. Yet, until now, they hadn''t even caught a glimpse of the person inside the villa. This immense sense of failure cast a heavy shadow over the remaining twenty or so members of the rescue team. The vice-captain of the rescue team, Yu Lang, stepped forward to suggest, "We don''t know anything about this enemy, and we lack advanced weapons and bomb disposal equipment. Why not report back to the base and request support?" Yu Lang was pragmatic and had already sensed that they might not be able to complete the mission on their own. But Shen Hong immediately rejected his suggestion without a second thought. "Absolutely not! We''re supposed to be the rescue team. If we have to request backup from the base, that would be utterly humiliating!" "But" "No buts! Keep attacking. I refuse to believe this villa has no weaknesses at all!" Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yu Lang hurriedly tried to reason with him, "Shen Hong, don''t act recklessly!" Shen Hong, with a grim expression, gritted his teeth and said, "I''m not being reckless! We have no intelligence on this place. If we don''t fight now, others will have to fight next! Let''s act as the vanguard this time and gather information on this villa." Hearing Shen Hong''s reasoning, Yu Lang fell silent. He realized Shen Hong had already perceived this as a war, acknowledging the enemy''s strength. Even though they had already lost six soldiers, they had managed to clear all explosive traps around the villa. Shen Hong immediately ordered everyone to spread out and search the large villa from all angles, aiming to gather comprehensive intelligence on the structure. Finding a weak point would be even better. "It''s just a fing turtle shell. Once we break through, we''ll slaughter every b**d inside!" Shen Hong growled, determined to avenge his fallen comrades. The remaining team members dispersed, investigating the shelter from all directions. Seeing this, Yang Siya grew worried and asked, "Will they really find a weakness if they keep searching like this?" Zhang Yi, with his cheek resting on his hand and a bag of chips in the other, casually replied, "I thoroughly checked this shelter when I first got here, and I do routine inspections every three days. There are no external vulnerabilities." Yang Siya watched the soldiers outside with a sigh. "But seeing them search so recklessly still makes me anxious. You never know, right?" Zhang Yi noticed her concern and smiled, asking, "You''re thinking that it would be better if we could take the offensive, right?" Yang Siya smiled shyly, "That''s kind of what I meant." Zhang Yi chuckled lightly. "Attacking them is simple, but I prefer a defensive counterattack strategy. No rushlet''s see what they''re capable of." Zhang Yi wasn''t in a hurry to strike back because he knew this was just an advanced team, and their firepower wasn''t that formidable. He was also unfamiliar with modern military weapons and combat tactics, so this was a good opportunity to gather some intel. He turned on the large screen in the living room and had the AI system display the surveillance footage from outside. The cameras, hidden behind bulletproof glass, couldn''t be destroyed from the outside and offered a full view of the shelter''s exterior. Zhang Yi observed every move the soldiers made. The rescue team cautiously examined the shelter but found no points of entry. After some discussion, they concluded that the villa was like a heavily fortified fortress made of materials comparable to those used in modern war bunkers. "The only advantage is that it doesn''t seem to have any offensive capabilities. That''s a relief!" "Yeah, it seems to be purely built for defense, designed as an apocalypse survival shelter." After conducting their investigation, Yu Lang made this assessment. "In this kind of affluent area, it''s not unusual to see such buildings. Rich people either have too much money or too many enemies, so they build houses like this." Shen Hong listened, frowning in thought. "That''s why they set up so many traps on the way. Now that the traps are cleared, they can only sit there and take the hits!" "Alright, let''s blow a hole in the wall and storm in!" Shen Hong suggested with a sneer. Yu Lang added, "But how much explosive will we need?" Shen Hong snorted. "Even fortresses on the battlefield can be blown apart with enough explosives. How can a privately built shelter be tougher than a military bunker? Focus the firepower on one spot, and we''ll break through!" They gathered all the explosives from the thirty soldiers. It was a considerable amount, as West Hill Base was well-equipped with weapons despite other shortages. When Zhang Yi had raided the military camp earlier, he found most of the equipment had been taken by these soldiers, and now they were using it against his shelter. The bombs and grenades were piled at the corner of the wall by a soldier. Seeing this, Zhang Yi immediately activated the sound isolation system; the blast could damage their eardrums. He then got up from his chair. "You two stay here and enjoy the show. I''m going to teach them a little lesson." Zhang Yi, tired of their constant assaults, felt the urge to strike back. He went up to the second floor, grabbing a large sniper rifle. The soldiers quickly retreated after setting up the timed explosives. With the combined power of explosives from thirty soldiers, they expected at least a sizable breach in the wall, even if it didn''t punch all the way through. Knowing the wall''s strength would allow them to plan for a stronger blast next time. "Three, two, one, boom!" Shen Hong counted down from behind a wall, and everyone covered their ears, bracing for the blast. A deafening explosion erupted, not just once but in a series of blasts. The shockwaves even sent the snow, piled several meters thick, flying into the air, creating a snowstorm that scattered far and wide. Shen Hong and Yu Lang couldn''t wait to see the results; at minimum, they hoped to blow off a layer of the wall. But when the soldiers looked, they were all dumbfounded. The explosion had carved a massive crater at the wall''s base, scattering snow and soil everywhere, yet the dark wall remained smooth and intact. The mysterious black material, resembling both marble and metal, was still flawlessly smooth and unscathed. "How is this possible?! Not even a scratch?" One soldier exclaimed, unable to believe his eyes. "This shelter is unbelievably strong!" Yu Lang gasped, noticing that the same tough, black material continued several meters below the surface. "In other words, frontal assault won''t work. We can''t even tunnel our way in?" Shen Hong and Yu Lang exchanged glances. What could they use to attack such a fortress-like shelter? Zhang Yi didn''t even bother watching the explosions. He knew the exact strength of the shelter''s defenses. A shelter advertised as H-proof wasn''t just talk. Gritting his teeth, Shen Hong said, "Our weapons alone won''t cut it. We need to request backup and have the main squad bring in the demolition team!" With enough firepower, even the toughest bunkers could be destroyed. The rescue team was ill-prepared to breach this shelter, but Shen Hong believed that West Hill Base had the resources to do so. "If the explosives don''t work, let me try!" Yu Lang suggested gravely. They were nearly abandoning the idea of a direct assault but still needed to gather enough intelligence to pave the way for future teams. He signaled to a soldier, who brought over a black metal case. Yu Lang opened it, revealing a heavy black sniper rifle. "You''re going to use that?" Shen Hong asked in disbelief. Yu Lang nodded. "Yes! This heavy sniper can take out an armored vehicle with a single shot!" He skillfully assembled the sniper rifle, wielding the hefty weapon with ease. He mounted the sniper, loaded a specially made armor-piercing bullet, and aimed at the shelter''s window. "Even if it''s bulletproof glass, let''s see if it can withstand this shot!" The others watched with anticipation. Their improvised explosives weren''t specifically designed to destroy fortifications, but the heavy sniper with armor-piercing rounds could pose a real threat, even to tanks. Yu Lang pulled the trigger, and a thunderous shot rang out. Zhang Yi, preparing to counterattack from the second floor, heard a piercing noise. Looking closely at the bulletproof glass, he saw a white scratch on its otherwise perfect surface. "A heavy sniper?" Zhang Yi immediately guessed the type of weapon used. Only an anti-armor sniper could leave such a mark on his shelter''s glass. "Terrifying!" Zhang Yi took a deep breath. "The bulletproof glass is only 80 centimeters thick, and it managed to leave a scratch. What if they fired hundreds of thousands of rounds and shattered the glass?" Author''s Note Chapter 259: Surround and Rescue Chapter 259: Surround and Rescue After firing his shot, Yu Lang stared at the unscathed bulletproof glass in silence. After a few seconds, he angrily punched the wall beside him. "Damn it! I used this gun to blow chunks out of bunkers made of reinforced concrete, and now this damn shelter has no weak points at all!" He knew the shot wouldn''t break the bulletproof glass, but the harsh reality was too much to bear, and Yu Lang couldn''t help but curse. Shen Hong took a deep breath and said, "This shelter''s defenses are probably even scarier than West Hill Base! Our weapons are useless; we need to report this to our superiors." The rescue team''s soldiers were utterly disheartened. They swore that this was the most frustrating fortification they had ever encountered, rendering their years of tactical training and marksmanship utterly useless. "Retreat!" Shen Hong ordered, and the team began an orderly withdrawal from their cover. Yu Lang handed his heavy sniper rifle back to the soldier carrying it and prepared to retreat. They didn''t know that Zhang Yi was waiting for them to reveal themselves. "Dimensional Gate, activate!" "Xiao Ai, open the window." Following Zhang Yi''s command, the intelligent system slowly opened the window in front of him, creating an opening. The Dimensional Gate appeared just outside, forming a seemingly vulnerable yet impregnable barrier. The Dimensional Gate was one-way, meaning any incoming attacks would be absorbed, but outgoing shots were unaffected. The retreating rescue team noticed the window opening. "Captain, the second-floor window just opened!" Two soldiers immediately raised their rifles and fired without hesitation. As elite soldiers, their marksmanship was precise, and they fired three-round bursts aimed directly at Zhang Yi''s face. But the bullets vanished before reaching Zhang Yi, as if swallowed by the air. Zhang Yi, meanwhile, pulled his own trigger. He aimed at the soldier carrying the heavy sniper rifle. Zhang Yi liked that rifle; even within the military, such a weapon wasn''t easily accessible. It was far more powerful than his current sniper rifle, and in his hands, it would be even deadlier. So, Zhang Yi decided to keep it. "Bang!" A bloody hole appeared in the soldier''s head; even his helmet couldn''t stop the sniper shot. Shen Hong saw Zhang Yi at the window, catching a glimpse of his handsome face, and couldn''t help but smile grimly. "Perfect timing! You''re digging your own grave!" he shouted. "Fire at will!" Ignoring the fallen soldier, Shen Hong aimed his rifle at Zhang Yi. Over twenty soldiers simultaneously raised their guns, unleashing a barrage of bullets at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, unhurried, fired back. "Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" His pace was steady, taking one shot after another. But each shot was a perfect headshot! The soldiers were well-equipped with bulletproof helmets, but Zhang Yi''s sniper rifle, combined with his precision ability, could pierce through even their finest gear. Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Within moments, six soldiers lay dead under Zhang Yi''s sniper fire. "No way, why can''t we kill him?" one of the soldiers finally realized something was wrong. Zhang Yi was fully exposed to their fire, without any defensive cover or even decent gear. Yet no matter how they fired, he remained unscathed, not even a scratch on his clothes! Shen Hong''s pupils contracted as he finally understood. "He''s a Superhuman!" Yu Lang stared in disbelief. "Are you saying he can completely negate our attacks?" Superhumans were already beyond the understanding of ordinary people, and each had unique mutations that defied comparison. Zhang Yi''s unknown ability instilled immense fear in the rescue team. "Retreat, retreat immediately! This guy is not someone we can handle!" Shen Hong shouted, ordering the soldiers to retreat quickly. This enemy was too formidable; only a squad leader from the Special Forces might stand a chance against him. But even then, with his fortress-like shelter, a single squad leader might not be enough. How could they fight when they could only be on the receiving end? Shen Hong and the others were furious to the point of cursing. "This is just bullying!" For such an elite unit to fight, such a humiliating battle was infuriating. Some soldiers tried to carry the bodies of their fallen comrades, but lingering for even a second longer spelled death. "Forget the dead for now! Hide, quickly!" Shen Hong yelled anxiously. Zhang Yi noticed Shen Hong and Yu Lang, who seemed to be the leaders. He aimed his rifle at them. "Bang!" A shot aimed straight for Shen Hong''s head. But just as Zhang Yi fired, something eerily familiar happened. Shen Hong''s body blurred, leaving afterimages in the air, narrowly dodging the bullet. "Huh? Another artificially made Superhuman? And their abilities are so similar!" Zhang Yi then aimed at Yu Lang and found his reaction to be identical to that of Shen Hong. "They have the same abilities. Can Superhumans be created with drugs, or are their powers copied from someone else?" Zhang Yi marveled at the wonders of biology, but his mission remained. Not all of the soldiers had such powers, and they were still targets. However, this time, Zhang Yi changed his mind. He noticed the soldiers abandoning the bodies of their fallen comrades and hiding behind the walls of the surrounding luxury villas. From Zhang Yi''s vantage point, his attack range couldn''t cover the entire battlefield, but he didn''t want them to escape easily. He wanted to kill more intruders. Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a cold smile. He aimed at a soldier who hadn''t managed to hide in time, targeting his right leg instead of his head. "Bang!" The soldier''s right leg exploded into a mist of blood as the sniper bullet tore it apart, leaving it mangled and broken. "Ahhhh!!!" The soldier screamed in agony, collapsing onto the snow. Zhang Yi repeated the process with another soldier who hadn''t managed to hide, leaving two men writhing in pain on the ground. Even hardened warriors couldn''t withstand the agony of shattered limbs. "Liu Hongtao! Cao Jiayu!!" Seeing their comrades'' miserable state, the other soldiers'' eyes reddened with fury. They wanted to rush out and save them immediately! They could abandon fallen comrades, but they couldn''t leave those they fought alongside to die without trying to help. "No one moves! This is a trap to lure you out. No one steps forward!" Shen Hong shouted angrily, stopping any soldier who tried to rush out. His heart bled as well, but he knew staying calm was the only way. Falling into the enemy''s trap would lead to more deaths. "Smoke grenades and incendiary bombs, deploy them!" At Shen Hong''s command, the soldiers quickly realized the plan. Since Zhang Yi was using sniping tactics to bait them into rescuing, they would disrupt his vision. Smoke and flames quickly engulfed the area around the wounded soldiers, obscuring visibility even through tactical goggles. Taking the opportunity, Shen Hong dispatched several soldiers to rescue the injured. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. "They''re professional soldiers, after all. Impressive combat skills." Now, he couldn''t strike with precision. Zhang Yi''s lips curled into a cold smile as he adjusted the direction of the Dimensional Gate. In an instant, all the ammunition it had absorbed was unleashed like a torrential storm upon the area! In a blink, the two wounded soldiers and the group sent to rescue them were bombarded by a hail of bullets. Even wearing the best combat suits, they couldn''t withstand such an overwhelming assault. Seconds later, they were all riddled with holes. Shen Hong and the others were filled with grief, shouting the names of their fallen comrades. They were furious but also deeply fearful of the man hiding in the shadows. Zhang Yi''s tactics were beyond their understanding. "He''s not human! We can''t beat him!" cried a young soldier, clutching his rifle with terror on his face. These soldiers had excellent combat skills, but China had been at peace for so long. Facing such a terrifying opponent for the first time and watching their comrades die before them caused some to break. "Captain, should we request backup? Should we ask the base to send reinforcements?" a soldier asked Shen Hong. Shen Hong''s face twitched with anger, flushed red as he kicked the soldier. "Shut up! We came here to provide backup, and now you want to turn around and ask the base for help? How can we face anyone with that kind of shame?" "But... that man is too terrifying! No, he''s not even humanhe''s a devil! How can he be invincible?" The soldiers were utterly demoralized. No matter how strong they were, they couldn''t kill someone immune to their bullets. Retreating only made them sniper targets, while attacking was impossible with that impregnable fortress. "Stay calm!" Yu Lang barked. "He hasn''t come out; he must still fear us to some extent. Don''t be too scared!" The soldiers were terrified by Zhang Yi''s strange powers, but Shen Hong and Yu Lang, being modified Superhumans themselves, knew it wasn''t supernatural but an unknown ability. Understanding a little about the enemy eased their fears somewhat. Shen Hong asked seriously, "What do we do? His marksmanship rivals ours. If we show ourselves, we risk getting sniped!" The villa area was wide open, with only a few houses providing cover. Trying to escape would inevitably expose them. Yu Lang drew some lines in the snow and pointed to a route. "Blast through these houses and follow this path. As long as we stay out of sight, his marksmanship won''t matter." Author''s Note Chapter 260: Repelling the Attack Chapter 260: Repelling the Attack Yu Lang''s suggestion was unanimously agreed upon. There was no point in continuing the fightthey were outmatched. The gap in strength between them and the enemy was insurmountable. Any further combat would be a senseless sacrifice. The only option was to retreat and wait for reinforcements. Shen Hong immediately decided to blast open the walls of nearby houses and escape through the gaps. Zhang Yi, lying by the window, could roughly guess their escape plan but had no intention of leaving the shelter to chase them down. This batch of enemies included only two artificial Superhumans similar to Liu Ziyang, whose abilities were mediocre and far inferior to real Superhumans. As long as Zhang Yi stayed inside, they posed no threat to him. However, if he ventured out, these highly skilled soldiers might have a chance to kill him. His Dimensional Gate could only cover one side, which was a notable weakness. "Go and call in stronger people! I''ll keep fighting until you''re all too scared to actmaybe then you''ll finally back off!" Zhang Yi muttered calmly. To end the conflict, he knew he had to fight fire with fire; he had no illusions about the enemy. Explosions rang out continuously, and before long, Shen Hong and Yu Lang led their remaining troops in a difficult escape from Cloud Manor. Only after confirming that they had left did Zhang Yi step out of the shelter. Now, it was time to clean up the battlefield. Since this group of soldiers was a hastily assembled rescue team, they were only equipped with portable light weapons and no heavy firepower. Still, Zhang Yi was not picky; he stripped them of their weapons and gear. One weapon, in particular, caught his interestthe heavy sniper rifle he had his eyes on. This anti-materiel rifle, relying solely on the gun''s power, could tear through the armor of light tanks. Paired with Zhang Yi''s abilities, it could even pierce through heavy armor! After cleaning up the battlefield, Zhang Yi did not bother to bury the bodies. In the past, he might have done so out of respect, but now, these corpses could serve as bait. Zhang Yi knew that the people from West Hill Base would not give up so easily. After two failed operations that resulted in the death of a natural Superhuman and numerous ordinary soldiers, they were sure to seek revenge. Leaving the bodies on the road served two purposes: as a psychological deterrent to affect the enemy soldiers'' morale and as potential targets if they tried to recover the corpses. After tidying up, Zhang Yi returned to the shelter. Inside, the women were anxiously waiting for him, their eyes fixed on him like he was their guardian angel. They all knew that without Zhang Yi''s protection, survival in this post-apocalyptic world would be nearly impossible, especially after experiencing such a crisis. "Zhang Yi, it''s so good to have you here!" Yang Siya exclaimed, rushing forward to hug him tightly, her voluptuous figure pressing against his chest. She had been terrified during the gunfight; after all, they were facing professional soldiers, not the farmers from Xidong Village. Hiding in the basement, she had been genuinely scared that the shelter would be breached. Zhang Yi gently patted her on the rear. "Look at you, scared silly! I told you, everything would be fine." Zhou Ke''er, feeling a bit jealous, pulled her away. "Alright, alright, look at you being so timid!" The wheelchair-bound genius Yang Xinxin chimed in, "But judging by the strength of the troops that came, they didn''t seem prepared to launch a full-scale assault here. Their weapons were all lightmostly sniper rifles, grenades, and small explosives." "If their firepower is limited to this, we might be okay. But I''m worried that this group was just a scouting party," she said with a frown, clearly concerned. "No matter how strong this shelter is, if we face a fully equipped professional military force, it might still be difficult to defend against." Yang Xinxin''s sharp mind quickly pinpointed the key issue. Zhang Yi nodded. "You''re right. This team''s firepower wasn''t much to look at. I suspect they were just here to scout. After all, I killed two of their people. And they likely didn''t expect such a formidable shelter in an ordinary residential area." "When they come back, their firepower level will surely increase by several notches," he added. Zhou Ke''er voiced her worries. "If that''s the case, can we hold them off? The military has professional demolition equipment, and we can only passively defend without many offensive options." Having been with Zhang Yi for a while, they had all learned to be vigilant even in peace. Zhang Yi was pleased with this mindset. "If the enemy continues to throw large numbers of troops and firepower at us, breaking through this shelter is only a matter of time," Zhang Yi admitted. "But this process will be long and costly for them." Zhang Yi''s face remained calm, as if he wasn''t concerned at all. The shelter was indeed incredibly robust; even if the city were subjected to an H attack, it wouldn''t be completely destroyed unless it was at ground zero. A critical advantage was its multi-layered structure. Zhang Yi glanced at the shelterit had two above-ground floors and three underground levels. In reality, the underground layers were the shelter''s true form. The two above-ground floors prioritized comfort over defense. But if the upper levels were breached, Zhang Yi could immediately move underground, where the defense level was at least twice as high. Beyond the special alloy, it was reinforced with a significant amount of concrete and steel. Even high-yield explosives would struggle against it, and according to the manual, even direct hits from air-launched missiles wouldn''t penetrate! "No fortress is indestructible. But for them to break through the two above-ground levels, they''ll have to pay a heavy price in time and lives," Zhang Yi explained. "Once the surface is breached, we''ll abandon it completely and move underground." Zhang Yi shrugged and smiled. "Sure, we won''t see the sunlight anymore, but the underground facilities are fully equipped. There''s no need to worry about the quality of life." Zhang Yi''s explanation helped to ease everyone''s anxieties. "So that''s how it is! I knew itbuilding a shelter that costs a billion dollars, supposedly the most expensive in the world, couldn''t be so simple," Lu Keran laughed heartily, showing off her sixteen pearly white teeth. Zhang Yi walked over and gently knocked on her head. "You, don''t celebrate too soon." Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He squinted and said, "Abandoning the two above-ground floors is just a contingency plan, one I won''t use unless absolutely necessary." "They want to attack my house? I''ll make them pay dearly!" Zhang Yi declared. "Get those explosives ready. I''m going to make sure they regret it." Author''s Note Chapter 261: Secret Discovered Chapter 261: Secret Discovered While Zhang Yi was strategically preparing for a prolonged battle, Shen Hong and Yu Lang were retreating in disgrace with the remaining soldiers. They had started with thirty men, but now nearly half were dead, leaving only eighteen! The worst part was that they hadn''t even managed to touch a hair on the enemy''s head. Despite concentrating all their firepower, they couldn''t even scratch the shelter''s walls. The team was dejected, and Shen Hong, their leader, was deeply frustrated, unsure of how to report this to West Hill Base. Yu Lang walked over, patting his shoulder. "We need to report this to the base immediately. This is an enemy beyond our capabilities." Shen Hong felt bitter, unable to find words; his heart was filled with sorrow and guilt. Yu Lang, seeing his struggle, offered, "If you don''t know what to say, I can report it for you. The mission is the priority." Shen Hong nodded. Yu Lang immediately pulled out the communication device to report the mission''s outcome to West Hill Base. Since the base was underground, direct communication between individuals was impossible; only the base''s Information Department could receive the messages. The moment the report came in, the Information Minister, Geng Yilin, quickly forwarded it to the leader, Chen Xinian. The report first passed through the hands of Chen''s secretary, Ge Rou, who took a quick look and immediately turned pale. "Twelve soldiers dead!" she exclaimed. West Hill Base had only about five hundred soldiers, mostly elite troops and special police officers from before the apocalypse. Each death was an irreplaceable loss. Losing twelve soldiers in one mission was sure to enrage Chen Xinian. But what was even more alarming was Yu Lang''s report, which mentioned a terrifying enemy: an impenetrable fortress immune to gunfire and a powerful Superhuman. This had become a thorn within West Hill Base''s territory, severely undermining their control over the surrounding area. Ge Rou dared not delay and immediately reported the news to Chen Xinian. After reading the report, Chen''s face remained expressionless. However, he read the document three times before slowly putting it down in front of him. Ge Rou was startled. Having been Chen Xinian''s secretary for five years, she knew his temperament and habits well. She sensed that Chen''s calm exterior was masking deep turmoil. Ge Rou stepped forward and said, "Leaders Shen Hong and Yu Lang failed in their mission, disappointing both you and the organization. I suggest punishing them severely as a warning to others!" Shen Hong and Yu Lang''s performance was abysmal. They were sent to rescue Liu Ziyang and Xie Huanhuan. Even if they failed, they were expected to bring back useful intelligence. But now, all they had managed was to find the place where the attack on Liu Ziyang and Xie Huanhuan had occurred. Worse, they had lost a significant number of soldiers with little to show for it. Had West Hill Base not been short on manpower, Chen Xinian would have considered executing both of them. Chen Xinian glanced at Ge Rou, and that single look made her feel as if she had fallen into an ice pit. He retracted his gaze and said calmly, "Encountering a formidable enemy can''t be entirely blamed on them. We need every capable person we have right now. We''ll address this later." "However, I am quite intrigued by that mysterious shelter and its owner. Do we have any intelligence on that?" Intelligence was key. Knowing the enemy was crucial to making any strategic decision. Chen Xinian rarely left West Hill Base, and without sufficient information, he couldn''t make a move. Ge Rou, competent beyond her appearance, had come prepared. As soon as Chen Xinian asked, she pulled out a tablet and handed it over. On the screen was a map of Tianhai City, zoomed in on the area around West Hill Base. "According to Shen Hong and Yu Lang''s report, the shelter is located in Cloud Manor by the Lu River. Based on previous intelligence, I suspect the person behind it is likely a man named Zhang Yi." "As for the shelter itself, I''ve traced its originsit was built ten years ago by Wang Siming. At the time, it was largely ignored, but our engineers now estimate that its defensive capabilities could rival our own West Hill Base." Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Xinian furrowed his brow. "Zhang Yi? Who is that?" Given his many responsibilities, Chen Xinian couldn''t recall such an ordinary name. Ge Rou reminded him, "He''s the man suspected of having access to the missing goods from the Walmart warehouse." Worried Chen Xinian might not remember, she added, "The lowly warehouse supervisor." At this, Chen Xinian''s memory stirred. "Him? Well, that does make sense." He frowned, slightly surprised. "An inconspicuous nobody with no education or background, now a big problem just because of some mutant abilities. Hah, what luck this guy has." Chen Xinian now remembered Zhang Yi but still didn''t see him as a significant threat. In his eyes, Zhang Yi was just a small-time figure who had gotten lucky. To Chen Xinian, a small person gaining power wouldn''t know how to wield it properly and would ultimately be undone by it. This was in stark contrast to someone like him, born of a prominent family and rooted deeply in power. Chen Xinian stood up and picked up the report again, studying it closely. Several clues were connecting in his mind, a revelation on the verge of coming together. "Walmart warehouse supervisor" "Superhuman" "An ability that ignores bullets" "Powers Superhuman" Chen Xinian pondered for a good ten minutes before suddenly realizing where the problem lay. "If he were just a regular awakened individual, upon encountering Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, he should have chosen to flatter them, avoid confrontation, or even plead to join West Hill Base." "After all, in an environment where resources are scarce, it''s nearly impossible for a person to survive alone." "But instead, he not only refused to submit but took the risk of offending West Hill Base to kill Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang." "This can only mean one thing: he has a secret that absolutely cannot be discoveredsomething that Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang might have stumbled upon." A gleam flashed in Chen Xinian''s eyes. He slammed the table, exclaiming, "In the apocalypse, what''s the biggest secret anyone could have? It''s resources!" "In other words, the massive amount of missing goods from Walmartthey must be in his possession, hidden by his special ability!" Author''s Note Chapter 262: ACE Special Forces Chapter 262: ACE Special Forces After analyzing the recent intelligence, Chen Xinian concluded that Zhang Yi was in possession of billions worth of goods from Walmart. He was so excited by this revelation that he couldn''t sit still, pacing back and forth in his room. "It must be like this; it''s the only explanation for all his actions," he mused. "If that''s the case, we must capture Zhang Yi!" Ge Rou, standing nearby, was equally shocked and delighted upon hearing the news. "Congratulations, Leader! We''ve found another massive cache of resources for West Hill Base!" Chen Xinian nodded, pleased. This accomplishment would certainly add to his legacy. "Our base''s supplies are dwindling, especially food and energy, which are in a state of net depletion with no effective replenishment. But if we can secure the goods from the world''s largest warehouse, we can ensure at least ten years of abundant resources!" Chen Xinian tossed the documents onto his desk and decisively ordered, "Bring Ling Feng to me!" Soon, Ling Feng, the captain of the ACE Special Forces, arrived at Chen Xinian''s office. Chen Xinian gave him a direct order: breach Zhang Yi''s shelter at any cost and capture Zhang Yi alive. "If you can take that shelter, you''re authorized to request any resources you need from the base!" Chen Xinian declared generously. Ling Feng, adhering to his military discipline, didn''t question the reasoning behind the order. For him, obeying commands was his duty, and orders from the leader were absolute. "Yes, sir. I guarantee the mission will be completed!" Ling Feng''s expression was as steely as iron, showing no doubt that he could fulfill any task given to him. Ge Rou, trying to be helpful, added, "It''s said that shelter was built for ten billion dollarsextremely robust. If you need assistance breaching it, I can arrange for our engineers and demolition experts to help." "Our base is never short on weapons!" she assured. Ling Feng nodded, a hint of battle hunger glinting in his eyes. It had been too long since he had faced a worthy opponent, and now, finally, someone was interesting enough for him to stretch his skills. After leaving Chen Xinian''s office, Ling Feng immediately began preparing for the upcoming assault. Chen Xinian leaned back in his chair, rubbing his forehead. "This battle is one we must win! Our base''s resources will only last for another six months. If we can''t secure victory, we''ll have to ''optimize'' our internal personnel or wage war on other shelters to alleviate internal pressure." Ge Rou bowed slightly, offering comfort. "Don''t worry, Leader. Zhang Yi is just a small fry. He''s not some superhuman." "We will win," she assured. "By the way, what would you like for lunch? You''ve been working so hard lately, and you seem a bit tired. Should I ask the kitchen to make you a ginseng chicken soup?" Chen Xinian nodded. "Sure, just something simple." Ge Rou smiled, pulling out her communicator to inform the kitchen that the leader wanted chicken for lunch. Suddenly, Chen Xinian''s eyes lit up with inspiration. "Ge, I just had another idea regarding the food shortage problem. Let''s see if it''s feasible." Ge Rou''s heart sank a little. Every time Chen Xinian had a bright idea, it meant a lot of work for the team, regardless of whether the plan would work. For instance, the idea to process corpses into high-protein food was one of Chen Xinian''s spur-of-the-moment decisions. However, Ge Rou still put on a cheerful and admiring face. "Leader, what brilliant idea have you thought of this time? Please, do tell." Chen Xinian smiled confidently. "The base is short on food, right? Well, I think there''s room for improvement." "Look, we''ve already addressed the issue of food by breeding American cockroaches and reusing human remains. We''ve managed to feed many people that way." "We need to keep pushing forward and think about other potential resources that are being wasted." "For example, can feces be reused? Digestion isn''t a perfect process, after all." Ge Rou felt a wave of nausea but managed to swallow it back. She maintained her admiring smile, clapping her hands in approval. "Leader, that''s an absolutely fantastic suggestion! I can''t believe we didn''t think of it sooner." "I''ll contact the experts in the biological lab immediately to come up with a plan on how to turn waste into high-quality food." Chen Xinian laughed heartily. "Yes, it''s just an idea. Check its feasibility." Ge Rou continued to flatter him. "Your insight is truly unparalleled, Leader. This idea could greatly ease our food supply issues. It''s sure to work!" ... Meanwhile, Ling Feng, having received his orders, immediately mobilized the combat department to prepare for the upcoming assault. He ordered Shen Hong, Yu Lang, and their troops to set up a temporary base near the shelter and conduct a detailed reconnaissance of the area, paving the way for the main force''s arrival. Unsurprisingly, they chose Xu Family Town as their staging ground. The location had ample food, suitable housing, and was close to Cloud Manor. Ling Feng then summoned the team leaders among the Superhumans, instructing them to stay alert and ready for combat at any moment. "Our opponent this time is also a Superhuman, and based on the intel, he''s incredibly powerful. He defeated both Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, and Shen Hong''s team lost over a dozen men. We cannot afford to underestimate him!" In the corner, Liang Yue listened to Ling Feng''s battle plans, her mind suddenly stirring. Zhang Yi? Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wasn''t that the man who had barged into Tianqing Academy and taken Yang Xinxin? Liang Yue remembered that Zhang Yi was accompanied by two other Superhumans, but Ling Feng hadn''t mentioned this detail. The difference in combat effectiveness between facing one Superhuman versus three was significant. Liang Yue''s brow furrowed slightly, her eyes flashing with a peculiar light. She had no intention of sharing this crucial information with Ling Feng. She had no desire to stay in West Hill Base any longer. However, leaving was easier said than done; finding a suitable place to live afterward was another challenge altogether. A bold idea suddenly crossed Liang Yue''s mind. Perhaps she could contact Zhang Yi and seek his help. After all, Yang Xinxin was her student, and Liang Yue believed their connection might provide a way to negotiate with Zhang Yi. Taking a deep breath, she approached Ling Feng and said, "Captain, I request to join the team on this mission!" Author''s Note Chapter 263: Internal Affairs Chapter 263: Internal Affairs Ling Feng was still organizing the deployment of personnel. After all, they couldn''t bring all their forces out; a significant portion had to stay behind to protect the base. Staying behind meant no risk, but going out meant facing possible death. Zhang Yi had killed Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, and he could just as easily kill them too. Liang Yue''s unexpected request to join the mission drew many eyes toward her, including Ling Feng, who was somewhat surprised. Liang Yue was new, had a rather distant relationship with others, and rarely interacted with her peers. Ling Feng cautioned, "Going out isn''t child''s playit''s a life-and-death situation. The outside environment is nowhere near as comfortable as the base. Are you really prepared for that?" Liang Yue nodded slowly but firmly. "I''ve only just arrived at the base and haven''t earned any merit, yet I enjoy high treatment here. I want a chance to prove myself!" Ling Feng nodded approvingly. "Alright, you''ll come with us on this mission!" He then pointed at two other soldiers. "Zheng Xuerong, Shi Dayong, you two will also join us!" Both stood up and saluted. "Yes, Captain!" sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Captain, when do we depart?" they asked eagerly, their eyes blazing with anticipation. They were determined to destroy Zhang Yi''s fortress and avenge Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang, knowing that the two likely hadn''t survived. But Ling Feng calmed their excitement. "Not yet! That place is an incredibly sturdy fortress. Shen Hong and Yu Lang have already tried using regular explosives and heavy snipers, and they barely left a mark." "I''ve ordered Shen Hong''s team to gather intelligence and have our engineers and demolition experts assess the situation. We must be fully prepared before we proceed!" Even though everyone present was a Superhuman, Ling Feng didn''t dare to underestimate the task ahead. Superhumans were not invincible and with the exception of someone like Zhang Yi, who possessed spatial abilities, even other Superhumans had to be cautious around modern weaponry. Ling Feng''s team soon received new orders from Shen Hong and Yu Lang''s squad. They were instructed not to return yet but to move to Xu Family Town on the opposite side of the river, where they would continue to gather intelligence and await the main force. When Shen Hong received the orders, he immediately led his team to Xu Family Town. The arrival of more than a dozen heavily armed soldiers immediately caught the entire town''s attention. The town''s mayor, Xu Dongtang, calmly stepped forward to greet them in his official capacity. "Gentlemen, are you from West Hill Base?" Xu Dongtang asked. Shen Hong nodded. "Yes, we''re here on a mission and will be staying in your town temporarily." Xu Dongtang nodded eagerly. "We''re honored to have you here. It''s a privilege for Xudong Village!" Other village residents had also wanted to curry favor with the soldiers but didn''t dare challenge Xu Dongtang''s authority, as he wielded the most power. Instead, they returned to their homes and brought out whatever they could to welcome the soldiers. The soldiers were baffled by the villagers'' hospitality. They couldn''t understand why these people were so enthusiastic, but it spared them the trouble of using force, which was a relief. Their arrival caused quite a stir, enough to catch Fatty Xu''s attention. Ever since Zhang Yi''s warning, he had been on edge, worried that West Hill Base would eventually involve him and the whole village. And now, his worst fears had come true. Seeing the armed soldiers mingling with his villagers and relatives, Fatty Xu''s heart twisted painfully as if stretched taut and tied in a tight knot. He slumped to the floor, lamenting, "Oh heavens! You''re asking for troublewhy bring this disaster upon us?" Fatty Xu couldn''t understand Xu Dongtang''s eagerness to align with West Hill Base. All he knew was that these soldiers'' presence would bring great calamity to Xudong Village. If Zhang Yi found out they were hosting West Hill soldiers, his ruthless nature would not spare them! After much hesitation, Fatty Xu made the smartest decision he could think ofcontact Zhang Yi. Even if Zhang Yi sought retribution later, this might at least save his own skin. Soon, the call connected. Zhang Yi''s steady voice came through, "Hello." Fatty Xu, sitting on the floor and clutching his phone, whispered nervously, "Boss, we... we''ve got a problem!" In the shelter, Zhang Yi frowned slightly. As he suspected, it was related to West Hill Base. Since they could locate his shelter, there was no reason for them to overlook Xu Family Town, such an obvious target. "Did West Hill Base people show up at your place?" "Boss, you''re spot on! A squad of soldiers just arrived in our village." Zhang Yi wasn''t surprised. Given the timing, it was likely the group he had driven away. His tone grew serious. "Fatty Xu, you''d better be extra careful!" "I''ve warned you before; these people aren''t part of any official organization. Tianhai City is already divided among various factions, so they aren''t bound by morals or laws!" "Watch out for them raiding your village''s food, and keep an even closer eye on your own safety!" Fatty Xu swallowed hard, his fear evident. "Don''t worry, Boss. If I need to run, they won''t catch me easily." His abilities made him quite adept at self-preservation. "They''re now being treated as honored guests. Every household welcomes them warmly. No one listens to anything I say." Zhang Yi chuckled softly. "Then don''t bother with them. It''s pointless to advise those who are determined to meet their fate. Just protect yourself and the people who matter to you." "But remember this, Fatty," Zhang Yi''s voice turned cold. "I''ve always treated you as a brother and valued you greatly. But if you ever betray me, you know what will happen." Fatty Xu, ever the coward, wasn''t even aware of his own potential strength. His power to manipulate ice and snow, if fully developed, could become terrifying. Zhang Yi didn''t want to lose such a capable subordinate, but if Fatty Xu were to betray him, he wouldn''t hesitate to end him. Fatty Xu quickly reassured him, "Boss, you can count on me! I''m loyal to you!" Zhang Yi nodded. "Good." He was about to suggest that Fatty Xu come to the shelter to avoid danger, but an idea suddenly struck him, and he changed his mind. "Stay in the village for now, Fatty. I need someone there to keep an eye on things and keep me updated on their movements." Author''s Note Chapter 264: Hidden Line Chapter 264: Hidden Line West Hill Base was more than fifty kilometers from Cloud Manor. In the icy and snowy conditions, it wasn''t feasible to make such long journeys repeatedly. If they wanted to sustain a long-term assault on Zhang Yi, they needed a nearby base of operations, and Xu Family Town was the obvious choice. It had free labor, and the villagers'' stored supplies were readily available for their use. However, just as West Hill Base planned to exploit the town, Zhang Yi had similar ideas. Instead of bringing Fatty Xu to the shelter, Zhang Yi decided to let him stay and act as his undercover agent to gather information on the enemy''s intentions. Initially, Fatty Xu was reluctant. "Boss, I''m not cut out for undercover work. Those soldiers are scary as hell. Just seeing them freaks me out." Zhang Yi was speechless at Fatty Xu''s reaction. Despite his powerful combat abilities, which made slaughtering ordinary soldiers laughably easy, Fatty Xu was just too timid. "Don''t worry. I don''t need you to confront them directly. All I need is for you to quietly gather intelligence." Fatty Xu''s timid nature made him vulnerable in direct confrontations, and Zhang Yi didn''t want to get him killed. Zhang Yi had grown fond of this chubby guy, who was at least adorably na?ve. "Complete this task, and I won''t skimp on your reward," Zhang Yi promised. Hearing he wouldn''t have to fight, Fatty Xu relaxed significantly. "That''s a relief! As long as I don''t have to fight, I''m on board." As Zhang Yi spoke on the phone, he walked into a game collection room on the second floorone of the many left behind by Wang Siming. The 80-square-meter room was filled with rare figurines, many of which were limited to less than ten sets worldwide, some even out of production. Zhang Yi picked up a golden Saint Seiya figurine and snapped a picture, sending it to Fatty Xu. "If we can resolve this situation, I''ll give you the complete set of Golden Zodiac figurines made of pure gold!" Fatty Xu''s eyes nearly popped out when he saw the picture Zhang Yi sent. "This... This is the Golden Zodiac figurine set from 2035! Made of pure gold, with only five sets released globally." "Boss, I''ll make sure this job is done perfectly!" Fatty Xu''s chubby face beamed with excitement. In the past, just one of these could fetch over three million yuan, let alone the whole set. It was beyond his wildest dreams! For a die-hard otaku like Fatty Xu, happiness was that simple. Zhang Yi hung up the phone, feeling slightly disappointed that he couldn''t convince Fatty Xu to come to the shelter. With Fatty Xu''s abilities, dealing with West Hill Base would have been much easier. However, Fatty Xu had his family, and Zhang Yi didn''t want to force him, fearing that coercion might backfire. Zhang Yi did not want anyone with divided loyalties in his shelter. "No worries. Leaving you there might be the better option," Zhang Yi thought. "But if you think you can coexist peacefully with those West Hill Base soldiers, you''re in for a rude awakening." Zhang Yi shook his head, lamenting the naivety of the people in Xu Family Town. They were treating West Hill Base as if it were a legitimate government organization. Zhang Yi understood, though; not everyone had access to the kind of high-level information he did. The ordinary people of China were used to being governed. ... On the other side, after finishing his conversation with Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu knew he couldn''t just sit back any longer. Following Zhang Yi''s instructions and providing sufficient intelligence was the only way to ensure he and the villagers wouldn''t face retribution later. After much thought, Fatty Xu decided to talk to Xu Dongtang. He put on his knitted hat and stepped outside. Just as he was about to head toward Xu Dongtang''s house, he spotted a familiar figure running toward him from a distance. "Xu Lili!" Fatty Xu''s heart skipped a beat, and his face lit up with joy. She was the first young woman in five years to greet him on her own. From that moment, she had captured his heart completely. "Brother Chunlei!" Xu Lili cheerfully ran up to him, catching her breath before flashing a bright smile. "Lili, what are you doing out here? It''s freezing. Shouldn''t you stay warm at home?" Fatty Xu asked with concern. Xu Lili glanced toward Xu Dongtang''s house and said, "Grandpa said every household should contribute food for the soldiers. My parents took some cured meat over, and I came by to bring you something." She pulled a pair of cotton gloves from her pocket and handed them to Fatty Xu. "I made these myself!" Xu Lili said shyly. Fatty Xu was touched. The gloves were rather ugly and clearly handmade, but the thought of this girl doing something so thoughtful for him filled his heart with warmth. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "She really does love me!" Fatty Xu thought happily. "Thank you, Lili! You''re so good to me," he said with a silly grin. Xu Lili smiled sweetly. "As long as you like them! Try them on." Fatty Xu put on the gloves. Though they were a bit tight, they made his heart feel warm. "Brother Chunlei, do you think these soldiers coming to our village is a good thing or a bad thing?" Xu Lili asked, her brow suddenly furrowing. Fatty Xu''s heart skipped a beat. "Lili, why are you asking that?" Xu Lili sighed. "These days, life is hard for everyone. But before the soldiers came, we could at least rely on our stored food and weren''t starving." "But now that they''re here, we have to feed all of them. A meal or two is fine, but I''m afraid they''ll..." Xu Lili trailed off, glancing around cautiously. The villagers feared the soldiers would stay for goodand worse, that they would start seizing food by force. After all, the soldiers had guns. Seeing Xu Lili''s worried expression, Fatty Xu''s protective instincts flared. He looked at her, his eyes firm. "Lili, don''t worry! No matter what happens, I will protect you!" Xu Lili beamed. "Thank you, Brother Chunlei! I knew you were a good man. And you''ll protect my parents, too, right?" "Of course! I won''t let anyone hurt you or your parents," Fatty Xu promised, thinking to himself: Your parents will be mine too one day, so of course, I''ll protect them. Author''s Note Chapter 265: Formidable Enemy Chapter 265: Formidable Enemy After receiving Fatty Xu''s promise, Xu Lili was overjoyed and thanked him before heading back home. Watching her leave, Fatty Xu clenched his fists and vowed, "I must protect this home!" Gathering his courage, he went to find Xu Dongtang, who was busy arranging for the villagers to serve the soldiers from West Hill Base. Not only did he provide accommodations, but he also made every household bring out their food supplies to prepare meals for the soldiers. Xu Dongtang''s smug expression made him look like a lackey from a century ago, eagerly currying favor with the invaders. But Xu Dongtang''s gains weren''t limited to his own village; he had exploited the entire Xu Family Town, including five or six nearby villages. Other village chiefs, trying to show loyalty to West Hill Base, even increased their contributions to food and supplies. When Fatty Xu arrived, he found Xu Dongtang''s home bustling with activity. Xu Dongtang stood proudly outside his house, his demeanor like that of a father whose son had just been crowned top scholar. Fatty Xu took several deep breaths to muster his courage. He walked up to Xu Dongtang and called out, "Grandpa!" Seeing Fatty Xu, Xu Dongtang''s expression changed slightly. "What are you doing here?" he scolded, frowning. Fatty Xu was Xudong Village''s secret weapon, and Xu Dongtang had no intention of revealing his existence to West Hill Base just yet. He was worried that if West Hill Base discovered Fatty Xu''s talents, they would take him away, leaving the village without its top asset. S~ea??h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Come with me!" Xu Dongtang pulled Fatty Xu aside to a secluded spot and said sternly, "Your identity as a Superhuman is Xudong Village''s secret. No one else can know! Stay home and wait for my orders." Fatty Xu, however, chuckled. "Grandpa, do you really think you can keep this a secret? You''ve already dragged the whole of Xu Family Town into this mess. Even if you don''t tell, other villagers might." "The fact that I''m a Superhuman will be exposed sooner or later. Why not just admit it openly?" Xu Dongtang''s face hardened, and after a moment of silence, he stared at Fatty Xu. "Chunlei, you''ve grown wings and have your own ideas now, huh?" Fatty Xu said nothing but stared back. Xu Dongtang sighed and continued, "It''s fine if you want to climb higher, but don''t forget you''re part of the Xu family!" Fatty Xu replied, "Grandpa, I don''t want much. I just want to share some of the burdens. At the very least, let me into the inner circle of the family. For example, when hosting higher-ups, you didn''t even inform me. It''s like I''m an outsider. That hurts, you know!" Initially, Fatty Xu felt nervous bargaining with Xu Dongtang; years of subservience to his elders had drained him of the courage to speak up. But once he started talking, he realized it wasn''t as difficult as he had feared. More importantly, he noticed that Xu Dongtang seemed afraidhe was backing down! This realization boosted Fatty Xu''s confidence. These family elders who bowed and scraped before West Hill soldiershow could he, a Superhuman, be any less? Seeing Xu Dongtang''s hesitant expression, Fatty Xu stepped forward. "Even if you want to keep me hidden, West Hill Base will eventually find out about me. If they think you''re hiding things, it won''t end well. Let me meet them. It''ll show your sincerity." To gather intelligence on West Hill Base, Fatty Xu knew he had to get close to the soldiers. Xu Dongtang hesitated for a long time, finally saying, "Once they know what you can do, they might take you back with them! Chunlei, my good grandson, the Xu family needs you!" Fatty Xu''s vanity was greatly satisfied. For Xu Dongtang, the village chief, to speak to him so respectfully was something he never would have imagined in the past. "Don''t worry, Grandpa. I won''t leave the Xu family," Fatty Xu reassured him. His beloved Lili was here; he couldn''t bear to leave. Xu Dongtang realized that Fatty Xu''s mindset had changed; he was no longer as easy to control. Reluctantly, he said, "Alright, I''ll introduce you to the officers. But remember your promise: you can''t leave with them." Fatty Xu readily agreed. Xu Dongtang grudgingly led Fatty Xu to meet Shen Hong and Yu Lang''s group. At that moment, they were resting inside a snow hut. A fire burned in the center, and the soldiers were warming themselves while eating. When they saw Xu Dongtang enter with a chubby man, the soldiers all turned to look. Xu Dongtang greeted them with a fawning smile. "Officers, I hope you find the food we prepared to your satisfaction?" Shen Hong nodded. "Not bad." Yu Lang chuckled, "Thanks a lot, old man!" He pointed to Fatty Xu. "Who''s this?" From the moment Fatty Xu entered, he remembered his mission to gather intelligence for Zhang Yi, so he discreetly observed everyone present. His peculiar gaze naturally caught Yu Lang''s attention. Xu Dongtang introduced him with a proud smile. "This is my grandson, Xu Chunlei. He''s a Superhuman. I wanted to introduce him to you all." Hearing that Fatty Xu was a Superhuman, the soldiers immediately stopped what they were doing and stared at him in surprise. Superhumans were incredibly rare, as most mutations led to death, with only a few resulting in powerful abilities. Even West Hill Base didn''t have many natural Superhumans. Although all the soldiers present were highly trained, not a single one of them was a natural Superhuman. Both Shen Hong and Yu Lang had become modified Superhumans, but only after paying a heavy price. When they heard Fatty Xu was a Superhuman, their eyes filled with curiosity, envy, and even jealousy. Shen Hong immediately stood up and approached Fatty Xu. "You''re a Superhuman? What''s your ability?" Hoping to earn the soldiers'' trust, Fatty Xu replied, "I can control ice and snow. You see, all these snow huts in Xudong Village were built by me!" As he spoke, he lightly waved his right hand, causing the snow on the ground to float up and form a snowball in his palm. Shen Hong and the others widened their eyes, completely convinced. Shen Hong, especially, was so excited that he grabbed Fatty Xu''s shoulder and shook it vigorously. "Good, good, good! Who would''ve thought such talent would be hiding in this little village!" Finding a Superhuman was a huge achievement! With this discovery, the failure of their previous mission could be offset. Shen Hong couldn''t be happier. Author''s Note Chapter 266: Intelligence Chapter 266: Intelligence Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only Shen Hong but all the soldiers warmly invited Fatty Xu to join them for dinner, drinking, and chatting. Natural-born Superhumans were treated as team captains in the ACE Special Forces as soon as they joined West Hill Base. Everyone wanted to be on good terms with Fatty Xu, their potential future leader. "Old Xu, go get more food and drinks; today, we''re going to have a great time with this brother!" Shen Hong waved at Xu Dongtang, ordering him to prepare more provisions. Xu Dongtang''s face turned awkward. Seeing the soldiers, who treated him, the town chief, with indifference, show such enthusiasm for his nerdy grandson was a bitter pill to swallow. But he didn''t dare protest and could only smile and nod in agreement. Fatty Xu never expected the soldiers to be so welcoming. It wasn''t until he started chatting with them that he understood why. People like him were given special treatment at West Hill Base. Shen Hong explained, "Natural Superhumans have limitless potential. Take our captain, for example. He wasn''t all that much stronger than us initially, but after awakening his powers, he''s grown leaps and bounds. Now, he can single-handedly take on an entire company." Shen Hong''s tone was full of envy as he patted Fatty Xu on the shoulder. "Brother, when you make it big, don''t forget about us!" Fatty Xu laughed. "Of course, of course!" As they drank and talked, Fatty Xu carefully probed for information about West Hill Base. Shen Hong and the others, unaware of Fatty Xu''s secret dealings with Zhang Yi, only knew of the animosity between Xudong Village and Zhang Yi. They assumed that the entire village held a deep-seated grudge against Zhang Yi, and thus, they had no suspicion of Fatty Xu. They openly shared some light yet valuable information. "That Zhang Yi is really tough to deal with! Our advance team wasn''t adequately prepared and paid a heavy price," Shen Hong admitted. "But don''t worry, Brother. West Hill Base has plenty of soldiers and talent. Taking down his little shelter will be a piece of cake!" Fatty Xu nodded, praising them. "That''s right! You guys are professional soldiers; how could an ordinary man like him compare?" Shen Hong agreed. "An individual''s strength can''t compete with a powerful base. It''s impossible." "The problem is the harsh winter. A lot of our heavy weapons are unusable in this weather. Otherwise, we''d have leveled his shelter in minutes!" Fatty Xu poured more wine for Shen Hong and casually asked, "So when is your main force arriving? I can''t wait to see you take down Zhang Yi!" "That Zhang Yi deserves to be skinned alive! He''s caused over a hundred deaths in our village. I can''t wait to eat his flesh!" Fatty Xu declared dramatically. Shen Hong swirled his wine glass, laughing confidently. "Brother Xu, don''t rush. His fortress is sturdy, and even blowing it up takes time to prepare." "Oh? Isn''t it just a matter of using more explosives?" Fatty Xu asked curiously. Yu Lang, sitting nearby, explained, "It''s not that simple! Executing a pinpoint demolition requires a detailed survey of the terrain. We then upload the data to our engineers and demolition experts. They analyze it to find the optimal blast points and the amount of explosives needed to achieve the best effect." "If we use too much or too little, it could ruin the operation." Fatty Xu nodded thoughtfully. "Oh, so that''s how it works! That''s some serious expertise." He remembered everything they said. After finishing the meal, he immediately relayed all this intelligence to Zhang Yi. Upon hearing the information, Zhang Yi couldn''t help but look at Fatty Xu with newfound respect. The chubby guy was learning to be cunning, perhaps due to the influence of love. Something like the power of love, as ridiculous as it sounded. "I see. Thanks for the intel." "But Fatty, are you sure you don''t want to join West Hill Base? Following me might not be the best choice," Zhang Yi said teasingly. Fatty Xu smiled confidently. "Boss, I trust my instincts." Though he hadn''t known Zhang Yi long, Fatty Xu could tell that Zhang Yi was honest with him. In contrast, the soldiers from West Hill Base always made him uneasy, especially the way they looked at the villagersas if they were livestock. It made him uncomfortable. Fatty Xu felt that while Zhang Yi might not be a noble person, he was at least genuine, which made him more trustworthy than the mysterious West Hill Base. "You won''t regret your choice today, Fatty!" Zhang Yi chuckled. If Fatty Xu ever betrayed him, Zhang Yi wouldn''t be surprised. However, if Fatty Xu chose to stay loyal, Zhang Yi would ensure that he was well-rewarded. "Keep observing them. Your intel is crucial right now. Report any changes immediately." "Yes, Boss!" After hanging up, Zhang Yi began strategizing based on the new information. "Demolition really is their best option against me." "I''m sure West Hill Base has enough explosives to flatten ten shelters. But to carry out the demolition, they need to get close and plant the charges. And that''s where I have the upper hand. This is my turf!" Zhang Yi wasn''t overly concerned. Given the shelter''s strength, it would take a massive amount of explosives to breach it. Plus, he could always retreat underground and abandon the above-ground structure. The three underground levels were even more robust, impervious to bombs and even missile strikes. After considering it, Zhang Yi made a decision. He called all the women in the shelter together and briefed them on the situation. "West Hill Base will attack soon. For safety, we''re temporarily abandoning the top two floors and moving everyone underground." The women looked tense at the news. "But don''t worry, I''m here!" Zhang Yi reassured them with a smile. "I''m well aware of West Hill Base''s capabilities. They can''t threaten our safety!" With the vast amount of information he had gathered, Zhang Yi had already formed a rough assessment of West Hill Base. Tianhai City had no major military garrisons, and the number of soldiers was limited, so West Hill Base''s armed forces couldn''t be overly powerful. This was evident from the performance of their rescue team. Additionally, the extreme cold and heavy snowfall had neutralized their greatest advantageheavy firepowersignificantly weakening their combat effectiveness. Now, they had only numbers and a surplus of weapons and equipment. But Zhang Yi already had plans to counter them. Author''s Note Chapter 267: Combat Suit Chapter 267: Combat SuitSeeing Zhang Yi''s confident demeanor, the women in the shelter felt much more at ease. Together, they began packing up the items from the top two floors. With Zhang Yi''s spatial storage ability, the process was swift. They quickly cleaned up new rooms in the underground levels and moved everything down. Zhou Ke''er and Yang Siya handled the cleaning and organizing, while Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran continued with their respective tasks as instructed by Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi called Yang Xinxin over to check on the progress of hacking into West Hill Base''s network. Yang Xinxin candidly admitted, "Their network security is excellent. I''ve tried many times to infiltrate, but they blocked every attempt." Zhang Yi wasn''t surprised by this. "After all, they''re well-prepared, with advanced network equipment and plenty of experts." West Hill Base housed the top figures from Tianhai City. Zhang Yi didn''t comment on their morals, but their brains and foresight were far superior to those of ordinary people. The base had experts in every field, making it difficult even for a top hacker like Yang Xinxin to break through their defenses. However, Yang Xinxin felt slightly underestimated and bit her lip in frustration. "Zhang Yi, it''s not that I''m any worse than their people; it''s just that I lack the resources. They''re using an internal LAN. Unless I can connect to their intranet or plant a Trojan virus on their devices, it''s nearly impossible to hack them!" Seeing her aggrieved expression, Zhang Yi quickly reassured her with a smile. "I wasn''t blaming you. Just focus on keeping our network secure. If you can counter-hack them, great; if not, it''s no big deal." Zhang Yi had no immediate plans to launch a counterattack. His priority was to protect the shelter''s safety. As for infiltrating West Hill Base''s network or planting viruses, those were mere fantasies for nowhe had no feasible way to accomplish them. Yang Xinxin puffed out her small chest. "Don''t worry! With me here, no one can breach the shelter''s network." Yang Xinxin had installed a firewall for the shelter''s network, filtering all incoming and outgoing data. Additionally, she personally monitored the network, ensuring it remained impervious to outside intrusions. Leaving the network control room, Zhang Yi headed over to Lu Keran''s workshop. "Keran, I have a question for you." Lu Keran set aside her work and quickly pulled up a chair for Zhang Yi. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, and although she wore a sweatband, her face was still covered in tiny beads of sweat from working in such conditions. "Big Brother, what do you want to ask?" Zhang Yi crossed his hands and asked seriously, "I''m wondering if West Hill Base plans to demolish our shelter, what methods would they typically use?" Without hesitation, Lu Keran replied, "To demolish a building, they''d usually use TNT explosives paired with detonators. This is the standard method used domestically for tearing down old structures." "Our shelter is built extremely tough, so they''d have to resort to that method to breach it." Zhang Yi nodded. "Can you estimate how much explosive they''d need to blow a hole in our shelter?" For a genius like Lu Keran, this wasn''t a difficult question. "Based on the building materials and wall thickness, it would take about 300 to 800 kilograms of explosives to breach our shelter." Lu Keran scratched her head with a smile. "I haven''t measured it precisely, so that''s just an approximate range." Zhang Yi stroked his chin thoughtfully. "So roughly 500 kilograms would be needed. If they transport that much, it''ll be hard to conceal." "What if I try sniping to detonate it halfwaywould that work?" Zhang Yi hoped to cut off the demolition threat at its source. However, Lu Keran immediately shook her head at his idea. "Big Brother, I strongly advise against that." "Oh? Why not?" "TNT is a very stable explosive. You can''t detonate it with bullets or by setting it on fire. It requires a detonator." Zhang Yi immediately dropped the idea of sniping to trigger an explosion. "I see. I guess I''ll have to stick to defense." Zhang Yi chuckled to himself, thinking, "Time to go with Plan B." He looked at Lu Keran. "How''s the equipment I asked you to prepare to come along?" sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Keran quickly turned around and presented her completed work to Zhang Yi. "Big Brother, take a look at these. Are you satisfied?" Lu Keran had been busy crafting weapons and gear for Zhang Yi. The most straightforward were the explosive bombs, of which she had made many. However, two other items piqued Zhang Yi''s interest. One was the heavy sniper rifle Zhang Yi had recently acquired. This rifle had an effective range of up to 1,850 meters, capable of piercing through armored vehicles. With Zhang Yi''s precision shooting ability, its range could extend to a terrifying 5,000 meters! In other words, Zhang Yi could kill targets from over ten miles away! However, this also presented a problem: Zhang Yi''s ability allowed him to shoot at such distances, but his eyesight couldn''t keep up. To solve this, he asked Lu Keran to modify an optical scope. With this new scope, Zhang Yi could become an unmatched sniper, taking down enemies from extreme ranges. Aside from exceptionally agile opponents like Liu Ziyang or heavily armored creatures, most Superhumans who crossed his sights would be as good as deadeven those like Xie Huanhuan, who could pass through walls. "The scope was easy to make. It only took me half a day," Lu Keran explained. "But the combat suit took me much longer!" With that, Lu Keran pulled a black metal case from under the workbench. She struggled a bit to lift it onto the table and opened it in front of Zhang Yi. Inside was a pure white combat suit identical to those worn by Liu Ziyang, Shen Hong, and the other West Hill soldiers! Zhang Yi''s eyes lit up when he saw the combat suit. It was beautifully madeafter all, it was modeled after the gear used by special forces, designed not only for functionality but also for a sleek appearance. In the snowy environment, it offered excellent camouflage. Lu Keran proudly explained, "The materials are made from special alloys. Ordinary sniper bullets would have a hard time penetrating it." "Its material costs are at least twenty times higher than those used by West Hill Base soldiers! But Big Brother, with all your resources, you''re not short on materials." "What I don''t understand is why you wanted it to look exactly like the West Hill soldiers'' suits." Zhang Yi picked up the combat suit, a mysterious smile flashing in his eyes. "It''s important. You''ll understand when the time comes." Author''s Note Chapter 268: The Grand Lineup Chapter 268: The Grand LineupZhang Yi, armed with the explosives crafted by Lu Keran, fully equipped himself and stepped out of the shelter. Before West Hill Base''s main force arrived, he needed to set up all possible defenses around the area. His first task was to plant a large number of bombs around the shelter. Even if the enemy knew there were traps, they would still have to pass through the bomb-covered area to get close, making this strategy an open secret. Although Zhang Yi wasn''t sure how much damage these bombs would do to the Superhumans, he was willing to try anything that could potentially harm the enemy. In no time, he buried over fifty bombs in the snow around the shelter, which he could detonate at any moment using a remote trigger. Next, Zhang Yi focused on setting up a surveillance system. Cloud Manor had no shortage of cameras. As a luxury villa district, its security facilities were top-notch. However, due to long-term neglect and a lack of stable power supply, the surveillance system had been abandoned. Zhang Yi reconnected the circuits and linked the cameras'' power supply to the shelter. He then asked Yang Xinxin to hack into the security system, allowing him to monitor the entire neighborhood''s movements. With these preparations in place, Zhang Yi''s initial defensive setup was complete. The upcoming confrontation with West Hill Base would be a matter of adapting to whatever the enemy threw at him, an unpredictable battle where anything could happen. Zhang Yi hadn''t informed Uncle You of his plans; against a high-firepower military attack, Uncle You''s presence wouldn''t change much. It was better for him to stay away, possibly serving as an unexpected asset if needed. ... Two days later, Ling Feng led his team out of West Hill Base toward Xu Family Town. This time, he brought fifty members of Team A, including twelve modified soldiers. Counting himself, they had one of the strongest Superhuman captains in the Western Division. Team A consisted of the elite, chosen from the best of the best. Whether they were top special forces from the military or experts in other fields, they were unmatched. Their mission was clear: to storm the shelter at Cloud Manor and eliminate Zhang Yi. Ling Feng and his team were full of confidence. With their current lineup, they were certain they could take on not just one rogue Superhuman but even an army of a thousand soldiers. Among the group, only Liang Yue harbored hidden intentions that no one else knew about. Her goal was not to defeat Zhang Yi but to prepare for her and her students'' escape from West Hill Base. Finding a suitable place to live after leaving was critical, and Zhang Yi was one of her potential allies. If Zhang Yi could withstand West Hill Base''s attack, she would consider collaborating with him. If not, she would look for another path. Fifty of West Hill Base''s finest warriors set out in a mighty procession. Most rode sleds, and the only snowmobile at the base was authorized by Chen Xinian to carry their explosives. Gasoline was extremely scarce, making this snowmobile invaluable to West Hill Base. However, they needed it to transport the massive amount of explosives required for their mission. The snowmobile carried two heavy crates, so heavy that the vehicle sank into the snow. Even with its snow-ready design, it struggled along the way. This proved how serious West Hill Base was about dealing with Zhang Yi; the amount of explosives they had brought was substantial. The journey was slow, and it wasn''t until midday that they finally reached Xu Family Town''s Xudong Village. Shen Hong and his team had been waiting outside the village for their arrival. Fatty Xu, who was seen as a promising member by Shen Hong, was also called to join them. Recently, Shen Hong had been treating Fatty Xu exceptionally well. To make up for his failures on the previous mission, Shen Hong needed to leverage Fatty Xu''s potential as his ticket to redemption within the organization. As they waited, Fatty Xu grew increasingly impatient. Finally, he saw flashes of light on the horizon. In the ice and snow, fifty-plus soldiers slowly emerged, all wearing pure white combat suits with their weapons wrapped in white cloth. The sight of the team filled Fatty Xu with an overwhelming sense of pressure. He realized these fifty men were about to unleash a violent storm upon Cloud Manor. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fatty Xu swallowed hard, silently praying that this storm wouldn''t engulf the entire Xu Family Town. The special forces arrived in Xudong Village, and Shen Hong and Yu Lang quickly stepped forward to salute. "Captain!" "You''re finally here!" Xu Dongtang and the other village leaders also stood by, awaiting the arrival of Captain Ling Feng. Fatty Xu scanned the crowd, aware that many of these individuals were formidable, especially the Superhumans. Among the fifty elite members, even the regular soldiers were seasoned veterans with extensive combat experience. Not a single one of them was easy to deal with. Fatty Xu couldn''t even tell which ones were the Superhumans. Then, the snowmobile at the back slowly came to a stop, and the soldiers made their way. A short soldier in a white combat suit stepped down, followed by three others: one exceptionally tall, nearly two meters high; another slender and agile, clearly a woman; and the last, wearing a fur-lined collar, brown leather gloves, and holding a black Tang sword. The short soldier approached Shen Hong and Yu Lang, removed his helmet, and revealed an unremarkable square face. "You''ve all worked hard!" Ling Feng said, smiling faintly at the rescue team soldiers. Shen Hong and the others looked embarrassed. As part of the rescue team, they had failed to save anyone and had lost soldiers, hardly deserving praise for their efforts. Ling Feng''s smile faded as he spoke in a calm tone, "That man is not easy to deal with. We underestimated him before, not knowing his true strength. You don''t need to blame yourselves too much." Shen Hong and his team were touched by Ling Feng''s understanding. "Captain!" Ling Feng''s gaze suddenly sharpened, his eyes like two sharp blades. "But I won''t let the man who killed my comrades have a good ending. Now that we''re here, his fate is sealed." Shen Hong straightened his back, glancing at the powerful figures behind Ling Feng. He was convinced that Zhang Yi''s fate had only one outcome: total defeat. "This is his retribution!" Author''s Note Chapter 269: Battle Plan Chapter 269: Battle PlanAs Ling Feng chatted with Shen Hong, he noticed the chubby man standing beside him. Ling Feng looked curious and pointed at Fatty Xu. "Who''s this?" Shen Hong quickly introduced him. "Captain, this is a Superhuman I found! His name is Xu Chunlei, and he has the power to control ice and snow. His potential is limitless!" S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing that Fatty Xu was a Superhuman, Ling Feng and the others couldn''t help but take a closer look at him. Liang Yue immediately recognized him; they had crossed paths before at Tianqing Academy. However, she didn''t expose his identity because she wasn''t fully on West Hill Base''s side either. Fatty Xu swallowed nervously, wearing a flattering smile but with fear and anxiety in his eyes. As Zhang Yi''s undercover agent, his legs were trembling, a sight that did not escape Ling Feng and his team. As seasoned soldiers, they held nothing but disdain for cowards, and Fatty Xu''s appearance as a weak, useless otaku only deepened their scorn. Ling Feng crossed his arms, asking, "So your power is controlling ice and snow?" "Yes, I built all these houses!" Fatty Xu pointed to the ice-and-snow structures in Xudong Village. Ling Feng had noticed the unusual architecture of the village, but now he finally understood why. Despite the display of power, Ling Feng didn''t think much of Fatty Xu. To him, a man who was weak or cowardly was unacceptable, let alone someone to join his elite team. Ling Feng thought, "I''ll take him back to see if he''s of any use to the leader. But we don''t need him for this mission." Ling Feng walked over and patted Fatty Xu on the shoulder. However, the simple gesture, infused with Ling Feng''s immense strength, knocked the already frail Fatty Xu to the ground, drawing laughter from the crowd. Ling Feng''s eyes widened. "How could any man be this weak?" Out of courtesy, he reached down and pulled Fatty Xu back up. "Sorry about that, buddy. So... you''re a Superhuman, huh? Not bad. When we finish this mission, I''ll report your situation to the base." "You might even get the chance to join us officially!" Ling Feng didn''t pay much more attention to Fatty Xu. His primary focus was on taking down Zhang Yi. After a brief exchange, he led his team to the strategy meeting, leaving the village leaders, including Xu Dongtang, standing on the sidelines without a word. A soldier approached the village leaders, instructing them to prepare accommodations and food. Xu Dongtang, not daring to show any discontent, could only smile and comply. With over fifty special forces members and a dozen more from the rescue team, the room was packed and bustling as the strategy meeting began. A professional engineer pulled out a laptop and projected a 3D model of Villa 101 at Cloud Manor. Ling Feng addressed the group, "Our next goal is to breach this fortified shelter!" Pointing to a rear corner of the building, Ling Feng continued, "According to our engineers'' calculations, this is the optimal spot for a breach." "To blow open this wall, we need 500 kilograms of TNT. We''ve brought 1,000 kilograms this time, giving us two attempts." Ling Feng spread his hands and smiled confidently. "Even if we fail both attempts, our base has plenty of explosives in reserve. Failure isn''t an option; it''s just a matter of how many times we need to try." The soldiers laughed, feeling relaxed and confident. West Hill Base was strong, well-armed, and ready to take down what they saw as a mere shelter. Liang Yue, holding her Tang sword, frowned slightly at these words. She was worried about the safety of Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, her students who were currently inside Zhang Yi''s shelter. "Zhang Yi, can you really survive this crisis?" she wondered. According to Ling Feng, Chen Xinian''s orders were to capture Zhang Yi alive. Therefore, they wouldn''t use destructive explosives on the shelter. This was her chance to intervene and save her students. Ling Feng continued, "There''s still one unpredictable variable: this Superhuman, Zhang Yi!" He glanced at Shen Hong and Yu Lang. "Superhumans have all sorts of abilities. To defeat him, we must understand his powers and identify his weaknesses." "From your reports, he''s primarily a sharpshooter. But our investigation shows Zhang Yi has no military traininghe was just an ordinary warehouse supervisor." "So this must be one of his abilities," Ling Feng speculated. "Good marksmanship isn''t terrifying, but if his ability allows him to lock onto targets, that''s a different story." Shen Hong interjected, "Luckily, his attacks are affected by his line of sight. We can interfere with his vision to neutralize his ability." Ling Feng nodded. "Exactly. During our attack, we''ll deploy a large number of smoke and incendiary bombs to disrupt his vision." "However, his second ability is even more troublesome. He can ignore bullet attacks and even reflect them back." Ling Feng chuckled. "This means long-range attacks might be useless against him." "So this time, we won''t engage him head-on. Instead, we''ll stealthily block his view and sneak in to plant the explosives." Ling Feng exuded confidence. "I refuse to believe his abilities cover every possible scenario. If he excels at long-range combat, there must be a weakness in close-quarters fighting." "Once we breach the shelter, we''ll storm in and take him down in no time!" The rest of the team nodded in agreement, approving of the plan. In close combat, with Ling Feng leading, any opponent would be swiftly dealt with. As West Hill Base''s top combatant, Ling Feng''s strength was terrifying, something everyone in the roomexcept for Liang Yuewas well aware of. Shen Hong added, "Zhang Yi is cunning. He''s set up many traps around his shelter. We lost several men to landmines because we were careless." Ling Feng simply smiled, his hands clasped behind his back. "You all lack real battlefield experience." "If he''s set up mines and bombs, we''ll just disarm them, simple as that." A demolition expert from the special forces team looked at Shen Hong and Yu Lang. "Leave that to me! Any traps set by an amateur are child''s play for a professional like me." Author''s Note Chapter 270: Preparing for Battle Chapter 270: Preparing for BattleShen Hong and Yu Lang felt both ashamed and relieved. They were embarrassed by their failed mission but glad that West Hill Base had strong soldiers, ample firepower, and an abundance of talent. With such a formidable force, Zhang Yi would be no match this time! After the strategy meeting ended, Ling Feng announced, "Alright, let''s set off now. Let''s aim to end this battle within three hoursbetter yet, just one!" Ling Feng''s face was relaxed and smiling. He didn''t see this mission as a big deal. With absolute strength on their side, all defenses would be meaningless. After all, they were a group of well-equipped, highly-trained elite warriors. How could they possibly fail to handle one ordinary man with some Superhuman abilities? That would be a joke. Ling Feng began organizing his fifty soldiers, assigning them tasks such as carrying explosives and securing various positions around Cloud Manor. Shen Hong and the rest of the rescue team were left behind in Xu Family Town because their combat skills weren''t on par with the special forces. "We''ll be back soon! Shen Hong and Yu Lang will guide us, and the rest of you stay here and watch our supplies," Ling Feng instructed. "Yes, sir!" Shen Hong and Yu Lang replied immediately. Yu Lang then whispered to Ling Feng, "Have the higher-ups given any orders on how to deal with the townspeople?" Ling Feng glanced at Xu Family Town and casually said, "There''s no rush. There are so many of them, and they can''t run away. We''ll handle Zhang Yi first, then ask the leader for further instructions." Shen Hong and Yu Lang nodded and had no further questions. Ling Feng led the soldiers, weapons in hand, explosives and gear strapped to their backs, marching toward Cloud Manor. Dressed in white uniforms and armor, with their weapons wrapped in white cloth, they moved like ghosts in the snowy landscape. If not for careful observation, they would have been nearly invisible. As they approached the outskirts of the manor, they saw the towering entrance gate still standing, with the golden character "Cloud Manor" shining in bold strokes. Shen Hong pointed to the center of the villa area. "The shelter is right in the middle, very conspicuous! But they have a sniper, so we can''t just rush in." Last time, Zhang Yi''s precise marksmanship had wreaked havoc on their thirty-man team, picking them off one by one from hundreds of meters away. Without the cover of the surrounding houses, they might have all died there that day. Ling Feng nodded, then turned his attention to a few soldiers. "Find good positions and lock down that building for me!" Three soldiers carrying heavy sniper rifles immediately stepped forward, dispersing to predetermined locations. The sniper points had been mapped out before they even set off. Shen Hong whispered, "But guns don''t seem to work on him." Ling Feng looked at Shen Hong thoughtfully and said, "Shen Hong, you''re not a natural Superhuman, so you don''t fully understand the characteristics and flaws of Superhuman abilities." "Don''t just look at the surface. I refuse to believe someone can truly be immune to bullets. Perhaps it''s a power we don''t understand. If it''s an ability rather than him turning into a transparent monster, we just need the right moment to put a bullet through his head. Simple." Ling Feng''s words enlightened Shen Hong, though he couldn''t help feeling a pang of envy. He wished he could be a natural Superhuman like Ling Feng. Ling Feng stood on the outskirts of Cloud Manor, methodically organizing his team for the assault. They had ample time, manpower, and ammunition, so there was no need to rush. Inside the shelter, Zhang Yi and the others had already moved almost everything from the top two floors to the underground levels. The shelter was fully powered, and bright lights illuminated every corner, maintaining a warm and inviting atmosphere. Zhang Yi sat in the first-floor underground living room, reading a paperback book, with multiple surveillance screens showing the interior and exterior of the shelter. Since the apocalypse had freed him from the need to work, Zhang Yi had embraced a slower pace of life and developed a love for reading. Some books were from the library, while others came from Wang Siming''s private collection. The book in Zhang Yi''s hands was "Ordinary World" by Lu Yao. Reading it now, he couldn''t help but feel nostalgic. The days of ordinary life were gone forever, replaced by a world buried in ice and snow. Yet, the resilience of humanity remained constant; people always found ways to survive even in the harshest environments. Zhou Ke''er, barefoot and with her legs curled up, leaned quietly against Zhang Yi, enjoying the peaceful moment together. But suddenly, Zhang Yi''s peripheral vision caught something unusual. He looked up at the wall-mounted screen. Among the hundreds of surveillance feeds, thick white smoke was seen rolling in from all directions toward the shelter. "Snap!" Zhang Yi calmly closed the book in his hand and said lightly, "They''re here!" Zhou Ke''er quickly fetched Zhang Yi''s sneakers and helped him put them on, crouching in front of him. Zhang Yi remained unnervingly calm. He equipped himself and retrieved his heavy sniper rifle from the dimensional space, slinging it over his shoulder as he headed upstairs. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Stay down here, and don''t come up!" Zhang Yi instructed Zhou Ke''er. The upcoming fight was a man''s battle, and he didn''t need the women getting involved. Zhou Ke''er nodded firmly, knowing she couldn''t help Zhang Yi at this moment. Her own powers were best left unused, especially on Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi climbed to the first floor, where thick smoke had already obscured all visibility outside, save for about a meter around the outer walls. Beyond that, everything was shrouded in white. "Looks like they''ve learned to fear my sniping. It''s a smart move," Zhang Yi mused, knowing his opponents were highly trained military professionals capable of adapting quickly. "So the next step is likely to breach the shelter with explosives," Zhang Yi muttered with a sly smile. That was indeed the only real threat to him, but Zhang Yi had already devised a way to counter it. Clearly, the enemy had no idea of the extent of his powers. Since absorbing Xie Huanhuan''s abilities, Zhang Yi''s dimensional powers had grown significantly stronger. The Dimensional Gate''s capacity had expanded, and he had tested it in the basement using grenades. Even the shockwave from a blast could be absorbed. This newfound confidence allowed Zhang Yi to stand his ground against a fully armed, military-style assault. Author''s Note Chapter 271: Wheres My Explosives? Chapter 271: Where''s My Explosives?Ling Feng''s team deployed a large number of smoke and incendiary bombs around Cloud Manor to prevent Zhang Yi from sniping the demolition crew. The next step was to send in the bomb disposal team to disarm the traps set around the villa. Their method was simple and crudenot disarming them manually but using detonating cords to set off the surrounding bombs in a chain reaction. This was a common military technique where a chain of explosives would detonate to cover a wide area, setting off any hidden traps. Zhang Yi turned on his highest level of active noise cancellation, blocking out the external noise. To protect his ears from the impending explosion, he also put on a professional-grade noise-canceling headset. Although this made him almost as deaf as a post, he knew it was necessary with the possibility of 500 kilograms of TNT being used against his shelter. Outside, the explosions lit up the surroundings. The enemy had triggered all the bombs Zhang Yi had painstakingly planted. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi sighed, "Professional soldiers are truly professional." There was a bit of regret, but not much. When fighting professionals, you had to be prepared for this kind of outcome. The last time he managed to blow up Shen Hong and his men, it was partly due to luck and surprise. This time, the enemy was prepared, so naturally, they wouldn''t be foolish enough to walk right into his traps. Once the perimeter traps were cleared, Ling Feng gave the order, "Demolition team, move in! Everyone else, get ready to cover them." Behind him, the three captain-level Superhumans, including Liang Yue, were ready. If Zhang Yi showed any signs of emerging, they would strike immediately. However, with the shelter in place, their abilities had no opportunity to be put to use. Liang Yue secretly hoped that Zhang Yi would surprise her. Zhang Yi, meanwhile, remained calm. No matter what the enemy did, he allowed them to proceed. After all, the shelter''s primary function was defense, not offense. To attack his shelter, the enemy had no choice but to resort to demolition. Watching the surveillance feeds in his hand, Zhang Yi observed the fog that covered the entire neighborhood. It didn''t completely obstruct his view because if the smoke were too thick, even the enemy''s demolition soldiers wouldn''t be able to see the shelter. The smoke''s purpose was simply to prevent him from sniping. But with the surveillance system that was linked throughout the neighborhood, Zhang Yi could see hazy figures moving closer to the shelter. "They''re here!" Zhang Yi''s gaze sharpened. This was the critical moment. To protect the shelter, the key was to withstand the demolition attempt. He planned to absorb the blast wave using his dimensional space. So Zhang Yi made no move to attack but instead tracked the enemy''s demolition point and followed it closely. A few minutes later, through the remaining external surveillance cameras, he found the demolition team''s location. Each demolition soldier carried heavy explosives on their backs. When they reached the wall, they placed the explosives against it and set up detonators. Zhang Yi watched them intently. The team, highly trained, quickly set up 500 kilograms of explosives and promptly retreated. Zhang Yi''s eyes widened as he stared at the pile of TNT outside the wall. "Just leaving like that?" Well, of course, they wouldn''t stay and risk being blown up. They needed to get to a safe distance before remotely detonating the explosives. However, for Zhang Yi, this was a rather baffling situation. He rubbed his chin and muttered, "Maybe I''ve been overthinking things from the start." On the other side, after setting up the explosives, the demolition team followed the plan and left Cloud Manor immediately. After all, 500 kilograms of TNT could demolish a skyscraper! They needed to be at a safe distance to detonate it. Ling Feng and his team moved to a nearby hill, watching the shelter shrouded in smoke. Over the radio, the demolition team reported, "Commander, the explosives have been set, and we''ve retreated. Ready to detonate at any time!" Ling Feng smirked. "Received." He took out the detonator and told his teammates, "This mission is easier than we thought! I figured since Zhang Yi killed so many of our brothers, he''d put up more of a fight!" He pressed the detonator lightly with his right hand. Everyone covered their ears, bracing for the earth-shaking explosion. But several seconds passed, and nothing happened. "Huh? Why didn''t it explode?" Liang Yue frowned, puzzled. Ling Feng, also bewildered, repeatedly pressed the remote detonator, aiming it at the shelter. But nothing happened. "What''s going on?" Ling Feng, frowning, used the radio to contact the demolition team. "Why didn''t the explosives go off when I pressed the button?" The demolition team was equally baffled. "That''s impossible! We checked everything thoroughly, and there were no issues with the setup." Ling Feng was annoyed. It was embarrassing for his team, comprised of elite soldiers, to make such a rookie mistake! "Well, I''m pressing the button, and nothing''s happening. Go check it out and fix it immediately!" "Yes, sir!" The demolition team was perplexed, knowing they wouldn''t make such a simple error. But since the explosives hadn''t detonated, something had clearly gone wrong. The team ran back to inspect the setup, but when they reached the site, they were all dumbfounded! The explosives they had placed against the wall had mysteriously vanished! "Huh? Where are the explosives?" The demolition team was stunned, even wondering if they had gone to the wrong location. On the other side of the wall, Zhang Yi stared at the 500 kilograms of TNT now sitting in his dimensional space and fell into deep thought. "Was it... too easy?" He hadn''t expected it to be this simple. The enemy had just piled up a bunch of explosives against his wall and left. "Good people, indeed!" Zhang Yi chuckled. Back on the hill, Ling Feng was dumbstruck by the radio report. "What? Are the explosives gone? How can they be gone? Didn''t you set them up yourselves?" "Did they vanish into thin air, or did you eat them?" Author''s Note Chapter 272: Everyone Was Shocked Chapter 272: Everyone Was ShockedUpon hearing that the explosives had disappeared, Ling Feng was furious, almost cursing out loud. Everything had been going smoothly, and they were just one step away from detonating the explosives against Zhang Yi''s shelter. But then someone suddenly told him that the explosives had vanished into thin air! "What kind of joke is this?" Ling Feng snapped. "How could the explosives just disappear? Did Zhang Yi steal them?" he asked through gritted teeth. A single failure was infuriating, but it wasn''t the most terrifying partWest Hill Base had no shortage of weapons and ammunition. They had brought enough explosives for another attempt. The key was understanding the cause of the failure. The demolition team replied, "Impossible! That was 500 kilograms of explosives; he couldn''t have moved them that quickly. And even if he had, the explosives were rigged with detonators. As long as you press the button, they should explode!" "But now, there''s no response at all. I I don''t know what''s going on." "This is bizarretruly bizarre!" The demolition soldiers, who had worked on numerous high-risk demolition projects over the years, had never encountered such a mind-boggling situation. Ling Feng asked, "Could you have set them in the wrong location? Go and search the entire perimeter of the shelter again!" "We''ve searched everywhere. Such a conspicuous target couldn''t have just disappeared." Ling Feng was at his wit''s end, his brow furrowed in frustration. "This is beyond strange, right? It seems Zhang Yi is using some kind of power that makes the explosives undetonable." "Based on preliminary analysis, his ability appears to be a spatial power. That would explain everythinghe moved the explosives into another space, so when I press the switch, the detonator signal can''t reach them, and they don''t explode." Ling Feng quickly deduced Zhang Yi''s power. However, knowing was one thing; solving the problem was an entirely different challenge. They needed to bring the explosives close to the shelter and detonate them remotely. But once they had transported the explosives, Zhang Yi could just take them away. "What if we tried long-range attacks, like missiles?" Forget itTianhai City didn''t have the authority to launch missiles against Zhang Yi''s shelter. Plus, Ling Feng had no idea if Zhang Yi''s spatial ability could absorb missiles as well. "If his ability really works like that, this is going to be a tough battle!" Ling Feng thought, a shadow of doubt creeping into his heart. He realized this was far more complicated than he had initially imagined. Although they hadn''t encountered much direct resistance from Zhang Yi, even managing to easily detonate the bombs he had set outside the shelter, his greatest strength wasn''t his offensive capabilitiesit was his defensive prowess. A nearly indestructible shelter and a monstrous spatial ability that could absorb almost any form of attack. How were they supposed to deal with that? This was a century-old dilemma that now lay before Ling Feng. Behind him, Shi Dayong, built like a bear, approached and said, "Captain, I have an idea. Since our explosives keep getting taken, why not just use artillery?" Ling Feng looked at Shi Dayong''s rough face and tilted his head in response. "Let me ask you, do we have any large-caliber artillery at hand? Can you carry one over here?" Shi Dayong replied, "Rocket launchers could work too. Even if it''s slow, as long as we keep attacking one spot, we''ll eventually break through!" "We have plenty of time to wear him down. The leader already said that taking down Zhang Yi''s shelter is worth any amount of time and ammunition!" Ling Feng took a deep breath, exasperated by the stubbornness of the man before him, and turned away without responding. Zheng Xuerong, standing nearby, scoffed and approached Shi Dayong. "First of all, how long do you think it would take to breach walls this thick with a rocket launcher?" "Didn''t Shen Hong say before? Regular weapons are ineffective against him. I suspect everything just gets moved into another space." She couldn''t help but frown. "What a terrifying ability! His defensive capabilities are nearly invincible." Shi Dayong argued, "Then we''ll just attack from all sides! He''s only one person; he can''t defend every angle, right?" Zheng Xuerong rolled her eyes. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "You think this place is just a regular concrete structure? If it were that easy to break through, would we need to bring in all this equipment and a ton of explosives?" Fragmented attacks wouldn''t work against the shelter, and even with West Hill Base''s ample ammunition, they couldn''t afford to waste so much firepower. Only Liang Yue, standing quietly at the back with her Tang sword, looked on with a flicker of admiration in her eyes. "Zhang Yi, I never thought you''d have such strength!" she mused, her expectations of him growing. However, thinking about how her beloved Loong Roar Sword had been taken by Zhang Yi made her grit her teeth. Ling Feng, now fully aware of the difficulties Zhang Yi posed, knew he couldn''t afford to underestimate him any further. He called over the demolition team to discuss new ways to breach the shelter. "We still have 500 kilograms of explosives left. That means we have only one more chance!" "We must think carefully about how to break this iron fortress!" The demolition team, already frustrated by Zhang Yi''s ability to absorb their explosives, reluctantly considered their options. "To breach the shelter, remote detonation is the best method. But there''s one exception... manual detonation." One of the soldiers suggested this approach, which caused the entire group to fall silent. Manual detonation of 500 kilograms of explosives? The person doing it wouldn''t just diethey''d be vaporized on the spot, reduced to nothing but ashes. Ling Feng looked at the soldier coldly. "I won''t send my men to their deaths." The group remained silent. Sacrificing one person might be enough to breach the shelter, but who would volunteer for such a grim task? West Hill was just a militant organization. Everyone there was only united by the goal of survival. Dying to defend one''s country was one thing, but dying to attack a private residence? No one wanted that. Ling Feng continued, "And even if we sent someone, Zhang Yi could still absorb the explosives. Sending too many would lead to massive losses. Sending too few wouldn''t stand a chance. We''re dealing with a powerful enemy!" "This plan is off the table. We need to think of something else!" Author''s Note Chapter 273: Throwing Chapter 273: ThrowingAt this moment, an engineer from the demolition team stepped forward. He adjusted his glasses and said, "I think there''s another method we can try." Everyone turned to look at the engineer. He was a former academician at the Tianhai City Institute of Physics, an elite talent specially recruited by West Hill Base. "Academician Wu, what''s your idea?" Ling Feng asked. Academician Wu explained, "Zhang Yi''s spatial ability might actually support the theory of parallel universes. But as we all know, energy is conserved; the energy from an explosion doesn''t just disappear. It can only be transferred." "So his ability merely absorbs the existing materials or energy and relocates them. But what happens when the absorbed energy becomes too much?" His explanation was straightforward, and Ling Feng immediately answered, "It would collapse!" Academician Wu nodded. "He just stole our explosives, but he might not dare absorb explosives that are already in the process of detonationespecially when it''s 500 kilograms of TNT!" Shi Dayong, however, asked, "But what if he manages to swallow the explosive power of 500 kilograms of TNT?" Academician Wu took a deep breath and replied, "If that''s the case, then even if we used the entire power of West Hill Base, we wouldn''t be able to do anything to him!" He was stating the truth. If Zhang Yi could indeed absorb such a massive explosion, then all thermal weapons would become ineffective against him. Attacking his impenetrable fortress with just manpower? That would be a fool''s dream. Even if Zhang Yi let them attack freely, they wouldn''t have the manpower or time to destroy the shelter in such extreme cold. Ling Feng resolutely said, "We have to try to find out! Besides, I refuse to believe someone this powerful could exist in Tianhai City!" He immediately formulated a new plan: bundling the remaining 500 kilograms of TNT and setting it to a 30-second timer. Then, they would throw the bundle towards the shelter. Since no better solution was available, this was their best option. The demolition team quickly got to work, bundling the explosives and setting the detonation mode. Ling Feng didn''t rush to act. He ordered his soldiers to fire intensely at the shelter from all directions to distract Zhang Yi. Soon, soldiers at various positions received the order and began shooting fiercely at the shelter. Inside, Zhang Yi was waiting for West Hill Base''s next move, knowing they wouldn''t let his theft of their explosives go unchallenged. When Zhang Yi noticed intense gunfire from multiple directions targeting the shelter, he carefully observed the situation. "Guns? Don''t they know that this is just scratching an itch for my shelter?" Zhang Yi laughed when he saw the gunfire from all directions. "So, this is just a cover. The real attack is still coming, huh?" "Alright, let''s see what else you''ve got," Zhang Yi murmured, smiling but remaining vigilant. Meanwhile, two kilometers away on a small hill, the 500-kilogram bundle of explosives was finally prepared. A normal human would find it impossible to throw such a heavy object over this distance without tools. Ling Feng walked over to the explosives and placed his hand on them. He exchanged a look with Shi Dayong. Shi Dayong grinned and quickly stripped off his combat suit, leaving only his underwear in the freezing weather, much to Liang Yue''s shock. She didn''t understand what this large man was planning. But she soon found out. Shi Dayong''s muscles began writhing as if worms were crawling under his skin, his body expanding as a layer of silver fur sprouted from his pores. Sharp fangs emerged from his mouth, and his fingers turned into claws. Shi Dayong had transformed into a towering silver-backed gorilla, almost two meters tall! Liang Yue realized that he could transform into a giant ape. Shi Dayong and Ling Feng grabbed the bundle of explosives together. After setting the timer, Academician Wu signaled them, and the two of them hurled the explosives toward the shelter with all their might. Although Ling Feng''s stature was only a third of Shi Dayong''s transformed size, he showed no sign of strain while throwing the explosives. The bundle flew like a cannonball towards the shelter, perfectly timed to explode 50 meters away. Even if it couldn''t blow a hole in the shelter, the damage would be significant. If successful, they planned to continue this strategy since they had plenty of explosives at the base. Through the surveillance, Zhang Yi noticed the explosives flying toward the shelter. "So that''s your game plan!" He immediately understood the enemy''s intention. Zhang Yi moved to the location where the explosives were headed, his right eye flashing white. A massive Dimensional Gate, several dozen square meters wide, opened above the shelter. Zhang Yi divided his dimensional space, separating the area where his supplies were stored from the space where the explosives would land to avoid damaging his stored belongings. Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The bundle of explosives fell precisely into the Dimensional Gate. Zhang Yi observed the internal changes, only to be shocked by what he sawthe explosives were already expanding, showing intense energy reactions. Even though the flow of time in his dimensional space was much slower, time still passed. In the outside world, everything proceeded as it should. In the next instant, Zhang Yi''s Dimensional Gate shattered. The raging energy burst open above the shelter, and the deafening explosion echoed through the area. Even Liang Yue and the others, two kilometers away, had to cover their ears. Ling Feng and his men were ecstatic. "It worked! This strategy is effective!" Author''s Note Chapter 274: Unable to Absorb Chapter 274: Unable to AbsorbThe explosion outside the shelter was like a volcanic eruption, with flames shooting up into the sky. Even from a distance, the terrifying blast was enough to make anyone tremble in fear! The entire shelter shook violently, and Zhang Yi nearly fell to the ground as he struggled to maintain his balance. The sudden turn of events was completely unexpected, even for Zhang Yi. His Dimensional Space had been unable to fully contain the rapidly expanding energy. It was forced to release some of the pressure, resulting in the external explosion. This outcome also meant that Zhang Yi couldn''t open the Dimensional Gate again for a while. He could feel his powers slowly being drained to repair the gate of the Dimensional Space. Most of the explosive force had been sealed inside as pure energy, which might come in handy in the future. The explosion caused thick smoke to billow outside. Zhang Yi took a deep breath, steadied himself, and quickly assessed the damage to the shelter. The glass panes had developed fine cracks, only a few centimeters deep but noticeable nonetheless. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He pulled out his phone. "Xiao Ai, report the damage to the house." "Understood. I''ve completed a full analysis of the structure. The southwest corner has sustained damage, with an overall loss of 22.6%." Since the explosion had been airborne and much of the force was absorbed, the damage was still within acceptable limits. From the outside, one could see that a large portion of the outer wall''s surface had peeled off. To break through the fortress, they would need to repeat the same kind of explosion at the same spot at least three more times. However, they had already used 1,000 kilograms of explosives, and their remaining supply would not be enough to launch another round of attacks. "I see. So that''s the kind of attack you''re capable of? Impressive!" Zhang Yi muttered, staring out at the direction from which the explosives had been thrown. "But you won''t get a second chance to use the same tactic!" Zhang Yi had confirmed the enemy''s location, and he wasn''t about to let them think he would remain on the defensive forever. The small hill they were using was the optimal spot to throw explosives accurately from a distance. However, with the Dimensional Space currently unusable, Zhang Yi couldn''t counterattack just yet. He knew the enemy would likely try the same approach again after tasting success. "The Dimensional Space has a limit to the amount of energy it can absorb. This incident has served as a warning for me," Zhang Yi reflected. However, the issue wasn''t critical. The gate being damaged didn''t affect the main body of the Dimensional Space itself. It would slowly recover as he continued to channel his powers. Zhang Yi glanced at the distant hill before slowly retreating back underground. Even if the West Hill Base soldiers leveled everything above ground, Zhang Yi wouldn''t come out. He needed to wait for the Dimensional Gate to be restored, his most powerful defense and counterattack mechanism. ... On the small hill, Ling Feng watched through binoculars and saw visible scars on one side of the shelter''s wall. A significant portion of the wall had peeled off, but overall, the structure remained sturdy with no signs of collapse or major cracks. Ling Feng gasped. "That was 500 kilograms of explosives! Even a thirty-story building would have been destroyed instantly." Academician Wu walked over, observed the damage, and remarked, "This doesn''t make sense. According to our calculations, the result shouldn''t be this mild." He then added, "Butthrowing explosives manually is a primitive method that prevents them from reaching optimal effectiveness." "There''s also the possibility that Zhang Yi absorbed a large portion of the explosive force using his abilities." Hearing Academician Wu''s theory, everyone around him looked shocked. "Absorb? You''re saying he can absorb the force of such a massive explosion?" Shi Dayong, Zheng Xuerong, and Liang Yue were all stunned. They were Superhumans, powerful ones at that, but they knew that being at the center of such a terrifying explosion would mean certain death. The idea of absorbing any of that explosive force was unthinkable. "Zhang Yi truly is extraordinary!" Liang Yue thought to herself, marveling at his strength. Zheng Xuerong, however, looked anxiously at Ling Feng. "If this is true, doesn''t that mean it''ll be nearly impossible for us to breach this shelter?" "Not necessarily," Ling Feng responded, handing her the binoculars. "We still caused significant damage. We just need to repeat this several more times to break through!" "And besides, there''s no need to be overly afraid. His defense is incredibly strong, but he''s been hiding inside the entire time, only using a sniper rifle for offense." "This indicates that he''s good at defense but not so skilled at attacking." Everyone nodded, agreeing with Ling Feng''s analysis. If someone were invincible at both defense and offense, they simply shouldn''t exist in this world. "So, what do we do next? We''ve used up all the explosives we brought," Shi Dayong asked. Their only transportation consisted of a snowmobile and several dog sleds, making it extremely difficult to transport another 1,000 kilograms of TNT. Ling Feng replied, "No rush. We''ll head back and send someone to the base to get more explosives." "We''ll leave a few people to take turns monitoring the shelter''s movements around the clock. We can''t let anyone inside escape." "We''ll take our time wearing him down!" Understanding that without more explosives, there was no way to breach the shelter, Ling Feng was prepared for a prolonged siege. He began organizing his team, setting up a 24-hour rotation with groups of three to watch the shelter''s every move. Due to the extreme cold, even with thermal clothing, they couldn''t stay out for long, so personnel rotation was essential. Meanwhile, Ling Feng personally returned to transport the explosives while the rest of the team went back to Xudong Village to rest and recover. Everyone split up to carry out their tasks. Back in the shelter, Zhang Yi decided to abandon the above-ground levels temporarily to avoid any unnecessary risks. Even if the enemy managed to breach the surface, they wouldn''t be able to penetrate the much stronger underground defenses. Upon retreating underground, the women immediately surrounded Zhang Yi with worried expressions. "Big Brother Zhang Yi, what''s going on outside? That noise just now sounded like the sky was falling!" Zhou Ke''er asked anxiously. The other women also looked unsettled. For all of them, it was their first time experiencing such a terrifying explosion. Even in the underground shelter, with noise reduction features in place, the shockwave from the blast had been impossible to ignore. Author''s Note Chapter 275: Uncle You Wants to Help Chapter 275: Uncle You Wants to HelpZhang Yi reassured the women, "Don''t worry. The underground defense is even stronger than the top two floors. They won''t be able to threaten us anytime soon." "I suspect they''re running low on explosives, so their attacks should stop soon." "And as for the next time they come to attack, I already know how to deal with them." Zhang Yi''s calm smile put the women at ease. However, he didn''t explain anything about his Dimensional Space. His abilities were a secret; unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn''t reveal them to anyone. Zhang Yi waited in the basement for a long time without sensing any further attacks from the enemy. Not even regular gunfire was heard, let alone more explosive attacks. Zhang Yi could finally confirm that the enemy had exhausted their explosives. The distance from Cloud Manor to West Hill Base was over fifty kilometers, and even if they were to go back now to get more, carrying over a thousand kilograms of supplies would take them at least half a day. Zhang Yi sat on the sofa in the living room, monitoring the situation outside through the surveillance feeds while Yang Siya prepared food to replenish his energy. Food was primarily the source of his supernatural abilities, and with the Dimensional Gate damaged, he needed to consume a lot to recover. The large explosion had turned the surrounding villas into ruins, and most of the external surveillance equipment was destroyed. Fortunately, the cameras embedded in the shelter''s walls remained operational, allowing Zhang Yi to maintain a watchful eye. He glanced coldly at the surveillance screen showing the direction of the small hill. "Next time you come, it won''t be as easy as this!" Now that Zhang Yi had grasped the enemy''s tactics, he was ready to strike back. Yang Siya brought over a large amount of food while Zhou Ke''er stood behind Zhang Yi, massaging his shoulders to relieve his stress. The safety of the entire shelter rested on this man''s shoulders, and the women were more devoted to him than ever. Zhang Yi pulled out his phone and messaged Fatty Xu, asking about the movements of the troops in Xu Family Town. Not long after, Fatty Xu replied. "Boss, the commotion at your place scared everyone to death! The explosion sounded like it leveled Cloud Manor!" "Phew, thank goodness you''re okay. What a relief!" "A lot of the soldiers came back. I saw some leaving the village, heading west." Zhang Yi immediately understood the situation matched his expectationsthey were heading back to get more explosives. "What about the rest of them?" "What else? They came back to rest, of course! Damn, it looks like they''re planning to stay here long-term. As soon as they returned, they demanded food and drinks." Fatty Xu''s complaints brought a deep smile to Zhang Yi''s face. If his shelter couldn''t be breached for a long time, the people of Xu Family Town would suffer the most since West Hill Base had turned the town into their supply base. The soldiers would demand the villagers provide food and drink for all sixty-plus members of their team. Zhang Yi had no sympathy for them; in fact, he was curious to see if the villagers would eventually rebel. "Good, keep gathering information for me," Zhang Yi told Fatty Xu. Fatty Xu hesitated, expressing his concern. "Boss, those soldiers are elite, and they have several Superhumans among them. Can you handle it?" "Of course," Zhang Yi replied calmly, his voice full of confidence. "I''ve completely figured out their attack strategies." Zhang Yi was grateful he had decisively taken out the wall-phasing Superhuman that night. Without that, his supposedly impenetrable shelter would have been a joke. As for the other Superhumans, no matter how strong they were, they couldn''t compare to 500 kilograms of TNT. Let them be as strong as they want; he would just keep to his shelter, undeterred. He reminded Fatty Xu once again, "Fatty, Xu Family Town isn''t safe. You need to stay vigilant around those people." "If you ever sense danger, you can come to my place anytime. Your big brother will protect you!" Zhang Yi valued Fatty Xu, who was obedient and useful. Having another Superhuman around would be an extra asset in any direct conflict. If a battle ever broke out, Fatty Xu''s chaotic powers would surely cause the enemy to stumble. Fatty Xu, deeply moved, nodded. "Thank you, Boss! If that day ever comes, I''ll definitely come to you." But there was an unspoken understanding: that day hadn''t come yet. Fatty Xu still had lingering attachmentsXu Lili, the girl he saw only a few times but considered his one true love. "You do what you think is best!" Zhang Yi said, not pressuring him. This was a decision Fatty Xu had to make for himself. After ending the call, Zhang Yi continued to eat while enjoying the company of the two women attending to him. A little later, his phone rang againthis time, it was Uncle You. Uncle You, hearing the explosion from far away, called to check on Zhang Yi''s situation. Zhang Yi smiled faintly. Uncle You was one of the few people Zhang Yi completely trusted; their bond was forged through life-and-death experiences. Without hiding anything, Zhang Yi told Uncle You that West Hill Base was attacking his shelter. "What? How dare they attack you?" Uncle You exclaimed, outraged. "Aren''t they supposed to be protecting us?" As a retired soldier, Uncle You couldn''t contain his anger upon hearing that military forces were attacking Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi replied calmly, "Uncle You, they''re not the same as they were in your time." "The apocalypse changes everything. The ones who survived are just a militarized organization, loyal only to themselves. Do you understand?" "They might have strict discipline and a background in official institutions from before the apocalypse, but at the core, they''re no different from the gangs we wiped out, like the Tianhe Gang and the Wild Wolf Gang." "Everyone''s fighting for resources to survive. I''m used to it." Though Zhang Yi spoke casually, Uncle You fell silent, deeply affected. For him, this was a hard truth to swallow. After a moment, Uncle You spoke with determination. "Zhang Yi, wait for me. I have to come to help you with this!" Author''s Note Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 276: The Burden on Xu Family Town Chapter 276: The Burden on Xu Family TownEven though he knew it was dangerous, Uncle You still insisted on helping Zhang Yi, which warmed Zhang Yi''s heart. "Uncle You, thank you! But for now, it''s better if you don''t come over. There are many soldiers around, guarding the area," Zhang Yi advised. "If you come, you''re bound to clash with them. No matter how strong you are, you can''t fend off a pack of wolves alone. They have the numbers, advanced weapons, and several Superhumans. I don''t want you to be in danger." However, Uncle You replied firmly, "You saved my life back then, and the peace I have now is all thanks to you. I can''t just watch while you''re in danger!" "Don''t worry. I''ve fought in the military for many years. I''m not afraid of these soldiers." "Haha, I''m not boasting, but I''ve been on the battlefield before! These kids don''t scare me one bit." Seeing Uncle You''s insistence, Zhang Yi thought it over and finally said, "Alright, Uncle You. I''m safe for now, and they haven''t broken in. But I may launch a counterattack later, and when that happens, I''ll let you know. I want you to be a hidden asset. How about that?" Uncle You nodded. "Alright, I''ll wait for your signal! But Zhang Yi, promise me that if you''re in trouble, you''ll let me know. Don''t treat me as an outsider!" Zhang Yi felt a surge of warmth in his heart. Uncle You was indeed a loyal friend. "I wouldn''t dream of it!" Uncle You was a physically enhanced Superhuman, and Zhang Yi had seen his power firsthandhe could catch a high-speed, full-force charge from his transformed cat, Huahua, with his bare hands. Ordinary firearms couldn''t hurt him. Such a powerful close-combat fighter had to be used wisely to maximize his potential. "I don''t need your help yet. Defense comes first," Zhang Yi said, leaning back on Zhou Ke''er''s soft chest, eyes half-closed, deep in thought. His pet cat Huahua jumped onto his lap, playfully pawing at his pants leg before curling up comfortably with a purr. Zhang Yi stroked the cat''s soft fur. Between him, Uncle You, and the demonic cat Huahua, they had a formidable fighting force. The enemy had no idea that Huahua and Uncle You were part of his hidden arsenal. If he could get Fatty Xu to join the fight, their chances would be even better. "No rush, it''s only a matter of time," Zhang Yi thought with a smile, petting Huahua''s head. He was confident that the soldiers from West Hill Base wouldn''t get along peacefully with the villagers of Xu Family Town. ... Ling Feng had gone back to fetch more explosives, leaving most of the soldiers stationed in Xudong Village. Following Ling Feng''s orders to prepare for a long-term battle, Shi Dayong called over Fatty Xu and Xu Dongtang. Shi Dayong instructed them, "We''re going to stay here for a while. Make sure to clear out some houses for us to live in. And remember, you need to prepare meals for sixty-five people every day!" Fatty Xu''s heart sank. Sixty-five people? He had seen these soldiers eat before, and each one consumed enough for five villagers. In the post-apocalyptic world, the residents of Xu Family Town were barely scraping by, doing everything they could to stretch their food supplies. They couldn''t afford to waste a single grain. But with sixty-five soldiers eating so much, their food wouldn''t last long. Xu Dongtang''s expression also changed. After a moment of hesitation, he forced a smile and said, "Of course! It''s an honor for Xu Family Town to have your guidance." "But when do you think you''ll be able to deal with that murderer Zhang Yi?" Xu Dongtang had initially thought that the soldiers from West Hill Base were there to take down Zhang Yi. Once they did, they would leave. He never expected Zhang Yi to hold off their attacks. Now, he just hoped West Hill Base would speed up their assault. Shi Dayong responded coldly, "The timing and actions are military secrets! Just focus on providing us with what we need." "Remember, we''re here to avenge you, after all." Shi Dayong''s towering presence and authoritative tone left Xu Dongtang speechless, nodding in agreement. After Shi Dayong left, Xu Dongtang straightened up and ordered Fatty Xu, "Chunlei, build more snow houses for our West Hill guests. Make sure you do a good job!" He then summoned the other village chiefs and instructed them to prepare food for the soldiers. The villagers, eager to please, offered up their best supplies, hoping to leave a good impression on the soldiers. Fatty Xu watched all of this with growing concern. But he had learned to keep his thoughts to himself; no one would listen to him anyway. "To them, no matter how strong I am, I''m still just a useless fat otaku!" Fatty Xu thought bitterly, deciding to focus on protecting himself and Xu Lili''s family. ... Back in his shelter, Zhang Yi set up a rotation of guards to monitor the surveillance equipment, ensuring that West Hill Base wouldn''t launch a surprise attack while he slept. He was certain their next move would come from the same direction as before, so he kept his cameras focused on the small hill. While the high-definition cameras couldn''t capture clear images from two kilometers away in the blizzard, any significant movement of heavy explosives would cause enough noise to be detected. To ensure nothing was missed, Zhang Yi assigned Lu Keran, the most reliable person in his group, to keep watch, accompanied by Huahua. The cat''s keen senses made it a perfect observer. Huahua, ever so perceptive, agreed to the task in exchange for several boxes of dried fish. When Zhang Yi wasn''t keeping watch himself, Lu Keran and Huahua took over. However, that night, West Hill Base didn''t make any moves against the shelter. Although a night raid would have been effective, the above-ground floors of the shelter were completely empty, and the soldiers, no matter how fit, couldn''t throw explosives with precision in the dark. Author''s Note Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 277: Killing My Own Team Chapter 277: Killing My Own TeamAt dawn, Zhang Yi was awakened by Huahua''s cries. He quickly got up from the sofa where he had been sleeping in his clothes, ready to respond to any sudden changes. Rushing to the surveillance monitors, he noticed some activity near the small hill. "Trying to attack me while I''m asleep? How sneaky!" Zhang Yi muttered. Ling Feng planned to take advantage of Zhang Yi''s deep sleep at dawn to launch an assault. Though unsure if it would work, it was worth a shot. Zhang Yi noticed the movement and ran upstairs. Preparing a bundle of 500 kilograms of explosives took time and precisionone misstep could turn the dozen people on-site into ashes. The demolition team members were extremely careful, each carrying 50 kilograms of TNT to the target location, setting up the detonators, and configuring the timed explosions. "Let''s make sure our aim is precise!" Ling Feng joked to Shi Dayong, who was beside him. "If we miss, I''ll have to go back to get more explosives!" Shi Dayong laughed. "Relax, boss. I got first place in grenade throwing back in the military competitions!" The two seemed relaxed. They had found a way to deal with the shelter, holding Zhang Yi''s life in their hands. To them, once the fortress was breached, Zhang Yi would be easy prey. From his second-floor position, Zhang Yi used binoculars to observe the small hill. Hidden behind one-way glass, Ling Feng and his team could see nothing but darkness and had no way of detecting Zhang Yi''s presence. However, Zhang Yi could clearly see their positions, about 2,400 meters away. They knew Zhang Yi was a deadly sniper, so they kept a safe distance, unaware that his sniping was far more than just preciseit was enhanced by his Superhuman powers, boosting both range and power. With the Dimensional Gate fully restored, Zhang Yi was ready to strike back. But he didn''t act hastily; opening a window now would expose the shelter to further damage from an explosion. He waited for the enemy to make the first move. Zhang Yi continued to watch the small hill, and Ling Feng, sensing something, glanced in Zhang Yi''s direction as if their gazes met through the glass. "What an incredible intuition!" Zhang Yi thought, squinting slightly. Ling Feng smirked, folding his arms. "He''s watching us!" Shi Dayong and Zheng Xuerong followed his gaze. Ling Feng''s instincts were frighteningly accurate, even sensing a watchful presence from such a distance. "What''s he doing? Waiting to die? Or making a last desperate struggle?" Zheng Xuerong asked. Her icy blue eyes made her look like a mixed-race individual despite her Asian appearance. "Who cares? He''s probably scared, but what good does that do him?" Shi Dayong chuckled, hands in his pockets. "His Superhuman powers can''t withstand TNT''s blast. All he can do is watch us destroy his house." Ling Feng added, "If possible, I''d actually like to recruit him into our team! His abilities show great potential." Though their encounter had been brief, Ling Feng was intrigued by Zhang Yi''s capabilities. Shi Dayong frowned. "What about our fallen comrades?" Ling Feng responded coldly, "Dying in battle is a soldier''s fate. Besides, our leader specifically wants him alive. The leader knows how valuable a powerful Superhuman is to our organization." Hearing the leader''s name, Shi Dayong immediately fell silent, unwilling to argue further. He watched as the demolition team assembled another massive bundle of explosives, hoping to damage the shelter as they did yesterday. Shi Dayong transformed into a snow gorilla, and he and Ling Feng together hurled the explosives toward the shelter. Zhang Yi watched the giant bundle fly through the air, took a deep breath, and extended his right hand. The explosives hadn''t even traveled halfway before Zhang Yi made his move. Waiting any longer would be too risky; he didn''t want them getting too close. "Dimensional Gate!" Zhang Yi called out dramatically, glad no one was around to witness his corny battle cry. A massive, invisible gate opened above the shelter, and though intangible, Zhang Yi could clearly sense its presence. This time, he wasn''t absorbing the explosives. He had learned that his Dimensional Space couldn''t handle such a large-scale blast. Instead, he released the previously stored explosive energy from his space. The force erupted from the Dimensional Gate, creating a powerful shockwave that sent the incoming explosives flying back in the direction they came from. Ling Feng and his team''s smiles vanished instantly. "Take cover!" Ling Feng shouted, diving to the ground. The 500-kilogram TNT bundle, propelled by the blast wave, flew back toward the small hill, rolling on the ground. Thanks to TNT''s stability, the impact didn''t trigger an immediate explosion, but the timed detonator ensured it would go off within seconds. Moments later, an enormous fireball engulfed the area, melting all the snow within a kilometer radius. The heatwave reached the hilltop in an instant, flinging several soldiers who hadn''t taken cover. They were the lucky ones. Further down the hill, more soldiers had been lying in wait, ready to storm the shelter. They were just a few hundred meters from the blast site. The explosion''s fire and shockwave swept outwards, incinerating everything in its path. Protective suits, body armor, weaponsall were reduced to ash in the intense heat. Flesh and blood charred in an instant. The blazing fire swept across the landscape, wiping out nearly all the ambushed special forces team members. Zhang Yi watched from a distance, smiling at the unexpectedly effective outcome. He had only intended to deflect the explosives away from his shelter, but the resulting counterattack had decimated many of the enemy soldiers. "Hot weapons are indeed powerful!" Zhang Yi marveled, laughing. "But I use them better than they do!" Zhang Yi had only released a portion of the stored energy; the primary damage was caused by the TNT itself. The success of this experiment confirmed that he could continue using this method to counter their attacks. Unless the enemy was willing to lose more soldiers, this tactic would be off the table. The explosion''s heat raised the temperature on the small hill to unimaginable levels. At the base of the hill, a massive ice sheet suddenly cracked, and Zheng Xuerong staggered to her feet, visibly weakened. She had managed to create an ice shield in time, absorbing much of the heat and saving her comrades from death. However, maintaining the ice shield had drained her considerably. Ling Feng broke through the ice, climbed the hill, and was stunned by the scene below. The others emerged to survey the aftermath of the explosion, all dumbfounded by the devastation before them. What they had planned to dodetonate the explosives near the shelterhad failed spectacularly. Instead, the TNT had been blown back towards them, unleashing its destructive power upon their own forces. This operation wasn''t just a failure; it was a catastrophic loss. Many special forces soldiers died by their own explosives. What had seemed like a foolproof strategy had turned into their downfall. Ling Feng stared at the charred remains of his comrades, trembling. These were his brothers, people who had survived the apocalypse together, only to die in the blink of an eye due to their own plan. "No!" Ling Feng roared in anguish, his eyes filled with rage and grief. Shi Dayong dropped to his knees, smashing the ground in fury. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had only themselves to blame; Zhang Yi had merely turned their own strategy against them in the most devastating way possible. Author''s Note Chapter 278: Strength of Captain-Level Superhumans Chapter 278: Strength of Captain-Level SuperhumansIn the recent battle, the ACE Special Forces, including three modified Superhumans, suffered 23 casualties. It was laughably tragic. These were elite warriors, unmatched in individual and coordinated combat skills, destined to achieve great things in the apocalypse. Yet, they died most ridiculouslyblown up by their own explosives. From beginning to end, they never even saw what Zhang Yi looked like. Life is fragile. It doesn''t matter if you''re a prodigy or someone with high status; in death, you''re just another worthless corpse. Zhang Yi watched from afar. The area was ablaze, making it impossible to determine the full extent of the damage inflicted on West Hill Base. He could only wait and see their next move to make a rough assessment. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On Ling Feng''s side, the atmosphere was unbearably tense. Ling Feng''s expression was fierce, like a wild beast ready to devour anyone in sight. "What the hell was that power just now?" Ling Feng asked, glaring at Academician Wu. His face remained calm, but his barely contained fury was palpable. The esteemed captain of the ACE Special Forces had led a mission, expecting to end the fight in just three hours and capture Zhang Yi alive. Yet, after days, they still hadn''t breached the shelter. Instead, they lost many elite soldiers. Each fallen warrior was a precious asset to West Hill Base, nearly irreplaceable. Ling Feng''s pride was in tatters. They had exhausted their latest strategy, only to see it backfire. What now? Would they resort to a suicide mission to manually detonate the explosives? Even that would be a foolish move, as Zhang Yi''s counterattacks were formidable. Plus, no one was willing to be a sacrificial pawn. Academician Wu adjusted his glasses and analyzed, "Based on our previous assumptions, his space ability can absorb attacks and then redirect them. Shen Hong and his team were defeated this way. The energy from the last explosion was partially absorbed, and Zhang Yi used it to repel the incoming explosives." Ling Feng took a deep breath. "So, what can we do to avoid being affected by his power?" Facing Ling Feng''s intense gaze, Academician Wu coughed awkwardly. "Based on my calculations, most of the explosive energy was indeed absorbed. If all 500 kilograms of TNT had been detonated normally, it would have completely destroyed a wall. Zhang Yi likely stored some of the blast''s energy and used only a fraction of it to deflect our explosives." "This approach won''t work anymore." Ling Feng, though expecting this answer, couldn''t help but grimace when hearing it confirmed by a professional. Everyone else looked equally troubled. Nothing seemed to work. Was Zhang Yi really that difficult to deal with? Ling Feng forced himself to stay calm. He was furious that he didn''t have a missile on handotherwise, he would have obliterated Zhang Yi''s shelter and ended this nightmare. But even standard missiles would only destroy the structures above ground; they wouldn''t touch the more fortified underground levels. Contemplating their next move, Ling Feng pondered aloud, "What if we dug our way underground and attacked from below? We could plant enough explosives to send the whole place sky-high!" Academician Wu shook his head. "Typically, apocalypse shelters are built underground, with their subterranean parts much stronger than the above-ground structures. Below, there''s no need for aesthetics or lighting; only durability matters. If we can''t breach the top, attacking from below is even harder." Ling Feng''s resolve didn''t waver. "We''re not afraid of challenges; we''re afraid of failing the mission!" Academician Wu hesitated before replying, "But with our current resources, this isn''t feasible. We lack the heavy machinery used centuries ago. Even breaking through the frozen ground by hand is an impossible task. And if we''re not careful, Zhang Yi will detect our tunneling efforts, making it all for nothing." Shi Dayong suddenly suggested sinisterly, "Isn''t Xu Family Town home to over a thousand people? We could force them to dig!" Academician Wu objected, "Even if they have the numbers, asking them to dig in this extreme cold with primitive tools would be a death sentence! If not properly managed, the noise alone would alert Zhang Yi." Shi Dayong fell silent, clenching his fists and glaring hatefully in the direction of the shelter. Ling Feng, however, still hadn''t completely abandoned the idea. His only goal was to complete the mission, even if it required sacrifices. As the smoke cleared, Zhang Yi looked outside. The snow had melted completely, and many houses and dead trees were burning. The surrounding air was unusually warm, with the intense heat vaporizing any water from the melting snow. Cloud Manor, once Tianhai City''s most luxurious villa district, was now half-destroyed by multiple explosions, with only a few solitary villas still standing. "Now that your turn is over, it''s my turn!" Zhang Yi muttered, confirming the enemy''s failed attack. He was not one to let others attack without retaliation. "Dimensional Gate, open!" Zhang Yi positioned the Dimensional Gate in front of the window and ordered Xiao Ai to open it quickly. He then set up his newly modified heavy sniper rifle and aimed at the group two kilometers away on the small hill. Ling Feng and his team, still reeling from their losses, were strategizing on how to breach the shelter. Suddenly, an urgent voice came through the radio. "Captain, he''s aiming at you with a sniper rifle!" Ling Feng''s eyes narrowed just as he felt a rush of wind. Time seemed to slow as he spotted a bullet, enhanced by Superhuman powers, speeding toward his forehead. "Whoosh!" Ling Feng tilted his head, and the bullet grazed his ear. He turned his gaze towards the shelter and caught sight of Zhang Yi behind the window. Ling Feng''s eyes were bloodshot with hatred. "Zhang Yi!!" Zhang Yi, seeing Ling Feng''s reaction, was impressed. "He truly deserves to be their leader!" Though disappointed that his shot missed, Zhang Yi wasn''t surprised. Many fighters at West Hill Base had Superhuman abilities that enhanced their physical strength, speed, or durability. Still, Ling Feng''s strength far exceeded that of Liu Ziyang, Shen Hong, and others Zhang Yi had faced. "He''s a tough one!" Wasting no time, Zhang Yi shifted his aim towards the next most obvious targetthe giant snow gorilla, Shi Dayong. Ling Feng warned his team, "Watch out, sniper!" No one expected Zhang Yi to be able to snipe from such a distance. Despite Ling Feng''s warning, Shi Dayong, lacking agility, couldn''t dodge in time. Blood splattered as the bullet pierced his forehead, but instead of collapsing, Shi Dayong yelled in pain and pulled out the bullet embedded in his skull. "Damn, that hurt!" Shi Dayong growled, his monstrous defenses proving as tough as a tank. These core members of West Hill Base''s special forces were far from easy prey. Ordinary weapons were almost useless against them. Before Zhang Yi could fire a third shot, Ling Feng and his team had already taken cover, disappearing from his line of sight. A sharp whistle pierced the air as two sniper bullets came at Zhang Yi from different directions. Both shots were swallowed by Zhang Yi''s Dimensional Space. Without a moment''s hesitation, Zhang Yi redirected the bullets back to their original shooters. The enemy snipers, elite marksmen, were hit by their own bullets, each shot returning with deadly precision, striking their chests. Both snipers died without ever realizing that the bullets that killed them were fired from their own guns. Author''s Note Chapter 279: Extraordinary Physique Chapter 279: Extraordinary PhysiqueZhang Yi continued using his sniper rifle to search for targets. However, the remaining soldiers were elite fighters; as soon as they realized Zhang Yi was targeting them, they immediately hid. Ling Feng had warned them about Zhang Yi''s deadly accuracy, but they never expected his sniper rifle to have such a lethal range, even from over two kilometers away. After scanning the area, Zhang Yi found no more targets, feeling a twinge of disappointmentnot because he didn''t kill more soldiers, but because ordinary grunts posed no real threat to him. His true target was the Superhuman leaders, especially those leading the team. Unfortunately, one of his bullets had been dodged by the short captain, and the other had been withstood by the beast-like snow gorilla! "Even with a heavy sniper, the bullet''s power is greatly diminished over such a long distance," Zhang Yi thought. "But I wouldn''t want to fight them up close." Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a one-on-one battle, Zhang Yi wouldn''t fear anyone. With the Dimensional Gate at his disposal, anyone attempting to strike him at close range would be dragged into his alternate space. Even Superhumans, trapped inside the near-stagnant time of his dimensional space, would either suffocate or suffer a mental breakdown. However, given the sheer number of enemies, Zhang Yi chose to play it safe. As Zhang Yi contemplated how to eliminate the opposing Superhumans, his eyes caught sight of something peculiar on the ground in the distance. A sudden plume of dust shot up, as if something was speeding toward him. Zhang Yi couldn''t see exactly what it was, but he could feel its presence. The object moved too fast for the naked eye to track. "What the heck is that?" Zhang Yi muttered just as the object slammed into the shelter''s wall at full speed. "Boom!" The impact was loud, and Zhang Yi, lying by the window, felt a slight vibration. The shelter''s walls were incredibly sturdy, so anything that could cause even a minor tremor had to be immensely powerful. Looking down, Zhang Yi saw that the attacker wasn''t an objectit was a man. Wearing a white combat suit, with a buzz cut and dark skin, this man was none other than the short captain Zhang Yi had aimed for earlier. "This guy''s a total freak!" Zhang Yi remarked, watching the man below. Ling Feng, the captain of the West Hill Base assault team, looked up and locked eyes with Zhang Yi. In Ling Feng''s eyes, there was fury and arrogance; in Zhang Yi''s eyes, there was only cold indifference, as if everything unfolding was just a game within his control. Zhang Yi adjusted his rifle, aiming directly at Ling Feng''s head. At this range, even if his skull were made of steel, it wouldn''t withstand a sniper bullet. But before Zhang Yi could pull the trigger, Ling Feng vanished like a ghost. His speed was unlike anything Zhang Yi had ever seen, comparable only to the rapid movements of insects. The shelter''s AI, Xiao Ai, chimed in, "The shelter wall has sustained damage: 0.028%." Zhang Yi peered at Ling Feng standing outside the shelter. "This guy''s a real monster. Not only does he have incredible speed, but his strength is also insaneno wonder he''s the captain of the West Hill Base assault team." Ling Feng pointed at Zhang Yi from afar, shouting, "I''ll shatter your turtle shell sooner or later!" Zhang Yi smirked, taunting him, "Come on, then!" He fired another shot at Ling Feng, but Ling Feng''s movements were too fast, like a phantom. Even Zhang Yi couldn''t keep track of him. Ling Feng''s incredible speed made him both a formidable foe and a tricky target. Fortunately for Zhang Yi, he was safe inside the shelter. Meeting Ling Feng outside would be extremely dangerous. It wasn''t that Zhang Yi couldn''t defeat Ling Feng; his extraordinary speed was both an asset and a vulnerability. If Zhang Yi could predict Ling Feng''s attack trajectory, he could open a Dimensional Gate in his path, trapping Ling Feng in the alternate space where he would be at Zhang Yi''s mercy. However, if Ling Feng avoided the gate, the tables could turn. Zhang Yi considered a head-to-head fight between them to be a fifty-fifty chance. But why leave the shelter when he could stay invincible inside? Zhang Yi continued shooting, not expecting to kill Ling Feng but wanting to test the limits of his abilities. After dodging several shots, Ling Feng seemed to realize Zhang Yi''s intent. Ling Feng glared fiercely at Zhang Yi before vanishing from sight in a flash. Zhang Yi scanned the battlefield for more enemies to eliminate, but the ACE Special Forces were already well-informed and wouldn''t easily expose themselves. With no good targets, Zhang Yi wondered, "Did they retreat, or are they waiting for another chance to strike?" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. After such a resounding failure, it was unlikely the enemy would try the same strategy again. This was a battle of wits and stamina, and Zhang Yi knew he had the upper hand. His shelter could protect him indefinitely, but how long could West Hill Base keep pouring resources and manpower into attacking it? Ultimately, this was a battle of endurancewho would break first? Settling back comfortably at the window, Zhang Yi adjusted his sniper scope and aimed at the charred corpses at the base of the hill. If the special forces attempted to retrieve their fallen comrades, they''d have to be ready to face death. Ling Feng and his team eventually decided to retreat to Xu Family Town to rest and reassess their strategy. The day''s failure had dealt a severe blow to their morale, but Ling Feng wasn''t the type to act rashly. Seeing that the battle wasn''t going in their favor, he knew it was time to rethink their approach. "Let''s fall back to Xu Family Town and regroup. We need to devise a new plan!" Ling Feng ordered, determined to find a way to breach Zhang Yi''s defenses. Zheng Xuerong let out a sigh of relief. "You scared me! When I saw you charge in earlier, I thought you''d lost your mind." Ling Feng shook his head. "You really think I rushed in recklessly? I was testing the shelter''s wall strength." Raising his fist, Ling Feng continued, "I''ve discovered a new method that might damage the walls." Zheng Xuerong stared at him in disbelief. "Captain, you''re not seriously suggesting using your fists, are you?" Everyone at West Hill Base knew Ling Feng''s strength was terrifying, but breaking through the shelter''s thick walls with just his fists would take an eternity. Ling Feng, however, was resolute. "If that''s the only viable option, we have to try it!" Ling Feng declared. "Our guns and explosives have lost their effectiveness. The simplest methods might just be the most effective." He added, "Think about itwhy didn''t Zhang Yi absorb the explosives and our demolition team when we set them up?" The others pondered Ling Feng''s words. Academician Wu analyzed, "It''s true. If his ability could swallow anything, he could''ve taken out our entire demolition team along with the explosives. But he didn''the waited until we left." Ling Feng nodded. "Exactly. His ability seems to have limitations, especially when dealing with living beings." "I charged in to confirm the wall''s durability and test his spatial abilities. It turns out that his space manipulation doesn''t seem to have any offensive capabilities. It''s all defense." Ling Feng continued, "So, using manpower to destroy the shelter is entirely feasible." The team quickly pieced together Zhang Yi''s capabilities. As experts in Superhuman research, they analyzed his powers with precision. Shi Dayong, excited, said, "This is doable! We''ve got plenty of Superhumans with enhanced strength. We''ll take turns smashing that wall until it falls!" He turned to Liang Yue. "Teacher Liang, your swordsmanship is incredible. We''ll strike together when the time comes!" Liang Yue raised her eyebrows slightly and said softly, "Do whatever you think is best. I have no objections." She had her own thoughts, but for now, she played along with Ling Feng and the others. Academician Wu warned, "Are you all serious? Even as Superhumans with immense strength, breaking down that wall with just fists and swords would take ages." Ling Feng stared at the black fortress, unmoved. "If that''s the only way, then we''ll do it, no matter how long it takes. Whether for the future of West Hill Base or to avenge our fallen brothers, we won''t stop." Ling Feng knew that Zhang Yi''s resources were critical for alleviating West Hill Base''s supply crisis. Even a slim chance was worth pursuing. "Let''s go back!" Ling Feng said, feeling the pangs of hunger. He glanced at the burning bodies of his fallen comrades. "What about our brothers'' remains?" Shi Dayong asked, his voice heavy with grief. Ling Feng, cautious, replied, "Going back now would only lead to another ambush. Be patient. We''ll collect their remains once we''ve taken the shelter." Author''s Note Chapter 280: New Information Chapter 280: New Information Ling Feng led his special forces team back to Xu Family Town. They had departed with high spirits, but returned utterly defeated. As the group arrived, Xu Dongtang and the other village leaders rushed to greet them. Xu Dongtang smiled obsequiously and asked, "Captain Ling, did you manage to kill that scoundrel Zhang Yi?" The other village representatives chimed in, "Yeah, I heard that huge explosion. Did it blow his whole house away?" "Did you blast Zhang Yi to ashes?" Sar?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "As expected of Captain Ling, you achieve great victories the moment you take action. Impressive!" "Captain Ling is mighty, and so is West Hill Base!" ... The villagers'' flattery poured out, but the more the special forces heard, the darker their expressions grew. They had just suffered a major defeat, losing nearly half their comrades, and were already in a foul mood. The villagers'' fawning remarks felt more like mockery. Shi Dayong snapped, "Shut up!" His voice was so loud and forceful that everyone fell silent, staring at him in stunned silence. Realizing their mistake, the villagers quickly quieted down. Ling Feng stepped forward and addressed Xu Dongtang and the others, "We''re hungry. Prepare more food than usual!" After giving his order, Ling Feng walked toward their temporary accommodations. Shi Dayong glared at Xu Dongtang and warned, "We fought a hard battle today, so make sure the food is good. Got it?" "Y-yes, of course!" Xu Dongtang and the other villagers didn''t dare to defy their orders; after all, every soldier was armed. But as soon as the special forces were out of earshot, the villagers couldn''t help but murmur among themselves. "Looks like they lost." "What? They couldn''t even handle Zhang Yi?" "Who knows? Zhang Yi is a ruthless man with wicked methods!" "But they''re the regular army! Look at all their gear; they''re armed to the teeth. How can so many of them lose to one person? It''s embarrassing!" ... The villagers'' whispers were quiet, but the soldiers, with their enhanced hearing, heard every word. Their faces burned with shame, but they could only pretend not to hear. They had already lost the battle; arguing with the villagers would only make them look worse. Shi Dayong grumbled to Ling Feng, "These villagers are getting too bold. Let me teach them a lesson!" Ling Feng glanced at him coldly. "No need! We still need them to supply us with food and labor. If we deal with them, we''ll do it after we''ve dealt with Zhang Yi." As he walked into the snow hut, Ling Feng added, "West Hill Base also needs additional labor. When the time comes, we''ll have them contribute to the organization!" Shi Dayong nodded. "Lucky for them! Back in the day, I''d have killed a few by now." West Hill Base''s soldiers were all battle-hardened. Although none of them had been in actual war before the apocalypse, they had killed countless people. In the early days, many had tried to force their way into West Hill Base''s shelter, and the soldiers, following Chen Xinian''s orders, had eliminated every intruder. Later, when The Fourth Life Pod had riots due to resource distribution, it was these same soldiers who suppressed the uprisings. Xu Dongtang, surrounded by anxious villagers, tried to calm them down. The villagers were growing increasingly worried. "Mayor, didn''t you say they''d be gone in a couple of days? It''s been much longer now!" "I don''t think they''re leaving anytime soon. They lost the battle, so it looks like it''s going to drag on!" "And these soldiers eat so much. One soldier eats more in a day than my entire family does!" "At this rate, Xu Family Town can''t keep up!" Xu Dongtang frowned, feeling uneasy. To maintain order, he reassured the villagers to stay calm. Among the crowd, Fatty Xu could only sigh helplessly. Everything Zhang Yi had warned him about was coming true. Xu Dongtang had welcomed these soldiers, but now it was clear that getting rid of them would be far more difficult. Fatty Xu went home and immediately called Zhang Yi. "Boss, those West Hill Base soldiers came back in bad shape. There''s only half of them left. Did you take them out?" Through Fatty Xu''s report, Zhang Yi learned that the West Hill soldiers had retreated. He put away his sniper rifle and closed the window. "Yes, I sent them packing. How do they look? Are their spirits still intact?" Judging by their expressions, Zhang Yi wanted to gauge their next move. Understanding the opponent''s mindset was crucial. "They look like beaten dogs, all gloomy and miserable," Fatty Xu said. "And as soon as they got back, they demanded food. Shameless!" Fatty Xu also felt sorry for the villagers'' food supplies. Although Xu Family Town was known for agriculture and fishing, each household only had enough to last a year or so. Feeding a group of ravenous soldiers who demanded the best was becoming unsustainable. Zhang Yi chuckled, "This is just the beginning. For now, they''re still being somewhat polite to you. But over time, they might stop seeing you as people at all." "Fatty, how''s your history knowledge?" "Not great. Why are you asking, Boss?" Fatty Xu scratched his head. Zhang Yi said, "I just want to remind you that these West Hill soldiers are ruthless, with no regard for life. Throughout history, whenever there''s been extreme food scarcity, soldiers have often resorted to using people as food." "Xu Family Town is full of people, isn''t it? I''d call it a large meat processing plant." Zhang Yi''s words sent chills down Fatty Xu''s spine. "Boss, stop! That''s terrifying!" "They wouldn''t actually go that far, would they?" Fatty Xu glanced at his own chubby body, feeling like he was just a fat pig in a meat factory. Zhang Yi replied with a smirk, "Who knows? If I were in your shoes, I''d have fled by now!" Fatty Xu hesitated, unsure of his next move. Zhang Yi encouraged him, "Don''t worry. As a Superhuman, they''ll think twice before messing with you. But if you ever feel things are getting dangerous, come to me. I''ve got your back!" Zhang Yi wanted Fatty Xu to stay put as his informant, so he reassured him to keep his spirits up. Fatty Xu, feeling reassured, agreed. "Alright, Boss. I''ll stick it out. But if things get really bad, you''ve got to help me!" "Of course. Keep an eye on their movements and report any changes to me. Understood?" "Absolutely!" After hanging up, Zhang Yi asked Xiao Ai to display the 3D structure of the shelter. "What''s the external damage today?" Xiao Ai highlighted the damaged area. "Damage from gunfire: 0.00001%. Damage from an unidentified impact: 0.028%." Zhang Yi zoomed in on the unidentified impact, revealing a shallow fist mark. "Ling Feng, huh? What a monster!" Zhang Yi couldn''t help but be impressed. Ling Feng, the captain of the ACE Special Forces, was the strongest Superhuman Zhang Yi had encountered so far, with monstrous speed and strength. "Could West Hill Base have a way to enhance Superhuman abilities?" Zhang Yi wondered, recalling Liu Ziyang, who had undergone forced mutation at the cost of his health and lifespan. He speculated that Ling Feng''s immense power might also be the result of some modification. For a brief moment, Zhang Yi was tempted by the idea of enhancing his own powers. But he quickly dismissed the thought. It wasn''t worth risking his health and safety. Zhang Yi returned to the basement, where Zhou Ke''er immediately rushed to check on him. "Zhang Yi, are you hurt?" "I''m fine. They''re the ones who got hurt," Zhang Yi replied with a smile, his spirits lifting as he looked at the women around him. When Yang Siya brought him beer and snacks, Zhang Yi asked Lu Keran, "Our shelter''s outer walls took some damage. Can we repair them?" Lu Keran thought for a moment. "I can fix the high-strength alloy, but I''ll need some special materials. And even if we get the materials, repairing the wall means going outside, which isn''t possible right now." Zhang Yi reassured her, "As long as it''s fixable, that''s good enough. We''re not in a rush." Everyone relaxed, enjoying a brief moment of calm in the aftermath of the battle. As they shared lunch, Yang Xinxin''s phone suddenly beeped, catching everyone''s attention. She checked the message calmly and handed the phone to Zhang Yi. "It''s from Liang Yue. She says she and her students need our help and wants to talk." Seeing the name "Liang Yue," Zhang Yi immediately thought of the Superhuman with the Tang sword he had encountered. It seemed Liang Yue had joined forces with West Hill Base. Author''s Note Chapter 281: Liang Yue’s Request for Cooperation Chapter 281: Liang Yues Request for Cooperation Zhang Yi looked at the message from Liang Yue and fell into deep thought. He still remembered that female martial artist with fierce blade techniques! Back then, she had been in a state of hunger and exhaustion for a long time but still fought with everything she had against Hua Hua. If she had been at full strength, her combat ability would have been even more formidable! Having joined West Hill Base not long ago, she was already able to go out on missions with the special forces, which suggested that her status at West Hill Base was quite high. But why was she looking for Yang Xinxin? Did she need help? Zhang Yi didnt know much about the situation at West Hill Base, nor did he understand what kind of person Liang Yue was. It wasnt out of the question that this could be a trap. Maybe Ling Feng, realizing that a direct attack on the shelter wouldn''t work, had switched tactics and was trying to trick Yang Xinxin into opening the door for Liang Yue. Crossing his arms, a posture that usually indicated his wariness, Zhang Yi turned to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, asking seriously, Can you two tell me more about this Liang Yue? Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin immediately shared what they knew about Liang Yue. Liang Yue, 27 years old. A national-level martial arts expert, skilled in more than 300 forms of martial arts and over a dozen kinds of international combat techniques. She excelled in knife fighting and grappling and had once been a bodyguard for a certain powerful figure, even serving as the personal bodyguard of a female leader. Later, she was recruited by the Tianqing Academy board with an annual salary of three million to teach martial arts at the school. "Shes cold on the outside but warm on the inside Wait a minute! Zhang Yi interrupted, curious. Are you talking about her physical traits or her personality? Lu Keran scratched his head in confusion, not quite understanding. Yang Xinxin grinned and said, Its hard to say for sure without a personal test in that department. But I think Keran was referring to her personality! Zhang Yi felt a little disappointed. Oh, alright. Continue. Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin went on. Liang Yue had practiced martial arts from a young age, making her a top-tier martial artist with a pure and straightforward personality. She was known to be stubborn but was clearly a good person. Otherwise, when the apocalypse hit, she could have easily survived on her own instead of dragging her class of "deadweight" students along with her. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Xinxin tilted her head. If it werent for Teacher Liang, our classmates wouldve become Hua Huas dinner! As if on cue, Hua Hua, who had been napping during the day, yawned wide, her mouth full of a fishy stench. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, slowly contemplating. Both Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran had known Liang Yue for a long time. As a teacher, she had no reason to fake her personality for so long. The trials of the apocalypse were enough proof of her character. And just talking to her wouldnt cost him anything. Hed see what she was up to. Who knows? It might even benefit him. After thinking it through, Zhang Yi asked Yang Xinxin, If I use your phone to talk to her, is there a risk she could plant a virus and mess with the shelters network? Yang Xinxin was confident. Dont worry, brother. My phones defenses are just as strong as the control rooms computer! Zhang Yi nodded. Good, then Ill use your phone to chat with her. Yang Xinxin had no objections. Zhang Yi took Yang Xinxins phone and sent a message to Liang Yue. Im Zhang Yi. What do you want to talk about? At that moment, Liang Yue was in her room in Xu Dong Village. As a squad leader and a female Superhuman, she had her own private room, specially built by Fatty Xu. After witnessing Zhang Yis strength, Liang Yue had made up her mind to cooperate with him. Time wasnt on her side, and delaying any further could mean losing students every day. Seeing Zhang Yis reply, Liang Yue was overjoyed and quickly responded, Zhang Yi, I hope we can work together! My students are at West Hill Base, and their lives are in danger. Im asking for your help! Zhang Yi remained cautious. You want my help? Arent you all doing fine at West Hill Base? Arent Tianqing Academy students supposed to be privileged elites? His tone was laced with sarcasm. After all, those who got into Tianqing Academy, aside from geniuses like Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, were either rich or from high society. Liang Yue replied, You should know, in times like these, past status and wealth mean nothing. Im genuinely seeking your cooperation. Im now a squad leader in West Hill Bases special forces. I think you could use my help. In exchange, Im asking for your help in getting my students out of there. What do you think? Zhang Yi stroked his chin, carefully analyzing the implications behind her words. Something about Liang Yues plea felt off, very off. Isnt West Hill Base a large underground refuge? Why would there be life-threatening danger there? And Liang Yue, a powerful Superhuman, cant even protect a group of students? Zhang Yi knew nothing about the internal workings of West Hill Base, which made it even harder to understand why Liang Yue was asking for his help. But one thing was clear: he wasnt about to launch an attack on West Hill Base. He had enough strength to protect himself, but assaulting a refuge with a formidable armed force and full industrial capabilities was far too risky. So, Zhang Yi didnt rush to respond to Liang Yues request. Instead, he asked, I know nothing about West Hill Base. If you want my help, at least tell me something about its internal situation. Even if they didnt make a deal, getting some free intel wouldnt hurt. Author''s Note Chapter 282: Choosing Negotiations Chapter 282: Choosing Negotiations Zhang Yi immediately discussed with Liang Yue and agreed to collaborate with her. However, the condition was that Liang Yue had to assist him in secretly dealing with West Hill Base. For Liang Yue, this was no problem. She had long hated that evil place and couldnt wait to see it destroyed. Thus, the two quickly reached an agreement. As for how Liang Yue would get the students out, that was her own problem. The most Zhang Yi could do was provide some assistance; he wasnt going to personally help her rescue them. Still, Zhang Yi was curiouswhat was Liang Yue planning to do? He repeatedly confirmed with Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran: "How''s your Teacher Liang''s brain functioning these days?" The two of them laughed, "Oh, she''s still sharp! She wont do anything foolish!" Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, a playful smile on his face, "Really? Then Im curious to see how she plans to get all those students out." ... At Xu Family Town, Liang Yue felt a slight relief after receiving Zhang Yi''s promise. At least she had secured a backup plan for the students. Now, she had to think about how to get them out of West Hill Base. If it were just one or two people, given her current position as the captain of the Special Forces, it wouldnt be difficult. After all, the people from the Fourth Life Pod were just laborers and test subjects now. But taking out more than thirty students in one go? That was a whole different challenge. "I need to find the right opportunity!" Liang Yue thought to herself. The best time would be during a significant upheaval at West Hill Base. She couldnt act recklessly. If anything leaked, it would be a disaster. She tucked her phone into her white boots. She had two phones, a secret she kept hidden. When she first entered West Hill Base, her phone was confiscated and inspected. Liang Yue suspected they had installed monitoring software. Fortunately, she had a backup phone. She turned in one, but secretly kept the other, which she used to contact Zhang Yi. Meanwhile, Ling Feng, Shi Dayong, and a few other trusted followers were in another snow house, eating while discussing their next offensive plan. Ling Feng and Shi Dayong were among the strongest Superhumans at West Hill Base. As top-tier fighters, their physical prowess and combat skills were far superior to ordinary people. After their awakening, they became even more powerful! Coupled with the advanced technology and enhancements at West Hill Base, Ling Feng was practically a perfect super soldier. The only drawback was the enormous consumption of resources. Despite his short stature, Ling Feng could eat enough for five soldiers on a regular day! Today, he was eating even more, having overused his powers. Ling Feng grabbed a roasted fish and bit off half of it in one go. Munching on it, he spoke indistinctly to the others around him, "From what we can see, regular attacks wont work against that shelter." "So, put your weapons aside for now and focus on perimeter surveillance. As for Zhang Yi, leave him to us!" The soldiers, intrigued, asked, "If we dont need to fight Zhang Yi, who else should we prepare for?" Ling Feng smiled slyly, "Tianhai City isnt the only place with shelters. The commotion we''ve caused recently might attract other forces." "Also, Ive noticed the villagers in Xu Family Town starting to resent us. Keep an eye on them!" The soldiers burst into laughter. "You mean those villagers? Captain, come on. Do they even have the guts?" Ling Feng replied calmly, "People like them are prone to foolish, impulsive actions. Better to be cautious. If they rebel, just shoot a few, and the rest will fall in line." The soldiers nodded. Theyd done this kind of thing before, and they were good at it. At that moment, a female soldier approached. "Captain, the Leader wants to speak with you." The mention of "Leader" made the atmosphere tense. They had been out for two days, and although they had gathered a lot of explosives from West Hill Base, the shelter remained intact. Worse, they had lost nearly half of their troops. Reporting this outcome was bound to infuriate their leader. Everyone was nervous for Ling Feng. Ling Feng, however, remained calm, putting down his fishbone and standing up casually. It wasnt that he wasnt anxious; as the person in charge, he knew he had to take responsibility. Ling Feng approached the communication device next door. It was a special computer with far more functions than an ordinary one, allowing communication with West Hill Base, located hundreds of meters underground. Through the screen, Ling Feng saw the dignified yet stern face of Chen Xinian. Ling Feng saluted, "Leader!" Chen Xinian nodded, "Ling Feng, hows the mission going? Its been two daysany progress?" Chen Xinian didnt ask if the mission was completed. He knew Ling Feng''s style well enough to understand that if the mission had been successful, Ling Feng wouldve reported it immediately. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, Chen Xinian was aware that Ling Feng had encountered difficulties. Ling Feng, with his square, iron-like face, meticulously reported the situation to Chen Xinian, hiding nothing. He included details of Zhang Yis abilities and the loss of over twenty elite soldiers. Hearing this, Chen Xinians smile gradually faded, and a cold glint flashed in his narrowed eyes. Those were over twenty Special Forces soldiers! Not ordinary fighters, but the cream of the crop, including some of their hard-to-create synthetic Superhumans! And they had all been wiped out? This was a severe blow to West Hill Bases combat strength. Ling Feng knew Chen Xinian was deeply disappointed and angry. He quickly added, "Although we suffered heavy losses, weve managed to figure out Zhang Yis abilities over the past two days." "Moving forward, we will definitely be able to take down his shelter! Please rest assured." Chen Xinian was silent for a moment, trying to calm himself down. Otherwise, he wouldve unleashed a tirade at Ling Feng. But as the leader of West Hill Bases top fighting force, he couldnt afford to berate him too harshlyLing Feng was still needed. Any scolding could wait until the mission was complete. Chen Xinian asked, "Whats your plan?" Ling Feng replied, "Conventional weapons are ineffective against him. We could request support from the upper military district to launch a missile strike on his shelter." Chen Xinian took a deep breath and glared at him, "That plan is too difficult to execute, and Ive already made it clear that I want Zhang Yi alive. What good is a corpse to me?" What Chen Xinian really wanted were the vast supplies within Zhang Yis alternate dimension. If Zhang Yi were killed, there was no guarantee hed ever get those supplies. Ling Feng expected this response, so he calmly presented his second suggestion. "My second plan is for a few of us, the squad leader-level Superhumans, to continuously attack Zhang Yis shelter." "The downside is that it might take longer." Chen Xinian asked, "How long?" Ling Feng thought for a moment before cautiously replying, "Six months!" Chen Xinian was stunned. "Six months? Are you saying it will take half a year, with constant attacks from our top Superhumans, to break through his shelter?" "That would leave West Hill Base vulnerable. What if other forces attack during that time? What if theres internal unrest? Could you respond in time?" Ling Feng said, "Leader, we are stationed at Xu Family Town, and dont need supplies from the base." "Moreover, weve confirmed that Zhang Yi is a spatial ability user. He must be the one who stole billions in supplies from the Walmart warehouse!" "If we capture him, we can keep West Hill Base running for five years!" Chen Xinian leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping slowly on the table. After a long pause, he said, "But have you considered what happens after those five years?" Ling Feng was taken aback. "After five years?" Author''s Note Chapter 283: Not Playing by the Rules Chapter 283: Not Playing by the Rules This was Zhang Yi''s first encounter with Chen Xinian. However, Zhang Yi''s personal information had already been delivered to Chen Xinian''s desk. So, Chen Xinian knew quite a bit about Zhang Yiat least all the intel from before the apocalypse. After reading Zhang Yis profile, Chen Xinian was confident he could recruit him. From Chen Xinians perspective, Zhang Yi was nothing more than an ordinary, somewhat daring young man from the city. He had no political experience, had never held a senior position in any company, and wasnt even considered a white-collar worker. Such a person wouldnt have even qualified to meet Chen Xinian in the old world. Chen Xinians confidence was evident in the calm, assured smile on his face. As soon as he saw Zhang Yi, he greeted him with a warm smile. "Hello, you must be Zhang Yi?" Zhang Yi, however, didnt have a favorable impression of Chen Xinian. Even though the middle-aged man appeared kind and approachable, after hearing Liang Yues revelations about the inner workings of West Hill Base, Zhang Yi knew just how ruthless the man before him could be. "So, youre the leader of West Hill Base? How should I address you?" Zhang Yis tone was calm, his smile just as cold. "My name is Chen Xinian." "Mr. Chen Xinian, nice to meet you. What brings you here today?" Zhang Yi asked with a smiling but sharp tone. Chen Xinians smile widened. Suddenly, his previously gentle face showed a flash of sternness. With just one look, Zhang Yi felt a chill. "Not long ago, two of our West Hill Base soldiers went out on a mission. They later disappeared near your shelter. According to the information they sent before vanishing, the last person they interacted with was you." "Zhang Yi, did you kill our men from the base?" Chen Xinians opening question was an attempt to assert dominance. But Zhang Yi wasnt one to be intimidated. Chen Xinian might be a master of political maneuvering, but Zhang Yi wasnt about to play by his rules. Without saying a word, Zhang Yi pulled a military knife out of his spatial dimension and slammed it onto the table! The sudden action made Chen Xinian frown. Such a crude move wasnt part of the negotiation tactics he was familiar with. Zhang Yi pointed to the knife, "Do you recognize this? Your men left it in my house!" "Even in peaceful times, trespassing and leaving a weapon behind would be considered illegal invasion, justifying lethal self-defense!" "Now, in this apocalyptic world, everyones on edge. If your people dare threaten me, so what if I killed them?" Zhang Yi''s tactic was simplerefuse to play by the rules! He was young and had no patience for the word games and backstabbing that older, politically savvy men like Chen Xinian thrived on. If he tried to play it cool and deep, Chen Xinian would likely outmaneuver him. So Zhang Yi simply went for broke. "Yeah, I killed them. What are you going to do about it?" Everyone already knew what had happened, so why not just lay all the cards on the table? Chen Xinian looked at Zhang Yis reckless behavior with disdain. He thought to himself: *This is no different from dealing with an uneducated thug. How crude!* Chen Xinian tried to reason with Zhang Yi. "They didnt harm you. They were simply greeting you, letting you know that other survivors were nearby. In fact, West Hill Base often helps survivors we encounter. Leaving a mark was our way of ensuring you felt safe. We intended to help you later. How could you repay kindness with murder? Sigh!" Zhang Yi couldnt help but smirk inwardly at Chen Xinian''s act. Liang Yue and the students'' experiences had already shown how vile West Hill Base truly was. *What a great actor you are, Chen Xinian!* Zhang Yi waved his hand dismissively, "I dont care what you think. I know what I think! I say they were intruders, so they were intruders. Whats the problem with me killing them?" Zhang Yis blatant disregard for decorum left Chen Xinian momentarily speechless. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Xinian had intended to reason with Zhang Yi, skillfully leading him into a trap using his political savvy. But Zhang Yi? He outright admitted to the killings and acted like it was no big deal. He wasnt interested in moral debates or verbal tricks. Seeing this, Chen Xinian''s face darkened. "So, you refuse to admit you were wrong?" Zhang Yi scoffed, "Wrong about what?" "Youve had your troops camping at my doorstep, bombing my house day and night. Now you say Im the one at fault? Honestly, how shameless can you be?" Zhang Yi had no intention of making peace with West Hill Base. He knew that Chen Xinian held all the cards in any peace talks. Zhang Yi was on the defensive. If West Hill Base called off their attacks, then peace would follow. And from what Liang Yue had told him, Zhang Yi knew Chen Xinian was a smiling tiger, a ruthless man in disguise. There was no way hed let himself be swayed by sweet words. The only reason Zhang Yi had accepted the call was to probe Chen Xinian and see what cards he had left to play. Chen Xinians false smile faded as he leaned back in his chair, crossing his hands and staring coldly at Zhang Yi. It was a look that Zhang Yi found deeply repulsive. It reminded him of the condescending gaze of the high-ranking executives from his previous job, back when they used to look down on him. *Whats with the arrogance? Its the apocalypse, and youre still acting like a big shot?* Without a word, Zhang Yi propped his feet up on the table, his black socks practically in Chen Xinians face. "You" Chen Xinian was livid! When had he ever been insulted like this? Zhang Yi casually remarked, "Youd better take your people and get out of here. Otherwise, none of the people from West Hill Base will leave here alive!" "Also, Ill contact the other forces in Tianhai City and let them know West Hill Base is defenseless." "What do you think theyll do with that information?" Zhang Yi was bluffing. He didnt actually know anyone from other forces in Tianhai City. But he was certain that a city with over two million people still had some surviving factions. And Chen Xinian knew this too, which made him uneasy. Still, Chen Xinian maintained a calm facade. "Sigh, Zhang Yi, youre too young." Chen Xinian pointed at Zhang Yi and sighed. "Youre too quick to resort to violence. I was hoping we could negotiate." "I know the supplies from the Walmart warehouse are in your hands. Theres more there than you could use in ten lifetimes. Why hoard it all?" Zhang Yi instantly denied it, "I didnt do it. Dont go making baseless accusations!" Even if the evidence was irrefutable, Zhang Yi would never admit it. Enjoying his spoils in secret was much better than flaunting them. Chen Xinian chuckled, "I already know. Theres no point in hiding it." "I just hope youll consider the bigger picture. We have thousands of survivors at West Hill Base. If you were to share those supplies, it could keep them alive for years!" Zhang Yi inwardly sneered. *So, you think Im an idiot?* Liang Yue had already told him that West Hill Bases hierarchy was split into different tiers. The higher up you were, the better your life. In the lowest level, The Fourth Life Pod, people were surviving on protein liquid made from cockroaches and corpses. It wasnt that West Hill Base lacked resourcesit was that they were distributed unequally. If everyone drank that protein liquid, the base could easily support double its current population! And yet, the leadership lived in luxury, while preaching sacrifice? How ridiculous! But Zhang Yi didnt say this out loud. If he did, Chen Xinian would realize someone from the base was feeding him information. Zhang Yi simply replied, "What does that have to do with me? Im not a saint, and I dont care about anyone elses survival." "In this apocalypse, countless people have already died. This is survival of the fittest." Chen Xinian frowned, "Sigh, such a selfish and shallow mindset! All those years of educationdid it all go to waste?" Author''s Note Chapter 284: Wooing and Threatening Chapter 284: Wooing and Threatening Although Zhang Yi disliked Chen Xinian as a person, he couldnt help but agree with what Chen Xinian was saying. Zhang Yi recalled his experiences managing a warehouse, especially what he went through during that time. When he was just a junior employee, he had to be careful to please both his superiors and the senior staff. Even when dealing with a supervisor who was only one level above him, he had to think hard about their preferences and act accordingly. After a few years, he finally became a supervisor himself, managing seven or eight people. That was the first time he truly felt how wonderful power could be. A simple task assigned with just a word had others working hard to complete it. During meals, everyone always made sure to order dishes to his liking, with the fish head always facing him. When singing, the women always sat next to him. And this, was just the privilege of being a warehouse supervisor. The higher one climbed, the more intoxicating the allure of power became, even to the point of reaching the fabled "your word is law." With just a hint or a few words, someone would arrange everything for you. Listening to Chen Xinians rosy description of the future, Zhang Yi couldnt deny that part of him did miss those days. However, without hesitation, he flatly refused Chen Xinians offer. What youre talking about doesnt hold any appeal for me anymore, Zhang Yi said coldly. If it were before the apocalypse, I wouldve happily taken a position of power, because in a stable society, the rewards of leadership far outweigh the risks. But now? Now, risk and reward go hand in hand. Im not interested in meddling in the mess youve got at West Hill Base, and Im even less interested in being anyones second-in-command. Zhang Yi wasnt someone with grand ambitions. Perhaps his biggest dream in life was to date a few girls with baby faces and slim waists and then live a carefree life until the end. This laid-back attitude meant he was never cut out to lead a large group of people. He wasnt like Chen Xinian, who could be heartless, feasting on the finest delicacies while forcing the people below to survive on protein made from cockroaches and corpses. Moreover, Zhang Yi didnt trust Chen Xinian. Go to West Hill Base? On their turf? By then, he would be at their mercy, not as easy as this negotiation was now. I refuse, Zhang Yi said icily. I enjoy my current life and have no intention of joining any faction or being under anyones control. If you withdraw your forces now, Ill let bygones be bygones, and we can stay out of each others way in the future. How about it? Even though West Hill Base had attacked him several times, Zhang Yi hadnt suffered any real losses, while the enemy had lost a lot of men. He wasnt bent on revenge, so if things could end like this, hed be happy to let it go. But Chen Xinian wasnt happy. Seeing that Zhang Yi wouldnt budge, his expression finally darkened. Since diplomacy wasnt working, it was time for force. Hmph! Do you think you can just walk away after killing so many of our people at West Hill Base? Chen Xinian sneered. Zhang Yi, Im offering you a chance because I recognize your talent! But if you dont appreciate it, I wont hold back! With the strength of West Hill Base, its only a matter of time before we take down your little shelter! Zhang Yi chuckled. Its just a matter of time, huh? Youve sent so many men, guns, and explosives, but tell me, have any of them even managed to harm a single hair on my head? Theyre the ones who suffered heavy losses! he added coldly. Youre not offering me an opportunity; Im giving you one! Chen, stop now! Youve got no chance of beating me! Calling him Chen was a clear sign of Zhang Yis contempt, and it made Chen Xinian boil with rage. He glared at Zhang Yi with a menacing look and hissed, Do you really think hiding in that turtle shell of yours means I cant touch you? I could wipe you out with just one missile! Zhang Yis heart skipped a beat. A missile? Now that was a serious threat. If his shelter were hit by a missile, no matter how much space he had in his pocket dimension, he wouldnt be able to absorb such massive destructive force. Even the shelter itself would suffer devastating damage, with the surface completely destroyed and the underground sections severely shaken. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Zhang Yis face remained calm, even breaking into a relaxed smile. Oh, really? This is the first time Ive heard that Tianhai City has missile-launching authority. Impressive, very impressive! Zhang Yi clapped his hands, his expression full of mockery. Tianhai City didnt have a large military district. Even if there were missile defenses in place, the authority to use them wouldnt be in the hands of local forces. Especially now, in the apocalyptic world, such high-level weapons would be firmly controlled by the higher-ups. Who did Chen Xinian think he was? A mere regional warlord, thinking he could deploy missiles? Zhang Yi was convinced that Chen Xinian was bluffing. He didnt buy it for a second. Chen Xinian, his face dark, replied, What does a small-time warehouse manager like you know? Im only giving you a chance because I dont want to see you and your supplies go up in flames! Zhang Yi, dont make a mistake youll regret! When the missiles hit, there wont be anywhere for you to cry! Author''s Note Chapter 285: Deadly Order Chapter 285: Deadly Order The villagers of Xu Family Town heaved a sigh of relief when they heard it was only their communication devices being confiscated. Smiles appeared on their faces. Although losing their phones meant no more entertainment, they didnt think the actions of the Special Forces were unreasonable. The people here had one key trait: obedience. As long as they werent being asked to die, they could tolerate most intrusions on their lives. So, the situation remained orderly as everyone handed over their devices without protest. In the crowd, however, Fatty Xu was anxious, his heart racing in fear. Others werent worried because they had no contact with Zhang Yi, but Fatty Xu was Zhang Yis mole in Xu Family Town! Fortunately, he had been prepared for this day ever since he started working undercover. He deleted his chats with Zhang Yi daily and even had a shortcut set up to delete his contacts. When Xu Dongtang came around to collect phones, Fatty Xu swiftly deleted Zhang Yi as a friend. Now, there was no trace of Zhang Yi left on his phone. Unless they performed a data recoverywhich was highly unlikely, given the number of villagers and the lack of advanced equipmentthey wouldnt find anything. Xu Dongtang approached him. Chunlei, wheres your phone? Fatty Xu quickly handed over his phone and said, My computers at home. Ill bring it later. Xu Dongtang, aware that Fatty Xu might eventually go to West Hill Base, treated him fairly well. Alright, wait until Captain Ling finishes speaking before you go get it. After Xu Dongtang left, Fatty Xu wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Although he had dodged this crisis, how would he contact Zhang Yi in the future? Could it be that West Hill Base had already discovered there was a traitor among them? Once all the devices were confiscated, Ling Feng began assigning the next task. He declared that everyone in Xu Family Town was to enter a state of war, assisting the Special Forces in attacking Zhang Yis shelter. I hope youll all cooperate with us. This is for your own safety, he said. As long as we eliminate the murderer Zhang Yi, your future will be much brighter! The villagers were stunned, fear creeping into their hearts. Are they really going to make us attack Zhang Yis shelter? Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I dont want to go! So many people died the last time. Were just farmers and fishermen. What can we do against him? Exactly! Youre trained soldiers. Why make us fight? The villagers, clearly upset, voiced their concerns. Ling Feng reassured them, You wont have to charge into battle. We just need you to help with some engineering work. Rest assured, well be the ones directly confronting Zhang Yi. He pounded his chest confidently. Trust us. Its a soldiers duty to protect the people! Leaders like Xu Dongtang also spoke up to support Ling Fengs plan. Though some villagers grumbled, no one wanted to be the first to oppose the order, and so the matter was settled. But in reality, their opinions didnt matter. Ling Feng was merely informing them; they had no choice but to obey. Fatty Xus anxiety grew. He was not only worried about his cover being blown but also realized that Zhang Yis warnings were coming true. At first, West Hill Bases forces only demanded food from the villagers. Then, they stationed troops and requested information on Zhang Yi, putting the town at risk. Now, they were asking the villagers to help in the assault on Zhang Yis shelter. Knowing Zhang Yis personality, if he survived this ordeal, he would undoubtedly seek revenge on everyone in Xu Family Town. As for West Hill Base, Fatty Xu wasnt sure if theyd spare the town either. Behind Ling Feng, Liang Yue stood next to Zheng Xuerong and Shi Dayong, feeling relieved that she had prepared two phones. If she were asked to hand one over, she could easily avoid detection. However, Ling Feng hadnt suspected her yet. First, Liang Yues strength had earned the Special Forces respect. Second, Ling Feng couldnt fathom why Liang Yue would betray West Hill Base, where she enjoyed the privileges of the Fourth Life Pod. In his mind, it was unthinkable that someone would give up such a comfortable life to save people unrelated to her. Still, Liang Yue felt a sense of wariness towards Ling Feng. His sudden actions were not only unexpected but also excluded her from the planning process. Was this because he suspected her, or was there something even more secretive going on? After thinking it over, Liang Yue decided to ask. As a member of the Special Forces, it wasnt unreasonable for her to inquire about the mission. Captain Ling, with such a large-scale operation, do we have a big action planned? Ling Feng glanced at her and smiled faintly. Weve received a death order from above. Zhang Yis shelter must be taken down, no matter what. So now, we have to mobilize every possible resource! he added. Not wanting Liang Yue to feel left out, Ling Feng explained, I only came up with this plan last night. Since it was urgent, I didnt have time to inform you. Liang Yue remained calm. No problem. Youre the captain, so you make the decisions. Ling Feng nodded and began assigning tasks to his soldiers. Then he called Liang Yue, Zheng Xuerong, and a few others into a room to discuss his plan. The intelligence officers in the Special Forces were already in the loop. Weve made several attempts to attack the shelter, and though weve suffered losses, weve figured out Zhang Yis abilities, Ling Feng explained, pointing to a 3D model of the shelter. Ballistic weapons like guns and rocket launchers are useless; he can absorb and reflect them. However, his offensive capabilities are limited. He only dares to attack with a sniper rifle and never ventures out of the shelter. So, my plan is for us to attack continuously from his shelters blind spots using our superpowers! He pointed to the model again, highlighting the areas with no windows. Liang Yue raised an eyebrow. Is that all? This could take forever. Even if we rotate, it might take over a year to break through. She continued, I dont think the base will give us that much time, and why involve the villagers if its just us fighting? Ling Feng chuckled. As expected of a teacher, Liang! Youre sharp. Im a P.E. teacher, she replied coldly. Well, teacher or not, youre right. The real attack isnt from the surfaceits underground, Ling Feng said, his eyes hardening as he pointed to the soil beneath the shelter on the model. Were going to blow it up from below. TNT is still the most effective way to deal with a fortified structure. Liang Yues heart froze as she grasped the plan. Youre sending the villagers to their deaths? Ling Fengs expression turned icy. Im doing this for their own good. Zhang Yi has already slaughtered hundreds of them. If we leave now, theyll have no chance against him. Sacrifices are necessary for victory, he said coldly. As soldiers, our first duty is to follow orders. And weve been ordered to take Zhang Yis shelter at any cost. Liang Yues fists clenched in fury. At any costbut its the villagers who will pay the price! Though she had known West Hill Base was ruthless, she hadnt expected the soldiers to be this heartless. Im not a soldier! I cant do this! she spat. Ling Fengs gaze turned sharp. Since joining the Special Forces, youve been one of us. Unless you have a better plan, youll follow the order. Liang Yue fell silent. What could she do? She had secretly allied with Zhang Yi and wanted him to survive. But how could she watch the villagers march to their deaths? Zheng Xuerong intervened, placing a hand on Liang Yues arm. We have no choice, Liang. Zhang Yi controls supplies for thousands. Hes vital to West Hill Base. In the apocalypse, only a few can survive. Protect yourself and those close to youlike your students. Hearing this, Liang Yue calmed down. Confronting Ling Feng now wouldnt end well for her or her students. Author''s Note Chapter 286: Just You Wait! Chapter 286: Just You Wait! Ling Feng had prepared against everyone in Xu Family Town, including Fatty Xu, but he never anticipated that there was a traitor within the Special Forces Team. After all, when Liang Yue entered West Hill Base, her personal background had been thoroughly investigated. She had no contact with Zhang Yi, and there were no records of her on Tianluo. But it was precisely this oversight that led to the operational plan he had agonized over being leaked in less than a day. After returning to her room, Liang Yue immediately passed the information to Zhang Yi. The Special Forces plan to dig a tunnel and blow it up from underneath your shelter. Theyve gathered the entire town of Xu Family Town, and the construction site is far from the shelter, so itll be hard for you to notice. But if you pay close attention, you should be able to spot some clues. After receiving Liang Yues message, Zhang Yi was slightly startled. Blowing it up from underground? To be honest, he had thought of this method before. However, the construction would take a very long time, and with the reinforced underground structures, an enormous amount of explosives would be needed. So, while he needed to be cautious, it wasnt something to worry about immediately. After all, this kind of plan was easy to counterjust blow up the tunnel to resolve it. If they were using traditional construction methods, a simple detector would be enough to monitor the underground movements, provided they were on alert ahead of time. Zhang Yi responded to Liang Yue, Got it, thanks for the heads-up. Ill keep an eye on it! Ling Fengs plan relied heavily on the element of surprise. But once the intel was leaked, the plans damage potential would drop significantlyand it would become more of an insult to themselves. Liang Yue suddenly asked, So, whats your next move? sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi shrugged and grinned. If theyre so keen on wasting their time, then let them go for it! It was freezing outsideit was already mid-winter, the coldest time of the year. If they started digging now, many of them would die. Forget about the villagers from Xu Family Towneven the well-trained soldiers from West Hill Base wouldnt last long in this weather. If they want to work, let them work. Id be thrilled if they dropped dead from exhaustion! Zhang Yi thought, an idea full of dark humor forming in his mind. He planned to let them dig most of the way, wait until they were within 300 meters of the shelter, and then blow up the tunnel! At that moment, the expressions on the faces of the Special Forces and Xu Family Towns villagers would surely be priceless! Zhang Yi was thoroughly enjoying his devious plan. But Liang Yue, hearing this, grew anxious. No, you cant! Its the villagers from Xu Family Town digging the tunnel, not the soldiers. If you let it continue, the ones who die will be those innocent villagers. Zhang Yi, you should act quickly to prevent unnecessary deaths. Zhang Yi scoffed at her words. He acknowledged that Liang Yue was kind-hearted, but she didnt understand his deep grudge with Xu Family Town. Their previous attack on the shelter aside, the fact that they later chose to aid the soldiers from West Hill Base meant they were already his enemies. Zhang Yi would love nothing more than to see those people get what they deserved. Watching them be forced to labor and then die tragically in the tunnel was exactly the outcome he was hoping for. Zhang Yi lazily said to Liang Yue, Ms. Liang, youre right. But if I destroy the tunnel too soon, wont that expose you? You already mentioned that everyone in Xu Family Town has had their communication devices confiscated. Only you and the Special Forces Team have the ability to make contact with the outside. So, once the plan fails, theyll definitely suspect you first. I cant risk your life just to save a few villagers. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, a mocking smile on his face. How about thisIve got a suggestion! Go find Captain Ling Feng and have a nice chat. Try to convince him to drop the plan. Or, challenge him to a fight and force him to agree with you. At least if you fail, he wont kill you. Its better than being caught as a traitor, right? What do you think? Zhang Yis words left Liang Yue speechless. She had only thought about saving the innocent villagers, but she hadnt considered that once the truth came out, her own life would be in danger. If it were just her, she could easily leave and survive in the apocalypse with her abilities. But if she fled, the students she left behind at West Hill Base would be doomed. It was obvious how West Hill Base would treat a traitor. So do I really have no choice but to watch them die? Liang Yues voice was filled with guilt. Zhang Yi calmly replied, Its West Hill Base sending them to their deaths, not you. You dont need to feel responsible. His words eased her guilt somewhat. After all, there was no way she would sacrifice herself and her students for the villagers of Xu Family Town. Sigh, lets just hope the casualties wont be too severe, Liang Yue sighed helplessly. Zhang Yi had been about to ask her about Fatty Xus situation but decided against it for now. With Liang Yue as a mole inside the base, he could still keep an eye on the movements of the soldiers at West Hill Base. Oh, by the way, let me ask you something. Which house are you staying in at Xu Family Town? Liang Yue was puzzled by the question and instinctively glanced into the distance. From this direction, she couldnt see the villa at Cloud Manor 101, which was several kilometers away. Why do you ask? Are you planning to come find me? Who knows! But if the opportunity arises, I might need your help with something. Zhang Yi smiled mysteriously. Its a matter of whether you and your students can escape. Using Fatty Xus extravagant anime-inspired castle as a reference, Liang Yue told him her rooms location. Got it. Liang Yue couldnt help but ask, What exactly do you plan to do? Zhang Yis voice was full of mystery. Youll find out when the time comes. Dont worry, I wont risk my life sneaking over there just to take advantage of your beauty. Liang Yue rolled her eyes. Even at a time like this, you still have the energy to make such lewd jokes? If youre bold enough to come over, I might as well entertain you, she said provocatively. Fine, just wait for me then! Zhang Yi answered without hesitation. He was never one to turn down such invitations. Author''s Note Chapter 287: Digging a Tunnel Chapter 287: Digging a Tunnel Under Ling Fengs command, the entire ACE Special Forces team and the people from Xu Family Town were mobilized. Ling Feng, Liang Yue, and Shi Dayong were responsible for launching the attack on the shelter. They noticed that the alternate space didnt actively affect the human body, so they aimed to forcibly create an opening. Of course, their furious assault was mostly a ruse to confuse Zhang Yi. To make the act more convincing, they even called in a large number of special forces members, who attacked from a distance with various types of firepower. The only thing they didnt use was high-yield explosives. Otherwise, the assault was fairly intense. If Zhang Yi hadnt received an inside tip, he might have believed theyd gone mad. Meanwhile, about 1,500 meters away at the river embankment, special forces members stood by with guns, overseeing the people of Xu Family Town as they started digging. Each of the villagers carried tools, but none of them knew exactly what they were doing. This was part of Ling Fengs planto ensure they didnt realize they were digging a 1,500-meter tunnel from the start. Otherwise, there would have been unrest. Ling Feng didnt want to kill people just to make an example. He valued each worker, knowing that most of them would eventually be sent to West Hill Base to work in the Fourth Life Pod. Since the villagers had no idea what they were doing and saw that the entire town was divided into teams for work, they didnt feel too miserable about the situation. Professional engineers from the special forces stood by to guide them, teaching them how to dig properly. In the underground shelters third level, Zhang Yi sat on a leather sofa, wearing loose-fitting sportswear. Beside him were women dressed even more casually, in nothing but pajamas. Zhang Yi had already informed them of the enemys plans, so upon learning there would be no large-scale attack for now, the women relaxed. Using the cameras embedded in the wall, Zhang Yi could clearly see Ling Feng and the others furiously attacking the back wall. It was a shooting blind spot, making it impossible for Zhang Yi to counterattack with a sniper rifle. Even so, when Ling Feng punched the wall, all he managed to leave was a shallow mark on the thick, reinforced surface. Shi Dayongs blows left even fainter marks; although his transformed state was terrifying, his strength was far below Ling Fengs. As for Liang Yue, she swung her newly acquired Tang sword, leaving a slightly deeper but still very thin scratch. After one slash, she quickly retreated, feigning exhaustion. Among the teams captains, Zheng Xuerong wasnt a strength-type Superhuman, so she simply kept watch and didnt join the attack. At their current pace, even if they worked nonstop for 24 hours a day, it would take them years to break through. Zhang Yi, sitting cross-legged on the sofa, watched the screen intently as if enjoying a show. Beside him were Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah, both dressed in alluring sleepwear, one on each side of him. They peeled nuts and fed them to him. Water, Zhang Yi said lazily, spitting out a word. Yang Siyah quickly handed him a cup of warm water, while Zhou Keer, a step slower, shot her a disgruntled look. The two womens competition for his favor made Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, sitting nearby, feel a bit awkward. Lu Keran scratched her head and broke the silence. These Superhumans are really strong! Their power has already surpassed many modern weapons. Are all Superhumans this tough? Crunching on some nuts, Zhang Yi replied, These people are the elite of the elite from West Hill Base. Its not surprising theyre this powerful. Then, turning to the women around him, he added, So you see, the world outside is full of danger, with monsters like them lurking around. Wed better stay here where we have food and drink. Isnt that a better life? The women nodded in agreement. After hearing gunfire and explosions from outside for days, they had been on edge. Yang Siyah asked curiously, Zhang Yi, even though we know their plan, we cant go out. How will we know how far theyve dug? Zhang Yi smiled and glanced at Yang Xinxin, who was sitting elegantly. Xinxin, care to explain? Yang Xinxin shot her cousin a proud look, lifting her chin slightly. Sound travels faster through solids than air. Since theyre digging underground, we can detect the vibrations more clearly. As long as we have a receiver, I can analyze their progress with my computer, she said, taking a sip of coffee. Its a simple trick. Yang Siyah nodded in understanding. So basically, we dont need to do anything? We just wait? Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi nodded. Yes, essentially, theres nothing for us to do. What theyre doing is a complete waste of time. Well just conserve our strength and watch them waste timeand lives. It wasnt that Zhang Yi didnt want to act; it was just that being on defense meant waiting for the enemy to make the first mistake before responding. This was the wisest strategy. All he needed to do was stay vigilant and not miss any suspicious movement. After all, he couldnt completely rule out the possibility that Liang Yue was a double agent. The first day passed peacefully. To keep up appearances, Zhang Yi showed his face, fired a few sniper shots, and quickly retreated back to the basement, where he passed the time playing cards with the women. After a few days of practice, the womens card skills had improved enough to make a decent game, especially Yang Xinxin, whose sharp mind and near-photographic memory made her the best card player in the shelter. They made their games more interesting by adding forfeits instead of betting moneylosers had to perform tricks or share embarrassing stories. While Zhang Yis group enjoyed their quiet life, the people outside had it much harder. Even the soldiers from West Hill Base couldnt endure the conditions forever. Despite their specialized suits with excellent cold resistance, the extreme cold couldnt be ignored. Regular soldiers had to rotate out after two-hour shifts to warm up indoors, while Superhumans like Ling Feng found a corner and built an igloo. The igloo was built by Zheng Xuerong, whose ability differed from Fatty Xus. She could condense water molecules from the air to create ice structures, even without snow or ice in the environment. Though their powers were similar, they had key differences. Fatty Xus ability was more terrain-dependent, only usable in icy areas, but his range was much larger. Since he used local materials, his energy consumption was lower. In contrast, Zheng Xuerong could create ice anywhere but at a higher energy cost. Her igloo, however, was sturdier and could even withstand small artillery fire if needed. Inside the igloo, the group gathered around a fire, warming up before resuming their harassment of Zhang Yi. After a full day, they had only left shallow marks on the outer wall, with no real progress. Yet, Ling Feng remained patient. While roasting preserved pork from Xu Family Town over the fire, he started telling stories from his days as a soldier in Xichuan. When not fighting, Ling Feng seemed like a modest, approachable man. He wasnt tall and didnt appear to be a ruthless special forces captain, but beneath his unassuming appearance was the heart of a pure soldier. When I first joined the army, the company commander taught us an important lesson. He said, A good soldier doesnt need his own thoughts. Of course, he didnt mean combat strategies, but strategic-level thinking. In war, the worst thing is letting personal will override collective purpose. Even if you know something is wrong, everyone has to move in the same direction to win. If everyone follows their own ideas, its over. As Ling Feng said this, he glanced at Liang Yue with a smile. Internal division is always the most lethal for any organization. Liang Yue tossed a piece of wood into the fire. But if we keep doing the wrong thing, isnt that worse? You know the saying about pulling in the wrong direction, right? she said, alluding to Ling Fengs disregard for the villagers lives as he forced them to dig the tunnel. Ling Feng traced a circle with his hand and joked, Dont forget, the world is round. Even if we head in the wrong direction, well eventually come back around. After his sly remark, he grew serious. But if the group loses its unity, even if we find the right direction, we wont succeed. Weve tried too many things already. We cant afford another failure. Ling Feng didnt need to explain himself to Liang Yue, just as he didnt owe any explanation to Zheng Xuerong or Shi Dayong. Yet, he showed Liang Yue extra patience because she wasnt a career soldier, and her abilities were exceptional. He wanted her to respect and trust him, making future management easier. Liang Yue remained silent for a long time before looking at Ling Feng with a playful smile. So, do you think well succeed this time? If we fail, and many people die from exhaustion and frostbite, who will take responsibility? The atmosphere inside the igloo turned heavy. Ling Feng lowered his head in thought for a moment before saying quietly, I will. Then he lifted his head and smiled brightly. Ill remember those who died and live well enough for all of them. Author''s Note Chapter 288: Management Measures Chapter 288: Management Measures S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ling Feng''s explanation left Liang Yue completely speechless about this man. She didnt even know how to describe him, as Ling Feng had his own unique logic for everything he did. It was a form of pure emotion, so much so that no matter what he did, he never felt he was wrong. He even had a way to justify sacrificing others for his own goals. The key point was, Ling Feng wasnt trying to arguehe truly believed from the bottom of his heart that he wasnt wrong. Such pure goodness or evil could make people feel fear. Liang Yue kept silent and stopped engaging with him any further. As night fell, the temperature dropped sharply. Ling Feng said to Liang Yue and the others, Lets go back and rest for the night. Its hard to see anything now, so we dont need to worry about Zhang Yi noticing anything. He led the special forces team back, passing by the tunnel excavation site on their way to inspect the work. The remaining population in Xu Family Town was over a thousand, and they could mobilize nearly a thousand people to work. But, of course, not that many people could dig the tunnel at the same timeit had to be done in batches of twenty people per shift, with a shift change every half hour. The initial digging was the hardest. The ground beneath the surface had frozen into permafrost, making it extremely difficult to excavate using manual labor alone. Ling Feng approached, accompanied by the team leaders, and asked Wu, the engineer in charge of the project, How is it going? Is the first days work progressing smoothly? Engineer Wu replied, Everything is going according to plan. If all goes well, with nonstop digging, well break through this 1,500-meter tunnel in about a month. And thenboom! Engineer Wu made an exploding gesture and smiled. Well send Zhang Yis shelter flying with 2,000 kilograms of explosives! Ling Feng nodded in satisfaction as he looked at the busy scene. Several armed soldiers were standing guard nearby, while a group of workers waited, shovels and bamboo baskets in hand, ready for their shift. Suddenly, Ling Fengs brow furrowed. He quickly approached one of the villagers and stopped him. Hey, you! Lift your head and let me take a look. The villager had a scarf wrapped around his face and was quite small in build. Hearing Ling Fengs command, he pulled down the scarf, revealing a youthful face. Ling Fengs eyes widened. How old are you? Im thirteen, the boy replied honestly. Ling Fengs sudden burst of anger startled everyone as he shouted at Xu Dongtang and Engineer Wu, Didn''t I say no children under sixteen are allowed to work? Dont you know that children are the future of the nation? Xu Dongtang hurriedly explained, Captain Ling, were all farmers. Dont let his age fool youhes just as strong as any adult from the city. Ling Feng, still furious, responded, I said no, and I mean it! Even if the project is urgent, we must have some boundaries! He pointed at the boy, Take him back immediately! This is a battlefield, and we cannot let children get involved! Xu Dongtang quickly pulled the boy aside. Yes, yes, Ill take him back right away. The boy looked at Ling Feng with eyes full of gratitude and admiration. Not far away, Liang Yue observed the scene and was at a loss for words. She just didnt know what to think of Ling Feng anymore. Was he a fool? Xu Dongtang had the boy taken away, while Ling Feng continued, To speed up the project, the tunnel must operate 24 hours non-stop. Mayor Xu, I hope youll lead by example and help everyone push through this. Xu Dongtang was dumbfounded. Ling Feng had never mentioned this to him before. No, Ling Feng had never considered the opinions of the Xu Family Town residents at all. Including this excavation, none of these people knew what they were really working for. Upon hearing that the work would continue around the clock, Xu Dongtang was terrified. Captain Ling, isnt that too much? Even if they only work for half an hour at a time, its still too much for ordinary people in this weather. Whats more we dont even know how long this project will take. Xu Dongtang mustered the courage to ask, Captain Ling, what exactly are you trying to do? Ling Feng didnt bother explaining to him. Instead, he lightly patted Xu Dongtangs shoulder. Old Xu, you just need to cooperate with our work. Understand? Everything were doing is for the good of Xu Family Town. If we dont eliminate Zhang Yi, that demon, all of you will die! Be smart. Dont think Im harming your people! After saying this, Ling Feng turned and left, not giving Xu Dongtang any chance to negotiate. Or rather, in Ling Fengs eyes, Xu Dongtang wasnt qualified to negotiate. Lets head back and rest. Well return tomorrow, Ling Feng smiled as he spoke to Liang Yue and the others. As the main force for the diversionary attack, their superhuman abilities were drained from the constant use. Liang Yue had seen through Ling Feng by now, so she said nothing and followed him back to Xu Family Town. Once back, the towns women were immediately instructed to prepare food for them. Before long, a table full of food was brought out, mainly consisting of steamed buns and grilled fishtwo of the most abundant food supplies left. Ling Feng tore into the food, biting down on the buns like he hadnt eaten in days. In the following days, life became monotonous. Ling Feng continued leading a few superhumans in their diversionary attacks on Zhang Yis shelter, while the villagers of Xu Family Town toiled as laborers, digging the tunnel. Fatty Xu, as a superhuman destined to be taken to West Hill Base, wasnt required to work. But after losing contact with Zhang Yi, he was completely cut off from him. On the third day, the tunnel had reached over 100 meters deep, and the challenges became more apparent. The deeper they went, the more oxygen-deprived it became. Without oxygen supply equipment, they had to resort to the most basic methodpumping air in through rubber hoses, much like an old-fashioned diving setup, using manpower to push air into the tunnel. But this method was far less effective than modern equipment. Coupled with the cold and the intense labor, the first worker finally collapsed. Amidst shouts and panic, the others carried the man out of the tunnel. A military doctor from the special forces team checked him over and shook his head. Acute myocardial infarction. Hes gone. The man was Xu Youzhi, 52 years old, a construction worker. Older people were more prone to heart attacks and strokes in such extreme cold conditions. While these conditions could be treated with a timely bypass operation at West Hill Base, it wasnt worth the trouble for an ordinary villager. Xu Youzhi was thus declared dead on the spot. Seeing Xu Youzhis still-warm body, the villagers of Xu Family Town felt a deep sense of grief and anger. A young man shouted at the special operations soldiers nearby, This is inhumane! Youre treating us like slaves! Im done with this! He angrily threw down his shovel. Seeing this, the other villagers followed suit, throwing down their tools and demanding answers. Supervisor Shen Hong frowned and said coldly, Orders from the organization must not be disobeyed! Everything were doing is for your revenge. Were this far along nowanyone who tries to back out will be treated as a deserter! Shen Hong emphasized the word deserter, gripping his assault rifle and subtly pointing it toward the crowd of villagers. That simple gesture was like a bucket of cold water, instantly cooling the villagers tempers. Xu Dongtang sighed. Take the body away. We need to replace him. With sorrow in their eyes, the villagers carried Xu Youzhis body back to town for burial. However, as the deaths mounted, things spiraled out of control. The deeper the tunnel, the harsher the conditions. The second person, the third, and eventually the fourth villager collapsed One by one, the villagers died, either collapsing during the day or passing away quietly at home, never to wake up again. Human bodies are fragile. Already, they were struggling just to survive the extreme cold, but now, forced to work in such harsh conditions, it was the final straw that broke them. By this point, a few bodies were being carried out of the tunnel every day. The growing death toll stirred anger among the villagers. Though they didnt dare confront the armed special forces team directly, verbal disputes and secret acts of resistance increased. When Ling Feng heard about this, he remained calm. It was all within their expectations. Pick a few ringleaders and execute them. Some people wont understand fear until they see blood. We only care about the progress of the project. Let their mayor and village chief manage them. Their own people manage each other better than we ever could. Author''s Note Chapter 289: Negotiation Requires Strength Chapter 289: Negotiation Requires Strength The conflict came quickly but disappeared just as fast. A group of hot-headed villagers attempted to attack the special forces team, hoping to seize their weapons and resist. But what could they use to fight against well-trained soldiers? They were quickly captured, and three of the ringleaders were publicly executed on the spot. Seeing the heads of those three burst open, with blood and brain matter spilling onto the snow, steaming from the heat, brought the villagers of Xu Family Town back to their senses. They realized they were no match for West Hill Base. The idealized image they had of the organization was shattered. Many regretted the warm welcome they had given these people, with some even cursing Xu Dongtang and the other leaders. But they also knew that refusing to welcome the special forces would not have led to a different outcome. No, it wouldnt have. Ling Feng didnt mind firing a few extra shots. Teaching them the rules with bloodshed would only make things clearer. Life returned to its routine, but every villager in Xu Family Town lived under a cloud of fear. They continued digging tunnels, knowing they might suffocate deep underground at any moment. If they refused to work, the overseers from the special forces would beat them to death on the spot. After executing the prisoners, Ling Feng had made their relationship clear. There was no longer any pretense; they openly used force to dominate the town. Ten days passed in a flash. Thirty-two people from Xu Family Town had died, and the number continued to rise. The tunnel had reached a depth of about 500 meters. The shifts grew shorterjust digging for a few minutes required coming up for air. At this rate, will we be able to dig 1,500 meters? Liang Yue asked Ling Feng. With the villagers'' remaining strength, crawling 1,500 meters will leave them exhausted, let alone continuing to dig, Ling Feng replied coldly. But we have no choice. Without modern tools, this is the only way. Since weve chosen to sacrifice, we have to see it through. When the time comes, Ill deal with Zhang Yi for them. That should count as revenge. Liang Yue felt speechless at Ling Fengs twisted logic. Right now, the villagers likely hated Ling Feng far more than they hated Zhang Yi. People really have no self-awareness, Liang Yue thought. Each meter of progress would now be paid for in lives. --- In the shelter, Zhang Yi was keeping up with the outside situation through his conversations with Liang Yue. Liang Yues mental state had also become more composed, having witnessed death daily and listened to Ling Fengs twisted rationalizations. Nothing could shake her anymore. At the current pace, itll take at least half a month to reach the designated spot, she said. But by then, hundreds more villagers will have died. Zhang Yi, arent you going to act? Be careful you dont let things get out of control. Itll be hard to clean up the mess later. Zhang Yi smiled faintly. I have a plan, dont worry. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No matter what I do, Ill keep my promise to you. As for the rest, you dont need to concern yourself. In other words, youre meddling too much, Zhang Yi thought. Were just partners, not anything more. You have no right to tell me what to do. Liang Yue frowned slightly. I was just trying to help. Yes, and I appreciate that, Zhang Yi replied indifferently. By the way, Ive noticed fewer attacks on the shelter lately. Apart from a few Superhumans like you, where did the others go? Are they on some other mission? No, most of them are on standby in Xu Family Town, Liang Yue answered. They cant really do much to help. The only thing theyre doing is maintaining order in the town. She couldnt help but laugh at her own words. Maintaining order? More like keeping the villagers in check, ready to suppress any riots. Zhang Yi nodded slowly. Oh~~ I see. After ending the conversation, Zhang Yi had a plan forming in his mind. It was time to act after all this waiting. Surely by now, Ling Feng and the others had let their guard down a bit, thinking Zhang Yi would stay holed up in the shelter without doing anything. Its time to give them a little surprise, Zhang Yi said with a sly smile. --- In Xu Family Town, Ling Feng was inside a house, eating heartily while discussing their next steps with Shi Dayong and a few others. The large table in front of them was piled high with food, enough to form a small mountain. And this was just for the five of them. Ling Feng, Shi Dayong, Zheng Xuerong, Shen Hong, and Yu Lang were all Superhumans, and their appetites far exceeded those of ordinary people. Since much of their power came from the energy in food, they consumed more than ten times what a regular villager would eat. This left the villagers in Xu Family Town bitter. Watching their hard-earned food being wasted like this was like a knife to their hearts. At this rate, their stores of food would be gone in a few months. Xu Dongtang arrived at Ling Fengs residence, hoping to talk about the issue. After the guards announced him, Xu Dongtang walked into the room, his eyes immediately drawn to the piles of food on the table. The amount these five Superhumans ate could easily feed seventy or eighty people. Ling Feng glanced at Xu Dongtang and greeted him warmly. Old Xu! Come on over, have a bite with us. Xu Dongtang quickly waved his hand. No, no, Ive already eaten. Ah, dont be shy. Come, sit with us! Ling Feng insisted, forgetting that he was a guest in this town and Xu Dongtang was the host. Reluctantly, Xu Dongtang sat down next to Ling Feng. Old Xu, youve been working hard lately, Ling Feng said sincerely. I know youre under a lot of pressure. But hey, thats what being the town leader is about. With great power comes great responsibility. So keep up the good work, alright? Xu Dongtang smiled awkwardly and nodded. After exchanging pleasantries, Xu Dongtang got to the point. Captain Ling, how much longer until you can take down Zhang Yis shelter? At his question, everyone turned to look at him. Shi Dayong grumbled, What, you dont want us here anymore? Ling Feng immediately shot him a glare. Shi, what are you talking about? Old Xu isnt like that. Were here to help, after all. Isnt that right, Old Xu? Ling Feng said with a smile. Yes, of course, I didnt mean that, Xu Dongtang quickly responded. Its just that, recently, weve lost a lot of people, and the food situation... He was about to say that they were eating their food, living in their houses, and sending their people to die, hoping Ling Feng and his group would leave soon. But before he could finish, Ling Feng interrupted him. Oh, speaking of food, let me tell you something! Ling Feng picked up a grilled fish. Weve been eating fish for almost a week now. Its well-cooked, but eating the same thing every day gets boring. Were soldiers. We need proper food! You should bring us more red meat. Xu Dongtang was dumbfounded. He had come to ask them to cut back on food, but now Ling Feng was demanding better quality? Captain Ling, I... I wanted to ask if you could simplify your meals, Xu Dongtang said. The villagers rely on the fish from Lu River to survive. With your arrival, most of the fish have gone to feed your soldiers. Ling Feng raised an eyebrow. Oh? So youre saying youre running low on food now? Xu Dongtang nodded reluctantly. Its getting difficult for us. Ling Feng put down his fish, paused for a moment, then said, I understand your situation. Times are tough for everyone. Xu Dongtang let out a sigh of relief. Its great that you understand, Captain Ling. Ling Feng slapped his thigh and said, Well then, since youre having such a hard time, we wont trouble you any longer. Ill take my team and leave tomorrow. Well head back to West Hill Base. Xu Dongtangs eyes widened in surprise. What, youre leaving? His heart raced with excitement. Sending these people away meant Xu Family Town could finally breathe. Living under the barrel of a gun was a torment. Ling Feng continued, But once we leave, youll need to be more vigilant. Weve spent a lot of time here in Xu Family Town, and Zhang Yi knows that. Weve been attacking his shelter for days, bombing everything around it. With his personality, he wont just let this slide. While were here, we keep him in check. But once were gone, who do you think hell come after? Ling Feng turned to look at Xu Dongtang with a mocking smile. Old Xu, what do you think? A chill ran down Xu Dongtangs spine. He understood perfectlyif Zhang Yi learned they had helped West Hill Base, Xu Family Town would be the next target for revenge. They had already seen what Zhang Yi was capable of. Author''s Note Chapter 290: Give Them a Little Shock Chapter 290: Give Them a Little Shock Xu Dongtangs body was rigid and tense, not knowing how to respond to Ling Fengs words. Ling Feng smiled and said, So you see, we cant leave. We have to stay here and protect you. Starting tomorrow, double the food rations! We need to maintain our strength to fight the enemy, after all! Xu Dongtang was stunned. What? Double the rations? If we do that, our villagers wont have enough to eat, theyll starve to death! Ling Feng stared into his eyes, his black-gray pupils cold and indifferent like stainless steel. If the villagers die, you Xu Family members can still survive here. But if we soldiers die, there wont be a single blade of grass left in Xu Family Town! So, my request is not unreasonable, right? Xu Dongtang opened his mouth but didnt say a word. Although he was the mayor of Xu Family Town, he was, in reality, nothing more than a puppet propped up by the West Hill Base. He had no power to negotiate with them. That night, Xu Dongtang reluctantly conveyed the message to the villages as tactfully as possible. Curses echoed through the night; everyone wished they could chop the special forces team into pieces! But after all the cursing, no one took any action. The next day, they obediently handed over the food as Ling Feng demanded. Even though the food was seized, it didnt matter, as they could still eat a little and wouldnt starve to death. Even if forced to work in the freezing cold, facing the threat of death, it wasnt a certainty theyd die. As long as they werent completely cornered, they would curse in their hearts but rarely dared to resist. Those who did dare to resist had already been executed in public, leaving the survivors broken, keeping their heads down like ostriches, enduring all the injustice. Time passed slowly, and the situation around the shelter remained the same every day. Ling Feng, to avoid arousing Zhang Yi''s suspicion, continued to attack the shelter at the same time each day. As for Zhang Yi, he occasionally came out, pretending to be enraged, cursing loudly, and firing shots randomly, but he never actually left the shelter. Most of the time, Zhang Yi, Yang Siyah, Zhou Ke''er, and the others lived leisurely in the shelter. Food was plentiful, and they had no shortage of entertainment. With enough people around, boredom wasnt an issue. They played cards, moved on to other games, and sometimes even played badminton in the gym on the third underground floor. The underground space was large enough to accommodate bigger group activities if they wanted. Just like that, half a month passed. Monitoring showed that the tunnel digging had progressed to within 700 meters of the shelter. Over a hundred people from Xu Family Town had already perished for this effort. The villagers had become numb, even forgetting why they had started digging the tunnel in the first place. Every day, they were herded by the special forces, working non-stop in 24-hour shifts. As for Zhang Yi, Ling Feng and the others were almost certain he was too afraid to leave the shelter. The overly comfortable environment had made him complacent, and the only outcome awaiting him was destruction. Another morning came. Zhang Yi woke up early, pulled back the covers, and Hua Hua lazily stretched out, glancing at him before yawning. Wake up! How about I take you for a walk? Zhang Yi patted Hua Huas head. Hua Hua was reluctant but eventually got up, stretching its body like a long noodle. Sitting by the bed, Zhang Yi calmly started changing clothes. Instead of his usual casual wear, he retrieved a full set of pure white attire from a dimensional space. It was a two-piece set. The inner layer was the same kind of close-fitting garment worn by Xie Huanhuan, entirely white, with gold zippers and decorative buttons, and a golden sword emblem on the chestsimple yet elegant. After putting on the inner layer, he then wore the matching combat suit. The suit was identical in color and style, but its primary function was defense, whereas the inner layer focused on insulation. The suit was equipped with a heating system and batteries, with heating modules distributed across the body, ensuring Zhang Yi''s warmth. This suit was modeled after the combat suits used by the special forces from West Hill Base, but its craftsmanship and materials far exceeded the original. Despite the sophisticated design, the suit was easy to wear, as it was designed for combat situations where ease of movement and quick dressing were crucial. After putting on his white combat boots and equipping a matching helmetbulletproof and equipped with a communicator and tactical gogglesZhang Yi meticulously checked his weapons and ammunition. This process took more than half an hour. Afterward, Zhang Yi placed some premium cat food by the bed, and Hua Hua, with a swipe of its sharp claws, opened the can and began eating. Zhang Yi checked his equipment one last time, grabbed a beef and cheese burger from the dimensional space, and heated up a cup of soy milk in the kitchen. After a leisurely breakfast, he hoisted Hua Hua onto his shoulder and headed down to the third underground floor. Most emergency shelters had secret exits designed for situations like enemy invasions. This shelter was no exception, and Zhang Yi was the only one who knew of its location, hidden beneath the floor in the front left corner of the gym on the third floor. The tunnel stretched 2.5 kilometers, emerging behind the northern hills of Cloud Manor. The exit was concealed within a dense forest. After studying the special forces teams patrol patterns, Zhang Yi decided to take the initiative for once, planning to give them a little shock. The special forces team, including the superhumans, would come every day for mock assaults, as it was part of their ruse to prevent Zhang Yi from suspecting anything. However, only ordinary soldiers remained at Xu Family Town, with a few modified humans at most. These people posed no threat to the current Zhang Yi. Not to mention, he had Hua Hua with him. In close combat, Hua Hua was at least ten times more efficient at clearing out grunts than Zhang Yi himself. Zhang Yi reached the gym corner, lifted the third tile from the left in the fourth row, and unlocked the old-fashioned mechanical lock. He pulled out a yellow key, inserted it into the lock, and opened the door. Behind the first door was a second, and then a third, each offering progressively higher levels of security. Finally, the three doors opened, revealing a white staircase. Sensors automatically lit up the stairwell. Zhang Yi descended the stairs, reaching another heavy silver-gray metal door at the bottom. Its material was the same as the main entrancedesigned to withstand even heavy artillery fire. Next to the door was a black motorcycle. Given the length of the tunnel, having a vehicle was essential for a quick escape. The shelter designers had planned it all carefully. Zhang Yi approached, scanned his iris and palm, and the door slowly opened with a rumble. Lights flickered on along the length of the tunnel. He mounted the bike and realized it was electric. Electric bikes were quieter, and with advancements in new energy technology, their range and speed were comparable to fuel-powered vehicles. The bike didnt require a key; it started with an iris scan. Zhang Yi accelerated down the tunnel, which inclined upwards, leading to the surface. Not long after, he reached the end of the tunnel. In front of him was a thick alloy door, identical to the ones before, and using the same method, he opened it. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a loud rumble, the door opened inward, and a rush of snow poured in. Zhang Yi was prepared, dodging aside quickly. Even with the combat suit, he could still feel a slight chill. Hua Hua, perched on his shoulder, gave a disgruntled meow. Zhang Yi patted its head, stepped out into the snow, and shut the door behind him. The exit was located on a snow-covered hillside, where the snow was over five meters deep. The trees were bare, with only a few branches sticking out above the snow. Zhang Yi trudged through the snow, climbing up and reaching back to close the tunnel door. Upon seeing it clearly, he couldnt help but pause. It was disguised as a tall gravestone! Well, thats certainly hidden, Zhang Yi muttered, shaking his head. It wouldnt be surprising if he were standing in the middle of a cemetery. He scanned the surroundingsit was deathly silent, with no signs of life. Zhang Yi crouched down, whispered a few words to Hua Hua, who responded with a meow. Reluctantly, Hua Hua transformed, growing larger and using its big paws to shovel snow over the gravestone, concealing the door once again. Once finished, Hua Hua shrank back to its normal size. Zhang Yi nodded to the cat, and they set off, one man and one cat, trekking slowly through the snow. An hour later, around 8:30 in the morning. Ling Feng and his team finished breakfast and, as usual, headed to the shelter for their daily harassment. On the riverbank, a production line was in motion. People inside the shelter continuously passed out baskets of dirt, while those outside cleared it away and manually cranked machines to pump air into the tunnel. The only people left in Xu Family Town were the elderly and children who were too weak to work, along with a few women who were responsible for cooking. Aside from them, the rest were the special forces members from West Hill Base. Author''s Note Chapter 291: Stealth Attack on the Base Chapter 291: Stealth Attack on the Base The atmosphere in Xu Family Town was distinctly polarized. The villagers were on edge, their faces blank with fear. Although they didn''t need to work outside, they still had tasks assigned by the Special Forces Team, such as preparing food or fulfilling personal requests for some team members. In the past, these soldiers had been well-trained and strictly disciplined, but after the apocalypse, human nature gradually eroded with each twisted event. When one gains control over another''s life and death, moral boundaries blur. The bitter cold kept most people indoors, leaving only a few soldiers on guard. Yet, after a long period of peace, they didnt believe any enemy would attack. After all, they were the elite Special Forces Team from West Hill Base! Even in all of Tianhai City, their strength was unmatched. Their mission this time was to deal with a coward hiding in a shelter, too afraid to come out. No one would ever expect that a Superhuman from that shelter would dare launch an attack, especially against their main base. A soldier patrolling the edge of the village held his gun, pacing slowly. Suddenly, he noticed a white figure in the distance. Upon closer inspection, he saw a captains insignia on the person''s shoulder. (The combat suit Zhang Yi wore was modeled after Liu Ziyang and Xie Huanhuan''s, complete with a captain''s insignia.) The soldier thought it was his captain returning from the front lines and immediately saluted. Captain! The person in the combat suit approached, nodding slowly. Just as the guard let his guard down, a flash of a blade sliced across his throat. Urgh Clutching his neck in disbelief, the guard collapsed onto the snow, eyes filled with terror. Zhang Yi stepped forward and finished him off with a precise strike through the skull, ensuring his death. Thats the fourth. Now, all the guards around Xu Family Town are dead, Zhang Yi remarked calmly. Although he and Hua Hua could easily kill all the Special Forces members in the village, a chaotic battle would complicate things and introduce unnecessary risks, possibly alerting the captains across the river. Zhang Yi was here to kill, not play the hero. After storing the body in his spatial dimension, Zhang Yi cleaned the blood from his clothes with the snow and casually walked further into the village. At the southwest corner of Xu Family Town, a Special Forces soldier suddenly burst into a snow hut. The man of the house had been drafted to dig tunnels, leaving only his young wife at home. The soldier entered, quickly covering the womans mouth to stifle any screams. Sister, Ive been having a rough time lately. Help me out! The soldiers gaze swept over her body with a hint of lust. Though she was bundled up in thick clothes, her pale, frozen face wasnt exactly beautiful, but to a soldier deprived for days, she was more than enough to satisfy. The woman trembled in fear, her body shaking. You... you cant do this. The soldier impatiently shoved her onto the bed, roughly tearing at her clothes. You better cooperate, or the consequences will be beyond what you can handle! He didnt want to make a scene. Even if the upper officers in the Special Forces Team found out, at most hed get a slap on the wrist, but being called out for such behavior would bring him shame in front of his peers. The woman sobbed quietly, knowing she was powerless to resist. She tightly closed her eyes, resigned to whatever was about to happen. As the soldier struggled to remove her many layers, his breath grew heavier. So cold... its freezing. Couldnt we at least cover ourselves with a blanket first? The woman, nearly numb from the cold, could barely feel anything. Damn! Even in this hellhole, I have to grit my teeth to do this. Way worse than back at the base! the soldier grumbled. Still, it was an urgent situationhe needed a quick release, not a full experience. Soon, muffled sobs and suppressed whispers filled the room, catching the attention of a passerby. The snow huts were partially buried underground and had no doors, with ice bricks used to block them at night. But since it was daytime, the soldier hadnt bothered to close off the entrance. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The passerby peered in and smirked, then quietly stepped inside. The soldier, in the middle of his assault, paused at the sound, turning his head to see another Special Forces Team member standing there, fully geared up. The only odd thing was that the newcomer was wearing a helmet, even though there was no active mission. Hey, man, dont interrupt my fun! If you want a woman, go find one yourselfIm not into threesomes, the soldier joked, turning back to his task, completely unfazed. But in the next moment, a bright blade pierced through his left chest, skewering both him and the woman beneath him, pinning them to the bed. The long sword had impaled them both, and steaming blood dripped down its blade. Zhang Yi casually pulled the sword out, flicking the blood onto the floor. The soldier, with his heart pierced, died instantly. The woman, her lungs punctured, coughed up blood and quickly died from blood loss and the cold. Zhang Yi had to kill herotherwise, in her panic, she would have screamed, blowing his cover. She was part of Xu Family Town, so there was no such thing as innocence. The enemys allies were enemies themselves. To avoid alerting others, Zhang Yi stored the two bodies in his spatial dimension. He then walked out of the snow hut as if nothing had happened, heading towards the area where the West Hill Base soldiers were stationed. Xu Family Town had been peaceful for too long. The soldiers left here had no sense of danger. In their free time, they gathered to play cards or mess around with handheld gaming consoles. Zhang Yi had already gotten all the information he needed from Liang Yue, so there was no need to search blindly. Zhang Yi strolled through the village. Despite his helmet, no one found it suspicious because of the cold and his white combat suit. The only odd thing was the large, muscular tabby cat walking beside himcats were rarely seen these days, as they werent as useful as dogs and often ended up as food. Such a robust tabby cat was even rarer. Walking up to a snow hut where soldiers were stationed, Zhang Yi could hear lively chatter inside. Are you playing or not? If not, Im taking the win! Win? Ill bomb you! Lets see how smug you are! What the hell? You actually have a bomb! It was clear they were engrossed in their card game. Zhang Yi casually walked in. Inside, five or six soldiers were gathered around a table playing cards, while two others watched and occasionally chimed in. Someone glanced at Zhang Yi as he entered, casually remarking, Isnt it stuffy wearing a helmet? But since it was cold outside, wearing a helmet didnt seem too strange. Zhang Yi said nothing, walking quietly over to them. Everyone was too absorbed in their game to pay him any attention. The stakes were highcigarettes, a rare luxury even at West Hill Base, had them all playing with fiery intensity. In a flash, Zhang Yi activated his ability and drew out the Loong Roar Sword from his spatial dimension. The sword gleamed as it sliced through the air, instantly beheading two soldiers. Their heads tumbled onto the table, disrupting the game. The six remaining soldiers, despite their shock, instinctively reached for their guns. But even the most well-trained soldiers couldnt match Zhang Yis speed. Like a ghost, he darted forward, killing two more with swift strikes. The last two survivors hadnt even pulled the trigger when a black shadow streaked past, tearing their throats open! Hua Hua leapt gracefully onto the table, its eyes glowing with bloodlust. In a matter of moments, Zhang Yi and Hua Hua had slaughtered all six soldiers without giving them a chance to make a sound. Zhang Yi stored the bodies and quickly cleaned up the blood. His waterproof combat suit made wiping off the blood easy. After finishing, he strolled out and headed to the next building. The freezing cold kept most soldiers inside, making Xu Family Town eerily quietperfect for Zhang Yis mission. His next target was the communications units residence. These soldiers werent combat experts but skilled in computer systems, responsible for maintaining contact with West Hill Base and managing various network issues for the Special Forces. Inside the room were two female soldiers and one man with gold-rimmed glasses. As Zhang Yi entered, they saluted him without hesitation. He returned their gesture with a swift, painless death. The process was simple: pretend to be an ally, activate his ability, kill, and clean up. Then move on to the next building. One by one, Zhang Yi silently killed the West Hill Base Special Forces members. But after he had slain more than ten soldiers, the thick smell of blood began to stir the military dogs housed nearby. Their frenzied barking echoed through the village, alerting the remaining soldiers to the danger. Author''s Note Chapter 292: The Gap in Power Chapter 292: The Gap in Power The barking of the military dogs alerted the Special Forces Team soldiers. These highly trained dogs had an exceptional sense of awareness and would never bark without reason. If they were alarmed, there was surely danger. Due to the severe cold, most animals had perished, and only cold-resistant sled dogs remained. They had become invaluable, serving multiple purposes. However, the sled dogs raised in Xu Family Town had been taken to help with tunnel digging, and the soldiers military dogs were kept indoors to protect them. Though all were dogs, there was a clear difference between those with official duties and those without. Theres something wrong. Go check it out! The remaining soldiers quickly geared up, grabbing their guns and leading the dogs out of the snow huts. Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Woof! Woof! Woof! The barking echoed throughout the small town. Hearing the commotion, the villagers cowered in fear inside their homes, too terrified to step outside. The soldiers soon discovered that several of the snow huts were missing their comrades, and there were bloodstains hastily covered on the ground. Enemy attack! Were under attack! Alert positions now! A squad leader reported the situation via radio. The well-trained soldiers immediately took defensive positions, guns at the ready, prepared for any threat. But none of them noticed that the enemy they were preparing for was dressed just like them and standing right behind them. Zhang Yi didnt waste time on words. With a swift stroke of his sword, he killed two Special Forces soldiers in an instant. The Loong Roar Sword, forged from Adamantium, effortlessly sliced through their necks. The others reacted quickly, spinning around and firing their guns. But Zhang Yi had already disappeared behind an ice hut. He realized that the only distinguishing feature of the uniforms was the golden star on the shoulder, so he casually removed it. Then, with his ghostly movements, Zhang Yi vanished from their sight. Before long, he infiltrated another squad from a different direction. With everyone tense and focused on the mysterious intruder, they all put on their tactical helmets. This made Zhang Yi even harder to spothe blended in seamlessly, like a drop of water in the ocean. Hes wearing our uniform! A squad leader shouted through the radio, Everyone, be wary of anyone near you! Thus, a bizarre scene unfolded on the snowy roads of Xu Family Town: soldiers pointing guns at each other, unsure if the person beside them was a comrade or an enemy. Follow my command and use the covert hand signal! The squad leader was sharp, knowing that while the uniforms were the same, outsiders wouldnt know the Special Forces signals. Sure enough, as everyone followed the signal in unison, Zhang Yi, who did nothing, was instantly exposed. All the soldiers aimed their guns at him. Without any orders, they instinctively pulled the triggers! Gunfire erupted like a torrential downpour. But to their horror, the bullets seemed to disappear into thin air as they neared Zhang Yi, vanishing without a trace! Hes Zhang Yi! Thats Zhang Yi! The name sent chills down the soldiers'' spines. This was the man who had caused them repeated losses and cost them over twenty comrades in a single battle! Wasnt he supposed to be hiding in the shelter? How did he get out, and why was he here? Questions filled the soldiers minds, but there was no time to dwell on them. Their bullets had no effect on Zhang Yi. When they realized something was wrong and ceased fire, Zhang Yi sent the bullets flying back at them with a flick of his hand. Though bullets didnt work on Zhang Yi, they were still lethal to the soldiers. Even with bulletproof combat suits, the unrelenting hail of gunfire riddled the soldiers with holes, killing them in an instant! The gunfire stirred Fatty Xu, who had been hiding at home, avoiding the harsh reality. He opened the window and looked out at the snow-covered streets, only to witness a scene all too familiar to him. Boss! Fatty Xus eyes widened in disbelief. He rubbed his eyes, thinking he was seeing things. Theres no mistake, that powerBoss is here! Fatty Xu felt a surge of emotion. Is he here to take me away? Sometimes, a bit of confidence could make life much more pleasant. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi continued his battle with the Special Forces soldiers. With their own bullets, he had already eliminated seven or eight soldiers. The remaining soldiers hid behind the bodies of their fallen comrades, quickly taking cover in the snow huts. Among the crowd, Zhang Yi noticed two shadowy figures moving like ghosts. The sensation was all too familiar to himit was the same ability as Liu Ziyang and the others. Cyborgs. A squad leader named Liu Tao shouted to his team, Stop shooting! His ability nullifies bullets! Use melee weapons! Hearing this, Zhang Yis lips curled into a mocking smile. Nullifies human bodies? Are you sure about that? Its true that his spatial dimension couldnt actively absorb living beings, but that didnt mean close combat could hurt him. In a split second, several Special Forces soldiers wielding military daggers charged at Zhang Yi from all directions! The two from the left front and right rear were clearly enhanced cyborgs, moving at lightning speed! A glint of determination flashed in Zhang Yis eyes. His spatial gate could only open in one direction, making it tricky to face attacks from multiple angles. But he wasnt alone. Ignoring the rear attack, Zhang Yi opened a dimensional gate in front of him. Meanwhile, behind him, the two soldiers with daggers suddenly found themselves under a massive shadow! With two massive paws, Hua Hua slammed them to the ground! When it came to speed, cats were second to none! As for the two soldiers in front of Zhang Yi, they were quickly sucked into the spatial dimension. Zhang Yi shut the gate, and after a bit more time inside, they would be dead. Behind him, Hua Hua, now in its giant form, picked up the two soldiers and casually crunched them in its jaws. Even enhanced cyborgs were too weak to face a true mutated beast. The remaining soldiers were already terrified. Faced with such overwhelming power, they lost the will to fight and scattered in all directions. Pursuit wasnt Zhang Yis specialty. Hua Hua, he called. Without needing further instructions, Hua Hua eagerly chased after the fleeing soldiers. Cats loved to toy with their prey. Before long, anguished screams echoed from all directions of Xu Family Town. Blood and bodies littered the streets. Zhang Yi had wiped out every single Special Forces soldier stationed in the town! Wasting no time, Zhang Yi quickly found Liang Yues house, placing a chip and a phone card beneath her bed. After completing this task, he knew he couldnt stay there much longer. He quickly left the room. Hua Hua, were leaving! The gunfire had likely alerted those across the river. In five minutes at most, Ling Feng and the others would be back. Zhang Yi had no intention of facing off against several powerful Superhuman captains. Zhang Yi always played it safe, striking only when he had the upper hand! Hua Hua returned to its smaller form, and the two quickly left Xu Family Town. They had taken a long detour to avoid detection when arriving, and they planned to do the same when leaving. Just as they were about to retrieve their snow vehicle and depart, a familiar voice called from behind. Boss, wait up! Hearing this voice, Zhang Yi paused, frowning as he turned to see Fatty Xu panting as he ran over. Whats wrong with you? Chasing me down now could expose our connection! Zhang Yi scolded. Fatty Xu, gasping for breath, finally reached Zhang Yi and blurted, Boss, you came here to get me, right? Zhang Yi shot him a look, letting him figure it out on his own. Fatty Xu felt a twinge of disappointment but quickly smiled. Haha, I knew you wanted to see me! Right? Get back home. I dont have time to chat. If they come back, well both be in trouble, Zhang Yi said indifferently. Fatty Xu hurriedly added, But Boss, you killed so many soldiers. When they return, theyll be furious! I think its dangerous to stay here. Zhang Yi stared at him. So, youve decided to leave with me? Fatty Xus ability was useful, and Zhang Yi considered keeping him as a subordinate. Fatty Xu hesitated briefly. I still want to take a few people with me. Zhang Yis expression grew impatient. I dont have time to waste here. Either come with me now, or figure out your own way to find me later. He tossed Fatty Xu a new phone. Through Liang Yue, Zhang Yi had learned why Fatty Xu hadnt been able to contact him lately. With that, Zhang Yi pulled out the snow vehicle, and with Hua Hua, he sped away from Xu Family Town. Fatty Xu stood there, torn, watching the snow vehicle disappear into the distance. His cowardly nature told him that the death of so many soldiers would bring a massive storm. He knew he couldnt stay here any longer. He had to leave! Resolutely, Fatty Xu headed toward Xu Lilis house. He needed to convince her to leave with him so they could find a safe place and live out their lives in happiness. Lili will definitely want to leave with me! Fatty Xu thought confidently. Soon, he arrived outside Xu Lilis snow hut. But just as he was about to knock, he heard voices from inside. Author''s Note Chapter 293: The Furious Ling Feng Chapter 293: The Furious Ling Feng Fatty Xu stopped outside Xu Lilis house. He was eager to tell Xu Lili how dangerous Xu Family Town had become, with no one knowing what the enraged special forces might do. He wanted to take Xu Lili away from here. However, he realized that he hadnt gotten Zhang Yis permission to bring anyone along. Even if he could take someone, how many could he take? If he only took Xu Lili, what would happen to her family? As Fatty Xu was mulling over these thoughts, the voices of Xu Lili and her family floated out from inside the snow house. Mom, so many people have died outside. Will we be okay? Silly girl, why would anything happen to us? Didnt you see? Theyre killing each other. This has nothing to do with us. They have to be reasonable. Weve treated them well with good food and drink; well be fine. Thats right. Maybe I should go find that fatty. If I say a few nice words, hell definitely protect us. True, that fatty may be a bit dumb, but hes capable and can keep our family safe. Lili, why dont you marry him? What??? Xu Lilis voice suddenly turned sharp. Mom, what nonsense are you talking about? Hes fat and ugly! If you all hadnt pressured me to cozy up to him, I wouldnt have bothered speaking to him. Outside the snow house, Fatty Xus heart felt like it was being stabbed with a knife. Is this how Xu Lili really saw him? He wasnt the hero she thought he was after all! The conversation inside continued. You dont get it. Marriage is about living life. Sure, hes not great, but he can keep all of us alive. Forget it. If I had to sleep in the same bed as him, Id have nightmares every night. Id puke just looking at that greasy, fat face! But if you dont sweet-talk him, how will he protect us? Dont worry, Mom. That idiot is dumb as a rock. If I show him just a little kindness, hell be over the moon. Fat shut-ins are the easiest to deal with. Their heads are full of fantasies. As long as a woman shows them the slightest affection, theyll practically hand you their hearts. Outside, Fatty Xus heart turned cold. All the wonderful fantasies he once had shattered in that moment. At that point, they noticed him standing outside. Xu Lilis mother looked a bit awkward. Oh... Chunlei, youre here! Come in and sit for a while. Xu Lilis face changed slightly when she saw Fatty Xu, but since their conversation had been exposed, she didnt bother pretending anymore. Instead, her expression turned haughty. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fatty Xu forced a smile. No, Auntie. I just need to have a word with Lili. Could you ask her to come out? Xu Lilis mother nudged her, and only then did Xu Lili step out of the snow house. She fixed her hair and, trying to ensure that Fatty Xu would continue to protect her family, put on her sweetest smile. Chunlei, when did you get here? Oh, I just arrived. Fatty Xu stared at the sweet-smiling girl before him, feeling dazed. He couldnt believe that the vile words he had just heard had come from her cherry-red lips. Chunlei, is there something you wanted to talk about? Fatty Xus lips felt bitter, but he didnt angrily storm off. After all, once youve fallen in love, its hard to give up on the dream. Lili, you should come with me. Its not safe in the village anymore. So many people have died. There could be even more danger. Fatty Xu urged. Xu Lili smiled lightly, Chunlei, where could we go even if we left the village? Fatty Xu didnt mention that he was planning to find Zhang Yi. If you trust me, Ill take you out of here. Dont worry, as long as Im around, Ill make sure youre safe! Given his abilities, they could probably find shelter in a snow-covered supermarket. Even if they didnt meet up with Zhang Yi, he could still survive. The snow-covered world was his domain. Xu Lili was silent for a few seconds before smiling apologetically. Sorry, Chunlei! Isnt this a bit too reckless? This isnt some romance drama. Why act like were eloping? Her warm smile and the pity in her eyes deeply wounded Fatty Xu. It was like a grown woman comforting a naive boy. It was a gaze from someone looking down from a high place. Even at that moment, Fatty Xu couldnt let go of his fantasy. He tried to explain, But so many soldiers have died. What do you think will happen when those people come back? Xu Lili thought for a moment and nonchalantly said, That has nothing to do with us, does it? It shouldnt affect us. Then she stepped closer, smiling as she took Fatty Xus hand. Gazing up at him pitifully, she said, Even if we do face danger, Chunlei, youll protect us, wont you? Fatty Xus body stiffened. He didnt know what he said or did afterward. He probably just nodded numbly and watched Xu Lili return to the house. But when he snapped out of it, he immediately turned and ran out of the village. He had to get out of there, to find Zhang Yi, or maybe just hide like an ostrich. He feared death, so he had a keen sense for danger. After all, he was Zhang Yis undercover agent. It was only a matter of time before he was discovered. Run! Running away may be cowardly, but it works. As for Xu Lili to hell with her! Fatty Xu ran as he called Zhang Yi. Boss, Ive made up my mind. Im going back with you! --- Across the river, Ling Feng was leading a group of team leader-level Superhumans and some special forces soldiers to carry out routine harassment of the shelter, while also overseeing the Xu Family Town villagers as they worked. Suddenly, a barrage of gunfire erupted from Xu Family Town, attracting attention across the river. Both the special forces soldiers and the working villagers instinctively turned to look. Gunshots... from the village? Could someone be setting off firecrackers? Impossible! Whod be dumb enough to set off firecrackers in times like these? Ling Fengs expression immediately grew serious when he heard the gunshots. Gunfire meant trouble in Xu Family Town. But Zhang Yi had been trapped in the shelter and couldnt possibly have caused it. So where did it come from? Could there be other forces nearby that West Hill Base hadnt discovered? Ling Feng immediately ordered someone to contact the people in Xu Family Town to find out what had happened. A team member used the communicator to make contact, but all the soldiers in the village had already been killed, so no one answered. The team member reported back to Ling Feng, and his expression darkened. The special forces operated under strict discipline, and failing to respond to a communication was unheard of unless they were overwhelmed by force. Lets go back and see what happened! Ling Feng left Shi Dayong and others behind to continue harassing the shelter, to prevent Zhang Yi from noticing anything unusual. Then he took five soldiers and sped back to Xu Family Town on sleds. As they crossed the river, they encountered a bloody corpse at the village entrance. The body was mangled, as if crushed by something massive. Blood had dyed the ground red, freezing into chunks of crimson ice. The corpses right hand was stretched toward the riverbank, as if there was some terrifying monster in the village. Ling Fengs eyes sharpened immediately. Stay alert! He ordered his men to raise their guns, all of them warily watching the surroundings. But Ling Feng himself strode boldly into the village. By now, Zhang Yi had already fled far away. Corpses of soldiers were scattered along the village roads, blood splattered everywhere in a gruesome display. The sight was too horrific to bear. Villagers stood at the side of the road, chattering among themselves as they pointed at the bodies. When they saw Ling Feng and his men return, they quickly stepped aside. As Ling Feng walked through the village, his expression grew darker and darker, bloodshot veins forming in his eyes. Dead. More dead! These longtime comrades, these brothers, had once again died in front of him! Ling Feng had brought a total of fifty men with him, along with the dozen or so from the rescue team, making over sixty people. The failed explosion outside the shelter had already killed twenty-two of them. Now, all the soldiers left behind in Xu Family Town were dead. Aside from the captains, there were only thirteen soldiers left by his side! Such heavy losses! And these werent just any soldiers; they were the elite of West Hill Base. How would he ever explain this to Chen Xinian? Ling Feng walked to the bloodiest part of the battlefield, his eyes filled with killing intent as he looked down at the familiar faces of his fallen comrades. Ahhhh!!! Unable to contain his rage, Ling Feng let out a roar that surged outward in a wave, stirring up the falling snow. Nearby villagers were knocked to the ground by the force of his voice. Who did this? Who killed my brothers?! Ling Fengs bloodshot eyes swept across the village as he shot forward, grabbing an old man by the neck. Tell me! Who did this?! The old man was terrified, stammering incoherently, unable to form a complete sentence. Crack! With a squeeze, Ling Feng snapped the mans neck like he was crushing a rubber doll, tearing his head clean off. The villagers stared in disbelief before breaking into terrified screams and fleeing for their lives. Dont run! If anyone runs, Ill kill them! Ling Fengs fury had almost obliterated his reason after watching his soldiers die twice in a row. The sight of the panicked villagers only filled him with disgust. In a few quick flashes, Ling Feng turned seven or eight villagers into piles of gore, crushing them like clay figures. Desperate to vent his emotions, Ling Feng held nothing back. These ordinary people were as fragile as mud in his hands. The villagers of Xu Family Town died without ever understanding why. They had done nothing wrong, yet they were slaughtered by the very soldiers they had treated so kindly. Author''s Note Chapter 294: Suspicion Chapter 294: Suspicion Ling Feng slaughtered the villagers of Xu Family Town without restraint. By now, he had completely lost his sanity, and only through killing and bloodshed could he vent his inner frenzy. When he finally felt a slight relief in his emotions, the ground was already littered with broken corpses. In his hand, he held two halves of a body, drenched in blood, resembling a demon that had just emerged from hell. Meanwhile, the villagers were being forced by other special forces soldiers, not allowed to flee. Ling Feng glanced at the trembling villagers and suddenly felt like he might have gone too far. He quickly explained, "Look at you all. I just wanted to ask if you saw the culprit. Why didnt you tell me earlier?" "You know I''ve lost so many brothers, and Im in a terrible mood!" "It''s all right now, no need to be afraid." Although Ling Feng felt a bit guilty for killing so many villagers, he justified it by reminding himself that his actions were driven by the deaths of his comrades. With a stern face, he asked the villagers again, "Now, tell me honestly! You must have seen the battle in the village. Who''s the culprit?" The villagers, staring at the suddenly furious Ling Feng, saw only a monster before them, too scared to respond. Ling Feng, furious, shouted, "If you don''t speak, it means you''re guilty! If so, then the entire town will die with you!" At that, one villager finally blurted out, "I saw them killing each other!" Ling Feng''s eyebrows shot up, "You''re lying!" He strode over, grabbed the man by the neck, and lifted him off the ground. "Our men would never turn on each other! Are you hiding something? Do you want me to kill you?!" The elderly man''s legs flailed as his face turned red from the lack of air. He was on the brink of death. His daughter couldn''t take it anymore and cried out, "My father is telling the truth! The killer was wearing clothes just like yours." "But he killed everyone else by himself. Oh, and he had a strange cat that could grow as big as a house!" Ling Feng''s eyes widened, "A Superhuman?" He tossed the old man aside and pulled the woman over, pointing at her, "Listen, Im a fair man. As long as you tell the truth, I wont kill you." The irony of his words was palpable. As if the murders he just committed were somehow justified. The woman, trembling, recounted what she had seen. However, the villagers had been too scared to watch closely, and she hadnt seen much of the fight. Fortunately, other villagers chipped in to fill the gaps in her story. After hearing their account, Ling Feng stood in shock, taking two steps back in disbelief. "A spatial ability... it must be Zhang Yi! But isnt he supposed to be in the shelter? How did he get out?" Shen Hong, standing nearby, approached and said, "Captain, could there be another exit?" Ling Fengs eyes lit up, "Yes, that must be it! A proper shelter can''t have just one way in." "Our shelter, for example, has at least two escape routes, not to mention the private ones for Chen Xinian." "If we find that path, we can storm the shelter!" "D*mn Zhang Yi! You killed so many of my brothers and all those villagers from Xu Family Town. I will kill you!" After his outburst, Ling Feng addressed the villagers again, "Remember this, it wasnt me, Ling Feng, who killed your loved ones today. It was Zhang Yi! Hes to blame for all of this." "I will avenge you!" The villagers, heads bowed, dared not speak, but in their hearts, they saw Ling Feng as an even more terrifying monster than Zhang Yi. At least Zhang Yi had only retaliated after being provoked. But Ling Feng and his special forces team from West Hill Base? They had done everything they could to accommodate these people, only to be treated like animals by Ling Fengs group. Now they were filled with regret, but it was far too late. They had no strength to fight back against the special forces. Ling Feng immediately ordered his soldiers to search for traces of Zhang Yis escape. The heavy snow outside would surely leave marks wherever someone had passed through. By following them, they could find Zhang Yis route, and therefore, the secret passage. At that moment, Zhang Yi had already left Xu Family Town, taking Fatty Xu with him. Before heading back, Zhang Yi wanted to confirm if Fatty Xu had truly let go of all ties to the town and its people. "Fatty, think carefully. Once you enter the shelter, you must obey my orders unconditionally." "Are you really willing to abandon Xu Lili?" Hearing Xu Lilis name, Fatty Xu clenched his fists tightly, tears suddenly spilling from his eyes. He shouted, "Of course, I can! Women in the real world cant be trusted. I will never believe in love again!" "Thats the spirit." Zhang Yi started up the snowmobile and took a detour back to the entrance of the mountain passage. Opening the door, he led Fatty Xu and Hua Hua inside. Fatty Xu, looking cautiously over his shoulder, asked, "Boss, the tire tracks are pretty obvious. Wont this passage be discovered?" Zhang Yi gave him a sideways glance, "If theyre not complete idiots, theyll definitely find it." Fatty Xu grew nervous, "Thats not good! If they attack through here, were done for!" A sly smile crept onto Zhang Yis face. "Im counting on them to come." Fatty Xu blinked, then quickly understood, "Ah, Boss, youve set a trap for them here!" "I never fight a battle Im not prepared for." Zhang Yi led Fatty Xu to the alloy door. After a complex unlocking procedure, they entered the shelter. Meanwhile, Ling Fengs group quickly found the snowmobile tracks. Shen Hong, eager for revenge, gritted his teeth and said, "Captain, lets go! Lets kill that b*stard Zhang Yi!" But Ling Feng remained calm, "Weve fought him enough timeshave you ever seen him make a mistake?" "Hes an extremely dangerous opponent. He wouldnt leave such obvious tracks unless he had something else planned." Shen Hong nodded in agreement. "But we cant miss this chance. In half a day, the snow will cover the tracks, and well never find that passage again!" Ling Feng paused for a moment, his voice cold and heavy with sorrow. "We cant afford more losses." Out of their 60-strong elite team, more than 50 had already been killed. The remaining ten or so were either Superhumans, cyborgs, or engineers responsible for overseeing the project. The loss of any one of them was more significant than losing thirty regular soldiers. Ling Feng stood up and said, "Call everyone back." Shen Hong was taken aback, "But our tunnel project is still underway. Are we just going to stop?" Ling Feng shot him a deep look, "Think about it. Why did Zhang Yi dare to leave his shelter and attack our base?" Shen Hong frowned and started thinking. Moments later, his eyes widened in shock. "Captain, you mean theres a traitor among us?" "Someone leaked our information to Zhang Yi, allowing him to attack us while our defenses were down!" Ling Fengs eyes were dark and sharp. "Exactly. Otherwise, given his cautious nature, hed never have left the shelter." "And if our plans have been leaked, do you think digging that tunnel is still worth it?" Shen Hongs breathing grew rapid. Did that mean all their work over the past two weeks had been in vain? The only silver lining was that they hadnt wasted their own timeXu Family Towns villagers had done all the digging. Wait, hold on! Shen Hong suddenly realized something and blurted out, "But who could the traitor be?" They had searched all the villagers in Xu Family Town, confiscating any communication devices they found. Even if someone had tried to hide something, the special forces had scanned them with detection devices. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And the villagers had no reason or means to communicate with Zhang Yi, given their deep grudge against him. Could the traitor be one of the special forces? But most of the special forces were already dead. Could it be someone among the ten survivors? A name instantly came to Shen Hongs mind. The most suspicious person, without a doubt, was Liang Yue, who had joined the special forces not too long ago. After all, she had publicly opposed Ling Fengs plan and wasnt particularly close to anyone in the squad. The more he thought about it, the more suspicious she seemed. Shen Hong whispered to Ling Feng, "Could it be Liang Yue?" Ling Feng narrowed his eyes, "Well know once we call them back!" As long as they got hold of Liang Yues phone and had the tech team inspect it, the truth would come out. Even if she had deleted the communication records, they could recover everything. It would be impossible for her to hide. Ling Feng issued an order for everyone across the river to return to Xu Family Town immediately. The group across the river had already heard the gunfire and knew something was up, so they rushed back. Liang Yue was puzzled, but she had no knowledge of Zhang Yis plan. She only sensed that something wasnt right. On the way back, she quietly hid the phone she had used to contact Zhang Yi in the hollow of a dead tree. Author''s Note Chapter 295: The Constant-Temperature Grill Chapter 295: The Constant-Temperature Grill The people on the other side of the river returned to Xu Family Town. Seeing the bloody and cruel scene before them, everyone was stunned. The villagers of Xu Family Town cried to the heavens in despair; many of their relatives had died at Ling Feng''s hands. On the side of the Special Forces Team, the atmosphere was equally tense. Shi Dayong''s veins bulged with rage, and he almost lost control of his fury, nearly transforming into an ice-giant ape to wreak havoc. Most of their comrades had been wiped out, yet they hadn''t even managed to touch Zhang Yi. It was an utter humiliation! Meanwhile, Ling Feng and his group walked up to Liang Yue, their eyes filled with a bone-chilling coldness. "Teacher Liang, could you hand over your phone for me to check?" Ling Feng asked. As soon as he said this, the atmosphere grew tense. Everyone understood why Ling Feng asked thisit was clear he suspected Liang Yue had tipped off Zhang Yi. Liang Yue frowned. "Captain Ling, are you accusing me?" Her heart was already a bit anxious, but her excellent warrior training allowed her to maintain outward calm. Fortunately, when she had contacted Zhang Yi, she hadnt used her usual phone. Ling Feng said, "We''ve lost so many people, and yet Zhang Yi had the nerve to come out and attack our rear. There must be a mole informing him!" Liang Yue sneered and took her phone out of her pocket, handing it over without hesitation. "If you want to check, go ahead!" After handing over her phone, she stood aside with a Tang Sword in her arms, her face still cold and silent. Her brazen attitude made Ling Feng and the others suspicious. Could they have been wrong? At that moment, Shi Dayong looked around in surprise. "Hey, where''s that Fatty Xu?" Fatty Xu had superpowers and had been a quasi-member of their Special Forces Team. He was supposed to be taken back to West Hill Base once this mission was over. Shi Dayong asked because they hadnt seen Fatty Xu since they returned. Hearing this, Ling Feng immediately sensed something was wrong. "Where''s Xu Chunlei? Where is he?" They quickly called for Xu Dongtang. "Old Xu, where''s your grandson?" Ling Feng stared into his eyes as he asked. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this moment, Xu Dongtang felt a deep sorrow. Upon returning, they had found many villagers dead in gruesome ways, their bodies mangled beyond recognition. At first, they thought it was an external invasion, but upon asking around, they learned it had been Ling Feng who caused this! Xu Dongtang didnt answer Ling Fengs question. Instead, he summoned the courage to meet his gaze. "Captain Ling, our Xu Family Town has treated you well, so why did you kill our kin?" Ling Feng was taken aback. "I didnt kill them! It was Zhang Yi who caused their deaths. Old Xu, youre usually pretty smart, so why are you being so muddle-headed now?" He continued, "Its simple logic! If Zhang Yi hadnt come and killed my brothers, and if you Xu Family people hadnt known and kept quiet, I wouldnt have been so angry!" "So, you should blame Zhang Yi." "If you cooperate with me, Ill deal with Zhang Yi and avenge your people!" Ling Feng spoke with such righteous conviction, even appearing to exude a sense of justice. It wasnt just a defense; he truly believed he was in the right. Xu Dongtangs lips trembled with anger. How could anyone reason with such a person? He suddenly recalled Fatty Xus earlier warning. Trusting the people from West Hill Base too much could bring disaster to Xu Family Town. And now, he began to doubtwas this organization really just? Xu Dongtang was already regretting his earlier choices, but it was too late to turn back. The wolves had entered the sheepfold, and they wouldnt leave until every last sheep was devoured. "Hey, stop standing there like a fool! Wheres Xu Chunlei?" Ling Feng pressed him. Xu Dongtang, now frightened, stammered, "II dont know! Wasnt Chunlei one of yours? Hes been with you all the time. How would I know where he went?" Ling Feng took a deep breath. "Everyone, find him for me!" If someone had disappeared right after Zhang Yi''s attack, then that person was likely the mole. And if that person happened to be a superhuman, the possibility was even greater. Soon, they found a lead. It was Xu Lili who reported Fatty Xu. She admitted that she knew Fatty Xu was planning to leave Xu Family Town, but she didnt know where he had gone. At this point, the truth was clear. The mole who had tipped off Zhang Yi was Fatty Xu! Ling Feng, enraged, smashed a snow hut with his fist. "That traitor! Im going to kill him!" Liang Yue secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Fatty Xu had certainly left with Zhang Yi, which made him her scapegoat. Her own suspicions were now washed away. Yet, she still stood coldly, arms folded, not saying a word. Ling Feng grabbed Xu Dongtang, his face filled with confusion as he asked, "Didnt you say your village has a blood feud with Zhang Yi? Why would there be a traitor collaborating with him?" Xu Dongtang knew some of the inside story. The peace agreement with Zhang Yi had actually been Fatty Xus doing. But in order to take the credit, he had told everyone that he had negotiated the deal. Thus, no one else knew about Fatty Xus connection with Zhang Yi. Now, there was no way he could reveal the truth. Otherwise, Ling Feng would surely kill him! He could only say, "That Xu Chunlei is a coward, always fearful for his life. Theres nothing strange about him doing something like this. Captain Ling, this has nothing to do with the rest of us!" "We hate Zhang Yi to the core. Wed never help him." Ling Feng was almost certain now that Fatty Xu was the mole. But capturing him would be difficult with their current manpower. Besides, they had other pressing matters. Ling Feng told Xu Dongtang, "If you really arent working with Zhang Yi, then prove it to me with action!" Xu Dongtang didnt understand what Ling Feng wanted. Ling Feng ordered everyone in Xu Family Town to gather in the square. About a thousand people were herded there by a dozen Special Forces members like sheep. None dared resist. Ling Feng randomly selected one hundred of them. "You people come with me for something important. If it goes well, Ill credit you with a great achievement!" "The rest of you stay here and carry on as usual." Because of their limited manpower and fear that more people might be picked off by Zhang Yi, Ling Feng decided to take all the Special Forces Team members with him. As for the hundred villagers, he had special plans for them. As for the rest, he wasnt worried about them escaping. In this frozen world, without adequate preparation, running away was as good as suicide. Right now, Xu Family Town was a natural prison for its villagers. After a moment of thought, Ling Feng walked over to Liang Yue, who still wore an unhappy expression. He explained, "I know youre upset, but weve lost too many brothers. I have to investigate everyone with even a hint of suspicion. Its not just youeveryone will be checked." The Special Forces Team had lost too many people. The few who remained were precious, especially top fighters like Liang Yue. Ling Feng needed to win her over. Liang Yue, her face cold, replied, "I understand." Ling Feng nodded. "Good. Lets head out together. If were lucky, well find a weak spot in that shelter!" The group left Xu Family Town, following the tracks left by a snow vehicle. Zhang Yi had taken a long detour, about five kilometers west. He had a snow vehicle, but Ling Fengs team didnt have enough for everyone. The Special Forces Team members used sleds, while the villagers had to walk. After two and a half hours, they reached the back mountain and stopped before a large tombstone. "So, this is it!" Ling Feng calculated the position of the tombstone relative to the shelter and confirmed it was the right place. Immediately, he ordered the villagers to open the tombstone. The villagers were haggard, exhausted, and starving, but they didnt dare complain and went to work . Soon, they uncovered the hidden door disguised as a tombstone, revealing a deep, narrow passage below. Ling Feng said to the villagers, "You go ahead and scout it out for me." Hed been tricked by Zhang Yi too many times and was wary of another trap. The villagers silently cursed him in their hearts but didnt dare resist. They obediently entered the passage. A Special Forces member handed them a communication device to take inside so they could monitor everything from outside. One by one, a hundred villagers entered the underground passage. Inside, the place was impressively constructed. Lights automatically came on as they walked, and the walls were made of special silver-gray metal, looking incredibly sturdy. The only downside was that it was too narrow, giving the feeling of a tomb. The villagers cautiously moved forward like sheep being driven into a pen. Outside, Ling Feng and his team monitored everything with their instruments. At first, everything was calm. The villagers slowly advanced, and nothing happened. But when they reached the middle of the passage, a loud rumble sounded. Two metal walls slammed down from above, cutting off their front and back. The villagers panicked and screamed. Moments later, Ling Feng and his team watched in horror as a fiery inferno erupted from the walls, surging forward like a dragon. "Ahhh!!!" Screams filled the air, and then the video feed cut off. "Zhang Yi, you vicious bastard! He really did leave a trap behind!" Ling Feng clenched his teeth. If he hadnt been smart enough to send the Xu Family villagers to scout, he wouldve lost even more of his men. Author''s Note Chapter 296: Does Love Disappear? Chapter 296 : Does Love Disappear? The agonizing screams echoed through the passage. Though the video feed had cut off, the sound traveled clearly to the entrance. Liang Yue felt a twinge of pity for the villagers who died so miserably. But after everything she had seen since leaving Tianqing Academy, her heart had grown numb and cold. Human minds have a remarkable ability to adapt. What was once unbearable becomes routine over time. Shi Dayong asked Ling Feng, Boss, what do we do now? This path is obviously a dead end. Ling Feng replied coldly, If we cant use it, then blow it up! If we cant get in, he wont be able to get out either! They had come prepared, bringing the remaining explosives. At this moment, Liang Yue suddenly spoke, Are you sure explosives will work? What if, instead of sealing it off, you end up delivering the explosives to him and he uses them against us? Her words made Ling Feng and Shi Dayong furrow their brows. Yes, they couldnt dismiss that possibility. At that moment, Zheng Xuerong walked over, casually suggesting, Thats easy to solve! Just block the passage so he cant come out. She stepped to the passage entrance, a slight smile on her face, and crouched down, placing her right hand on the ground. Ice Freeze! A deep blue light enveloped her hand. The swirling snowflakes in the air froze for a moment, then surged toward the passage as if guided by an unseen force. A thick layer of frost quickly spread across the silver-gray metal walls. As the ice crept deeper into the tunnel, the intense heat inside melted it into water. Before long, those standing outside, including Ling Feng, heard the sound of water rushing. Brilliant, simply brilliant! Now Zhang Yi has no way to leave the base through here! Engineer Wu couldnt help but applaud. This passage descends downward. As the water floods it and cools down, it will freeze solid, sealing it shut. Zhang Yi wont be able to open this door again. And even if he tries to melt the ice with heat, it wont help. Marvelous! Engineer Wu was full of praise. Zheng Xuerong smiled proudly, Its just a little trick. But Ling Feng showed no sign of joy. While they had sealed Zhang Yis secret escape route, they still had no way to breach the shelter. Without capturing Zhang Yi, they couldnt complete the mission for West Hill Base, nor could they avenge the deaths of over fifty Special Forces Team members. As captain, Ling Feng remained furious and anxious. We dont just want to block him in. We need to break through his shell and destroy him completely! Liang Yue remained silent, observing coldly to see if they could come up with another plan. Meanwhile, Fatty Xu had already left Xu Family Town with Zhang Yi. She knew she had to be even more cautious in her actions, ensuring she wasnt exposed. The others were silent as well, deep in thought. Every method they had considered had failed, and the Special Forces Team had suffered heavy losses. With only a handful of men left, how could they hope to fight Zhang Yi? Unable to come up with a solution, the group decided to return to Xu Family Town to rest and reconsider their strategy. When they arrived back at the town, the villagers noticed that the hundred men who had left with them hadnt returned and asked Ling Feng where they had gone. Ling Feng coldly replied, Zhang Yi killed them all. Once again, Xu Family Town was filled with the wails of grieving families. In a single day, countless households had lost loved ones. Ling Feng then ordered, Were hungry. Prepare food and bring it to us. Dont waste any time! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At this point, he had no interest in pretending anymore. These villagers had no power to resist, so there was no need to put on a fa?ade. As expected, though the villagers cried and hated them, they still obediently served them. That night, the villagers tore white cloth from their homes, hastily burned the bodies of their relatives, and held a simple mourning ceremony. Meanwhile, on the other side of the river, within the shelter, a lively welcome banquet was taking place. Perhaps because it had been so long since they had seen outsiders, everyone warmly welcomed Fatty Xus arrivalat least outwardly. Yang Siyah and Zhou Keer had prepared a lavish dinner, and Zhang Yi had brought out several bottles of fine wine he had been saving. Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, having already met him before, werent strangers to him either. When Fatty Xu arrived at the shelter, he was in complete shock, just like everyone else. In the harsh, apocalyptic world outside, they lived in palatial homes and enjoyed delicious food, an almost obscene display of luxury. Especially Zhang Yi, who was surrounded by beautiful womentruly a winner in life! Fatty Xus admiration for Zhang Yi grew even deeper. If someone wasnt extraordinary, how could they live such a carefree life in the apocalypse? However, in the presence of these beauties, Fatty Xu was extremely nervous, barely able to speak properly. It wasnt surprising. Even in front of a relatively plain woman like Xu Lili, he would get so excited he could hardly control himself. Let alone now, when Zhang Yis women were all stunning, exceptionally talented beauties. But despite their beauty, Fatty Xu felt a certain fear when he saw them. Having just suffered the blow of heartbreak, he had lost all faith in real-life relationships. The more beautiful a woman is, the more she likes to deceive people! Fatty Xu firmly believed this. Instead of wasting energy trying to connect with real women, he figured it was better to spend more time watching anime. At least the girls in anime would never lie to him. Zhang Yi handed him a wine glass, clinking it with his. Fatty, since youre here now, were partners from now on. Whatever enemies we face, you need to fight them with all youve got. Zhang Yi smiled as he spoke to Fatty Xu. This guy had great abilities, but he was timid and had no idea how to harness them. But now that Fatty Xu had become Zhang Yis follower, Zhang Yi would help him develop his powers, turning him into a valuable asset. Fatty Xu chuckled awkwardly, I know, I know! Theres no such thing as a free lunch in this world! He may be a nerd, but he wasnt stupid. However, as they ate, Fatty Xu voiced a question that had been on his mind. Boss, besides me, do you have any other spies in Xu Family Town? Oh? Why do you ask? Zhang Yi smiled as he looked at him. Fatty Xu laughed nervously. Boss, I know your personality too well. You wouldnt leave the shelter and take such a risk unless you were absolutely certain. Unless you had a clear picture of what was happening in Xu Family Town. Zhang Yi didnt hide it from him. Do you remember Teacher Liang from Tianqing Academy? The moment Zhang Yi mentioned this, Fatty Xu slapped his thigh in excitement. I knew it! I guessed it was her, and I was right! Not just Zhang Yi, but the other women at the table also looked at him curiously. How did you guess? Fatty Xu grinned, It was simple. When we went to Tianqing Academy to rescue people, we met her. Later, she followed the people from West Hill Base to Xu Family Town. When I saw her, I was scared to death because she knew about my relationship with the boss. But she acted like she didnt know me at all and didnt tell anyone about me. So I figured she wasnt truly loyal to West Hill Base. If anyone was your mole, it had to be her! Zhang Yi gave Fatty Xu a look of appreciation. Youre smarter than you look! Cheers to that! Haha, thanks, boss! Overjoyed by the praise, Fatty Xu downed his glass of wine. Everyone was in high spirits, though not because they were particularly happy about Fatty Xus arrival. It was more that his arrival gave them an excuse to drink. Fatty Xu drank with gusto. The wine wasnt very strong, and at first, he felt fine. But after a while, the alcohol kicked in. He became tipsy, swaying in his seat, his face flushed, laughing one moment, then suddenly bursting into tears. I thought she liked me, but she made a fool of me. I was wrong, love really does disappear, doesnt it? How lame! Yang Xinxin sipped her wine and offered a disdainful comment. Zhang Yi merely smiled and instructed Yang Siyah to prepare a room for Fatty Xu on the first underground floor. As for himself and the other women, they lived on the second underground floor. Letting Fatty Xu stay in the shelter was only temporary. Zhang Yi didnt like having other men in his home, so this arrangement was only a stopgap. Once they dealt with the situation at West Hill Base, Zhang Yi planned to move Fatty Xu to one of the nearby villas that hadnt been destroyed. Whats your next move against me? Zhang Yi swirled the wine in his glass as he thought to himself. He was ready for whatever came next. He had struck a major blow against the Special Forces Team from West Hill Base. Their grand plan to dig a tunnel would have to be put on hold. Zhang Yi was curious about their next steps, feeling both a bit anxious and eager. People are always both fascinated and fearful of the unknown. If only Liang Yue could get that chip back sooner. Zhang Yi glanced at Yang Xinxin with a smile. She was sitting on the couch, wearing a black Lolita dress. Apart from being unable to walk, she looked no different from a normal girl. Her elegance, especially when sipping red wine, was timeless. Yang Xinxin expressed her confidence in Liang Yue. This task wont be difficult for Teacher Liang. Brother, dont forget what she used to do. If she was only skilled, she wouldnt have been hired to guard that place. Author''s Note Chapter 297: Madness Chapter 297: Madness Ling Feng and his men returned empty-handed, the atmosphere unusually heavy. No one wanted to speak. Since they joined the army, they had never suffered such a humiliating defeat. It wasnt because they lacked abilitycircumstances had been too limiting. Facing a fortress-like shelter, their outdated, half-century-old combat weapons were simply no match. Even in military theory classes, tackling such a fortified stronghold required precision bombing, not solo infantry assaults. But the conditions they faced left them with no choice. The mission had to be completed, so they pressed on, despite the odds. Now, Ling Feng and his Special Forces Team had the skills but no way to use them. That cold night, a giant full moon hung in the sky. Since the apocalypse, it had been a long time since they''d seen such a bright moon. Yet, the cold moonlight felt like salt rubbed into the wounds of Ling Feng and his men. After returning to Xu Family Town, they quickly ate dinner. Ling Feng told everyone to rest but reminded them to stay alert and not sleep too soundly. Everyone nodded, knowing they were not just guarding against Zhang Yi, but also the villagers of Xu Family Town, who could turn on them at any moment. Liang Yue returned to her snow hut. As soon as she reached the door, she frowned. Someone had been in her room! Since contacting Zhang Yi, she had always been on high alert, afraid her secret would be discovered. So, she had set a few subtle traps in her roomanyone entering would leave traces. Without showing any emotion, Liang Yue walked calmly inside. After carefully checking her belongings, she realized someone had tampered with her bed. She reached under the mattress and retrieved a dark gold chip and a silver SIM card. This is Liang Yue suddenly recalled Zhang Yi asking her for the location of her room. It dawned on her that this must have been left for her by Zhang Yi! The chip was a storage device that would need to be plugged into a computer to access. The SIM card, likely for encrypted calls, would prevent West Hill Base from monitoring their conversations. With Yang Xinxins computer skills, this level of encryption wouldnt be difficult to achieve. Her phone, however, was hidden in a crack of a dead tree on the other side of the river, so for now, she couldnt contact Zhang Yi to ask about the chip. She pocketed both the chip and the SIM card, planning to reach out to Zhang Yi as soon as she could retrieve her phone. After that, she sat on her bed and fell asleep without undressing. The next morning, Liang Yue got up and joined Ling Feng and the others for breakfast, as usual, to discuss their next steps. However, the Special Forces Team''s camp seemed eerily quiet today. She saw almost no one around. It suddenly hit hermost of them had been killed by Zhang Yi, and only a dozen or so remained. When Liang Yue reached the dining area, Ling Feng was talking to Xu Dongtang. "Gather all your people. I need a favor from you," Ling Feng said. Xu Dongtang''s face turned pale, his lips dry, clearly reluctant. "Captain Ling, what... what do you need us to do?" Whenever Ling Feng sought him out, it was never good news. Ling Feng coldly replied, "Just follow my instructions, and Ill tell you when the time comes. Now go!" He waved Xu Dongtang away, signaling him not to disturb their breakfast. Ling Feng wasnt worried about the villagers running off. They could flee, but they couldnt escape their fate. Xu Family Town was the only place they could survive. Leaving here would be suicide. The town was already firmly in West Hill Bases grasp, with no room for escape. Xu Dongtang, pale and trembling, left the room. Liang Yue, her eyes flickering with helplessness, pushed aside her sympathy for the villagers and sat down to eat. Breakfast was the same as usualwhite steamed buns, pickles, and stewed fish, with hot rice porridge simmering in another pot. They couldnt eat regular riceit cooled too quickly. Sitting beside the others, Liang Yue ate in silence, saying nothing. Yesterday, Ling Feng and the others had already begun to suspect her, but Fatty Xus betrayal had shifted their focus away. However, with so many of the Special Forces members dead, Ling Feng was more paranoid than ever. He trusted no one but a few close confidants. Naturally, that meant he didnt trust Liang Yue either. After breakfast, Xu Dongtang gathered all the villagers in the town square, as instructed by Ling Feng. When Ling Feng arrived, he quickly noticed some people were missing. Most of the absent ones were women and children. Clearly, the villagers, unsure of Ling Feng''s intentions, had hidden them away. Ling Feng didnt care. He simply addressed the crowd, "Yesterday, Xu Family Town suffered heavy losses due to an attack by the villain Zhang Yi!" "As soldiers, we cannot let this go unchecked. But we are short on manpower and need your help." "Im asking for 100 volunteers to come with us across the river!" As soon as he finished speaking, the villagers panicked. Every time the Special Forces Team sought them out, it ended badly. Their once peaceful and happy lives had been shattered over the past month. They were now constantly on the verge of starvation, living under the threat of death. If it werent for their fear of the Special Forces'' weapons, they would have revolted long ago. But after the first wave of rebels was killed, the rest had their spirits crushed. Unless the blade was at their throats, they didnt have the courage to fight back. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The crowd murmured, voicing their complaints quietly. But Ling Feng ignored them. He simply instructed Xu Dongtang, "Ill leave it to you to gather 100 people. And make sure a few specific individuals come along." He whispered a few names into Xu Dongtangs ear, and after some thought, Xu Dongtang reluctantly nodded. From the back, Liang Yue silently observed, puzzled as to what Ling Feng was plotting now. But she knew that whatever it was, he was keeping her in the dark. Still, she didnt ask. She figured she''d find out soon enough. After all, what could these 100 ordinary people possibly do? At the shelter, Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu spent the morning playing video games after breakfast. The women in the house played a bit too, but their skills were so bad that Zhang Yi quickly grew tired of carrying them. But now that Fatty Xu, a fellow gaming nerd, had joined, at least he had a decent teammate. Fatty Xu was deeply moved. "Boss, its great working for you! I even get time to play video games!" He had expected Zhang Yi, surrounded by enemies, to be constantly on edge, always ready to fight. He hadnt imagined Zhang Yi''s life would be so relaxed! Zhang Yi smiled. "Work when its time to work, play when its time to play. As long as no serious threat shows up, I spend most of my time chilling and enjoying life." But despite his casual tone, Zhang Yi wasnt complacent. The surveillance footage outside was being monitored at all times, and Zhou Keer and the others werent just here to have fun. Fatty Xu admired him deeply. He even regretted, for a moment, not seizing the chance to join Zhang Yi earlier, instead of wasting time chasing after Xu Lili. Women were one thing, but how could they compare to the latest PS15 and thousands of AAA games? Fatty Xu stared at the stack of game cartridges beneath the TV, eyes gleaming with greed. He wished he could play them all in one go! "Boss, can I hehe..." Fatty Xu scratched his head, pointing at the games. Zhang Yi understood his intent. "Go ahead, pick whatever you like!" Fatty Xu eagerly rushed over to sift through the cartridges. But at that moment, Zhou Keer, who had been watching the monitors, suddenly spoke up, "Zhang Yi, someones coming! And they look strange." Her eyes showed a mix of fear and confusion as she stared at the surveillance footage. Zhang Yi''s eyes narrowed. "Whats wrong?" He stood up and walked over to take a look. "Its like a group of walking corpses heading this way." Zhou Keer pointed at the screen, her voice shaky. Zhang Yi peered closer and saw a slow-moving crowd about several hundred meters south of the shelter. Their sluggish pace and stiff movements made them look like zombies from a movie. If they were actual zombies, Zhang Yi wouldnt be worriedhe could easily deal with them with hot weapons. "Zoom in," Zhang Yi ordered. Xiao Ai zoomed in on the camera, revealing that these werent zombies at all, but rather a group of pale, stiff-looking humans. Zhang Yi waved at Fatty Xu, who was still sorting through games. "Hey, Fatty Xu, come here and check this out. Are those people from Xu Family Town?" Fatty Xu paused for a moment, then quickly rushed over. After seeing their faces, he immediately confirmed, "Yeah, thats them! But why are they here?" His face turned pale, cold sweat breaking out on his back. Though he didnt know what was going on, his instincts told him it wasnt good. Zhang Yi studied the footage carefully. He didnt see Ling Feng or the others, which meant they were likely hiding. And since Liang Yue hadnt warned him, he had no idea what this was all about. "Why are they here? Theyre not here to trigger trapsthe landmines around here were cleared long ago." Zhang Yi felt something was off. Judging by the villagers pale faces and trembling bodies, there was definitely more going on. "Lets go check it out!" He patted Fatty Xu on the shoulder, motioning for him to come along. Author''s Note Chapter 298: Human Bomb Chapter 298 : Human Bomb No matter what schemes they might be plotting, they''re just regular people. Taking them out should be easy. Zhang Yi felt no fear as he calmly swapped into a set of gearan enhanced imitation of the Special Forces Team combat suit. Watching him, Fatty Xu asked enviously, "Boss, what about me? I don''t want to die eitherdon''t you have some protective gear for me?" When it came to fear of death, Fatty Xu and Zhang Yi were definitely on par. Zhang Yi tossed him a bulletproof vest he wasnt using and handed him a helmet. Hurry up and put it on; lets get down there and see whats going on. I dont know what their plan is, but we definitely cant let them near the Shelter. The two headed to the first floor, where they could see Xu Family Town villagers approaching slowly through a one-way glass window. Fatty Xu leaned against the window, scanning them one by one, recognizing many familiar neighbors. Suddenly, Fatty Xus eyes widened. Lili! Among the crowd, he spotted Xu Lilis figure. Her face was drawn and pale, her body trembling as if she might collapse at any moment. But she kept moving forward, as though something behind her was forcing her on. Noticing Fatty Xu''s expression, Zhang Yi glanced at him indifferently. "We have to kill all of them." Fatty Xu shivered. Huh? Kill kill them? All of them? Fatty Xu looked like he was about to cry. Even though he had chosen to leave Xu Family Town to escape, the thought of shooting his fellow villagers was too much for him to bear. After all, most of Xu Family Town shared his surname; they were all relatives of one sort or another. Watching the cowardly Fatty Xu, Zhang Yi sighed deeply. "If the Shelter falls, do you think wed survive? Its the apocalypse. Zhang Yis tone was emphatic, and he said nothing more. He didnt want blood on his hands either, if he could avoid it. But survival sometimes demanded sacrifices. Zhang Yi didnt force Fatty Xu to kill his own kin. Instead, he activated the Dimensional Gate in front of the window as a defense, then opened the window and raised a pistol, calmly firing selective shots. One by one, five or six villagers fell as if theyd been reaped. The crowd slowed, some crying out in terror, others spotting Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu through the window. Xu Chunlei! Its Xu Chunlei! Xu Chunlei, were your own kinhow can you open fire on us? Chunlei, its me, your aunt! Dont shoot! Save us! Pleading and curses filled Fatty Xus ears, making him break into a cold sweat as he instinctively stepped back. Seeing Xu Lili staring at him with tearful eyes, she pleaded, Chunlei, save me, please! Ill marry you, just save me! The sweat on Xu Chunleis forehead kept dripping. But Zhang Yis shooting continued unimpeded, systematically taking out the villagers of Xu Family Town. He couldnt shake the feeling that something wasnt right; it was as if these people had come here to die. Could Ling Feng and the West Hill Base be behind this, forcing them? Bang! An elderly mans head exploded, blood spraying everywhere, intensifying the screaming. Xu Chunlei, what are you doing? I know youre in there. Are you really going to watch us all die? Chunlei, its me, Gangzi! Dont kill me! Xu Chunlei, you traitor to the Xu family! Look at what youve done! Xu Family Town turned into this because of you! If it werent for your dealings with Zhang Yi, none of this would have happened! An old woman cursed Fatty Xu from outside. Zhang Yi frowned, glancing at him. He could sense itthese people were deliberately being sent to die. Could it be that Ling Feng planned to use their blood to open the Shelters doors? A futile hope. Zhang Yi resumed firing. This time, as a body fell, something slipped from under its clothing, and he froze, understanding instantly why these people were here. They were strapped with explosives! Ling Feng intended to use the villagers of Xu Family Town as human shields to blow open the Shelter. Zhang Yi stopped shooting, his mind clearer now. Fatty, do you see whats on them? he asked. Fatty Xu looked closely and saw the explosives strapped to the villagers, his eyes widening in disbelief. Those scum!! Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fatty Xu had no love for the West Hill Base, but hed thought theyd have some moral bottom linenot to harm innocent people. Now, theyd turned his fellow villagers into human bombs! "This is inhumane, worse than animals!" As I said, theyre faithless desperados. To deal with them, we have to be even more ruthless, Zhang Yi said coolly. Fatty Xus heart nearly broke. These people were doomed either way, and he had to watch, helpless. Zhang Yi held the pistol toward him. The situations obvious now. You know what has to be done. Fatty Xu hesitated a long moment before clenching his teeth and taking the pistol. If theyre going to die, its not my fault for sending them off. Blame it on those scumbags at West Hill Base! Steeling himself, he raised the gun and fired at the crowd. With his guilt dispelled, Fatty Xu grew bolder with each shot. The first death saddened him a bit, but afterward, he felt a thrill hed never experienced before. Bang! His second aunt fell, a woman who often belittled him. Fatty Xu felt an unexpected satisfactionafter all, he hadnt had much love for some of these relatives. Heh haha! Fatty Xus laughter grew as his body trembled with exhilaration. His firing rate increased. In Xu Family Town, he had no friends and no respect, despite the help hed given his village after awakening his powers during the apocalypse. But even then, hed been met with disdain and envy. How many nights had he told himself that he was imagining it? But he knewit wasnt in his head. They had truly looked down on him. And now, he had their lives in his hands, free of guilt. Ahaha! Fatty Xus face twisted with a sinister smile as he emptied his magazine. Zhang Yi handed him another clip, gesturing for him to continue. Fatty Xus aim was lousy, but at a hundred meters with a dense crowd, he couldnt miss. Zhang Yi had encouraged him, understanding the pent-up frustration within him. As a powerful Superhuman who had endured years of scorn, Fatty Xu needed this release. With their previous tormentor fallen, the villagers ran in terror, some cursing, others pleading. But behind them, Ling Fengs forces drove them closer to the Shelter, determined to make them die on their explosive mission. Ling Fengs plan to exploit Fatty Xus connection to his fellow villagers was failing as his forces fell to Zhang Yi and Fatty Xus bullets. Those animals killed their own! Ling Feng cursed, shooting an escaping villager. Watching from the side, Liang Yue shook his head. Really, Ling Feng? You force them forward and then call them animals? Ling Feng had his own logic: killing the villagers himself was justified, but Xus actions were pure betrayal. Yet he hadnt expected Fatty Xu to be so eager, his shots hinting at personal vendettas. Zhang Yi handed him an assault rifle, saying, Try thisits more satisfying. Fatty Xu took it, and Zhang Yi instructed, Hold it steady; the recoils powerful. With the gun steadied on the windowsill, Fatty Xu unleashed a hail of bullets upon the villagers hed once known. Author''s Note Chapter 299: Give Everything You Have Chapter 299: Give Everything You Have One hundred villagers, each strapped with explosives, were all mowed down by Fatty Xu. Among them was Xu Lili, whom he had once been infatuated with. But as he gazed at Xu Lilis lifeless body on the ground, his heart felt oddly calm. He even started to question himself. "Why was I ever so obsessed with this woman?" Looking at Xu Lili now, she wasnt even that pretty. Some of the villagers werent quite dead yet. Fatty Xus aim was terrible, and they were still struggling in agony. Well, no turning back now! Gritting his teeth, Fatty Xu went around delivering the finishing blow to each of them. He awkwardly apologized to Zhang Yi, Sorry, Boss. My aims pretty badI wasted your bullets. Zhang Yi generously waved it off. No problem, consider it target practice. Bullets werent a scarce resource for him. With plenty of materials stored in his alternate dimension, Lu Keran could forge them continuously. Many people had an irrational reverence for firearms and bullets, thinking they must be extremely valuable. In reality, they were cheap to produceotherwise, many households abroad wouldnt own them. With all the villagers dead, and none of them reaching the Shelter, Ling Feng clenched his teeth in frustration. Damn it! Damn it all! This had been his last card. If it didnt work, hed have no choice but to admit the mission was a failure. Half of the Special Forces Team from West Hill Base had been killed, leaving only a few survivors. There was no way Chen Xinian would send him the remaining forces. As for regular soldiers, sending them would be like throwing cannon fodder at Zhang Yithey didnt even have the skill to engage in a proper shootout with him. Ling Feng fumed, venting his frustration, while the others stood silently around him, equally furious but powerless to do anything. They wanted nothing more than to drag Zhang Yi out of the Shelter and tear him apartbut they lacked the strength to do so. Captain Ling, lets go back. Engineer Wu suddenly spoke. Unlike the others, Engineer Wu wasnt one of Ling Fengs subordinates. He had been assigned to assist Ling Feng on this mission by the higher-ups, so it was appropriate for him to speak up. Were out of weapons and ammunition, and our soldiers are almost all gone. Staying here serves no purpose. Shi Dayong, Zheng Xuerong, Shen Hong, and Yu Lang were taken aback, quickly glancing at Ling Feng. They were terrified that their proud captain might lose it. But Ling Feng didnt act out. Instead, he gazed at the fortress-like Shelter, standing unscathed amidst the scorched earth. He stayed silent for a long time. With Ling Feng not speaking, no one else dared say a word, waiting for their captain to make the final decision. After a few tense minutes, Ling Feng finally spoke, his voice tinged with fatigue. Do you think we can go back? For the first time, exhaustion crept into his tone. He was tiredtruly tired. In all his years as a soldier, he had never encountered such a helpless situation. It was a total defeat. The mission had failed, and so many of his soldiers had died. He felt ashamed to even think about facing Chen Xinian. Maybe I should just die here. As he spoke, Ling Feng suddenly drew his pistol and pointed it at his own temple. No one expected this. Liang Yues eyes flickered, secretly hoping he would pull the trigger. She knew how dangerous Ling Feng was. If he lived, he would be a significant threat to her future escape plans. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, this butcher had too much innocent blood on his hands. He deserved to die! But Shi Dayong and the others werent about to let their captain end his life. They quickly wrestled the gun out of his hand. Captain, dont do something foolish! This wasnt your fault! In the face of the apocalypse, we dont have the modern equipment needed to breach that fortress, and Zhang Yis superpowers are too strange! Failure was inevitable. Youre one of West Hill Bases most important protectors. If something happens to you, the base would suffer a tremendous loss! Everyone was trying to talk Ling Feng out of it. But to Liang Yue, it was laughable how easily Ling Feng had let them take the gun away. She couldnt help but look down on him. Ling Feng hadnt intended to kill himself. It was all an act, just like when Cao Cao had cut off his hair to take responsibility for trampling a farmer''s field. See? Its not that Im afraid to dieI just couldnt turn down your earnest pleas, so I guess Ill live. Ling Feng struggled a little. Let go! Just let me go! Ive failed the mission assigned by our leader. How can I face him? Engineer Wu coughed and said, In fact, we didnt come back completely empty-handed. If we take the people of Xu Family Town back, that should be enough to appease the leader. In the post-apocalypse, villages like Xu Family Town, with a large number of living people that could be easily controlled, were extremely rare. West Hill Base was always in need of peoplewhether for experiments on superhumans or as labor for the Fourth Life Pod. Engineer Wu continued, Besides, weve already lost so many Special Forces members. If you cant pull through, the base will suffer even more. The Special Forces chimed in, agreeing with Engineer Wus reasoning. Ling Feng hesitated for a while before letting out a resigned sigh. In that case, Ill have to live with this shame and return to the leader. Though Ling Feng was deeply resentful, he knew the mission had failed. Continuing to fight would be pointless. Lets go back to Xu Family Town. His cold demeanor returned as he led the way back. Before leaving, Ling Feng detonated all the explosives strapped to the villagers from Xu Family Town. A blinding flash of light shot up into the sky. If not for the Shelters glass shielding, it would have blinded them. Zhang Yi closed his eyes, ignoring the explosion. Though the house shook, the distance was far enough that the Shelter remained undamaged. Fatty Xu, caught off guard, had his eyes stung by the blast, turning them red and teary. Its over. Zhang Yi knew that this time, Ling Feng and his people wouldnt be returning anytime soon. If they did, they would need better weapons and more resources to challenge him again. Back in Xu Family Town, the villagers were on edge after hearing the explosion from across the river. They desperately wanted to escape. But in the icy wilderness, without shelter or sufficient food, they wouldnt survive three days. Faced with such harsh conditions, people instinctively huddled together for warmth, even if it meant facing death together. As the towns nominal leader, Xu Dongtang was deeply troubled. Never in his worst nightmares had he imagined that the people from West Hill Base would do this to them. If he had known, he would have listened to Xu Chunlei. But did he ever have a choice? Xu Dongtang furrowed his brows. After much reflection, he realized a terrible truth. No matter what decisions he made early on, todays outcome was inevitable. Xu Family Town had plenty of people and food but lacked the military power needed to protect themselves in the post-apocalypse. Whether they faced a powerful superhuman like Zhang Yi or an organized force like West Hill Base, they were always going to be the victims. This wasnt a civilized world anymore. Strength ruled everything. When Ling Feng and his men returned to Xu Family Town, the villagers saw that the hundred people who had been taken were not coming back. They already knew what had happened. But this time, no one spoke. They just stared at Ling Fengs group with lifeless eyes, like corpses watching grave robbers. Ling Feng stood before them and said, Were leaving now. At those words, a flicker of hope appeared in the villagers eyes. Were these devils finally going to leave? Were their days of suffering finally over? Only they knew the hell they had lived through for the past month. Though the Special Forces Team was just over sixty men, they consumed enough food for five or six hundred. They had also killed, worked to death, or otherwise caused the deaths of over five hundred villagers! Despite the freezing weather, Xu Family Town hadnt lost many people to the cold. Instead, they had lost nearly a third of their population to these outsiders. The villagers eyes filled with excitement, thinking they had finally seen the light at the end of the tunnel. Even Xu Dongtangs eyes welled with tears of joy. Thank goodness! This time must have been hard on all of you. Should we help you pack up? Of course. Ling Feng added, Have everyone pack what they need for daily use. Prepare to come with us back to West Hill Base. Oh, and by everyone, I mean all those between the ages of 16 and 35. Xu Dongtangs smile froze. Captain Ling, what do you mean by that? Without even looking at him, Ling Feng said in a commanding tone, Not just anyone can go to West Hill Base. This is a tremendous opportunitya gift to you all. You should take advantage of it. Xu Dongtang was stunned, realizing Ling Feng wasnt joking. In a panic, he shouted, Captain Ling! These young people are the backbone of Xu Family Town! If they leave, only the old, weak, women, and children will remain. How will we survive? Ling Feng finally looked at him, but his gaze was one of disdain, as if he were scolding a child who didnt understand. In the apocalypse, expecting everyone to survive is unrealistic. You need to be willing to make sacrifices. Let the strongest live to carry on your familys legacy! Author''s Note Chapter 300: Round Up the Able-Bodied Chapter 300: Round Up the Able-Bodied Ling Feng was very deliberate in his selection. Whether for human experimentation or labor in the Fourth Life Pod, only healthy people were of use. Those too old or too young were of no valuethey would only waste resources. Even using them as protein substitutes wasnt cost-effective. In his heart, Ling Feng firmly believed that he was a good person. Alright, everyone between the ages of 16 and 35, without disabilities, start packing your things! Were taking you to West Hill Base! Its a place with ample food and comfortable living conditions. Once youre there, you wont have to worry about hunger or freezing! He shouted through a loudspeaker. Upon hearing his words, the villagers reacted like startled birds, nervously chattering amongst themselves. Some thought it was a great opportunity. They had heard about West Hill Base from the soldiersa haven with excellent living conditions. If they went there, they might survive in comfort. But others expressed their concerns. After all, Ling Feng and his men had used brutal tactics against them over the past few months, killing many of their loved ones. Could they really trust the Special Forces Team? However, their opinions didnt matter. Ling Feng wasnt asking for their approvalhe was giving them orders. Glancing at his watch, he said, You have half an hour to gather your things. After that, everyone must be here! His gaze swept over the confused crowd as he added, Anyone caught disobeying or attempting to escape will be dealt with by military law! The atmosphere grew tense. A young man, braving his fear, shouted from the crowd, What about our families? Are we supposed to leave them behind? His words struck a chord with many. Most people had elderly family members or children at home. If all able-bodied individuals aged 16 to 35 were taken, it meant leaving behind the elderly, women, and children. Without strong men to fish or protect the town, those left behind would likely die from the cold or be killed by others. So, even though they feared the Special Forces, the villagers of Xu Family Town raised their voices in protest. We cant leave our families behind! If youre taking us, take everyone! Would you abandon your own family? If so, Id rather stay here and die with mine! Yeah, we wont agree to this! Their cries grew louder, drowning out the howling wind and snow. But Ling Fengs brow furrowed. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out, silencing the crowd. Shi Dayong stood holding a gun, a wisp of smoke rising from its barrel. In the crowd, the young man who had first spoken lay dead, blood pooling on the ground. This is an order, not a request for your opinion! At a time like this, if you resist West Hill Bases orders, theres only one outcome! Ling Fengs voice was cold and unyielding. Despair was the only expression left on the villagers faces. In the face of overwhelming power, their resistance was meaningless. Ling Feng had already given up on maintaining even a fa?ade of decency. The failure of the mission had made him ruthless. Anyone who challenged his authority now would be eliminated without hesitation. Ling Feng gave Shi Dayong a glance. Shi Dayong stepped forward, shouting, All of you between the ages of 16 and 35yes, that includes you if youre 16 or 35who are healthy and able-bodied, go pack your things! The rest of you stay put! Dont try to be clever or use this chance to escape! If I catch anyone trying to run, theyll be executed on the spot as deserters! The crowd fell silent. Even those who had planned to resist lost their courage, hanging their heads and obediently returning to pack. Going to West Hill Base offered a slim chance of survival. But becoming a scapegoat now was a sure way to die. So, the scene unfolded in Xu Family Towns square: a dozen Special Forces members, armed with guns, ordering over a thousand villagers to obey. It was like a small group of sheepdogs herding a massive flock of sheep. Some people, unwilling to leave their families but unable to defy the Special Forces, resorted to self-harm, smashing their own legs with stones. But they werent met with mercyjust a cold bullet. Half an hour later, the villagers were divided into two groups. Over 300 able-bodied men and women stood, each one the backbone of their family. In the freezing apocalypse, only the strong had survived this longthe weak had already perished. As the time to separate from their loved ones neared, the square was filled with the sound of weeping. Many bid their families a final farewell, though none dared cross the line to embrace their wives and children. After the headcount was completed, Shi Dayong reported to Ling Feng, Captain, everyones here. Should we take the food with us too? Xu Family Town had a decent stockpile of food left, despite how much the Special Forces had already consumed. If they could bring back a large amount of food, it would help reduce the blame for their missions failure. Ling Feng considered it but ultimately shook his head. Leave it here. The main priority is getting the people back. Its a long journey, and it would be inconvenient to carry too much. If we need it later, we can come back and take some. Shi Dayong sighed. Youre too merciful, Captain. And so, the Special Forces Team, escorting the 300-odd able-bodied villagers, left Xu Family Town for West Hill Base. The elderly and weak watched them go, their cries rising only after the group had vanished into the distance. Several hours later, Ling Feng and his group arrived at West Hill Base. The soldiers guarding the base were shocked and delighted to see the captain return with so many survivors. Captain, you found so many survivors! This is a huge accomplishment! The soldiers gazed at the crowd of over 300 people, overjoyed. With these new arrivals, they would have more recruits and enough labor for the Fourth Life Pod. At West Hill Base, the consumption rate in the Fourth Life Pod was high. Not only were people needed for experiments on superhumans, but many died from the immense psychological strain, choosing suicide. This created a ripple effect, disturbing others. Without these lower-level workers, the upper class wouldnt be able to enjoy their services. Ling Fengs face remained cold as he ignored the soldiers flattery, merely nodding slightly. The soldier found it odd but said nothing more. Due to Zhang Yis earlier massacre, all their communications soldiers had been killed, so West Hill Base had no idea that almost the entire Special Forces Team had been wiped out. Ling Feng led the group into the base, Liang Yue silently following behind. Although Ling Feng suspected her, she was a powerful Superhuman. Without solid evidence, they couldnt detain her outright. It wasnt that West Hill Base was particularly just, but that strong Superhumans like her were valuable assets. They wouldnt turn on her unless absolutely necessary. Liang Yue wasnt worried. The phone she had handed over contained nothing suspicious. As soon as they entered the base, the quarantine team arrived to test the Xu Family Town villagers, just as they had when Liang Yue and the others had first arrived. In the underground facility, Chief Secretary Ge Rou was already waiting for them. She smiled professionally as her gaze fell on Ling Feng. Captain Ling, the leader has requested your presence in his office. Ling Feng nodded, his expression stern. The inevitable was comingthere was no avoiding it. Besides, if he wanted revenge, he would need Chen Xinians support. Shi Dayong and Zheng Xuerong exchanged worried glances. Shi Dayong whispered, You think the captain will be okay? They all knew that with such heavy losses, Ling Feng would be held responsible. Chen Xinian was strict with both rewards and punishments. In the military, he would have severely punished Ling Feng for such a failure. Zheng Xuerong shook her head. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hell definitely get chewed out, but the leader still needs him. Shi Dayong agreed with her reasoning and stopped worrying. As expected, Ling Feng went to Chen Xinians office and reported everything that had happened. When Chen Xinian heard that over 50 of his best Special Forces members had been killed, he slammed his fist on the table, shattering his water cup. Ling Feng, I entrusted half of my finest troops to you, and this is what you bring me?! Do you even understand how difficult it was to train those 50 men? Theyre worth a thousand ordinary soldiers! Youve become a disgrace to West Hill Base! The thought of Ling Fengs confident assurances before the mission only made Chen Xinian angrier. Ling Feng stood stiffly at attention, allowing Chen Xinian to vent his fury. When Chen Xinian finished, Ling Feng slowly knelt on the ground, lowering his head, and spoke each word clearly: Leader, I am guilty! If you think I deserve to die, you can execute me right now. But I ask that you give me a chance to redeem myself. I will not rest in peace unless I kill Zhang Yi with my own hands! Chen Xinians chest heaved with anger as he stared coldly at his once-trusted subordinate. He truly wanted to have Ling Feng executed on the spot! However, considering the current situation, he couldnt afford to lose such a valuable asset. Taking a deep breath, Chen Xinian finally calmed down and spoke in a more measured tone, Fine, I wont blame you entirely for this. Your failures will be noted, and your future performance will determine whether youre forgiven. If you fail again, youll be punished for both offenses! Ling Feng lowered his head, acknowledging the reprimand. Thank you for your grace, Leader. I will not fail again. Chen Xinian nodded slightly, his face still tense with suppressed frustration. This mission has been a disaster, but at least you brought back over 300 survivors from Xu Family Town. They can replenish our resources, and they will serve as labor for the Fourth Life Pod. Youve managed to salvage something from this mess. Ling Feng remained silent, knowing better than to speak when he was already skating on thin ice. Chen Xinian continued, Im placing you under supervision for now. Youll be closely monitored until Im convinced you can be trusted with another mission. Ling Feng accepted this punishment without protest. He knew he was lucky to even be alive, considering the circumstances. Understood, Leader. Chen Xinian sat back in his chair, the sharp edge of his anger beginning to soften. Youre dismissed. Get some rest and make sure the new arrivals are processed properly. Well need them ready for labor as soon as possible. Ling Feng saluted and left the room, his body tense with the weight of failure still hanging over him. As he exited the office, he found Shi Dayong, Zheng Xuerong, and the others waiting anxiously. How did it go? Shi Dayong asked cautiously. Ling Fengs expression was unreadable as he replied, Ive been reprimanded and placed under supervision. But the leader isnt done with me yet. Well be monitored closely for now. Shi Dayong sighed in relief. At least its not as bad as we feared. Youre still in charge. Ling Feng nodded, though his mind was already racing with thoughts of how to redeem himself. He had sworn to kill Zhang Yi with his own hands, and he would not rest until that oath was fulfilled. But for now, all he could do was waitand plan. Back at the base, the newly arrived survivors from Xu Family Town were processed through the standard procedures. They were scanned, inspected, and given basic health checks before being assigned to labor tasks in the Fourth Life Pod. Liang Yue, watching the process unfold from a distance, remained as calm as ever. Though suspicion had been cast on her, there was still no concrete evidence against her. She knew that as long as she played her cards right, she would remain under the radar. However, she also knew that her position was fragile. Any misstep could lead to her downfall, and West Hill Base was not known for showing mercy to those who crossed it. As the new arrivals were led into the underground facility, Chief Secretary Ge Rou coordinated the entire operation with military precision, ensuring that the base would make full use of the fresh labor. In the background, the faint hum of machinery echoed through the halls, a constant reminder of the cold efficiency that governed West Hill Base. Ling Fengs failure had left scars, but the base continued to function, relentless in its pursuit of survival, no matter the cost. For now, the base was calmbut everyone knew that storm clouds were brewing on the horizon. Zhang Yi was still out there, and the tension between West Hill Base and him had only just begun. Author''s Note Chapter 301: The Greatest Threat Chapter 301 : The Greatest Threat Chen Xinian had no choice but to suppress his anger and temporarily forgive Ling Feng. Not wanting to see Ling Feng any longer, he waved him away, ordering him to be confined for a week as punishment. However, just thinking about Zhang Yi made Chen Xinians head ache again. I underestimated him! Chen Xinian sighed. Originally, he had thought Zhang Yi was just a small-time character who had awakened his abilities by luck. He figured he could easily take him down by sending a few elite soldiers. But reality had slapped him in the face. The man he had dismissed as insignificant had caused him tremendous losses! The heavy losses have severely weakened West Hill Bases power! I must replenish the ranks quickly, or if a conflict with other forces arises, this will be a major threat. With this thought, Chen Xinian called for Ge Rou. He asked, How are the people Ling Feng brought back from Xu Family Town? Ge Rou replied, We just ran some tests, but the results arent in yet. However, they all appear to be in excellent physical condition. Theres a high chance of producing mutants! Chen Xinian, however, snorted. If Superhumans were so easily born, I wouldnt be so reliant on that fool Ling Feng! No more waiting. We need manpower now. Begin the experiments immediately. If the catalysis fails, implant Ling Fengs cells into them. Ge Rous eyes flashed with a trace of fear at his words. If we rush like this, the success rate will drop even further. Less than one in thirty will survive! Chen Xinian dismissed her concerns. That doesnt matter. What I need now is combat power, not labor. There are still plenty of survivors in this city. We can always replenish the population. Only with formidable force can we have a voice in this city! A ruthless gleam appeared in his eyes. I want the whole of Tianhai City! We cant just be confined to West Hill! Ge Rou bit her lip and nodded. Understood, Ill make the arrangements right away. After Ge Rou left, Chen Xinian sat at his desk, contemplating how to handle Zhang Yi. Yes, "handle" was the word. To him, Zhang Yi was like a rusty nail, firmly lodged in his territory. The known factions of Tianhai City each controlled different parts of the city. Zhang Yis location, unfortunately, was within West Hill Bases territory. A wild card like him was a destabilizing factor, a potential threat to the bases control and, more importantly, Chen Xinians personal authority. He had to remove this thorn in his side. But even when Ling Feng led the team himself, they couldnt deal with him. What should I do? Am I really going to have to ask that guy surnamed Zhu for help and get him to fire a missile? Chen Xinians face showed a flicker of hesitation. At their level, owing someone a favor was the hardest debt to repay. The commander of Jiangnan District owed him a huge favor and had once promised to help him out. As one of the six major military districts in China, Jiangnan District had the authority to launch missiles. This was Chen Xinians trump card, a deterrent to use against other forces. He was reluctant to use it unless absolutely necessary. Was he really going to waste it on Zhang Yi? Chen Xinians thoughts were conflicted. If he didnt use the missile, he couldnt get rid of this problem. And if a conflict with another faction broke out one day, this thorn could very well end up killing him. After much deliberation, Chen Xinian made a decision. He would make one last attempt to negotiate with Zhang Yi, offering him the chance to submit to West Hill Base. If Zhang Yi refused, then Chen Xinian would use his trump card and erase the shelter from the map. Chen Xinian immediately summoned his Minister of Information, Geng Yilin, and ordered him to contact Zhang Yi. Soon, Zhang Yi, inside his shelter, received a communication request from Chen Xinian. This time, Zhang Yi felt no anxiety at the request. He had successfully repelled Ling Fengs month-long assault and knew that West Hill Base didnt have the strength to breach his shelter. In this negotiation, he was the victor and could now speak to Chen Xinian from a position of superiority. Zhang Yi instructed Yang Xinxin to ensure the networks security defenses were in place, then accepted the video call. A projection of the video appeared in the air, and Zhang Yi saw Chen Xinians gloomy face. Zhang Yi smiled. Chen Xinian, long time no see! Being addressed so casually by his full name made Chen Xinians gaze grow even colder. He forced a stiff smile and said, Zhang Yi, it has been a while. Im honestly surprised youve lasted this long. Zhang Yi sighed in mock sympathy. Old Chen, stop fighting. Youve lost so many elites from West Hill Basethings must be rough for you. Why are you still fighting with me? Even if you win, so what? To be honest, if you ever manage to breach my shelter, Ill destroy all the supplies. You wont get a thing. Theres no way youll come out the victor. Lets just call it quits. Im willing to live in peace with you. Zhang Yi spoke condescendingly, as if offering a handout. But he had every right to. In this war, he had achieved complete victory. Chen Xinian sneered. Zhang Yi, dont be so full of yourself. Do you really think I cant deal with you? Ive been lenient because I value your talent. Im offering you a chance to serve me. He raised a finger and pointed at Zhang Yi. This is your last chance. Surrender to me, and Ill guarantee you a comfortable life in West Hill Base. I might even make you my second-in-command. But you must prove your loyalty by handing over all your supplies! Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Chen Xinian was still dreaming big. How could he have the audacity to make such demands after losing? Regardless, Zhang Yi had no interest in putting his life in someone elses hands. After this battle, he had realized that West Hill Base wasnt as strong as he once thought. If he ever encountered a truly overwhelming force, Zhang Yi wouldnt mind surrendering. But who did Chen Xinian think he was? Zhang Yi chuckled. Old Chen, did you take the wrong medicine? You lost, and I won! You have no way to deal with me, and yet you want me to be your lackey? Are you out of your mind? Heres a better ideaIll make you my little brother. You stay put at West Hill Base, and if you run into any trouble, just mention my name. Ill look out for you! Zhang Yi deliberately taunted Chen Xinian. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected, Chen Xinian slammed the table in a fit of rage. Arrogant! Youre asking for death! Oh, really? But it seems you dont have the power to kill me, Zhang Yi retorted, locking eyes with Chen Xinian, not backing down. Hmph, you think I have no way to handle you? Chen Xinian stared at Zhang Yi, gritting his teeth. Let me tell youI can deploy a missile to blow up your shelter! No matter how sturdy your shelter is, can it withstand a missile strike? Zhang Yis heart skipped a beat. But he quickly smiled. Dont try to scare me. Theres no missile base in Tianhai City, and no one has the authority to launch one. Youre not a military district commander! Chen Xinian laughed. I may not be a commander, but that doesnt mean I cant get my hands on one! Youre just an ordinary personyou dont understand the complex relationships at our level. Dont doubt it. If I want to, I can flatten your shelter in an instant! Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes and coldly smirked. If you could do it, why didnt you use it earlier? Why wait until now? Chen Xinian replied, Ive already told youI value your talent and want to give you a chance. Zhang Yi, dont make a mistake youll regret. My patience is wearing thin. Either submit to me or die. Choose. Zhang Yi cursed inwardly: Do you think Im easily scared? What, you think youre from Naruto now? Mastering the art of talk-no-jutsu? But he remained cautious and said, Oh, if you really can launch a missile, go ahead. Prove it to me. If you can, Ill follow you. I wont mind. Chen Xinians expression darkened. Do you know how valuable missiles are now? Theres no way Id waste one just to prove something to you. Stop stalling. Ive run out of patience. Chen Xinians eyes were bloodshot, and the murderous intent in his gaze was unmistakable. Zhang Yi suddenly felt that the old man might not be bluffing after all. But who knew? A man like this was good at deception and lies. After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Yi said, Give me a few days to think it over. Zhang Yis softened tone made Chen Xinian feel triumphant. He thought he had finally scared Zhang Yi into submission, and his sense of dignity began to return. Dont try to play any tricks. Stalling for time wont work. Zhang Yi replied, Youve waited this long, whats another couple of days? Ill give you one day. If you dont surrender by then, Ill flatten your shelter! With that, Chen Xinian abruptly cut the call. Sitting back on the sofa, Chen Xinian let out a long breath. He closed his eyes, bringing his hands together in prayer. Lets hope that guy is smart enough to surrender. I really dont want to waste this precious opportunity on him. Meanwhile, in the shelter, Zhang Yi casually rose from the sofa. One day, huh? Well, if I cant beat him, I can always run, right? Even though Zhang Yi loved this perfect shelter, he valued his life more. If it came down to it, he would abandon it to survive. Author''s Note Chapter 303: Trojan Horse Strategy Chapter 303: Trojan Horse Strategy West Hill Base. After returning to the base, Liang Yue found some time to visit the Fourth Life Pod. She had been away for a month and was anxious to see how her students were doing. But this time, she was shocked to discover that nearly half of her students were gone! How can this be? Why? Liang Yue was both horrified and furious, her body trembling uncontrollably. Many familiar faces had disappeared. If her guess was correct, most of her students had died. Her resentment toward West Hill Base deepened. As for the remaining students, their expressions had become utterly numb. They no longer showed the fear they once had. Some stared at her blankly, while others had strange smiles on their faces. Teacher Liang, youre back! Wu Chengyu walked up to her, a flicker of hesitation in his eyes. The other students merely greeted her quietly, no longer the sobbing mess they once were. Liang Yue took a deep breath. Wu Chengyu, come with me for a moment. She pulled him aside and asked seriously, What happened to you all while I was gone this past month? Wu Chengyu tugged at his clothes. Since arriving at West Hill Base, he always wrapped himself in layers of thick clothing, covering as much of his skin as possible. If he could, hed probably hide his entire body. Teacher Liang, why were you gone for so long? More of our classmates were taken away. They never came back. Liang Yue was devastated by his words and grabbed his shoulders. There are so many people in the Fourth Life Podwhy did they take you? Wu Chengyu looked up, his hollow eyes reflecting a hopelessness that had consumed his will to live. Because when it comes to human experiments, young and healthy individuals have the highest success rates. Liang Yues fury and despair were beyond words. This was something she hadnt anticipated. But even if she had known beforehand, what could she have done? She was powerless against the entirety of West Hill Base. Even now, with her agreement with Zhang Yi, she still had to wait for the right opportunity to try and save her students. Liang Yue clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms, trying to suppress the pain in her heart. Wu Chengyu suddenly asked, Teacher Liang, have you forgotten about us? Did becoming a Special Forces Team captain make your life so comfortable that you abandoned us? His eyes were filled with suspicion, and it was clear that he had almost lost the will to live. Compared to the other students, he had endured even more suffering. Because of this, Wu Chengyu and his classmates had begun to doubt whether Liang Yue had forsaken them. Seeing the hollow look in his eyes sent a chill down Liang Yues spine. Her students were like a group of soulless, walking corpses, having lost all hope. I havent! Ive been trying to find a way to get you all out of here! Liang Yue said firmly, her eyebrows furrowed with determination. It wont be much longerI promise Ill take every one of you out of here! It wont be much longer! she emphasized once again, with great conviction. At that moment, Liang Yue felt as though her students were like dry kindling, slowly being consumed by West Hill Bases fire. If she delayed any longer, none of them might survive. This was something Liang Yue couldnt accept under any circumstances. After giving her students some of her saved food and comforting them, she left the Fourth Life Pod. Even though the students had almost given up hope of escaping West Hill Base, Liang Yue was determined to keep trying. After leaving, she found a secluded, dimly lit corner. Once she was sure no one was around, she pulled out a phone hidden in the lining of her boot. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was the phone she used to communicate with Zhang Yi. During her mission with Ling Feng and the others, she had managed to retrieve it. She had stolen this phone while in Xu Family Town. It wasnt connected to West Hill Bases network, so it couldnt be detected. However, it couldnt be used to communicate with the outside world either. But Zhang Yi had already planned for this. The SIM card he had given her was an advanced signal receiver, encrypted through multiple servers to avoid detection by West Hill Bases network. Zhang Yi had sent her instructions on how to use the SIM card and asked her to contact him once she was back at the base. Liang Yue inserted the special SIM card into the phone and sent a message to Zhang Yi. Ive returned to West Hill Base. I need to get my students out as soon as possible, and I need your help. While Zhang Yi hadnt promised to personally rescue her and her students, he had said that his level of assistance would depend on the importance of the information she provided. Now, Zhang Yi was Liang Yues greatest hope. She had no choice but to plead for his help. Before long, a reply came from Zhang Yi. Find a way to plug the chip I gave you into any computer in the bases network center. Once we control West Hill Bases network, we can help you escape. Liang Yues heart skipped a beat. This task wouldnt be easy. West Hill Base was heavily surveilled. Getting into the heavily guarded Information Department and inserting a chip into one of its computers would be a monumental challenge. But she also understood that if she could hack into West Hill Bases network, it would throw the base into chaos for a period of time. That would give her the window she needed to escape with her students. Though dangerous, it was her only chance. Liang Yues eyes gleamed with determination. Alright, Ill get it done. When the time comes, I expect you to keep your promise. Zhang Yi had promised to at least provide Liang Yue and her students with food and temporary shelter. Any additional help would depend on her contribution. Without hesitation, Zhang Yi replied, Of course. Liang Yue turned off the phone, removed the SIM card, and carefully hid them back in the lining of her boot and her jackets inner pocket. The Information Department was also in the Second Life Pod, about 500 meters from where she lived. She was very familiar with the layout of the Second Life Pod. Now, she just needed to find the right moment to sneak in. Who wouldve thought Id be going back to my old line of work after all these years? Liang Yue took a deep breath, her eyes filled with resolve. Back when she had been a bodyguard, she had received professional training for situations like this. Author''s Note Chapter 304: A Long-Awaited Reunion Chapter 304: A Long-Awaited Reunion On the other side, Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and the others were on their way to Yuelu Residential Area. After contacting Liang Yue, a look of anticipation appeared on Zhang Yis face. "If Liang Yue can succeed, we''ll gain a huge advantage in our fight against West Hill Base!" Yang Xinxin, sitting in the back seat, smiled and said, "The most important thing is that we can steal all their intelligence and figure out their trump cards." "Im also curious to see if they really have the ability to deploy missiles. In the current situation, the difference between an organization with such strategic weapons and one without is enormous!" "The threat to us is on a completely different level, right, big brother?" Zhang Yi nodded in agreement. "Exactly. The unknown is always the scariest. But once we know their trump cards, well at least know how to respond." Lu Keran, thinking of Liang Yue, couldn''t help but feel concerned. Liang Yue had been a very caring teacher to them back in school. "Sigh" Lu Keran let out a long sigh. Zhang Yi asked curiously, "Whats wrong, Keran? What are you worrying about now?" Lu Keran replied, "Im worried about Teacher Liang. Shes in such a dangerous place, carrying out such a risky mission. What if something happens to her?" "If she gets discovered, wont she be killed?" Her face was full of worry. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and thought to himself: Sorry, but I dont really care about her life or death. Were just in a mutually beneficial relationship; theres no emotional attachment here. Of course, Zhang Yi would be happy if Liang Yue succeeded. But if she failed, it wouldnt be much of a loss for him. From the start, it was Liang Yue who had approached him for cooperation. Even if she died, Zhang Yi couldnt be blamed. "Fate favors the good. Teacher Liang is such a kind person; heaven will protect her!" Zhang Yi smiled, offering some comfort. Lu Keran, hearing this, nodded firmly. "Yes, Teacher Liang is so nice. Nothing bad will happen to her!" Zhang Yi could barely contain his laughter inside. Still, he didnt say anything to shatter Lu Kerans innocent belief. In fact, it worked in his favor to let her keep that purity. Sometimes, Zhang Yi found it comforting to be around such pure-hearted girls, reminding him of the simpler, more innocent version of himself from the past. Before long, they arrived at Yuelu Residential Area. After more than a month away, the snow on the ground had thickened again. However, with the reduced snowfall, it wasnt spreading any further. The entire city seemed frozen in time, blanketed in snow and silence, with only the howling wind piercing through the eerie stillness. Before arriving, Zhang Yi had already informed Uncle You, so when the car pulled up in front of Building 25, he saw Uncle You and Zhou Haimei bundled up in thick coats, waiting for them. Zhang Yi glanced around at the nearby apartment buildings. Nothing stirred. No sign of life. Most of the people in the neighborhood were probably dead by now. As everyone got out of the car, Uncle You and Zhou Haimei walked over with big smiles on their faces. Uncle You gave Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu each a warm hug. Hahaha, its been a while! Its great to see you all safe and sound! Uncle You patted Zhang Yi and Fatty Xus backs enthusiastically, his eyes brimming with excitement. He had noticed the explosion at Cloud Manor back then and had planned to rush over to help Zhang Yi, but Zhang Yi had refused his offer. During this time, he had stayed in touch with Zhang Yi, ready to assist him at a moments notice. In his heart, he felt that he owed his life to Zhang Yis help. He believed he wouldnt have survived this long without it. Zhou Haimei was equally happy to see Yang Siyah, Zhou Keer, and the other women. Living in the shelter, her life had been secure, but with no one to talk to, loneliness had been eating away at her. Now that she had some company, she couldnt be happier. It felt like a holiday gathering rather than a survival reunion. The group bustled with joy, and they all entered the shelter together. Back in the familiar shelter, Zhang Yi and Zhou Keers faces filled with nostalgia. They couldnt help but recall the early days of the apocalypse when they had witnessed too many bizarre things. Even seeing the white walls of the shelter now felt chillingly cold. Zhou Haimei laughed. Knowing you were coming, I made sure to prepare all the rooms. Its a bit crowded, but the house is big enough, so we can squeeze in. Thats great! The more people, the merrier! We can even set up two mahjong tables! someone joked, and the group laughed, the women in particular enjoying themselves as if on vacation rather than fleeing disaster. Once inside, Zhang Yi removed his winter coat and went to chat with Uncle You. Zhang Yi pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed one to Uncle You. They lit up, puffing smoke as they caught up on each others recent experiences. Neither of them were heavy smokers, but the occasional cigarette helped ease the tension. Howve things been around the neighborhood lately? Has everyone else died? No ones tried to come over and rob you, have they? Zhang Yi asked with a smile, leaning against the windowsill. Uncle You chuckled. You sure dont miss a thing! After you left, a few people thought it was safe and came looking for me. At first, they tried to appeal to my sympathy, but after that first month of the apocalypse, none of us can afford to be saints anymore, so I turned them down flat. When they got desperate and tried to force their way in, I sent them all away. Uncle You spoke lightly about it. Having helped Zhang Yi clear out all the troublemakers in the neighborhood, he had become accustomed to killing. It no longer bothered him. Were all just trying to survive. You werent wrong for coming after me, but dont blame me for taking you out. But there is still one group of people alive. This caught Zhang Yi by surprise. Impossible! he exclaimed instinctively. In an environment like this, without external supplies, no one should be able to survive in the other buildings. They didnt have powers like Uncle You, nor did they have a snowmobile like the one Zhang Yi had given him. Uncle You took another drag of his cigarette and laughed. Its true, and you know them well. Its Li Jians group from Building 18! Li Jian? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. That building had left an impression on him back in the day. Li Jians group had managed to maintain civility in the apocalypse. There was no fighting over resources, no internal killings, and no descent into cannibalism. Remarkably, they had survived longer than anyone else in the neighborhood. But Zhang Yi had never thought they would last this long. He had given them some seeds, but he hadnt expected them to actually grow crops. Do you know how theyre managing? Zhang Yi asked, intrigued. Uncle You shook his head. I dont know the details. You told me not to get too close to them, so I havent. Theyre scared of you, so they dont dare come over, and I dont want to take any risks. But Ive seen shadows moving in their building, so I know theyre still alive. Zhang Yis curiosity grew even more. Snuffing out his cigarette, he said, Ill pay that old friend a visit later. Uncle You looked at Zhang Yi, his dark eyes full of concern. Whats going on with you? Have you run into some danger? Knowing Zhang Yi, Uncle You was aware that he wouldnt have left his shelter unless something serious was happening. Zhang Yi hadnt had time to explain everything to him earlier, so now he filled him in on the whole story. What? Missiles? Uncle Yous eyes widened in shock. Before the apocalypse, such weapons were only under the control of the highest military command. To use them, they would need direct orders from the capital. And now, they were planning to use that kind of weapon against Zhang Yis shelter? Zhang Yi rubbed his nose and said, Were not sure if its a bluff or real, but to be safe, I decided to lay low for a while. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its probably fake. Well go back once weve confirmed its safe. But Uncle You wasnt convinced. I think you should stay here longer, just to be sure. You cant afford to take chances with something like this. Tell you what, you can have this shelter back, and Haimei and I will move to the next building. Uncle You knew his place well. This shelter had been lent to him by Zhang Yi, and he wasnt about to act like the owner. Zhang Yi gave him an appreciative look and smiled. Why say that? You can stay here. Do you really think Im short on shelters now? Zhang Yi was no longer the person he used to be. He was much stronger now, with plenty of capable allies. Building a new shelter to his liking was a simple task. With no shortage of heating resources or food, he wasnt picky about where he stayed. Uncle You laughed. Youre the boss here. As long as youre happy, were happy to have you! Author''s Note Chapter-title text-dark Author''s Note Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 306: Superpowers, Sacrifice Chapter 306: Superpowers, Sacrifice Li Jian didnt deny it. Instead, he slowly knelt in front of Zhang Yi. Im sorry! We couldnt protect the child you left with us. I know youre furious, and weve done everything we could under these conditions. If you must kill someone, kill me! But please, dont harm the others. Theyre innocent. After saying this, Li Jian calmly prepared for death. He hadnt intended to die, but as the leader of Building 18, he knew that unless he sacrificed himself, it would be hard to quell Zhang Yis anger. At that moment, an elderly voice suddenly came from inside the building. Li Jian, you cant die! If you die, none of us will have any hope of surviving! Zhang Yi looked up toward the room on the sixth floor. A group of people stood there, led by a familiar-looking old man. He was the same elder who had taken seeds from Zhang Yi alongside Li Jian back then. The old mans name was Ge Chenghua, a highly respected agricultural professor. He led the group of neighbors forward, their faces resolute. Zhang Yi, its our fault that we couldnt keep the child alive. But Li Jian is our hope. Please, spare him. Let me die in his place! Ge Chenghua looked at Zhang Yi fearlessly, his voice firm. If you want revenge, take my life! Ive lived long enough anyway. An elderly woman with gray hair spoke up. Take me! Kill me instead! Im a lone man. Im not afraid of death! The neighbors rushed forward, volunteering to die in Li Jians place. Tears filled Li Jians eyes. You all The scene of everyone scrambling to die for him touched Zhang Yi slightly, though it also left him speechless. With a cold laugh, Zhang Yi asked, Who said I want any of you dead? Li Jian stared at Zhang Yi in shock, guilt overwhelming him. We failed to keep the child you entrusted to us alive. How could you possibly forgive us? Zhang Yi took a deep breath, looking at Li Jian and his group as if they were fools. So it was Xie Limeis child who had died. There were indeed no miracles in this world. A child still in its infancy was too fragile. Even in peaceful times, they easily got sick, let alone in the extreme cold of this new Ice Age. Li Jian and the others were terrified because they believed the child was important to Zhang Yi. But what they didnt know was that Zhang Yi had given them the child because he saw it as a burden. If not for his fear of creating a mental block for himself, he would have killed the child with his own hands back then. Now that the child was dead, Zhang Yi didnt care at all. I understand there wasnt much you could do in this situation. Li Jian, get up, Zhang Yi said, signaling for him to stand. Li Jian was stunned by Zhang Yis words, but soon, joy filled his heart. He wasnt going to die? Li Jian was deeply moved, thinking that Zhang Yi was a truly compassionate person. The neighbors of Building 18 also sighed in relief. I want to know how youve managed to survive until now. What have you been relying on? Tell me in detail, Im curious. Zhang Yi finally revealed his reason for coming. Li Jian, of course, didnt dare hide anything. He gestured for Zhang Yi to follow him into the building. Come see for yourself. Ill explain everything as we go. Zhang Yi glanced at the dark hallway, patted Hua Hua on the head, and smiled. Alright, lets take a look. With this powerful bodyguard by his side, he wasnt afraid of any danger. Li Jian led the way, and Zhang Yi followed him upstairs. As they walked, Li Jian began to recount what had happened during the past months. After you gave us those seeds, we tried all sorts of methods to make them grow and take root. But despite our efforts, the results werent great. Many of the seeds died, and even the ones that survived were incredibly weak. At one point, we were desperate and even considered sending a suicide squad out to search for food. Then, a group of people calling themselves the followers of the Snow God arrived. Zhang Yis eyes gleamed. The Snow Gods followers? Are you saying youve survived because of their help? Li Jian didnt dare lie. They came to me and said they could help us survive, and that they could even give me extraordinary powers. At that time, we had no other options, so I agreed to their terms. We were on the verge of death anyway. At that point, we wouldve accepted any conditions. Zhang Yi was curious about what kind of conditions they had set in exchange for their help. Li Jian, however, said, They only asked that we believe in the Snow God. Thats all they wanted. Nothing else. Zhang Yis lips curled into a cold smile. He never believed in free lunches. A certain tech giant had taught an entire generation that the most expensive things are the ones that are free. And what powers did you gain? Zhang Yi stared at Li Jian, waiting for his answer. Li Jian replied honestly, They planted a white seed right here in my forehead. Li Jian pointed to the spot between his eyebrows. It felt like my whole body was plunged into an ice-cold chamber, followed by a burning heat. Then, I felt a strange power within me. Look! Li Jian rolled up the sleeve of his right arm in front of Zhang Yi. What Zhang Yi saw was disturbing. Anyone with trypophobia would have their skin crawling at the sight. Beneath Li Jians withered skin, dozens of small lumps protruded, with web-like roots spreading deep into his flesh. His arm no longer resembled a human arm but looked more like some kind of biological experiment, where every visible part was covered in these strange bumps. What the hell is this? Zhang Yi swallowed, feeling repelled by the eerie sight but still curious enough to ask. Li Jian said, These are seeds. My ability is to grow plants using my own body. The seeds I cultivate within myself have stronger life forces and grow faster. Zhang Yi fell silent. He looked deeply at the now skeletal Li Jian and finally understood why the man had become this shadow of his former self. Just using your flesh to grow food isnt enough to provide the necessary nutrients for the plants, is it? Zhang Yi said calmly. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ah! Thats where Professor Ge comes in. Hes an expert in agriculture! Li Jian led Zhang Yi to a room and reached for the door handle, giving Zhang Yi an apologetic look. What youre about to see might be unsettling. Please bear with us. Zhang Yi laughed. Do you think theres anything I havent seen by now? Ah, thats true. Li Jian opened the door. A rush of green met Zhang Yis eyes. He felt warm, moist air, and the room was filled with lush, vibrant plants. But the scene was undoubtedly strange. It was a growing chamber, brimming with crops, all thriving. But they werent rooted in soilthey were rooted in corpses. The plants had grown by drawing nutrients from the bodies of the dead, flourishing as they fed. Li Jian said to Zhang Yi, Since we lacked nutrients, we had no choice but to use the bodies of the dead residents. Zhang Yi smirked. Well, thats smart. At least youre putting the dead to good use. This way, you avoid the guilt of cannibalism and dont waste any resources. Suddenly, a thought struck him. He turned to Li Jian and asked, So those graves outsideare they for storing bodies for this purpose? Li Jian nodded sheepishly. Yes, thats right. Zhang Yi glanced around the room. The plants were thriving. The corpses had long since been drained of nutrients, reduced to mere skeletons. Even the soil they lay in had absorbed whatever nutrients remained, leaving nothing to waste. How many of these growing chambers do you have in your building? Zhang Yi asked casually as he fingered a leaf of wheat. We have three, Li Jian replied. Hmm, not bad. Its good that youre self-sufficient. Zhang Yi gave Li Jian a long look. But if you keep this up, youll die. Three growing chambers, and each seed had absorbed Li Jians flesh and blood to grow. He was using his life force to nurture the crops, effectively trading his own life for their survival. Li Jian scratched his head and laughed. Well, if we do nothing, were going to die anyway, right? Id rather try to do something, so my wife and child can survive. When Li Jian spoke of his wife and son, his eyes softened with affection. It was love. Zhang Yi couldnt help but feel a trace of admiration for him. Maybe one day, hed feel the same way if he had children. But that day would have to wait until after the apocalypse. Li Jian, show me your power! Zhang Yi shook off his sympathy, his gaze sharpening as he focused on Li Jian. So far, he had encountered many man-made Superhumanslets call them modified humans. And their abilities were far weaker than those of naturally awakened Superhumans. Li Jians power was useful, but it hadnt shown any particularly strong side yet. Zhang Yi wanted to see just how far the so-called teachings of the Snow God cult could push someones potential. Li Jian hesitated for a moment, then nodded resolutely. Although using his power took a great toll on his body, he couldnt refuse Zhang Yis request. He wasnt in a position to negotiate. I understand. Ill show you my power right now! Author''s Note Chapter 307: Flesh Cultivation Chapter 307 : Flesh Cultivation Under Zhang Yi''s gaze, Li Jian revealed his arm, which was covered in seeds beneath the skin. Suddenly, Li Jian clenched his fist, and Zhang Yi noticed a faint white light appear between his eyebrows. The next moment, Li Jian''s arm began to writhe, as if hundreds of insects were frantically struggling underneath, trying to burst through the skin! Pop! The skin suddenly split open, and a single stalk of wheat, stained with blood, sprouted out, vibrant green but disturbingly covered in blood. Then came a second stalk, a third, and a fourth... As more seeds sprouted, Li Jians face became paler and paler. Thats enough. I understand whats going on. Zhang Yi stopped him, not allowing him to continue displaying his ability. This power was lethal. Simply put, it was a form of sacrifice, using one''s own flesh and blood to nourish plants. If Zhang Yi were to rate this power, it would rank very low among Superhuman abilities, as the price to pay was too high, and the effect was mediocre at best. Li Jian gasped for breath and then called in Professor Ge to help extract the crops and transplant them into cultivation dishes. "Snow Worship Cult..." Zhang Yi muttered the name, feeling both curious and wary. Clearly, Li Jian''s power was not obtained in the usual way. It was something artificially induced later. That white light between his eyebrows undoubtedly had some side effects. Although Zhang Yi didnt yet know what those side effects were, he didnt believe there was anyone in the world who would give without expecting something in return. If Li Jian had shown a combat-related ability instead of this planting power, Zhang Yi would have killed him already. "Thats enough. Im leaving." Zhang Yi had lost interest in the cultivation room and turned to leave. Li Jian collapsed weakly to the ground, realizing only then that his back was soaked with sweat. For Zhang Yi, this had been nothing more than a curious visit. But for Li Jian and the entire Building 18, they had just walked along the edge of hell. Had Zhang Yi changed his mind even slightly, they all would have died right there! Zhang Yi returned to his safe house, preparing to wait for what would happen next so he could decide his next move. If the shelter were really hit by a missile, he would need to quickly find a new place to stay. Staying at Yuelu Residential Area wasnt absolutely safe. He might move to another secure area in Tianhai City, or perhaps relocate to a more remote area in the countryside. I wonder if Liang Yue will succeed. If she manages to insert the chip into the West Hill Bases central network computer, Ill be able to go from reactive to proactive! ??N??? Zhang Yi thought silently. But for now, there was nothing he could do except wait for Liang Yues next move. --- At West Hill Base. After returning from the Fourth Life Pod, Liang Yue was more determined than ever to help her students escape. If they didnt leave soon, very few of them would survive. After their failed attempt to hunt down Zhang Yi, West Hill Base had lost many of its best warriors, including half of their cyborg soldiers. As a result, the base would likely accelerate its human experimentation to make up for the loss in combat power. Time was not on her side. Liang Yue made her way toward the Second Life Pod. She lived in this area, which also housed the bases Information Department and several other critical sectors. When she arrived at the Second Life Pod, she noticed the hallways were crowded with people. These were villagers from Xu Family Town, all dressed in gray and wearing electronic handcuffs, lined up against the walls. Armed soldiers patrolled the area, their sharp eyes scanning the villagers, intimidating them into submission. When the soldiers saw Liang Yue, they immediately saluted. "Captain Liang!" Liang Yues combat uniform bore the captains gold star, a symbol of her rank within West Hill Base. She nodded and casually asked, "Whats going on here?" One of the soldiers glanced at the despondent villagers before approaching Liang Yue and whispering, "According to orders from the higher-ups, they are to undergo mass mutation experiments!" Liang Yues pupils contracted sharply. Mutation experiments? On so many people? She couldnt help but recall the grotesque bodies she had once seen being fed into the food processing chamber. Human mutation experiments werent a secret at West Hill Basethey were conducted openly. At least, they werent a secret to those in the higher levels of the Life Pods. However, they were kept hidden from the test subjects in the Fourth Life Pod. "Why so many?" Liang Yue asked, her voice low. "The success rate of these experiments isnt that high, is it?" The soldier was slightly taken aback, casting a few more glances at Liang Yue. "Dont you know, Captain?" As a naturally born Superhuman and a captain at West Hill Base, Liang Yue had certain privileges, so the soldier had assumed she knew the details. "Ive only been at the base for a short time," Liang Yue replied. "Im still unfamiliar with some things." The soldier nodded in understanding. "Ah, right, of course." "Actually, the reason is simple. Nearly all the Special Forces team members were either killed or injured during the mission, resulting in a significant loss of combat power." "The higher-ups likely want to make up for this loss." Liang Yue clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles cracked, her eyes filled with hatred for Chen Xinian, the leader of the base. She had thought the villagers were taken as laborers, but Chen Xinian was even more cruel than she had imagined! These people werent laborersthey were test subjects! From the fate of her missing students, she knew just how low the success rate of these experiments was. Liang Yue looked at the long line of villagers, as if she were watching lambs waiting for the reapers scythe. Most of them would die, and their bodies would be processed into protein meals. Her throat convulsed, and she almost vomited on the spot. She turned and continued walking deeper into the base. But then, she realized something. The Second Life Pod housed all of West Hill Bases core departments: the Experimentation Department, Information Department, Engineering Department, Food Safety Department, and Storage Center, among others. However, the bases underground space was limited, so all these departments were closely connected, and none were far from Liang Yues quarters. Moreover, Chen Xinian seemed to believe that any unrest would only come from the Fourth Life Pod, where the test subjects resided, as those in the higher-level pods had no reason to rebelthey were the beneficiaries. Therefore, the security around the Second Life Pod wasnt particularly tight. On a normal day, there would be patrolling guards. But this time, due to the failure of the mission, many of the guards had been reduced. And since a large number of soldiers were needed to escort over 400 villagers from Xu Family Town for experiments, even more soldiers had been diverted to maintain order. So many people crowded into the corridors of the Second Life Pod had caused some degree of chaos. For Liang Yue, this was the perfect opportunity to infiltrate the Information Department! As she walked, she carefully observed her surroundings. This mission couldnt fail. She had to be extremely cautious. As she passed by the entrance of the Information Department, she slowed down slightly, taking in the situation. At that moment, a soldier assigned to guard the villagers noticed her. Liang Yue rounded a corner, and then heard a voice behind her. "Ms. Liang, please wait!" Her back immediately stiffened, but she forced herself to stay calm as she turned around. A soldier in combat gear, holding a gun, was approaching her. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Is something the matter?" Liang Yue asked, keeping her voice steady. The soldier hesitated for a moment, then unexpectedly removed his helmet, revealing a youthful face. "Ms. Liang, its me!" Seeing the person in front of her, Liang Yue couldnt help but exclaim, "Ye Xiaotian!" The soldier standing before her was one of her former students who had been taken away. Ye Xiaotian glanced around cautiously before leaning in and whispering, "Ms. Liang, I didnt expect you to become a captain in the Special Forces. Im so envious!" "How did this happen? Why did you join the Special Forces?" Liang Yue asked, staring at him. Ye Xiaotian gave a bitter smile. "Dont you know? Im the only one of the students they took who survived the experiments." He unbuttoned his shirt, revealing a terrifying dark red scar on his chest, like something grafted from a plant. Liang Yues heart raced, and she couldnt help but hug the student tightly. "Thank goodness, youre still alive!" "What about the others? Are they all dead?" Ye Xiaotians eyes dimmed as he nodded, "Yes, theyre all dead." Although Liang Yue had expected this outcome, she still felt a pang of sorrow. Other soldiers passed by but said nothing when they saw Liang Yue talking to Ye Xiaotian, since she was a Special Forces captain and had the authority to speak with him. Looking at her student, an idea suddenly came to Liang Yue. If she acted alone, the risks would be high. But if she had someone to assist her, especially a Special Forces member, the chances of successfully infiltrating the Information Department would increase significantly! Liang Yue glanced around and said to Ye Xiaotian, "Come with me. I need to talk to you." Ye Xiaotian didnt hesitate at all. Since the apocalypse began, he had been through too much hell. There was only one person in the world he could still trustLiang Yue. Without Liang Yue, he and the other students would have died long ago at Tianqing Academy. Now, in his half-human, half-monster state, he desperately hoped to find comfort and redemption through Liang Yue. Author''s Note Chapter 189: Insatiable Greed Chapter 189: Insatiable Greed Xu Chunlei looked at Xu Dongshengs resolute expression and regretted his actions deeply. He hadn''t expected his well-intentioned warning to lead to this outcome. "Grandpa, that man has guns! And he has abilities, too. Rushing to confront him will get a lot of people killed," Xu Chunlei pleaded. "We have enough stored food to survive. Is this really worth it?" Xu Dongsheng took a deep breath and scolded coldly, "What do you know? In this freezing cold, no crops can grow. We are just living off our past reserves. But what happens when the food runs out? How can our Xu family continue without food? We have to think about future generations. We must look out for our own in dire times like these." Xu Chunlei tried to argue further, but Xu Dongsheng''s glare silenced him. "Enough! Just follow my orders. As the best of the Xu family genes, Ill arrange several women to bear your children. You can pick the best supplies for yourself." Xu Chunlei''s scalp tingled with fear. This was not the outcome he wanted. The thought of Zhang Yi''s formidable abilities terrified him. Xu Chunlei feared death immensely. He was cowardly, but what was wrong with that? If he died, he could no longer reward himself with his hard drive full of anime idols like Airi Akizuki, Wakana Makoto, Yu Haruhi, Haruka Nogizaka, Rin Shirogane, Natsuki Aoi, Ha Katsuya, and Rika Momiya. No, he couldn''t allow such a world to exist. Xu Chunlei clenched his fists, his body trembling. Xu Dongsheng noticed his strange behavior and asked, "Are you holding in your urine? Go find a place to relieve yourself before you hurt your bladder." "It''s not that!" Xu Chunlei shouted suddenly. "I... I won''t fight him! I can''t beat him!" His last words came out almost as a sob, filled with fear. Xu Dongsheng paused, then angrily said, "Xu Chunlei! Are you still part of the Xu family? How can you become a deserter now?" Xu Chunlei bit his lip, trying to suppress his fear of the family elders. "I can''t beat him. He countered my abilities, so it doesn''t matter if I go. Grandpa, I dont want to die." Xu Dongsheng stared coldly at him for a long moment before scoffing, "Useless! We have many capable people in the Xu family. We don''t need you. Get out of here!" Feeling like a huge burden had been lifted, Xu Chunlei turned and ran, fearing that if he stayed, Xu Dongsheng might change his mind. Xu Dongsheng watched his retreating figure, exhaling a long breath of white steam. "The boy has potential but lacks courage. Well, it''s better if he doesn''t go. His genes might still pass on his abilities to the next generation." Standing tall, Xu Dongsheng said, "The Xu family is large and prosperous! We don''t need him to succeed." He immediately gathered the heads of the Xu family branches and shared the good news. Upon hearing that there was such a large stash of supplies nearby, everyones faces lit up with excitement. "So, that kids name is Zhang Yi!" a middle-aged man with a fierce expression said. "He killed my son, and I''ve wanted revenge for a long time! This time, we''ll settle both old and new scores!" Another tall, middle-aged man added, "If he really has so many supplies, they would be enough for our Xu family for decades!" "Thank the heavens for blessing us with such a gift in these times!" someone said, hands clasped in gratitude. Everyone was eager to return, gather the clan, and go "borrow" supplies from Zhang Yi. "Let Chunlei go first. His ice attack can easily break through ordinary doors and windows," someone suggested. "Right, with Chunleis power, well have a significant advantage!" Xu Dongsheng, however, frowned and said, "This time, Chunlei won''t go." The branch leaders were shocked and started murmuring in disbelief. "What? Chunleis not going? Thats not good, is it?" "Exactly, he alone is worth a hundred men. Without him, Zhang Yis guns could kill many of us!" "Grandpa, youre the patriarch. You can''t let him shirk his duty!" Xu Dongsheng impatiently tapped his cane. "Enough! Chunlei was injured last time while fighting Zhang Yi. Dont be fooled by his appearance; hes seriously hurt. He needs time to recover. So, he wont be joining us this time." Though Xu Dongsheng despised Xu Chunleis cowardice, he was still a member of his bloodline and deserved some protection. The others, though grumbling, had to respect the patriarch''s decision. Considering their large numbers, they believed defeating one man wouldnt be a problem. ?????????? Xu Dongshengs expression turned stern. "Good. Now, everyone will return and gather your people! Just like in the past fights with neighboring villages, all males over 16 must take up arms. Bring any hidden hunting rifles and homemade explosives. The opponent is an ability user; we must not be careless! We must win with minimal casualties!" S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Having experienced many battles since the apocalypse began over a month ago, Xu Dong Village had developed some discipline. After Xu Dongshengs instructions, the branch leaders returned to gather their men. Hundreds of armed men assembled at the village square, their spirits high, ready for action. That night, at Xu Dongshengs command, the villagers, divided into six teams led by branch heads, set out across the river towards Cloud Manor. They muzzled their dogs to avoid alerting Zhang Yi and used dog sleds to transport the villagers. After crossing the river, they left the dogs and sleds on the bank, as these precious dogs were too valuable to risk. Meanwhile, at Villa 101 in the center of Cloud Manor, Zhang Yi, Zhou Ke''er, and Yang Siya were enjoying a lavish dinner. The table was set with a candelabra, a bottle of ''83 Lafite, and a Michelin-ordered French meal. Despite the potential external dangers, life inside the villa was idyllic, free from survival pressures. Even Yang Siya, who initially dreamed of leaving, was gradually seduced by this paradise. Suddenly, a distant, faint scream broke the serene atmosphere. Author''s Note Chapter 211: Bullying Chapter 211: Bullying Zhang Mengning smiled cruelly as she spoke her harsh words to Yang Xinxin. Yang Xinxin was stunned, her wide eyes filling with tears that silently streamed down her cheeks. Instead of standing up for her, the others laughed and even clapped, approving of Zhang Mengnings cruelty. "Zhang Mengning, thats enough! Were all classmates; how can you say something so mean?" A short-haired, handsome girl quickly stepped in front of Yang Xinxin. She was Yang Xinxins best friend, Lu Keran, who had been pushing Yang Xinxins wheelchair and helping her survive all this time. Zhang Mengning clutched her stomach and laughed loudly. "Ha! Lu Keran, who do you think you are to talk to me like that?" Her eyes flashed with contempt as she pointed at Lu Keran. "You, a scholarship student, dare to challenge me? Have you forgotten your place?" In this elite school, social hierarchies were rigid. Zhang Mengning was the daughter of a wealthy family, while Lu Keran, though from a decent background, was at the bottom tier at Tianqing Academy. Lu Keran blushed, clenching her fists. "So what if your family is rich? Can your money save you now?" "Shut up! No matter the situation, the gap between us remains!" Zhang Mengning shouted. "Once we get out of here, well still be worlds apart!" She laughed maniacally, pointing at Yang Xinxin. "Its because of you, Yang Xinxin, that so many of our classmates are dead! You should just die instead of clinging to life!" Yang Xinxins tears fell onto her pale hands, but she didnt argue back. Lu Keran, however, couldnt stand her friend being humiliated. "Zhang Mengning, Xinxin is a person too. She has the right to live! You cant blame her for the deaths of others!" At that moment, another girl with a long ponytail and a face like a princess, Zheng Yuncong, spoke up. "But a cripple in a wheelchair does drag us down!" Zheng Yuncong, the daughter of an official from Jiangnan Province, approached with an air of innate arrogance. "So, Zhang Mengning is right. Youre a burden, Xinxin. We shouldnt have to suffer because of you." "Everyone helped you out of kindness, but you shouldnt take advantage of it," she continued. "Youre morally blackmailing us with your disability. Its just too much." With these two leading the way, others who had long harbored resentment towards Yang Xinxin, or simply wanted to see someone else suffer, began to join in. Yang Xinxin, with her beauty, disability from polio, and status as a top hacker, perfectly fit the "beautiful, strong, and tragic" archetype, making her popular at Tianqing Academy. Many boys wanted to be her knight, which naturally stirred jealousy among the girls. Now, their long-suppressed malice erupted. "Yang Xinxin, stop dragging us down, will you?" "Without Teacher Liangs soft heart, Id have left you behind ages ago." "Just go find a place to die, will you?" Yang Xinxins hands clenched so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Lu Keran stood protectively in front of her, arguing, "What have you ever done for Xinxin? Im the one who takes care of her. Stop blaming her for your misery!" Zhang Mengning sneered, "Lu Keran, youre pathetic. Shes a wealthy heiress, and youre just a scholarship student. Do you really think shed be friends with you if she werent disabled? Shes using you to feel superior!" "Shes not like that!" Lu Keran retorted angrily. Yang Xinxin remained silent, but the noisy crowd around her made her feel even more miserable. "Its so noisy," she whispered, but the ongoing argument drowned out her voice. ???????????? A girl with luxurious burgundy hair and an exquisitely beautiful face walked over. "Everyone, stop arguing! We need to be united in these times!" Shen Miaoke, the class representative and the girl with the highest social status in the class, spoke gently. Her words quieted the others. Shen Miaokes family was extremely influential, and her authority was well respected. She looked at Yang Xinxin with soft eyes. "Xinxin, dont worry. You might be a burden now, but we wont abandon you. Im sure you dont blame us, right? Lets stay friends." Shen Miaoke smiled and extended her right hand to Yang Xinxin. Her kindness seemed genuine, but her tone had an unsettling nuance. Yang Xinxin didnt reach out. Shen Miaoke waited, her smile fading slightly in awkwardness. She tilted her head, trying to look into Yang Xinxins eyes. Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Wont you even shake my hand? Ive always cared about you the most!" The other students watched eagerly, with some saying, "Miaoke, youre too kind. Being nice to someone useless like her." "Hey, Yang Xinxin, whats your problem? Miaokes offering you her hand!" "Maybe her brains messed up too, not just her legs." The boys watched from a distance, enjoying the spectacle without any intention of intervening. In this oppressive environment, watching someone else suffer provided a twisted pleasure. Yang Xinxin finally moved to raise her hand, but a loud noise interrupted before she could. "Clang!" The students turned instinctively towards the sound, and then a blood-curdling scream echoed through the gym. The gym''s three-meter-high metal window was pushed open, and a massive, fiveto six-meter-long black claw with a metallic sheen reached inside. It grabbed Zheng Yuncong''s head and effortlessly lifted her into the air. A grotesque face appeared at the window, its mouth curling into a sinister smile. "Meow" Author''s Note Chapter 241: The Infiltrator Chapter 241: The Infiltrator With the ground completely covered in snow and the area around Cloud Manor being quite open, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang knew that approaching recklessly could easily lead to being discovered by Zhang Yi. So, instead of heading straight for the manor, they first scrolled the area using binoculars, carefully observing the surroundings. From what they had learned from Xu Dongtang and the other villagers, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were already wary of Zhang Yi, knowing he was not someone to be underestimated and possibly a powerful Superhuman. They decided to wait until nightfall before making their move. They knew from Xus Town that Villa 101 was Zhang Yis residence and the area was littered with traps. By the time night came, they were fully prepared for their infiltration. Liu Ziyang pulled out a military tactical monocle and scanned the snow-covered ground, revealing the hidden traps buried beneath the surface. Good thing we got the intel beforehand. If we had just rushed in, we might have gotten hurt, Liu Ziyang remarked in a low voice. Xie Huanhuan looked at the luxurious villa ahead of them and couldnt help but feel a pang of jealousy. To live in such luxury during the apocalypse, enjoying such comfort... even Im envious! Liu Ziyang, however, wasnt impressed. Whats there to be envious about? With the freezing temperatures outside, heating such a large house must consume enormous energy. Where does he get enough fuel to keep warm, not all the food and other necessities? Xie Huanhuan glanced at him but didnt bother to explain further. Liu Ziyang wasnt aware of the South China warehouse situation. After all, he was just a soldier who didnt need to know the specifics of their mission, only to follow Xie Huanhuans orders. Take me across, Xie Huanhuan commanded. Liu Ziyang crouched down, and Xie Huanhuan nimbly jumped onto his shoulders. Carrying her, Liu Ziyang stepped onto a protruding rock in the snow, then leapt five meters into the air. Grabbing hold of the villas eaves with his right hand, he swung them like a pendulum towards the corner of the shelters wall. They were back on the ground in a flash, half-buried in snow, but not a single flake touched Xie Huanhuan. Dismantling the simple traps buried in the snow would have been easy for them, but they decided against it to avoid alerting Zhang Yi. Instead, they opted for a stealthy approach. Once on the ground, Xie Huanhuan slid off Liu Ziyangs shoulders and took a moment to examine the black villa before them. The buildings solid, fortified appearance impressed her. No wonder this was the residence of a former tycoon. Its flashy, but in terms of defense, its like a fortress! Xie Huanhuan murmured with a smile. Unfortunately for him, theres no such thing as an impregnable fortress in my world. Behind her, Liu Ziyang said, Are you sure you dont want to negotiate with him? Your abilities arent suited for combat, and sneaking in could be dangerous. Xie Huanhuan frowned, her voice cold, Liu Ziyang, dont forgetI was part of the special forces even before I had any abilities! Liu Ziyang, realizing he had overstepped, quickly backed down. Ill wait outside. If anything happens, fire a shot, and Ill find a way to get in. Xie Huanhuan chuckled dismissively. Dont worry, Zhang Yi wont even imagine that someone could infiltrate his place like this. With that, she approached the wall. The thick, specially alloyed wall, capable of withstanding artillery fire, seemed to become as insubstantial as air as Xie Huanhuan walked right through it. Or perhaps Xie Huanhuan herself turned into air, passing through without resistance. The next moment, she was inside Zhang Yis shelter, specifically in the living room. Although she wasnt familiar with the shelters layout, she had waited until late at night, confirming that the lights had been off for some time before entering. As soon as she was inside, the warmth of the place enveloped her, surprising her with its comfort. This place is even warmer than West Hill Base! she thought, astonished. The luxurious interior decor and furnishings filled her with envy. Although such items had lost much value in the post-apocalyptic world and were scattered everywhere, returning them to West Hill Base was nearly impossible due to space limitations. Even as a special forces member, Xie Huanhuan had only a tiny room of about ten square meters. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I can already tell he has access to a vast amount of supplies, Xie Huanhuan mused. Whether its food or energy, he must have plenty. Otherwise, he couldnt be living in such comfort! A smile curled at the corners of her mouth. Just as she was about to continue exploring the room, a cats meow suddenly startled her. Her heart skipped a beat. Realizing she was unaware of the full extent of Zhang Yis capabilities, Xie Huanhuan decided it was too risky to continue. She could tell this shelter was far more important than the West Hill Base leaders had initially believed. However, she didnt want to leave without leaving a mark. She decided to leave something behind that would make an impression on Zhang Yi and potentially unsettle him, making it easier to take the shelter without a fight later on. Xie Huanhuan drew a military knife from her thigh and placed it on the table in the living room. With that done, she slipped into the shadows and vanished as quietly as she had arrived. Emerging from the wall, she found Liu Ziyang waiting outside to assist her. Seeing her return so quickly, he asked eagerly, Did you find anything? Xie Huanhuans eyes sparkled with excitement. A lot! Lets head backIll fill you in on the way! Liu Ziyang was surprised. Head back? They had always handled missions together, never encountering problems they couldnt solve. Even when dealing with remnants of Tianhai Citys former gangs, they had easily handled things. But this time, Xie Huanhuan wanted to leavewas she planning to request backup from the base? ?????s Did you encounter a tough opponent? Liu Ziyang asked. Xie Huanhuan quickly replied, Im not sure yet, but based on what Ive seen, that man Zhang Yi is not simple. Im not a fighter, so I do not need to stay here and take risks. The best action is to report this information to the higher-ups and have them send reinforcements. Xie Huanhuans ability made her perfect for external reconnaissance. She could seamlessly blend into her surroundings, making her immune to the cold and capable of bypassing the most formidable fortresses. However, her power was unsuitable for direct combat, so Liu Ziyang accompanied her. Following her orders, Liu Ziyang helped her onto his shoulders, and they quickly left Cloud Manor. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi, sleeping soundly, suddenly woke up, sensing something was wrong. Author''s Note Chapter 242: The Chase Chapter 242: The Chase Huahuas loud meow jolted Zhang Yi awake. Since Huahua had started living with him, the cat had taken to sleeping in his room every night, curled up at the head of his bed. Zhang Yi enjoyed the comfort of petting the cat, so he never kicked it out. But tonight, Huahua''s noise was so harsh that it almost made Zhang Yi panic. He opened his eyes to see Huahua in a defensive stance, staring intently at the door with its fur standing on end. Huahua was exceptionally alert as a former stray and never displayed such behavior without reason. Zhang Yi immediately realized something was wrong in the house. Instinctively, he rolled out of bed, grabbing his gun as he did so. "Huahua, whats going on?" Zhang Yi asked. Huahua, being highly intelligent, could understand Zhang Yis words, but the problem was that it couldnt speak. It simply continued to stare at the door, meowing. After a few cries, it suddenly stopped, its eyes showing confusion as it curiously looked around. "Whats happening?" Zhang Yi thought, puzzled. Could Huahua have had a nightmare? But hed never heard of cats having nightmares. Unsettled, he picked up his phone and checked the surveillance footage for the entire shelter. To his surprise, there was no unusual activity on the shelter''s cameras. Meanwhile, Huahua moved to the door, placing its paw on it as if signaling it wanted to go out. "Wait a second," Zhang Yi said, quickly getting dressed and grabbing his gun before opening the door. Huahua darted down the stairs, sniffing around as it made odd, low noises. It eventually jumped onto the table in the living room. Zhang Yi followed it closely and soon spotted a black military knife lying on the table. Zhang Yis eyes widened in shock, and a cold sweat broke out on his back. That knife wasnt his, and there was no way anyone else in the shelter could have it either. So, who had put it there? More terrifyingly, who could have bypassed the shelters formidable defenses to enter the living room and leave it there? The fact that someone had been able to silently infiltrate his home meant they could potentially return anytime to take his life. Zhang Yi swallowed hard but quickly regained his composure. His house had surveillance everywherehe just needed to check who had entered. He immediately went to the television and instructed the smart system, "Replay the living room surveillance from 10 minutes ago, then fast forward to when someone appears!" Soon, the large screen displayed the footage from ten minutes earlier. As the video sped up, Zhang Yi finally saw the eerie figure. He slowed the playback, not daring to blink for fear of missing details. He watched as a woman in a tight white suit slowly emerged from the shadows in the corner of the room. "Zoom in!" Zhang Yi ordered. He closely examined the footage and noticed that the woman hadnt simply appeared out of thin airshe had walked straight through the wall. The solid wall offered no resistance as if it were made of air. "So theres an ability like that," Zhang Yi realized. Since the world started mutating, bizarre phenomena have become almost commonplace. Zhang Yi continued watching the video. The woman observed the room for a while before heading towards the stairs. At that moment, Huahuas meow rang out, startling the woman in white. She quickly left the military knife on the table and retreated through the wall. Having watched the entire video, Zhang Yi felt a heavy foreboding. The presence of such a Superhuman posed a massive threat to him. No matter how fortified his shelter was, it wouldnt help against someone like her. Even more unsettling was the fact that she had left a military knife on the tablean ominous message. As someone familiar with weapons, Zhang Yi knew this was no ordinary knifeit was a standard military issue, likely from an official force. Allowing someone like her to walk away could result in a severe threat to his future safety. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as a deadly resolve took hold of him. That woman had to diehe couldnt let her live. "Huahua, come with me. Were going to kill the intruder!" Zhang Yi commanded. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Meow!" Huahua responded with a confident howl, its eyes glowing with an eerie blue light. Zhang Yi didnt rush outside immediately. Instead, he first armed himself in the living room. There were no sounds of engines nearby, so it was unlikely that the intruders had used a vehicle. They couldnt have gotten far. As he dressed, Zhang Yi pulled up the surveillance footage outside the shelter to track their departure. Through the infrared cameras, he detected the figures of two people moving away. "Two of them? Lets take out the woman who infiltrated the shelter first!" Zhang Yi thought, his determination unwavering. Since they had made the first move, he would show no mercy. With Huahua by his side, Zhang Yi was confident they could handle any opponent. If not for the urgency, he would have also summoned Uncle You and Fatty Xu. But time was of the essencehe couldnt risk letting them get too far ahead. ????????S? Fully geared up and armed with his sniper rifle, Zhang Yi set out with Huahua. "Huahua, can you track their scent?" he asked. "Meow!" Huahua let out a confident cry as if saying, "Of course!" Huahuas body rapidly expanded the next moment, transforming into a massive creature over ten meters long. It crouched in front of Zhang Yi, signaling him to climb on. In the snow, Huahua was faster than any snowmobile. Zhang Yi hesitated as he looked at the razor-sharp fur on Huahuas back. "Im worried itll stab my butt," he said. Understanding his concern, Huahua quickly softened the fur on its back, making it safe for Zhang Yi to sit. Relieved, Zhang Yi mounted Huahua. "Just dont get too excited and poke me suddenly!" he reminded Huahua. In annoyance, the cat rolled its eyes and let out a disgruntled "Meow!" as if expressing its displeasure at Zhang Yis lack of trust. Once securely seated, Huahua pushed off the snow with its massive paws, launching itself more than ten meters in a single leap. Zhang Yi clutched his sniper rifle. His eyes fixed on the path ahead through his tactical monocle. No matter what, he wouldnt let that woman leave alive tonight. Man and cat sped off from Cloud Manor, heading northwest in pursuit of the intruders. Meanwhile, riding their sled, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang were in high spirits as they headed back. Their reconnaissance mission had been a resounding successthey had discovered a populous and well-supplied village and uncovered secrets about Zhang Yi. Reporting this to their superiors would undoubtedly earn them great accolades. Author''s Note Chapter 243: Approaching the Truth Chapter 243: Approaching the Truth After leaving Cloud Manor, Xie Huanhuan and Liu Ziyang hurried back to West Hill Base, eager to report their findings. Xie Huanhuan couldnt hide her excitement, and not even the biting cold of the midnight snow could dampen her spirits. Liu Ziyang, observing her uncharacteristic enthusiasm, was intrigued. Xie Huanhuan was his superior, who he directly reported to during missions assigned by their superiors. Although they had worked together for a long time, Liu Ziyang wasnt always privy to the full details of their assignments. But today, seeing Xie Huanhuan so elated piqued his curiosity. They had been partners for a while and had a good relationship, so Liu Ziyang asked, "Huanhuan, what did you find in Zhang Yis villa thats got you so excited?" By now, they were far from Cloud Manor. Feeling pleased with herself, Xie Huanhuan was eager to return and report her discoveries, knowing that a significant reward awaited her. She decided to share the information with Liu Ziyang. "Liu, normally, as just a regular soldier in Team A, there are some things you wouldnt be cleared to know," she began with a smile. "But since Im in a good mood today, Ill tell you anyway!" Xie Huanhuan explained, "That Zhang Yi, there were rumors about him being involved in the theft of the Walmart South China warehouse. Have you heard about that case?" Liu Ziyang furrowed his brow slightly. "I think Ive heard of it." At the time of the incident, Liu Ziyang was still in the military and unaware of the details. "But youve heard of Walmart, right?" she pressed. "Yeah, I know about Walmart. Its a big supermarket chain, globally famous," Liu Ziyang replied. "Exactly. Not only is it famous worldwide, but its the largest chain supermarket in the world," Xie Huanhuan continued. "They had over 800 large chain stores in China alone, and the South China warehouse in Tianhai City stored more than a third of their supplies for the entire country. The value of those goods was said to be in the billions!" Liu Ziyang was taken aback. "Billions in supplies? Thats insane!" Even West Hill Base, with all its years of preparation and mobilization before the snow disaster, couldnt match that level of stockpiled resources. "Youre saying Zhang Yi knows where those supplies went?" Liu Ziyang asked, catching on quickly. Xie Huanhuan smiled, "Initially, the base leaders thought Zhang Yi was just someone with knowledge of the situation, so they sent us to investigate. But after visiting Xus Town and personally inspecting his home, I realized things are far more complex than they seemed!" Her tone became serious, tinged with the excitement of uncovering a significant secret. Liu Ziyang still looked puzzled. "I dont get it." Xie Huanhuan rolled her eyes at him. "If Zhang Yi were just a regular warehouse manager, the loss of billions in supplies would have little to do with him. Even if we questioned him, the information wed get probably wouldnt be useful. After all, even if we found the mastermind behind the theft, we might not have the power to recover the supplies." "But what if Zhang Yi is more than he appearssomeone with hidden power?" she suggested. Xie Huanhuan thought back to what the villagers of Xus Town had told her and exhaled a puff of white breath. "Could an ordinary person survive for so long in the apocalypse and possess such formidable firepower?" "Could an ordinary person single-handedly repel an attack by hundreds of villagers and kill more than a hundred of them?" "From this, we can conclude that Zhang Yi is not ordinary!" she declared. As they talked, the sled dogs grew restless, though they couldnt bark due to their harnesses. Instead, they let out low whines and began to run faster. But the two, engrossed in their conversation, didnt notice this odd behavior, chalking it up to the cold weather. ????????? Xie Huanhuan continued, "I had my suspicions before, but after searching his home, Im even more convinced." "The living conditions in his home were better than our base leadersfar more luxurious." "Who would dare live so extravagantly in these times without a vast supply of resources?" Liu Ziyang slowly began to understand. "So youre saying that Zhang Yi must have access to a massive stockpile of supplies!" "Could he have part of the missing Walmart South China warehouse goods?" Xie Huanhuan blinked, her tone serious. "It might not just be part of ittheres a chance he has all of it!" "What???" Liu Ziyang almost jumped out of his seat in shock. "Huanhuan, youve got to be kidding! How could he store so much?" Xie Huanhuan explained, "The case itself was always shrouded in mystery. No one could explain how the worlds largest warehouse, the South China warehouse, was emptied in just a few hours." "But now, with the appearance of Superhumans, many things that seemed impossible before are now within the realm of possibility." Liu Ziyang furrowed his brow. "Are you saying he has some ability that allows him to hide the supplies?" "Im just speculating," Xie Huanhuan admitted, "but even the possibility is worth investigating!" Her eyes sparkled with excitement. "Once we return, well report this immediately, and the leaders will send a large force to deal with it." "Even if his house is heavily fortified, with my ability, it wont stand a chance." Although Xie Huanhuans ability was more suited to support roles, it was incredibly effective in assault operations. She couldnt bring particularly large objects inside, but she could easily toss in bombs or gas. No matter how strong a fortress was, it could be easily breached from within. Liu Ziyang watched Xie Huanhuan with admiration in his eyes. "Youre amazing! People like you, born with Superhuman abilities, can achieve anything." Xie Huanhuan noticed the hint of melancholy in Liu Ziyangs gaze. As an elite soldier, not having the same innate powers as her was his significant regret. Suddenly, she patted her old partners shoulder firmly. "Liu, dont be so down! When we get back, youll be well-rewarded too." "When I become one of the bases leaders, I wont forget to take care of you!" Liu Ziyang chuckled at her confidence. "Alright, Ill be counting on you then!" The two of them laughed as they headed back to West Hill Base, delighted by the success of their mission. But just then, something unexpected happened. As Liu Ziyang glanced over, he saw Xie Huanhuans head suddenly jerk to the side. A spray of blood erupted from her temple, and though her smile remained on her face, her eyes quickly lost their light. Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a loud thud, Xie Huanhuans body fell lifelessly from the sled. Author''s Note Chapter 302: Strategic Relocation Chapter 302 : Strategic Relocation Zhang Yi gathered everyone in the house and explained the situation to them. Upon hearing that they might face a missile strike, everyone grew tense. While an ordinary missile might not be more powerful than 500 kilograms of TNT, the enemy clearly knew the shelters strength. They would likely use a more potent missile capable of penetrating the shelters outer defenses. If that happened, the threat would be beyond estimation. Of course, there were even more powerful missiles, but those were unlikely to be deployed domestically. Does he really have access to something like that? Yang Xinxin was the first to ask. If he did, he should have used it already, right? Why wait until now, after suffering so many losses? Zhang Yi shrugged and explained, While he doesnt have it directly, Jiangnan District, stationed near Tianhai City, does. They definitely have missile control authority. Chen Xinian holds a significant position in Tianhai City, so its not impossible for him to pull some strings and get one. The key point is, whether hes bluffing or not, Im not willing to risk our lives. Zhang Yi spread his hands. So, everyone, pack upwere getting out of here! Zhou Keers eyes lit up. Are we going back to the Yuelu Residential Area? Right now, the only place they could go was Yuelu Residential Area, where they could stay in Zhang Yis old safe house. Although they had more people now, the three-bedroom apartment should be able to fit them all. Zhang Yi smiled and nodded, Exactly! Well move there for now. Everyone agreed with his decision. They couldnt afford to take any risks with their safety. Still, as they looked around at the perfect shelter, they felt a bit reluctant to leave. This five-story shelter was practically a palace. Who wouldnt want to live in such a place? Fatty Xu sighed, What a shame, Ive only lived here for a few days. Zhang Yi laughed and patted his shoulder. Dont be too quick to complain. We still dont know for sure if he has missiles. Yang Xinxin, pushing her wheelchair closer to Zhang Yi, gave him a meaningful look. If our planted agent can do their job, well have all the intel on West Hill Base. Zhang Yi blinked and, after a moment of thought, smiled. If it works out, thatd be fantastic! Everyone went off to pack their things. There were so many valuable items in the shelter. Everything Young Master Wang had left behind was top-quality luxury goods. Even the items Zhang Yi had given to the others were from the well-stocked storage. The house was filled with high-end furniture, fine wine, collectibles, and gaming consoles, all brand-name products. So, knowing the shelter might get hit by missiles made everyone reluctant to leave. They wished they could take everything with them. Zhang Yi quickly stopped them from trying to take too much. Though he had his dimensional space to quickly store things, the womens endless list of items was just too much. To prevent Chen Xinian from launching an airstrike earlier than expected, Zhang Yi urged everyone to pack only the essentials and leave with him. In the end, they could only take the most necessary supplies and pack them into Zhang Yis dimensional space. Theres no need to feel so attached! We can always go to the mall and grab whatever we need later. Even the most expensive jewelry is worthless now. Whats there to be sad about? Zhang Yi smiled as he tried to cheer up the women, finding their behavior amusing. Well, youre not wrong, but those things are still nice to have, Zhou Keer said wistfully, resting her chin in her hand. They hold a lot of our fond memories. Huh? What fond memories? Zhang Yi asked. Zhou Keer blushed a little and whispered into his ear, The sofa, the dining table, the toilet, the bathtub... all of them carry precious memories. Zhang Yis eyes sparkled. Oh, I see what you mean. But dont worry, we can always make more of those memories in the future. Only then did a smile return to Zhou Keers face. After packing their important items, Zhang Yi led the group out of the shelter. Aside from Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua, the other women hadnt been outside in a long time. At first, they wanted to take a deep breath of fresh air, but the cold nearly froze their mouths. Oh my god, its freezing! Yang Siyah cried, clutching her mouth in pain. The air is so cold and terribleI dont want to be outside! Zhang Yi chuckled, Of course! You didnt actually think the air out here was fresh, did you? Most of the plants in the outside world had frozen to death, and the air was becoming thinner, devoid of that fresh, earthy scent. Really? Yang Siyahs eyes widened with curiosity. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If thats true, wont all of Blue Star run out of oxygen? Yang Xinxin chuckled at her sisters naivety. Even if all the plants die, there are still other ways to produce oxygen. Otherwise, how do you think the planet had oxygen for the first life forms, before plants existed? ????????? Yang Siyah didnt dare argue with Yang Xinxin when it came to science. Zhang Yi chimed in, We should also thank Mi Mi. If she hadnt been so meticulous in cultivating so many plants in the shelter, we wouldnt have had such fresh air. The garden in the shelter had been beautifully tended by Yang Siyah, and they often went there to relax and enjoy the greenery, finding peace in the sight of the vibrant plants. Hearing Zhang Yis praise made Yang Siyah feel touched, her gaze softening. But when she thought about the plants she had to leave behind in the shelter, she couldnt help but feel sad. Those flowers and plants had all been carefully grown by her, one by one. If they died, she would be heartbroken. Seeing her mood, Zhang Yi comforted her. Dont worry too much. I still have plenty of seeds. You can plant them again in your own little garden. Yang Siyahs eyes lit up with excitement, and she quickly replied, Ill make sure to take good care of your seeds! For some reason, the people around them felt there was something off about the conversation. Before anyone could think too much about it, Zhang Yi took out two snowmobiles and called everyone to get on. He drove one, and the other was handed over to the mechanical girl, Lu Keran. Her driving skills were impressive, even flashier than Zhang Yis. Both snowmobiles had been modified earlier, with steel plates and bulletproof glass added to the exterior, giving them some degree of protection. Alright, lets go! Zhang Yi revved up the engine and led the way toward the long-lost Yuelu Residential Area. Author''s Note Chapter 305: The Miracle of Building 18 Chapter 305 : The Miracle of Building 18 Zhang Yi discussed with Uncle You, deciding to stay at Yuelu Residential Area for a while and observe the situation. They wanted to see if the missile Chen Xinian mentioned was real or not. Based on Zhang Yis understanding of the West Hill Base, they currently didnt have precise satellite positioning capabilities. So, the so-called missile strike might not even be real. Even if they had that kind of ability, it would be impossible to locate Zhang Yi in real time and know that they had escaped to Yuelu Residential Area. Zhang Yi wasnt worried about his safety. But this feeling of being under an unknown threat was unsettling. The enmity between me and West Hill Base is irreconcilable, Zhang Yi sighed. Unless I leave this place far behind, Chen Xinian will always find a way to kill me and take everything I have. He sighed deeply, Fates out of my hands! I just wanted to live a peaceful life, never wanted to offend anyone. But why does trouble always find its way to me? Uncle You glanced at the frustrated Zhang Yi and smiled slightly. Its because you have too many good things in your hands! He spread his hands and said, Look at me, I dont have these troubles, but my quality of life is way worse than yours. This is just how the world works. If you live well, people envy you; if you live poorly, they look down on you. Even if you do nothing, you cant stop others from being jealous! Zhang Yi smiled wryly and leaned against the window. If only I had enough strength, Id wipe out that damned West Hill Base! Both of them laughed, not taking the statement seriously. After all, the base was a massive entity, with terrifying numbers of armed personnel and advanced weaponry. Even though Zhang Yi was a Superhuman, charging in would be suicidal. While they were chatting, the women in the house had already made the beds and set up the daily necessities. At this moment, Uncle You casually mentioned something. Oh, by the way, some strange people have been spotted around here recently. Not sure if its useful information for you. Zhang Yi blinked, Strange people? At this point, what kind of people arent strange? When even creatures could mutate, what else could be considered unusual? But the people who have survived till now must have some skills. What kind of people are they? he asked. Uncle You replied, A group of people, like ascetics. There were quite a few of them, at least a few hundred! Zhang Yi frowned, That many? The larger the group, the bigger the potential threat. Uncle You said, Yeah, at first, I was worried they came to loot. But they didnt seem malicious. I interacted with them briefly. Turns out theyre followers of a religion called the Snow Worship Cult. Zhang Yi chuckled, Snow Worship Cult? Sounds like something from ancient times, when people worshipped natural disasters, creating gods out of thunder, rain, water, plague. Now theres even a Snow God! ???????S? Its just psychological comfort, a reliance on some supernatural force. Not surprising, really. There will always be flocks of sheep gathering. Religions thrive in times of chaos because people need something to believe in to endure the suffering. Uncle Yous tone grew more somber, But, those people were indeed unusual. Their leader, called the Grand Decree, found me and immediately figured out that I was a Superhuman. Uncle You glanced at Zhang Yi, And he said he could help me develop my abilities and make me stronger! Zhang Yis expression became serious. In this era of mutations, no strange power could surprise him. But the idea of enhancing Superhuman abilities was certainly tempting. Still, he knew, nothing in this world came for free. No one would help without a reason. This guys probably a con artist. As for discovering youre a Superhuman, thats not surprising. Maybe he saw you use your powers somewhere. Even if hes telling the truth, why would he help you for no reason? Uncle You nodded. Thats what I thought too. After all, youve said it beforewe cant trust the kindness of strangers. So, I turned him down! Zhang Yi smiled, That was the right move. But, it seems hes been going around the area looking for others. I dont know what happened after that. The residential area was large, and that group had wandered deeper inside. Uncle You had no idea where they went or where they disappeared to. Zhang Yi thought for a moment before saying, Are you suggesting that those so-called Snow Worship Cult members went to look for Li Jian and his people? After all, only the residents of Building 18 and Uncle Yous family were alive in the area now. I think thats likely! Zhang Yi looked out the window. Through the frost-covered glass, he could faintly see the dark, lifeless city with its towering, silent buildings. After thinking for a long while, he said, Im going out for a bit. Are you going to Building 18? Uncle You asked, Want me to come with you? Zhang Yi smiled slightly, No need. Theyre just ordinary people, nothing to worry about. Despite his words, Zhang Yi naturally suited up in his combat gear and placed Hua Hua on his shoulder. In close combat, Hua Hua was even more dangerous than Uncle You. After all, the explosive power and speed of a feline far outmatched that of humans. Brother Zhang, where are you going? Seeing Zhang Yi all geared up, Yang Xinxin curiously asked. Im just going to visit some old friends, Zhang Yi replied nonchalantly. Without further explanation, he pushed the door open and left. Yang Xinxin and the others didnt know Li Jian, so there wasnt much to say. Zhang Yi just wanted to check on how Li Jian and his group had survived this long. As for the Snow Worship Cult, he wasnt particularly interested, but gathering some intelligence wouldnt hurt. Leaving Building 25, Zhang Yi and Hua Hua walked toward Building 18. The area was eerily silent, no signs of life. But along the roadsides, Zhang Yi noticed somethingmounds of snow shaped like graves. It wasnt clear whether they were used to bury trash or people. Most likely the latter, because who would care enough in these times to bury trash? The snow naturally covered everything humans left behind. Zhang Yi arrived at Building 18, where the snow had reached the sixth floor. As usual, they had opened a window on the sixth floor as an exit route. Zhang Yi pulled out his handgun, chambered a round, and fired two shots into the air. Bang! Bang! The sound of the gunshots brought back memories of the fear Zhang Yi had once instilled in the residents of Building 18. Its Zhang Yi, hes back! Inside one of the rooms, Li Jian peered through the window and immediately recognized him! Even though Zhang Yi was wearing a helmet and white combat gear, this way of announcing his arrival was unmistakable. This is bad! Li Jians heart sank. He felt like his life was over. Beside him, Li Jians wife and son came over, If it comes down to it, well fight him! We finally saw a glimmer of hope to survive, why does he have to come back? If he finds out about that, the entire building will be doomed! Faced with his panicked family, Li Jian sighed softly. Ill go talk to him. Dont act rashly. Even if everyone in the building attacked him together, we wouldnt stand a chance. They had watched Zhang Yi slaughter half the residential area by himself before. The man had gunswhat could they possibly fight him with? Li Jian told his family, If anything happens to me, dont think about revenge. Stay here and protect our last hope. Tears welled up in their eyes, but even though they didnt want Li Jian to walk to his death, they knew there was no other choice. Li Jian pulled out his phone and left one last message for his neighbors before heading out the door. It wasnt long before Zhang Yi saw Li Jian climbing out of the sixth-floor window. This time, however, Zhang Yi was shocked by Li Jians appearance. He was so thin, almost just skin and bones. If Zhang Yi hadnt looked closely, he might have mistaken him for a corpse. The only way he could recognize him was by the expensive Bolona glasses Li Jian wore, which cost at least five thousand. Li Jian, long time no see. I didnt expect you to still be alive. Zhang Yi greeted him calmly. Hua Hua sat cross-legged on Zhang Yis shoulder, her black gemstone-like eyes staring at Li Jian. She looked incredibly docile, but she could tear him apart in an instant. Zhang Yi, is that really you? Li Jian asked. Zhang Yi nodded, Yeah, its me. He glanced up and saw shadows moving behind the windows. He couldnt help but be surprised, Its been over a month, and there are still so many people alive in your building. I must say, thats a miracle! How did you manage it? Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi looked at Li Jian, waiting for his answer. Li Jian swallowed hard and replied, It was mainly thanks to the grain seeds you left behind. What? You actually managed to grow the crops? Zhang Yi was stunned. In this freezing weather, after just a month, what kind of crop could be harvested and feed all of you? Suddenly, a bold idea flashed in Zhang Yis mind. He gave Li Jian a deep look, It seems there are mutants in your building as well, huh? Any inexplicable phenomenon could only have one explanationmutants! As Zhang Yi said this, he was already prepared to strike. If he detected any movement, he would not hesitate to eliminate the person in front of him! Author''s Note Chapter 308: An Interesting Game Chapter 308: An Interesting Game Liang Yue called Ye Xiaotian to a corner where they could avoid surveillance. Using her conversational skills, she first tested Ye Xiaotians attitude toward West Hill Base. After listening, Ye Xiaotians eyes filled with hatred as he gritted his teeth. Teacher Liang, they dont treat us like humans at all! They use us like lab rats! You cant imagine what we went through in that lab! As he recalled the events of that day, Ye Xiaotians body started trembling uncontrollably. He poured out the story to Liang Yue as if venting his pain. It turned out that West Hill Base had long discovered that people might awaken Superhuman abilities under extreme conditions. So the first step in their experiments was to torture these individuals in various ways, pushing them to the brink of death repeatedly. This included suffocation for two minutes, electric shocks, spinning, and dozens of other methods. If none of these triggered any abilities, it proved the person had no latent talent. Yet, even then, they didnt let the test subjects go. The final method was to implant mutated cells into our bodies. Ye Xiaotian said this as he instinctively touched his chest. If we could survive the rejection reaction and not be devoured by the mutated cells, we could live and gain powers similar to those of the mutants. But the price is permanent damage to the body, and even our lifespan gets reduced. Tears welled up in Ye Xiaotians eyes, and his hatred for West Hill Base was unmistakable. Liang Yue, feeling heartbroken, gave him a comforting hug. She then looked into his eyes and asked seriously, If you had the chance to leave this place, would you take it? Ye Xiaotian hesitated for a moment before his eyes lit up with hope. He nodded decisively. Id love that! I dream about it! Destroying this hellhole would be even better! Liang Yue was relieved. Alright, if thats the case, I need your help. Due to a shortage of manpower, Ye Xiaotian had been reassigned to patrol near the Second Life Pod. Each day, there was a period when he would patrol near the Information Department. With his cooperation, it would be much easier for Liang Yue to enter the Information Department. Once she crossed that door, for someone like herformerly a special agentplanting a small chip in the computer would be a breeze. --- Meanwhile, Zhang Yi and his group had been staying in the shelter for a day when they received a call from Chen Xinian. Chen Xinian asked, Zhang Yi, a day has passed. Whats your answer? Zhang Yi smirked disdainfully. My answer hasnt changed. Its impossible for me to submit! Chen Xinians expression darkened. Fine, you brought this on yourself! Just wait to be destroyed along with your Shelter! With that, Chen Xinian didnt bother saying anything more and ended the call. Zhang Yis face remained calm, but he knew that Chen Xinians refusal to negotiate meant that the threat of missiles was likely real. Well, let it be. Zhang Yi lounged back on the sofa, feeling rather indifferent. If the Shelter was lost, so be it. As long as he stayed alive, that was what mattered. He had people, resources, and the world was vastthere were plenty of places to go. Zhang Yis strength was in his ability to let go. As long as he could survive, many things in life could be compromised. However, just as he was preparing to give up on the Shelter, he received a message from Liang Yue. Ive done what you asked. Now I hope youll keep your promise and help us escape from here. Zhang Yi glanced at his phone and immediately sat up straight from the sofa. She succeeded? He had only given Liang Yue a Trojan chip as a test, without holding much hope for her success. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But she had really pulled it off. As expected of a former special department bodyguard! Without hesitation, Zhang Yi headed to Lu Keran and Yang Xinxins room and pushed the door open. Xinxin, great news! Our plan worked! The two girls were surprised by Zhang Yis sudden entrance, but after hearing his words, they understood why he was so excited. Yang Xinxins eyes sparkled with excitement. As a top-tier hacker, being able to hack into the highly secure system of a Shelter was an immense achievement for her! Alright, Ill get to work right away! She moved her wheelchair over to her workstation, where Zhang Yi had already set up the computer. Her fingers danced across the keyboard like she was playing a piano. Zhang Yi didnt bother trying to make sense of the complex characters on the screen. He simply stood behind Yang Xinxin, waiting for her to finish. Not long after, her hands stopped moving. She raised her head proudly and said to Zhang Yi, Brother, Ive completely taken control of West Hill Bases network! Zhang Yi was a bit shocked. That fast? It had only taken ten minutes for Yang Xinxin to completely dominate West Hill Bases network? He felt like it was too good to be truethis success had come so suddenly. Yang Xinxin snorted. If theyd been connected to the public network instead of using a closed system, I wouldve hacked them even faster. All I needed was the key to open the door. Technically speaking, those technicians cant compare to me. After all, she was the kind of hacker capable of leaving her mark on Grey Palaces official website! Zhang Yi raised his eyebrows and smiled. True. People working in the government arent always the best at what they do. Top-tier computer experts are more often found in private companies, where the pay and career prospects are better than in government jobs. And without strong connections, it didnt matter how skilled a technician wastheyd have little room to advance. So most government agencies outsourced their software projects. Naturally, the tech staff at West Hill Base couldnt match up to a world-class hacker like Yang Xinxin. Zhang Yi leaned on her wheelchair, peering at the computer screen. Will they detect our intrusion? And can we see everything on their network? Instinctively, Zhang Yis head moved closer to Yang Xinxins, making her blush. She lowered her head and said softly, I have the highest level of control over West Hill Bases network now. Its like were watching them from a gods-eye view. ????????? We can see everything they do, but they wont notice us. Zhang Yis smile deepened. Great! Now we can uncover all their secrets. He pointed to the screen. Quick, pull up all the missile launch data. I want to know if they were bluffing. That was the issue weighing most on Zhang Yis mind. Yang Xinxins fingers danced swiftly across the keyboard again, and soon she pulled up the information Zhang Yi wanted. According to our investigation, West Hill Base doesnt have the authority to launch missiles. Yang Xinxin said. Zhang Yi let out a small sigh of relief. But he quickly asked, Is there any chance they could request external support? Like asking a major military district to launch them? Yang Xinxin immediately began searching through West Hill Bases communications records. After sifting through layer after layer of data, she finally found something crucial. The communication was between West Hill Bases leader, Chen Xinian, and someone in Jinling, hundreds of kilometers away from Tianhai City. Old Zhu, I need a favor. Help me launch a missile strike on a target in Tianhai City. Old Chen, are you sure? I can only do this once. I know. Ive thought it through. Ill have the coordinates sent to you later. Lets set the time for tomorrow night at 12. Hahaha, no problem. --- Hearing this conversation, Zhang Yi couldnt help but take a sharp breath. Jinling was home to the Jiangnan District, one of the six major military districts in China. They wielded immense military power, far beyond what Tianhai City could muster. Zhang Yi quickly urged Yang Xinxin, Check if theyve already sent the coordinates for the Shelter! Yang Xinxin didnt say a word. Her expression was serious as her hands flew over the keyboard. Soon, a smile spread across her face. Brother, were in luck. They havent sent the coordinates yet! After the apocalypse, most communications infrastructure had been destroyed, making it impossible for regular people or organizations to use precise coordinate systems. However, critical state institutions were an exception. For example, the major military districts had access to the Nebula System, allowing them to use military satellites for precise targeting. West Hill Base didnt have this authority. This was a safeguard that higher-ups put in place to limit the power of local forces. So, for West Hill Base to get the exact coordinates of Zhang Yis Shelter, they would need to go through multiple verification processes. And since West Hill Base still operated like a government agency, their procedures were slow and inefficient. As a result, the process was still stuck with Chen Xinians secretary, Ge Rou. Zhang Yi sighed with relief. At that moment, Yang Xinxin turned to him, her face lighting up with a mischievous smile. Brother, shall we play an interesting game? Hmm? An interesting game? Zhang Yi blinked. Seeing Yang Xinxin smile like that, he knew someone was about to suffer. Dont be fooled by her paralysisher mind was sharper than ten ordinary people put together. In the Shelter, aside from Zhang Yi, everyone else had been played around by her. Squinting playfully, Yang Xinxin suggested with a warm smile, Why dont we change the missile target to West Hill Base? Let them blow themselves up. Wouldnt that be fun? Author''s Note Chapter 309: West Hill Bases Intelligence Chapter 309 : West Hill Base''s Intelligence Hearing Yang Xinxins proposal, Zhang Yis heart skipped a beat. Is it possible? If we alter the coordinates ourselves, wont they notice? Zhang Yi thought the people in the Information Department couldnt be so clueless as to not recognize their own bases coordinates. Yang Xinxin responded, What matters is not the coordinates they send, but the coordinates the recipient receives. I can block their outgoing signals, then send West Hill Bases coordinates using their own computers. Zhang Yi straightened up and exhaled deeply. Thats incredible! Returning an attack in such a waywhat could feel better than that? But, West Hill Base wont be that easy to destroy, right? Zhang Yi murmured, rubbing his chin. At this thought, he called over Lu Keran. Although Lu Keran specialized in mechanical engineering, she was also well-versed in physics. Keran, help me analyze something. Based on the structure of West Hill Base, could it withstand a high-yield missile strike? Hearing this, Lu Keran immediately came over. Yang Xinxin pulled up the structural map of the entire base. After looking at it, Lu Keran couldnt help but frown. Big Brother, honestly speaking, this shelter is extremely sturdy. Its buried more than 100 meters underground. Forget missileseven with an H-strike, as long as its not at the epicenter, it could resist. Oh, but if its a bunker-buster missile designed to penetrate underground, that might cause significant damage. But destroying it with just one strike? Thats unrealistic. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lu Keran spread her hands. This kind of defensive structure is specifically designed for wartime. It wont be easily taken down! Zhang Yi frowned, pondering a crucial issue. But for the moment, he couldnt make up his mind. He told Yang Xinxin, Xinxin, go ahead and change their coordinates as you said. No matter what, well make sure that missile meant for the shelter hits West Hill Base insteadthats a given. And also, help me gather West Hill Bases data. Ill need to review it carefully later. Yang Xinxin nodded. Okay, Brother. Zhang Yi shoved his hands in his pockets, his expression serious as he left their room. Lu Keran blinked curiously and asked Yang Xinxin, Whats Big Brother thinking? Hasnt the problem already been solved? Yang Xinxin furrowed her brow, thinking for a moment before slowly shaking her head. I cant guess. Huh? Youre so smart, and you still cant figure it out? Lu Keran blinked. As Yang Xinxin searched through West Hill Bases information, which had now become an open treasure trove for her, she said, I think Brother is considering attacking West Hill Base. But given how cautious he is, would he really take that kind of risk? Lu Keran thought about Zhang Yis usual steady demeanor and nodded. Yeah, youre right. Big Brother tends to prioritize protecting himself over taking risks. These two young women were incredibly intelligent. But high IQ alone doesnt guarantee understanding everythinganalyzing human nature requires emotional intelligence too. Zhang Yi pushed open the door and stepped out of the safe house. What was on his mind was whether to take this opportunity to completely destroy West Hill Base! It was a wildly audacious plan, seemingly out of character for Zhang Yi. But it was something Zhang Yi had seriously considered and concluded was both possible and necessary. Zhang Yi didnt want to start conflicts with anyone unless absolutely necessary. He just wanted to live peacefully with a few beautiful, lovely women in the shelter. However, the enmity between him and West Hill Base had reached a point of no return. Even if he narrowly avoided West Hill Bases missile this time, who could guarantee there wouldnt be a next time? Chen Xinian, once a high-ranking official in Tianhai City, had extensive connections across the country. If he could mobilize a missile from Jiangnan District to attack the shelter this time, what could he do next? Theres an old saying: you can be a thief for a thousand days, but you cant guard against one for a thousand days. Zhang Yi either had to abandon the shelter and leave this trouble behind, or he had to destroy West Hill Base once and for all to secure lasting peace. But both options carried enormous risks. The first option was nearly impossible. A shelter like Cloud Manor was one of a kind across the entire country. In the past few decades, there hadnt been a major push in China to build high-end shelters on a large scale. A place like Cloud Manor 101, with its perfect defense system and comfortable living conditions, was unheard of. Zhang Yi had never heard of a second one. If there were another, it would have long been occupied by some other major power. So Zhang Yi wasnt willing to give up his shelter. But the second option meant confronting West Hill Base head-on. And offense wasnt Zhang Yis strong suit. Zhang Yi arrived at a room on the 20th floor. This was where he had practiced his Superhuman abilities in the past. The ground still bore the remnants of charred wood. He pulled up a chair, sat by the window, and watched the falling snow as he contemplated whether to go through with his plan. There was only one chance. That would be during the missile strike. Even if he couldnt destroy West Hill Base outright, it would cause massive panic. And he had the weapons to annihilate West Hill Base500 kilograms of TNT he had previously collected, plus several hundred kilograms more made by Lu Keran, nearly a ton in total! If he could take advantage of the chaos and get the explosives into the base, the results would be spectacular. Maybe I cant destroy West Hill Base, but if I can kill the people inside, wouldnt that be just as good? Zhang Yi rested his chin in his hand, gazing at the swirling snow as he muttered to himself. The ideal scenario always looks wonderful, but reality is often bitterly cold. Zhang Yi wasnt certain he could pull it off. He wasnt naturally inclined to take risks. But being attacked and humiliated multiple times without fighting back didnt suit his style either. I dont go looking for trouble, but Im not afraid of it either! After much thought, Zhang Yi finally made up his mindhe would go back and study the plan further. However, time wasnt on his side. When the missile struck, West Hill Base would be thrown into temporary chaosthat would be the best moment to attack. But if he missed that chance and they regained their footing, it would be much harder to launch an assault later. Zhang Yi returned to the safe house. In the living room, Zhou Keer, Yang Siyah, and Zhou Haimei were sitting around, chatting and munching on sunflower seeds. Zhou Haimeis complexion was now rosy, and she looked years younger than before. Clearly, she had been well taken care of by Uncle You recently. When they heard the door open, Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah glanced at Zhang Yi with a hint of resentment in their eyes. Lately, Zhang Yi had been so busy dealing with West Hill Bases attacks that he hadnt spent much time with them. Zhang Yi coughed awkwardly, ignoring their looks, and walked into Yang Xinxin and Lu Kerans room. Xinxin, Zhang Yi said, walking behind Yang Xinxin and resting his hands on her wheelchair. I need to see West Hill Bases current military configuration. I need details on their troops and weapons. And most importantly, I need intelligence on their Superhumans. Hearing this, Yang Xinxins eyes widened in surprise. Brother, are you planning to attack West Hill Base? Zhang Yi glanced at her and said calmly, If I have a good enough chance of success, why not try? We need to change roles. We cant keep being the huntedwe need to become the hunters. Zhang Yi smiled. Of course, I need to first assess their strength. If it turns out the gap between us is too wide, you can just treat this as a joke. Yang Xinxin suddenly giggled, covering her mouth. Now thats the Zhang Yi I know! But honestly, youve given me a bit of a shock. Ive already compiled the data. You can check it anytime. Want to take a look now? Zhang Yi nodded. Yes, lets see it now! Yang Xinxin moved aside, and Zhang Yi pulled up a chair to sit next to her. Soon, Yang Xinxin brought up a chart displaying West Hill Bases current military and weaponry configuration. At present, West Hill Base had 512 regular soldiers. These soldiers were on standard military duty, with service lengths ranging from 3 to 10 years. They had decent combat training, were skilled in various weapons, and possessed some hand-to-hand combat skills. These soldiers were mainly effective against regular humans, but posed little threat to powerful combat-oriented Superhumans. The core fighting force, the ACE Special Forces Teamcommonly known as Old Ahad 64 members left. This list already excluded the 50-plus members Zhang Yi had eliminated. The Special Forces members were the real elite. They were either special forces soldiers or experts from other specialized military units, each possessing top-tier skills in their respective fields. Beyond that, the true peak of combat power consisted of the Superhuman Captains and a few successfully mutated cyborgs. Zhang Yi quickly looked at the distinctions between these two groups According to the data, West Hill Base still had six Superhumans, not counting Liang Yue. Some of these Superhumans had awakened their abilities naturally. Others had their abilities artificially stimulated later. As for those who failed to awaken Superhuman abilities, they gained extraordinary strength through another methodmutated cell implants. The data showed that these warriors had cells implanted from Ling Feng, the leader of the Special Forces. A small number of warriors had successfully integrated these cells and survived, resulting in their abilities having a high degree of similarity to Ling Fengs. However, since their mutations were induced by implanted cells, their growth potential was virtually zero, and their bodies would suffer irreversible damage. It was similar to an organ transplantthough anti-rejection drugs could ease the symptoms, the negative effects couldnt be entirely eliminated. Cyborg soldiers had significantly shorter lifespans than both normal humans and Superhumans. Currently, West Hill Base had 13 cyborgs. While their combat power was inferior to that of battle-oriented Superhumans, it far exceeded that of elite regular soldiers. This group would be somewhat troublesome, but not a major problem. After reviewing their data, Zhang Yi turned to the section that concerned him mostthe data on West Hill Bases Superhuman Captains. --- Ling Feng: Enhancement Type Ability Code Name: Superman Capable of significantly enhancing all physical functions, possessing combat abilities dozens of times stronger than a normal human. - Spee - Strengt - Superpower: None - Overall Abilit - Rating: S After reading Ling Fengs data, Zhang Yi took a deep breath. No wonder he was the leader of West Hill Bases Special Forces Teamhis strength was formidable. Although they had never fought directly, Zhang Yi had sensed Ling Fengs terrifying presence when he saw him from a distance. This was the guy who could leave fist imprints on the shelters walls with his bare hands. Even those who had only received partial implants of his cells were able to dodge sniper bullets. So what about the man himself? If Im going to attack West Hill Base, this is the person I need to watch out for the most, Zhang Yi murmured to himself. Fortunately, the data didnt indicate that Ling Feng had any long-range attack abilities. As long as Zhang Yi could keep his distance, it shouldnt be too much of a problem. Even with a powerful body, the icy environment would still slow him down. That was a weakness. Zhang Yi continued reviewing the other Superhumans abilities. --- Fang Zun: Emission Type Ability Code Name: Flame Man Able to release high-temperature flames from his body. - Speed: - Strength: - Superpower: - Overall Ability: - Rating: B Zhang Yi couldnt help but chuckle at this one. In an Ice Age, awakening a flame ability was pretty unfortunate. His power could probably only be useful in specific environments. He continued reading. --- Zheng Xuerong: Control Type Ability Code Name: Ice Seal Able to create solid ice blocks for combat. - Speed: - Strength: - Superpow - Overall Ability: - Rating: A --- Xu Mingjie: Beast Type Ability Code Name: Poison Beast Can transform into a giant monster, with greatly enhanced strength and highly corrosive bodily fluids. - Speed: - Streng - Superpower: - Overall Ability: - Rating: A- --- Shi Dayong: Beast Type Ability Code Name: Frost Giant Ape Can transform into a giant frost ape, with greatly enhanced physical strength and cold resistance. - Speed: - Streng - Superpower: None - Overall Abili - Rating: A --- Ye Ronghua: Mental Type Ability Code Name: Witch (Deceptive code name) True Ability: Deep Hypnosis. Can induce hypnosis through brainwaves, simulating death, and even causing brain death. Eye contact enhances the abilitys effects. - Speed: - Strength: - Superpower - Overall Ability - Rating: A- --- This was Zhang Yis first time encountering the classification system for Superhuman abilities. According to the data from West Hill Base, higher-ups had already started categorizing Superhumans into six types based on their abilities: 1. Enhancement Type: Superpowers that enhance the bodys functions while maintaining a human form. 2. Beast Type: Superhumans who mutate to gain abilities from animals, insects, or other creatures, resulting in physical transformation. 3. Control Type: Those who develop telekinesis or the ability to control objects. 4. Emission Type: Similar to Control Types, but focused on releasing magical attacks from the body. 5.Mental Type: Superhumans who disrupt others brains using brainwaves. 6. Special Type: Any Superhuman whose ability doesnt fit into the first five categories. It was clear that this classification system was still relatively broad, based only on basic manifestations of Superhuman powers. Perhaps in the future, as more Superhuman data was collected, there would be more detailed classifications. Zhang Yi thought for a moment. His space-related power didnt fit into any of the first five categories, so he would likely be considered a Special Type Superhuman. Author''s Note Chapter 310: Deciding to Counterattack! Chapter 310 : Deciding to Counterattack! After reviewing the intelligence on the Superhumans at West Hill Base, Zhang Yi crossed his arms and fell deep into thought. On his side, the combat power included himself, Fatty Xu, Uncle You, and Hua Hua. The enemy had six Superhumans, and judging by the intelligence, each one possessed considerable strength. Even the seemingly weakest of them, Fang Zun the "Flame Man," would be terrifying in the confined spaces of West Hill Base. Still, it wasnt completely hopeless. If Zhang Yi could convince Liang Yue to join them, then they would have a chance. After all, he had personally witnessed the strength of that martial arts grandmaster. No matter what, there are two essential conditions for carrying out this plan. The first is ensuring that the missile Chen Xinian requested can hit West Hill Base accurately, throwing the base into chaos or even temporarily disabling it. The second is securing Liang Yues help, so we wont be at a numbers disadvantage. Besides these two requirements, I need a foolproof plan to ensure that even if the mission fails, I wont diethats the most critical part! Zhang Yi went over the data several times, memorizing the abilities of each Superhuman in case they encountered each other one day, so he would know how to handle them. Aside from the enemy forces, West Hill Bases weaponry was also formidable. However, that wasnt much of a concern. If Zhang Yi attacked during the chaos, the Special Forces wouldnt be able to use large-scale weapons in the underground spaces. His Dimensional Gate ability could counter regular soldiers weapons effectively. So, the key is how to sneak in, plant the explosives safely, and get out alive? Zhang Yi sat in the chair, frowning, his mind conflicted. Lu Keran noticed Zhang Yis worried expression and playfully suggested, Big Brother, if you cant make up your mind, why dont you discuss it with everyone? Yang Xinxin scoffed, If were discussing it, we should talk among ourselves. Whats the point of talking to them? Sometimes, high intelligence and low emotional intelligence can go hand in hand. Lu Keran smiled. Theres an old saying: Three ordinary folks together can outwit a strategist. Who knows? They might give you some inspiration! Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then smiled. Youre right. In fact, I was already planning to do just that. Although Zhang Yi had already made up his mind about attacking West Hill Base, he wanted to make sure his plan was as safe as possible to increase his chances of success. To carry out the plan, he needed the support of Fatty Xu and Uncle You. While he believed they would back him, it was best to ask them directly. Lets go. Were going to have a meeting! Zhang Yi stepped out of the room and gathered everyone in the safe house into the living room. In front of everyone, he explained his plan. We have a rare opportunity coming up to take down West Hill Base. I think we all understand that our relationship with West Hill Base is beyond reconciliation. Only one of us can remain in this area. Im not someone who seeks conflict, but I wont let others push me around either. This time, Im determined to fight them! But I cant do it alone, so I need your help. What do you all think? Hearing Zhang Yis declaration of war against West Hill Base, everyone in the room had different reactions. Some were excited, some were deep in thought, and some were worried... Zhang Yi observed everyones expressions carefully. However, only the opinions of Fatty Xu and Uncle You mattered to himthey were the key to his combat strategy. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Uncle You, youre the oldest here. Why dont you share your thoughts first? Uncle You nodded at Zhang Yis invitation. Sitting on the sofa, hands clasped together, he spoke seriously: West Hill Base suffered heavy losses at Cloud Manor. Theres no chance of reconciliation now. Instead of waiting to be killed, we should take the initiative! Weve found a good opportunity to use their strength against them, and we should seize it! Uncle You looked up at Zhang Yi, his eyes firm. Zhang Yi, I owe you so much. If you want to attack West Hill Base, Ill be with you all the way! Zhang Yi and Uncle You exchanged smiles. Zhang Yi trusted Uncle You deeply, knowing he would always have his back. After all, Uncle You was a man of honor, always repaying his debts. Zhang Yi turned to Fatty Xu. What about you, Fatty? Unlike Uncle You, Fatty Xu hesitated. He was always cautious and timid, thinking over every action. Hearing they were going to war with West Hill Base made him anxious. Can we really win? Theyve got a lot of Superhumans, an army, and way more weapons than we do. Zhang Yi replied calmly, You dont need to worry about that. In terms of Superhumans, were evenly matched. As for the regular soldiers, Ill handle them. Youve seen what I can do, right? Zhang Yi looked down at Fatty Xu on the sofa, resisting the urge to punch him. Zhang Yi considered himself cautious, but he hadnt expected Fatty Xu to be even more so. Also, dont forget how many people from Xu Family Town died because of them. Dont you want to avenge them? Fatty Xu scratched his head. Well... I didnt really know most of the people from the village, so its not that big of a deal. Zhang Yis face twitched, and he fought the urge to tug on Fatty Xus chubby cheeks. Before Zhang Yi could say anything more, Fatty Xu looked up and said, But Boss, if youre going to fight, Ill fight with you! Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, surprised. Oh? You changed your mind that fast? Fatty Xu sighed. Ive got food, shelter, and everything I need following you. If something happens to you, whats the point of me living alone in this apocalypse? Sometimes, youve just got to take a gamble! For the first time, Fatty Xus eyes were clear and determined as he raised his fist. He might be cowardly, but he wasnt stupid. He knew that if he wanted to stay with Zhang Yi, he had to pull his weight. Why would Zhang Yi keep him around otherwise? Zhang Yi smiled and nodded. Alright then, its decided! Were going to take down West Hill Base! Uncle You and Fatty Xu both nodded. Lets do it! The other women didnt voice their opinions throughout the discussion. Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, being young, naturally supported Zhang Yis plan for revenge against West Hill Base. As for Zhou Haimei, Zhou Keer, and Yang Siyah, they were slightly worried, but since Zhang Yi, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu had already made up their minds, they chose to support them. Fatty Xu nervously reminded Zhang Yi, Boss, youve got to make sure this plan is solid! Dont worry, I have no intention of dying any time soon. Zhang Yi smirked. Next, were going to have a strategy meeting. Ill introduce you to the enemies well be facing and go over my plan. Uncle You said, I can help with this. Ive had professional military training from my time in the army. Great, lets do that! Zhang Yi then turned to Yang Xinxin and said, Xinxin, give Uncle You and Fatty Xu an overview of West Hill Base. Let them see what I just looked at, so they know what were up against. They needed to understand the layout of West Hill Base and the abilities of their enemies. Yang Xinxin nodded. Got it. You two, come with me. She led them off to review West Hill Bases intelligence. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi moved aside and pulled out his phone to contact Liang Yue. To attack West Hill Base, they needed timing, geography, and unity. Timing referred to the missile strike on West Hill Base, which would throw the base into chaos. Geography was the thorough understanding of the bases layout, allowing them to plant explosives and destroy vital structures while killing everyone inside. And unity depended on Liang Yue working with them, creating internal chaos while they attacked from the outside. Of course, Liang Yue herself was also a powerful fighter. Whether or not Liang Yue would cooperate was no mystery. Right now, she needed Zhang Yis help, so there was no reason for her to refuse. Zhang Yi pulled out his phone and sent Liang Yue a message. Thank you for helping us deal with a problem. I will fulfill my promise to help you escape. Be in a safe place by midnight tomorrow. Thats when your chance to escape will come. Well be outside to assist. Make sure youre ready to leave quickly. After a long wait, Zhang Yi finally received Liang Yues reply. She had to be cautious with communication, so she couldnt use the special phone card too freely. Youre coming to help us? Thats great! Ill be there on time. But whats your plan? Tell me so we can coordinate. Zhang Yi could feel her excitement. He replied, Weve already taken control of West Hill Bases network, so dont worry about communication security. By midnight tomorrow, something will happen at West Hill Base. Youll know what to do when the time comes. Well notify you of anything specific you need to do. Zhang Yi didnt share the full details of the plan with Liang Yue. She was indecisive, and if she knew Zhang Yi intended to blow up West Hill Base, she might not agree. After all, that would mean killing thousands of people inside the base. So, for safetys sake, Zhang Yi kept the plan to himself. Liang Yue replied, Alright. Well find a safe place to hide before midnight and wait for you. Good. Its settled then. Zhang Yi put his phone away and headed to Yang Xinxins room to join Fatty Xu and Uncle You in planning the attack. Author''s Note Chapter 311: The Bait Chapter 311: The Bait There were 31 hours left until the missile strike scheduled for tomorrow night at 12. Yang Xinxin had already altered the coordinates sent from West Hill Base, replacing the Shelters coordinates with those of West Hill Base. If all went according to plan, the missile would land on West Hill Base instead. To destroy a heavily fortified shelter, the Jiangnan District was using a high-yield bunker buster. According to Lu Kerans calculations, it was impossible for the missile to completely destroy West Hill Base, which was buried hundreds of meters underground. However, it would cause severe tremors, equivalent to an 8.0 magnitude earthquake. Zhang Yi said to Yang Xinxin, When the time comes, Xinxin, youll take control of West Hill Bases network and cut off their power! West Hill Base relies heavily on electricity. Once we cut the power, the entire base will be temporarily paralyzed, causing widespread panic. At this point, Yang Xinxin reminded Zhang Yi, Although I can control the power shutdown through the network, there are manual systems inside West Hill Base that can restore power. Zhang Yi chuckled. Thats fine. We only need to create temporary chaos. By then, Liang Yue will lead her students out of the Fourth Life Pod. As Zhang Yi spoke, a sly grin appeared in his eyes. With Liang Yue leading the way, the rest of the people in the Fourth Life Pod will follow. Those who have been oppressed for so long will undoubtedly seize the opportunity to overthrow West Hill Bases control. The thousands of people inside will create even more chaos. And thats when we make our move! On their own, Zhang Yis group would have a hard time destroying a massive base like West Hill Base. However, the internal conflicts within the base were already severe. All Zhang Yi needed was to light the fuse, and the base would implode on its own. There was another key point. The residents of the Fourth Life Pod were not ordinary civilians. In fact, the people who had sought refuge in West Hill Base during the early days of the apocalypse were influential figures from Tianhai City. These people were ambitious and ruthless; there was no way they would be content generating power by pedaling bicycles. Zhang Yi was certain that they would rise up at the first opportunity. Lu Keran crossed her arms, concerned. But in that case, wont Teacher Liang and the others be in great danger? Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The ones who start the rebellion are usually the first to face the soldiers'' crackdown. Zhang Yi dismissed her concern. Freedom comes with sacrifices. They should be well aware of that. And with Liang Yue protecting them, not too many should die. In truth, Zhang Yi didnt care at all about the students'' lives. As long as Liang Yue could help him destabilize West Hill Base, he didnt care how many others perished. So, whats the plan after we sneak in amidst the chaos? Fatty Xu scratched his head, a bit confused about the missions goal. Weve said we want to destroy West Hill Base, but how do we ensure its completely destroyed? Do we kill their leader, Chen Xinian? But killing one leader seems pointless; another would just take his place. Are we going to kill everyone in West Hill Base? Fatty Xu laughed as if he had made a joke, but Zhang Yis serious expression made him stop abruptly. Boss, youre not really planning to kill them all, are you? Fatty Xu wasnt the only one surprised. The others also stared at Zhang Yi, thinking the plan sounded insane and impossible. Zhang Yi didnt hold back and revealed his full plan. At the very least, we need to eliminate 80% of their leadership. Ideally, well kill everyone. This isnt as impossible as it sounds. I have plenty of explosivessome I confiscated when they tried to destroy our Shelter, and some are my own stockpile. ???? If we detonate such a large amount of explosives in an underground space, do you know what will happen? No one in the group had expertise in this area, so they all turned to Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin for an explanation. After a moment of thought, Lu Keran explained, Big Brother has about 1,000 kilograms of explosives. If theyre detonated, theyll cause massive destruction, damaging part of West Hill Base and killing nearby people. But thats not the worst of it. First, the explosion would destroy West Hill Bases vital systemselectricity, water circulation, air ventilation, and even escape routes. If any of these systems are compromised, it would be impossible to survive underground. And since explosions consume a lot of oxygen, its likely that people far from the blast zone will suffocate due to lack of air. Lu Kerans explanation made everyone realize just how devastating Zhang Yis plan truly was. Even if one part of the plan failed to kill, there were several other deadly outcomes waiting for West Hill Bases residents. Fatty Xu chimed in, Boss, this plan is great. But how do we sneak into West Hill Base? Walking in openly would get us lost or easily recognized. Zhang Yi smiled. Ive considered that. First, you all need to memorize the layout of West Hill Base. Theres a 3D model on the computerstudy it carefully. This is life or death; no slacking off. As for how we get inside with the explosives, we just need a disguise. With that, Zhang Yi reached into his dimensional space and pulled out two white combat uniforms. Previously, he had absorbed a few Special Forces Team members into his space. These uniforms had been stripped from those soldiers. Well wear these uniforms. When the internal chaos breaks out, we can easily slip inside. Zhang Yi pointed at the computer screen. Well plant the explosives in the Second Life Pod. All of West Hill Bases critical systems are located there. We dont need to be picky; just find a hidden spot. With 1,000 kilograms of explosives, the effect will be the same wherever we place them. As for encountering Superhumans or getting into direct confrontations, Zhang Yi wasnt worried at all. His Dimensional Gate was most powerful in confined spaces. It would create an impenetrable barrier, and unless the enemy had overwhelming strengthsomething not yet seen in any humanit couldnt be breached. Zhang Yis plan was meticulous. Even Fatty Xu, who was normally a coward, felt relieved and thought it was highly feasible. Afterward, Zhang Yi went over the plan again and handed out weapons to everyone. Although conventional firearms had little effect on Superhumans, they might still be useful. Especially for Fatty Xu, who would have to rely on guns inside the base, where his powers wouldnt be as effective. In one room, everyone checked their guns and equipment, discussing how they would cooperate and handle unexpected situations. Fatty Xu was visibly nervous, sweat beading on his forehead. Uncle You, however, remained calm and composed. Having served in the military for many years and fought alongside Zhang Yi through multiple life-and-death battles in Yuelu Residential Area, he wasnt as anxious. Still, there was a glimmer of excitement in his eyes, showing that he wasnt completely at ease either. As for Zhang Yi? He felt the same as Uncle You. Facing such a formidable opponent for the first time, he couldnt deny feeling some nerves. But once he made a decision, he wouldnt hesitate. He had also planned an escape route. If anything went wrong, he would lead his team out immediately. Hua Hua, being a beast, could move far faster than a Superhuman. It could transform into a vehicle and help Zhang Yi escape the underground facility. And once outside, Zhang Yis snowmobile could easily outrun any pursuers. After all, West Hill Base only had one snowmobile and a few sleds, which were hardly a threat. Remember, completing the mission is secondary. Staying alive is the top priority! Zhang Yi seriously reminded Uncle You and Fatty Xu. Uncle You smiled and nodded. Fatty Xu nodded vigorously. --- At West Hill Base. After her conversation with Zhang Yi, Liang Yue immediately removed her SIM card and turned off her phone. To avoid detection, she only powered on her phone occasionally to check for messages from Zhang Yi. Knowing that Zhang Yi would come to rescue her tomorrow night, Liang Yue couldnt help but feel excited. Finally, she would be able to take her students and escape from this nightmare! That night, Liang Yue went to the Fourth Life Pod and found her students. She didnt tell them about the escape plan for the next day. After everything that had happened, she had learned to be cautious. Such a critical operation had to be kept secret. If word got out, it could cost everyone their lives. She only told them not to sleep at midnight tomorrow, as she had something important to share with them then. Everyone agreed without question, nodding in agreement. Lately, more and more people had been disappearing. In fact, the frequency of these disappearances had increased recently, making everyone more afraid. Liang Yue had become their only pillar of support, so they naturally followed her instructions. After notifying the students in the Fourth Life Pod, Liang Yue returned to the Second Life Pod to find Ye Xiaotian, along with Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan, both of whom had become Chen Xinians mistresses. She wanted to save as many of her students as possibleanyone still alive. No one will be left behind, she thought. Come to the Fourth Life Pod at midnight tomorrow. I have something important to tell you, Liang Yue said to the three of them . Ye Xiaotian immediately agreed. Yes, Teacher Liang! But Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with doubt. Teacher Liang, are you planning to escape? Shen Moling asked coldly, leaning against the wall. In West Hill Base, escaping is considered treason. Thats a death sentence, you know. Meng Zixuan, sitting at her vanity table, carefully applied lipstick. Teacher Liang wouldnt be that foolish, right? Shes now the captain of the Special Forces Team. She has status, wealth, and security. Theres no need for her to do something so reckless. Seeing what her students had become pained Liang Yues heart. In just a few months, their youthful innocence had vanished, replaced by the demeanor of jaded women. Though they were still under twenty, their clothes and makeup were overly mature, as if they were desperately trying to showcase their femininity. Liang Yue took a deep breath and said to them, West Hill Base is not the paradise you think it is. Theres a lot of filth here that you dont know about. Take my advicethis place isnt right for you. But after hearing this, Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan burst out laughing. Haha! Did you hear that? Teacher Liang thinks we dont know whats going on! How ridiculous. Teacher Liang, do you still think were little kids? They laughed until their stomachs hurt. Liang Yue was dumbfounded. You Shen Moling suddenly looked up, her cold eyes locking onto Liang Yues. Dont be naive, Teacher Liang. We know exactly whats going on here. Stepping closer, she stared into Liang Yues eyes. So what? This place is hell, but do you think the outside world is any better? At least here, we can live comfortably. Why should we care about anyone elses life or death? Meng Zixuan finished applying her lipstick and admired herself in the mirror before turning to Liang Yue. Teacher Liang, you need to stop clinging to those childish ideals. Were grateful you helped us survive, but the world is cruel. Being overly kind will only lead to disaster. Liang Yue felt like she didnt recognize her own students anymore. Just a few months ago, they had been innocent, sweet girls, acting like princesses around her. How could she describe them now? Although Liang Yue didnt want to use such harsh words, the term prostitutes came to mind. She had lost hope in them. With a sigh, Liang Yue said, I only wanted everyone to gather for one last reunion. She turned and left the room. Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan exchanged confused glances. Do you believe her? I dont. Do you? Neither do I. A sinister glint flashed in Shen Molings eyes. It seems she really is planning to betray the organization. Im going to report this to the Leader! Author''s Note Chapter 312: Position Chapter 312 : Position Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan were thrilled, sensing they had captured some critical information. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If Liang Yue was truly planning to defect from the organization, they could seize this chance to win Chen Xinian''s favor. After all, since Chen Xinian had last shown them attention, it had been half a month since he''d come near them again. The West Hill Base didnt lack pretty girls. Most people here were either wealthy or influential, and these girls were pampered daughters from rich families, with the limits of beauty right there for all to see. Though Shen and Meng were quite attractive, they werent overwhelmingly stunning. Besides, Chen Xinian''s age was catching up with him, and his needs werent as pressing as before. Especially after his recent conflict with Zhang Yi, his interest had dwindled noticeably. This left Shen Moling and Meng Zixuan uneasy, fearing that one day they might be thrown back into the Fourth Life Pod. Once they had tasted the luxury of the Second Life Pod, going back was unimaginable. So, as soon as Liang Yue left the room, the two rushed out, intending to report her. But as they opened the door, they saw Liang Yue standing there, looking at them with disappointment. You two really let me down. Liang Yue raised her hand and, with lightning speed, struck each of their necks twice. Their vision went black, and they collapsed. Liang Yue had lost all hope in them. To ensure the safety of the other students, she firmly tied the two girls up and stuffed them into the closet. Just as she was about to leave, she noticed a bottle of sleeping pills on the table and fed each of them two tablets. Living together in the Second Life Pod, Liang Yue knew that Meng Zixuan and Shen Moling rarely interacted with others. After all, the other residents were all elite talents and clearly looked down on the two companions. No one would come looking for them. As long as they slept until tomorrow night, she and the other students would be safe. After ensuring that the closet was ventilated, Liang Yue took their keys, locked the door from the outside, and stepped out. Just as she breathed a sigh of relief, preparing to rest a bit, she heard a familiar voice. Miss Liang, what are you doing here so late? Liang Yue''s body stiffened, a flicker of tension rising within her. The voice belonged to Chen Xinians personal secretary, Ge Rou. Forcing herself to remain calm, she turned and smiled at her. Ge Rou, dressed in a black suit with wide, wine-red glasses, wore her usual professional smile. I was just heading back. Secretary Ge, where are you headed? Ge Rous smile deepened. She walked towards Liang Yue, high heels clicking with each step, her eyes narrowing slightly. Liang Yue felt a surge of unease. Miss Liang, youve been visiting the Fourth Life Pod often these past few days, havent you? Ge Rous words made Liang Yues nerves tighten. Could it be... her plan had been discovered? Or was there a traitor among the students who leaked the information? Her mind raced, but outwardly she stayed composed. I was just checking on the students. Thinking back over her plan, Liang Yue was sure she had made no mistakes. She had only told the students to gather at midnight tomorrow, without specifying any details. Even if someone had leaked the information, she could easily come up with an excuse. She frowned and coldly asked Ge Rou, Secretary Ge, theres something I wanted to ask you too! Why have so many of my students mysteriously disappeared since we arrived here over a month ago? Ge Rou hadnt expected Liang Yue to question her. She frowned briefly before responding, I thought I told you, the West Hill Base has various divisions. Everyone has to follow orders and obey commands. ?? The power station isnt the only department. Theyve been reassigned to other areas as needed. Relieved, Liang Yue realized Ge Rou had only heard about her visits to the Fourth Life Pod. Her plan was still intact. She let out a cold laugh. Is that really the case? Even so, half of my students disappearing is a bit much! She stared fiercely at Ge Rou and demanded, Secretary Ge, have you been using my students for human experiments? A flash of surprise appeared in Ge Rous eyes, but she quickly laughed it off. So, youre aware of that matter. Thats fine. Since its within the base and youre the Special Forces Team captain, its something you would have found out eventually. Saves me the trouble of explaining. Ge Rou admitted openly. Yes, some of your students were indeed sent for human experiments. The goal was to unlock their potential and turn them into Superhumans. She spread her hands. But you know how rare Superhumans are, and the success rate of these experiments is extremely low. In reality, the success rate for these experiments at West Hill Base was dismal, with few successful cases. Even the current Superhuman captains had achieved their abilities through other special means. Ge Rou made no effort to hide the experiments from Liang Yue. As a highly regarded Superhuman at West Hill Base, she would inevitably find out about it. In fact, in the First to Third Life Pods, these experiments werent even a secret. The experiments required numerous subjects, making it impossible to completely hide. Liang Yue showed the appropriate anger. Youre using my students for experiments? Ge Rou simply smiled, patting her on the shoulder. Miss Liang, calm down. I doubt youre na?ve enough to believe the base would support so many people for nothing. Everything in life comes with a price. If the base hadnt taken you in, you and your students would likely be dead by now. So, sacrificing for the base is your duty. Liang Yue found herself momentarily speechless. True, without the West Hill Base, they might all have perished long ago. Even if theyd managed to hide out in Tianqing Academy, they would have eventually run out of resources. But this didnt mean she could accept Ge Rous reasoning. They could find other ways to survive, not by sacrificing their lives! Liang Yue retorted coldly. Ge Rou shook her head, sighing at Liang Yue as if teaching an ignorant child. Youre too idealistic. Miss Liang, youre now one of the elite here at West Hill Base. The quality of life you enjoy now comes from the sacrifices of those beneath you. Youre benefiting from your students sacrifices, so dont put on a show of righteousness here. Sometimes, you have to live selfishly. Do you not find your current life satisfactory? Ge Rous eyes glinted as she tried to persuade Liang Yue to accept the survival rules of the base. Liang Yue was silent for a moment, lowering her head with a sigh. I understand. Ge Rous smile widened. Now thats the spirit! Youll have to realize this sooner or later in a world like this. Goodnight! With that, she sauntered away from Liang Yue. Author''s Note Chapter 313: Final Battle at West Hill Chapter 313 : Final Battle at West Hill After Ge Rou left, Liang Yue quietly breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness thank goodness I wasnt exposed!" If she had been, everything would have been for nothing. Liang Yue didn''t agree with Ge Rous philosophy. She believed that even in the apocalypse, society shouldn''t devolve into social Darwinism. If it did, humanity would be doomed. At the very least, she could never abandon her students. "It looks like she already suspects me, but without evidence, she wont take any action for now." "No matter. By tomorrow, Ill be out of this hellhole!" With a determined glint in her eyes, Liang Yue tried to act as though nothing had happened and returned to her room. This was destined to be an extraordinary day. Though everything appeared calm on the surface, without any visible ripples, Zhang Yi and the others understood that something critical, something that would determine their future, was about to happen. That night, Zhang Yi and his companions took melatonin to get a good nights sleep and set alarms to wake up on time. The night passed uneventfully. The next morning arrived quickly. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi and his group slept in until around ten due to their late-night strategy session the evening before. When they got up, Zhou Haimei, Yang Mi, and Zhou Keer had already prepared a feast for lunch. While they ate, Zhang Yi and the others went over their battle plan once more, ensuring that each phase would go off without a hitch. Zhang Yi placed a fish dish by his plate, and Hua Hua jumped onto the table, joining in on the meal. Everyone was used to Zhang Yi doting on Hua Hua. "According to the plan, the missile strike is set for midnight tonight," Zhang Yi said. "Well get into position early, lying in wait nearby. Once the missile strike hits, Liang Yue and her team will try to escape in the chaos." He tapped the table forcefully. "We wait for Liang Yue and her team to make their move. If they dont, that means somethings wrong on their end. If that happens, well abandon the plan without hesitation!" "Even though were well-versed in the layout of West Hill Base, once inside, we could still get lost. We need someone to guide us." Uncle You and Fatty Xu nodded emphatically, fully endorsing Zhang Yis approach. "Then, as planned, well blend into the crowd, plant the explosives, and escape." "If anything unexpected comes up, dont hesitate. Just run!" "Remember, safety first. Theres no need to take unnecessary risks." Zhang Yi was most concerned about preserving his own life. Fatty Xu nodded vigorously, showing his complete agreement. Uncle You said seriously, "So, for this mission to succeed, we have to ensure we rescue Liang Yue and her students, right?" Zhang Yi scoffed. "Honestly?" Liang Yues students didnt matter much to him. But without Liang Yue, the rest of the plan would be hard to execute. "Think of it that way if you like, but Liang Yues the priority, not her students." The group went over the plan repeatedly, analyzing every possible scenario to ensure they stayed safe at all times. "Finally, theres one more crucial point!" Zhang Yi looked earnestly at Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua. Hua Hua, sensing his gaze, lifted her head from her fish and looked back at Zhang Yi. "Well be fighting amidst the confusion in their base, so they wont be able to use their heavy weaponry. As for the regular soldiers with firearms, I can handle them." "But the biggest issue is their six Superhumans." He looked at them with anticipation. "Im planning to use a strategy like Tian Jis Horse Racing to counter them." "Of course, if we can outrun them, we should. If not, well engage as a last resort." The wait was agonizing. That day felt endlessly longer than usual. Zhang Yi, Uncle You, and the others checked their equipment repeatedly. Yang Xinxin stayed in front of her computer, monitoring West Hill Bases network to make sure there were no surprises. As darkness fell, Zhang Yi glanced at his watchit was 8:00 p.m. Driving in the dark required caution to avoid drawing attention. From here, it would take roughly three hours to cover the 50 kilometers to West Hill Base. "Its time. Lets move out!" Zhang Yi abruptly stood up from the sofa. A look of resolve flashed in Uncle You and Fatty Xus eyes as they bit their lips and got to their feet. The women walked over. Yang Mi and the others embraced Zhang Yi gently. "Zhang Yi, well be here waiting for you to come back safe and sound!" Zhang Yi smiled, kissing each of them goodbye. "Dont worry; if Im known for one thing, its self-preservation. Ill be fine!" Zhou Haimei exchanged a few words with Uncle You, adjusting his clothes with a reluctant gaze. For these women, deep bonds had formed with the men in their liveswhether from dependence or something else. They knew that without them, surviving in this apocalyptic world would be even harder. Only Fatty Xu was on his own. Pulling out his phone, he opened an app, and a virtual anime girl popped up, encouraging him with a cheerful, "Anata, ganbatte!" Fatty Xu grinned. "Eri, Ill complete the mission and come back safe!" Just as they were about to leave, Zhou Keer held Zhang Yis hand, her expression worried. "How about I come with you? If any of you get injured, I can help with the treatment." But Zhang Yi shook his head. "If we run into trouble, itll likely be against Superhumans. You wouldnt be able to help much in that case." "Weve got emergency medical supplies on hand, so well manage." Zhou Keer understood, though he didnt spell it out. If she went along as a regular person, she could become a liability. She looked at him with concern. "Alright, but dont forget to use the medicine I prepared for you." Zhang Yi nodded. "Dont worry, I wont." The three left the safehouse, descending the stairs into the dark night. Zhang Yi pulled out their snow vehicle, climbed into the drivers seat, and started the engine. Dressed in all-white combat gear, they could easily be mistaken for members of West Hill Bases Special Forces Team. As the snow vehicle roared to life, they headed off into the snowy night, straight toward West Hill Base. Author''s Note Chapter 314: The Eve Chapter 314: The Eve Zhang Yi and his two companions were heading toward the West Hill Base. Their headsets connected to both radio and satellite phones, allowing them to communicate with Yang Xinxin in real-time. Although Yang Xinxin was sitting at home, she was on a battlefield of her own. In this operation, her role was crucial. "Brother, West Hill Base just confirmed the missile launch time and coordinates with Jiangnan District." "The time is set for midnight exactly, but as for the coordinates, Ive made a slight adjustment in secret, so theres no need to worry." Zhang Yi nodded, Got it! Keep monitoring their network and report any issues immediately. Understood! The night was pitch black, so Zhang Yi kept his speed moderate. Even though the snow blanketed the ground, making it flat, he didnt want the sound of the snow vehicles engine to give them away. With Yang Xinxins guidance, they reached the vicinity of the West Hill Base without a hitch. Zhang Yi knew the exact coordinates of the base and stopped the car about three kilometers away. The three of them checked the timeit was already 11:25 PM. The cars heater was on, keeping them warm so theyd be in optimal condition for the upcoming operation. Zhang Yi took a silver box from his spatial storage and opened it to reveal ten vials of stimulant. He handed two vials to Uncle You and Fatty Xu. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After giving them a brief rundown, Zhang Yi took a vial and injected it into his own wrist. Uncle You followed suit without hesitation. As Fatty Xu injected himself, he asked, Stimulants usually have side effects, right? Zhang Yi rolled his eyes, Even if there are side effects, they wont show up right away. Lets focus on staying alive. After the mission, you can rest and recover as much as you want. Fatty Xu nodded, True, a bit of a side effect is nothing compared to staying alive. Once they had taken the stimulants, a warm sensation flowed through their bodies. Though it was late, they felt no trace of fatigue; their eyes shone with newfound energy. --- Inside West Hill Base. Liang Yue arrived at the Fourth Life Pod at the scheduled time. Even though it was nighttime, people were still working overtime to generate power in the Life Pod. But Liang Yue used her special privileges to call over her students; even the power plant supervisor didnt dare raise any objections. She gathered her students. Everyone, put on the thick clothes you brought along! They were about to leave the West Hill Base, and with the temperature outside at fifty to sixty degrees below zero, theyd freeze in these thin clothes. Hearing this, some students realized they were about to leave. Teacher Liang, are we escaping? a male student whispered, excitement in his voice. Shh! Wu Chengyu shot him a stern look. Dont talk too muchjust do as Teacher Liang instructed. The boy quickly covered his mouth. The group shared a quiet understanding, with a glimmer of hope appearing in their eyes. When they arrived, they had worn the winter gear issued by Tianqing Academy. But inside, since the underground temperature was milder, theyd put their warm clothes aside. No longer minding the temperature, everyone hurried to put on their thick winter clothes. Liang Yue recalled Zhang Yis words, knowing something significant was about to happen in the Shelter. So, she led her students to a corner, hiding them there. Zhang Yi, I dont know what youre planning, but please dont let me down! Liang Yue prayed silently in her heart. Believing in Zhang Yi was her only option; even if she wasnt entirely confident, she had to follow his instructions. Meanwhile, on the outside, Chen Xinian remained oblivious. That night, instead of going to bed as usual, he sat in front of his computer, waiting to receive news of the Shelters destruction. Though it came at a cost, sacrificing one of his valuable opportunities to request aid, if it meant eliminating a serious threat, he considered it worth it. After all, Zhang Yis existence not only jeopardized the West Hill Bases control over nearby areas but also posed a severe challenge to Chen Xinians authority. In Chen Xinians eyes, Zhang Yi was more dangerous than any other faction in Tianhai City. He constantly reminded Chen Xinian of his past humiliationsa prominent Tianhai City official, put in his place by a mere nobody! Chen Xinian sat at his desk, staring at his computer screen, waiting for Jiangnan Districts report: "Target Destroyed." The thought that the man who had humiliated him would soon be dead filled Chen Xinian with satisfaction. But he didnt want to savor this moment alone. After a brief pause, he picked up the phone and called his squad captain, Ling Feng. He wanted Ling Feng to witness what hed accomplishedthat the man Ling Feng couldnt handle was eliminated by him. So, Ling Feng shouldnt think he was irreplaceable; Chen Xinian didnt need him. Ling Feng quickly arrived at Chen Xinians office after receiving the call. He saw Chen Xinian, dressed in light yellow pajamas, sitting by the computer with a broad smile on his face. Curious, Ling Feng wondered what had made Chen Xinian so happy. Leader! Ling Feng saluted. Chen Xinian beamed at him, gesturing for him to come over. Ling Feng, come on over. Ive got something good to show you. Ling Feng stepped closer. With a confident look, Chen Xinian crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair. You dont need to worry about Zhang Yi anymore. Ive already taken care of it! Ling Fengs eyes widened in surprise. Youve found a way to deal with him? Although Chen Xinian had a military background, his position of power was more due to family connections than battlefield achievements. In terms of basic soldier skills, Chen Xinian was no better than a common foot soldier. Ling Feng couldnt imagine how Chen Xinian had pulled this off. Chen Xinians face lit up with a smug grin. You have to understand, even in the apocalypse, the military still holds immense power. Not even the superhumans are invincible! He looked at Ling Feng, subtly warning him not to let his strength go to his head. Ling Feng nodded, Dont worry, Ill always follow the Leaders orders. Chen Xinian nodded back and turned his computer screen towards Ling Feng. I contacted Jiangnan District, where Director Zhu owed me a major favor. This time, I got him to help by launching a bunker buster missile at Zhang Yis Shelter. Author''s Note Chapter 315: Arrival, Chaos Chapter 315 : Arrival, Chaos When Ling Feng heard that Chen Xinian had deployed a bunker buster missile to deal with Zhang Yi, his face lit up with excitement. "Fantastic! With this, Zhang Yi is as good as dead!" Although Zhang Yi''s superhuman abilities allowed him to absorb energy and physical attacks, it had already been tested that he couldn''t absorb the energy from an explosion of 500 kilograms of TNT in one go. The bunker busters currently equipped by Huaguo carry explosives of over a ton, with even larger, more destructive versions available. West Hill Base had already submitted all data on Zhang Yis Shelter to Jiangnan District. To ensure the complete destruction of the Shelter, Jiangnan District deployed a heavier model of bunker buster with enhanced penetration capabilities and a higher payload. Chen Xinian leaned back in his chair, smiling faintly. "I warned himyoung people shouldn''t let a little special ability go to their heads. This world isnt as simple as they think." He motioned for Ling Feng to join him. Come, Ling Feng. Lets watch together as his Shelter is destroyed. Ling Feng stood behind Chen Xinian, both staring at the computer screen. Displayed on it was a 3D model of the Shelter, programmed to update in real-time as soon as the missile struck. Ling Feng was thrilled but couldnt help but joke, Deploying such a powerful weapon just to handle one Zhang Yiits overkill, isnt it? Chen Xinian sighed quietly. If only this weapon was under my command. In the past, I was on the same level as Zhu Zheng, but now hes become like a local warlord. Chen Xinian shot Ling Feng a glance and chuckled, shaking his head. "You''re still too young. You dont understand politics. Although he and Zhu Zheng shared some camaraderie, it wasnt deep. After using up this favor, Chen Xinian would have to pay a much higher price to request Zhu Zhengs help again. Besides, for the Jiangnan District, the entire region was now their territory. Whoever claimed power locally posed no real threat to them. What reason would Zhu Zheng have to support Chen Xinian? And Chen Xinian was a man who would rather be a "chicken''s head than a bulls tail." Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even if it was just a small dominion in Tianhai City, he was still a sovereign in his own right. There was no need for him to scramble to be anyone''s underling. Time ticked by slowly. Zhang Yi, Liang Yue, and Chen Xinian were all waiting for the missile, launched from the silos in Jinling, to descend upon them. Yang Xinxins gaze never left the screen, watching closely to avoid missing any critical information. As midnight approached, a thin layer of sweat coated Zhang Yis palm. The three quietly wiped their palms and put on their tactical gloves. At Jiangnan District headquarters in Jinling, a middle-aged officer in military uniform pressed the launch button in the operations command room. A massive bunker buster soared out of the missile silo, blazing a trail across the night sky as it streaked southeast. The fiery tail illuminated the dark night, standing out distinctly over Tianhai City. At that moment, many people in secret corners across Tianhai City lifted their heads, their expressions grim as they observed the sight. Zhang Yi and his group were ready. The three gripped their guns, and Hua Hua, the demon cat, fluffed up her black fur in alarm. Liang Yue tightened her hold on her Tang Sword. Chen Xinians eyes were glued to the screen, brimming with excitement. Right then, at West Hill Base, the Information Departments radar detected an unidentified object speeding towards them! What is that?! Its a missile... coming from Jinling! What are they thinking?! Report this immediately! --- By the time they detected it, it was already too late. West Hill Bases anti-air radar only covered a range of 200 kilometers, and the missile''s speed left no time to react. From within the snow vehicle, Zhang Yi watched as a bright streak descended on the horizon, crashing down like a meteor towards West Hill. The hearts of Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and Uncle You leaped into their throats as they leaned forward instinctively, clutching onto anything within reach. Boom A deep rumble echoed from the depths of the earth. The sound wasnt deafening as expected, since bunker busters explode hundreds of meters underground. Yet the tremors were still intense, causing the vehicle to shake as if it were a small boat in a storm, creating an unsettling illusion of overturning. R D***, it worked! Zhang Yi shouted in excitement. If the ground was shaking so intensely from several kilometers away, the impact on the underground Shelter at West Hill Base would be unimaginable! Zhang Yi instructed Yang Xinxin, Xinxin, execute the plan! From the Safe House, Yang Xinxin calmly replied, Understood! She brought her hovering finger down firmly on the Enter key. Inside West Hill Base, it was as if an earthquake had struck, throwing the entire facility into chaos! Caught completely off-guard by the missile attack, the entire base shuddered violently, waking people from their sleep. Those unaware of the situation thought it was an earthquake, screaming in terror. Meanwhile, Yang Xinxin hacked into the base''s network and shut off the power. The whole West Hill Base plunged into pitch darkness, and without power, no systems could operate. Panicked screams filled the base. Chen Xinian, thrown off his chair, had to be helped up by Ling Feng. Whats going on? What happened? Why is this happening? Chen Xinian looked around in confusion, his anger exploding in a shout. Just then, a call from the Information Department came through. Leader, weve been hit by a missile strike! What? A missile strike? From where?! Chen Xinian was about to curse when a thought struck him. Could it be that b*****d Zhu Zheng double-crossed me?! Unaware that his bases network had been infiltrated, Chen Xinian assumed Zhu Zheng had sabotaged him. But cursing would have to waithis priority was restoring order at West Hill Base. He immediately rounded up the heads of various departments, assigning tasks. Ling Feng, rally the Special Forces Team to secure our safety! Make sure no one from the Fourth Life Pod causes trouble. Station soldiers there and defend it at all costsif anyone tries to create chaos, kill them on the spot! Also, get the engineers to repair the power systems! Despite the turmoil, Chen Xinian quickly grasped the situation. Their base was heavily fortified; a few missiles alone wouldnt bring it down. They just had to survive this brief period of disorder. It wouldnt take long. Author''s Note Chapter 316: Escape Chapter 316: Escape The missile struck West Hill Base, causing a violent tremor. The soldiers standing guard outside the base panicked, frantically reaching for their communication devices to contact the command center. But Yang Xinxin had already cut the power, leaving the entire base in chaos; none of them could get through. At that moment, a snow vehicle approached from the distance, stopping at the bases entrance as three figures charged out. Attack! Zhang Yis eyes were filled with killing intent as he raised his gun and started shooting. In just thirty seconds, all the soldiers guarding the entrance were taken down. Even elite soldiers were no match for Superhumans. Ahead of them lay the main gate of West Hill Base. Now, its up to Liang Yue! Zhang Yi said, his gaze steady and focused. Inside the Fourth Life Pod. After the missile strike, the entire pod shook violently. Students huddled in a corner screamed and clung to each other in terror. Only now did Liang Yue understand what Zhang Yi meant by a disturbance. Luckily, the underground shelter had been constructed to withstand such impacts, and although the tremors were severe, there was no sign of collapse. Liang Yue and her students were prepared, so they werent injured in the chaos. However, others in the Fourth Life Pod werent as fortunate. Some had already gone to bed and were thrown off, their beds collapsing on top of them, causing severe injuries. Others working late pedaling on exercise bikes for power fell off, yelling in fright without anywhere to hide. There were cries everywhere. Desperate screams filled the air. Suddenly, the entire shelter went dark. Without hesitation, Liang Yue grabbed a female student. Go! Follow me out of here! Move, quickly! There was no time to explainevery second counted! If the West Hill Base restored power and regained control, theyd lose any chance of escape. Using her phone as a flashlight, Liang Yue led the students, running at the front. Behind her, they held hands, following the light through the chaotic crowd, eyes fixed on the small beacon of hope. At the doorway, Liang Yue used all her strength to open the heavy, dark green metal door. Inside was chaos, and outside wasnt much better. The Third Life Pod housed many soldiers, though not all of them were highly trained. Caught off guard, the soldiers didnt dare to act hastily since no orders had reached them yet. Liang Yue and her students rushed out, prompting others to surge forward, thinking they could escape death only by getting out. The sudden chaos left the soldiers stunned. They shouted, aiming their guns at the crowd: Get back! No ones allowed to leave, or well open fire! Return, all of you! Stop coming out! About a dozen soldiers held rifles, shouting orders. But no matter how loud they yelled, they couldnt drown out the terrified screams filling the base. The Third Life Pod was in turmoil itself, and the soldiers hesitated to shoot in the dark, fearing stray bullets might hit their own. Even more concerning, if the Fourth Life Pods thousands of inhabitants charged en masse, theyd be overwhelmed. Seeing the chaos, Liang Yue thought, *This is our chance!* She had memorized the escape route, so she led her students forward, each holding hands and firmly following her direction, unlike the panicked crowd scattering aimlessly. Soon, they exited the Fourth Life Pod, moving through the underground passage. Not long after, the sound of rapid gunfire and bloodcurdling screams echoed, sending a chill down everyones spine. They realized the soldiers had started shooting! Many might be killed in such disarray, but they couldnt let that stop them. Escaping West Hill Base was their only priority. Dont look back, keep moving forward! Liang Yue whispered, urging them on. She held her phone ahead, lighting the way, her other hand gripping her sword hilt tightly, embodying a fierce resolve like Liberty Leading the People. About a dozen students followed closely behind, not daring to stray. However, they still had several corridors to cross before reaching the escape tunnel. Speed was crucial. Liang Yue knew that with its military might, West Hill Base could easily suppress this level of unrest. She stayed on guard, ready to fight at any moment. Rounding a corner, two armed soldiers appeared ahead. Although the lighting was chaotic, yellow glow sticks provided visibility on the walls. When the soldiers saw Liang Yue leading a group of students, they immediately raised their guns. No ones allowed through without orders. Go back! Without a word, Liang Yue summoned her blue Superhuman energy, which began swirling like smoke around her right hand. *Clang!* In a flash of blue light, the soldiers felt a sudden chill around their necks. Their guns fell in two, along with their throats. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Blood sprayed like a gust of wind as the soldiers clutched their necks, collapsing in despair. Move! Liang Yue urged the students forward. The soldiers presence confirmed that West Hill Bases leaders were trying to restore order. If they delayed any longer, more soldiers would arrive. If she encountered the Special Forces, Liang Yue couldnt guarantee she could get all her students out safely. The group ran forward, panting heavily. To reach the ground, theyd have to climb a staircase over a hundred meters higha daunting task even for the fit, but they had no other choice. Though there was an elevator for the Special Forces and high-ranking officials, access was restricted to Chen Xinian. Liang Yue led her students toward the escape route. Suddenly, a bright light appeared ahead. Excited smiles broke out on the students faces. Weve reached the exit! But Liang Yue abruptly halted, blocking the students. Stop! The light above flickered and then settled on Liang Yues face. Liang Yue shielded her eyes, and then she heard the familiar sound of high heels. Miss Liang, I guess my warnings meant nothing to you, Ge Rou said icily. Only then did the group realize it wasnt the exit ahead but a line of over thirty heavily armed, stern-faced Special Forces Team members. The Leader is wise; he knew someone would attempt to escape in the chaos. You arent the first group to try, and you wont be the last. But your fate will be the same. Ge Rou adjusted her glasses, a mocking smile on her face. Youll become rations! At the mention of rations, the students turned pale. *Does that mean the food we ate contained* Some started retching, but nausea was the least of their worries now. Survival was paramount, yet escape seemed impossible with such a force in their path. So close to freedom, their hopes were brutally shattered. Ge Rou stood with arms crossed, looking down at them coldly. Behind her, thirty soldiers aimed their loaded guns at the students, completely blocking their escape. Liang Yue felt a chill in her heart, nearly sinking into despair. Alone, she could easily break through, but with her students, it was impossible. If they engaged, the students would be torn apart by the concentrated gunfire. Ge Rou sneered, Why sacrifice yourself for these worthless test subjects? West Hill Base doesnt tolerate betrayal! Liang Yue raised her hand. Wait! Maybe we can talk this over. Ge Rous tone turned frigid. Theres nothing to discuss! Even with your potential as a Superhuman, a traitor is a traitor, and traitors must die. Ge Rou slowly raised her right hand, preparing to signal. But just then, a soldier beside her collapsed. Ge Rous eyes widened as she noticed a small hole in his helmet, one that standard bulletproof helmets couldnt stop against a sniper shot. Behind them, the main gate of West Hill Base swung open. Zhang Yi and his team appeared, sniper rifles in hand, taking out soldiers one by one! Terrified, Ge Rou screamed, diving for cover as she ordered the soldiers to return fire. In seconds, gunfire filled the narrow passageway, bullets creating a deadly crossfire. Liang Yue urged her students to take cover against the wall. Drawing her Tang Sword, she charged at the soldiers for close combat. She knew Zhang Yis team had arrived for backup. With this support, Liang Yue felt a surge of confidence as the three forces clashed in the confined corridor. West Hill Bases soldiers, trapped between Zhang Yis team and Liang Yues sword, couldnt match their strength. In both close and long-range combat, the soldiers were completely outmatched. Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate allowed them to strike unimpeded, and Liang Yues sword cut through anyone in close quarters. The brief yet brutal battle left the corridor littered with body parts and blood flowing down the staircase like a river. Liang Yue looked up and met Zhang Yis gaze. For the first time, she looked at him with genuine gratitude. Thank you for the support, Liang Yue said sincerely. No problem. Its what you deserve, Zhang Yi replied. If Liang Yue hadnt served as an informant inside West Hill Base, Zhang Yi wouldnt have had the chance to attack the base. Get them out quickly; every second counts, Zhang Yi urged. Liang Yue nodded, gathering her shaken students. As they moved forward, she spotted Ge Rou cowering in a corner. The once-high-and-mighty secretary now looked as if she wished she could curl up and disappear. But physics didnt grant her such a mercy. Liang Yue glared at her. Ge Rou, youre the one who sent my students to their deaths, werent you? Terror was etched on Ge Rous face, this once-proud woman so frightened she had wet herself. No! Im just a secretary! It was the Leaders orders, she pleaded. Ye Xiaotian stepped forward, hatred in his eyes. His experience in human experiments had scarred him deeply, making him wish for death countless times. Without a word, he pulled out a knife, stabbing it into Ge Rous throat and slicing it open. Blood gushed out as Ge Rou clutched her neck, collapsing to the ground and lying still after a few desperate twitches. Author''s Note Chapter 317: Infiltration Chapter 317 : Infiltration Liang Yue walked over to Zhang Yi, expressing her gratitude sincerely, Thank you for coming to get us, as promised. Although the three of them wore Special Forces Team uniforms, Liang Yue wasnt particularly curious. She had known since Zhang Yis assault on Xu Family Town that he had similar combat gear. Liang Yue took a long look at Hua Hua, perched on Zhang Yis shoulder. She sensed that familiar aura immediately. Hua Hua looked back at Liang Yue with her amber eyes, which held a distinctly human-like amusement. Liang Yue took a few deep breaths, choosing not to dwell on this for now. She didnt know the whole story, but now wasnt the time to pursue it. Zhang Yi nodded and said, Weve cleared the guards at the entrance. Your students can leave first. He pulled two backpacks from a spatial storage space and tossed them on the ground. These are packed with high-energy food and fuel for warmth. Have them take these supplies and head to the residential area five kilometers southeast to hide. Lead the way for us; we have other things to do. Both Liang Yue and the students looked surprised. The students were visibly anxious. Arent you coming with us? If they encountered pursuers, they wouldnt stand a chance. Relax, Zhang Yi replied. Right now, they dont have time to come after you. He continued, However, if we just escape without taking action, Im sure theyll track us down after theyve calmed things here. Zhang Yi looked Liang Yue squarely in the eyes. Teacher Liang, you, of all people, should understand. Simply escaping from West Hill Base is not realistic! Especially since youve already killed so many of them. Liang Yue bit her lip, knowing Zhang Yi was right. Once she decided to break ties with West Hill Base, there was no going back. What do you plan to do? she asked. Zhang Yi gave a slight smile. Its simplelets end this once and for all! Lets blow up West Hill Base so theyll never be a threat to us again! Destroy the entire West Hill Base? Liang Yue hesitated. After all, there were thousands of people in the base. If they destroyed it, wouldnt they all die? But Zhang Yis point was clear: as long as West Hill Base remained, she and her students would face retribution sooner or later. They werent like Zhang Yi, who had the strength to stand against the base. After a moments thought, Liang Yue made up her mind. Alright, Ill help you! There was no time to hesitate. Destroying West Hill Base with Zhang Yi was the only viable option left to her. Liang Yue called Ye Xiaotian over, entrusting him with leading the students out. Ye Xiaotian cast a deep look at Zhang Yi and his two companions, then said to Liang Yue, Teacher Liang, you have to come back safely! Though Ye Xiaotian was enhanced, he didnt have the courage to face the full force of the Special Forces Team. Besides, even if he stayed, Zhang Yi likely wouldnt keep him, as a modified human was still too weak compared to true Superhumans. Ye Xiaotian slung a backpack over his shoulder and handed the other to Wu Chengyu. The group, with the students in tow, quickly made their way up through the passage. Only after watching them disappear through the door did Liang Yue breathe a sigh of relief. Zhang Yi glanced at her, lowering the visor on his helmet as he said, Lets go. We dont have much time. This chaos wouldnt last long. Yang Xinxin had taken control of West Hill Bases internal network, shutting down several systems. But soon, someone would restore them manually. And the Fourth Life Pods revolt would eventually be crushed by gunfire. They had to complete their mission as quickly as possible. Take us to this spot! Zhang Yi pulled out his phone, showing Liang Yue the location of the Second Life Pod on the map. Liang Yue nodded, Follow me! This was her residence, so she knew it well. Liang Yue led the way with her Tang Sword in hand. Behind her, Zhang Yi and his two companions were already feeling the effects of the stimulants they had taken. For the next few hours, they wouldnt feel fatigue, their pain sensitivity would be reduced, and they could perform at peak physical and combat capacity. The four of them moved quickly through the underground passages, where the sounds of gunfire and shouting echoed throughout West Hill Base. People from the Fourth Life Pod had broken into the Third and Second Life Pods. They hadnt chosen to escape from West Hill Base, knowing the freezing conditions outside meant certain death. Many of them, especially the clever ones, aimed to seize control of West Hill Base by force. The passageways were filled with skirmishes, with bloodstains on the walls and floors. But when Zhang Yis group appeared, people instinctively moved aside. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, they were wearing the iconic uniforms of the Special Forces Team. Liang Yue even wore a captains uniform. Since the power system was down, they had to rely on glow sticks and temporary lighting, which obscured visibility. People glanced at them but didnt have time to scrutinize if they were allies. No one here knew of Liang Yues defection, so the soldiers stepped aside for her as she passed. As for the civilians from the Fourth Life Pod, they fled as though theyd seen ghosts. Everyone knew the Special Forces Team was the bases most powerful armed force. Zhang Yi took out a handgun and fired two shots at civilians nearby, deterring anyone from approaching and clearing a path for his team. If they were going to act, they had to commit fully. Disguised as Special Forces Team members, killing a few civilians made them look the part. Fatty Xu and Uncle You followed suit, showing no hesitation in dealing with those around them. Few here were genuinely innocent civilians. Most of them were once the elites and authorities of Tianhai City. The four moved quickly through the passage, reaching the Second Life Pod before long. Once there, the atmosphere grew quieter. The Second Life Pod was heavily guarded, primarily by Special Forces Team members, who quickly subdued any minor disturbances. Seeing Liang Yue and the others in uniform, they assumed they were allies and let them pass. Lets do it! Zhang Yi said to Uncle You and Fatty Xu. They nodded and swiftly pulled out time bombs from their backpacks, placing them in hidden corners throughout the Second Life Pod. Watching them, Liang Yue grew anxious. The structures here are extremely sturdy. Normal explosives wont work! Zhang Yi replied calmly, I know. These arent ordinary explosives. As he spoke, he headed to the location they had planned beforehand. The spot was a corner of the Second Life Pod, tucked away in a secluded area rarely frequented by anyone. Liang Yue, feeling uneasy, followed him closely. When Zhang Yi reached the spot, he pulled out two large bundles of explosives from his spatial storage space, placing them in the corner. At first glance, Liang Yue thought they looked familiar. Then it hit her: they were the same explosives Ling Feng had used to attack the shelter! You actually kept those! Zhang Yi smirked. Of course. I never waste anything. Now, lets let them taste their own explosives! Author''s Note Chapter 318: Killing Intent Boiling Over! Chapter 318: Killing Intent Boiling Over! After setting up the explosives, Zhang Yi turned immediately. "Lets go. We need to get out of here now!" As he walked, he pulled out several smaller explosives, attaching them to the doors of each room they passed. Following closely, Liang Yue glanced at the end of the hallway leading to the Second Life Pod, where Chen Xinian lived. Why dont we kill Chen Xinian? Capture the leader, and the whole West Hill Base would fall apart! Just thinking about how Chen Xinians orders had turned West Hill Base into its current nightmare filled her with hatred, especially since he had exploited her students, making her feel repulsed as a woman. Without looking back, Zhang Yi replied, Killing Chen Xinian would only lead to another taking his place. Have you considered that the problem isnt just one person, but the entire system at West Hill Base? Liang Yue opened her mouth to respond, but no words came. She couldnt argue because Zhang Yi was right. This den of corruption needs to be destroyed, Zhang Yi said coldly. Otherwise, itll keep breeding evil. He moved onward, with Uncle You and Fatty Xu following. The four hurried toward the Third Life Pod. Their behavior finally caught the attention of a few Special Forces Team members. Stop! Where are you going? One soldier pointed his gun at them. As a Special Forces soldier, his sharp instincts told him something was off with these people, especially with a tabby cat following them. No one at West Hill Base kept petsthey had once, but pets eventually became protein sources. If it werent for the power outage dimming the lights, theyd have noticed something wrong sooner. But Zhang Yi never intended to hide his presence for long. Quadruple speed! he commanded, instantly accelerating and firing a quick shot in return. *Bang!* The soldiers helmet shattered, and he fell dead on the spot. No need to hide anymore; Zhang Yis setup was complete. Even if the base had skilled bomb-disposal experts, they wouldnt have enough time to disarm all the explosives. Indeed, some explosives were decoys meant to divert attention. Theyre not from the base! The fallen soldiers death alerted the others. Immediately, the soldiers raised their guns and aimed at Zhang Yi and his team. Dimensional Gate! Zhang Yi extended his right hand forward, opening the Dimensional Gate. In the narrow corridor, the gate blocked all angles of attack. Gunfire erupted, bullets raining down, yet none could breach the Dimensional Gate. Each round vanished into the other dimension. Liang Yue couldnt help casting a deep look at Zhang Yi. Observing his power from a Special Forces perspective, she had always found it formidable and hard to counter. Now, as an ally, his overwhelming defensive ability made her feel secure. Then someone in the crowd recognized Zhang Yis ability. Spatial powerits Zhang Yi! The speaker, Shen Hong, had once followed Ling Feng in an attack on Zhang Yis shelter. Recalling the abilitys nature, he shouted in panic, Stop shooting! Scatter now! But it was too late. Zhang Yi smiled slightly. Full counter! The bullets absorbed by the Dimensional Gate blasted back out in an instant. *Thud-thud-thud!* The bullets tore through armor and flesh. The seven or eight soldiers in front were shredded in seconds. The soldiers behind had no room to escape, confined by the narrow corridor. Their only defense was hiding behind their fallen comrades bodies. Amid the thunderous gunfire, Zhang Yi quickly began retreating. As he backed up, he tossed dozens of grenades from the Dimensional Space, their pins removed. Seeing the grenades, the soldiers faces went pale. Take cover! The grenades rolled along the corridor, hitting walls and the ground before a rapid series of explosions erupted. Screams and shouts of agony filled the air as limbs flew, and blood splattered across the walls, painting them red. Retreat! Zhang Yi ordered. This place was no longer safe. If they got surrounded, even his Dimensional Gate would lose its effectiveness, as it only protected in one direction and couldnt cover multiple angles. Just then, the lights above flickered. The power system is almost restored. Zhang Yi frowned. If West Hill Bases systems came back online, it would make creating chaos much harder. Move, move, move! Get out of here! The group retreated swiftly. But Special Forces members were already closing in. News of Zhang Yis infiltration reached Ling Feng and Chen Xinian. Chen Xinian immediately issued a death order: Zhang Yi must not leavedead or alive, he wanted him found. Damn Zhang Yi, this time you came right to me! Lets see how you fight me without that turtle shell protecting you! In his room, Chen Xinian powered up a backup generator. Dressed in protective gear, he was flanked by bodyguards, each armed and ready to defend him. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Meanwhile, in the Second Life Pod, Ling Feng gathered his men, burning with rage, ready to settle scores with Zhang Yi. Lets see you escape this time! Ling Fengs eyes blazed with killing intent. Old grudges and fresh anger simmered within him, and he was determined to end things with Zhang Yi here and now. But as they advanced, chaos erupted in the Second Life Pod. People there noticed yellow explosive charges plastered everywhere. These bombs werent meant to destroy walls, but they would kill and deplete oxygen, causing asphyxiation. Deploy bomb disposal experts, now! Ling Feng ordered before storming off to pursue Zhang Yi. Nothing mattered to him now except killing Zhang Yi. Zhang Yis group fought their way back as they retreated. Following Ling Fengs orders, Special Forces and regular soldiers focused their efforts on stopping them. Every exit was swarming with soldiers. Zhang Yi opened the Dimensional Gate, absorbing their gunfire and firing it back, taking down many soldiers. But the soldiers had been warned and tried to delay Zhang Yi and his team instead of attacking head-on. They aimed to buy time for Ling Feng and the other top officers to arrive. Dont worry about thembreak through! We cant waste time fighting here! Zhang Yi wanted to avoid a confrontation with the troublesome Superhumans. Ill handle this! Uncle You declared. Activating his Superhuman ability, he grew in size, his protective suit tearing as he transformed into a towering muscular giant over two meters tall. His massive frame nearly blocked the entire corridor. Uncle You charged forward like a human tank, crashing into the soldiers blocking their way. Bullets ricocheted off his body with a metallic clang, unable to cause any serious harm. Roar! With a mighty charge, Uncle You sent a dozen soldiers flying. Author''s Note Chapter 319: Ice and Fire Chapter 319 : Ice and Fire Everything was unfolding exactly as Zhang Yi had planned. In the short span of chaos, he successfully planted the explosives in the Second Life Pod. This was where the core figures of West Hill Base resided. If they all died, the base would fall apart. Even if the remaining soldiers survived, they would be little more than a leaderless, scattered force. So, even the worst outcome was one Zhang Yi could live with. Still, seeing the wave of soldiers flooding in from all directions down the passageways made Zhang Yi feel a sense of awe. Luckily, he had injected himself with a stimulant. Instead of fear, he felt exhilarated, his blood boiling with excitement. He opened the Dimensional Gate, pulled out his rifle, and fired. The bullets he used were specially crafted armor-piercing roundsdesigned specifically for dealing with the Special Forces Teams armor. In just five minutes, over thirty soldiers had fallen to his rifle. But more soldiers kept coming. They had orders to hold Zhang Yi and his team at all costs. With so many people willing to sacrifice themselves, Zhang Yi and his team found their pace delayed. Uncle You transformed into a titan-like giant, clearing blockades with his immense, rock-like skin, so tough that bullets barely left a mark on it. Zhang Yi called out, Uncle You, be careful! Taking bullets head-on was fine with Uncle Yous thick skin, but it made Zhang Yi nervous just watching. Uncle You laughed, Dont worry about me! Not only was he physically strong, but he also had regenerative abilities, allowing him to heal quickly from non-lethal injuries. At that moment, five Special Forces Team members in white armor appeared before him. Some were familiar faces to Zhang Yi, including Shen Hong and Yu Lang. These five were modified humans, all enhanced with cells from Ling Feng! Shen Hong and Yu Langs eyes turned red upon seeing Zhang Yi. So many of their comrades had died at Zhang Yis hands during their last mission, leaving only the two of them alive. Their hatred for Zhang Yi ran deep. ?? Zhang Yi!!! Shen Hong roared. Youre not leaving now. Today, you die here! The five men, knowing Zhang Yis abilities, didnt bother with firearms. Instead, they came at him with bayonets, claw knives, and batons, launching a flurry of attacks. Uncle You snorted, If you want Zhang Yi, youll have to get through me first! As Zhang Yis shield, he wouldnt let anyone lay a hand on him. The five modified humans charged at Uncle You, expecting an intense battle. But to their shock, Uncle You swung his massive arm and sent them all flying with a single strike! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! The five crashed into the walls, coughing up blood from internal injuries. Half-baked modified humans really think they can compete with a true Superhuman? Zhang Yi said coolly. Uncle You was stronger than ever. His mutation kept progressing, making his abilities grow with time. Modified humans, on the other hand, were flawed; the mutated cells slowly ate away at their healthy cells. They only grew weaker over time. Theyre nothing, Uncle You said, disappointment flickering in his eyes. I wish I could face a real Superhuman in a true battle. His fists itched with anticipation. Though he now possessed immense strength, he hadnt yet faced a real fight to test it, making him restless. Id rather never have to fight at all, Zhang Yi muttered. The group moved past the incapacitated modified humans and continued their retreat. You think you can escape that easily? A cold laugh echoed from around the corner as a tall, thin figure emerged. The gold star insignia on his combat uniform marked his status as a team captain. Zhang Yi recognized him immediatelythe Superhuman known as Fang Zun, codename Fire Man. Dimensional Gate! Zhang Yi instantly opened the portal. Fang Zun sneered and extended his hands towards Zhang Yi and his team. With a boom, a massive fire dragon roared down the corridor toward them! The Dimensional Gate swallowed the fire dragon, but Fang Zun continued his assault, and no one knew how long he could sustain it. Hes stalling us! Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as he quickly grasped Fang Zuns intent. Once Zhang Yi opened the Dimensional Gate, he couldnt move it. Unless Fang Zun stopped, Zhang Yi would be unable to escape. And that fire control ability, which Zhang Yi once deemed practically useless, was proving devastating in these close quarters. The intense heat was spreading along the walls, even making the reinforced concrete glow red. Fang Zuns flames must have reached over a thousand degrees Celsius! If Zhang Yi didnt stop Fang Zun, more Special Forces Team members would arrive soon. Seeing that they were close to their exit, Zhang Yi called out, Fatty, its up to you now! With those words, a torrent of snow burst from the Dimensional Gate, instantly smothering Fang Zuns fire dragon. Fang Zun stepped back but continued to block the passage, sneering, You think this little trick will stop me? Too naive! He pulled out a large metal canister from behind him, unscrewed the cap, and poured out a stream of black, oily liquid. It was a special fuel hed formulated, burning ten times hotter than gasoline! The black oil spread beneath his feet. With a snap of his fingers, a flame sparked from Fang Zuns fingertip, transforming into a snake that slithered onto the ground. Whoosh! Flames shot up from the ground, reaching five or six meters high. Yet, Fang Zun stood in the middle of the inferno unharmed, with not a single flame touching his clothes. He twirled his fingers, commanding an even larger fire dragon to strike Zhang Yi and his group. Lets see how long you last! The captains will be here any moment now, and then youre dead! Fang Zun laughed. He was intentionally trying to rattle Zhang Yis team, hoping theyd slip up. But, having taken stimulants, the three felt more exhilaration than fear. As Fang Zuns fire dragon surged forward, Fatty Xu leapt into action, summoning a pale blue glow from his hands. The snow that Zhang Yi had brought swirled and transformed into a roaring snowstorm! Fatty Xus power only worked in icy conditions. So, Zhang Yi had specifically collected a large amount of snow in his Dimensional Space for this moment. The snowstorm clashed with the fire dragon, filling the passage with thick steam. Fang Zun hesitated, taken aback. His intel on Fatty Xu was limited. None of them had ever seen Fatty Xu in action before. But Fatty Xus snowstorm created just enough time and space for Zhang Yi and the others to make their escape. Go! As Fatty Xu held off Fang Zun, Zhang Yi and Uncle You dashed forward. But then, a terrifying blast of wind struck from behind. You wanted a real fight, didnt you? Ill play with you. A familiar voice echoed in Zhang Yis ears. Zhang Yis eyes widened in recognition. Though Fang Zun had only held them back for seconds, it was enough for the others to catch up. Look out! Zhang Yi warned his team. In the next instant, a blurry figure surged from the end of the passage, charging straight at Uncle You. Uncle You instinctively swung a punch forward. The figure didnt dodge; instead, he threw a punch of his own. The next moment, Zhang Yi and the others watched in shock as Uncle You staggered back seven or eight steps and collapsed. His right arm twisted at a grotesque angle, his fist a bloody mess, with bone visible through his shredded skin. Uncle You, whose physical strength was his hallmark, had been defeated in a single blow! Zhang Yis heart sank as he stared at the man. Only one person at West Hill Base had the monstrous strength to bring down Uncle You with a single hitLing Feng. Ling Feng stood just ten meters from Zhang Yi, making no move to advance. Not because of any sense of honor, but because as soon as Uncle You was struck down, Zhang Yi had opened the Dimensional Gate to block his path. If Ling Feng came any closer, he would be drawn into the portal, where Zhang Yi would have the advantage. But somehow, Ling Feng sensed this and stopped instinctively. Fatty Xu, seeing the scene unfold, broke into a cold sweat. Uncle You, are you okay? Sweating heavily, Uncle You grimaced. Thanks to the stimulant, he barely felt any pain. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Fine, just feels like I got hit by a train. Without a word, Zhang Yi threw him another dose of stimulant. It could only be used up to three times due to the severe side effects, which would leave the user debilitated for two weeks. But there was no time to worry about that now. Zhang Yi needed Uncle Yous fighting ability against such a formidable foe. Ahead, Fatty Xu continued to hold off Fang Zun with his snowstorm. The element advantage kept them at a stalemate. For Zhang Yi, that was enough. It gave him the chance to focus on the approaching threat from Ling Fengs direction. Hua Huas fur stood on end, and she let out a low growl. Liang Yue rested her hand on the hilt of her Tang Sword, ready for a fight. Dont worry; hes not getting through, Zhang Yi said calmly. He was confident that with the Dimensional Gate in a confined space like this, he was unbeatable. If it werent for this advantage, he wouldnt have risked coming so far into West Hill Base. Ling Feng stood before the Dimensional Gate, able to sense its unique spatial energy. He had also learned from their previous battles that the Dimensional Gate couldnt launch attacks on its own. As long as he didnt enter, Zhang Yi couldnt reach him. Crossing his arms, Ling Feng sneered, You think youll escape after coming here? One by one, more captain-level Superhumans appeared behind him. Each of them glared at Zhang Yi with a look of pure hatred. Author''s Note Chapter 320: Pursuit and Escape Chapter 320: Pursuit and Escape Uncle You had injected a second dose of the stimulant, and with his unique regenerative abilities, he was quickly recovering. The soldiers behind them had been cleared out, Fatty Xu was blocking Fang Zun, and Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate prevented Ling Feng from advancing. But Zhang Yi knew Ling Fengs intent. With Ling Fengs skills, if he truly wanted to pursue, Zhang Yi wouldnt have any chance of escaping. So, its come to this, Zhang Yi murmured. Id hoped to end this war a bit easier, but it seems thats not possible. But that was fine. A head-on clash with Superhumans like Ling Feng had always been one of the scenarios hed considered. Zhang Yi. At that moment, a woman emerged from behind Ling Feng, calling Zhang Yis name softly. He instinctively looked at her. Their gazes met mid-air. Zhang Yi felt as if her eyes were deep, dark abysses drawing him in. Her name was Ye Ronghua, a powerful illusionist with hypnotic abilities. Looking directly into her eyes intensified her influence. Ah! Suddenly, Ye Ronghua clutched her eyes, letting out a scream. Zhang Yi stood unharmed, while she collapsed to her knees, her body convulsing as if severely injured. Not only herLing Feng and his team also appeared dazed and disoriented. Apologies, but my Dimensional Gate reflects even brainwaves back, Zhang Yi sneered. Though brainwaves are invisible, they still transmit physically and cannot bypass Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate. Trying to use that move on him was a death sentence. ? Zhang Yi had thoroughly studied his enemies abilities and was fully prepared for Ye Ronghuas mental attacks. Rather than affecting him, her illusion rebounded, entrapping her and her team. Taking advantage of their confusion, Zhang Yi didnt attack, as close-quarters combat wasnt his strength. Escaping was the best choice right now! Hua Hua! At his call, the tabby cat at his feet let out a loud Meow! before its body began expanding! Ling Feng was the first to regain consciousness, his strong will quickly shaking off the illusions effects. Though he had heard about Hua Hua, seeing a mutated cat in person was still surprising. There was almost no intel on Hua Hua. Due to the limited space, Hua Hua could only grow to about two meters tall and four to five meters in length. Lets go! Zhang Yi leapt onto Hua Huas back and helped the others climb up. Liang Yue grasped Zhang Yis hand, flipping gracefully onto the seat in front of him. Fatty, lets go! Zhang Yi first helped Uncle You, then called for Fatty Xu to stop his standoff. Quickly, Fatty Xu withdrew, as the corridor was filled with white steam, obscuring visibility. Fang Zun, fearing friendly fire, hesitated to release his flames. This gave them an opening to escape. Hua Hua turned and sprinted out of the corridor. Zhang Yi retracted his Dimensional Gate, but not before tossing a load of grenades and explosives from within it. As Hua Hua rounded the corner, Zhang Yi pressed the detonator in his hand! The explosives on the ground, along with the smoke bombs left in the Second Life Pod, detonated simultaneously. Flames surged unpredictably, and deafening explosions echoed throughout the underground. Fatty Xu anxiously asked, Boss, wont that big one be dismantled? Zhang Yi replied gravely, No! We left plenty of small explosives as smoke bombs, and with the poor lighting, they wont find the hidden explosives that fast. Ill detonate it when we get outside! Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hua Hua dashed towards the exit of West Hill Base. Meanwhile, back at the explosion site, a thick layer of ice had shielded Ling Feng and his team, insulating them from the blast. Bang! Ling Feng punched through the thick ice wall in front of him, his eyes burning with a deadly glare. Pursue them! He surged forward like a raging tornado. Shi Dayong roared, transforming into a giant ice ape, and hoisted Zheng Xuerong over his shoulder as he charged ahead. Behind him, the beastly Xu Mingjies body twisted as his muscles expanded, tearing through his clothing. He became a grotesque creature, his elongated arms dragging along the ground, his face contorted, and green liquid dripping from his mouth, barely recognizable as human. With a roar, he grabbed Ye Ronghua and Fang Zun, joining the chase. Zhang Yi and his group rode Hua Hua away, the sounds of pursuit piercing the air. Fatty Xu grew nervous. Boss, throw down some bombs to stop them! Zhang Yi shook his head. No, Im not one to use underhanded tactics. If they want to chase, let them chase. The others glanced at Zhang Yi in disbelief. Coming from Zhang Yi, that statement was hardly convincing. Zhang Yi was known for being ruthless in achieving his goals. But the team understood that if he made this choice, he had a deeper plan, so they held their silence. The multiple applications of the Dimensional Gate were one of Zhang Yis biggest aces, one he wouldnt waste lightly. Once used, the enemy would be ready for it in the future. Now wasnt the right time. Fatty Xu raised his submachine gun, shouting as he fired down at the pursuers. Although such firearms couldnt harm Ling Feng, they did slow his advance slightly. Within seconds, Hua Hua leapt out of the tunnel entrance, reaching the surface outside West Hill Base. Not long after, Ling Feng emerged from the tunnel as well. He didnt rush to attack but fixed his gaze on Zhang Yis group from a short distance. At this range, Ling Feng was confident Zhang Yi couldnt escape. The Dimensional Gate was one-directional, and with Ling Fengs speed, he could easily evade it and attack from various angles. Even if Zhang Yi tried to drive away, Ling Feng would shoot out the vehicles tires. Without the defenses of a shelter, Ling Fengs power was overwhelmingly strong. Fatty Xu swallowed nervously. Boss, what do we do? Zhang Yi slid off Hua Huas back. Although carrying four people wasnt too much for her, it still slowed her down. An escape directly back to the shelter was impossible now. And trying to escape by vehicle in front of elite soldiers would only insult their skill. They could shoot out the car tires with their eyes closed. Moments later, the other Superhumans caught up. They stood behind Ling Feng, glaring coldly at Zhang Yi, their expressions murderous. All the team leaders of West Hill Base were assembled. The sheer pressure was overwhelming, filling the air with a murderous aura. Now, lets see where you can run! Theres no shelter here for you to hide in! Ling Fengs lips curved into a cold smile, his eyes glinting with deadly intent and a hint of excitement for revenge. Zhang Yi sighed softly. An eye for an eye when does it ever end?" Author''s Note Chapter 321: One-on-One Duel Chapter 321 : One-on-One Duel As Zhang Yi spoke, he took out a detonator with his right hand and pressed it several times. Ling Feng immediately felt a surge of unease, as if something terrible was about to happen. Whats that in your hand?! Zhang Yi didnt answer and kept pressing. Seconds later, a low, muffled explosion sounded behind Ling Feng, shaking the ground violently and splitting the snow-covered earth with deep cracks. Everyone struggled to steady themselves to avoid falling into the jagged crevices. Ling Feng and his team, with their backs to the tunnel entrance, suddenly felt a warm draft on their backs. Despite the sub-zero temperatures outside, the heat quickly intensified, soon turning into a scorching pain. Boom!! A blazing fire dragon erupted from the tunnel entrance. Ling Feng and his team had been focused entirely on Zhang Yi and his companions, completely unprepared for this fiery assault from behind. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were all thrown back by the scorching wave. Ling Feng, Shi Dayong, and Xu Mingjie were mostly unharmed, their enhanced bodies withstanding the impact. But Zheng Xuerong, Ye Ronghua, and the others fared worse, with Ye Ronghua, the weakest among them, coughing up a mouthful of blood. Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and Uncle You exchanged glances and sighed with relief. The massive bomb had detonated successfully! With a yield of 1,000 kilograms, it would obliterate the entire Second Life Pod! Even if the fortifications werent entirely destroyed, the explosion would cripple all essential systems inside. The intense heat and oxygen depletion would ensure a swift death for everyone within. West Hill Base would be erased from Tianhai City after today! Liang Yue took a deep breath, feeling as if a huge weight had lifted from her shoulders with the destruction of West Hill Base. Yet, she found it hard to feel joy at the thought of the thousands who would die in the blast. Among them were students she had hidden herself. But again, she had no other choice. The world rarely allowed her to achieve ideal outcomes, and achieving the best possible result was already fortunate. With that, she turned her gaze to Ling Feng and his companions, her eyes sharp. With West Hill Base destroyed and her students safe, the only thing left was to eliminate these dangerous enemies to secure her survival. With her last ties severed, the killing intent in her eyes grew pure and focused. Ling Feng and his companions, feeling the tremors beneath their feet, finally realized the extent of the destruction. Ling Feng glared at Zhang Yi, pointing an accusing finger. Zhang Yi, what did you do?! Zhang Yi smirked slightly. Remember when you attacked my shelter and left a bundle of explosives behind? I added a bit more to it and gave it back to you. It turns out your explosives were top-notch quality! He praised sincerely. Without Ling Fengs gift, finding enough materials on his own to make such powerful explosives would have been a huge challenge. Ling Feng glanced back at the charred tunnel, feeling a chill in his heart. Their base had been destroyedby their own explosives! He had the urge to rush back to help but knew logically that it would be suicide. Poisonous gases filled the area below, and the oxygen was almost gone. Turning back to Zhang Yi, Ling Fengs bloodshot eyes glared fiercely. Fine. Ill kill you first, then go back to save them! Hold on! Zhang Yi suddenly raised his hand, stopping Ling Feng and his team, who were ready to charge. The atmosphere grew tense as everyone prepared for battle. With Liang Yue on their side, Zhang Yis team now had a fighting chance against Ling Fengs. Especially with Ye Ronghua weakened by a hallucination backlash and Fang Zun, the "Fire Man," struggling to use his abilities in the cold environment. Meanwhile, everyone Zhang Yi had brought along was a seasoned fighter. Ling Feng, if we fight here, no ones survival is guaranteed. Are you willing to see everyone die? And dont try to act like this is all for revenge. You invaded my territory first. Dont give me that revenge speech. Ling Feng scoffed. Does saying this even matter? Today, only one of us will leave here alive. Either you kill me, or I kill you! Zhang Yi chuckled. So, all you really want is to kill me, right? Ling Feng didnt understand Zhang Yis sudden change in tone but didnt want to give him time to stall. Exactly. Today, youre going to die here. Enough talking! He was about to charge forward. If your only goal is my life, then theres no need for us to gamble everyone elses lives! Zhang Yi shouted. Ling Feng, lets settle our grudge one-on-one. Do you dare? A collective wave of surprise swept over the crowd. Liang Yue stared at Zhang Yi in disbelief and whispered, Are you crazy? Do you know how strong he is? Ignoring her, Zhang Yi kept his eyes on Ling Feng. If we all fight, youll suffer heavy losses even if you win. Lets settle this between us. After all, Im the only one you want dead! If I win, you let us go, and from now on, we leave the past behind. If I lose, you can do whatever you want with me! Zhang Yi shrugged. Though I know you wont let me live anyway. Fatty Xu and Uncle You looked at Zhang Yi, saying nothing, but remembered his earlier words. These guys are professional soldiers with Superhuman powers and strong combat skills. In a coordinated fight, were no match for them. So, if were cornered, Ill challenge their leader to a one-on-one duel. They dont know the extent of my abilities and think Im just a coward who uses spatial tricks. So Ling Feng will probably accept. In a one-on-one fight, I have a shot at winning. Back then, Fatty Xu and Uncle You thought Zhang Yi was insane. According to their intel, Ling Feng was practically a perfect soldier, someone who could go toe-to-toe with fighter jets or even battle an aircraft carrier if he had an oxygen tank. But Zhang Yi had simply said, I have my reasons. Just hold off the others if it comes down to it. With Fatty Xus ice-control abilities for crowd control, that wouldnt be a problem. Zhang Yi fixed his gaze on Ling Feng. Ling Feng, do you dare take me on one-on-one? Author''s Note Hello, readers! Were thrilled to share this chapter with you! If youre enjoying our work, please show us some love by rating BOTI Translator Team 5 stars on NovelUpdates. Your support helps make it all possi Chapter 322: One-on-One Chapter 322: One-on-One When Ling Feng and his team heard Zhang Yis suggestion, they thought he must have gone mad. They knew Zhang Yis backgroundjust a former warehouse manager, nothing exceptional. But Ling Feng was a top-tier Superhuman and a former ace in the special forces. To put it mildly, he could take on every other Superhuman in the Special Forces Team single-handedly without losing until he exhausted his strength. Zheng Xuerong warned Ling Feng, Captain Ling, this guy definitely has a trick up his sleeve. Dont agree! Lets just take them down! They knew Zhang Yis one-on-one proposal had to come with some hidden plot. After all, theyd suffered enough at Zhang Yis hands already. But Ling Feng had his reasons. While he wasnt sure how powerful Zhang Yis group was, he knew Liang Yue was a terrifying martial arts master whose combat ability only he could match in the Special Forces Team. The middle-aged man who could grow giant was likely weaker than Shi Dayong, but not by much. Then there was the seemingly harmless Fatty Xu, who could manipulate ice and snowthough he hadnt shown his full strength yet, especially since the underground wasnt his natural domain. The real test would be out here in the snow. To top it off, there was the strange, mutated tabby cat. He couldnt gauge its power at all. In terms of intelligence, Ling Feng knew far less about Zhang Yis side. In a free-for-all, Ling Feng was confident he could win, but he worried it might be a hollow victory. If his comrades died, hed never forgive himself. One-on-one, fine! Ill face you one-on-one! Ling Feng decided after careful thought, accepting Zhang Yis offer. Zheng Xuerong urged him, Captain Ling, be carefulit could be a trap! Ling Feng smirked. In the face of absolute strength, tricks are meaningless. If hes unprepared, this will be a one-sided slaughter. Ling Feng believed he knew 80% of Zhang Yis abilities, primarily the ability to absorb and reflect physical attacks. With that in mind, all he had to do was attack from a direction not covered by Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate, and victory was assured. After weighing the situation, Ling Feng agreed to Zhang Yis proposal. The two agreed to a duel in a nearby valley, forbidding any interference from their teammates until one of them lay dead. Zhang Yi and Ling Feng approached the valley from opposite directions. Outside the valley, their teams stood watch. Each side eyed the other coldly, neither willing to make a move that could disrupt the fight. However, Zheng Xuerong and her teammates appeared noticeably more confident. They knew Ling Fengs strength better than anyone and believed that in a one-on-one match, he was unbeatable. In contrast, Fatty Xu and the others looked slightly nervous. Zhang Yi had always said he would only consider a one-on-one fight as a last resort. They had no idea if Zhang Yi could beat Ling Feng. Even they didnt fully understand Zhang Yis powers. Zheng Xuerong sneered at their unease and suddenly spoke up. Well, since our leaders are busy dueling, how about I let you in on a little secret? Did you know that some Superhumans have the power to absorb others abilities? Fatty Xu and the others were taken aback; they had never heard of such a thing. Their experience with Superhuman battles was limited. But Hua Hua, crouched on Uncle Yous shoulder, stared intently at Zheng Xuerong. Zheng Xuerong smoothed her wind-tousled hair and continued, Seems you didnt know! Heres some free intelligence for you. Some rare Superhumans can absorb the powers of weaker opponents, making themselves even stronger. Our Captain has personally killed three enemy Superhumans and taken their abilities. Thats why his powers are unrivaled! Zheng Xuerong smiled cruelly. That Zhang Yi guy is dead for sure! He doesnt know his place! The faces of Uncle You and his teammates grew tense. Even Liang Yue felt a pang of worry, but at this point, there was no turning back. No way. Boss wont lose! Fatty Xu suddenly spoke up, clenching his teeth. Zheng Xuerong looked at him, surprised. And why do you say that? Fatty Xu summoned his courage. Because our boss is terrified of dying! Hed never risk his life so easily! Zheng Xuerongs t Please, is that supposed to be reassuring? Just you wait; Captain Ling will soon be carrying his head back! Zheng Xuerong scoffed. No one else spoke; they all waited for the fight to end. Though they hadnt begun, everyone was prepared to fight at a moments notice. Despite the agreement for a one-on-one battle, Ling Feng and Zhang Yi were the key combatants for each side. Once one of them emerged victorious, it would shift the balance of power, potentially leading to a full confrontation. If Zhang Yi could somehow take down Ling Feng with strength to spare, he wouldnt hesitate to break the agreement and attack Zheng Xuerong, Shi Dayong, and the others. ? But right now, he had to deal with the crisis directly in front of him. Inside the valley, Zhang Yi and Ling Feng trudged through the hardened snow, sinking to their knees with each step. The deep snow made movement difficult for both of them, equalizing the disadvantage. They stood about ten meters apart. Everyone knew Zhang Yi wasnt suited for close combat. Staring at Ling Fengs murderous gaze, Zhang Yi sighed. Do we really have to fight? Im not exactly a combat type. My powers lean more towards support. Ling Feng replied coldly, Theres no choice. Today, you die here. Zhang Yi said helplessly, I never wanted this, but you forced my hand. You know, I once had a dream of Ling Fengs patience snapped, and he cut him off. Quit stalling! It wont change your fate! Seeing his ruse exposed, Zhang Yi clenched his fists, disappointed. If I die, keep your promise and spare my friends. Theyre innocent. Ling Feng took a deep breath and nodded. I promise I wont harm them. Zhang Yi continued, And my cat. Dont eat her; just let her go. Maybe my friends will take care of her. Ling Fengs veins bulged in irritation. Are you a woman or something? Enough chitchat. Lets fight! Refusing to listen further, Ling Feng stomped down, shattering the ground beneath him as he launched himself at Zhang Yi like a released arrow. Quadruple speed! Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Without hesitation, Zhang Yi boosted his speed to the maximum! Author''s Note Chapter 323: I’m Not Skilled in Combat. Chapter 323 : Im Not Skilled in Combat. Ling Feng didn''t want to waste time; he aimed to take down Zhang Yi as quickly as possible to prevent any unexpected events. Even though Zhang Yi activated fourfold speed, it still couldnt match Ling Fengs enhanced physical abilities. However, before entering the valley, he injected himself with the remaining two doses of stimulants. At this moment, his state surpassed his peak! Zhang Yi quickly retreated, extending his right hand forward as the Dimensional Gate instantly opened in front of him. The massive gate blocked Ling Fengs path. However, after several encounters, Ling Feng had become familiar with this strange dimensional doorway and could sense its presence thanks to his powerful instincts. Seeing Zhang Yi use this trick again, Ling Feng smirked coldly. As long as his speed surpassed Zhang Yis rate of redirecting the gate, he could plunge his military dagger right into Zhang Yis heart! Suddenly, an enormous object materialized in front of Ling Feng, crashing toward his head. It was a massive heavy-duty truck. Hm? Startled, Ling Feng quickly dodged to the side. Does his superhuman ability include throwing objects now? Ling Feng had seen the Dimensional Gates power to repel attacks, but this was the first time hed seen it hurling objects. But Ling Feng shrugged it off, considering such attacks mere childs playnothing that could truly threaten him. However, that was only the beginning. After the truck, more items started to pour out. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pickup trucks, Bentleys, Rolls-Royces, excavators, industrial lathes... These were random things Zhang Yi had collected during his spare time, initially planning to use them for other purposes, but now they became weapons to crush his opponent. Ling Fengs speed was remarkable, yet Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate continued throwing objects at such a rate that Ling Feng found it challenging to evade. Clang! Ling Feng drew a combat knife from his back and, facing an oncoming car, he let out a shout and sliced it in half with one blow. The one-ton car split in two, crashing into the snow on either side. Nice blade! Lets keep going! Excitement gleamed in Zhang Yis eyes as he kept the Dimensional Gate wide open, dumping objects from it like a garbage truck. In preparation for todays fight, he had gone out of his way to several supermarkets and malls to stockpile various items. Ling Fengs close-combat skills were formidable, yet he lacked any long-range or area-clearing abilities, so these random objects were an annoying distraction. Ridiculous. Do you think these things can actually hurt me? Ling Feng sneered, casually slashing through the barrage of objects. Zhang Yi kept retreating, chuckling, If thats the case, then why are you dodging? Despite his dismissive words, Ling Feng remained wary of Zhang Yis possible tricks, so he diligently avoided the incoming junk, taking a roundabout path toward Zhang Yi. However, with Zhang Yi throwing everything he had and keeping the pressure up, Ling Feng couldnt close the gap. I dont believe you can keep throwing things forever! Ling Fengs eyes turned cold. With the Dimensional Gate in play, firearms were uselesshe had to bypass it and engage Zhang Yi in close combat. Once he got within three meters of Zhang Yi, he could end him in a heartbeat! Without a word, Zhang Yi continued hurling random objects to block Ling Fengs path. Cars, toys, wooden planks... and a mishmash of colorful lingerie. Most of the earlier items were easy enough for Ling Feng to slice apart. But the flying undergarmentsbrightly colored bras and pantiesmade him pause. The strong winds in the valley carried these light objects everywhere, disrupting Ling Fengs vision. It was the epitome of absurdity. Although he could punch through a multi-ton truck, these flimsy lace items had him stymied. Clownish behavior! Ling Feng cursed silently. He saw this as a low-effort, time-wasting tactic on Zhang Yis part, more insulting than damaging. I refuse to believe you wont run out of things to throw! Ling Feng had no idea of the exact capacity of Zhang Yis Dimensional Space. Nor did he know Zhang Yi had barely explored its full capacity, which was vast enough to hold an endless number of objects. Gritting his teeth, Ling Feng grabbed a pair of black lace lingerie that had landed on his arm, trying to shake it off. But the damn thing clung to his arm, refusing to budge. Ling Feng grew increasingly frustrated, and before he could clear himself of the junk, even more lingerie landed on him, further hindering his movements. Rip! With a fierce tug, Ling Feng shredded the garments. While these items posed a minor inconvenience, they werent enough to immobilize someone of Ling Fengs strength. Boom! Another heap of wooden debris, metal barrels, and iron sheets rained down on Ling Feng. Noticing the metal barrels, Ling Feng felt a twinge of foreboding. If those barrels contained gasoline, they could obscure his vision and give Zhang Yi a chance to ignite them. Hurriedly, he shifted to dodge. As expected, the barrels Zhang Yi threw out were filled with gasolineopen-lid barrels, no less. Dozens of barrels dropped from above, and despite Ling Fengs efforts, some gasoline splashed onto him. It wasnt just on him; the surrounding snow was also soaked with gasoline. You sneaky brat! Ling Feng muttered through clenched teeth. Zhang Yi pulled out a pistol, firing a tracer round at the ground near Ling Feng. Whoosh The tracer round ignited the gasoline, and flames instantly roared to life, engulfing a large area around Ling Feng. But Zhang Yi didnt let up; he knew Ling Feng wouldnt perish in mere flames. Moreover, the Special Forces combat gear Ling Feng wore was heat-resistant, but with the blaze raging, his vision was certainly obstructed. Especially the infrared night vision, which would now be useless. Ling Feng glanced at the flames licking his body, unimpressed. He didnt even bother to pat them out. This fire couldnt harm him. The only nuisance was the sheer brightness of the flames, which made it hard to track Zhang Yi. How long do you think you can keep up this stalling tactic? Ling Feng sneered, finding Zhang Yis approach foolish. To him, any tactic that didnt inflict actual harm was worthless. You might be a genius in defensive maneuvers, but when it comes to offense, youre nothing but a clown. Ling Feng sneered at Zhang Yis unconventional methods. But just as he prepared to step out of the fires perimeter, Zhang Yi launched another attack. This time, dozens of barrels appeared overhead, though they contained not gasoline but a strange milky-white liquid. Author''s Note Chapter 324: Intelligence is King? Chapter 324: Intelligence is King? Ling Feng watched as another dozen metal barrels were hurled his way, and his frustration ignited. He swiftly dodged, trying to avoid being splattered by gasoline again. But when the barrels hit the ground, they exploded with a loud bang! What splattered out wasnt gasoline, but a thick, milky-white liquid! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! The barrels continued to rain down around Ling Feng, bursting open. Even with his agility, it was impossible to dodge the ever-present splashes of white liquid. Soon, he found himself covered in the stuff, with even his tactical helmet visor smeared. His vision was severely impaired. What is this stuff? Ling Feng was beginning to feel uneasy. Just as he prepared to exit the ring of fire, he noticed his clothing was starting to stick together. He tried to wipe off the white liquid from his helmet visor, but the more he wiped, the messier it became. Eventually, even his gloves began sticking. This is... super adhesive latex paint! Finally, Ling Feng realized what it was. Zhang Yis tricks seemed endless, rendering Ling Fengs formidable power utterly useless. Despicable! Ling Feng roared in anger. Relying on his raw strength, he tore through the adhesive paint sticking to him. But Zhang Yis assault didnt let up. He had over a hundred barrels of this adhesive ready! To be honest, this was one of his secret weapons against Ling Feng. Before the operation, Zhang Yi had set a rule for himselfhe wasnt the brawling type, and close combat wasnt his forte, so he had to avoid direct confrontation with Ling Feng at all costs! Since he couldnt win head-on, he would exhaust and frustrate Ling Feng, preventing him from unleashing his power. That was his path to victory! In this fight, Zhang Yis only advantage over Ling Feng was intelligence! While Ling Feng knew little about Zhang Yis abilities, Zhang Yi had thoroughly studied Ling Fengs strengths through a hacker network. Super adhesive paintdesigned to frustrate those who prided themselves on their close-combat abilities. The paint covering Ling Fengs visor rendered him temporarily blind. Zhang Yi kept throwing barrels of adhesive paint, this time pouring it directly onto Ling Fengs body. Although Ling Feng tried to dodge using his hearing, it wasnt as effective as being able to see clearly. Frustrated to the limit, Ling Feng roared furiously and tore off his combat suit with sheer brute force. He then took off his helmet and tossed it into the flames. What a pathetic trick! Did you really think you could challenge me? Now die! Zhang Yis antics had finally ignited Ling Fengs fury. Anyone facing such an opponent would feel the same rage. At the start of the fight, Zhang Yi had put on a weak front. But as soon as the battle began, he revealed himself to be utterly ruthless! But now, Ling Fengs path to Zhang Yi was even more obstructed. There was no snow left underfoot. The flames from the barrels of gasoline had melted the snowy ground, turning it into a slushy, icy mess. His legs sank into the muddy snow water, and the scattered ice chunks made his movements more cumbersome. But Ling Feng didnt care about any of this. He believed that as long as he held out until Zhang Yi ran out of items to throw, he could close the distance and crush Zhang Yis head with a single punch! Before Ling Feng could break through the ring of fire, he caught a glimpse of Zhang Yis faint smile in the distance. Zhang Yi raised his right hand, and the Dimensional Gate opened mid-air, releasing a hundred barrels that tumbled out with a crash. The barrels were lidless, and their contents scattered into the cold mountain air, carried by the wind throughout the valley. The scent of the sea spread quickly, overpowering even the strong smell of gasoline. The barrels were filled with a fine, powdery substancenot gunpowder, nor poison. However, upon smelling this scent, Ling Fengs eyes filled with terror. He quickly covered his nose and mouth, holding his breath. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi looked at Ling Feng calmly and said, Everyone has a weakness. No one is truly invincible. Just like the so-called invincible Captain Ling Fengimmune to knives and bulletsbut allergic to seafood. The West Hill Base had detailed information on every individual. Ling Fengs weakness was his severe seafood allergy. An allergic reaction like his could be fatal without prompt medical attention. But even if seafood hadnt been his weakness, Zhang Yi had plenty of other dirty tricks ready to deal with Ling Feng. Poison, aphrodisiacs, lime powder, feces Everyone has weaknesses. Everyone can be killed! Armed with sufficient intelligence and time to prepare, even a minor vulnerability could become a death sentence! Zhang Yi didnt feel a shred of shame for his tactics. Instead, he took pride in them. Whatever could kill his opponent was the best strategy. Spreading his arms wide, Zhang Yi surveyed the valley filled with swirling seafood powder. This is a blend of over thirty types of seafood. I guarantee at least one of them will trigger the best allergic reaction for you. He had scoured numerous supermarkets to gather all that seafood powder. Ling Feng held his breath, refusing to inhale the allergen-laden air. But no one can hold their breath forever. His mind raced, struggling to understand how Zhang Yi had uncovered his allergy. He couldnt accept losing to Zhang Yithis despicable bastard! Holding in a last gulp of air, Ling Feng charged forward from the icy water, desperate to go all-out against Zhang Yi! Zhang Yi, always cautious, kept a safe distance from Ling Feng. Seeing him rushing over, Zhang Yi didnt waste a second, turning and running again! In any case, all he had to do was drag this out, and Ling Feng would collapse sooner or later. There was no need for Zhang Yi to hurry. Ling Feng was fastfaster than Zhang Yi at this point. But from the Dimensional Gate, an endless stream of lingerie and childrens stuffed toys flew out, relentlessly blocking his view. After over a minute of chasing, Ling Fengs face turned beet-red, swelling like dough in an oven. Clutching his neck, he finally crumpled to the ground, utterly spent. Zhang Yi stood thirty meters away, watching Ling Feng collapse. He calmly stepped back another thirty meters. Then, lighting a campfire nearby, he pulled out a few chocolate bars from his Dimensional Space and began munching on them. The valley fell into silence. After about ten minutes, the lifeless Ling Feng suddenly sprang up. Zhang Yi!!! He shouted furiously, his face horribly swollen like a beaten pig. So he had been faking his death! While he did suffer from a seafood allergy, as a super soldier, he always carried anti-allergy medication. His plan had been to play dead, lure Zhang Yi closer, then strike. But he didnt expect Zhang Yi to be so cautiousto actually sit by the fire, eating and recovering his strength instead. Zhang Yi could wait; he couldnt! The medicine only alleviated his symptoms, not cure him completely. And with seafood powder still swirling in the valley, he had no choice but to spring up and resume his chase. Without another word, Zhang Yi finished his last bite of chocolate and bolted. Author''s Note Chapter 325: Divine Power Chapter 325: Divine Power Ling Feng frantically chased after Zhang Yi, but his physical condition was deteriorating rapidly due to his allergy. Even though he forced himself to keep fighting, he was far from his peak. Zhang Yi, however, had no qualms about simply running away. After all, he wasnt the one stuck in the toxic circle. As long as he could hold out, he would win. So why step forward to fight head-on? The key was to endure until the very end and claim victory. Ling Fengs consciousness began to blur. Allergies are a severe and often fatal weakness for anyone, a natural flaw like Achilles'' heel. Even the strongest cant overcome it. Ling Feng never imagined that with his seemingly unbeatable close-combat skills, hed end up defeated by Zhang Yis underhanded tactics! Boom! Ling Fengs sturdy body collapsed to the ground and didnt rise again. Zhang Yi maintained a safe distance, lighting a fire to keep himself warm while eating to replenish his strength. Half an hour passed slowly. By then, Zhang Yi was well-rested and had eaten his fill, keeping his body in peak condition. Looking at Ling Fengs motionless form in the distance, Zhang Yi muttered, Is he really dead, or just faking? He pulled out his Desert Eagle, loaded with armor-piercing rounds, and aimed a shot directly at Ling Fengs head. Pop! A gaping bullet hole appeared in Ling Fengs head, clean through, but no blood flowed. In the freezing temperatures, even his blood had solidified. Is he really dead? Zhang Yis heart surged with excitement, though he struggled to keep it in check. Had he truly killed the invincible captain of West Hill Bases Special Forces? The evidence suggested it, yet such a tremendous achievement felt surreal. Just to be sure, he pulled out a massive truck from his Spatial Storage and dropped it heavily onto Ling Fengs body. Pop! The frozen corpse was severed in half at the waist. Only then did Zhang Yi exhale in relief. It seems hes truly dead. No one would go to such extremes to fake it. He approached Ling Fengs body, Loong Roar Sword flashing into his hand. Upon reaching the body, Zhang Yi immediately chopped off Ling Fengs head. Finally, Im surehes really dead! Zhang Yi let out a breath, completely reassured. Staring at Ling Fengs severed head, he felt a strong impulse rise within him. Squatting down, he placed his right hand on Ling Fengs head. Soon, a familiar sensation coursed through hima tremendous power flowed through his palm and into his body. The feeling was exhilarating, even more satisfying than any other experience he could think of. ?? If absorbing Xie Huanhuans power had been like a gentle stream, then Ling Fengs was a mighty river! This... is incredible! Soon, Zhang Yi had fully absorbed Ling Fengs power. What he didnt yet realize was that Ling Feng had previously devoured the abilities of three other superhumans, all of which now became Zhang Yis. He noticed his vision growing hazy. It felt like something was stirring, ready to emerge, though he couldnt quite tell what. Lifting his visor, he rubbed his eyes. He didnt see the blinding white light intensifying in his pupils, only feeling a strange, growing claritya sense of sharpened perception. Blinking hard, Zhang Yi felt his head spin from the sudden surge of power. He glanced ahead, where a wrecked car lay. Almost instinctively, he let this indescribable sensation flow outward. In the next moment, the space before him twisted into a spiral. Bang! The car gave a loud crack as it twisted in half from the center! A new ability? Only now did Zhang Yi realize that absorbing Ling Fengs power had granted him a new ability. This... is Divine Power? Twisting space to break objects! Zhang Yi instantly named his new ability. He felt a surge of excitement. This new power filled the gap in his attack capabilities. Most firearms were ineffective against combat-oriented superhumans. But superpowers were a different story. If he could twist and break a steel car in half, human bodies would be even easier. The only drawback is that Divine Power consumes a lot of energy. Just one use, and I feel like half my energy is gone. I can probably use it three times in a row. As for its range, it seems to be about 300 meters. Not ideal for long-distance attacks, but within 300 meters, its more effective than a sniper rifle! Divine Power had significant energy consumption, but the sheer destructive power made it worthwhile. One hit was enough to slice a car in half, a feat even a rocket launcher would struggle to achieve. And it was hard for opponents to defend againsta deadly surprise attack! Zhang Yi looked beyond the valley, a sinister smile on his lips. Now, whos in the shadows? He didnt rush out immediately. Instead, he continued eating to replenish his energy. According to what hed learned, superpowers drew energy from within the body, which could be replenished by eating. He planned to strike at full strength. --- Outside the valley. The group had been waiting for over an hour, and a subtle shift in mood began. In the freezing cold of midnight, standing guard wasnt pleasant. Although they wore combat gear with active heating, standing still for so long made their feet numb from the cold. However, no one dared leave, or perhaps, none of them could leave. Until the battle inside was settled, any departure would disrupt the balance of the situation. At first, Zheng Xuerong and her team were fully confident in Ling Feng, convinced that this would be a straightforward fight. After all, based on what they had seen, Zhang Yi seemed to have no chance of defeating Ling Feng. A warehouse clerk without formal training, up against a Special Forces king with incredible superpowerswasnt the outcome obvious? Yet they were unaware of a critical difference between the two: an intelligence gap that had long been present. None of them knew that West Hill Bases information had already leaked. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With the advantage of superior intelligence, Zhang Yi had ample time to prepare against Ling Feng. Meanwhile, Ling Feng was forced into an impromptu fight. As time dragged on, Zheng Xuerong and her companions grew increasingly uneasy. Why isnt it over yet? Shouldnt Captain Ling have killed Zhang Yi by now? Zheng Xuerong murmured. Shi Dayong reassured her, Maybe the captain is just taking his time torturing him. Dont worry. We have to trust the captains strength! Zheng Xuerong frowned. But Captain Ling isnt one to be careless. A well-trained soldier would aim to finish his opponent quickly, without toying around. On the other hand, Fatty Xu and Uncle You were beginning to smile. The longer it took, the more it played into Zhang Yis strategy. Zhang Yi was known for his extreme caution. The longer the fight continued, the greater the likelihood of his victory. Author''s Note Chapter 326: Total Annihilation! Chapter 326: Total Annihilation! Zhang Yi had fully regained his strength. Feeling that the time was right, he grabbed Ling Feng''s head and headed toward the edge of the valley. Instead of coming out through the main entrance, Zhang Yi climbed slowly along the side to reach the cliff. Both groups were stationed outside the cliff, anxiously waiting for the outcome of the battle inside. Zhang Yi used the intercom to contact Fatty Xu and Uncle You. Dont look surprised or act strange. Wait for my signal, then attack! Upon hearing Zhang Yis voice, a flash of joy appeared in their eyes. It was Zhang Yis voicehe was still alive! This meant Zhang Yi had won, and Ling Feng was dead! The two quickly suppressed their excitement and discreetly prepared for an attack. Zhang Yi carefully lay on the cliff, scanning the crowd, including Shi Dayong and the others. After a moments thought, he locked his gaze on Zheng Xuerong. Like Fatty Xu, she was also an Ice-element superhuman with powerful control abilities but lacked physical strength. Zhang Yis right eye started to emit a supernatural power. The space around Zheng Xuerongs neck began to distort. Sensing the discomfort, she shrieked and tried to run. But the next moment, a massive gush of blood erupted from her neck! The flesh on one side of her neck was torn to shreds by an unseen force, severing her main artery, and blood spurted out like a fountain. Zhang Yi stood up on the cliff and raised Ling Fengs head high. Ling Feng is dead by my hand! Fatty Xu summoned an immense amount of ice and snow, launching an attack at the opposing side. Snow waves swept across like a tsunami, blinding Shi Dayong and his team! Uncle You shouted to Hua Hua and Liang Yue, Go! Kill them all! Although taken aback, Hua Hua and Liang Yue quickly reacted. The three charged toward the other side. Meanwhile, the Special Forces Team members were in shock, stunned by the sight before them. Their strongest captain, Ling Feng, had been killed by Zhang Yi! Though they didnt want to believe it, the lifeless head proved it all. With Zheng Xuerong also eliminated, the Special Forces Team descended into chaos. Before they could react, Liang Yue had already rushed forward, wielding her Tang Sword! The Special Forces combat strength had plummeted. With Ling Feng and Zheng Xuerong dead, Ye Ronghua seriously injured, and Fang Zuns powers hindered by the environment, only Shi Dayong and Xu Mingjie were capable of fighting. However, Ling Feng''s death shattered their morale. Meanwhile, Liang Yue and Uncle You displayed formidable strength, with Zhang Yi supporting from a distance using his abilities. This turned the battle into a one-sided massacre! Leave no one alive! Zhang Yi growled. He was sick of these people who repeatedly attacked his shelter and disrupted his peaceful life. Fueled by residual stimulants, he was ruthless. Once Liang Yue and the others subdued the enemies, Zhang Yi rushed down the hillside, wielding the Loong Roar Sword to kill them all, one by one! He then began absorbing their superhuman powers in front of Liang Yue and the others. However, this time, the effect felt noticeably weaker, barely enhancing him. Hm? Why isnt there much effect? Zhang Yi frowned. After some thought, he realized the reason. The powers of these people were far below Ling Fengs, and even further below his own level. It was like playing a gamedefeating low-level enemies didnt yield much experience. Zhang Yi turned to Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua. Come here and give it a try! As for Liang Yue, he still held back, not wanting her to grow stronger just yet. In fact, Liang Yue and the others had already learned from Zheng Xuerong that certain superhumans could absorb others'' powers. Yet, she didnt compete with Zhang Yi for it; after all, she owed him a significant favor this time. Uncle You and Fatty Xu tried but soon shook their heads. No luck, boss! I cant feel a thing, Fatty Xu said, dejected. Uncle You agreed, Me neither. They mentioned that not everyone has this ability. Maybe we just dont have the talent like you! Huh? Zhang Yi folded his arms, a question mark forming in his mind. There was still so much he didnt understand about superhumans and their abilities. It seemed hed have to study further; the West Hill Base''s intelligence database might hold relevant records. After all, theyd done plenty of research in this area. Meow! Just then, Hua Hua suddenly bit off Fang Zuns head and swallowed it down in one gulp. Zhang Yi asked, Hua Hua, can you absorb their powers? Hua Hua gave him a look, narrowing her large eyes slightlya sign of agreement. In that case, you can have them all as a midnight snack! Zhang Yi said generously. Hua Hua showed no restraint, devouring all the superhumans. After finishing, she reverted to her kitten form, perched on Zhang Yis shoulder, and began licking her paw. Ugh, what a strong smell! Zhang Yi turned her head away so her mouth wouldnt face him. But it was clear from his gaze that he looked forward to seeing her new strength. With so many superhumans consumed, Hua Hua was bound to become much stronger, making her his top companion. This matter was now settled. The West Hill Base had been destroyed. Even if anyone survived down below, they wouldnt last long. Liang Yue said, Can we leave now? I need to pick up my students. By the way, where will we be staying? Zhang Yi replied coolly, Xu Family Town. He had no intention of letting them stay at Cloud Manor. These troublesome folks could settle in Xu Family Town and make a living by ice-fishing on Lu River. Liang Yue nodded. Fair enough. Just as she was about to leave, Zhang Yi calmly added, Dont rush. Always remember to wrap things up properly. Liang Yue looked at him curiously, wondering what he planned to do next. Zhang Yi went to the West Hill Base entrance, opened his Spatial Storage, and dumped in a pile of destroyed trucks and equipment that Ling Feng had smashed. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, he set up explosives. Once everyone was a safe distance away from the entrance, Zhang Yi pressed the detonator, blowing the passageway shut with wreckage. Even if someone survived, there was no way they could dig through the heavy debris to escape. Author''s Note Dear readers, were grateful to have you with us for each update! If youve been enjoying our work, a 5-star rating on NovelUpdates would mean so much. Thank you for your incredible suppo Chapter 327: Scattered Your Ashes Chapter 327: Scattered Your Ashes Seeing Zhang Yis actions, Liang Yue couldnt help but remark, You really dont leave anyone behind, do you? At this rate, theres barely anyone left alive down there. Ill consider it an insurance policy, Zhang Yi replied coolly. But Im not done yet. Come on, Ill take you somewhere else. He pulled out a snow vehicle and invited Liang Yue to ride in the passenger seat. Curious, Liang Yue had no idea what Zhang Yi was planning next. But with a ride available, she didnt mind tagging along to see what was up. The group boarded the snow vehicle, and Zhang Yi checked his phone, which displayed a 3D map of West Hill Base sent by Yang Xinxin. Before long, they arrived at a remote mountain area. In the distance, the headlights revealed three figures running across the snow. Liang Yue stared at Zhang Yi in shock. You even thought of this? Zhang Yi chuckled. According to the 3D map, I found an escape route connecting to the First Life Pod. Its not hard to guess who might be using it. He stepped on the gas and drove toward them. Seeing the figures, a surge of murderous intent rose in Liang Yues eyes. Chen Xinian! Chen Xinianthe very person responsible for the conflict between West Hill Base and Zhang Yi! He had relentlessly backed Zhang Yi into a corner, giving him no room to breathe. Hed built a brutal system within West Hill, harming countless innocent people, including Liang Yues students. If Zhang Yi let anyone go, it wouldnt be him. He had to die here! The three people fleeing in the snow were indeed Chen Xinian and his guards. After West Hill Base was destroyed, the First Life Pod, located outside the blast zone and built with strong defenses, survived the explosions. But with several vital underground systems damaged and his Special Forces Team out of contact, Chen Xinian knew he was in deep trouble and had fled through the escape route. To save himself, hed even left his wife and child behind. But because of the rush, they had no real transportation and could only leave on foot. As a result, Zhang Yi and his team easily caught up. Seeing two snow vehicles driving toward them, Chen Xinians face turned ashen, his hopes dashed. His two loyal guards quickly raised their guns and readied grenades, preparing for a last stand. One car stopped in front, the other behind, blocking their escape route. Zhang Yi stepped out and sneered at Chen Xinian, his mocking gaze as cold as if he were looking at a captured prey. Isnt this the leader of West Hill Base? Whats the rush, running off without a word? Chen Xinians legs went weak with fear. For the first time, he could taste the raw terror of death. Even in this post-apocalyptic world, hed managed to enjoy life in West Hill Base thanks to his power and authority. But in one night, everything he had was destroyed. To Chen Xinian, Zhang Yi was a living nightmare. Zhang Yi, dont act rashly! I think we can still talk this out, Chen Xinian pleaded quickly, trying to persuade Zhang Yi to spare him. You cant kill me. I, Chen Xinian, am a man of status. If you kill me, itll upset the balance among Tianhai Citys districts! If that happens, who knows how many monsters will flood in here? Youll be facing even greater dangers! Zhang Yi felt a twinge of interesthe hadnt considered that. But his face remained unmoved. Oh? You say so, huh? Look at you. Youve lost everything, and you have no leverage to bargain with me. As Zhang Yi spoke, his team had already surrounded the three of them. Liang Yue, gripping her Tang Sword tightly, stared murderously at Chen Xinian. Between her and Chen Xinian, there was a blood debt. Dozens of her students had been used as his test subjects; some were even processed into protein fluid! She loathed this man from the depths of her heart. Zhang Yis power locked onto the three, and with the surrounding superhumans, they had no chance to resist. Chen Xinian quickly tried to explain, Its a chaotic world, and in chaos, harsh measures are necessary. If I hadnt done those things, everyone wouldve died! Zhang Yi, youre a man of talent; you shouldnt let it go to waste. How about we work together? If you cooperate with me, with your power and my connections and strategies, we can make West Hill Base bigger and stronger! We could even become rulers of Tianhai City! Zhang Yi gave him a dismissive smirk. I dont need that! Chen Xinian opened his mouth to continue persuading Zhang Yi. But in the next instant, his head twisted violently and exploded like a watermelon! The two guards were petrified, shouting, Leader! They pulled the pins on their grenades and charged at Zhang Yi, ready to die with him. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three gunshots rang out, shattering their knees and forcing them to collapse to the ground. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But still, they threw the grenades at Zhang Yi. Unfazed, Zhang Yi opened his hands, summoning a Dimensional Gate to catch the grenades. Then he clapped his hands together, completely dissipating the explosive force. The two guards were dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what they were seeing. Zhang Yi calmly walked up to them and placed his right hand on one guards chest. A surge of energy shot out from the Dimensional Gate, enveloping the guard! In mere seconds, his body was reduced to a flaming skeleton. Satisfied, Zhang Yi examined his right hand. My control over spatial power is getting stronger! Watching Zhang Yis display of power, Liang Yue felt a strange mix of emotions. Since theyd first met, Zhang Yi had become terrifyingly strong. She could hardly imagine how powerful he would become if he continued evolving at this rate. After killing Chen Xinian and his guards, Zhang Yi ignited their bodies, burning them down to ashes. Once the corpses were reduced to ashes, he scattered them into the wind with a pleased look on his face. The rest of the group watched his actions in stunned silence. Was that really necessary? Liang Yue asked, unable to hold back. Youre being overly cautious. Youve already destroyed all of West Hill Base. What more could you be worried about? Zhang Yi replied seriously, Chen Xinian was a big name in Tianhai City. Who knows what kind of connections he had? What if someone comes seeking revenge after hes dead? Liang Yue rolled her eyes. At this point, you really think thats possible? Zhang Yi said, I want to eliminate even the slightest chance of danger! Then he grinned at Liang Yue. If youd all thought about the consequences a bit more before heading to West Hill Base, maybe things wouldnt have ended up like this. Liang Yues heart jolted. Thinking about her students who had died so horribly, grief swept over her. She looked at Zhang Yi with a complex expression, beginning to understand his way of doing things. Author''s Note Chapter 328: Gathering Allies Chapter 328: Gathering Allies Zhang Yi called everyone back. He, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu had all injected stimulants, which gave them a boost of energy and combat strength for a short period. However, twelve hours later, they would be weakened. So he had to return to a safe place to rest up for a while. As for the West Hill Base, hed come back again sometime later. After all, there was a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition there, along with plenty of supplies for extreme situations. Zhang Yi was a frugal person; nothing would go to waste. The group got in the car, and Liang Yue reminded him, Lets go pick up my students first! Following Zhang Yi''s instructions, her students had taken shelter in the nearest residential area. With the food and fuel Zhang Yi gave them, they could survive the cold night for a while. But if they arrived too late and ran out of fuel, theyd be done for! Zhang Yi didnt say much, steering the car toward that direction. Although he didnt particularly like those students, he did admire Liang Yue. And he had his eye on her combat skills. "One day, Ill make her my own!" Zhang Yi thought to himself, amused. As to what my own meant, hed see how things played out. After driving for over ten minutes, they arrived at the apartment building. From a distance, they saw a faint light from one of the windows. The students were gathered inside, using chairs and furniture to fuel a fire with the fuel Zhang Yi had given them. Zhang Yi let Liang Yue out of the car and said, Well head back now. As we agreed, Ill provide you with a place to stay and some food. You all can head to Xu Family Town. There are plenty of empty houses there now. Zhang Yis plan was quite calculated. At this point, he could easily cut ties with Liang Yue and her students, leaving them to fend for themselves. But if Liang Yue actually followed his advice and went to Xu Family Town, shed be one step into his net. Making her his was just a matter of time. Right now, Zhang Yis car couldnt fit so many people, so theyd have to arrange their own transportation. As for the remaining miles, how they got there wasnt his concern. Zhang Yi didnt have the slightest fondness for those students who had bullied Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. Ideally, theyd all die along the way, leaving only Liang Yue to reach the destinationthat would be the best outcome. Liang Yue couldnt help but ask, Cant you come back later to get us? Zhang Yi looked at her and said calmly, Teacher Liang, Ive already fulfilled our agreement. I got you all out! And to show my gratitude, I even agreed to give you and your students food and a place to stay. If you want to ask for anything else, then He rubbed his fingers together. Youll need to offer something valuable in return. Liang Yue was taken aback. I I thought we were friends. Precisely because were friends, we need to be transparent! That way, it wont hurt our relationship. Zhang Yi smiled. Liang Yue was at a loss for words. Fine, well make our way there ourselves! She replied a bit angrily. Initially, she had wanted to ask if she could get back her beloved Loong Roar Sword. But seeing Zhang Yi like this, she knew it was impossible. Trying to take advantage of this shrewd man was harder than reaching the heavens. All right, see you at Xu Family Town! Zhang Yi waved to her before getting back in the car, and the group drove away. Liang Yue returned to the room where her students were sheltered, only to see them staring out at the departing snow vehicle, full of worry. Are you all okay? she asked with concern. The students sat around the fire, looking somewhat okay and warm in the room. There was some risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, but they couldnt care about that right now. One of the students looked up and asked, Teacher Liang, why did they leave? Werent they supposed to arrange a place for us? Liang Yue noticed the disappointment in their eyes. Although theyd escaped the nightmare of West Hill Base, survival was still uncertain without a steady supply of food and shelter. Liang Yue quickly reassured them, Dont worry. Ive spoken with Zhang Yi, and Ill take you all to Xu Family Town, where the living conditions are good. There are villagers in Xu Family Town, and its close to the Lu River, where we can catch fish for food. The students exchanged glances, falling silent. Clearly, this reality was a far cry from their ideal, leaving them disappointed. Wu Chengyu stood up from the group, furrowing his brows in confusion, and asked: Teacher Liang, from what I know, after Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran were taken away, they were living in Zhang Yis villa. That shelter was built by Wang Siming with a billion dollars. I even toured it once. That place is big enough for all of us to stay. Why didnt you ask Zhang Yi if we could move in there? The living conditions would be much better. The others eyes lit up, and they chimed in, Yeah, yeah! Since Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran can stay there, why cant we? Teacher Liang, please go talk to Zhang Yi! Its so cold out here; catching fish would freeze our hands! Their eyes held a spark of greed. It was clear theyd already discussed this and had imagined a comfortable life in the shelter. But seeing their hopeful expressions, Liang Yue had no choice but to shatter their dreams. Lets drop this idea. Zhang Yi already helped us escape West Hill Base, and that alone was no small favor. Now were square. No one owes anything. What right do we have to stay in his shelter? Recalling Zhang Yis cold demeanor, she added, Hes not some altruistic saint. Better give up on that thought! At least now were free, and thats better than being in constant danger at West Hill Base. Hearing their dreams crumble, the students grew restless. Liang Yue frowned and said firmly: All right, enough! Tonight, well take turns on watch. Rest well, and at dawn, well head to Xu Family Town! Traveling at night was too dangerous, with poor visibility and bitter cold. Although disappointed and reluctant, the students knew better than to go against Liang Yues words now. After a month at West Hill Base, theyd come to understand that things werent the same anymore, and Teacher Liangs strength was their biggest hope for survival. --- Elsewhere, Zhang Yi led the group to Yuelu Residential Area to pick up Zhou Keer, Yang Xinxin, and the others. Hearing about Zhang Yis success, the women at the safe house were overjoyed. With West Hill Base destroyed, their lives would be safe again. In the apocalypse, who didnt want a stable and happy life? With the women cheering in his ear, Zhang Yi and his companions exchanged smiles. Zhang Yi said to Uncle You, Why dont you and Aunt Zhou move in with us at Cloud Manor? Its full of luxury villas, so feel free to choose one. Its much better than Yuelu Residential Area. And being close to each other, we can support each other. Uncle You thought about it and readily agreed. Yes, I think thats a good idea. After this battle, Ive really come to appreciate the strength of unity. He laughed, Honestly, living there alone with Aunt Zhou, sometimes I did feel a bit scared. Fatty Xu chimed in, Uncle You, what do you have to be scared of? With your strength, unless its an organized group like West Hill Base, fifty ordinary people wouldnt stand a chance against you. Uncle You sighed, Its those organized groups I worry about! Zhang Yis eyes narrowed slightly, Uncle Yous concerns are valid. Theres no way West Hill Base was the only group in Tianhai City. This much is clear from what Chen Xinian said before he died. The Ice Age may have killed most people, but those who survived arent easy to deal with. Remember, Tianhai City had twenty million people! Imagine how many superhumans and armed forces might be here. Still, Zhang Yi chuckled to lighten the mood, But we dont need to worry too much. West Hill Base was powerful, but we still destroyed it. If we stick together, we have nothing to fear! The three exchanged looks of mutual confidence. Besides them, Hua Hua, Yang Xinxin, Lu Keran, and Zhou Keer were all either strong fighters or skilled support members. Even Liang Yue, a martial arts master, could be an ally. Such a powerful team would make any rival reconsider. Uncle You nodded firmly, Then its settledwere moving! With Zhang Yis help, relocating was nothing more than a small task. The group drove their snow vehicle back to the safe house. Upon arriving, the women ran to them in excitement. Zhou Haimei anxiously asked Uncle You if he was hurt. Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah carefully checked Zhang Yi over. Lu Keran watched with a shy smile, hesitating to approach, but Zhang Yi noticed and gave her a big bear hug. Thank you all. This victory wouldnt have been possible without your support. Lu Keran bl sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ushed, I just did a little; it was you guys who did most of the work. Dont underestimate yourself; youre very important to me! Zhang Yi playfully pinched her cheek, making her blush even more as she lowered her head, avoiding his gaze. Then, he noticed two jealous looks from nearby. He glanced down to see Yang Xinxin in her wheelchair, pouting at him. Zhang Yi leaned down, giving her a hug, and said, If you ask me, our biggest hero this time is Xinxin! Without your powerful hacking skills, our whole plan wouldnt have had a foundation. Though he was clearly trying to flatter her, everyone agreed it was true. Without Yang Xinxin, they wouldnt have had a chance against West Hill Base. In truth, it was less Zhang Yi destroying the base and more the missile from Jiangnan District that created the opportunity. And all of this was thanks to Yang Xinxins work. In the apocalypse, sometimes a genius in a particular field could be more valuable than a superhuman. Author''s Note Chapter 329: Aftereffects of the Stimulant Chapter 329: Aftereffects of the StimulantZhang Yi discussed moving back, which made Yang Siyah, Zhou Keer, and the others very happy. The Safe House was far too cramped for so many people, definitely not as spacious as the Shelter. They had gotten used to luxury, so going back to simple living was hard. The Shelter, with its five stories and all the facilities, was practically a palace. Uncle You asked Zhou Haimei for her opinion. She readily agreed and even asked Zhang Yi, Is my old villa still there? I spent 180 million on it when I bought it! After all, it was a villa she paid for herself. Even though real estate had become worthless in the apocalypse, she still couldnt let it go. Zhang Yi shook his head, smiling, It was destroyed long ago! But there are still many other intact villas; picking a new one to live in will be the same. Zhou Haimei sighed, feeling a sense of loss. That was my lifes savings! Even for a celebrity, buying a house required great effort, so she couldnt help feeling emotional. Still, she had no complaints about moving back. It was just too dull here. Going back to Cloud Manor, she could even stop by Zhang Yis place to visit Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah for a game of mahjongwhat a treat! So, everyone started packing. But Zhang Yi stopped them from bringing everything. Just take the essentials. Keep the place as it is and leave some supplies behind. In case anything happens, this place can serve as a temporary refuge. Everyone agreed; it made a lot of sense. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yis Dimensional Space was stocked with supplies, so they packed only the important items, leaving lightly. Zhang Yi was the last to leave, locking the heavy alloy door. No one else could enter this place without him, and he certainly wasnt leaving it for others to use. The group went downstairs, and Zhang Yi brought out the Snow Vehicle for everyone to board. At that moment, Zhang Yi sensed someone watching from nearby. He turned and spotted a figure in a black down jacket in the distance. It was Li Jian. Frowning slightly, Zhang Yi walked over to him. Li Jian didnt flee, waiting calmly for Zhang Yi to approach. Out wandering instead of sleeping? What are you up to? Li Jian quickly answered, There was a big explosion from the west tonight; it woke us up, so I havent slept. The explosion he mentioned was, of course, the missile. Zhang Yi looked him over, considering his peculiar powers, and asked, Hows your health lately? Any strange feelings? Li Jians powers were oddly bestowed by people who called themselves followers of the Snow God. Zhang Yi hadnt dealt with them directly, but he sensed that someday theyd cross paths. ? Knowing more about them could only be helpful. Li Jian shook his head. No, I barely dare to use my power. Professor Ge warned me that if I use it too much, I might end up as fertilizer. Zhang Yi nodded, ending the conversation. Li Jians ability wasnt of much use to him now. So he didnt plan to kill Li Jian or recruit him. After all, Li Jian had the people of Building 18 depending on him. Those people had no grudges with Zhang Yi and posed no threat. For people like that, Zhang Yi didnt mind letting them live their lives. Li Jian could stay here, in case he proved useful someday. That night, the group returned to the Shelter. Though only a day and a half had passed, returning felt like ages. This place had almost been destroyed by a missile, reduced to rubble. But now, their enemy was gone, and nothing could disrupt their peaceful life. It was late, and everyone was exhausted, so Zhang Yi had them settle down to rest. They could pick their villas after regaining their strength. There were over ten untouched villas nearby, so Fatty Xu and Uncle You could choose freely. Throughout, Zhang Yi made it clear that the Shelter wouldnt be shared with others. It wasnt that he didnt trust Uncle You and Fatty Xu. Zhang Yi had great faith in Uncle You, but he still had reservations about Fatty Xu. As for Zhou Haimei, Zhang Yi kept up polite appearances mainly out of respect for Uncle You. He didnt trust the two of them entirely; they were more like allies united by mutual benefit. Keeping them out of the Shelter was better. Besides, it would be inconvenient if they all lived together. For instance, Zhang Yi had his own needs and lifestyle. With others around, it would be harder to relax and go about freely. Uncle You shared this sentiment, happy to live on his own. As for Fatty Xu, after being used by Xu Lili, he had become a bit afraid of women. At home, he only felt comfortable speaking with Zhang Yi. He was more than happy to move out and spend time with his figurines and pillows. After all these days of worry and over a month of tension, they could finally sleep soundly! Zhang Yi embraced Hua Hua and returned to his cozy room. He locked the door from inside, as he would soon enter a weakened state. The stimulant had drained his energy, and the post-use aches and fatigue would be severe. Especially since hed taken three doses at once! In the days that followed, life returned to normal. Both Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu entered a weakened state. They could only describe it as a limp body and a dull mind. Zhang Yi just wanted to lie in bed and do nothing. Thankfully, he had plenty of women around. Zhou Keer, Yang Siyah, and Lu Keran took turns taking care of him, which felt quite nice. Fatty Xu, however, was less fortunate, lying in bed alone and relying on manga to pass the time. Each day, Yang Siyah would bring food to his bed, but there was no feeding service. Zhang Yi, on the other hand, could enjoy this high-class treatment. Meanwhile, Liang Yue led her students on a difficult journey to Xu Family Town. The town was left with only elderly, women, and children, and many houses were vacant. Liang Yue and her dozen students took up two empty houses. The villagers avoided contact with them. Especially when they saw Liang Yue in her Special Forces uniform from West Hill Base, they instinctively kept their distance. The shadow left by West Hill Bases Special Forces would likely haunt them until death. With housing settled, the issue of food remained challenging. The students werent fishermen; they didnt have the skills to cut through ice for fishing. Soft-hearted, Liang Yue couldnt bear to rob the weak. So she had no choice but to go to the Shelter and ask Zhang Yi for food as he had promised. Author''s Note Chapter 332: The Database Chapter 332: The DatabaseZhang Yi and Liang Yue came to an agreement: she would visit the Shelter every day to teach him martial arts for at least two hours. In return, hed provide food rations for ten people. It wasnt a complete ploy. While Zhang Yi indeed wanted to win Liang Yue over to his side, he was genuinely interested in improving his close-combat abilities. His greatest weakness was still his lack of melee strength, and learning from a former high-profile bodyguard was sure to be valuablepossibly even lifesaving in the future. Ten peoples worth of food, huh? Liang Yue hesitated. Including herself and her students, there were sixteen people, so ten rations wouldnt be enough to feed everyone. Could you give us a little extra? We have sixteen people in total, Liang Yue requested. Zhang Yi gave a slight smile. Ms. Liang, I hope you understand my position. This isnt a one-time supply; its ten portions of food every day. Besides, you wouldnt want your students to become lazy, relying solely on my support to get by, right? There was a strategy behind Zhang Yis approach. Firsthe couldnt allow the students to be too comfortable. If people are too well-fed, they start thinking more, and those thoughts can often lead to trouble. Second, by giving them just a bit of hope but never full satisfaction, Zhang Yi could keep Liang Yue and the others firmly under his control. Liang Yues face showed a moment of embarrassment at Zhang Yis words. Shed once proudly declared shed help her students solve their survival problems, but here she was, needing Zhang Yis help to feed them. It felt like a slap in the face. Fine, ten portions it is, she decided. She planned to take some food from Zhang Yi and have her students work to gather the rest, ensuring they wouldnt struggle too much to survive. Satisfied, Liang Yue accepted Zhang Yis terms. After collecting the food, she returned quickly to Xu Family Town. Her students had already gone hungry for a day, huddled together in a snow hut, and any further delay could mean someone starving to death. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi pulled a blanket from behind the couch, draped it over himself, and lay back, idly watching TV. Just then, he heard the sound of a wheelchair rolling. He looked over to see Lu Keran pushing Yang Xinxin toward him. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smiled faintly, Youre a bit late; your teacher just left. Yang Xinxin gave a slight smile. I came because she left. Oh? Dont you want to chat with your teacher? Zhang Yi asked. Yang Xinxin shook her head. If wed been here, our presence wouldve affected your negotiations with her. Zhang Yi smirked. If it were a significant decision, he wouldnt let anyones presence influence his thinking. As she drew closer, Yang Xinxin suddenly asked, Brother, are you trying to court Ms. Liang? Zhang Yi nearly choked on his coffee, almost spilling it out his nose. Cough, cough Why would you ask that out of the blue? Zhang Yi tried to keep his expression steady. But his reaction had already given him away. Honestly, Liang Yue was quite attractive, with her mix of endearing awkwardness and strength. Having her around could be very useful. Shaping her into one of his people was actually a solid option. ? Zhang Yi did have such thoughts, but he wouldnt force them. Yang Xinxin pouted slightly, while Lu Kerans eyes flashed with a strange emotion, though she quickly hid it with a laugh. Wow, Brother, arent you a bit greedy? You already have two sisters, and now youre eyeing our teacher! Lu Keran teased. Yang Xinxin, however, analyzed it seriously: Considering human history, its certainly one of the most effective ways to forge alliances. Ms. Liang is strong, and from a female perspective, she definitely has the ability to attract men. And with her limited intelligence She looked at Zhang Yi with a knowing smile. Its not surprising youd be interested, Brother. For someone with high intelligence, Yang Xinxin could view things with complete objectivity. To her, it made perfect sense that Zhang Yi would want to bring Liang Yue over to his side. Zhang Yi felt like hed found a kindred spirit! He wasnt interested in playing romantic gamessuch things could add flavor to life but werent necessary. If Liang Yue were just an attractive teacher with a strong sense of justice, Zhang Yi wouldnt have even looked at her twice. But he was intrigued by her strength, wasnt he? Zhang Yi spoke plainly to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, You two are sharp, so Ill skip the roundabout talk. Liang Yues combat abilities are strong and useful to me. I want to recruit her as part of our team. As for any romantic feelingsthose dont exist. In his mind, everything was about practical value and desire. Zhang Yi wasnt opposed to something happening with Liang Yue if it could help him secure her loyalty. But that wasnt essential to his plan. Hearing this, Yang Xinxin was reassured that Zhang Yi remained the level-headed, almost cold-hearted man she knew. She smiled with relief. Got it! In that case, go for it, Brother. Xinxin will support you. She flashed him a bright smile. Support me? Zhang Yi asked with a chuckle. Yang Xinxins smile turned mysterious. We know Ms. Liang better than you do. I know exactly how to convince her to join us. Zhang Yi coughed. Actually, theres no need to complicate things. Given what were offering, it wont be hard to win her over. Yang Xinxin nodded in agreement but then added, The hard part is how to deal with those troublesome students of hers! On this point, everyone agreed. Those surviving students had previously mistreated Yang Xinxin, leaving her with no good feelings toward them. To her, they were all burdens. Zhang Yi shrugged. For now, lets leave them alone. I dont want to make things too tense with Liang Yue. If she found out I eliminated her students, shed probably come after me without a second thought. There will be a chance, Yang Xinxin said softly. Her dark eyes gleamed with a sharp, icy edge. Zhang Yi grinned, If you have a plan, feel free to act on itjust make sure Liang Yue doesnt find out. Understood, Yang Xinxin replied with a nod. Oh, by the way, Brother Zhang Yi, theres something else I need to tell you. She was about to leave but turned back to him. Oh? What is it? Zhang Yi asked, curious. Yang Xinxin explained, These past few days, Ive been combing through the West Hill Bases information database. Since West Hill was originally an official establishment, its equipment is comprehensive, and it holds a massive amount of data. I wanted to see if there was any useful information. And it turns out Ive found some interesting things. I think youll be very interested! At her words, Zhang Yi immediately sat up. What kind of information? Chen Xinian had once been a high-ranking figure in Tianhai City, so he was bound to know more than Zhang Yi did. With his limited sources, Zhang Yi urgently wanted to learn more about the apocalypse, as well as the current situation in Tianhai City and surrounding areas. The battle at West Hill Base had already demonstrated how crucial intelligence was. Yang Xinxin gave a mysterious smile. Theres too much information; I havent finished organizing it yet. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. But based on what Ive gathered so far, I can confirm that West Hill Base isnt the only heavily armed organization in Tianhai City! Her gaze turned contemplative. Brother Zhang Yi, with all the noise weve been making, do you think it might draw attention from other forces? Author''s Note Chapter 333: Defense Line Plan Chapter 333: Defense Line Plan Yang Xinxins words made Zhang Yi frown slightly, I know about this already. He spread his hands, speaking calmly, In such a huge place as Tianhai City, there cant be only one powerful armed force like the West Hill Base. After all, this is a massive city with a population of 20 million. Even if only 5% survived, thats still a million people. Yang Xinxins smile grew more profound. Not all forces are alike. What if there are several forces as strong as the West Hill Base? Zhang Yi looked up at the ceiling, where an extravagant chandelier worth tens of millions hung above. Surely were not unlucky enough to clash with more factions? However, Zhang Yi suddenly changed his tone, we dont look for trouble, but were not afraid of it either. If we do encounter other factions, with our current strength, we really dont have to worry! Counting Liang Yue, they had five *Superhumans* in total. Any force that wanted to be their enemy would have to think carefully. I understand. Yang Xinxin nodded, Ill organize all the information quickly and then hand it over to you, Brother! Mm, thanks for the hard work. After Zhang Yi finished speaking, he turned to look at Lu Keran, Keran, come here for a second. Lu Keran pointed to her nose, looking a bit surprised. Big Bro, if you need anything from me, just say the word! She still felt a bit guilty, feeling that she hadnt been much help in the recent West Hill battle. Zhang Yi said to her, Its like this. Right now, its not just us living at Cloud Manor. Fatty Xu and Uncle Yous family have also moved in, setting up around us. If we encounter another enemy invasion someday, I dont want to be caught in a situation where we can only defend passively. So Id like to ask you to help design blueprints for a defensive fortification. Then, we can establish a defensive line around the three families homes to fend off enemies. Lu Keran looked a little puzzled and said, Drawing up the plans is easy, but building a large-scale fortification with just us isnt enough, right? Not to mention the lack of heavy machinery; transporting materials would be very difficult. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi laughed, What do you think were lacking? He counted off on his fingers, I can handle material transportation. If we need manpower, weve got Uncle You. Fatty Xu can control ice and snow, which you could also use. If we need materials cut, well call in Liang Yue. Hua Hua can also help with heavy lifting. Do you still see any issues? After thinking it over, Lu Keran couldnt help but praise, Youre right! Though were few, each of us has a unique skill, so creating an impenetrable defensive line now doesnt seem impossible! Zhang Yi nodded, You handle the design first. Then, let me know the materials and steps needed, and Ill take care of the rest. Understood! With their new tasks, Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin went back to their workspaces and got to work. For the next few days, Zhang Yi continued to recuperate. With Dr. Zhou Keers attentive care and nutritious meals, Zhang Yis recovery was swift. Within a few days, his discomfort vanished. So, he started getting busy in a new area. In the past month, dealing with the West Hill Base threat, he had neglected Yang Siyah and Zhou Keer a bit. Now, with ample time and energy, he naturally wanted to make it up to the two of them. The next morning during breakfast, Yang Siyah and Zhou Keer were all smiles, looking radiant and more refreshed than before. Zhang Yi sat on the sofa watching TV while the two women, after working in the kitchen for a while, brought breakfast over to him. Zhang Yi, have some food to recharge! Zhou Keer looked at him with a soft gaze, her face still showing a satisfied look from last nights events. She handed him a bowl of soup. Zhang Yi took it, opened it, and found it filled with nourishing ingredients. Are you kidding? Do I, Zhang Yi, need stuff like this? Zhang Yi laughed, then downed half the bowl in one go. Cant deny it, last night was indeed exhausting. Lu Keran nudged Yang Xinxin over to have breakfast. As they passed by the kitchen, Yang Siyah saw their expressions and gasped, covering her mouth. Oh my! What happened to you two last night? You look terrible! Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin turned their heads away, unsure of how to explain. But inwardly, they thought, *How could you not know?* Their rooms werent far apart; even with decent soundproofing, any loud noise was still audible. Another pleasant day began, with the five of them enjoying breakfast together in the living room. Now the *Shelter* had returned to its former state. The luxurious villa was serene, and life was very peaceful. As for Uncle You and Fatty Xu, Zhang Yi had provided them with ample food, a generator, fuel, and coal for their place. Zhang Yi had them handle their house independently, needing only to solve food and heating issues; after all, the villas other amenities were high-end. Being the top luxury villa area in Tianhai City, the house had everything needed for a comfortable life. Still, Zhang Yi had shown extra care for Fatty Xu. That guy was still hurting from his heartbreak, now a bit wary of women, so Zhang Yi got him a high-end, limited-edition latex girlfriend from Japan. It was the kind with a warming feature and intelligent voice capabilities. Best used with VR goggles for an optimal experience. As a friend, that was all Zhang Yi could do. After breakfast, it wasnt long before Uncle You, his wife, and Fatty Xu came over for a visit. Humans are social creatures; without interaction, its easy to develop psychological issues over time. Now neighbors and comrades who had survived life-or-death battles, their bond was stronger than ever. Taking this opportunity, Zhang Yi called over Uncle You and Fatty Xu to discuss his idea for creating a defense line. With the three of our homes as a center, lets build a solid defensive line around us! That way, if theres a surprise attack, well have more time to respond. It doesnt need to be as secure as my *Shelter*, but at least it should give you time to retreat here. That way, if we meet a powerful enemy, we wont be so passive. Even if the first line of defense falls, we can retreat into the Shelter to continue holding our ground. Zhang Yi shared his plan. Uncle You and Fatty Xu nodded in agreement after hearing it. They would benefit the most from this plan. Fatty Xu was delighted and said on the spot, Bro, you and I were thinking the same thing! Honestly, I worry about someone barging in and holding a gun to my head one night. As a veteran, Uncle You shared his perspective. If were setting up a defense line, it shouldnt just focus on defense. We need some offensive capability too! I suggest placing heavy firepower around the line. Fatty Xu asked, Where will we get weapons and ammo? Zhang Yi replied, Thats easy. Keran can make bullets, and I have plenty of guns. But given the strong forces that might attack us, well need heavy firepower. Zhang Yi rubbed his chin, making a decisive statement, Once were all fully recovered, lets go check out the ruins of West Hill Base. Theres plenty of good stuff there! Even though hed destroyed West Hill Base with a scheme, according to the bases engineering data, an explosion of that magnitude couldnt completely destroy all its structures. His goal had been to trigger a massive shock underground, making it easier for him to move. But in such a vast base with extensive underground spaces, much of it should still be intact. And within it, there would be a massive stockpile of weapons, including heavy firepower. Uncle You and Fatty Xu, naturally, had no objections and readily agreed. As for building materials, we can probably get what we need from West Hill Base too. Uncle You suggested, Given West Hill Bases defensive capabilities, it cant be much weaker than your Shelter. We could dismantle some materials to reinforce our defenses. Zhang Yi frowned, questioning, Their construction is mostly integrated casting. It wont be easy to dismantle! Uncle You thought for a moment, then reluctantly added, But where else can we get so much building material? To build fortifications, we need reinforced concrete. Without it, are we supposed to make a snow wall? He joked. Yet his words sparked an idea in Zhang Yi. He looked at Fatty Xu with a meaningful smile, Using ice blocks for a defense line might not be a bad idea. Zhang Yi shared his thought with the two of them. The Lu River is right there; we could use a massive amount of ice blocks from it to build walls for our defense line. With this temperature, we wouldnt need to worry about melting, and repairs would be easy. Its actually a pretty solid material choice! We can insert steel bars inside for support, and voil, an ice wall for defense! Author''s Note Dear readers, thank you for reading! If you enjoyed todays update, wed be thrilled if you could give BOTI Translator Team a 5-star rating on NovelUpdates. Your support makes all the difference! ???? Chapter 334: Private Lessons with the Tutor Chapter 334 : Private Lessons with the TutorZhang Yi and the others discussed their plans for building a defensive line. Meanwhile, the women gathered together, led by Zhou Haimei, to play mahjong. As Zhou Keer came over to refill her water, she overheard the three men talking and couldnt help but laugh, Now that West Hill Base is gone, youre all even more cautious than before. She felt that there would likely be a prolonged period of peace now. After all, with an organization as powerful as West Hill Base destroyed, any remaining factions would be too intimidated to approach this place lightly. Zhang Yi responded, Better safe than sorry! We cant count on what others might do, but we can make sure our own security is top-notch! In the apocalypse, proper safety measures are absolutely essential. The three of them thoroughly enjoyed the discussion. After all, men are forever passionate about things like construction, cars, and women. Even if they didnt need it, theyd still love to build a wall just for fun. Thats what you call a perfect blend of hobbies and reality. But Fatty Xu asked, Boss, do you really think therell be any foolishly bold armed forces that would come here? Theres no way Tianhai City has any faction stronger than West Hill Base, right? Fatty Xus question wasnt without reason. West Hill Base had controlled the only stationed army in Tianhai City, making it the most formidable armed organization there. Zhang Yi smiled faintly. Fatty, youre forgetting one possibility. He tapped his fingers on the table, saying with a playful look, Its true that we destroyed West Hill Base, but not everyone knows that. To outsiders, were just a group of regular people, hardly even a faction. Fatty Xus eyes lit up with realization, Youre right; that makes sense. Then we better get this defensive line set up fast! Honestly, I am a bit worried. Zhang Yi nodded in agreement, ready to get moving on the project. The sooner the defensive line was complete, the safer theyd feel. He asked, Fatty, Uncle You, are you both at peak physical condition right now? Uncle You patted his chest, My bodys fine. Those meds didnt have much of a side effect on me. Zhang Yi chuckled, So the stimulants didnt have much effect on you either? Theres still some effect, Uncle You replied. Just then, Fatty Xu quickly spoke up, I still need to recover a bit; Ive been feeling more and more exhausted lately. Zhang Yi looked at him knowingly, Maybe youve overused that life-like girlfriend I got you? Fatty Xus face turned bright red, as if his secret had just been exposed. Overused is a bit much! A single guy like me has to ease the loneliness somehow. Thats not overindulging! The living room filled with laughter. Fatty Xus visits always seemed to lighten everyones mood. But even when he wasnt around, they still enjoyed this kind of camaraderie. My strength has recovered pretty well, too. How about thisthree days from now, lets head to West Hill Base and gather whatever useful stuff we can find. ? Sounds good! Boss, think you can spare me some herbal supplements to help with my energy? Zhang Yi replied sympathetically, Ill throw in some goji berries too. Have them with every meal! Thanks, Boss! Youre the best. The three of them continued chatting, brainstorming ways to make the defense line even more effective at resisting enemy attacks. But after experiencing the assault from West Hill Bases Special Forces Team, Zhang Yis mindset had undergone a significant transformation. Even if he faced another large-scale battle in the future, he wouldnt feel any panic. Especially since his own strength had increased immensely after absorbing the powers of Ling Feng and several other Special Forces members. Confidence comes from true strength. After a while, Liang Yue arrived and rang the doorbell. Isnt that Teacher Liang? Whats she doing here? Fatty Xu rubbed his chin, giving Zhang Yi a suggestive look, Boss, dont tell me youve added her to your list? Zhang Yi grinned, Get your mind out of the gutter. Liang Yue and I have a purely professional relationship. Shes my private tutor. Got it? Uncle You chuckled, A pure relationship between a man and a woman? You sure have an interesting definition of pure. Fatty Xus mind was already wandering, imagining various tutors as he said admiringly, Boss, you sure know how to enjoy life! Ignoring their mischievous looks, Zhang Yi opened the door for Liang Yue. Upon entering, she noticed how lively the house was, with everyone gathered. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The men sat together, drinking tea and chatting, while the women played mahjong, gossiping in between. The warm, welcoming atmosphere made her feel as if shed entered another world. After all, back in Xu Family Town, she was busy looking after her students, struggling in subzero temperatures, playing the role of both father and mother to them. She couldnt help but feel a touch of envy for Zhou Keer and the others. Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin warmly greeted her. They genuinely respected this teacher of theirs. In the apocalypse, someone who maintained kindness was rarer than a national treasure. She was a true saint, not a fake saint. The difference between the two is significant. A real saint thinks, *They need help, so Ill help them.* A fake saint thinks, *They need help, so you should help them.* Though Liang Yue might be overly protective of her students, she relied on her own strength to support them rather than imposing moral obligations on others. Seeing her students doing well, Liang Yues face softened into a warm smile. Seeing you two so happy makes me feel at ease! Yang Xinxin smiled sweetly, Mm-hmm! Brother Zhang Yi treats us so well, and were very happy here. She sighed regretfully, holding Liang Yues hand with a sincere expression, Teacher Liang, it must be so hard for you out there. If youd like, I could ask my brother to let you stay with us. I really miss you. Liang Yue had always doted on Yang Xinxin, partly because of her disability. Hearing Yang Xinxins words, she felt a bit swayed. But thinking of her students in Xu Family Town, she shook her head and sighed. I cant leave them. If I go, itll be tough for them to survive in such harsh conditions. As a teacher, the least I can do is teach them to adapt and survive. Yang Xinxin nodded, Teacher Liang, youre as gentle as ever! But, actually, these two things dont conflict. She explained with a smile, If you moved into the Shelter, you could still help them. After all, theyre old enough; they wont need you by their side constantly, right? If anything, letting them fend for themselves could teach them the survival skills theyll need in the apocalypse. Dont you think I have a point? Liang Yues gaze flickered, clearly moved by Yang Xinxins suggestion. But Zhang Yi probably wouldnt agree to let me stay here, would he? She scratched her cheek, a little embarrassed, Its not like were that close. Besides, if I stay in the Shelter, it wouldnt be fair to leave Wu Chengyu and the others out there, would it? Yang Xinxin smiled innocently, sensing that her teacher was already leaning toward the idea. Ill talk to Brother Zhang Yi about it! As for the other students, no matter where you live, their conditions wont change. If they were to stop you from staying here, wouldnt that be selfish? The little devil knew exactly how to manipulate. Once Liang Yue moved in, there would be no going back. She wasnt foolish; used to the comfort here, shed never want to return to the icy wilderness. With Liang Yues protection gone, the other students would be vulnerable. One day, if the chance arose, they could be dealt with easily. With a plan forming in her mind, Yang Xinxins smile became all the more innocent and harmless. I Ill think about it. Liang Yues words were cautious, but her heart was already tempted. Knowing shed succeeded, Yang Xinxin held back, not wanting to push too hard and cause resistance. She nodded with a sweet smile, Alright, Teacher Liang. If you decide, just let me know! Okay. Liang Yue smiled back. Not far away, Zhang Yi rose from the sofa and walked toward Liang Yue. Although he didnt know what they had talked about, he was sure Yang Xinxin was trying to win Liang Yue over. Liang Yue, lets head downstairs! Too many people here; its not convenient. Zhang Yi smiled as he spoke. The women playing cards nearby couldnt help but look over. Liang Yues face flushed; Zhang Yis words sounded a bit misleading. But thinking about it, there was nothing really wrong with what hed said, so she nodded and followed him to the basement. They went down to the third underground levelthe gym. Zhang Yi glanced at Liang Yues worn clothes and took out a fresh set for her from his *Spatial Storage*. Down jacket, wool sweater, thermal wear, and sneakers. He even included undergarments and socks. Of course, he didnt forget an indoor athletic outfit. Theres a shower over there. You should wash up first. He pointed to a nearby bathroom. Liang Yues face turned a deep shade of red. Though she was a martial arts master, she was still a woman. Zhang Yi hadnt mentioned anything about her being unclean, but she couldnt help but feel a bit self-conscious. She lowered her head and muttered, Its not like I have the luxury of new clothes or hot showers outside. Zhang Yi chuckled, I didnt say a word! Youre overthinking. Flushed, Liang Yue grabbed the clothes and went off to shower. After a good while, she returned, freshly showered and dressed in the new athletic gear Zhang Yi had prepared. Her upper body was clad in a gray sports tank, revealing her healthy, tan skin and clearly defined abs. She wore fitted black athletic pants below, her toned muscles and perfect curves a testament to her years of training. With a black sweatband across her forehead, her already resolute expression gained an added layer of charisma. Zhang Yi took in her appearance with satisfaction. All right, Teacher Liang. Lets get started! Liang Yue gave Zhang Yi a faint, mischievous smile. Learning martial arts is tough. Youd better be ready! Author''s Note Chapter 335: Not Fearing Scarcity but Inequality Chapter 335: Not Fearing Scarcity but InequalityLiang Yues teaching was genuine. Because Zhang Yi had been quite good to her, she wanted to return the favor in this way. However, mastering real martial arts wasn''t easy. At the very least, you had to start by getting used to being hit to build up your body''s resilience. Luckily, Zhang Yi was already physically fit from regular exercise, allowing him to keep up with Liang Yues pace. After two and a half hours of practice, he was drenched in sweat, and his whole body ached. Youve got a solid foundation, but mastering martial arts isnt something that happens overnight. Youll need to be mentally prepared for a long journey, Liang Yue said, wiping the sweat from her forehead. I dont expect to become some martial arts master; I just want another way to keep myself safe, Zhang Yi replied, panting as he sat on the foam mat. Liang Yue couldnt help but comment, You even managed to kill Ling Feng; there aren''t many people who can threaten your life. Zhang Yi smirked and said calmly, The world is full of surprises. Nobody should gamble with their life. He knew why he was able to defeat Ling Feng. It was purely due to the advantage of hidden information and thorough preparation. If the two had fought in an unknown setting without knowing each others capabilities, Zhang Yi wouldnt have been confident about winning against Ling Feng. If his Dimensional Gate couldnt catch Ling Feng off guard, then Zhang Yi would surely have died. Lets continue tomorrow! Im done for today, Zhang Yi said, getting up. He pulled out a bag of food from his Spatial Storage, enough to barely feed about ten people. He was always true to his word. Zhang Yi left the downstairs bathroom for Liang Yue and went upstairs to take a shower himself. Watching Zhang Yi head upstairs, Liang Yue thought about Yang Xinxins suggestion. If those words had come from Zhang Yi, she would have suspected some hidden agenda. But she couldnt bring herself to doubt the intentions of that innocent, wheelchair-bound girl. Could I live in that place? Liang Yue felt unsure. She wasnt a fan of living under someone elses roof. But it was so comfortable there! Caught in this inner conflict, she was already leaning towards the idea. After Liang Yue left, Fatty Xu came over and asked Zhang Yi, Boss, should we bring Liang Yue along when we head to West Hill Base the day after tomorrow? Having an extra person would mean more security. To be honest, while weve assumed that West Hill Base is devoid of survivors, no ones actually gone down there to confirm it, he added cautiously. Uncle You couldnt help but laugh, teasing him, Xu, youre as timid as a mouse! Fatty Xu chuckled, Better safe than sorry! Thats what the boss taught me. Zhang Yi smiled, Fatty Xu does have a point. But right now, its not appropriate to invite Liang Yue. Shes not one of us yet; were only working together. If we ask for her help, well owe her a favor. Theres no need for that. Itll just be us. Were only searching through ruins, so its not risky. All high-level Superhumans like Ling Feng had been eliminated, and Leader Chen Xinian was burned to ashes by Zhang Yi. It was unlikely that there would be any remaining threats at the base. Meanwhile, Liang Yue left the Shelter with mixed emotions. On her way back, she mulled over what Yang Xinxin had said. Would it be possible to move into the Shelter? The thought of its superior living conditions was very tempting. But shed need to discuss it with her students. As their teacher, Liang Yue felt responsible for considering their feelings. Yang Xinxin made a valid point: whether or not she moved into the Shelter wouldnt really affect her students environment. Zhang Yi wouldnt let them all stay in the Shelter, anyway. In that case, moving into Zhang Yis place might be doable. Sigh, Ill still need to discuss it with them, hear their thoughts. Thinking about it carefully, we really do need to get closer to Zhang Yi so he can help us more! The more Liang Yue thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed. She also wanted to enjoy a better life, as Zhang Yi had once pointed out. She just needed a reason to convince herself. Liang Yue returned to Xu Family Town. When she placed the food shed gotten from Zhang Yi in front of her students, the hungry students cheered with joy. Awesome! Weve got food! They all rushed forward, grabbing eagerly. Watching them, Liang Yue sighed slightly. She looked toward Ye Xiaotian and Wu Chengyu, the two students now in charge of managing everyone. Ye Xiaotian had been modified by West Hill Base and was the groups main fighter. Wu Chengyu, who was sharp and had previously served as class monitor, was their intellectual leader. Ye Xiaotian, Wu Chengyu, did you manage to organize the others to cut through the ice and catch fish in Lu River this morning? Wu Chengyus gaze drifted evasively as he replied, Teacher Liang, you know that everyone was exhausted from pedaling bikes at West Hill Base every day. Now that we finally have some rest, asking them to brave the cold and work again its tough. Ye Xiaotian frowned slightly, pointing to the table in the snow house. I managed to catch a few. But with just pickaxes and hoes, the tools are too crude, so its not very efficient. Seeing the pitiful two fish on the table, Liang Yue felt a pang of disappointment. She wasnt familiar with ice fishing, and back in Xu Family Town, villagers had relied on proper tools and sled dogs to succeed. These students had no experience, and the tools werent ideal. Trying to rely on this method for food was a fantasy. Liang Yue sighed, You both need to figure out how to improve our fishing efficiency. These supplies were given to us by Zhang Yi as part of our deal. But we cant expect him to keep feeding us. When we run out, what will we do? We have to rely on ourselves to survive in this frozen apocalypse! Though Zhang Yi promised to provide some food in exchange for her martial arts lessons, she knew he wouldnt provide enough to sustain ten people. As the students divided the food, they complained about the meager portions. Theres so little! Were still hungry, they grumbled. If we dont get enough, well easily fall sick in this cold. Ye Xiaotian quickly interjected, Lets be thankful. Teacher Liang worked hard to get this from Zhang Yi. We cant rely on others forever; we have to get our own food. Lets eat and brainstorm ideas on how to improve our food situation. Reluctantly, the students nodded, not looking thrilled. Braving the freezing winds, breaking through ice to fish was a challenging task. Wu Chengyu looked at Liang Yue and suddenly suggested, Teacher Liang, since youre training with Zhang Yi daily, could you ask him if we could stay in his Shelter? Look, Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin are staying there. Since were from the same class, it shouldnt be too much to ask. Other students eyes lit up. Yeah! His Shelter is huge; a dozen of us should fit. We could even eat less, help out Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran live there; why cant we? These students, from influential families in Tianhai City, felt they deserved better treatment. Liang Yue sighed inwardly, explaining, Youre different from them. Yang Xinxin is Zhang Yis girlfriends sister, and Lu Keran is her best friend. You dont have that connection. Plus, both of them have professional skills. Thats why Zhang Yi allowed them in. Do any of you meet either of those criteria? The students fell silent, discontented. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They understood but couldnt help feeling resentful. The luxurious Shelter was just across the river, yet they were stuck in a snow hut, eating charity. Teacher Liang, please try a bit harder! someone pleaded. Youre our teacher; youll find a way! Their hopeful stares created immense pressure for Liang Yue. Shed intended to discuss Yang Xinxins offer with them, but now, she couldnt bring herself to mention it. Three days flew by. Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and Uncle You had regained peak physical condition. They prepared their gear and planned a trip to West Hill Base to see how much they could salvage. Meanwhile, Lu Keran had revised her defense plans several times. With Zhang Yis approval, they finalized the design. Once Zhang Yi and the others brought back building materials, they could start construction. By the way, can we repair the outer wall? Zhang Yi asked, recalling the damage caused by the Special Forces Team. Lu Keran replied, It was constructed as a single unit, so repairs are challenging but doable. The materials needed, though, are more complex. Zhang Yi nodded; the outer walls 20% damage wasnt urgent. Make a list of the materials, and well look for them in the citys construction warehouses. Yes, big brother! Lu Keran gave him a playful salute, and Zhang Yi couldnt help but pinch her nose. Lets do this! Author''s Note Chapter 336: The Four Major Organizations Chapter 336: The Four Major OrganizationsZhang Yi, along with Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and his loyal battle pet Hua Hua, headed out to West Hill Base. The group boarded a snow vehicle, with Hua Hua sitting on Zhang Yis lap as he activated the autopilot mode. This wasnt their first trip to West Hill Base, so they were fairly relaxed. Looking at Hua Hua, Fatty Xu blinked and asked Zhang Yi, Boss, why do I feel like Hua Huas a bit different? Zhang Yi glanced down at the obedient cat on his lap, stroking its soft fur. Oh? How so? Fatty Xu thought for a moment, then shook his head. I cant say exactly. Its just a feeling, like something has subtly changed. Thats natural, Zhang Yi replied with a knowing smile. Though he didnt fully understand the mechanism, he knew that some mutated creatures possessed a shared absorption ability. For instance, he, Ling Feng, and Hua Hua all had the power to absorb other Superhumans'' abilities to evolve. Last time, Hua Hua devoured several Superhumans, and its abilities had become stronger. But exactly how much stronger, theyd only know after some combat testing. After Zhang Yi, his team, and Hua Hua left, Yang Xinxin suddenly wheeled herself out of her workshop into the living room, where she spotted Zhou Keer watching TV. She asked, Wheres my brother? Zhou Keer blinked and replied, They went to West Hill Base to gather supplies. Do you need something from him? Yang Xinxin furrowed her brow slightly. I just organized some data I wanted him to see. I guess itll have to wait until hes back. Curious, Zhou Keer leaned over with a grin. What interesting data? Let me take a look! Yang Xinxin rolled her eyes and smirked. Cousin, youre not a combatant, so theres no use in you knowing! Zhou Keer puffed out her cheeks in annoyance. Hmph, Im an important support team member! Dont underestimate me! Ha! Yang Xinxin stuck her tongue out and then wheeled away. She had no intention of sharing critical intelligence with anyone but Zhang Yi. Secretly, she also liked that the data she provided was valuable to him; her worth to Zhang Yi lay in information and network security. What if Zhou Keer took credit with her intel? Returning to her workshop, Yang Xinxin used the supercomputer at her console to contact Zhang Yi en route. Hey, brother, have you reached West Hill Base yet? Receiving her message, Zhang Yi glanced out at the snowy landscape and replied, Not yet! Were about halfway there. Okay, theres something I just discovered that I need to report. Oh? Sounds important. Yep! Ive uncovered intel about other major armed groups in Tianhai City. Since youre out, I thought Id brief you, just in case you encounter them. Zhang Yis expression grew serious. Alright, go ahead. Yang Xinxin explained, According to intel from West Hill Base, there are a total of four large-scale military shelters in Tianhai City. Theyre located in the West Hill, Qingpu, Yangsheng, and Chaoyu areas. These shelters were established by the government years ago and have been maintained for sudden wars or natural disasters. Each of them has underground shelters, massive arsenals, and extensive wartime supplies. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi nodded. Ive heard about these. The information wasnt surprising. Having lived in Tianhai City for years, hed heard rumors, and he even recalled news reports showing glimpses of these underground shelters years ago. So, besides West Hill Base, there are three other major military powers: Yangsheng, Chaoyu, and Qingpu. Each of these areas is quite far from our Shelter, he mused. But given what happened at West Hill Base, its likely these forces will take notice. The commotion at West Hill Base that night had been significant enough to attract attention. If they learned that the West Hill Base in the Xishan and Lu River areas had been destroyed, there was a chance theyd expand their reach here. No, theres one more unique faction, Yang Xinxin added. Based on the data from West Hill Base, theres a heavily populated region around Tianfeng and Changlan. Its become a force to be reckoned with, though the records on them are limited. Zhang Yi nodded. Thats not surprising. With so many people in Tianhai City, its natural for dozens of factions to form. It seems like these powers dont know much about each other yet. Probably because the apocalypse hasnt been around long enough. Theyre all too busy ensuring their own survival and development. For example, West Hill Base was destroyed before it even gathered full information on its neighboring districts. In fact, the attempt to take him down likely stemmed from their internal desire to secure their territory. The other factions were probably in similar situations. Excellent work, Xinxin. This information is very useful. Yang Xinxin blushed happily at his praise. Brother, Ill keep compiling information on them. When youre back, Ill give you a full report, alright? Zhang Yi chuckled and nodded. Of course! After the call, Zhang Yi noticed Fatty Xu and Uncle You looking at him curiously. Without hiding anything, Zhang Yi relayed what Yang Xinxin had told him. So, the other armed forces in Tianhai City are as large as West Hill Base? Thats a bit worrisome. Lets hope they keep their distance, Fatty Xu said with concern. Zhang Yi, however, was calm. Its to be expected. But Tianhai City is vast; as long as we dont actively provoke them, there shouldnt be any conflict. With at least 90% of the citys population gone, the remaining resources are more than enough for the surviving factions. No ones eager to risk their lives fighting. Uncle You, who had been silent, suddenly sighed. Lets just hope things go that smoothly. Ive got a feeling well be running into them soon enough! Author''s Note Chapter 337: Returning to West Hill Again Chapter 337: Returning to West Hill AgainIn truth, it wasnt just Uncle You who felt this way; both Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu also sensed that they were on the verge of encountering other major powers. Nothing in this world happens by coincidence. Theres only the inevitable and the willful actions of people. The commotion caused by the battle at the West Hill Base was simply too great. It was bound to attract the attention of other factions in Tianhai City. And when they notice the power vacuum in this area, they will start expanding their influence here. Can Zhang Yi guarantee peaceful coexistence with them when the time comes? No one knows how things will unfold from here, but theres one thing I know: as long as we become strong enough, no one will dare to mess with us! Zhang Yi glanced at the two of them. Lets go. Were heading to the West Hill Base to collect all the weapons there! Mm, lets do it. Both of them nodded seriously. The car raced through the snowy landscape, heading toward the long-missed West Hill Base. --- West Hill. Located in the southwestern area of Tianhai City, its a range of low mountains, with an elevation of less than 200 meters. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was once near the military district of Tianhai City, so when the apocalypse came, it was one of the first places designated as a refuge under the control of the Tianhai military district. In fact, the Tianhai West Refuge was established close to large government facilities. This was to ensure that important personnel could quickly reach safety in case of war or disaster. In theory, the West Hill Base had the strongest armed forces among all the West Refuges. This was due to a full-structured armed unit and the fact that most weapons from Tianhais military camp were collected here. Outside the entrance to the West Hill Base, two groups of people stood in the snow. Both groups wore completely white clothing, dyed specifically to blend in with the snowy environment. One group wore combat uniforms nearly identical to those of the West Hill Base. The only difference was their emblem, which featured a blue wave, while the West Hill Bases symbol was a golden sword. Not far away, the other group wore simpler clothing. Most of them were dressed in thick white down jackets that didnt match, looking as if they had been scavenged from a mall. The two sides watched each other warily, gripping their weapons tightly, their gazes fixed on each other. This entrance has been completely sealed. Looks like we wont be able to retrieve anything from below, said a tall man with a piercing gaze, who led the group in combat uniforms. The leader of the mismatched group was a lean, short man who chuckled as he crossed his arms and replied, Who wouldve thought a missile destroyed this place? I dont know what Chen Xinian did to offend the Jiangnan District, but he got what he deserved! The tall man, Wang Ruixuan, sneered, That guy was always arrogant. Its no surprise he ended up like this. The short man, Han Chang, didnt pick up on the topic; his group had little association with Chen Xinian. In fact, his faction didnt have close ties with the West Refuges forces either. He was here simply to assess the condition of the West Hill Base. Looking at the scene before him, especially the gaping hole on the mountainside left by a bunker-buster missile, he could pretty much conclude that there was no one alive down there. Han Chang sighed, What a wasted trip! Wang Ruixuan also frowned deeply. The entrance was completely blocked, covered in rubble and wrecked cars. Clearing it would require too much effort. Their base was far from here, so mobilizing more people was not an option right now. Yet, the West Hill Base was still a valuable prize. If they could open this passage and enter, they would gain access to vast reserves of supplies left behind. Han Chang noticed the glint in Wang Ruixuans eyes and smirked. Amused, he taunted, Even if you could use your Superhumans to clear this entrance, how would you transport all those supplies back to Chaoyu Harbor Base? He gestured broadly from the east to the southwest. Your base is nearly 200 kilometers from here, crossing the entirety of Tianhai City! Wang Ruixuan snorted, You think you could do any better? Han Chang shrugged, We never had high expectations. I only came to confirm the West Hill Bases status. He chuckled, Now that we know everyone there is dead, thats already the best news for us. Look at the other two bases. They were smart and didnt waste much time here. Theyre the closest ones; they probably checked this place out ages ago. Wang Ruixuan frowned, admitting to himself that Han Chang had a point. Their Chaoyu Base was indeed far from the West Hill Base. Even if they planned to scavenge, bases like Yangsheng and Qingfu, which were closer, would have a geographical advantage. With the land now covered in snow, every additional kilometer of distance would pose a challenge for transportation. Han Chang suddenly sighed, What a pity! West Hill Base is gone, but your Chaoyu Base wont get a chance to seize it. He gave Wang Ruixuan a playful look. Yangsheng and Qingfu will end up benefiting. Theyll slowly strip the West Hill Base of its assets and emerge much stronger! Among all the West Refuges, the West Hill Base had the most abundant armory. This was a fact that attracted the envy of other bases. Of course, each base within the West Refuge held unique advantages. Are you trying to sow discord? Wang Ruixuan asked coldly. Han Chang sneered, The internal conflicts among your West forces dont need me to stir anything up. Wang Ruixuan scoffed, I dont believe for a second that your Followers of the Snow God would let Yangsheng and Qingfu take this without a fight. Or are you scheming something else? Wang Ruixuans gaze turned sharp as he stared intently at Han Chang, hoping to spot some telltale reaction. With the fall of the West Hill Base, the balance of power in Tianhai City had been disrupted. Besides the massive inventory of supplies in the West Hill Base, there were also various factories, supermarkets, and even live captives within its control. These resources were highly coveted by all factions. Everyone knows the rules. Lets see who has the skill to claim them! No need to play the noble hero here. Han Chang grinned, flashing his teeth like a ferret ready to pounce. Just then, the sound of a car engine broke through the distance, capturing everyones attention. Author''s Note Chapter 338: The Most Arrogant Person I’ve Ever Seen Chapter 338: The Most Arrogant Person Ive Ever SeenZhang Yi drove up to the entrance of the West Hill Base. When he was about a hundred meters away, he vaguely noticed a few people up ahead. After all, with the icy snow all around and them dressed in white, they were practically invisible. But those people noticed Zhang Yis vehicle first. A snow vehicle, Wang Ruixuan instantly recognized it, a fiery gleam in his eyes. In the south, this type of vehicle was extremely rare. After the arrival of the Ice Age, it had become the most convenient mode of transport. Chaoyu Base had their own vehiclessnow vehicles they had modified themselvesbut these modifications couldnt compare to the real thing. Their vehicles werent as fast, consumed more fuel, and even then, the number of usable vehicles was limited. Han Chang whistled, Looks like people from another base are here! At this point, Zhang Yi noticed them, his gaze hardening slightly. Someones already here! Fatty Xu and Uncle You also tensed up, readying themselves for combat. Uncle You said in a low voice, Could this be one of the factions Yang Xinxin mentioned? Fatty Xu swallowed, Hard to say. It could also be some surviving locals. Zhang Yi chuckled coldly, Nows not the time for wishful thinking. How could there be any living people around the West Hill Base? If there were, theyd have been captured long ago, first used as test subjects and later turned into high-quality protein. So they might be enemies? Fatty Xu asked nervously. Probably. But so what? The West Hill Base is ours. Zhang Yi pulled out his Golden Desert Eagle and calmly loaded it with armor-piercing rounds. Even if it comes to a fight, weve got nothing to fear. While these unknown adversaries presented a possible threat, it was unlikely they were the main forces of any major faction. With their current combat power, Zhang Yis team had nothing to fear in a confrontation within Tianhai City. The car came to a stop near the groups from Chaoyu Base and the Followers of the Snow God. The three doors opened simultaneously, and Zhang Yis group stepped out. Dressed in combat uniforms, Zhang Yis team also had an unusual-looking black cat perched on his shoulder, which made the people from Chaoyu Base and the Followers of the Snow God tense up. They noticed the golden sword emblem on Zhang Yis teams uniforms and assumed they were Special Forces Team members from the West Hill Base. Among the soldiers and Superhumans, the West Hill Base was known as one of the most formidable forces within the West Refuges. I thought everyone at the West Hill Base was dead. Didnt expect thered be survivors, Wang Ruixuan said icily, looking at Zhang Yis group. Everyone was on high alert, prepared for battle. The relationships among these factions were complex. Rather than direct enemies, they were wary of each other, all vying for territory in Tianhai City. It was no surprise if alliances suddenly formed or if anyone initiated an attack on another. Zhang Yi glanced at the clothing of the two groups. One side wore combat gear, while the other was dressed in ordinary clothes. He deduced that one group was from another shelter, while the other was likely an unaffiliated faction, as Yang Xinxin had described. Having both groups appear at the entrance to the West Hill Base was a minor complication. Zhang Yi wanted to avoid any conflict, as he currently had sufficient resources and no need to compete with others. However, since he had claimed the West Hill Base, giving it up was out of the question. Hearing Wang Ruixuans words, Zhang Yi had a flash of inspiration. Why are you here? Dont tell me you want to start a war with the West Hill Base? At his words, Han Chang chuckled, raised his hands, and began to back away. Dont misunderstand. Were just here for the spectacle. The Followers of the Snow God value peace and arent looking for conflict with anyone. With that, Han Chang led his men away, smiling as they went. He never fought battles without benefit. Fighting with Chaoyu Base over a snow vehicle was not worth the risk. Since the entrance to the West Hill Base was already sealed off, there was nothing to gain by staying. But Wang Ruixuan didnt see it that way. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He observed the obviously war-torn West Hill Base and sneered, It looks like the West Hill Base is already destroyed. You few West Hill stragglers still dare to talk big? They had been in the West Hill area for a long time. If the West Hill Base were still as powerful as before, they wouldnt have taken so long to arrive. So Wang Ruixuan concluded that these were merely the remnants of the West Hill Base. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. He had blocked the entrance to the West Hill Base himself. Without someone like him or Uncle You, clearing out the rubble and moving the supplies inside would be impossible. He looked at Wang Ruixuan and said, If youre so sure the West Hill Base is destroyed, theres no need for all this talk. Alright, do whatever you want. With that, Zhang Yi began to back away, quietly instructing Uncle You and Fatty Xu, Were leaving. Since the two groups couldnt access the base, he decided to feign retreat, planning to return once they left. He wanted to avoid unnecessary conflict if possible. But his intentions didnt mean the others would agree. Wang Ruixuan had set his sights on Zhang Yis snow vehicle from the moment they arrived. Zhang Yis vehicle was top-tier, an extremely rare asset in this ice age that anyone would covet. Assuming Zhang Yis group were mere stragglers, and with more men on his side, Wang Ruixuan wasnt about to miss the chance to take advantage. Hold it! Did I say you could leave? Wang Ruixuan sneered, calling out. The three of them had been about to leave, but upon hearing Wang Ruixuans arrogant tone, they narrowed their eyes. Even Hua Huas eyes flashed with irritation. Was he talking to them? Zhang Yi looked at Wang Ruixuan with an expression that suggested he was dealing with an idiot. Did this guy even realize he was up against three Superhumans and a powerful mutated creature? We dont want trouble. Do whatever you want, just dont try to mess with us, Zhang Yi warned. He didnt want to fight, considering Wang Ruixuan had the backing of an organization no weaker than the West Hill Base. Killing him might stir up trouble, disturbing his peaceful life. Wang Ruixuan burst out laughing. Do you even realize what situation youre in? Leave the car; you can go. He raised his arm as he spoke. Remember one thingin this chaotic world, power is the only truth! I could easily kill you all. So whatever I say, youd better obey! With that, he took off his gloves, revealing two slender hands. The next moment, his hands glowed a deep blue, and the air around him seemed colder, though it was likely the effect of the cold glow. Zhang Yi and his team, dressed in temperature-controlled combat uniforms, felt no change in the surrounding temperature. A Superhuman? Fatty Xu frowned. Wang Ruixuan sneered, Thats right. I am a Superhuman! Im sure youve heard of us. Killing you small fries would be as easy as squashing ants. Leave the car, and Ill spare your lives! Otherwise, I dont mind staining this white snow with a bit of red. Even the usually mild-tempered Uncle You was getting angry. All these years, and Ive never met anyone so arrogant! Wang Ruixuan sneered, Well, youre meeting one now! Enough talk. Leave the car and get out of here! The people with him chuckled, though they didnt move, clearly thinking Wang Ruixuan could handle Zhang Yis group easily. Zhang Yi shook his head in exasperation. I didnt want trouble. But if youre looking to die, I cant help you. Before he even finished speaking, the previously smug Wang Ruixuan suddenly felt the scene shift before his eyes. Without even looking up, he saw the sky filled with dark clouds. Huh? Before he could react, his mind went blank. To the others from Chaoyu Base, it looked like Wang Ruixuans head suddenly separated from his neck and fell heavily to the ground. It hit the ground with a dull thud, spilling blood everywhere. Everyone was terrified, unsure of what had just happened. Before they could react, a massive maw came down, devouring half of them in one bite. Ahwooh! Hua Hua chomped down, chewing a few times, then spat them out, apparently displeased with the taste. Only one Superhuman among them? Hua Hua only spit out the regular humans. Zhang Yi walked over, picked up Wang Ruixuans head, and absorbed his Superhuman Energy. It turned out he had barely any energy left, adding almost nothing to Zhang Yis reserves. So, he was just a newly awakened Superhuman. I have no idea what he was so arrogant about. Fatty Xu jeered, Exactly! Arrogant kids, acting invincible because they gained powers. He got what he deserved! Zhang Yi said flatly, People like that whove never tasted real hardship often end up this way. Chaoyu Base clearly hasnt fought any large-scale battles if they let Superhumans at his level think theyre unstoppable. Zhang Yi wasnt sure what Wang Ruixuans ability was exactly. But flaunting himself within Zhang Yis Divine Power sniping range? That was a death sentence. Author''s Note Hi, everyone! A fresh chapter is ready for you! If youre enjoying the story, please consider rating BOTI Translator Team 5 stars on NovelUpdates. Your support keeps us going! ???? Chapter 339: West Hill Armory Chapter 339: West Hill ArmoryZhang Yi stored Wang Ruixuan and his teams corpses into his Dimensional Space. They might have items that could be useful later, so he figured hed collect them now and sort through them later. As for potentially inciting a grudge with Chaoyu Base over this, Zhang Yi wasnt worried. He preferred avoiding trouble, but he wouldnt shy away from it either. Had Wang Ruixuan not crossed the line, Zhang Yi hadnt planned to kill him. But it was done, and that was that. Lets go. Lets get into the West Hill Base, clear out whats left, and avoid hanging around here. Zhang Yi wasnt sure how many more people might come from Chaoyu Base, so the sooner they wrapped up, the better. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. No one knew who he was anyway, and even the Followers of the Snow God, who had left earlier, had mistaken them for remnants of the West Hill Base. The group quickly moved to the entrance of the West Hill Base. Zhang Yi had previously blocked it off with a pile of junked cars and rubble to prevent anyone from scavenging. Now, he, Uncle You, and Hua Hua worked together to clear the blockage, storing the debris into his Dimensional Space. It took them less than half an hour to clear a path. Hua Hua, you take the lead! Zhang Yi patted Hua Huas head with a smile. Animals often had a keener sense than humans. If there was any danger below, Hua Hua would sense it first. Zhang Yi was primarily concerned about the low air quality down there, not wanting the team to descend only to find themselves unable to return. With a flick of its tail, Hua Hua strode confidently down the passageway. Seeing this, Zhang Yi grinned. Looks like theres no danger down here. The three of them followed Hua Hua into the base. The West Hill Base had sustained missile attacks and further explosive blasts, leaving visible cracks along the thick concrete walls, exposing thick rebar underneath. ? The dark passage forced them to use headlamps for light. Zhang Yi navigated according to the bases layout, heading toward the Third Life Pod. The Fourth Life Pod held no real value; it was merely housing for the West Hill Bases labor force. This sector, housing 80% of the bases population, held less than 0.1% of its total valuea common story across societies. The air below was heavy, with the ventilation system destroyed and the entrance sealed, causing a stale, putrid smell. The source of this stench lay behind a massive dark green iron door not far to their left. During the West Hill battle, the Fourth Life Pods inhabitants had been forcibly detained inside. The thousands left in there just imagining what they must have gone through made Zhang Yis skin crawl. Even with the blood of many on his hands, the horror of this death was disturbing. Sealed underground, with no light, no water, no power, and finally no air all left to suffocate together. Your deaths arent my fault, Zhang Yi murmured without guilt. Even if they hadnt died now, a miserable end wouldve found them sooner or later. Fatty Xu cowered behind the other two. Boss, that area feels icy. Like something creepys in there. Could there be ghosts? Im not afraid of the living; why would I be scared of some ghost? Zhang Yi scoffed. Fatty Xus fear was almost laughable. Come on, lets not waste time here. Lets head over to find the storage room, the armory. The three of them turned toward the Third Life Pod. But shortly after they moved away, the massive green door shuddered violently, as though something was trying to break free. They, however, didnt see it. The corridors were littered with corpses in various states of decaymostly West Hill soldiers, many of whom had died horrifically. Some were killed by Zhang Yis team in the initial battle, but most had suffocated. They lay slumped against walls, clutching at their throats, some with broken vocal cords from clawing at their own necks. In the warm subterranean air, the bodies had begun to decompose, creating a chilling atmosphere 100 meters underground. Zhang Yi, however, felt no fear. After witnessing countless horrors since the Apocalypse, he had grown numb. The Third Life Pod served as the soldiers quarters, and the armory was located here as well. Following the West Hill Base blueprint, Zhang Yi quickly located the armory. Its door was ajar, apparently left open in a last-ditch effort by the soldiers to retrieve weapons and break free. Clearly, they had failed. Peeking through the door, Zhang Yi caught sight of the rooms contents and felt his mind explode as if a hundred bombs had gone off at once. My god! Uncle You and Fatty Xu squeezed in beside him, staring in shock, frozen like statues. They had expected the West Hill Bases armory to be well-stocked, but this was beyond their wildest dreams! In the center of the room sat a fully armed helicopter. The massive storage area spanned thousands of square meters, containing dozens of tanks, armored vehicles, and cannons. And that wasnt even counting the crates of munitions and state-of-the-art combat equipment, leaving Zhang Yis head spinning. With all this equipment, you could arm a full modern battalion! Uncle You exclaimed. As a retired soldier, he knew the value of what he was seeing. This isnt just the West Hill Bases stockpile; it includes weaponry from the Tianhai Garrison, all moved here together. Regaining his composure, Zhang Yis face lit up with joy. Like any man, he couldnt help but admire these tools of warfare. He opened the armory doors and strode in. Fatty Xu, trailing behind, muttered, These weapons are great, but with the world covered in snow, where would we even use them? Zhang Yi approached the helicopter, his hand trailing along its cold surface. Of course I know that! If they were usable, Ling Feng wouldve deployed them long ago to attack the Shelter. Despite the challenges posed by sub-zero temperatures, Zhang Yi couldnt help but admire the sight of this war machine. What they couldnt use doesnt mean we wont find a purpose for it! Zhang Yis gaze swept across the arsenal, a pleased smile forming. The biggest hurdle in deploying them is transportation, but thats no problem for me. We could set up these cannons and tanks around the perimeter as a defensive line. Theyd be perfect! Already, Zhang Yi had plans for how hed use this enormous arsenal. He was a man who believed in never wasting a thing, a lesson hed learned from a general who cherished his troops. In any case, he planned to take everything with him! At that moment, Uncle You approached him, Zhang Yi, this one looks like a great fit for me! Mind if I take a couple? Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu turned to see Uncle You happily examining a massive Gatling gun. This thing wasnt even meant for individual use but for mounting on vehicles or helicopters. Only someone like Uncle You, with his physically enhanced Superhuman strength, could handle it. While normal firearms wouldnt be effective against Superhumans, weapons of this caliber were a different story. Only someone with near-invulnerability like Zhang Yi could withstand it. Even Ling Feng, known for his resilience, could only dodge it by moving at high speeds. Zhang Yi nodded. No problem, Uncle You. Ill store two for you in my Dimensional Space. You can use them whenever you need. This made sensecarrying something that bulky everywhere wasnt practical, so Uncle You agreed. Zhang Yi gestured to the enormous selection of weaponry, telling Uncle You, Browse around. If anything else catches your eye, Ill set it aside for you to use in battle. Uncle You nodded enthusiastically; there were other things he could use as well. A rocket launcher, for instance, was like a shotgun in his hands. Fatty Xu wasnt too interested in the weapons themselves but was practically starstruck by the tanks and armored vehicles. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Why are you so excited over those? At most, well set them up as fixed cannons. Theres no way theyd move in this snowy terrain. With their massive weight, even on treads, there was no chance of them driving through the snow. Fatty Xu hugged a tank, chuckling. Boss, you dont get it. This tank modelits my wife! Zhang Yi stared, dumbfounded. Then, realization dawned, and he looked at Fatty Xu in disgust. Blame the game developerseverything had been anthropomorphized into girls, from jets to ships, and even trains. Fatty Xu had clearly been influenced by a war-themed anime game, now fully lost in his delusion. Zhang Yi shook his head. Fine, if thats your wife, I suggest you have your honeymoon right here. He glanced at the tank, teasing, But which part will you start with? Theres plenty of access points. Fatty Xu blushed. How can you say something like that? Pervert! Zhang Yi: Ill be d*mned! How can a pervert call me a pervert? It was utterly maddening for Zhang Yi. Author''s Note Chapter 340: The Strange Object Chapter 340: The Strange ObjectZhang Yi and his companions found a large stockpile of weapons, a massive gain for him. "Fear comes from a lack of firepower. With so many weapons, Ill have more confidence even when facing stronger enemies in the future," he thought. "Take it all!" Zhang Yi opened his Dimensional Gate and swept the entire weapons cache inside. Lets keep looking to see if theres anything else worth taking! Zhang Yi said with a grin to his two companions. The harvest was so abundant that, despite the eerie atmosphere of the underground tunnels lined with corpses, they didnt feel down. Aside from the armory, there was nothing else of value in the Third Life Pod. Following the map, the three of them made their way to the Second Life Pod. But as soon as they reached the entrance, they were met with a scene of ruins. The Second Life Pod had been the epicenter of an explosion. Although the buildings were built with reinforced concrete and were incredibly sturdy, they still couldnt withstand an explosion of this scale. Cracks ran through the walls, and many pillars had collapsed, though the pod itself hadnt caved in. According to the map, a protective dome layer reinforced the entire underground shelter from above. At over ten meters high, the dome had only absorbed limited impact and remained intact. Right away, Uncle You transformed into a burly figure and went over to lift a massive pillar, nearly two meters thick, with one hand! He slowly cleared the path as Zhang Yi walked cautiously, keeping his Dimensional Gate ready above his head to deflect any falling debris. Once they entered the Second Life Pod, Zhang Yi couldnt help but sigh at the sight. The explosion had destroyed most of the rooms, including all the lab equipment. Without those precise instruments, there wasnt much left intact. Not that Zhang Yi planned to run human experiments or create an army of Modified Humans, so he didnt particularly need the equipment. However, bringing it back could be useful for Lu Keran and Zhou Keers research. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of such technology might help if they ever encountered more Modified Humans in the future. The West Hill Base had only produced a handful of Modified Humans, but what if a stronger force existed elsewhere, capable of creating a more formidable army? What should we do, Boss? These machines are all busted, Fatty Xu said to Zhang Yi, looking regretful. It doesnt matter, Zhang Yi shrugged. Lets take the leftover pieces back. We might find some valuable information, especially in the computersthere could be critical intel that Xinxin hasnt discovered. Zhang Yi didnt care if the parts were useful or not. Hed take everything anyway since he had plenty of space. They went through each lab, storing anything they didnt recognize in Spatial Storage. Even if it was junk, at least theyd have something to throw at people later! Suddenly, Fatty Xu shrieked and stumbled backward, landing hard on the ground. Zhang Yi and Uncle You instantly tensed up, prepared for combat as they turned to look. What happened? Face pale, Fatty Xu pointed ahead. T-Theres something nasty over there! Zhang Yi aimed his helmets flashlight in that direction, revealing only a pile of broken stones and rubblenothing strange in sight. What exactly did you see? Zhang Yi asked, frowning. His right hand gripped his gun, ready to unleash his Divine Power. Fatty Xu swallowed, then picked up a rock and hurled it into the rubble. Thud! The stone hit the pile, and a moment later, a swarm of dark, wriggling creatures emerged from the cracks, scurrying into the darkness. Zhang Yi grimaced. He wasnt exactly afraid but found the sight rather revoltingoversized cockroaches! This must be that protein lab Liang Yue mentioned earlier, Zhang Yi muttered, stifling his nausea. Experiments to make food out of cockroaches and earthworms were conducted years ago. Disgusting as it sounds, these creatures are high in protein. If Bear Grylls saw them, hed be thrilled! he joked to Fatty Xu. Uncle You laughed at Fatty Xus reaction. Come on, Little Xu! How can you be so scared? Youre acting like a girl! Fatty Xu huffed, getting back on his feet. Im not afraid of cockroaches! They just startled me, thats all. Zhang Yi figured the equipment nearby was likely a protein processing machine, though it seemed badly damaged. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rubbing his chin, he wondered if Lu Keran might be able to repair it. Then again, even if fixed, what would he use it for? Soon, Zhang Yi decided he might as well take itcould come in handy someday. Lets do this! Zhang Yi and Uncle You began clearing the rubble until a huge, broken protein processor lay before them. It was smashed into three sections, with some areas completely crushed. Zhang Yi didnt mind and stored it anyway. Since Fatty Xu had no special abilities without an icy environment, he could only make small talk on the side to ease the awkwardness. These cockroaches are freaks! They can survive in such harsh conditions, he muttered. Imagine how tough theyd be if they mutated! Hearing that, Zhang Yi felt a chill. If cats could mutate, why not cockroaches? So far, Flower was the only known case of a mutated animal. But since most animals in Tianhai City were domesticated pets, their limited adaptation to natural disasters meant theyd freeze to death easily, even if they did mutate. But cockroaches? Their resilience was practically unstoppable. If they developed Superhuman Energy, theyd be a nightmare. Ugh, the more I think about it, the more it creeps me out. Thank goodness there are no cockroaches at home! After clearing up the equipment, Zhang Yi and his group left the area. Meow Suddenly, Flower turned, hissing into the darkness with an intense, amber-eyed glare. Frowning, Zhang Yi stared in the same direction. In the dark, it felt like something huge was watching them. But when he looked closer, the feeling vanished. A subtle tension crept into Zhang Yis mind. It seemed like something strange and powerful might indeed be lurking here, hidden among the endless dead. This place doesnt feel right. Lets strip it clean and get out of here as soon as possible, Zhang Yi said to Fatty Xu and Uncle You. Author''s Note Chapter 341: Take It All! Chapter 341: Take It All!The West Hill Base had turned ominous. Beneath it lay thousands of corpses, thick with a stench of death, eerie and terrifying. If it werent for his combat suit and the sharp-nosed Hua Hua by his side, Zhang Yi wouldnt have dared to venture down here. Without delay, the group continued onward. The West Hill Base housed a massive warehouse filled with food and other essential survival supplies. Following the maps directions, Zhang Yi quickly found the warehouse at the end of the Second Life Pod. The pathway was strewn with rubble, but Uncle You activated his Superhuman Energy, easily clearing the debris. The warehouse door was firmly locked with a complex password system. Let me try! Uncle You stepped forward without hesitation, slamming his iron fist down hard. Boom!! A deafening crash reverberated through the underground space, yet the thick metal door let out only a grating creak instead of breaking. Uncle You withdrew his fist, revealing a dent three centimeters deep. Of course it wouldnt be that easy to break into the warehouse, Zhang Yi commented with a smile. What now? We dont have a key, and even Uncle You cant break through. Were out of options, Fatty Xu said, looking to Zhang Yi for a solution. No rushthis is actually good news. It means the contents inside are still well-preserved! He unhurriedly opened his Spatial Storage and pulled out a pile of tools, starting with a large metal canister, rubber tubing, and a nozzle-like device. A blowtorch! Uncle You immediately recognized it. This torch could reach thousands of degrees, perfect for cutting through thick metal. Zhang Yi grinned. Ive got loads of tools stashed in here! This torch was something hed picked up from the warehouse earlier, though he hadnt known when it might come in handy. Now he did! Zhang Yi assembled the blowtorch, then handed it to Uncle You with a thumbs-up. Its up to you now, Uncle You! Fatty Xu muttered, Boss, I thought youd do it yourself! Zhang Yi laughed, Ive never done this kind of work beforedont have the experience! Uncle You, whod worked as a security guard for years, was a pro at handling tools. Any time a resident needed help, they always turned to Uncle You first. ?? Grinning, he took the torch. This I can handle! Did some welding back in the day. As he ignited the torch, Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu stepped back five or six paces. A slender, blue flame shot from the nozzle, heating the metal door until the surrounding air grew stiflingly hot. It took a while, but Uncle You eventually managed to cut an opening large enough for an adult to crawl through. The three entered the warehouse, their headlamps illuminating a jumble of items stacked in rows. It looked like the storage room of a massive supermarket, stocked with all kinds of goods. Compared to the Wal-Mart warehouse Zhang Yi had emptied earlier, this place was a bit sparse. Most of the items here had been stored for emergencies or military needs and had been there for years. Uncle You scanned the room, his eyes lighting up as he pointed to one corner. Zhang Yi, look over there! Something good! Following Uncle Yous gaze, Zhang Yi saw a large blue tarp covering something, with a steel edge poking out from underneath. Building materials? Ah, these must be for repairing the West Hill Base! Zhang Yis eyes brightened. If they wanted to build a sturdy defense around Cloud Manor, these durable materials would be essential. Hed been wondering where to get supplies, and now he had a stash right here at West Hill Base! The base, after all, had a vast underground network, and maintenance was a constant priority, so it made sense that repair materials were well-stocked. The three of them pulled back the tarp, revealing an enormous stack of steel and concrete piled like a small mountain. These are military-grade materials, perfect for constructing fortifications! Weve got our defense materials sorted! Uncle You cheered. Take it all! Everything! Without a second thought, Zhang Yi stored the entire stockpile in his Spatial Storage. As for the other items in the warehouse, there were too many to list, so he simply swept them all into Spatial Storage. In a separate section, they found rooms dedicated to food storage, mostly cans and some high-quality provisions. These werent appealing to Zhang Yi, but since he was here, he might as well take them. He turned to Uncle You and Fatty Xu with a grin. Ive got more than enough food at home. You two can split the rest! The food didnt hold much value for him, but it was a nice favor to offer them. For Uncle You and Fatty Xu, though, these provisions were priceless. Hearing Zhang Yis generosity, they exchanged uneasy glances. Zhang Yi, you should keep most of it. You did the heavy lifting to capture the West Hill Base, and without you, we couldnt have imagined victory here, Uncle You said earnestly. Fatty Xu nodded. Besides, theres so much here, we couldnt eat it all in twenty years! Boss, you keep it, and well come to you if we need some. Zhang Yi chuckled. I consider you both family; no need to stand on ceremony. If I have good things, Ill always share them with you. But youre right that its too much for you to carry around. Ill hold onto it, and you can come find me anytime you need supplies. The two were visibly touched. With the food stored away, the entire West Hill Bases years of supplies vanished in minutes. It was ironic. Chen Xinian had gone to such lengths to get Zhang Yis warehouse supplies, only to lose everything, including his own warehouse, to Zhang Yi. Karma indeed. With the warehouse emptied, there was nothing left in West Hill Base of interest to Zhang Yiexcept the First Life Pod. However, that area was as secure as the Shelter, and Zhang Yi didnt have a way to break in for now. From what he knew, it was mainly Chen Xinians private quarters, unlikely to contain valuable supplies. Even if it held a few secrets, it wasnt worth Zhang Yis time. So the three quickly left West Hill Base. Before leaving, Zhang Yi pulled out rubble to block the entrance. Fatty, give it a final touch! With a nod, Fatty Xu activated his Snow Burst ability. Pale blue light gathered in his hands, and the sound of wind and snow surged around them. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Rumble! Snow from the mountainside cascaded down like an avalanche, sealing the tunnel up to a hundred meters deep. Apart from Zhang Yi, it would be nearly impossible for anyone else to dig their way inside. Even though hed emptied the place, Zhang Yi didnt want others scavenging behind him. Alright, time to go home! He wasnt planning to linger anyway. Not long ago, hed killed a Superhuman and some soldiers from the Chaoyu Base, and if reinforcements arrived, it could mean trouble. Better to get out while he could and play it off if anyone asked questions. The three piled into the Snow Vehicle, heading for Cloud Manor through the storm. --- Meanwhile, outside the Shelter Liang Yue had come as usual to train Zhang Yi in martial arts and collect her daily rations. Despite the two weeks worth of food Zhang Yi had previously given her, it hadnt lasted long once her ravenous students got hold of it. During their time in West Hill Base, they had subsisted on protein solution, barely enough to survive, let alone feel full. The sudden abundance of food meant they could only think about eating their fill. So now, Liang Yue was back to the daily responsibility of providing for their meals. Apart from the ten-person ration she earned by teaching Zhang Yi, she also had to take the students to Lu River to fish through the ice. Fishing wasnt easy, as the fish had swum deep into the water to escape the cold, making every catch a taxing effort. Today, however, Zhang Yi was away, so Zhou Keer met her instead. Zhang Yis out on an errand with some others, and theyll probably be back late. Maybe we should cancel todays lesson, Liang Yue? Zhou Keer suggested with a gentle smile. But this warm expression made Liang Yue hesitate. Skipping Zhang Yis training wasnt a big deal, but if she didnt take back food, her students would go hungry. Author''s Note Chapter 342: The Meal That Triggered a Breakdown Chapter 342: The Meal That Triggered a BreakdownLiang Yues face was full of struggle. A single meal might mean nothing to Zhang Yi and Zhou Keer, but for her and her students, it was essential to survival. Food was already scarce, and todays circumstances only made it worse, leaving her feeling understandably downcast. Sensing this, Zhou Keer quickly smiled and said, Oh! I cant believe I almost forgot! Ms. Liang, you must not have eaten yet. Why dont you join us for a meal? Zhou Keer extended her hand, warmly inviting Liang Yue inside. Liang Yues throat tightened as she thought of the warm, delicious food in Zhang Yis house, and her stomach growled at the thought. But after hesitating a moment, she shook her head, declining Zhou Keers kind offer. No, thank you! Ill come back tomorrow instead. With her students all starving, the thought of eating alone would make her feel too guilty. My apologies for making you come all this way for nothing! Zhou Keer smiled apologetically. Oh, its fine, Liang Yue replied. He has his own matters to handle. Besides, a tutor should adapt to the students schedule, not the other way around. Turning to leave, Liang Yue walked away, her stubborn determination making Zhou Keer chuckle. Ms. Liang is such an endearing person! she remarked. From the living room, Yang Xinxin rolled up in her wheelchair. Thats the warrior spiritunyielding, she said with a hint of admiration. Zhou Keer sighed softly, If shed just asked, I couldve packed some food for her to take back. She knew that Zhang Yi held Liang Yue in high regard, not only for her abilities but for her unmatched strength as a warrior. As such, Zhou Keer treated her with respect as well. If Liang Yue were ever to join them permanently, Zhou Keer would make sure to stay on good terms with her. Yang Xinxin chuckled, Sending her back with just one meal might actually make things worse. Oh? Zhou Keer tilted her head, puzzled. Why would it be worse? Isnt one meal better than nothing? Yang Xinxins hands rested on her lap, and her expression turned slightly mysterious. Those classmates of mine arent exactly a charitable crowd. If Ms. Liang only brought back one meal, she wouldnt eat it herself. But if she tried to share it, how would she divide it? With a dozen people trying to eat a single meal, a polite sharing would be impossible. Theyd end up fighting over every bite, with yelling, insults, and maybe even brawling. Ms. Liang is already exhausted from looking after them. She wouldnt want to add more trouble for herself. Zhou Keer nodded thoughtfully, agreeing. She could understand why Liang Yue would act that way. Liang Yue had been these students teacher for many years and saw them as her own children, making it hard for her to watch them struggle alone in the apocalypse. In the past, Zhou Keer would have pitied these students too. But that was before. Now, she held on to a sliver of kindness, tempered by reason. Even knowing hed be gone, Zhang Yi shouldve anticipated that Ms. Liang would come by. Do you think he did this on purpose? Zhou Keer asked, looking out at Liang Yues solitary figure in the snow. Yang Xinxin blushed a little, a dreamy look crossing her face. Oh, Id bet its part of Brother Zhang Yis plan! Zhou Keers eyes sparkled as she turned back. Are you saying Zhang Yi intentionally did this to deepen the conflict among your classmates? Or to make Liang Yue face reality faster? Yang Xinxin nodded. Of course, Brother Zhang Yi would have thought it all through. She added, Pretending to be busy and forgetting his appointment with Ms. Liangits his way of creating trouble for those people and stirring up Ms. Liangs doubts. Brother Zhang Yi is so brilliant! Definitely, its just like him, Zhou Keer said admiringly, her respect for Zhang Yi growing. Everything he does has layers of meaning. --- On the way back, Zhang Yi drove while letting the autopilot assist, which made driving effortless. Suddenly, he slapped his forehead. Ah! I forgot to tell Liang Yue she didnt need to come by today! --- Liang Yue returned to Xu Family Town. Passing by Lu River, she saw women and children breaking through the ice to fish. Most of the towns adult men had died at West Hill Base, leaving only women, the elderly, and children. Yet they still had to survive, so they took on the jobs men would normally do. As she walked past, Liang Yue noticed their numb faces. They looked almost lifeless, going through the motions merely to survive, without any real purpose. Liang Yue thought of her students. They were young and strong, yet far less willing to fight for survival than these women, children, and elderly villagers. Zhang Yi was right, she sighed. Ive been sheltering them too much. Feeling her own hunger pangs, she silently resolved to confront her students. It was time to push them out of their comfort zone. When she reached the house where the students lived, she found them all crammed together in one room. Despite the many empty rooms in Xu Family Town, they stayed huddled together for warmth. Even at night, the girls would snuggle into the boys beds, drawn to the higher body heat. As this habit continued, relationships between them grew increasingly complicated. Seeing her return empty-handed, the students looked puzzled. Usually, it took her hours to fetch food. But when they saw her hands were empty, they immediately grew anxious. Ms. Liang, you came back empty-handed? Wheres the food? To them, food was the most important thing in the world. Liang Yue walked into the room, found a chair, and sat down, explaining todays situation. Zhang Yi had business today, so theres no food. Youll have to catch fish for yourselves. Hearing this, the students erupted in disbelief. He couldnt even tell us in advance? Just because hes not home, why cant the others give us some food? Theyve got plenty! Zhang Yi has no sense of responsibility. Liang Yues heart sank at their complaints. No matter what, Zhang Yi has helped us immensely. Without him, many of us would have died at West Hill Base. And remember, hes only providing me with food as part of a deal. He doesnt owe us anything. You shouldnt be blaming others; you should be working to get food yourselves. She tried to reason with them, but the students were unmoved. As soon as she suggested they work for their food, some of the girls started whining. Ms. Liang, last time I went ice fishing, my hands got all cut up! They still havent healed, and they hurt so much. Were not cut out for this; were not fishermen. One girl muttered under her breath, If you ask me, its Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran who are the problem. Theyve been our classmates for years, yet they only care about themselves, never sparing a thought for us! If theyd only talk to Zhang Yi, we could all be living in that cozy Shelter. With that one complaint, tension immediately flared, directed at Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. Jealousy. Bitterness. Resentment. These emotions had taken root in their hearts, growing into a monstrous tree under the harsh conditions they lived in. Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran owed them nothing and had even endured bullying from them in the past. But as the saying goes, people dont mind poverty as much as they mind inequality. If everyone suffered together, they might have endured it. But why should those two live in a warm, comfortable villa, enjoying heat, hot food, and a soft bed, while the rest of them starved and froze? Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The girls complaint was just a release valve for all the frustration that had been building up inside. Once she started, others joined in, venting their anger at Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin. Theyre so selfish! I even treated Lu Keran to bubble tea two years ago! Now she wont even think of helping me. How shameless! You think thats bad? My familys distantly related to the Yang family! And Yang Xinxin hasnt lifted a finger for me? Selfish to the core! I always thought those two were no good. Guess I was right! As the students vented their grievances, they grew excited, like sharks smelling blood in the water. They mercilessly attacked Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin, as though those two had wronged them. Liang Yue listened in shock, unable to believe her students could be so petty and ruthless toward their own classmates. What noble academy? What elite Jiangnan socialites? Witnessing this, she felt they were no different from common thugs. Her heart sank completely. She finally resolved not to coddle these spoiled and immature students any longer. Quiet down! I have an announcement to make! Liang Yues sharp tone cut through the noise, and the room quickly fell silent. She looked around, her voice steady as she said, From now on, I will be moving to the Shelterwith Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin. Author''s Note Greetings, readers! We hope youre loving the story as much as we love translating it. If so, please consider giving BOTI Translator Team a 5-star rating on NovelUpdates. Your feedback inspires us! ???? Chapter 343: The Struggle of Human Nature Chapter 343: The Struggle of Human NatureLiang Yue knew she couldnt keep indulging these students any longer. She had to teach them to be independent. Only by experiencing the hardships of life and relying on their own efforts would they become decent, self-reliant individuals. Maybe then, they wouldnt just complain whenever something went wrong. So, she decided to leave and go to Zhang Yis shelter. Apart from delivering food daily, she would stop catering to their excessive demands. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a sigh, Liang Yue felt a weight lift from her heart. Admittedly, she also longed for comfort; she had dreamed of joining Zhang Yi and the others in their luxurious villa. But she had held back for the students sake. If protecting them only made them weaker and unable to fend for themselves, it was time for her to let go. After she spoke, silence filled the room. Suddenly, a girls face lit up with excitement. Ms. Liang, are you taking us to live at Zhang Yis shelter? Thats amazing! Her logic was rather naive. To her, Liang Yue was someone who should sacrifice everything for them without personal desires. But before the others could join in, Liang Yue cut them off loudly, Thats not whats happening! Im the only one going. Youll stay here and learn to live by your own efforts! Zhang Yi promised me ten servings of food daily, and Ill bring them to you. But if things go like they did today, theres nothing I can do. The remaining food will be up to you to handle. I wont spoil you anymore! The students looked at Liang Yue, shocked. How could the kind, caring Ms. Liang suddenly turn like this? Ms. Liang, you cant abandon us! You werent like this before! a girl choked up. Yeah, Ms. Liang, this is so selfish of you! How could you think only about your own comfort while leaving us to suffer? Listening to their complaints, Liang Yue gave up hope on them. Sheltered flowers dont appreciate the gardener who nurtures themthey just take it all for granted. It was time they faced the harsh winds on their own. My decision is final! Stop trying to change my mind. Liang Yue gripped her Tang Sword, clenched her teeth, and walked out of the snow house. Panic-stricken, the students chased after her, calling out desperately. If she really left for the shelter, who would take care of them? Its only when people face loss that they truly learn to appreciate. They were doing everything to hold her back. Ms. Liang, please dont leave us! Well stop slacking when we fish! One of the boys gritted his teeth and shouted, You were the one who brought us to West Hill Base and led us out! Now youre abandoning ushow is that what a teacher should do? Liang Yues body shook. Her pupils contracted, her gaze filled with disbelief and heartbreak. The students she cared about the most had hurt her the worst. Everything she did in silencethey saw it as her ruining them? Taking a deep breath, Liang Yue quickened her pace, ignoring the desperate pleas behind her. Finally, she arrived at the shelter. Zhou Keer warmly invited her in, though she looked a bit curious about her sudden return. Liang Yue didnt feel comfortable sharing this with Zhou Keer. After all, Zhang Yi would have the final say on her staying. It was better to speak to him directly. Liang Yue felt confident. First, she knew her own worth. As a powerful Superhuman, she was valuable anywhere. Second, she had good relationships with Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin, and could ask them to vouch for her. Zhou Keer noticed Liang Yues hesitation, smiled, and called over Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin. Keep Ms. Liang company; she doesnt seem to be in the best mood. Lu Keran nodded. Got it, leave it to us! Yang Xinxins dark eyes sparkled with an unusual look. It seems Ms. Liang has made up her mind! Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin cheerfully greeted Liang Yue. This was the first time they had all sat down to chat since leaving Tianqing Academy. As they sat on the couch, Liang Yue asked them about their lives lately. Lu Keran laughed happily. Weve been doing great! Brother Zhang Yi is so kind; he doesnt even make us do chores. And he even set up a private studio for me to pursue my interests. Honestly, I feel happier now than I ever did at school! Liang Yue thought: He just values your talent with mechanics, silly girl! Yang Xinxin chuckled softly. Our lives have indeed been very comfortable since we got here. Ms. Liang, you want to live here too, dont you? Yang Xinxin saw through Liang Yues thoughts at a glance. After all, the martial arts teachers thoughts were always written on her face. Especially in front of her students, she didnt bother to hide her feelings. Liang Yue blushed slightly, feeling a bit awkward. Xinxin, I do think its time for me to leave. Zhang Yi was right; protecting those kids would only make them more dependent. Yang Xinxin smirked. But Ms. Liang, deep down, dont you want to move in here? Liang Yue opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words. Her heart was conflicted. As a teacher, she should have been more selfless. But she couldnt deny her own desiresshe wanted to enjoy life too. Well Liang Yue was at a loss. Yang Xinxins gaze was so penetrating, she felt exposed. At that moment, Yang Xinxin gently held her hand and smiled. Its okay, Ms. Liang. Everyone has the right to pursue happiness. Youre doing the right thing! Yang Xinxins gentle yet affirming look lifted Liang Yues guilt. Yes, there was nothing wrong with her decision. Author''s Note Chapter 344: Skillful Persuasion Chapter 344: Skillful PersuasionLu Keran poured a hot cup of coffee for Liang Yue, who thanked her and held it in her hands, feeling a warmth that reached both her stomach and her heart. Liang Yue sincerely asked Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, When Zhang Yi returns, could you please talk to him about this for me? Of course! Lu Keran said cheerfully. Dont worry, Ms. Liang. With your impressive skills, Zhang Yi wont turn down your joining us! Having spent time around Zhang Yi, Lu Keran understood his approach well. He always treated capable people generouslyshe and Yang Xinxin were perfect examples. She had once been just an add-on, but since working for Zhang Yi, he treated her as if she were his own sister. Yang Xinxin, listening to Lu Kerans blunt response, couldnt help but sigh. While Lu Kerans thoughts were straightforward, hers were not. Yang Xinxin felt a deeper connection with Zhang Yi and respected his survival principles in the apocalypse. She smiled at Lu Keran. Dont jump to conclusions! If you make promises now, and Zhang Yi ends up thinking differently, you might just disappoint Ms. Liang. Lu Kerans smile froze awkwardly, and she scratched her cheek, looking a bit embarrassed. You might have a point Turning to Liang Yue, Yang Xinxin said earnestly, Ms. Liang, while Zhang Yi is indeed a good person, hes also principled. Anyone joining the shelter has to meet strict requirements. If you want to join us, you need to be prepared. At the very least, you must be willing to follow his commands! Unlike Lu Keran, who tried to reassure Liang Yue, Yang Xinxin chose to prepare her for Zhang Yis demands. By lowering her expectations, it would be easier for Zhang Yi to negotiate directly with her. Sure enough, Liang Yues smile faded, and she tightened her grip on her coffee. What sort of requirements does he usually have? Liang Yue instinctively squeezed her legs together, biting her lip, her face flushing with a hint of embarrassment. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although she didnt know Zhang Yi well, she wasnt blind to his relationships with Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah. Apart from him, everyone in the shelter was female. So, if she moved in wouldnt that mean Ah, she couldnt bring herself to finish the thought! Yang Xinxin rolled her eyes subtly, then reassured her, Thats not an issue at all. Since coming here, Zhang Yi has never crossed any lines with us. Hes truly a respectable man! Respectable Liang Yues mouth twitched slightly. Hearing others describe Zhang Yi that way left her speechless. Yang Xinxin winked at her. So, dont worry about that sort of thing. Zhang Yi isnt the type to act on such impulses. Otherwise, how would he have survived this long in the apocalypse? What he values is your strength. So, if I had to guess, the condition for joining would likely be that you obey his orders in battle! Yang Xinxin had made an accurate prediction. Indeed, Zhang Yis expectations for those around him always revolved around value. In terms of everyday life, he actually placed very few restrictions on them. Liang Yue nodded, feeling both nervous and excited as she waited for Zhang Yis return. Several hours later, the sound of an engine echoed from outside. Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin looked out the window and smiled, Zhang Yis back! Liang Yue unconsciously clenched her fists, her heart beginning to race. Yang Xinxin wheeled herself toward the door. Zhang Yi and his group got out of the vehicle and headed toward the shelter, planning to discuss setting up a defensive line. When Zhang Yi opened the door, he saw Yang Xinxin waiting with a smile. Xinxin? This was the first time shed come to greet him at the door; she usually preferred to stay indoors, researching the materials theyd recovered from West Hill Base. ? Seeing her there now, he immediately sensed that something was up. Whats going on? Do you have something to tell me? he asked with a smile. Yang Xinxin nodded, glancing toward the living room and quietly told him, Ms. Liang came over. Shes hoping to join us. A spark flickered in Zhang Yis eyes. Liang Yue was a powerful Superhuman whose abilities he had long desired. Previously, he hadnt invited her to join because she was burdened with those hangers-on. Now shed come to him. Could it be she had finally made up her mind? Whats the situation? Yang Xinxin grinned, looking like a mischievous little devil, and said, Your intermittent fasting strategy and my advice worked wonders. Ms. Liangs relationship with her students deteriorated, and in a fit of frustration, she came here. The intermittent fasting strategy referred to Zhang Yis tactic of supplying only ten portions of food for Liang Yue. He had used this method before in Yuelu District, and it was effective once again with Liang Yues students. By rationing out part of the food, he could ensure Liang Yue didnt hold any grudge against him, while also keeping her students hungry. One or two days was manageable, but over time, conflicts would inevitably arise over limited food. Liang Yue was a dedicated teacher but not a saint; she couldnt endlessly tolerate the students immaturity. Todays visit had always been part of Zhang Yis calculationssooner or later, she would end up here. With an even bigger smile, he nodded. Got it. Brother, Ive already prepared everything for you. When you talk with her, feel free to raise some difficult conditions! Yang Xinxin winked at Zhang Yi. Ill help you convince her! Zhang Yi chuckled, pinching her cold, adorable cheek. You really are my little helper! Liang Yues weakness was her students. The softer the heart, the easier it was to persuade. With both Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran working on her, winning her over would be a piece of cake. Standing up, Zhang Yi turned to Fatty Xu and Uncle You, saying, Liang Yues here. Im going to talk to her. Wait for me next door. Fatty Xu gave Zhang Yi a thumbs up, his grin mischievous, as if hinting at something unsaid. Uncle You also shot him a knowing smile, then went to the next room with Fatty Xu. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi composed his expression, feigning nonchalance as he pushed Yang Xinxin into the living room. His eyes met Liang Yues, and he noticed a flicker of nervousness there. Zhang Yi smiled calmly. Ms. Liang, youre here! Author''s Note Chapter 345: Welcome to Zhang Yi’s Team Chapter 345: Welcome to Zhang Yis TeamZhang Yi pushed Yang Xinxin into the living room, where they found a slightly nervous Liang Yue. Yang Xinxin winked at Liang Yue as if to say, Dont worry, Ms. Liang. Ill speak up for you! Liang Yue felt a bit more at ease. Lu Keran chimed in, Boss, welcome home! Want something to drink? Beer, milk, or maybe a nice warm milk tea? Milk tea, less sugar, Zhang Yi replied. Lu Keran cheerfully went off to make the tea but kept sneaking glances at Zhang Yi and Liang Yue. As Liang Yues student, she truly admired her teacher and hoped someone as kind as Liang Yue could join them in the shelter and thrive together in the apocalypse. Zhang Yi changed into his regular clothes and then took his time, settling onto the sofa without rushing the conversation. In situations like this, staying patient gave him the upper handwhoever spoke first would be at a disadvantage. Liang Yue sat on the sofa, nervous and hesitant, unsure how to start. Eventually, Yang Xinxin broke the silence. Zhang Yi, I have a request for you. Zhang Yi turned to her, smiling. Oh? What is it, Xinxin? You know you dont need to hesitate with me. She glanced at Liang Yue and said, Can Ms. Liang move in with us? Relieved, Liang Yue was grateful her student had voiced her hopes and looked anxiously at Zhang Yi, afraid hed refuse. Oh? Ms. Liang wants to move in? Zhang Yi chuckled, looking intrigued. He pointed at Liang Yue. Youve got to be kidding! Wasnt it you who insisted on staying with your students? Then, he changed his tone. Of course, I never said you werent welcome. Ms. Liang, beautiful and skilled with the sword, strong in battleadding you to the shelter would definitely be valuable. But, I dont like forcing anyone. Liang Yues expression grew a bit embarrassed. It was true that Zhang Yi had once hinted at his interest in her joining, but after seeing her commitment to her students, he had never brought it up again. Yet, hearing his recognition of her skills made her feel reassured. Lu Keran returned with the steaming milk tea and handed it to Zhang Yi. Big Bro, you dont know how things have been for Ms. Liang lately! Those students of hers dont appreciate her at all. They refuse to do even a little work, just draining her energy! Hmph! Only Ms. Liangs patience keeps her with them; anyone else would have left them ages ago! And yet, they still have the nerve to complain! Her words struck a chord with Liang Yue. She had sacrificed so much for her students. While she didnt expect anything in return, a little gratitude didnt seem too much to ask, did it? Instead, theyd taken her for granted. Even someone as mild-tempered as Liang Yue had finally reached her limit. She turned to Zhang Yi and said, Zhang Yi, I want to move here to give them a space to grow on their own. Children need to be weaned off dependency, especially since most of them are already adults. Staying with them wouldnt be helping them; it would only harm them. Rest assured, Ill follow your rules here at the shelter. If you need anything from me, just say the word! Seeing her so forthright, Zhang Yi decided not to play hard-to-get any further. Taking it too far could harm their relationship, and valuable Superhumans were essential in the apocalypse. He couldnt afford to let her slip away. So, holding his warm milk tea, he smiled. If Ms. Liang wants to join, I welcome you. But I still have some concerns. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liang Yues brow furrowed slightly. You dont trust me? Zhang Yi smiled faintly. Not exactly. Im just not sure youd truly follow my orders. Under his intense gaze, Liang Yue felt her heart race and instinctively crossed her legs. If your demands are too excessive, I might not agree. After all, I do have my principles! Zhang Yi, unaware of her thoughts, replied calmly, Your kindness and openness are strengths, Ms. Liang. But theyre also weaknesses. If I bring you in, its for your combat ability! Teaching me martial arts is one thing, but the main point is your strength in battle. He smiled, his gaze deepening as he looked at her. But what if one day, to protect our people, youre asked to kill someone you think is innocent. Could you do it? Zhang Yi didnt need a kind-hearted martial artist; he needed someone willing to execute orders without hesitation. Ideally, someone like Ling Feng, willing to go to any lengths to achieve a goal and fiercely loyal. If their roles were reversed, Zhang Yi would have eliminated Chen Xinian and taken the top spot himself. Liang Yues power was undeniable, but without the necessary ruthlessness, he couldnt accept her. But, as if she anticipated this, Liang Yue took a deep breath and replied with unwavering resolve, If its for our safety, I could do it. But I wont accept orders that serve only selfish desires. Suddenly, her gaze softened, and she offered Zhang Yi a bright smile. And from what Ive observed, Mr. Zhang, although you appear cold and unfeeling, youre a peace-loving person. You wouldnt kill indiscriminately without provocation. Yang Xinxin gave her a subtle wink, signaling her approvalshed nailed it! It was clear the two of them had discussed Zhang Yis potential demands beforehand. Zhang Yi noticed their small exchange but didnt mind. What he needed was Liang Yues commitment. As long as she could wield her sword for him when necessary, he was satisfied. To put it plainly, he was just looking for a useful tool. So long as that tool performed well, he was content. Confirming with Liang Yue, he asked, So, as long as its for our safety, youd kill anyone I asked, correct? After a moments thought, Liang Yue carefully replied, I wont harm my own people. She feared he might ask her to kill her students. Of course! Zhang Yi assured her. Im not some monster whod target his own. If it ever came to that, hed handle it personally. Zhang Yi sipped his coffee, feeling her tension from across the room. Truthfully, he didnt like her self-sacrificing personality, nor her habit of bringing along those hangers-on. Letting her move in also meant hed be expected to support her students. Ridiculous. What did he owe them? If anyone else had asked, hed have kicked them out already. But since it was Liang Yue, he weighed the pros and cons. Ten servings of food a day would secure a powerful, martial arts expert and Superhuman who could even teach him. All in all, a good trade. In the apocalypse, powerful fighters were essential. And Liang Yue, although somewhat naive, was far easier to manage than someone overly shrewd. After a long pause, Zhang Yi thought, Id love to bring Liang Yue here and take care of those students once and for all. After all, they bullied Xinxin and Keran before. Taking them out would gain me their support. Its worth it. Bring Liang Yue in, and her students fate will be mine to decide. Dying by accident in this dangerous world isnt unusual. Handling them would only cost me a little food. After considering his options, Zhang Yi realized hed be making a profitable move, so he made up his mind. Lowering his coffee cup, he extended his right hand to Liang Yue with a smile. In that case, welcome to the team! Im happy to have you join our family! Author''s Note Chapter 346: Various Powers in Tianhai City Chapter 346: Various Powers in Tianhai CityZhang Yi and Liang Yue agreed on the terms: Liang Yue would move into the shelter. She would be allowed to eat and access the basic services here, like everyone else. But she wasnt permitted to bring anyone else in unless she had Zhang Yis approval. Of course, enforcing this rule would be challenging. Zhang Yi only allowed people he deemed useful to enter his shelter. The main goal was to create the best possible life for himself in the apocalypse. And as usual, he would provide Liang Yue with enough food for ten people each day so she could deliver it to her students to keep them alive. Hearing that Zhang Yi would continue supplying food, Liang Yue relaxed, patting her chest in relief. Now, she could ease her conscience. But she was unaware that this very agreement triggered Zhang Yis resentment toward her studentshonestly, he was already considering getting rid of them. Knowing Zhang Yi well, Yang Xinxin understood the barely noticeable smile at the corner of his mouthit was a clear sign those students wouldnt live much longer. Because Zhang Yi never supported people who contributed nothing. And Yang Xinxin didnt like those students either. So rather than revealing Zhang Yis intentions, she chose to support him. Zhang Yi then called Yang Siyah and Zhou Keer over, asking them to bring Zhou Haimei along. They would host a welcoming event at noon to celebrate Liang Yue joining their group. Zhou Keer smiled and said, Okay, Ill get the rooms ready! Yang Siyah grinned, Then Haimei and I can handle lunch preparations! Miss Liang, is there anything youd especially like? Overwhelmed by their warm welcome, Liang Yue quickly replied, Im not picky; whatever you make will be fine. Yang Siyah nodded, smiling, Alright then! Both women wore bright smiles, but something about their expressions felt off to Liang Yue. There was a subtle tension, an almost hidden hint of hostility, that left her puzzled. Whats going on? Is it just my imagination? She couldnt think of anything shed done to offend them, so she brushed it off as overthinking. After leaving the living room, Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah exchanged a glance, sighing in unison. One more person in the house! And its a really strong woman, too. Shes not just strongshes beautiful as well. With a troubled look, Yang Siyah propped her chin on her hand. That makes me the least useful one here. For once, Zhou Keer tried to console her, Hey, dont be so hard on yourself. At least youre a great cook! And we still have the advantage in terms of figure! She struck a confident S-shaped pose, proudly puffing out her chest. Yang Siyah looked down and couldnt even see her shoes. Not baddefinitely something to be proud of. At least in terms of appearance, they felt they had the upper hand, which gave them a bit of confidence. But with this new sense of rivalry, they both resolved to prove their worth even more in the future. No way were they letting anyone steal Zhang Yi! The house was bustling. After arriving at the shelter, Zhou Haimei greeted Zhang Yi and the newcomer, Liang Yue, before heading off to help Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah. Zhang Yi slapped his leg, turning to Liang Yue. Perfect timing; were about to hold a meeting. Why dont you join us? A meeting? Liang Yue asked, curious. What kind of meeting? Zhang Yi gave a mysterious smile. A strategy meeting. Liang Yue covered her mouth in surprise. Dont tell me theres going to be another fight? West Hill Base is gone; are there still enemies nearby? Zhang Yi gave a light chuckle. When one river dries up, the water from other streams will naturally flow in to fill the gap. Liang Yue understood. Youre saying that with West Hill Base gone, the surrounding area is now up for grabs, so others will want to take its territory? Something like that. At the very least, other factions have been sighted nearby, but how things will develop is anyones guess. Zhang Yi shrugged. But we have to prepare for the worst! Life isnt a game, and as long as were prepared, theres no danger we cant handle. Liang Yue nodded, fully agreeing with his cautious attitude, her expression growing serious. If theres anything you need me to do, just let me know! Of course. I wont hesitate. At that moment, Yang Xinxin tugged at Zhang Yis sleeve, smiling brightly. Big Bro Zhang Yi, I found some fascinating data from West Hill Bases database. Its about the other factions in Tianhai City. Want to hear it? Definitely! Let me get Fatty Xu and Uncle You over here so we can all listen. Yang Xinxin nodded. The decision of whether or not to share these details publicly was up to Zhang Yi. He called the other two to the living room. Zhou Keer and the others were still preparing for the welcoming party, but they were in the open kitchen nearby, so they could hear the conversation. However, since their roles leaned more toward logistics, they only needed to be aware of the information; they didnt need to participate in the discussion. Once everyone was present, Zhang Yi gave a quick recap of the events theyd encountered at West Hill Base. At the base entrance, we ran into two different groups and had some confrontations. This might provoke retaliation, or other factions could come in to claim territory, which could lead to conflict with us. So, everyone! We cant get too comfortable just yet; we need to stay vigilant and prepared for anything! Everyone nodded. Although they were surprised to hear about other factions, it wasnt too shocking. In the apocalypse, anything was possible. Looking at Yang Xinxin, Zhang Yi said, Why dont you start by briefing us on the other factions? Itll help us identify potential enemies. All eyes turned to Yang Xinxin, waiting for her report. She placed her laptop on her lap, displaying the intel shed prepared. She began speaking at a calm, steady pace. According to intel from West Hill Base, there are four factions in Tianhai City that could pose a threat to us! Among them, three are factions based within shelters, just like West Hill Base. Ill start with those. The first is the Yangsheng Base. They control the largest oil refinery in Tianhai City, making energy their biggest asset. The current leader of Yangsheng Base is Xiao Honglian, a superhuman. Her powers are unknown but are rumored to involve fire. She has a deputy named Zhuge Qingting, whose power is related to wind, but details are unclear. The second is the Chaoyu Base, near the East Sea, controlling all the shipping companies in Tianhai City. According to West Hill Bases data, they even have access to large vessels for sea travel. At this, Zhang Yi raised a hand, pausing her. Hold on, Xinxin. Can they even sail out to sea in these conditions? It was February, the coldest time of year, with the Lu River entirely frozen over. Would it really be possible to launch ships in this weather? Everyone shared his question, looking at Yang Xinxin with confusion. A hint of pride appeared on Yang Xinxins face; her academic knowledge had finally come in handy. Thats right, parts of the coastal areas may freeze, but the open ocean remains too deep to freeze, especially closer to the equator where temperatures are warmer. Warm currents flow from the equator, and there are underwater volcanoes, so its impossible to freeze the entire ocean. Even if temperatures drop by another hundred degrees, there will still be liquid water beneath the ice-covered surface. Lu Keran added, With high salt content, seawater doesnt freeze easily. Plus, with icebreakers, they can keep ships anchored in deeper waters to avoid getting trapped in the ice. With this explanation, everyone finally understood. Zhang Yi rubbed his chin thoughtfully, an idea forming. So, does that mean they could fish out there or even relocate to warmer areas near the equator? Yang Xinxin nodded. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Based on the current temperatures, areas near the equator are probably only around -20 or -30C. While disastrous for locals, its no worse than winter in Northeast China, where people can survive. She looked over her notes. And, according to West Hill Bases intel, theyre well-supplied with food because of their proximity to the sea. But since ships require substantial fuel, they maintain trade with Yangsheng Base. These two factions are the closest allies among Tianhai Citys powers. Peering over her laptop, Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as he saw a familiar symbol in the data on Chaoyu Base. It was a blue wave icon. Is this the logo for their base? He confirmed with Yang Xinxin. She nodded. Yes, each of the four shelters has its own symbol, all originally established by the government. That explained it! Zhang Yi recalled the uniforms of Wang Ruixuans group, which looked identical to those of West Hill Base, except for the blue wave on the chest instead of the golden sword. That meant he had killed people from Chaoyu Base. Lets continue, he said. Yang Xinxin nodded and went on with her briefing. The current leader of Chaoyu Base is Wei Dinghai. Unfortunately, theres no detailed information about him; we cant even confirm if hes a superhuman. His second-in -command, Chen Jingguan, is similarly undocumented. It seems their main operations are offshore, so they have little contact with other bases. Since they can harvest resources from the sea, and their ships are well-equipped against the cold, they rarely clash with other factions. Zhang Yi thought to himself, Well, now theyre clashing with me! The last of the three shelter factions is in Qingpu District. Its located near Tianhai Qingpu Iron & Steel Groups plant, currently run by an organized group of factory workers. Their leader is named Xingtian. His name sounds fierce, but were not sure if its real or just a codename. If someones online alias were Xingtian, itd be cool. But if thats his real name, its intense, Yang Xinxin said with a hint of humor. Oh, and there is some info on his powers. He can apparently enhance the strength of people around him, but specifics are unclear. Yang Xinxin shrugged helplessly. With so little time since the apocalypse, none of the major factions are eager to clash. And per the law of the jungle, theyre cautious about revealing their abilities. Thus, intel is limited. Zhang Yi nodded, understanding this completely. Superhuman abilities were complex and diverse. If a superhumans power were a hidden weapon, it was like a gun you didnt know the location, strength, or trigger of. Without knowing your opponents powers, you had to remain constantly on guard. Otherwise, that hidden weapon might go off in your face. Yang Xinxin continued, And another thingall of the leaders of these three bases rose to power by seizing control through force, just like at West Hill Base. However, they dont have formal armies, only armed groups, so their combat training is weaker than West Hill Base. This made sense. With the breakdown of order, only the strongest survived. At West Hill Base, Chen Xinian was the exception, lacking any superhuman powers. His authority came solely from his loyal subordinate, Ling Feng. The three main bases, along with West Hill Base, each hold critical resources. Zhang Yi analyzed, West Hill Base had military power, Yangsheng Base has energy, Chaoyu Base controls shipping, and Qingpu Base holds the steel industry. Realizing this, Zhang Yi felt a bit relieved. If thats the case, West Hill Base actually had the strongest combat abilities among the four bases! After all, West Hill Base had the most weapons and a well-trained military. Everyone nodded in agreement. Fatty Xu patted his chest. I feel so much better. No matter how strong the others are, theyre no match for a base with a full military. And we even took down West Hill Base ourselveswhats there to fear? Zhang Yi smiled, They may have some armed forces, but they wont match the quality of trained soldiers. The biggest unknown now is their superhumans. Since intel is scarce, we likely wont know their numbers or strength until we face them head-on. In short, if we can avoid conflict, its best to do so! Zhang Yi could only hope they wouldnt come; that would be ideal. Of course, if a fight does break out, we wont back down! If they could conquer West Hill Base, with its formidable military, the other factions were no real threat. Feeling a bit more cheerful, Liang Yue asked, Xinxin, you mentioned there were four major factions. Whats the last one? At this point, everyone remembered Yang Xinxin hadnt mentioned the final group. Fatty Xus expression turned nervous. The last one... could it be the strongest? Miss Yang, are you hiding a big one? Everyone tensed up, turning their attention back to Yang Xinxin. Author''s Note Another chapter done! If youre loving our translations, a 5-star rating on NovelUpdates would mean the world to BOTI Translator Team. Chapter 347: Followers of the Snow God Chapter 347 : Followers of the Snow GodYang Xinxin looked around at everyone, then said calmly, Its not that this group is particularly powerful; it''s just unique, thats all. She tapped the enter key and moved on to information about the next faction. Followers of the Snow God, a religious organization formed after the apocalypse. The group evolved from a small sect known as Shenli Church in Tianhai City. Its leader, Yuan Kongye, is a mixed-blood of Hua and Japan, who awakened superhuman abilities after the apocalypse. Its preliminarily believed her ability is called Blessing, which can help other Superhumans awaken abilities without any cost. A sudden boom echoed in Zhang Yis mind! Memories from the past suddenly surfaced. Back then, Uncle You had mentioned the existence of the Followers of the Snow God to him. Uncle Yous face also grew serious; he had personally encountered members of this group. Moreover, they had even witnessed a live example of an awakened blessingLi Jian! Is there really an ability this powerful in the world? Liang Yue''s face showed clear surprise. She remembered her own near-death experience when she first grasped her superhuman ability. Everyone else in the room had also awakened their abilities only on the verge of death. But this person named Yuan Kongye could actually awaken others abilities at will. Just with that, she could amass countless powerful Superhumans as followers. Zhang Yi''s expression became serious. If thats the case, then the strength of the Followers of the Snow God is terrifying. Moreover, as a religious group offering the chance to awaken abilities, its bound to attract many Superhumans to its side. In other words, the Followers of the Snow God have infinite potential for growth! Everyone recognized the gravity of the situation, their expressions turning somber. Yang Xinxin continued reading aloud: After the apocalypse, Shenli Church was renamed the Followers of the Snow God, honoring Yuan Kongye as their leader. She claims to be the earthly form of the Snow God and declares that this snowstorm is a cleansing from the Snow God, and only devout followers of the group will be spared. ???? Their influence is concentrated in the Tianfeng and Changlan Districts, with a large, though unspecified, number of Superhumans under their command. Theyre marked as particularly troublesome enemies in West Hill Bases intelligence reports. Zhang Yi crossed his hands, supporting his chin, and said seriously, Tianfeng and Changlan are the most densely populated areas in Tianhai City. Preaching there could quickly expand their reach, especially in the apocalypse when religion spreads fastpeople are desperate for spiritual support. But aside from the population, those areas lack core resources. Judging by that, its also where the most deaths happen. Puzzled, Zhang Yi asked, How are they even surviving? Food and heating are essential for staying alive. The Shelter has years of stored supplies, and Zhang Yi had planned for this long ago. Whats their plan? Yang Xinxin shook her head. This is all the information we have. Every faction has its secrets. Maybe theyre eating meat! Zhang Yi nodded, chuckling, Oh, right. How could I forget such a crucial food source? Having lived a rather comfortable life, he occasionally lost touch with the harsh realities others face. These foreign cults always have ways to brainwash their followers, like claiming the meat is some holy sacrament or something! Zhang Yis joke sent chills through everyone. Wow, that joke was so dark! What a morbid sense of humor! The tense atmosphere in the room relaxed a little. Zhang Yi thought back to the two groups they encountered outside West Hill Base. One was from Chaoyu Base, and the other, the ones without uniforms, were probably the Followers of the Snow God. But at the time, they hadnt shown any hostility toward Zhang Yi. So, Zhang Yi didnt harbor any negative feelings towards them either. Live and let live. As long as they didnt disturb his peaceful life, he had no issues with what they did. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With that, Yang Xinxin wrapped up the briefing on the major factions in Tianhai City. Although information was sparse and piecemeal, it gave everyone a basic understanding of Tianhai Citys situation. Zhang Yi, seated on the couch, glanced at everyone lost in thought and said, Thats the gist of it. Anyone have thoughts to share? The group exchanged glances, each with their own opinions to express. Zhang Yi turned to Uncle You, saying, Uncle You, youre the oldest here. Why dont you go first? Uncle You didnt hold back, crossing his arms thoughtfully as he replied, No matter how many factions there are in Tianhai City, its definitely wise to be prepared for conflict! The most urgent task now is building our defenses! Weve brought a lot of weapons from West Hill Base; not using them would be a waste, right? Zhang Yi nodded. They needed to speed up fortifying the basethere was no telling when these factions might clash with them. After all, Zhang Yi had already taken down some people from Chaoyu Base, and even a Superhuman! If they discovered the truth, a conflict would be inevitable. After Uncle You spoke, Fatty Xu, sitting beside him, chimed in with a worried tone, I think the situation looks grim! The chubby pessimist immediately injected some negative energy into the discussion. We encountered two factions outside West Hill Base. If they find out the base was destroyed, they might come to take over the territory. That could turn the surrounding area into a battlefield. If we get caught in the crossfire, well be in serious trouble. Zhang Yi looked at him and asked, Do you have any good suggestions? Fatty Xu furrowed his brows, deep in thought, though his pudgy face looked a bit forced with such a serious expression. I think we should just barricade ourselves in! Avoid going out as much as possible. Zhang Yi nodded; if nothing else, Fatty Xu had an unmatched sense for survival, aligning perfectly with his own thoughts. Lu Keran chimed in, The problem is, even if we keep to ourselves, they might still come after us! Zhang Yi rested his chin on his hand. Then we still need to build up our defenses and be thoroughly prepared. We cant control what others do, can we? True enough. Lu Keran hesitated, her expression a bit troubled as if unsure how to proceed. Noticing this, Zhang Yi smiled and said, Just say whats on your mind. Were here to brainstormsharing your ideas might spark something for all of us. Encouraged, Lu Keran finally spoke, Actually, I was wondering if we should make another trip out to gather more materials to repair the Shelter? Author''s Note Chapter 348: Sweet Words Chapter 348 : Sweet Words Lu Kerans words reminded Zhang Yi. This time, while they gathered some construction materials at West Hill Base, it was only enough to set up the outer defenses. The shelters wall had been half-destroyed by Ling Feng''s earlier explosion, greatly reducing its defense. To repair this kind of seamless wall, they needed special building materials. If we want to get those materials, well have to go out, Zhang Yi mused, rubbing his chin. Though itd be best not to leave right now. But these Western powers weve mentioned... so far, they havent openly confronted us. They wouldnt dare act rashly unless theyre sure theres no danger in the area. So, if we go out within the next couple of days, grab the materials, and come back right away, it shouldnt be a problem! Lu Keran nodded. Got it, Big Bro! After Lu Keran shared his thoughts, Liang Yue looked like she wanted to say something. But Yang Xinxin jumped in first. Let me share my thoughts! Liang Yue, keeping her own thoughts in, waited for Yang Xinxin to finish. Everyone paid close attention to what Yang Xinxin had to say. This girl was exceptionally intelligent and often had constructive ideas. If she had a downside, it would be her tendency to be overly logical, which sometimes came across as cold. With a calm smile, Yang Xinxin addressed everyone, I think youre all getting a bit too tense! Pointing to her head, she said, Dont lose your judgment out of fear. Actually, our current situation isnt as bad as you think. First, lets look at these Western powers. Their reach hasnt extended to the areas around West Hill Base. For instance, West Hill Base controls the standing army in Tianhai City; their military might is unmatched, yet even they havent fully taken over West Hill and Lu River Districts. You can tell by the fact that theyre still sending patrols. So, we can conclude that even the Western powers havent fully secured their territories. Plus, theyre keeping each other in check, wary of expanding recklessly and leaving their home bases vulnerable. This means weve got a decent window to prepare for whats to come. Yang Xinxins reasoning put everyone at ease. Indeed, though they were aware of other powerful forces in Tianhai City, they were letting their imaginations run wild. Realistically speaking, it was highly unlikely the enemy would come looking for their shelter. With the Ice Age, transportation, and communication are severely hindered. Besides, they had no irreconcilable differences with Zhang Yi, nor any reason to waste resources searching for the shelter. The fall of West Hill Base had only heightened their sense of caution, making it even less likely for them to act without caution. Fatty Xu said cautiously, Still, its a good idea to reinforce the defense lines as a precaution. Yang Xinxin nodded. Yes, build up defenses, but dont stress yourselves out over it. Instead, we should use this time to gather as many useful supplies as possible. At this, Yang Xinxin looked at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, arent you planning to gather materials to fix up the shelter? Zhang Yi met her gaze and sensed something strange in her eyes. She seemed to be hinting at something. With a slight nod, Zhang Yi replied, Yes. According to Keran, well need a lot of rare construction materials to repair the shelters outer wall. Itll take some time. Yang Xinxin then turned to the thoughtful Liang Yue. Liang Yue, I imagine Xu Family Town could use some extra food supplies, just in case? Liang Yue blurted, Exactly! If theres an enemy attack, wont they be in danger at Xu Family Town? Yang Xinxin tilted her head, looking at Liang Yue. You cant protect them forever, right? I suggest informing them in advance so they can stock up on food and hide. Dont worry, Liang Yue. Like I said, no enemies are likely to show up around here anytime soon. Zhang Yi caught on to Yang Xinxins intent. He gave her a deep, meaningful look before casually sipping his milk tea. From the start, Yang Xinxins words struck him as odd. Even if they didnt know when the enemy would come, why was she so insistent on easing everyones guard? When she mentioned Xu Family Town, Zhang Yi realized her plan. First, she and Zhang Yi both wanted those students gonethey were just a headache. Second, with Liang Yue around, they couldnt just kick them out openly. So, Yang Xinxin subtly guided the conversation, making it seem as if the situation wasnt that urgent. This way, Liang Yue wouldnt ask Zhang Yi to bring those students to Cloud Manor for protection. In fact, it was a kill with a borrowed knife approach. If there were an enemy attack, theyd likely take out the villagers of Xu Family Town near Cloud Manor first. By standard logic, Xu Family Town would be seen as an outpost of Cloud Manor. To attack Cloud Manor, theyd need to deal with Xu Family Town first. Liang Yue was visibly conflicted by Yang Xinxins words. She hesitated, then asked Zhang Yi, Can we have them come help us with the defense work, in exchange for our protection? Zhang Yi didnt immediately answer Liang Yues question. Instead, he chuckled, Have your students learned to fish yet? Because if they cant, in this freezing weather, theyre in real trouble. Liang Yues face turned awkward. Zhang Yi was implying that this bunch, who couldnt even fish through frozen ice, would be no help at all. Theyd just be dead weight, and he didnt need that! Yang Xinxin consoled Liang Yue, Dont worry, Liang Yue. This is just our guess. The enemy may never come. Who knows? Liang Yue sighed, If thats true, itd be a relief! Finished speaking, Yang Xinxin left Liang Yue hesitant to ask Zhang Yi for help. At that moment, however, a voice broke the tension. If youre so worried, Liang Yue, then let me think of a solution for you! It was Zhang Yi. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Smiling, he looked at Liang Yue. If danger does ever come to the area, Ill allow your students to temporarily stay near the shelter. There were a few empty villas around the shelterenough for them. Liang Yue looked at Zhang Yi, astonished, as if hearing these words from him was unbelievable. To her, Zhang Yi had never been this kind. Even Fatty Xu, Uncle You, and Lu Keran looked shocked, as though meeting Zhang Yi for the first time. Only Yang Xinxin stared at him calmly, a slight smile on her lips and admiration in her gaze. Noticing Liang Yues surprise, Zhang Yi spread his hands and laughed, Why the look? You really thought I was heartless? Liang Yues expression grew awkward, though her face confirmed her thoughts. Zhang Yi shook his head. Maybe that was true beforebecause back then, we werent allies. But now, Liang Yue, youre one of us! Youre a friend and part of our family! So the people you want to protectIll help you protect them! Zhang Yis eyes held sincere warmth, as earnest as a devoted follower. Liang Yue was deeply moved; in her time of conflict, Zhang Yi had been there for her. This 27-year-old single teacher felt ripples in her heart, even forgetting her resentment over him taking her prized sword. Zhang YiI I dont even know how to thank you. Her face flushed with excitement. From the kitchen, Zhou Keer, watching this scene, muttered a few words to herself, ones that looked inappropriate for younger ears if you followed her lips. Zhang Yi simply smiled and shook his head. No need for thanks. Were all in this together now. Just focus on keeping everyone safe. (Just as long as you stay obedient, and follow orders when needed.) Liang Yue nodded firmly. Ill do my best! Zhang Yis image had grown noble in her eyes. She realized shed misjudged him, thinking him selfish and arrogant. With Liang Yues problem resolved, Zhang Yi addressed everyone elses concerns, bringing the matter to a close. In short, we have two immediate priorities: first, fortify defenses centered around Cloud Manor to guard against possible enemies. Second, Keran and I will head out to find materials to repair the shelter. Apart from that, no one is allowed to act on their own or leave the shelter area, to avoid unwanted clashes with other factions scouts. Everyone agreed. This was the best course of action for now. One thing, however, went unsaid. Zhang Yi had already killed some superhumans and regular soldiers from the Chaoyu Base at the West Hill Base entrance. So the current peace wouldnt last as long as he hoped. He chose not to mention it, and both Fatty Xu and Uncle You kept silent as well. They assumed Zhang Yi was keeping morale steady in the shelter. But in reality, Zhang Yi was setting up his own plan. Author''s Note Chapter 349: Waiting on Fate Chapter 349 : Waiting on FateThe meeting concluded successfully, with everyone in agreement on Zhang Yis plans. Around noon, they gathered to officially welcome Liang Yue to their team. The dining table was filled with steaming, sumptuous dishes: fragrant roast chicken, tangy garlic-braised fish, tender pork knuckles, savory lamb soup, and soft, stewed pig trotters with soybeans. Even though these meals were a regular occurrence at Zhang Yis table, for Liang Yue, it was a feast beyond her imagination. Her mouth watered at the sight, and her hands trembled slightly as she picked up her chopsticks. Even back at West Hill Bases Second Life Pod, shed never enjoyed a meal like this. If the people struggling out in the icy wastelands saw this spread, they''d go insane with envy! In a world where people were ready to risk their lives for a stale bun, Zhang Yis group was living in utter luxury. The contrast was almost painful. Liang Yue couldnt deny she felt secretly glad she''d made the right choice in joining them. She ate happily, perhaps too much, as she eventually found herself clutching her stomach, feeling sick from the indulgence. Ouch Holding her stomach, Liang Yue turned a bit pale. Everyone froze momentarily, then rushed to check on her. Zhou Keer suddenly had a realization and slapped her forehead. Oh, it must be from the rich food. Her stomach isnt used to it after what shes been eating! Since they were accustomed to such fare, theyd overlooked Liang Yues situation. Zhou Keer quickly helped her to her room, gave her some medicine, and made her lie down. Just rest for a bit; youll be fine! Zhou Keer said gently, tucking her in. The kindness touched Liang Yue deeply, almost bringing her to tears. In the aftermath, this was the first time she had felt genuinely cared for, and it stirred a growing attachment to the Shelter. In just one day, her outlook had shifted drastically. Actuallythis life really isnt so bad. After lunch, Yang Siyah, Zhou Keer, and Zhou Haimei took care of the cleaning. Zhang Yi noticed a strange, slightly troubled look on Lu Kerans face and beckoned her over with a smile. Keran, whats going on? I noticed you seemed off during lunch. At his words, Lu Keran quickly waved her hands. Its nothing, Big Brother! Im perfectly fine. Zhang Yi smiled and flicked her forehead lightly. No need to act all mysterious with me. Just say whatevers on your mind. Remember, were family. There shouldnt be any secrets between family, alright? Reassured, Lu Keran glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then looked up at Zhang Yi. Big Brother, why did you agree to protect those students? Theyre awful! So thats what was bothering her. Zhang Yi couldnt help but smile. Lu Keran''s face grew serious as she continued. You probably remember how things were back then. Those people were far from decent, and after the apocalypse, Xinxin and I went through hell because of them. ?? So I really dont want to see their ugly faces again. Though generally easygoing, Lu Keran was still an eighteen-year-old who loved and hated with intensity. She couldnt forget everything she had endured because of her classmates. Zhang Yis smile grew. Just then, Yang Xinxin, passing by, noticed their conversation. She and Zhang Yi exchanged a knowing look before she walked away. Often, Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin shared an unspoken understanding. Being highly intelligent, Yang Xinxin could restrain her emotions with logic, much like Zhang Yi. Both of them prioritized whatever benefitted themselves and the Shelter. Zhang Yi put a comforting arm around Lu Kerans shoulders and led her to a quiet corner of the room. He lowered his voice and said, Keran, if I completely ignored your classmates, what do you think your teacher, Liang Yue, would do? Lu Keran frowned slightly. Hmm Knowing her, shed probably leave the Shelter. Shed go off to protect them or take them somewhere safer. Zhang Yi nodded, smiling. Exactly. Even though I dont care about your classmates, Liang Yue is valuable to us. We need her to stay. Understanding dawned on Lu Keran. Ah, I see! So youre doing this to keep Ms. Liang around! But, does that mean youll support them forever? Lu Keran pouted slightly, sounding irritated. Why should those jerks get to live off you? They dont deserve it! Dont worry, it wont be for long. In these harsh conditions, weaklings like them will either freeze or starve soon enough. And besides, Ive got some plans. Zhang Yis smile held a hint of cunning. He thought of the Superhuman hed killed from Chaoyu Base. Losing even one Superhuman was a big deal for any faction, which would only increase contact between the Shelter and outside forces. Hed assured Liang Yue hed protect those students if anything went wrong. But if a conflict broke out, he would have plenty of reasons to explain why he couldnt intervene in time. After all, Cloud Manor was quite a distance from Xu Family Town, so even a brief delay would be enough for the outside factions to wipe them out. Lu Kerans eyes lit upBig Brother never let her down! She was about to ask something else when Zhang Yi held up a shush gesture. Lets keep this out of the house. Tomorrow, well head out to search for materials to repair the Shelter, and Ill fill you in on the details then. Although Liang Yue was resting in her room, it was best to keep their plans discreet. With her worries gone, Lu Keran smiled brightly. She nodded enthusiastically. Alright, Big Brother! So, where are we going to find the materials? Theres a materials factory not far from here. Its still within West Hill Bases control, so it should be relatively safe for now. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Got it! Ill go start a materials checklist. With that, Lu Keran hurried to her workshop to prepare. Watching her go, Zhang Yi began to strategize. His plan was simple: leverage external enemies to eliminate Liang Yues students. He had no intention of feeding freeloaders. Especially those students, who he saw as ungrateful troublemakers. If they werent going to help, theyd only bring trouble. The best solution was to remove any potential threats. Additionally, this would serve as a small payback for what Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran had endured. But of course, other factions arent my subordinates; they wont just do what I want. For now, I can only wait and see if fate takes its course. While Zhang Yi hoped the other factions would unwittingly take care of Xu Family Towns students, he wouldnt deliberately provoke them. His own safety remained his top priority. When those students died wasnt a concern. Author''s Note Chapter 350: Surprise or Not? Chapter 350 : Surprise or Not?That afternoon, after everyone had rested, Zhang Yi began assigning tasks. The top priority now was building a solid defense line. He gathered everyone together; after all, nobody could slack off when it came to this kind of work. Lu Keran had already drawn up the plans. The defense line would encircle the shelter and surrounding villas, forming a circular wall with a radius of 500 meters, standing 20 meters high, and 10 meters thick! The main construction materials would be steel beams and large ice blocksresources they could easily acquire with strong defensive qualities. The ice blocks had the added benefit of self-repair, thickening further in the cold weather. With ten-meter-thick solid ice, they could withstand substantial firepower. Zhang Yi assigned everyone their roles. Lu Keran, a genius in mechanical engineering, hadnt specifically studied architecture, but her knowledge of mechanics far exceeded everyone elses, making her the natural leader for the construction. Fatty Xu was in charge of gathering materials. The most commonly used material for the wall was massive ice blocks, which they could easily collect from the Lu River. Then, Zhang Yi would use his spatial abilities to transport them back. Liang Yue would process the ice, shaping them into suitable building blocks. Uncle You took charge of the heavy lifting, assembling the steel beams and massive ice blocks. Over time, the ice blocks would naturally fuse, and the steel framework would meld into the structure, forming a virtually indestructible ice-and-steel barrier! This would be the first line of defense around the shelter. While not as fortified as the shelter itself, its primary purpose was to prevent surprise attacks and buy everyone time to retreat into the shelter. Having acquired a significant stockpile of weapons and ammunition from West Hill Base, including heavy artillery and combat vehicles, Zhang Yi made some last-minute upgrades to the walls design. Several openings were carved along the walls kilometers-long stretch, where they mounted artillery barrels, connecting these weapons to the shelters control system. Thirty heavy machine guns, five large-caliber autocannons, six additional artillery guns, plus two tanks and four armored vehicles were also stationed on the wall. Zhang Yi held back part of the heavy weaponry in his dimensional space for emergencies. This plan thrilled everyone on-site. Once completed, this firepower-packed defense line would give them the confidence to withstand even a massive assault. All right, lets get started! This wall is our safety line, so no slacking! Zhang Yi clapped his hands, grinning as he encouraged everyone to get to work. As for Zhou Keer, Yang Siyah, and Zhou Haimei, since they didnt have powers to help directly, they would prepare hot drinks and assist Lu Keran. With assignments given, everyone headed to Lu River and got to work. Despite the scale of the project, everyone here had some kind of superhuman abilityno one was short on skills. What usually required a full construction team could be divided among just a few. Fatty Xu pressed his hands to the rivers ice, and with a loud cracking sound, the surface split into large fissures. Soon, an enormous, rectangular ice block rose from the ground, slowly levitating. Zhang Yi quickly opened the Dimensional Gate and stored it in his spatial storage. Fatty Xu, going all out, extracted ten huge ice blocks in one go. The intense work soon left him out of breath. Grab a snack and rest up! Weve got time, Zhang Yi reassured him before taking the ice blocks back to the shelter. The large, irregular ice blocks, each the size of a small house, lay on the ground. With her blueprint in hand, Lu Keran directed the work, guiding Liang Yue as she shaped the ice into perfect blocks. Without a word, Liang Yue pulled out her Tang Sword. The bright blade flashed, cutting through the air, leaving a large ice block perfectly squared. Then it was Uncle Yous turn. He lifted one of the large ice blocks and slammed it firmly into the ground! The giant, rectangular block, nearly thirty meters long, sunk deep into the earth like a wooden stake. Due to frequent explosions, the ground around Cloud Manor was soft, so the foundation work went smoothly. Uncle Yous first task was setting the foundation, then he reinforced it with steel bars along the inner wall. After the frame was ready, they would add a second layer of ice blocks inside, creating a double-layer defense. This setup could withstand heavy artillery without shattering the structure. They packed soil around it for stability. The whole team worked tirelessly, even enjoying the labor. In the sub-zero temperatures, with everyone bundled in thermal suits, the activity kept them warma rare luxury in the apocalypse. These professional-grade suits, once reserved for specialized workers, were nearly impossible for ordinary people to afford. Zhang Yis efficient team coordination sped up the work, and within hours, they had a hundred meters of the wall structure in place. But as they worked, Zhang Yi noticed something out of the corner of his eye across the river. Squinting, he recognized a vaguely familiar figure sneaking around. It seemed like one of the students he had seen beforenot familiar by name, but the face rang a bell. Perhaps the large-scale ice extraction caught the attention of some in Xu Family Town. Zhang Yi crossed his arms and smirked, barely caring what those people thought. Those little weaklings? He could wipe them all out singlehandedly if he wanted. Yet, something about the students sneaky behavior piqued his curiosity. Nearby, Fatty Xu, still panting, continued chipping away at the ice. Since Zhang Yi couldnt do much to help at the moment, he pulled out a high-power telescope and observed the other side of the river from the embankment. From this vantage point, he could see Xu Family Town clearly. In the freezing temperatures, the town was dead silent. With so many able-bodied people lost at West Hill Base, few villagers remainedmostly women, the elderly, and children. But as he looked closer, Zhang Yi noticed something interesting. The sneaky student wasnt alone; a young woman followed behind him. sea??h th N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The two of them slipped into a snow house, one after the other. A faint, amused grin crossed Zhang Yis face. These rich kids, still unable to resist their baser urges even now. After working tirelessly to extract another ice block, Fatty Xu squatted on the ice, watching Zhang Yi curiously. Boss, what are you looking at? Zhang Yi lowered his telescope. Nothing. Take a break. He took the ice blocks back, and after Liang Yue finished processing them, Zhang Yi retrieved some food from his dimensional storage. Getting late. Take this food to your students, he said, handing a bag to Liang Yue. As she took it, Zhang Yi suddenly added, By the way, I wanted to apologize to you about something. Liang Yue looked puzzled. Apologize for what? Zhang Yi met her gaze sincerely. I used to think your students were all selfish. But just now, I saw one of them helping a poor girl, and I feel I owe you an apology. Liang Yue found his words odd, as if there was some hidden meaning she couldnt quite grasp. Zhang Yis mouth curved into a mysterious smile as he gestured toward Xu Family Town. Over there, in the house on the east side of the village, your student is helping someone in need! Liang Yues expression changed instantly, realizing her student might be exploiting Xu Family Towns vulnerable women and elderly! As a teacher, she couldnt stand by and let her students do something so immoral! Ill go check it out! she said, tossing her ponytail over her shoulder as she ran toward the river. Meanwhile, inside the snow house, Wu Chengyu dragged a wooden plank, blocking the door. These semi-underground snow houses were great for keeping out the cold, though the temperature still made it difficult for his body to react as hed like. Sighing as he looked at the pale, haggard woman before him, Wu Chengyu couldnt help feeling disappointed. Back in Tianhai City, he was used to dating only the best women. If he had any other options, he wouldnt have chosen someone like her. But he had gone too long without, so hed make do. He pulled out half a meal box from his coat and threw it on the table. When she saw it, her eyes brightened. Hurry up. I dont have time to waste here. The woman gulped, reluctantly shifting her gaze from the food and crawling toward him. By the time Liang Yue arrived, Wu Chengyu was already engaged in his sordid business. Outside the snow house, she could hear the sounds coming from withinsounds that made her cheeks flush. She was in shock, unwilling to believe that the person inside was one of her students. In the apocalypse, Xu Family Towns women had lost their protectors and were barely surviving. It was clear that the woman inside wasnt with Wu Chengyu out of love. Either shed been coerced or forced to trade her body for something. Regardless of the reason, Wu Chengyus actions enraged Liang Yue, her body shaking with fury. As a woman, she could not tolerate the thought of her students, whom she worked so hard to protect, exploiting other women like this! Author''s Note Hey "Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies" fans! The BOTI Translator Team hopes youre enjoying the chapters. Please rate us 5 stars on NovelUpdates to keep the translations coming! ???? Chapter 351: The Collapse of Liang Yue Chapter 351: The Collapse of Liang YueIn her fury, Liang Yue kicked down the wooden plank blocking the door! The two people inside were startled; Wu Chengyu, who was involved in sordid behavior on the bed, whipped around, his face paling at the sight of Liang Yue. "Ms. Liang! What are you doing here?" Liang Yues eyes fell on the blank-faced woman next to him and the half-eaten meal on the table. Instantly, everything became clear. Her mind went blank with rage and shock, leaving her unsure of what to even think. Her studentthe one she had fought to protect in this apocalyptic worldhad used the precious food she brought them for something like this? Wu Chengyu froze, not expecting Liang Yues sudden arrival. After a moment, he gritted his teeth. Since things were already at this point, he decided he might as well lay it all out. Liang Yue had a soft heart, and maybe she''d forgive him. Ms. Liang, Im a young man, and I have needs. I hope you understand. Besides, I didnt force herit was her own choice. Right? Say something! He patted the womans face. The woman stared blankly at Liang Yue, then nodded numbly. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even after getting caught, she showed no trace of shame. Survival was her only concern now; morality and dignity had long been cast aside. Liang Yues face was expressionless, her mind overwhelmed by shock and anger, making her feel almost paralyzed. She asked coldly, Didnt you all say there wasnt enough food? Then how could you waste it like this? Wu Chengyus expression changed slightly. He couldnt let Liang Yue know where the extra food came from. Since she left, order among the students had become simple: the strongest ruled. Wu Chengyu, with his height and strength, had gathered a group of tough students to control everyone else. This allowed him not only to eat well but also to barter extra food for services from the women of Xu Family Town. Bracing himself, Wu Chengyu shouted at Liang Yue, Ms. Liang, why dont you just keep giving us food and mind your own business? Youre not providing us with enough anyway; we still have to figure out how to survive ourselves. So it doesnt matter how we use the food, does it? Liang Yue staggered backward, as if struck by lightning. She pointed at Wu Chengyu, chest heaving, but words failed her. Ms. Liang, could you step out? Youre kind of getting in the way here! Annoyed by the interruption, Wu Chengyu was defiant. He knew Liang Yue too well; her kind-hearted nature wouldnt allow her to let him die, no matter how poorly he actedafter all, he was her student! Kind Ms. Liang would never abandon her students in an apocalypse, right? Liang Yue closed her eyes, turned, and rushed outside. Removing her hat, she let the cold snow blow against her face. But the freezing snow was no match for the chill she felt in her heart. As Liang Yue left Xu Family Town, Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu were enjoying a meal together on Lu River. Noticing Liang Yues devastated expression as she approached, Zhang Yi smirked, his tone slightly mocking. So, realitys pretty brutal, huh, Ms. Liang? ? Liang Yue looked up at Zhang Yi, then gave a bleak smile. Do you think Im an absolute fool? Then, answering her own question, she said, Yes. I really am foolish. Hands in his pockets, Zhang Yi replied calmly, Dont blame me for exposing the harsh truth. I just thought you deserved to know. What you do now is up to you; Ill respect your choice. Liang Yue shook her head, her emotions in turmoil, her eyes unfocused. She brushed past Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu, unsteady on her feet, heading back to the Shelter, longing only for a quiet place to process everything. Fatty Xu watched her leave, then leaned in, curious. Boss, what happened with Ms. Liang? What did she see? Zhang Yi glanced at him and said flatly, Her student was exploiting women in Xu Family Town. If he wasnt forcing them, he was trading with food she provided. Fatty Xus eyes widened. Holy sh*t! Thats juicy! Boss, youre no fun. You didnt even let me catch a glimpse of the action. Thats what youre focused on? Zhang Yi chuckled, patting his shoulder. That woman couldve been one of your distant cousins or an aunt, you know. Fatty Xu scoffed. My familys mostly dead! Those left are distant relations. I dont care what happens to them. Zhang Yi gave him an approving thumbs-up. Way to keep things simple! Back in the Shelter, Liang Yue locked herself in her room, utterly lost. She began to wonder if everything shed done had any meaning. She had no idea how much time had passed before she heard a knock at her door. Liang Yue, are you okay? Zhang Yis concerned voice came from outside. Quickly composing herself, she sat up, slipped on her slippers, and opened the door. Zhang Yi noticed her slightly red eyes, as if she had been crying. Not surprising; no teacher would be unaffected by the downfall of a student they had once cherished. Sorry, Liang Yue said, Im not feeling well today. Ill catch up on work; it wont affect the schedule. Shaking his head, Zhang Yi reassured her, No rush. Itll only take a few days to finish the project anyway. Looking down at her, he added in a gentle tone, I was just worried about you and came to check in. This unexpected kindness from Zhang Yi caught Liang Yue off guard. What was the line from that song? *Nothings scarier than sudden concern from a friend.* Im fine. Just need some rest, Liang Yue replied. Zhang Yi glanced into the room and smiled. Are we going to talk here? Realizing, she quickly stepped aside. Come in and sit down. Zhang Yi pulled up a chair inside. I know today was a big blow, but I hope you can look forward. The road ahead is still long. If you ever need to talk about your troubles, Ill at least be a good listener. When a womans heart is vulnerable, both her emotions and body are open. Zhang Yi wasnt necessarily interested in love, but he didnt mind if women fell for him. After all, when a woman becomes emotionally attached, shes often completely devoted. Though Zhang Yi didnt plan to take advantage of Liang Yue, he did see the opportunity to strengthen their bond, ensuring she would be even more cooperative in the future. Author''s Note Chapter 352: Liang Yue’s Obsession Chapter 352 : Liang Yues ObsessionAt this moment, Liang Yue was feeling vulnerable, craving comfort from someone. Initially, Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin were the ones supposed to console her, as they were closest to Liang Yue in the shelter. But Yang Xinxin stopped Lu Keran, choosing to leave this opportunity for Zhang Yi. Only by fully bonding Liang Yue to Zhang Yi could they ensure she would stay in the shelter. Yang Xinxins actions considered Zhang Yis needs, but they were also for Liang Yues own good. As expected, Zhang Yis comfort lifted Liang Yues spirits a little. Despite being a martial arts master, she was still a 27-year-old single woman, and deep down, she yearned for a mans comfort. Zhang Yi, do you think Im a hopeless fool? Liang Yue, sitting on the edge of the bed, gave Zhang Yi a wry smile. He looked at her for a few seconds, then laughed. Maybe a little. But, he added, I believe you have your reasons. Though he thought she was just plain foolish, he kept that part to himselfno need to be blunt. Liang Yue lifted her head, gazing at the ceiling, her eyes taking on a distant look. I started martial arts when I was three. Even though Im a woman, I trained as hard as any man! For people like me, the future usually holds two paths: either becoming a star in film or opening a martial arts school to take on students. But I didnt want to be a pretty face in showbiz, and I didnt have the resources for that path. And as a woman, opening a school posed a lot of challenges. So, I chose a road that only a few martial artists takeI became a bodyguard. Liang Yue began talking about her life. When a woman shares her past with you, it usually means she trusts you, and you might just have a chance to get closer. Zhang Yi responded at just the right time, Then you joined that place and became the best bodyguard in Huaguo? At the mention of that time, a slight smile played at the corners of Liang Yues mouth. Yeah, it was the peak of my life, though also the most grueling. After a few years, Tianqing Academy recruited me as a PE teacher to teach self-defense to the academys elite kids. They offered me a salary of 3 million a year! Can you even imagine 3 million? She looked at Zhang Yi with a hint of pride. Clearly, she was proud of having earned such a high salary. Zhang Yi chuckled. Oh, I can imagine! Thats over twenty years of my salary. Liang Yues smile deepened. Sadly, thats all in the past. When the memory ended, her eyes grew even more vacant. She fell silent for a while, then spoke slowly, Then the apocalypse came, and we lost everything. Family, friends, identity, reputation, money. I have almost nothing left. The only thing I still have is my responsibility to protect my students. What keeps me going is that small sense of duty. I know, with the way you operate, you must think Im incredibly naive. Ive thought about whether I should live a little more selfishly. But if I were to abandon my last belief, I wouldnt know why I even exist in this world. As she spoke, tears began to fall down her cheeks, dripping onto the spotless floor. Hearing this, Zhang Yi began to understand her a bit better. Since the apocalypse began, he had seen many people unable to cope with the harsh reality, choosing to end their lives. For those people, the world had already become hell, and staying alive was nothing but suffering. Spiritual anguish can be far more painful than physical hardship. So, in a way, it wasnt so much that Liang Yue was protecting her students; it was more that she was preserving the last bit of faith keeping her going. ???? Of course, that didnt change Zhang Yis view of her as foolish. Ideals were one thing, but overthinking lifes meaning was another. Living itself is the purpose. People live just for the sake of living. Maybe youre putting too much pressure on yourself? Zhang Yi asked, his face filled with concern. You were on your own before, but its different now. Were teammates. Were family. Look, everyone in the shelter is an adult who can understand and support you, unlike those ungrateful brats. As he spoke, Zhang Yi moved closer to Liang Yue and suddenly took her hand. Liang Yue flinched, unsure how to react. If you need something to believe in, let us be that belief from now on. Liang Yues face flushed instantly. Though she was already 27, due to her career, shed never been in a relationship or even held hands with a man. And Zhang Yi was reasonably good-looking, too. Now, with him looking at her so earnestly and holding her hand, her brain seemed to be on the verge of overheating. You you want to be my belief? Inwardly, Zhang Yi thought, *I mean, specifically mebut lets add us to keep you from getting suspicious.* Basically, he was asking her to become one of his loyal followers. If youve lost your beliefs, then make new ones. If youve lost your connections, then we can be your bonds. Dont wear yourself out. It pains me to see you like this. Liang Yues blood was rushing to her head. It was the first time a man had said something so boldly sentimental to her, without a hint of shame. And, though she wouldnt admit it, his words actually worked! Her face was so red she looked like she might start bleeding. Though she didnt feel that way toward Zhang Yi, this conversation, which felt suspiciously like a confession, greatly improved her impression of him. Thank you I feel a lot better. Embarrassed, Liang Yue pulled her hand back, her eyes darting around, unable to meet Zhang Yis gaze. Seeing that the moment had run its course, Zhang Yi stopped there, knowing that pushing too far could backfire. Going too far in flirting could easily turn him into Shrimp-head Guythat annoying type who makes girls roll their eyes. He could just picture Liang Yue complaining to the other women: Oh, girls, you wont believe what this shrimp-head guy just said That would be the last thing he wanted. Feeling better now? he asked. After a brief silence, Liang Yue nodded gently. Yeah, having someone to talk to really helps. But Im still disappointed in them. Her thoughts returned to Wu Chengyus behavior, and she frowned again. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maybe they just need to grow up a little more. Zhang Yi didnt comment further on her students. He knew it wasnt realistic to expect her to let go of them right away. But his goal was to slowly weaken their importance in her heart. This way, if they died one day, she wouldnt be as emotionally devastated. After a few more words, Zhang Yi left her room. As he walked down the corridor, he noticed Yang Xinxin in her wheelchair, watching him with a smile. Did you win over Teacher Liang, Big Bro? Author''s Note Chapter 353: Going Out to Find Building Materials Chapter 353: Going Out to Find Building MaterialsZhang Yi shrugged after hearing Yang Xinxins words, smiling as he walked over and said, Thats enough; Im not really interested in your teacher, Liang. Yang Xinxin tilted her head, confused, and asked, Teacher Liang is quite beautiful; you have no interest? Your standards are so high! Zhang Yi stretched lazily and replied, She is beautiful, but she comes with some troubles. The thing I hate the most is trouble! However, after dealing with her troublesome students, Zhang Yi could consider taking their relationship further. Still, as he often said, he had a nonchalant attitude towards so-called love; it could serve as a spice in life, but life would go on just fine without it. Zhang Yi approached Yang Xinxin, smiling as he told her about what happened today. Upon hearing this, Yang Xinxin''s face filled with disgust. Those guys really are capable of doing such disgusting things! Zhang Yi said calmly, Ive played the bad cop; now its your turn to be the good cop! Make sure Liang Yue gives up completely on those guys, then I can clean them up without worrying about any repercussions. Zhang Yi wasnt afraid of Yang Xinxin betraying him because back at Tianqing Academy, she had killed more students using Hua Hua. Yang Xinxin smiled slyly, Alright! I have to help my brother, right? She maneuvered her wheelchair towards Liang Yues room. Zhang Yi had no idea what they were discussing, but Liang Yues attitude towards those students would definitely change from now on. No matter how deep the trust or protective instincts were, they would slowly disappear with the accumulation of disappointment. The next day, Zhang Yi planned to take Lu Keran out to search for building materials to repair the Shelter. Uncle You asked, Do you want us to go with you? It wouldnt be good if we encounter enemies again. Zhang Yi shook his head, No need; bringing Hua Hua is enough. You all stay here to continue building the defense line; someone has to watch over the house. He went out with Hua Hua; the abilities of the twoone person and one catcould perfectly complement each other. As long as he didnt encounter opponents of Ling Fengs caliber, even ordinary small factions or Superhumans wouldnt pose a threat. Even if they encountered a strong opponent, escaping would be manageable. Uncle You didnt insist anymore, agreeing to stay behind and work on the defense line. Although Zhang Yi wasnt present, Uncle You could still handle the moving work with his brute strength. Completing half of the defense line today was certain. It was Lu Kerans first time going out to do something with Zhang Yi, and she was very happy, her excited little face flushed. Zhang Yi took out a set of West Hill Base combat gear he had confiscated for Lu Keran to change into; it was excellent for both bullet resistance and cold protection. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Originally, Zhang Yi planned to create upgraded combat gear for everyone in the Shelter. However, the combat gear he wore not only consumed a lot of materials but also took a considerable amount of time to produce. Lu Keran wouldnt be able to make so many in a short time. Therefore, Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry; he let her take her time crafting, prioritizing frontline combat personnel first. Uncle Yous defensive power exceeded that of combat gear, so he didnt need a set of gear. He wore a confiscated ordinary combat suit, which provided basic defense when not transformed. Lu Keran donned the white combat gear and even polished the golden sword logo on her chest, flashing an eight-toothed smile at Zhang Yi. Suddenly, her expression became serious, and she saluted Zhang Yi. Private Lu Keran is ready for battle; please give instructions, leader! Seeing her playful and cute appearance, Zhang Yi couldnt help but pinch her nose. Little troublemaker! Lu Keran stuck out her tongue, How do I look? After putting on this outfit, I feel so cool! Zhang Yi nodded, Clothes can easily give people the wrong impression, especially for women. Lu Keran froze for a moment, then immediately realized Zhang Yi was teasing her and angrily punched his shoulder. Alright, alright, lets set off! The outside environment cant be trusted; the sooner we go and return, the better! Zhang Yi thought for a moment and pulled out a handgun, handing it to Lu Keran. You should know how to use this, right? Since Lu Keran could craft firearms, she should know how to use them. Sure enough, Lu Kerans eyes lit up as she accepted it and tucked it into her side holster. The two left the Shelter, and Zhang Yi took out a snow vehicle, driving her towards the famous Hongyuan Group factory in the Lu River district. The West Mountain area and Lu River district were located in the southwest of Tianhai City, slightly farther from the city center, so many industrial enterprises gathered there. Hongyuan Group was Tianhai Citys largest and most famous building materials company. Not only in Tianhai City but even nationwide, it had a great reputation. The reason Zhang Yi chose this building materials company was that it was relatively close to West Hill Base. Moreover, and this was crucial, it was the designated supplier for Dragon Security Company. Thus, Zhang Yi believed they would surely have the building materials needed for the Shelter. The vehicle drove away from the Shelter. Lu Keran turned back to glance at the departing building, hesitating as she bit her lip. After a while, she finally asked her long-standing curiosity. Big brother, can you talk to me about yesterdays question now? Lu Kerans thoughts were quite straightforward; she had been remembering that matter. So now that she had the chance, she quickly asked Zhang Yi for his thoughts. Zhang Yi glanced at her and smiled, asking, You really dislike the other students, dont you? Lu Keran didnt deny it, seriously nodding her head. Those guys were way too much with what they did to Xinxin! She paused, then continued, They treated me pretty badly too. To be honest, I dont want to see them and certainly dont want to live with them. Lu Keran was a top student, having gained admission through her academic performance and professional skills. Thus, she had a considerable gap in status compared to other students. When she was in school, she had endured quite a bit of bullying from her classmates. So naturally, she didnt wish to see those guys living well. She was straightforward, not foolish. As Zhang Yi listened to Lu Kerans complaints, a faint smile lingered on his lips. For a moment, he almost wanted to tell Lu Keran his plan. That was to leave those people in Xu Family Town and, when conflicts occurred with other factions, intentionally lead others to sacrifice them. However, considering Lu Kerans blunt personality, she might accidentally let the cat out of the bag. If Liang Yue found out, it could affect the relationship between the two of them. He didnt want to drive a wedge between himself and those close to him. Thus, Zhang Yi decided to change his approach. Author''s Note Chapter 354: Invasion Chapter 354: InvasionDont worry, I also really hate those guys. I absolutely wont let them disturb our comfortable lives! Let those bastards live across the river. With their self-sufficiency skills, its only a matter of time before they starve or freeze to death. And who knows, maybe one day when we clash with other forces, they might have an accident! Zhang Yi shrugged, Of course, I promised Liang Yue that I wouldnt touch them, so it all depends on their luck. Lu Keran felt pleased to know Zhang Yis attitude. However, she leaned closer with some concern, Big brother, Teacher Liang is a very soft-hearted woman! What if they run into danger and Teacher Liang brings them to the Shelter? Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi laughed dismissively. Its the apocalypse now; lives are as worthless as grass. Its perfectly normal for anyone to die. While I promised Liang Yue to do my best to protect those students However, if I cant do it, she should be able to understand. Saying this, Zhang Yi suddenly pinched Lu Keran''s nose. Then it will depend on how you and Yang Xinxin perform! Your Teacher Liang loves her students very much! If I cant convince her, you two just need to work a bit harder! Lu Keran had a small face, and her nose was tiny, making it nice to pinch. Her face turned slightly red, I understand what you mean, big brother! You want me and Xinxin to brainwash Teacher Liang, right? A glimmer of amusement flashed in Zhang Yis eyes. A stubborn woman like Liang Yue sought a spiritual refuge in the apocalypse; she needed to protect others to prove her own worth. And this spiritual refuge was placed on her students. Perhaps she didnt love her students as much as she wanted to prove that her existence was meaningful and that she was needed. Compared to those unfortunate kids in Xu Family Town, you and Xinxin are undoubtedly favored by Liang Yue. So how to please the teacher and make her love you more doesnt need me to say much, right? Lu Keran certainly understood Zhang Yis meaning. Girls were always adept at acting cute and charming, regardless of their age. Outside, the snowstorm continued. As February approached, the temperature gradually rose a little but was still cold enough to be deadly. Lu Keran looked at the desolate white land outside and couldnt help but sigh. The Shelter is like paradise, while the outside is hell! It would be better if no one came to disturb us. She muttered softly. Zhang Yi blinked, and couldnt help but think about that large force, feeling slightly worried. I hope we wont have any conflicts with them before we finish the defensive construction at the Shelter! He had already killed people from Chaoyu Base. This matter was likely hard to conceal since the Followers of the Snow God had witnessed it. He could only hope that the timing of any conflicts would be delayed. As long as Im well-prepared, I wouldnt fear even if two Chaoyu Bases attacked me together! Zhang Yi thought confidently. After defeating West Hill Base and obtaining all their stockpiled weapons, Zhang Yis strength was no longer what it used to be. However, as the saying goes, what you fear will come. Zhang Yi was currently trying to avoid contact with other forces. But when he drove to Hongyuan Groups factory, he saw three vehicles parked in the snow from a distance. Vehicles? Zhang Yis first reaction was to park the car far away. Then he took out binoculars and looked in that direction. What he saw confirmed his suspicions: three oddly shaped vehicles. Those three vehicles should not be considered snow vehicles but rather modified off-road vehicles turned into battle cars. In addition to the steel plates and machine guns installed on the body, they also had tracks and skis added below. However, the steel plates appeared to be thin, seemingly to reduce weight. These things dont seem right. Can they even run? Zhang Yi wondered. Lu Keran curiously leaned over, Big brother, what do you see? Zhang Yi handed her the binoculars so she could take a look for herself. After Lu Keran glanced through, she couldnt help but start to rant. What the heck is this? It looks so messed up; it almost makes me want to gouge my eyes out! Zhang Yi leaned back in his seat, the Dimensional Gate opening directly ahead to prevent any surprise gunfire. He sighed, I still underestimated their efficiency. These guys have already invaded from the border towards West Hill Bases territory. The destruction of West Hill Base had already been discovered by other forces. They would definitely want to come and take a slice of this big pie. Within the Lu River district, the most valuable assets were the material factories and machinery equipment plants. Zhang Yi hesitated. He didnt want to engage with any forces at the moment. However, he urgently needed to repair the Shelter. Thus, he had to go over and find the materials he needed. Should I kill them? Zhang Yi was conflicted. At present, he didnt know who had come or what their strength was. Striking without understanding wouldnt align with his usual style. Meanwhile, Lu Keran excitedly said, Big brother, the cost-performance ratio of these modified junk is too low! Although they barely run on snow, their top speed cant exceed 20 kilometers per hour. ? Plus, the modifications are too crude, so their fuel consumption is several times that of a snow vehicle. Wow! This means they really are wasteful. They sent out three vehicles at once, which are practically three fuel guzzlers! An idea suddenly flashed in Zhang Yi''s mind. Wait! You said these vehicles consume a lot of fuel, right? Lu Keran put down the binoculars, looking disdainful. Yeah, these off-road vehicles weigh much more than snow vehicles. After being modified, they increased their weight. With such rough modifications, their fuel consumption is at least five times that of our vehicle! A gleam of brilliance flickered in Zhang Yis eyes. Initially, West Hill Base wouldnt even use snow vehicles because gasoline was very hard to obtain. But these guys are so extravagant, meaning only one force can afford this! Among the Western forces, the one controlling the Tianhai City Baofeng Oil Refinery was Yangsheng Base! Is it them? Yangsheng Base is more than 200 kilometers away, almost across the entire Tianhai City. I didnt expect them to come; they really are eager! However, since they control the oil refinery, with ample energy, it indeed makes sense for them to waste like this. Zhang Yi confirmed the identity of these people and thought about what to do next. Since they were already here, it wouldnt make sense to go back empty-handed. He planned to talk to these people. If he could peacefully take away the materials he needed, that would be the best outcome. If he couldnt persuade them, he would have to resort to force! Keran, a conflict might happen soon. Get yourself mentally prepared! Zhang Yis gaze turned cold as he looked ahead, then drove the snow vehicle forward. Lu Keran swallowed, her eyes filled with excitement. To be honest, she was very happy! Because this might be her first time seeing Zhang Yi in action! Author''s Note Hey, lovely readers! A fresh chapter just dropped! Dont forget to cheer us on with a 5-star rating for BOTI Translator Team on NovelUpdates. Your love keeps us goi Chapter 355: Yangsheng Base Chapter 355: Yangsheng BaseOutside the Hongyuan Group''s materials factory, Zhang Yi drove his vehicle near several modified snow vehicles. Their arrival had already attracted the attention of the personnel at Yangsheng Base. As they got closer, five or six people were leaning against their vehicles, aiming their guns at them. Stop! This area has already been taken by our Yangsheng Base. Which faction are you from? Go somewhere else! a man with a long beard shouted. Zhang Yi remained vigilant, activating his Western Speed ability. As long as the other party made a move to pull the trigger, he would immediately kill them all! Stay in the car and dont move! Zhang Yi could see that the weapons in their hands were all basic firearms, which couldnt harm his vehicle equipped with Shelter-class bulletproof glass, so he felt safe getting out. A black tabby cat with its tail held high elegantly followed in Zhang Yi''s footsteps. Zhang Yi raised his hands gently and said to the people in front of him, Dont misunderstand, I mean no harm. I have no objections to you taking this factory first. I just need some materials, and I hope you can make it convenient for me. However, when the Yangsheng Base personnel saw his Western Mountain Base-style combat uniform, their expressions grew much more serious. Wasnt it said that the Western Mountain Base had been destroyed? Maybe its a remnant; there were so many people at the Western Mountain Base, they couldnt have all died, right? Thank goodness its not from one of the other bases; otherwise, wed have a bit of a headache. What powerful characters could possibly survive from a destroyed Western Mountain Base? However that vehicle of his is quite impressive. Some had already set their sights on Zhang Yis snow vehicle. The ones they were driving were all knockoffs, with poor performance, slow speed, and high fuel consumption. If Zhang Yis vehicle was a Rolls Royce, their vehicles could only be considered a blend of Mercedes and Santana. A cautious person whispered, Dont act recklessly! Do you really think a person who can drive such a good car at a time like this is just an ordinary character? ? His eyes were filled with apprehension. Especially when facing so many of us, he shows no fear at all. This person is definitely not easy to deal with! Notify the captain to come over! Immediately, someone contacted the captain inside the factory via the communicator. At the same time, someone shouted at Zhang Yi, Lets discuss this when our captain arrives! Zhang Yi wore a relaxed smile, but he was very cautious inside. He looked toward the factory; someone was entering through the skylight using the same method he had before. Alright, I can wait, Zhang Yi said, smiling as he took two steps back, keeping his hands in the line of sight of the others. Of course, if he really wanted to kill, he didnt necessarily need a gun. It was best if he could negotiate with these people; Zhang Yi also didnt want to make enemies of both Chaoyu and Yangsheng. After a while, a few people crawled out from the factory. Leading them was a man with a scruffy black beard. His combat uniform was also white, but there was a red flame emblem on his shoulder. This indicated that he was a captain-level figure at Yangsheng Base. Even if hes not a superhuman, hes definitely a formidable character! Zhang Yi made a judgment immediately. The captain of Yangsheng Base, Gao Yuan, saw Zhang Yi, his gaze sharp like that of a hawk. In the apocalypse, any unfamiliar person you encounter could be an enemy; no one dared to be careless. However, Gao Yuan saw only one vehicle, two people, and a cat, and he felt somewhat relieved as he was accompanied by a dozen or so subordinates. What is your position in the Western Mountain Base? Gao Yuan asked coldly, while sizing up Zhang Yi. Zhang Yis lips curled slightly, Captain of the Special Forces Team at the Western Mountain Base, Zhang Beihai! Zhang Yi didnt take off his mask, and the other party didnt know his appearance. Currently, using the name of the Western Mountain Base was much better than exposing his true identity. Moreover, the other side only knew that the Western Mountain Bases stronghold had been destroyed but couldnt judge whether any remnants of the forces remained. As the strongest armed force among the Western Mountain Bases, other bases wouldnt be able to act carelessly towards it. Sure enough, when Gao Yuan heard Zhang Yi''s self-introduction, his expression became more serious. So its really the captain of the Western Mountain Base! No wonder you dare to come here with only one person. What, are you here to drive us away? Gao Yuan thought Zhang Yi had come to expel him, and his demeanor became somewhat unfriendly. Dont say I didnt warn you, the headquarters of the Western Mountain Base has been shattered. Your remaining forces are not enough to compete with our Yangsheng Base! So, dont have any dangerous ideas! Gao Yuan had already believed what Zhang Yi said. After all, that combat uniform was standardized by the government at the time, and only they from the Western Mountain Base had it. It would be too difficult for outsiders to replicate it; no one could imagine who would have such conditions in the apocalypse. Seeing that the other party believed his fabricated lie, Zhang Yi calmly said, Its just a materials factory; if the friends from Yangsheng Base like it, you can take as much as you can! However, we also need to take away some materials now. I hope you wont obstruct us! After hearing Zhang Yi''s words, Gao Yuan''s expression was uncertain. They were ordered to occupy some important resource locations in the Lujiang District, but they hadnt expected to encounter remnants of the Western Mountain Base. However, Zhang Yi was right; with such a large factory, it would be too difficult to monopolize it. They didnt even need so many building materials. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After pondering for a moment, Gao Yuan said to Zhang Yi, Alright. But Ill only give you half an hour! Zhang Yi smiled. It was best if they could come to an agreement; he didnt want to have a conflict with the people on the other side. After all, he wasnt fond of slaughtering. Zhang Yi waved to the vehicle behind him, signaling Lu Keran to get down and come with him. Finding materials required Lu Kerans identification, and Zhang Yi had to keep her by his side to ensure safety. Gao Yuan made a few gestures to his subordinates, who understood and cleared a path for Zhang Yi. Lu Keran was both nervous and excited as she hurried to Zhang Yis side. For safety reasons, Zhang Yi first pulled her into his arms. This sudden warmth made Lu Kerans heart race, and even in the freezing minus sixty degrees, her cheeks flushed. Lets go. Zhang Yi calmly said to Lu Keran. But, what about our car? Arent we going to put it away? Lu Keran was somewhat worried about that snow vehicle, fearing it would be taken by the people of Yangsheng Base. Its fine, they cant take it. Zhang Yi whispered, providing no further explanation. He would never easily use his abilities in front of others. A superhumans ability was his strong suit, but it also contained his vulnerabilitiesever since he killed Ling Feng, this had become a rule in his heart. Lu Keran bit her lip and obediently followed Zhang Yi toward the factory. Hua Hua trotted behind the two, elegantly following in Zhang Yi''s footsteps. Even while walking in extreme cold, it seemed unaffected. Just as Zhang Yi and Lu Keran slowly walked toward the factory. Behind them, Gao Yuans narrowed eyes suddenly widened. His right hand moved with invisible speed into his pocket and then pulled the trigger at Zhang Yis back! Author''s Note Chapter 356: The Unstoppable War Vehicle Chapter 356: The Unstoppable War VehicleAt the moment Gao Yuan made his move, both Zhang Yi and Hua Hua''s eyes lit up. Watch your back! Zhang Yi never trusted his back to strangers. Although he was facing away from Gao Yuan and the others, his spatial abilities made him highly sensitive to fluctuations in space. Ever since he absorbed the abilities of Ling Feng and other special forces members, his first sense had also strengthened. So, while remaining vigilant, the instant the killing intent from those people appeared, Zhang Yi immediately opened a Dimensional Gate behind him. At the same time, Hua Huas body puffed up like a balloon, firmly blocking behind Zhang Yi and Lu Keran! Da-da-da-da-da!!! Bullets from over a dozen people rained down like a storm, all hitting Hua Huas black fur, which was as hard as steel needles. After the last battle, Hua Hua had absorbed several superhumans, significantly enhancing its combat strength. Now, facing these firearms at close range, the attack felt like mere tickles to it. What what is this thing? A monster! The personnel from Yangsheng Base were stunned; it was their first encounter with a mutated creature. Gao Yuan was momentarily taken aback but quickly reacted, drawing his gun and aiming at Hua Hua''s eyes! Bang! Bang! Bang! Gao Yuans draw was very professional, and all three shots were aimed directly at Hua Huas eyeballs. He was clearly someone with professional training and high combat proficiency! Meow Hua Hua became a bit angry, shaking its head and easily deflecting the bullets! Zhang Yi did not make a move; instead, he protected Lu Keran in front of him. He needed to shield Lu Keran while allowing Hua Hua to take the initiative, giving himself a chance to observe these people''s combat capabilities, especially whether there were any superhumans among them. Hua Hua transformed into a five-meter-tall black beast, standing like a living fortress between Zhang Yi and Lu Keran. All bullets hitting it were harmless. Even though the weapons used by those people were powerful models, some even loaded with armor-piercing rounds. They were not facing the early-stage mutated Hua Hua, but the evolved Hua Hua. Meow Hua Hua felt little pain but grew irritated, lunging forward and biting off half of a persons body. The others snapped back to reality and hurriedly scattered. Next, they all performed the same action, pulling out a disposable metal syringe and stabbing it fiercely into their bodies! Hm? Zhang Yi''s gaze sharpened. Their actions reminded him of the stimulants he injected while attacking the Western Mountain Base. It seemed to be some kind of drug that enhanced combat power. Sure enough, after injecting the drug, strange red patterns quickly appeared on their bodies. With a roar, Hua Hua charged, its sharp claws extended like shining steel blades. The individuals swiftly dodged, and it was evident that their speed had increased several times! Unfortunately for them, they were not facing humans but a feline known for its speed and agility! In terms of equal size, few could rival feline creatures; perhaps only weasels could contend. Regular humans, even on drugs, couldnt hope to outrun it. With a few swipes of its claws, Hua Hua took down three people! However, Zhang Yi soon discerned the opponents tactics. A few were distracting Hua Hua, while Captain Gao Yuan led five people to launch an assault on Zhang Yi! The five of them opened fire simultaneously at Zhang Yi. However, Gao Yuans silver pistol suddenly ignited, and a blazing bullet shot toward Zhang Yis head! S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Is this his ability? In an instant, that thought flashed through Zhang Yis mind. Even though it was far away, he sensed the power contained in that bullet the moment it was fired. For him, unless the attack exceeded the energy capacity he could contain in space, all projectile weapons were meaningless. Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! All five bullets disappeared three meters in front of Zhang Yi, as if they had never been fired. What? Youre also a superhuman! Gao Yuan immediately realized the situation. However, he had no time to regret; there was no time to escape. Let you see my gun too! Zhang Yi raised both hands, and two golden Desert Eagles appeared in the air. He gently told Lu Keran, Cover your ears. Lu Keran obediently covered her ears and looked up at the calm Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi raised his pistols and fired continuously at the heads of the five men! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! As soon as Gao Yuan and the others saw Zhang Yi draw his guns, they instinctively dodged and shot back. However, even with their combat experience allowing them to avoid the shots, the bullets seemed to lock onto them, tracing a bizarre arc through the air and accurately hitting their foreheads! All five men, including Captain Gao Yuan, collapsed to the ground. In the moment of death, their eyes reflected confusion and disbelief. They were seasoned gunmen, and yet they were shot in the head even while prepared; was this reasonable? In a sense, precise shooting was a causal skill. Once Zhang Yi locked onto you, unless your speed could exceed that of a bullet, evasion was futile! Lu Keran gazed at Zhang Yis swift elimination of the five gunmen, her eyes brimming with admiration. Not far away, Hua Hua swiftly finished off its battle, chewing a few of the remaining people and then impatiently spitting them out. You forced me to take action! Zhang Yi looked at the pile of corpses, letting out a helpless sigh. The tree wishes for tranquility, but the wind wont stop. Im clearly a pacifist, so why do they always force me to kill? He wasnt afraid of Yangsheng Base. But having provoked both Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base, if they teamed up to attack, Zhang Yi would have a bit of a headache. Not because he was afraid, but because it would be troublesome. However, if killing was necessary, then so be it; if they pushed their luck, he wouldnt be lenient. Zhang Yi walked over to Gao Yuan, placing his right hand over the bullet hole in his head and began absorbing his abilities. To his surprise, Gao Yuans ability was not very strong, even weaker than the captain of the Western Mountain Special Forces. In Zhang Yis current state, absorbing his abilities would not be satisfying; it was more like a light snack. For Zhang Yi, superhumans of this tier seemed little different from ordinary peoplehe could eliminate them with a wave of his hand. Lu Keran followed behind Zhang Yi, excitedly exclaiming, Big Brother, youre amazing! You took down so many without even getting your clothes dirty! Zhang Yi squatted down to search Gao Yuans body. While searching, he said to Lu Keran, Although Im not a martial artist, having absorbed so many superhuman powers, I can honestly say Im quite strong now. Even Zhang Yis self-proclaimed weak offensive capability far surpassed that of a low-tier superhuman like Gao Yuan. Lu Keran watched Zhang Yi carefully searching Gao Yuan, curiously asking, Big Brother, what are you doing? Looking for something. After a long search, Zhang Yi finally found what he was looking for in Gao Yuans coat pocket. A disposable metal syringe, through which a dark red potion could be seen. Is this the stimulant used by Yangsheng Base? It seems stronger than what Keer gave me! Judging purely by its effects, this drug was indeed powerful. It could grant ordinary people incredible strength, almost reaching the level of modified humans from the Western Mountain Base. Moreover, based on how the people from Yangsheng Base used it, it seemed there were no physical requirementsnormal people could use it. Zhang Yi put the drug away, planning to take it back for Zhou Keer to analyze. This kind of thing could be a lifesaver at a critical moment. Next, Zhang Yi searched each corpse thoroughly. Unfortunately, besides the two vials on Gao Yuan, the others only had one each, which had been used up. Fortunately, two individuals who hadnt had time to use the drug were bitten to death by Hua Hua, giving Zhang Yi two extra vials. He found nothing particularly valuable on the others. However, he collected all their communication devices. Unlike Zhang Yis phone, they carried satellite phones when going out. These devices were much heavier than regular phones, resembling bricks, but they had all the functions of a phone and provided better communication quality. Zhang Yi planned to copy the data from them after returning, using it to analyze intelligence on Yangsheng Base. Afterward, he stored the body parts in his dimensional space. Although the conflict had erupted, Yangsheng Base could not ignore the death of a superhuman and over a dozen henchmen, but delaying their discovery of the truth was also helpful. At the very least, Zhang Yi needed to buy time to fortify the outer walls of the Shelter and the perimeter defenses of Cloud Manor. After cleaning up the body parts and tidying up the battlefield. Including the makeshift snow vehicles from Yangsheng Base, he also collected those. Not that he needed them, but taking them could confuse others. He cleaned up the bloodstains on the ground, ensuring no one would find evidence of the deadly struggle that occurred here. Throughout the process, Zhang Yis actions were calm and unhurried. Lu Keran began to feel anxious. Big Brother, wont anyone come to reinforce them? Zhang Yi brushed the snow off his hands and replied calmly, Yangsheng Base is over two hundred kilometers away. Even if they have the advantage in numbers and ample fuel resources, crossing such a long distance for combat would require leaving a large force to defend at home. This is just a materials factory; they wont concentrate too many troops here. There are plenty of useful resources around. Of course, Zhang Yi referred to resources valuable to others. He currently lacked nothing. Lets go find the materials you mentioned. After fixing up the Shelter, we need to prepare for the possible war that may erupt next! Zhang Yi spoke lightly. Before colliding with Yangsheng Base, he had always been cautious, trying to avoid conflict. But now that both sides had clashed, Zhang Yi felt indifferent. Life and death should not be taken lightly, but one must act against defiance! Ive tolerated enough; if they dont leave themselves a way out and insist on bringing trouble upon themselves, they cant blame me. Lu Keran followed closely behind Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi didnt even bother climbing over walls, letting Hua Hua charge through and smash a large hole in the wall. Then the two entered the materials factory through the opening. Zhang Yi didnt know anything about the materials needed to repair the Shelter; after all, he hadnt studied materials or chemical engineering in college. So, he followed Lu Keran, who picked out whatever materials she needed, which Zhang Yi then stored in his dimensional space. He took everything that might be useful, leaving nothing for others. If the factory hadnt been so large, Zhang Yi would have emptied it entirely without a second thought. Half an hour later, the two left the factory with their arms full. Zhang Yi drove the vehicle, and the three of them sped off towards Cloud Manor without looking back. The war games are about to begin! Zhang Yi blinked and suddenly thought that since they had come this far, he might as well use the imminent enemy to solve the troubles in Xu Family Town. He glanced at Lu Keran beside him, not revealing his plans. However, he had an idea in mind about how to attract the enemys attention to Xu Family Town. Author''s Note Chapter 357: Firepower Defense Line Chapter 357: Firepower Defense LineZhang Yi and Lu Keran set out on their way back to Cloud Manor. At this point, Zhang Yi had already realized that several other factions had begun invading the original territory of the West Hill Base. It was no surprise for him to see Gao Yuan at the material factory. If all went as expected, he would also discover that other key supply points in the Xishan District and Lu River District were occupied by several major factions. Zhang Yi''s consecutive kills of the people from Chaoyu and Yangsheng Base indicated that war was about to begin! The only question was when they would realize that the one taking action was Zhang Yi and come to attack. In a limited timeframe, we must be fully prepared. On the way back, Zhang Yi said to Lu Keran, Lets keep todays encounter with the people from Yangsheng Base a secret for now. Lu Keran was taken aback for a moment, then asked curiously, Why? If everyone doesnt know danger is approaching, how will they prepare? This is something I only need to keep in mind. Zhang Yi said sternly, I will urge everyone to speed up the construction of the defenses and prevent them from leaving the vicinity of the shelter. But this matter cannot be disclosed for now. I dont want to cause panic among them, do you understand, Keran? I will tell them when I think its appropriate. Zhang Yi fixed his gaze on Lu Kerans eyes, his tone calm but his eyes held an undeniable power. Lu Keran was silent for less than a second before nodding vigorously. Although she didnt know Zhang Yis purpose, her heart was with him, and she fully supported whatever he decided to do. I understand. After all, youre doing this for everyones sake, right? Lu Keran said with a sweet smile. Zhang Yi smiled back and ruffled her short hair. Its good that you understand. Big brother is doing this for you and everyone! This statement made Lu Kerans heart race a little faster. Indeed, Zhang Yi had never harmed her. As long as she followed Zhang Yis orders, everything would be fine. Meanwhile, a strange glint flashed in Zhang Yis eyes as he drove. The reason for not telling everyone about this news was to keep it from Liang Yue. Zhang Yi planned to use the hands of the two major factions to deal with those students from Xu Family Town. Therefore, he needed Liang Yue to believe that danger would not come in the short term. For safety''s sake, the best method was to keep everyone in the dark about the conflict that had already occurred. When Zhang Yi and Lu Keran returned to the shelter, they saw that the towering ice and snow fortress had already been built up to more than half. The 10-meter thickness was constructed from two layers of giant ice blocks, and with the steel frame inside, it was hard to imagine anything could quickly destroy it. This was merely a defensive measure. During the construction of the ice and snow walls, Liang Yue and Uncle You had also opened holes in the ice blocks to create shooting ports with steel plates. Afterward, they could place the large number of captured artillery, heavy machine guns, armored vehicles, cannons, and tanks on top, forming a dense firepower network. Zhang Yi and Lu Keran got out of the car, and Zhang Yis face returned to his usual warm smile as he walked over. Seeing this, Uncle You and Liang Yue inquired, How was it? Did the material collection go smoothly? Did you encounter any suspicious individuals? Zhang Yi replied with a faint smile, It went very smoothly; there were no obstacles along the way. I told you, other factions need time to stabilize their territories. Who has the time to come and seize resources here! Lu Keran remained silent, obediently following behind Zhang Yi like a good child. Zhang Yi noticed Liang Yues face visibly relaxed. Thats great! Otherwise, I wouldnt know what to do. What she referred to was undoubtedly the placement issue of those students. However, this time, Zhang Yi unusually stated, Your concerns are not unfounded. Although I think there won''t be any danger for now, its still wise to be prepared. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As he spoke, he glanced at Lu Keran beside him, suddenly leaning in close to Liang Yue, and whispered, However, Liang Yue, I wouldnt mind letting your students move in here if they encounter danger, but for Xinxin and Keran I really have no way. After all, the conflicts that occurred between them in the past cant be resolved in just a day or two. Letting them live under the same roof would be unfair to Xinxin and Keran. Zhang Yi had to change his tone. Because he knew in his heart that the crisis in Xu Family Town was approaching fast. If he continued to promote safety theories, claiming there would be no danger, then in the future, Liang Yue might blame him for it. So, it was better to shift the focus of the conflict onto the students from Xu Family Town versus Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. After all, they were all Liang Yues students; a hand is no more than a palm. How could she favor one side over the other? Sure enough, when Liang Yue heard Zhang Yis analysis, she couldnt help but hesitate. Deep down, she was definitely closer to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. After all, they were good students, and the three had been getting along very harmoniously these days. Unlike those guys from Xu Family Town, who only brought her trouble. While thats true, your reasoning makes sense, its just Liang Yue had a conflicted look on her face. At that moment, standing behind Zhang Yi, Lu Keran saw the discreet hand gesture Zhang Yi gave her. This sweet and simple engineering girl suddenly recalled the plan Zhang Yi had mentioned to her. Now it was her turn to step up! Lu Keran stepped forward, looking at Liang Yue with big eyes full of grievance. Teacher Liang, why must they move nearby? Whenever Xinxin and I see them, it reminds us of our time at Tianqing Academy. Do you know how cruel they were to us back then? Seeing Lu Kerans aggrieved expression, Liang Yue felt a twinge of guilt. She had actually been aware of the grouping and exclusion issues among the students back then. But at that time, she was limited in energy, worn out by the threats from Hua Hua, and really couldnt focus on those matters. Looking back now, she hadnt cared for Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran enough. Now that she could enter the shelter, it was also thanks to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran advocating for her. Given their daily interactions, their bond was certainly much stronger than with other students. So when she heard Lu Kerans plaintive plea, Liang Yue felt herself getting torn. I dont want to do this either. If they could be self-reliant and survive in this apocalypse, that would be best. But there are obviously external factors influencing this! If they were harmed right under my nose, I wouldnt be able to forgive myself. Author''s Note Chapter 358: Satellite Phone Chapter 358: Satellite PhoneZhang Yi listened to Liang Yue''s words nearby and thought to himself: what Liang Yue needed was a spiritual refuge, a reasonable explanation to let go of those students. This was Liang Yue; if it were anyone else, Zhang Yi wouldnt have bothered wasting time on her. However, he couldnt bear to lose this powerful martial arts expert who could also be his teacher in national martial arts! So Zhang Yi stepped forward to mediate, Lets not discuss this matter for now. Keran, we need to quickly repair the outer wall of the shelter. You go prepare the materials! Zhang Yi changed the subject, not giving Liang Yue the chance to continue her discussion. If they talked further, the situation might develop in a direction he didnt want to see. So, he took Lu Keran away while giving Liang Yue a reassuring look. A warm feeling surged in Liang Yue''s heart. She was incredibly grateful that Zhang Yi understood her predicament. Zhang Yi and Lu Keran went to the workshop and took out the materials. How long will it take to process these materials and repair the shelter? Lu Keran replied, The damaged area of the outer wall is only about a dozen square meters. If we dont consider aesthetics and just focus on reinforcement, it can actually be done in two or three days. The most troublesome part of repairing the outer wall was making it seamless, ensuring that others wouldn''t see any signs of damage. Zhang Yi waved his hand; he didnt care about the walls appearance at all. I only require it to be sturdy; the rest is irrelevant. Got it! Lu Keran nodded and went to change into work clothes, preparing to start. Can you manage alone? Zhang Yi asked. With so many materials, even an adult male would find it somewhat troublesome to operate alone. Lu Keran blinked and smiled, Big brother, you all have things to do! Dont worry, I might be a bit slow by myself, but Ill definitely ensure the quality. Zhang Yi and the other superhumans needed to build the outer defense line, so they wouldnt have time to help her; Lu Keran understood this very well. Zhang Yi put his hands in his pockets, and several figures flashed through his mind. He smiled, Ill call over Yang Siyah and the others to help you. The other women in the house werent able to contribute outside, so they might as well lend a hand now. Lu Keran couldnt help but laugh, But theyre too weak! Im not sure they can handle this kind of work. Zhang Yi sighed lightly and pinched her plump little cheek. Sometimes dont forget, youre also a girl. If you can do it, why cant they? Lu Kerans face turned slightly red as she nodded, Then... let them help me with moving the materials! Zhang Yi nodded, turned, and went to find Yang Siyah and the others. They had nothing to do at home, so when they heard Zhang Yis request, Zhou Haimei and Yang Siyah went over to help Lu Keran. Everyone inside and outside was busy working vigorously. Zhang Yi estimated that ideally, the outer wall would be repaired in three days, and a solid firepower defense line would be established. By then, even with a large arsenal at his disposal, he wouldnt be at a disadvantage even if he faced the forces of two bases simultaneously. Moreover, with Yangsheng and Chaoyu bases at least a hundred kilometers away, their combat effectiveness would be diminished from the long trek. Even if its one against two, the advantage is still in my hands. Zhang Yis mood relaxed a bit; at least he wouldnt feel anxious about the impending war. He walked to Yang Xinxins room and knocked on the door: Xinxin, its me. Brother, wait a moment! Yang Xinxin''s sweet voice came from inside the room. Only when facing Zhang Yi did she show her obedient and cute side. The door opened from the inside, and Yang Xinxin, wearing a light beige pure cotton nightgown, looked up at Zhang Yi with innocent eyes. Brother, welcome back! Zhang Yi smiled and pushed her wheelchair into the room, then turned around to close the door. Xinxin, we encountered some interesting things again on this trip. Zhang Yi told Yang Xinxin about their encounter with the people from Yangsheng Base and how he killed them all. Yang Xinxin was more intelligent than Lu Keran and had deeper thoughts, so there was no need to worry about her accidentally leaking anything. Moreover, Zhang Yi needed Yang Xinxins help to deal with the students from Xu Family Town. As expected, after hearing what Zhang Yi said, Yang Xinxin immediately understood why he had come to find her. Brother, youve killed people from both Yangsheng and Chaoyu bases in just a few days! Oh dear, theyve lost some very important superhumans. In this tense situation, they cant possibly ignore it, right? So theyll be coming to kill us soon! Zhang Yi smiled faintly: Im not afraid of them; those people arent my biggest trouble. At most, it would be like facing the West Hill Base, unable to go out freely for a long time. However, with the forces of the two major bases, it was impossible for them to break through the defenses and the shelter Zhang Yi had set up. Yang Xinxin nodded, Indeed, they dont have the military background like Chen Xinian; they are all insurgents and cant bring in heavy bunker-busting missiles as weapons. So they dont pose much of a threat to the shelter. Then can we take this opportunity to get rid of the students from Xu Family Town? Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Xinxins tone was very calm. She didnt have any hatred towards those students; after all, she hadnt suffered much at Tianqing Academy. On the surface, she seemed weak, but in reality, those who had ever attacked her had already been taken care of by Hua Hua. She just disliked those selfish fools, believing their existence was meaningless. Now that they had become a problem for Zhang Yi, Yang Xinxin naturally wanted them dead. Zhang Yi laughed: We need to use a knife to kill someone; it wouldnt be good for any of us to take action. After all, Liang Yue is still very useful to me. Though its a bit troublesome, its worth it for her. After saying this, Zhang Yi took out a signal jammer from the spatial storage and placed it in the corner to connect the power supply. Then he retrieved the satellite phone from the members of Yangsheng Base he had confiscated and handed it to Yang Xinxin. These are the satellite phones of the Yangsheng Base members. Help me analyze whether there is any important information in them. After transferring the data, give it back to me; I have a use for it. Yang Xinxin smiled: This is easy! For a top hacker like her, this kind of work was extremely simple. She transferred all the data from the satellite phone to her computer and said to Zhang Yi, Brother, Ill analyze the data carefully and get it sorted out for you afterwards. Zhang Yi nodded, packed up the satellite phones again, and left Yang Xinxins room. Author''s Note Hi, readers! The latest chapter is out! Love what we do? Show your support with a 5-star review on NovelUpdates for BOTI Translator Team. It means the world to us! ????? Chapter 359: Baofeng Oil Refinery Chapter 359: Baofeng Oil RefineryIn the living room, Zhou Keer sat at the bar counter, resting her chin on one hand, staring blankly into space, feeling bored. Just now, Zhang Yi had called Yang Siyah and Zhou Haimei over to help Lu Keran, leaving her behind temporarily. She knew she must have some special task to fulfill. Could it be that Zhang Yi wants to Zhou Keers face gradually turned a shade of red. At that moment, Zhang Yi approached, calling out, Keer! Zhou Keer''s daydream was interrupted, and feeling a bit embarrassed, she coughed lightly and quickly stood up. Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi came over and handed her a dark red syringe. Do you know what this is? Zhou Keer took it and held it up to the light, chuckling helplessly, How could I possibly recognize it at a glance! Where did you get this? Zhang Yi rubbed his nose, Dont worry about that for now. This seems to be a stimulant that can enhance human potential. Help me analyze its components and see what effects it has, as well as any side effects. This stimulant was much better than the ones Zhang Yi and the others had used before. Zhang Yi felt a bit envious. If he confirmed that the side effects were minimal, he could use it himself during crucial moments. It would be even better if it could be mass-produced! Of course, the likelihood of that happening was slim; Zhou Keer was a doctor and could identify drugs but found it difficult to manufacture them. Curious about the substance in her hand, Zhou Keer nodded and asked Zhang Yi to give her some time, then took it to her lab for research. Zhang Yi left the safe house and went outside to help Uncle You and others fortify their defenses. --- In the northern part of Tianhai City, Yangsheng District. Amidst the vast snowy landscape, a massive oil refinery belched thick smoke skyward from dozens of large pipes. If the surrounding area was over sixty degrees below zero, the temperature near the refinery was significantly higher. This dark steel monster stood in the snowfield like a beast capable of spitting fire. And here was one of the western shelters in Tianhai City, the Yangsheng base. As the largest oil refinery in Tianhai City, the Baofeng Oil Refinery had a storage capacity of over a million barrels! After all, before the apocalypse, Tianhai City was an important trading port, making it easier to obtain crude oil. Their storage also served as a temporary holding facility for crude oil imported from overseas to other regions. However, after the apocalypse, there was no reason for these resources to be returned. The oil refinery needed to work. Crude oil could not be directly applied to machines; it required refining to be transformed into gasoline, diesel, asphalt, lubricants, and other petroleum products. And these were the greatest assets of the Yangsheng base. With plenty of energy, they were not worried about consumption issues. They could even trade these refined products with other factions. At this moment, in a workshop at the Yangsheng base. Two ragged men were tied up and kneeling on the cold ground. Both had dark red brands on their faces, shaped like a flame emblem. They trembled not from the cold but because of the two people looming over them. One was a man in white combat gear with gold-rimmed glasses and a cold gaze. The other was a long-haired woman in striking red combat gear, standing out among the others. The leader of the Yangsheng base, Xiao Honglian, and her deputy, Zhuge Qingtian. The soldier who brought the prisoners reported, Leader, of the five who escaped, three were killed, and two were captured. Please give your orders! The two men kneeling on the ground immediately bowed their heads in fear. I was wrong; please give me another chance! I promise I wont escape again; please dont kill me! Xiao Honglian looked down at them with cold indifference. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She was a stunningly beautiful woman, but her large eyes were devoid of humanity. Looking at the two men kneeling before her was like looking at two pigs. Oh no, even two pigs would be better than them. Because if there were still two live pigs, they would certainly be more valuable than these two live men. Xiao Honglian walked slowly up to them in her red leather boots. She coldly asked, Why did you want to escape? Although you have to work here, at least I provide you with food and shelter. Do you want to go outside and die? The men on the ground trembled even more as Xiao Honglian approached, constantly bowing and begging for mercy. Her voice became even colder, Now tell me, where did you plan to escape to? The two men instinctively glanced at each other, not daring to speak. Xiao Honglian''s eyes were somewhat mocking. Are you trying to go to the territory of the Followers of the Snow God, to support that hypocritical bitch? The two men dared not answer anything, only bowing repeatedly, pleading for Xiao Honglian to spare their lives. This was tantamount to admitting that Xiao Honglian spoke the truth. Xiao Honglian scoffed, losing interest in continuing the interrogation. She turned to her deputy Zhuge Qingtian and said, Havent you recently developed a new gadget? Zhuge Qingtian nodded, The technical department has developed a collar that can hold a micro-bomb. As long as this is put on the slaves'' necks, anyone who tries to escape can be executed immediately! Xiao Honglian lazily replied, Then let me see how it works! As her words fell, someone immediately approached with a tray holding two silver collars. The slaves on the ground were terrified and struggled desperately to escape. But they were quickly subdued by the surrounding soldiers, who forced the collars onto their necks. Xiao Honglian took the remote control and mockingly said to the two slaves, Now Im giving you a chance. You can escape. If this collar doesnt kill you, you will survive. Feel free to pray! After all, its a new product, and its effectiveness may not be guaranteed. With that, the soldiers beside them cut the ropes binding the two slaves hands. The slaves looked in horror at the remote control in Xiao Honglian''s hand; the explosive collars on their necks felt like two demons, tightly locking their lifelines. Not daring to delay, they quickly turned and ran toward the workshop exit. As long as we run far enough, the signal wont work! With this belief in mind, the two men ran for their lives. Xiao Honglian watched their retreating figures without hurry, casually asking Zhuge Qingtian beside her. Whats the effective range? Zhuge Qingtian respectfully replied, Five kilometers. As long as we notice that the slaves have disappeared, we can detonate it. No slave will be able to escape! Xiao Honglian slowly nodded, Good, lets wait and see. Lets see if this new gadget really works! Author''s Note Chapter 360: The Chain Reaction of the Superhumans Disappearance Chapter 360: The Chain Reaction of the Superhuman''s DisappearanceAfter waiting for more than ten minutes, Xiao Honglian lost her patience and pressed the detonation button in her hand. Then, Zhuge Qingtian took out his communicator to inquire about the results from the soldiers tracking them. One detonated successfully; the other misfired, the soldier reported truthfully. He looked at the escaping slave and raised his gun. Deputy Commander, should we execute him? Zhuge Qingtian turned to Xiao Honglian, Leader? Xiao Honglian narrowed her eyes, How can the technology developed by the technical department be so poor! When will their technology reach even half of what West Hill Base has? That would be enough for me! She waved her hand and said, I, Xiao Honglian, keep my word; let that slave go! I hope he has good luck and successfully escapes to the territory of the Followers of the Snow God. However, everyone involved in this project at the technical department will be locked in a small black room for three days! Zhuge Qingtian nodded, Understood! He issued orders to the tracking soldiers, ultimately allowing the surviving slave to escape. Xiao Honglians beautifully arched eyebrows were raised, clearly in a bad mood. Zhuge Qingtian comforted her, Leader, our technicians may not be as good as those at West Hill Base, but thats unavoidable. The professionals in weapon development are all in the military. When the apocalypse first hit, talents were snatched away by them. We can only select people from nearby universities and research institutes. Xiao Honglian shot him a glance, her expression still icy. For these damned slaves, weve worked ourselves to death! If they werent always thinking about escaping, how could I waste so much effort on them? That hypocritical woman from the Followers of the Snow God only uses them as bait. Do they really think there are saints in the apocalypse? The Followers of the Snow God were the only organization among the major forces in the West that was not based on an official shelter. Yet, it was the organization with the largest number of followers. Unlike other forces that rule through military might, their method was to inspire belief through religion. Rumor had it that the leader of the Followers possessed miraculous powers. They could heal all human suffering, both physical and mental. The most critical part was that everyone was equal there, and everyone could receive food and shelter. There was no discrimination or oppression. Such rumors had circulated among the major forces in Tianhai City for an unknown period. This caused civilians in the Yangsheng base to begin to drift away. But in the apocalypse, people were also an essential resource. Without a large population, how could labor be conducted? How could an army be formed to seize territory and resources from other forces? So Xiao Honglian could not simply sit back and watch this situation unfold. Her method was to suppress fiercely! Every civilian at the Yangsheng base had a mark branded on their faces. This way, even if they escaped, they could be recognized, making it easier to bring them back. If the Followers of the Snow God dared to harbor any slaves with a flame mark, they would have to risk going to war with the Yangsheng base! Even so, openly and secretly, the Followers of the Snow God were still absorbing those runaway slaves. This led to a very tense relationship between the Yangsheng base and the Followers of the Snow God. And they were unlike the West Hill Base. The West Hill Base was entirely underground, with no worries about civilians escaping. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The slaves at the Yangsheng base had to produce in the above-ground oil refinery. No matter how tightly they sealed it off, there would always be those yearning for freedom who were willing to risk their lives to try. Xiao Honglian turned and walked toward the factory''s exit. Zhuge Qingtian hurriedly followed her, saying, As long as we can carve out a chunk of meat from West Hill Bases territory, we can relieve the current pressure. ????? After all, the root of all problems in the apocalypse is the scarcity of resources. Xiao Honglian waved her hand, But to occupy Lu River District and Xishan District, we must stabilize our rear. Tell the technical department to speed up their research; we must stabilize the functions of these explosive collars. Safety can be set aside for now, but we must ensure they can definitely explode! Zhuge Qingtian nodded, mentally noting Xiao Honglians instructions. Suddenly, Xiao Honglian stopped and asked, In the past few days, how many of the forward units we sent out have returned? Zhuge Qingtian replied, Almost all have returned, and even those who havent have sent reports. He paused before saying, Except for the team led by Gaoyuan. They havent come back, and there hasnt been any news. Upon hearing Gaoyuans name, Xiao Honglian couldnt help but frown. Gaoyuan was her cousin and had once been the captain of the Tianhai City armed police. However, this cousin had a rebellious nature; he wouldnt listen to anyone in the Yangsheng base except Xiao Honglian. That guy is well into adulthood and still going through a rebellious phase! At first, Xiao Honglian didnt take Gaoyuans disappearance seriously. Given his personality, it wasnt surprising for him to act recklessly. In the apocalypse, countless people had become eccentric; she herself wasnt doing much better. But suddenly, a strange feeling flashed through her mind. She felt that things were not so simple. Xiao Honglian looked at Zhuge Qingtian, He shouldnt be in any danger, right? Zhuge Qingtian adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. Currently, among the five major forces in Tianhai City, if we also consider the unclear remnants of the West Hill Base, the relationships between each are quite delicate. Everyone is afraid to start a conflict; even when facing those bastards from the Followers of the Snow God who are recruiting people everywhere, we dont want a major clash. So even if Gaoyuan encountered people from other forces, they should give him some face. Unless A cold glint flashed beneath Zhuge Qingtians glasses: They are competing for some particularly precious resource! Thats when they might break the tacit agreement and attack! Xiao Honglians gaze sharpened, All major resource points in Tianhai City have been occupied by our forces. While the remaining resources are undoubtedly important, they arent worth starting a full-scale conflict over. Im relatively at ease with the other forces; Chaoyu Base wouldnt take action against us, and Qingpu Base operates under a live and let live principle. Then, the only unstable ones are those from the Followers of the Snow God. After pondering for a moment, Xiao Honglian cautiously told Zhuge Qingtian, Continue trying to contact Gaoyuan! We must get in touch with him. If we cant reach him, its highly likely that something has happened. Zhuge Qingtians expression also turned serious. No force could bear the cost of losing a superhuman. Thus, if Gaoyuan encountered trouble, it would mean that a force was willing to go to war with them! This would have a tremendous impact on the entire Yangsheng base and even the overall balance in Tianhai City! Author''s Note Chapter 361: Taking the Blame Chapter 361: Taking the BlameAt the Yangsheng base, Gaoyuan''s disappearance alarmed Xiao Honglian and Zhuge Qingtian. They immediately dispatched personnel to contact Gaoyuan and sent people to search near the Hongyuan Materials Factory in Lu River District. After a day of investigation, they reported back to Xiao Honglian and Zhuge Qingtian with their findings. We found significant destruction at the Hongyuan Materials Factory, and nearly all the supplies inside have been moved away. Additionally, we have not found any trace of Captain Gaoyuan or the others. They have completely vanished along with their vehicle. This intelligence was somewhat terrifying for Xiao Honglian and Zhuge Qingtian. Completely disappeared? Xiao Honglians eyes filled with a chilling killing intent. No matter how reckless Gaoyuan is, he wouldnt dare to defy my orders and cut off communication with the base to go elsewhere. Therefore, its certain that something has happened to him! Xiao Honglian was furious. Gaoyuan was her cousin; although their relationship was average, Gaoyuans predicament was equivalent to a slap in her face! In this brutal era of the weak being preyed upon by the strong, any display of weakness or hesitation would be exploited by other wolves! So she had to resolve this issue with an iron fist! Xiao Honglian turned to Zhuge Qingtian, Is there any way to locate them? They should have satellite phones in their vehicle with tracking devices. Zhuge Qingtian replied, This is precisely the most puzzling part. We cant find any signal; its as if they vanished into thin air. What? A hint of hesitation appeared in Xiao Honglian''s gaze. So youre saying that the other side came prepared. They certainly didnt decide to act on a whim; theyve been planning to attack our Yangsheng base for some time! ????? Is Gaoyuan''s disappearance merely a signal for war? Xiao Honglians mind raced, imagining all possible adversaries. Of course, she was still unaware of Zhang Yi''s existence, so she could never suspect such a powerful force. Chaoyu Base, Qingpu Base, or the Followers of the Snow God? Which of them did this! All three have that capability. Or perhaps West Hill Base wasnt completely wiped out but has instead relocated? Due to the lack of intelligence, Xiao Honglian found it difficult to make an accurate judgment. However, the more one speculated, the more complicated things could become, because there were too many possibilities. Zhuge Qingtian said to her, Given the current situation, with Gaoyuan missing, we have no good way to trace his whereabouts, making it impossible to determine who the enemy is! Xiao Honglian sat in her chair, crossing her long legs, and fell into deep thought. Qingpu Base is to the northwest; even if they want to occupy the territory of West Hill Base, they could only approach from the northwest. Its unlikely they would make a long trek to seek out Gaoyuan in the southeast. Chaoyu Base is closest to Gaoyuan; could it be them? The Followers of the Snow God have always acted subserviently, afraid to clash with our bases. But that cult leader is clearly no good; she must harbor ill intentions. Theres a high chance it could be her! Zhuge Qingtian walked over and said, I think the incidents location is closest to Chaoyu Base. Why dont we contact them first and see what they have to say? Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base had a relatively good relationship. After all, for Chaoyu Bases ships to go to sea, they needed Yangsheng Base to provide fuel. Conversely, Chaoyu Base supplied Yangsheng Base with various seafood as food. However, it was mainly Chaoyu Base that relied more on Yangsheng Base. Xiao Honglian pondered for a moment and replied lightly, Dont think that our relationship with Chaoyu Base is very good; were merely using each other! Those guys are also quite envious of our oil refinery. Zhuge Qingtian chuckled, But for now, they still dare not clash with us. Xiao Honglian nodded, Then lets contact them! Xiao Honglian took out her satellite phone and directly called Wei Dinghai, the leader of Chaoyu Base. The call connected. Xiao Honglians personality was straightforward; after a brief exchange of pleasantries, she got straight to the point. Wei Dinghai, my cousin Gaoyuan has disappeared at the Hongyuan Group Factory in Lu River District. Do you know anything about this? Upon hearing this, Wei Dinghai immediately realized that Xiao Honglian was suspicious of him. His tone grew somber, You guys are quick to react! But I can tell you that this matter has nothing to do with us at Chaoyu Base! And, we have people missing too! His subordinate Wang Ruixuan, who was sent to scout West Hill Base, had been killed by Zhang Yi. This incident left Wei Dinghai feeling uncertain, not knowing who was behind it. Xiao Honglian was somewhat surprised. Your people are also missing? Where? At West Hill Base, the people I sent to scout have vanished! Among them was a superhuman with considerable strength. Wei Dinghai said coldly, Superhumans are so scarce in Tianhai City; even if there are superhumans wandering outside, they can hardly compete with my trained soldiers! So I also want to ask you guys if it was your doing! sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There are also differences among superhumans. Those from large organizations have access to abundant resources and weaponry. Conversely, ordinary people who mutate find it challenging to become stronger, and even surviving can be tough. For example, Li Jians abilities are limited by his living conditions, leaving him little room to demonstrate his strength. Xiao Honglian understood Wei Dinghais implication; he too was suspecting that a force was secretly making a move, which naturally included their Yangsheng Base. So, it seems weve both suffered losses! Xiao Honglians gaze cleared up considerably. In the entire Tianhai City, there arent many forces that could simultaneously strike against both our factions. The blacksmiths of Qingpu Base dislike conflict; they have no reason to go to war with us. So the only possibility is that it was the Followers of the Snow God who did it! Wei Dinghai laughed, Yes, youre absolutely right! It must be the Followers of the Snow God! Using the process of elimination is easy to follow. At present, the Followers of the Snow God were indeed the prime suspects. However, why was Wei Dinghai smiling? Because he and Xiao Honglian were both thinking of the same thing. They had long viewed the Followers of the Snow God unfavorably; this religious organization has always absorbed survivors from across Tianhai City. The number of survivors in Tianhai City was around one million, although the exact figure is unclear. As the Followers of the Snow God absorbed more people, it would affect their ability to obtain labor and even allow their slaves to escape. The accumulated dissatisfaction had been brewing for a long time, and now that they had a legitimate reason, they would certainly not miss this opportunity! Since the Followers of the Snow God were the biggest suspects, attacking them would be seen as a justified action. Even if they werent the culprits, it would allow them to vent their frustrationswasnt that a win-win situation? Author''s Note Chapter 362: Borrowing a Knife Chapter 362 : Borrowing a KnifeXiao Honglian said to Wei Dinghai, Whats the matter? You cant swallow this anger, can you? Wei Dinghai smiled coldly, Wang Ruixuan is my trusted subordinate. If those guys from the Followers of the Snow God dare to kill him, Ill make them pay tenfold! Xiao Honglian slightly raised the corner of her mouth, Then lets take this opportunity to teach them a lesson! After discussing, the two sides decided to launch an attack on the headquarters of the Followers of the Snow God located in the Tianfeng District! As for whether the person who killed their subordinate was actually from the Followers of the Snow God, that was not the most critical issue at the moment. They would deal with it after they struck first. This was indeed a good approach. Thus, for various reasons, the two major bases decided to gather forces to attack the Followers of the Snow God. If the Followers of the Snow God found out about this, they would definitely be very frustrated. Clearly, they had done nothing, yet they were suffering an undeserved disaster. Meanwhile, the real culprit, Zhang Yi, was at home constructing defenses and the Shelter. Everyone worked together, and no one was slacking off. Soon, the outer defenses were basically completed. The main structure was made from huge ice blocks intercepted from the Lu River and rebar confiscated from the Western Mountain Base warehouse. The construction conditions were quite rudimentary, entirely relying on their manual labor. However, in the freezing cold, these materials were nearly as strong as concrete. The key was that the materials were inexpensive and could be found everywhere. Zhang Yi didnt expect the first line of defense to be invincible; it merely needed to serve as a buffer. If a powerful enemy were to breach the first line, there was no need to feel distressed or worried, as it would buy everyone time to retreat to the Shelter. After establishing the initial outline of the defenses, Zhang Yi began adding various tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery. Modern weapons could be controlled via computer. Once installed, they were connected to Zhang Yis phone through a wireless network. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This way, when enemies attacked, Zhang Yi only needed to press the firing button on his phone to create a spectacular scene of thousands of cannon fire! Thousands of cannons might be a bit of an exaggeration. However, with 70% of the firepower from the Western Mountain Base deployed, the impact was indeed terrifying. In addition to the weapons, many cameras were installed high on the walls to monitor the outside situation at all times. However, these devices could only be used for reconnaissance before a battle; once a fight broke out, they could be destroyed in an instant. After laying out the defenses, it was time to repair the Shelter. The materials were prepared by Lu Keran, and the renovation work was handed over to Uncle You, who had maxed out his living skills. He climbed the scaffolding, picked up tools, and worked quickly on the masonry. Although he wasnt as skilled as professional builders and the walls werent particularly aesthetic, Zhang Yi only required them to be sturdy and durable. After three busy days, the entire Shelter and defenses were finally completed. Zhang Yi had originally been on guard against an attack from the two major bases, but with everything successfully finished, he felt considerably more relaxed. However, this outcome wasnt necessarily a good thing. In a sense, if they discovered their superhumans had been killed, they would urgently bring people to search and attack the Shelter, indicating that the leader of that force was a reckless person. Foolish individuals were easy to deal with. What he feared was encountering a calm, rational opponent who would think things through and prepare countermeasures. So far, they havent taken any action, and I havent even detected any scouts. It seems the leaders of Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases are quite formidable! Zhang Yi muttered to himself, his expression serious. What he didnt know was that the two bases had already integrated their forces and were now far away in the Tianfeng District, seeking a fight with the Followers of the Snow God. They werent overly cautious; they simply had no idea that a force like Zhang Yi existed. While Zhang Yi was contemplating, others were celebrating the completion of the project. Everyone felt a great sense of accomplishment working together to finish something. In fact, many people didnt have close relationships with each other; they had only gathered because of Zhang Yi. However, through this activity, they became much more familiar with one another. At that moment, Liang Yue approached Zhang Yi and said, Zhang Yi, Im going to deliver some food to the students. Zhang Yi came back to his senses, Oh, okay. He took out food for ten people from his dimensional space, which he had found in the Western Mountain Base warehousefood that he himself wouldnt eat but had set aside to give to others. Liang Yue took a bag of food, smiled, and said Thank you, then set off towards Xu Family Town by herself. Zhang Yi watched her back, his eyes filled with a playful glint. To be honest, he had been somewhat worried that if Liang Yue discovered his plan to deal with those students, she might turn against him. So, Zhang Yi had long been prepared, letting Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran take on the role of the villains. Recently, he had been acting like a good guy in front of Liang Yue. Behind the scenes, he had also let Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran brainwash Liang Yue. This way, if that day ever came, Liang Yue would have no reason to blame Zhang Yi, who had helped her. I really am a genius! Zhang Yi took a deep breath. Using someone elses knife to kill without getting his hands dirty was the perfect way to commit a crime. After a while, Liang Yue returned. From her expression, it was clear that she wasnt in a good mood. It was evident that those students had said something to her again. But since Liang Yue didnt bring it up, Zhang Yi wouldnt ask eitherafter all, someone would naturally take care of that for him. Sure enough, Yang Xinxin, being considerate, stepped forward and asked, Teacher Liang, why does your face look so bad? Did they speak harshly to you again? Liang Yue, already feeling uneasy, found her emotions surging when Yang Xinxin pointed it out. Many people were like this; they could quickly forget about unpleasant matters. However, if someone brought it up, their emotions would become increasingly agitated. Liang Yue recounted what had happened. It turned out that in recent days, since Liang Yue had only delivered food and provided no further assistance, the students had begun to complain, yet they had to fish for food to survive. As time passed, they were forced to be self-reliant. The students managed to survive, but they didnt thank Liang Yue; instead, they continuously begged her to let everyone stay in the Shelter. At first, they pleaded, using moral coercion, but as they became desperate, some even resorted to cursing. Even though Liang Yue had helped them so much, after the apocalypse, these once pampered students all began to show signs of psychological issues, forgetting even the kindness they had received in the past. How could Liang Yue not feel sad upon seeing this? Theyre going too far. I even think that Teacher Liang shouldnt care about them anymore! Just let them die. Yang Xinxin held Liang Yues hand, speaking softly in a low voice, Teacher Liang did nothing wrong; its all their fault. Even if you abandon them, you have no responsibility. Liang Yues mood lightened a bit, Is is that so? No! Regardless, Im still their teacher! She sighed softly. After experiencing so much since the apocalypse, combined with the persistent brainwashing from Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin, her thoughts had quietly changed. In her heart, she had already lost much hope for those students. Only the last remnant of her obsession kept her from watching them die before her eyes. Author''s Note Chapter 363: Life in the Jianghu, Bound by Circumstance Chapter 363: Life in the Jianghu, Bound by Circumstance The Shelter''s defenses were now fully prepared. From the outermost ice wall to the repairs within the Shelter, everything had reached a level that satisfied Zhang Yi. He issued a directive: no one was to step beyond the defensive perimeter. No one objected. After all, with the stockpile of supplies they had amassed, they could live comfortably in Cloud Manor for a lifetime without any shortages. Only Liang Yue had to leave every day, maintaining her routine of delivering food to her students. Zhang Yi didnt stop her. In fact, over the past few days, he had even been showing concern for her and her students. "If you think it''s too dangerous, we could discuss moving them closer to the Shelter." "Of course, since were not very familiar with them, this would need to be decided in a group meeting," Zhang Yi added sincerely. Those who knew him, however, were well aware that these so-called meetings were mere formalities. Once Zhang Yi made a decision, no one would oppose it. Uncle You, indebted to Zhang Yi, consistently supported him. Fatty Xu was even more loyal, sticking to Zhang Yi like glue. In essence, if Liang Yue truly wanted to bring her students over, the only person in the entire Shelter who would support her proposal would be Zhang Yi himself. The rest, under Zhang Yis implicit guidance, would firmly oppose it. Liang Yue prided herself on her righteousness and kindness. When her proposal inevitably failed, she would feel disappointed but wouldnt blame Zhang Yi. Sure enough, Liang Yue was moved by his suggestion. But after some hesitation, she slowly shook her head. Not for now, she said. Ive been talking a lot with Xinxin and Keran these past few days. The trauma from our time at Tianqing Academy still affects them deeply. Back then, they were ostracized by their classmates, and as their teacher, I bear some responsibility. For now, its better to let the others toughen up in Xu Family Town. Her eyes lit up with hope. Besides, life is peaceful now. Theres no sign of danger. Theres no need to be overly cautious. She smiled brightly, radiating positivity. Actually, when you think about it, if those still alive can live peacefully, theres no reason for them to invade others. Liang Yue had no idea that Zhang Yi had already encountered and killed people from the Yangsheng Base at a factory 25 kilometers away from the Shelter. ?a Otherwise, her tone wouldnt have been so carefree. Zhang Yi nodded approvingly. Its good to have that mindset. Even in the apocalypse, maintaining a positive outlook is crucial. Stretching lazily, he added, I should learn from youstop being so on edge all the time. The world is still beautiful, and tomorrow is full of hope, right? Liang Yue chuckled at his relaxed demeanor, her laughter refreshing. Its rare to hear that coming from you! she teased, tossing her ponytail and winking at him. Well then, shall we start todays martial arts lesson? Zhang Yi grinned as he followed her. What are we practicing today? Youre learning martial arts to handle close-quarters combat, so grappling techniques like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu are essential. Lets start with that! Together, they descended to the third underground level to begin their rigorous training. Jiu-Jitsu was intricate. As they practiced, their bodies naturally became entangled. Liang Yue, skilled as she was, often used techniques like the scissor hold, wrapping her legs tightly around Zhang Yis neck, or locking his head under her arm to force him to submit. Zhang Yi didnt seem to mind; in fact, he seemed to enjoy it. He noticed how her mindset had been shifting since joining the Shelter. Previously, she had been despairing about the apocalypse. Unable to see a future or find meaning in life, she had poured all her hopes into protecting her students. But now, the comfortable life in the Shelter was far better than her days as a teacher at Tianqing Academy. Adversity strengthens resolve, while comfort dulls it. The Shelter''s peaceful environment melted the icy barriers in her heart, allowing her to appreciate the beauty of life. Though she still delivered food to her students daily, her interactions with others in the Shelter increased, and her smile became more frequent. Zhang Yi considered this a positive development. A person with desires and a will to live could be manipulated, turned into a pawn in his grander schemes. Later that night, Zhang Yi lay on his bed, deep in thought. Should I go through with it? Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Opening the Dimensional Gate, he scanned the satellite phones he had confiscated and pondered. Liang Yue was getting closer to them, and their relationship was in its honeymoon phase. It was time to deal with those troublesome students in Xu Family Town. The plan was simple; he had thought of it after eliminating the Yangsheng Base soldiers. Placing these satellite phones in their homes would lead the Yangsheng Base directly to them. In the apocalypse, life was cheap. The enraged Yangsheng Base wouldnt spare them. This strategy of borrowing anothers blade for revenge could close the loop perfectly. However, the risk was drawing the attention of both Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases prematurely. Yet Cloud Manor 101 was such an obvious target. Even without his intervention, it was only a matter of time before it was discovered. Whats the right choice? Could there be a chance that neither base realizes their men were killed by me? In that case, we could live peacefully, and they could continue playing emperors in Tianhai City. It was an ideal scenario. But Zhang Yi quickly dismissed the thought with a chuckle. Wishful thinking! How could it be that simple? Conflict with the other factions was inevitable. He had killed their Superhumanscore members of the Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases. They wouldnt let it go. Even if he wasnt discovered now, once West Hill Base fell, the others would inevitably move in to carve up West Hill and Yuelu. Could they tolerate a powerful force like his right under their noses? And Zhang Yi wouldnt tolerate strong enemies so close to home. At the end of the day, life in the Jianghu leaves no room for retreat, Zhang Yi muttered, narrowing his eyes. If tolerance and compromise dont bring peace, then Ill carve out a clear sky with my blade. Theyll back off once theyve had enough. Author''s Note Chapter 364: The Gift Chapter 364: The Gift Zhang Yi was a born pessimist, always preparing for the worst-case scenario. Despite possessing formidable strength, he remained vigilant. In terms of pure firepower, Zhang Yis current force could rival Tianhai Citys former strongest factionWest Hill Base. While he lacked ordinary soldiers, his advantage lay in the superior application of weapons. West Hill Base, devoid of spatial Superhumans, could only leave their heavy weapons gathering dust underground. Zhang Yi, however, could transport them to the surface for actual combat. Combined with his powerful team of Superhumans, he could now face off against West Hill Bases army head-on. If we focus solely on defense, without taking the offensive, my odds of victory should be around 95%, Zhang Yi murmured, furrowing his brow. But 95% rounded down is basically a coin toss. If I step out and fight, its as good as suicide. His gaze hardened, and he clenched his fist. Its settled. Over my dead body will I step beyond the defensive line! With that, he retrieved Gao Yuans satellite phone from his Spatial Storage and called Hua Hua over. He whispered a few instructions to it softly. --- That night, silence enveloped the Shelter. Suddenly, the door to Zhang Yis room creaked open. Hua Hua slipped out, a satellite phone clamped in its mouth, and silently descended the stairs. The Shelters main gate opened, and Hua Hua darted out, racing swiftly across the river toward Xu Family Town. --- In Tianhai Citys Tianfeng District, thick snow blanketed towering buildings. Once the citys most bustling area, it was now a frozen graveyard. Gray concrete structures stood lifeless, mirroring the bleakness of this post-apocalyptic world. Yet, in one grand cathedral within Tianfeng District, the scene was different. Candlelight filled the space, illuminating a gathering of thousands of devout followers. They knelt in solemn prayer, their eyes fixed on the enormous cross ahead. Beneath it stood a young woman dressed in white robes and a matching headscarf. Her hands clasped, eyes closed, her expression radiated compassion. As she began to chant, her voice carried a deep, resonant prayer throughout the cathedral: Snow in the heavens, life on the earth, Our bodies are born from the ground, Our souls descend from the skies. The sun and moon illuminate our forms, Pure snow cleanses our spirits. We surrender ourselves to the cold winds sweeping the land, Grateful for the miracle bestowed upon Snow Gods people. May our hearts remain ever tranquil, May we share joy with our brethren, And bear their sorrows as our own. Praise be to the followers of Snow God, May we testify with our soul and body. As Yuan Kongye, the leader of the Followers of the Snow God, recited the prayer, an extraordinary power swept through the cathedral. Her voice seemed to carry an enchanting quality, soothing hearts, dispelling hunger, cold, and pain. To the followers, it was a divine miracle, deepening their devotion. They bowed, offering their loyalty to Jesus, Buddha, the great Snow God, and Yuan Kongyethe Snow Gods earthly vessel. Upon concluding the prayer, Yuan Kongye turned to face the congregation. Her youthful face, radiant with vitality, betrayed her ageshe couldnt have been more than twenty. Yet, her authority was unquestioned. Even the powerful priests in her service bowed respectfully before her. Everything they possessed, they owed to her. Yuan Kongye was one of the most extraordinary beings in this land, gifted with a unique ability known as Blessing, enabling others to awaken their Superhuman powers. Through this ability, she had built a vast religious following, even in a world teetering on the brink of despair. The prayer session ended, transitioning into the Gift ceremony. The crowd stirred momentarily but quickly fell silent, their eyes reverent as they gazed at Yuan Kongye. A frail woman carrying a child made her way forward, staggering through the crowd before collapsing at Yuan Kongyes feet. Trembling, she raised her child high. Yuan Kongye glanced down, her eyes filled with compassion. The childs pale, almost lifeless complexion suggested he was on the brink of death. With a serene expression, she placed her hand on the childs forehead. A gentle warmth, a soft breeze, and a faint white glow swept through the cathedral. Moments later, the infants eyes fluttered open, followed by a strong, healthy cry. Waaah! The congregations eyes sparkled with awe and excitement. A miracle! A miracle! Praise the great Snow God, and praise Her Holiness, the Snow Gods earthly vessel! This was Yuan Kongyes other power, Gift, which could heal physical ailments. This ability played a crucial role in drawing so many followers. The ceremony continued, with Yuan Kongye bestowing her blessings multiple times. Eventually, fatigue crept onto her face. A long-haired man in white, standing nearby, stepped forward. Your Holiness, please rest. The ceremony can resume tomorrow. His words caused a ripple of anxiety among those still awaiting their blessings. In such dire conditions, even a minor ailment left untreated for a day could mean death in their sleep. Yuan Kongye gently shook her head. Continue. Her deputy, Grand Priest Zheng Yixian, reluctantly stepped back. Within the Followers of the Snow God, Yuan Kongyes will was absolute, her thoughts unchallengeable. The ceremony pressed on until a sudden explosion echoed from outside, followed by a cacophony of gunfire. Panic spread through the cathedral. Women clutched their children, shutting their eyes in fear. Yuan Kongye gazed calmly toward the commotion and sighed softly. Beside her, Zheng Yixians eyes gleamed coldly. Tong Zhan, Dai Meiprotect Her Holiness! Han Chang, Li Qian, Wu Huanfollow me to confront the enemy! Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Priests flanking the altar, second only to Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian in the hierarchy, immediately obeyed. As the Snow Gods avatar, Yuan Kongye seldom managed day-to-day affairs. That role fell to Zheng Yixian, who also led the defense against external threats. Under his command, two priests took protective positions near Yuan Kongye, while Zheng Yixian led the others out. Yuan Kongye clasped her hands in silent prayer. May the Snow God shield His followers, keeping us from war and suffering. Moved by her solemnity, the cathedrals adult men stepped forward, their eyes burning with fervent devotion. They followed the priests out, leaving the cathedrals doors firmly closed behind them. Yuan Kongyes voice remained calm: The Gift ceremony shall continue. Author''s Note Chapter 365: The Great Battle Chapter 365: The Great Battle Tianfeng District. Outside the headquarters of the Followers of the Snow God, a fierce battle raged. The combined forces of the Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases had launched their attack. Furious over the disappearance of their Superhumans, they pointed their blame squarely at the Followers of the Snow God. In the post-apocalypse, where might made right, investigations and evidence were unnecessary. They believed the cult was responsible, and that alone justified their assault. This was also a convenient opportunity to eliminate a rising power they had long despised. Leading the charge were Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. Dozens of modified snow vehicles, packed with hundreds of heavily armed soldiers, stormed toward the cults defensive line. The disparity in weaponry and training was glaring. Both Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases were equipped with advanced weaponry and ample ammunition, as they had been military outposts prepared for wartime. The Followers of the Snow God, on the other hand, were a mixed bag. Even their firearms were often second-hand black-market goods, wielded by individuals with little to no marksmanship skills. Their defenders fell swiftly, staining the snowy streets red with blood. Hold the line! We must protect our home! For the Snow God! The war machines pushed relentlessly toward the towering cathedral at the streets end. Cult defenders, wielding makeshift weapons, retaliated from alleys, windows, and rooftops. Some hurled stones; others charged recklessly, Molotov cocktails and explosives strapped to their bodies. Their crude tactics and suicidal fervor managed to momentarily stall the coalition forces. Xiao Honglian watched grimly, her expression dark. "This cursed cult has brainwashed its followers into fearless fanatics. They must be eradicated!" The sheer number of cultists was overwhelming. Wave after wave emerged from buildings, sewers, and alleyways, throwing themselves at the invaders with reckless abandon. Despite being prepared for such zealotrythe coalition had clashed with the cult beforetheir soldiers still felt an unsettling chill. Push forward! Xiao Honglian barked, pointing to the cathedral. Bring me Yuan Kongye, that lying bh! Ill flay her alive! To whoever captures her, fifty pounds of beef as a reward! The promise of such a prize reinvigorated the soldiers. Adrenaline surged as they unleashed a hail of gunfire. If the cultists didnt fear death, neither did they. In this desolate world, they had grown numb to life and death. The fight raged on. The cult''s tactics of attrition could only slow the coalitions advance but couldnt halt it. The gap in firepower and discipline was too vast. At that moment, figures emerged at the streets far end. The cult soldiers eyes lit up. The priests are here! Zheng Yixian, leading three other priests, stood resolutely, cold eyes fixed on the advancing enemy. Kill them! The coalition soldiers immediately shifted their aim, unleashing a storm of bullets. Zheng Yixian remained unfazed, calmly raising his right hand in front of him. This simple gesture seemed to conjure an invisible wall. Bullets halted midair, as if embedded in a soft rubber barrier, before clattering harmlessly to the ground. His icy gaze swept across the enemy. Are you declaring the peace treaty void? he asked coldly. Xiao Honglians eyes narrowed as she spat out his name: ZhengYixian! You broke the treaty first, she retorted, wasting no time as she uncorked a massive flask and took a swig. With a fierce exhale, she unleashed a torrent of flame. A colossal fire dragon roared down the street, illuminating the night as its searing heat melted the snow. The inferno incinerated a dozen cultists instantly and surged toward Zheng Yixian and the priests. Even with their powers, the priests showed visible tension. Zheng Yixian spread his arms wide, using telekinesis to yank two derelict trucks from the snow, positioning them as barriers. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Whoosh! The flames collided with the makeshift shields, their heat still intense enough to scorch their faces. Forced to retreat a few steps, Zheng Yixian called out, Is there some misunderstanding? The Followers of the Snow God have always remained neutral! But Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai werent listening. They had come to crush the cult. Truth could wait until after the carnage. Kill them all! At Xiao Honglians signal, coalition soldiers poured from their vehicles, guns blazing. The priests may have been formidable, but ordinary cultists were no match for the coalitions elite troops. Wei Dinghai waved his forces forward, Chaoyus soldiers joining the fray. Zheng Yixians expression darkened as the reality set in. The coalition intended to annihilate them. To arms! he bellowed. Defend the cathedral at all costs! The coalition soldiers were relentless, their advanced gear making them near-invincible against the poorly equipped cultists. Decked in superior thermal armor, they fought with confidence, assured of their dominance in this frozen battlefield. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai personally led their Superhumans against the priests. Swigging from her flask, Xiao Honglian unleashed another fire dragon, the flames consuming everything in their path. Her fiery powers, remarkably potent even in this ice age, were bolstered by abundant energy reserves. Beside her, Wei Dinghai wasted no time. In battle, hesitation was fatal. Exhaling a frosty breath, the air around him chilled further. Ice Lord! A thick layer of ice enveloped Wei Dinghai, forming an imposing armor. Placing his hand on the ground, the surrounding snow erupted violently, launching toward the cultists in a destructive wave. Amid the chaos, his figure became an indistinct blur within the blizzard. Author''s Note Chapter 366: The Zealots Chapter 366: The Zealots Both Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai had seized control of their respective shelters through sheer power, making them the strongest combatants in their factions. Their combined strength posed an enormous threat to the Followers of the Snow God. Yet, despite this formidable opposition, the cult had one overwhelming advantage: sheer numbers. Whether among ordinary followers or Superhumans, they outnumbered any base by a wide margin. Realizing that a decisive battle was unavoidable, a ruthless glint flashed in Zheng Yixians eyes as he shouted, In the name of the Snow God, deliver them divine punishment! The priests ceased their hesitation, unleashing their abilities in a ferocious clash with the Superhumans of the coalition forces. --- Chaos Unleashed From every corner, the cultists swarmed like ants. Ragged and emaciated, their eyes burned with a fanatical light, utterly devoid of fear. Eliminate all enemies of the Snow God! Kill them all! Armed with nothing but kitchen knives and iron rods, dozens of cultists charged headlong into the coalitions ranks. The soldiers sneered as they raised their rifles. Ratatatatata! The cultists were shredded by gunfire. Are these people insane? They think their bodies can stop bullets? a soldier mocked. But just as the laughter spread, a sudden rush of wind came from above. Huh? Looking up, the soldiers barely had time to react as a shadow plummeted downa crazed cultist, his body strapped with explosives, had leapt from a high building. Sear?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Boom! The explosion tore through the ranks, taking the cultist and six soldiers with it. The grisly scene left the remaining troops visibly shaken. A squad leader barked, These cultists are lunatics! Theyll stop at nothing to kill us. Stay alert! --- The coalition had deployed only a few hundred soldiers, leaving some to guard their bases. But from the surrounding ruins, thousands of cultists poured forth, their sheer numbers causing even the most battle-hardened soldiers to draw a sharp breath. Xiao Honglian scowled. Damn cult! How many idiots have they brainwashed into dying for them? Her disdain for the cultists was palpable. She saw them as fools, sacrificing their lives for a worthless cause. Her gaze shifted to the cults Superhumans, finally settling on Zheng Yixian. Take out the leader, and the rest will crumble. She exchanged a glance with Wei Dinghai, who nodded with a smirk. Good plan. Xiao Honglian took a deep swig from her flask, activating her ability, Infernal Furnace. Fiery red patterns spread across her face and hands, resembling molten lava flowing under her skin. The heat around her intensified, causing steam to rise from the snow. With her power fully unleashed, she bolted toward Zheng Yixian like a blazing comet. --- An Ambush Unfolds Zheng Yixians eyes narrowed, sensing imminent danger. Suddenly, icy hands shot up from beneath the snow, locking onto his legs. Wei Dinghais face emerged, a sinister smile on his lips as freezing energy began creeping up Zheng Yixians body. From the front, Xiao Honglian launched a fiery punch, her flame-covered fist aimed directly at Zheng Yixians head. Boom! The explosion sent a shockwave through the battlefield, scattering snow and bodies alike. When the dust settled, Zheng Yixian stood behind Wu Huan and Han Chang, panting heavily. His right arm was charred, blood clotted, and poison from the flames coursed through his veins. Without immediate treatment, his condition would worsen in the harsh post-apocalyptic environment. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai looked on with frustration. Despite their combined attack, they had failed to take Zheng Yixian down. His subordinates had intervened at the critical moment, pulling him to safety. --- A Battle of Attrition The ordinary soldiers and cultists fought with equal ferocity. The cultists, with no fear of death, charged armed with mere cooking utensils. Their fiery determination sent chills down their enemies'' spines. It wasnt just a disregard for death; they seemed to seek it out. Even the most seasoned soldiers began to tremble. Wave after wave of cultists fell, only to be replaced by more, chanting their doctrine as they marched to their deaths. The coalition soldiers grew weary, their nerves fraying under the relentless assault. They were killing cultists by the hundreds, but the cultists suicidal tactics had already cost them over thirty soldiers in just thirty minutes. Worse still, more cultists kept emerging from the ruins. --- Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai exchanged uneasy glances. The sheer fanaticism of the cult was beyond anything they had expected. Normally, a few gunshots would scatter any opposing force, leaving survivors to surrender or flee. But these cultists were different. They fought like madmen, unyielding and undeterred. The coalition still had the upper hand, but the mounting casualties were becoming unsustainable. With other factions lurking in Tianhai City and the powerful Qingfu Base dominating the northwest, they couldnt afford such losses. Xiao Honglian finally made a decision. Taking a deep breath, she glared at Zheng Yixian. My cousin and his team are dead. The Followers of the Snow God are the prime suspects. Now, I want an explanation! Author''s Note Chapter 367: The Veil of Truth Chapter 367: The Veil of Truth If eliminating the Followers of the Snow God outright were feasible, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai would have done so without hesitation. However, the risks were mounting. Negotiation offered a safer route to extract benefits while preserving their advantage. Though the coalition had the upper hand, pressing the attack further could lead to significant losses. Wei Dinghai nodded approvingly at Xiao Honglian''s decision. "My trusted lieutenant, Wang Ruixuan, also died in West Hill Base''s territory. The most likely suspects with the capability and motive are you, the Followers of the Snow God!" "Zheng Yixian," he said coldly, "today you will give us an explanation. If not, we will level your entire cult!" At the leaders'' command, both sides pulled back their forces. As the cultists retreated, their sheer numbers became evident, numbering in the thousands. While most were unarmed civilians, the sheer scale was enough to unnerve both Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. Their disdain for the cult wasnt baseless. If left unchecked, such a group could grow strong enough to challenge their dominance. --- The priests of the Followers of the Snow God glared daggers at the coalition leaders. They were no fools. They knew the coalition''s shift to negotiation came only after realizing a drawn-out battle would cost too much. Han Chang, visibly seething, tossed the severed head of a Chaoyu Base soldier onto the ground. His beast-like claws gleamed menacingly. "Your dead men have nothing to do with us! Wheres your proof that we killed them?" Xiao Honglian sneered. "Proof? What a joke. Why dont you go call the police?" Her mocking tone made Han Changs face turn red with fury. In the post-apocalypse, law and order were relics of the past. Power determined everything, not evidence. Zheng Yixian raised a hand to calm Han Chang. I see why youre here now, Zheng Yixian said. "But the Followers of the Snow God have always honored our agreements. Weve never killed any of your people." ?? Wei Dinghai chuckled, his cold breath swirling. "Yet, besides you, who else in Tianhai City has the strength and ambition to strike at both our factions simultaneously?" "Whoever did it made no mistakeseliminating two Superhuman-led squads without leaving a trace." The Qingfu Base members, known for their fiery tempers, were dismissed as suspects. They lacked the ambition for territorial expansion and were too distant to act in both locations simultaneously. The Followers of the Snow God remained the most plausible culprits. Zheng Yixian took a deep breath. "Have you considered that another hidden force might be at play here?" Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai frowned, dismissing the suggestion. "Impossible!" Tianhai Citys five regions had long been divided among the major factions. Only the cult had managed to grow in the chaotic early days of the apocalypse, seizing their foothold before the others could react. Any emerging force would have been swiftly crushed or absorbed. Zheng Yixian, however, insisted. "Youre overlooking something. What about the disturbances in Lu River District over the past month?" Both leaders paused, recalling reports of skirmishes in the former West Hill Bases territory. West Hill Base, once the most formidable, controlled the citys military, its soldiers, and its weaponry. Yet, over the past month, scouts had reported gunfire and massive explosions in Lu River Districtfar beyond what a minor skirmish would produce. No one believed West Hill Base had been bested by another faction until a missile strike from Jiangnan District destroyed the base. The earlier conflicts had been largely ignored in the rush to seize West Hills territories. Zheng Yixians words now brought those events back into focus. "Could there really be a powerful force capable of standing up to West Hill Base?" Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xiao Honglians expression grew heavy. If true, it would complicate their plans to expand into West Hills former territory. Wei Dinghai shared her concern. Neither wanted another rival to emerge in Tianhai City. "Zheng Yixian, youre trying to shift our focus," Xiao Honglian said sharply. "You think well believe you just because you said so?" Her gaze hardened. "Prove your cults innocence, or well take matters into our own hands!" Han Chang clenched his fists, fuming, but Zheng Yixian restrained him. "Stay calm. We cant win this fight outright." The cults power was still too weak. Even facing a single base was a challenge, let alone two. Their survival hinged on the fanatical devotion of their followers, who believed in the Snow Gods promise of a bountiful afterlife. Turning to Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai, Zheng Yixian offered, "We were at West Hill Base that day. We encountered your man, Wang Ruixuan." "Alongside him were individuals from another factionperhaps the ones you seek." Wei Dinghais eyes narrowed. "Who? Who dares challenge Chaoyu Base?" Wang Ruixuan wasnt just a valued subordinate; he was a long-time comrade and a Superhuman, invaluable to their faction. Han Changs eyes gleamed with defiance. Glaring at the coalition leaders, he growled, "That day, I saw people wearing West Hill Base combat gear." Author''s Note Chapter 368: The Rising Undercurrent Chapter 368: The Rising Undercurrent Han Chang recounted everything he had witnessed that day to Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. He had already shared these details with Zheng Yixian before, but at the time, both had dismissed the activity as the remnants of West Hill Base''s scattered forces. Han Chang had no interest in getting involved in the conflicts of other bases and left shortly after, unaware of subsequent developments. It wasnt until the coalition attacked and revealed the deaths of Wang Ruixuan and Gao Yuan in separate incidents that Zheng Yixian realized something was amiss. Wei Dinghais expression darkened as he processed the story. Are you suggesting that West Hill Base wasnt entirely wiped out? That theyve been regrouping in secret? Impossible, Xiao Honglian interjected. Their shelter was obliterated by missiles. Any survivors wouldnt have enough resources to rebuild, let alone target both of our factions at the same time. She crossed her arms with a cold smirk. Even in their prime, Chen Xinian wouldnt have dared. Zheng Yixians tone deepened. Perhaps its not West Hill Bases remnants, but another faction that seized their territory after the battle. They might not even be aware of the major shelters outside Lu River and West Hill Districts. If they knew, I doubt theyd have made such a bold move against you. --- Zheng Yixians theory gave Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai pause. Though the idea seemed far-fetched, it was the most plausible explanation given the circumstances. When all other possibilities are eliminated, no matter how improbable the remaining scenario, it must be closest to the truth. For years, the major factions had maintained a delicate balance, avoiding direct conflict. Who else but an outsider would dare to provoke two major bases by killing their Superhumans? --- Lu River District Xiao Honglian murmured, her voice barely audible. Her mind raced back to the reports from their scouts about heavy fighting near the border of Lu River and West Hill Districts. If they investigated that area, they might uncover the clues they sought. Wei Dinghai, meanwhile, frowned as he tried to recall a piece of intelligence that seemed relevant but remained frustratingly elusivesomething that once seemed trivial but now appeared significant. --- Recognizing the stalemate, neither side was eager to incur further losses. Both leaders agreed to retreat and investigate Zheng Yixians claims about Lu River District. Xiao Honglian pointed sternly at Zheng Yixian. This isnt over. Well investigate, but if I find out your people were involved, Ill return and burn your base to the ground. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Han Chang couldnt hold back. Bring it on! Next time, youll leave here in body bags! Xiao Honglian shot him a contemptuous smile before turning away, leading her forces out without another word. Wei Dinghai followed suit, his cold smirk lingering as he directed his troops to withdraw. Though both factions had temporarily disengaged, they would undoubtedly return if provoked. For now, their mission had been a partial successsignificantly depleting the cults forces while keeping their own losses manageable. --- On the Road Back Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai discussed their next moves. The cults growth is too rapid. That so-called prophet is brainwashing survivors left and right, Wei Dinghai remarked. Xiao Honglian snorted. That zealot shouldve been dealt with long ago. Not only is she recruiting survivors, but even my slaves are trying to escape to her sanctuary. Fools, she added disdainfully. They think theres a heaven in the apocalypse? Without strength, theyre just cannon fodder wherever they go. Wei Dinghai chuckled. And often, those who preach for your own good are the ones to exploit you most mercilessly. The convoy soon reached a fork in the road where the two factions would part ways. Before leaving, Wei Dinghai asked, Whats your plan from here? Xiao Honglian gave a cryptic smile. Isnt it obvious? None of us can ignore this. Wei Dinghai shrugged. I was suggesting we work together. If theres truly a strong force in Lu River District, going solo could be risky. Though Chaoyu Base dominated the seas, their land-based strength was limited, often relying on Yangsheng Base for support. Xiao Honglian neither agreed nor declined. Well investigate further and decide then. She trusted her own judgment over the cults claims. Let me know if you change your mind, Wei Dinghai said. With Chen Xinian gone, together we could take control of Tianhai City in no time. Xiao Honglian dismissed the notion with a wave, ordering her troops to return to Yangsheng Base. --- As her convoy disappeared into the distance, Wei Dinghai exhaled a frosty breath. What a fierce woman. If I could bring her to heel, Tianhai City would be mine. A pale, soft-featured man stepped forwardChen Jingguan, Wei Dinghais deputy. Leader, shes hiding something from us. Wei Dinghais eyes gleamed briefly, then he laughed. Of course she is. Trust is a luxury none of us can afford. His smile grew sly. Besides, I think Ive remembered something. Whoever clashed with West Hill Base near Lu River... its likely that once insignificant player we overlooked. Author''s Note Chapter 369: Sacrifice Chapter 369: Sacrifice Upon returning to Chaoyu Base, Wei Dinghai wasted no time initiating a thorough investigation into the mysterious force in Lu River District. His search led back to a series of events that began months ago with a peculiar mass text from Lu Fengda, circulating through Tianhai City. The name Zhang Yi resurfaced. Connections were drawn: Yuelu Residential Area, Zhang Yi, the theft at Walmart South China Warehouse Piece by piece, the puzzle began to form, drawing closer to the truth. Meanwhile, Yangsheng Bases intelligence network, equally diligent, had made its own discoveries. But Xiao Honglians focus wasnt solely on these cluesit was the unexpected signal from Gao Yuans satellite phone that piqued her interest. --- Yangsheng Base, Intelligence Division After returning, Xiao Honglian skipped rest and went straight to the Intelligence Division. Her team had tracked Gao Yuans satellite phone signal to the border between West Hill and Lu River Districts, near the Lu River. Though pinpointing the exact location was impossible due to signal interference, they managed to narrow it down to a five-kilometer radius. Xu Family Town, Cloud Manor, Zhuge Qingtian noted, adjusting his gold-rimmed glasses. These are the only inhabited areas nearby. If theres a force capable of challenging West Hill Base, its likely located there. Xiao Honglians eyes flickered with a calculating light as she weighed her options. Who were these people? Why had they killed her men? And why had the signal disappeared, only to reappear now? It all felt orchestrated, as if someone was manipulating events behind the scenes. Well have to send scouts, Xiao Honglian murmured. Zhuge Qingtian suggested, Should we involve Wei Dinghai? Sending a joint team would increase our chances of success. Xiao Honglian waved the idea away. Unnecessary, she said with a confident smirk. This mysterious faction, though powerful enough to contend with West Hill Base, must be weakened by now. Their peak strength likely only matched West Hills. West Hill Base is gone, and if theyre as battered as I suspect, this could be our chance to swoop in and claim their assets. Zhuge Qingtian nodded but remained cautious. Its still risky. Theyve already taken down two Superhuman squads from our bases. Xiao Honglian thought of her late cousin and shook her head. He was weak. This time, Im sending Dong Hu. Hes reliable. As for Chaoyu Base, let them fend for themselves. Wei Dinghai plays nice now because he needs us. Otherwise, he wouldnt be so polite. With Xiao Honglians decision made, Zhuge Qingtian refrained from further argument and sent for Dong Hu. --- Tianfeng District The aftermath of the battle had left the Followers of the Snow Gods headquarters in ruins. The ground was soaked in blackened blood, littered with the shattered remains of fallen fighters. Inside the cathedral, women and children huddled together under the protection of the cults guards. Only the adult male cultists had foughtand diedoutside. Zheng Yixian inspected his severely burned arm, where Xiao Honglians fiery punch had left his flesh charred, exposing raw muscle and cracked bone beneath. The bitter cold numbed his pain, but exhaustion weighed heavily on him. Grand Priest! Han Chang and others surrounded him, their faces etched with worry. They couldnt forget how close Zheng Yixian had come to death in his duel with Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. The combined might of the two base leaders was terrifying, a testament to the brutal path they had walked to the top. Im fine. Ill seek the Holy Maiden for healing, Zheng Yixian said, pulling a white fox fur cloak over his wound as he turned toward the cathedral. Clean this place up. His eyes briefly closed, his usual composed clarity giving way to a flicker of weariness. --- As Zheng Yixian retreated, the cultists who had fought so valiantly began to falter. The adrenaline and divine fervor that had driven them started to fade. Seeing the carnage around them, the pain from their wounds finally struck. Aaaagh! Cries of agony rose as the reality of their injuries set in. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From the crowd, women in white religious robes stepped forward, raising their hands. Brave warriors! You have received the Snow Gods blessing. Your souls shall ascend to the divine kingdom, where peace and joy await! While these words offered spiritual solace, physical relief was scarce. A group of nun-like followers rushed among the wounded with medical kits, offering basic first aid. Supplies were too scarce for more than rudimentary carebandages for bleeding, no proper disinfectants. --- A severely injured man with a severed arm reached out to one of the nuns. Help me I can still be saved, he pleaded weakly. The nun knelt, tears of compassion welling in her eyes. May the Snow Gods mercy embrace all suffering souls, she whispered. Your devotion will lead you to paradise. With gentle reverence, she drew a sharp blade and, before he could react, plunged it into his carotid artery. His eyes widened in disbelief as his life faded. The nun closed his eyes, murmuring, How fortunate you are to meet the Snow God so soon. --- Such scenes were commonplace on the battlefield. The cult lacked resources to care for the gravely injured, so they were released to join the Snow God in the afterlife. In time, this grim practice had instilled a belief among the cultists: dying for the Snow God guaranteed entry to a divine paradise. --- Meanwhile, deep within a forbidden building behind the cathedral, gruesome rituals unfolded. Blood-red vines slithered from the shadows, dragging corpses into the buildings depths. Inside, a massive, pulsating crimson plant anchored itself, its vines spreading throughout the structure. Cocoon-like pods hung from the ceiling, containing vaguely human forms. The plant absorbed the corpses, exhaling a red mist that filled the space with an eerie glow. From the vines sprouted crimson, apple-like fruits, growing plump with grotesque vitality. Watching from a distance, Han Chang folded his arms, his face grim. May the fallen sustain the living. Their sacrifice feeds our hope. Author''s Note Chapter 370: The Purification Ritual Chapter 370: The Purification Ritual Zheng Yixian entered the cathedral. Despite the chaos outside, Yuan Kongye remained focused, conducting the final stages of the Gift Ceremony with serene composure. This particular group consisted of newly recruited followers, most of whom had joined after witnessing Yuan Kongyes so-called miracles. Their faith had deepened quickly, and they now viewed the Snow God as their ultimate salvation. As the ceremony neared its end, only a few young boys remained. Guided by their parents, they approached the altar. These boys had been with the cult for only a week but were already among its most devout, ready to sacrifice their lives for the Snow God. Yuan Kongye gazed at them with a gentle expression, though a fleeting struggle of inner turmoil crossed her face. She quickly masked it, burying the conflict deep within her dark pupils. Come, my children, Yuan Kongye called softly, beckoning them forward. The boys, confused, looked back at their parents, seeking reassurance. Trust the Holy Maiden, one father said gently. Everything she does is for your own good. You need this purification to become true followers of the Snow God, another added. Trusting their parents, the boys hesitantly stepped toward the altar. Yuan Kongye instructed one of them to lie down on the stone slab. She placed her right hand gently on his forehead. The boy instantly felt his strength drain away; his limbs became unresponsive, as though they no longer belonged to him. Dont be afraid, child. An evil spirit resides within you. I will cleanse it, Yuan Kongye said with a serene smile. Her hand moved deftly, producing a sharp dagger. The boys eyes widened in terror, his pupils contracting as his body froze in fear. He couldnt even scream. The other boys stood frozen in horror, unable to comprehend the true nature of this exorcism. It will be over soon, Yuan Kongye reassured him. I shall purify your impurity myself. Without hesitation, she brought the blade down swiftly. Blood splattered. The boy lost consciousness immediately, his eyes dull and unfocused. Yuan Kongye placed her glowing hand over his wound, and a soft, holy light emanated from her palm, sealing the injury. From now on, you will never become a corrupted demon. The purification is complete. The boys parents approached, bowing deeply to Yuan Kongye. Thank you, Holy Maiden, for cleansing him. He will no longer be tempted by evil. Now he will be a more obedient and good child, wont he? the boys mother asked hopefully, recalling years of frustration over her sons unruly behavior. Yuan Kongye nodded reassuringly. From now on, he will be a kind and well-behaved child. Tears of relief filled the parents eyes. They expressed their heartfelt gratitude and carried their unconscious son away. --- Meanwhile, the remaining boys were paralyzed with fear, some collapsing to the floor. Purification means cutting that off? No! I dont want it! Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I dont want to be a eunuch! another wailed. They tried to flee, but towering figures blocked their path. Their parents stood firm, expressions stern yet strangely comforting. You must understand, child. Were doing this for your own good. Youve been so disobedient because a demon resides in your heart. Once the Holy Maiden purifies you, youll be a good boy. Stop resisting and accept this gift! Despite their parents encouragement, the boys saw only terrifying faces, like demons themselves. Behind them, Yuan Kongyes soft, chilling voice called out: Whos next? One by one, the boys underwent the ritual. Their parents, grateful and reverent, thanked Yuan Kongye before taking them home. Zheng Yixian observed everything from a distance, his expression unreadable. When the ceremony concluded, the congregation sang praises before gradually dispersing, leaving the cathedral nearly empty. Only Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian remained. --- Yuan Kongye approached Zheng Yixian, her gaze falling on his concealed arm. She gently pulled back his cloak, revealing the charred and wounded limb. How did it get this bad? she asked softly, placing her hand over the injury. A warm glow radiated from her palm as she began to heal him. Zheng Yixian allowed her to stabilize his condition but stopped her midway. Youve already used your powers too many times today. Treat me tomorrow, he said. Yuan Kongye smiled faintly, her expression as cold and serene as snow. Who attacked? Yangsheng Bases Xiao Honglian and Chaoyu Bases Wei Dinghai, Zheng Yixian replied. They teamed up against us. A flicker of surprise crossed Yuan Kongyes eyes. Both bases attacked together? Zheng Yixian explained the events leading to the battle, including the mysterious faction they suspected. --- After listening, Yuan Kongyes expression turned thoughtful. So, aside from the Followers of the Snow God and West Hill Base, theres another powerful force in Tianhai City? Could their rise have played a role in West Hill Bases downfall? Zheng Yixian nodded. This mysterious faction is connected to a man named Zhang Yi. We once received intelligence mentioning him. Considering his ability to contend with West Hill Base for so long, its clear hes no ordinary Superhuman. If not for him, what else could have led to West Hill Bases destruction? Yuan Kongye murmured thoughtfully, Yet, all evidence points to the missile from Jiangnan District. True, Zheng Yixian agreed, but Zhang Yi remains a key figure. His strength and resources shouldnt be underestimated. He added, The rumors of his vast stockpile of supplies might actually be true. A spark of intrigue lit Yuan Kongyes dark eyes. If thats the case, we should keep a closer watch on him. Zheng Yixian stepped forward. Should we send an envoy to probe him? Author''s Note Chapter 371: Medicine Chapter 371: Medicine Yuan Kongye regarded Zheng Yixian with a faint smile. Oh? Test him? You mean to gauge his true potential? Zheng Yixian chuckled. If hes strong enough, we might consider recruiting him. Together, we could stand against the major bases. Yuan Kongyes furrowed brow relaxed, her interest clearly piqued. Zheng Yixian continued, The major bases control all the critical resources in Tianhai City. Although our numbers are great, the Followers of the Snow God are severely resource-deprived. The Blood Vine helps us obtain food through conversion, but its not a sustainable solution. Take today, for example. We barely withstood the combined assault of Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases. If they hadnt held back, unwilling to risk mutual destruction, we might not have survived. Zheng Yixians eyes gleamed. We need alliessomeone like us. After a moment of contemplation, Yuan Kongye nodded slowly. She saw the wisdom in his words. The current strength of the Followers of the Snow God wouldnt hold in an all-out war. Any one of the three major bases could annihilate them. She needed time. Time to grow stronger. Very well. Send the Grand Writ to test his strength. If he proves capable of resisting the bases, Tianhai Citys balance of power may shift drastically. --- Inside the Shelters Medical Room Zhou Keer, clad in a white lab coat, leaned over a microscope, meticulously examining a slide. Zhang Yi lounged lazily against the counter behind her, his tone casual. Well? Recognize this stuff? Zhou Keer was studying a stimulant Zhang Yi had acquired from Gao Yuan and his team. The drug, capable of temporarily granting ordinary people Superhuman-like abilities, had left a deep impression on Zhang Yi. Curious about its potential, he wanted to understand its propertiesperhaps to use in emergencies or to counter it if encountered again. Zhou Keer turned around, her expression thoughtful. This is a military-grade stimulant, typically issued to soldiers in active combat zones. Its effects are powerful, drastically enhancing physical performance and keeping users awake for up to three days. ? She sighed. Ive seen similar compounds in my mentors lab, but this is the first time Ive encountered it in use. Compared to the stimulants Ive used on you, this one is at least ten times stronger. Of course, the side effects are equally severe. Zhang Yis curiosity deepened. How severe? Zhou Keer smirked. The drug works by accelerating metabolism and maximizing energy use. Essentially, it forces the body into overdrive. After one use, losing ten pounds is common. Users experience intense muscle soreness, and recovery takes weeks for those in good health. As for the less fortunate She shrugged. They might not survive the first dose. Zhang Yi chuckled. Figures. No such thing as a free lunch. A drug that makes you stronger without drawbacks doesnt exist, huh? Zhou Keer hesitated, then said thoughtfully, Maybe not entirely. Oh? Zhang Yis interest sharpened. Theres something like that? Zhou Keer nodded, then shook her head. Ive heard that the military once worked on a drug to enhance combat performance with minimal side effects. While it couldnt eliminate side effects entirely, it supposedly reduced them to negligible levels. Naturally, such a drug would be outrageously expensive, which is why it never became standard issue. Zhang Yi considered this. So, theres a chance we might encounter it, though its unlikely. Good to know. He crossed his arms, muttering, Technology is a dangerous game. Even ordinary people cant be underestimated. Zhou Keer removed her gloves and prepared to clean her equipment. Zhang Yi struck up a new conversation. Keer, remember the rat poison I used back at Yuelu? Hmm? Rat poison? She glanced at him, puzzled. You mean the one you used in Yuelu Residential Area? You still have that stuff? Zhang Yis smile turned sly. Never know when it might come in handy. Better safe than sorry. He scratched his nose. You said its lethal dose was 0.1 grams. What happens with smaller amounts? Though unsure of his intentions, Zhou Keer answered. In tiny doses, the bodys detoxification processes can handle it without issue. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But if the dose is carefully controlledaround 5% of the lethal amountit can accumulate and cause harm. Would it kill someone? Zhang Yi asked. Zhou Keer shook her head. Not immediately. Thats why its called a lethal dose, after all. She added, However, repeated exposure would cause organ failure over time. Without treatment, it would eventually be fatal. She chuckled. In todays harsh conditions, where even minor ailments can be deadly, its practically a death sentence. Zhang Yi nodded. Interesting. Makes sense. Zhou Keer eyed him playfully. Got a rat problem? Zhang Yis grin grew more enigmatic. Not in the shelter. But outside? Maybe. Zhou Keer shook her head. Rats in this frozen wasteland? You must be imagining things. She paused. Then again, who knows? Maybe some survived in the sewers. Rats, resilient in filthy environments, often outlived humans during disasters. Zhang Yi shrugged. Could be. If cats can mutate, why not rats? Maybe someday, rats will rule the planet. Whos to say? Author''s Note Chapter 372: Malice Chapter 372: MaliceAfter finishing his chat with Zhou Keer, Zhang Yi left the infirmary. From the living room, the lively sounds of a card game carried over clearly. Zhou Haimei came by almost every day to play mahjong with the women in Zhang Yis household. It proved, once again, that no matter the time or place, playing cards was always a simple and reliable source of joy. The Shelter remained as bright and opulent as ever, radiating a sense of security and comforta veritable post-apocalyptic haven. It seemed as though this peaceful state could last forever. No, not just seemed. Zhang Yi quietly assured himself, Ill make sure this comfortable environment lasts until the apocalypse ends. Just then, a pleasant and steady voice called out behind him. Zhang Yi, there you are! Ive been looking for you in the west section. Zhang Yi turned to see Liang Yue approaching. He smiled lightly. Look at me, almost forgot about your task. Without waiting for her to say more, he retrieved food for ten people from his spatial storage and packed it neatly. Liang Yues face flushed slightly. Thank you! she said, taking the food. Her fingers brushed against his, causing her to tremble ever so slightly. Zhang Yi chuckled. Why so polite? Like I said, as long as youre here, were family. In the apocalypse, the only real family are those who stick together. Your problems are my problems. Since Liang Yue joined the Shelter, Zhang Yi and the others had been reinforcing this idea: they were family, united against the apocalypse. This belief clearly set them apart from those students who simply awaited rescue. Living in such an environment, peoples mindsets were bound to shift. Liang Yues changing demeanor showed she was gradually embracing this philosophy. I understand. Thank you, Zhang Yi, for indulging my little whims. Liang Yue looked up at him, her eyes carrying a hint of unspoken emotion. Once they can fend for themselves like the villagers of Xu Family Town, I wont bother you anymore. Thats a promise. They wont trouble me for long, Zhang Yi thought, glancing at the food in her hands. Yeah, self-reliance is good. Take your time; theres no need to rush or pressure yourself. Liang Yue bit her lip, but realizing such a gesture didnt suit her image, she quickly straightened her expression. Ill head over now. Alright, the sooner you go, the sooner youll be back! Zhang Yi waved, watching her leave. At this moment, Yang Xinxin wheeled herself beside him. She followed his gaze, looking at Liang Yues retreating figure, then spoke thoughtfully. Brother, I think Teacher Liang has fallen for you. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow but responded with a faint smile. Recently, he had spent a lot of time with Liang Yue, particularly during their martial arts training. Such close contact was inevitable, and over time, her gaze toward him had indeed changed. ? How did Zhou Botong and Ying Gu get together? Through martial arts training. Love? Attraction? Its just hormones messing with people, Zhang Yi remarked casually. Humans have instincts, and in a high-stress, apocalyptic environment, the urge to reproduce only intensifies. He touched his face. Besides, there are only three men in the Shelter. Compared to Uncle You and Fatty Xu, Im clearly the best catch. Itd be strange if she didnt feel something for me. Yang Xinxin tilted her head, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Why not make Teacher Liang your girlfriend? With her rigid personality, once she decides youre her man, shell be loyal for life. She leaned closer and whispered conspiratorially, Ill let you in on a secretTeacher Liang has never had a boyfriend. Women like her, whove been single for years, are actually easy to sway. To put it bluntly, theyre easy to fool. Zhang Yi gave her a sideways glance. Wow, you really know your stuff. Even willing to trick your own teacher? Yang Xinxin smiled faintly, interlacing her slender fingers on her lap. I just dont want to see her waste her life. With her personality, if she didnt have you looking out for her, she wouldnt survive long in this apocalypse. Zhang Yi looked out the window, his gaze falling on Liang Yues determined silhouette. Lets deal with that matter first, he muttered. Getting involved with such a stubborn woman would only give me more headaches. Though Zhang Yi enjoyed the company of beautiful women, he despised trouble. If he had to choose, hed rather keep his freedom. --- Meanwhile, in Xu Family Town. After some time living independently, the group had gradually learned to fish. It was a difficult processonce accustomed to laziness, even small efforts felt like a monumental task. But hunger eventually forced them into action. Among the students, a few physically strong boys stood out, with Ye Xiaotian, a modified superhuman, taking the lead. As a result, he held the most authority. However, Ye Xiaotians character was aloof, and he had no interest in power struggles. He focused solely on gathering food as Liang Yue instructed, never abusing his influence. This left room for Wu Chengyu, a schemer, to step in. In their academy days, Wu Chengyu had a degree of influence among his classmates. Now, he made a point of ingratiating himself with Ye Xiaotian, calling him brother at every opportunity. Ye Xiaotian, though aware of Wu Chengyus intentions, was still a nineteen-year-old prone to enjoying flattery. Over time, he tolerated Wu Chengyus antics, allowing him to exploit his authority. One day, the group gathered around a small fire in their snow house. Fuel was scarce; most of the deadwood and furniture in the area had been burned. They had even resorted to burning the clothes of the deceased, albeit sparingly. Damn it! Why do we have to live like this? Wu Chengyu gritted his teeth, cocooned in a thick blanket. Despite the insulation, the cold gnawed at them, leaving their limbs numb. However, was the cold truly his greatest torment? Perhaps not. Back at Tianqing Academy, they had endured icy conditions for extended periods without such resentment. Wu Chengyus suffering stemmed from knowing that, across the river, Zhang Yi, their teacher, and two classmates lived comfortably in a luxurious, heated mansion. It was not scarcity but inequality that fueled his malice. If only Teacher Liang cared about us! Class leader Shen Miaoke muttered bitterly. She couldve fought for our entry into the Shelter. But no, she only looks out for herself. Forget it, Wu Chengyu sneered. Teacher Liang wouldnt dare! She already belongs to Zhang Yi. Hehe, maybe she got into the Shelter by trading her body for it! Wow! Seriously? Hmph, its very likely. Dont be fooled by her serious demeanor during the day. I bet deep down, shes the shy, flirtatious typewild at heart! Hahaha, lets dive deeper into this topic! S~ea??h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ... Author''s Note Chapter 373: Investigating Xu Family Town Chapter 373: Investigating Xu Family TownThe students vented their frustrations about Liang Yue through their words, complaining without restraint. But soon, they all fell silent, almost in unison. Based on the usual schedule, it was about time for Liang Yue to deliver their food. Sure enough, not long after, Liang Yue arrived at their snow house, carrying provisions. Teacher Liang! Teacher Liang, youre here! We missed you so much! The students put on pitiful faces, tears welling up in their eyes. Liang Yue, however, simply placed the food on the ground and said, Be careful these days. The area hasnt been peaceful. Unless youre out searching for food, stay inside the snow house as much as possible. Oh, and there are plenty of underground cellars in Xu Family Town where food is stored. You should hide in the cellars whenever possible. Got it? Hearing this, the students grew uneasy. Wu Chengyu quickly stood up, his face full of fear. Teacher Liang, if its so dangerous, why not take us back with you? Isnt the Shelter the safest place? The other students, realizing the opportunity, rushed to join in, pleading with Liang Yue to bring them back. As Liang Yue looked at their pale faces, her thoughts turned to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. Most of these students had once subjected those two to cold, silent ostracism. Over time, Liang Yues bond with Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran had grown significantly stronger. This was partly due to the environment of the apocalypse, which drove people to seek warmth and solidarity, and partly because Liang Yue had found in them what she had lost in students like Wu Chengyu. Without comparison, there would be no disappointment. As a teacher, she naturally gravitated toward the more obedient and sensible students. She couldnt bear the thought of upsetting Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran by suggesting these students be brought into the Shelter. And she wasnt na?ve. While Zhang Yi was kind and supportive of her, the others in the Shelter had no obligation to these students. Bringing back such a burden would surely displease people like Zhou Keer. Given that there hadnt been any signs of external threats recently, Liang Yue was unwilling to stir up trouble. You cant rely on your teacher for everything. Youre all grown up now and need to learn how to solve problems on your own. Hide in the cellars. Even if danger comes, you wont be the primary targets. As long as you stay hidden, youll be safe. Liang Yues plan seemed sound. After Zhang Yis intense battle with the West Hill Base, any smaller factions in the area wouldnt dare to cause trouble. And if a major force from beyond Xichuan or Lu River District did show up, their target would be Zhang Yis Shelter, not a group of resource-poor students. ????? But Wu Chengyu and the others were unwilling to give up. Teacher, if danger really strikes, itll be too late to do anything! Its safer if you take us to the Shelter. Zhang Yi and the others are so strong, and youre a great fighter too. Protecting us would be easy, wouldnt it? Liang Yues eyes filled with even more disappointment. She no longer offered any explanations, only letting out a soft sigh. Take care of yourselves. Just listen to me and hide well. With that, she turned and left the snow house, ignoring the students cries behind her. Teacher Liang! Teacher Liang! TeacherDmn it! That heartless woman! Wu Chengyu punched the wall in frustration, his eyes burning with hatred. Why give us hope only to shove us into despair? Ye Xiaotian walked over and casually grabbed a portion of the food. Wu Chengyu noticed and quickly pretended to distribute the rest to everyone. The food from Zhang Yis Shelter was undeniably superior, carefully preserved and full of flavor. They devoured it ravenously, leaving not a single grain behind. --- Meanwhile, in the Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases, the two factions had begun operations against the so-called mysterious force ever since their return from the Followers of the Snow God. After extensive investigation, they had narrowed down the enemys location to somewhere near Cloud Manor and Xu Family Town. Yangsheng Base acted faster, thanks to Zhang Yis deliberate placement of Gao Yuans satellite phone among Liang Yues students, allowing them to track the signal using radar. The Yangsheng Base dispatched Dong Hu, nicknamed Blazing Fist, for the mission. In his early forties, Dong Hu had been a professional bodyguard before the apocalypse, skilled in martial arts and marksmanship. After awakening his superhuman abilities, he became one of Xiao Honglians trusted generals. This mission was a reconnaissance operation, not an assault. Xiao Honglian was unsure of Zhang Yis strength and chose Dong Hu for his level-headed approach. Dong Hu led his team to the outskirts of Lu River District, where he ordered their snow vehicles hidden before proceeding on foot. Their modified snow vehicles were loud and fuel-intensive, unsuitable for stealth operations. Well-equipped and well-provisioned, the group cautiously trekked through the snow, guided by their instruments toward Xu Family Town. From a distance, they spotted the cluster of snow houses and, across the river, the imposing ice fortress. Dong Hu exhaled in amazement. Did they really build this by hand? The thick ice wall resembled a miniature snow fortress, towering 20 meters high and 10 meters thick. Though made primarily of ice, its steel-reinforced core gave it remarkable durability. Unless you hit this thing with heavy artillery, standard infantry weapons wont even scratch it. No wonder they held off West Hill Base for so long. Dong Hus expression grew serious as he issued orders. Stay sharp! This isnt an opponent to take lightly. One misstep, and were dead. His men, seasoned and cautious, nodded solemnly. Dong Hu used his equipment to confirm that Gao Yuans satellite phone signal was coming from one of the snow houses. He called over a sharp-eyed subordinate. Scout the area and report back. The scout, cloaked in white, moved stealthily toward Xu Family Town, blending into the snowy landscape. As night fell, he reached the village outskirts, finding no signs of guards. Relaxing slightly, he continued, using the snow houses as cover. But the village was eerily lifeless. The dome-shaped snow houses stood like tombs, silent and foreboding. Most were empty, with only a few sealed by curtains or wooden boards. The cold left the streets deserted, as if the residents had all perished. No guards, no signs of life. This cant be a functioning faction, the scout concluded. A proper force would maintain vigilance, posting guards to ward off intruders. Their absence suggested a lack of resources and strength. Relieved, the scout carefully approached the snow house marked as the signals source but chose not to enter, instead retreating to avoid unnecessary risks. After all, this could be the lair of the individuals who had wiped out both Gao Yuan and Wang Ruixuans teams. Returning to Dong Hu, the scout reported, Its an abandoned village. No guards, no activity. I located the signal source without alerting anyone. Dong Hu was puzzled. What? That doesnt add up. Even the most formidable foe wouldnt leave their defenses so lax. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Glancing at the ice fortress across the river, Dong Hus eyes narrowed. Could it be that their true power lies beyond that stronghold? But why would the signal source be here? Is it a trap? Conflicted but determined, Dong Hu resolved to gather more intel before leaving. Leading his team cautiously into Xu Family Town, he soon stumbled upon a group of young people sleeping soundly in one of the snow houses. Their defenseless state was almost laughable. Confirming the signal source was in this very house, Dong Hu stood in silent confusion, unsure of what to make of the scene. Author''s Note Chapter 374: Captives Chapter 374: CaptivesAlthough Dong Hu suspected something fishy was going on here, since he had come this far, the first priority was to locate Gao Yuans satellite phone and capture everyone here for interrogation. "Move!" With his order, the investigation team sprang into action, quickly moving to subdue the sleeping students. Ye Xiaotian, who had the sharpest senses, was the first to notice the intruders. He abruptly opened his eyes and found himself facing a group of strangers in the snow house. Instantly on alert, he shouted, Who are you? Get out of here! One of the investigators didnt bother with words. His massive hand clamped down on Ye Xiaotians neck like a steel vise and slammed him against the wall. If you dare say another word, Ill snap your neck! he growled coldly. Ye Xiaotian was stunned. Although he was a cyborg and far stronger than ordinary people, it was clear that these intruders were seasoned fighters. Clenching his teeth, Ye Xiaotian let out an angry roar and suddenly mustered all his strength, prying the mans hand off and kicking him three meters away. Hm? A Superhuman! Dong Hus eyes glinted coldly. Realizing he couldnt take on so many people at once, Ye Xiaotian decided to make a break for it. However, Dong Hus towering figure blocked his path. Move! Ye Xiaotian gathered all his strength and swung a punch at Dong Hus face. The next moment, a scorching red light flashed before his eyes, his vision blurred, and an unbearable pain exploded in his abdomen. Dong Hus fist, engulfed in flames, struck Ye Xiaotians stomach. His clothes caught fire instantly, burning fiercely. Cough... Ye Xiaotian spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed unconscious in the snow. The flames burned through his cotton jacket, revealing the combat uniform of West Hill Base underneath. Dong Hus expression grew serious. Could these people be the remnants of West Hill Base? Move quickly! Dont delay! If they wake up, itll be trouble! Wu Chengyu and the others were still sound asleep when Dong Hus men restrained them. Dont move! Try anything, and Ill kill you! Make a sound, and youre dead! The investigation team acted cautiously. Having detected Gao Yuans satellite phone signal here, they assumed these young people were no ordinary group. As a result, they didnt hold back, pinning them to the ground and pressing their heads deep into their bedding. The students, abruptly woken by the pain of their arms being twisted behind them, let out muffled cries and struggled desperately. However, after the investigators brutal threats, they froze in fear, trembling like leaves. Dong Hu and his team quickly realized that most of the group were mere mortals. Only Ye Xiaotian exhibited some unusual strength, though it wasnt particularly impressive. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The students were terrified, tied up tightly, and forced to kneel on the freezing snow. Their trembling bodies resembled sieves, their faces pale with fear of these strangers. R? The investigators dug out the satellite phone from beneath a bed board and handed it to Dong Hu. Dong Hu inspected it and confirmed it was indeed Gao Yuans satellite phone. Holding it aloft, his icy gaze swept over the captured students. Where did you get this? The students, having never seen such a device before, could only stare dumbfounded, unable to give a coherent answer. Dong Hus face darkened. This was found in your house, and youre saying you dont know about it? He approached one of the students, grabbed his neck, and hoisted him into the air. The students face turned red as he stammered, Dont kill me! Please, I swear I dont know anything! Youre really not afraid to die, huh? Glancing at the others, Dong Hu tightened his grip. A sickening crack echoed as the students neck was snapped. The other students turned even paler, and several girls fainted from sheer terror. If you dont talk, youll end up like him! Dong Hus cold gaze scanned the group, searching for clues. His sharp eyes landed on Wu Chengyu, who seemed shrewder than the rest. Unlike the others, who were frozen in despair, Wu Chengyus eyes darted nervously, clearly scheming to find a way to survive. A veteran like Dong Hu wouldnt miss such behavior. He strode over, grabbed Wu Chengyu, and lifted him effortlessly. Your turn! Speak, or dont? Faced with Dong Hus lethal threat, Wu Chengyus mind raced before finally landing on a survival strategy. I know who brought it! It was Zhang Yi! It must have been Zhang Yi! he blurted. Hearing the name Zhang Yi, Dong Hus expression turned grave. Before setting out, Xiao Honglian and Zhuge Qingtian had warned him to avoid a man named Zhang Yi at all costs. It was highly likely that West Hill Base had fallen because of him. Whats your connection to Zhang Yi? Dong Hu asked in a low voice. Knowing his only chance at survival was to prove his worth, Wu Chengyu replied, Theres a woman with Zhang Yi named Liang Yue. Were her students. She takes special care of us. Please, dont kill me. Im useful to you! If youre enemies of Zhang Yi, you can use us as leverage. Liang Yue loves us and wouldnt just watch us die! Dong Hu frowned. Wu Chengyus words were dubious. If your teacher cares about you so much, why would she leave you here instead of taking you to Zhang Yis residence? Wu Chengyu stammered nervously, We didnt want to burden Teacher Liang! Were adults and need to survive on our own. But Teacher Liang still brings us food every day. Look at the lunchboxes over there if you dont believe me! He pointed to some lunchboxes on a table. Dong Hu glanced at them and found himself slightly convinced by Wu Chengyus explanation. After a moment of hesitation, he made a decision. The mission was to retrieve Gao Yuans satellite phone and gather intel on Zhang Yi. Capturing people connected to Zhang Yi meant they could interrogate them later. Dong Hu ordered his men to bind all the students and take them back to their leader, Xiao Honglian, for further questioning. As for the towering ice wall behind them, Dong Hu dared not investigate. Perhaps his cautious instincts had already sensed the lurking danger. Author''s Note Chapter 375: Then Let’s Fight! Chapter 375: Then Lets Fight!Inside the shelter, in Zhang Yis room, a notification sounded on his phone. The satellite phone that Hua Hua had left in Xu Family Town was designed to send an alert whenever it moved out of range. Zhang Yi opened his phone, watching the signal slowly drift farther away, and his eyes narrowed slightly. As expected, whats meant to happen will happen. He had intentionally instructed Hua Hua to leave the satellite phone in the students quarters. It was a strategy that killed two birds with one stone. First, it allowed external forces to deal with those troublesome students for him. Second, with Yang Xinxins help, he had tampered with the satellite phone to monitor its location in real time. This way, as soon as someone took the phone, Zhang Yi could pinpoint the location of their base of operations. Standing by the window, Zhang Yi gazed toward Xu Family Town through the wind and snow, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. How will things unfold from here? I must admit, Im starting to look forward to it. He had already killed Superhumans from both the Chaoyu and Yangsheng Basesthere was no way they would let it slide. A confrontation with the two bases was inevitable. It would either end in negotiation or war! Everything hinged on strength. Zhang Yi was fully confident in the shelters defensive capabilities and didnt fear a combined assault from the two bases. Still, achieving peace through strength would be preferable to him. With that in mind, Zhang Yi left his room and headed for the control center to find Yang Xinxin. Yang Xinxin spent most of her time in the control center, safeguarding the shelters network against external intrusions that could steal vital data. In this post-apocalyptic world, everyone was a hunter armed with weapons, preying on one another in the darkness. The relationship between predator and prey was fluid, but intelligence was the ultimate factor that determined the power gap between two sidesfar more so than armed forces. More than once, Zhang Yi had turned the tables with information, as demonstrated by his victory over West Hill Base. When he arrived at the control center, he found Yang Xinxin dressed in black Lolita attire, seated in her wheelchair. She was munching on potato chips while watching a classic film displayed on the screen. At the sound of the door opening, Yang Xinxin quickly shut the video. She knew it must be Zhang Yi since the control center could only be accessed by the two of themand Zhang Yis clearance level was higher than hers. Brother Zhang Yi, youre here! Yang Xinxin greeted him sweetly. Zhang Yi smiled, walked over, and gently ruffled her soft hair. Watching movies all alonedoesnt it get boring? Not really! Im just passing the time, not slacking off, Yang Xinxin replied, her expression the picture of innocence. If Zhang Yi didnt know her better, he might have thought she was just a na?ve and sweet young girl. Sitting down next to her, Zhang Yi asked with a grin, Hows the analysis coming along on the satellite phone data I gave you a few days ago? Any important intel? ? Data analysis was a time-consuming process, as AI wasnt yet capable of discerning what information was relevant to Zhang Yi. For instance, a simple photo of a meal could reveal insights about Yangsheng Bases living standards and overall conditionssomething only humans could infer. As a result, Yang Xinxin manually sifted through the data, even though the vast troves of information from West Hill Base were still far from fully processed. These people are very cautious, Yang Xinxin explained. And since the satellite phone wasnt used for long, there isnt much data. However, based on the chat records, weve identified the identity of the person you killed. His name was Gao Yuan. He was the cousin of Xiao Honglian, the leader of Yangsheng Base, and a squad captain under her command. Hearing this, Zhang Yi facepalmed. What are the odds? I managed to accidentally kill the cousin of Yangsheng Bases leader. Looks like theres no way to resolve this peacefully now. Yang Xinxin chuckled lightly. Just a cousin, not a brother. Who knows how close they were? For her part, she had little affection for her own cousins, so she wasnt convinced this would escalate tensions significantly. Zhang Yi shrugged. We cant really speculate on their family dynamics. Lets just be prepared for the worst. Yang Xinxin continued, Also, from his chat logs, its clear that Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base are closely connected. The specifics are unclear, but the chats hint at a cooperative relationship. Looking concerned, she warned, Brother, if thats the case, we might have to face a joint attack from both bases. Zhang Yi took a deep breath and reclined in his chair. His expression was calm as he said, Ive considered that. Its simply the worst-case scenario. But after the drawn-out battle with West Hill Base, Ive lost my fear of these large organizations. They all rose to power as rebel groups. Without access to high-yield weapons like massive missiles, they cant pose a significant threat to us. He narrowed his eyes as he spoke, a sharp glint in his gaze. Honestly, from the bottom of my heart, Id welcome a fight with them! Thats the only way to make them understand that the territory of West Hill Base is now mine. They have no right to cross the line or disrupt my life! A battle would demonstrate our strength. After that, wed all be able to live peacefully. Zhang Yi today was not the same person as before. His team was strong, composed of top-tier talent. With West Hill Bases arsenal in his hands, he had also constructed an integrated offensive and defensive perimeter. Unless he actively launched an offensive against one of the factions, no one in Tianhai City could threaten him in a defensive battle. Yang Xinxin looked at Zhang Yi, who exuded both confidence and caution, her admiration evident in her smile. Oh, right, she said suddenly, theres something else in the chat records. It mentions Bai Xue Jiao. It doesnt have much to do with us, but I thought Id tell you anyway. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bai Xue Jiao? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, his distaste for the organization evident. Strictly speaking, Zhang Yi respected Daoist traditions of aiding people in chaotic times. To him, most other religions were simply escapist tools for avoiding reality. As for Bai Xue Jiao, an odd religious group that originated abroad and had morphed into a new sect exploiting human despair and ignorance, he held no goodwill toward them. Tell me, what about them? Author''s Note Chapter 376: Interrogation Chapter 376: InterrogationYang Xinxin said to Zhang Yi, Based on Gao Yuans conversations with others, its clear that their attitude toward Bai Xue Jiao is very negative. I believe the conflict between them is quite sharp. Zhang Yi pondered for a moment before asking, And so? Are you suggesting that if Yangsheng Base attacks us, we should consider recruiting Bai Xue Jiao as an ally? Yang Xinxin blinked playfully and smiled. Who knows? But wouldnt having one more ally be better than having one more enemy? Zhang Yi shook his head. Sometimes, an unclear ally is even more dangerous than an enemy. Then, his tone shifted, That said, if theyre useful, I wouldnt mind squeezing some value out of them. In the apocalypse, friends were rare. Relationships were often transactionalthose with value could be allies, but when interests clashed, alliances could turn to enmity in an instant. What Zhang Yi didnt know yet was that a team from Bai Xue Jiaos headquarters was already en route to Cloud Manor. Dong Hu, with Wu Chengyu and the other captives, departed Xu Family Town, traveling through the night to return to Yangsheng Base. With these captives in hand, Dong Hu was ready to report back to Xiao Honglian. Meanwhile, Wu Chengyu and the others were on edge. Facing these strangers of unknown origin, they were deeply afraid for their lives. If only wed listened to Teacher Liangs advice and stayed hidden, this wouldnt have happened. Zhang Yi may be selfish and cold, but at least he wouldnt kill us. He even gave us food for Teacher Liangs sake. No, no! This is all Teacher Liangs fault. If she hadnt left us in Xu Family Town, we wouldnt have ended up like this! If shed stayed to protect us, we might have had time to escape! Despair, resentment, and regret swirled in the students minds. The Yangsheng Base soldiers guarding them, however, were utterly indifferent to their thoughts. The captives were now in their hands, and they had countless ways to extract the information they needed. When Dong Hus convoy returned to Yangsheng Base, it was late at night. Still, Dong Hu went straight to see Xiao Honglian. He knew her sleeping schedule was shortbarely five hours a day. Sure enough, when he reached her office, Xiao Honglian was still reviewing reports submitted by her subordinates. After Dong Hu knocked and entered, she didnt even look up. Whats the result of the investigation? Dong Hu immediately recounted everything he had observed. We found Gao Yuans missing phone in Xu Family Town and captured a group of students. They claim to be from Tianqing Academy, and their teacher is said to be close to Zhang Yi. ? As for Zhang Yi himself, I didnt see him. However, across the river in Cloud Manor, I spotted a heavily fortified ice wall. If Im not mistaken, Zhang Yi and his people live behind that wall, which is likely how they withstood West Hill Bases attack. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Dong Hu shared his deductions. Xiao Honglian frowned slightly, setting down the report in her hands. Her deep, thoughtful eyes fixed on Dong Hu. Where are the students? Theyre outside. Do you want to interrogate them yourself? Xiao Honglian stood up from her chair. Lets go. I want to see them. This was a critical matter. The outcome of the interrogation would determine whether Xiao Honglian decided to launch an attack on Zhang Yi. She needed to hear the students testimonies firsthand. Wu Chengyu and the other students had been thrown into a workshop at the refinery. The machines around them roared noisily, and the temperature was noticeably higher than outside, alleviating some of their physical discomfort. However, the warmth did nothing to soothe their fear. Armed soldiers surrounded them, their expressions cold and unyielding. The oppressive atmosphere was no better than their days pedaling bikes at West Hill Base. No one dared to speak, kneeling on the cold floor until their legs felt numb. After a long time, the sound of measured footsteps echoed from outside the workshop. The door opened, and Wu Chengyu and the others were greeted by the sight of a cold, domineering woman. She wore a red, specially designed combat uniform that stood out distinctly from the others. On her shoulders were three flaming emblems, marking her as someone of extraordinary rank. On either side of her stood Zhuge Qingtian and Dong Hu. When Wu Chengyu saw Dong Hu standing deferentially behind this woman, he immediately understood her identity. Xiao Honglian entered the workshop and glanced at the captives. The girls were pale with fright, their souls seemingly scared out of their bodies. The boys, with their fair skin and timid demeanor, looked equally incapable of putting up any fight. It was clear at a glance that they were pampered students from an ivory tower, the type who should have been among the first to die in the apocalypse without protection. Dong Hu said to Xiao Honglian, One of them is unconscious. He seems to have ties to West Hill Base, as I found signs of their human modification technology on him. This piqued Xiao Honglians interest. West Hill Bases human modification technology was something even she envied. While the fatality rate was high, it could create semi-Superhuman squads that significantly enhanced combat strength. This was far superior to their reliance on drugs for temporary power boosts. Keep that one alive for further study, Xiao Honglian said nonchalantly. A soldier brought over a chair and respectfully placed it behind her. Xiao Honglian sat down confidently, crossed her legs, and looked down at the kneeling students. Her amber eyes glinted with a cold red hue, exuding a commanding aura. Her fiery red lips parted to deliver an icy statement. Tell me everything you know. Otherwise, you wont want to experience the interrogation methods of Yangsheng Base. Wu Chengyu, ever quick-witted, immediately knelt and bowed his head to the ground. Rest assured, Ill tell you everything I know! Just spare my life! The other students quickly followed suit, realizing that they needed to demonstrate their value to survive. Ill tell you everything! Please dont kill me! Who do you want to know about? Zhang Yi? Teacher Liang Yue? I can give you all the information! Overwhelmed by fear, the students didnt even wait for Xiao Honglian to ask questions. They began spilling everything they knew, speaking over one another in their desperation. Author''s Note Chapter 377: Would Someone Really Be a Saint? Chapter 377: Would Someone Really Be a Saint?Xiao Honglian looked at the captives pitiful expressions, her heart filling with disdain. She understood that such useless, cowardly individuals could never have access to Zhang Yis core intelligence. However, given how little she already knew about Zhang Yi, any scraps of information they could provide were still worth extracting. First, tell me: where did you get this satellite phone? She held up Gao Yuans satellite phone as a signal for them to explain. But the students had no idea where it had come from. If Dong Hu hadnt dug it out from under their beds, they wouldnt have even known it existed. We dont know anything about it! Weve never seen it before! A trace of irritation flashed in Xiao Honglians eyes. Sensing danger, Wu Chengyus mind raced before he quickly came up with an idea. This... this was left behind by Zhang Yi! When in doubt, blame Zhang Yi and Liang Yuethat was his plan. As powerless students, they figured it was only natural for stronger people to bear the responsibility. Zhang Yi and Liang Yue had brought them to Xu Family Town; they should be responsible for their safety. Zhang Yi? So it really is him, Xiao Honglian muttered, her gaze turning cold and murderous. Killing Gao Yuan was tantamount to declaring war on her and Yangsheng Base. As the leader of Yangsheng Base, she could not let Zhang Yi go unpunished. Failing to take action would undermine her authority in the base. Tell me, how many people does Zhang Yi have, and what are their abilities? How much weaponry and resources do they possess? Her piercing gaze locked onto Wu Chengyu as she demanded answers to the critical questions. This line of questioning left Wu Chengyu and the others frozen. Although they had lived in Xu Family Town for a while, they had never set foot across the river where Zhang Yis shelter was located. The two groups lived entirely separate lives. They knew nothing about Zhang Yis strength, abilities, or the capabilities of his followers. Even though they had interacted with Liang Yue, they had focused solely on gaining her sympathy to secure more foodor, better yet, gain entry to the shelter. They had never bothered to ask about Zhang Yi or his team. And even if they had, it wasnt certain Liang Yue would have told them anything. Now, stumbling over their words, the students relayed what little they knew, piecing together fragments of information. I think Ive heard that Zhang Yis ability is spatial His followers are really strong. One of them, Yang Xinxin, is a top-tier hacker! Theres also someone named Lu Keran, whos great with machinery. Oh! And theres Yang Siyah, the celebrity. Shes with him too! Our teacher, Liang Yue, is also by his side. Shes incredibleshes a national-level martial artist who once served as a high-level bodyguard! Their fragmented statements painted a scattered picture. Xiao Honglian instructed Zhuge Qingtian to record all the information. Despite the volume of details, most of it was useless. For instance, while they mentioned Zhang Yi was a spatial Superhuman, they couldnt elaborate on what that entailed. As for Liang Yue, her ability was of the common enhancement typeusing Superhuman energy to strengthen her already impressive physique and martial arts skills. This information was somewhat useful for planning future combat strategies against her. However, regarding the shelters defenses and the abilities of Zhang Yis other followers, the students were completely clueless. With just this information, its difficult to gauge the true strength of Zhang Yis team, Zhuge Qingtian remarked, shaking his head. Xiao Honglian drummed her long, pale fingers on the edge of her chair. She understood this as well. The limited intelligence she had wasnt enough to justify launching a war. Yet this was a battle she could not avoid. Do you have any other information? Think carefully. If this is all you can provide, it wont be enough to save your lives, she said calmly. The students felt a dizzying wave of despair. Were they really going to die here? No! We have other uses! Dont kill us! Keep us alive! Teacher Liang has a soft heart. You can use us to negotiate with her! No matter what demands you make, shell agree! Yeah, Teacher Liang cares about us deeply. She wont just watch us die! If youre planning to attack Zhang Yi, we can guide you to his location! Hearing this, Xiao Honglians lips curled into a mocking smile. She stood up, clearly uninterested, and waved her hand. Lock them up. Give them some time to think about what value they have. If they cant come up with anything, well use them as sacrificial pawns when we go to war. Her refinery needed capable workers, not these frail, pitiful students who would only waste resources. Zhuge Qingtian approached her and said, Perhaps we could try something. Try what? Xiao Honglian asked indifferently. These students are Liang Yues pupils, and Liang Yue is currently working for Zhang Yi. Their bond might still be strong! Zhuge Qingtian explained. We dont know Zhang Yis true strength. Using these students as leverage, we could feign a negotiation with him. That way, we might uncover some of his hidden cards. Xiao Honglian raised an eyebrow at him in surprise. You think threatening Zhang Yi or Liang Yue with these useless students would work? she asked with a derisive smile. Dont be foolish. This is the apocalypse. Everyone is fighting tooth and nail for their own survival. Only those with value deserve to be ransomed. These kids are worthlesswhy would anyone pay for them? Even their teacher, Liang Yue, wouldnt be so foolish. Zhuge Qingtian chuckled softly. My great leader, not every woman in this world is as rational as you. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Perhaps their teacher Liang Yue is a soft-hearted woman. And judging by the fact that theyve been allowed to live near Zhang Yis shelter, it seems she still cares for them. After hearing Zhuge Qingtians reasoning, Xiao Honglian found herself somewhat persuaded. She couldnt measure others by her own standards; after all, strong, rational women like her were rare. Youre suggesting their teacher Liang Yue might be some kind of saint? Zhuge Qingtian smiled. Lets hope she is. If she is, then well have an opportunity. Author''s Note Chapter 378: I, Zhang Yi, Will Never Abandon Them! Chapter 378: I, Zhang Yi, Will Never Abandon Them!Xiao Honglian, after hearing Zhuge Qingtian''s suggestion, decided to reach out to Zhang Yi to test the waters. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Still, she doubted that Zhang Yi or Liang Yue would act like saints. People like that wouldnt have survived this long in the apocalypse. However, the prospect of probing Zhang Yis strength intrigued her. If they truly care about these people, all the better. That will put the advantage squarely in our hands during negotiations, she remarked. She instructed Zhuge Qingtian to find a way to contact Zhang Yi. By this time, Zhang Yi and his people no longer used their old phone numbers. Each of their phones had been converted into encrypted communication devices, making internal communication easy and secure from eavesdropping. As a bonus, they no longer had to pay phone billsa darkly humorous benefit in these dire times. With no direct means to contact the shelter, Zhuge Qingtian suggested sending someone to deliver a message to Zhang Yi and leave a communication frequency for him to respond. Xiao Honglian agreed, showing no urgency for revenge. She already knew Zhang Yis location and had captured Liang Yues students. It was vital to gather sufficient intelligence on her enemys strength before acting; otherwise, it could backfire. Zhuge Qingtian dispatched members of Dong Hus investigation team to deliver the message, while Wu Chengyu and the other students were locked in the underground prison. Each of them wore a modified explosive collar. Whether they tried to escape or were rescued, Yangsheng Base could detonate the collars remotely, blowing their heads off. After warning the prisoners, the grim-faced guards left the cell. The group of students huddled together, staring at the deathtrap collars around their necks, their faces full of despair. Even crying was impossibletheir tears frozen in the relentless cold. Teacher Liang, you have to come save us! The next day, under a sky shrouded in heavy clouds, the sunlight was little more than a cold, circular shadow. Even on rare clear days, its light was unable to bring warmth to the planet. Zhang Yi and his group gathered at the long table and finished breakfast. Standing up, Liang Yue said, Zhang Yi, Im heading across the river. Zhang Yi glanced up at her. Oh, sure. Be quick. Its cold out; dont let yourself freeze. His gentle concern made Liang Yue bite her lip, her face tinged with a faint blush. She avoided looking at Yang Siyah and Zhou Keer, knowing full well their gazes were likely tinged with jealousy. Recently, her relationship with Zhang Yi had grown noticeably closer. Though Zhang Yi had never said anything affectionate, his occasional acts of care spoke volumes. Their training sessions involved increasing physical contact, and over time, she found herself unsure of her feelings for himor how Zhang Yi viewed her. ? Accepting the food Zhang Yi handed her, Liang Yue put on her winter gear and left the shelter. Zhang Yi didnt watch her leave, calmly spearing a takoyaki ball with his fork and chewing it slowly. What will Liang Yue do when she finds her students missing? he wondered. On one hand, he hoped she would simply abandon them and focus on being his obedient ally. But knowing her, Zhang Yi doubted she would stay indifferent to their disappearance. She might even act impulsively. I just hope she doesnt cause too much trouble. Otherwise, Ill have no choice but to ask her to leave the shelter, he thought. This was a testa test for Liang Yue. Liang Yue, carrying food, arrived at Xu Family Town as usual. She entered the students snow house, but the moment she lifted the curtain, she found it completely empty. Her heart skipped a beat, a sense of foreboding gripping her instantly. She knew her students well. Lazy as they were, they barely ventured outside except to fish. They even handled restroom needs behind the curtain, paying no mind to propriety in such bitter cold. But now, not a single person was there. Something was definitely wrong. Where did they all go? Swallowing nervously, Liang Yue felt an intense wave of anxiety. She hadnt seen them crossing the river on her way over, so they couldnt be out fishing. Setting the food on the table, she immediately began searching for them. Xu Family Town was eerily silent, its few remaining villagers rarely leaving their homes except to scavenge for food. Undeterred, Liang Yue went door to door, asking if anyone had seen her students. But her efforts yielded nothing. As her dread deepened, an ominous feeling enveloped her. Her students had vanisheddisappeared into thin air! In the current environment, leaving Xu Family Town was a death sentence. Were they kidnapped? Recalling Zhang Yis mentions of nearby factions, Liang Yues mind raced to the worst-case scenario. Could a major faction have taken them? But why? Xu Family Town is too impoverished to attract attention. Could it be the people themselves? Yet no other villagers were taken... Her head throbbed with confusion, worry growing more suffocating by the second. Despite her disappointment in the students, they had been her companions throughout the apocalypse. Even if they didnt appreciate her, she couldnt ignore her bond with them. People often hold onto certain obsessionsand for Liang Yue, it was the duty to protect the students she had taught for years. She couldnt stand by and watch them perish. Staring at the frozen, lifeless expanse around her, with icy winds howling through the air, Liang Yue felt utterly lost. She had no clues, no way to track her students. Theres no choice. I have to ask Zhang Yi for help. A conflicted look crossed her face. She didnt want to trouble Zhang Yi. After all, his decision to shelter her was already an act of immense generosity, and he had always treated her kindly. Perhaps, deep down, she harbored feelings for him. But now, she had no other way to find her missing students. Their disappearance isnt random. If someone targeted them, the true goal is likely me. Exhaling deeply, her breath condensed into a sharp, arrow-like plume that lingered in the air. I wont let them die because of me! Author''s Note Chapter 379: A Burst of Acting Chapter 379: A Burst of ActingLiang Yue rushed back to the shelter, her anxious demeanor catching everyones attention. Whats wrong? Zhang Yi asked, looking at her with curiosity. Breathing heavily, Liang Yue exclaimed, Zhang Yi, something terrible has happened! My students theyve all disappeared! Her words startled everyone present. What? They disappeared? All of them? How could that happen? Maybe they went out to gather firewood or food? Though their faces showed concern, their eyes betrayed indifference. In the entire shelter, only Liang Yue truly cared about the students. The rest of the group had no fondness for them. Liang Yue shook her head. Ive searched everywhere I could. Theres not a trace of them! Zhang Yi, I suspect one of the surrounding factions might have extended their reach here. Zhang Yi crossed his hands and frowned deeply. Thats certainly possible. But I dont understandwhy would they kidnap your students? Do you have any enemies from your past? Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Liang Yue looked confused and helpless. I I dont know. I taught at Tianqing Academy for three years and never had any conflicts with anyone. Zhang Yi reassured her, Dont panic. Getting worked up wont help. We need to think this through calmly. He gave a subtle signal to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. The two girls walked over to Liang Yue, gently guiding her to the sofa and offering her words of comfort. Looking into her eyes seriously, Zhang Yi said, Liang Yue, I need to make something clear. I had nothing to do with their disappearance! If you dont believe me, I can show you the shelters surveillance footage. I was here in the shelter all day yesterdayI never left. Liang Yues eyes widened in alarm as she quickly responded, No, no! Zhang Yi, I would never suspect you of doing such a thing! To her, Zhang Yi had become a kind and gentle man. The idea of him harming her students never crossed her mind. Zhang Yi shook his head. Its better to be clear about these things, so there are no doubts among us. Since your students disappeared, everyone in the shelter is a suspect. Yang Xinxin chimed in, Exactly. None of us would ever do such a thing, but its good to put everyones mind at ease. Liang Yue felt embarrassed. This this feels unnecessary. I know Zhang Yi isnt that kind of person. Though her words expressed confidence, a tiny seed of doubt lingered in her heart. After all, not everyone possessed the ability to make people vanish without a trace. ? No harm in checking, Zhang Yi said calmly. Well also review the surrounding footage to ensure no strangers appeared nearby. Summoning the shelters AI, Xiao Ai, Zhang Yi instructed it to pull up surveillance footage from the past day. Soon, the 100-inch wall screen in the living room displayed recordings from over a hundred cameras, fast-forwarded at high speed. It didnt take long for the group to review all the footage. The shelters surroundings had remained as quiet as usual, with no signs of anyone entering or leaving. This eliminated everyone in the shelter as suspectsthe students disappearance wasnt an inside job. Liang Yue exhaled in relief. The outcome she had feared most had not come to pass. Zhang Yi leaned forward, resting his hands under his chin. His expression grew serious. This complicates things. We dont know who took them or why. This puts us in a completely passive position. While the known factions in Tianhai City are possibilities, we cant rule out other unknown groups. The only option we have is to wait. If the captors took Liang Yues students, theyre bound to make a move eventually. Liang Yue clenched her fists tightly. But why me? What would anyone want from me? I cant think of anyone Ive wronged! Zhang Yi chuckled softly. Its a complex question, but since they took your students, its likely about you. Of course, this is just a theory. Liang Yue furrowed her brows deeply. She desperately wanted to take action but found herself paralyzed by uncertainty. She didnt know who the enemy was or what they wanted, leaving her powerless. At that moment, Zhang Yis warm hand grasped her cold one. Startled, Liang Yue looked up to meet his gentle gaze. Liang Yue, dont worry. Your problems are my problems, Zhang Yi said sincerely. I promised to help you take care of those students, and I wont go back on my word. If theres any news, Ill act immediately! A warmth spread through Liang Yues heart. Feeling lost and overwhelmed, she could only rely on Zhang Yis guidance. Zhang Yi, meanwhile, smiled to himself. Internally, he was ecstaticfinally rid of those troublesome students. It wouldnt be long before they were dead. Whether the people from Yangsheng Base killed them or the poison Zhang Yi had been slipping into their food did the job, their fate was sealed. Most importantly, Liang Yue would remain unaware of his involvement, ensuring their relationship stayed intact. The group comforted Liang Yue, lifting her spirits slightly, though she still struggled to fully relax. Zhang Yi instructed Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin to escort her back to her room to rest. Once they were gone, Zhou Keer approached Zhang Yi, leaning against him with a worried expression. Zhang Yi, could it be one of the nearby factions planning to attack us? she asked. Mm, thats likely, Zhang Yi replied without hesitation. He hadnt told anyone about killing Gao Yuan and his group, but he knew a conflict with the major factions was inevitable. They would need to fight to prove their strength and deter anyone coveting the West Hill Bases territory. It was unavoidable. Yang Siyah sighed. Weve barely had a few days of peace, and now its back to fighting again? Zhang Yi chuckled lightly. Youve got it wrong, he said. War isnt disrupting our peace. Its what gives us temporary tranquility. In the apocalypse, war and violence are the normpeace is the exception. Leaning back on the sofa, Zhang Yi began strategizing how to handle the impending conflict. If its just two factions attacking simultaneously, we should be able to hold them off, he mused. But if they team up with others, things might get a bit tricky. His brow furrowed slightly. If that happens, it could be a real problem. Author''s Note Chapter 380: The Messenger Chapter 380: The MessengerZhang Yi was already preparing for war. This battle would be his chance to establish his name in Tianhai City, deterring any faction from daring to provoke him again. Only through this show of strength could he achieve lasting peace. Liang Yue, though consumed by anxiety, was, after all, an emotional woman. Zhang Yi believed that with enough comforting words, shed calm down soon enoughespecially since her students wouldnt last much longer. Once they were gone, Liang Yues obsession would vanish, and the matter would be resolved once and for all. Throughout the day, Liang Yue couldnt bring herself to eat anything. Zhou Keer expressed concern: If she keeps this up, wont she ruin her health? Shell be fine, Zhang Yi replied indifferently. Shes strong enough to go three days without food. If she wants to use self-inflicted suffering as a way to seek solace, let her be. Zhou Keer couldnt help but smirk. Dont you feel sorry for her? Sorry? Whats there to feel sorry about? Zhang Yi countered with a smile. Do you have any feelings for Liang Yue? Or have you ever been tempted by her? Zhou Keer teased, blinking playfully. Zhang Yi chuckled. I admire her. If she can prove herself to be a reliable ally, that would be ideal. But first, she has to get through this ordeal. For Zhang Yi, emotions were merely a seasoning in life. While they could add flavor, they werent essentialhe could live just fine on the basics alone. Since his rebirth and his extended time in the apocalypse, Zhang Yi had grown increasingly indifferent to love and relationships. In this world, thinking of oneself first was the key to happiness. While Zhang Yi was willing to support Liang Yue in practical ways, he refused to let emotions dictate his actions. Once entangled by emotions, a person became soft and hesitantsomething he couldnt afford. Liang Yue could be a friend, but never a lover. That afternoon, Zhang Yi summoned Uncle You and Fatty Xu to prepare them for potential combat. Yangsheng Bases forces have already encroached near the shelters perimeter, Zhang Yi explained. Theyve located Xu Family Town, and theyre bound to find the shelter soon. The only reason they havent attacked yet is because theyre not ready. Uncle You remained composed. Ever since we killed those Superhumans from Chaoyu Base, I knew this fight was inevitable. Fatty Xu, on the other hand, sighed heavily. What a pain! Cant these people just live peacefully in the apocalypse? Why fight over territory? Zhang Yi replied calmly, Ambition exists in every era. Once survival is no longer an issue, some peoples desires inevitably grow. Not everyone is as content as we are. From their perspective, eliminating nearby threats ensures absolute safety. Id do the same if I found a nearby armed factionwipe them out. He smiled, attempting to reassure Fatty Xu. But dont worry. Everything is under control. Once they see our strength and realize were not easy prey, theyll back off. Zhang Yi harbored no deep grudges against the factions in Tianhai City. While he had killed a Superhuman and some soldiers, such incidents could be resolved if his power was respected. Although launching an offensive on their base would be difficult, Zhang Yi was confident in his ability to defend the shelter. Uncle You laughed heartily. Then lets fight! Every good day weve had here was won with our fists. If they want to mess with us, well teach them a lesson! Fatty Xu sighed again, resting his chubby face in his hand. Well, if its come to this, we might as well fight. Though they grumbled, neither was new to combat. With the shelters robust defenses, they werent overly concerned. Suddenly, the faint sound of an engine reached their ears. The three men immediately sharpened their focus. Someones coming! Its a vehicle! Zhang Yi sprang up from the sofa and dashed to the second-floor window. Peering through the one-way glass, he spotted a modified snow vehicle a few hundred meters from Cloud Manor. Its design looked strikingly similar to those used by Yangsheng Base. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yangsheng Base? Why only one vehicle? Could it be a scoutor a messenger? Zhang Yi wondered aloud. Grabbing a sniper rifle from his spatial storage, he aimed it at the approaching vehicle. The snow vehicle sped toward the manor without hesitation. As it passed the front, someone leaned out of a window and fired a black arrow into the ice wall. Then, the vehicle accelerated away. Youre not leaving so easily, Zhang Yi muttered, a cold smile curling his lips. He opened the window, set up his sniper rifle, and aimed at the vehicles tracks. With a single shot, the snow vehicles tracks shattered, sending it skidding uncontrollably before toppling over and sliding toward the frozen river. Zhang Yi leapt from the window, the snow compacted beneath him barely shifting as his spatial energy cushioned the landing. His mastery of his powers had grown significantly over time. Behind him, Uncle You and Hua Hua followed closely. Riding on Hua Huas back, Zhang Yi and Uncle You reached the immobilized vehicle in a few swift bounds. They found two soldiers in flame-emblazoned combat uniforms crawling out of the wreckage. One soldiers leg was crushed, and the other, trying to help him, hesitated when he saw Zhang Yi approaching. Dropping his comrade, the uninjured soldier turned to flee. Zhang Yi calmly raised his rifle and shot him in the leg. The soldier screamed and collapsed into the snow. The other soldier tried to draw his weapon, but Uncle You quickly restrained him, pinning him by the neck. Doesnt look like theyre Superhumans, Zhang Yi observed, noting that both were regular soldiers. He tied them up, intending to interrogate them. Capturing a few tongues was always a chance to glean valuable intel. However, the soldiers gritted their teeth and, before Zhang Yi could act, their faces turned purple. Black blood seeped from their lips as they slumped lifelessly to the ground. Suicide? Zhang Yi frowned. Uncle You knelt to inspect their jaws. Poison capsules hidden in their teeth. Its standard for scouts to carry these to prevent capture and interrogation. Smart, Zhang Yi muttered, exhaling in frustration. Even if Id promised to spare them, they wouldnt have believed me. While Zhang Yi had hoped to gather intel before executing them, these soldiers clearly hadnt entertained any illusions about survival. Still, now I have no idea what they were here for, he said, disappointed. Just then, Fatty Xu came running over, panting heavily. Boss! They left something! he called, holding up a black arrow with a piece of white cloth tied to it. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as he barked, Stop! Dont move! Author''s Note Chapter 381: Negotiation Chapter 381: NegotiationFatty Xu froze at Zhang Yis sharp warning, standing stiffly in place as fear overtook him. Looking at the crossbow bolt in his hand, he suddenly realized what Zhang Yi was implying. His face turned pale. In his eagerness to show off and earn praise, he had forgotten that the bolt might be coated with poisonor even rigged with a micro-bomb. In this ruthless era, enemies didnt adhere to any moral code. If they wanted you dead, theyd use any means necessary. Slowly, put the bolt down, Zhang Yi cautioned. With trembling hands, Fatty Xu crouched and carefully placed the bolt on the icy ground. Step back! Zhang Yi gestured, and Fatty Xu obediently retreated. Zhang Yi then used his spatial ability to isolate and store the crossbow bolt in his pocket dimension. Inside the spatial storage, Zhang Yi separated the bolt into its own secure compartment. Even if it contained a bomb, it could safely detonate there without harm. Examining the bolt within his spatial space, Zhang Yi found no explosives but did discover a handwritten note. A declaration of war? Or a negotiation? Zhang Yi wondered aloud, remaining cautious. He glanced at Fatty Xu. Toss those gloves and get a new pair. Just in case. Fatty Xu understood immediately, hurriedly removing his gloves and flinging them away like they were venomous. Back inside the shelter, Zhang Yi called Zhou Keer to the medical room and handed her the crossbow bolt and the attached note. Check if theres any poison on these, he instructed gravely. Zhou Keer looked at him with a hint of skepticism. If they came to deliver a message, they wouldnt poison it, would they? Better safe than sorry. The moment you relax is the moment the enemy strikes, Zhang Yi replied evenly. Uncle You nodded in agreement. On the battlefield, a single careless mistake can cost your life. Weve learned that the hard way. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though Zhou Keer understood their reasoning, she couldnt help but think they were being overly cautious. Nonetheless, she donned gloves and professionally inspected the bolt and cloth. ? When she applied a test reagent, the cloth and bolt changed color almost immediately. Her face darkened. Theres poison on this! Fatty Xu turned ghostly pale, his knees nearly giving out as he recalled how carelessly hed handled the bolt. If not for the gloves, he might already be dead. Zhang Yi, however, remained composed. Never underestimate the enemy. Theyre always looking for ways to kill us, he explained. I guessed as much because, if I were in their place, Id do the same. Every enemy eliminated is one less to worry about. Zhou Keer placed the poisoned items under a glass cover. Theres writing on the cloth. Do you want to take a look? Zhang Yi approached cautiously and examined the cloth. To his surprise, it wasnt a war declaration but a string of coded characters. Whats this? he muttered, puzzled. Unfamiliar with the code, Zhang Yi summoned Yang Xinxin, the groups tech expert. He also called Liang Yue, deciding there was no point in hiding the development from her. Her students fate was already sealed, and feigning secrecy would only arouse suspicion. Hearing that something from Yangsheng Base had been delivered, Liang Yue rushed over with Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. The moment Yang Xinxin saw the string of characters, her eyes lit up. Its an address! If Im correct, it can be used to contact Yangsheng Base. Zhang Yi remained cautious. Is it safe? Yang Xinxin smiled confidently. Brother, do you think Id let anything dangerous happen while Im here? Relieved, Zhang Yi nodded approvingly. Thats my Xinxinalways the best! Yang Xinxin blushed at the compliment, her smile widening. Meanwhile, Liang Yue took a deep breath, her nerves evident as she asked, So, its confirmed? Yangsheng Base is behind my students abduction? Most likely, Zhang Yi replied. There are no such things as coincidences in this world. Liang Yue clenched her fists. Then lets contact them! I want to know what they want. Zhang Yi didnt respond immediately. Folding his arms, he lowered his head in thought. The fact that Yangsheng Base had initiated contact suggested two possibilities: They intended to negotiate, leveraging their hostages to extract maximum benefit while holding Zhang Yi accountable for Gao Yuans death. They wanted to gauge Zhang Yis strength and determine how much of a threat he posed before taking action. Yangsheng Base likely knew Zhang Yi had killed Gao Yuan, but their hesitation to attack suggested uncertainty about his capabilities. After careful consideration, Zhang Yi concluded that communication was the best option. If they wanted to test him, he could also use the opportunity to assess their stance. And for Liang Yues sake, he could put on a convincing show of effort to rescue her students. Raising his head, Zhang Yi declared, Alright, lets talk to them. Liang Yues face lit up with hope. However, Zhang Yis expression turned stern as he warned, Liang Yue, I need you to understand something. I know youre desperate to save your students, but this negotiation is no jokeits incredibly dangerous. If we show any weakness, they wont hesitate to attack us. So, you can observe, but dont let your emotions show. If they sense how much you care about those students, theyll exploit it to make outrageous demands. Do you understand? Liang Yue hesitated for a moment before nodding firmly. I understand. I promise to control myself. Good. Zhang Yi turned to Yang Xinxin. Xinxin, set up the connection. The negotiation was set to take place in the living room. Zhang Yi sat at the head of the table, with the others seated nearby, waiting anxiously for the call to connect. Using her laptop, Yang Xinxin sent the communication request through the encoded address and placed the laptop on the coffee table, its camera facing Zhang Yi. After several tense minutes, the connection was finally accepted. Hello, a deep male voice greeted from the other end. Zhang Yi smirked. Hello, Im Zhang Yi. A pause followed. One moment. The line stayed active. Moments later, a cold, clear female voice replaced the mans. So, youre Zhang Yi? Leader of the groups in Xu Family Town and Cloud Manor? Zhang Yi responded coolly, And who are you? The voice chuckled. I am Xiao Honglian, leader of Yangsheng Base. The people I sent to the Hongyuan Materials Plantdid you kill them? Zhang Yi didnt deny it. The discovery of the satellite phone made any denial pointless. Moreover, territorial disputes ensured Yangsheng Base would attack sooner or later, regardless of his answer. Instead, he countered, And the ones who kidnapped those students in Xu Family Townwas that you? So, you admit it? Xiao Honglian replied icily. Then you admit it as well, Zhang Yi retorted. Neither directly answered the others question, but their words confirmed the truth. On the other end, Xiao Honglians eyes glinted with murderous intent. Youve got guts, Zhang Yi. No one in Tianhai City dares to provoke Yangsheng Base. Youre courting death! Zhang Yi smirked disdainfully. Funny, the last person who said that to me is now ashes. Oh, you mightve heard of himChen Xinian. Xiao Honglians expression darkened. As she suspected, Zhang Yi had been involved in West Hill Bases downfall. Do you think Im a fool? West Hill Base was destroyed by a missile. Claiming it was your doing is laughably arrogant. Oh? Zhang Yi chuckled. And why do you think that missile hit West Hill Base in the first place? Xiao Honglians smug demeanor faltered. Zhang Yis words struck a nervenone of Tianhai Citys factions had access to higher-level organizations or understood the missiles origins. Could Zhang Yi have had a hand in it? Just a warehouse manager, huh? Xiao Honglian sneered. Zhang Yis tone turned icy. Save your breath. Do you think Id tell you anything? I suggest you recognize reality and stay far away from me. If I can kill your men once, I can do it again. And those students you tookreturn them immediately. If you dont, youll regret it. Author''s Note Chapter 382: Don’t You Dare Hurt My Beloved Students! Chapter 382: Dont You Dare Hurt My Beloved Students!Zhang Yis declaration infuriated Xiao Honglian. As the leader of one of Tianhai Citys largest factions, she had not risen to her position by being timid or weak. Zhang Yis threats made her slam her hand on the table. Arrogant! Wipe us out? Do you even have that kind of strength? I refuse to believe you have the power to command missiles. If you did, Tianhai City would already be yours! Do you want me to kill those students and send their corpses back to you? Hearing this, Liang Yues heart shot to her throat. Her eyes frantically darted toward Zhang Yi, signaling her distress. Zhang Yi adopted a grave expression, his voice stern. Dont do anything so foolish! Those mean nothing to us strategically. Killing them wont weaken us. Xiao Honglian sneered. Your tone suggests otherwise. You seem awfully nervous about their safety. It sounds like Ive landed myself a good bargaining chip. Zhang Yi frowned deeply, looking troubleda performance that filled Liang Yue with guilt. She knew Zhang Yi was only conflicted because he wanted to help her. He didnt have to care about the fate of her students at all. Thank you, Zhang Yi. Youre such a good person, she thought to herself. Theyre important to my friend, Zhang Yi said. But theyre useless to you. Lets talkwhat will it take for you to release them? Xiao Honglians smirk grew wider. She was now certain she had Zhang Yis weakness in her grasp. Oh, I havent decided yet. Let me think. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She propped her long legs on her mahogany desk, deliberating on her demands. Demanding Zhang Yis life was out of the questionthat would mean full-scale war, and she wasnt ready for that. Testing Zhang Yis limits, however, was a tantalizing option. After a moment, she offered her terms. Zhang Yi, you killed my cousin and his soldiers. Now your people are in my hands. If you want them back, trade me half the supplies you looted from the South China Warehouse. Thats all Im askingjust half. In return, Ill release the students, and well consider the matter of my cousins death settled. From then on, well stay out of each others way. Deal? Her eyes gleamed with amusement. If Zhang Yi accepted, it would reveal his desperation and weakness, signaling that his forces were depleted after the battle with West Hill Base. It would also show he lacked the confidence to stand against Yangsheng Base. Unsurprisingly, Zhang Yi immediately refused. Not a chance. Dont even think about it. Xiao Honglians voice turned icy. If you wont agree, then its war! Do you think this is some kind of game? Zhang Yi chuckled. And do you think Yangsheng Base is stronger than West Hill Base? Perhaps not, Xiao Honglian retorted. But you must be in tatters after your fight with them. And lets not forgetyouve also provoked Chaoyu Base. I could ally with them to attack you. Tell me, do you think you stand a chance against two major factions combined? Her tone was arrogant, dripping with disdain. Half of your supplies is a very fair price. If you wait until things spiral out of control, itll be too late for regrets. Zhang Yis response was calm but cutting. So thats what you believe? Let me tell youyou know nothing about our strength. If youre eager to die, then come. Ill crush your forces and shatter your arrogance. He softened his tone. But theres no need to harm the students. Theyre of no value to you. Just return them to me. Xiao Honglians suspicion only deepened. If the students were truly insignificant, why did Zhang Yi keep bringing them up? Just give them back? That would make me look foolish, she sneered. Unless you meet my terms, this discussion is over. Zhang Yi scowled. Xiao Honglian! Dont go too far. Those students are innocent. If you have a problem, take it out on me! Zhang Yi silently pleaded. Oh, so theyre important to you? The more you plead, the less inclined I am to release them, Xiao Honglian taunted. In fact, Ill make sure they sufferneither able to live nor die. And itll all be because of you, Zhang Yi! Certain she had Zhang Yis weakness, Xiao Honglian was reveling in her perceived dominance. Sink into your despair and regret! Zhang Yis voice hardened. Dont you dare! Those students are precious to someone I care about. If you torture them, I swear youll pay a heavy price! Xiao Honglians gaze turned frosty. Are you threatening me? Fine. Wait and see what Ill do! With that, she ended the call. Based on her final words, Zhang Yi was confident that Xiao Honglian intended to torment the students. Feigning rage, he slammed his hand on the table. This is outrageous! If she has a problem, she should come after menot those innocent students! Standing abruptly, he declared, We cant stay on the defensive any longer. Were going to Yangsheng Base to rescue them! Turning to Fatty Xu and Uncle You, he added, This trip wont be like the battle at West Hill Base. We dont have the same advantages of timing, geography, or unity. I dont want you involved. This isnt your fight, and I dont want you caught in the crossfire. His sudden declaration of a one-man rescue mission startled the group. Those who knew Zhang Yi well suspected something was off, but they couldnt let him rush into danger. The others hurried to stop him. Zhang Yi, dont be reckless! Charging in wont save anyoneitll only cost your life! Thats Yangsheng Base! Theyre nearly as strong as West Hill Base, and theyre prepared. Youd be walking into a deathtrap! Fatty Xu leaned in and whispered, Boss, this act is a bit much now. Zhang Yi pretended to struggle against them for a moment before sighing dramatically. Theyve gone too far! Kidnapping Liang Yues students right under our nosesits an insult! Slamming his fist on the couch, he growled, I promised Liang Yue Id protect those students! Liang Yue, deeply moved by his resolve, approached him and gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Zhang Yi, dont be impulsive. This isnt your faultits mine. I failed to protect them. Author''s Note Chapter 383: Persuading Liang Yue Chapter 383: Persuading Liang YueLiang Yues eyes reflected a deep sense of gratitude. She had seen Zhang Yi try his best, but the enemy they faced was far too formidable. This wasnt a problem that could be solved by charging in with a few Superhumans. Confronting Yangsheng Base directly would mean plunging into a disadvantage. While their defensive position at Cloud Manor was nearly impenetrable, an offensive operation would leave them vulnerable. Zhang Yi had poured nearly all their resources into fortifying the manor. Youve already done everything you could. Thank you for being willing to help, Liang Yue said with a soft smile. But this isnt your battle, and I dont want to drag everyone down because of me. Her smile carried an odd undertone, a quiet determination that immediately put Zhang Yi on edge. Liang Yue, he said cautiously, what are you planning to do? Just finding peace for my soul, she replied with a serene expression. Before anyone could respond, she turned and walked toward her room. The living room fell into silence. Everyone could sense that something was off about Liang Yues mood. After she left, Zhou Keer broke the stillness, her worry evident. Shes not thinking about going after her students alone, is she? Zhang Yi frowned, muttering to himself, Was my performance not convincing enough? Fatty Xu sidled up to Zhang Yi with a snicker. Boss, your acting was top-notchjust a little too fake. A dark line seemed to slide down Zhang Yis forehead. Fake? I once won third prize in the Spring Blossom Kindergarten Drama Contest! Fatty Xu sighed exaggeratedly. Yeah, but hearing such righteous words from you who would buy it? Zhang Yi glanced around at the others, who all nodded silently in agreement. Throwing up his hands, he sighed. Fine. At least I tried to show her that I supported her. Uncle You chimed in, his tone pragmatic. Its not your fault. None of us, except Liang Yue, have any connection to those students. And lets face ittheyre a lazy bunch. Keeping them around would only be a burden. Even Uncle You, one of the kindest members of the group, had little sympathy for the students. Much of this sentiment stemmed from their interactions with Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin, who had endured far more hardship. Zhang Yi leaned back on the couch, resting his chin on his hands. In any case, everyone should be prepared. A conflict with Yangsheng Base is likely. ? Our defenses are solid, and theres no need for unnecessary worry. Xiao Honglians arrogance earlier showed she has no clear understanding of our strength. The group nodded, their tension easing slightly. After successfully repelling West Hill Base and fortifying their defenses, they felt more confident in their ability to hold their ground. But Lu Keran, glancing in the direction Liang Yue had gone, voiced her concern. What about Ms. Liang? What if she does something reckless? Zhang Yi looked at her and Yang Xinxin. You two should go talk to her. Try to dissuade her from doing anything rash. Lu Keran sighed. Well try, but Ms. Liang can be incredibly stubborn. Once she sets her mind on something, even nine oxen couldnt pull her back. Just do your best, Zhang Yi replied. With a resigned nod, Lu Keran pushed Yang Xinxin in her wheelchair toward Liang Yues room. Liang Yue returned to her room and picked up a Tang Sword from the weapon rack. Since Zhang Yi had confiscated her Loong Roar Sword, she had stopped asking for its return. This Tang Sword, acquired at West Hill Base, was a fine replacement. Standing by the window, she unsheathed the blade and began to methodically wipe it with a white cloth. The sound of knocking interrupted her thoughts. The door was ajar, and when she turned, she saw Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin at the threshold, their faces filled with concern. Ms. Liang, are you alright? Yang Xinxin asked. Yes, you seem off. Were really worried, Lu Keran added. Liang Yue sighed deeply. Im fine. Ive just realized what I need to do. Yang Xinxins expression darkened. Youre planning to rescue them on your own, arent you? Liang Yues calm demeanor only heightened Yang Xinxins anxiety. Ms. Liang, Yangsheng Base is massive! You cant possibly save them aloneyoull only get yourself killed! Lu Keran exclaimed. Liang Yue smiled bitterly, gazing at the ceiling. I know. But this is something only I can do. But Zhang Yi promised to help! Why not wait for his plan? Lu Keran pleaded. Hearing this, Liang Yue chuckled softly and walked over to the two girls, gently touching their faces. Dont think your teacher is a fool, she said kindly. Im grateful for everything Zhang Yi has done, but I know him. A man as cautious as him would never truly risk everything for me. Lu Kerans expression grew awkward. Clearly, Liang Yue had seen through Zhang Yis act. Still, Liang Yue continued, her tone light. Even so, Im touched that he pretended to care. At least it shows I matter to him, even just a little. Yang Xinxins eyes glimmered with a strange light. But even if thats true, youre still going to throw your life away? Liang Yue closed her eyes, exhaling slowly. You might think Im foolish, but I cant just stand by and let them die. If I do nothing, Ill spend the rest of my life drowning in guilt. That kind of torment is worse than death. So, Id rather seek redemption, even if it costs me my life, than live as a coward. Her heartfelt words left Lu Keran speechless. She understood Liang Yues character all too well. Liang Yues gaze softened as she gently stroked their faces. Im just glad you two are safe. At least my efforts havent been in vain. Stay with Zhang Yi. He might seem cold, but he genuinely cares for you. With him, youll survive this harsh world. Liang Yue turned to pick up the Tang Sword, her expression resolute. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as she prepared to leave, Yang Xinxin suddenly lowered her head, her voice trembling. No its not like that. Liang Yue froze mid-step. Xinxin, what do you mean? she asked, puzzled. Yang Xinxin raised her tear-streaked face, looking pitifully at Liang Yue. If you leave, Ms. Liang, Keran and I might not survive either. What? Liang Yues protective instincts kicked in. Whats going on? Tell me! Tears streaming, Yang Xinxin whimpered, Zhang Yi gave us a task: to make sure you stay. He values you deeply, Ms. Liang. If we fail, even if he doesnt punish us, well lose our place here. If youre leaving, take us with you. At least we can die together. Yang Xinxins pitiful words and tears made Liang Yues heart ache. You mean Zhang Yi? Liang Yue stammered, overwhelmed. Her face turned a deep shade of red at the revelation of Zhang Yis feelings. She tried to suppress her emotions in front of her students, but her thoughts were in disarray. Although she didnt want to admit it outright, Liang Yue couldnt deny the joy blooming in her chest. For a woman who had kept her heart locked away for 27 years, this realization was like the first stirrings of spring after a long winter. Her once-quiet heart had started to tremble, and now it couldnt stop. Author''s Note Chapter 384: Preparing for Battle Chapter 384: Preparing for BattleLiang Yues emotions were a whirlwind of mixed feelings. On one hand, she was secretly delighted upon realizing Zhang Yi harbored special feelings for her. On the other hand, Yang Xinxins concerns left her troubled. She could sacrifice her own life but couldnt abandon her students. Especially not those two excellent students she cherished so deeply. I I cant selfishly live for myself! Liang Yue sighed deeply, her resolve wavering. She had just declared she would fight for her convictions, and now, taking back those words felt impossible. Yang Xinxin understood Liang Yue well and quickly chimed in, Youre willing to die for them, so why cant you live for Ke Ran and me instead? Teacher Liang, we need you! Yang Xinxin clutched Liang Yues hand tightly, her eyes pleading. Lu Keran added hurriedly, Teacher Liang, we cant do without you! Think about itXinxin and I are just ordinary people without superhuman energy. If we ever face danger, well need your protection. Liang Yues resolve faltered even more. But I cant just stand by and watch others die! Yang Xinxin reasoned, But theyre still alive right now, arent they? Their survival depends entirely on you. Thats why you cant die! Besides, we still have room to negotiate with the Yangsheng Base. Please, just wait a little longer! After her two students persistent persuasion, Liang Yue temporarily abandoned the idea of going to fight the Yangsheng Base alone. She sighed softly. Alright, I suppose thats all I can do for now. Yang Xinxin nodded obediently, finally breaking into a smile through her tears. After calming Liang Yue down, Lu Keran escorted Yang Xinxin out of the room. Once outside, Yang Xinxins expression shifted instantly, her face becoming unnervingly calm and composed. Xinxin, does Big Brother Zhang really have feelings for Teacher Liang? Lu Keran whispered curiously into Yang Xinxins ear. Of course not. I lied to her. A playful smirk curled at the corners of Yang Xinxins lips. Someone like Teacher Liang, a single woman, is most easily flustered by matters of the heart. As long as she believes someone has feelings for her, her mind will be thrown into chaos. If I didnt do this, how else could I convince her to stay? Lu Kerans eyes widened. Wow, so you were playing mind games with Teacher Liang! Unfazed, Yang Xinxin responded, Its all for her own good. That foolish womanrushing headlong to her death over a moment of impulse. After a brief pause, Yang Xinxins tone grew more serious. Besides, keeping her in the Shelter is absolutely a good thing for us. Big Brother Zhang has no use for freeloaders. Lu Keran shuddered at the thought. In her mind, Zhang Yi had always been the kind and gentle big brother figure. But suddenly, she recalled their first meeting. It had been in the icy ruins of Tianqing Academys underground chamber. At that time, Zhang Yis gaze had held not a trace of warmth. I need to make myself more useful! Lu Keran resolved silently. And anyway, I think Big Brother Zhang does have some feelings for me, she added, a small smile playing on her lips. After all, what young girl doesnt dream of love? Its in their nature to see hope and romance, especially when it involves someone they admire. Soon, Zhang Yi received the news that Liang Yue had been persuaded to stay. Relief washed over him. Losing Liang Yue was not an option. A war between the Shelter and the Yangsheng Basepossibly even the Chaoyu Basewas on the horizon. Liang Yue, with her formidable superhuman powers, would be a critical ally. I understand. Thank you for your efforts! Zhang Yi smiled at the two girls. He looked out the window. Snowflakes danced in the air, blanketing the courtyard in white. Outside Cloud Manor, the towering Ice Fortress stood as an unyielding barrier, like an impenetrable wall of a fortress. The medicine should be taking effect about now Yangsheng Base After ending her call with Zhang Yi, Xiao Honglians smile grew wider. The forceful front Zhang Yi tried to project had revealed a subtle undercurrent of helplessness. Especially when the topic of Liang Yues students came uphis tone softened immediately. What did this mean? First, it confirmed that Zhang Yis Shelter had suffered severe losses after the battle with the West Hill Base, leaving him reluctant to provoke conflicts with Yangsheng or Chaoyu Bases. Second, it indicated those students were extremely important to Zhang Yi. This gave Xiao Honglian leveragean opportunity to exploit Zhang Yi to her advantage. Ideally, shed get rid of that obstacle entirely, seizing most of the former West Hill Bases territory for Yangsheng Base. Doing so would make Yangsheng the most powerful faction in Tianhai City! According to what those students said, Zhang Yis group includes several superhumans. Recruiting them under my command would greatly strengthen Yangsheng Bases power! The more Xiao Honglian thought about it, the more excited she became. Zhuge Qingtian, standing nearby, congratulated her. Judging from the current situation, its only a matter of time before they surrender. We should act quickly to secure Zhang Yis forces. If we wait too long, other factions might intervene. Xiao Honglian waved him off. No need to rush! Her tone was cautious. Well thoroughly investigate before deciding when to act. Keep in mind, our enemies are not limited to Zhang Yi. If we divert forces to attack his Shelter, the other three factions might seize the opportunity to strike at our main base. Theyve all got their eyes on our oil refinery! Zhuge Qingtian argued, But opportunities slip away quickly. If we hesitate, someone else might snatch this prize away. Xiao Honglian shot him a sharp look. Id rather do nothing than make a mistake. Yangsheng Base is under constant scrutiny, and any error could be fatal! Dont focus on small gains and lose sight of the bigger picture. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhuge Qingtian bowed his head. Understood, Leader. What are your orders? Xiao Honglian crossed her arms, exuding confidence. Since Zhang Yi values those students so much, lets stir the pot a bit. Send someone to teach them a lesson and record it on video to send to Zhang Yi. Also, prioritize gathering detailed information on Zhang Yis defenses. We must understand their exact strength before making any move. Never underestimate themwe cant afford to lose. Zhuge Qingtian nodded. Yes, Leader! He bowed deeply before retreating three steps and heading toward the dungeon to carry out her orders. Author''s Note Chapter 385: Poison Outbreak Chapter 385: Poison OutbreakAfter Zhuge Qingtian entered the dungeon, he located the students with explosive collars strapped to their necks, their faces filled with despair. A cruel smile crept onto his lips as he gestured to a guard nearby for a whip. Its time to give our guests a proper welcome! Under the hopeless gazes of Wu Chengyu and the others, the guards dragged them out. Zhuge Qingtian personally carried out the tortures. Inflicting punishment was a skillful task. A single misstep could strike a vital area, resulting in death. Zhuge Qingtian, however, was an expert in the art of torture. He knew exactly how to inflict excruciating pain without causing fatal harm. This time, the primary objective was to provoke Zhang Yi, break his spirit, and make future negotiations easier. Thus, the torment took on a theatrical flair, requiring a variety of methods. For instance, students were thrown into iron barrels filled with writhing earthworms or shoved into damp, cockroach-infested holes. Below the dungeon, agonized screams echoed continuouslynot just physical torment but mental anguish as well. Zhuge Qingtian gleefully held a recording device, capturing the most "exciting" moments on film. However, as he filmed, he noticed something was amiss. One of the students suddenly collapsed to the ground, their body convulsing violently as white foam poured from their mouth. Hm? Whats going on? Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These students were critical pieces in their plans; they couldnt just die like this. Zhuge Qingtian prided himself on his precise methods; there was no way his tortures could have resulted in death. He stopped what he was doing and went over to examine the student. After the student expelled the foam, they suddenly retched violently, spewing out a massive amount of vomit. A putrid stench filled the air around them. What is this? Zhuge Qingtian was too close and took the brunt of the stench. His head spun from the smell, forcing him to retreat a few steps. The student lay twitching on the ground, their condition worsening. A large wet patch formed around them as bodily fluids seeped out. Poison! Zhuge Qingtian instantly understood. This was a classic case of poisoning, and the toxin had already taken effect. Given the current state of medical resources, saving them was impossible. As the student continued convulsing, another bound student started retching from nearby. She struggled to hold back, her face contorted in pain, unwilling to give in. But after inhaling the nauseating stench, she couldnt stop herself from vomiting a thick pile of sludge. How could they be poisoned? Zhuge Qingtian was baffled. This wasnt food poisoning; food poisoning wouldnt cause such violent symptoms. Clearly, someone had drugged them. As he pondered, several more students displayed similar symptoms. A cold sweat formed on Zhuge Qingtians forehead. If all these people died in his custody, there would be no explaining this to Xiao Honglian. He hurriedly grabbed a communicator and reported the situation to Xiao Honglian. What? Poisoned? Xiao Honglians brows knitted slightly. These students were still useful to her and couldnt just die like that. Can they be saved? They seem beyond saving. The poison is severe, and two have already died. Flush their stomachs! Save as many as you can! Xiao Honglian commanded. Zhuge Qingtian had no choice but to order the preparation of stomach-flushing materials. Fetch some buckets of sewage water from the latrines! Soon, several large buckets of foul-smelling sewage water were brought to the dungeon. The students who had yet to show symptoms turned pale as sheets. No! I wont do it! Im not poisoned! I wont drink that stuff! Theyd rather die than drink the filth. But this wasnt up to them. The guards restrained them tightly against the walls, forcing funnels into their mouths. Buckets of sewage were poured in without mercy. Wu Chengyu and the others rolled their eyes back in despair, their expressions showing theyd lost all will to live. At that moment, their spirits were utterly broken. After several buckets of sewage were forced down, the surviving students looked no better than the dead. Zhuge Qingtian dared not continue the tortures, fearing he might accidentally kill them all. He summoned a base doctor to examine the students. When the doctor arrived, he pinched his nose and exclaimed, What the h***! So foul! Despite his years of experience, he had never encountered such a scene. Proper stomach-flushing procedures used specialized solutionswho in their right mind would use sewage that had been fermenting for who knows how long? Ahem, limited resources and time constraints forced our hand, Zhuge Qingtian coughed awkwardly. Dr. Li, bear with it and take a look. Dr. Li glanced at Zhuge Qingtian, who stood at a safe distance, his expression full of disbelief. Bear with it? Youre the one standing so far away! However, as Zhuge Qingtian was the bases second-in-command, Dr. Li had to comply. He donned several layers of masks before examining the students. When he opened Wu Chengyus eyelid, he shook his head helplessly. The poison runs too deep. Flushing wont help. Out of professional duty, he inspected each student. He then turned to Zhuge Qingtian and concluded, The toxins have accumulated in their bodies for a long time. Someone deliberately administered chronic poison. With proper medical conditions, their lives might have been saved. But now, theres nothing I can do. Zhuge Qingtians heart sank. They had painstakingly captured these people, only to discover they were all doomed. What was the point of their efforts? Meanwhile, a nagging question grew in his mind. Why had Gao Yuans satellite phone been found in their quarters? Clearly, they lacked the strength to kill Gao Yuans team. Could it be that someone else had wanted these students dead but couldnt act directly, using them as pawns instead? Zhuge Qingtians pupils contracted sharply. D*** it, weve been set up! Weve become someone elses blade. He rushed to Xiao Honglian to relay his suspicions. These people were poisoned over time and deliberately placed in Xu Family Town. Gao Yuans satellite phone was used as bait to lure us there. While I dont know their endgame, its clear this was all part of someones plan. Xiao Honglians gaze turned sharp. But why? Using a group of poisoned rejects to trap us? That doesnt harm us much. Unless Zhang Yis own people wanted these students dead but couldnt do it themselves? Adjusting his glasses, Zhuge Qingtian replied, In any case, these people wont survive past tomorrow. We thought we could use them to threaten Zhang Yi and extract some value. That idea is now unrealistic. What neither Xiao Honglian nor Zhuge Qingtian realized was that the plan was never aimed at them. They were merely tools in someone elses scheme. Still, adhering to a waste not principle, Xiao Honglian decided, While theyre still alive, record a video and send it to Zhang Yi! If he didnt poison them, well use this chance to squeeze some benefits out of him. Author''s Note Chapter 386: No Hostages, No Deal Chapter 386: No Hostages, No DealAt the shelter, after the combined efforts of Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, Liang Yues emotional state gradually calmed. She resisted the impulse to grab her Tang Sword and confront the Yangsheng Base in a desperate bid to save her students. Instead, she chose to discuss with Zhang Yi how they could negotiate their release. Zhang Yi generously assured her that he was willing to exchange resources for the students'' safe return. Your students are of no use to Yangsheng Base. Im sure theyll accept my offer, Zhang Yi said to Liang Yue. Liang Yue sat on the sofa, averting her gaze the moment Zhang Yis eyes met hers, as if afraid to hold his stare. Ever since Yang Xinxin had spoken to her earlier, a strange emotion had been stirring within Liang Yue. Even when Zhang Yi said something simple to her, her mind would wander to all sorts of thoughts. That would be for the best! Im just worried they might lose their minds and torture my students, Liang Yue sighed softly, her tone still laden with worry. Zhang Yi quietly pursed his lips, knowing full well that those students wouldnt survive to see Liang Yue again. Still, he wondered how Liang Yue would react when the news of their deaths inevitably reached her. Zhang Yi couldnt understand Liang Yues inner thoughts, but judging by his own perspective, he believed it would be a kind of relief for her. At the very least, she could let go of the burden without any moral weight holding her back. After finishing his conversation with Liang Yue, Zhang Yi patiently waited for Yangsheng Base to contact him. Sure enough, not long after, he received a video call request from Yangsheng Base. When Yang Xinxin called Zhang Yi to the control room, he closed the door behind them, ensuring that only the two of them participated in the conversation. Upon answering, Zhang Yi saw the face of his adversary for the first time. It wasnt Xiao Honglian, the leader of Yangsheng Base, but a tall, lanky man with a cold, sharp gaze and long hair. Zhang Yi, a day has passed. Have you thought things through? This time, were sending you a gift to help you make your decision, Zhuge Qingtian sneered as he spoke, inserting a video into the call. The footage depicted Zhuge Qingtian torturing Wu Chengyu and the other students. Zhang Yi sat calmly on the sofa, watching the video with a placid expression. Not a flicker of emotion crossed his face. When the video ended, he asked flatly, Are they still alive? Zhang Yis cold demeanor caught Zhuge Qingtian off guard. During their previous interaction, Zhang Yi had shown deep concern for the students'' lives. Today, however, his tone and expression radiated pure indifference. Theyre alive for now, Zhuge Qingtian said darkly, but I cant guarantee how much longer theyll last! Zhang Yi, our leader has changed their mind. Keeping these useless people alive wastes resources, so were giving them back to you. But youll have to trade supplies for themone ton of food per person! Zhang Yis expression remained amused despite the outrageous demand. Thats not impossible, he replied. But I need to confirm theyre alive first. It wouldnt make sense to hand over supplies only to get back a bunch of corpses, would it? The amount of toxin hed placed in their food, according to Zhou Keer, would take a week to take full effect. However, to be sure, Zhang Yi wanted to confirm their deaths personally before proceeding. Zhuge Qingtians gaze darkened. Most of the students were already dead, and the few who still clung to life were on the verge of death. If Zhang Yi saw them, hed undoubtedly refuse the deal. Youve already seen them alive in the video, Zhuge Qingtian insisted. That was just a recording. I need to see them in real-time. Bring me to them right now, Zhang Yi demanded, his tone resolute. If you let me confirm their condition, Ill immediately arrange to provide your supplies. Zhuge Qingtian stared at Zhang Yi on the screen and said coldly, Yangsheng Base doesnt play petty games. These peoples lives mean nothing to us. Why would we kill them? Your concerns are unnecessary. Zhang Yi spread his hands. Then whats the harm in letting me see them? Just one look, thats all I need. But Zhuge Qingtian couldnt allow that. One look would expose everything. Mr. Zhang, I dont see any sincerity from you Zhuge Qingtian tried to continue, but Zhang Yi had already reached out and ended the call. Leaning back in his chair, Zhang Yi turned to Yang Xinxin. Theyre dead. Zhuge Qingtians behavior had confirmed it. Curious, Yang Xinxin asked, Brother, how did you manage that? Zhang Yi replied casually, I added a little tech and spice to their food. Yang Xinxin sighed in relief, a bright smile spreading across her face. Thats wonderful! Now, we dont have to be burdened by them anymore. Zhang Yi patted her head. Spend the next couple of days working on Liang Yues mindset. Dont let that foolish woman do something reckless. Women need reassurance, Zhang Yi added lightly. Yang Xinxin tilted her head playfully, looking at him with a smirk. Actually, Brother, if you step in personally, it might work even better. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Yi teased, Youre suggesting I enlighten her myself? Yang Xinxin giggled. Its always effective! You need to use the blade of emotion when it comes to persuasion. Zhang Yi responded with humor, But Im worried the next generation might turn out dumb. Oh, and remember, keep this conversation confidential. Dont tell anyone. Yang Xinxin nodded. Dont worry, I know what to do. In the following days, the shelter remained calm and peaceful as always. The women passed the time playing mahjong and chatting, deliberately including Liang Yue in their conversations to soothe her troubled mind. The men, on the other hand, maintained an air of casual preparedness, waiting for war to break out. As defenders, they had already made ample preparations and had little room for improvement. If a battle did erupt, they would adapt their strategies based on their opponents moves. For now, a conservative approach was the best tactic in the absence of additional intelligence. Meanwhile, at Yangsheng Base, the students'' toxins had fully taken effect, each one succumbing to a painful death. Zhuge Qingtian reluctantly reported the situation to Xiao Honglian. Theyre all dead now. Weve lost our leverage against Zhang Yi. Xiao Honglian frowned. Though she had anticipated this outcome, she couldnt hide her frustration. Raising her head, her strikingly beautiful yet commanding eyes bore into Zhuge Qingtian. In that case, theres no other choice but war! Author''s Note Chapter 387: Facing the Harsh Reality Chapter 387: Facing the Harsh RealityTwo days later, Zhang Yi received another message from Yangsheng Base. This time, it wasnt a call request but a video. He and Yang Xinxin were the first to view it. As the video played, a grim and oppressive scene unfolded. The backdrop was a large factorys iron framework amidst swirling snow and wind. Hanging from the structure were a dozen cold, severed heads suspended by ropes. Standing at the execution platform, Xiao Honglian stared directly into the camera with an icy gaze, her tone equally chilling: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. Zhang Yi, this is only the beginning. Soon, your head and those of your friends will hang here on the execution platform of Yangsheng Base! The video ended abruptly. Though it lasted only a minute, the message was unmistakably cleardeclaration of war. Xiao Honglian had beheaded all the students as a ceremonial gesture, announcing the start of the conflict. After watching the video, Zhang Yi remained silent for a moment before casually picking up his cup of hot coffee and taking a sip. Theyre finally dead. Its clean and done, he remarked nonchalantly. Yang Xinxin, however, sighed softly. So, it came to this in the end. Zhang Yi glanced at her and asked with a smile, Didnt you hate those people the most? Now that theyre gone, shouldnt you be happy? Yang Xinxin shook her head. Its not about happiness or sadness. I really did hate them and wished theyd disappear from the world sooner. But seeing them all dead now, I cant help feeling a little sorrowful. Lowering her head, her pale hands clenched tightly together in anxiety. Im afraid that one day my own head might be hung up like that. A flicker of surprise crossed Zhang Yis face, but he quickly understood. No matter how cunning or sharp Yang Xinxin was, she was still an 18-year-old girl. Witnessing the brutal deaths of peers shed known for years would naturally evoke fear. Zhang Yi leaned closer and wrapped her in his strong arms. Dont worry. As long as Im here, nothing will happen to you. I wont let you die. And because I wont die, youll definitely live a good life too. Yang Xinxin was a crucial part of his logistics and support team. Zhang Yi had every intention of protecting her and ensuring her safety. Feeling the warmth of his embrace, Yang Xinxins body began to regain some of its lost warmth. Placing her hands on his back, her eyes gradually welled up with tears. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Its so good to have you, Brother! Ill make sure I never drag you down. Ill be someone you can rely on! So, no matter what, please dont abandon me, okay? If I ever become a burden, Ill take care of myself. After comforting Yang Xinxin, Zhang Yi decided to make the video public. He wanted everyoneespecially Liang Yueto see it firsthand. He knew that Liang Yue needed to confront the truth and let go of her obsession completely. Seeing this might break her, Yang Xinxin warned. You should be prepared for that. Ive already prepared both mentally and practically, Zhang Yi assured her. If Liang Yue truly lost control and tried to charge off to Yangsheng Base, Zhang Yi would restrain her immediately and sedate her so she could rest at home for a while. All acts of sacrifice come from impulse, he explained. No matter how noble or grand the ideals, they can be changed. In the end, she needs to understand one thing: living is everything. The purpose of life is simply to liveit doesnt need any additional justification. Yang Xinxin nodded. Well do our best to help persuade her. Zhang Yi pulled a small bag of medication from his pocket and handed it to Yang Xinxin. Put this in her coffee and make sure she drinks it. Yang Xinxin took the bag, her expression curious. What is it? A sedative, Zhang Yi replied. Following his instructions, Yang Xinxin prepared coffee for Liang Yue, who drank it without any suspicion. Once Zhang Yi confirmed the medication had taken effect, he gathered everyone to watch the video. Before starting, he reminded the group, The contents of this video are graphic. I hope everyone is mentally prepared and avoids overreacting. Liang Yue felt a slight unease in her heart at Zhang Yis warning. The video came from Yangsheng Base, so could it involve her students? Zhang Yi cast a deep look at Liang Yue before playing the video. The screen immediately displayed the sight of a dozen severed heads hanging high in the snowstorm. At first glance, Liang Yue felt as though something had exploded in her mind. Her brain went blank as her entire world spun out of control. Her students they were all dead? In an instant, Liang Yue felt the world turn upside down. Her legs wobbled, and faint voices echoed in her ears. Liang Yue, are you okay? Whats wrong?! Before she could process anything, her vision darkened, and she collapsed to the floor. Lu Keran rushed to her side, panicked. Liang Yue, are you all right? Zhang Yi walked over calmly and said, Shes fine. I gave her a sedative. She just needs rest. Uncle You shook his head and sighed. Liang Yue is such a dedicated and responsible teacher. This must be a heavy blow for her. Lets hope she can move past it and not get stuck in despair. Time and care will heal the pain, Zhang Yi remarked as he carried Liang Yue to her room and laid her on the bed. Turning to Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran, he instructed, Take good care of her for the next couple of days and help her process her emotions. He also addressed Zhou Keer, saying, Administer tranquilizers if necessary. If she becomes uncontrollable, increase the dosage. Id rather have her bedbound for a few days than let her act recklessly. Zhou Keer nodded. Understood. With Liang Yue settled, everyone returned to the living room, and Zhang Yi began discussing their preparations for the impending battle. A conflict with Yangsheng Base is unavoidable. Chaoyu Base might join them, too. Facing two major bases simultaneously will put considerable pressure on our defenses. Well stick to the original plan: rely on the first line of defense and retreat to the shelter if its breached. However, unlike Xishan Base, I havent killed many of their people. They have no reason to fight us to the death. Once they suffer significant casualties, theyll likely retreat. This battle wont be too difficult. Plus, our armaments have improved significantly since then. This was why Zhang Yi remained unfazed. He had no deep enmity with Yangsheng or Chaoyu Base. Even though he had killed Xiao Honglians cousin and Wei Dinghais confidant, these deaths werent enough to escalate the situation to a life-or-death grudge. This war was ultimately about territorial disputes. If youre strong, theyll respect and fear you. If youre weak, theyll destroy and kill you. What Zhang Yi needed to do was prove his strength and ensure that no other organization in Tianhai City dared to challenge him. Author''s Note Chapter 388: God’s Right Hand Chapter 388: Gods Right HandAfter receiving Xiao Honglians video, the shelter shifted into full alert. One noticeable change was that Zhang Yi and his team began sleeping in their combat gear. This way, if the enemy attacked, they could immediately spring into action. However, in the short term, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai had no immediate plans to launch an assault. Organizing a large-scale war wasnt simple. Especially since both Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base were far from the shelter, logistics, intelligence, and supply chains had to be secured. Additionally, they needed to defend their own bases from opportunistic factions during the campaign. Meanwhile, in the shelter, Liang Yue was so devastated by her students'' deaths that she couldnt eat for days. Zhang Yi ordered Zhou Keer to administer nutrient injections to her. With a war on the horizon and her being one of the shelters key fighters, she couldnt afford to stay bedridden. Still, judging by her mental state, it was clear it would take her a long time to move past the tragedy. Zhang Yi didnt press her with words of comfort, either. Instead, he allowed her to hold onto her grief and hatred for Yangsheng Base. When the battle started, he planned to let her unleash her emotions on the battlefield, giving her a chance to vent her pent-up negativity. Sometimes, purging such emotions through catharsis was the best remedy. In the snowy expanse far from the shelter, a white-cloaked elderly man slowly approached. His steps were steady, though unhurried, and his footprints sank deeply into the snow, leaving two prominent trails. This man was Zhao Jianhua, a high priest of the Followers of the Snow God. Braving the wind and snow, he eventually arrived near the shelters towering, icy barricades. Standing at the edge of the boundary, he squinted against the blinding snow, staring up at the dark structure looming amidst the storm. Though the wind and snow stung his eyes, Zhao Jianhuas weathered, gray gaze suddenly flashed with a golden light. In his altered vision, the world transformed into a vast canvas, vivid and swirling with colors, like a watercolor painting come to life. Suddenly, his body trembled slightly. In his vision, an incomparably immense aura hovered over the shelter. It was so vast and overwhelming that it seemed to blot out the sky above the entire structure. Such a powerful superhuman apart from that one, who could possibly possess such strength? Could it be the right hand of God? Zhao Jianhuas superhuman ability, , allowed him to see the life force emanating from all living beings. The more vibrant and expansive the aura, the stronger the individual. For superhumans, their auras manifested as brilliant, extraordinary hues. The brighter and more resplendent the colors, the greater the individuals power and potential. It was this ability that had allowed Zhao Jianhua to recruit countless followers for the Snow Gods teachings under the direction of the cults leader, Yuan Kongye. He could identify both latent superhumans and those who had yet to awaken their powers, which was a major factor behind the rapid expansion of the Followers of the Snow God. Zhao Jianhuas vision faded as his ability subsided. Taking a deep breath, he turned and began his trek back, leaning on his cane. This discovery was monumental and needed to be reported to the cults leader and high priest without delay. At Yangsheng Base, Xiao Honglian had made her decisionto wage war against Zhang Yis shelter. Officially, it was to avenge her cousin and subordinates. In reality, it was a pretext for advancing into Xishan District and Lu River District to claim their abundant resources. However, she knew better than to act rashly. Surrounded by strong factions, splitting her forces carried significant risks. Moreover, Xiao Honglian was uncertain about the true extent of Zhang Yis strength and resources. She needed time to prepare, ensuring that the assault would be decisive and victorious. Not long after, her deputy, Zhuge Qingtian, brought her a guest. The visitor was a robust, fierce-looking middle-aged man. Greetings, Leader. My name is Wu Huairen, former manager of Zhanlong Security Company. I was involved in the construction of Cloud Manors shelter project, and I also personally managed a safe house for Zhang Yi. If Zhang Yi were to see him again, he would immediately recognize Wu Huairen. As the manager of Zhanlong Security, Wu Huairen had served as a soldier, a professional mercenary, and a full-time bodyguard. After the apocalypse struck, his combat skills and ruthless methods enabled him to survive and thrive. Now, he had joined Yangsheng Base, climbing the ranks among its soldiers. Zhuge Qingtian, while investigating Zhang Yi, had discovered Wu Huairen and brought him to Xiao Honglian. Curious, Xiao Honglian asked, So, youre familiar with Zhang Yi? Wu Huairen replied, Not particularly. It was purely a professional relationship between a client and the company. However, Im very familiar with his current residence. Xiao Honglian was unfamiliar with the specifics of Cloud Manor 101. Oh? Whats so unique about it? Wu Huairen detailed the shelters design and features to her. After hearing his explanation, Xiao Honglian had an epiphany. No wonder they managed to hold off Xishan Base for over a month and remain unscathed! So its thanks to the shelter your company built. That explains everything! Wu Huairen added confidently, Xishan Base may have been unable to breach that shelter, but Yangsheng Base certainly can. Leader, leave this to me! For Wu Huairen, this was an unmissable opportunity to prove himself. Yangsheng Base operated under a strict hierarchy: the higher ones rank, the better the food, housing, and resources available. Xiao Honglian eyed him closely. So, you know the shelters weaknesses? Wu Huairen responded, Zhanlong Security is a top domestic brand. Wed never compromise our clients homes. However, since we constructed the shelter, we understand its structure and materials well. With access to the property and a large operations vehicle, we can cut through its walls! Transporting such a vehicle from Yangsheng Base to Lu River District would be challenging, but with their ample fuel reserves, it was feasible. With Wu Huairens knowledge of the shelters layout, breaching its defenses was entirely possible. Xiao Honglian nodded. Very well. Youll accompany us on this mission. If you succeed, Ill promote you to command your own unit! Wu Huairens face lit up with excitement. Thank you for your trust and support, Leader! However, Xiao Honglian couldnt help but frown in puzzlement. No matter how strong or uniquely built that shelter is, professional tools should be able to breach it. In that case, why didnt Xishan Base manage to destroy it? Even explosives would have done the job Author''s Note S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 389: Xingtian Chapter 389: Xingtian The arrival of Wu Huairen delighted Xiao Honglian, as his information provided her with greater insight into Zhang Yis shelter. However, it also deepened her doubts. While Xishan Base lacked access to heavy equipment like operations vehicles, they still possessed an arsenal of weapons. It made no sense that they couldnt breach a shelter. In this world, there was no such thing as an impregnable fortress. So why was Zhang Yis shelter still standing strong? Could it be that Zhang Yi and his companions are so powerful that Xishan Base couldnt even approach them? Xiao Honglian knew she had to proceed with caution. Acting carelessly without understanding her opponents strength could lead to disaster. She waved Wu Huairen away to prepare and spent a long time deliberating alone. Eventually, she made a firm decision. If theres truly a risk, Yangsheng Base wont shoulder it alone. Ill make sure the other factions get involved, too. That way, not only can we share the risk, but we can also prevent them from attacking my base while Im away. While acting independently might allow her to claim all the spoils, a wise strategist knows to balance profit with caution. High-risk, high-reward tactics were for gamblers, and gamblers often met terrible ends. Her first move was to contact her old ally, Wei Dinghai, leader of Chaoyu Base. Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base shared a strategic partnership and were the closest of Tianhai Citys factions. Moreover, Wei Dinghai had a personal vendetta against Zhang Yi, as one of Chaoyu Bases superhumans, Wang Ruixuan, had been killed by him. When the call connected, the two exchanged pleasantries before Xiao Honglian cut to the point. That guy, Zhang Yi, isnt simple. He was able to hold off Xishan Base for so long, and I suspect he might have been involved in their destruction. Neither of us can handle him alone. What do you think about joining forces? Wei Dinghai had already sent scouts to investigate Zhang Yi and the shelter but came up empty-handed. He, too, hadnt dared attack. Hearing Xiao Honglians suggestion, he chuckled. If were going to strike, just the two of us wont be enough. Lets drag everyone else into this fight as well! Xiao Honglians smile grew wider. Great minds think alike. --- The two leaders turned their attention to the other factions: Followers of the Snow God and Qingpu Base. The Followers of the Snow God appeared to be a disorganized cult, while Qingpu Base, made up of steelworkers, was a conservative force. Both factions were significant players, and if they attacked Zhang Yi while Yangsheng and Chaoyu focused elsewhere, it would be disastrous. In particular, the Followers of the Snow God, long excluded and resented by Tianhai Citys other factions, were notoriously untrustworthy. The best strategy was to tie everyone to the same war effort. Xiao Honglian suggested, If we join forces, persuading them to attack Zhang Yi should be easy. Ill handle Qingpu Base, and you take care of the Snow God cult. Deal? Wei Dinghai hesitated briefly. If we all move together, dividing the spoils afterward will be tricky. Xiao Honglian snorted and laughed. Xishan Bases territory is enormous. No single faction could swallow it all, and were already struggling to stabilize our current areas. All I care about are the material and machinery plants in Lu River District. Those are non-negotiable for me. Wei Dinghai chuckled. Fair enough! We dont need those. But well take more of the food stockpiles and expect extra fuel from you later. After a round of negotiations, the two leaders reached an agreement. They each set off to convince their respective targets to join the campaign against Zhang Yi. --- Qingpu District lay in the northwest of Tianhai City. Once home to vast forests and the renowned Qingpu Steel Plant, its underground shelter, Qingpu Shelter, had been built beneath the factory. The population here consisted mainly of loggers and steelworkers. Though they werent professional soldiers or bodyguards, their raw physical strength and battle readiness made them a force to be reckoned with. Inside a workshop at the steel plant, a man in his thirties sat on a lathe. As was common among steelworkers, he looked older than his years, making his exact age difficult to determine. Clad in a gray work uniform, his unkempt hair only emphasized his high hairline. His dark face was marked with sparse stubble and acne scars, a testament to irregular sleep patterns. This man wouldnt stand out in a crowd of factory workershe seemed entirely ordinary. One leg propped on the lathe, he tore pieces off a steamed bun and threw them on the ground. Two figures crawled on the floor: a scrawny, balding man and a long-haired, doe-eyed individual. Both wore heavy iron collars around their necks, panting like dogs as they wagged their heads in a humiliating display. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Each time the man tossed a piece of bun, the two figures scrambled and fought for it, saliva dripping from their mouths as they bit and clawed at each other. The sight brought a delighted grin to the mans face. Outside the workshop, a group of people in white combat uniforms approached. The green leaf emblem on their chests marked them as members of Qingpu Base. Upon entering, they glanced at the ridiculous scene on the floor and couldnt help but smirk. Boss, someone from Yangsheng Base is here to see you. The man feeding the dogs looked up. Oh? That Xiao Honglian? What does she want? She says its something important. We dont know the detailsits above our pay grade. The leader of Qingpu Base, Xingtian, jumped down from the lathe. Fine, lets see what she has to say! As he turned to leave, the two dog-men grew frantic, straining against their chains. Woof! Woof! Woof! Panting with their tongues out, they gazed up at Xingtian with fawning eyes, desperate for more food. Xingtian glanced back, amused by their pathetic display. Director Liu, Supervisor Sun, youre excellent at playing the part of dogs. I cant believe I wasted time letting you live as humans before! He tossed the remaining bun to a subordinate. They havent eaten in three days. Feed them for me. Make sure they stay alivegood dogs are hard to come by! The subordinates grinned. Got it, Boss. Dont worry! As Xingtian walked out of the workshop, the sounds of barking gave way to chilling screams. Author''s Note Chapter 390: The Alliance Chapter 390: The Alliance Xingtian strolled leisurely out of the workshop, his hands stuffed into his pockets. Despite the bone-chilling cold and the thick, overwhelming snow, he seemed entirely unaffected. Workers in combat uniforms stood guard in the area, and when they spotted Xingtian, they saluted him in greeting. With a grin, Xingtian waved back, continuing his relaxed pace until he reached the factorys office. Inside, the temperature was warm and comfortable. The steel factory, with its abundant coal supply, no longer produced steel but used the resource to heat water for central heating, ensuring the place stayed cozy. At the office door squatted a young girl in a small combat uniform, doodling in the snow with a stick. In front of her lay a massive white wolfhound, easily ten times the size of a normal dog, comparable to Hua Hua when in its giant form. The enormous dog, however, lay meekly in the snow, watching the girl intently. Its submissive demeanor was devoid of ferocity, its eyes instead radiating a kind of goofy innocence. Noticing Xingtians approach, the dog tilted its head back and let out a loud howl. The little girl looked up as well, her round, white face breaking into a sweet smile when she saw him. Dad! Xingtian laughed and strode forward, scooping the girl into his arms and adjusting the fur scarf around her neck to shield her face from the cold. Didnt I tell you not to come outside? Its too cold out here. If you must come out, at least wear your hat and scarf! The girl, Zhou Lingling, was Xingtians adopted daughter. Her father had been one of Xingtians coworkers, who had died in a tragic accident years ago. Xingtian had taken her in afterward. Its not that cold! Zhou Lingling said with a sweet laugh. The factory is warm! Xingtian pinched her chubby cheek. If you catch a cold, youll regret it! Placing her back in front of the big dog, he said, Play with Lele for a bit. Dad has some things to take care of. Ill come back and join you soon. Zhou Lingling nodded obediently and squatted down again, resuming her doodling in the snow. Her soft, childlike voice rang out, Lele, this is one, and this is two. Lele, the giant dog, gazed at her with a conflicted expression. It genuinely couldnt understand what she was teaching. --- Xingtian entered the office, which had once belonged to the factory director. The rooms decor exuded understated luxuryno dazzling gold, but the redwood desk, rosewood coffee table, and complete Qinghua porcelain tea set spoke volumes about its high-class taste. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Taking his seat on the sofa, Xingtian turned to the communications officer waiting for him. Boss, the persons been waiting for quite a while. Xingtian shrugged nonchalantly. If she needs something from me, she can wait. Whats the rush? Despite his words, he reached over and pressed the connect button on the communicator. The screen immediately displayed Xiao Honglians exquisite face. Propping her chin with her hand, she looked visibly annoyed. Xingtian, youre certainly hard to get a hold of. Making me wait this long! Why, thank you! Xingtian chuckled mischievously, his demeanor laced with an air of roguishness. Nobodys glued to their communicator all day, you know. Now, what do you need from me? Get to the point. Xiao Honglian rolled her eyes, but she knew this was just Xingtians nature. Before the apocalypse, hed been nothing more than a small team leader at Qingpu Steelworksdirect, coarse, and unapologetically straightforward. She got straight to the matter. Xishan Base has been wiped out. Whats Qingpu Bases position on that? Xingtian scratched his chin and said casually, The northeastern part of Xishan District borders us. I assume that area doesnt interest you much. Xishans territory is huge; no one can take it all at once. Why dont we all sit down and figure out how to split it up? Xiao Honglian smiled. That can be arranged. But theres one issue we need to deal with first. Theres a powerful faction entrenched in Xishans former territory. Until we eliminate them, moving in will be too risky. My people and Wei Dinghais both suffered losses at their hands. Hearing this, Xingtians eyes narrowed slightly. Theres someone that strong in Tianhai City? Someone who not only took a bite out of Xishan Base but also dared to take on both your bases at the same time? Xiao Honglian nodded gravely. Indeed, there is. Our investigations show theyre not a large faction like us. Instead, theyre a small, elite team with several powerful superhumans. Theyre fortified in a shelter as strong as a military bunker. Even Xishan Base couldnt break through. Xingtian stroked his chin, processing the information. Qingpu Base had always kept a low profile and had never encountered Zhang Yi before, so this was his first time hearing about him. He replied cautiously, If theyre as strong as you say, we cant just rush in blindly. You know as well as I domarching into unfamiliar territory for a battle means losing a third of our strength before we even start. Xiao Honglian countered, Which is why were inviting you to join us in attacking them! Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base have already agreed. If you nod your head, well launch a combined assault. Once we three are united, well force the Followers of the Snow God to join in too. Together, well crush this faction and divide Xishan and Lu River Districts among us. What do you say? Hearing that the three major factions were teaming up, Xingtian felt a bit more reassured. So, its the faction that had that big conflict with Xishan Base? If Xishan Base, with all its firepower, couldnt break through their defenses, what makes us think we can? Anticipating the question, Xiao Honglian replied confidently, The person who built that shelter is now with Yangsheng Base. I have a way to break their defenses and storm inside. Raising an eyebrow, Xingtian saw potential in the plan. If the western factions of Tianhai City united, there was nowhere they couldnt conquer. He also realized that Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai were reaching out to him not just for strength but also to neutralize Qingpu Base as a potential threat to their flanks. This was a deal he couldnt lose. Ill think about it, Xingtian said, rubbing his stubbled chin. But Ill need more information about that shelter. Xiao Honglian nodded. Thats fair. Take your time to consider. I assure you, this will be immensely profitable for Qingpu Base. You wont regret it. Author''s Note Chapter 391: The Followers of the Snow God’s Scheme Chapter 391: The Followers of the Snow Gods SchemeXingtian did not provide an immediate response. As the leader of Qingpu Base, every decision he made affected the lives of thousands of his workers. He was not a cunning strategist but had the virtue of self-awareness, always thinking carefully before acting. Shortly after his conversation with Xiao Honglian ended, she sent him the promised intelligence on the shelter. Xingtian opened the file, and with just one glance, his expression stiffened. Sitting upright, he focused intently on the screen. The first section contained detailed information about Zhang Yi. This cant be a coincidence he muttered. --- Meanwhile, in Tianfeng District, Wei Dinghai contacted Zheng Yixian, the High Priest of the Followers of the Snow God, to demand their participation in the attack on Zhang Yi. Unlike his approach to Qingpu Base, Wei Dinghai showed no courtesy to the Followers of the Snow God. Among the western factions of Tianhai City, the cult had the weakest foundation and the least power. Apart from their large numbers, they lagged in every other respect compared to the other factions. Their continued existence owed much to their practice of proselytizing, drawing people from other factions, which had made them unpopular and led to conflicts. If not for the steep price they had paid to placate the larger factions, they would have been eradicated long ago. Wei Dinghais tone was commanding, more akin to issuing orders than seeking cooperation. We three major bases will be sending troops. Youd better send some of your people to assist as well. We dont want anyone scheming behind our backs while were fighting on the front lines. Zheng Yixian frowned, knowing that the current strength of the Followers of the Snow God left them no choice but to comply. Refusal would likely result in the three factions eliminating them first. Understood. Well dispatch a contingent to support you, Zheng Yixian replied reluctantly. Wei Dinghai grinned. Smart choice. When the call ended, Zheng Yixians icy gaze brimmed with murderous intent. His right fist clenched tightly, producing a loud crack as he punched a nearby wall, shattering it with his psychic energy. Wei Dinghai, Xiao Honglian, Xingtian Enjoy your arrogance while you can! When the Followers of the Snow God rise to power, Ill make sure you all perish! ??????????? --- The Followers of the Snow God were led spiritually by Yuan Kongye, their leader, while High Priest Zheng Yixian handled most of the cults day-to-day affairs. Despite the gravity of the situation, Zheng Yixian felt compelled to inform Yuan Kongye of the developments. When Zheng Yixian explained the proposed alliance, Yuan Kongyes serene expression remained unchanged. Another war? How many lives will be lost this time? Her hands folded in prayer as she gazed up at the statue of the Snow God in the chapel. May the merciful Snow God guide them swiftly to paradise and deliver them from this worlds suffering. Zheng Yixian sighed and said, The alliance of the three factions leaves us no choice but to participate. My concern is that theyll use us as cannon fodder, sending our people to die first. Death holds no terror, Yuan Kongye replied. All will ultimately return to the Snow Gods embrace. But what if we gain nothing from this battle? Zheng Yixian countered. Strengthening the three factions only makes them more likely to turn on us later! For the first time, a glimmer of dark resolve appeared in Yuan Kongyes eyes. She turned to Zheng Yixian. Perhaps this can be an opportunity. Well send troops, but only on the condition that we receive our share of the spoils. Zheng Yixian frowned. Territory holds little value for us. Then well take people, Yuan Kongye declared. After the shelter falls, well forgo land in exchange for the right to proselytize in their territories. And they must pledge not to hunt down those who have already defected to our faith. They are now children of the Snow God. Zheng Yixian mulled over the proposal. Negotiating the proselytizing rights will be challenging but not impossible. At that moment, a knock sounded on the chapel doors. Zheng Yixian scowled. Who dared interrupt during a discussion with Yuan Kongye? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Who is it? A familiar, weathered voice replied from outside. High Priest, its me, Zhao Jianhua. I have urgent news to report to you and the Leader. Recognizing the speaker as the high-ranking Great Decree Zhao Jianhua, Zheng Yixians irritation subsided. Within the cult, Zhao Jianhua held a unique position. Though he had no formal office, his importance was second only to Zheng Yixian, thanks to his extraordinary Aura Sight. Without him, the Followers of the Snow God would not have been able to recruit so many powerful superhumans. Come in, Great Decree, Zheng Yixian said. The chapel doors opened, and Zhao Jianhua entered, leaning on his cane. He bowed respectfully to Yuan Kongye before turning to Zheng Yixian. Well, what did you discover about Zhang Yi? Zheng Yixian asked. The cult lacked a robust intelligence network, relying heavily on Zhao Jianhuas unique ability to gauge Zhang Yi and his teams strength. Zhao Jianhua approached, bowing again. Ive uncovered something extraordinaryso much so that I had to interrupt your discussion. But I promise, you will not be disappointed. Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian exchanged glances, their expressions growing serious. What have you discovered? Yuan Kongye asked. Zhao Jianhuas clouded eyes gleamed with an inner light. I sensed an aura of immense magnitude in that shelter, he said, his voice trembling. This overwhelming power it may rival only yours, Leader! The statement stunned Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian alike. What did you just say? Yuan Kongyes voice turned sharp. Zhao Jianhua raised his hands reverently. Leader, I am loyal to you and the Snow God! Please believe every word I say. There is a superhuman within that shelter whose power rivals yours! Perhaps they are the Snow Gods right hand, destined to aid you in your divine mission! For the first time, a flicker of emotion appeared on Yuan Kongyes perpetually calm face. Zheng Yixians eyes widened in disbelief. Zhao Jianhuas Aura Sight had never produced such high praisenot even for figures like Ling Feng, Xiao Honglian, or Wei Dinghai. Could Zhang Yi, or someone in his team, truly possess abilities comparable to Yuan Kongyes miraculous gift of awakening superhuman powers? This revelation cast serious doubt on Wei Dinghais claim that attacking the shelter would be an easy victory. Perhaps Wei Dinghai and Xiao Honglian had gravely underestimated Zhang Yis team. After a moment, Yuan Kongyes composure returned. I understand. Thank you, Great Decree. You may rest now. Ive prepared new attendants for you. Youll like them, she added, clapping her hands. The doors opened again, and a nun entered, leading two pale, sickly boys. The boys, newly "purified" through the cults rituals, exuded a fragile yet eerie beauty. Zhao Jianhuas eyes lit up with fervent joy. Thank you, Leader, for your generosity! He left the chapel with the boys, leaving Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian alone again. Yuan Kongye turned to Zheng Yixian. Circumstances have changed. Zheng Yixian nodded grimly. It seems everyone has underestimated Zhang Yis strength. Even if we unite the western factions, attacking that shelter from afar may not be as easy as Wei Dinghai claimed. After a pause, his eyes sharpened. But if we change the terms of engagement and ally with Zhang Yi against the others the outcome could be very different. Author''s Note Chapter 392: Old Classmate Chapter 392: Old ClassmateZheng Yixian proposed a daring plan, his eyes blazing with the fury of vengeance accumulated over the years. Since the apocalypse began, the Followers of the Snow God had struggled to survive, constantly suppressed by the larger, better-armed bases. Despite growing into a congregation of thousands, they remained under the thumb of these factions. Zheng Yixian had long waited for an opportunity to strike back. The emergence of Zhang Yi and his formidable team presented such an opportunity. Yuan Kongye approached Zheng Yixian, her gaze steady but inquisitive. Youre suggesting an alliance with Zhang Yi to stand against the other three bases? Isnt that too risky? We dont truly know how strong Zhang Yis team is. If weve miscalculated, well be dragged into a premature war with the three factionsa scenario we cant afford, she said, her voice tinged with caution. Taking a deep breath, she added, We still need time. A lot of time. Zheng Yixian, however, was undeterred. This can be a trial run, he argued. If we miss this chance, we may never again encounter a force like Zhang Yis: powerful yet isolated, targeted by other bases. If Xishan is divided among them, our situation will only grow more precarious. Zheng Yixian thought back to recent attacks by Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases against the Followers. His brows furrowed deeply. Time was what they neededtime to build their strength and expand their congregation. A trial, you say? Yuan Kongyes piercing gaze locked onto him. And if it fails? Zheng Yixian leaned closer and whispered something into her ear. A glimmer of understanding and intrigue appeared in Yuan Kongyes eyes. If we proceed this way, we minimize the risks. Its worth attempting, she said with a nod. The next day, Yuan Kongye summoned Zhao Jianhua, the Great Decree, to the chapel. She retrieved a small wooden box from her robes and handed it to him. Great Decree, this mission concerns the future of the Followers of the Snow God. I entrust it to you. Do not fail the Snow Gods will, Yuan Kongye said calmly. Zhao Jianhua accepted the box. Without opening it, he already knew its contents. However, the weight in his hands was heavier than expected. His eyes widened in surpriseit wasnt just one. The production of such items placed a tremendous burden on Yuan Kongye, even as the human vessel of the Snow God. Yet she had provided two. What kind of task required this level of preparation? Zhao Jianhua bowed deeply. I will not fail you or the Snow God. What must I do? Yuan Kongye gazed down at the gray-cloaked elder. Take these to Cloud Manor and deliver them to Zhang Yi. Let him see our sincerity. The tension at Cloud Manor was palpable. Zhang Yi and his team knew that attacks from Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases were inevitable, but the timing and method of the assault remained unclear. In preparation, they had assigned everyone specific combat roles. If war broke out suddenly, they would not be caught off guard. Still, the waiting was unsettling, fostering a sense of restlessness among the group. To keep himself focused, Zhang Yi spent his days training in the underground sports facility on the third level. Having learned martial arts from Liang Yue for a while, Zhang Yi had picked up some valuable combat techniques. Combined with his superhuman acceleration, he had become a formidable close-quarters fighter. Only melee specialists among superhumans posed a real threat to him now. After all, speed was the ultimate advantage in battle. Meanwhile, Liang Yue was slowly recovering from the devastating loss of her students. Her mental state remained poor, and she still seemed deeply melancholic. However, the impulsive desire to storm Yangsheng Base for revenge had subsided. Instead, she spent her days meticulously polishing her Tang Sword, preparing herself for the inevitable battle. Everyone could see that she needed to unleash her rage through a violent clash to finally find peace. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi regarded her readiness as an asset. To him, Liang Yue was a finely honed blade, now tempered and awaiting its first strike. One night, an unexpected message shattered the tense calm. Zhang Yis phone, which he had modified into a secure satellite device, displayed a notification from QQ Messenger. This surprised him greatly. Though QQ had been a staple app on his phone, he hadnt used it in ages. Since the apocalypse began, no one had bothered with such platforms anymore. The apps servers, protected as part of a national initiative to preserve critical communication tools, had remained operational. Out of curiosity, Zhang Yi opened the app. Rather than checking the message directly, he first navigated to the senders profile. To his astonishment, the message came from a long-lost acquaintance: Xing Weinan. Seeing the name, Zhang Yi frowned, memories surfacing. Xing Weinan had been his classmate in elementary and middle school. The two had lived in the same old neighborhood and occasionally hung out. However, Xing Weinans poor academic performance had led him to a low-tier high school, while Zhang Yi moved to a better neighborhood with his family. They had lost touch after that. Zhang Yi had heard rumors that Xing Weinan followed in his fathers footsteps, working at a steel factory. So, hes still alive, Zhang Yi muttered. I suppose hes got some skills. The message read: Old classmate, long time no see! Zhang Yi paced in the living room, phone in hand. Given the tense times, the sudden reappearance of a former classmate felt far from coincidental. After some thought, Zhang Yi replied: Im managing. How about you? Xing Weinan responded quickly, his excitement palpable: Haha! It really is you! Youre still alive! I cant believe ityouve become so amazing! But Im doing well too. Im now the director of Tianhai Citys largest steel plant! Hows that, old buddy? Not bad, huh? The boastful tone gave Zhang Yi pause. The largest steel plant in Tianhai City? Zhang Yi murmured. That would be Qingpu Steelworks Realization struck. Youre the leader of Qingpu Base? After a moment, Xing Weinan replied: Typings a hassle. Lets talk over voice instead. The call request came through almost immediately. Zhang Yi hesitated briefly before answering. Xing Weinan, its been a long time. A hearty laugh echoed through the line. Hahaha! Zhang Yi, it really has been ages! I never thought youd end up this incredibletaking down Xishan Base and all! Im not doing too bad myself. Qingpu Steelworks is mine now! Who wouldve thought our old neighborhood produced two rising stars, huh? Xing Weinans words, though excited, carried an undercurrent of pride. Zhang Yi couldnt help but recall the Xing Weinan of the pasta plain-looking boy with acne and average height, perpetually seated at the back of the classroom due to poor grades. Their relationship had been decent, bonding over basketball games during breaks. But if someone had told Zhang Yi back then that the humble Xing Weinan would rise to become a regional power, he wouldnt have believed it. Smirking, Zhang Yi asked, Isnt Qingpu Base led by someone named Xingtian? Did you change your name? Xing Weinan laughed again. Exactly! Xing Weinan didnt sound imposing enough. Xingtian, thoughnow thats a name with power! Zhang Yis smile grew. Changing ones name to boost confidence often revealed underlying insecurity. Alright, Zhang Yi said calmly. Tell mewhy reach out now? Whats on your mind? Author''s Note Chapter 393: Times Have Changed Chapter 393: Times Have ChangedZhang Yis calm response caused a brief pause on the other end of the line. Oh, correctionit was Xingtian now. After all, he was no longer Xing Weinan, the unremarkable classmate, but a bigshot leader of Qingpu Base. Bigshots didnt like being reminded of their humble beginnings, not even their names. Xingtian chuckled. I thought wed reminisce a bit first, catch up on old times. Back in school, I wasnt much, was I? Not like youyou were the handsome guy, popular with girls, and good at your studies. With a long sigh, his tone turned wistful. Who wouldve thought someone like me would make it big someday? Life sure is full of surprises, huh, old classmate? Zhang Yi smiled but didnt take Xingtians boasting to heart. It wasnt uncommon for someone whod suddenly risen from nothing to seek validation in their past connections. Without knowing Xingtians real intentions, Zhang Yi chose not to expose his insecurities. Catching up is fine, Zhang Yi said evenly. But I dont think you reached out just for nostalgia, did you? Im a curious person, you see. Why dont you skip to the part where you tell me what you really want? Xingtian raised his eyebrows on the other end of the line. This wasnt the reaction hed been hoping for. What he wanted was for Zhang Yi to express shock, to say things like: Whoa, youre running Qingpu Steelworks now?! Or I never expected someone like you to rise so high! But Zhang Yi neither fulfilled his expectations nor said anything that might offend him. Still, the chance to show off to an old classmate left Xingtian in good spirits. Alright then, lets get down to business! He cleared his throat, his tone turning serious. Zhang Yi, youve killed people from Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases. Now theyre coming after you. But theyre not coming alone. To be safe, theyve roped in Qingpu Base and the Followers of the Snow God. Lets just say, if all the western factions gang up on you, your situation is going to be pretty grim. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed, a sharp glint flashing within them. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Western factions? He had no prior grudges with Qingpu Base or the Followers of the Snow God. It wasnt surprising that Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases had allied against him, but involving all of Tianhai Citys major factions? That raised the stakes significantly. If the western alliance attacked as a unified front, the pressure on his shelter would double. Zhang Yi had considered such a worst-case scenario but hoped it wouldnt come to pass. If it did, the probability of his shelters surface structures being breached would rise to 20%. ???????? In that event, they would have no choice but to abandon the villas and the ground-level buildings, retreating into the underground layers. Drastic? Yes. But not impossible. Even the western alliances combined forces wouldnt necessarily bring more firepower than Xishan Base had. And Xishan Base, for all its might, had failed to destroy the ground-level buildings of Zhang Yis shelter. Still, Xingtians words indicated this was no ordinary threat. Zhang Yi asked flatly, So, are you calling to declare war? Xingtian chuckled. Old classmate, this isnt some medieval drama. Who declares war anymore? If I were coming after you, I wouldnt bother calling. Id hit you with a surprise attack. No, this call is partly to catch up, partly to talk things over. On the other end, Xingtians expression softened as he reminisced. He recalled his school days, when he was a poor student with no charisma, often overlooked in class. Zhang Yi, on the other hand, had never belittled him. Hed even taken the time to help him with math problems. Now that he was successful, Xingtian wanted to return the favor, to showcase his success and lend a helping hand to his old friend. How do you propose we talk? Zhang Yi asked, breaking his train of thought. Xingtian said, Qingpu Base has no quarrel with you. I can stay out of this war, but youll have to make it worth my while. Unlike the more aggressive factions, Qingpu Bases workers valued stability. Their current lives were relatively comfortable, and they disliked the idea of senseless bloodshed. While they were unafraid of fighting, they didnt want to die for no reason. Thus, Xingtian had reached out to Zhang Yi. If he could secure benefits without shedding blood, all the better. Perhaps there was a hint of genuine care for his old classmate, but it was minimal at best. Zhang Yi fell silent, unsure whether to believe Xingtian. He couldnt even be certain that the man on the other end of the line was truly Xingtian. But recalling that Xing Weinan had worked at Qingpu Steelworks before the apocalypse, and considering his survival, it was plausible. Xingtian, sensing Zhang Yis hesitation, laughed. Youd better decide quicklytime isnt on your side. The alliance will attack your shelter soon! Zhang Yis eyes sharpened. When? Ah, now thats something I cant tell you. Unless, of course, youre willing to make a deal. Zhang Yi considered this and asked, Whats your price? Xingtian replied, 10,000 kilograms of food. Zhang Yi frowned. 10 tons of food? Thats right, Xingtian confirmed. If you want Qingpu Base to sit this one out, thats the price. Zhang Yi paused to think. He recalled that Xing Weinans math skills had been poorscoring above 60 on a 150-point test was a rarity for him. Did Xingtian believe that 10 tons was an astronomical amount? It wasnt. Not for Zhang Yi. His warehouses contained food reserves far exceeding that amount, and 10 tons was merely a drop in the bucket. Zhang Yi responded, Ill need time to consider. Ten tons is a lot of food, and I cant decide immediately. Xingtian laughed. Fair enough. Ill give you one day. By tomorrow noon, Ill need your answer. He added, I hope you say yes, old classmate. I really dont want to face you on the battlefield. After the call ended, Zhang Yi leaned back on his sofa, the warm light of the crystal chandelier casting a gentle glow over him. Ten tons of food isnt much. I can use the canned goods from Xishan Bases stores. Those are heavy and will add up quickly. Or maybe the leftovers from Wang Simings warehouse. The canned foods there are full of water and weigh a lot. Getting to ten tons will be easy. His concern, however, wasnt the foodit was whether Xingtian could be trusted. Resources werent an issue. If it werent for the dangers outside, Zhang Yi could easily raid buried supermarkets with Xu Pangzi to replenish his supplies. But he didnt want to hand over food only to be betrayed. Heres what Ill do, Zhang Yi decided. Ill agree to his terms but only pay a portion upfront. If Qingpu Bases behavior during the battle satisfies me, Ill pay the rest after its over. With a plan forming in his mind, Zhang Yi smiled faintly. Author''s Note Chapter 398: The Candidate Chapter 398: The CandidateZhang Yi turned and settled himself back onto the sofa. The others followed suit, waiting expectantly to hear his decision. There were two pressing matters at hand: how to handle the Ice Soul and the upcoming battle plans. After all, according to the Great Decree, the allied forces would attack in three days. Seeing the eager expressions on the faces of the ordinary members, Zhang Yi decided to address the Ice Soul situation first. He spoke evenly: This Ice Soul, as youve heard, can help someone awaken as an Ability User. The West Bases have used it in the past, and so far, no side effects have been reported. But Im not convinced. Ive never believed in things that are too good to be true. As he spoke, Zhang Yis gaze swept over everyone present. The existing Ability Users in the group appeared indifferent. They already possessed powers, and living safely in the shelter meant they didnt feel a pressing need to grow stronger. As such, they had little interest in a potentially dangerous Ice Soul. However, aside from Yang Xinxin, all the ordinary members displayed strong desires. For them, the possibility of gaining superhuman powers was irresistible. In the apocalypse, strength directly correlated to survival. Zhang Yi looked at the hopeful faces and said: Understand this: I only intend to use one of the Ice Souls for now. Whoever uses it first will essentially act as a test subject. If youre willing to take that risk, raise your hand. The atmosphere grew tense as hesitation clouded the expressions of those present. While they longed for powers, the thought of being the first to try an unknown and possibly dangerous artifact gave them pause. Then, Yang Siyah raised her hand decisively. Ill do it. Her eyes shone with determination. As a strong-willed woman, she refused to resign herself to being a useless ornament in the shelter. Seeing Yang Siyah step forward, Zhou Keer quickly followed, raising her hand as well. Even Zhou Haimei, despite her reservations, tentatively lifted her hand, her movements subdued. Zhang Yi nodded with a faint smile and addressed Yang Siyah: Your resolve is the strongest. Ive decided to let you use one of the Ice Souls. Yang Siyahs face lit up with joy. Overcome with emotion, she threw her arms around Zhang Yis neck in an ecstatic hug. Thank you, Zhang Yi! Thank you so much! Zhou Haimei smiled faintly. Though disappointed, she quickly accepted the outcome. She didnt have a particularly close relationship with Zhang Yi, so she hadnt expected to be chosen. On the other hand, Zhou Keer looked visibly annoyed. She clenched her fists and muttered something under her breath, clearly blaming herself for not acting quickly enough. What they didnt realize was that Zhang Yis decision had been made long before hed asked for volunteers. Allowing them to raise their hands was merely a formality. Yang Siyah had always been his first choice. First, as the test subject, the candidate needed to be someone whose role in the group was minimal. If something went wrong, the shelter wouldnt suffer a significant loss. This criterion ruled out anyone with crucial responsibilities. Second, the person needed to be easily controlled. Zhang Yi didnt know what effects the Ice Soul might have, and if the user became hostile or unstable, they needed to be manageable. Combining these criteria, Yang Siyah was the most suitable choice. She contributed the least among the group, and her loyalty to Zhang Yi made her a safer option than others. Yang Siyah was still clinging to Zhang Yi, her emotions overwhelming her as tears of joy streamed down her face. Thank you, Zhang Yi! This means everything to me! Zhang Yi gently patted her on the back, his tone calm: Youre important to me, Siyah. Of course, Ill take care of you. After she calmed down, Zhang Yi turned back to the group to discuss the upcoming battle. Heres my take: lets put the potential alliances with Qingfu Base and the Baixue Sect aside for now. Dont trust anyone. For all we know, theyre testing us, and theres a high chance theyll betray us at the last minute. Our priority remains the sameprepare to face the Western Alliance. Zhang Yis gaze darkened as he leaned forward, his voice growing colder: But if something changes on the battlefield... if their betrayal or cooperation tips the scales... His lips curved into a devilish smile. Then let this shelter become their tomb. The strategic plan largely stayed the same, though they now accounted for the uncertainty of Qingfu and Baixues involvement. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Once the discussion ended, it was time for the moment everyone had been waiting forusing the Ice Soul on Yang Siyah. Human curiosity was a powerful thing, and even those who had expressed no interest in using the artifact were eager to witness its effects. The process, according to the Great Decree, was straightforward: place the Ice Soul against the users forehead, and it would merge automatically. For safety, Zhang Yi chose a secure, reinforced room to carry out the experiment. Yang Siyah lay on a sturdy bed, her arms and legs restrained by straps to prevent any unforeseen incidents. Her face was a mix of excitement and anxiety, her body trembling slightly as she awaited her transformation. She didnt know that, in Zhang Yis mind, there was a contingency for every possible outcome. If she gained powers without incident, all would be well. But if the Ice Soul caused unexpected changessuch as her being controlled or turning violentZhang Yi was prepared to do whatever was necessary. He refused to dwell on the thought, knowing the decision would be brutal if it came to that. As everyone gathered to observe, Zhang Yi opened the small wooden box, releasing a faint mist of white frost into the air. The onlookers leaned forward, wide-eyed as two luminous white orbs came into view. They were irregularly shaped, faintly pulsing as though alive. With steady hands, Zhang Yi donned gloves and used a pair of tongs to pick up one of the Ice Souls. Slowly, he lowered it onto Yang Siyahs forehead. The room fell into an expectant silence. As soon as the Ice Soul touched her skin, thin, filament-like strands extended outward, latching onto her head like tendrils. To everyones amazement, the crystalline orb began to melt and sink into her flesh. The process was swift. Within seconds, the Ice Soul had completely fused with Yang Siyah, leaving behind a faint white mark on her forehead that shimmered briefly before fading. Yang Siyahs eyes lost focus, and her expression slackened. Moments later, her head fell to one side, and she drifted into a deep sleep. Its done, Zhang Yi announced. Well monitor her condition closely over the next few hours. The group dispersed, leaving the reinforced room secured. Surveillance cameras were in place, and the walls were made of reinforced alloy, ensuring any emergency could be swiftly contained. Author''s Note Chapter 399: A Long-Awaited Farewell Chapter 399: A Long-Awaited Farewell The effectiveness of this so-called Ice Soul would soon reveal itself to Zhang Yi. After dismissing everyone, Zhang Yi instructed them to remain vigilant in the coming days. The three-day warning of an attack as mentioned by the Great Decree could very well be a ruse. In this current era, no one could be trusted. For all he knew, the attack could happen tonight. Everyone understood the gravity of this war and dispersed to prepare. However, "preparation" in this case was little more than mentally rehearsing their assigned roles. Once the others left, Zhang Yi called Zhou Ke''er to his side. "Ke''er, you''re in charge of keeping an eye on Yang Siyah. To prevent any incidents, administer a moderate dose of muscle relaxants and sedatives to her in advance." Zhou Ke''er nodded. "Understood. I''ll get the medication right away." Her lips were pursed, as if she could hang a soy sauce bottle from them, revealing a mix of jealousy and discontent. Zhang Yi couldn''t help but chuckle. He knew exactly why Zhou Ke''er was upsetbecause he chose to give the Ice Soul to Yang Siyah instead of her. Grasping her hand gently, he reached out to rub her soft, fair cheek. "Silly girl, do you really think I didnt let you use the Ice Soul because I care more about her than you?" "On the contrary, it''s precisely because you mean more to me! My feelings for you are as enduring as the Great Wall itself." "Im worried about the potential side effects of the Ice Soul, which is why I didnt let you use it. Cant you see my concern?" Zhou Ke''er looked at Zhang Yi, surprised. "So... that''s what you were thinking?" "But Xinxin said the Ice Soul has been tested by multiple bases and has no adverse effects, didn''t she?" Zhang Yi responded coolly, "Theoretically, drinking urine can sustain life too, but if there''s clean water available, would anyone choose urine?" Zhou Ke''er''s mouth twitched. "What kind of analogy is that?" Zhang Yi laughed and said, "Never trust things from strangers. In the apocalypse, even a small oversight can cost your life!" "Ke''er, you''re a vital member of our team, and your medical expertise makes you more important than even the superhumans. But Yang Siyah is different. She needs to prove her worth." "Thats why I chose to give the Ice Soul to her. Do you understand now?" Hearing Zhang Yis explanation, Zhou Ke''er finally understood his intentions. Warmth filled her heart as she realized Zhang Yis decision stemmed from his respect for her abilities and his desire to protect her. Pressing her lips together, Zhou Ke''er accepted his reasoning and obediently went to the infirmary to prepare the medicine. After she left, Zhang Yis smile faded. He returned to his room in silence. The current situation was increasingly complicated. In Tianhai City, the Western Alliance forces were mired in infighting and disunity. Two factions had grudges against Zhang Yi and coveted his territory, intent on destroying the Shelter. The other two factions were opportunists, waiting to see which side would gain the upper hand. No one was trustworthy. Everyone was a potential betrayeror ally. Zhang Yi even considered leaking the Baixue Sects plans to Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base, triggering a skirmish between them. But would that benefit him? The Qingfu Base and the Baixue Sect bore no personal grudge against him. His primary adversaries remained Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base. Thus, his main objective was still to counter these two factions. Sar?h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lying on his bed, Zhang Yi pondered for a long time before reaching a decision. Since war was inevitable, he would face it in a way most advantageous to him. He picked up his phone and called Xing Tian. "Hello, Zhang Yi, have you made up your mind?" Zhang Yi nodded. "I have. We can cooperate, but I want to change the terms of our collaboration." Curiosity flickered in Xing Tians eyes. "Oh? What terms do you propose?" Zhang Yi said, "Ill double the food supply you asked for, but youll have to participate in this battle!" Xing Tian chuckled coldly. "You want me to help you? Thats impossible! Qingfu Base avoids unnecessary conflicts. We wont fight you, but we also wont provoke the other three factions." Zhang Yi shook his head. "No, I dont need you to fight anyone. I just need you to show up and pretend to attack." Xing Tians face was filled with doubt. "You want me to bring my forces and act? Zhang Yi, whats your game here?" Zhang Yi smiled. "You dont need to understand my motives. We have no conflicting interests or grudges. If youre willing to play along, Ill give you double the food. Are you in or out?" Xing Tians eyes gleamed. The proposal seemed too good to refuse, though Zhang Yis intent puzzled him. After some thought, Xing Tian laughed heartily. "Fine! Why would I turn down such an offer? But youll need to deliver the food in advance as a gesture of good faith!" Zhang Yi said, "Ill send you a third as a deposit. The rest will be delivered once the job is done." Xing Tian pondered briefly and agreed. "Alright, 2:30 PM tomorrow at the old site of the West Hill Base. Well make the exchange!" "Deal." Ending the call, Zhang Yi felt his plan taking shape. He could have opted to keep Qingfu Base out of the fray, but he chose to pay a higher price to ensure they played their role convincingly. This decision served two purposes: First, Qingfu Bases involvement would lull Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases into a false sense of security, minimizing their defenses against the Baixue Sects impending betrayal. Second, Zhang Yi was confident the Shelter could withstand a coordinated attack from multiple factions. If their assault failed, the Baixue Sects backstab combined with his counteroffensive would devastate both Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases. At that point, Qingfu Base wouldnt resist the temptation to join the fray and capitalize on the situation. Though Xing Tian lacked ambition, he wasnt foolish. Who would pass up the chance to claim the spoils of war? Author''s Note Chapter 400: The Unknown Chapter 400: The Unknown Everything was an unknown. Zhang Yi was clever but never blindly confident. In the apocalypse, only pure interests matteredfaith and loyalty were nonexistent. Relationships between individuals and alliances between forces were built on mutual exploitation. One moment might see close cooperation, and the next, a knife in the back. Because Zhang Yi trusted no one, he had to meticulously account for everyones intentions. The ideal outcome of this war would be as he envisioned. Yet even in the worst-case scenario, where both Qingfu Base and the Baixue Sect betrayed him and joined forces with Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base to attack the Shelter, Zhang Yi wouldnt be surprised. At worst, Ill abandon the top two floors and retreat to the heavily fortified underground defenses. Thats the absolute worst outcome, Zhang Yi muttered coldly. But that would come at a heavy cost for them! His gaze turned icy. On reflection, Zhang Yi realized he was undoubtedly one of the top superhumans in Tianhai City. Perhaps not the strongest, but those who could rival him were few, if any. When he chose to defend and counterattack cautiously, the devastation he could unleash was unimaginable. --- In the dead of night, frantic knocking suddenly echoed through Zhang Yis door. "Zhang Yi! Zhang Yi! Somethings happening with Yang Siyah!" Outside was Zhou Ke''er''s anxious voice. Zhang Yi leapt out of bed, startling Hua Hua, who had been sleeping soundly. The felines eyes snapped open, glowing like copper bells. Zhang Yi hurried to open the door, simultaneously checking the surveillance footage of Yang Siyahs room on his phone. As expected, Yang Siyah was strapped to the bed with restraints, her face flushed red and her body drenched in sweat. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the center of her forehead, a white glow flickered, as if something within her was about to erupt. Lets go check! Zhang Yi said with a grave tone. If he found any sign that Yang Siyah was being controlled, he wouldnt hesitate to incapacitate heror worse, if necessary. After all, superhumans were inherently unpredictable. Sensing Zhang Yis tense aura, Zhou Ke''er trailed behind him without a word. With Hua Hua by his side, Zhang Yi quickly reached Yang Siyahs room. By the time they arrived, however, the abnormal sweating and redness had subsided. Yang Siyah lay gasping for breath on the bed, her movements inhibited by the drugs. Yang Siyah? Yang Siyah? Zhang Yi called softly, maintaining his distance. Yang Siyahs eyes fluttered open. Upon seeing Zhang Yi, she forced a small, joyful smile. Zhang Yi, I did it! At that moment, Hua Hua jumped onto the bed, swishing its tail as it prowled over Yang Siyah. Finally, it turned its calm gaze toward Zhang Yi. This was all the assurance Zhang Yi needed. The demon cats senses were hundreds of times more acute than a humans. Any anomaly, no matter how faint, would not escape its notice. Hua Huas reaction told Zhang Yi that Yang Siyah was unchangedthe same woman he knew inside and out. Could I have been overthinking this? Could the Ice Soul, verified by even the Western Bases, truly be harmless? Zhang Yi wondered. But he quickly discarded the thought. Better to doubt and verify than to trust blindly. A little extra caution never hurt. Without untying her restraints, Zhang Yi asked, How do you feel now? What kind of ability did you awaken? When superhumans awakened their powers, they instinctively understood their nature, as if an extra limb had grown, clear and intuitive. Closing her eyes to sense her ability, Yang Siyah suddenly chuckled. Turns out Im only destined to be a homemaker! Despite her self-deprecating words, her face showed no disappointment; instead, she seemed quite pleased with her newfound power. Yang Siyah explained, My ability is Feast. The food I make can restore a persons depleted superhuman energy. She smiled again. Its a support-type ability, just as I thought! Honestly, thats fine. I was never good at fighting anyway. Relaxing at her explanation, Zhang Yi leaned against the doorframe and smiled. Thats actually a very useful ability. It means we wont have to worry about energy depletion during battles. He turned to Zhou Keer. Keer, help her out of the restraints. Though her eyes shone with envy, Zhou Keer moved to untie Yang Siyah. However, the lingering effects of the drugs still left Yang Siyah immobilized. When youve recovered by tomorrow, show everyone what you can do, Zhang Yi said warmly. Alright! Yang Siyah agreed, her face still glistening with sweat but her eyes sparkling with determination. Finally, she could contribute to the team and prove her worth. Leaving Zhou Keer to tend to Yang Siyah, Zhang Yi returned to his quarters. Infusing food with restorative properties was not an overwhelmingly powerful ability, but it was undeniably practicalespecially with a major battle on the horizon. "The Great Decree was rightthe effects of the Ice Soul depend entirely on the individuals potential. Yang Siyahs abilities may only reach a support level, even with her awakening." She reminds me a bit of Li Jian, Zhang Yi mused, recalling the second Ice Soul he possessed. After pondering for a while, he decided to hold off on using it for now. Creating another superhuman wasnt urgent. He would continue observing Yang Siyah to ensure there were no unforeseen issues. Only then would he consider letting Zhou Keer or Lu Keran use the Ice Soul. --- The next day arrived. By mid-morning, Zhang Yi called Xing Tian. Come over now. The meeting place has changedits Xu Family Town in the Lu River District. Your territory? Xing Tian asked, frowning. Zhang Yi chuckled. Im the one being surrounded and attacked, not you. Its only prudent for me to be cautious. Surely you dont suspect me of plotting against you? Their agreed-upon time was 2:30 PM, but Zhang Yi had no intention of adhering to it. Setting a fixed time and location would only create opportunities for ambushes. Zhang Yi preferred to eliminate all variables. Xing Tian snorted. Fine, have it your wayXu Family Town it is! Although Xing Tian had gathered some information on Zhang Yis group, he was unsure about their individual capabilities. He only knew that Zhang Yi had a small team and, without the Shelters defenses, couldnt contend directly with base-level forces. Qingfu Steelworks was about 100 kilometers from Cloud Manor. Since they rarely left their territory, Xing Tians group wasnt certain about travel times, so the plan was to contact Zhang Yi upon reaching Xu Family Town. Author''s Note Chapter 401: Xing Tian’s Legion Chapter 401: Xing Tians Legion Around midday, Xing Tian finally arrived at Xu Family Town with a group of his men. Their slow pace made Zhang Yi suspect they were also struggling with inadequate transportation. But operating on his own turf, Zhang Yi had little reason to fear. He called for Uncle You and Fatty Xu, along with Hua Hua, before setting out. Liang Yue, meanwhile, remained secluded in her own world. She had become oddly withdrawnno longer complaining to others, but instead spending her days alone in her room, quietly contemplating with her Tang Sword in hand. Zhang Yi wasnt sure if this change was good or bad. For now, he decided not to disturb her and left her out of this mission. The group set off cautiously in a snow vehicle, heading across the river toward the meeting point. Meanwhile, Xing Tian and his entourage, as Zhang Yi had predicted, arrived at Xu Family Town with rudimentary transportation: dog sleds. It was no surpriseone couldnt expect a team of steelworkers to master vehicle modification, nor did they have the abundant fuel resources of Yangsheng Base or Chaoyu Base. However, the dogs they bred were massive, hardy, and well-suited for survival in the apocalypse. Unlike pampered pets of the past, these dogs were fierce and versatile, equally adept at fighting and hauling sleds. Being omnivorous, they were also relatively easy to feed. At the forefront of the pack was a gigantic silver-gray dog, towering like a small house. On its back sat a cute little girl, humming a familiar nursery rhyme as the icy wind whipped around her. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xing Tian wore no combat gear, clad instead in his signature gray-blue workers uniform. Not even a thick coat adorned his frame. Yet despite the biting cold, he stood tall and unbothered, as if his compact, muscular body were forged from steel. The other workers around him were equally robust, their years in the steel mill evident in their hardened physiques. Nobody in their right mind would want to fight a team like thisstrong, unyielding, and as solid as the steel they once forged. Standing in the biting wind, Xing Tian rolled up his sleeve to glance at the Patek Philippe watch on his wrist. The luxury timepiece, said to cost over ten million yuan, was looted from Director Gou. Despite its price tag, Xing Tian valued it not for its monetary worthmoney was meaningless nowbut for the sense of fulfillment it gave him, a symbol of the luxuries he could never have afforded before the apocalypse. Zhang Yi is slow, he muttered, wiping frost from the watch face before carefully tucking it back under his sleeve. At that moment, a few workers approached him. Boss, we found some survivors in the area! Xing Tian raised an eyebrow. Whats their relationship with Zhang Yi? They dont seem to have one, but theyre terrified of him, one worker reported. Xing Tian nodded thoughtfully. Makes sense. If they were under Zhang Yis protection, he wouldnt have brought us here. Leave them be. A mischievous grin spread across the workers faces. Boss, there are a lot of women in this town. And theyre young, one said, rubbing his hands together suggestively. The Qingfu Steelworks still had several thousand workers alive, 99.9% of whom were men. The few women who remained had long been claimed by the supervisors. The rest of the men had little chance to find female companionship, especially in the desolate surroundings of their base. It was no wonder they struggled to suppress their desires. Xing Tian smirked but said, Let me discuss it with Zhang Yi first. This is his territory, after all, so we should give him some respect. Then, with a sly grin, he added, Of course, if I make the request personally, hell have to return the courtesy. The workers eagerly nodded, excitement lighting up their faces. Absolutely! Boss, youre the man! --- Before long, the roar of an engine echoed from the distance. Zhang Yis snow vehicle appeared, approaching cautiously. Xing Tians eyes sharpened as he watched Zhang Yis arrival. Standing in the middle of the road with his arms crossed, he exuded an air of challenge. The icy wind whipped at his collar, but it did nothing to shake his imposing stance. Zhang Yi stopped the vehicle and carefully stepped out. The atmosphere between the two groups was tense. Though they had agreed to cooperate, neither side fully trusted the other. Any slight misstep could spark an immediate confrontation. It had been nearly ten years since the two had last seen each other. Both had changed significantly. Zhang Yi had grown steadier, his once youthful brightness replaced by an aura of cold detachment. His mere presence was enough to put Xing Tian and his men on edge. Zhang Yi wasnt doing anything intentionally threatening, but the sheer number of lives he had taken had etched a deadly aura into his very being. Whenever he focused, that aura seemed to seep from his every movement and gaze. This guy is not someone to mess with, thought everyone from Qingfu Base, even Xing Tian himself. But as the leader, Xing Tian had to maintain his composure. They scrutinized each other. Xing Tian had also changeda more muscular physique and the ability to endure subzero temperatures in nothing but his workers uniform suggested a significant enhancement of his physical capabilities. Zhang Yi recalled the West Hill Bases report on Xing Tian. His power was said to be unique: a group-wide buff that significantly boosted his and his comrades strength. And then there was the enormous mutated dog. Its presence alone was impossible to ignore. Hua Hua and the beast immediately locked eyes, their throats rumbling with low, dangerous growls. The girl on the dogs back, Zhou Lingling, patted its head gently. Lele, be good. Dont growl at others. The dog calmed down, squinting its eyes as if pacified. Hua Hua, meanwhile, seemed disinterested, standing quietly by Zhang Yis side but keeping its sharp gaze fixed on the other animal. Hahaha! Long time no see, old classmate! Xing Tian suddenly broke into hearty laughter. Who wouldve thought, after ten years, wed meet again under these circumstances? Zhang Yi smiled warmly. Indeed. I thought the next time wed meet would be at a class reunion over a drink! But look at you now, Xing Tianone of the big shots of Tianhai City! Zhang Yis flattery visibly pleased Xing Tian, whose smirk lifted slightly. Not bad, not bad. And youre doing well yourself. Even if you dont have a vast territory like mine, youre still a significant figure in Tianhai City. Xing Tian sighed theatrically. Who wouldve thought that someone as inconspicuous as I was back in school would end up here? It was a humblebrag, meant to highlight his achievements. Zhang Yi chuckled inwardly, choosing not to expose him. He knew exactly what Xing Tian sought: admiration and validation, a remedy for his years of insignificance and inferiority. Author''s Note Chapter 402: Yang Siyah’s Superpower Chapter 402: Yang Siyahs Superpower As agreed, Zhang Yi handed over a third of the food as a deposit to Xing Tian. With plenty of people and sleds at his disposal, Xing Tians team easily loaded up the supplies for transport back to their base. Watching himself gain these resources without shedding a drop of blood, Xing Tian was thrilled. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi made a show of looking slightly pained by the exchange, further boosting Xing Tians satisfaction. Zhang Yi, dont feel bad about this. Working with us at Qingfu Base will definitely be worth it! Xing Tian said with a grin. Zhang Yis lips curled into a faint smirk. Squinting slightly, he replied, Do you remember back in middle school when I fought some kids from the class next door? Xing Tian paused, then nodded as memories resurfaced. Yeah, I remember. Those punks were after Fan Xingcan, but she secretly had a crush on you. Thats why they ganged up on you. Zhang Yi nodded. There were five of them against me. I knew I couldnt win, so I went after the loudest one and knocked out three of his teeth. Pointing a finger at Xing Tian, Zhang Yis expression grew colder and sharper. This time, Im giving you food, and I expect you to honor our agreement. But if you betray me, even if your entire team comes at me, Ill make sure to drag you all down with me. Well go down together, and then well see if Qingfu Base can still survive in Tianhai City! Xing Tian felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively swallowed. Haha, Zhang Yi, you underestimate me! Let me tell you, I, Xing Tian, built my reputation on loyalty. Just wait and see! Zhang Yi smiled. Good. Id prefer to avoid bloodshed between old classmates. Xing Tian gathered his men and food supplies before leaving Xu Family Town. He glanced back cautiously at Zhang Yi several times, even forgetting to bring up the request to take women from the town back with them. Once Xing Tian was gone, Zhang Yi called for Uncle You and the others to return to the Shelter. Lets go. Its time to prepare for battle, Zhang Yi said. Uncle You added, Lets hope the food doesnt go to waste! Otherwise, well have lost both resources and allies. Zhang Yi dismissed the concern. The supplies we gave them were canned goods confiscated from West Hill Basehardly anything special. Once things settle down, with my and Fatty Xus capabilities, we can replenish those easily. No need to feel sorry for it. Uncle You chuckled but warned, I just hope we didnt feed a pack of ingrates. If they turn on us, itll be a big loss. Unlikely, Zhang Yi said calmly but with confidence. Even after all these years, Xing Tians personality hasnt changed much. A persons nature is hard to alter. Hes gone from an unremarkable nobody to a leader with powers and influence, but that doesnt make him a brilliant strategist or commander. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hes cautious and afraid of losing what he has. He excels at maintaining his position but lacks the boldness to take risks. Having already tasted some benefits, hell prefer to stay passive and profit without conflict. Of course, Zhang Yi admitted internally that no one was immune to such temptations. If he were in Xing Tians shoes, he too might opt for the safer option of taking the food and walking away. Still, Zhang Yi added, Well prepare for any possibility, just in case. --- Returning to the Shelter, the group was greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air. The scent was especially rich today, invigorating everyone who caught a whiff. Zhang Yis eyes flashed with a guess and he headed to the kitchen. Sure enough, Yang Siyah, fully recovered, was busy cooking in the open kitchen. Several other women stood nearby, captivated by the tantalizing smells. When Yang Siyah saw Zhang Yi, her eyes lit up with excitement. Zhang Yi, Ive mastered my ability! Come and try my cooking! Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, smiling as he approached. Oh? That quickly? Impressive. After changing into more comfortable clothes, he walked toward the kitchen island. I take it youve all sampled Chef Yangs cooking? he asked the others. Lu Keran nodded enthusiastically. Yes, boss! Yang Siyahs cooking is amazing! It even feels magicalafter eating, Im full of energy and ready to take on anything! Zhang Yi pondered this revelation. It seemed her ability worked not just on superhumans but also on ordinary people. That was incredibly convenientfood that could restore not only physical strength but also energy was exceedingly rare. At the kitchen table, Zhang Yi noticed Liang Yue. Her complexion looked much better, and she seemed more spirited than before. Curious, Zhang Yi turned to Yang Siyah. Even Teacher Liang isnt gloomy anymore after eating your cooking? Waving her spatula proudly, Yang Siyah replied, Of course! My cooking boosts energy, clears the mind, and even removes negative conditions! Zhang Yi was startled. This was practically a built-in cleanse potion! Yang Siyah offered him a bowl of chestnut porridge with a look of eager anticipation. Zhang Yi, try this! Not wanting to dampen her spirits, Zhang Yi smiled and accepted the bowl. He set Hua Hua aside, scooping a small portion to let the cat sample it first. Hua Hua sniffed, its sharp eyes narrowing in apparent thought before eagerly eating the offering. Only then did Zhang Yi take a sip. As the porridge slid down his throat, a surge of energy flooded his body, erasing all fatigue. He felt rejuvenated, ready to drop and do a hundred push-ups right then and there. Good stuff! Zhang Yi exclaimed. Hua Hua, noticing the empty bowl, pounced to paw at it, prompting Yang Siyah to serve the cat its own portion. Yang Siyahs support-type ability had proven invaluable. While it wasnt flashy or offensive, its effectiveness brought joy to the group, especially with the looming battle. Both Zhou Keer and Lu Keran couldnt hide their envy, wishing Zhang Yi would soon use the remaining Ice Soul on one of them. Zhang Yi, however, brushed them off, preferring to observe Yang Siyahs progress further. Yang Xinxin, on the other hand, scoffed at the Ice Soul, declaring her brain to be her ultimate weapon. To her, gaining a mundane ability like cooking would only be a burden. Everyone who tasted Yang Siyahs cooking praised her power. Zhang Yi, initially cautious, relaxed as he found no adverse effects. He then inquired about the specifics of her ability. Yang Siyah explained, Since I just awakened, I can only enchant food in limited quantitiesabout five servings at a time. The benefit is that it quickly restores both physical and superhuman energy. Zhang Yi asked, Can the enchanted food be stored, or does its effectiveness diminish over time? Im not sure, Yang Siyah admitted. But Ive noticed the fresher the food, the stronger the effect. Thats fine, Zhang Yi replied. From now on, focus on making large batches of convenient foods, like energy bars. Ill handle the storage issue. By storing her creations in his spatial storage, Zhang Yi could ensure their efficacy wouldnt fade, effectively creating a stockpile of potent rations. In the future, with superhumans dominating the battlefield, such rations would undoubtedly become a strategic resource. Author''s Note Chapter 403: The Battle Begins Chapter 403: The Battle Begins According to the intelligence provided by the Baixue Sect and Xing Tian, the major factions would unite to attack Zhang Yis Shelter in three days. This war was ostensibly about avenging the two bases Zhang Yi had annihilated, but everyone knew it was really about carving up territory and consolidating power. Each faction had its own ulterior motives, striving to maximize its gains, yet they were all committed to this inevitable clash. Three days later, the Western factions would leave a portion of their forces behind to defend their bases while the rest, led by their leaders, advanced toward Cloud Manor by the Lu River. The agreed-upon time for the attack was 2:00 PM. Due to the uncertain conditions within the Ice Fortress surrounding the Shelter, a night raid was deemed too riskyit would place them at a disadvantage in unfamiliar terrain and make them susceptible to ambushes. With their overwhelming numerical superiority, a direct frontal assault was considered the safest approach. Yangsheng Bases forces were the most imposing, deploying fifteen vehicles, including specialized engineering vehicles and heavily modified armored cars. No other base in Tianhai City could boast such a formidable convoy. In the third armored car, Yangsheng Bases leader, Xiao Honglian, sat in a fiery red combat suit, her sharp gaze resembling that of an eagle. Her ability, Inferno Forge, was unique. Using flames, she could not only enhance her physical strength but also unleash intense heat to melt through any material. Classified as both an enhancement and emission-type ability, her combat prowess was exceptional. Given the conspicuous nature of her flames, her combat suit was appropriately red. Subtlety was unnecessary for someone like hershe was always the center of attention. As the convoy advanced steadily toward Cloud Manor, Xiao Honglian picked up her communicator to confirm with the other three faction leaders that they would arrive on time. Satisfied with their responses, she relaxed. However, her deputy, Zhuge Qingtian, wore a troubled expression. This morning, the flagpole outside our base collapsed, he remarked. Xiao Honglian glanced at him and scoffed. Superstitious, are we? Its not superstition, Zhuge Qingtian replied, shaking his head. Its just I have a bad feeling, and its getting stronger. This is the largest war since the apocalypse began. Weve never mobilized such a massive force for a battle that could determine Yangsheng Bases fate. In his heart, he added, If we lose, the consequences will be unthinkable. But he dared not voice this fear in front of Xiao Honglian. Without hesitation, Xiao Honglian dismissed his concerns with a resolute tone. We will win. The key factor in West Hill Bases destruction was the Jiangnan District missile, not Zhang Yi. That tiny Shelter has fewer than ten people. Even if theyre all superhumans, so what? With the Western factions united, crushing them will be effortless. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Pausing, she added, If I werent concerned about unnecessary risks, I wouldnt have bothered calling on the other three factions. Rest assured, nothing will go wrong this time. Theres no force in Tianhai City that can withstand an assault from all of us combined. Zhuge Qingtian remained silent for a moment before voicing another concern. I just hope the other factions dont mess this up. Xiao Honglian laughed loudly. Of course, theyre unreliable! Those bloodthirsty scoundrels are like sharksdrawn to the scent of blood. Theyll swarm in eagerly for the spoils. Her gaze turned sharp as a blade. Thats why theyre dependable. At least for this battle, their greed makes them trustworthy. Zhang Yi is a plump target, and they wont hesitate to fight over the juiciest piece. We all enjoy bullying the weak, especially fat, helpless prey. Who could resist such temptation? Xiao Honglian felt no doubt about their operation. Even Zhang Yis vaunted Shelter defenses wouldnt be an issueshe had brought Wu Huairen, an expert in dismantling fortifications, to ensure their success. The Western factions all believed that Zhang Yis team had merely gotten lucky with West Hill Base, riding the coattails of Jiangnan Districts missile strike. To Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai, Zhang Yi was just an overinflated sheep ready for slaughter. Zhuge Qingtian finally smiled. Youre right. From a purely strategic standpoint, theres no reason we could fail. Xiao Honglian patted him on the shoulder. Youre just too tense! Once we win, well celebrate properly, and youll see how sweet victory tastes. Relieved, Zhuge Qingtian nodded. Youre right. Im probably overthinking this. The convoy continued its journey through the snow toward Cloud Manor. --- On the other side, Zhang Yi had long learned of their planned 2:00 PM attack. Still, to ensure readiness, his team began preparing at dawn. Cloud Manors advantageous location, nestled between two small mountains and overlooking the Lu River, made the rear difficult to access, forcing any attackers to approach through the open terrain at the front. Zhang Yi arranged his team at the first defensive line. Liang Yue, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua were stationed there, while he remained inside the Shelter. Im not a close-quarters fighter, Zhang Yi explained. But supporting from the rear with my Dimensional Gate and sniping abilities will maximize my contributions. Though Zhang Yi never explicitly claimed leadership, his orders carried the weight of authority. Even Fatty Xu, despite his fear of death, complied without protest. The impending battle seemed to awaken something in Liang Yue. Her demeanor shifted dramaticallysilent, focused, and radiating a simmering killing intent. She blamed Yangsheng Base for her students deaths and was determined to exact revenge. As she prepared to head to the front line, Zhang Yi stopped her. Liang Yue, borrow this for now, he said, tossing her a weapon. Catching it, her eyes lit up with excitementit was her treasured Tang Sword, the Loong Roar! Return it after the battle, Zhang Yi said calmly. Since he wouldnt be fighting on the front lines, the sword would be better used by Liang Yue. Her expression froze momentarily before she stomped a foot in mock frustration. Got it! she huffed. Author''s Note Chapter 404: The Perfect Sniping Spot Chapter 404: The Perfect Sniping Spot After assigning tasks to the frontline personnel, Zhang Yi turned to the support team, reiterating instructions he had already emphasized many times. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Ke''er, be prepared to treat the wounded." "Yang Siyah, focus on resting and producing as much energy-restoring food as possible." Both Yang Siyah and Zhou Ke''er nodded seriously, acknowledging their roles. Next, Zhang Yi addressed Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran. "Xinxin, all the frontline firepower installations are under your control. Our firepower output points are numerous, and most people can''t handle them simultaneously." "Some of the enemy forces might even include our alliesor at least neutral parties. Follow my orders before targeting anyone." Yang Xinxin''s excitement was unmistakable, her face flushed with anticipation. She clasped her reddened cheeks with both hands and exclaimed, "Ah~ I finally get to kill enemies myself! What a wonderful battle this will be! Zhang Yi, Ill be your best helper!" As for Lu Keran, there was no immediate task for her. Her main role had been pre-battle preparationcalibrating weapons and ensuring the firepower systems were in working order. Zhang Yi instructed her to stay with Yang Xinxin and wait for further assignments. With the tasks delegated, Zhang Yi dismissed them. "Alright, return to your stations. The enemy could arrive at any moment. Dont stress too much; this battle might be over quickly, or it could drag on. Tension will only lead to mistakes." He then turned and ascended to the second floor of the Shelter. Much like before, Zhang Yi had already secured important items from the first and second floors. He was prepared for the possibility, however slim, of the Shelters surface being breached. The women watched as Zhang Yi climbed the stairs alone, each secretly wishing they could follow him and fight by his side. However, they knew he disliked anyone deviating from his plans, so they returned to their posts to await the enemys arrival. --- On the second floor, Zhang Yi made his way up to the attica rarely visited space in the Shelter. The attic was modest, just over fifty square meters in size, equivalent to a bathroom in the Shelter. Its purpose might have been as a study, a music room, or simply a vantage point for enjoying the scenery. Zhang Yi chose it for its height and panoramic views. With skylights surrounding the attic, it offered an unobstructed view of the battlefielda perfect sniper''s nest. Standing at a window, Zhang Yi gazed out at the expanse before him. The battle with West Hill Base had leveled much of the terrain in front of Cloud Manor, leaving it wide open. Not far ahead lay the Lu River, with Xu Family Town and its snow huts visible on the opposite bank. East and west stretched vast snow-covered plainsonce filled with buildings or forests, now erased by the apocalypses snowstorms and buried under layers of frost. This open expanse was ideal for an advancing charge but equally advantageous for sniping. From his spatial storage, Zhang Yi retrieved a metal case, pulling out a heavy sniper rifle. Methodically, he set up the rifle at the window, unpacking several boxes of ammunition and placing them nearby. He even brought a chair, ensuring he could remain steady and avoid fatigue during prolonged sniping. Once ready, Zhang Yi commanded, "Xiao Ai, open the window in front of me." The Dimensional Gate had been positioned to seal the area, preventing any shots from penetrating the attic. With it now adjusted, Zhang Yi prepared to scan for the enemys approach. Though he had once taken down Ling Feng in a one-on-one fight, Zhang Yi didnt consider himself a close-quarters combatant. Despite his speed-enhancing abilities and the martial arts training hed received from Liang Yue, he instinctively avoided hand-to-hand combatit wasnt his strength. Victory, he believed, lay in two principles: Exploit the weak and avoid the strongchoose the right opponent. Play to your strengthsnever expose your weaknesses. This philosophy dictated his decision to stay behind as a sniper rather than engage in direct combat. The abilities he had absorbed from Ling Feng had significantly enhanced his skills. Not only had he gained Divine Power, but his precision shooting had improved dramatically. With the heavy sniper rifle, Zhang Yis effective range was now 3.5 kilometers, with a maximum range of 5 kilometers. At that distance, he could eliminate unprotected targets or even soldiers in standard body armor. For elite combat gear, his accuracy dropped but remained lethal within 1.5 kilometers. However, soldiers in specialized combat suits or higher-ranking leaders were another matter. Such targets would either be heavily guarded or resistant to gunfire. Those would be left to Liang Yue and the others, who had the appropriate weapons and skills for the task. That was why he had entrusted Liang Yue with her cherished Loong Roar Sword. The other major upgrade to Zhang Yis abilities was his Dimensional Gate. It now spanned a larger area and could withstand greater energy loadsan enormous leap in power. Still, Zhang Yi recognized his limits. If he faced Ling Feng again in an unprepared skirmish, he estimated a 50% chance of being killed. Even so, as long as I play to my strengths and maximize my abilities, Ill be the enemys worst nightmare, Zhang Yi murmured, narrowing his eyes. Today, his objectives were clear: Eliminate as many ordinary soldiers as possible before the battle escalated. Superhumans were harder to kill and not worth prioritizing. Ordinary soldiers, however, were easy preyeach bullet a guaranteed kill with his lock-on precision. Their deaths would demoralize the enemy, and with enough losses, the attackers might abandon their assault altogether. For Zhang Yi, winning without a fight was the ideal outcome. Use the Dimensional Gate to support Liang Yue, Uncle You, and the others in their defense. Once these goals were achieved, Zhang Yi planned to retreat from the first defensive line and regroup at the Shelter, ensuring no enemy would get close enough to endanger him. No matter what, I wont let anyone reach me, he resolved, steadying his focus on the battlefield ahead. Author''s Note Chapter 405: Precision Kill Chapter 405: Precision Kill At the Shelter, everyone had been on high alert since morning, awaiting the enemy''s arrival without a moments rest. They ate energy bars to stave off hunger and conserved Yang Siyahs ability-enhanced food as a critical resource for the battle itself. Finally, around 1:00 PM, Zhang Yis tactical monocle captured subtle movement across the snowfield. Attention, everyone! The enemy has appeared, Zhang Yi announced over the comms. The teams eyes sharpened with vigilance as they quickly readied themselves for combat. Liang Yue, in particular, struggled to contain her fierce battle spirit. But Zhang Yis next words tempered their excitement: Theyre still 5 kilometers away. A collective groan followed, though no one dared relax. Instead, they waited for the enemy to approach. For now, the battle belonged solely to Zhang Yi. The forces of Chaoyu Base were the first to arrive. Unlike the other factions, they faced fewer concerns about risking their resources. Their primary assetsports and shipswere too specialized for anyone else to use effectively. Seeking to secure the best position for an assault, their convoy moved steadily across the snowfield. The fleet consisted of over a dozen modified vehicles, each packed with armed soldiers. Dressed in white combat suits adorned with wave insignias, the soldiers and vehicles blended seamlessly into the snowy landscape. Upon nearing Cloud Manor, they spotted the imposing 20-meter-high Ice Fortress. Wei Dinghai, the Chaoyu leader, assessed the scene. The others havent arrived yet. Stop here for now. Lets secure advantageous terrain so our artillery can target the Shelters front. His deputy, Chen Jingguan, peered through binoculars and scoffed. An ice fortress? Clever, but ultimately pointless! This structure will never withstand our artillery. If anything, it gives us an environmental advantage. Theyll never see it coming. Wei Dinghai remained composed. Remember this: despite their small numbers, building such a massive fortification suggests they have a powerful superhuman among them. Chen Jingguan chuckled dismissively. No superhuman can withstand the combined assault of the Western factions. Wei Dinghai smirked, casually flexing his wrist. This isnt a battleits an execution. Still, Im curious about the people inside. If they survive, I might consider recruiting them. That would be their greatest honor, Chen Jingguan said sycophantically. The convoy slowed as they neared Cloud Manor, halting a few kilometers from the fortress. Their plan was to unleash a barrage of artillery fire from a safe distance and demolish the icy defenses. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But before they could set up, chaos erupted. The windshield of the lead vehicle shattered, followed by a deafening crack! Blood sprayed as the drivers head exploded like a watermelon. Enemy attack! shouted the soldier in the passenger seat. He ducked instinctively and broadcast the alert over his comms. But just seconds later, a bullet pierced the engine block, then ripped through his chest, leaving a massive, gaping hole. The convoy froze in confusion, the soldiers scrambling for cover amidst the sudden chaos. Inside one of the middle vehicles, Wei Dinghai and Chen Jingguan were startled by the unexpected attack. Where is this coming from? Wei Dinghai demanded. This is an open snowfieldwhere could the enemy possibly be hiding? The intelligence suggested fewer than ten people were defending the Shelter, yet now they were being ambushed like this. Unable to process the situation, Wei Dinghai barked out a command: Everyone, stay alert! Find the enemy and take them out! The Chaoyu soldiersmany of whom were mercenaries, bodyguards, or hired thugsimmediately chambered their rounds. Using their vehicles as cover, they cautiously scanned the snowy expanse for the unseen sniper. Bang! Another soldier dropped, his head obliterated in a bloody explosion. Zhang Yis anti-materiel sniper rifle turned each kill into a grotesque spectacle, sending waves of fear through the ranks. The soldiers who were preparing the artillery were now panicked, making them easy targets. Bang! Bang! Bang! Three more soldiers fell, their upper bodies reduced to crimson mist by the sheer force of Zhang Yis rifle. The rifles massive caliber left no room for survival. Chaoyus soldiers, many of whom were inexperienced, froze in terror at the sight of their comrades grisly deaths. The few who tried to hide behind vehicles fared no better. Zhang Yis bullets pierced through the cars and struck those behind them, adding to the carnage. As long as those soldiers exposed any part of their bodies, Zhang Yi would pull the trigger without hesitation. If it was a head, hed aim for the head. If it was a foot, hed aim for the foot. At these subzero temperatures, even a glancing blow would mean death. The gunfire never stopped, each deafening shot echoing across the frozen expanse. One soldier after another fell, their deaths gruesome and horrifying. Blood sprayed across the pristine snow, staining the field in grotesque splashes of crimson. Some tried to hide behind vehicles, but Zhang Yis anti-materiel rifle showed no mercy. Both the cars and the soldiers using them as cover were pierced through in a single, devastating shot. Not once did the Chaoyu forces locate their assailant. Every attempt to pinpoint Zhang Yis position ended in failureand death. The relentless assault shattered their morale, leaving them panicked and confused. Faced with such a humiliating massacre, Wei Dinghai finally lost his composure. Using my men as targets for practice?! How arrogant can he be! he bellowed, his voice trembling with rage. Author''s Note Chapter 406: The Invisible Enemy Chapter 406: The Invisible Enemy After Zhang Yi eliminated 15 soldiers, a dense, swirling white mist suddenly rose around the convoy, and a blizzard enveloped it completely. The entire convoy disappeared from Zhang Yis sight. He paused, lowering his rifle momentarily. "An ice element superhuman? Their ability seems somewhat similar to Fatty Xus," Zhang Yi mused with a faint smirk, his eyes remaining fixed on the tactical monocle. How long can this ability last, I wonder? Youre here to attack me, and I dont believe youll stay still for long. All Zhang Yi needed was for his enemies to show the smallest flawjust a brief moment of vulnerability. At the center of the convoy, Wei Dinghai activated his Ice and Snow Lord ability, summoning a fierce blizzard to shield the vehicles temporarily. But this was only a stopgap measure. They were still a considerable distance from Cloud Manor, with no nearby terrain to provide adequate cover. Prolonged use of his ability would deplete his energy, leaving him weaker for the upcoming fight. "The priority is to find that sniper!" Wei Dinghai ordered sharply. Why cant we locate him? he demanded, his voice filled with frustration. None of his subordinates could provide a satisfactory answer. The snowfield offered no suitable vantage points for a sniper. From the trajectory of the shots, it was clear they came from an elevated position, but there wasnt even a tree nearbyjust the vast, empty sky. Chen Jingguan speculated, I believe Zhang Yis team has a highly skilled superhuman sniper. He pointed in the direction of the Shelter. The snipers position must be over there. Thats where the shots are coming from. Wei Dinghais eyes narrowed. But thats over 3 kilometers away! This sniper fired over a dozen shots without showing signs of fatigue, and yet he hasnt targeted our key personnel. This led both Wei Dinghai and Chen Jingguan to a chilling conclusion: the sniper wasnt just skilledhe was terrifyingly powerful. Not only did his superhuman ability provide overwhelming firepower, but his energy reserves were vast enough to allow him to waste shots on ordinary soldiers. Without hesitation, Wei Dinghai made his decision. Order the convoy to retreat! The other factions havent arrived yet, and theres no reason for us to suffer unnecessary losses. Just move out of his firing range! The order spread quickly among the soldiers. They rushed back into their vehicles, and the convoy began to reverse course, attempting to escape the snipers reach. Wei Dinghai maintained the blizzard to obscure Zhang Yis line of sight. Turning vehicles in the snow was a clumsy process, inevitably exposing some of them to Zhang Yis scope. He anticipated their retreat and waited for the convoy to reach 3 kilometers from the first defensive line. At that range, his heavy sniper rifle could still pierce their armored vehicles with ease. Bang! A shot landed squarely on the front wheel of a vehicle, puncturing the tire and damaging the tracks. The vehicle tilted sharply to one side. Unperturbed, Zhang Yi calmly reloaded and fired again, this time taking out both the front and rear wheels of another vehicle, rendering it immobile. Inside the damaged vehicle, panic erupted. The cars down! What do we do? Dont leave us behindhelp us! If we leave the blizzard, well be sitting ducks! They were gripped by fear, knowing their attacker was a long-range superhuman they had no way of countering. This was far more terrifying than facing a conventional sniper, who at least operated within human limitations. A single mistake in this confrontation meant death. Wei Dinghai knew abandoning nearly 20 soldiers in a single vehicle would be disastrous. Slow down! Let the soldiers in the disabled vehicle transfer to another one! he ordered. Chaoyu Bases forces lacked any comparable long-range superhuman attackers. Even though they had powerful superhumans of their own, Wei Dinghai wasnt about to send one to recklessly engage Zhang Yi before the other factions arrived. This war was about profit, not pride. As the vehicles slowed, Wei Dinghai expanded the blizzard to make targeting more difficult for Zhang Yi. The swirling snow obscured Zhang Yis line of sight, but he wasnt deterred. Even without precise targeting, his heavy sniper rifles power ensured that any hit would be devastating. Each shot was aimed at the general area of the retreating convoy, exploiting the density of their formation to maximize damage. Bang! A bullet punched through the rear door of a vehicle, shattering the thin steel plating. A soldier inside screamed as his leg was grazed, leaving a bloody mess where flesh once was. Damn it! Our armors too thin to withstand a weapon like this! one veteran shouted angrily. He had fought in countless battles, but never had he felt so helpless. The bullets kept coming, their terrifying sound echoing through the blizzard. Soldiers, unable to trust the vehicles armor for protection, cowered on the floors of their compartments. But even that wasnt always enough. Those lucky enough to die instantly were spared the agony of the wounded, whose screams filled the air like haunting wails. The convoys morale plummeted as fear gripped every heart. This sniper was no ordinary threathe was a nightmare in the flesh. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chaoyu Bases soldiers had no idea they were up against the most formidable sniper in Tianhai City. Listening to the screams outside, Wei Dinghais expression darkened. Get us out of here! Move faster! If there are injured soldiers, leave them behindtheyre unlikely to survive anyway! From his vantage point in the attic, Zhang Yi emptied two magazines before switching to a fresh sniper rifle to avoid overheating. Each shot rang out like a death knell, precise and unrelenting. Zhang Yi was wholly focused, saying nothing to his teammates over the shared comms. Meanwhile, Fatty Xu, Uncle You, and Liang Yue listened to the gunfire through their shared channel. To them, it didnt feel like a battlefield. Instead, it sounded like a shooting rangea series of calm, rhythmic gunshots. With every pull of the trigger, another life was snuffed out. Sometimes, killing was as simple as playing a game. Author''s Note Chapter 407: One Man, One Gun Chapter 407: One Man, One Gun Zhang Yi, alone with his sniper rifle, forced the entire Chaoyu Base to retreat. Gunfire echoed across the snowfield, each shot sending a chill of terror through the Chaoyu soldiers. Even their modified vehicles couldnt withstand the destructive power of Zhang Yis rifle. Chen Jingguan couldnt take it any longer. If this keeps up, who knows how many more hell kill? Im going out there! He opened the car door, leaping into the icy storm. Agile as a monkey, he climbed onto a vehicle before vaulting into position at the rear of the convoy. In the blink of an eye, his body expanded and stretched, transforming into a massive, leathery shield covering the last two vehicles. Bang! A bullet from Zhang Yis rifle slammed into Chen Jingguans barrier-like body. Though it didnt penetrate, the sheer force left a deep dent in the steel plating behind him, the bullet falling harmlessly to the snow. Pain twisted Chen Jingguans expression. The bullets power was immense. Even with his ability to resist most physical attacks, the impact caused significant discomfort. This sniper his power is terrifying, Chen Jingguan muttered grimly. Unaware that a superhuman was now shielding the convoy, Zhang Yi continued firing methodically. If one rifle overheated, he calmly switched to another. Having raided West Hill Bases arsenal, he had five heavy sniper rifles at his disposal. After five or six minutes, the Chaoyu convoy finally vanished from Zhang Yis sight, disappearing over the horizon. Theyve fled? Zhang Yi smirked. Looks like theyre waiting for reinforcements before making another attempt. No matter who comes, though, theyd better be ready for my sniper fire. Through the comms, Zhang Yis teammates, hearing the sudden silence, quickly inquired about the situation. Zhang Yi, what happened? Did they retreat? Yeah, he replied nonchalantly. I killed a few dozen of them, and they pulled back. I think theyre waiting for the other factions to arrive before launching a coordinated attack. His words left everyone stunned. You killed dozens of them already? Damn, boss, youre insane! Fatty Xu exclaimed, his voice filled with awe. From the first gunshot to now, less than ten minutes had passed. With just a sniper rifle and his unmatched skill, Zhang Yi had routed the entire Chaoyu convoy, inflicting heavy casualties without suffering any losses. It dawned on everyone that Zhang Yi himself was the true first line of defense for the Shelter. His sniper range alone had rendered the initial defensive line almost unnecessary. This is just basic, Zhang Yi replied calmly. To him, it wasnt anything extraordinary. If he couldnt achieve this level of efficiency, then all the superhuman power he had absorbed would have been wasted. In terms of sheer capability, Zhang Yi might already be the most formidable superhuman in Tianhai City. After all, one of his victims, Ling Feng, had been a top-tier superhuman before Zhang Yi devoured his abilities. Long-range sniping and defense are my strengths, Zhang Yi explained. If they manage to breach my range and reach the defensive line, itll be up to you to hold them off. And if necessary, I can use Divine Power to take down a few key superhumans. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The combination of Divine Power and precision shooting was devastating. Within 300 meters, it was even deadlier than his sniper rifle, offering unparalleled lethality against all but the most heavily fortified superhumans. Fatty Xu chuckled nervously. Lets see if they even have the guts to survive your sniper fire first! Zhang Yi remained composed. This was routine for him. True mastery would be when he could snipe someone like Ling Feng from five kilometers awaythat would be a true testament to his power. --- Back at a safe distance, Wei Dinghai ordered his men to assess the damage. The report was grim: One vehicle is completely totaled, three more are severely damaged and may not make it back. Weve got two squad leaders lightly injured, and 35 soldiers are confirmed dead. Wei Dinghais expression darkened. They had brought 300 elite soldiersChaoyus finest. And now, before even reaching Zhang Yis Shelter, they had already lost a tenth of their forces. This this is a disaster. Zhang Yis team has a superhuman this powerful? It doesnt make sense! As a top-tier superhuman himself, Wei Dinghai had a deep understanding of what superhumans were capable of. But he couldnt fathom anyone being able to snipe from 3.5 kilometers away, penetrate 3mm steel plating, and decimate soldiers so effortlessly. Could Tianhai City have produced an Epsilon-level superhuman? he wondered aloud. No, its not that extreme, he reasoned after a moment. This sniper is just incredibly specialized in long-range combat. That means his close-range abilities must be weak. Wei Dinghai quickly formulated a plan. To achieve such excellence in one area, there must be a glaring weakness elsewhere. If we can close the distance, we can exploit his blind spots. He tapped his chin thoughtfully. Once we breach the Shelter, that so-called death sniper will no longer pose a threat. At that moment, Chen Jingguan climbed back into the vehicle, his face pale from the strain of blocking Zhang Yis bullets. Boss, that sniper is too dangerous. We cant keep advancing head-on. I suggest we take a detour, even if its longer, to avoid him. Wei Dinghai stroked his beard, contemplating. A detour? Based on Zhang Yis effective range of 3.5 kilometers, a detour would require a significant reroute. Chen Jingguan pulled out a satellite phone, opening a map. Here, he said, pointing to Xu Family Town. We can launch our attack from this direction. The terrain has plenty of cover, which will make it harder for him to target us. Wei Dinghai nodded. Not a bad idea, but lets hold off on any action for now. Find a place to hide. Hide? Chen Jingguan asked, puzzled. But he already knows were here. Whats the point? Wei Dinghais lips curled into a cold smile, his eyes flashing with cruelty. That snipers wrath shouldnt just be our burden. Let the others feel what its like to be hunted like animals. Chen Jingguans eyes widened in realization. The Western factions were only temporarily united. Once this battle was over, they would inevitably turn on each other in their scramble for territory. If Wei Dinghai could maneuver the other factions into suffering similar losses to that sniper, it would make them easier to deal with laterand Chaoyu would benefit from their weakened state. Author''s Note Chapter 408: Full Counterattack Chapter 408: Full Counterattack The loss of dozens of subordinates left Wei Dinghai in a foul mood. Yet, the confrontation yielded a crucial piece of intelligencethe sniper was far less lethal against superhumans. At least against Chen Jingguans formidable defense, the snipers bullets failed to penetrate. The role of ordinary soldiers on the battlefield is becoming increasingly limited, Wei Dinghai muttered to himself. It seems the future will truly belong to superhumans. This revelation deepened his conviction. He decided to stay put, deliberately withholding the information about the snipers power from the other factions. Before long, Yangsheng Bases convoy arrived from a different direction. As they entered Zhang Yis effective range, the hunt began anew. This time, Zhang Yi refined his approach. He targeted the vehicles tires first, leaving several immobilized before picking off the drivers. As more vehicles were disabled, chaos spread through Yangsheng Bases convoy. The initial response mirrored Chaoyu Basesrely on the vehicles for cover while searching for the hidden sniper. Lacking prior warning, their tactics were predictable. Confident in their superior numbers and firepower, they believed they could flush out and eliminate the sniper. But that miscalculation allowed Zhang Yi to systematically eliminate his targets. Heads exploded into bloody mists, and limbs protruding from vehicle gaps were shattered in an instant. Ahhhh! My hand! My hand! For the dead, their suffering was over. But for the wounded, the agony was unbearable. They writhed on the ground, their screams piercing the cold air like knives. Zhang Yi ignored them. The wounded were as good as dead, and their cries served to demoralize the rest of the enemy. --- Xiao Honglian quickly seized control of the situation, issuing firm orders. Find that damn sniper and take him out! No one ambushes us like this and lives to tell about it! But despite their efforts, her soldiers failed to locate Zhang Yi. No one could have imagined a sniper capable of hitting targets accurately from 3.5 kilometers away. Even if they identified his position, not a single superhuman or soldier in Tianhai City could retaliate effectively from that distance. Sometimes, even Zhang Yi underestimated his own strength. But in battle, his adversaries were always reminded of his devastating prowess. --- Suddenly, a blur of white streaked across the battlefield. As one of Zhang Yis bullets streaked toward the convoy, the white figure leapt into its path. Sparks erupted as the bullet was deflected mid-air, forcing the figure to stagger back from the impact. Oh? Finally, someone interesting? Zhang Yi muttered, his lips curling into a faint smirk. Adjusting his scope, he focused on the figurea tall, wiry humanoid with a wolf-like head and silvery-gray fur. It was a beast-type superhuman, his agility and strength explaining how he could deflect a bullet with his bare hands. As Zhang Yi observed him, the beastmans sharp eyes located the snipers position. That far? Liu Xian, nicknamed Mad Dog, narrowed his eyes. Even with his speed and reflexes, it was an incredibly difficult distance to cover. If it were a one-on-one fight, he could have closed the distance in seconds. But Zhang Yis fortified position inside the Shelter made such a move reckless. Before Liu Xian could act, another bullet whistled toward him. Growling, Liu Xian bared his fangs and charged, his body a blur as he intercepted the projectile. Zhang Yi remained composed, firing repeatedly. Each shot cost him only a bullet and a small amount of energy, while a single mistake could cost Liu Xian his life. One shot. Two shots. Three shots. By the third, Liu Xians claws were trembling, his stamina waning. Even as a beast-type superhuman with a robust physique, the relentless barrage was taking its toll. Despite his fatigue, Liu Xians lips curled into a sly grin. Its ready! he snarled. --- From one of the convoys armored vehicles, a dark green cannon barrel emerged. The artillery operator quickly took aim at Zhang Yis position and fired. The shell roared through the air, hurtling toward the attic of the Shelter. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. They brought heavy artillery? Interesting. But as the shell approached, it vanished as if it had plunged into water. It had disappeared into Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate, never reaching its target. Inside the armored vehicle, the artillery crew waited for the expected explosion. Was it a dud? one gunner asked, confused. Moments later, a bullet pierced through the gunners torso, slicing him in half. His bisected body crumpled to the floor, eliciting horrified screams from his comrades. The surviving artillery operators, pale and shaking, scrambled to reload. Fear gripped them, but desperation drove them to continue firing. Several more shells were launched toward Zhang Yis position. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. --- Moments later, the artillery shells reappearedthis time, hurtling back toward the convoy. Get down! someone screamed in terror. The first shell detonated near the vehicles, a thunderous explosion sending snow and debris soaring into the air. More explosions followed in quick succession. The powerful blasts caused vehicles to tilt precariously, their occupants thrown violently about. Liu Xian roared as he leapt into action, his body expanding as he tried to intercept one of the shells. But the power of the shells was not comparable to that of sniper bullets. Liu Xian gave it his all, his muscles bulging as he leapt to meet the incoming projectiles, his claws slashing desperately to deflect their paths. Boom! The first shell shifted slightly off course, exploding to the side of the convoy. The blast sent snow and debris surging into the sky like a tidal wave. Boom! Boom! More shells followed, each veering slightly from their original trajectories, but their proximity still sent shockwaves through the area. Vehicles tilted precariously, their occupants thrown violently against the interiors. Liu Xian roared in defiance, but the immense force of the final explosion hurled him across the snowfield. He skidded to a stop, blood dripping from his mouth as his body trembled under the strain. The convoy itself was in disarray. Though the cars had avoided catastrophic damage, the panic and confusion left them vulnerable. Xiao Honglian, her sharp gaze taking in the chaos, made a swift decision. Retreat! she commanded, her voice cutting through the cacophony of cries and explosions. Her forces wasted no time, scrambling to pull back as the snowstorm of destruction began to settle, leaving behind shattered confidence and wounded pride. Author''s Note Chapter 409: Hidden Agendas Chapter 409: Hidden AgendasIn the convoy from Yangsheng Base, many soldiers threw out smoke bombs, quickly creating a thick fog that obscured the surrounding view. Zhang Yi casually hummed a tune as he fired his rifle indiscriminately. Yangsheng Base suffered even heavier losses than Chaoyu Base. Zhang Yi had damaged several vehicle tires and tracks right from the start, rendering them immobile. Additionally, their attempts to counterattack wasted valuable time. During this window, Zhang Yi injured Liu Xian and killed over a dozen soldiers. Despite the significant losses, Xiao Honglian still refused to launch a direct assault on the Shelter. Much like Chaoyu Base, they couldnt afford to throw all their resources into a single attack. Since this was a joint offensive by the Western Alliance, everyone had to contribute and share the brunt of the Shelter''s firepower. After abandoning several vehicles and losing over a dozen lives, Yangsheng Base retreated to a safer area. A sniper with incredible abilities, who can even counter artillery strikes. We can''t be certain if this is one person or two with separate abilities, Xiao Honglian said, her expression grim. Either way, both powers are terrifying in their own right. Vehicles and common soldiers werent the biggest concern. What truly mattered was understanding the opponent''s strength. Zhang Yi''s display had delivered a massive shock to everyone. Yangsheng Bases elite forces were rendered completely helpless, forced to retreat in disarray. I finally understand now, Xiao Honglian muttered to herself, why a handful of them were able to hold off West Hill Base for an entire month. Some thoughts she couldnt voice in front of her subordinates. But based on her assessment, the sniper in the Shelter could rival her own abilities. Zhuge Qingtian ordered everyone to hold their positions and had Liu Xian begin treating his injuries. Fortunately, although many had died, the core combat units remained intact, and morale wasnt entirely broken. He approached Xiao Honglians vehicle and asked for instructions. Leader, what should we do next? A frontal assault could work, but were still seven kilometers from Cloud Manor. Along the way, we lack effective means to counter their sniper. If their ability can reflect attacks, it would render firearms and artillery almost useless. Xiao Honglian glanced at him with a calm, unbothered look. Whats there to fear? They only have a handful of Superhumans. Theres no way they can maintain prolonged combat. Our combined forces from the Western Alliance total in the thousands. Even a war of attrition would crush them eventually. However, we shouldnt press forward for now. Let the others take the lead instead. Let that sniper waste his energy and powers on them. Zhuge Qingtian nodded and relayed the order for everyone to rest. Meanwhile, Xiao Honglian picked up her satellite phone to call Wei Dinghai of Chaoyu Base. Hello, Wei Dinghai. Where are you now? On the other end, Wei Dinghai responded, Oh, well be there shortly. Have you arrived yet? Xiao Honglian smirked. Not yet. Our route is longer, so well probably be the last to arrive. But dont worry; well make it in time as planned. Wei Dinghai chuckled. Ah, I thought you were already there. I wanted to ask about the situation on your end. Xiao Honglian laughed. What a coincidence! We both had the same thought! Alright, lets talk when we meet then. After they hung up, both of them thought the same thing: Go ahead and taste that snipers bullets first. From Zhang Yis perspective, the two convoys came and left quickly after suffering a few casualties. Only a few dead, and youre retreating already? Are you planning something sneaky again? The open snowfield gave Zhang Yi a massive advantage. Still, he knew his opponents werent fools. Having suffered once, they would undoubtedly choose alternative routes to avoid his sniping range. But that didnt matter. As long as they launched their attack from the Shelter''s front, theyd still fall within his line of fire. Ill make sure everyone knows this: today, Im claiming all the grunts on this battlefield as my own! Zhang Yi grinned wickedly. The others could only look at him with exasperation. Liang Yue shook her head. If she hadnt seen it with her own eyes, she would never believe this man had taken down the nearly invincible melee commander Ling Feng. Youre already this strong, yet you insist on being so... evasive! Fatty Xu hurriedly shouted, Boss, if you have a chance, take out the Superhumans first! Thatll ease the pressure on us at the front line. Superhumans were the real problem in prolonged combat. Zhang Yi replied indifferently, Oh, Ill try. But dont get your hopes up. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For Superhumans whove survived this long, especially Enhancement and Beast Types, firearms are barely effective anymore. He shrugged. You know, my strength only doubles against enemies Ive marked as amateurs. If I think an opponent is strong, Ill instinctively go into stealth mode. Fatty Xu twitched at the mouth. I hereby declare you the ultimate golden left hand! Zhang Yi smirked. But I usually prefer my right handor both. Though Zhang Yi spoke nonchalantly, everyone knew he was deliberately downplaying his capabilities. He never exaggerated his strength, ensuring enemies underestimated him and teammates didnt overly depend on him. But when Zhang Yi truly wanted someone dead, his methods could push the boundaries of cruelty and cunning. Scanning the distance through his tactical scope, Zhang Yi observed a deathly still landscape, brimming with tension, like the calm before a storm. Ive intentionally revealed my ability to reflect attacks. This should deter them from using heavy weapons, which buys our first line of defense more time. Without heavy artillery, breaking through the 10-meter-thick ice wall will be extremely difficult. Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate had limited coverageit couldnt shield the entire front line spanning kilometers. However, by showcasing it as a threat, he maximized its strategic value. I wonder whos coming next? he murmured, cradling his rifle. It didnt take long for his question to be answered. From the distant snowfield, a massive group of Bai Xue Jiao devotees approached on foot, numbering in the thousands. Well... I wont waste my bullets on them, Zhang Yi said, shaking his head. He should have expected it. Bai Xue Jiao would undoubtedly send their zealous followers to march toward their deaths. Author''s Note Chapter 410: The Five-Army Battle Chapter 410: The Five-Army BattleFollowing Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base, the members of Bai Xue Jiao arrived near the battlefield. Unlike the others, their strength lay in sheer numbers. Although the cultists were not particularly skilled in combat, they were fearless and fanatical, thanks to Bai Xue Jiao''s brainwashing. Many firmly believed that dying in the holy war would send their souls to a paradise filled with flowers and feasts. This time, Bai Xue Jiaos High Priest, Zheng Yixian, led over a thousand followers. Despite being closest to Yuelu Manor, their lack of vehicles delayed their arrival. Zhang Yi refrained from attacking them immediately. For one, killing ordinary cultists was pointless. For another, there was a tenuous agreement that they might assist him if necessary. Through the comms channel, Zhang Yi notified everyone: Bai Xue Jiao has arrived. Now, all three factions are here except for Qingfu Base. Liang Yues eyes burned with eagerness, her killing intent almost palpable. Ever since learning that Yangsheng Base was nearby, she had been itching to avenge her fallen students. Only their blood could assuage her guilt and sorrow. Uncle You, however, remained rational and asked, Werent Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base supposed to be our allies? What if they charge the lines? Do we kill them? Zhang Yis reply was decisive: Anyone approaching the defensive line dies. No exceptions! Allies or not, they were wolves in sheep''s clothing. The moment Zhang Yis side showed weakness, theyd undoubtedly join the assault on the Shelter. Understood. That simplifies things, Uncle You said, visibly relieved. He lifted a tarp to reveal a stash of ammunition and two Gatling guns. These heavy-caliber cannons could tear through armored vehicles, let alone human targets. After arriving at the battlefield, Bai Xue Jiao found no sign of the other factions, which struck them as odd. They immediately tried to contact the other groups. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai, eager to see more of Bai Xue Jiao''s forces expended, pretended they hadnt arrived yet and advised Zheng Yixian to wait near Cloud Manor. Although Zheng Yixian sensed something amiss, he didnt press further. After all, they were only here to exploit opportunities, not to risk their lives against Zhang Yi. If Zhang Yi can fend off a few waves and deplete the other factions forces, well strike them from behind, Zheng Yixian said with a smile. If Zhang Yi fails, well just break our agreement and join the looting. There are no eternal friends or enemies, only eternal interests, he added. Not long after Bai Xue Jiao settled near the Shelter, Qingfu Base also arrived. Their transportation was primitive, relying on a pack of sturdy sled dogs. Their leader, Xing Tian, and his adopted daughter, Zhou Lingling, rode massive mutant hounds, followed by over 500 men in white combat gear, their presence intimidating. The sleds carried not only firearms and ammunition but also specialized melee weaponsgiant axes, war hammers, cleavers, and steel-forged shieldsevoking a sense of returning to an era of cold weapons. From a distance, Xing Tian used binoculars to observe the Shelter. He instructed his men, No one is to attack Zhang Yis Shelter without my order. Were here to enjoy the show. ... The factions of the Western Alliance finally assembled, marking the time for their coordinated attack. As the instigator of this operation, Xiao Honglian initiated a group call with the other leaders. Everyones in position, right? As per our plan, well attack the Shelter from multiple directions, she said. Xing Tian replied, Well approach from behind for a surprise assault! S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wei Dinghai sounded puzzled. The Shelter is backed by low hills. Are you planning to climb over them? The hills, though only about a hundred meters high, were difficult to scale in the snowstorm, let alone serve as a vantage point for an attack. Xing Tian smirked inwardly. He had no intention of fighting and chose the rear to avoid being noticed slacking off. Precisely. Its the element of surprise! You handle the front; well deal with the back. The others had no objections, even if they had doubts. Each faction in the Western Alliance operated independently, and no one could command another. Unbeknownst to Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai, Xing Tian had already made a secret deal with Zhang Yi. From their perspective, this was a surefire operation destined for victory. Fine, then. The frontal assault is up to the three of us, Wei Dinghai agreed. Xiao Honglian added, By the way, theres a very strong sniper among them. Be cautious. Additionally, one of them has the ability to reflect artillery attacks. So think twice before using heavy weaponry; it might backfire and harm us instead. Wei Dinghai chimed in, Yes, I wanted to mention that. Weve already suffered some losses because of it. Both assumed Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base had also encountered Zhang Yis attacks and shared this information to avoid friendly fire. Got it, Xing Tian and Zheng Yixian replied indifferently. Neither had any real intention of fighting, preferring to watch from the sidelines. However, learning about Zhang Yis rare spatial abilities and his capability to counter heavy weapons still surprised them. After all, this rendered their heavy firepower useless. Using artillery in such circumstances was akin to signing their own death warrants. Alright, lets synchronize. At 2:30, well launch the attack from all directions, Xiao Honglian concluded. Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base opted to approach Cloud Manor via Xu Family Town, one of the few areas offering some cover. To counter Zhang Yis sniping, they fortified their formation. Heavily armored vehicles with thick steel plating led the charge, while lighter ones followed behind. They also used snow or smoke bombs to obscure Zhang Yis vision. Concerned about Zhang Yis spatial reflection ability, they abandoned long-range artillery tactics, opting for close-range breakthroughs instead. Zhang Yi observed these developments calmly. This was all within his expectations. His enemies werent fools who would charge recklessly into his crosshairs. But if they wanted to break through, theyd eventually have to disembark from their vehicles, exposing themselves. There was no rush. A good hunter always has patience. Just then, Yang Xinxins voice came through his earpiece. Brother Zhang Yi, enemies spotted at the rear hills! Zhang Yis eyes sharpened. Yang Xinxin, stationed in the control room, relayed information quickly via surveillance. Moving deftly in a mechanized wheelchair crafted by Lu Keran, she transmitted the visuals to Zhang Yi. Upon seeing the figures in the rear hills, Zhang Yis expression relaxed. So, its them! No need to worry; theyre just here to slack off, Zhang Yi said. The terrain in the rear hills was too poor for any effective assault. The slopes were steep, between 70 and 80 degrees, making a charge down them practically suicidal. Without Zhang Yi even firing a shot, theyd injure themselves. Xing Tians motives were crystal clear. He was here to spectate, nothing more. Author''s Note Chapter 411: Unexpected Firepower Chapter 411: Unexpected FirepowerZhang Yi wasnt particularly concerned about Xing Tian and his groups appearance at the rear mountain. He had anticipated this scenario while fortifying the defensive lines. That area was a natural chokepoint, and he had planted numerous triggered landmines on the slopes. Anyone attempting to descend there would have no means of clearing the mines and would inevitably be blown to pieces. Enemies sighted! Prepare for battle! Zhang Yis voice rang out sharply over the comms. Everyone in the Shelter immediately entered a state of heightened focus. This battle would decide their survival. With a rumble, the armored convoys from Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases advanced toward the Shelters outer perimeter. Soldiers clad in combat gear and armed to the teeth marched in formation, supported by powerful Superhumans ready to strike from the shadows. To these forces, victory seemed assured. Meanwhile, the followers of Bai Xue Jiao approached from another direction, armed with an eclectic mix of modern firearms and primitive weapons like spears and broadswords. As they drew closer, Zhang Yi waited until the leading vehicles were within 300 meters of the defensive line before shouting, Fire! In the control room, Yang Xinxin decisively pressed a button. Suddenly, cracks appeared along the icy walls facing the advancing forces of Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases. Massive cannon barrels and gun turrets emerged from within. The front line erupted with deafening explosions as heavy artillery, tank cannons, and machine guns roared to life. Even heavily armored vehicles were obliterated, sent flying into those behind them. Boom! Boom! Boom! The earth-shaking detonations stunned all factions. Artillery? Tanks? Machine guns? Where the hell did they get all this firepower? Zheng Yixian was dumbfounded. Fortunately, his followers had been slow to advance; otherwise, theyd have been mowed down. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai were equally shocked. They couldnt believe their eyes. These heavy weapons were supposedly exclusive to West Hill Base, the most powerful faction in Tianhai City. Did they loot West Hill Bases arsenal? Xiao Honglian muttered. How is this even possible? West Hill Bases firepower was unparalleled, but transporting heavy weapons was always a logistical nightmare, limiting their use in battle. Yet today, Zhang Yi had somehow deployed them against his enemies, making them his test subjects. Scatter and retaliate immediately! Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai barked orders to their troops, who hurriedly spread out to avoid being annihilated. Caught off guard, however, they had already suffered heavy casualties. Many soldiers were obliterated, and armored vehicles were destroyed in the opening salvo. Its just an ice wall. Break through it, and victory is ours, Xiao Honglian said coldly. Although taken by surprise, she remained calm. Wu Huairen had assured her that the Shelter had no automated weapon systems, only a sturdy outer shell. If they could breach the perimeter defenses, the battle would turn in their favor. Fearing complete annihilation, soldiers disembarked from their vehicles with their weapons. But stepping away from their armored cover only made them easy targets for Zhang Yi. Standing in a tower with his rifle protected by the Dimensional Gate, Zhang Yi began sniping. The process was monotonous: aim, pull the trigger, reload. But with each pull of the trigger, another life was snuffed out. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Since the apocalypse began, Zhang Yi had honed his sniping skills to instinctual perfection. On average, he killed one soldier every three seconds. The unanticipated presence of heavy artillery caught Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases off guard, resulting in catastrophic losses. Their modified vehicles, despite their reinforcements, couldnt withstand the onslaught, and even their siege cannons were destroyed before they could be deployed. Meanwhile, Xing Tian, who had planned to spectate from the rear mountain, couldnt help but swallow nervously. So thats why Zhang Yi dares to face so many factions at once. He had this up his sleeve, Xing Tian murmured, silently thanking his foresight in choosing to slack off at the back. Turning to his men, he ordered, Fire your guns and make some noise. Just dont aim at anyone! A bald subordinate scratched his head in confusion. Boss, theres no one here to shoot at. Xing Tian smacked the man on the head. I said fire! Dont ask questions. And make sure you dont hit anyone! Im an honest man. If I take someones stuff, I see it through to the end. Unless Zhang Yi loses, were not stabbing him in the back! Gunfire erupted from the rear mountain, creating the illusion of an intense battle. Meanwhile, on the front lines, the fight was anything but fake. The combined forces of two major bases were being decimated, their casualties mounting rapidly. Fearing suspicion if he remained idle, Zheng Yixian ordered a wave of cultists to charge the defensive line. Over a hundred followers, armed with crude weapons and makeshift guns, screamed as they rushed toward the Shelter. But the flat terrain offered no cover, and they were shredded by machine-gun fire before coming within 100 meters. Frowning, Zheng Yixian realized Zhang Yi wasnt holding back at all. Reluctantly, he kept up the charade, sending more cultists to their deaths. This isnt working. We underestimated the Shelters firepower, Xiao Honglian muttered through gritted teeth. Looking at the carnage around her, she began to regret her decisions. Who would have thought that a team cobbled together by a warehouse clerk during the apocalypse could wield firepower rivaling a military base? Wei Dinghais voice came over the comms. We need to breach their outer defenses together! Most of their firepower is concentrated here. If we break through, theyll be at a severe disadvantage. Xiao Honglian responded, Understood! Wei Dinghais Ice Fortress ability would be crucial now. Suppress their fire and support Chaoyu Bases advance! Xiao Honglian ordered. Meanwhile, Zheng Yixian reluctantly continued to send cultists to their deaths, while Xing Tian laughed and directed his men to fire harmlessly into the sky. Back on the battlefield, Wei Dinghai stepped forward, encased in crystalline ice armor. His entire body shimmered as he melted seamlessly into the icy terrain. Suddenly, amidst the chaos, a section of the ice wall exploded violently. What? Zhang Yi and the others turned toward the unexpected breach. Amidst the flying snow and debris, they spotted Wei Dinghai, his figure wrapped in thick ice armor, a mocking smirk on his face. In a world of ice and snow, I am king, Wei Dinghai declared. Machine guns and artillery were useless against a powerful Ice Element Superhuman like him. From the far distance, Zhang Yi couldnt unleash his Divine Power in time. With the breach opened, the allied forces surged forward, roaring as they crossed the gap. Within moments, hundreds of soldiers poured into the area before the Shelter. Wei Dinghai pressed his hand against the wall, activating his ability. The remaining sections of the ice barrier shattered like paper, leaving the steel framework beneath crumbling in its wake. Even Zhang Yi couldnt help but tense up, his pupils narrowing. Wei Dinghais power far surpassed anything they had faced so far, eclipsing even Fatty Xus abilities. Author''s Note Chapter 412: Battle! Chapter 412: Battle!Lets begin! Zhang Yi said calmly. He wasnt surprised that the defensive line was breached. After all, it was merely an ice wall, incapable of withstanding every attack. What did catch him off guard was the sheer strength of the Ice Element Superhuman, who had ripped through the wall like tearing paper. But Zhang Yi had contingencies. Behind the breached line was the second layer of defense: Uncle You, Liang Yue, and the others. Wei Dinghai laughed as he effortlessly shattered the ice wall, tearing a massive gap into it. Yet, in that moment, a chilling killing intent locked onto him. Wei Dinghais pupils narrowed as a sharp, icy gleam flashed past his neck. Crack! The thick ice armor protecting his neck shattered, scattering blue ice crystals. Wei Dinghai awkwardly rolled on the ground to dodge the fatal blow. When he looked up, he saw a woman wielding a long, narrow blade, her eyes brimming with murderous intent. She broke through my ice armor? Wei Dinghai muttered, now on high alert. His armor, forged of solid ice crystals, had a defensive strength comparable to high-grade synthetic metals. Yet this woman had nearly severed his neck in a single strike! Not bad! Wei Dinghai had no intention of continuing the duel. He immediately melded into the snow beneath him, where his power was at its peak. Liang Yue frowned and shouted, Fatty Xu! Fatty Xu arrived just in time to see another Ice Element Superhuman, clearly stronger than him. He sighed in reliefthis was a fight he didnt need to take on himself. Without hesitation, Fatty Xu ripped up a large patch of the snowy ground. The thin snow layer surrounding the Shelter, a result of both terrain and prior battles, made it easy to expose the earth beneath. Realizing the danger, Wei Dinghai had no choice but to surface from the snow. Liang Yue, prepared for this moment, struck with a blade full of killing intent. Crack! Her blade, over a meter long, released an arc of energy three meters wide, slicing through the pale blue ice armor on Wei Dinghais chest. He gasped in pain as a thin red line of blood appeared, seeping through the broken armor. Gritting his teeth, Wei Dinghai used his powers to quickly regenerate the ice layer over his wound, staunching the bleeding. He hadnt expected the Shelter to harbor someone so skilled in close combat. Despite being injured, Wei Dinghai had achieved his objective: breaching the defensive line. He retreated through the gap, avoiding further confrontation with Liang Yue. As Liang Yue prepared to pursue him, a wave of enemy soldiers, armed and charging, surged through the gap. Bullets rained down like a storm. Taking a deep breath, Liang Yue drew her blade and charged straight into the mass of enemies. Fatty Xu shouted in alarm, Teacher Liang, dont be reckless! But Zhang Yis calm voice cut through. Just hold the gap. Let her go. Liang Yue needed to vent her rage. Allowing her to slaughter the enemy would help release her inner turmoil. It was her choice, and Zhang Yi wouldnt stop her. Stay alert! The big players are about to join the fight! he warned. At this stage of the battle, ordinary soldiers were becoming less relevant. Superhumans would now determine the outcome. As expected, with the breach in the defensive line, the firepower net faltered, relieving much of the pressure on the allied forces. Xiao Honglian leaped onto the hood of an armored vehicle, took a swig from her flask of high-proof alcohol, and spat out a long stream of fire that coiled into a blazing dragon. The remaining ice walls melted instantly, and the weapons concealed within were rendered ineffective. The allied forces cheered and surged forward, exhilarated by the open path ahead. The expanse before them was clear, with the Shelter standing alone in the distance. Victory is ours! Charge! Mad Dog Liu Xian howled in excitement, dropping to all fours and racing toward the breach at breakneck speed. But just as the soldiers approached, a sudden blizzard swept through. Fatty Xu summoned the snow, creating obstacles at the breach. Standing guard was the now-enlarged Hua Hua, who roared so thunderously that it caused hundreds of soldiers to clutch their ears in pain, some bleeding, and others collapsing in disorientation. Boom! Boom! Boom! Heavy footsteps approached as Uncle You transformed into a two-meter-tall giant. Bare-chested and draped in ammunition belts, he carried two Gatling guns, positioning himself at the breach. RAAARGH! Uncle You roared, pulling the triggers. Blazing streams of bullets tore through the snowstorm, striking and dismembering soldiers caught in their path. Thud! Thud! Thud! Blood mist filled the air as high-powered bullets shattered bodies. Soldiers, despite their bulletproof gear, fell like wheat under a scythe. Meanwhile, Liang Yue was in a frenzy on another battlefield. Her Strength Enhancement ability amplified her speed, power, reflexes, and even her senses. Coupled with her expertise as a Martial Arts Master, she was unstoppable. Each swing of her blade claimed another life. Her eyes locked on Xiao Honglian, standing aflame atop an armored vehicle. Rage surged as Liang Yue charged, blade aimed at her foe. But a sharp glint of steel suddenly streaked toward her neck. Clang! Liang Yues blade deflected the strike, revealing Mad Dog Liu Xian glaring at her with predatory intent. You cant just cut my men down like theyre nothing, he growled. Xiao Honglian spared Liang Yue a fleeting glance before dismissing her. As a commander, she had bigger concerns than an enemy soldier. But Liang Yues eyes glowed a sinister red, her aura exuding an eerie malevolence unfamiliar even to her allies. Liu Xian smirked, sensing her growing ferocity. Interesting, he hissed, his tongue flicking out as he crouched. His body began to enlarge, claws and fangs extending like blades. Liang Yue calmly sheathed her blade and lowered her stance. Her mastery of martial arts included techniques from around the world, and her Iaido strike was among her deadliest. Liu Xian, beast-like and bloodthirsty, lunged at her with inhuman speed, leaving afterimages in his wake. His gray wolf mutation granted him unparalleled agility and power, able to block even sniper bullets. But as he closed in, Liang Yue closed her eyes. The battlefield stilled. In a flash, Liu Xians claws slashed toward her neck. But her blade struck first, severing both his arms and slashing through his throat in a fluid motion. Liu Xians body continued to rush forward, his head and limbs finally tumbling to the ground some distance away. ... Back at the breach, Uncle You, Hua Hua, and Fatty Xu held the line, slaughtering countless soldiers. But the arrival of allied Superhumans turned the tide. Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases had plenty of skilled fighters, and with the defensive line breached, their abilities came to the forefront. Although injured, Wei Dinghai retreated. But five more Superhumans joined the fray. Uncle You was still firing his Gatling guns when a white blur zipped past his side. A moment later, Chen Jingguan, Wei Dinghais lieutenant, wrapped himself around Uncle You like a boneless serpent, constricting him tightly. My body cant even be pierced by sniper bullets. You think you can break free? Chen Jingguan sneered, his Rubber Man abilities making him the perfect counter to Uncle Yous brute strength. Just then, Hua Hua roared, stunning Chen Jingguan long enough for Uncle You to pry him off and toss him aside. But more Superhumans were closing in. Realizing the futility of holding the line, Zhang Yi issued a command. Everyone, fall back to the Shelter! Liang Yue, that includes you. Vengeance wont help now. Be rational! Hearing the order, the team began a tactical retreat. Liang Yue glanced at the wolfs head in her hand, a strange light flickering in her eyes. With blood splattered across her face, she wiped it clean and silently obeyed, retreating to the Shelter. Her abilities were nearly drained, and without Yang Siyahs prepared provisions, she wouldnt have lasted this long. Despite the bitter fight, Liang Yues gains were significant. But continuing the battle was pointless; she couldnt reach Xiao Honglian, her ultimate target. Sarch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 413: The Backstab Chapter 413: The BackstabLiang Yue returned behind the defensive line, and Zhang Yi finally exhaled in relief. Thankfully, she hadnt foolishly thrown her life away. The team retreated toward the Shelters entrance under the cover of Zhang Yis sniper fire and the protection of the Dimensional Gate. As they regrouped, Zhang Yi glanced toward the Bai Xue Jiao cultists, who were still idly spectating. Still watching? Heh. Deciding it was time to teach them a lesson, Zhang Yi resolved to make them understand that standing by idly wouldnt come without consequences. Xinxin, aim all remaining firepower at Bai Xue Jiao and fire a volley! The defenses on Bai Xue Jiaos side were largely intact. Zhang Yi hadnt pressed them hard earlier, and their half-hearted attacks hadnt caused much damage. Now that they continued to sit on the sidelines, Zhang Yi had no intention of being polite. He wasnt about to let anyone swoop in and steal the fruits of his labor. Yang Xinxin responded crisply, Understood! Her fingers danced across the keyboard, activating the firepower net aimed at Bai Xue Jiao. Zheng Yixian, who had been biding his time, planning to support the winning side, was caught off guard by the sudden barrage. The poorly equipped cultists suffered heavy casualties almost instantly. Zhang Yi, you... Zheng Yixian retreated to the rear of his forces, seething. He understood that Zhang Yi was enraged at their reluctance to commit to the fight. Meanwhile, soldiers from Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases were roaring as they pushed forward, converging in the open space before the Shelter. Bai Xue Jiaos hesitation could no longer continue. Taking a deep breath, Zheng Yixian murmured, Its time to move. He realized that Zhang Yi falling here would benefit no one. The other factions were the true enemies of Bai Xue Jiao. He ordered a group of cultists to advance toward the Shelter. The Shelter was now completely surrounded. Smoke bombs were thrown all around its perimeter, significantly disrupting Zhang Yis sniping capabilities. To avoid injuring his eyes, Zhang Yi refrained from using infrared vision, wary of potential flashbangs or grenades. Inside the Shelter, Liang Yue and the others watched the waves of soldiers surrounding them, their nerves tense. S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi, whats the plan? Do we abandon the upper two floors and retreat underground? Uncle You asked. No need to panic. The Shelters defenses wont fall so easily, Zhang Yi reassured him. As he spoke, a loud rumble echoed outside. Through the dissipating smoke, Zhang Yi caught sight of a massive engineering vehicle slowly advancing, forcing the crowd to part around it. Frowning, he sensed trouble. Opening his Spatial Storage, Zhang Yi retrieved crates of grenades and explosives. Protected by the Dimensional Gate, he began tossing them out of the windows. Explosions erupted in rapid succession, sending bodies and debris flying as screams of terror filled the air. Crate after crate, Zhang Yi continued to hurl explosives relentlessly. Having emptied West Hill Bases arsenal, he was never short of munitions. You think breaching the first line of defense means victory? How naive! Zhang Yi sneered, tossing out another bundle of explosives. The Shelter is my true stronghold! Within moments, over a hundred soldiers lay dead, and the rest scattered in panic, unable to retaliate against Zhang Yis deadly tactics. Some tried firing back, but their bullets passed through the Dimensional Gate and fell upon their own comrades. The repeated blasts eventually cleared the smoke, revealing the engineering vehicle again. Zhang Yi recognized the man driving it: Wu Huairen from the War Dragon Security Company. An old acquaintance. So, they brought him in. No wonder theyre so confident about attacking my Shelter! Zhang Yi muttered with a hint of malice. He immediately lobbed grenades at the vehicle. But the engineering vehicle was heavily protected, and Chen Jingguan, Chaoyu Bases Rubber Man, intercepted the grenades mid-air, deflecting them harmlessly. Wu Huairen seized the opportunity to maneuver the vehicle to the Shelters side. A long mechanical arm extended from the vehicle, releasing a thin blue flame that began cutting into the wall. Xiao Honglian, observing the operation, issued calm orders: Spread out and attack from the flanks. Obscure his line of sight! Thick mist enveloped the Shelters surroundings, further hindering Zhang Yis sniping efficiency. At that moment, Xiao Ais alarm sounded in Zhang Yis earpiece: Warning! Warning! High-temperature cutting detected on the Shelter wall. Damage at 0.001%. Continuous cutting? Zhang Yi asked, immediately grasping the situation. Based on the current rate, full penetration will take 1 hour and 29 minutes, Xiao Ai reported. Zhang Yi relaxed slightly. If simply breaking through the wall required so much time, creating an entry point large enough for soldiers would take an entire day. Plenty of time to inflict massive casualties. So they want to go all in, huh? Then lets see who breaks first! Zhang Yi growled, redoubling his efforts with grenades and sniper fire. While the smoke and mist reduced his accuracy, each hit still meant a confirmed kill. On the first floor, Uncle You and the others, unable to see the action outside, listened anxiously to the faint hissing sound of cutting. Boss, should we fall back? Fatty Xu asked nervously. Not yet. Hold your ground, Zhang Yi replied with calm authority. In less than 20 minutes, they were surrounded. While it appeared they were on the defensive, Zhang Yis team had managed to kill hundreds without losing a single membera testament to their resilience. Still, Wu Huairens involvement changed the stakes. Zhang Yi bided his time. He knew Bai Xue Jiao had been lurking, waiting to exploit an opportunity. With the other factions suffering heavy losses, would Bai Xue Jiao let such a chance slip by? Of course not. Meanwhile, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai, stationed at the rear, regarded the near-captured Shelter with relief. The battle had been far more grueling than expected. But with so many soldiers lost, Xiao Honglian thought grimly, At least well gain access to Zhang Yis supplies. Just then, Bai Xue Jiao cultists began mingling among the allied forces. At first, no one found this unusual; Bai Xue Jiao was ostensibly an ally. However, as over a hundred cultists spread out, smiles lit their faces. One cultist casually draped an arm around a soldier from Yangsheng Base, chatting amicably. Without warning, he reached for a trigger on his body. The bombs strapped to him detonated, engulfing soldiers from both factions in a massive explosion. Author''s Note Chapter 414: A Decisive Battle Chapter 414: A Decisive BattleBoth Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base believed victory was within their grasp. But no one expected the sudden, devastating explosions among their ranks. The soldiers were densely packed around the Shelter, and the Bai Xue Jiao cultists, strapped with crude explosives, sacrificed themselves to deadly effect. Though the explosives were basic, the sheer quantity was enough to inflict catastrophic damage. Fire erupted across the battlefield, and massive explosions engulfed the area surrounding the Shelter. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghais eyes widened in shock. Whats happening? Where did those explosions come from? They had taken precautions against landmines while advancing. How could there still be bombs? A panicked soldier reported, Its the Bai Xue Jiao cultists! Theyre carrying bombs and blowing themselves up to take us with them! What?! Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai were horrified. Those damned lunatics dare to attack us now? Before they could react, the cultistsled by Zheng Yixianlaunched a full-scale assault on the two bases. By now, the allied forces had suffered over 70% casualties, with fewer than 200 soldiers remaining between the two bases. In contrast, Bai Xue Jiao still had significant numbers. Despite their rudimentary weapons and lack of armor, the cultists charged forward, screaming fanatically with bloodshot eyes, ready to die for their cause. There is nothing more terrifying than an enemy unafraid of death. Zheng Yixians cold gaze gleamed with madness as he raised both hands, telekinetically lifting two massive armored vehicles and hurling them toward Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghais positions. You slimy rat! You set us up! Wei Dinghai and Xiao Honglians furious glares locked onto Zheng Yixian, their murderous intent palpable. If looks could kill, Zheng Yixian would have died a thousand deaths. Wei Dinghai conjured a barrier of ice to block the incoming vehicles, while Xiao Honglian smashed through the roof of her transport and leapt out, punching one of the vehicles aside with a single blow. From his vantage point, Zheng Yixian laughed maniacally. Ha ha ha ha ha! Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, your time is up! Bai Xue Jiao had endured humiliation for far too long. Every conflict forced them to pay a heavy price and bow to the major bases for mere survival. This moment of triumph was a cathartic release for Zheng Yixian, who relished the chance to vent his years of frustration. Youre all going to die! From now on, Tianhai City wont be your playground anymore! Zheng Yixian and his followers launched a frenzied assault. Caught between Bai Xue Jiao at their rear and the Shelter''s defenders at the front, the allied forces found themselves trapped with no escape route. Zhang Yis lips curled into a sly smile. Time to shut the doors and deal with the rats. With Bai Xue Jiao pressing from behind, and Zhang Yis team attacking from the Shelter, the allied forces were cornered. As the Shelter doors opened, Liang Yue and the others emerged, revitalized by Yang Siyahs specially prepared energy meals. They charged into the fray, slaughtering soldiers and Superhumans alike from behind. The tide of the battle turned rapidly, shocking everyone. Even Xing Tian, who had been posturing in the rear mountain, was dumbfounded. Why did Bai Xue Jiao suddenly betray them? After a moment of thought, a chill ran down his spine. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He realized that Bai Xue Jiao and Zhang Yi must have had a prior arrangement. Had Qingfu Base been part of the assault, they too would now be in the same dire situation as Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases. Lucky, lucky me! Xing Tian muttered, patting his chest in relief. His decision to sit out had not only spared his forces but also left them as one of the strongest remaining factions in Tianhai City. ... The battlefield devolved into utter chaos. Bai Xue Jiaos surprise attack was too much for the already battered allied forces. With Zhang Yis team suffering no casualties, they unleashed a savage counterattack. Uncle You roared as he wielded twin Gatling guns, spraying bullets into the enemy ranks. Liang Yue moved through the crowd like a tiger among sheep, each swing of her blade claiming another life. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi sniped Superhumans with terrifying precision, averaging one kill every two seconds. At a range of 300 meters, his Divine Power-enabled sniper rifle was unstoppable. With its auto-targeting capabilities, it locked onto heads with lethal accuracy. In the chaotic melee, many Superhumans became his unsuspecting victims. One, deliberating whether to fight or retreat, suddenly felt an immense force tugging at his neck. Before he could react, his head was torn clean from his shoulders. He died without ever knowing what hit him. Panic overtook Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. Desperately, they attempted to contact Xing Tian, hoping he would bring his forces to their aid. But no matter how many times they tried, there was no response. That bastard has betrayed us too! Wei Dinghai cursed, his spine tingling with fear. Earlier, he had assumed the commotion from the rear was Qingfu Base launching an attack. But now, surrounded and with no Qingfu troops in sight, the truth was painfully clear. Retreat! Theyve all colluded against us! If we dont leave now, itll be too late! Wei Dinghai didnt hesitate to rally his remaining forces for a retreat. Xiao Honglian, overcome with fury and disbelief, hesitated for a moment. Why had Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base turned on them? But anger was futile now. Continuing the fight would only lead to annihilation. As a leader, she couldnt afford such a gamble. Full retreat! she shouted. Gulping down another mouthful of pure alcohol, she unleashed a blazing dragon of fire at the Bai Xue Jiao cultists behind her, incinerating dozens of them. Her body radiated smoke and heat, her magma-like markings glowing as she tore a fiery path through the enemy. Even Zheng Yixian didnt dare confront her directly. While Bai Xue Jiao swarmed the allied forces, their fanatical cultists were no match for Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases Superhumans. With combined efforts, the allied forces carved a bloody escape route. Wu Huairen abandoned his attempts to cut through the Shelter wall and tried to flee in his engineering vehicle. But Zhang Yi had been watching him. A single bullet pierced Wu Huairens skull, eliminating the threat for good. By the end, fewer than 100 soldiers escaped, leaving behind a sea of corpses, wrecked vehicles, and abandoned weapons. Neither Zhang Yi nor Bai Xue Jiao pursued. For Bai Xue Jiao, they lacked the means to chase after vehicles. For Zhang Yi, he didnt want to provoke desperate retaliation that might endanger his team. Zheng Yixian raised his fist high, shouting, Victory! The cultists erupted into cheers, hugging one another in joy. This was Bai Xue Jiaos first triumph against the powerful base factionsa monumental turning point. Although they had lost over 500 members, most of the fallen were ordinary cultists, easily replaced. Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases, on the other hand, had lost their elite troopslosses that would take years to recover from. With their strength diminished, neither base would be able to challenge West Hill or Lu River anytime soon, nor could they harass Bai Xue Jiaos territory again. Author''s Note Chapter 415: Empty Shells Chapter 415: Empty ShellsChaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base fled in a disastrous retreat, leaving Zhang Yi and Bai Xue Jiao victorious. As Zhang Yi lowered his sniper rifle, he watched the battered remnants of the two bases retreat and glanced at the jubilant Bai Xue Jiao cultists celebrating their victory. For a fleeting moment, he felt tempted to turn his gun on them. The battle had dealt a devastating blow to all three factions, while Zhang Yis team emerged nearly unscathed. This success was largely due to Zhang Yis meticulous preparation, but it had come at a cost. The buildings surrounding the Shelter, including the villa where Uncle You and Fatty Xu resided, were almost entirely destroyed. The ice wall, which had taken days to construct, was 70% ruined. This grueling battle gave Zhang Yi a profound understanding of the horrors of large-scale warfare. Bai Xue Jiaos fanatical, fearless tactics left a lasting impression. Despite this, Zhang Yi dismissed the idea of attacking them. Bai Xue Jiaos members were too many, and their deaths too easily replaced. Sacrificing his team to take them down wasnt worth it. He descended the Shelter and cast a glance toward the rear mountain. As expected, Xing Tian had kept his promise, merely observing the fight from afar. Zhang Yi couldnt help but regard Xing Tian with a newfound respect. The man, it seemed, was as trustworthy as his word. Of course, this reliability was likely due to the strength Zhang Yi had displayedtrust was often built on power. Zhang Yi pulled out his phone and messaged Xing Tian: You can come to collect the remaining food now. Xing Tian replied quickly: Give me a moment; theres something else I need to handle first. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Yi could guess what that something else might be. But it wasnt his concern, so he shrugged it off and turned his attention back to his team. Outside the Shelter, Liang Yue, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua were all bloodied and exhausted. The energy-boosting food prepared by Yang Siyah had kept them going through the intense combat, but they were visibly drained. Alright, everyone. We won! Zhang Yi declared, patting each of them on the shoulder. When he reached Liang Yue, he noticed how rigid her shoulders felt, like steel. Its over. The fights done. Youve avenged your students, he said gently. Liang Yues icy, murderous gaze melted, and she leaned weakly against him. Only then did Zhang Yi notice the deep gash across her neck. Though the bleeding had stopped, the sight of the wound was chilling. His eyes narrowed as he quickly carried her back into the Shelter, heading for the medical room. The reckless charge she had made into the enemy ranks had drawn an immense amount of fire. That she survived at all was nothing short of miraculous. Once inside, he handed her over to Zhou Keer, whose gasp of horror at the sight of Liang Yues wound spurred her into immediate action. Grabbing her medical tools, Zhou Keer set to work cleaning and stitching the wound. ... As the aftermath unfolded, Zhang Yi prepared to finalize matters with Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base. Bai Xue Jiao had suffered heavy losses, including some of their Superhumans. Yet for them, the outcome was worth the cost. They had secured a rare opportunity to develop without interference, something they were eager to seize. Still wary of their fanatical nature, Zhang Yi approached Zheng Yixian. From a distance, he called out: This fight is over. You can leave now. From this day forward, the West Hill Base territory is mine. None of your people are allowed to approach without my permission! Zheng Yixian, fully aware of Zhang Yis overwhelming strength, bowed respectfully. Thank you for helping us win this war. As agreed, no one from Bai Xue Jiao will come near your land, except for our missionaries. Zheng Yixian understood that without Zhang Yis team tying down the bulk of the allied forces, Bai Xue Jiao could never have stood up to the two major bases. He also recognized that Zhang Yi had likely coordinated with Qingfu Base beforehand. Had Bai Xue Jiao chosen not to side with Zhang Yi, their gains would have been minimal at best. I hope that we can coexist peacefully and respectfully moving forward, Zheng Yixian said with a warm smile. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. Of course. Im a pacifist, after all. With mutual wariness lingering in the air, no further conflict erupted between the two sides. Zheng Yixian led his followers away, their holy chants echoing across the snowy plain: "Snow above and earth below, From the ground our bodies are born, From the heavens our souls descend. Sunlight and moonlight illuminate us, Pure white snow cleanses our souls. We surrender ourselves to the cold winds of the earth, Thanking the heavens for the miracle of this land. May our hearts remain pure, Sharing joy and sorrow with all, Praising the children of Bai Xue Jiao, With our souls and bodies as testament." Watching them disappear into the distance, Zhang Yis narrowed gaze betrayed his lingering unease. While Zhang Yis team had solidified their position, Bai Xue Jiao had emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of the battle. Freed from the constraints of the major bases, their ability to rapidly recruit followers would allow them to grow stronger quickly. With their leader Yuan Kongyes Blessing ability, they could also increase the number of their Superhumans at an alarming rate. Zhang Yi couldnt help but muse, Perhaps Ive unleashed a monster. But right now, I have no choice. For now, he would cooperate with factions aligned with his interests. The future was uncertain, and any potential problems would have to be dealt with as they arose. ... Returning to the battlefield, Zhang Yi collected useful supplies from the wreckage. The allied forces had brought elite troops, and their weapons and equipment were valuableperfect for offsetting his teams losses. Surveying the aftermath, he discovered that seven Superhumans had died during the battle. But to his surprise, three of them had become empty shells, their powers seemingly drained. Whats this about? Did someone absorb their abilities? Zhang Yi wondered, puzzled. In the chaos of combat, it seemed impossible for anyone to perform such a feat, leaving him without a clear explanation. After cleaning up the battlefield, Zhang Yi turned to his companions and smiled. Lets head back. Its time for a good rest! Meow! Hua Hua leapt onto Zhang Yis shoulders, nuzzling his neck and leaving a bloody smear. During the battle, it had transformed into a war machine, crushing countless enemies. Zhang Yi stroked its head gently, then slung an arm around Uncle You and Fatty Xu. Laughing, the three trudged back toward the Shelter together. Author''s Note Chapter 416: Playing Both Sides Chapter 416: Playing Both SidesOn the distant snowy plain, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai led their battered remnants in a slow and desperate retreat. What had started as a grand and imposing campaign now ended in utter humiliation. The combined forces of both bases had dwindled to fewer than 100 soldiers, with five of their most powerful Superhuman captains among the dead. This battle had nearly halved the armed strength of both bases. Wei Dinghai himself bore a deep slash from Liang Yue, his injury compounded by rage and frustration. His worsening condition added to the growing sense of despair. Bai Xue Jiao and Xing Tian! Those traitorous scum! Wei Dinghai slammed his fist against the vehicle, the loud clang expressing the depth of his fury. But anger did nothing to change reality. A loss was a loss. Their defeat stemmed from their arrogance. They had underestimated Zhang Yi, dismissing him as a minor threat with a small team and an insignificant Shelter. But the fight had shown them how wrong they were. Zhang Yis team, with its heavy firepower and formidable Superhumans, rivaled even the former West Hill Base. Combined with their defensive advantage, they had held their ground with remarkable effectiveness, even against two opposing forces. Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases had paid dearly for their underestimation, their defeat a costly lesson in hubris. If they had known the truth beforehand, they might have brought their entire armies or sought a negotiated settlement with Zhang Yi to share West Hills spoils more amicably. But regret was futile. The price of their arrogance was already paid. Sitting together in the same vehicle, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai simmered in frustration. Their losses extended even to their vehicles; only four were left operational. As Wei Dinghai ranted, Xiao Honglian clenched her teeth in rage. She wasnt surprised that Bai Xue Jiao had turned on them. What baffled her was why Qingfu Base had sided with Zhang Yi. Had Xing Tians army joined the fray, the battles outcome could have been entirely different. Qingfu Bases expertise in large-scale warfare was unmatched. Xing Tian! How much did Zhang Yi offer you to betray us? Xiao Honglian growled, her fury intensifying. She pulled out a satellite phone, intending to confront Xing Tian directly. But Wei Dinghai grabbed her arm. Dont do anything rash! What? Xiao Honglian snapped, glaring at him. Wei Dinghai sighed. Xing Tian didnt attack us. He stayed neutral and just watched. My guess? Zhang Yi offered him something valuable to stay out of the fight and help no one. Grinding his teeth, he added, Those guys always play it safe. If they can profit without fighting, theyll jump at the chance. Having dealt with Qingfu Base for years, Wei Dinghai understood Xing Tians cautious, opportunistic nature all too well. Xiao Honglian seethed. And what about our agreement? He broke his promise and left us to bear the losses! How do we settle this? Wei Dinghai shook his head with resignation. Both our forces are crippled. Do you really think we can afford to confront Xing Tian about this? All we can hope for is that he doesnt strike us now while were weak. But just as the words left his mouth, a thunderous rumble echoed across the plain. It sounded like an avalancheor an approaching army. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghais faces turned pale. They had heard this sound before. Xing Tians army! Through the swirling snow, they saw five vehicles crawling along, carrying exhausted survivors. Meanwhile, Xing Tian and his 500-strong force surged across the plain, intercepting their path. Sitting atop a massive mutant hound, Xing Tian bellowed with laughter. Xiao Honglian! Wei Dinghai! Why are you in such a hurry to leave? With no choice, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai stepped out to face Xing Tians fully intact and enthusiastic army. Xing Tians troops, having stayed out of the earlier battle, were raring for a fight, their morale sky-high. To the retreating leaders, they looked like a pack of hungry wolves ready to pounce. A heavy sense of dread filled Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. If another conflict broke out now, they wouldnt stand a chance. Xing Tian! Xiao Honglian snapped, her sharp eyes narrowing. You didnt honor our agreement to attack Zhang Yis Shelter. What are you doing here now? Xing Tian smirked, his expression full of mockery. Isnt it obvious? Youre both wealthy lords with plenty of resources. Im here to collect a toll! His blatant extortion sent waves of rage through the battered remnants of the two bases, but their anger was powerless. Their weakened state made them entirely vulnerable. Wei Dinghai, trying to maintain composure, asked, Xing Tian, why? If you had joined us in taking Zhang Yis Shelter, we couldve shared West Hill and Lu River. Instead, you stayed out of the fight. Did you already know Zhang Yis true strength? This question gnawed at Wei Dinghai, and he needed answerseven in defeat. Xiao Honglians eyes also bore into Xing Tian, waiting for his response. Xing Tian shrugged casually. Its simple. Qingfu Base doesnt have the vehicles or energy resources you do. We cant extend our control like you can. Even if wed won, I wouldnt be able to compete with your bases when dividing the spoils. Zhang Yi offered me 10 tons of food to stay out of the fight, so I happily agreed. Spreading his hands, Xing Tian added, 10 tons of food for doing nothing versus risking my men for an uncertain payoff? Which do you think I should choose? Xing Tians frank admission left Wei Dinghai and Xiao Honglian speechless. They had indeed planned to monopolize the best territories and resources if they won. Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base wouldnt have stood a chance against their mobility and firepower. But they hadnt anticipated Xing Tian cutting a deal with Zhang Yi. Satisfied with their silence, Xing Tian crossed his arms. Now, lets talk tolls. How much are you willing to pay to pass through here? Faced with no alternatives, Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai begrudgingly handed over a significant portion of their remaining supplies in exchange for safe passage. Xing Tians grin widened as he watched his men collect the loot. From start to finish, Qingfu Base had avoided direct involvement, yet they reaped immense rewards. With Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases now crippled, Qingfu Base was poised to rise as one of Tianhai Citys top factions. Everyone thought I was a fool. Now, lets see who the real fools are! Xing Tian said, laughing gleefully. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 417: The Devourer Chapter 417: The DevourerAfter the battle, Zhang Yi instructed Zhou Keer to focus on treating Liang Yue while the rest of the group rested in the living room to recover. The warm, cozy atmosphere of the Shelter was a stark contrast to the horrors they had just endured. Following such a grueling conflict, the soft sofas and freshly brewed coffee in the luxurious villa felt like paradise to the exhausted team. Before long, a commotion stirred outside. Xing Tian had returned to claim the food Zhang Yi had promised. Despite Zhang Yis team being drained of energy and abilities, Xing Tians Qingfu Base lacked the firepower to breach the Shelter. Confidently, Zhang Yi led his group outside and handed over the agreed supplies. Xing Tians expression was one of barely contained glee, and Zhang Yi could tell he had made a significant profit from the days events. Tianhai City is yours now, Xing Tian. Congratulations on becoming the most powerful force around! Zhang Yi said with a smile. Xing Tian laughed heartily. Not at all! Youve made your mark today. No one will dare mess with you now! I never thought you had such strength, Zhang Yi. Truly impressive. Xing Tians praise wasnt just empty politeness. Repelling two major bases and depleting half their forces with just a small team was an incredible feat, one that left even Xing Tian in awe. The West Hill Base territory is yours now, Xing Tian continued. With Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base severely weakened, theyll never regain their former glory. He grinned and added, Of course, were old classmates. I dont want any conflicts between us! Zhang Yi chuckled. Peaceful coexistence would indeed be the best outcome. As Xing Tian prepared to leave, he suddenly paused and turned back to Zhang Yi. One more thing, Xing Tian said, his tone more serious. Oh? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, curious. Xing Tians expression grew cautious. Youve been clever, working with Bai Xue Jiao. But I must warn youkeep an eye on those people. In times like these, cults with their persuasive rhetoric can grow alarmingly fast. Now that theyre unrestrained, who knows how far theyll expand? Zhang Yi nodded, his thoughts drifting to the fervent, fearless Bai Xue Jiao cultists who had charged into battle. The sheer number of people unafraid of death was unsettling, even with the Shelters defenses. Thanks for the advice, Zhang Yi replied. With that, Xing Tian mounted his mutant hound and led his Qingfu Base troops away, leaving the blood-soaked battlefield behind. Zhang Yi gazed at the carnage outside the Shelter, deep in thought. Corpses were strewn everywhere, and the once-pristine snow was stained red with blood. The ice wall they had painstakingly built and armed with heavy weapons was now mostly destroyed. The brutal reality of war was undeniable. Well clean it up later, Zhang Yi sighed, shaking his head at the overwhelming sight. For now, there were more pressing matters to address. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Returning to the Shelter, Zhang Yi made an announcement to the team. The war is over! Hearing him say it aloud brought a collective sigh of relief. Lu Keran exchanged a jubilant glance with Yang Xinxin, while Yang Siyah, exhausted from crafting energy food for the team, leaned back with a tired smile. Zhang Yi didnt let her cook further. Instead, he pulled fresh food and high-quality wines from his Spatial Storage, filling an entire table with a feast. The combination of victory and survival ignited everyones appetite. Even those who rarely drank were now gulping down wine with abandon. Zhang Yi grabbed two beef burgers and a hot coffee and headed to the medical room. Zhou Keer had just finished Liang Yues surgery. The deep gash on Liang Yues neck had been shocking, even for Zhou Keer. She couldnt believe Liang Yue had fought so fiercely and for so long in such a condition. Zhang Yi, however, understood. Liang Yue had fought on sheer willpower, driven by her need for vengeance. Once the battle ended, her strength had given out entirely. Handing food to Zhou Keer, Zhang Yi asked, How is she? Taking a sip of coffee, Zhou Keer replied, The wound was deep, but Ive stitched it up. Shes a Strength Enhancement Superhuman, so her recovery will be much faster than normal. Shell be fine. She glanced at Zhang Yi, a hint of playful jealousy in her tone. Superhumans really have it easy, dont they? Zhang Yi chuckled, recognizing her unspoken wish for the Ice Soul artifact in his possession. But his lingering wariness of Bai Xue Jiao kept him cautious. Your medical skills are far more valuable, he said, pulling her into a hug. We could do without a Superhuman, but not without a doctor. Dont underestimate your importance! Her smile brightened at his praise. Do you think well finally have peace after this? she asked. For a while, yes, Zhang Yi replied thoughtfully. But how long that lasts, who can say? Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base would need time to recover. For now, their focus would shift to rebuilding rather than seeking revenge. But Tianhai Citys other powers were more concerning. Qingfu Base had emerged unscathed, profiting handsomely from playing both sides. Bai Xue Jiao had suffered heavy casualties, but their ability to recruit and convert followers could allow them to rebuild rapidly. For now, Zhang Yis smaller team wouldnt be seen as a major threat. Their minimal resource needs made them less of a target. As Zhou Keer rested her head on Zhang Yis shoulder, she suddenly stood and began massaging him. You fought a battle while I just performed a small surgery. Let me take care of you, she said. Zhang Yi leaned back and let her work, drifting into a drowsy haze until Liang Yue stirred in the nearby bed. Strength Enhancement Superhumans truly recovered at remarkable speeds. Seeing Zhou Keer massaging Zhang Yi, Liang Yue sighed. You two could at least pick a better time. Im still injured here, you know. Embarrassed, Zhou Keer stopped and tapped Zhang Yis back. Shes awake! Zhang Yi sat up and approached Liang Yue. I need to tell you something, Liang Yue said, her expression serious. Zhou Keer excused herself, leaving the two alone. I killed a Superhuman during the fight, Liang Yue began. And I absorbed his power. I thought you should know, since were teammates. This might be important. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. So, you have the ability to absorb powers, he mused. Not every Superhuman had this ability, as Zhang Yi had confirmed through his own team. While he, Hua Hua, and Ling Feng possessed the ability, Uncle You and Fatty Xu did not. It seemed linked to potential. Zhang Yis team members who had this powerhimself, Hua Hua, Ling Fengwere notably stronger. Liang Yue having it, too, was a promising sign of her future growth. Congratulations, Zhang Yi said with a smile. This is good news. Weve fought together; were like family now. The stronger you are, the better it is for all of us. Clapping his thigh, Zhang Yi added, You avenged your students. Has it helped you find peace? Liang Yue stared at the ceiling, her eyes closing slowly. She didnt answer. Zhang Yi smiled knowingly. Silence was the best response. Though she might never fully move past her grief, time would eventually dull its edge. Life, after all, was about moving forward. Author''s Note Chapter 418: Vanishing Corpses Chapter 418: Vanishing CorpsesAt Bai Xue Jiaos headquarters, Yuan Kongye stood amidst the swirling snow, waiting for the triumphant return of her followers. Draped in a pristine white ceremonial robe, her youthful and delicate face exuded an air of fragility. Yet her eyes burned with unwavering determination. This battle had been a gamble for Bai Xue Jiaos future. Only by joining forces with Zhang Yi to strike a decisive blow against the other major factions could they secure the breathing room they desperately needed to grow. If Zhang Yi had failed to repel the allied forces, Bai Xue Jiao would have merely taken whatever scraps they could. But instead, they had emerged victorious, a triumph that promised either modest gains or a monumental shift in power. From afar, dark silhouettes began to emerge through the storm. Zheng Yixian led the survivors back, though their numbers had been halved. The sight of their reduced ranks caused unease among the gathered followers. This did not look like the procession of a victorious army. But as Zheng Yixian approached, his face and the faces of his warriors bore expressions of pride. Bowing before Yuan Kongye, Zheng Yixian announced, Leader, we have succeeded. By the grace of the Snow God, we have achieved a great victory! Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base have been dealt crippling blows, and they will no longer pose a threat to Bai Xue Jiao! His words sent waves of exhilaration through the assembled followers. Tears of joy filled many eyes as they embraced one another in celebration. For far too long, Bai Xue Jiao had been oppressed by the larger factions. This victory marked a historic turning point. A spark of light appeared in Yuan Kongyes eyes as she stepped forward to lift Zheng Yixian from his bow. Youve done well, Grand Priest. The gods will not forget your deeds, she said, her tone warm yet resolute. Zheng Yixians voice was solemn. But many of our faithful have perished, including Fathers Lin Fei and Meng Ziyuan. The mention of the fallen Superhuman priests cast a somber shadow. Yet Yuan Kongyes smile remained gentle. She clasped her hands over her chest as if embracing unseen children. They have not left us. They have returned here. I can feel their presence, she murmured. May every departed soul rest with the Snow God, Zheng Yixian intoned reverently. A flicker of something dark and powerful crossed Yuan Kongyes eyes. Now, nothing can hinder our expansion. The light of the Snow God will shine over every corner of Tianhai City! And then across the nation, and eventually the world! Snow God will reign as the one true deity, and Bai Xue Jiao will endure forever! The followers placed their right hands over their hearts and gazed skyward. Bai Xue Jiao will endure forever! Their fervent devotion shone like sunlight, seemingly capable of dispelling the coldest winter. With this conviction, they sought to spread their faith across the earth. ... The Five-Army Battle had reshaped the power dynamics of Tianhai City. Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base had been devastated, betrayed by Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base. Their strength was shattered. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though their central bases retained half their forces and resources, the loss of their elite warriorsespecially Superhumanswas a wound that would take years to heal. Their ability to expand was crippled, forcing them to consolidate and protect what little territory they still controlled. Meanwhile, Bai Xue Jiao seized the moment. Their religious propaganda appealed to those struggling to survive in the apocalypse, offering hope and purpose. Many defected from other factions to join their ranks. Zheng Yixian was careful not to overreach. He avoided Qingfu Base and Zhang Yis territory, targeting only the weakened areas of Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases. For now, Tianhai Citys balance of power was precarious. Zhang Yis resounding victory had earned him a reprieve, and no one dared challenge the Shelter. The team inside the Shelter recovered quickly. Though the front-line fighters had sustained injuries, they were now healed enough to resume normal activities. Even Liang Yue, still wrapped in bandages, could move about freely. There was a noticeable change in Liang Yue after the battle. Her hesitation and vulnerability had vanished, replaced by a calm indifference. She spoke little but carried an air of quiet acceptance. Zhang Yi recognized the transformation immediately. He had felt the same way after his own rebirth. Great joys and sorrows often brought rapid growth. The destruction of the surrounding villas left Zhang Yi with no choice but to invite Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and their families to live in the Shelter permanently. Having shared numerous battles and forged deep trust, their fates were now intertwined. The Shelter offered them safety in an unpredictable world. No one was happier about this arrangement than Zhou Haimei. As a woman in her forties, she adored the lively company and now spent her days cooking with Yang Siyah or playing cards with the younger women. The Shelter was filled with warmth and laughter. The men passed the time playing cards or video games, surrounded by bright lights and plentiful energy. In the apocalypse, the Shelter felt more like a luxury resort than a survival refuge. ... A few days later, as Zhang Yi sipped his morning coffee and gazed out the window, something felt off. The snow-covered landscape stretched as far as the eye could see, pristine and untouched. Snowflakes continued to fall, varying in size and intensity. Somethings missing... Zhang Yi muttered. It was too clean. His eyes widened as the realization hit him. The corpses. Where are all the corpses? The aftermath of the Five-Army Battle had left over a thousand bodies scattered across the battlefield. Now, not a single one remained. Author''s Note Chapter 419: They Walked Away Chapter 419: They Walked AwayZhang Yi felt a chill crawl up his spine. Over a thousand corpses, vanished without a trace. Just yesterday afternoon, they had still been there. Could someone have cleaned them up? Zhang Yi murmured to himself, trying to stay calm as he picked up binoculars and carefully scanned the area. After thoroughly searching, he confirmed the truth: the bodies werent buried under snow or hiddenthey were gone. A sense of dread gripped his heart. The post-apocalypse world was filled with mysteries. With living creatures capable of mutating, was it possible for corpses to undergo changes as well? Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yi steadied his nerves. He put on his combat suit, armed himself, and stepped outside. In the kitchen, Yang Siyah and Zhou Haimei were chatting happily as they prepared breakfast. The laughter and normalcy inside the Shelter stood in stark contrast to the eerie mystery outside. From the food being prepared, Zhang Yi guessed they were making soy milk, steamed buns, and some delicate side dishesa classic Chinese breakfast. Morning, he greeted them. Yang Siyah looked surprised. Youre up early today. Zhou Haimei added, noticing his formal attire, Are you heading out? Whats going on? Nothing major. Theres something outside I need to check on, Zhang Yi replied before walking out the door. The two women exchanged puzzled glances but didnt press further. ... Zhang Yi strode cautiously toward the battlefield, gripping his weapon tightly. The area that had once been littered with corpses was now eerily empty. Although the overnight snowfall had covered many things, it couldnt completely erase all traces. A mass disappearance like this would surely leave clues. As Zhang Yi reached the site, he spotted something unusualfootprints. Countless footprints, of varying sizes, crisscrossed the area. There was only one direction: away from the battlefield. No signs of entry, only departure. Zhang Yi shivered, feeling an unshakable sensation of being watched. It was as if something cold and sinister was lurking behind him, its gaze crawling up his back. He whipped around suddenly, but there was nothing there. His heart raced as he clutched his chest, trying to calm himself. Zhang Yi, a man who had faced countless life-and-death battles, found himself unsettled by the sheer strangeness of the situation. Taking another deep breath, he muttered, Whats there to fear? If I can kill the living, why should the dead scare me? Resolving to uncover the truth, Zhang Yi began following the trail of footprints leading eastward. They stretched into the distance, disappearing over the horizon. Feeling uneasy about going alone, he turned back toward the Shelter. Removing his helmet once inside, Zhang Yi took a few deep breaths to steady himself. Yang Siyah and Zhou Haimei noticed his pale complexion and immediately asked what he had seen. Instead of answering directly, Zhang Yi instructed them to gather everyone in the living room. Soon, the entire group was seated on the sofas, dressed in casual clothing, their faces puzzled by Zhang Yis combat-ready appearance. Take a deep breath and stay calm, Zhang Yi began. What Im about to tell you might sound unbelievable, but I need you to remain composed. The group, already growing uneasy, followed his instructions and took a few deep breaths. Zhang Yi continued, speaking in an even tone, Last night, over a thousand corpses outside the Shelter disappeared. And from the footprints I found, it looks like they walked away on their own. The temperature in the room seemed to drop as everyone stared at him in stunned silence. The women instinctively huddled together, their wide eyes reflecting their growing fear. Zhang Yi, dont joke about things like this, Zhou Keer said, clutching his arm. Despite her scientific background, her face was pale. I wish I was joking, Zhang Yi said, shaking his head. But you can see for yourselves. The group rushed to the windows. Sure enough, the battlefield was pristineno bodies, no blood, nothing. This... this is impossible, Zhou Keer stammered, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. Fatty Xu swallowed hard and asked, Boss, are you sure you didnt clear the bodies yourself and are just messing with us? The others glanced hopefully at Zhang Yi, wishing this was just an elaborate prank. Rolling his eyes, Zhang Yi replied, Do I look like I have time for games? His denial only deepened their unease. How could this happen? Even if it were some group taking the bodies, its not like they couldve done it so quietly, Liang Yue said. The destruction of the perimeter cameras during the battle meant they couldnt review footage for answers. The sheer scale of the disappearanceover a thousand bodiesruled out a simple explanation. As panic began to set in, Zhang Yis calm demeanor stood out. Clearing his mind, he reasoned that in a world of mutations and chaos, even the bizarre had its logic. Its probably the work of Superhumans or some mutated creature, Zhang Yi said confidently. Well investigate. If theres a threat, well deal with it. His resolve reassured the group, though tension still lingered. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Finish your breakfast. Those capable of fighting, gear up and follow me. Well trace the footprints and figure this out. Though nervous, everyone was eager for answers and quickly agreed. After eating, Zhang Yi led the group to arm themselves. Together, they set out to follow the footprints into the unknown. Author''s Note Chapter 420: Underground chapter 420: undergroundthe sudden and strange events had everyone on edge. though they were unafraid of human factions, the unknown commanded a natural sense of caution and reverence. since the apocalypse began, the world had become increasingly incomprehensible. zhang yi couldnt help but recall an old saying in history books: the group moved cautiously, following the dense trail of footprints through the snow. they avoided using vehicles at first, wary of making themselves too conspicuous in case they stumbled upon something unexpected. the howling wind only added to their unease. each step forward came with the silent worry that they might encounter the missing corpses walking upright in the distance. s~ea??h the n??elfir.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. despite their trepidation, the footprints continued steadily, with no sign of stopping or veering off. it only reinforced the horrifying idea that the bodies had risen and walked away on their own. zhang yi finally broke the tense silence. lets take the car from here. looks like theyve covered a lot of ground overnight. the biting cold was beginning to wear on everyone, even through their combat suits. once inside the vehicle, they followed the footprints for another half an hour before arriving at their destination. what lay before them was a large, dark, gaping hole in the snow. it was a massive pit, black and seemingly bottomless, exuding a menacing air that made the group hesitate to approach. where... where does it lead? fatty xu muttered nervously. zhang yi stepped cautiously toward the edge, his rifle at the ready. peering into the darkness, he felt a primal fear creeping up his spine. what is this place? and why would the bodies all come here? he murmured. could there be a superhuman capable of controlling corpses? that would be terrifying, liang yue said, her expression grim. controlling over a thousand bodies over such a long distance... the power required would be unimaginable. the group fell into a heavy silence. after the apocalyptic freeze, tianhai city had lost over ten million lives. if someone could manipulate even a fraction of that number, they could easily annihilate any faction. fatty xus voice trembled. could... could this be the start of a zombie outbreak? zhang yi shook his head with a dry chuckle. i almost wish it were something that simple. zombies, really? you think a slow, brainless mob would pose any threat to us? fatty xu nodded, trying to comfort himself with the logic. yeah, i guess... if theres a group of hopping zombies in this weather, itd be more hilarious than scary! as they stood debating, uncle yous gaze drifted to the surroundings. suddenly, his expression shifted. this area feels familiar, he said. i think... this is near a station. a station? everyone asked, turning to him. uncle you scanned the nearby structures, sparse as they were, and pointed to some faint markers in the distance. im sure of it. this is the ciqu residential area, and the pit aligns with the ciqu metro station. realization dawned on zhang yi. so, the bodies... entered the metro tunnels, he said. the subway, buried deep underground and now blanketed in snow, gave the appearance of a natural cavern. that means somethingor someonein the metro system is controlling them, liang yue added, her brows furrowed. zhang yi rubbed his chin in thought. after the apocalypse, survival had driven people to desperate measures. the metro system, a vast network stretching beneath tianhai city, could very well house survivorsor something far worse. its possible, zhang yi said. plenty of people couldve taken shelter in the tunnels during the initial snowfall and never made it out. if anyone is still alive down there, they couldve found a way to survive... and thrive. the others exchanged uneasy looks. fatty xu asked, so, what do we do? if someone can control all those bodies, theyd be a nightmare to deal with. do we destroy the entrance? keep them from getting out? uncle you scoffed. you think blowing up one tunnel will stop them? the metro system covers the entire city. there are dozens of exits nearby. youd be chasing shadows. fatty xu fidgeted nervously. still, just knowing theres something like that down there... its enough to make my skin crawl. zhang yi raised a hand to silence the group. were not going to do anything rash. for now, theres been no conflict. lets keep it that way. we stay away from this place. nobody comes near it. backing away from the pit, zhang yi motioned for the group to retreat. the metros depths likely hid immense danger, but without a clear threat, there was no need to provoke it. what if it becomes a problem later? liang yue asked. zhang yi smirked, his expression carrying a hint of mischief. then let it simmer. if something goes wrong, itll be someone elses headache before its ours. cloud manor, being on the citys outskirts, was only lightly connected to the metro network. if trouble arose, zhang yi could deal with it locally. but for factions located deeper within the city, with a denser metro network beneath their feet, the fallout would hit them first. lets head back, zhang yi said, leading the group to their vehicles. ... back at the shelter, zhang yi gathered everyone and explained what theyd discovered. though the news unnerved them, he reassured them with calm confidence. theres no need to worry. were staying in the shelter, well-defended and safe. even if zombies or whatever else comes out, well handle it with ease. weve faced far worse. with the teams incredible firepower and superhuman abilities, even a zombie apocalypse wouldnt be much of a threat. still, zhang yi took precautions. the team began rebuilding the perimeter defenses, using what remained of their weaponry from the last battle. though the shelter was safe for now, having a buffer zone in case of future conflicts was a necessary step. author''s note Chapter 421: Bai Xue Jiaos Expansion chapter 421: bai xue jiao''s expansionwhile life at the shelter settled into a peaceful routine, the same couldnt be said for other factions. bai xue jiao was rapidly expanding, using the weakened territories of chaoyu base and yangsheng base to spread their doctrine and recruit survivors. join bai xue jiao, and enjoy safety, abundant food, and equality for all! join bai xue jiao, escape the cycle of reincarnation, and find eternal bliss in the divine kingdom! join bai xue jiao, cleanse your sins, and be reborn anew! in the harsh reality of the apocalypse, people sought two things above all: material sustenance and spiritual solace. bai xue jiaos promises offered both, making their message irresistibly appealing. the movement grew at an alarming rate, swelling its ranks with disillusioned survivors eager for hope. one day, the desolate yuelu residential area received an unexpected visit. a group of gray-robed ascetics led by grand decree zhao jianhua arrived, cutting a solemn figure against the snowy backdrop. zhao jianhua leaned on his staff as he surveyed the ruins. the only building in yuelu still inhabited was building 18, where the residents had barely scraped by using the bodies of the dead and li jians sacrifice ability to grow food. but there was a price for li jians newfound powers: complete allegiance to bai xue jiao. when zhao jianhua approached, li jian immediately gathered the surviving residents to greet him. greetings, esteemed grand decree! li jian exclaimed, his eyes brimming with reverence. behind him, his wife and sixteen-year-old son peeked curiously at the ascetics. on their previous visit, these figures had only interacted with li jian briefly, granting him the ice soul and departing hastily. at the time, the area was under west hill bases control, forcing them to remain discreet. now, with the major factions crippled or destroyed, bai xue jiao operated openly, their missionary efforts unhindered. zhao jianhua regarded li jian warmly. li jian, i see the snow gods gift has served you well. praise the snow god! praise the benevolent leader! li jian bowed deeply. thanks to your blessing, weve managed to survive! the grand decrees gaze drifted past li jian, lingering momentarily on his son, li kaile, before returning to him with a smile. i bring good news, zhao jianhua said. by the leaders decree, you and your people are invited to join us in tianfeng district. there, you will live with the leader and our devoted congregation. li jian and the others exchanged puzzled looks. tianfeng district? li jian repeated. though it wasnt far, they had grown accustomed to yuelu and were wary of the unknown. in the apocalypse, change was often more frightening than death. dont be afraid! zhao jianhua reassured them. tianfeng is a paradise in this desolate world, a haven where we help one another and rebuild together. it will soon become a utopia, untouched by the apocalypse. youve been chosen. its a privilege few are granted, zhao jianhua said, his gaze resting firmly on li jian. the leader herself has spoken of you, li jian. she admires your abilities and believes you are indispensable to bai xue jiaos future. if you come with us, you and your family will receive special care. li jians mouth fell open in astonishment. he couldnt believe the leader herself had mentioned him. it was the highest honor imaginable. among the residents of building 18, bai xue jiao had already achieved an almost divine reputation. after all, they owed their survival to the leaders blessing, which had enabled li jian to awaken his abilities. overwhelmed with gratitude, li jian dropped to his knees. praise the great snow god! praise the leader! i, li jian, will dedicate my life to bai xue jiao! zhao jianhua nodded approvingly. rise, my child. gather your family and belongings and join us in building a new home. excitement rippled through the group as they hurriedly packed their clothes and food supplies. more than fifty residents of building 18 prepared to leave yuelu, their hearts filled with hope for a better future. the journey to bai xue jiaos base in tianfeng district was grueling, but the thought of a utopia kept them moving through the relentless snow. upon arrival, they were greeted by a bustling settlement. priests and ascetics maintained order while distributing food and clothing to newcomers. others taught the doctrine of bai xue jiao, their words inspiring awe and devotion. li jian noticed several people holding strange red fruits, their glistening crimson surfaces resembling polished gemstones. he had never seen such a fruit before. though curious, he brushed it aside, too focused on the joy of reaching their destination. after settling the group, zhao jianhua turned to li jian. the leader wishes to see you personally, zhao jianhua said. li jian hesitated, glancing at his wife and son. what about my family? they will be well taken care of, zhao jianhua assured him. his wife, zhang jianfang, encouraged him. this is an honor! go meet the leader. well wait for you here. reassured, li jian followed zhao jianhua toward a grand cathedral. the other residents were guided elsewhere by smiling nuns. pushing open the massive cathedral doors, li jian felt a sense of reverence. though the sky outside was overcast, the interior seemed bathed in a divine glow. the room was dim, save for the altar, which was illuminated as if by some unseen light source. a woman in a white robe stood before the altar, her back to him, her posture radiating devotion. to li jians surprise, the object of her worship was a crucifix bearing the image of jesus christ. zhao jianhua coughed lightly, sensing li jians confusion. the snow god manifests in many forms. the divine image reflects the faith of its followers. do not dwell on such details. li jian quickly nodded. of course. i understand. sarch* the novelfire.net* website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. he knew the truth. this was st. johns cathedral, once the heart of tianhai citys christian community. bai xue jiao had seized it and adapted its religious imagery to suit their needs. li jian was no fool, but he wasnt about to question the doctrine openly. bai xue jiaos blessings had saved his life, and that was all that mattered. the rest was just theatrics. author''s note Chapter 422: The Symbol of Harvest chapter 422: the symbol of harvestyuan kongye knelt before the cross, her posture radiating devout reverence. as the leader of bai xue jiao, her faith in the existence of a divine being was unshakable. to her, figures like jesus christ, shakyamuni, zeus, yuanshi tianzun, and odin were merely humanitys attempts to comprehend the creator. how else could she explain the miracles that had unfolded in her life? she prayed fervently, a dedicated apostle of the divine: snow above and earth below, our bodies born from the earth, our souls descend from the heavens. sun and moonlight illuminate us, pure snow cleanses our spirits. we offer our bodies to the cold winds of the land, thanking the heavens for granting the snow gods children a place to survive. may our hearts remain pure, sharing joy with our brethren, sharing their sorrow, forever praising the children of bai xue jiao. we pledge our souls and bodies as proof. her serene chant filled the sacred space, carrying a sense of timeless devotion. in the distance, grand decree zhao jianhua and li jian waited patiently for her ritual to conclude. after what felt like an eternity, yuan kongye finally rose from her prayers. her cold gaze swept toward li jian. seeing her for the first time, li jian was taken aback. the architect of the apocalypses most powerful religious faction was a mere girl, barely twenty years old in appearance. quickly lowering his head, li jian stammered, greetings, leader. i am li jian, saved by your blessing and alive today because of your grace. yuan kongye stepped closer, her measured footsteps echoing in the silent cathedral. i know who you are, she said calmly. the grand decree tells me you are a beacon of hope, blessed by the snow god with the power of harvest. her voice carried an almost hypnotic quality, filling li jian with an overwhelming urge to kneel before her in worship. raise your head, li jian, yuan kongye commanded. as if under a spell, li jian obeyed. his surroundings blurred, and the only thing that remained in focus was yuan kongyes piercing gaze. her words etched themselves into his mind, unshakable and absolute. from this day forward, you are a father of bai xue jiao. your arrival heralds a bountiful harvest. the snow god guided you here, and you have a mission to fulfill. li jians blood surged with emotion. he wasnt just another survivorhe had been chosen by the divine! i am willing to give my all to bai xue jiao! li jian declared passionately. sear?h the n??el fire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. yuan kongye smiled faintly. good. come with me. turning, she led him out of the cathedral toward a nearby derelict building. ... when li jian regained some semblance of clarity, he found himself standing in a blood-red environment. inside the building was an enormous tree, its trunk five or six meters thick and cloaked in dark bark that pulsed with veins of crimson light. the tree seemed to breathe, its surface expanding and contracting like the chest of a living creature. its branches sprawled across the space, their curled leaves resembling cocoons. inside those cocoons, faint outlines hinted at somethingor someonetrapped within. li jian stared, slack-jawed, at the grotesque yet awe-inspiring sight. this is the sacred tree of bai xue jiao, yuan kongye said, gesturing toward the giant plant. it burrows hundreds of meters into the earth, drawing nutrients to produce its miraculous fruit. this fruit sustains us and is the key to our survival. raising her hand, yuan kongye called down a vine from the tree. at its end hung a single crimson fruit, which detached and landed gently in her palm. the trees intelligence and responsiveness were undeniable. li jian finally understood the origin of the red fruit he had seen earlier. walking up to him, yuan kongye extended the fruit. her soft smile contrasted sharply with the eerie surroundings. this is our hope for survival, she said. would you like to taste it? without hesitation, li jian accepted the fruit. the moment he bit into it, a sweet yet unfamiliar fragrance overwhelmed his senses. it was unlike anything he had ever experienced. the fruits flesh oozed a thick, blood-like liquid, yet it filled him with warmth and strength, banishing all hunger and cold. you are now father li, yuan kongye said, her tone firm. your mission is to nurture the sacred tree with your ability. help it grow stronger, so it can provide for even more of our followers. li jian nodded fervently. i will dedicate my life to this task! approaching the tree, li jian drew a small knife and made a shallow cut on his hand. blood streamed freely from the wound, more than seemed natural, yet the tree absorbed every drop with ravenous greed. its red glow intensified, pulsing like a beating heart. yuan kongye stepped forward, placing a hand on his wound to stop the bleeding. from now on, you will feed the sacred tree daily. it is an honor and a responsibility, she said gently. li jians eyes shone with reverence, as if this duty had become his lifes purpose. ... two weeks passed in the blink of an eye. at zhang yis shelter, the team had rebuilt their snow-and-ice defenses, and no new enemies had appeared. life settled into a comfortable rhythm. with ample food, warmth, and entertainment, the group enjoyed a rare sense of peace. but zhang yi, ever cautious, refused to grow complacent. he spent several hours each day training with liang yue, honing his combat skills. liang yue, now more mature and reserved, treated the sessions seriously, often chastising zhang yi when he faltered. though professional during training, liang yues cheeks still flushed whenever their sparring led to accidental contact. meanwhile, the outside world was far from tranquil. chaoyu and yangsheng bases, weakened by their recent defeats, struggled to maintain control over their territories. not only were they powerless to stop bai xue jiaos missionary activities, but small armed factions within their lands began rising up, taking advantage of the chaos. though tianhai citys five major factions ostensibly controlled the region, the truth was far messier. many underground organizations thrived in the shadows, waiting for their chance to claim resources. in response, chaoyu and yangsheng redirected their attention inward, attempting to quell local unrest. a fragile truce emerged among the five factions, each acknowledging the others territorial claims to avoid further conflict. for now, none of them were willing to spark another large-scale war. author''s note Chapter 423: The Corpses chapter 423: the corpseszhang yis cautious approach to survival influenced everyone in the shelter, ensuring none of them grew complacent. uncle you trained daily in close combat and shooting. yang siyah tirelessly produced energy-boosting food, which zhang yi stored in his spatial dimension. even fatty xu, usually the laziest of the group, was dragged out by zhang yi to hone his abilities. each superhumans powers were unique. while their initial abilities might seem simple, they all had significant potential for growth. zhang yi, for example, had expanded his spatial powers into numerous versatile skills, and he continued pushing the boundaries of what he could achieve. fatty xu, however, felt a growing sense of inadequacy. during the five-army battle, he had witnessed wei dinghais powerful ice and snow lord abilitya stark reminder of how far behind he was. determined not to become a burden, he threw himself into training. one particular realization shook him further: liang yue also possessed the rare devourer ability, allowing her to absorb the abilities of other superhumans. previously, only zhang yi and hua hua had this power, and fatty xu hadnt thought much of it. now, it was clear that there were tiers of talent even among superhumansand he and uncle you were at the lower end. damn it! i cant keep relying on last-minute miracles! fatty xu muttered, frustrated by his lack of progress. despite his efforts, his abilitiesice spikes, ice walls, and snow burstsremained useful primarily for controlling the battlefield. against other superhumans, they lacked the raw power needed for decisive combat. zhang yi noticed his struggles and approached him with advice. your abilities grow stronger the more you use them, but strategy is just as important, zhang yi explained, tapping his temple. think of your ability as a weapon. strengthening the weapon is important, but mastering its use matters even more. he smirked. a skilled fighters pebble can be deadlier than an amateurs blade. fatty xu mulled over zhang yis words and had an epiphany. ive been too hung up on raw power, he realized. when you killed ling feng, it wasnt because your ability was strongerit was your intelligence and preparation! his perspective shifted. though he lacked the ability to absorb others powers, maximizing his own potential could still make him formidable. march arrived, bringing a slight increase in temperature as blue planet edged closer to its perihelion. despite this, the world remained bitterly cold. within the shelter, life carried on peacefully. zhang yi and fatty xu had beaten countless aaa-tier games on the console, and the communal mahjong table had needed repairs several timesthanks to lu keran, their resident mechanical expert. it was a tranquil existence, almost idyllic. but life had a way of delivering surprises when least expected. at the ruins of west hill base. the long-abandoned site lay eerily still. its resources had been looted by zhang yi, and the aftermath of the five-army battle had deterred other factions from approaching. yet, something stirred. the thick, green iron door of the fourth life pod trembled violently, as if struck by an immense force. with each thunderous impact, the heavy doors bolts weakened until they finally snapped. from the darkness within, an eerie green light began to pulse, accompanied by the nauseating stench of decay. one by one, a horde of decrepit, blank-eyed corpses shuffled out. it was as if someone had opened a long-forgotten can of rotten fish. the zombies poured into the passageway, their numbers quickly filling the confined space. guided by some unseen force, they cleared debris from the bases entrance and emerged into the open air. the wind howled as thousands of zombies streamed out, their movements sluggish but unyielding, heading southeast. back at the shelter, zhang yi lounged on the sofa, sipping coffee as yang xinxin briefed him on the latest updates from other factions. over the past month, yang xinxin had managed to infiltrate the networks of the remaining factions, observing their activities in secret. unlike west hill base, their network security was rudimentaryno more sophisticated than that of pre-apocalypse small businesses. sea??h th n?velfire(.)net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. qingfu base continues to play it safe, enjoying their current territory without attempting expansion, yang xinxin reported. chaoyu base is in full retreat, focusing on recovering from the five-army battle. their leader, wei dinghai, is still injured, and unrest has flared in their territory. yangsheng base remains stable, though theyve had to suppress several internal uprisings. and as for bai xue jiao... yang xinxin paused, her expression serious. theyve been the biggest beneficiaries of the war. their membership has grown exponentiallypossibly exceeding ten thousand followers. zhang yi leaned back, casually absorbing the information. most of it aligned with his expectations, but bai xue jiaos explosive growth intrigued him. how are they feeding so many people? he mused aloud. most of their recruits are likely non-combatants, not all of them useful. a large population can become a burden. yang xinxin offered a theory. perhaps theyre using faith as leverage. desperate times drive people to cling to whatever promises security. she added, do you remember the taiping heavenly kingdom? their movement was built on the chaos of the time, using a pseudo-religious banner to establish a regime that lasted over a decade. zhang yi nodded. so youre saying bai xue jiao could do the same in tianhai city? exactly, yang xinxin said. their leader, yuan kongye, might not just want survivalshe might want divinity. zhang yi raised an eyebrow. turning herself into a god? that sounds ridiculous. yang xinxins tone grew more serious. it might seem absurd, but in desperate times, people will believe anything that gives them hope. even the educated will bow when faced with starvation and death. zhang yi acknowledged her point but remained skeptical. even with ten thousand followers, numbers alone cant defeat modern weapons. the other factions are still far stronger. yang xinxin countered, but what if yuan kongye uses her blessing ability to awaken an army of superhumans? zhang yis expression hardened. now, that was a problem worth considering. as zhang yi pondered, his gaze drifted toward the snow-covered horizon. suddenly, his eyes narrowed. in the distance, silhouetted against the white landscape, a mass of figures emerged, moving steadily toward the shelter. visitors, zhang yi murmured, setting down his coffee. author''s note Chapter 424: Corrosion chapter 424: corrosionzhang yi froze for a moment, staring out at the surreal sight. for an instant, he thought his eyes were deceiving him. how could so many people be moving about in this unforgiving cold? the sheer number of figures on the horizon surpassed even those seen during the five-army battle. but as he squinted for a clearer view, zhang yi realized this was no illusion. it was reala vast horde, slowly advancing toward the shelter. springing to his feet, zhang yi barked orders: xiao ai, alert everyone in the shelter. get them geared up and assembled in the living room! as he spoke, he stripped off his cozy loungewear and began suiting up in combat gear with practiced efficiency. within moments, the shelters alarm blared. everyone, though accustomed to their comfortable routine, responded with urgency. dressing quickly, they hurried to the living room. yang xinxin, wheeling herself closer to zhang yi, asked nervously, whats going on, gege? zhang yi, now fully equipped and gripping his golden desert eagle, pointed toward the window. see for yourself. somethings coming. wheeling over to the window, yang xinxin squinted at the distant horizon. her face turned pale as she made out the countless silhouettes advancing in the distance. why... why are there so many of them? could this be an alliance of factions coming to attack us? as the others arrived, uncle you approached zhang yi. whats the situation? are we under attack? raising his binoculars, zhang yi took a closer look. what he saw made his skin crawl. the figures werent people. they were corpsesa massive horde of zombies, slowly but inexorably shambling toward the shelter. their bodies were grotesque, clad in tattered, frostbitten clothing. blue-black patches of decay marred their skin, while some bore horrific open wounds that revealed frozen flesh underneath. the extreme cold had preserved them from complete decomposition, leaving them trapped in a grotesque limbo. zombies... zhang yi muttered, his voice heavy with disbelief. the others crowded around, peering through binoculars or the window. sure enough, the horde was unmistakably made up of the walking dead. liang yues sharp eyes caught a chilling detail. wait a second, she said, pointing. some of them are wearing west hill base uniforms. zhang yi followed her direction and confirmed it: many of the zombies wore the familiar green fatigues of west hill soldiers. they mustve come from the fourth life pod, liang yue deduced, her tone grim. zhang yi set down the binoculars, a mix of shock and grim acceptance settling in. its bizarre. in this kind of weather, they should be frozen solid, not moving. dr. zhou keer, who had remained calm despite the chaos, ventured an explanation. it could be some kind of virus thats keeping their bodies animated, she suggested. zhang yi nodded. that makes sense. in the end, theyre just infected corpsescreepy, sure, but manageable. he grabbed his rifle from his spatial inventory. lets go. its time to take care of these restless dead. remember, aim for the head! the group snapped out of their initial fear, reminded that these were just zombies. sar?h the ovelfire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. their confidence surged as they recalled their well-maintained arsenal and combat prowess. zombies? theyd be nothing more than target practice. even lu keran, usually behind the scenes repairing equipment, was excited to join in. boss, give me a gun! i wanna shoot some zombies too! she pleaded. zhang yi handed her a rifle with a sigh. stick close to me. and watch your aimno friendly fire. woohoo! this is gonna be awesome! lu keran cheered, gearing up enthusiastically. the group stepped outside, leaving zhou keer and the other non-combatants inside. inside the shelter, chairs and snacks were brought out as the remaining residents prepared to watch the battle unfold from the safety of their fortress. out in the snow, the mood among zhang yis team was lighthearted. uncle you transformed into his towering giant form, hefting a massive entrenching tool like a war hammer. zhang yi called out, stick to guns for now, uncle you! but uncle you laughed. no need to waste ammo on these guys! liang yues blade gleamed as she drew it, her eyes burning with battle lust. the more cautious memberszhang yi, fatty xu, and lu kerantook up positions to begin shooting. zhang yi fired the first shot. with practiced precision, his bullet struck a zombie squarely in the head, dropping it instantly. inspired, lu keran turned to fatty xu. lets see who can kill more! fatty xu smirked. youre on. but dont cry when i winive had way more practice! suddenly, something unexpected happened. the zombie zhang yi had shot stood back up. a gaping hole in its skull revealed the damage from the shot, yet no blood flowed, and it continued moving toward the shelter. what the hell? zhang yi muttered. i hit it dead center. why isnt it down? before he could process what was happening, the entire hordes demeanor shifted. the previously slow and aimless zombies began to howla guttural, inhuman sound that echoed across the frozen plains. awoo the sound was chilling, like a pack of wild dogs feasting in a graveyard. then, as one, the horde broke into a sprint. the thousands of zombies surged forward with terrifying speed, their eyes glowing a sinister crimson. what the?! zhang yi cursed, his grip tightening on his rifle. liang yue and uncle you, who had charged ahead to engage, were suddenly faced with a wave of frenzied undead barreling toward them like hunting hounds. fall back! zhang yi shouted, his voice cutting through the chaos. but it was too latethe horde was upon them. author''s note Chapter 425: Eerie Encounter chapter 425: eerie encounterno one could have anticipated that the seemingly sluggish and apathetic zombies would suddenly become so unpredictable. in an instant, they unleashed astonishing speed, completely surrounding uncle you and liang yue! before zhang yi could even react, the zombies had already engulfed the two, layers upon layers, their guttural roars chilling to the bone. sea??h th novel(f~)ire.net website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. w**t the h*ll! uncle yous furious shout rang out as he swung his entrenching tool, sending a dozen zombies flying and cleaving three of them cleanly in half. these zombies were rigid and remarkably tough, nothing like the decayed corpses often seen on tv that could be easily destroyed. fortunately, both uncle you and liang yue were enhancement-type superhumans, with formidable close-combat skills. even surrounded by thousands of zombies, they still managed to hold their ground and fight back effectively. liang yue wielded a tang sword, the blades gleam slicing through the air like cold moonlight. the iron-like bodies of the zombies were severed cleanly! however, the efficiency of their attacks was too low, and the horde of zombies was overwhelming. if this continued, they would surely exhaust themselves and be devoured alive! this outcome was beyond anyones expectations. mere moments ago, zhang yi and the others still thought of zombies as the slow-moving, fragile creatures often portrayed in tv dramasso weak that even a child could kill one with a stick. but the zombies they faced now were vastly differentstronger, fiercer, faster, and harder to kill! even a headshot wouldnt stop them. how were they supposed to kill such creatures? looking at the dismembered zombie corpses on the ground, still struggling toward uncle you and liang yue, zhang yi felt a shiver run down his spine. what on earth are these things? why wont they die? fatty xu and lu keran were pale with fear. they quickly opened fire, trying to kill as many zombies as possible to rescue uncle you and liang yue. but instead of eliminating the zombies, the gunfire attracted their attention. a portion of the massive horde broke off, roaring as they charged toward zhang yi and his group! zhang yi remained calm. since even a headshot couldnt kill these zombies, firearms were useless. holstering his pistol, he made a gesture in the air, tracing a dimensional shape. a massive dimensional gate appeared, blocking the zombies path toward the three of them. the horde moved with terrifying speed, comparable to sprint champions. but before reaching zhang yi, they disappeared one by one into the dimensional gate. fatty xu and lu keran finally breathed a sigh of relief. thank goodness for the bosss dimensional gate! we can use this to handle the entire horde of brainless zombies! however, just as fatty xu finished speaking, the zombies suddenly stopped in front of the dimensional gate. huh? zhang yi frowned, sensing something was amiss. zombies were supposed to be mindless and incapable of intelligence. yet these creatures had stopped, as if aware of the danger. this was entirely illogical! two possibilities came to mind: they werent truly dead and were instead some kind of intelligent creatures. someone was secretly controlling them! the second possibility seemed more likely. could it be a superhuman capable of controlling zombies? like the time when soldiers corpses mysteriously disappeared? if thats the case, then everything makes sense! if they could locate and eliminate the controller among the horde, the crisis would be resolved. however, zhang yi felt a headache coming on at the thought of finding the controller among thousands of zombiesit was like searching for a needle in a haystack! he decided on a more straightforward approach. with a wave of his hand, a heavy tank appeared on the snow, its weight compressing the snowy surface. uncle you, liang yue, follow my command. when i count to three, jump as high as you can! as zhang yi spoke, he climbed into the tank and began loading the cannon. although he wasnt great at driving a tank, uncle you had taught him how to fire its cannon. understanding his plan, uncle you and liang yue nodded. got it! zhang yi finished loading the shell and started the countdown. three, two, one! as soon as he said one, uncle you and liang yue fought back the zombies surrounding them with all their might and leaped into the air. both being enhancement-type superhumans, their physical strength was extraordinarythey jumped over ten meters high! the tanks cannon roared with a deafening boom. boom!!! a shell detonated in the center of the horde, scattering hundreds of zombies in a spectacular explosion of limbs and debris. the horde was momentarily dispersed, giving uncle you and liang yue a chance to retreat toward the shelter. but the relentless zombies pursued them, their terrifying speed allowing them to quickly close the distance. driven by their instinct to hunt the living, the zombies gathered together, conveniently lining up directly in front of the tanks cannon. zhang yi loaded another shell and fired! another explosion scattered hundreds of zombies, but many remained, charging from the sides. lu keran was so frightened that his legs gave out. thankfully, uncle you and liang yue intercepted the stragglers, eliminating the remaining zombies. realizing that decapitating them wasnt enough, they figured out that destroying the bodies or severing the legs was more effective. zhang yi stepped out of the tank and retrieved a peculiar-looking piece of equipment from his spatial storagea device with two large metal canisters connected to a long nozzle by pipes. it resembled a pesticide sprayer but was actually a flamethrower, which zhang yi had taken from west hill base but never used. its short range and cumbersome design made it inconvenient. however, it was perfect for dealing with these unkillable zombies. lying prone, zhang yi aimed the flamethrower. a fiery dragon over ten meters long erupted from the nozzle! even in the freezing temperatures, the flamethrowers intense heat set the zombies ablaze. their clothes caught fire, and their bodies burned fiercely. the zombies proximity to each other amplified the flames effectiveness. at first, zhang yi worried the burning zombies might charge toward them. but instead, they became erratic, their limbs twisting wildly as they let out eerie screeches. as the team prepared to fight with all their might, the zombies suddenly turned tail and fled! author''s note Chapter 426: Uncertainty chapter 426: uncertaintythe sight of thousands of zombies turning and running in the opposite direction of the shelter left zhang yi and his group utterly stunned. it was unheard ofzombies showing fear and executing a strategic retreat! zhang yi stood up cautiously, watching the retreating horde with wariness in his eyes. this confirms one thing: these zombies are definitely being controlled by someone! sea??h th n?vel_fire.et website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. when the controller realized it was difficult to kill us, they decided to retreat to preserve their forces. liang yue frowned deeply, pondering for a moment before shaking her head. i cant imagine how a person could control thousands of zombies simultaneously! not to mention, these corpses were frozen solid, and decapitation couldnt even kill them. if someone had such immense power, they could easily dominate tianhai city, given the sheer number of corpses outside. zhang yi glanced at the pile of shattered and charred corpses on the ground, some of which were still twitching. despite being reduced to fragments, these zombies exhibited an eerie vitality, like worms cut into multiple pieces that continued to squirm. the thought of facing more of these creatures in the future made zhang yis head ache. we need to figure out what these things are and how someone is controlling them. if not, tianhai city will never know peace! walking over, zhang yi attempted to store parts of the zombie fragments into his spatial storage. the process went smoothly, confirming they were indeed lifeless corpses rather than living organisms. yet the fact that they were still moving defied explanation. could it be some technique like the corpse-driving rituals from xiangxi? have i been too narrow-minded, refusing to believe in the supernatural? zhang yis thoughts grew increasingly conflicted. he tossed the flamethrower to fatty xu. burn these things completely! at least we now know they can be destroyed by fire. the group couldnt make sense of the days events. ever since that day when thousands of corpses vanished from the battlefield, a shroud of mystery had enveloped them. todays zombie crisis only deepened the enigma, making it impossible to ignore. though they had successfully repelled the horde, the confusion on everyones faces was unmistakable. back at the shelter, zhou keer, yang siyah, and the others were still shaken. their pale faces betrayed how terrified they had been. after all, who had ever seen zombies fiercer than wild dogs, let alone an entire horde of them? if it hadnt been for zhang yis group, even heavily armed soldiers would have been torn apart today. do you think ghosts really exist? yang siyah asked nervously, clutching her chest as fear lingered in her eyes. the older zhou haimei frowned slightly. hard to say. such things are better believed in than dismissed. its best to stay respectful! as a veteran actress who had weathered the entertainment industry for years, zhou haimei was deeply superstitious about metaphysics. it was said that her career only took off after a famous fortune-teller advised her to change her name. some phenomena defied scientific explanation yet undeniably existed. zhang yi remained silent, sitting on the sofa as he reflected on the series of strange events. the horde of thousands had come from west hill base. when he, fatty xu, and uncle you had previously scavenged there, they had sensed something unusual in the surroundings. at the time, zhang yi dismissed it as paranoia and didnt give it much thought. before leaving, he had sealed the entrance to west hill base for peace of mind. adding to that were the recent incidentsdisappearing soldier corpses and their appearance at the ci qu subway station. these clues hinted at a hidden truth of monumental significance. someone must be controlling those corpses. while the women speculated about supernatural events, zhang yi concluded decisively. these zombies avoided my dimensional gate and retreated intelligently. thats behavior characteristic of sentient beings. so, there must be a superhuman capable of controlling corpses, targeting us from the shadows. his reasoning was sound, and the group nodded in agreement. however, zhou keer raised a question. but why attack us? we havent provoked anyone. the only recent conflicts were with chaoyu base and yangsheng base. but if they had such power, why didnt they use it during the battle? why wait until now? zhang yi shook his head. the situation is too sudden to unravel immediately. for now, lets stay within the shelter. its very secure, and those zombies cant breach it. lets wait and see how things develop. as he spoke, zhang yi turned to yang xinxin. xinxin, keep an eye on other factions in the coming days. see if this phenomenon is unique to us or widespread in tianhai city. yang xinxin nodded. got it. leave it to me! zhang yi then addressed uncle you and liang yue. uncle you, liang yue, check your bodies thoroughly to ensure no scratches or bites. if a zombie virus exists, we must be cautious. the group instinctively distanced themselves from uncle you and liang yue, though silently. after all, in zombie movies, those injured by zombies often became infected. uncle you and liang yue were speechless but understood zhang yis caution. alright, well cooperate with the checks. zhang yi chuckled and reassured them. relax, its just a precaution, not suspicion. considering their bulletproof combat gear, it was unlikely the zombies had bitten them. zhang yi was simply being thorough. after examining them with zhou keer, zhang yi confirmed they had no injuries. all clear. youre both good to go! smiling, zhang yi dismissed them. with the two gone, only zhang yi and zhou keer remained in the medical room. zhang yis tone turned serious as he addressed her. keer, theres something i need you to do. zhou keer immediately understood. you want me to study the zombies? zhang yi nodded. i need to determine if they carry a virus or are being controlled by superhuman powers. if its the former, this could escalate into a citywide catastropheor worse, a global pandemic. but if its the latter his expression grew graver as he continued. then it means tianhai city harbors an unknown and terrifying entity. zhou keers face clouded with concern as she gently hugged zhang yi from behind. either outcome is frightening. zhang yi held her hand and smiled faintly. dont overthink it. lets focus on protecting ourselves. as long as the shelter remains secure, we can live peacefully. zhou keer nodded, finding comfort in his words. overthinking would only lead to despair. zhang yi retrieved a piece of zombie flesh from his spatial storage and placed it on the workstation. the fragment twitched like a severed worm, even as frost clung to its surface, radiating a strange vitality. even zhou keer, a seasoned doctor, was astounded. this is incredible! be careful, zhang yi warned. we dont know if its viral or how contagious it might be. zhou keer smiled confidently. dont worry. i know what im doing. she expertly placed the fragment into a tray and sealed it under a glass cover. ill need some time to study this. no rush. if this remains the extent of the crisis, we can handle it with ease. zhou keer nodded. yes, given our resources, were the most well-equipped faction in tianhai city! but if a zombie crisis erupts among other factions, especially groups like the followers of the snow god, it would be terrifying. author''s note Chapter 427: Catastrophe in Tianhai City chapter 427: catastrophe in tianhai cityjust as zhang yi suspected, the zombie crisis was not an isolated incident targeting them alone. it had erupted across all of tianhai city on a massive scale! s~ea??h the novel?ire(.)ne*t website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. yangsheng base, chaoyu base, and qingfu base all came under attack by swarms of zombies that seemed to materialize out of nowhere. the soldiers, untrained for such a phenomenon, initially assumed they could neutralize the zombies by destroying their heads. but to their horror, even headshots failed. the zombies continued their onslaught, tearing off heads with their razor-sharp claws. these zombies were far from the sluggish creatures seen in tv shows. their speed and strength far exceeded those of ordinary humans. the horde surged relentlessly, overwhelming the first line of human defense with sheer numbers. the soldiers struggled to mount any resistance, and the line was soon breached! their numbers were overwhelming, and their resilience was terrifying. the three bases suffered heavy losses, with numerous lives claimed by these horrifying creatures. however, the bases were equipped with powerful weaponry. after the initial chaos, the leaders and superhuman captains of each base organized a fierce counterattack. at yangsheng base, xiao honglian quickly identified the zombies weaknessfire. she climbed a tall distillation tower, wielding a high-purity alcohol sprayer to unleash streams of flame upon the horde. like an inferno engulfing insects, the fire swiftly turned the zombies to ash. yet, the scale of the horde was daunting. compared to the few thousand zombies that zhang yis shelter faced, the bases located in core areas faced far greater hordes. with her sword-like brows furrowed, xiao honglian pushed her [purgatory furnace] ability to its limits. a man carrying a heavy metal box approached her. the box contained high-purity alcohol. xiao honglian consumed it, unleashing fiery blasts like a dragon, scorching trenches into the ground and decimating the zombies. after an arduous battle, and with countless zombies slain, the wave of attackers was finally repelled. what the hell are these things? theyre far beyond ordinary zombies. investigate their origins immediately! is someone controlling them? xiao honglian was furious as she surveyed the carnage. her painstakingly built refinery lay in ruins, strewn with corpses. meanwhile, at qingfu base, xing tian unleashed his abilities and led 500 elite warriors in a direct charge against the zombie horde. with xing tians empowerment, his warriors became formidable, combining offense and defense seamlessly. abandoning firearms, they relied on massive battle axes, war hammers, and iron rods to engage in brutal close combat with the zombies. this method proved far more effective than firearms, as even the frozen corpses were shattered by the brute force of their attacks. at chaoyu base, the situation escalated to the point where the main naval guns of ships stationed in the deep sea district were deployed against the horde. while the zombie attacks were ferocious, they alone couldnt inflict catastrophic damage on the major factions. the bases superior firepower and abundance of powerful superhumans helped contain the threat. where did these things come from? could they be a product of another faction in tianhai city? or is there an underground force weve overlooked? wei dinghai speculated with a furrowed brow. zhang yi and the three bases managed to resolve the crisis relatively effectively, suffering losses that, while significant, were within tolerable limits. the followers of the snow god, however, were not so fortunate. having rapidly expanded their ranks over the past month, their population swelled to over 10,000 in the core area of tianfeng district. more than 70% of them lacked combat capabilities, and many were even unarmed. this massive, vulnerable crowd attracted an underground horde of zombies. that night, the followers finished their prayers and retired to their tents. to keep warm, they huddled in a few enclosed buildings, lit fires, and shared canned food and red sacred fruits plucked from the holy tree. among them were residents from yuelu residential area, who had joined the cult alongside li jian. li jians son, li kaile, was particularly happy at the camp. he quickly befriended xu beibei, a girl of the same age from a nearby tent. even in the apocalypse, human emotions remained powerful. the two teenagers, drawn to each other at first sight, quickly grew close. living nearby and having little to do beyond prayers, they spent their days together. li kaile shared his treasured books, while xu beibei showed him an oil painting she had found. in the innocence of youth, their feelings were pure and untainted. li kaile secretly vowed to marry xu beibei once the apocalypse was over and to stay by her side for life. but in the darkness, pairs of eerie green eyes had already fixed on their camp. the night watch spotted shadows moving on the outskirts. with visibility too poor to discern details, the watch mistook the zombies for survivors seeking refuge. where are you coming from? do you need help? one watchman called out. as they approached, the truth became horrifyingly clear. the creatures had purplish-blue skin, vacant eyes, and ghastly wounds that marked them unmistakably as undead. a-a-a monsters! the watchman screamed in terror. that was the moment the zombies attacked. drawn to the firelight, they swarmed like moths to flames. but this time, they werent self-destructingthey were bringing death to the unsuspecting survivors. gunfire erupted as the watchmen tried to fight back. however, the zombies were undeterred, pressing on even as bullets riddled their bodies. screams of despair echoed through the camp as the undead began their slaughter. the followers of the snow gods camp turned into a nightmare, with hundreds of members falling victim to the horde. the guards, realizing the nature of their attackers, aimed for the zombies heads. yet their efforts were futile, and the noise only attracted more of the undead, who tore them apart. desperate cries for help spread through the camp. the guards were swiftly overwhelmed, leaving the unarmed followers defenseless. the ravenous zombies charged in like starving bandits descending on a buffet. in that moment, it was as if the dinner bell had rung. author''s note Chapter 428: A New Storm chapter 428: a new stormthe rapid expansion of the followers of the snow god had swelled their numbers to over 10,000. most resided in the buildings around st. johns cathedral. to conserve warmth, dozens of people often shared a single room, creating an extremely high population density. when the zombie attack began, the crowded conditions left little room to escape. on the floor where li kaile and xu beibei lived, zombies surged upward. even in the dark, the creatures could sense the presence of living humans, moving through the dim hallways with eerie precision. bang! bang! doors were smashed open, and zombies poured into the rooms, slaughtering indiscriminately. terrified screams echoed as some fainted, meeting their gruesome fate regardless. others leapt from the building in a desperate bid to escape, only to find more zombies waiting below with jaws agape. it was as if "meat pies" were dropping from the sky. li kaile turned pale with fear, but seeing xu beibei trembling and unable to stand, he mustered his courage. grabbing her hand, he led her upstairs. zombies acted purely on instinct, attacking anything alive. heading to the upper floors was their best chance. lets find my parents first! li kaile pulled xu beibei out of their room, just as his frantic parents appeared searching for him. li jian and zhang jianfang breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing their son unharmed. they noticed li kaile clutching xu beibeis hand but said nothing. even in the apocalypse, they respected his pursuit of lovea symbol of humanitys resilience and hope for the future. upstairs, quickly! the parents shielded the young couple as they ascended. behind them, the hordes eerie growls grew louder, drawing closer. suddenly, two figures stepped into the hallway, blocking the zombies path. these were superhumans, tasked by zheng yixian to protect li jians family. one of them faced the approaching zombies and, without a word, smashed his fist into the wall. he then ripped the entire section free, creating a barrier of debris that temporarily stopped the zombies. with their path blocked, the zombies turned their attention to other victims, unleashing carnage throughout the building. the air was filled with screams, blood sprayed in every direction, and the sound of zombies tearing into flesh and crunching bones was everywhere. the followers camp had become a living nightmare, a vision of hell on earth. at st. johns cathedral, the situation grew dire as the zombie horde surrounded the sacred grounds. inside, the core members of the cult and countless followers huddled together. the zombies, drawn by the scent of living humans like sharks to blood, attacked with red eyes and relentless hunger. then, the cathedral doors suddenly swung open. an invisible force blasted out, sending dozens of zombies flying. the high priest zheng yixian emerged, flanked by over a dozen superhumans. the grisly scene outside made even these seasoned warriors pupils contract in shock. zombies, once confined to fiction, were now a terrifying reality at their doorstep. though briefly shaken, zheng yixian quickly regained his composure and began issuing orders. tong zhan, geng lei, stay inside the cathedral and protect the chief priest and the followers. do not step out under any circumstances! the rest of you, follow me. lets kill these zombies! under zheng yixians leadership, the followers began to organize and counterattack. the addition of powerful superhumans turned the tide, allowing the group to mount an effective defense. even the once-panicked followers found their resolve, grabbing whatever weapons they could to fight back. swish, swish, swish! in an instant, a dozen flashes of cold steel lit the air, and the heads of over a dozen zombies hit the ground. han chang, having activated his beast transformation, took on the form of a honey badgera small yet ferocious creature with sharp claws and fangs. using what he knew from television, he decapitated more than a dozen zombies, assuming this would end them. but to his shock, the headless zombies merely staggered briefly before resuming their attack. what? theyre not dead? though startled, han chang, true to his honey badger nature, was unafraid. fine, ill take you apart completely! moments later, another flurry of blows left the zombies in seven or eight dismembered pieces. the fragments wriggled grotesquely on the ground. disgusting! what the hell are these things? han changs face twisted in revulsion. while their strength surpassed that of ordinary humans, they were no match for a superhuman like him in one-on-one combat. but their sheer numbers, combined with their resilience, posed a dire threateven to superhumans, should they become surrounded. the battle to defend the camp was grueling. with so many zombies and over 10,000 followers, the dozen or so superhumans couldnt possibly protect everyone. for most of the fight, they focused on thinning out the densest clusters of zombies, while ordinary followers had to fend for themselves and their families. after more than half an hour of brutal combat, the ground was littered with blood and corpses. no one could tell how many were zombies or followers. when the horde finally receded into the darkness, a collective sigh of relief swept through the survivors. but the lingering fear gripped their hearts, refusing to fade. what were those things? han chang, his hands in his pockets, surveyed the carnage with a gloomy expression. the cries of mourning followers filled the aira haunting lament for the countless lives lost. when they had joined the cult, they believed it to be a sanctuary, a utopia amidst the apocalypse. han changs chest tightened with a dull ache as he approached zheng yixian, his frustration plain on his face. by now, the exhausted superhumans had gathered, awaiting further orders. sarch* the n?vel(f)ire.nt website on google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. zheng yixian, ever composed, methodically directed the survivors to clean up the aftermath. move all the bodies to that abandoned building. check for injuries. these zombies are highly unusual and could be carriers of a biochemical virus. isolate anyone wounded and monitor them closely. increase patrols tonight. organize the strongest men to guard the camp perimeter. the horde may return. though fatigued, the survivors understood the urgency and quickly got to work. han chang approached zheng yixian, frowning deeply. these things are absurd! they cant be killed, and they even know when to retreat. this isnt the mindless behavior of tv zombies. zheng yixian gave him a long, measured look, his brow furrowing slightly. this matter must be thoroughly investigated. with our high population density, were at constant risk of another attack. and we still dont know if this involves the other factions. han chang clenched his teeth in frustration. if those scumbags are behind this, ill make them pay! the cults strength had grown exponentially, with a surge in both followers and superhumans. han chang itched for a chance to crush the factions that had oppressed them. but zheng yixian placed a hand on his shoulder. calm yourself. its just a theory for now. our priority is protecting those who remain. after a moment of contemplation, han chang nodded. youre right. he turned to help manage the post-battle cleanup. standing amidst the chaos, zheng yixian gazed into the distance. somewhere in the shadows, a powerful enemy might still be lurking. a new storm is brewing, he muttered. in one of the residential buildings, li jian cautiously peered downstairs. after confirming the zombies had left, he exhaled deeply. its finally over. zhang jianfang approached, and the couple embraced tightly. nearby, li kaile held xu beibeis hand firmly, their eyes meeting with shared affection. watching this, zhang jianfang smiled softly. our son is growing uphes pursuing happiness. the couple approved of xu beibei. in these desperate times, survival skills mattered far more than family background. having lost her entire family, xu beibeis ability to endure spoke volumes. but deep within li jians eyes was a flicker of concern. i just hope this doesnt bring trouble, he murmured, careful not to be overheard. curious, zhang jianfang asked, why do you say that? li jian hesitated before answering. you know how the cult treats underage boystheyre taken for that. zhang jianfang shuddered, remembering how terrified shed been that li kaile might suffer the same fate. thankfully, li jians superhuman abilities and his favor with cult leaders like yuan kongye had spared their son from that grim ritual. still, the couple couldnt shake the shadow of worry over what the future might hold. zhang jianfang hugged her husband tightly, resting her head on his chest. well be okay. as long as were together, well survive. author''s note Chapter 429: Theyre Back Chapter 429: They''re BackIn just a single day, all of Tianhai Citys major factions had faced zombie attacks. Of these, Zhang Yis group experienced the least impactno casualties at all. Their smaller numbers meant they didnt have to protect large groups of ordinary members, and with their superior firepower, eliminating the zombies posed no problem. Other factions werent as fortunate. Each suffered varying degrees of loss. The Followers of the Snow God bore the brunt, losing over 1,000 members in this wave alone. Additionally, more than 800 individuals were bitten or scratched. These people were immediately quarantined, locked away in a secure area under the guard of two powerful Superhumans, to prevent potential mutations. The following day, the uneasy factions began to contact one another. Zhang Yi called his old classmate, Xing Tian, to inquire about the situation. What? You got hit by zombies too? Damn it, we had over a hundred people killed here yesterday! Xing Tian vented his frustration over the phone. Where the hell did these monsters come from? Is this some kind of biochemical crisis? Learning that Qingfu Base had also been attacked reassured Zhang Yi slightlyit wasnt a targeted assault against his group. This is troubling, Zhang Yi muttered. These zombies are bizarre. Beheading doesnt work, and it feels like someones controlling them. He added with a frown, Whats worrying is that despite the 100-kilometer distance between our bases, we both experienced attacks. If there really is someone orchestrating this, its not just one person. Xing Tian pinched the bridge of his nose, his own concerns deepening. Youre saying theres a force in Tianhai City powerful enough to control these hordes of zombies? But if thats true, theyd be unbeatable! There are over 10 million corpses in Tianhai Cityjust sending wave after wave would wear us down to nothing! Even your Shelter, sturdy as it is, wouldnt hold out forever if they kept attacking! Xing Tians fears echoed Zhang Yis own. The unknown enemy was the most terrifying kind. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And Zhang Yi still had no answers about the zombies or the entity possibly controlling them. All we can do is take it one step at a time. Lets contact the other factions and see if theyve faced similar situations. They werent alone in their initiative. The other factions shared the same concerns and suspicions, suspecting that one among them might be behind the zombie tide. After exchanging intelligence, they discovered that all had encountered identical attacks. This revelation led to a consensus: The zombie tide wasnt the doing of any of the five major factions. It had to be the work of an underground sixth force, something far more sinister than a mere biochemical crisis. The acknowledgment that no faction was behind the attacks provided some clarity, but cooperation remained out of reach. Distrust and old grudges between the factions prevented meaningful alliances. Each faction now focused solely on defending itself. Secretly, many hoped the other groups would be wiped out by the zombie hordes. Zhang Yis group faced the least pressure. Their sturdy Shelter and efficient combat strategy gave them confidence. But unease lingered among the Shelters inhabitants. This time, the attack involved several thousand zombies. What if next time, it was tens of thousands? With Tianhai Citys death toll nearing 20 million, a full-scale outbreak would be catastrophic, even for the well-prepared Shelter. All we can do is take it one step at a time, Zhang Yi thought grimly. On the second day, the zombie tide reappeared outside the Shelter. Sighing, Zhang Yi muttered, Lets go. He donned his combat gear and led Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and others out to confront the horde. Even Hua Hua, the loyal beast, was brought along this time. Zhang Yi sternly warned it not to bite the zombies, to avoid potential poisoning or infection. Hua Hua, understanding its master, nodded obediently. Together, the group set out to clear the wave. This time, Uncle You and Liang Yue avoided recklessly diving into the horde. Liang Yue and Hua Hua focused on eliminating nearby zombies, while Fatty Xu used his ice abilities to restrict their movements. Zhang Yi and Uncle You wielded flamethrowers, taking on the main force. Blizzard! Fatty Xu raised his hands, unleashing a massive ice and snowstorm that enveloped thousands of zombies. Though it didnt inflict much damage, its range was immense. After his discussions with Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu had realized the proper use of his abilities. Lacking offensive power, his role as a support was crucial. Sure enough, under the storms icy cover, the zombies movements slowed, and they seemed to lose their sense of direction. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. Just as I thought. These zombies are being controlled. Obscure the controllers vision, and they lose coordination. Meanwhile, Uncle You wielded the flamethrower, turning zombies into charred remains with its searing blasts. Zhang Yi joined him, attacking from the side to create a crisscrossing fire pattern. The combined firepower was devastating, engulfing the horde in a raging inferno. The zombies ghastly wails echoed as they succumbed to the flames, losing their ability to move. Inside the Shelter, Zhou Keer observed through a window, diligently recording notes on her laptop. Its just as I suspected, she murmured. The zombies carry a cold-adapted virus that fears heat. High temperatures deactivate it, rendering them inert. By the end of the battle, half of the zombie tide had been destroyed, prompting the remainder to retreat. Zhang Yi and his team pursued the fleeing zombies briefly but found the horde scattering in all directions. Despite killing several hundred more, many escaped due to their speed. Once again, the outcome mirrored the previous day: part of the horde was wiped out, while another portion escaped. I have a bad feeling about this, Zhang Yi muttered, frowning deeply. Although they had managed to repel the tide without much difficulty, the repeated escapes troubled him. There was something elusive about the situationan element he couldnt quite piece together yet. Author''s Note Chapter 430: Intelligence Chapter 430: IntelligenceAfter returning to the Shelter, Zhang Yi and his team rested in the living room. The women brought out hot drinks and food to help them regain their strength. Zhou Keer stood behind Zhang Yi, gently massaging his shoulders to ease his tension. Despite successfully repelling another zombie tide, Zhang Yis face showed no signs of relief. A heavy cloud of unease loomed over him. This unusual expression caught the attention of Fatty Xu, who had been bragging with Uncle You moments before. Boss, why do you look so grim? Others also noticed Zhang Yis serious demeanor and turned their concerned gazes toward him. Yeah, whats on your mind? You look so tense. If theres a problem, lets discuss it together! Zhang Yi exhaled deeply and addressed the group: We managed to take out most of yesterdays horde. But todays tide was even larger in number. This suggests the zombie virus is spreading quickly. Its possible that those who recently died are being turned into zombies. If thats true, its only a matter of time before all of Tianhai City is overrun by the undead. I cant imagine how well survive when that happens. Zhang Yis words drained the smiles from everyones faces. The group fell silent, each person lost in thought as worry etched itself onto their expressions. Seated in her wheelchair, Yang Xinxin took a sip of her cappuccino and spoke calmly: However, this trend doesnt seem obvious yet. Otherwise, they wouldnt be sending only a few thousand zombies at us each time. She paused, her usual light-hearted demeanor giving way to a rare solemnity. But if we dont uncover the truth behind these zombies, theyll undoubtedly become an enormous problem for us in the future. Lu Keran sighed deeply. If only it were summerthen these zombies would just rot away into skeletons. Zhang Yi shook his head. Whats most concerning isnt their numbers but the fact that they appear to have a controller. They arent just mindless monsters. On top of that, theyre incredibly hard to kill. Burning or dismembering them is the only solution, which makes dealing with them all the more difficult. Yang Xinxin added, So the real issue lies in dealing with whoeveror whateveris controlling them? Zhang Yi chuckled bitterly. Easier said than done. How do we find them? Every time we engage, the zombies retreat before we can finish them off. I cant even confirm if theres a controller among the horde. After all, Superhuman abilities are so unpredictable. He shrugged. Theres no logical way to deduce it. Investigating the subway depths, where these zombies seemed to originate, was an option. But Zhang Yi was reluctant to leave the Shelters protective range unless absolutely necessary. As the group debated, Zhou Keer, standing quietly behind Zhang Yi, spoke up. I think I might have a theory. Curious, Zhang Yi craned his neck to look back, only for his view to be blocked by two rather prominent obstacles. Oh? he prompted, motioning for her to continue. Typically, Zhou Keer, as the groups doctor, didnt involve herself in combat strategies. But her expertise in virology made her insights especially valuable in this scenario. Encouraged, Zhou Keer explained: Ive been studying the zombies bodies these past two days and found something peculiara virus-like entity. It can survive extreme cold, even temperatures as low as minus 100 degrees Celsius, and it invades the nervous system to control the hosts body. However She frowned. It doesnt match the modern biological definition of a virus. Its structure seems to fall somewhere between a virus and a cell. Its more akin to a cell but can behave like a virus, hijacking the hosts body for control and reproduction. Zhang Yi, having abandoned his academic knowledge long ago, was thoroughly baffled. Keer, can you simplify that? The trio of men present clearly didnt grasp her explanation, judging by their bewildered expressions. Zhou Keer chuckled awkwardly. Alright. Lets just call it the zombie virus for now. The apocalypse has rewritten many biological concepts, likely due to gamma-ray exposure. Simply put, this virus exhibits behaviors similar to colony organisms or even eusocial animals. When the zombies are in a horde, their actions display coordination and even rudimentary intelligence. But in isolated lab samples, the virus shows diminished reproductive instincts and lower responsiveness. This leads me to suspect the virus operates like a biological collective, with a mother organism possibly controlling the horde remotely. Remotely? Zhang Yi straightened up, intrigued. Zhou Keer quickly clarified, Not over vast distances. Animals communicate through pheromones, for instance. This mutated virus might have its own method of transmitting signals. So, Zhang Yi mused, if we kill the mother organism, the infected zombies might die as well? Zhou Keer shook her head. Thats uncertain. At the very least, theyd lose their current level of coordination and intelligence. Intelligence. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The word hit Zhang Yi like a thunderclap. His eyes lit up as he finally identified the nagging sense of unease that had been plaguing him. I think I get it now! He crossed his arms and addressed the group: Have you noticed that while the zombie tides appear aggressive, their tactics show a faint hint of intelligence? Yet their strategy feels juvenilealmost as if theyre learning, step by step. Its like watching a toddler trying to form sentences, learning one word at a time. The group pondered his observation, nodding as it began to make sense. The zombies behaved clumsily, charging directly into flamethrower attacks without adjusting their approach. Yet they avoided Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate and retreated when the situation turned unfavorable. They had some intelligencebut not much. Wait a moment, Zhang Yi, Liang Yue interjected, her arms crossed and eyes sharp with caution. Are you suggesting our enemy might be an intelligent zombie? Perhaps a mutated virus has taken over a human body and evolved into a mother organism? Essentially, its recently gained intelligence and is learning how to fight like humans do. Zhang Yi found her theory plausible. The zombies tactics didnt resemble those of rational humans, but they also werent entirely mindless. If such a being exists, it could very well be a Zombie King, Zhang Yi speculated. After all, weve confirmed two ways to gain Superhuman abilitiesfacing near-death experiences or through external stimuli like the Ice Soul. So its not impossible for someone to gain powers after death. A fleeting image crossed Zhang Yis mind, but he kept this thought to himself. Author''s Note Chapter 431: Infinite Evolution Chapter 431: Infinite EvolutionAfter two battles with the mysterious zombie tide, Zhang Yi and his team had gleaned some critical information: The zombies were fast, incredibly strong, and immune to death by headshot. Worse, they displayed a degree of intelligence. However, the idea of a "Zombie King" orchestrating these hordes remained speculative. They had no concrete evidence to confirm it. Zhang Yi rested his elbows on the table, his calm, calculating gaze fixed on the group. If these corpses have mutated and gained intelligence, he began in a low voice, then their attacks will continue. That gives us more opportunities to gather intel. We need to pay close attention to every detail of their behavior to develop countermeasures. But first, we must clear the surrounding areas of zombies. Leaving them unchecked is a major security risk. Uneliminated zombie hordes would inevitably return to harass them, and unforeseen accidents could arise at any time. Unlike human adversaries, who feared Zhang Yis strength and wouldnt dare provoke him unnecessarily, zombies had no fear. Even if they couldnt kill him, theyd still be a relentless nuisance. Clearing the local hordes became a priority. However, theres another issue, Liang Yue interjected. Her Tang Sword rested beside her as she lounged on the sofa with her arms crossed. If these intelligent zombies can control large groups, how are they causing disturbances across all regions of Tianhai City at once? Zhang Yi grinned wryly. I have no idea. Subway, Yang Xinxin said flatly, breaking her usual silence. The single word made everyones eyes light up. Though none of them had ventured dozens of meters underground, they could deduce that the subway offered a warmer environment than the surface and provided extensive transit routes. Yang Xinxin raised her head, her amber eyes gleaming with insight. The closest zombie activity zone to us is the Ci Qu subway station. Sarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tianhai Citys subway system is vast, connecting to every major area. Its highly likely that the zombies are using these tunnels to move between regions. Whether this is intentional or coincidental remains to be seen. Zhang Yi propped his chin in his hand, nodding thoughtfully. That would also explain why the hordes we face are the smallest. Cloud Manor is relatively remote, with only one subway line passing through. He turned to Yang Xinxin. Keep monitoring the other factions. I need updates on the zombie activity in their territories. We need to find a way to deal with this once and for all. Yang Xinxin smiled faintly and nodded. Of course. But for now, their situation isnt looking good. The three major bases had underground shelters, but they also relied heavily on above-ground infrastructure like steelworks, refineries, and port facilitiesassets they couldnt afford to lose. These facilities were the lifeblood of their operations, so theyd fight tooth and nail to defend them, leading to prolonged clashes with the zombie hordes. The Followers of the Snow God fared even worse. Their poor living conditions and lack of defensive fortifications made them especially vulnerable, resulting in heavy casualties. Zhang Yi chuckled dismissively. Not our problem. If they cant make sacrifices when necessary, theyll just have to keep fighting the zombies. Especially the Followers of the Snow Godtheyre growing too numerous for my liking. A few losses during this crisis might actually benefit us. The group speculated about how the other factions might handle the zombie onslaught, their tone indifferent. Zhang Yis team had no strong ties to the others, so their misfortunes were met with little sympathy. That afternoon, Zhang Yi and Uncle You inspected the area in front of the Shelter. They doused the ground with gasoline, prepared to use fire to neutralize the virus driving the zombies. By midnight, the third wave of the zombie tide arrivedsooner than expected. Thanks to their vigilance, the team was ready. Night sentries had been posted, and they quickly mobilized to meet the attack. Switching to nighttime assaults? Are they learning that we perform better in daylight, or is it just coincidence? Zhang Yi muttered as he strapped on a flamethrower and descended the stairs cautiously. This time, the zombies approach was markedly different. Rather than clustering together, they spread out across the snowy plain, moving toward the Shelter like a swarm of locusts. They really are learning, Uncle You remarked, a cigarette dangling from his lips. The new tactic rendered their pre-arranged gasoline traps less effective. Bad news, but also confirmation of our theory, Zhang Yi said coolly, his eyes narrowing as he surveyed the scattered horde. He was now certain that a Zombie King was orchestrating these attacks, adapting strategies after each encounter. Though clumsy at first, both the Zombie King and its minions were clearly evolving. One day, when theyd fully learned Zhang Yis combat methods, even stepping outside the Shelter might become impossible. Even zombies are learning to gather intelligence, Zhang Yi said, exhaling a puff of white breath before securing his helmet. Now, lets test something new! He turned to Liang Yue and the others. This time, we kill every last one. None escape! Mounting Hua Huas back, Zhang Yi added, Well flank the horde and cut off their retreat! With a lever-action shotgun in hand, Zhang Yi targeted the zombies lower bodies, knowing dismemberment was the most effective tactic. Uncle You, armed with a flamethrower, unleashed fiery torrents that incinerated rows of zombies like a pesticide against insects. Liang Yue, wielding her Tang Sword, danced along the hordes edges. The blade extended into a three-meter-long arc of blue energy, slicing zombies cleanly in two from head to hips. Her speed, enhanced by her Superhuman abilities, ensured the zombies couldnt surround her as they had in previous battles. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi and Hua Hua flanked the horde. Zhang Yis enhanced shotgun pulverized the zombies lower bodies, leaving them crawling helplessly on the ground. With a playful meow, Hua Hua transformed its fur into razor-sharp steel quills. Curling into a spiked black ball, it launched itself into the zombie horde like a living wrecking ball, shredding everything in its path. Amidst the chaos, Zhang Yi smirked. The more they evolve, the more satisfying itll be when we wipe them out. Author''s Note Chapter 432: Counterstrike Chapter 432: CounterstrikeHaving fought off the zombie tide multiple times, Zhang Yi and his team no longer felt the same fear they once did. These creatures were faster and stronger than ordinary humans but still no match for Superhumans. Zhang Yi''s team was among the most elite in Tianhai City. Against a few thousand zombies, victory was well within their grasp. Using guerrilla tactics, the group skillfully corralled the horde like shepherd dogs herding sheep, picking them off systematically. Oblivious to the strategy, the zombies acted purely on instinct, blindly charging toward their attackersonly to be systematically slaughtered. Zhang Yi wielded his shotgun with precision, blasting apart five or six zombies with each shot. His eightfold speed boost ensured he remained untouchable. On the perimeter, Hua Hua and Liang Yue carved through the horde with relentless efficiency. Uncle You and Fatty Xu formed a formidable duo at the frontline, combining fire and ice to control the battlefield and deliver devastating area attacks. As he fought, Zhang Yi observed the horde closely, searching for signs of the Zombie Kingif it was among them or perhaps controlling the horde from a distance. A creature with advanced intelligence, like the supposed Zombie King, would likely flee if it sensed danger. True to his suspicions, the horde began to panic once their numbers were halved. Abruptly, the zombies turned tail, retreating en masse toward the Ci Qu subway station. Leaving already? Whats the rush? Zhang Yi sneered. He and Hua Hua had already cut off their retreat. The fleeing zombies were met with a massacre. Hua Hua transformed into a black-bladed war machine, slicing the zombies into chunks of meat. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yis shotgun, enhanced with his abilities, reduced them to shattered fragments. Meanwhile, Fatty Xus snowstorm slowed their movements, rendering escape nearly impossible. After 30 minutes of battle, the horde was almost entirely wiped out. Zhang Yi deliberately spared one zombie, severing its arms and removing its jaw, rendering it harmless. Whats the plan, Boss? Fatty Xu asked as the group gathered around. Zhang Yi produced a small infrared camera and pressed it into the zombies remaining eye socket. This horde was a test, he explained. I can confirm the Zombie King wasnt among them, yet it still controlled their actions. These zombies werent here to kill us. Their real mission was to gather intel and relay it back to the Zombie King. Every time we kill some, the survivors retreat with information about our tactics. If this continues, theyll eventually understand our combat methods. When that happens, the true army will descend. His voice turned icy as he continued, We cant let them dictate the tempo. Its time to act. Pointing to the zombie, he added, This guy will scout the subway depths for us. Understanding his intent, Liang Yue asked, So, once we know whats down there, well destroy their nest? Exactly, Zhang Yi replied without hesitation. The zombies are evolving. I cant guarantee they wont adapt to our tactics. That would put us in extreme danger. The best defense is a good offense. We must strike first. With that, he kicked the zombie, sending it sprawling across the snow. It scrambled to its feet and bolted toward the subway entrance. Lets see what kind of news our little friend brings back, Zhang Yi said with a smirk as he watched it disappear. Back inside the Shelter, Zhang Yi and his team gathered around the monitor as the infrared camera transmitted its feed. The zombie sprinted for several minutes before reaching the Ci Qu subway station. Plunging into the dark tunnels, the camera feed stabilized after a few seconds. The screen initially showed only darkness. The infrared lens picked up no heat signatures, indicating no living beings nearby. For a long time, the monitor displayed nothing but the void. Then, faint red blips appearedhumanoid shapes glowing faintly against the black backdrop. One figure became two, then three, then a dense throng. Soon, the screen was filled with dark red, the individual shapes blurring into a sea of glowing bodies. Unlike the bright red of human heat signatures, these were dim and eerie, belonging to lifeless corpses infected by the strange virus. The camera feed moved, revealing more and more of the tunnels interior. The glow intensified, spreading deeper into the frame. How many are down there? Fatty Xu asked, his voice tinged with alarm. Think about how many people died in Tianhai City, Uncle You replied grimly. Are you saying every corpse has turned into a zombie? What about us? Fatty Xu hugged himself nervously, his large frame trembling like a scared child. Yang Xinxin explained, Not all corpses become zombies. The virus needs to infect them first. But given enough time, I believe this could happen on a large scale. Zhang Yi sighed. Exactly. Tianhai City has far too many dead. Even if we tried to collect the corpses, theres no way we could manage millions. Thats why we must go after the source. Killing the Zombie King would alleviate much of this trouble. As he spoke, the screen revealed a larger, more distinctive figure among the sea of zombies. Standing roughly three meters tall, its slender, insect-like body towered over the surrounding horde. Is that? Liang Yue asked, her voice tense. The creatures skeletal frame resembled a massive stick insect, and it moved with unsettling grace. As they stared, its pale, ghastly face suddenly loomed into the camera. It smileda grotesque, twisted expression that sent chills down their spines. Is this the Zombie King? Zhang Yi whispered, his voice heavy with unease. Author''s Note Chapter 433: Taking the Initiative Chapter 433: Taking the InitiativeThe sudden appearance of the grotesque, pale face on the screen startled everyone. The more timid among them screamed instinctively, while Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah clung to Zhang Yi, pressing against him as if seeking shelter from their fear. This wasnt a horror movieit was a living nightmare. The video abruptly cut out, leaving the screen filled with static. Even Zhang Yi flinched momentarily. Not out of fear, but because the face had appeared so unexpectedly. Weve been discovered, he said calmly. Then, to everyones surprise, a smile spread across his face. But this also proves we were right. There is an intelligent entity down there! That face it has to be the Zombie King. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If we dont kill it, the threat to the Shelter will never end. How do we kill the Zombie King? Fatty Xu asked nervously. The subway is swarming with zombies. Even if we go in fully armed, itll take forever to clear them out! Yang Xinxin added, And with the subway tunnels connecting to all parts of Tianhai City, the Zombie King could escape the moment it senses danger. Zhang Yi folded his arms, his expression turning serious. If we act, we need to ensure its decisive and thorough. The zombies may be numerous, but their combat strength is limited. If we commit, we can take them down. But we must prevent the Zombie King from escaping. Thats the priority. Liang Yue suggested, We could start by targeting Songzhuangs subway tunnel. If we blow it up, it would block their retreat. Our goal is to kill the Zombie King. As long as it cant flee, the other zombies are manageable. Uncle You chuckled, arms crossed. Zhang Yi, you decide the plan. This fight is unavoidable anyway. Everyone nodded in agreement. Avoiding this battle wasnt an option. If they didnt act now, the zombies would only grow smarter, learning their weaknesses and mounting relentless attacks. No matter how sturdy their Shelter was, it couldnt withstand endless assaults. Zhang Yi took a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa, contemplating the feasibility of their options. After a while, he made his decision. Get ready. We move tomorrow. Delaying even one day could allow the Zombie King to evolve further. It was better to strike while it was still growing. This mission would involve the usual core team of five. They prepared their gearammo, gas masks, and the energy-enhanced food Yang Siyah had been diligently crafting. These resources would sustain them through prolonged combat in the tunnels, potentially lasting up to a week. Everyone agreed without hesitation. None wanted to spend every day defending against zombie waves. Still, Fatty Xu voiced his concern. Boss, isnt this a bit rushed? It doesnt seem like your usual style. Zhang Yi was known for his meticulous planning, and this sudden urgency felt uncharacteristic. Are we really ready for whats down there? What if weve underestimated the zombies strength? Fatty Xu, cautious to a fault, often worried more than Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi smiled reassuringly, patting Fatty Xu on the shoulder. Dont worry, I wouldnt gamble with everyones lives. Ive prepared thoroughly. Youll see soon enough. Seeing the confidence in Zhang Yis eyescalm and unwaveringFatty Xu relaxed a little. Alright, Boss, but dont keep us in suspense. Whats the big plan? You just need to trust me, Zhang Yi replied, still smiling. Even if things go south, Ill get us out safely. His cryptic assurance puzzled the group, but Liang Yue seemed to catch on. She tilted her head and studied Zhang Yi before nodding. Got it. If thats the case, weve got nothing to worry about. Yang Siyah stood up from the sofa. Ill go make more food for the trip. Perfect, Zhang Yi said. The more, the better. Thanks to Yang Siyahs ability to imbue food with energy-restoring properties, they had an ample supply. Stored in Zhang Yis Spatial Storage, the food retained its potency indefinitely. This was one of the reasons Zhang Yi felt confident leading a team deep into the subway tunnels. While Zhang Yis group prepared for their offensive, the situation for other factions worsened. The Zombie Kings influence allowed the hordes to learn and evolve at an alarming rate. Each successive attack became more precise and strategic, tailored to exploit the weaknesses of their targets. Unlike Zhang Yis elite, small-scale team, the Western Alliance had vast numbers to defendsoldiers, workers, and slavesand sprawling above-ground infrastructure to protect. Their reliance on factories, refineries, and port facilities made retreating to underground shelters impractical. Abandoning those resources would mean losing their standing in Tianhai Citys power struggle. Thus, they fought desperately, refusing to yield. But as the zombies adapted, their defenses became increasingly ineffective. Barriers that initially held the hordes back now failed as the zombies learned to climb walls and circumvent obstacles. Frost-hardened bodies rendered wire fences and bullets ineffective, forcing them to rely on blunt weapons and heavy artillery to fend off the attacks. Yet even heavy weaponry and Superhumans could only do so much against the seemingly endless tide. After barely repelling another wave, Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and Wei Dinghai convened, their exhaustion evident. They couldnt afford to lose their vital facilities, yet they were clearly losing ground. These zombies arent just mindless corpses, Xiao Honglian said, her fiery temperament flaring. Theyre coordinatedlike an army or a swarm. Xing Tian nodded grimly. We need a new strategy. If this keeps up, well be bled dry. Theyre learning and adapting. Its not normal. Theyre evolving, Wei Dinghai said, his expression dark. We may not have much time before they completely overwhelm us. Their situation had grown dire, and they all realized one chilling truth: The zombies werent just a mindless plague. They were becoming something far more dangerous. Author''s Note Chapter 434: Journey to the Depths Chapter 434: Journey to the DepthsThe leaders of the major factions werent fools. They recognized that the zombies they were dealing with were no mindless horde. But despite understanding the threat, they were stretched too thin. Every day, fending off the relentless waves of zombies consumed vast amounts of manpower. Dispatching an elite squad to investigate the zombies origin was a risky proposition. What if their stronghold was attacked in their absence? Even Xing Tian and Wei Dinghai, aware of the unsustainability of the situation, dared not risk dividing their forces. Xiao Honglian, however, wasnt one to sit idly by. Sitting on a steel beam, her body covered in blood, Xiao Honglian radiated her usual fiery determination. We cant just keep defending. If this continues, well be forced to abandon the refinery and retreat underground within a month, she declared. Their energy reserves and her formidable [Purgatory Furnace] ability had allowed Yangsheng Base to fend off zombie attacks faster than other factions. But the smarter and more coordinated the hordes became, the deeper her unease grew. She feared that even retreating underground might not ensure their survival if the zombies continued to evolve. Zhuge Qingtian approached her, his blood-stained white combat uniform bearing testament to the battle theyd just endured. He stood at attention and saluted. Commander, all zombies have been neutralized. Burning their remains is the only way to ensure theyre truly dead. However, weve lost 67 warriors and slaves in the process. Xiao Honglians fiery eyes glowed with residual energy from her abilities as she met his gaze. We need to change tactics. Defense alone wont cut it anymore. Zhuge Qingtians eyes widened. You mean an offensive into the zombies lair? Xiao Honglian nodded. Their actions are clearly orchestrated. Whether its a Superhuman or some other intelligent being, we need information to end this crisis once and for all. Thats too dangerous! Zhuge Qingtian protested. We dont even know how large the horde is. A blind assault could result in total annihilation! Besides, the other factions are struggling too. Maybe we should wait and see if they come up with a solution. Xiao Honglian scoffed. Look at the scale of this horde. Do you really think theyre faring any better? Especially the Followers of the Snow Godtheyve gathered over 10,000 people in one place, practically serving themselves up as a buffet! No ones coming to help us. If anything, theyd rather see us wiped out. If we want to survive, we have to rely on ourselves. Unable to refute her logic, Zhuge Qingtian remained silent. Xiao Honglian stood up decisively. Its settled. Send Dong Hu with two Superhumans and 30 elite soldiers to investigate the zombies lair. Meanwhile, at the Followers of the Snow Gods base, chaos reigned. With over 10,000 members, most of whom were ordinary people, their defenses were woefully inadequate. While these survivors had enough skill to endure the apocalypse, their combat capabilities were no match for the relentless zombies. Though unafraid of death, they certainly didnt want to die. Under such circumstances, defeating the undead was a near-impossible task. Despite Zheng Yixians efforts to organize a rigorous defense, each wave of zombies claimed hundreds of lives. As casualties mounted, discontent began to fester among the followers. Priest Wu Huan approached Zheng Yixian to relay the growing unrest. Over 1,000 followers have already died, and those infected may turn into zombies themselves. This is causing serious doubt among the newcomers. If this continues, we could face a crisis! Zheng Yixians expression remained impassive. Dont worry. They may grumble, but they wont act on it. He clasped his hands behind his back, speaking calmly. Spread the word among the followers: tell them that the outside world has been almost entirely overrun by zombies. Without the protection of the Followers of the Snow God, they wouldnt stand a chance. Mention that the other factions are suffering even worse losses. Tell them half their populations are already dead. Wu Huans eyes lit up. Brilliant! A little comparison will remind them how lucky they are. Zheng Yixians lips curved into a faint smile. Their complaints stem from a lack of faith. We need to intensify their indoctrination. Once theyre devout believers, theyll understand how fortunate they are to be with us. Wu Huan nodded eagerly. Understood, High Priest. Ill see to it immediately. Meanwhile, Zhang Yis team had fully prepared to enter the subway tunnels and confront the Zombie King. The five members of his core group, along with Hua Hua, were equipped with upgraded gear. Their combat suits, modified by Lu Keran, offered exceptional protectionstrong enough to deflect bullets from small-caliber sniper rifles. Zombie bites wouldnt even leave a scratch. They carried a weeks worth of energy-enhanced food, all stored in Zhang Yis Spatial Storage for convenience. The group arrived at the entrance to the Ci Qu subway station. As they stood before the dark, yawning tunnel, Zhang Yi reiterated their plan. Our primary objective is to kill the Zombie King. Once we find it, Im 100% certain I can take it down. In these confined spaces, my Divine Power can obliterate anything within 300 meters. But remember, our safety is the top priority. Dont waste time fighting the horde unnecessarily. Killing more zombies wont solve anything. The team nodded in agreement, understanding the stakes. Zhang Yi pulled a glow stick from his belt, cracked it, and tossed it into the tunnel. The faint blue light illuminated a grim scene: bloodstains and viscera streaked across the ground. Uncle You, you go first, Zhang Yi instructed. As the teams tank, Uncle You was the safest choice to scout ahead. Without hesitation, Uncle You slid down into the tunnel. After a cautious inspection with his tactical visor, he reported back through the comms. All clear. You can come down! The rest of the group followed, descending into the dark subway entrance. Through their night-vision goggles, the grim underground landscape came into focus. Blackened blood streaked the walls, while rotting organs clung to surfaces. The ground beneath their feet squelched with a mixture of viscera, dried blood, and soil, emitting a nauseating stench. Thankfully, their helmets filtered out the smell. Lets move, Zhang Yi said, his voice steady. The Ci Qu station was a terminus. Following the main tunnel forward would inevitably lead them to the hordeand the Zombie King. As they advanced, the tunnel was littered with skeletal remains, stripped of flesh and gnawed clean. Fatty Xu muttered, Why dont they turn these corpses into more zombies instead of eating them? Zhang Yi, scanning the surroundings with his lever-action shotgun at the ready, replied, Zombies are driven by hunger. Infection is just a passive side effect. If theyre starving, theyll eat more than they infect. You cant expect bones to mutate. Well, theyve got big appetites, Fatty Xu mused. But what happens when they run out of food? With more zombies than living people in Tianhai City, isnt that inevitable? Zhang Yi paused mid-step. Liang Yue and Uncle You exchanged uneasy glances. sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. None of them had considered this before. Focused on their immediate survival, they hadnt thought about the broader implications. If the zombies exhausted their food supply, what then? Would they spread beyond Tianhai City, into other cities? Author''s Note Chapter 435: Vermin Chapter 435: VerminZhang Yi resumed walking, his footsteps steady and composed. What does it matter to us? As long as we keep the area around the Shelter clear of zombies, thats all that matters. In the apocalypse, who had the time to worry about others? Fatty Xu nodded in agreement. Makes sense. The group advanced at a measured pace. Starting from the terminal station, they didnt need to worry about being ambushed from behind. It was just a matter of following the tunnel until they found the source of the zombie horde. The route was littered with bones, stripped clean of flesh. Man, theyre thorough eaters! Even the marrows gone, Fatty Xu remarked, his chatter breaking the tense silence. Look at these bonesnot even a sliver of meat left. Talk about leaving nothing to waste. Uncle You responded casually, Maybe it rotted away? Fatty Xu countered, In this cold? Meat doesnt rot in this kind of weather. Havent you heard of frozen zombie meat? People pull it out of storage after years, and its still good to sell! Ugh, gross, someone muttered. Despite the grim subject, Fatty Xus humor lightened the atmosphere. At the front of the group, Hua Huas ears twitched, and it let out a low growl, its eyes widening in alarm. Stay alert! Zhang Yi commanded, raising his gun. A shadow darted across their path. Before Zhang Yi could take a shot, Liang Yue drew a short knife from her waist and hurled it with precision. The blade struck the shadow mid-leap, pinning it to the ground. Lowering his weapon, Zhang Yi approached cautiously. In this environment, avoiding gunfire was best to prevent attracting more threats. The group crowded around the creature, inhaling sharply at the sight. The thing pinned to the ground was a massive rodent, its gray fur matted and filthy. At first glance, it resembled a small dog, but its elongated tail and snout confirmed its identity: a rat. Thats a rat? Its bigger than a cat! Fatty Xu exclaimed, visibly unnerved. Noit was twice the size of Hua Hua. A mutated rat, Zhang Yi observed, his voice steady. Rats, when provided with enough food, could grow to the size of a cat. But this one was unnaturally large, undoubtedly a product of mutation. Looking back at the stripped skeletons they had passed, Zhang Yi realized the truth. All those bones we saw earlier they were gnawed clean by these rats. Fatty Xu shuddered. If there are this many corpses, theres probably a whole swarm of them. A heavy silence fell over the group. Even Liang Yue, a seasoned Martial Arts Master, looked uneasy. Despite her bravery, the thought of encountering a rat swarm stirred a primal disgust. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just then, Hua Hua stretched its neck and let out a sharp, warning cry. Meowwww! The ominous sound reverberated, signaling the presence of a significant threat. In the dimly lit tunnel, the air filled with a cacophony of squeaks and scurrying. Theyve got us surrounded, Zhang Yi muttered. From the shadows emerged an endless tide of rats, pouring out like water from unseen cracks. The swarm varied in sizesome as small as typical rodents, others the size of cats and dogs. Among them loomed a monstrous white rat, as large as a pig. Disgusting! Liang Yue exclaimed, her voice quivering. Her normally unshakable demeanor faltered as her body tensed. Zhang Yi noticed the eerie red glow in the rats eyesa telltale sign of predators that had tasted human flesh. It was clear how these creatures had survived in the dark, consuming the dead without hesitation. Hua Hua bristled, growling menacingly, its fur standing on end. But outnumbered as it was, even the natural enmity between cats and rats offered little deterrent. Lets clear them out, Zhang Yi ordered. Uncle You and Fatty Xu raised their flamethrowers, unleashing fiery torrents down the tunnel. Though not as resilient as zombies, the mutated rats were still numerous. Thousands perished in the flames before the remaining rats hesitated, squealing and retreating just beyond the fires reach. The swarm didnt disperse entirely. Their glowing eyes glared from the shadows, waiting for the flames to die down. Persistent little bastards, Uncle You muttered. Zhang Yi frowned. Put the flamethrowers away. The two hesitated but complied, extinguishing the fire. No sooner had the flames died than the rats surged forward, a tidal wave of gray fur and gnashing teeth. Dimensional Gate! With a fluid motion, Zhang Yi summoned not one but two massive portals. The translucent barriers spanned the width of the tunnel, trapping the advancing rats. Unable to stop their momentum, the creatures hurtled into the portals, vanishing into the otherworldly void. The sound of squealing rats was deafening, but not a single one reached the group. As the rats continued pouring in, Liang Yue finally exhaled, her tension easing. Your Dimensional Gate its upgraded? she asked, watching the spectacle. Ive been refining its use, Zhang Yi explained. Since the last major battle, Ive learned to summon two gates simultaneously. Thats handy, Liang Yue remarked. Two gates provided defensive coverage from multiple angles, turning situations like this into manageable skirmishes. In the narrow tunnel, the gates were impenetrable. The rats soon realized the danger. Those at the front tried to stop, but the pressure of the swarm behind them forced them forward, sending wave after wave into the void. Eventually, desperate squeals echoed as the rats warned their kin of the danger. At a great cost, the swarm retreated, the remaining rodents disappearing into the shadows. The enormous white rat let out a series of sharp cries before leading the swarm away. Within moments, the tunnel was silent once more. They know when theyre outmatched, Zhang Yi said, lowering his arms. Smart little pests. Author''s Note Chapter 436: Under Surveillance Chapter 436: Under SurveillanceAfter driving off the rat swarm, Zhang Yi and his team pressed on. For ordinary people, those oversized rodents would have posed a grave threat. Sear?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But for this group of elite Superhumans, they were little more than a nuisance. Even so, Zhang Yi voiced a concern: I just hope that rat commotion didnt alert the zombies. Liang Yue furrowed her brow. Whats the connection between these rats and the zombies? Theyre both underground. Could there be some kind of relationship? Who knows? Lets keep moving, Zhang Yi replied. He had no desire to linger in the unsettling underground space any longer than necessary. As they continued deeper into the tunnels, they couldnt shake the feeling of being watched. Countless unseen eyes seemed to track their every move from the darkness. These shadowy underground creatures hadnt given up yet, seemingly waiting for another opportunity to strike. Zhang Yi, however, ignored them. It wasnt until he stumbled upon a shredded piece of combat gear, torn and stained with blood, that he felt a twinge of unease. Those teeth are no joke. They tore right through this gear, he noted grimly. Lets keep our distance from them. Fatty Xu added nervously, Do you think these rats hold grudges? What if they follow us back to the Shelter? They wont, Zhang Yi reassured him. Its damp and warm down here, while the surface is freezing cold. These rats arent Arctic lemmings. Even if they can survive the cold, they wouldnt travel miles just to bother us. Meanwhile, in the subway tunnels near Yangsheng Base, Dong Hu led his team of elite soldiers on a reconnaissance mission. They hadnt gone far before they were ambushed by a massive rat swarm. The rodents attacked from all sides, their sharp teeth easily piercing through protective gear. Ahhh! These ratstheyre monsters! Careful! Dont let them bite you! They can tear through our suits! Screams filled the air as soldiers desperately fought off the swarm, using flamethrowers and rifles to burn and blast their way through the horde. Dong Hu and two other Superhumans unleashed their abilities with full force. Dong Hus [Blazing Fist] engulfed his hands in searing flames, incinerating entire clusters of rats with each strike. After a grueling fifteen minutes, they finally drove the swarm back. But by then, they had lost eight soldiers to the rats vicious bites, and several others were seriously injured. Surveying the carnage, Dong Hus face darkened. They hadnt even located the zombie horde yet, and they were already in such a sorry state. A soldier pried open a rats jaws, revealing teeth like icy daggers, and shuddered. If these things ever reach the base, they could be even worse than the zombies! Dong Hu remained silent for a moment before declaring, We press on. Our mission is to locate the zombies and gather intel. No matter what obstacles we face, we must overcome them. To retreat now would be to return empty-handeda prospect Dong Hu couldnt bear to face. Back in the tunnels, Zhang Yi and his team continued their journey, eventually passing two more subway stations. At the third station, they finally found the zombies. The horde wasnt hiding, nor did it attack. Instead, they lay scattered throughout the tunnel as if in a deep sleep. From wall to wall, the narrow passage was packed with dormant zombies. Theyre sleeping, Uncle You whispered. That makes sense, Zhang Yi murmured. Even as virus hosts, their movements consume energy. Without orders, they conserve it by lying dormant. Uncle You raised his flamethrower. Should we torch them all? Zhang Yi hesitated, recalling Zhou Keers observations. These zombies retained some biological traits, functioning more like a hive than traditional undead. If they were truly asleep, there was no need to disturb them unnecessarily. Thatd be ideal, he said. But reality rarely conformed to ideal scenarios. A single zombie suddenly opened its eyes. One by one, more began to stir, their twisted bodies rising in grotesque, unnatural motions. Spotting the living intruders, they let out guttural snarls and surged forward in a frenzied mass. So much for that plan, Zhang Yi muttered, his brow furrowing. Rather than unleashing the flamethrowers, he activated his Dimensional Gate, blocking the zombies advance. The glowing portals swallowed the rushing horde, preventing them from reaching the group. While effective, this tactic carried a riskit could alert the Zombie King deeper within the tunnels, making it harder to catch off guard. As the tide of zombies poured into the portals, Liang Yue and the others watched in awe. Your Dimensional Gate really is a perfect defense, Liang Yue remarked, her eyes gleaming with admiration. Zhang Yi didnt respond immediately, his focus on maintaining the gates. The ability was nearly invulnerable unless overwhelmed by massive energy attacks, making it the ultimate shield in situations like this. Suddenly, the horde stopped as if on command. The abrupt stillness was eerie, like someone had pressed a pause button. Then, in perfect unison, the zombies began emitting guttural, mournful wails. The Zombie King knows were here, Zhang Yi said grimly. With their presence exposed, he decided there was no point in holding back. Burn them, he ordered. Uncle You and Fatty Xu stepped forward, unleashing twin jets of flame down the narrow corridor. The fire swept through the front ranks of the horde, setting dozens of zombies ablaze. The tunnel was soon filled with the crackle of flames and the stench of burning flesh. Despite their numbers, the zombies began retreating, shuffling back out of the fires reach. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as he watched their movements. The Zombie King is close. Pursue them! He dismissed the Dimensional Gate and led the team deeper into the tunnel. The path ahead was choked with zombies, their sheer numbers forming a living blockade. But instead of charging, the horde retreated further into the darkness, their eerie howls reverberating through the tunnel. With the flamethrowers clearing the way, Zhang Yis group advanced steadily. Their relentless use of fire turned the fight into a grotesque spectacle, as if they were grilling the undead en masse. Zhang Yis Spatial Storage provided an endless supply of fuel and ammo, giving them a decisive edge. The zombies inability to counter his spatial abilities made them seem almost feeble. But Zhang Yi knew better. He had seen the devastation these same zombies wrought on the Western Alliance. Their current dominance was no reason for complacency. The true threat was still ahead, waiting in the shadows. Author''s Note Chapter 438: The Bronze Armored Zombies Chapter 438: The Bronze Armored Zombies"Thud!" "Thud!" "Thud!" A series of heavy thuds echoed from deep within the subway, their oppressive rhythm growing louder. Zhang Yis group grew tense, their expressions grave. It sounded like a terrifying creature had broken free from its cage. "Stay sharp! Something big is coming," Zhang Yi warned the others. Fatty Xu nervously swallowed and gripped his flamethrower tightly, scanning their surroundings. The zombie horde, which had been forced into retreat just moments ago, seemed to be regrouping. "Its fine!" Uncle You reassured them. "Even if more come, we can kill them all." The group had already witnessed the combat abilities of the zombies. While far stronger than ordinary humans, they were no match for the team of top-tier superhumans, especially given their ample weapons, ammunition, and superhuman energy food. But then, Hua Hua suddenly let out a sharp cry. "Meow" Its tone was filled with caution, a stark warning of a deadly threat. Hua Huas combat prowess, especially in its enlarged form, surpassed even Uncle You. If Hua Hua was this alarmed, it meant the enemy ahead was extremely dangerous. Zhang Yis gaze hardened, and he murmured, "Could it be the Zombie King?" The words "Zombie King" cast a heavy shadow over the group. Though none of them had seen it before, the entity capable of commanding thousandsperhaps tens of thousandsof zombies was undoubtedly a fearsome foe. No one knew its true strength, abilities, or even if it was a mutated human or an immensely powerful zombie. From the distant corridor, the deep, resonant thuds grew louder. A shadow emerged at the edge of their vision. As it stepped closer, it drew everyone''s attention. From the darkness, a tall, skeletal figure resembling a giant stick insect emerged. When Zhang Yi saw its form, his pupils constricted. It wasnt human. Instead, it was a humanoid monster with a body entirely covered in bronze-colored, hardened skin. Standing over three meters tall, its elongated arms nearly touched the ground. Its grotesque, reddish muscles were exposed in places, wrapped tightly by its bronze-like carapace. A triangular head adorned with enormous ears framed its face, filled with glowing fangs and cruel, predatory eyesbrown, vertical pupils glaring with malice. The horror didnt end there. The creature had eight eyes. Two were on its head, while six more were spread across its arms and chest, constantly swiveling and scanning the area. Despite having faced countless horrors in this post-apocalyptic world, none of them had encountered anything so nightmarish. Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a moment, they couldnt determine if this monstrosity was a mutated corpse or some other bioengineered aberration. Uncle You muttered uneasily, "Could this thing be the Zombie King?" Before anyone could respond, three more identical creatures appeared from other directions. "These things... are they being mass-produced? Theres no way theyre naturally occurring!" Zhang Yis heart pounded. It was clear that something far more sinister was at play. The creation of the zombie horde couldnt have been a random occurrencethere had to be a deliberate, orchestrated cause behind it. And behind the bronze creatures, the zombie horde began to resurface, their glowing eyes fixed intently on the group. The team was completely surrounded, the passageways now teeming with an unending sea of zombies. Even the most battle-hardened among them felt a sliver of unease under the suffocating pressure. Fatty Xus face turned pale. "These things dont look like regular zombies at all!" Zhang Yis brows furrowed deeply. "I get it now! These bastards lured us here on purpose. Their goal was to trap and eliminate us!" Though Zhang Yi had known the Zombie King was intelligent, he hadnt expected it to employ tactics so cunning. His assessment of the Zombie King rose even higher. A creature capable of controlling massive hordes while exhibiting such high intelligence posed an unparalleled threatnot just to Tianhai City but to humanity itself. "Zhang Yi, what do we do now?" Uncle You asked. Zhang Yi sneered. "What else can we do? We fight." The open space robbed Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate of its maximum effectiveness. But even without it, every member of the team was a seasoned fighter. Uncle You and Fatty Xu raised their flamethrowers and unleashed torrents of fire upon the encroaching zombies. Liang Yue drew her Tang Swordfinally, it was her time to shine. "Liang Yue, Hua Hua, stay close to me," Zhang Yi instructed cautiously. "Were outnumbered, so we need to stick together." Liang Yue nodded, understanding that Zhang Yis melee capabilities werent his strength. He needed protection. Hua Hua, as always, remained loyally by Zhang Yis side. It would never let anything harm him. Meanwhile, the massive bronze creatures began advancing steadily. Their hardened, armor-like skin gleamed faintly under the dim light, exuding a menacing aura. The sight reminded Zhang Yi of a theory from a movie he had once seenof zombies evolving into powerful forms called "Bronze Armored Zombies," their bodies impervious to ordinary weapons. These creatures, whether mutated corpses or bioengineered creations, were formidable. Their ability to command the zombie horde was a testament to their power. "Take down the leader first!" Zhang Yi barked. "If we can deal with the Bronze Armored Zombies, the rest will be easier to handle." "Understood!" the others replied. At that moment, one of the Bronze Armored Zombies let out a bone-chilling roar, shaking the entire underground passage. "Roar!!!" The surrounding zombies echoed the cry in a deafening chorus before surging forward in a reckless charge. Even the red-eyed giant rats, which had been lurking in the shadows, joined the fray, their bloodlust directed at Zhang Yis group. The horde surged like an unstoppable wave, their only goal to overwhelm and destroy. The Zombie King, commanding from the shadows, had ordered them to create chaos and weaken the groups defenses, giving the Bronze Armored Zombies the opportunity to strike. But Zhang Yis team wouldnt go down without a fight. In the darkness, Liang Yues sword flashed like moonlight. Enhanced by the abilities she had absorbed, her strikes now carried a chilling blue aura, with each slash extending over three meters. Her blade tore through the zombie ranks, leaving mutilated bodies in its wake. Uncle You and Fatty Xus flamethrowers created a blazing barrier, keeping the horde at bay. Meanwhile, Hua Hua stayed close to Zhang Yi, guarding him vigilantly. Zhang Yi, focused on precision, fired his enhanced rifle, shattering the legs of approaching zombies to slow their advance. Even the giant rats stood no chance, reduced to bloody pulp. Though the horde was vast, they posed no immediate threat to the elite superhumans. But then, one of the Bronze Armored Zombies entered the fray. Grabbing two nearby zombies, it hurled them like projectiles toward Zhang Yis group with terrifying force. Author''s Note Chapter 439: The Power of Divine Might Chapter 439: The Power of Divine MightA Bronze Armored Zombie extended its massive hand, grabbing a nearby zombie and hurling it at Zhang Yis group like a thrown brick. The other Bronze Armored Zombies followed suit, flinging zombies into the air toward their targets. This aerial assault made the situation more precarious for the team, but Zhang Yi remained calm. He instantly deployed the Dimensional Gate overhead, catching the incoming zombies and sending them into spatial oblivion. The Bronze Armored Zombies froze briefly in confusion but quickly resumed their charge, barreling through the horde with their enormous strides toward Zhang Yi and his companions. Fatty Xus face turned pale. With his abilities rendered ineffective underground, he could only rely on his flamethrower to maintain his combat strength. From his direction, a three-meter-tall Bronze Armored Zombie charged straight at him. Fatty Xu trembled at the sight of the creatures colossal and impenetrable body. He felt as though a single swipe of its claws could tear him to pieces. "Ahhh!" Fatty Xu roared, turning the flamethrower to full power and unleashing a torrent of flames at the Bronze Armored Zombie. But to everyones shock, the high-temperature flames failed to ignite the creature. Its bronze-colored skin remained unmarred, barely slowing its movements. Impatient, the Bronze Armored Zombie grabbed a handful of zombies and hurled them at Fatty Xu. With the creature now dangerously close, Fatty Xu froze in terror, his movements faltering. Just as disaster seemed inevitable, Zhang Yi stepped forward and activated his defensive techniqueTwin Gates. Two enormous dimensional portals materialized, blocking the tunnel in both directions. This effectively stopped the zombies coming from those directions but left the group vulnerable to attacks from the remaining sides. As the zombies paused their assault in the blocked directions, the horde from the open flanks intensified their charge, accompanied by two more Bronze Armored Zombies. Damn it! The Zombie King must be orchestrating this! But how can we kill the Zombie King if we cant even deal with these hordes? Uncle You shouted angrily. Zhang Yis calm voice cut through the chaos. "Dont panic. The more dangerous the situation, the more we need to stay composed and observant." "Im certain the Zombie King is nearbyI can feel it." While their predicament looked dire, Zhang Yi knew that killing the Zombie King would solve everything. With one half of the horde blocked by the Twin Gates, the remaining enemies could still be handled. Sure enough, the two advancing Bronze Armored Zombies arrived with a wave of zombies and giant rats. Uncle You and Fatty Xu had to put down their flamethrowers. Using them in such close quarters risked injuring themselves and their allies. "Lets do this!" Uncle You activated his skill, transforming into a towering two-meter-tall warrior, and charged straight into one of the Bronze Armored Zombies. The collision of their immense bodies was like two sumo wrestlers locked in a ferocious struggle. Despite the Bronze Armored Zombies superior size and strength, its clumsy fighting techniques left it vulnerable to Uncle Yous martial expertise honed through years of training. Meanwhile, Liang Yue confronted the other Bronze Armored Zombie with her glowing Tang Sword. In a flash, she delivered a full-strength slash. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sword tore through the creatures chest, leaving a deep gash in its bronze armor. Blue viscous fluid began oozing from the wound. The Bronze Armored Zombie stumbled back two steps, while Liang Yue retreated five. Both looked at each other in shock. Liang Yue hadnt expected that her full-power strike, capable of slicing through an armored vehicle, could only pierce its outer shell. The wounded Bronze Armored Zombie roared in fury. Despite its hesitation, it charged forward again, its massive claws gleaming like ten deadly blades. "This thing is ridiculously tough!" Liang Yue muttered as she prepared for another clash. But it wasnt just the Bronze Armored Zombies they had to contend with. Zombies and giant rats were pouring in from all directions. Even though Uncle You and Liang Yue were holding their ground against the Bronze Armored Zombies, the sheer number of lesser enemies made it impossible for them to manage everything. At this critical moment, Zhang Yi gave a command to Hua Hua. "Hua Hua, help Uncle You!" Following Zhang Yis order, Hua Hua leapt into action, joining the fray on Uncle Yous side. In its battle form, Hua Hua became a juggernaut of destruction. Rolling through the narrow tunnel, it crushed zombies and rats alike into paste. With Hua Huas aid, Uncle Yous side was quickly cleared of enemies. Hua Hua, following Zhang Yis earlier instructions, avoided biting the zombies to prevent poisoning. Instead, it relied on its sheer bulk to pulverize anything in its path. Now, only the zombies on Liang Yues side remained. Zhang Yi turned his attention there, his right eye beginning to glow with a white light that grew more intense by the second. "Liang Yue, move!" Zhang Yi shouted. Sensing the urgency, Liang Yue immediately leapt backward, clearing the area in front of Zhang Yi. "Divine Might!" Zhang Yi growled. The space before him distorted suddenly, like a mirage. In an instant, a massive column of energy erupted, disintegrating everything within 300 meters. The area was left as a cylindrical corridor, its walls coated with the pulverized remains of zombies, rats, and even the once-indestructible Bronze Armored Zombie. The creatures upper body was completely obliterated, leaving only its legs standing in place. This was Zhang Yis most powerful attackDivine Might. Author''s Note Chapter 440: Leap Chapter 440: LeapWitnessing this horrifying scene, even Liang Yue couldn''t help but gasp in shock. This was her first time seeing the power of Divine Power so closely. Previously, Zhang Yi had used it once on the battlefield, but that time it was specifically to instantly kill a single Superhuman opponent. This time, however, it wiped out at least 500 zombies, including the Bronze Armored Zombie, in one strike! After the Bronze Armored Zombie was killed, only a few regular zombies and giant rats remained in Liang Yue''s direction. Fatty Xu froze for a moment before bursting into arrogant laughter. "Ha! You useless things, watch me roast you all alive!" Holding his flamethrower, he swaggered forward and began systematically torching the enemies. On the other side, Uncle You gained the upper hand with Hua Hua''s help. Although the massive Bronze Armored Zombie wasn''t immediately taken down, its supporting giant rats and zombies were mostly eliminated. After finishing off the regular zombies and rats, Hua Hua turned to assist Uncle You in taking down the Bronze Armored Zombie. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi sealed the other two passages with Dimensional Gates, leaving the zombie horde trapped behind them. The zombies behind the gates could only watch helplessly as Zhang Yi slaughtered their kind, unable to come to their aid. The situation on the battlefield took a dramatic turn, with Zhang Yi''s group securing a major victory. Even Liang Yue, usually so reserved, couldn''t help but say to Zhang Yi, "Your strength is truly terrifying." "I dare say that right now, across all of Tianhai City, no Superhuman could survive a strike from your Divine Power without preparation!" Zhang Yi, however, merely smiled faintly. "What''s the big deal? For me, this is just basic stuff." He then turned cautiously toward the west. "It''s too soon to relax. I think our real opponent is nearby. I''m still waiting for him to show up." Though the Bronze Armored Zombies seemed to possess some intelligence and were far stronger than regular zombies, they certainly weren''t the Zombie King. If they failed to locate the Zombie King today, this mission could not be considered a total success. No matter how many zombies or even powerful Bronze Armored Zombies they killed, it wouldnt stop the Zombie King from creating more underlings. As if in response to Zhang Yi''s words, the zombies began gathering in the two passages that werent sealed. From the depths of the tunnel, familiar heavy footsteps echoed. In both directions, three more Bronze Armored Zombies emerged. They stood there, coldly staring at Zhang Yi and his group with icy eyes. Their elongated, insect-like bodies twisted grotesquely, a sight that was both disgusting and terrifying. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The despair they exuded caused everyone''s morale to plummet. "How could this be? Just how many of these monsters are there?" Zhang Yi''s Divine Power was a fearsome ability, but it consumed enormous energy. At his current level, he could use it five times consecutively, but each usage required a cooldown period. If the six Bronze Armored Zombies charged again, their current strength would be insufficient to hold them off! Fatty Xu nearly collapsed in terror. "Were doomed. What now?" The zombies didnt give them time to think. The next moment, six Bronze Armored Zombies, accompanied by hordes of regular zombies and giant rats, charged toward them. "Are we going to die here?" Fatty Xu shrieked in panic. Zhang Yis expression grew even grimmer. He sighed softly. "It seems this zombie crisis is far worse than we imagined, and the mastermind behind it is even more terrifying." "Even for me, this wont be an easy battle." As the group prepared to face the terrifying horde, Zhang Yi suddenly shouted to Uncle You and Hua Hua, "Come back quickly!" The Bronze Armored Zombie they had been fighting was now in pieces. Unlike other zombies, its dismembered body didnt writhe, hinting it might be a true organism rather than a virus-controlled host. Hearing Zhang Yis call, Uncle You and Hua Hua quickly retreated to his side. Zhang Yi then dismissed his Dimensional Gates, leaving all directions open for the zombie horde to surge toward them with furious roars. But Zhang Yi calmly opened a new gate in front of him and said, "Follow me!" With that, he stepped through the gate. The others hesitated briefly before following Zhang Yi into the Dimensional Gate. When the zombie horde reached the spot, their targets had vanished without a trace. The confused zombies let out enraged, haunting roars as their prey disappeared into thin air. Moments later, about dozens of meters above the subway tunnel, Zhang Yi and his group reappeared on the snowy surface. "Whew, that was terrifying!" Zhang Yi patted his chest in relief, taking a deep breath of the cold air. Even though he had known the situation wasnt life-threatening, the experience was like watching a 3D horror movieit still sent chills down his spine. For anyone else in his place, the outcome would undoubtedly have been fatal. Uncle You and Liang Yue emerged from the gate, momentarily stunned by the snowy scene before them. Realizing what had happened, they exclaimed, "Zhang Yi, is this a new ability of yours?" Zhang Yi replied calmly, "Not exactly new. Ive just developed a deeper understanding of Dimensional Gates." Previously, Zhang Yi could only open a single gate. But as his abilities grew stronger, he learned to open a second gate. Both gates connected to the same spatial dimension, allowing him to create a tunnel between them. He now had the ability to traverse spaces within 300 meters, which was why he dared to venture into the treacherous subway tunnels. Fatty Xu, who had nearly wet himself earlier, collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. "Boss, why didnt you tell us about this ability earlier? Do you know how close I was to dying of fright?" Zhang Yi chuckled, "I just wanted to surprise you." He rarely revealed his abilities, even to his teammatesnot out of distrust but out of caution. Avoiding unnecessary exposure was his survival philosophy. His expression then turned somber. "To be honest, I hadnt anticipated needing to use this ability today." "This zombie crisis is far more complex and dangerous than we expected. Even now, I cant predict how it will end." Author''s Note Chapter 441: A Solution for the Zombie Horde Chapter 441: A Solution for the Zombie HordeThe weight of Zhang Yi''s words left everyone in silence. If not for his new ability, the scene they had just escaped from would have been their graveregardless of whether their numbers were threefold, fivefold, or even tenfold. The sheer scale of the zombie horde was unimaginable. Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? No one could say for sure. "What should we do next?" Uncle You asked, his voice tinged with uncertainty. If they couldnt find a way to eliminate these zombies once and for all, they would face endless assaults from the horde. The subway tunnels, as they had seen, were teeming with zombies, including the terrifying Bronze Armored Zombies that even struck fear into them. If these zombies were to swarm out and attack their shelter, how long could they hold out? Worse still, the zombies displayed an alarming capacity to learn and grow stronger. Even if they survived the first wave, what about the next? And then there was the most feared enemythe Zombie King, lurking in the shadows, yet to reveal itself. What kind of creature was it? What powers did it have? No one knew. The unknown only deepened their dread. Zhang Yi, too, fell into silence, gazing at the distant sky. Though the surface world wasnt particularly bright, it was far more radiant compared to the oppressive darkness of the tunnels. The landscape was blanketed in snowcold but lacking the suffocating sense of despair found underground. Taking out a pack of cigarettes from his spatial storage, Zhang Yi lit one and took a deep drag. The others didnt disturb him, sensing his heavy thoughts. After a long pause, Zhang Yi seemed to snap out of it. He handed Uncle You a cigarette. Fatty Xu didnt smoke, nor did Liang Yue, so the two men quietly smoked together. Meanwhile, Fatty Xus expression grew increasingly awkward. In truth, when the zombie horde had gotten too close earlier, he had wet himself a little. Now, with his underwear damp and Liang Yue present, he couldnt bring himself to mention it. He crossed his legs tightly, pretending nothing was wrong. After a while, Zhang Yi finally broke the silence. "No matter what, we must solve this problemand quickly!" "We cant allow these zombies any more time to grow stronger. Theyre starting to scare me." "And do you have a solution?" Liang Yue asked, skepticism in her voice. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed southeast, where a vast ocean once stretched. Now, the coastal waters were likely frozen, and seeing the ocean again would require venturing much farther. "If our goal is to deal with the zombies, its not as difficult as it seems." Everyone turned to him in confusion, and Zhang Yi smiled. "Im beginning to realize how useful my ability really is. While its not the best for direct combat, it shines in other areas." Without waiting for questions, Zhang Yi shared his plan. "The subway line here isnt complexonly the Ci Qu Line runs through it." "From what weve observed, the zombies hibernate in the tunnels. The virus may be resistant to the cold, but even they avoid the extreme temperatures outside." "This means that during their dormant state, theyre all inside the tunnels." "Now, while we lack enough explosives to destroy the entire subway line, there is something else far more effective than explosives." The group stared at Zhang Yi eagerly. "What is it?" they asked. Zhang Yi took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering toward the southeast. "Seawater." Freshwater rivers were completely frozen and inaccessible, but seawater, rich in salt, remained unfrozen in the deep ocean. Zhang Yi planned to use his spatial abilities to extract vast amounts of seawater and flood the entire subway tunnel system. Upon hearing this, everyones eyes lit up. Liang Yue clapped her hands in excitement. "Brilliant! This is absolutely brilliant!" "The Ci Qu Line is a single-track line. If we seal off the terminal station, itll be like a dead-end alley." "With your spatial storage, you can bring enough seawater to flood the tunnel entirely. The depth of the tunnels will ensure the rats and zombies drown. At the very least, we can eliminate the majority of them!" "If the Zombie King is a living creature, itll likely be half-dead too. And even in the worst-case scenario, it wont be able to stay in the tunnels any longer." Liang Yues explanation sparked hope in Uncle You and Fatty Xu. It felt like a lifeline in the midst of despair, offering a way to resolve their crisis. Fatty Xu got up from the ground, beaming. "Boss, your ability is seriously overpowered. Its like the ultimate weapon against zombies!" Uncle You laughed. "I think whats most impressive is Zhang Yis mind. Sure, we all have abilities, but Zhang Yi knows how to use his to their fullest potential." "Miaow!" Hua Hua chimed in, seemingly in agreement. Zhang Yi, however, simply smiled faintly. "This plan came to me on a whim, but itll take a lot of preparation to execute." "Theres also a critical issue I need to consult with some technical experts back at home." Pulling a snow vehicle from his spatial storage, Zhang Yi announced, Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Lets head back. The sooner we implement this plan, the better." "We must act quickly and not give these zombies any more time to grow stronger!" Author''s Note Chapter 442: Feasibility Study Chapter 442: Feasibility StudyYangsheng Base. Xiao Honglian sat at her desk, her hands clasped beneath her chin, her expression grim. Beside her, Zhuge Qingtian remained silent, his face equally somber. Moments ago, the reconnaissance team they sent to investigate the zombie horde had been completely wiped out. Before her lay a communication device, displaying a video sent by Dong Hu in his final moments. Through it, Xiao Honglian saw the terrifying zombie horde deep within the subway tunnels, along with rats the size of small dogs. But what unnerved her most were the colossal, grotesque Bronze Armored Zombies, their appearance resembling giant stick insects. Their combat abilities rivaled those of Superhumans. "I never expected such monsters to exist underground," she said. "If they all swarm out, even with our base fully armed, we wont be able to hold them back," Zhuge Qingtian replied. "Should we consider moving underground?" This suggestion implied abandoning everything on the surface, including the massive refinery. Xiao Honglian frowned deeply. "Absolutely not. If we lose the refinery, we lose the foundation of our survival." "No matter the cost, we must protect it," she said firmly. "But if they do attack in full force, can we really defend it?" Zhuge Qingtian asked cautiously. Xiao Honglians eyes flashed with cold resolve. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "Then well pour our stockpiled oil around the refinery. If the zombies come, well ignite the oil and burn them all!" This plan would come at a tremendous cost, akin to cutting off their arm to save their body. Yet preserving the refinerys remaining crude oil would sustain their survival for a long time. The drastic proposal left Zhuge Qingtian speechless. But given their lack of better options, it seemed unavoidable. "If we proceed, we should at least move the soldiers families underground first. That way, even if something happens to us, there will be people below to carry on," Zhuge Qingtian suggested. Leaning back in her chair, Xiao Honglian let out a long sigh. "Do it," she said. Back at the Shelter. When Zhang Yi and his team returned, they were greeted by Zhou Keer and the others. However, the groups subdued expressions immediately caught their attention. The women in the household quickly realized that this mission had not gone smoothly. "Did something happen? Was there trouble?" Zhou Keer asked gently. Fatty Xu and Uncle You exchanged wry smiles, while Zhang Yi maintained his usual warm demeanor. "We did encounter a little problem, but nothing too serious," he said reassuringly. Zhang Yi believed that the burden of fighting should rest on the combatants, not the women at home, who were responsible for logistics. At the very least, he didnt want to bring negativity into their sanctuary. The group changed into casual clothing after returning indoors. Yang Siyah brought over hot drinks, which helped warm them up. Afterward, Zhang Yi turned to Yang Siyah. "Could you bring Xinxin and Keran over? I have something to discuss with them." "Sure, just a moment," Yang Siyah replied, heading to the back to call them. A short while later, Yang Xinxin arrived, pushing her wheelchair. She immediately noticed the heavy atmosphere. Though Zhang Yis expression was calm, there was a certain depth in his eyes, betraying the weight on his mind. Uncle You and Fatty Xus expressions clearly conveyed that their mission hadnt gone well, while Liang Yue remained her usual icy self. "Brother, how did the mission go?" Yang Xinxin asked with a smile. She knew something was wrong but wanted to hear the details to see how she could help. Zhang Yi gestured for Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran to come closer. "I have a very important question to ask you," he said. The two exchanged a surprised glance. It was rare for Zhang Yi to seek their advice, which made his request all the more intriguing. "Ask away, Brother," Yang Xinxin replied with a smile. Zhang Yi explained, his tone serious. "I have an idea I need your help to implement. I need a way to freeze seawater quicklya very large amount of seawater. Do you have any solutions?" The task wasnt just about flooding the subway tunnels with seawater. If left unfrozen, many zombies and giant rats might survive and escape, creating an even bigger problem. The ideal plan was to collect seawater in his spatial storage, then rapidly freeze it after flooding the tunnels, turning the subway system into a massive block of ice. At such depths, this would effectively trap most zombies and rats, sparing only the strongest creatures like the Bronze Armored Zombies or the Zombie King. Zhang Yi laid out the plan, but its feasibility depended on technical expertise. Lu Keran, who specialized in chemical materials, pondered for a moment. "There are definitely ways to do it. Wed just need to prepare the right chemicals. But how much seawater are we talking about?" Zhang Yi chuckled. "A very, very large amount." "To put it simply, I need to freeze an entire subway lineover 20 kilometers of tunnels!" The women in the room were stunned. The sheer scale of the task was mind-boggling. Meanwhile, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Liang Yue showed no surprise, their faces filled with anticipation as they looked to Lu Keran and Yang Xinxin for answers. After a moment of contemplation, Lu Keran replied, "Its not impossible. With enough time to prepare, it could be done." Author''s Note Chapter 443: The Long-Awaited Ocean Chapter 443: The Long-Awaited OceanHearing Lu Kerans affirmative reply, Zhang Yis eyes lit up. "If this is possible, thats fantastic." "Time isnt really that urgent for us, actually." Although the terrifying nature of the zombie horde was clear, Zhang Yi didnt aim to eliminate them all immediately. As long as this issue could be addressed before the horde fully developed into a threat to the shelter, it would suffice. Lu Keran chuckled. "In that case, its much simpler. To freeze seawater quickly, theres an easy wayprecipitate and remove the salt from the water." "It only requires some basic chemical materials." "But to accelerate the process, Ill prepare a large amount of coagulant specifically for this." "After all, we found plenty of unused materials from the chemical plant before. This is the perfect opportunity to make use of them." To Lu Keran, this was a trivial task. After all, freezing water wasnt even a complex chemical phenomenonit was just a simple physical process. Zhang Yi slapped his thigh in delight. "Great! If thats the case, start preparing now. No need to wait; well take action this afternoon and head out to collect seawater!" Time waits for no one, and the sooner the issue was resolved, the more at ease Zhang Yi and his team would feel. Zhou Keer interjected, "Youve just returned. Why not take a good rest first? You all look pretty exhausted." Zhang Yi shook his head. "Its fine. Just a few of Yang Siyahs superhuman energy dishes, and well recover our strength and abilities." "Time wont wait! I wont even enjoy my meal if this matter remains unresolved." That was Zhang Yis naturehe couldnt let go of anything weighing on his mind. A deep sense of foreboding always lingered in his heart, pushing him to overprepare for any situation to achieve complete peace of mind. R???????? Understanding his temperament, Zhou Keer didnt press further. She simply said, "Alright, then. Be quick and return safely." Zhang Yi stood up and addressed the group, who hadnt had much time to rest. "Lets go. Were heading to the coast!" The journey to the seaside wasnt expected to be particularly dangerous, so no one objected. They promptly re-armed themselves and, without much delay, boarded their snow vehicle, setting course for the eastern coastline. The beaches of the East Sea had once been a famous tourist attraction. But now, with the global ice age, the area was undoubtedly blanketed in frost. It had been a long time since Zhang Yi last visited. Hed heard rumors of the Chaoyu Base conducting deep-sea expeditions, fishing, and even venturing to other places. Curiosity, and a hint of anticipation, filled his heart as he imagined what the coast might look like now. As they departed, Fatty Xu voiced his concerns. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "We wont run into people from Chaoyu Base, will we? We fought them pretty hard last time. If they spot us, it might spark another fight." Zhang Yi laughed. "Chaoyu Base is probably swamped dealing with zombies. Theyd have their hands full already." "They dont have the luxury of time to bother with us. Honestly, if they do see us, its more likely theyll be the ones worried." Fatty Xu nodded, finding Zhang Yis reasoning sound. During territorial disputes, human animosity ran high. But now, with threats from non-human entities, tensions between people tended to ease. Cooperation might even become possible in the future. Filling up the snow vehicles tank, Zhang Yi started the engine and headed for the long-lost eastern coast. Excitement bubbled in everyones heartsthey hadnt seen the sea in so long. What would the vast ocean look like now? Would the depths harbor mutated creatures, transforming into terrifying monsters like Godzilla? The mystery and vastness of the ocean invoked both awe and fear. Thankfully, their destination was only the icy nearshore, far from any potential deep-sea monstrosities. Given the lack of food sources in the shallow waters, even mutated creatures were unlikely to be found there. After a long drive, they finally reached the edge of the coast. The vehicle came to a halt at what used to be the beach. The group stepped out and gazed at the endless expanse of white ice stretching before them, lost in thought. The grandeur of the scene deeply moved them. If not for the apocalyptic circumstances, they might have taken photos and marveled at the wonders of nature. The vast sea was now entirely frozen, its surface a pristine, mirror-like sheet of ice. "How beautiful... Is this natures craftsmanship?" Liang Yue couldnt help but exclaim. Uncle You added, "Compared to this, the winter ice of Mohe seems insignificant." Zhang Yi broke the reverie. "Theres no time for admiration. We need to find a spot to collect water." The group returned to their vehicle and continued toward the edge of the shoreline. On the endless icy expanse, their small vehicle looked like an insignificant ant. Faced with natures majesty, they couldnt help but feel humbled, reminded of their own insignificance. After driving for two more hours, covering over 200 kilometers, they finally spotted waves at the horizon. "Boss, water! I see water!" Fatty Xu exclaimed, pointing excitedly. By this point, they were far from Tianhai City. The further they drove, the more apprehensive they felt. Seeing open water brought a collective sigh of relief. "Quick! Lets collect the water and leave!" Zhang Yi urged. The immense scale of the environment inspired awe but also heightened the fear of sudden changes. Even for someone as powerful as Zhang Yi, trouble at sea was a daunting prospect. Carefully maneuvering closer to the ices edge, Zhang Yi activated his Spatial Storage. Two enormous dimensional gates materialized above the seawater, functioning like massive pumps to siphon water into his storage. The process was tedious and monotonous, so Zhang Yi sat by the waters edge with the others, marveling at the sight of flowing water after such a long time. Uncle You, rubbing his hands, lamented, "If only Id brought a fishing rod. Fishing here would be such a joy!" The sentiment was shared by everyone, including Zhang Yi, who even entertained the idea of creating a fish pond back home to stock with sea fish for leisure fishing. After an extended period, they finally collected enough water. Zhang Yi ensured his spatial storage was filled to capacity25 kilometers long, 10 meters wide, and 10 meters highbefore stopping. Author''s Note Chapter 444: The Swarm of Rats Chapter 444: The Swarm of RatsOnce the seawater collection was complete, Zhang Yi stopped and addressed the group. "Alright, the preliminary preparations are done. Once we return, well figure out how to precipitate the seawater to reduce its salinity." "What? Leaving already?" Fatty Xu and Uncle You stood reluctantly, their gazes lingering on the vast frozen sea. Even Liang Yues eyes held a trace of hesitation. They had gone so long without experiencing natures grandeur. In a world where temperatures might grow colder and climates harsher, perhaps only the oceans would remain a sanctuary for life on the planet. Fatty Xu suggested, "Boss, why dont we think about building a seaside villa here someday?" Zhang Yi pondered the idea. It was appealing, but such a plan would have to wait until he could guarantee their safety. "Who knows? If Chaoyu Base gets wiped out by the zombie horde, we might take over their base, seize their ships, and sail the seas ourselves," Zhang Yi joked with a laugh. His hearty laughter echoed across the icy expanse. The thought of sailing the vast ocean ignited a fire of excitement in everyones eyes. Drifting on the open sea sounded far more liberating than being cooped up in a shelter. Seeing their enthusiasm, Zhang Yi spread his hands and smiled. "Lets focus on solving our immediate problems first. But I have to admit, I do have my eyes on Chaoyu Bases ships." Zhang Yis long-term vision was clear. If temperatures eventually warmed and glaciers melted, coastal cities would be submerged. Owning a sturdy, seaworthy ship would be essential for future survival. After some lighthearted conversation, the group departed the coastline, driving away in their vehicle. Unbeknownst to them, a massive shadow passed slowly beneath the ice where they had just been. It was so large that no one noticed it. In the vastness of the ocean, who knew how many terrifying creatures lurked? In this era of global mutation, the potential for monsters to evolve into unimaginable horrors was a sobering thought. Humanity, small and fragile, should always maintain a healthy respect for nature. By the time Zhang Yi and his team returned to the shelter, night had fallen. Zhang Yi wasted no time; he skipped dinner and headed straight to find Lu Keran. "Ive collected the seawater. Now we need to precipitate it. Are your materials ready?" Lu Keran nodded. "It wasnt hard to prepare. Let me show you." She led him to a corner of her workshop, where hundreds of plastic barrels were stacked neatly. "These are the precipitating agents. Add them to the seawater, and theyll help separate out the salt." "To freeze the seawater quickly, the key is to remove a significant portion of the salt. Once the salinity is low enough, itll freeze much faster in low temperatures." "When the time comes, Ill also provide you with coagulants to speed up the freezing process." Zhang Yi nodded. "How long will it take to precipitate the seawater?" "At least two days," Lu Keran replied after a moments thought. "Two days? Thats manageable," Zhang Yi said. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Over the next two days, the zombie attacks grew increasingly ferocious, likely a response to Zhang Yis prior offensive, which had enraged the Zombie King. ???B???? However, the Copper Armored Zombies didnt appear. Instead, hordes of ordinary zombies swarmed the shelter. Zhang Yi deduced that the Copper Armored Zombies were rare and too valuable for the Zombie King to waste as expendable troops. But it wasnt the zombie horde that posed the real threatit was the sudden emergence of a massive rat swarm from the subway depths. One morning, Zhang Yi was abruptly woken by the shelters AI system, Xiao Ai. "Alert! Alert!" "The shelter is under attack! The shelter is under attack!" "Current damage level: 0.00001%!" "The attack is ongoing. Please address the issue immediately!" What? An ongoing attack? Could it be the zombies again? Zhang Yi wasnt too concerned initially. With their rudimentary tactics, the zombies couldnt seriously harm the shelter. He got out of bed and walked to the window. To his shock, the floor-to-ceiling window was entirely obscured by clawing forms. Upon closer inspection, he realized what they weregiant rats from the subway depths! These rats had never appeared before, but it seemed their anger had been provoked by the deaths of so many of their kind. Now they had joined the zombie horde in attacking the shelter. The air was filled with incessant squeaking, a grating sound that made Zhang Yis ears ache. The rats werent particularly strong, but their teeth were razor-sharp, capable of tearing through even combat gear. Surrounding the shelter in massive numbers, they began gnawing at its defenses. Though the shelter wouldnt be breached quickly, Zhang Yi knew that over time, the rats could weaken the walls significantly, leaving them riddled with holes. "Damn pests! Even the rats are coming after us now?" Through the external cameras, Zhang Yi saw the shelter completely encircled by countless rats. Opening the doors to go outside seemed nearly impossible. He wasnt the only one stressed. A sudden knock on his door was followed by the panicked voices of Zhou Keer and the other women. The sight of so many oversized rats had them screaming in terror. Few women could remain calm in the face of such a horrific swarm. At that moment, Hua Hua, freshly woken from her nap, stretched lazily. Then, with a loud "boom," she transformed into her massive battle form. Narrowing her eyes at the sea of rats outside, she opened her mouth and let out an ear-splitting roar. "ROAR!!!!" This wasnt the cute meowing of a cat but the thunderous bellow of a king of beasts. The sound shattered the silence, shaking the glass and causing the rats clinging to the walls to fall like rain. In an instant, swathes of rats tumbled to the ground, clearing large sections of the shelters outer walls. Zhang Yi smiled with relief at Hua Hua. "Your ability is perfect for cleaning up these grunts!" Hua Huas eyes glinted with pride, her tail held high in triumph. Though the rats were troublesome, they werent insurmountable. Zhang Yi quickly summoned Fatty Xu, Uncle Liu, and Liang Yue to join him in dealing with the swarm. Author''s Note Chapter 445: Infusion Chapter 445: InfusionThe scale of the attacking zombie and rat hordes this time was several times larger than before. The Zombie King was furiousthis was clearly both a warning and a deeper test of Zhang Yis team. As long as the hordes were large enough, they couldnt be wiped out entirely in a single encounter. This allowed some zombies to survive and relay Zhang Yis combat strategies back to the Zombie King. Over time, the Zombie King would grow more intelligent, and its hordes would become stronger. Zhang Yi had no time to dwell on the implications. "If they want to learn, let them. Ill be launching an offensive soon anyway." S~ea??h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a small team of humans and one large cat, Zhang Yi began clearing the hordes on a massive scale. Since they were on their home turf and dealing only with ordinary zombies and giant rats, the team faced little pressure. In just half an hour, the rat swarm was nearly wiped out, and more than half of the zombie horde was eliminated. The survivors scattered and fled in all directions, retreating toward the Ci Qu subway station. "Two more days," Zhang Yi muttered coldly. This time, he noticed that the horde was adapting to their combat tactics. The zombies no longer clustered together, avoiding being incinerated en masse by flamethrowers. They actively evaded Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate traps. Moreover, their attacks began to vary based on the abilities of each team member. Against Zhang Yi and Fatty Xu, who werent close-combat specialists, they deployed overwhelming numbers to charge them. When facing Liang Yue, Uncle You, and Hua Hua, they drove large numbers of rats to attack from the ground, limiting the pairs martial arts prowess. This was a clear sign of intelligence. Zhang Yis expression darkened. Such massive, intelligent hordes with evolving leaders were not unique to Tianhai City. How many more of these horrors existed across the land? How were these Zombie Kings born, and how many of them were there? These questions loomed unanswered. For now, Zhang Yi could only tackle the problems in front of him. As for other forces, they would have to deal with their crises on their own. In an ideal scenario, all the other bases would collapse while also destroying their respective zombie hordes. A double-loss situation would be perfect for Zhang Yi. After clearing the hordes, Zhang Yi walked to the edge of the shelter. He placed his hand on the black metal walls, feeling the surfaces deep scratches. ?????B?? Some of the marks were as deep as 0.1 millimeters. "If these rats keep attacking the shelter, itll be breached in two years at most," Zhang Yi remarked grimly. Fortunately, Zhang Yi had been proactive, leading his team deep into the subway to investigate the growing hordes before they became a dire threat. That dangerous reconnaissance allowed them to develop a strategy rather than being slowly worn down like frogs in boiling water. "Lets go. Time to prepare. This should be the end of it all," Zhang Yi declared to the group. Compared to other factions, Zhang Yis situation was relatively fortunate. No personnel were lost, and the shelter remained largely undamaged. Other forces, however, suffered heavy casualties. Initially, no one took the sudden zombie appearances seriously. But as their tactics grew more disciplined and military-like, the danger became clear. The zombies targeted weak points with ferocious assaults while cleverly avoiding well-defended areas. Several factions suffered devastating losses. The Chaoyu Base was forced to abandon its port facility and retreat to their ocean liners, using them as a refuge from the zombie horde. The port, though crucial for resupply, became expendable to preserve the long-term survival offered by the ships. In contrast, Yangsheng Base and Qingfu Base lacked such advantages. Both relied on steel and oil refineries as their lifelines and could only fortify their defenses and fight head-on against the horde. The most tragic fate, however, befell the Followers of the Snow God. Lacking solid defenses, they crowded into buildings, erecting rudimentary barricades with stones, cars, and makeshift barriers of wood and barbed wire. While these gave a semblance of safety, they were ultimately no match for the overwhelming zombie waves. Daily, scores of followers perished. While their large population base sustained their numbers for now, it was only a matter of time before they were overwhelmed. Ironically, the rat swarms provided an unexpected boon. The massive rodents, large as small dogs, became a food source. In their dire situation, the Followers of the Snow God couldnt afford to worry about potential diseases from the ratsthey were simply grateful for something to eat. Two days passed quickly. The seawater in Zhang Yis Dimensional Space had completed its sedimentation process, precipitating a large amount of impure salt. While still saline, the waters reduced salt content made it much easier to freeze. Zhang Yi extracted the salt and prepared for the next phase of his plan. Lu Keran handed him dozens of barrels of coagulant and a significant quantity of explosives. Accompanied by his combat team, Zhang Yi set off in the snow vehicle, departing the shelter. Instead of heading straight for the Ci Qu station, they first went to the Songzhuang terminus. To trap the zombies and rats in the subway, all escape routes had to be sealed. The first step was to destroy Songzhuang Station entirely. It didnt require much explosive to collapse the station. After planting the charges, the team retreated to a safe distance and triggered the detonation. "Boom!" The ground caved in, burying the station under ice, snow, and soil. Fatty Xu asked nervously, "Boss, what if the Zombie King senses danger and escapes?" Zhang Yi shrugged nonchalantly. "If it runs, even better. From the start, my goal wasnt to kill the Zombie King." "I just want to ensure theres no threat near the shelter. Whether it lives or dies doesnt matter to me." Liang Yue frowned with concern. "But if the other human factions are wiped out, wont the entire Tianhai City fall to the zombies and rat swarms? Can we really survive alone?" Zhang Yi laughed lightly. "Youre overthinking it. Our priority is to protect ourselves." "The more you dwell on grand scenarios, the worse your fears will grow." "If the entire planet gets overrun by the virus someday, what can we do then?" "Focus on securing our environment. Leave the rest to fate. We dont have the strength to consider the bigger picture." With his arms crossed, Zhang Yi concluded calmly: "Help the world when youre powerful; survive when youre not. For now, I care only about the latter." Author''s Note Chapter 446: Beating Down the Fallen Corpses Chapter 446: Beating Down the Fallen CorpsesLiang Yue stopped arguing. She knew Zhang Yi made a valid point. After all, given their abilities, just protecting their group was already a significant challenge. Considering the plight of others was not Zhang Yis style. The group finished sealing off all the exits of the subway tunnel. Then Zhang Yi approached the entrance of the Ci Qu Station. He opened the Dimensional Gate, releasing a massive volume of seawater that poured down the subway entrance. "Whoosh!" A torrent of water rushed forth, flooding the narrow tunnel and surging forward like a furious tide. At this rate, it would take only three hours to release enough water to submerge the entire tunnel. The rats inside might sense the danger and flee early, but most would drown or freeze to death in the icy water. As for the dormant zombies inside, they wouldnt awaken unless they encountered living humans or received direct orders from the Zombie King. Zhang Yis goal was simply to eliminate most of the zombies and rats. Even if a few managed to escape, as long as their numbers were small, they wouldnt pose a threat. "Whoosh!" "Rumble!" The floodwaters surged violently through the subway tunnel, growing stronger by the second, like a swollen river in flood season. The torrent drowned rats hiding in the crevices and flooded the muddy depths where zombies lay dormant. "Squeak! Squeak!" Terrified squeals erupted as the giant rats scrambled to escape the rising waters. But no matter how fast they ran, they couldnt outrun the flood. Soon, most were submerged. A handful of rats that escaped in time climbed out through the tunnel entrance. However, without their habitat, these rats wouldnt survive in the sub-zero temperatures of minus fifty or sixty degrees. They would have to find a new environment, but in this apocalyptic world, such a place was nearly impossible to find. The rats and zombies shared a symbiotic relationship. The rats provided additional combat power to the zombie hordes, with the Zombie King deliberately raising them. Their food source, however, was the corpses of other zombies. Without these corpses, the rats couldnt grow to their enormous size. Once forced out of the subway tunnels, they would quickly lose their means of survival and perish. Even if a few survived, their numbers would dwindle, making it impossible to reproduce on a large scale. In the short term, they wouldnt be a threat to Zhang Yis shelter anymore. Meanwhile, deeper inside the subway, some zombies began to stir, seemingly guided by an unseen force. However, even with their superior physical abilities, they couldnt maintain their footing in the rushing waters. They toppled like broken logs and were swept away. The floodwaters rose steadily, submerging the entire tunnel. Zhang Yi then opened several large white barrels filled with a transparent liquidfreezing agents crafted by Lu Keran. When the agents were poured into the purified seawater, the liquid began freezing at a visible rate. Ice spread rapidly through the depths of the water, quickly encasing the struggling zombies and rats. Half a day passed in the blink of an eye. The entire Ci Qu Line was now frozen solid. Zhang Yi dusted off his hands. "That settles our problem." Whether some zombies or rats had escaped or even if the Zombie King was still alive, it didnt matter. Even the survival of the armored zombies wasnt a concern. ????????? The zombies and rats only posed a threat because of their overwhelming numbers. Individually, even the armored zombies werent enough to intimidate Zhang Yi. By eliminating most of the zombies and rats, even if the survivors were elite, Zhang Yi and his team could easily handle them. "We should be able to enjoy some peace for a while. Let other factions worry about the zombie hordes and rat swarms!" Zhang Yi said with a smile. Uncle You, Liang Yue, and Fatty Xu exchanged glances, a light smile spreading across their faces. Once again, Zhang Yi had resolved a massive problem with startling simplicity, leaving them amazed. "Spatial energy really is terrifyingly powerful!" Fatty Xu commented. "The internet wasnt lying. Among superhuman abilities, time reigns supreme, space dominates, destiny never emerges, and causality rules as king!" "Our boss wields spatial energy. Theres no one in Tianhai City who can rival him!" Hearing this, Zhang Yi couldnt help but ask, "Where did you even learn all this stuff?" Fatty Xu chuckled and scratched his head. "Internet wisdom, of course!" Zhang Yi lowered his eyes. This wasnt the first time hed heard such remarks from Fatty Xu. In truth, Zhang Yi himself had similar thoughts. While his spatial abilities often played a supporting role in battle, their versatility and power were extraordinary. As he developed more skills, this ability became even more monstrous. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Shaking his head, Zhang Yi reminded himself that he wasnt someone who sought to outshine others. He only cared about protecting himself and, if possible, looking after those close to him. Liang Yue asked, "So, whats next?" "Whats next?" Zhang Yi sneered. "Isnt it obvious? Beat them while theyre down!" Cautious by nature, Zhang Yi never left his enemies a chance. Though the subway tunnels were frozen, some survivors had undoubtedly escapedstronger individuals with incredible vitality. "Whether theyre zombies or rats, they pose a serious threat to us!" Zhang Yi declared. "Since were already here, we might as well kill as many as we can!" He pulled out a shotgun, loading it with a crisp "click." Raising the weapon, he gestured to the group. "Lets go! Well wipe out whatever we can find. One last cleanup, and then were done!" No one objected. Most of the work had been done by Zhang Yi, leaving the others with plenty of energy. Watching him mow down zombies and rats had left them eager to join the action. The group boarded their snow vehicle and retraced their path along the Ci Qu Line. Around the subway entrances, they found plenty of half-dead rats and motionless zombies. Unsurprisingly, they obliterated them all. Author''s Note Chapter 447: Shaking Jiangnan Chapter 447: Shaking JiangnanOutside the subway lines, seven or eight massive armored zombies emerged from the tunnels, tightly surrounding a short humanoid figure covered in white fur. No one could have imagined that this unremarkable creature, with seemingly no combat abilities, was the Zombie King commanding the entire subway horde. The white Zombie King stared at the now-flooded subway tunnels, a flicker of confusion in its gaze. It had been tasked with building a massive zombie horde here, which would eventually march southwest to annihilate the humans in the nearby shelter. But now, the subway had been completely destroyed. The zombie army it painstakingly cultivated was nearly wiped out, and the remaining few were insufficient to form a horde capable of attacking the shelter. The Zombie King seemed lost, uncertain of its next move. The eight armored zombies surrounding it stood silently, heads bowed, awaiting its orders. Without its command, they wouldnt act unless triggered by the presence of living humans. After what seemed like an eternity, the Zombie Kings mind appeared to reboot. It made a decision, turning northward and taking slow steps in that direction. The eight armored zombies followed closely behind, braving the ice and snow as they moved north. Zhang Yis method of flooding the tunnels had successfully eradicated all zombies within the Ci Qu Line. From that day on, no zombies appeared near the shelter, a testament to the effectiveness of Zhang Yis strategy. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Deprived of their habitat, neither the Zombie King nor the other zombies could remain in the subway tunnels. Elsewhere, no underground space large enough to support the zombies and rats existed. Moreover, the mutated virus within the zombies couldnt survive in temperatures as low as minus 60 degrees. Just as humans can function briefly in extreme conditions but cannot survive indefinitely, the zombies were similarly constrained. Zhang Yis next steps were straightforward: Enjoy the peace and quiet for now. Monitor how other factions were faring against the zombies to stay vigilant. Yang Xinxin maintained real-time surveillance of networks across various regions. Through their communications, Zhang Yi could track the progress of battles against the zombies. Among the major factions, the Followers of the Snow God suffered the heaviest losses, with over 3,000 deaths so far. Most were bitten to death during combat, while others showed signs of mutation after being bitten. Before fully transforming, they were executed by their own people, a process they referred to as "returning to the Snow Gods divine kingdom." At Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base, the situation wasnt much better. Both had suffered significant losses, with 500C600 soldiers killed in action. Chaoyu Base even abandoned its harbor and fled to the sea to escape the zombie disaster. Although Wei Dinghai was pained by the loss, he saw an opportunity. He hoped the zombie tide would wipe out everyone in Tianhai City. Once the city was devoid of life, his faction could return to claim dominance. Zombies couldnt survive forever; they relied on humans for sustenance. When all humans in Tianhai City were gone, the zombies would also disappear. At Yangsheng Base, Xiao Honglian adopted a ruthless approach. She ordered trenches dug around the base and filled them with crude oil. Whenever zombies or rats approached, the oil was ignited, creating a five-meter-high wall of fire around the refinery. The inferno incinerated countless zombies and rats. ???????????S Fire proved highly effective against the zombie and rat hordes, but fuel was a scarce resource. Xiao Honglians method was extravagant, though her factions substantial oil reserves could sustain it. Meanwhile, Zhang Yis old friend, Xing Tian, faced equally dire circumstances. Under Xing Tians guidance, the lumberjacks from the steel mill transformed into formidable warriors capable of fighting ten zombies at once. Armed with axes, sledgehammers, and iron rods, they launched fierce battles against the zombies. However, the disparity in numbers was glaring. While they could endure one or two battles, fighting swarms of zombies daily drained their strength. Eventually, Xing Tian led his remaining men into the depths of their underground shelter, temporarily abandoning the steel mill to the zombies. The zombies posed no threat to the steel mills equipment, as they had no use for it and only cared about human flesh. Xing Tians plan was to wait for the zombies to vanish before reclaiming the facility. The underground shelter was highly secure. Zhang Yi had tested its defenses before; only a high-yield bunker-buster missile could pose a threat. Even a horde of tens of thousands of zombies would take an enormous amount of time to breach the shelter. In the short term, Qingpu Bases strategy of retreating seemed sound. However, the outcome of the zombie crisis remained uncertain in the long run. Zhang Yi appreciated Xing Tians approach. Though not particularly intelligent, Xing Tian knew his limits and withdrew at the right moment, preserving Qingpu Bases strength. A week passed. Zhang Yi and his team enjoyed a tranquil routine, drinking tea and reading books at home as if the zombie and rat hordes had never been an issue. In contrast, the other factions were on the brink of collapse, tormented by relentless zombie and rat attacks. The Zombie King, which Zhang Yi had driven off, led its eight armored zombies northward, where they established a new nest. Tianhai Citys sprawling, interconnected subway network provided ample hiding spots. However, the zombies still needed food. With Tianhai Citys human population dwindling to less than one million, the remaining survivors became prime targets. The zombies could detect living humans from vast distances and slowly advanced toward them. As the number of zombies in Tianhai City surged, the availability of food dwindled. Smaller factions were nearly wiped out, and the zombies began to spread to nearby cities, driven by their instinct to find food. The apocalyptic zombie tide, which began in Tianhai City, was now expanding on a much larger scale. This alarming development finally drew the attention of neighboring cities and even alerted Jiangnan District, the regions most powerful faction. Author''s Note Chapter 448: The Seven-Person Squad Chapter 448: The Seven-Person SquadIn the northern district of Tianhai City, near the boundary with Xingyun City, the snowy ground was littered with the corpses of hundreds of zombies. Referring to them as "corpses" might be inaccuratethey were dead to begin with, driven only by their instinct to gather where food could be found. Amidst the zombie horde, several figures moved, collecting blood, flesh, and other biological samples from the bodies. On a nearby hill, a man dressed in black stood silently, his gaze fixed on the distant subway station exit. His attire was peculiar: in such conditions, he wore pure black clothing, complete with oversized black sunglasses. His cold, pale face looked almost sickly, as though meticulously sculpted with a knife. Despite his gaunt frame and unhealthy appearance, the middle-aged man exuded an aura that warned others to keep their distance. The six people with him, also dressed in black, shared his enigmatic presence. In a snowy landscape, white would be the ideal camouflage, so anyone wearing black could only be one of two types: Those supremely confident in their abilities. Those secure in their identity, knowing no one would dare attack them. Or perhaps they embodied both. These individuals were not native to Tianhai City; they hailed from Jiangnan Districts Blizzard City, a fortress that had stood strong since the apocalypse began and housed hundreds of thousands of survivors. The seven-person squad was dispatched by Blizzard Citys supreme commander, Zhu Zheng, to handle the zombie crisis in Tianhai City. The zombies had rampaged across Tianhai City for some time, growing in numbers and spreading to nearby cities. This caused widespread panic and drew the attention of Jiangnan District. These werent the sluggish, easy-to-kill zombies of the past. They were swift, immensely strong, and exceptionally hard to kill. Such creatures posed a threat not just to civilians but also to fully armed elite soldiers. Given this, Jiangnan District had no choice but to take the matter seriously. With Tianhai Citys population of 20 million, the potential for disaster was unimaginable if most of them turned into zombies and began spreading nationwide. The squad, led by the sunglasses-wearing Bian Junwu, was dispatched to investigate and address the crisis. After finishing their collection of biological samples, the team regrouped with Bian Junwu. "Captain, weve gathered all the data we need from these zombies," said Meng Siyu, a long-haired, spirited expert in medicine and biology. Bian Junwu shifted his gaze from the distance, his sunglasses obscuring his expression. "No thermal signatures detected," he remarked coldly. "Just a small group of zombies here, with no signs of superhuman control." He paused, then added, "Well analyze the samples to determine if this is the work of someone controlling them or just the virus itself. Headquarters is very concerned about this." Suddenly, Bian Junwu doubled over in a violent coughing fit, sounding as though he might cough up his lungs. "Captain, are you okay?" asked the vice-captain, Baili Changqing, a stocky, broad-shouldered man with a gentle smile that belied his imposing appearance. ?????????? Bian Junwu waved dismissively. "Im fine. Just an old condition." The rest of the team exchanged worried glances. Their captains health was notoriously poor, but underestimating him would be a grave mistake. Even within Jiangnan District, Bian Junwu was a renowned powerhouse. "Judging by their behavior, it seems like the virus is driving their actions," Meng Siyu noted hesitantly. "But something feels... off." Bian Junwus sharp, pale features remained emotionless. "Researching this on our own will take too long. Well need the local factions to assist in our investigation." Baili Changqing scratched his head. "Since the apocalypse, theres been little contact between Jinling and Tianhai City. From what Ive heard, the shelters here are a mess, with leadership changing hands repeatedly." Bian Junwus tone turned icy. "It doesnt matter whos in charge. Faced with this crisis, they must cooperate with us fully." He continued, his voice resolute: "This land belongs to Jiangnan District. All within it are subject to our authority. In the past, we let them govern themselves, but now that such a major issue has arisen, they must take responsibility for this zombie crisis." At that moment, a sharp-looking young man approached, tucking a laptop into his backpack. "As you instructed, Ive contacted the leaders of Tianhai Citys factions under Jiangnan Districts name, requesting a meeting this afternoon," the young man reported. "That includes Zhang Yi, whom you specifically mentioned." The man hesitated before asking, "According to our intel, Zhang Yi only commands a team of fewer than ten people. Shouldnt we focus on larger factions for assistance? Theyre too small to make a difference." Bian Junwu replied calmly, "The data suggests that Zhang Yis territory has the fewest zombie issues. Despite their small numbers, every member of his team is an elite. To resolve the crisis in Tianhai City, well need every bit of strength we can muster." The young man shrugged. "Youre the boss. Whatever you say." Bian Junwu was accustomed to his casual demeanor. Those with ability often came with quirks, and every member of this special squad was among Blizzard Citys top superhumans. "Lets head to the central building," Bian Junwu said. The "central building" was the former administrative hub of Tianhai City, located in the citys heart. It symbolized the citys past authority and served as a neutral meeting point for the factions. Vice-captain Baili Changqing chuckled. "Were here representing Jiangnan District, but do you think the local factions will accept us?" sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Qi Guangming, the squads sniper, smirked. "If they dont, well just beat them into submission. None of them could stand up to Jiangnan District anyway." The teams banter reflected their confidence; to them, even large factions like West Hill Base or the Followers of the Snow God were insignificant compared to the might of Jiangnan District. The seven boarded a large snow vehicle. Wu Di, the flamboyant long-haired driver, set the vehicles navigation system. Unlike most in Tianhai City, they had no trouble using satellite-based navigation, a testament to their advanced resources. The vehicle roared to life and headed toward the central building. Author''s Note Chapter 449: An Email Chapter 449: An EmailOn this day, Zhang Yi and his group continued their plain and monotonous lives as usual. After dealing with the zombies and giant rats in the subway, there was no longer anything that could pose a threat to them. Yet, that very morning, a piece of news quietly disrupted their peace. Zhang Yi sat leisurely in the living room, enjoying his breakfast. He wore blue cotton pajamas and sat barefoot on the sofa. The villa maintained a constant temperature of 22 degrees Celsius, ensuring no one felt overly hot or cold. For breakfast, Zhang Yi was eating steamed buns made by Yang Siyah and drinking freshly ground soy milk. The buns were stuffed with beef and vermicelli or tofu and green onionhis favorites. They were savory and appetizing. The women in the household sat at the dining table, chatting and laughing over their meal. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu gathered together with nothing better to do. They alternated between bragging and discussing the miserable state of other bases. In all of Tianhai City, they were among the very few enjoying such tranquility. The other factions were likely being driven to dire straits by hordes of zombies and swarms of rats. What those forces didn''t realize was that their networks were already being tightly monitored by Yang Xinxin. Every day, Zhang Yi received detailed reports about themhow many people died in battle, how much resources were losthe knew it all like the back of his hand. To Zhang Yi, these updates served as a bit of spice to his otherwise dull life. People needed some gossip to live freely and happily. At the same time, he collected intelligence on the zombie hordes to prepare for any that might approach their shelter in the future. Intelligence was one of the most crucial strategic resources in the apocalypse. Suddenly, Yang Xinxin entered the living room, driving her wheelchair from the control room. Her expression was unusually serious. Approaching Zhang Yi, she said, Brother Zhang Yi, theres a very important email you need to see. Seeing her solemn face, Zhang Yi knew something significant had happened. For someone as brilliant as her to show such seriousness, it clearly wasnt an ordinary situation. Oh? Whats the matter? Let me see. Yang Xinxin moved closer and handed her laptop to Zhang Yi. Looking at the screen, Zhang Yi saw an email that read: To all recipients, Personnel from the Jiangnan District have arrived in Tianhai City. You are required to be at the Central Building of Tianhai City at 2:30 PM today. Invited individuals include: Xing Weinan from Qingfu Shelter, Xiao Honglian from Yangsheng Shelter, Wei Dinghai from Chaoyu Shelter, Yuan Kongye, leader of the Followers of the Snow God, And Zhang Yi, with no particular title. Signed: Jiangnan Military District Upon reading this, Zhang Yis eyes widened in shock. Jiangnan Military District! Is this the same as the headquarters based in Jinling, one of the Five Major Military Districts of Huaguo? For every citizen of Huaguo, this was common knowledge. The Five Major Military Districts represented the pinnacle of Huaguos military power. During peacetime, they were the nations backbone. In the apocalypse, they remained the cornerstone of stability in Huaguo. There was no doubting the power of the Jiangnan District. The last time Zhang Yi managed to defeat West Hill Base, one critical factor was that the Jiangnan District had launched a missile. ???????B????? If they so wished, the Jiangnan District could erase all of Tianhai City from the map in an instant. How could Zhang Yi not hold such power in reverence? Yang Xinxin nodded. Yes, I believe it must be them. Zhang Yi frowned slightly. How can we be sure this email is genuine and not some plot or prank? Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Xinxin shook her head. Brother Zhang Yi, I can assure you that this is indeed a message from the Jiangnan District. "Our network system has robust firewalls. Anyone wishing to contact us must submit a request. Without my approval, their message cannot reach us. But this email bypassed my primary defenses and directly arrived in our inbox. Only two kinds of people could achieve this: a hacker more skilled than me, or an official entity with higher-level internet permissions. And in Huaguo, no one could breach our network without my notice in such a short time. This leaves only one possibility: the sender must be from the Jiangnan District. Their sudden arrival in Tianhai City is likely related to the zombie problem. Zhang Yis eyes sharpened. If they can do this, doesnt it mean our network is unsafe? Yang Xinxin smiled nonchalantly. The shelters true core lies in our intranet, which uses an isolated server with no external connections. That cant be breached. Hearing this, Zhang Yi breathed a sigh of relief. Still, the situation had grown more complex. With such a dominant external force joining the sceneone that could crush the five major factions of Tianhai Cityit introduced an unpredictable variable. I think their visit is indeed tied to the zombie hordes. The scale of the hordes is enormous, and their origin is far too mysterious. If left unchecked, the 20 million corpses in Tianhai City could form an unstoppable zombie tide. "Not to mention, the rats in the mix make it even worse. If the hordes and rat swarms spread to other cities, it could lead to an uncontrollable disaster. Zhang Yi shrugged with a wry smile. Isnt this exactly how a zombie apocalypse starts in those movies? Yang Xinxin nodded. From the email, its clear they have a complete understanding of Tianhai City. They precisely identified the leaders of each faction when sending out their invitations. I think we should go. Its not wise to offend a major military district at a time like this. Zhang Yi leaned back on the sofa, clasping his hands behind his head as he thought it over. Considering the computer skills of the other factions in Tianhai City, its unlikely they could have set this trap. Still, to be safe, Ill bring as much firepower as possible. Better to be overprepared. In terms of security, Zhang Yi wasnt overly concerned. Apart from their group, the other factions in Tianhai City had been significantly weakened. As long as Zhang Yi brought his elite team, there would be little to fear. If the enemy was too strong, retreating would still be an option. Zhang Yi gathered everyone in the living room and explained the situation. Hearing that personnel from the Jiangnan District had arrived, everyone had mixed reactions. Some were pleased, while others were apprehensive. Fatty Xu, in particular, was worried. With a troubled expression, he said, Our lives are relatively stable now. If other forces enter Tianhai City, Im afraid it might disrupt our current environment. Zhang Yi dismissed his concerns with a shake of his head. Tianhai City may be a port city with decent resources, but compared to the Jiangnan District, what I have is insignificant. Even if I emptied out the Walmart warehouse, those supplies mean nothing to the Jiangnan District. Indeed, even with the substantial goods he had amassed, they were trivial to the Jiangnan District. As one of Huaguos most prosperous areas, the Jiangnan District had access to abundant resources. For ordinary people, extreme cold might cause logistical issues or material shortages. But for a power as vast as the Jiangnan District, such problems could be resolved with ease. Author''s Note Chapter 450: The Gathering Chapter 450: The GatheringAfter Zhang Yis explanation, Fatty Xu finally felt a bit more at ease. Well, that would be ideal. Im just worried that any change might disrupt our current peaceful life. Those who live comfortably tend to resist change, and Zhang Yi understood this sentiment. Still, he didnt see the arrival of the Jiangnan District personnel as a bad thing. The massive zombie and rat infestation in Tianhai City was something Zhang Yi could not resolve on his own. Yet he also knew that the other factions were too weak to tackle the problem independently. Over time, the situation would inevitably worsen. If the Jiangnan District could step in and help, the survival conditions in Tianhai City would greatly improve. At the very least, Zhang Yi wouldnt have to worry about the zombies wiping out other factions and turning their attention to his shelter. From this perspective, Zhang Yi was optimistic about their arrival. Aside from Fatty Xu, who was a pessimist, most people in the group shared this positive outlook. Uncle You, who had a military background, crossed his arms and declared confidently: I think we should trust them! As the regional leader, the Jiangnan District would never want a massive city like Tianhai to fall into chaos with such a large zombie outbreak. Liang Yue nodded in agreement. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Thats what I think too. Under the threat of a zombie siege, everyone hoped for a higher-level force to help solve the pressing crisis. Although their shelter wasnt currently affected, no one could guarantee how things would evolve in the future. If the zombie problem could be resolved completely, it would be the best outcome. Zhang Yi nodded and said, Alright then, since the message has reached us, we must go check it out no matter what. Turning to Yang Xinxin, he added: Xinxin, keep a close watch on the network. Even though were almost certain this email came from the Jiangnan District, we must still be cautious in case someone used an unknown method to set a trap. ???????? The likelihood of this was low but not impossible, and Zhang Yis cautious nature led him to remind Yang Xinxin. Yang Xinxin pouted slightly. As a world-class hacker, she felt there was no one who could deceive her! But she still responded obediently, Alright, Brother Zhang Yi. Ill make sure the shelters network security is impeccable! Zhang Yi smiled indulgently at her playful attitude and reached out to ruffle her hair. Good. Everyone, eat well at lunch, and well head to the Central Building in the afternoon. Remember, stay vigilant and be ready for anything. In this environment, you never know what unexpected events might occur. Everyone nodded in agreement. Over time, they had come to respect Zhang Yis leadership. He might not have the highest IQ among them, but his calm and steady approach made him the most rational and reliable. Following his plans usually ensured minimal mistakes. This cautious and methodical personality was an essential survival trait in the apocalypse. Naturally, Zhang Yis group wasnt the only one to receive the email. At the same time, every major faction in Tianhai City received the Jiangnan District investigation teams message. To them, the email was like a lifeline. These factions had already been battered by zombies and rat swarms. The Qingfu Base was forced to retreat underground, avoiding direct conflict with the hordes. Yangsheng Base had suffered heavy casualties, burning through vast amounts of crude oil just to maintain their current situation. Chaoyu Base had even fled to the sea, abandoning their port. This decision was painful for Wei Dinghai, as the port stored a significant amount of valuable supplies. Meanwhile, the Followers of the Snow God had endured such devastation that their plight was beyond words. Their camp, except for St. Johns Cathedral, had turned into a living hell. Zombies and rats slaughtered the living, while the survivors killed rats in desperation to use as a source of protein. After a week of constant fighting, the Followers of the Snow God had been reduced to half their former numbers. Thus, when they received the Jiangnan Districts email, the leaders of these factions were overjoyed. Some suspected it might be a trap. But in their current desperate state, they had no choice but to step into the trap if it meant even a sliver of hope. So, all factions prepared their teams and made their way to the Central Building to meet the legendary envoys from the Jiangnan District. Tianhai City, Tianfeng District, Central Building. The Jiangnan District investigation teams vehicles arrived at the site. The once-majestic Central Building was now mostly buried in snow and ice. The exposed portion was covered with thick layers of snow. Without precise coordinates, locating the building would have been nearly impossible. Bian Junwu and his team stepped out of their customized snow vehicle, which was specially designed for their mission. Looking at the heavily snowed-in Central Building, Deputy Captain Baili Changqing scratched his neck. Wow, I didnt expect this place to end up like this! Its such a mess. Wont it be troublesome with so many people coming here? Wu Di, standing nearby, replied with a relaxed smile. No worries, Ill handle it. He extended his right hand toward the Central Building. A white orb of light formed in his palm and then shot forward with a loud ! Wherever the light passed, snowdrifts were blasted away. In moments, a circular passage leading to the building had been cleared. Wu Di turned back, smiled, and gestured to Bian Junwu. Captain, after you! Without a word, Bian Junwu stuffed his hands into the pockets of his black coat and led the way into the Central Building. Baili Changqing followed closely behind, with the others trailing in order. From their walking formation, one could infer their hierarchy: Captain Bian Junwu led the group. Deputy Captain Baili Changqing came next. Wu Di ranked third. Following them were virus experts Meng Siyu and Qi Guangming. Lastly, top-tier special forces operatives and sharpshooter Qi Guangming, alongside combat expert Kong Sheng, brought up the rear. Any member of this investigation team was among the best of the best. The captains and Wu Di, in particular, were on par with or superior to the leaders of major factions. After entering the Central Building, they cleared the interior snow and found a relatively intact conference hall. Bian Junwu sat on a soft black sofa, calmly waiting for the representatives of the factions to arrive. Meanwhile, the rest of the team, though seemingly relaxed, instinctively spread out to survey their surroundings. Author''s Note Chapter 451: Outsiders and Locals Chapter 451: Outsiders and LocalsThree major bases, one religious sect, and one rogue factionthis is the current power structure in Tianhai City. After receiving the email from the Jiangnan District Investigation Team, each faction dispatched representatives for a meeting. Zhang Yi brought along his regular combat squad, composed of their main force from the West Base and Hua Hua. The shelters surroundings were currently devoid of major threats, and even in the case of an emergency, the shelters defenses were strong enough to hold until reinforcements arrived. Therefore, leaving no combat personnel for defense wasnt a concern. The other factions, however, didnt have the same luxury. They constantly had to guard against attacks from zombie hordes and giant rats, leaving large numbers of troops stationed at their bases. Each faction leader led a select few troops to the Central Building to meet the investigation team. The first to arrive were the people from Yangsheng Base. Xiao Honglian arrived with a group of her subordinates in a combat vehicle, accompanied by a captain from the Western Superhuman Forces and ten elite warriors. Meanwhile, the main camp was left under Zhuge Qingtians command. Upon reaching the Central Building, Xiao Honglian immediately noticed the distinctive snow vehicle. Just one vehicle? It seems like the District sent only a small group. Xiao Honglians mood turned somber. She knew all too well the gravity of the zombie horde threat. Without deploying a significant military force, it would be nearly impossible to eliminate the threat. However, despite her disappointment, Xiao Honglian decided to meet the investigation team, hoping this was merely an advance team with reinforcements to follow. She and her team approached the Central Building, stopping to examine a snow channel over a hundred meters long and ten meters deep. This...! Crouching down, Xiao Honglian ran her hand over the perfectly smooth surface of the channel. It was clearly not machine-made but rather shaped by a superhuman ability, likely a single, precise strike. As one of Tianhai Citys top superhumans, Xiao Honglian immediately grasped the skill it took to create this. She quickly dismissed her earlier underestimation. Theres a master among them, she muttered, her tone serious. Xiao Honglian continued toward the building, but as they neared the entrance, a man in a black uniform stepped out. His face bore a smug, mocking expression as he looked at them. Which faction are you from? The man, Wu Di, had an arrogant demeanor that instantly irritated the Yangsheng Base team, making them want to punch him. Xiao Honglian frowned. Were from Yangsheng Base. I am Xiao Honglian, the base leader. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wu Dis gaze lingered on her before he said, Xiao Honglian, former captain of Tianhai Citys Criminal Investigation Unit. Welcome. Xiao Honglians brows furrowed slightlyhis words carried an implicit warning: "I know everything about you." So, this is a power play? she thought to herself. Wu Di stepped aside and gestured. Please enter, but only you. Your men will have to wait outside. Xiao Honglian didnt object and turned to her subordinates. Wait for me here. One of her captains whispered, Leader, could this be a trap? Xiao Honglian smirked. Even if it is, no one here can stop me if I want to leave. Her confidence drew admiration from her subordinates. Indeed, Xiao Honglians power was unparalleled. Countless challengers had fallen in less than 30 seconds against her. Yes, maam. Well wait here for your orders! As Xiao Honglian entered the building, Wu Dis lips curled into a faint sneer. Soon after, the second group arrivedrepresentatives from Chaoyu Base. Wei Dinghai, cautious as ever, even brought his strongest subordinate, Chen Jingguan. Recent setbacks, including battles and zombie horde attacks, had left Wei on edge. ???????? Like before, Wu Di stood at the entrance, barring everyone except Wei Dinghai from entering. Chen Jingguan was immediately annoyed. Whats with all the secrecy? Afraid well overpower you? Wu Dis smug expression only deepened. We only discuss matters with faction leaders. Unless youre the leader of Chaoyu Base? Chen Jingguans face darkened, but Wei Dinghai stepped in with a hearty laugh, diffusing the tension. Haha, lets not fall for such petty provocations, Wei said. Were here sincerely. If they only want to talk to me, thats fine. With his Ice and Snow Lord abilities, Wei Dinghai was confident in his safety, especially in this icy terrain where his powers excelled. More importantly, he couldnt let Xiao Honglian outshine him. Wei patted Chen Jingguans shoulder. Stay here and wait for me. Dont engage with anyone, he warned with a stern look. Chen Jingguan froze for a moment before nodding. Understood. Wei Dinghai calmly entered the building but remained vigilant, secretly observing everything around him. Meanwhile, Wu Di, clearly bored, turned his attention back to Chen Jingguan. Too bad your boss is here. Otherwise, I wouldve liked to spar with you. Care to try now? he taunted with a sneer. Chen Jingguans expression darkened, but recalling Wei Dinghais warning, he restrained himself and stood aside, pretending not to hear. This restraint earned ridicule from the nearby Yangsheng Base soldiers. Not long after, Zhang Yis group arrived. From a distance, they saw the vehicles and soldiers, immediately recognizing the presence of Yangsheng and Chaoyu Base representatives. Enemies meet again. Lets hope they behave, Zhang Yi muttered, unlocking his Desert Eagle. After the previous Five-Armies Battle, the other bases had suffered heavy losses, likely harboring deep resentment toward Zhang Yi. Given the delicate dynamics among the five factions, Zhang Yi prepared himself for potential conflict. Author''s Note Chapter 452: A First Encounter Chapter 452: A First EncounterAs soon as Zhang Yi and his team stepped out of their vehicle, the tension on the scene became palpable. The soldiers from Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base glared at them, their eyes burning with resentment but also tinged with fear. After the Five-Armies Battle, it had become widely acknowledged that Zhang Yis team was formidableprovoking them was not something to be done lightly. Zhang Yi kept his hand in his pocket, gripping his Desert Eagle, remaining on high alert. His arrival even caught Wu Dis attention, who couldnt help but take a closer look. Having researched Zhang Yis background only recently after being assigned to Tianhai City, Wu Di had learned of his impressive rise: starting as a mere warehouse manager, leading an elite squad to challenge large-scale factions, and eventually becoming a key player among the citys five major powers. Such a figure was impossible to ignore. As Zhang Yi approached the Central Building, he noticed the distinctive ice channel that had been cleared by Wu Di. He immediately understood its purposea warning to all attendees of the Jiangnan District envoys power. Wu Dis voice rang out, You must be Zhang Yi. Come in alone. The rest must stay outside. Zhang Yi smiled harmlessly. As you wish. Seeing the soldiers from the other two bases already assembled outside, Zhang Yi had anticipated this arrangement. This was, after all, a meeting for faction leadersnot a gathering of their entourages. He instructed Uncle You and the others to wait outside. If they felt cold, they could stay in the vehicle. Zhang Yi himself casually made his way into the Central Building. Wu Dis eyes followed him intently, almost never looking away, which made Zhang Yi feel slightly uncomfortable. No man enjoys being stared at by another man, and Zhang Yi couldnt help but wonder if Wu Dis interests were... unconventional. Is there something on me? Zhang Yi asked with a cheerful smile. Wu Di crossed his arms and smirked. I heard youre quite strong. Zhang Yi resisted the urge to ask, If this was about the kind of strength between men, Zhang Yi wanted no part of it. Just average, Zhang Yi replied modestly. Lets spar sometime, Wu Di said, his gaze heating up slightly. A shiver ran down Zhang Yis spine. No, no, Im not into that, Zhang Yi quickly declined. By the way, which room is it? Wu Di looked a bit disappointed. Fifth floor, third room on the left. Thanks! Zhang Yi replied, smiling as he walked away, looking every bit the friendly, harmless neighbor. Following Wu Dis directions, Zhang Yi headed upstairs. Along the way, he noticed other members of the investigation team stationed in strategic positions, keeping a close eye on the surroundings. ????????? Their sharp gazes and subtle movements radiated an air of professionalism that set them apart from ordinary people. Years of specialized training were evident in their demeanor, confirming to Zhang Yi that these were elite operatives sent by the Jiangnan District. Still, Zhang Yi wondered how much help such a small team could offer. Lost in thought, he reached the designated meeting room. The door was open, and he walked in. The room was spacious, with a large red table dominating the center. As Zhang Yi entered, all eyes turned toward him. Two familiar facesXiao Honglian and Wei Dinghaiwere already there. Both frowned upon seeing him, their gazes a mixture of wariness and irritation. However, Zhang Yis attention was drawn to the man sitting at the head of the tablea middle-aged figure wrapped in a black coat and wearing oversized sunglasses. Zhang Yi thought, amused. The sunglasses gave the man an air of pretentiousness, but Zhang Yi couldnt rule out the possibility of some eccentric preference. Smiling, Zhang Yi introduced himself. Im Zhang Yi. And you are? As the saying goes, one doesnt hit a smiling face. Zhang Yis polite and unassuming demeanor left Bian Junwu no choice but to respond in kind. Lowering his arms, Bian Junwu replied in a cold tone, Im Bian Junwu, head of the Jiangnan District investigation team for the zombie outbreak. Ah, so its Mr. Bian. A pleasure to meet you! Zhang Yi said courteously, finding a seat and refraining from further interaction. It was his first meeting with Bian, and he preferred to remain cautious, avoiding even a handshake. The spacious room maintained a significant distance between each attendee. Clearly, Zhang Yi, Xiao Honglian, and Wei Dinghai were all on guard. Bian Junwu, however, appeared completely at ease. While waiting for the remaining representatives, he nonchalantly pulled a pack of Heilian cigarettes from his pocket and lit one. No one spoke. Each had their own agenda, waiting for the others to arrive. Finally, Xing Tian from Qingfu Base entered the room. Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With a cheerful demeanor, he greeted Bian Junwu before sitting near Zhang Yi. Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai shot him murderous glares. In the Five-Armies Battle, Qingfu Bases betrayal had directly led to their defeat. Adding insult to injury, Xing Tian had looted a significant amount of their supplies after the battle. Despite their hatred, Xing Tian remained indifferent to their hostility and started chatting with Zhang Yi. Old Zhang, hows it going on your side? Those damn zombies and rats have been giving us hell. Zhang Yi frowned, his voice turning somber. Dont even bring it up. Were constantly clearing them outIm so fed up I could scream! Leaning back in his chair, Zhang Yi sighed heavily. At this rate, my shelter might not hold out much longer. Hearing Zhang Yis complaints, the three other faction leaders felt a twinge of satisfaction. Misery loves company, after all. Was it a trick of the light, or did Bian Junwus gaze briefly flicker toward Zhang Yi after that statement? With those sunglasses obscuring his eyes, it was impossible to tell. Perhaps it was just an illusion. Author''s Note Chapter 453: Seizing Command Authority Chapter 453: Seizing Command Authority Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.Among the five major factions, the Followers of the Snow God were the last to arrive. However, it wasnt their leader, Yuan Kongye, who came but rather the High Priest, Zheng Yixian. No one found this unusual. After all, Yuan Kongye typically didnt manage the sects affairs, especially as a young woman in her twenties, whose administrative skills were not as seasoned as Zheng Yixians. Thus, it was natural for Zheng Yixian to represent the sect at this meeting. Zheng Yixian politely greeted Bian Junwu before finding a seat. Once all five factions had gathered, Bian Junwu silently rolled up his sleeves and glanced at his watch. Good. No ones late, he said, his voice as cold as ice, sending a chill through the room. He placed both arms heavily on the table, his gaze sweeping over everyone present. The zombie outbreak in Tianhai City is a crisis for which all of you bear undeniable responsibility! His words instantly made the room tense, faces growing serious. Zhang Yi frowned, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his mouth, while Xiao Honglian folded her arms and said mockingly, Oh? So the envoy from Jiangnan District has come just to push blame onto us? Bian Junwu responded with a cold chuckle. Push blame? Do you even understand the purpose of these shelters? I wont dwell on the Followers of the Snow God since theyre a private organization, he continued. But as for the Xi family, you either took over official shelters or inherited a large portion of their resources! The purpose of these shelters is to maintain stability during citywide crises! His mocking tone intensified. Youve seized these prime resources but refuse to shoulder the responsibility of protecting the city. If thats not incompetence, then what is? Xiao Honglians face turned red with embarrassment and anger, leaving her momentarily speechless. She understood the true purpose of the shelters: to preserve as many lives as possible. However, over time, they had long forgotten this mission, focusing instead on securing more benefits for themselves. The veteran Wei Dinghai interjected smoothly, Mr. Bian, thats easy for you to say. Do you think we dont want to maintain stability in Tianhai City? But this zombie wave is enormous, sudden, and already beyond our control! Zombies are wreaking havoc everywhere. With the limited forces we have, its impossible to handle this crisis. Unlike Jiangnan District, we dont have advanced weaponry or the nations elite military corps at our disposal. Bian Junwus smirk grew wider at these words. He even crossed his arms and let out a loud, unrestrained laugh. Hahaha! Then, he said, his tone growing icier, if you lack the ability to handle this crisis, from now on, youll have to obey my orders! I will take command of this zombie crisis, and all factions must follow my instructions unconditionally! The leaders expressions shifted repeatedly, with a sharp glint flashing through Zhang Yis eyes. Unconditionally follow someone elses commands? Impossible! Even if it was Jiangnan District, he couldnt accept that. Allowing others to control their actions opened the door to potential sacrifices. Thats something we cant agree to, Zhang Yi said. Even if Jiangnan District is the superior authority, expecting your small squad to command all of us is an insult. Unless you deploy a full force, it wont happen. ??????????????? The faction leaders echoed his sentiment. They couldnt stomach handing over power to a small, unfamiliar team. If it were a full deployment, they might have begrudgingly complied. Bian Junwu sneered. Oh? So youre saying Im not qualified, is that it? Xiao Honglian scoffed, and though the others remained silent, their expressions spoke volumes. Even if Jiangnan Districts squad was formidable, commanding the five major factions was beyond their reach. Bian Junwu replied, Fine, but with your strength alone, can you resolve this crisis? Silence. The constant zombie waves and rat swarm attacks had left them overwhelmed. None dared to guarantee success, as the full scale of the crisis remained unknown. Bian Junwu mocked, You cant protect Tianhai City, and now zombies are spreading to nearby cities, threatening other civilians. Yet, you cling to your paltry power, unwilling to let go. Let me remind you! Bian Junwu slammed the table, making everyone jump. Tianhai City isnt your private property! With the nation still standing, Jiangnan District remains the highest authority here! Standing up, Bian Junwu towered over them. Though lean, he radiated an intimidating military aura, the likes of which Zhang Yi had only felt from Ling Feng before. I represent Jiangnan District. My words are the will of Jiangnan District! he declared. If you refuse to follow my orders, youll face consequences you cant bear! Zhang Yi frowned but stayed silent. With only a handful of people under his command, ceding control posed minimal loss to him. However, surrendering authority entirely would endanger him and his group. Xiao Honglian laughed coldly. And if we refuse, will you send troops to eliminate us? Though scared, she knew this negotiation was about leverage. She had to push back to secure their interests. Power, once surrendered, would be nearly impossible to reclaim. Her concern wasnt unfoundedceding power risked becoming a vassal of Jiangnan District, losing all autonomy. Bian Junwu turned his sunglasses toward Xiao Honglian, staring silently for a long moment. Xiao Honglian glared back. Trying to scare me? Bian Junwu finally broke his silence. Do you think the situation isnt severe enough? Do you believe this crisis only concerns Tianhai City? Let me make this clear: our orders from the higher-ups are twofold. First, cooperate with local forces to resolve the zombie crisis and prevent its spread to other cities. Second, if containment proves impossible and the zombie threat cant be resolved He paused deliberately, sitting back down. then Tianhai City can be abandoned. Author''s Note Chapter 454: Tianhai City is Full of Trash—Except Me Chapter 454: Tianhai City is Full of TrashExcept MeBian Junwus voice was calm yet icy, sending chills through the hearts of the five faction leaders. So, its come to this, has it? Zhang Yi couldnt help but swallow hard, his expression grave. This outcome wasnt entirely unexpected. If Tianhai Citys zombie crisis became too severe, threatening nearby cities, Jiangnan Districts best course of action would undoubtedly be to cut their losses. It was like treating a festering woundwhen medicine fails, surgery becomes the only option. In this scenario, Bian Junwus investigation team was the medicine. But if the medicine failed, the surgery would be... Zhang Yis thoughts trembled at the implications. It meant Tianhai City would be abandoned entirely! That was an outcome he absolutely couldnt accept. As the gravity of Bian Junwus words sank in, the others realized the same thing. Silence fell over the room. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Even Xiao Honglian, known for her fiery temper, couldnt find a rebuttal. After all, Jiangnan District had the power to wipe them out with the press of a button. Bian Junwu, satisfied with their reactions, said coldly, From this moment on, all armed forces within Tianhai City must unconditionally follow our command! Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian exchanged complex looks, fully aware they lacked the leverage to challenge Jiangnan District. But then Zhang Yi spoke up, his voice calm yet firm. Im willing to support your operation, he said, drawing everyones attention. However, as youve stated, the investigation team came here because local forces couldnt handle the zombie and rat swarm crises. Thats why you had to intervene and take command. But what if we can handle the problems in our respective territories ourselves? A sly smile played on Zhang Yis lips. His words stunned the entire room, all eyes now fixed on him. Zhang Yi, whats that supposed to mean? Dont tell me you think your little shelter can handle such a massive zombie and rat swarm threat! Xiao Honglian sneered, disbelief written all over her face. Wei Dinghai leaned back in his chair and added mockingly, Ah, the arrogance of youth! Zhang Yi, dont let your ambition drag us all down. Even Xing Tian chimed in, Didnt you say your situation was dire? Stop bluffing and just listen to them. Zhang Yis grin widened as he replied lazily, You think Im joking? No, Im afraid not. In fact, the zombie and mutated rat crises in the area surrounding our shelter have already been resolved. His confident statement left everyone dumbfounded. This wasnt childs play. Zhang Yis tone and demeanor made it clear he wasnt bluffing. If he was telling the truth, it meant that while the rest of them were desperately battling zombies and rats, Zhang Yi had been calmly watching from the sidelines. ???? The faction leaders expressions turned as sour as if theyd just swallowed something vile. I dont believe you! How could your tiny group manage that? Xiao Honglian slammed her fist on the table, glaring at Zhang Yi. She desperately wanted him to admit he was joking or that his shelter had also suffered heavy losses. After all, her own base had been devastated. Why should he get off easy? Even Bian Junwu looked at Zhang Yi with curiosity. Zhang Yi maintained his composed smile and said, Im being truthful. If you dont believe me, youre welcome to investigate for yourselves. Bian Junwu asked, How did you accomplish it? Im genuinely curious. Everyone was watching Zhang Yi now. Despite their frustration, they were eager to learn how he had dealt with the zombies and rats. Zhang Yis smile faded as he intertwined his fingers and leaned forward. Heres how it happened, he began seriously. Zombies are drawn to humans as food, so they naturally gather where people are concentrated. In Tianhai City, where do you think the most people are? Obviously, in the areas you all control. My shelter, on the other hand, is sparsely populated, with fewer than ten people in total. Its located on the outskirts, far from the city, which naturally attracts fewer zombies. He frowned slightly before continuing, That said, our battles with the zombies were still brutal. After extensive observation, I discovered that the zombie horde was being directed by a Zombie King. The Zombie King is intelligent and capable of creating new zombies. Only by killing the Zombie King can you destroy an entire zombie nest. As for the mutated rats, they share a symbiotic relationship with the zombies. Once the zombies are eliminated, the rats lose their purpose and stop attacking humans. So, we took a gamble and entered the subway tunnels, using every weapon wed obtained from West Hill Base. After several days of fierce fighting, we finally killed the Zombie King, resolving the zombie crisis in our area. Zhang Yis explanation was a mix of truth and omission. While most of what he said was accurate, he deliberately left out how he had used his spatial abilities to flood the subway tunnels with seawater from the East Sea, freezing the zombies in place. Revealing this secret would only invite pressure from the other factions and Jiangnan District to use his abilities to help them. But Zhang Yi didnt believe that flooding the subway would completely eradicate the zombie threat. Powerful creatures like the Bronze Armored Zombies were unlikely to drown, let alone the more cunning Zombie Kings. Rather than risk his shelters safety and resources, Zhang Yi chose to let the other factions exhaust themselves fighting the zombies. After hearing his account, the others were filled with both envy and frustration. It was true that Zhang Yis shelter had a geographical advantage, being in a remote, rural area with few subway lines passing through. Still, they couldnt replicate his success. Bian Junwu studied Zhang Yi with an intrigued expression. He thought to himself, Author''s Note Chapter 455: Testing Strength Chapter 455: Testing StrengthZhang Yi smiled as he said to Bian Junwu, Currently, West Hill District and Lu River District are under my control and stable. So, according to your proposal, if local forces can maintain their own stability, does that mean theyll be granted a certain degree of autonomy? He added with a diplomatic tone, Of course, were more than happy to cooperate with the Investigation Team. If theres anything we can help with, feel free to ask. As long as its within our capacity, we wont hold back. However, at this stage, we still hope to focus our energy on our own territories. After all, you all know that our numbers are limited, and we simply cant spare forces for operations elsewhere. His words were measured and respectful. He maintained Bian Junwus dignity while making his stance clear: If the Jiangnan District Investigation Team needs assistance, were willing to helpbut only because we choose to. This is about giving Jiangnan District face, not because we cant handle our own problems. Bian Junwu stared at Zhang Yi for a long moment before replying in a deep voice, Youve done well. This proves that your team has remarkable wisdom and strength. In the upcoming operations, well need to rely on your power. Zhang Yi smiled faintly, took two seconds to think, and replied, If needed, feel free to give the orders. He was willing to offer Jiangnan District respect. Besides, Zhang Yi didnt want Tianhai City to be completely destroyed. As long as his own interests werent compromised, he could assist Bian Junwu in dealing with the zombie horde and the mutant rat swarm. Bian Junwu nodded. Then Ill thank you in advance. From that moment, everyone understood that Zhang Yi had become a unique presence in Tianhai City. Other forces sought the Jiangnan Districts help because they couldnt resolve their problems. But Zhang Yi, acting as an ally, offered assistance. The difference in status was significant. Now, Bian Junwu said, placing both hands on the table, from this moment on, I need your unconditional cooperation with our operations! Start by sharing all the information you have! And for now, regardless of any past grudges, put them aside! Even if you want to fight, wait until after weve resolved the current crisis! Zhang Yi maintained a relaxed smile. With his own strength intact and the problems in his territory already resolved, he feared no one. The other factions, however, werent so fortunate. Struggling with their own crises, they had no time or energy to challenge others. As a result, everyone tacitly agreed to this arrangement. For now, they would cooperate until the zombie threat was eliminated. Next, lets discuss how to handle the crisis of the zombies and mutant giant rats, Zheng Yixian said, frowning deeply. The Followers of the Snow God had suffered the most significant losses in this crisis. To date, at least five thousand of their members had diedeither devoured or infected, forcing them to be sent back to the Snow Gods kingdom. If this continued, the foundation of their faith would be obliterated. At that moment, commotion erupted outside. Everyone instinctively turned to look. Wei Dinghai frowned deeply as he heard Chen Jingguans voice. He walked to the window, flicked a finger, and the frost on the glass instantly melted, revealing the scene outside. sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Something was clearly wrongChen Jingguan was in a standoff with members of the Investigation Team, and the atmosphere was tense. Whats that guy up to now? Wei Dinghai muttered, his expression darkening as he glanced at Bian Junwu. Noticing Wei Dinghais gaze, Bian Junwu asked indifferently, Whats the problem? Nothing, just some minor disagreement among my men, Wei Dinghai replied. Xing Tian chuckled. Oh, a minor disagreement? Bian Junwu dismissed the issue with a wave. Let them deal with it themselves. We have more important matters to discuss. Clearly, he had great confidence in his subordinates. Everyone returned to the table to resume their discussion. Meanwhile, outside the Central Building, Chen Jingguan stood with a grim expression, glaring at Wu Di and Kong Sheng. So what if theyre from Jiangnan District? Whats so special about them? Back in the day, I served in the Navy myself, Chen Jingguan sneered. If youve got the guts, come fight me one-on-one! But dont go crying to your superiors if you lose! Chen Jingguan had been simmering with frustration. Once a prominent figure in Tianhai Citys upper class, hed risen rapidly in the military and, after awakening his superpowers, became the second-in-command of Chaoyu Base. ??????s Yet the Jiangnan District Investigation Team treated him like an insignificant nobody, and he couldnt stand their disdain. Standing on the steps, Wu Di and Kong Sheng looked down at him, smirking as though he werent worth their time. Wu Di, hands in his pockets, remarked to Kong Sheng, Look at thathes actually throwing a tantrum! Kong Sheng sneered, Useless people only know how to rage. Wu Di laughed. But hes issued a challenge. If we dont accept, wont it seem like were scared? Kong Sheng nodded. I wont let these small-town nobodies think Jiangnan District is on their level. Their mocking banter belittled the local powers of Tianhai City, with Chen Jingguan treated as the lowest of the low. Youre too arrogant! Were all superhumansyoure not necessarily stronger than us! Chen Jingguan retorted, pointing at them. Kong Sheng squinted and stepped down the stairs. Fine. Let me show you the difference between a Jiangnan District superhuman and someone like you! As the fight loomed, onlookers from various factions gathered, eager to see just how strong these outsiders were. Chen Jingguan smirked inwardly. He had chosen Kong Sheng deliberately, knowing the latter was an Enhancement-Type superhuman. Enhancement-Type abilities, though common, were purely physical in nature. Kong Sheng might excel at close combat, but Chen Jingguans ability was a Special-Type power: Rubber. Unless Kong Shengs attacks exceeded his defensive threshold, they would have no effect. And reaching that threshold would require firepower akin to artillery. Author''s Note Chapter 456: A Battle of One Move Chapter 456: A Battle of One MoveThe duel between Kong Sheng and Chen Jingguan was inevitable. Both intended to deliver a sharp warning to the other. The onlookers had no intention of intervening, either. Although Kong Shengs tone was full of disdain, his eyes were focused and serious, showing no sign of underestimating his opponent. This battle wasnt just personalit was about defending the prestige of the Jiangnan District. Victory was non-negotiable. Both men, however, knew the unwritten rule: they couldnt go so far as to take each others life. Doing so would only strain relations between their factions and undermine future cooperation. Kong Sheng raised his hands in a professional combat stance. At the same time, his body began to glow with a silvery-gray sheen, and his skin appeared to transform into steel. Kong Sheng, an Enhancement-Type superhuman, wielded the ability Steel Tempering, allowing him to harden his body like steel. Both his defensive and offensive capabilities were exceptional. When Chen Jingguan saw Kong Shengs ability confirmed his suspicion, a smirk spread across his face. From a distance, Uncle You observed and muttered, That kid from Jiangnan District is in trouble. Chens ability is strangeit completely counters close combat. He spoke from experience, having once suffered a defeat at Chen Jingguans hands. Without outside help, he mightve been strangled to death by Chen. Liang Yue glanced at Kong Shengs stance and remarked, The other guys no amateur, either. You can tell by his breathing and movements. The outcome was uncertain. Battles between superhumans depended not only on their raw strength but also on their adaptability during the fight. Chen Jingguan gestured for Kong Sheng to attack first, a taunt laced with confidence. Kong Sheng scoffed. Though he knew the risk of exposing vulnerabilities by attacking first, he wasnt the least bit intimidated. In the next instant, he charged at Chen Jingguan like a whirlwind. In a blur, Kong Sheng vanished from his original position and reappeared behind Chen Jingguan. His speed was so astounding that many onlookers didnt even see how he moved. With a thunderous kick, he aimed directly at Chen Jingguans back. Despite the speed and force, Kong Sheng showed restraint, avoiding Chens headif the blow had landed there, it couldve been fatal. But when Kong Shengs leg struck Chens back, he felt no resistance. Instead, Chens body bent unnaturally, as if boneless. What? Kong Sheng frowned, surprised. In the next moment, Chen Jingguans body twisted like a snake, wrapping around Kong Shengs leg. Before Kong Sheng could pull away, Chens rubbery form coiled up his thigh and around his body, binding him tightly. In mere seconds, Kong Sheng was wrapped like a fly in a spiders web. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen Jingguans distorted body looped around him five or six times. It was almost impossible to believe that a human could twist like that. Kong Sheng struggled to break free, pouring his strength into escaping, but every move was quickly neutralized by Chen. The more Kong Sheng resisted, the tighter Chen Jingguans grip became. The sound of steel-like bones creaking under immense pressure made everyone wince. Stop struggling. If you keep this up, I might accidentally crush your bones, Chen Jingguan teased with a grin, his head twisting unnaturally to look Kong Sheng in the eye. ?a???? No matter how strong you are, once Ive got you wrapped up, theres no escape. Admit defeat! Kong Sheng responded with a cold smile. His right hand suddenly straightened, transforming into a blade-like edge, and he slashed at Chen Jingguans torso. Yet even his steel-strengthened hand was ineffective. The attack merely tore Chens clothes, exposing his slick, rubber-like skin underneath. I told you! Enhancement-Types can only surrender to me! Chen Jingguan laughed triumphantly. No matter how arrogant you are, dont underestimate us! Kong Sheng sneered. Completely bound and immobilized, Kong Sheng seemed helpless, and many of the onlookers believed the fight was over. Even Uncle You swallowed nervously, shaking his head. Its decided. But just then, Kong Sheng turned his head toward Chen Jingguan, opened his mouth, and spat out a blade-like object straight at Chens left eye. Blood splattered everywhere. Aaaaagh! Chen Jingguan screamed in pain. The sharp stab to his eye broke his concentration, and his grip on Kong Sheng loosened. Seizing the moment, Kong Sheng exerted all his strength and flung Chen Jingguan away. Chen staggered to his feet, clutching his bleeding eye, glaring at Kong Sheng with venomous hatred. Kong Sheng laughed heartily. I thought your eyes could turn to rubber too! Guess not. As he spoke, he licked the blood on his lips and swallowed it. The blade that struck Chens eye had been Kong Shengs own tongue, hardened and sharpened like a knife. Uncle You gasped. He can even enhance his tongue into a weapon! Thats how he pierced Chens eye! The shocking turn of events left everyone stunned. They had believed Chen Jingguan had the fight in the bag, only for Kong Sheng to snatch victory in the most unexpected way. Chen, still clutching his wounded eye, gritted his teeth. How did you know my weak point? Kong Sheng smirked. Your body can turn to rubber, but if your eyes followed suit, youd be blind, wouldnt you? Eyes rely on capturing and processing light. If they were to deform like rubber, light would distort, rendering the person effectively blind. Kong Sheng had taken a gambleand it paid off. Go patch yourself up before you bleed out, Kong Sheng said with a laugh. In this cold, injuries are no joke. Though unwilling to admit defeat, Chen Jingguan knew the truth: he had lost. Next time, he thought bitterly, he would take more care not to expose his weakness. For now, he limped back to his vehicle to treat his injuries. The battle had ended quickly, with the Investigation Team securing a clean and decisive victory. Author''s Note Chapter 457: At the Negotiating Table Chapter 457: At the Negotiating TableKong Sheng defeated Chen Jingguan in less than a minute. His overwhelming strength left everyone present with grim expressions. Chen Jingguan was the second-in-command of Chaoyu Base, and his combat abilities were well-known. For many, like Uncle Youa fellow Enhancement-Type superhumanthe question of whether they could defeat Chen left them uneasy. Liang Yue believed he might stand a chance, but not without difficulty. This gap wasnt just about personal strength; it was about strategy. Fighters from the Jiangnan District were battle-hardened veterans who had crawled out of mountains of corpses. Their combat experience was leagues beyond the locals. After defeating Chen Jingguan, Kong Sheng, still itching for a fight, turned to the onlookers and said, If anyone else thinks theyre strong enough, feel free to come challenge me! It was clear to everyone: Kong Sheng and his team were here to establish dominance. But after witnessing Chens swift defeat, no one wanted to be the next sacrificial lamb. One misstep could cost their lives. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. When no one stepped forward, Kong Sheng shrugged with boredom and lazily turned back toward his team. In the second-floor conference room, Wei Dinghai frowned at the sound of Chen Jingguans scream outside. Still, he refrained from leaving to check, as Bian Junwu and the leaders of the major factions were deep in discussion about their next steps. Each faction shared their intelligence on the zombie and rat hordes, exchanging crucial information. Only Zhang Yi kept the methods he used to eradicate the hordes in his territory to himself. Nevertheless, the rest of the factions shared freely, knowing that their common goal was to eliminate the zombies. If they couldnt deal with the hordes, Tianhai City would face annihilation. A single button press from Jinling would release the Lovers Death weapon, erasing Tianhai City from the map. No one could afford that price. After the exchange, Bian Junwu placed both hands on the table and began issuing directives. Good. Ive reviewed the intelligence youve provided, combined it with what we already know, and I have a plan. The room grew silent with anticipation. The Jiangnan Districts intelligence network was leagues ahead of theirs. Everyone was curious to know just how much information the districts headquarters in Jinling had on Tianhai City. Adjusting his thick glasses, Bian Junwu addressed the room in a measured tone: Our investigation confirms that zombies are drawn to densely populated areas. The larger the crowd, the more zombies converge. The rat hordes, being symbiotic with the zombies, follow their movements. So, if we eliminate the zombies, the rats will naturally scatter. Furthermore, the zombies display a consistent pattern of behavior. This strongly suggests theyre being directed by a Zombie King. Of course, Zombie King is just a designationit could be a powerful zombie or a superhuman. The zombie hordes numbers are staggering, allowing them to sustain simultaneous attacks across multiple locations in Tianhai City. Raising his voice, Bian Junwu continued, Based on this, we can conclude that simply eliminating the surface hordes will achieve nothing. To resolve the crisis at its root, we must destroy the so-called Zombie King. So, starting now, I need each of your factions to relocate the majority of your populations underground to avoid being overrun. Then, concentrate your elite forces and focus on taking down the Zombie King. Bian Junwus plan called for drastic sacrifices. He expected Qingfu Base to abandon its steel refinery, Yangsheng Base to relinquish its oil refinery, and Chaoyu Base to give up its port. ????????s The leaders of the three factions exchanged hesitant glances but eventually nodded in agreement. Previously, they had been reluctant to abandon surface resources, fearing it would compromise their future survival. Additionally, even if they retreated, the zombie hordes threat would remain unresolved. Now, with the Jiangnan District stepping in to unify command, they felt more confident. After all, everyone was struggling to protect themselves; no one could exploit the situation to attack others. As long as the horde was destroyed, the resources and territories would remain theirs. After all, zombies had no interest in resourcesonly human flesh. With a unified front, many obstacles became easier to resolve. At this point, the High Priest of the Followers of the Snow God broke the silence. What about us? Zheng Yixian frowned, clearly displeased. The other factions have underground shelters and high-level bunkers, but the Followers of the Snow God have nothing! Mr. Bian, you cant play favorites here! Bian Junwu turned to Zheng Yixian, his expression cold. You have thousands of followers in your sect. Protecting them is your responsibility, not ours. Do you expect us to protect your disciples for you? Zheng Yixians face darkened, but before he could retort, Bian Junwu continued, We can only formulate strategies based on your current resources. If you lack the awareness to prepare, then youll simply be swallowed by the zombie horde. It was clear Bian Junwu didnt care about the sects survivalhis priority was stopping the zombie crisis and preventing the virus from spreading to surrounding regions. Zheng Yixian gritted his teeth, gripping the armrest of his chair. So, youre just going to watch as our people are sacrificed? If the other factions retreat underground, the Followers of the Snow God will undoubtedly become the zombies primary target! How will our followers survive? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at his lips. Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian were visibly indifferent. The sects survival wasnt their concern. Xiao Honglian even sneered, Youve taken in so many followers, most of whom cant fight. If you couldnt handle it, you shouldnt have recruited them in the first place! Now that theres a problem, you expect others to clean up after you? She had long been irritated by the sect and seized the opportunity to mock them. Zheng Yixian glared at Xiao Honglian, murderous intent flickering in his eyes. Just then, Bian Junwu broke the tension. The Followers of the Snow God still have their uses. If you cant hide effectively, you can serve another purpose. Author''s Note Chapter 458: Visiting Your Home Chapter 458: Visiting Your HomeBian Junwu''s words gave Zheng Yixian a sliver of hope. Oh? Whats your plan? Bian Junwu cast a cold glance at him. I cant tell you right now; its classified. But in no more than three days, Ill give you an answer! For now, return to your respective posts and ensure your people are ready according to my orders. Ill notify you of any actions going forward. Bian Junwu''s mysterious attitude left everyone wanting to ask more, but he waved them off, signaling the end of the conversation. Helpless, the others had no choice but to comply. After all, he was a special envoy from the Jiangnan District, and they couldnt afford to offend the regions overwhelming power. The group rose and exited the conference room. Zhang Yi, with his hands in his pockets, was about to leave when Bian Junwu called out to him. Zhang Yi, stay back. The others exchanged curious glances, unsure what Bian Junwu wanted to discuss privately. However, considering Zhang Yi was the only one who had resolved the zombie crisis in his domain, it was understandable why Bian Junwu wanted a word with him. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and smiled. Mr. Bian, what can I do for you? Bian Junwu approached him, his pale and gaunt face showing a rare smile. May I visit your place? The unexpected request caught Zhang Yi off guard. Frowning instinctively, Zhang Yis first thought was to refuse. Even knowing Bian Junwu came from the Jiangnan District, Zhang Yis habitual caution made him wary of letting strangers into his shelter. He smiled and replied, Theres nothing special about my place. The other major bases are much better. My shelters conditions are pretty average. Bian Junwu gave him a meaningful look and slowly said, What? Are you saying Im not welcome? Zhang Yi quickly raised his hands, a cheerful smile spreading across his face. Of course not! Not at all! Bian Junwu said, You dont need to be so tense. I mean no harm to you. Theres no grudge between us, so why the suspicion? Zhang Yi merely chuckled without answering. Better safe than sorry. He had long learned to assume the worst in others and remained cautious around anyone unfamiliar. sea??h th novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bian Junwu chuckled as well. I just want to have a proper conversation with you about how you eliminated those zombie hordes. He leaned in and whispered, Besides, I have intelligence youre unaware of. This piqued Zhang Yis interest. The Jiangnan Districts intelligence was undoubtedly far more comprehensive than his own. Since the apocalypse began, Zhang Yi understood the critical importance of information for survival and warfare, and hed gone to great lengths to gather whatever intelligence he could. ???????????? After glancing at Bian Junwu, Zhang Yi thought for a moment before smiling and nodding. Alright, since youre so eager to visit, I cant very well refuse a guest! Given Bian Junwus high-ranking position, Zhang Yi figured it best not to strain relations unnecessarily. Bian Junwu followed Zhang Yi as they walked side by side, his attitude toward Zhang Yi noticeably different from how he treated others. This disparity didnt provoke any dissatisfaction from the likes of Xiao Honglian and the rest. Despite their animosity toward Zhang Yi, they couldnt deny their grudging respect for him. Rising from obscurity with just a small shelter and a handful of teammates, Zhang Yi had carved out a piece of Tianhai City in the post-apocalyptic chaos, standing toe-to-toe with them as a powerful contender. The recent zombie crisis had devastated everyone else, leaving Zhang Yis domain untouched. If that wasnt proof of strength, what was? Outside, the tension remained palpable. Chen Jingguan, one eye bandaged, looked almost comically disheveled. The scene drew some amusement from the group as they exited. Wei Dinghais face darkened slightly. Though he had expected this outcome, seeing his deputy injured stirred a flicker of anger. Chen Jingguan, what happened to your eye? Wei Dinghai asked in a low voice. Chen Jingguan glanced at Wu Di and Kong Sheng, who were grinning smugly. Lowering his head, Chen Jingguan muttered, Leader, its nothing. I just sparred with the investigation team and took a minor hit. Losing was bad enough; complaining to his leader in front of so many powerful figures would only add to the humiliation. Besides, Chen Jingguan knew now wasnt the time to provoke the Jiangnan Districts team. Wei Dinghai glanced at Wu Di and Kong Sheng but said nothing. Instead, he patted Chen Jingguan on the shoulder, preparing to take him back and focus on matters at Chaoyu Base. Bian Junwu shot Wu Di and Kong Sheng a sharp look. Didnt I tell you not to clash with them? His tone was cold as always but lacked anger. Wu Di grinned and replied, They were clearly not convinced of our strength. We had to show them what were capable of. That way, they wont drag us down during future operations. Pushing up his sunglasses, Bian Junwu said flatly, Dont do it again. Wu Di and Kong Sheng laughed, Understood! They knew their captain well. Though he reprimanded them verbally, such power plays were essential for establishing dominance. Without strength, why would anyone respect them? Zhang Yi remained silent throughout, unbothered by the situation. None of it significantly affected him, and he had no need to prove himself. As for Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian, they quietly reevaluated their strategies. Chen Jingguans defeat was a stark reminder of the investigation teams formidable prowess. Moving forward, they resolved to tread carefully in their interactions. Just as the various factions were about to disperse, a voice suddenly called out from a second-floor window. Theres a zombie horde approaching! Zhang Yi looked up to see a tall, muscular man in his thirties, clad in black combat gear, holding an unusual black sniper rifle. It was Qi Guangming, the sharpshooter of the investigation team. As soon as Qi Guangming spoke, everyone noticed the change in the atmosphere. From the distance, an overwhelming swarm of zombies began emerging in droves. At a glance, there were at least several thousand. Xing Tians expression darkened as he growled, Our gathering mustve attracted these damn creatures! The zombies crawled over the ruins, their eyes glowing with bloodlust as they spotted the crowd of survivors. Roar!! Their guttural howls filled the air as they broke into a frenzied charge toward the group. Author''s Note Chapter 459: Oblivion Chapter 459: OblivionAs the zombie horde approached, the crowds expressions revealed disgust but not fear. After all, this group comprised Tianhai Citys top fighters. Such a small number of zombies posed no real threat to them. However, everyone was preoccupied with their own base matters and didnt want to waste time here. What rotten luck! Zombies are everywhere! Has Tianhai City become their lair? Xiao Honglian cursed, her brows furrowed in anger. The group prepared for battle, ready to spend some time wiping out the zombies completely. Wei Dinghai reminded Bian Junwu and his team, We must kill every single one of them. Otherwise, theyll carry intelligence about us back, and the next wave will be even harder to handle! Oh? Is that so? Bian Junwu said nonchalantly. He suddenly descended the steps, reaching up to remove his sunglasses as he walked. When he finally removed them, the crowd noticed that his eyes werent the usual black or sky-blue hues of foreigners but an eerie grayish-white. Yet, within that grayish-white hue glimmered a peculiar, sickly light. It wasnt the dullness of cataracts, but its unsettling glow struck a deep chord, leaving those who looked into them profoundly shaken. Bian Junwu stepped to the forefront. Everyone immediately understoodthis captain of the Jiangnan District investigation team was about to make his move. Zhang Yis eyes gleamed with curiosity. He was eager to see just how strong this captain was. The zombie horde roared as it closed in, now less than 500 meters away. Their blood-red eyes and frostbitten, rotting flesh became clearly visible. Bian Junwu stared ahead and murmured softly, Oblivion. The next moment, an intense white light engulfed the space before them. The light was so dazzling that it erased all other scenery, leaving only Bian Junwus tall, imposing silhouette. Instinctively, Zhang Yi raised his hand to shield his eyes, glancing around at his surroundings. The only things visible were a few people standing close to him and their faint shadows. Everything else had vanished. Meanwhile, the massive zombie horde before themthousands strongdisintegrated into dust in an instant, scattered cleanly into nothingness. After what felt like an eternity, the light gradually faded, and the surrounding scenery reappeared. Zhang Yi, Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and the others looked around, dazed and at a loss for words. Moments ago, everyone had been blinded. Suddenly, Wei Dinghai raised his right hand and pointed forward, his voice trembling in disbelief. Look Look over there! The crowd followed his gaze. Not a trace of the zombie horde remainedonly shattered dust particles, swept away by the wind. Zhang Yis pupils contracted sharply as he struggled to comprehend what he was seeing. Those thousands of zombies were they all wiped out? Eliminating thousands of zombies in a single blowsuch a feat was nothing short of extraordinary. Zhang Yi had encountered many powerful superhumans before, such as Ling Feng and Xiao Honglian. While they were undeniably strong, their abilities still operated within the realm of understanding. But Bian Junwu? His power defied logic entirely. One glance was enough to obliterate thousands of zombies into dust. What kind of terrifying ability was this? There was a time when Zhang Yi believed that after absorbing the powers of multiple superhumans, he might not be the strongest, but he was among the elite. ???????S? Yet today, Bian Junwu had taught him a humbling lesson. If he were to face Bian Junwu in battle, could even his Dimensional Gate withstand such devastating power? Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The silence at the scene was deafening. No one dared to speak or even breathe too heavily. After a long pause, Wu Di remarked to Kong Sheng, The captain told us to hold back, yet he just went all out! Kong Sheng nodded, adding, Maybe he realized you were right. Only by showcasing overwhelming strength can he ensure everyone will obey his commands willingly. They werent wrong. Before, Wei Dinghai, Xiao Honglian, and Xing Tian obeyed Bian Junwu mainly out of fear of the Jiangnan Districts power. Now, having witnessed his might firsthand, any trace of defiance had been completely extinguished. Bian Junwu slowly put his sunglasses back on. But before long, he suddenly clutched his mouth and broke into a violent coughing fit. Vice-Captain Baili Changqing approached him, concerned. Captain, you shouldve let us handle these pests. There was no need for you to act personally! Bian Junwu straightened up, his voice icy. Everyones busy. Theres no time to waste here. Zhang Yi noticed how Bian Junwu clenched his right fist and tucked it into the pocket of his black coat. It seems like hes not in good health, Zhang Yi thought, quickly deducing that Bian Junwus condition wasnt normal. With the Jiangnan Districts resources, any ordinary illness shouldve been curable. Could it be an incurable disease? Or perhaps an injury linked to his superhuman ability? Zhang Yis mind raced with speculation. Bian Junwu turned to the stunned crowd and said, Alright, everyone. You can go back now. Stay in touch and be ready to act immediately when I contact you. Wei Dinghai and the others hastily nodded, their tones now reverent and deferential. As the crowd departed the central building, Zhang Yi could sense they were still grappling with the shock of Bian Junwus power. His ability was leagues above anything seen in Tianhai City. With a cheerful smile, Zhang Yi approached Bian Junwu. Mr. Bian, are you feeling unwell? I have doctors at my shelter who could take a look. Bian Junwu chuckled faintly. Its nothing, just an old ailment. Rest will suffice. Zhang Yis heart skipped a beat. No need for a doctor? It seemed his suspicions were correctthis was likely an incurable condition or a permanent internal injury caused by Bian Junwus ability. Deciding not to press the matter, Zhang Yi changed the subject. Its quite cold here. Why dont we all head to my place for a bit? Bian Junwu smiled and nodded. That sounds good. I have plenty I want to discuss with you. Bian Junwus rare smile, reserved for Zhang Yi, startled not only Fatty Xu, Liang Yue, and Uncle You but also the members of the investigation team. Even so, everyone boarded their vehicles, with Zhang Yis group leading the way toward the shelter. In the investigation teams vehicle, Wu Di couldnt hold back his curiosity. Captain, why are you so nice to Zhang Yi? Is he your long-lost illegitimate son? The vehicle erupted in laughter. Bian Junwus lips twitched slightly, though his amusement was subtle. He was used to Wu Dis playful antics and didnt take it to heart. Hes no ordinary man, Bian Junwu said, his tone thoughtful. I can sense that his strength is exceptional, far beyond the other faction leaders. This might just be a promising talent. Author''s Note Chapter 460: Laying Cards on the Table Chapter 460: Laying Cards on the TableHearing Bian Junwus high praise for Zhang Yi, the other members of the investigation team couldnt hide their surprise. When Bian Junwu referred to someone as a promising candidate, it implied potential eligibility to join their elite ranks of superhumans. Figures like Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, Xing Tian, and Zheng Yixian were merely under observation. The Jiangnan Districts recruitment standards were notoriously stringent, prioritizing not just raw power but also loyalty and intellect. Strength alone wouldnt suffice. Of course, this didnt mean that every member of the investigation team was stronger than Xiao Honglian and the others. Instead, as long-standing members of the Jiangnan District, their loyalty and reliability were assured. Recruiting from outside required far stricter criteria. Is he really that strong? How can you tell if weve never even seen him fight? asked Ye Jikang, the teams demolition expert, leaning forward with curiosity. First, my instinct, replied Bian Junwu. Second, experience and judgment. Despite their small team, theyve risen to become one of the top five factions in Tianhai City. That alone suggests their superhumans are exceptional. As the leader of his group, Zhang Yi must have the strongest overall capabilities. And, they were the only faction to completely resolve the zombie threat near their basea clear indicator of their strength. A sly smile played across Bian Junwus lips. Discovering Zhang Yi had unexpectedly added a layer of intrigue to this mission. For someone like Bian Junwu, whose own growth had plateaued at a high level, uncovering new talent had become one of his few remaining joys. Baili Changqing laughed heartily. Ah, I see! As expected, youre always thinking ahead, Captain. The cabin fell silent for a moment as everyone seemed lost in their thoughts, some of which were less than pleasant. A few seconds later, Wu Di broke the tension with a grin. Interesting, interesting! Now I really want to spar with him! Bian Junwu raised an eyebrow. Wu Di, dont underestimate him. As I understand, his ability counters yours. Oh? Wu Di replied, his expression showing mild defiance. Counters me? That makes it even more interesting! Captain, whats his ability? Something extremely rare, even among specialized abilitiesspatial manipulation, said Bian Junwu. Gasps filled the vehicle. Spatial manipulation! Baili Changqings eyes widened as he murmured, Even in the Jiangnan District, spatial abilities are incredibly rare. Their strategic value is off the charts! Spatial powers might not offer the most direct combat potential, but their utility in areas like storage and logistics made them invaluable to any team. ???? No wonder youre considering recruiting him! Baili Changqing laughed. Bian Junwu responded, Its just an idea. Well see how capable he truly is. Whether hes willing to leave Tianhai City for the Jiangnan District is ultimately up to him. Zhang Yi was an unexpected find, but Bian Junwus primary objective remained the resolution of the zombie crisis. Meanwhile, in the lead vehicle, Zhang Yi had enabled autopilot, allowing it to head toward the shelter while he discussed the Jiangnan District visitors with Liang Yue and the others. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. These people are leagues above any other faction weve encountered, Liang Yue said. We should be cautious and respectful in our dealings with them. The military district''s people demand a certain level of reverence. Bian Junwus obliteration technique had left Zhang Yi utterly awestruck, offering him a clear sense of how formidable the Jiangnan District truly was. Superhumans of Bian Junwus caliber werent likely in short supply within their ranks. For now, Zhang Yi saw no harm in maintaining good relations with such a powerful force. Sometimes, the smartest approach in life is knowing when to bow and when to stand tall. Besides, Zhang Yi had noticed that Bian Junwu seemed to regard him with a trace of goodwill. While the source of this sentiment was unclear, it was undoubtedly a positive development. Hours later, Zhang Yi arrived at his shelter with Bian Junwu and his team in tow. The sight of the massive, luxurious villa left the Jiangnan District visitors momentarily stunned. I thought his shelter would be some underground bunker. Who knew itd be a mansion? said Kong Sheng, shaking his head in disbelief. This place is ridiculously extravagant! Even in the Jiangnan District, we dont have shelters like this, he added. Meng Siyu reminded them, Dont forget, this used to be the residence of the richest man in China. Its no surprise its of this caliber. They disembarked from their vehicles, taking a moment to admire the grandeur of the shelters exterior before Zhang Yi welcomed them inside with a warm smile. Inside, Zhou Keer and the others were already waiting to greet the visitors. Having been informed earlier, their curiosity had them quietly appraising the Jiangnan District representatives. Zhang Yi, are these the people sent by the Jiangnan District? They really look like regular army troops! Zhou Keer whispered. Zhang Yi rarely allowed anyone into his shelter, and even then, only those with substantial authority or credentials. Theyre envoys from the Jiangnan District, here to help resolve the zombie crisis in Tianhai City, Zhang Yi replied. Prepare some food and drinks for our guests. Turning to his guests, Zhang Yi asked, What would you all like to drink? We dont have much, just some alcohol, coffee, and soda. I hope thats alright. Even Bian Junwus eye twitched at this point, while the others struggled not to burst out laughing. The extravagance of the villa and Zhang Yis feigned modesty were almost unbearable. Still, as seasoned professionals, they maintained their composure. Just plain water is fine, Bian Junwu replied calmly. The group settled into the plush couches in the living room, trying not to gawk at the luxurious surroundings. Zhang Yi and Liang Yue sat with them, but Bian Junwu soon turned to Zhang Yi and said, Could we have a private conversation? Zhang Yi nodded with a smile. Of course. Please, follow me. He directed his team to entertain the other visitors while he led Bian Junwu to a small reception room. Situated in the southeast corner of the shelter, the room featured bulletproof glass walls, offering a panoramic view of the snowy landscape outside. Its serene atmosphere made it perfect for a quiet chat. Zhang Yi set down two glasses of plain water, one in front of Bian Junwu and one for himself. Bian Junwu glanced at the scenery outside before sitting down across from Zhang Yi. Now that its just us, lets hear ithow exactly did you deal with those zombies? Zhang Yi opened his mouth, intending to embellish his previous explanation, but Bian Junwus sharp gaze stopped him. What you told the others was a half-truth at best. That might fool them, but dont try to play games with me. The Jiangnan Districts intelligence is far more extensive than you realize. Zhang Yi paused, then chuckled in resignation. Of course, people from the top would be hard to deceive. Any more vague answers could leave a bad impression on Bian Junwu, and that was something Zhang Yi couldnt afford. Author''s Note Chapter 461: Power Levels of Superhumans Chapter 461: Power Levels of SuperhumansZhang Yi, no longer hiding the truth, explained to Bian Junwu how he had dealt with the zombie horde. In reality, I used flooding to handle the zombies. I cant claim to have cleared every zombie in the West Hill and Lu River Districts, but within a 50-kilometer radius, there hasnt been any large-scale activity from zombies or mutated rats. After listening, Bian Junwu sipped his hot water before speaking. Why didnt you tell the truth earlier? Was it to let them suffer greater losses because they attacked you before? Or are you hoping to become the king of Tianhai City? Zhang Yi responded calmly, neither humble nor overbearing. At first, I did think about getting back at them a little, he admitted. Lets be honest, you can tell the relationships between the five factions arent exactly friendly. If they weaken, I get stronger. But that wasnt the main reason. The truth is, I couldnt help them even if I wanted to. Placing his teacup down, Zhang Yi folded his hands on his knees. You know how massive Tianhai Citys subway network is. Im not capable of helping every faction. Besides, I dont think my method solves the root problem. As long as the Zombie King exists, the zombies will keep coming. Bian Junwu didnt refute this but instead asked, Have you ever seen the Zombie King? Zhang Yi shook his head. No, but Im sure it exists. Think about itzombies attack places with large human populations. Yet, our shelter only has nine people, and we rarely go out. Why would a horde target us? A subtle, meaningful smile appeared on Zhang Yis face. He fixed his gaze on Bian Junwu and said slowly, Zombies choose their targets. Someone is deliberately targeting the five factions. Bian Junwu regarded him for a moment before breaking into a smile. Youre as clever as I thought. Zhang Yi shook his head. Its not wisdom, just a bit of cunningenough to keep me alive in this apocalypse. Bian Junwu had already formed some conclusions of his own. While Zhang Yis method wasnt a permanent solution, it could maintain stability in certain areas if used judiciously. However, overuse could provoke the zombies into overwhelming the city, which would require extensive preparation to manage. The key lay in uncovering the Zombie Kings location and nature to execute a decisive strike. You have great potential. Id guess youre at the Delta level. Have you considered leaving this small corner of the world and making a name for yourself in the Jiangnan District? ????????????? Bian Junwu extended an olive branch to Zhang Yi. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Intrigued, Zhang Yi asked, Wait a second. Whats this Delta level you mentioned? Bian Junwu realized Zhang Yi wasnt familiar with professional classifications of superhumans and chuckled. Its not a secret. Let me explain. He asked Zhang Yi, When do you think superhumans first appeared? Zhang Yi didnt hesitate. After gamma rays swept across Blue Star, during the Ice Age. Wrong! Bian Junwu immediately corrected him. Human mutation has existed throughout history. From an evolutionary perspective, all life is constantly mutating. Beneficial mutations improve survival, leading to greater reproductive success and passing those traits to the next generation. Even humans today are almost an entirely different species compared to our ancestors millions of years ago. Throughout this process, a small fraction of the population has always exhibited special abilitiesbe it extraordinary strength, unusual talents, or freakish deformities. They were the original superhumans. Taking another sip of water, Bian Junwus expression turned serious. Superhumans have always existed. Whats different now is the sheer scale of these mutations. External factors have stimulated genetic changes across entire populations, resulting in countless superhumans. And yet, global research into human mutation began long before this, including the classification of superhumans into levels. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, nodding. Ive heard of the six major categories of superhumans. But how are their levels determined? Bian Junwu explained: Currently, theres an internationally recognized standard for categorizing superhumans. First is Alpha level, or LV1. Their mutations are weak and lack potential for growth, showing only a fraction of extraordinary strength. These superhumans are merely stronger than ordinary people. Next is Beta level, LV2. Stronger than Alpha, they possess the peak capabilities of elite human warriors but still lack significant growth potential. Then comes Gamma level, LV3. This level marks the emergence of truly formidable powers. Whether its the ability to fight hundreds or a highly specialized auxiliary skill, Gamma-level superhumans are forces to be reckoned with. Hearing this, Zhang Yi thought of Uncle You and Fatty Xu. They likely belonged to the Gamma level, as their abilities could rival entire battalions. Whats next? Zhang Yi asked curiously. Bian Junwu continued, The next tier is where things get extraordinary. Delta level, LV4! The hallmark of this level is the ability to absorb the energy of other superhumans to enhance oneself. Zhang Yis eyes widened in realization. An answer to one of his long-standing questions had finally been revealed. No wonder he, Hua Hua, and Liang Yue could absorb other abilities, while Uncle You and Fatty Xu could not. Delta-level superhumans may not initially display strength exceeding the previous tiers, but their potential for growth is unparalleled. They evolve continuously, reaching unimaginable heights before plateauing. For now, I estimate that youand the leaders of the other factionsare at this level. Zhang Yi silently repeated the term Delta in his mind. Receiving such a high evaluation from Bian Junwu, placing him at LV4 among superhumans, was certainly no small praise. And beyond that? Zhang Yi pressed. Bian Junwus tone grew somber. Above Delta is the pinnacleEpsilon level, LV5. Epsilon-level superhumans represent the worlds strongest. They are national treasures, capable of both absorbing other superhuman energies and wielding devastatingly powerful abilities. Each one is a strategic asset on a global scale. Zhang Yi couldnt help but ask, Are you an Epsilon-level superhuman? The memory of Bian Junwus single strike obliterating thousands of zombies still left him in awe. Bian Junwu smiled faintly but shook his head. No, Im only at the Delta level. Zhang Yi took a deep breath. If even youre only at the Delta level, I cant imagine how terrifying an Epsilon-level superhuman must be! Author''s Note Chapter 462: LV4 Chapter 462: LV4Hearing Zhang Yis words, Bian Junwu suddenly chuckled. Oh? Do you think my understanding is incorrect? Zhang Yi asked. Bian Junwu shook his head. There are indeed some nuances. The so-called classification of superhuman abilities doesnt directly correlate with combat strength. What it represents more is the potential ceiling of ones ability. Superpowers vary greatlynot all are combat-oriented. Some are auxiliary or fall under entirely different categories. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If an ability is countered or the environment isnt favorable, its not unusual for a higher-level superhuman to be defeated by one ranked lower. Zhang Yi nodded in agreement. If superpowers were akin to weapons, then their effectiveness depended on the wielder''s skill and the circumstances. So, Zhang Yi said with a smirk, youre saying Im a Delta-level superhuman, or LV4? That means were the same rank. You sure have a high opinion of me! Taking a sip of tea, Zhang Yi began calculating in his mind. Bian Junwu had no reason to deliberately mislead him, so there were two possibilities for his claim that they were on the same level. First, despite Bian Junwus immense strength, his abilities might have significant drawbacks. Otherwise, his destructive power would far exceed anything Zhang Yi could currently match. Of course, in terms of defense, that might be a different story. Second, Bian Junwu recognized the potential of Zhang Yis spatial abilities. Spatial powers werent purely combat-oriented, but their versatility was undeniably formidable. Combining offense, defense, and logistical utility, such abilities could justify a Delta-level rating. Bian Junwu elaborated, My assessment of you is based on what Ive observed. Official evaluations are conducted by professionals in the major districts. These rankings arent absolute and depend on demonstrated abilities. From my experience, Id categorize you as Delta-level. Keep in mind, advancing to the next level is always possible for superhumans, but Delta represents a critical threshold. Without the ability to Assimilate other energies, a superhuman cant progress beyond LV3. As Bian Junwu explained, Zhang Yi gained a clearer understanding of superhuman classifications. For now, Bian Junwus judgment placed his potential at Delta, or LV4a level brimming with possibilities but not necessarily indicative of sheer combat power. Despite this, Zhang Yi couldnt help but grow curious about the enigmatic LV5, the Epsilon-level superhumans. How strong were they? Had such individuals already emerged in this world? Unable to resist his curiosity, Zhang Yi asked, Mr. Bian, have you ever seen an Epsilon-level superhuman? Bian Junwu slowly shook his head. I havent. Zhang Yi was about to comment on the disappointment when Bian Junwu added, But I know for a fact that theres an Epsilon-level superhuman in the Shengjing District. ??????? Zhang Yis eyes lit up. Theres really someone like that? As a superhuman, Zhang Yi couldnt help but feel intrigued by such an existence. Bian Junwu chuckled. Its not exactly a secret. The major districts, tasked with managing vast territories in the apocalypse, rely on absolute power to suppress mutant creatures and lawless groups. Such overwhelming force is necessary. When mentioning the Epsilon-level superhuman, Bian Junwus eyes gleamed with admiration and envy. That individuals power has reached a level that defies logic. They say anyone targeted by them, no matter the distance, can be killed with a single thought. Thats true divinity. Zhang Yi nearly dropped his teacup. His eyes widened in disbelief as he stared at Bian Junwu. You Youre joking, right? Killing someone from a thousand miles away? What are they, a satellite-guided missile? Bian Junwu smirked and gazed out at the snowy landscape. Its far more convenient than that. From what Ive heard, theres no escape for anyone marked by them, no matter where they hide. Zhang Yi rubbed his temples, feeling overwhelmed. This sounds more like metaphysics than science! Bian Junwu said calmly, The universe is filled with mysteries. Even the divine rolls dice. The worlds unpredictability is no surprise. In theory, theres one more level beyond Epsilon: the legendary LV6, Omega-level superhumans. This classification exists only in theory, as no such superhuman has ever appeared. It refers to individuals with infinite growth potential and no upper limit to their strength. At that level, they would truly be gods Bian Junwus words trailed off as he suddenly leaned on the table with one hand, covering his mouth with the other, and began coughing violently. The force of his coughs made the table shake, spilling water from their glasses. Instinctively, Zhang Yi slid his chair back half a step and asked, Captain Bian, are you okay? Should I call a doctor? Bian Junwu finally stopped coughing after some time. Wiping a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth, he spoke nonchalantly. No need. Its just an old condition. Noticing Zhang Yis curious expression, Bian Junwu remarked flatly, I have a terminal illness and only a short time left to live. He spoke so matter-of-factly that it sounded like he was describing someone elses situation. If not for this, I wouldnt have volunteered to lead this team and deal with such troublesome matters. Zhang Yis suspicions were confirmed. As he suspected, Bian Junwus body had significant issues. Was it a natural illness, a side effect of his abilities, or the result of being artificially modified, like the cyborgs at West Hill Base? Speculation churned in Zhang Yis mind, but he refrained from prying further, as such details likely involved Jiangnan Districts classified information. Instead, he offered comfort. With todays advanced medicine, even cancer can be cured. Surely theres nothing that cant be treated. My family doctor was a lead physician at Tianhai Citys First Peoples Hospital. Perhaps she could examine you? Bian Junwus face remained impassive as he let Zhang Yi finish before responding. Theres no need to probe. Im a dying man. I took on this mission to ensure that, after my death, my wife and children could live better lives. As he spoke, he removed his signature sunglasses, revealing a face even paler than before. His eyes were eerily gray, devoid of pupils, filled with a lifeless hue. My ability comes at the cost of my vision and health. Thats why its limited to Delta-level. Otherwise, with more time, I might have reached Epsilon-level myself. Unfortunately, its fatal flaws make me a superweapon with limited uses. Do you understand now? Zhang Yis suspicions were confirmed. Bian Junwus ability not only consumed his vitality but also drastically shortened his lifespan. After a moment of silence, Zhang Yi sighed softly. I see. But I didnt expect you to share the details of your ability so openly with me. Author''s Note Chapter 464: The Worst Outcome Chapter 464: The Worst OutcomeZhang Yi understood that solving the zombie horde crisis in Tianhai City was crucial for their future peace. However, as he mulled over Bian Junwus parting invitation to join the Jiangnan District, he suddenly realized the unspoken message in Bians words. It was a backup plan for him. If the zombie horde in Tianhai City proved impossible to manage, the ultimate measure might be to obliterate the entire city. In such a scenario, Zhang Yi would have no choice but to leave. He thought to himself: Although the shelter was said to be capable of withstanding an H-class attack, if the Jiangnan Districts goal was to flatten Tianhai City, the firepower theyd use would be on a completely different scale. I cant take that risk. Resolving the zombie crisis would be ideal, but the question remained: how? Zhang Yi had no clear plan in mind, and everyones anxious expressions only added to the tension, fearing the worst. Seated on the sofa, Zhang Yi folded his arms, racking his brain for a solution. The group began brainstorming, openly sharing their thoughts. Zhou Keer furrowed her brow and voiced her concerns: We know the zombies and the rat swarms are concentrated underground. Their numbers are staggeringlikely occupying the entire subway system of Tianhai City. With our current manpower, its unrealistic to face such a tidal wave head-on. Unless we find the Zombie King and execute a decapitation strike. As she spoke, Zhou Keer gently placed her hand on Zhang Yis shoulder and leaned against him, seeking comfort amidst the tension. Theres not much we can do. We can only hope the Jiangnan District provides assistance. So, Zhang Yi, dont overthink it. Our abilities are limited. Zhou Keer wasnt wrong. The five major factions couldnt afford to send large-scale forces out into the extreme cold for reconnaissance. Whether it was Zhang Yis team or the other factions, they were all makeshift groups formed to survive the apocalypse. None had experience handling a situation this dire. Zhang Yi looked up and murmured, Fear stems from the unknown. Our biggest problem is that we know too little about the zombies. What exactly is the Zombie King? Is it an intelligent mutation or a superhuman? Without even knowing what the Zombie King was, planning a decapitation strike was futile. Fatty Xu interjected, At least we can rule out the other factions as the source of the zombie crisis. Theyve suffered heavy losses themselves. Yang Xinxin immediately countered, You cant say that for sure. Even if theyve suffered significant losses, it doesnt mean theyre not involved. Take West Hill Base, for example. They conducted extensive human experimentation. Whos to say the other factions didnt engage in similar activities, leading to this outbreak? Since the apocalypse began, Tianhai Citys factions had done everything possible to bolster their strength. West Hill Bases cyborg program and Yangsheng Bases military stimulants were prime examples. Everyone shared their theories, but they were largely speculative and lacked evidence. Their intelligence was limited, and the sudden zombie horde felt like an unforeseen force catching them off guard. Zhang Yi propped his chin on his hands, unable to make sense of the outbreak or the Zombie Kings motives. If the Zombie King were a superhuman seeking to use the horde to eliminate the other factions and become Tianhai Citys ruler, human intelligence should have already overcome the factions defenses. ????? Yet the zombies they had encountered showed limited intelligence, akin to that of a five-year-old child, learning as they went. But if the Zombie King were a mutated corpse with newfound intelligence, why had it targeted all five factions across Tianhai City? The contradictory logic painted a peculiar picture in Zhang Yis mind. It seemed both like a tool under human control and unlike something a rational person would orchestrate. Hmm... Could it be a mentally impaired superhuman? Zhang Yi chuckled at his own absurd thought. We should wait and see for now. At the very least, lets see what the Jiangnan District team is capable of. They have more experience in team operations, stronger superhumans, and advanced technology. They should achieve some results. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If they cant handle the situation, then well step in. Zhang Yi decided on a temporary plan. Thanks to his Dimensional Gate abilities, he could guarantee an escape if needed during underground operations. For now, he was content to let Bian Junwu take the lead. ... At the headquarters of the Followers of the Snow God, St. Johns Cathedral, Zheng Yixian returned and pushed open the heavy doors. Yuan Kongye was, as always, praying devoutly in front of the crucifix. Zheng Yixian stood three meters behind her. Yuan Kongye slowly opened her eyes and turned to face him. Her delicate, pale hands folded in front of her as a rare softness appeared in her gaze. What did you see on this trip? Zheng Yixians expression was grave. The Jiangnan District sent a terrifying team, he replied, recounting what he had witnessed. When Yuan Kongye heard about the teams power, especially Bian Junwus ability to annihilate thousands of zombies in one strike, her perpetually frosty demeanor faltered. Jiangnan District... she murmured. Will they interfere with us? she asked. Zheng Yixian wasnt certain. The situation in Tianhai City is already affecting the surrounding areas. If the Jiangnan District intervenes militarily, it could stifle the development of our Followers of the Snow God. Moreover, Bian Junwu warned us. If the zombie crisis remains unresolved, the Jiangnan District might resort to a final solution. Yuan Kongyes eyes wavered. The final solution... Zheng Yixian declared firmly, We cant let that happen! Yuan Kongye nodded. Its likely that Zhang Yi, Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian share the same concern, she said. As Yuan Kongye predicted, Bian Junwus warning had left everyone deeply worried. For that reason, they all resolved to assist Bian Junwu to the best of their abilities in resolving the zombie crisis. Helping him, after all, was helping themselves. Author''s Note Chapter 465: Investigation Team Sets Out Chapter 465: Investigation Team Sets OutThe investigation team left Zhang Yis shelter and immediately set out to gather intelligence on the zombie horde. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They traveled in a large black RV, which was specially designed by engineers from the Jiangnan District for extended missions. The vehicle offered ample space for seven people to live, eat, and even handle personal needs comfortably. Beyond its spacious interior, the RV was built to be as sturdy as a military vehicle, crafted from aerospace-grade materials. Before arriving in Tianhai City, the team had already gathered extensive data through the Jiangnan Districts intelligence networka capability far beyond what Zhang Yi and his group could imagine. For instance, the Jiangnan District still had access to satellite navigation systems. While Zhang Yis group had long since lost this function, the military satellites used by the Jiangnan District allowed them to monitor the entire landscape from space. In other words, everything Zhang Yis team did was likely visible to the Jiangnan Districts Xingyun System. Armed with such intelligence, the investigation team now needed to conduct on-site inspections. Their first stop was the Ci Qu subway line, where Zhang Yi had sealed the area with ice. At the subway entrance, they spotted a long, raised mound running along the ground, resembling a giant snakes trail. Meng Siyu observed, Looks like the ground cracked and bulged because seawater flooded the area and froze, causing expansion. Bian Junwu approached the subway line and crouched near the cracked ground, peering through the fissure to see the ice below. Placing his hand above the frozen surface, he seemed to be feeling the power that had sealed the entire subway line. With his eyes closed, he visualized Zhang Yi pouring an immense volume of seawater from a dimensional space to freeze the line. The scene in his mind left him taking a deep breath. Incredible. That guy is a genius. Wu Di, standing nearby with arms crossed, dismissed the praise. Boss, is that really worth admiring? Its a pretty basic method if you ask me. If I had spatial powers, Id know to block the subway with something too. But honestly, all he did was temporarily solve his local problem without addressing the root cause of the zombie outbreak. Whats the point? Vice-captain Baili Changqing chuckled and said, Wu Di, youre as cocky as your name suggests. If the captain praises someone, he must have a reason. Learn to see the strengths in others instead of looking down on them. Wu Di raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. Im not looking down on him. Im just saying, in an underground space like this, I could single-handedly wipe out all the zombies! Bian Junwu stood and replied calmly to Wu Dis boast, Oh? Youre that confident? Of course! Wu Di said, his tone full of certainty. His abilities were particularly suited for situations like this, where group combat was his forte. Bian Junwu asked, But do you know how strong the Zombie King is? Wu Di paused before replying, Ive never seen it, so how would I know? Even the teams intelligence only mentioned powerful armored zombies, but no one had encountered the Zombie King itselfnot even Zhang Yis group, who had ventured deep into the subway tunnels. ??????? Bian Junwu said flatly, Zhang Yis team cleared the entire subway line without any casualties. Dont become overly reliant on your abilities. What matters most is how effectively you use them. Zhang Yis talent isnt purely combat-related. Whats truly remarkable is his ability to strategize. He glanced toward the horizon, where a long, frozen ridge marked the subway line, leading toward the Songzhuang transfer station and further north to Tianfeng Districtthe domain of the Followers of the Snow God. Wu Dis expression still showed traces of defiance as he muttered, Even if hes clever, whats the use? If we need a new teammate, it should be someone skilled in combat. We dont need someone to carry our bags. Despite Wu Dis childish attitude, Bian Junwu merely smiled and said nothing. Wu Dis behavior was well-known among the team, and they were all accustomed to it. Especially now, with Bian Junwus declining health, Wu Dis outbursts had only grown more frequent. The team understood his reasons but chose not to address them openly. Lets go. Time to see what a zombie siege looks like in person, Bian Junwu said as he climbed back into the RV. The vehicle was driven by Baili Changqing, a man in his late forties. Despite his age, his muscular physique resembled that of a grizzly bear. Where to, Captain? Lets head to Yangsheng Base first, Bian Junwu replied. Got it! Baili Changqing set the coordinates, turned the steering wheel, and drove toward Yangsheng Base. ... Meanwhile, the three major bases were also busy following Bian Junwus orders to evacuate all non-combat personnel into underground shelters. The goal was to minimize casualties and, potentially, to disrupt the zombies targeting by reducing human presence on the surface. Though reluctant to abandon vital surface facilities like warehouses, workshops, and dormitories, the leaders of each base complied, unwilling to defy the will of Jiangnan District. However, the logistics were daunting. Each faction had thousands of people and vast supplies to relocate, making the task anything but easy. At Yangsheng Base, Xiao Honglian worked tirelessly, coordinating defensive measures while ensuring the orderly evacuation of non-combat personnel. Not far from Yangsheng Base, the investigation team parked their RV on a high vantage point about five kilometers away, providing a panoramic view of the base and its surroundings. Bian Junwu sat by the window and activated the binocular mode on his tactical glasses, carefully observing the area. They were waiting for the zombies to arrive. Although the reports detailed zombie and rat swarm attacks on human bases, Bian Junwu needed to witness the phenomenon firsthand to gather the precise intelligence he sought. This was why he hadnt involved members of the major factions in their operations. As time passed, darkness fell in an instant, making it impossible to see anything without light. Yangsheng Base lit up with floodlights, vital for the humans who relied on illumination to fight the zombies that hunted by sensing life. In the RV, biologist and medical expert Meng Siyu was heating food in the microwave. The vehicle was stocked with plenty of space rations, which required minimal preparation. As they ate, the team used night-vision binoculars to watch the unfolding zombie siege like spectators at a grim theater. Author''s Note Chapter 466: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada Chapter 466: The Mantis Stalks the Cicada From the darkness, zombies surged forth in waves, densely packed like an army of ants, spreading across the land surrounding Yangsheng Base. The massive open space around the base was almost entirely sealed off by the horde. Looking out over the scene, it was clear that the number of zombies exceeded ten thousand. For the investigation team, it was their first time witnessing such a spectacle in person. Meng Siyus eyes widened in astonishment, and her heart raced despite knowing the zombies couldnt directly threaten their lives. She couldnt suppress her anxiety. Seeing it in footage is nothing like experiencing it firsthand, she muttered. Wu Di, standing nearby, dismissed her unease. Theyre just bigger targets, nothing more. Quiet! Youll draw them to us, Baili Changqing whispered, glaring at the pair. They immediately fell silent, focusing on observing the horde. Meng Siyu diligently recorded the movement patterns of the zombies and rat swarms. Among the countless zombies were large numbers of screeching giant rats. The smallest were cat-sized, while larger ones were as big as stray dogs, and some massive ones rivaled small pigs. Their overwhelming numbers turned the ground a murky gray. In response, Yangsheng Base launched its counterattack. Suddenly, a fiery dragon surged from a distance, igniting the entire perimeter of the base in an instant. Yangsheng Bases defenses consisted of three deep trenches filled with black crude oil. Once lit, they became towering walls of fire over ten meters high. As the zombies and rats approached, the flames roared to life. The air was filled with the crackling of burning flesh and the agonized screeches of giant rats. Hundreds of zombies and rats perished in the inferno. But the zombies quickly regrouped into several narrow columns. The leading zombies began leaping into the fiery trenches. One or two zombies were instantly incinerated, but with their vast numbers, the sacrificial tactic began to work. As more zombies hurled themselves into the flames, they suppressed the fire, their charred bodies forming makeshift bridges. The remaining zombies and rat swarms crossed over the piled corpses and continued their advance. Even Bian Junwu frowned at the sight. As expected, theyre a coordinated, intelligent group. If we let this chaos continue unchecked, theyll become a major threat. Mindless zombies werent frightening. But if controlled by an intelligent being, they were a nightmare. In a world where the dead vastly outnumbered the living, such a scenario was catastrophic. They lack individual intelligence, Baili Changqing observed quietly. We need to find the one orchestrating them. Not yet. Lets wait and see, Bian Junwu replied, his voice unnervingly calm, even cold. The zombies and rats breached the first two defense lines, and the third was on the verge of collapse. Yangsheng Bases soldiers, armed with flamethrowers, grenades, and explosives, rushed to hold the final line. But against a horde numbering in the tens of thousands, their defenses seemed pitifully weak. Fortunately, Xiao Honglian arrived with her team of superhumans, significantly bolstering their combat power. In battles against such relentless monsters, the strength of superhumans was indispensable. Xiao Honglian was particularly anxious. With non-combat personnel still evacuating, the base was in disarray and at its most vulnerable. Desperation fueled her as she unleashed her powers, controlling flames to incinerate zombies and rats alike. ҧ?????B?? Infernal Furnace! Standing atop a tall tower, Xiao Honglian extended her arms as flames coiled around her, forming over a dozen massive fire dragons. The fiery tendrils wrapped around her body, transforming her into a blazing inferno, her figure obscured by white-hot flames. In a flash, she leapt from the tower, detonating upon impact like a blazing sun. Within a radius of several hundred meters, every zombie and rat was incinerated into ash. Fire strengthened Xiao Honglians abilities, and in the heart of the zombie horde, she singlehandedly slowed their advance. However, Yangsheng Base was too vast for her to protect every corner. In some areas, zombies and rats infiltrated the population, leaving a trail of slaughter and carnage. Screams echoed across the battlefield. Such grisly scenes were nothing new. The bases blackened walls bore testament to the daily sacrifices of soldiers to maintain a semblance of peace. From their distant vantage point, Bian Junwu and his team observed in silence, making no move to assist. They werent here to solve Yangsheng Bases immediate crisis but to study the behavior of the zombie horde. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The battle intensified as darkness enveloped the battlefield. The zombies encircled Yangsheng Base entirely, and both sides were locked in a fierce struggle. Territory was constantly won and lost, with the bases superhuman captains and soldiers fighting tooth and nail to reclaim breached areas. Have all the zombies emerged? Bian Junwu asked while watching the battle through his binoculars. Beside him, demolitions expert and engineer Ye Jikang was hunched over a bulky black computer that resembled a thick brick. Even in the frigid environment, the advanced device operated flawlessly. On its screen, a map of Tianhai City displayed the area around Yangsheng Base. Zooming in, Ye Jikang could see a top-down view of the battlefield, tracking the movements of every combatant, zombie, and even their own positions with precision. This was the power of Chinas most advanced satellite systemXingyun. Ye Jikang analyzed the feed and confirmed, The zombies in the subway have all emerged. However, some larger ones have appeared. Theyre likely the armored zombies Zhang Yi mentioned. Bian Junwus expression shifted slightly. Oh? Interesting. According to Zhang Yis earlier intelligence, previous zombie attacks centered on ordinary zombies and rat swarms. Now, the appearance of elite armored zombies suggested an escalation in their tactics. Could this be related to our presence here? Bian Junwu wondered. Still, he addressed his team. Lets move. With the horde now drawn out, its time for us to act. Amid the chaos, a massive armored zombie appeared at the front lines, sending shockwaves through Yangsheng Base. These monsters, impervious to fire and tougher than steel, were beyond the capabilities of ordinary soldiers. Xiao Honglian remembered vividly how Dong Hu had been torn apart by two such creatures. But Bian Junwu and his team didnt spare the scene a second glance. They boarded their RV, taking a detour toward the nearest subway entrance. Author''s Note Chapter 468: Pursuit Chapter 468: Pursuit Wu Di smirked and said, Vice-captain, youre way too slow. Step aside and watch me work! As he spoke, he stretched out his arms, and in the darkness, a bright orb of light materialized, hovering near his right shoulder. A second orb appeared near his left shoulder, followed by a third above his head. In seconds, dozens of glowing orbs surrounded him, forming a radiant halo like something out of myth. Wu Di spread his arms, and the orbs surged forward, merging into a long, blazing beam of light. The intense white light illuminated everything ahead, and as the beam pierced through the zombie horde, their bodies were torn apart as if made of paper. One after another, bright rays streaked through the zombies, reducing them to shredded remains. Ha ha ha! Im the king of the battlefield! Wu Di laughed maniacally. His ability, Floating Cannons, a trait-based power, converted mental energy into highly penetrating energy blasts. It was devastating in group combat. Under his assault, the horde crumbled like fragile fabric, leaving a trail of carnage in his wake. Baili Changqing chuckled helplessly as he scratched his head. When it comes to mowing down zombies, I guess I cant compare to you, Wu Di, he said with a wry smile. The zombie horde posed no real resistance as the team advanced steadily. Finally, their overwhelming firepower caught the attention of the Zombie King. From the far end of the tunnel emerged several enormous armored zombies. These copper-armored creatures stood over three meters tall, resembling grotesque stick insects with long, spindly limbs and unnervingly slender waists. Their appearance was unsettling in a way that defied natural symmetry. Wu Di squinted at them. So, these are the famous armored zombies? Lets see how tough they really are! He retracted the orbs around him, concentrating a single white light in his right hand. But before he could act, Bian Junwu placed a firm hand on his shoulder. Stand down and rest, Bian Junwu ordered. Though Floating Cannons were powerful, they consumed a significant amount of mental energy, and overuse could lead to irreparable damage to the user. Reluctantly, Wu Di withdrew his power. Fine, Ill leave this one to you guys. The team knew well that the armored zombies were a far cry from ordinary ones in terms of combat strength. They approached the fight with caution. One for each of us, Bian Junwu declared as he picked his target and raised his oversized black pistol. The gunshot echoed loudly, and a bullet struck the chest of one armored zombie, forcing it to stagger backward. Clearly, this wasnt an ordinary handgun but a specialized weapon. Bian Junwu advanced steadily, each shot landing on the creatures long, sinewy body, driving it further back. Meanwhile, Baili Changqing, Kong Sheng, and Qi Guangming engaged their own opponents. Baili Changqing, wielding his knights lance, charged headlong into melee combat with an armored zombie. Kong Sheng smashed his fists together, and his body turned an ominous metallic shade of dark silver. Using his Steel Forge ability, he transformed his body into a weaponimpossibly durable and lethally sharp. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In a flash, Kong Sheng appeared mid-air, his right leg descending like a blade to strike the shoulder of an armored zombie. The force of the blow drove the creature to its knees, splitting its shoulder open to reveal blood-red bone beneath. Kong Sheng frowned in disbelief. Damn, thats tough! His kick could shear through a car, yet the zombies bone remained intact. At that moment, a beam of light streaked past him, piercing the zombies chest and tearing a gruesome hole. Turning, Kong Sheng saw Qi Guangming holding a peculiar black sniper rifle, grinning. This calls for teamwork! Qi said with a laugh. Elsewhere, Bian Junwu had pinned his target against the wall, shoving his gun into its mouth and firing upward. The shot obliterated the zombies head, leaving its body to collapse into a pool of fetid blood. ????????S? The armored zombies, formidable as they were, stood no chance against the investigation team. Suddenly, Meng Siyu clutched her head and said, The horde is stirring! The white-furred monkey and six armored zombies are trying to escape, and a massive number of zombies are converging to cover their retreat. Adjusting his tactical glasses, Bian Junwus voice turned icy. That settles it. The white-furred monkey is the Zombie King, and the horde is stalling for time. We cant let it get away. The Zombie Kings intelligence and capacity for evolution made it an increasingly dangerous foe. If it escaped, it would learn from this encounter, making any future capture nearly impossible. Move out! We must capture it today! The team dashed toward the fleeing Zombie King, but the horde and rat swarm surged like a tidal wave, attempting to block their path. Bian Junwu, unwilling to waste more time, removed his glasses and activated his Annihilation ability. A searing white light filled the tunnel, and in an instant, the space ahead was wiped clean. Thousands of zombies were obliterated in the blink of an eye. The strain of the attack caused sharp pain in Bian Junwus chest, and he doubled over, coughing violently. Despite his condition, he pressed forward without hesitation. Go! The team pursued relentlessly, clearing out stray rats and zombies as they closed in on the Zombie King. Meanwhile, outside Yangsheng Base, the attacking zombies abruptly halted as if receiving an unseen signal. They turned en masse, retreating toward the tunnels. The rat swarm followed suit, leaving Xiao Honglian and her soldiers baffled. Her body, wreathed in flames like a fiery goddess, trembled with exhaustion. Gasping for breath, she stared at the retreating enemy in shock. Whats going on? she muttered. Unbeknownst to her, the Zombie King was fighting for its life underground, pursued by Bian Junwu and his team. Author''s Note Chapter 469: The Death of the Zombie King Chapter 469: The Death of the Zombie King The investigation team carved through the zombie horde like a blade through cloth, rapidly closing in on the Zombie King. For the first time, they got a close look at the white-furred monkey. It was protected by six massive armored zombies, one of which carried the creature on its back as they fled deeper into the subway. Capture it alive! Bian Junwu commanded. Qi Guangming raised his peculiar black sniper rifle, aiming for the leg joint of the armored zombie carrying the Zombie King. A sharp crack echoed as a bright beam struck its target, shattering the zombies joint with a sickening . The towering creature roared in pain and collapsed, sending the white-furred monkey tumbling to the ground with a shrill scream. Before it could recover, Baili Changqing surged forward with his knights lance, pressing its tip against the monkeys head. The creatures eyes flashed with terror as it cowered on the ground, frozen in place. The surrounding armored zombies growled and paced, unwilling to attack but clearly desperate to protect their leader. Bian Junwus cold gaze locked onto the monkey. If Im watching, theres no chance for escape, he said, his tone like ice. The team surrounded the creature, paying no attention to the armored zombies. They knew the zombies wouldnt act without the Zombie Kings orders. So this is the Zombie King, the one commanding the entire horde? Bian Junwu muttered, raising an eyebrow as he studied the trembling creature. Wu Di let out a loud laugh. I thought itd be some kind of unstoppable beast if it could control a horde this big. Turns out its a weak little thing! Baili Changqing, however, remained composed. This actually makes sense, he said. If its the brain of the horde or some kind of control-type superhuman, it doesnt need to be physically strong. It just needs to command from the back. Meng Siyu stroked her chin thoughtfully. No wonder it doesnt dare launch a full-scale attack on human settlements. Its body is too weak, so it has to keep a large portion of the horde and armored zombies nearby for protection. With combat abilities this poor, even an ordinary adult could kill it, she concluded. The surrounding armored zombies growled again, clearly agitated, but without direction from their leader, they hesitated to act. The white-furred monkey shrieked oddly, its eyes filled with a mixture of fear and resentment. Bian Junwu pressed his gun to the creatures head. Order them to kill each other, he demanded coldly. A flicker of hatred flashed in the monkeys eyes, and its cries grew louder. Suddenly, the six armored zombies roared in unison and charged at the team, the creature having chosen to go down fighting. Baili Changqing spat on the ground, gripped his lance tightly, and grinned. Looks like it wants a fight! His body radiated black energy, enveloping him like a shroud. With the strength of a titan, he charged into the fray, his lance sweeping out in a deadly arc. ??????????? In one devastating strike, all six armored zombies were cleaved in half. Green blood sprayed through the air, mingled with the shattered remains of crimson bones. Ha! Whos next? Baili Changqing roared, his voice echoing through the tunnel. Despite their terrifying strength, the armored zombies were no match for the deputy captain of the investigation team, Iron Grip Baili Changqing. However, the tunnel reverberated with distant roars as the horde surged forward, summoned by the Zombie King. Bian Junwu narrowed his eyes at the creature beneath his gun. Youre not playing fair, he muttered coldly. Realizing that the horde would soon surround them, Bian Junwu made a swift decision. He pulled the trigger. The gunshot rang out, and the monkeys head exploded. Its body collapsed lifelessly, its skull punctured by a massive hole. Without a word, Meng Siyu pulled a body bag from her pack and carefully stored the corpse. The team retreated from the subway, emerging through the nearest exit back to the surface. What awaited them was a shocking sight. Under the pale expanse of the snowy plains, tens of thousands of zombies had gathered, standing motionless and gazing toward the subway entrance. Without the Zombie King to guide them, they appeared disoriented, their movements slow and aimless. Theyve lost their coordination, Bian Junwu remarked, watching the scene with a calm expression. Meng Siyu nodded. Without a leader, even a massive horde like this cant pose a serious threat to large human settlements. Intelligent zombies were an entirely different challenge compared to mindless ones. Without direction, even the largest horde could be managed with time and resources. A few zombies spotted the team and charged, their eyes glowing red with aggression. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lets move, Bian Junwu ordered. No need to waste time here. Theyll decay soon enough without a leader to sustain them. The zombies, being mere carriers of the virus, would rapidly deteriorate without sustenance. The team swiftly returned to their vehicle. Nearby, clusters of zombies wandered aimlessly, paying no mind to the armored vehicle. After clearing a small group blocking their path, the team loaded the monkeys body into the car and drove off. Their next task was to analyze the corpse, uncovering its biological secrets and searching for clues about the zombie virus. Inside the vehicle, Meng Siyu donned a white protective suit and began dissecting the body on a portable surgical table. The others rested in shifts, their rest brief and uneasy. As dawn broke, the pale light of day spilling across the frozen wasteland, Meng Siyu removed her gloves and looked up at Bian Junwu. Her face was solemn as she delivered her findings. Its not a monkey or any type of primate, she said. What were dealing with... was once human. Author''s Note Chapter 470: Deeper Mysteries Chapter 470: Deeper Mysteries Meng Siyus revelation left the team surprised, though it wasnt entirely unexpected. In a world overrun by mutated creatures, humans, and corpses, little seemed impossible anymore. She continued, The creatures body contains a significant amount of the zombie virus. This virus exhibits distinct colony-like behavior. The Zombie King can infect other corpses with the virus, turning them into zombies. It also maintains a link with its offspring through some mechanism, enabling it to control the horde. However, this link is relatively simple and conveys limited information. Thats why the zombies initially exhibit such basic, rigid behaviors in combat. She paused before adding, The Zombie King itself, however, possesses intelligence. Its brain remains intact, unlike ordinary zombies. Therefore, it can be killed just like a regular humanby destroying its brain. Baili Changqing leaned back in his seat, remarking, So, in some ways, its not much different from us. Qi Guangmings tone grew serious. Does this mean that if we eliminate all the Zombie Kings in Tianhai City, we can resolve the zombie crisis? Meng Siyu nodded affirmatively. In theory, yes. Without a Zombie King to coordinate them, even the largest horde would be reduced to little more than a scattered nuisance. In a world where superhumans existed, an uncoordinated zombie horde, no matter how large, could eventually be exterminated with enough time and effort. Bian Junwu adjusted his tinted tactical glasses, his face an impenetrable mask as he processed Meng Siyus findings. But one question remains unanswered, he said after a pause. If there are multiple Zombie Kings in Tianhai City, where did the first one come from? If Zombie Kings are mutated from human corpses, how was the original infected with the zombie virus? All eyes turned back to Meng Siyu, who shook her head. Thats difficult to determine. The scale of the zombie horde, coupled with our limited resources, makes tracing the origin nearly impossible. Its possible that the Zombie King is simply a variant within the horde, similar to how armored zombies are created by the original King. Its sole purpose may be to command the other zombies. Bian Junwus expression remained cold as steel. Baili Changqing, attempting to lift the mood, chuckled. Well, at least we know one thing: killing the Zombie Kings makes the horde manageable. Thats good news, right? ???? This mission might not be as tough as we thought. Theyre just large in number! Wu Di groaned, rubbing his temples. Ugh, but there are so many zombies! How long is it going to take to kill them all? If only we could gather them in one spot so I could just wipe them all out with my Floating Cannons! The team burst into laughter. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If only it were that easy! someone said. If it were, HQ wouldnt have sent us in the first place. Amid the banter, Bian Junwu, who had been silent in thought, suddenly spoke up. Gathering them all in one place and eliminating them in one strike... thats actually not a bad idea. His words caught everyone off guard. Wu Dis eyes lit up, and he grinned. See? I knew youd get it, Boss! Great idea, huh? Baili Changqing frowned slightly. But how would we do that? The zombies in Tianhai City are scattered everywhere. Kong Sheng added, And if we do gather them all, the sheer number would be overwhelming. How would we deal with that? Bian Junwu crossed his arms, his expression as icy as ever. Zombies are drawn to humans. That much is certain. So, if we bring all the humans in Tianhai City together, we can lure the zombies to one location. Once theyre all in one place, we can annihilate themalong with their Zombie Kings. And doing so might also confirm a suspicion of mine. The word piqued everyones curiosity. Whats on your mind, Boss? Wu Di asked. Bian Junwus lips curled into a faint smile. So far, the zombie horde in Tianhai City has shown only minor tendencies to spread to nearby cities. Most of the zombies remain concentrated in Tianhai City. Thats highly unusual. If the virus is driving them, they should naturally spread outward, seeking more prey as their local food supply dwindles. But instead, they remain here, persistently attacking the five major factions. Even Zhang Yis small shelter has faced sustained attacks from a zombie horde. Why? His eyes glinted with a hint of amusement. I want to find out if someone is pulling the strings behind the scenes. Maybe the Zombie Kings arent natural at all. Maybe they were created deliberately. And if thats true, he concluded, his voice dropping to a menacing growl, then well dismantle this hidden force entirely. ... Another night passed. The investigation teams success in eliminating the Zombie King near Yangsheng Base marked a turning point. For the first time, humans had managed to kill a Zombie King, and the surrounding horde, now leaderless, descended into disarray. Without coordination, the zombies behaved like wild beasts driven solely by instinct. Some zombies even wandered into Yangsheng Base during daylight hours, initially causing panic among the exhausted defenders. However, after a brief skirmish, they discovered that the zombies were far less threatening without leadership. The creatures no longer avoided traps or barbed wire, and even ran directly into flamethrowers, incinerating themselves en masse. The defenders erupted in cheers. Zhuge Qingtian rushed to report the news to Xiao Honglian, whose tense expression finally eased. Is it true? she asked. At the front lines, she observed the disorganized horde with her own eyes. Though their numbers were significant, their movements were chaotic and uncoordinated. For the first time in days, she exhaled deeply in relief. Whatever happened, its a good sign, she said. Zhuge Qingtian speculated, Could it have something to do with the investigation team from Jiangnan District? Thinking of the investigation team and their formidable capabilities, Xiao Honglians expression turned serious. Its possible, she said. Both Xiao Honglian and Zhuge Qingtian couldnt hide their astonishment. Is this the strength of Jiangnan District? A team of just seven people, and on their first day here, theyve already resolved a major crisis! Their respect and awe for the Jiangnan District deepened further. Author''s Note Chapter 471: Baseless Accusations Chapter 471: Baseless Accusations Morning light illuminated the Snow God Sects headquarters, casting a stark contrast against the destruction from the previous nights brutal battle. Though the sect had many superhumans and had gained experience fighting the undead, lives were still lost. However, the casualty numbers had begun to decline. After his meeting with Bian Junwu, Zheng Yixian returned to the Snow God Sects base and began overseeing the relocation of non-combat personnel. Their new shelter was the underground parking structures, with all entrances securely sealed, leaving only combat-capable members above ground to defend them. In the past, the sect had tried moving people to higher floors of buildings and cutting off access to the lower levels. Yet the zombies, unbound by physical limitations, climbed dozens of meters to reach their prey. That mistake had cost them dearly, but theyd learned their lesson. Sar?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The area around St. Johns Cathedral was a desolate wasteland. The dawn brought no sense of renewal, only stark visibility to the carnagea grisly mix of human corpses, zombies, and giant rats littered the surroundings. Exhausted sect members worked tirelessly to clear the battlefield. The corpses had to be moved to a nearby abandoned building, where they would be consumed by the bloodvine. Leaving them exposed risked the recently dead transforming into new zombies. Others collected the bodies of the giant rats, a rare source of fresh meat in these desperate times. Though many worried about potential diseases or unknown infections, hunger overruled such concerns. Survival hinged on eating what was available. Amid this chaos, Father Li Jian, a priest of some standing within the sect, searched frantically alongside his wife, Zhang Jianfang. The previous nights battle had separated them from their son, Li Kaile. Now, they scoured the battlefield, their desperation mounting. Where could Kaile have gone?! Zhang Jianfangs voice was tinged with panic. Their son had gone missing after recklessly rushing off to find his girlfriend, Xu Beibei, despite the danger and his parents protests. Now, amid the sea of corpses, Zhang Jianfang feared the worst. Kaile! she called, her voice trembling. Li Jian, his expression grim, asked every sect member he passed if they had seen his son, but no one had time for their plight. Then, as Li Jian rounded a corner near the ruins of a building, he froze, his blood running cold. In the shadow of the rubble lay Li Kaile, drenched in blood. His lower body was soaked in dark red, and he lay motionless on the ground. Standing over him was Sect Leader Yuan Kongye, her hand gripping a bloodstained dagger. Her face was calm, but her gaze betrayed a twisted struggle. For a moment, Li Jians mind went blank. Then his instincts as a father took over. Kaile! he roared, charging toward them. Without turning her head, Yuan Kongye raised her left hand. A powerful force sent Li Jian flying backward, landing heavily five meters away. Zhang Jianfang, arriving moments later, saw her husband crumpled on the ground and her son bleeding beneath the sect leader. Her face turned ghostly pale. ??????§S? This filth... Yuan Kongye muttered, staring at Li Kaile with a look of cold disdain. You must be purified. Her words plunged Li Jian and Zhang Jianfang into despair. Why? Why would the revered sect leader harm their son? As if answering their silent pleas, High Priest Zheng Yixian appeared. Surveying the scene, he frowned slightly before striding toward Yuan Kongye. Towering over her, Zheng Yixian opened his cloak and enveloped her in a protective embrace. Yuan Kongyes tense body remained rigid, but the madness in her eyes began to subside. Original sin is unforgivable, she murmured. I am helping him. I know. Youve done nothing wrong, Zheng Yixian reassured her gently, allowing her to keep the dagger as he led her away. Li Jian and Zhang Jianfang could only watch helplessly as the two figures disappeared into the distance. Swallowing their fury and confusion, they scrambled to their sons side. Li Kaile was unconscious, his face pale as paper. His lower body was drenched in blood, though his upper body bore no fatal wounds. Li Jians expression darkened as he pieced the situation together. The purification ritual. Hed heard whispers about the Snow God Sects initiation practices, particularly the cleansing of young boys. As a superhuman serving the sect, he had hoped his son would be spared this fate. But now, it seemed inevitable. Though devastated, they found solace in the fact that Li Kaile was alive. Yuan Kongye had stopped the bleeding after the ritual, but the emotional scars would remain. How would their son face the world when he awoke? Tears streamed down their faces as a storm of emotionsgrief, anger, and helplessnessoverwhelmed them. From a distance, Zhang Jianfang spotted a figure huddled in a shadowy corner. It was Xu Beibei, trembling and curled into herself, clutching her knees. Zhang Jianfang clenched her fists and shouted, Xu Beibei! What happened here? Why did the sect leader harm my son? Was it because of you? Xu Beibei, already in tears, shook her head frantically. I... I didnt do anything! she stammered, her voice choked with sobs. After we escaped, he kissed me. Thats when the sect leader saw us, and... and then she... Her voice broke as the memory flooded back, her sobs intensifying. Zhang Jianfangs anger flared, but seeing the girls misery, she was left with more questions than answers. What had driven Yuan Kongye to such extremes? Author''s Note Chapter 472: A Mans Pain Chapter 472: A Man''s Pain Li Jian and Zhang Jianfang stared at their sons condition, their hearts filled with despair and incomprehension. Beyond their anger, a sense of helplessness consumed them. The reality was bitter: Yuan Kongye, the leader of the Snow God Sect, had done this. Yet they were reliant on the sect for survival. There was no way to seek vengeance or even demand justice. But why? Why would the sect leader act so irrationally over a budding romance between children? From the moment they joined the sect and learned about the "purification ritual," Li Jian had felt something was off with Yuan Kongye. Why were young boys mutilated, while adult men were left untouched? What drove such a decision? ... Meanwhile, in her chambers at the back of the cathedral, Yuan Kongye sat on her bed, slowly regaining her composure. For a fleeting moment, her icy demeanor softened, replaced by a rare fragility and confusion. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She looked up at Zheng Yixian, standing before her. I didnt do anything wrong, did I? she asked. Those actionsthose desiresare inherently sinful. All I did was guide him toward the right path. Zheng Yixian nodded in agreement. Kneeling before her, he raised his head, his gaze unwavering. Youve done nothing wrong. It was the boys fault. In this apocalyptic world, there is no room for love or lust. Impure relationships between men and women must be forbidden. Yuan Kongye sighed, her face lighting up with a radiant smile as she gently placed her pale hand on Zheng Yixians cheek. If only all men were like you, she murmured. Then the world wouldnt be so tainted. Her cold touch made Zheng Yixians submissive expression deepen. This world will be as you desire, my Lady, he said reverently. Yuan Kongye withdrew her hand, her expression returning to the calm, authoritative gaze befitting the leader of the Snow God Sect. That boy is Li Jians son. Will he hold any grievances against us? I will speak with him and help him understand your intentions, Zheng Yixian assured her. I believe he will come to see your wisdom. Yuan Kongye nodded, saying nothing further. Li Jians abilities were valuable to the sect, and he posed no threat to them. Such individuals were ideal for cultivation and loyalty. This incident had only occurred because Yuan Kongye had been triggered by the sight of Li Kaile and Xu Beibei. And Xu Beibei had lied. What she described as just a kiss wasnt the full truth. Faced with life-and-death situations, humans often succumbed to primal instincts, driven by an unconscious desire to ensure their genetic survival. In the lawless world of the apocalypse, these young lovers had pushed boundaries they barely understood. ????? But they had chosen the worst possible time and placeand encountered the worst possible person. ... Li Jian and Zhang Jianfangs hearts were heavy with grief, though they consoled themselves with the knowledge that their son was still alive. In the harsh world of the apocalypse, the loss of that ability might not matter much. Survival took precedence over all else. But for Li Kaile, the loss was unbearable. When he regained consciousness and realized what had been done to him, his mind spiraled into chaos. Why bother living anymore?! he screamed, thrashing and clawing at himself. Zhang Jianfang wept, trying desperately to calm him. Were still a family of three. Lets live together, survive togetherplease, my son. From the shadows, Xu Beibei watched quietly, tears streaming down her face. She didnt dare approach. It wasnt that she didnt care. She knew that her presence would only deepen Li Kailes wounds. ... That afternoon, Li Jian was visited by High Priest Zheng Yixian. Though Li Jians heart burned with anger, he forced himself to remain composed, greeting his guest respectfully. Zheng he began. Not Zheng, the high priest interrupted with a wave of his hand. Address me by my title. Li Jian quickly corrected himself. Yes, High Priest. Its understandable, Zheng Yixian said, his tone almost indulgent. Youre new to the sect. Adapting takes time. His sharp eyes studied Li Jians face, noting the restrained displeasure there. Li Jian, to his credit, didnt lash out or demand answers. He didnt storm off to confront Yuan Kongye or Zheng Yixian in a fit of rage. His restraint showed he understood the reality of his situation. But Zheng Yixian also knew he needed to provide a reasonable explanation to ensure Li Jians continued loyalty. How is your son? Zheng Yixian asked, breaking the silence. Li Jians face darkened. His physical wounds will heal, but the damage to his spirit may never mend. A man who loses the essence of his manhood... how can he ever hold his head high? Zheng Yixians face twitched slightly, an uncharacteristic crack in his composure. He responded in a softer, almost apologetic tone. Your sons purification was a great mercy. However, he should not have behaved inappropriately before the sect leader. Zheng Yixians voice briefly wavered, unsettling Li Jian, but it quickly returned to its usual calm, authoritative tone. The Snow God Sect is a vast organization. At its peak, it had over ten thousand members! Without strict governance, chaos would be inevitable. Romantic entanglements are the seed of disorder. While adults may exercise self-control, reckless young people act on impulse. In this post-apocalyptic world, where all rules have crumbled, what would happen if such impulses led to conflicts, fights, or unplanned pregnancies? It would jeopardize the entire group. He fixed his gaze on Li Jian. This is about preserving order and ensuring survival. You are an intelligent manyou must understand this. He added, Your son was not singled out. The same applies to everyone. Li Jian remained silent for a long time before finally nodding. The High Priest speaks with wisdom. Zheng Yixian studied him for a moment before continuing. From now on, your son will receive an additional share of rations, he said. And I trust this matter wont affect your dedication to the sect. Li Jian nodded again. I understand. Author''s Note Chapter 473: The Bait Plan Chapter 473: The Bait Plan Zheng Yixian comforted Li Jian briefly. Seeing that his emotions were stable, he left. He knew Li Jian couldnt let go of his sons situation so quickly. However, as long as Li Jian and his family lived under the Bai Xue Jiao, they had no choice but to move past it. As the Grand Priest, Zheng Yixian personally lowering himself to console them was already a great honor. To Li Jian, though, Zheng Yixian''s nonsensical explanations were unbearable. "What kind of absurd logic is this? For the stability of the cult, they castrate people? Whats the point of the cult if humanity cant reproduce? Wont we all be wiped out anyway?" Li Jian muttered under his breath, cursing Zheng Yixians ridiculousness. But circumstances were beyond his control. He had to care for his family and the companions he brought from Yuelu District. Even though anger boiled within, he had to learn to endure it. By now, he realized the Bai Xue Jiao was far from the utopia he imagined. As a former senior manager of a publicly listed corporation, his intellect was sharp enough to notice something fishy about the cult. This became even clearer as he uncovered more of the cults secrets. His mood grew heavier. For the first time, he questioned whether bringing his neighbors from Yuelu Residential Area to the Bai Xue Jiao had been the right decision. But theres no medicine for regret. Had they stayed in Yuelu, another zombie wave would have turned them into zombie food. As he approached his home with heavy steps, the sounds of his wife crying and Li Kaile''s pained screams reached his ears. Li Jians eyes filled with sorrow. The inability to continue his bloodline now seemed minor. But as a father, he couldnt bear to see his son endure such pain in the future. Swallowing countless unspoken words, he let out a long sigh of helplessness. What happened in Li Jians home was just a trivial matter for the Bai Xue Jiao. It was a microcosm of the cult: a facade of harmony masking deep dissatisfaction. Yet the followers, desperate for protection, chose to bury their heads in the sand, even when faced with unbearable hardships. Meanwhile, the investigation team, after killing a Zombie King, finalized their strategy. The plan was to lure the zombie horde to one spot and eliminate the Zombie King! Even if they couldnt completely eradicate the horde, they could replicate their previous success by taking out many of the intelligent white-furred monkeys. ???????????s? Bian Junwu believed the hordes behavior resembled that of a Zerg swarm. Zombie Kings could create new zombies, with infection speeds far exceeding ordinary zombies. Moreover, the Zombie King had intelligence and could evolve through battles. However, as the brain, it lacked significant combat strength. Thus, a solution emerged. First, use a large crowd to draw the zombie main force forward. Then send an elite team underground to decapitate the Zombie King. This was Bian Junwus plan. With the strategy clear, the next step was execution. The first task was selecting an ideal bait location. Holding a communicator showing the positions of Tianhai Citys five factions and the zombie horde''s movements, Bian Junwu tapped the Bai Xue Jiao territory. This spot it is! Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were two reasons for choosing the cults territory. First, the Bai Xue Jiao had the most followers, making it the best bait for attracting zombies. Second, the cults location was in Tianfeng District, previously Tianhai Citys busiest area. This meant the highest death toll and the densest zombie population were here. The citys underground zombie waves naturally converged in this area. Bian Junwu immediately sent messages to the five factions. The instructions were simple: Evacuate non-combatants and bring all combat forces to the Bai Xue Jiaos St. Johns Cathedral! Reactions varied. Xiao Honglian, now the biggest beneficiary, responded quickly. The investigation team had cleared numerous zombies around Yangsheng Base, especially the Zombie King. This made the surrounding rogue zombies easy to handle. Xiao Honglian had deduced that the team likely killed the Zombie King controlling the horde. Acknowledging their strength, she replied without hesitation, Understood. Well head there immediately. While she didnt understand the significance of gathering at St. Johns Cathedral, trust in the investigation teams strength and their superior background prompted her to comply. The Qingfu and Chaoyu Bases reacted similarly. They secured non-combatants in underground shelters built over 100 meters deep, reinforced with steel and concrete, resistant even to missile strikes. As long as the doors remained shut, neither zombies nor giant rats could breach the shelters. Xing Tian and Wei Dinghai mobilized most of their forces per Bian Junwus orders and headed toward the Bai Xue Jiaos base. However, not everyone welcomed this plan. The Bai Xue Jiao, in particular, had reservations. When Zheng Yixian received the message, his expression turned grim. He rushed to Yuan Kongye to report. The investigation team wants everyone to gather here. It looks like they plan to fight a major battle against the horde. This is bad news for us. If their base became the battlefield, countless cult followers would die. Bian Junwu prioritized the big picture, focusing solely on mission completion, indifferent to casualties. While logical, this approach spelled disaster for the Bai Xue Jiao, who would bear the sacrifice. After hearing this, Yuan Kongye frowned. Many more people will die, she murmured. And their gathering here is a threat to us. Relations between the five factions were tense, especially with Yangsheng and Chaoyu Bases, who bore grudges against the Bai Xue Jiao for past betrayals. They might even sabotage the cult in secret. Zheng Yixian suggested, Lets evacuate quickly! If they discover anything, itll be disastrous. Yuan Kongye hesitated before nodding slowly. Lets do as you say. Still, theres no need to worry too much. The gods above will protect the faithful of the Bai Xue Jiao. She clasped her hands in prayer. It seemed prayer was all they could rely on, as Bian Junwu never consulted them about his decisions. They could only comply. Author''s Note Chapter 474: The Gathering Chapter 474: The Gathering Zhang Yi received the message and immediately began pondering its deeper implications. Gather at the Bai Xue Jiao? Why not choose another place? Why that rundown spot? Wait they want us to bring all our combat forces. Is this a plan for a major battle with the zombies? If theyre confident enough to initiate a fight, did they uncover some critical intelligence? As Zhang Yi paced back and forth by the living room window, deep in thought, Yang Xinxin rolled by in her wheelchair. Noticing his contemplative expression, she tilted her head and asked, Brother, whats troubling you this time? Zhang Yi smiled and waved her over. You came at the perfect time. Come take a look! After Yang Xinxin approached, Zhang Yi handed her the investigation teams message. She lowered her gaze, pondering briefly before breaking into a smile. Brother, this is great news! Zhang Yi chuckled. Explain in detailwhats so great about it? Yang Xinxin locked eyes with him, her smile unwavering. Whats the defining trait of the Bai Xue Jiao? Hmm well, theyre dirt poor. Aside from their large population, they dont have much else. Are you saying its because of their numbers? Yang Xinxin nodded. Exactly. Their sheer population is their most significant feature. She teased, Its also their only noteworthy advantage. Zhang Yi recalled the Bai Xue Jiaos combat methods. Their weaponry was outdated, and their combatants were weak. In battles with other factions, they often resorted to suicide tactics, trading lives to gain an edge. Such brutal and savage strategies had earned them a foothold in Tianhai City. Yang Xinxin continued, If zombies truly prey on humans selectively, then the massive Bai Xue Jiao population would undoubtedly attract the most zombies. ?????????B?? The investigation team wants us to gather at the Bai Xue Jiao and bring all our combat forces. Their intent is clear. They plan to wage a massive battle against the zombies there. With the Bai Xue Jiaos people and the combined forces of other factions, it will undoubtedly become the most conspicuous target in all of Tianhai City! Hearing her analysis, a realization dawned on Zhang Yi. His eyes lit up as he looked at Yang Xinxin in surprise. If thats the case, doesnt it mean theyve figured out how to deal with the zombie horde? Their five-person squad had witnessed the terrifying might of the zombie horde. Under the command of the intelligent Zombie King, the zombie army, bolstered by Bronze Armored Zombies with combat power rivaling superhumans, had been unstoppable. Yang Xinxin tilted her head with a smile. Since this investigation team was sent by Jiangnan District, their strength is undoubtedly exceptional. But the key lies in intelligence! Intelligence! She wagged her delicate finger, emphasizing her point to Zhang Yi. They have more sources of information than we do. Plus, with the combined data from all factions, they understand the zombie horde far better than we ever could. So naturally, theyd find a way to deal with it quickly. Zhang Yi found her reasoning sound. Now that I think about it, the main reason we failed the last mission was our lack of understanding of the underground environment. We never even encountered the Zombie King. We had to piece together fragmented information, which led to a fear of the unknown. On the other hand, Zhang Yi had to admit that the seven-person squads combat prowess far exceeded that of his team. Bian Junwus strength aside, even his subordinates were top-tier by Tianhai City standardscomparable to the leaders of various bases. Just imagining a team comprising individuals of Zhang Yis, Xiao Honglians, or Wei Dinghais caliber sent shivers down his spine. Leaning back on the sofa, Zhang Yi said casually, In that case, lets head over and see what theyve got planned. Such large-scale mobilization doesnt affect us much anyway. Their small numbers afforded them flexibility. Whether advancing or retreating, they could act swiftly. Without ordinary people holding them back, Zhang Yis group could maintain composure on any battlefield. Alright, well make the trip. Lets see what tricks they have up their sleeves! With that, Zhang Yi summoned everyone to the living room for a meeting. Once the group assembled, he shared the message. Uncle You, with his keen sense for war, immediately remarked, This is it, isnt it? The human alliance against the zombie army! Zhang Yi reclined on the sofa, his expression relaxed. As part of an alliance, thered be plenty of cannon fodder to bear the brunt of the pressure, leaving them less to worry about. And with the elite seven-person squad leading the charge, things seemed promising. He said, This fight was inevitable! As long as the zombie problem persists, survival here will remain precarious. Im just surprised at how quickly they moved. Theyve only been here a day and already have a plan. All I can say is, a professional team is indeed professional! After his musings, Zhang Yi turned a serious gaze to the group. But as always, the most important thing is to prioritize your safety. Life comes firsteverything else is secondary. Got it? The group nodded in agreement. Theyd heard this so often it had become a mantra. Zhou Keer, however, frowned worriedly, her gaze downcast. So, youre all going to the Bai Xue Jiao and leaving us behind at home? Zhang Yi nodded without hesitation. Non-combatants shouldnt come. If a battle breaks out, the zombie armys numbers will be unimaginable. We wont have the capacity to protect you. Thinking about the millions whod died in Tianhai City, Zhang Yi couldnt help but feel uneasy. He had no idea how many of those corpses had turned into zombies. The unification of the five factions meant facing all the zombies in Tianhai City. To fight with no distractions, he needed assurance that his loved ones were safe. Zhou Keer, however, argued, But youll need a doctor! If someone gets hurt, I can help treat them. Every time they went into battle, Zhang Yi left her at the shelter. She understood it was to protect her. But every time, she was left anxiously awaiting his safe return. Zhang Yi looked up, meeting Zhou Keers determined gaze. She genuinely wanted to help. After all, in the extremely cold environment outside, any injury left untreated on the battlefield could quickly become fatal. Sar?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 475: Zhou Ke’er Requests to Join Chapter 475: Zhou Keer Requests to Join Zhang Yi chuckled dismissively. You dont have the ability to protect yourself. If youre on the battlefield, Ill just end up worrying about you. Dont be silly, kiddo. While battlefield medics are important, they shouldnt become a liability. Zhou Keer replied, That mightve been true before, but this time its a large-scale battle. Adequate logistical support will be essential. I imagine other factions will bring their own support personnel as well. Uncle You chimed in, Miss Zhou has a point. With nearly all the combat power of Tianhai Citys top five factions gathered, this fight wont end quickly. If it turns into a prolonged battle, logistics will be criticalespecially medical personnel! His sincere gaze fixed on Zhang Yi. In the past, your caution has kept us from any casualties. But such a streak might not last forever. You must understand, deaths on the battlefield are common, and having a doctor is crucial. Their words gave Zhang Yi pause. Although his strength was formidable, in a chaotic battle of this magnitude, even he couldnt guarantee hed avoid injury. In the sub-zero temperatures of minus 60 degrees, even a minor wound could lead to tissue necrosis. Best case: permanent disability. Worst case: death. If he kept up his stubbornness and ended up injured, regret would be pointless. Moreover, he knew that his companions needed to adapt to harsh environmentsincluding battlefieldsfor the future. After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Yi nodded. Alright, you can come with us this time. Ill arrange for you to stay at the rear. Just hide and focus on treating us if were hurt. Zhou Keer, overjoyed, threw her arms around Zhang Yis neck, her bright eyes shimmering with happiness. I understand! Ill fulfill my duties as a doctor! Seeing Zhou Keer take the initiative, Lu Keran couldnt help but step forward as well. Patting her modest chest, she declared, Big Brother, take me along too! My marksmanship has improved a lot lately. Zhang Yi glanced at the short-haired girl and said plainly, Did you forget that guns dont work well on zombies? Lu Keran froze. Uh Zhang Yi cut her off before she could say more. Except for Keer, no one else is coming. Everyone stays in the shelter. Frustrated, Lu Keran sank back into her seat, while Yang Xinxin remained calm and indifferent. At the same time, Zhou Haimei and Yang Siyah exchanged subtle glances of relief. Unlike Zhou Keer, they lacked the courage to join Zhang Yi on the battlefield. With no combat abilities, theyd only end up dead if they went. Staying safely in the shelter was undoubtedly the better option. Lu Keran, despite being left behind, busied herself inspecting the snow vehicle for Zhang Yi, ensuring it was free of any issues and fully fueled. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi and the others prepared their weapons and equipment. Once everything was ready, they prepared to set off. Before departure, Zhang Yi handed Zhou Keer a small silver handgun. Guns are pretty ineffective against zombies, and you cant handle high-caliber ones. Keep this for self-defenseit works well enough against humans. The immediate threat might be the zombie horde, but Zhang Yi never fully trusted the other factions. They were allies of convenience, united by shared interests, but betrayal could come at any moment. Although Zhou Keers marksmanship wasnt great, it was adequate for self-defense. She took the gun and tucked it into the inner layer of her combat uniform. The group locked down the shelter and boarded two snow vehicles, heading toward the Bai Xue Jiaos headquarters in Tianfeng District. At the Bai Xue Jiao, preparations were underway as they learned of the investigation team and other factions heading their way. Bian Junwu and his team arrived promptly, met by Zheng Yixian and a group of priests and clergymen. The so-called welcoming was perfunctory at best, with no time for elaborate preparations. Bian Junwu and the others didnt care for ceremonies, arriving unannounced and unbothered by the lack of formality. As they entered the area, they noticed bloodstains splattered everywhere, with severed limbs yet to be cleaned. In a corner, someone gnawed on a blood-soaked piece of giant rat meat. Taking in the scene, the seasoned veterans showed no shockthey had seen worse. Zheng Yixian approached Bian Junwu and his team, nodding slightly as he spoke. Welcome to the Bai Xue Jiao. May I ask the purpose of summoning all the factions here so suddenly? If wed been informed in advance, we could have prepared better. Wu Di smirked, folding his arms. Look at the state of this place. Whats there to prepare? Were here to clean up your mess. Just follow our lead. The priests behind Zheng Yixian bristled with anger at Wu Dis words. Noticing their displeasure, Wu Di raised an eyebrow. What? You look like youre not convinced. Want to spar? I can take you all on! Unable to hold back, Han Chang bared his teeth. Dont get cocky! Even if youre strong, were not pushovers! Han Chang, be quiet! Zheng Yixian cut him off sharply, then turned to Wu Di. I apologize on his behalf. The recent heavy casualties have left our people emotionally strained. Wu Di opened his mouth to retort but fell silent at a slight glance from Bian Junwu. Bian Junwu addressed Zheng Yixian directly. Well discuss the plan once everyone is here. He saw no need to explain matters to Zheng Yixian alone. Zheng Yixian smiled politely. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Very well. Would you like to rest in the church area while you wait? He gestured for the investigation team to proceed. Bian Junwu led the group forward, the others close behind. As they walked, Bian Junwu asked, How many of your people have died in recent days? Zheng Yixian hesitated briefly before replying in a somber tone. Thousands of followers have fallen to the zombies during these battles. Some infected couldnt be saved, so we had to humanely dispose of them to prevent further mutations. ??????? Bian Junwu raised an eyebrow. Can you give me an exact number? He cared deeply about the figures, as they revealed the extent of the zombie hordes impact on the Bai Xue Jiao. Zheng Yixian froze, hesitating before answering. Im sorry, but we havent kept precise statistics. The estimated death toll three or four thousand, perhaps? Author''s Note Chapter 476: The Source of Food Chapter 476: The Source of Food Three or four thousand? Bian Junwus tone carried a hint of surprise upon hearing the number. He glanced at the surrounding environment. The defensive infrastructure was rudimentary at best, far inferior to that of the major bases. In the freezing cold, despite having many followers, the Bai Xue Jiao lacked the resources to build strong fortifications. They relied on the existing terrain to fight against the zombies. A group that once boasted over ten thousand members had lost only three or four thousand after prolonged battles with zombie hordes. It was unexpected, to say the least. So, how are you addressing the food supply issue? In an apocalypse, feeding thousands of people requires a massive amount of food. Im curious how you manage it. Bian Junwus question immediately heightened the tension among the Bai Xue Jiao members. Food supply was the core issue for any faction. Had Bian Junwu not been from Jiangnan District, asking this question would have been seen as provocation. Zheng Yixian hesitated briefly before answering, We search nearby areas for buried supermarkets and malls to obtain food and survival supplies. Oh? Is that all? Bian Junwu stared at Zheng Yixian, his eyes obscured by reflective sunglasses, yet his disbelief was palpable. Under such harsh conditions, even searching for food consumed significant energy. How could the Bai Xue Jiao sustain thousandsat one point, tens of thousandsby digging food from beneath meters of snow? Zheng Yixian and the priests behind him wore uneasy expressions. It was evident they were hiding a major secret about their food source. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The investigation team, including Baili Changqing, looked on with amused expressions. A theory was beginning to take shape in their minds, one not uncommon in the apocalypse. ??????? Wu Di broke the silence. Nearly half of your people died. Thats probably how you managed to feed the rest, isnt it? The Bai Xue Jiao erupted in outrage. Han Chang shouted, How dare you say that! Wed never do such a thing! Dai Mei scowled, Dont compare us to animals! Wu Di shrugged mockingly. What then? Are you surviving on air? You Enough! Both of you, stop talking. Before the argument escalated, Zheng Yixian and Bian Junwu simultaneously intervened to restore order. Taking a deep breath, Zheng Yixian bowed slightly to Bian Junwu. There is indeed a secret, but it concerns the survival of the Bai Xue Jiao and cannot be disclosed to outsiders. Oh, is that so? Bian Junwus cold tone implied he wasnt satisfied with this response. Even we cant know? In such times, any hidden secret could potentially be connected to the zombie hordes. Bian Junwu had even considered the possibility that the zombie outbreaks in Tianhai City were deliberately caused by local factions. After a long pause, Zheng Yixian met Bian Junwus gaze and said, If you insist on knowing, I can share the details. Bian Junwu nodded. Alright. Zheng Yixian straightened up. Please follow me. The priests and clergy behind him panicked. Grand Priest, can we really reveal this to outsiders? Zheng Yixian gestured for calm. Its fine. The investigation team from Jiangnan District wouldnt be interested in what little we have. Despite his reassurance, the Bai Xue Jiao members were visibly uneasy. They understood that if this secret were exposed, it would become a major vulnerability for their faction. Even these outsiders from Jiangnan District might covet the treasure they guardeda treasure that formed the foundation of the Bai Xue Jiaos survival. Zheng Yixian, however, had made his decision. As the Grand Priest, his authority was second only to Yuan Kongyes, and no one could overrule him. He led Bian Junwu and his team toward an abandoned building adjacent to St. Johns Cathedral. As they approached, Bian Junwu suddenly stopped. His brows furrowed deeply. The building ahead exuded an unsettling aura. The gray concrete structure jutted out of the snow like a funeral tomb, evoking an ominous feeling. Bian Junwus sharp instincts warned him to stay away. Baili Changqing whispered, Captain, the stench of blood is overwhelming here. Ahead, Zheng Yixian turned back to them, a faintly eerie smile on his lips. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the Bai Xue Jiaos secret. Do you still wish to proceed? Wu Di crossed his arms and scoffed. Enough theatrics. Adjusting his glasses, Bian Junwu followed without a word. He hadnt told his team one crucial detail: After losing his sight, his perception had grown sharper. Just moments earlier, his senses had revealed something bizarre. What appeared to be an abandoned building was, to him, a massive, grotesque creature. The structure seemed aliveover a hundred meters tall, with countless limbs flailing madly and roots burrowing deep underground. Inside, the stench of blood grew stronger. But it wasnt the decayed odor of corpses; it was the fresh, sweet scent of blood still warm from the living. As they ventured deeper, the true nature of the creature was revealed. The buildings interior was overrun by a massive, mutated plant. Its vines and branches stretched throughout the structure, glowing faintly with an eerie red light. Red fruit hung from the branches, each one glistening unnaturally. Seeing this, Bian Junwu and his team began to understand. This is the source of your food? Zheng Yixian plucked a red fruit from the vine and offered it to Bian Junwu. Correct. This is a mutated plant we discovered, which we call the Blood Vine. It has extraordinary vitality, absorbing all surrounding nutrients to sustain itself and produce these fruits. These red fruits are our primary food source. Bian Junwu took the fruit, examining it carefully rather than eating it. Zheng Yixian smiled faintly. Dont worryits not poisonous. Weve consumed it for months without any adverse effects. Bian Junwu replied flatly, That explains a lot. But does it yield enough fruit to feed thousands of people? Zheng Yixian continued forward. Ordinarily, no. But there are ways to accelerate its fruit production. For instance, this. He pointed toward the ceiling. Bian Junwu and the others looked up to see an oval-shaped object entwined in the vines. The red leaves encasing it emitted a faint glow, and its silhouette resembled a human figure. Is that a human? Meng Siyus eyes widened in shock. Youre using humans as nutrients for this plant? Zheng Yixian remained expressionless. To be precise, human remains. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 477: A Sinister Presence Chapter 477: A Sinister Presence Moments later, the investigation team followed Zheng Yixian to the depths of the Blood Vines lair, where they were greeted by a shocking sight. The massive central space of the building had been hollowed out, creating an expansive void that extended from the ground floor to the ceiling of the top level. The Blood Vines thick, pulsating trunk occupied the center, its movements eerily reminiscent of a living creature breathing. Around them, the walls and floors were adorned with countless hanging oval-shaped objectsthousands of them at a glance. Zheng Yixian placed his right hand over his chest, closed his eyes, and muttered a prayer: May the departed become the hope of the survivors. Their flesh and blood, our sustenance. At that moment, the truth behind the Bai Xue Jiaos food source became crystal clear. The cult was using the bodies of the dead as nutrients for the Blood Vine. The plant absorbed the corpses nutrients, producing fruit that was then consumed by the survivors. Wu Di frowned, crossing his arms. How is this any different from cannibalism? Meng Siyu countered, Theres a difference. At least this method avoids prion diseases and is psychologically easier to accept. Despite the macabre scene, none of the investigation team felt physically repulsed. They had witnessed far more grotesque and bizarre things in the apocalypse. Using a mutated plant to process corpses was a relatively humane solution. Zheng Yixian turned to the group with a sincere expression. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the greatest secret of the Bai Xue Jiao. It determines the life or death of thousands of our followers. Please, I implore you to keep this secret. Zheng Yixian wasnt concerned about Jiangnan District coveting the Blood Vine. After all, who would willingly eat food grown from corpses unless they were desperate? Moreover, the plants enormous size made it nearly impossible to transport. Bian Junwu nodded. Dont worry. Your secret is safe with us. With that, he casually tossed the red fruit in his hand to Wu Di before heading toward the exit. Wu Di looked at the fruit in disgust and passed it to Kong Sheng, who then handed it to Qi Guangming. The group treated it like a game of catch, none of them willing to eat it. Zheng Yixian watched with a faint, enigmatic smile before following them out. As he glanced back at the Blood Vine and the thousands of suspended corpses around it, he noticed they were swaying slightly, as if moved by an invisible breeze. ??????? Once outside the abandoned building, Bian Junwu noticed the other factions had yet to arrive. He suggested meeting the leader of the Bai Xue Jiao, Yuan Kongye. Zheng Yixian replied, The leader doesnt typically handle day-to-day affairs. All external matters are my responsibility. Bian Junwu was undeterred. Since were here, we should at least meet her. Ive heard rumors about your leadereven some of the higher-ups in Jiangnan District are intrigued by her abilities. Zheng Yixians pupils briefly contracted. The higher-ups in Jiangnan District were interested in Yuan Kongyes abilities? This was a significant development. Yuan Kongyes abilities were indeed extraordinary. She could help others awaken their superhuman powers. Essentially, whoever controlled her had the potential to create an endless army of superhumans. For the Bai Xue Jiao, this was both a blessing and an opportunity. If they could gain the support of a faction as powerful as Jiangnan District, their cults growth would become unstoppable. Zheng Yixian finally nodded. Please wait here for a moment. Ill inform the leader. Bian Junwu gestured for him to proceed. As Zheng Yixian walked away toward St. Johns Cathedral, the team exchanged glances. Perhaps it was the lingering shock from the Blood Vine, but Wu Di frowned and muttered, This Bai Xue Jiao gives off an unsettling vibe. Kong Sheng responded gravely, Thats to be expected. Organizations with a religious structure tend to be a bit odd. Meng Siyu added, Still, the Bai Xue Jiao has managed to survive and keep so many people alive. Thats impressive in its own way. Baili Changqing sidled up to Bian Junwu. Captain, are the higher-ups really interested in Yuan Kongye? Bian Junwu raised an eyebrow and replied coolly, When we were sent, someone did mention looking into her abilities. If the rumors are true and she can awaken superhuman powers without any cost, the leaders will undoubtedly want her. Baili Changqing whistled, running a hand through his short hair. That kind of power is seriously tempting! Bian Junwu smirked knowingly. Do you really think its that simple? Oh? What do you mean? Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Baili Changqing blinked curiously. Bian Junwu explained, Power always comes with a price. When we awakened our superhuman abilities, it was after facing life-and-death situations. We earned our powers by gambling with our lives. Yuan Kongyes ability supposedly lets people awaken without paying any price. Does that sound plausible to you? Baili Changqings expression grew serious. I have my doubts about that too. Bian Junwu adjusted his glasses. The leadership has considered this as well. The military has been studying superhumans for years, and they find her abilities too incredible to be true. Thats why weve been tasked with investigating her. We need to determine if her powers are as miraculous as claimed. Baili Changqing asked, And if the rumors are true, what then? Bian Junwu shoved his hands into his pockets, his tone laced with implication. If the rumors are true, then her ability would be strategically comparable to LV5 Epsilon. The mention of Epsilon left the entire team visibly stunned. For superhumans, the name Epsilon carried an almost mythical weightheavier than Mount Tai. Throughout all of Huaguo, there was only one known Epsilon-level superhuman: the enigmatic figure from the Shengjing District. Their abilities defied logic, making them virtually unstoppable. It was said that anyone targeted by Epsilon couldnt escape, no matter how far they fled. Not even Jiangnan District had an Epsilon-level superhuman. Bian Junwu himself had once been a candidate for Epsilon-level training, but inherent flaws had barred him from achieving that rank. In Jiangnan District, Epsilon was the epitome of powera dream unattainable for most. Now, the thought that Tianhai City might harbor someone with Epsilon-level potential left the team shaken. Noticing their reactions, Bian Junwu chuckled lightly. Im just saying its a possibility. But until we meet Yuan Kongye and assess her abilities, its too soon to draw any conclusions. Baili Changqing nodded in understanding. So, thats why youre so eager to meet herto evaluate her for yourself? Exactly, Bian Junwu affirmed. His words piqued the entire teams curiosity about Yuan Kongye. Author''s Note Chapter 478: Multi-Party Talks Chapter 478: Multi-Party Talks Shortly after, Zheng Yixian emerged from the cathedral and invited Bian Junwu to meet Yuan Kongye. Bian Junwu entered alone. Inside, he saw a young woman dressed in a white holy robe, appearing no older than twenty. The two spoke privately in the cathedral for over ten minutes. When Bian Junwu finally exited, his usual icy demeanor gave away nothing about the conversation. Unable to hold back, Baili Changqing and the others bombarded him with questions: Captain, how was it? Is Yuan Kongye really an Epsilon? Bian Junwu replied indifferently, Judging a superhumans rank isnt something I can do with just my eyes. But he continued, his tone sharpening, theres definitely something unusual about that girl. Everyone was taken aback. Meng Siyu, ever curious, asked, Whats unusual about her? Bian Junwu tapped his temple. Here. Her brain isnt normal? The team stared at him, stunned. The leader of a major faction like the Bai Xue Jiao had mental issues? Well, it makes sense, Baili Changqing chuckled. People in religious organizations are either con artists or devout fanatics! Bian Junwu nodded slightly in agreement. During his conversation with Yuan Kongye, he had sensed her overwhelming zeal for religion. She genuinely believed in the existence of gods, which deeply intrigued him. It was no wonder she delegated the cults operations to Zheng Yixian. A leader overly committed to divine ideals would either act too idealistically or too recklesslyhardly conducive to managing a large faction. ???????????? Lets assess her abilities gradually, Bian Junwu concluded. After we deal with the zombie problem, well have plenty of time to investigate further. For now, Yuan Kongye wasnt going anywhere, and confirming whether she was an Epsilon would require time and evidence. Soon after, the other factions began to arrive. Following Bian Junwus orders, they brought their strongest combat units, including heavily armed soldiers, armored vehicles, artillery, and even terrifying warhounds. The combined might of the three major bases, numbering in the thousands, filled the Bai Xue Jiaos territory, creating an intimidating presence that unnerved the cults followers. Zhang Yis group also arrived at the scene. After stepping out of the vehicle, Zhang Yi helped Zhou Keer down. Stay by my side and dont wander off. Ill find you a safe spot to wait later, he said gently. Zhou Keer nodded happily, comforted by his care. As they walked toward the towering landmark of St. Johns Cathedral, Zhang Yi spotted an old acquaintanceXing Tian. Xing Tian waved and greeted him. What took you so long? Zhang Yi replied, From the map, Qingfu Base is closer than us. How are we here before you? Xing Tian grinned. There was a ton to handle at the factory. Not all of us can live as carefree as you. Having fewer people does come with its perks, Zhang Yi quipped, raising an eyebrow. Their exchange was brief, as neither knew why Bian Junwu had summoned them, leaving little room for deeper conversation. Upon arriving, Bai Xue Jiao members guided Zhang Yi and Xing Tian toward the cathedral. Zhang Yi left Zhou Keer and the others outside, entering the building with Xing Tian. St. Johns Cathedral, once a famous Tianhai City landmark, was a familiar sight to Zhang Yi. He had visited before to admire its medieval European architecture, though he wasnt religious. Inside, he noticed that everyone else had already gathered. Bian Junwu, Zheng Yixian, Xiao Honglian, and Wei Dinghai had all found seats. There was also someone Zhang Yi didnt recognizea woman in a pristine white holy robe, her face youthful yet solemn, an intense juxtaposition of purity and maturity. He quickly deduced her identity. At a gathering like this, the only unfamiliar person could be Yuan Kongye, the cult leader rumored to possess the ability to awaken superhuman powers. Xing Tian, seeing her for the first time, leaned toward Zhang Yi. Shes so young! She looks like shes barely out of her teens. Zhang Yi glanced at him. Easy there, my neon-loving friend. Watch your words and curb your urges. Xing Tians face twitched. What nonsense are you spouting? You know Ive only ever liked older women! Zhang Yi smirked. Oh, Ive heard. Like that eight-year relationship you had with the massage parlor owner twelve years your senior. Xing Tians dark complexion flushed red, like hot iron in a furnace. You you dont understand! I was young, and she was mature and charming. It was mutual! Relax, Zhang Yi replied. Nothing wrong with missing motherly love. You son of a Xing Tian was about to retort when he caught himself, mindful of the situation. Zhang Yi, youre heartless! No wonder youre cold and unfeeling! Zhang Yis eyes briefly darkened with a flash of memory, followed by a cynical laugh. Love? Hah. Love is the cruelest thing in this world. By then, they had reached the group, and the others watchful gazes silenced their banter. The two found seats, putting an end to their playful argument. Bian Junwu wasted no time. Last night, we killed a Zombie King, he began. Its now confirmed that eliminating a Zombie King causes the entire zombie horde to lose cohesion. Even the accompanying rat swarms become disorganized. Therefore, the key to resolving Tianhai Citys zombie crisis lies in killing every Zombie King. The announcement left everyone stunned. Zhang Yi thought to himself, Though he had anticipated this, the investigation teams efficiency still caught him off guard. They had ventured underground before, attempting to kill a Zombie King, only to fail. The teams swift success highlighted the disparity in capability. Xiao Honglian, however, remained composed. She knew that the Zombie King killed last night had been operating near Yangsheng Base. Xing Tian asked curiously, What exactly is a Zombie King? Can you explain in detail? Of course, Bian Junwu replied. Needing their help to deal with the zombies, he saw no reason to withhold information. S~ea??h the N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 479: The Plan to Annihilate the Zombie Horde Chapter 479: The Plan to Annihilate the Zombie Horde After finishing his explanation, Bian Junwu lifted a black body bag from the ground and placed it in the center of the cathedral. Unzipping it, he revealed the corpse of a humanoid creature covered in white fur. This is it, Bian Junwu announced, pointing at the corpse. Everyone stood up and crowded around the so-called Zombie King. Upon seeing its appearance, most of them were underwhelmed. They had expected the Zombie King to be a more terrifying or mysterious entity. Instead, it looked like nothing more than an ordinary corpse with furreminiscent of an old tale about corpses in tombs transforming into furry monsters. Zhang Yi asked, Is this thing really that dangerous? Bian Junwu replied, The Zombie King can control hordes of zombies. Its intelligence is comparable to a humans, but its combat strength is relatively weak. Hearing this, Zhang Yi nodded in relief. As long as it wasnt overwhelmingly powerful, it would be manageable. He had previously assumed that the Zombie Kings combat strength far surpassed that of the Bronze Armored Zombies. If that had been the case, eliminating it would have been a monumental challenge. It sounds a bit like a hive mind, Zhang Yi remarked. An intelligent queen that births more zombies but lacks significant combat ability. Xing Tian shot him a glance. What, you wish it were stronger? If it were any tougher, wed all be dead already! It was a fair point. The Zombie Kings glaring weakness was a saving grace. Had it been a formidable fighter on top of commanding hordes of zombies, rats, and Bronze Armored Zombies, the factions in Tianhai City wouldnt have stood a chance. Knowing the Zombie Kings vulnerabilities eased some of the fear. However, Zhang Yi remained cautious. If this was just one Zombie King, there were likely others in Tianhai City. Moreover, the origin of the Zombie Kings was a mystery. Without clarity on this, the crisis couldnt truly be resolved. Bian Junwu explained their method for killing the Zombie King: The zombie hordes attack daily, but the Zombie King itself is fragile and remains hidden deep in the subway tunnels. To eliminate it, we need to use bait to lure the zombie army to the surface while an elite team infiltrates the tunnels to kill the Zombie King. Without the Zombie Kings control, the hordes lose cohesion and become far easier to deal with, no matter their numbers. Hearing this, Zheng Yixian suddenly realized the plan. So youre saying you want to use the entire Bai Xue Jiao congregation as bait? Draw the zombies here and then go underground to kill the Zombie King? ???????????s His eyes flashed with anger, and even Yuan Kongyes gaze flickered with subtle emotion. Wei Dinghai chuckled. Dont get so worked up. Out of all the factions in Tianhai City, your Bai Xue Jiao has the largest population. Its only logical to choose your territory as the battlefield. Bian Junwu remained expressionless as he answered Zheng Yixians accusation. While it may sound cold, we did factor that into our decision. Additionally, your faction lacks the advanced defenses that others have. But dont worry too much. All the factions have brought their armed forces here, maximizing your congregations safety. Zheng Yixian gritted his teeth. But youre gathering all the zombies in Tianhai City here. What will happen to our people then? Bian Junwu adjusted his sunglasses and replied coolly, If that happens, itll be ideal. We all hope to end Tianhai Citys zombie problem in one decisive battle. Zheng Yixians voice rose with indignation. And what about the lives of the Bai Xue Jiao followers? Are they just fodder to you? Xiao Honglian interjected with a smirk. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Yixian, be realistic. If Jiangnan Districts team doesnt take this approach, your Bai Xue Jiao will vanish from the map eventually anyway. Spreading her hands, she added, Unlike you, we have the option of retreating into our shelters. With our military-grade equipment, no number of zombies could breach our defenses. But your people? How long can you last with those flimsy fortifications? Her tone was laced with mockery, but her words were undeniable. Everyone understood the brutal truth: if any faction were to fall first, it would be the Bai Xue Jiao. Zheng Yixians face turned ashen. This still doesnt justify using our people as bait! Bian Junwu finally spoke again, his voice cold and resolute. Why shouldnt the Bai Xue Jiao serve as bait? The question stunned Zheng Yixian and Yuan Kongye. They couldnt believe such a statement was made so directly. Bian Junwu stared at them with icy determination. We came all the way from Jinling to help you face this crisis. Right now, all seven of us are here. The full armed forces of other factions are also here! If you claim your people are bait, what does that make us? Are we not also bait in this battle? Have I ever suggested that you face this crisis alone? His powerful declaration left Zheng Yixian speechless. Bian Junwu was right. The Jiangnan District team bore no grudge against the Bai Xue Jiao. Their journey here wasnt to stir trouble but to help Tianhai Citys factions resolve the zombie crisis. Despite understanding this logic, Zheng Yixians face still reflected frustration. Zhang Yi then spoke calmly. You need to understand that we combatants will be on the front lines. If anyone dies first, itll be us. Pointing to the faction leaders, he added, All these factions have brought their armed forces here to protect your congregation. What more could you ask for? Of course, Zhang Yi was merely being diplomatic. In reality, if things went south, his smaller group could retreat without hesitation, while larger forces might hesitate to abandon their positions. Zheng Yixians expression wavered with struggle. He seemed to realize they had no grounds to refuse. The fact that Bian Junwu was even explaining the plan to him was a courtesy. Finally, he let out a reluctant sigh. Fine. I understand. But Mr. Bian, you must provide us with a detailed and convincing battle plan! Author''s Note Chapter 480: A Call to Fight to the Death Chapter 480: A Call to Fight to the Death Seeing Zheng Yixian relent, Bian Junwu adjusted his sunglasses with a composed expression. Dont worry. Ive already devised a plan. Since their enemy this time was a group of low-intelligence creatures, formulating the strategy had been relatively straightforward. With a thorough understanding of the zombie hordes structure and behavior, Bian Junwu had crafted a clear plan. He began explaining his approach to the group. First, once everyone was gathered at the Bai Xue Jiaos location, the goal would be to attract all the zombies in Tianhai City to converge there. Due to spatial differences, the zombie hordes would arrive at varying speeds. The five factions would take defensive positions around the Bai Xue Jiao, luring the hordes into attacking. Meanwhile, Bian Junwus seven-person decapitation team would infiltrate the subway tunnels to eliminate the Zombie King. This plan had already succeeded once, proving its feasibility. The basic idea is simple, Bian Junwu said. Our strategy is similar to encircling reinforcements to destroy the horde, but in this case, its more like baiting them into a trap. He allowed himself a rare smile, though it was a cold one. Xing Tian rolled his eyes. So, in short, were the bait to lure the zombies, huh? Exactly. Its a massive trap, and were waiting for the zombie hordes to walk right in, Bian Junwu replied calmly, exuding confidence. Since theyre low-intelligence creatures, as long as we use the right approach, dealing with them wont be as difficult as it seems. While his tone was reassuring, everyone present felt the immense pressure of the situation. Zhang Yi voiced his concerns. Sure, it sounds simple. But if we attract all the zombies in Tianhai City, how many are we talking about here? Tens of thousands? Hundreds of thousands? He gestured around. With just us and these makeshift defenses, the pressure will be enormous. Though Zhang Yi wasnt afraid of zombies, the sheer numbers could be overwhelming. Fighting in the Bai Xue Jiaos urban setting, devoid of the sturdy defenses of a shelter, was far from ideal. ????????? Bian Junwu met his concerns with unwavering resolve. Thats why I call on all of you to fight to the death. This is for your home. Fight with everything you have! Zhang Yi shrugged. Fair enough. Its our territory. Solving the zombie crisis benefits the five factions the most. Zheng Yixian cast a skeptical glance around the room. What if someone intentionally holds back during the fight, letting the Bai Xue Jiao bear the brunt of the losses? Xiao Honglian scoffed. Zheng Yixian, stop with your paranoia! When the zombie hordes come, who would dare hold back? Thatd be suicide! After considering her words, Zheng Yixian had to admit the logic was sound. No one would risk sabotaging their own survival. Bian Junwu addressed the group. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Does anyone else have objections? Zhang Yi and the others shook their heads. After all, the battle wasnt taking place on their turf. Finally, Yuan Kongye, who had remained silent until now, spoke up. While luring the zombies, I want the non-combatantsespecially the childrento be protected. Her voice was calm but resolute. The Bai Xue Jiaos followers were unafraid of death. Many were willing to sacrifice themselves for their faith. However, the cult also included many women and children who couldnt fight. It was unthinkable to let them be torn apart by the zombies. Bian Junwus expression briefly softened before returning to its usual coldness. Fine. Wheres the safest place in your area? Clear it out for the childrenanyone ten and under, not including those aged ten, can stay there. As for everyone else, they must assist in defending against the zombie horde. This meant only the youngest children would be sheltered. Everyone else would serve as bait. Zhang Yi considered Zhou Keer and decided to have her stay close to him. He didnt mention it now, but as a faction leader, he had the authority to make such arrangements. Yuan Kongye responded, Well use the cathedral as the safe zone. She clasped her hands in prayer, gazing devoutly at the cross hanging above the altar. The gods will protect their faithful. St. Johns Cathedral, situated at the heart of the Bai Xue Jiaos territory, was its safest location. If the enemy breached this area, it would mean the situation was dire. The cathedral also had a basement that could serve as a last resort hiding place. Since the Bai Xue Jiao knew the area best, everyone accepted Yuan Kongyes proposal without objection. The consensus was reached: the five factions would draw the zombie hordes while the investigation team focused on eliminating the Zombie King. The most dangerous taskfacing the Zombie King and its Bronze Armored Zombie guardswas left to the investigation team. No one objected, as no other faction had the capability to handle it. Even Zhang Yi, confident as he was, wouldnt claim to be up to the task. With the agreement finalized, Bian Junwu began assigning defensive positions. Each faction was tasked with guarding one directioneast, south, west, or north. Zhang Yis small, elite team was designated as a special operations unit, free to move and provide support wherever needed. The factions hashed out minor disputes over defensive responsibilities before settling on a cohesive plan. Bian Junwu distributed advanced communication devices to each group. These high-tech gadgets connected to the Xingyun Satellite System, ensuring reliable communication even in adverse conditions. Communication is critical on the battlefield. This equipment will keep the factions coordinated and responsive, Bian Junwu explained. He also issued a final reminder: This battle could last a long timecertainly more than a day or two. Prepare for a prolonged conflict. Everyone nodded. The gravity of the situation was clear. They were baiting the entire citys zombie population into one area, and the outcome depended on timing and numbers they couldnt predict. For the foreseeable future, this was where they would live and fight. Zhang Yi, however, remained unfazed. Though the conditions here were far worse than those of the shelter, he had plenty of supplies and a snow vehicle with heat, ensuring he wouldnt suffer too much. Author''s Note Chapter 481: Reuniting with Li Jian Chapter 481: Reuniting with Li Jian After hours of discussion, the factions finally reached an agreement. The groups dispersed to organize and reinforce their respective defensive positions. As part of the flexible action team, Zhang Yi had a lighter taskproviding support wherever needed. After the meeting, he approached Yuan Kongye with a grin. Miss Leader, I need a small favor from you. Yuan Kongye raised her head, her deep and luminous eyes meeting his. They resembled the night skyprofound, infinite, and captivating. Though her face remained expressionless and she had spoken little during the meeting, it was hard for Zhang Yi to ignore the Bai Xue Jiaos symbolic leader. Especially considering her unique ability. Zhang Yi was particularly curious because one of his companions, Yang Siyah, had awakened her powers through her connection with Yuan Kongyes Ice Soul. Before Yuan Kongye could respond, Zheng Yixian stepped between them, his calm gaze fixed on Zhang Yi with a programmed smile. Mr. Zhang, if you have a request, you can tell me directly. Ill assist you. Our Leader dedicates herself wholeheartedly to serving the gods and doesnt involve herself in mundane matters. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. He couldnt help but wonder about their relationship. Shrugging off the thought, Zhang Yi replied, Heres the deal: one of my people is an excellent doctor. Pausing for emphasis, he added, Shes my girlfriend. Shes not a superhuman and has no combat abilities. Id like her to stay here with your Miss Leader. What do you say? Zheng Yixians expression tightened at the phrase Miss Leader, his brows knitting slightly. Mr. Zhang, please mind how you address our Leader. Ah, sorry, sorry, Zhang Yi said with mock sincerity, his tone carrying a hint of sarcasm. I thought someone who serves the gods wouldnt care about worldly formalities. Zheng Yixian chose not to escalate the tension. Of all the factions in Tianhai City, Zhang Yis was the one he feared the most. Zhang Yis rise had been nothing short of extraordinary, and he had repeatedly outmaneuvered and overpowered his rivals. Before Zheng Yixian could respond, Yuan Kongye stepped forward and spoke calmly. Of course, thats fine. If Mr. Zhang is willing to bring his girlfriend to the battlefield, it shows his commitment to this mission, even at the risk of her safety. Sarch* The N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And doctors are indeed crucial to our logistics. She can stay at the cathedral with us. Zhang Yi flashed a wide smile. See? The Leader gets it! Done deal. Plus, with her here, Ill make sure the cathedral stays safe. Win-win for everyone! Turning on his heel, Zhang Yi left the cathedral. Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian watched him go, their expressions unreadable. Zheng Yixians eyes held a trace of unease. He really is the most unpredictable factor in Tianhai City. It was no wonder Zheng Yixian paid so much attention to Zhang Yi. His rise had been both astonishing and unsettling. Starting as a warehouse manager, Zhang Yi had been an insignificant figure in Tianhai City. But then, he had taken down Wang Simings shelter, clashed with the West Hill Base, and destroyed it entirely. ??????????????? During the Five Faction War, Zhang Yi had almost single-handedly crippled the Chaoyu and Yangsheng Bases, all while remaining elusive. When the zombie wave hit, Zhang Yi was the first to secure his territory and avoid the chaos. His achievements were nothing short of legendary. I just hope he doesnt become our enemy, Zheng Yixian murmured to himself. Zhang Yi headed toward the snow vehicles where his team was waiting, intending to update them on the meetings outcome. As he walked, a familiar figure caught his eyea gaunt middle-aged man wearing glasses and an exhausted expression. Zhang Yi paused, narrowing his eyes. The man noticed him too, and their gazes met. It was his old neighbor, the former Walmart Tianhai City CFO, Li Jian. Zhang Yi had assumed the man had been killed in Yuelu Residential Area during the zombie outbreak. To see him here, alive and part of the Bai Xue Jiao, was unexpected. For a moment, Li Jians eyes flashed with surprise, but he quickly averted his gaze and walked away as if he didnt recognize Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi immediately understood. With the delicate balance between the five factions, showing familiarity with Zhang Yi could invite suspicion toward Li Jian within the Bai Xue Jiao. Zhang Yi decided not to approach him. They werent close enough for him to risk upsetting the current situation. When Zhang Yi reached the vehicles, his team was relaxing nearby. Liang Yue cradled her Loong Roar Sword while chatting idly with the others. Seeing the dire conditions of the Bai Xue Jiao followers, they couldnt help but feel grateful for their own circumstances. The Bai Xue Jiao lived in what was essentially a massive slum. Most followers were emaciated, surviving on scant rations. For warmth, they huddled together, often lacking even firewood. In contrast, Zhang Yis team enjoyed the comfort of their luxurious, heated shelter. Their combat uniforms provided superior insulation, powered by internal batteries, allowing for mobility and warmth without bulk. All of this was thanks to Zhang Yis efforts in creating an enviable standard of living for his team. After Zhang Yi briefed them on the meetings details, no one was particularly surprisedthey had anticipated this outcome. The only downside was the prospect of staying in such an environment for an extended period. The team lamented the inconveniences, particularly one glaring issue: going to the bathroom. In these freezing conditions, exposing ones lower body was almost a death sentence. For minor needs, it was manageable, but for anything else, even a small mistake could lead to frostbiteor worse. While the Bai Xue Jiao had makeshift underground latrines, the enclosed, poorly ventilated spaces were unbearable for Zhang Yis team. Lacking resources, the cult even used the waste for fuel or biogas production. Zhang Yi quickly came up with a solution. Well make do for now. Ill modify two vehicles into mobile toiletsone for men and one for women. We have the resources, so theres no need to make ourselves suffer unnecessarily. Author''s Note Chapter 486: The Mummy Chapter 486: The Mummy Bian Junwus face was calm and expressionless as he addressed the group. This is just the beginning. The horde might still be observing us. What we need to do is wait patiently. This is like fishingits a contest of patience between the angler and the fish. No plan was ever perfect. Their current strategy was based on available intelligence. If it failed, they could try another approach. As long as the zombies remained inactive, they wouldnt lose anything but time. The others had no better ideas. Splitting up to investigate was too dangerous, so they decided to continue waiting and observing. During the meeting, Zhang Yi discreetly watched Zheng Yixian and Yuan Kongyes expressions. Neither showed any sign of suspicion, which reassured him that his actions had gone unnoticed. Still, Zhang Yi couldnt help but wondercould the so-called restricted area be less important than he had assumed? If it were truly vital, the Followers of the Snow God would likely guard it even more heavily. That night, Zhang Yi called his team together and took out the items he had retrieved from the building to show them. The group, while nervous about Zhang Yis infiltration of the restricted area, couldnt suppress their excitement. After all, uncovering someone elses secrets was thrilling. Zhang Yi displayed the red fruits, branches, and the cocoon-like pod. When he brought out the pod, their expressions grew strangeit was eerily human-sized, as though it held a person. Keer, Zhang Yi said to Zhou Keer, youre the one whos good with knives. Why dont you open this up? S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With surgical tools stored in his spatial inventory, they could conduct a proper examination here. Zhou Keer looked at the items and said, The fruit and branches should be analyzed in a lab; this environment isnt ideal. But this pod it looks strange. Like a mummy! Her words resonated with the others, who nodded in agreement. Zhang Yi hoped it really was a mummy and not a giant insect. Under the groups eager gaze, Zhou Keer pulled out her surgical equipment. Instead of immediately cutting into the pod, she shone a small flashlight on it to examine its contents. Through the light, they could make out a humanoid figure insideemaciated, as if reduced to little more than bones. It really is a mummy! Zhang Yi exhaled in relief. A corpse was easier to deal with than a massive bug. I think I understand its purpose now, Zhang Yi said, his mind racing with speculation. Tell us! Liang Yue urged, curious. Lets open it up first. Maybe its not as mysterious as it seems, Zhang Yi replied with a smile. Zhou Keer nodded and began her work. With steady hands, she used a scalpel to slice open the dark red leaf-like shell, starting from the top. As expected, inside was a corpseskin tightly clinging to bone, completely drained of any flesh or blood. Recalling the thousands of similar pods hanging inside the abandoned building, Zhang Yi finally understood the plants purpose. So thats what it is! As the others looked at him quizzically, Zhang Yi explained: The abandoned building houses a giant mutated plant. It likely absorbs nutrients from these corpses to produce the red fruits. Weve seen the Followers of the Snow God eating these fruitstheyre probably their main food source. The so-called restricted area is essentially a living granary. No wonder they guard it so fiercely. While the truth was intriguing, it left the group somewhat unimpressed. They didnt lack food, so a plant that could sustain thousands of people wasnt particularly useful to them. ???????§? However, Zhou Keer, prodding the corpse with her scalpel, confirmed that it had been entirely drained of nutrientsthere wasnt a shred of flesh left. Zhang Yi turned to her. Analyze the fruit and branches when were back. See if theres anything unusual about them. Though hed lost interest in the plant, Zhang Yis cautious nature prompted him to ensure it held no hidden dangers. Zhou Keer nodded. Give me some time. This plant is fascinatingonce I slice it for analysis, Ill examine it under a microscope with biological reagents. Elsewhere, Meng Siyu of the investigation team removed her white gloves and studied the dissected corpse before her. Turning to Bian Junwu, who stood nearby, she said, Its just a corpse drained of nutrients. Nothing abnormal. As for the fruits, they have some hallucinogenic effects, likely helping the Snow Gods leadership control their followers. No pathogens were detected, and the fruits are high in sugar, making them a nutrient-rich food source. Bian Junwu adjusted his thick glasses. Understood. When we return, bring back some roots and stems. Lets see if the lab can cultivate this plantit could be very useful. Deep within the abandoned building, Zheng Yixian stood before the massive blood-red vine, gazing at the suspended pods. 3968, 3969, 3970 Ah, another ones missing. Their curiosity is really something, he murmured. The next day, the absence of zombies continued, deepening the groups unease. The longer the horde stayed out of sight, the more likely it seemed they were preparing a devastating attack. Bian Junwu had already mobilized resources from the Jiangnan District, utilizing satellites to monitor Tianhai City for signs of zombie movement. Finally, with the aid of advanced technology, they uncovered a clue. Bian Junwu called everyone together and shared the latest findings. The zombie horde is gatheringand its heading this way. Preliminary estimates put their numbers at no less than 100,000. Get ready for a tough fight. 100,000? The figure made everyone frown. Their combined forces numbered just over 2,000. Facing such overwhelming odds, especially against resilient creatures like the armored zombies, the battle promised to be perilous. But Zhang Yi secretly thought: Its definitely more than 100,000. Bian Junwus estimate was meant to reassure the group while rallying them to act as bait for the horde. Zhang Yi suspected the actual number could be double, triple, or even more. After all, he had seen tens of thousands of zombies in the remote Ci Qu Line. With the entire citys undead converging here, a million-strong horde wouldnt be surprising. Still, Zhang Yi kept this thought to himself. Their small team could always retreat if necessary. If the situation became too dangerous, Zhang Yi resolved to take his group and escape Tianhai City. Survival was the ultimate priority. Author''s Note Chapter 487: The Zombie Horde Arrives! Chapter 487: The Zombie Horde Arrives! Bian Junwu addressed the group calmly. You dont need to eliminate the entire horde. Just hold them off long enough to give our investigation team a chance. Once we head underground and eliminate the Zombie King, the horde will lose its coordination and become much easier to handle. Xing Tian shook his head in disbelief. Ten thousand zombies? Even more? Even without coordination, thats still overwhelming! Heck, we couldnt catch ten thousand pigs in three days, let alone zombies. Stay focused! Bian Junwu snapped. Their numbers work to our advantage. Its a rare opportunity to wipe them out in one strike. Endure now, and well reap the rewards later. Xiao Honglian folded her arms, her expression grim. I just hope we can hold out long enough. Otherwise, the horde will drown us, and well all die here. No one in the group was naive. Bian Junwus estimate of 100,000 zombies was clearly an understatement. The reality was bound to be far worse. In the past, their underground bases had provided an escape route. But here, at the Followers of the Snow Gods camp, they had no fallback positionsonly a vulnerable group of ordinary followers to protect. While no one cared much about the followers, letting the zombies breach their defenses would shatter the coalitions battle line, leaving everyone to perish. Reluctantly, they resolved to defend against the horde with everything they had. Bian Junwu adjusted his dark glasses. If you think your defensive position is too demanding, you can swap with others. Or, he added, glancing at Xiao Honglian, take our mission instead. Xiao Honglians expression turned uneasy. Defending against the horde was difficult, but it was nothing compared to the investigation teams taskventuring underground to confront hordes of armored zombies and who knew what else. The seven-member investigation team was made up of elite fighters, each at least second-in-command level within their respective factions. At least three of them, Zhang Yi suspected, were on par with the most powerful faction leaders like Xiao Honglian. As for Bian Junwu himself, his combat prowess was widely acknowledged as unrivaled among Tianhai Citys superhumansat least outwardly. Alongside him was Baili Changqing, his seemingly harmless yet enigmatic second-in-command. Xiao Honglian sighed. I understand. At this point, we have no choice but to fight. Captain Bian, were counting on your team for this. Of course, Bian Junwu replied evenly. As defenses were bolstered, the atmosphere grew heavier. Everyone knew the outcome of the battle would determine the survival of Tianhai City. Failure meant the city would become a wasteland, likely prompting the Jiangnan District to use the a weapon capable of erasing the city from the map. Even Zhang Yi, who had initially taken a lighter approach, began to feel the tension. What would he do if they failed? His only option might be to use Dimensional Gate to escape with his close allies and later return for Yang Xinxin and the others. With these concerns in mind, Zhang Yi sought out Bian Junwu. Captain Bian, I have a question. May I ask for your insight? S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bian Junwu, who valued Zhang Yis potential, nodded. Go ahead. If we know that taking out the Zombie King will end the crisis, why hasnt Jiangnan District sent reinforcements? Wouldnt a squad of their elite forces be able to handle this easily, sparing us from such a burden? ????? Zhang Yi clarified, I dont mean to sound entitled. But with the districts strength, this situation shouldnt be so hard to resolve. Why put us under so much pressure? Jiangnan District governed all cities in its region and had a vested interest in preserving liveshuman resources were invaluable in the apocalypse. Zhang Yi believed they wouldnt want excessive casualties in Tianhai City, which was why they had dispatched the investigation team in the first place. Bian Junwu chuckled at the question and looked at Zhang Yi. Do you think the situation in Tianhai City is dire? Zhang Yi hesitated. Isnt it? A zombie outbreak of this scale could turn the city into a dead zone and threaten nearby regions. Not really, Bian Junwu replied with a stern expression. Tianhai City is just an ordinary place in the grand scheme of Jiangnan District. Its not particularly significant. New problems arise across the district every daysuperhumans, mutated creatures, and inexplicable phenomena. This era of mutations has made the world chaotic. The district has limited investigation teams and resources. Unless a situation becomes utterly unmanageable, they wont mobilize a large force to intervene. He patted Zhang Yis shoulder. This world is vast, far bigger than Tianhai City. If you ever travel beyond here, youll realize this place is relatively stable. In the heartlands, along rivers and mountains, true horrors roam. Zhang Yis curiosity was piqued, but he felt reluctant to leave Tianhai City. He shook his head. Im a homebody. Im fine staying here. Bian Junwu smirked. If you ever change your mind, you can He paused, reconsidering his words. Given his condition, he wasnt sure how much longer he had left. Well, lets deal with the zombies first. We can talk afterward. As days passed, the area around the Followers of the Snow Gods camp remained eerily quiet. The barren landscape seemed devoid of zombies, giving the illusion they had vanished from Tianhai City entirely. But Zhang Yi and the others knew better. The horde wasnt goneit was consolidating its forces for a decisive strike. Finally, on the fifth night, the horde arrived. The first to detect them were Bian Junwus sentries, who had access to the advanced Xingyun satellite system, capable of real-time monitoring across Tianhai City. When hordes of zombies began pouring from three subway entrances around the camp, Bian Junwu immediately sounded the alarm. The horde is here! Prepare for battle! Author''s Note Chapter 488: The Flames of War Ignite Chapter 488: The Flames of War Ignite The zombie horde had arrived. They poured out from three subway entrances, a black tide surging forth as if an anthill had been disturbed, sending countless ants scurrying out in waves. Within moments, the entire land was overrun by zombies, with more still emerging from the depths of the subway tunnels. In just a few minutes, the Followers of the Snow God were surrounded by seventy to eighty thousand zombies! Among them were Bronze Armored Zombies, towering two to three times the height of regular zombies, and swarms of mutated rats surging through the horde. Even though everyone had mentally prepared for this, seeing it in person still made them want to curse out loud. Bian Junwu and his team had already driven away from the Followers of the Snow God''s stronghold. They were responsible for the decapitation operation and would not participate in the front-line battle. That meant the pressure of holding the line fell entirely on the five major factions. Zhang Yi wasted no time. He led Zhou Keer straight to St. Johns Cathedral, handing her over to Yuan Kongye. "Please, protect her at all costs!" Zhang Yi fixed Yuan Kongye with a serious gaze. Yuan Kongye didn''t respond, but stationed outside the cathedral doors were two Superhumans assigned specifically to defend the churchs interior. With them present, even if the zombies broke through the outer defenses, they would still be able to hold out for a while. Once Zhang Yi completed his task, he rushed back to his position. Meanwhile, outside the Followers of the Snow Gods territory, the sound of artillery fire erupted! To prepare for this battle, every major faction had thrown in everything they had. The three main base organizations had brought out their stockpiled artillery and rocket launchers, setting them up at the rear of the battlefield. Regular firearms had little effect on zombies, but these were a different story. As long as it was a carbon-based lifeform, getting blown to pieces meant there was no coming back. The roar of cannons shook the air as flares shot skyward, illuminating the entire area around the Followers of the Snow God as bright as daylight! Under the harsh light, the densely packed zombies and surging rat swarms covering the ground created an overwhelming sense of dread. "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" Each cannon blast wiped out dozens of zombies, blasting gaping holes in the horde. But the gaps were quickly filled as more zombies swarmed forward. Before long, the zombie tide had reached just over a kilometer from the defense line. The second defensive measure was activated! Three firewalls had been set up around the Followers of the Snow God. Underneath them lay vast amounts of flammable materials. As soon as the zombie horde got closeignite! Given the sheer density of the zombie tide, once the firewalls were ablaze, a chain reaction would incinerate wave after wave of the undead. From atop a high vantage point, Zhang Yi activated the Dimensional Gate and methodically began sniping zombies. At his feet lay ten full duffel bags, packed with tens of thousands of bullets. From his elevated position, he had a clear view of the battlefield and the crushing pressure each faction was under. "How many can I even kill, shooting one by one like this?" Zhang Yi let out a sigh and raised his sniper rifle. "Pfft!" A single shot rang out, and a zombie thousands of meters away had its head blasted into a mist of blood. Even headless, the zombie hadnt completely lost its ability to move, but without sight, it staggered around aimlessly before being trampled by the zombies behind it. ???????? Zhang Yi swiftly adjusted his aim, his firing rhythm smooth and uninterrupted. "Pfft!" "Pfft!" "Pfft!" With his precise shooting ability, he was taking down a zombie every two seconds. Zhang Yi prioritized the closest zombie clusters, adjusting his targets based on the battlefield conditions. It almost felt like he was playing a tower defense game. But the tension on this battlefield couldn''t be described with just the word "game". Despite his skills, Zhang Yi knew his impact on the battlefield was limited. Even if he could kill hundreds of times more zombies than a regular soldier, it wasnt enough to shift the tide of battle alone. Unlike Bian Junwu, Zhang Yi lacked abilities that could deal large-scale, high-impact destruction. The zombie horde roared as they pushed past the firewalls, storming toward the defensive lines. And waiting for them behind those lineswere heavy machine guns and cannons! Handguns and rifles were useless against these creatures. But these weapons? They could shred through armored vehiclesagainst zombies, they''d tear them apart entirely! "Aim for their legs!" Xiao Honglian barked commands from the front line. In these five days of preparation, humanity had developed new battle strategies. If the zombies had learned from past encounters, why couldn''t they refine their tactics too? If killing zombies was too hardthen just cripple them! The heavy machine guns spat blue flames as they fired. "Ratatatatata!!" The bullets tore through the zombies'' legs, severing their lower halves in an instant. The downed zombies continued to crawl forward, roaring. But they were quickly trampled by their own horde, as the zombies behind them used their bodies as stepping stones. The horde was accelerating, charging like a pack of wild beasts. But the warriors of humanitys front line were already waiting for them. Each fighter had injected a military-grade red stimulant, allowing them to fight for extended periods without fatigue. With their nerves heightened, they no longer felt pain, and even fear of death was suppressed. These were the elites of each faction, clad in highly durable combat gear. Their suits were tough enough to withstand regular bullets, and even in close combat, zombie claws and teeth wouldnt be able to break through. The only real threatwere the mutated giant rats, whose steel-crushing teeth were a problem. Their weapons werent gunsbut steel battle axes and heavy cleavers! These weapons, provided by Qingfu Base, were razor-sharp. In the hands of a trained warrior, they could decapitate a zombie in one clean strike! Once the zombies pushed past the earlier defenses, it would be these warriors turn to take the field! And behind themstood the five factions strongest Superhumans. Zhang Yi remained stationed on the rooftop, sniper rifle in hand, delivering precise and deadly shots. Each time he emptied a clip, he swapped to another rifle to prevent overheating. In just a few minutes since the battle began, he had already killed over two hundred zombies. Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On any human battlefield, that would be an insane kill count. But against an army of over a hundred thousand zombies, it was nothing more than a drop in the ocean. Still, Zhang Yi wasnt worried. Regular zombies were just warm-ups. What truly interested himwere the Bronze Armored Zombies lurking in the horde. From the previous battle, Zhang Yi had studied their defenses. Their skin, muscles, and bones were as tough as steeleven heavy machine gun rounds struggled to harm them. That was why Zhang Yi had Lu Keran prepare high-caliber armor-piercing rounds specifically for them. Now, combined with his anti-materiel sniper rifle and his Superhuman Energywould he be able to turn the tide of battle? Author''s Note Chapter 489: The Human Frontline Chapter 489: The Human Frontline The zombie horde rapidly closed in on the human defensive line. Fully armed warriors roared as they charged forward, wielding battle axes and cleavers! Meanwhile, the Bronze Armored Zombies remained in the back, unmoving. There werent many of themcompared to the hundreds of thousands of regular zombies, there were only a few hundred Bronze Armored Zombies. But each one of them possessed combat strength equal to a Superhuman! Upon seeing them, Xiao Honglian felt a chill run down her spine. She vividly remembered how one of these monsters had torn Dong Hu apart in their last battle. "How the hell are we supposed to fight that many Bronze Armored Zombies?" Zhuge Qingtian was in shock. He had assumed these creatures were extremely rare, yet now hundreds of them had appeared! Xiao Honglian''s sword-like eyebrows furrowed as she bellowed, "Whats there to fear? However many come, we kill that many!" At this point, there was no turning backthe only option was to fight to the death! No matter how overwhelming the numbers seemed, battle was the only answer! The zombie horde was strategicthey sent in the mutant rats and regular zombies first, forcing the humans to expend their energy. Then, when the frontline was weakened, the Bronze Armored Zombies would move in as the elite force to finish the job. What they didnt realize, however, was that Zhang Yi had already marked them as his prey. Lying prone on the balcony of a high-rise, Zhang Yi switched to a massive anti-materiel sniper rifle, chambering a special armor-piercing round. His crosshairs locked onto a Bronze Armored Zombies triangular skullmore specifically, its eye socket. "Lets see if you can surprise me." BOOM!! The thunderous shot echoed across the battlefield. The armor-piercing bulletenhanced with Tianhai Citys strongest Spatial Superhuman Energy and crafted from specialized materialspunched into the zombies skull! ???????S? The sheer impact slammed the zombie to the ground. But its skull was absurdly durablethe bullet hadnt pierced all the way through! However, the moment the high-energy round entered its cranial cavity, it ignited the zombies brain matter! Unlike regular zombies, Bronze Armored Zombies possessed intelligence. Or rather, they were a completely different existencethey had a form of life beyond simple reanimation. The injured zombie let out a furious, agonized roar, wildly flinging nearby zombies aside before finally collapsing. Zhang Yis lips curled into a wide grin. "It worked." After his last encounter with Bronze Armored Zombies, Zhang Yi had spent countless hours preparing at the Shelter. With intelligence gathered from Liang Yue and Uncle You, he had a solid understanding of their defenses. Using that data, he had modified his sniper rounds to maximize their destructive power. That last shot? It couldve pierced the armor of a tank! And now, all that effort had paid off. "Alright thenlets keep going." Zhang Yi knew that Bronze Armored Zombies posed the biggest threat to the human factions. So, he began systematically hunting them down. Their massive frames made them impossible to miss. Adjusting his scope, Zhang Yi focused entirely on their eyes. BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! The anti-materiel sniper rifle roared, and bullets streaked through the night sky, striking one Bronze Armored Zombie after another before they even had a chance to react. One by one, the towering monsters collapsed into the zombie horde. The sight sent shockwaves through the human ranks. A moment ago, they had been terrified of these elite zombies. Now, they were watching them get taken out like weeds being cut down! "Someones actually sniping Bronze Armored Zombies?! Who the hell is doing this?" Following the trajectory of the bullets, they turned their gaze toward the high-rise. And there, standing tall with a sniper rifle in hand, was Zhang Yi. Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and the others stared in stunned silence. So this was Zhang Yis power? They couldnt help but recall the Five Armies Battle from before. Back then, Zhang Yi had single-handedly turned the tide against them, forcing their forces into a state of absolute caution. But this timehis strength had evolved even further! "Zhang Yi... what a terrifying man," Xiao Honglian murmured. Wei Dinghai sighed. "Wed better avoid making an enemy of him in the future. Otherwise, we might not even realize how we got played to death." But right now, Zhang Yi was on their side. His sniper kills on the Bronze Armored Zombies sent a surge of morale through the allied troops! Zhang Yi had proven that these seemingly unstoppable monsters could be slain. With their fear diminishing, the soldiers roared in fury and charged forward to clash with the zombie horde! At the same time, Superhumans from all factions entered the battle! Across the defensive lines, thousands of warriors stood like a frail wall of straw, barely holding back a wave of over a hundred thousand zombies! And yet, this seemingly fragile line of defense was forcing the horde to a standstill! On the battlefield, Xing Tian sat astride his massive Demon Wolf, his expression unyieldinglike indestructible metal. A radiant white light surged from his body, enveloping him entirely before spreading to the warriors behind him. Xing Tian Legion! This ability empowered the entire force, granting them a massive boost in morale and combat strength! Their bodies visibly transformed, becoming bulkier, tougher, and brimming with energy. "Kill!!!" With massive battle axes in hand, they let out earth-shaking roars, their voices drowning out even the zombie hordes cries! Xing Tian raised a colossal battle axe, taller than himself and as wide as a wooden door, before leaping off his Demon Wolfslamming straight into the zombie horde! The whirlwind force of his axe swept through the battlefield, cleaving dozens of zombies in half in a single swing! With their commander leading the charge, his warriors were not about to lag behind. They roared and crashed into the horde, engaging in brutal melee combat! Meanwhile, the massive Demon Wolf lunged into the fray, unleashing a freezing breath, turning a vast number of zombies into ice sculptures. With a mighty shake of its body, the frozen zombies shattered into pieces. Among the five major factions, only Qingfu Bases warriors were willing to fight the zombie horde head-on like this! Surprisingly, the faction facing the least pressure was Chaoyu Base. By combat strength alone, they werent the strongest of the five factions. After the Five Armies Battle, their fighting force had been cut in half! But on this blizzard-covered battlefield, Wei DinghaisIce and Snow Lordability was too overwhelming. "One-on-one combat isn''t my strong suit," Wei Dinghai declared. "But in the realm of ice and snowI am king!" Clad in frost-forged armor, he raised both hands high. Within seconds, across a thousand-meter radius, the thick layers of ice beneath the battlefield shattered violently! Thousands of zombies, caught off guard, plummeted into gaping snow pits, instantly buried beneath an avalanche of ice! sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For Wei Dinghai, clearing out lesser zombies was effortless. Sure, these creatures couldnt truly be killed, but killing them wasnt the goal tonight. Their mission was to stall the horde, buying time for the Investigation Team! As Wei Dinghai swept his hands across the battlefield, massive fields of snow erupted, turning the battlefield into a chaotic mess. His movements were graceful, like a maestro conducting an orchestra, with the frozen battlefield dancing at his command. The once solid, trampled ground was now a death trap, where zombies struggled desperately to escape. With their insanely high numbers, many zombies ended up tripping and piling over each other, leaving them stuck in the icy trenches. For nowthe human frontline held strong! Author''s Note Chapter 490: Temptation Chapter 490: Temptation On the battlefield, what should have been the zombie hordes ultimate weaponthe Bronze Armored Zombieswere being methodically sniped down by Zhang Yi, who had come fully prepared. This drastically eased the burden on the allied forces! Had they been forced to engage the Bronze Armored Zombies in direct combat, the coalition would have had to sacrifice countless soldiers just to hold the line. The battle was still brutal and deadly, but at least they could maintain their position. Even as Zhang Yi fought, a lingering doubt nagged at him. The Followers of the Snow God''s defenses were shockingly weakvirtually nonexistent. No high walls, no barbed wire, just a group of fearless zealots and some Superhumanshow had they survived this long without being wiped out by the zombie horde? "This doesnt make any sense" Muttering to himself, Zhang Yi adjusted his aim and took down another Bronze Armored Zombie. The zombie army was endless. He had already eliminated more than a dozen Bronze Armored Zombies, but since the horde lacked communication, they werent even trying to defend against him. There were simply too manytheir only directive seemed to be: Kill everyone here. While the five major factions held the frontline against the zombie horde, Bian Junwus team had taken a different route, just as they had before. They had circled behind the horde, positioning themselves far from the main battlefield. From their vantage point, satellite imaging revealed the sheer scale of the undead army. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zombies kept pouring out of the subway tunnels, their numbers surging past a hundred thousandand still increasing! The sight was horrifying enough to make anyone suck in a cold breath. "How many of these damn things are there? Could we actually be dealing with over a million zombies?" Kong Sheng spoke with clear concern. "How long do you think they can hold the line against the horde?" Wu Di crossed his arms and sneered. "They''ll fight to the death if they have to. Survival instinct will keep them going. As long as they buy us enough time to eliminate the Zombie King, it doesnt matter if they all die." He didnt care about the fate of Tianhai Citys fighters. The only thing that mattered to him was completing the mission. If they failed, the horde would continue to expand, spreading its infection into new regions. That was the real concern for the Jiangnan District leadership. A few sacrifices were a small price to pay. Bian Junwu remained silent, simply adjusting his aviator sunglasses while watching the battlefield with a cold expression. After what felt like an eternity, the flow of zombies from the subway tunnels stopped. He glanced at the battlefield, watching the ocean of zombies swarm toward the Followers of the Snow God''s stronghold. Then, Bian Junwu spoke. "Let''s move. Its our turn to act." The zombie horde above ground was terrifying, but they knew the underground tunnels held just as many threats. That intelligent, white-furred mutant monkey was cowardly, and it had definitely kept a large force behind for protection. As ruthless as Wu Dis words were, their mission was far more dangerous. Upon arriving at the subway tunnels, they let Meng Siyu scout ahead using her detection abilities. Moments later, she reported back with grim news. "Theres an insane number of zombies belowincluding a large force of Bronze Armored Zombies." Bian Junwu''s expression remained icy cold. "Its a trap." "Theyve learned from their past mistakes. They know we use this strategy to execute decapitation strikes." "These bastards are trying to outplay us." The Zombie Kings learning speed was frightening. Perhaps their brains werent so different from humans after all. "What do we do now?" Baili Changqing asked. If the zombie numbers underground were too high, it would be suicidal for just seven people to charge in. The real problem wasif they couldnt kill the Zombie King, then everything tonight would be for nothing. "We wait," Bian Junwu said calmly. "They can hold out for a while longer. Lets wait for more zombies to be drawn out." Meanwhile, the battle raged on. Even with Zhang Yis sniper support, the overwhelming numbers of the undead couldnt be ignored. A rough estimate put the zombie count at over 200,000and that didnt even include the mutant rats. The battlefield grew bloodier with every passing second. The zombies fell like wheat, cut down by the thousandsbut the humans, too, were suffering heavy casualties. The sheer difference in numbers was too overwhelming. To make things worse, the mutant rats had armor-piercing fangs, capable of tearing through the soldiers combat suits and inflicting serious injuries. Had it not been for the many Superhumans holding the line, the human defense would have crumbled in minutes! Realizing the dangerous weak points in the defense, Zhang Yi dispatched reinforcements. He sent Liang Yue, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu to reinforce the most vulnerable sections of the front. As for Hua Hua, it remained by Zhang Yis sideas always. In many ways, Hua Hua was Zhang Yis most trusted blade. Its close-combat skills were unmatched, its mobility superb, and its defensive power on par with an armored vehicle. With Hua Hua around, Zhang Yi never had to worry about ambushes. And if things went southescaping would be easy. Zhang Yi wasnt na?ve enough to throw everything he had into this battle. His top priority was ensuring his own people survived. Inside St. Johns Cathedral, the atmosphere was eerily calm. Yuan Kongye stood before the statue of the crucified Jesus, hands clasped in prayer, reciting silent hymns. The sounds of gunfire and battle cries echoed clearly through the church walls. The Followers of the Snow God hiding within the cathedral wore anxious expressions. Yet, despite the raging chaos outside, Yuan Kongyes face remained sereneas if the battle had nothing to do with her at all. Zhou Keer sat on a wooden pew inside the church, her medical kit resting beside her. Though she wasnt a believer, she still prayed silently in her heart. She intertwined her fingers and whispered softly. Just then, a cold and serene voice sounded above her. "Only the most devout believers receive the blessings of the divine." Zhou Keer looked up, meeting the clear, captivating gaze of Yuan Kongye. There was something hypnotic about those eyesan almost soul-piercing intensity that made it difficult to look away. "You hello," Zhou Keer smiled awkwardly, quickly shifting her gaze away. Yuan Kongye studied her carefully before speaking again. "You''re troubled, arent you? You feel helpless, unable to aid your man in battle." Zhou Keer''s heart skipped a beat. She wasnt used to having her inner thoughts exposed so bluntly. With a small, self-conscious laugh, she touched her neck and replied, "Maybe a little. Im a doctorI belong in the rear lines. Theres no way I could be on the battlefield with him." ???????????S? Yuan Kongyes voice became even more alluring. "Perhaps you have the potential to become a Superhuman." Those words struck deep. Superhumansan existence Zhou Keer had always envied. She never felt the desire strongly before, but ever since Yang Siyah awakened her powers, the longing had only grown stronger. Once upon a time, she had been independenta woman of high status and strong ambition. Born into a wealthy family, highly educated, and with a successful medical career, she had earned a reputation as one of the youngest attending physicians at Tianhai Citys First People''s Hospital. But now? Standing beside Zhang Yi, she felt herself fading into the background. A reality she refused to accept. Even though Zhang Yi still treated her well, she knew one thing for certainZhang Yi wasnt someone who put emotions first. If, one day, someone more capable replaced her role, wouldnt she fall further and further behind? She had to think ahead. Zhang Yi was constantly evolving. But what about her? The moment Yuan Kongye spoke, her words stirred the deepest insecurities within Zhou Keer. But Zhang Yi had warned hernot to trust the people of the Followers of the Snow God. So Zhou Keer remained distant in her response. "Is that so?" she smiled politely. "No ones ever told me that before." Yuan Kongyes icy fingers suddenly reached out, gently caressing her cheek. "Dont underestimate yourself. Many times all you lack is an opportunity." "Believe in yourself. You have the potential to become a Superhuman." Zhou Keer''s heart pounded. She wasnt so sure anymore. Could she really awaken Superhuman abilities? She always thought becoming a Superhuman required extreme risks, a gamble with life itself. One failure, and death was the only outcome. She never had the courage to take that chance. But then, Ice Soul appeared offering her a new possibility. Yuan Kongyes gaze remained locked onto hers. Her eyes were crystal clear, yet held an unexplainable powera force that commanded obedience. Simply staring into them made one feel overwhelmed, as if surrendering was the natural choice. "We need strength," Yuan Kongye murmured. "Your man needs your help." "Zhou Keer, I can help you awaken." "Will you accept?" Zhou Ke''er''s heart raced. She knew this woman held the power to awaken others. But she also knew this woman was dangerous. Too dangerous. Zhou Keer hesitated for only a few seconds, before finally steadying herself. With a calm smile, she replied, "Thank you but I dont need it." Her eyes narrowed slightly, her tone cool and unwavering. Yuan Kongye''s expression faltered brieflyjust for a moment, a flicker of disappointment flashing through her gaze. "Its alright," she said softly. "You can take your time. When you change your mind, come find me." "Divine blessings are a rare giftnot everyone is offered the chance." With that, Yuan Kongye turned away, returning to her silent prayers before the altar. At the back of the church, a family of threeLi Jian, his wife, and his childsat together with Xu Beibei. As non-combatants and high-ranking members of the Followers of the Snow God, they were granted special privileges to take shelter here. Yet, Li Kaile refused to even glance at Yuan Kongyethe woman who had destroyed his happiness. Hatred. And fear. He wrapped himself tightly in a blanket, avoiding her gaze at all costs. Beside him, Xu Beibei squeezed his hand, silently offering comfort and reassurance. Outside, the sounds of war intensified. The roars of the zombie horde, the screeches of the mutant rats, the thunder of gunfire and explosions Even covering their ears, they could still hear it reverberating in their skulls. And yet, all they could do was pray Pray that the warriors outside would win this battle. Author''s Note Chapter 491: Holding the Line Chapter 491: Holding the Line sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The battle on the outskirts of the Followers of the Snow God camp had reached its climax. There was no need for elaborate tacticsthe zombie horde had only one strategy: overwhelming with sheer numbers! Over 200,000 zombies had completely encircled the camp, launching relentless assaults from all directions. The human forces used every means at their disposal to fight backartillery, traps, superhuman abilities, and melee combat! Every possible method was being deployed. They knew they couldnt retreat. Their formation was hollow in the center, completely surrounded, with no way out. Their only option was to fight to the death and hold the line until Bian Junwu and his team completed the decapitation mission! Blood and flesh flew across the battlefield. Zombies were blasted to pieces, but even with only half a body left, they continued crawling forward, roaring. Human soldiers, armed with advanced weaponry, could take down hundreds of zombies each. But a single misstep meant being overwhelmed by the endless horde. Even if a zombie couldnt bite through their protective gear, sheer numbers could crush them under the weight. Not to mention the giant mutated rats, which could break through their defenses. From his vantage point atop a high-rise, Zhang Yi systematically sniped nearly all the Bronze Armored Zombies. His terrifying precision as a sniper became even more apparent on the battlefield. It could be said that Zhang Yi alone had relieved at least 20% of the pressure on the allied forces! If those heavily armored Bronze Armored Zombies had reached the frontlines, the human defenses would have collapsed in no time! Time flew bytwenty minutes had already passed. The allied forces fought while retreating. Each withdrawal left behind an array of traps, filled with incendiary materials and explosives, wiping out waves of zombies. The defensive perimeter kept shrinking, and casualties had already reached 30%! Xiao Honglian gritted her teeth and contacted Bian Junwu. We cant hold out much longer! Hows it going on your end? Bian Junwus response was cold. Were close to finding the Zombie King. Hold on a little longer, and well have results soon! Hearing this, the allied forces clung to the last shred of hope and continued their desperate defense. But after ending the call, Bian Junwu remained outsidehe hadnt ventured underground yet. He was still waiting for more zombies to emerge from below. With an attack of this scale, Bian Junwu was certain that the Zombie King wouldnt want to lose. If Zhang Yi and the others held out long enough, the Zombie King would be forced to send reinforcements. This was a battle of endurance. And the Zombie King couldnt be sure whether this was a trap. As long as the opportunity presented itself, Bian Junwus seven-man assassination team would strike. ... The battlefield ahead was turning into a bloodbath! Liang Yue, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu formed a special task force, reinforcing the western flank. Liang Yues Loong Roar Sword was made from Adamantiumotherwise, it would have dulled from hacking zombies! She moved like a human tornado, slashing through the horde with relentless fury, her blade tearing dozens of zombies apart with each swing! Uncle You had incredible defense, but when faced with the massive zombie horde, he relied primarily on his two enormous Gatling guns to mow them down. The only good news was that Zhang Yi and his team had an ample supply of ammunition. At this moment, Fatty Xus abilities proved invaluable. His Snowstorm ability was incredibly versatile, especially in battlefield control. While not as deadly as Wei Dinghais Ice and Snow Lord, which excelled in stealth attacks, Fatty Xus ability to control the battlefield was even stronger. ??????????¨ Different strengths for different situations. With his power alone, Fatty Xu covered an area of several kilometers in ice and snow, drastically slowing the zombies down. This gave the others an opportunity to cut them down more efficiently. Though Zhang Yis team was small, they were among the most active on the battlefield, contributing more than many larger factions! Time crawled by, another thirty minutes passing in an agonizing struggle. Every second felt like an eternity, filling everyone with despair. But they had no choicethey were cornered, forced to fight like madmen against the undead tide! The relentless fighting gradually slowed the zombie advance. Although the horde kept pushing forward, the allied forces shrinking formation made it harder for them to break through. However, casualties among the ordinary followers of the Snow God began to mount. No matter how tight the defensive line was, some zombies would inevitably slip through. And at this point, no one had the capacity to care about the fate of the common followers. Although the Followers of the Snow God had evacuated them to high-rise buildings and deep underground tunnels in advance, Zombies and giant rats had an uncanny ability to sense living prey. Some zombies managed to breach the defenses and infiltrate the hiding places of the followers. And there were no elite fighters stationed there. Just a few zombies could slaughter an entire floor of defenseless believers! Screams filled the air as they rushed to the windows, crying out for the armed forces to save them. Xiao Honglian and the others ignored their pleas. They had no manpower to sparebarely managing to protect themselves. Even Zheng Yixian and his people could only sigh and mutter, Return to the Divine Kingdom. Then, they turned away, indifferent. At this moment, just holding back the zombie horde was pushing them to their limits. If they split their forces to deal with scattered zombies in the rear, their entire defensive line would collapse. Zhang Yi spotted a dozen zombies slipping through. He hesitated for a moment before adjusting his aim and picking them off one by one. He didnt particularly care about the fate of the Followers of the Snow God. But he absolutely couldnt allow chaos to break out behind them. If the common believers panicked and ran everywhere, they could disrupt the frontline forces. However, more and more zombies were breaching the defenses. The battle had devolved into brutal hand-to-hand combat. Its already been forty minutes! What the hell is going on over there? Xiao Honglian and Xing Tian were getting anxious. They were supposed to hold the line for thirty minuteswhy were the zombies still attacking with full force? There are still a lot of zombies underground. Hold on for ten more minutes, and well finish them off! Bian Junwus cold reply irritated Xiao Honglian and the others. But at this point, they had no choice but to believe him. As the defensive perimeter shrank further, the hiding places of the ordinary followers had to be abandoned. But this also had an unexpected advantage. Zombies were drawn to living humans, highly sensitive to their presence. The large concentration of believers became an irresistible lure, drawing a significant portion of the horde away. This significantly reduced the pressure on the combat forces. In fact, from the very beginning, these believers had been part of Bian Junwus planas bait. To annihilate the zombie horde, anything was expendable. Desperate screams echoed throughout the camp. Without the protection of the armed forces, the ordinary believers stood no chance against the zombie and rat swarms. They quickly became nothing more than food for the undead. Just as Zhang Yi breathed a sigh of relief, thinking they could hold on a little longer, Beside him, Hua Hua suddenly pricked up its ears, growling as it bared its sharp fangs! Author''s Note Chapter 492: Collapse Chapter 492: Collapse Zhang Yi held his sniper rifle, maintaining a commanding view of the battlefield, picking off enemies from every direction. To him, no enemy could approach without being noticed. But he had overlooked one direction. Meow!! Beside him, Hua Hua suddenly let out a loud roar before rapidly enlarging its body and shielding Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi was startled, unsure why Hua Hua had reacted this way. But in less than half a second, he realizedsomeone was approaching! Whoosh A gust of wind swept over him as Hua Hua leaped into the air toward the unseen threat. Zhang Yi looked up, and his pupils shrank at what he saw! Above the dark night sky, a dozen humanoid creatures with massive bat-like wings were descending. They were slender yet unnervingly agile. Flying Bronze Armored Zombies?! A new variant? These things were hiding deep! Zhang Yis sharp gaze locked onto the airborne creatures. Hua Hua had already lunged at one of them, forcing it down onto the rooftop. The other flying zombies rushed straight toward Zhang Yi! Unfazed, Zhang Yi swiftly activated the Dimensional Gate, opening a massive portal before him and immediately pulling the trigger. Two of the airborne zombies charged straight into the portal without warning. One was instantly shot down. The remaining flying zombies quickly changed tactics, hovering high above as they searched for an opportunity to take him down. Since Zhang Yi had already eliminated most of the ground-based Bronze Armored Zombies, these creatures had set their sights on him, determined to kill him. Fortunately, Zhang Yi had Hua Hua as a bodyguard, preventing any surprise attacks. On the rooftop, the growls and roars of the flying zombies were soon drowned out by Hua Huas frenzied cries. Meow! Meow!! Hua Huas razor-sharp claws tore through its opponent, shredding the zombies steel-like body into bloody chunks. The creature was utterly destroyed. The remaining dozen flying zombies hesitated, a flicker of caution appearing in their eerie eyes. Their speed made them difficult to snipe, and at this range, Zhang Yis Divine Might could still take them down. The Dimensional Gate also offered excellent defensive coverage. ?N?????S If worst came to worst, he could always retreat. So he wasnt afraid. But the flying zombies, wary of his abilities, suddenly veered awayheading straight for the allied forces! Damn it! Zhang Yi immediately shouted over the comms, Flying Bronze Armored Zombies! Above you! Stay alert! The flying zombies were incredibly fast, and now that they had adapted to Zhang Yis sniping, they were harder to take down quickly. Their aerial assaults became a massive threat to the allied forces. Despite Zhang Yis warning, they still managed to slaughter a large number of soldiers. Even worse, Zhang Yi spotted something terrifying in the distance Another massive wave of zombies, numbering at least hundreds of thousands, was surging toward them! This is getting out of control! Bian Junwu, its all on you now! Zhang Yi sucked in a sharp breath. The first zombie horde had nearly broken their defenses. Now, with the addition of the flying zombies and a second wave, the allied forces stood no chance of holding the line. Unless Bian Junwu and his team successfully completed their decapitation mission, Zhang Yi would be left with no choice but to retreat with his squad. He immediately activated the squads private comms. Stop fighting at the front. Fall back and be ready to withdraw with me at any moment! With the Dimensional Gate, his squad still had a chance to escape. But if Bian Junwu failed, no one here would survive. After issuing the order, Zhang Yis first thought was Zhou Keer in the church. He immediately turned his gaze toward the churchonly to see two flying zombies diving straight for it! F**k!! Zhang Yi swore, his blood turning ice-cold. The church had defenders, but no one had prepared for an aerial assault. If those two flying zombies got inside, they would massacre everyone within seconds. And Zhou Keer would be in grave danger. Without hesitation, Zhang Yi activated the Dimensional Gate and teleported toward the church. The distance required him to use the gate three times to get there. Sar?h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But before he could arrive A blinding white light erupted from inside the church! The two flying zombies that had dived in were suddenly blasted out through the ceiling, encased in thick layers of ice, looking like frozen statues. What the hell? Theres a powerhouse inside? Zhang Yi exhaled in relief. But on second thought, it made sense. The Followers of the Snow God wouldnt leave Yuan Kongye, their leader, unguarded in the church. The two frozen zombies crashed to the ground. Their icy shells shattered, and they slowly got back up, growling in fear toward the church. At the entrance, the superhumans of the Followers of the Snow God immediately took defensive positions, engaging the frozen zombies in combat. But Zhang Yi had no time to worry about that. He stepped through the Dimensional Gate and entered the church. Inside, chaos reigned. Terrified believers huddled together on the floor, their faces pale with fear. At the center of the church, Yuan Kongye stood tall, bathed in the light streaming through the shattered ceiling. There was an aura of divine serenity surrounding her. Zhang Yi glanced at her, his mind racing. Was the mysterious powerhouse of the Followers of the Snow God actually her? It was surprising, but also perfectly logical. As their leader, it wasnt strange for her to possess formidable strength. However, Zhang Yi had no time to dwell on that thought. His eyes quickly landed on Zhou Keer She was clutching a medical kit, trembling in fear behind a white pillar. Without a second thought, Zhang Yi strode forward and pulled her into his arms. Its okay. Im here. That single sentence made Zhou Keers tense body relax instantly. With Zhang Yi by her side, she felt an overwhelming sense of security. Yuan Kongye looked at Zhang Yi with slight surprise. She didnt understand how he had suddenly appeared out of thin air. But after a brief moment of thought, realization dawned upon herZhang Yi must have used some sort of spatial teleportation ability. Such a rare power piqued her curiosity, and she couldnt help but glance at him a few more times. Outside, the sounds of battle and agonized screams grew louder. The churchs massive doors thumped violentlya group of terrified believers had fled here, desperately seeking Yuan Kongyes protection. Zhang Yi are we losing? Zhou Keer asked nervously. Zhang Yis expression remained cold and unwavering. He simply said, Dont be afraid. Come with me. At this point, Zhang Yi had no interest in hiding his abilities. He immediately activated the Dimensional Gate and took Zhou Keer with him, vanishing from the church. As for the fate of the others He didnt have the luxury to care. Or rather, to put it more bluntlyhe didnt have the ability to save everyone. Holding Zhou Keers hand, Zhang Yi emerged into the chaotic battlefield outside. The situation was completely out of control. More and more zombies and giant rats were breaking through the defensive lines. At the front, Xiao Honglian and the others were still holding on desperately, refusing to let the undead completely overrun them. Zhang Yis face remained cold as he teleported both himself and Zhou Keer to the rooftop of a nearby high-rise. Hua Hua was still there, standing over the shattered remains of a Bronze Armored Flying Zombie. Strangely, Hua Hua hadnt eaten its brain. That likely meant this creature was fundamentally different from superhumans or other mutated beings. It wasnt a naturally evolved organismit was something else entirely. Zhang Yi scanned the battlefield from above, his sharp eyes analyzing the worsening situation. The superhuman army was still holding their ground, preventing total annihilation. But regular soldiers were dying en masse. And when the superhumans energy eventually ran out, they too would be overwhelmed. Zhang Yi and his team had the advantage of Superhuman Energy Dishes to replenish their strength, allowing them to fight longer. But this wasnt a sustainable strategy. Bian Junwu Zhang Yi muttered the name, knowing full well that their assassination mission wasnt going smoothly. And it was no surprise. After all, their enemy wasnt just a single targetit was the entire zombie horde of Tianhai City. Zhang Yi what do we do? Zhou Keers voice trembled as she looked at the battlefield below. The undead surged from all directions, like an unstoppable tidal wave. There was nowhere left to run. Believers hiding in skyscrapers were being dragged out and slaughtered. Those in underground parking lots and malls were trapped, unable to escape. The Followers of the Snow Gods sanctuary had become a living nightmare. At this rate, in ten minutes, the entire defense would collapse. Aside from Zhang Yis small team, no one would survive. Zhang Yi could see the sheer desperation in the eyes of the fighters below. They were battling like madmen. Xiao Honglians white flames engulfed the battlefield, incinerating wave after wave of zombies. Wei Dinghais Ice and Snow Lord ability slowed down the undead advance, but as soon as one wave was frozen, another surged forward. Even Xing Tians elite warriors, known for their boundless battle spirit, were beginning to tire. Their white combat aura was fading from exhaustion. Prepare to retreat. If the frontlines fall, Ill get you all out immediately. Zhang Yi spoke into the comms, addressing Fatty Xu, Uncle You, and Liang Yue. Fatty Xus breathless voice came through, panicked and desperate. Boss! I cant hold out any longer! Come save me!! Zhang Yis eyes scanned the battlefield, quickly locating Fatty Xu. As a Control-type superhuman, he was naturally surrounded by a small squad of bodyguards. But the undead were about to overrun them. Fatty Xu, cowardly as ever, was already pale with terror. Without hesitation, Zhang Yi commanded Hua Hua: Get him out of there! WHOOSH! Hua Hua leaped from the rooftop, descending dozens of floors in a blur, kicking up a storm of ice and snow upon landing. Charging through the zombie horde like an unstoppable force, Hua Hua snatched Fatty Xu by his collar and dragged him out of the swarm. Within moments, they were back on the rooftop. Fatty Xu collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily, his face still etched with the horror of near-death. But Zhang Yi wasnt standing idly by. From his storage, he pulled out dozens of grenades and explosives, hurling them into the densest clusters of zombies. At this point, all he could do was lessen the burden on the others as much as possible. His Divine Might ability, though powerful, had a limited range. Even if he killed hundreds of zombies in a single shot, it wouldnt change the tide of battle. Author''s Note Chapter 493: The Battle Ends Chapter 493: The Battle Ends Just as Zhang Yi was about to give up and prepare to retreat with his team, the battlefield underwent a sudden and eerie change. All the zombies stopped moving in an instant. It was as if someone had removed their batteriesthey completely ignored the humans standing before them, not even making a move to attack. And then, a second later, they all turned around in unison and sprinted back the way they came. Bronze Armored Flying Zombies, Bronze Armored Zombies, and even the ordinary undead Every single one of them abandoned the battle, despite the fact that just a few more waves of attacks could have completely overrun Tianhai Citys largest human stronghold. Yet, they didnt hesitate at allthey turned and fled at full speed. When they arrived, they surged in like a tidal wave. Now, they retreated like a collapsing mountain, fleeing in absolute chaosevery zombie racing desperately, their guttural cries filled with urgency, as if something more important than life and death itself was pulling them away. Xiao Honglians face lit up with joy at the sight. Because she had seen this exact same scenario just days ago. Bian Junwus team must have found the Zombie King! Theyre rushing back to save it! The Zombie King, as the commander of the horde, had absolute control over all zombies. Whenever it was in mortal danger, it would instinctively recall every single zombie to protect it. The fact that this was happening now could only mean Bian Junwus team had successfully located the Zombie King and posed an immediate threat to it. It was so desperate that it had no choice but to recall its entire army. The battlefield was eerily silent for a moment. Everyone was utterly exhaustedexcept for Zhang Yi, who was still relatively composed. They had just brushed shoulders with deathone step away from becoming food for the undead. As the zombie tide receded, the mutant rat swarms were slightly slower to react. But as creatures that thrived in symbiosis with the zombies, they too were cunningquickly turning around and following the undead in retreat. No one dared to pursue them. At this point, everyone was stretched to their limitone wrong move, and the horde might turn back to attack. Only when the zombies disappeared beyond the horizon, their dark forms shrinking into a narrow, endless black line in the distance, did the soldiers finally dare to breathe again. ?????? Haha Hahahaha! Waaaaahh!! Am Am I still alive? Im alive?! Or am I dead? Throughout the camp of the Followers of the Snow God, a mix of laughter, sobs, and heavy breathing echoed through the night. The surge of relief was so overwhelming that even the most battle-hardened warriors broke down emotionally. Many had faced death countless times before, but never like thisnever against something so utterly hopeless. They could accept dying in battlebut the thought of being eaten alive by zombies and giant rats was a nightmare beyond comprehension. Xiao Honglian, despite her exhaustion, forced herself to stay alert. We cant relax yet! she called out. You can sit down and rest, but stay ready to fight! There might still be stragglers among the zombies and rats. Hearing her warning, the other faction leaders followed suit. No one wanted to let their guard down too soon. Even while resting, they kept their weapons close, ready to fight at a moments notice. Zhang Yi swept his gaze over the battlefield, noticing that many soldiers looked completely dazed. This battle had scarred them deeply. For many, this night would haunt their dreams foreverPTSD was inevitable. He could only hope they wouldnt wake up screaming from nightmares of the horde. Zhou Keer clung tightly to Zhang Yi, her body trembling as she finally allowed herself to breathe freely. Her rapidly rising and falling chest made her distress painfully evident. Zhang Yi felt it all too clearly. Before long, Liang Yue, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua gathered around Zhang Yi. The three had strictly followed Zhang Yis ordersfighting when necessary but reserving enough energy to escape at a moments notice. As a result, none of them had sustained injuries. Even Uncle You, who had clashed with several Bronze Armored Zombies, remained completely unscathed. His thick skin, raw strength, and terrifying regeneration ability had made him nearly invincible on the battlefield. Time felt distortedno one knew how long had passed. Had it been hours? Or just a few short minutes? Each second had felt endless. Zhang Yis gaze swept over the entire battlefield. The first wave of defenders, those who had held the front line from the start, had suffered an 80% casualty rate. Tianhai City was in ruins. This battle had completely shattered its remaining military strength. Especially in terms of high-level combat power, the losses were beyond catastrophic. It wasnt just "devastating"it was a complete disaster. But for Zhang Yi, this wasnt necessarily bad news. At the very least His team had survived. No one from his group had perished. That alone made this battle worth it. And honestly If anyone truly deserved to be called "tragic", it wasnt Zhang Yi, nor the other base factions. The real tragedy was yet to come. The true victims of this battlewere the Followers of the Snow God. Because the war had ravaged their territory. Now, even the cries of grief had grown faint and scattered. Of the 5,000 believers in the cult, barely 1,000 remained No, maybe not even 500. That stark reality weighed heavily on the faces of Zheng Yixian and the other high-ranking members of the cult. Everyone still stood at their defensive positions, their bodies unmoving. But no one spoke. Not a single word. Because after a battle of such unimaginable loss, after witnessing so many lives perish, even the most basic human emotions seemed momentarily paralyzed. Zhang Yi surveyed the surroundings, his expression neutral, unreadable. Then, a soft voice broke the silence. Zhang Yi, are you hurt? Do you need me to check? It was Zhou Keer. Her concern was evident in her gentle voice. Zhang Yi turned to look at the kind-hearted doctor, but he couldnt bring himself to smile. He simply shook his head. Im fine. Zhou Keer then checked on the others, but everyone in their squad was unharmed. Tightening the strap on her medical kit, she looked at Zhang Yi and asked, Can I go help the others? She was referring to the injured survivors on the battlefield. Although they had made it out alive, many bore grievous wounds. Zhang Yi didnt refuse. At the very least, for now, they were all on the same side. And after this battle, the major factions of Tianhai City had suffered such heavy losses that they were no longer capable of forming large-scale forceslet alone posing a threat to Zhang Yis group. In fact, they might even form an alliance to face the greater dangers ahead. Zhou Keer hurried onto the battlefield, seeking out the wounded soldiers, carefully bandaging their injuries and administering medicine. Her serious expression, her gentle hands, and her skilled medical care caused many of the hardened warriors to suddenly break down in tears. For the first time since the battle ended, they felt warmth A warmth that reminded them they were still human, that they had survived, and that they hadnt fallen into the depths of hell. One by one, the various factions retrieved their supplies. Food, medicine, bandages, blankets, military coats Though no one dared to sleep just yet, they were fairly certain the zombie horde wouldnt return. The priority now was helping the wounded recover. From the church, Yuan Kongye emerged, leading the remaining survivors outside. Throughout the battle, they had been well-protected. Though there had been a few scares, not a single one of them had died. Yuan Kongyes eyes were filled with grief and compassion as she gazed at the devastated battlefield. Then, she turned to her followers and said solemnly: Go and help care for them. They are the ones who fought for us. The surviving believers understood They were alive only because the front-line warriors had fought to the death to protect them. So those who could still move rushed to help the wounded, tending to them with what little strength they had left. Among them were Li Jian, his wife, and Xu Beibei. As for Li Kaile, his health had been poor since his last incident, and he had yet to fully recover. So he was ordered to stay inside the church. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Jian gazed at the hellish scene before him, his heart heavy with pain. The neighbors he had once brought to the Followers of the Snow God for safety Most of them were now dead, slaughtered in wave after wave of zombie attacks. A deep sense of guilt settled on his face. Zhang Jianfang, seeing his sorrow, gently consoled him. Dont blame yourself too much. You did everything you could. In times like these, all we can do is survive one day at a time. This wasnt your fault. Li Jian let out a long, weary sigh, then walked forward to help carry the wounded onto stretchers. Meanwhile, the young girl Xu Beibei moved through the battlefield, carefully wrapping bandages around the injured and offering them warm water to help them recover. Author''s Note Chapter 494: A Painful Victory Chapter 494: A Painful Victory After what felt like an eternity, Bian Junwu and his team finally returned. The seven of them looked battered and exhausted, a stark contrast to their usual composed demeanor. Baili Changqing was supporting Wu Di, who had always been an arrogant loudmouthbut now, his face was ashen like gold leaf, his steps unsteady as if his body had lost all strength. Kong Sheng, the Enhancement-type superhuman, had his shoulder wrapped in bandages, but his other arm was twisted unnaturally, clearly broken during battle. All seven of them were covered in blood, their injuries varying in severity. And yet They were smiling. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was clear that the assassination mission had been just as brutal as the battlefield fight. But they had succeeded. As the investigation team entered the camp of the Followers of the Snow God, Bian Junwu scanned the survivors. His expression remained impassive. They had wonbut only barely. Everyone had pushed themselves to their absolute limits. And there was no need for pointless words of comfort. Zhang Yi stepped forward and asked directly, "Did you eliminate all the Zombie Kings?" Bian Junwus reply was as cold as ever. "There were five in total. We killed them all. The bodies are in the vehicle." Good. With confirmation that the Zombie Kings were truly dead, everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief. Without the Zombie Kings command, the remaining zombies in Tianhai City were just mindless wanderers. There was no longer a risk of them organizing into massive hordes. From here on out, they could deal with the stragglers at their own pace. After a moment of thought, Zhang Yi reached into his Spatial Storage and retrieved several Superhuman Energy Dishes, handing them to Bian Junwu. Bian Junwu glanced at the food with curiosity. Whats this? Food made for superhumans. Helps restore energy, stamina, and mental focus. Its extremely useful. Zhang Yi replied with a smile. Bian Junwus eyes flickered with brief amusement before he let out a barely noticeable smirkthough even that small smile looked forced on his stoic face. ???? Seems like you have a pretty impressive Support-type superhuman in your team. Without hesitation, he took the food and returned to his snow vehicle with his team. Meanwhile, the rest of the survivorsnow assured of their victorycould finally rest. Everyone was too exhausted to talk much. The fighters withdrew to their own resting areas, while those who hadnt fought tended to the wounded and distributed food. That night, no one spoke much. ... After an entire day of rest, everyones mental and physical state had improved significantly. However, the number of injured survivors was far too great. Given the circumstances, it was impossible to leave just yet. So, the group decided to remain at the Followers of the Snow Gods camp and recover before heading back. But there was still one lingering issue Tianhai City was still crawling with zombies. Even without the Zombie Kings, they still had their predatory instincts. For now, staying together in one place was the safest choice. Zhang Yi and his team could have left immediately. But at Bian Junwus request, they chose to stay. Right now, Zhang Yis team was by far the strongest combat force among the survivors. Bian Junwu hoped they would remain and protect the others until everyone had fully recovered. Zhang Yi, despite longing to return to his shelter, to collapse into his soft bed with Zhou Keer in his arms, He ultimately agreed Out of respect for Jiangnan Districts authority. Thus, Zhang Yis team stayed behind, primarily tasked with clearing out the scattered zombies in the surrounding areas. For them, this was an easy job. The remaining zombie hordes were small, only numbering a few thousand at most. Without the Zombie Kings, they were mindless, weak, and disorganized A few superhumans working together could wipe them out effortlessly. Over the course of several days, the survivors noticed a significant drop in zombie activity. The threat wasnt entirely gone, but it was no longer an immediate crisis. Bian Junwu and his team continued monitoring the situation. Only after confirming that there were no more large-scale zombie movements would they return to Jiangnan District to report their success. Meanwhile, after fighting side by side for so long, the relationships between the five major factions had undergone a dramatic shift. Ironically The so-called "Five Major Factions" could hardly be called "major" anymore. After this war, over 80% of their core combat forces had been wiped out. They were shadows of their former selves. Fortunately, the zombie horde had attacked indiscriminately Not only did it devastate them, but it had also annihilated the smaller factions of Tianhai City. Had those smaller groups survived, the "Five Factions" might not have been able to hold onto their own territories. But now? Tianhai City was practically a dead cityso what was the point of having a large territory when there were hardly any living people left to occupy it? Thus, the past tensions between the factions faded away. They no longer saw each other as rivals, but rather as fellow survivors of the apocalypse. And Zhang Yi felt it the most. Because over the past few days, the other factions had constantly been trying to befriend his team. Of all the groups, Zhang Yis suffered the least losses. In fact Aside from using up a significant amount of ammunition, Zhang Yis team had taken no real damage. And ammunition was cheap. Zhang Yi had his own private armory, and with Lu Keran, his mechanical genius, constantly manufacturing more weapons, His team would remain the strongest force in Tianhai City for the foreseeable future. The first to extend an olive branch was Xiao Honglian. She walked up to Zhang Yi with confidence, offering a friendly smile. Zhang Yi, we may have had some disagreements in the past. But look at Tianhai City nowits in ruins. There might not even be 10,000 living people left. From now on, lets be friends. None of us can afford more conflict. If you ever need my help, just say the word. Xiao Honglian extended her hand with a bold, straightforward demeanor. Zhang Yi had been deeply impressed by her leadership on the battlefield, her ability to rally troops and fight fiercely. Unlike the women around him, she was a true warriorstrong, commanding, and fearless. Zhang Yi had no love for unnecessary conflict. Since she was offering peace, he saw no reason to refuse. Past battles had been about resourcesnot personal grudges. So he shook her hand, smiling. Ive always admired a woman who can lead a faction. Curious, he asked, Youre skilled. Were you in the military or police before all this? Xiao Honglian chuckled softly. I was a police superintendent in Tianhai Citys Criminal Investigation Unit. Zhang Yi smirked. I knew it! A true badass. Then, a thought crossed his mind. His eyes gleamed mischievously. So does that mean you have records on all of us? Xiao Honglian grinned. Of course. I know all your basic information. Well at least everything from before the apocalypse. Author''s Note Chapter 495: The Cloud of Doubt in His Heart Chapter 495: The Cloud of Doubt in His Heart After Xiao Honglian left, Wei Dinghai quickly arrived. He was a man in his forties, shrewd and worldly. As soon as he saw Zhang Yi, he warmly flattered him. Things like so young and promising and born to be a great leader. "Zhang Yi, do you have any interest in going out to sea? If you have time, I can take you overseas to take a look. There''s a vast world out there!" Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wei Dinghai extended his invitation enthusiastically. Thinking about the vast ocean, Zhang Yi couldn''t help but feel a bit intrigued. But then he recalled that beneath the boundless sea, there could be creatures even more dangerous than those on land. He quickly shook his head. "Rather than that, you''d be better off sending me some ribbonfish." Wei Dinghai laughed heartily. "No problem, no problem! Next time we return from the sea, I''ll bring you the freshest frozen ribbonfish!" Fresh fish were out of the questiononly deep-sea fish could still survive in the ocean depths. Once they were caught and brought up, they would die instantly. Zhang Yi asked, "So many people died this time. Is it still safe to go out to sea?" Wei Dinghai''s smile faded slightly. He sighed softly and lowered his head. "Most of our combat personnel are dead, but I still have some staff on the ship. As long as they''re there, I can still sail!" He then expressed the same sentiment as Xiao Honglian. Tianhai City was already scarred beyond recognition from this battle. No one even knew how many survivors were left. This city, once home to over twenty million people, was now eerily silent. Everyone was exhausted. No one wanted to fight anymore. Besides, with so few people left, there were more than enough resources. There was no need for competition. Shortly after, Zheng Yixian and Xing Tian arrived as well. Zheng Yixians face was clouded with deep sorrow. Of all the factions, the Followers of the Snow God had suffered the heaviest losses. Not only did they lose their warriors, but also a vast number of their followers. Out of over five thousand people, more than four thousand had died. The remaining survivors, including both high-ranking members and ordinary believers, were less than eight hundred. The other factions couldnt help but feel sympathy for them. Xing Tian, on the other hand, casually slung an arm around Zhang Yi''s shoulder, acting all buddy-buddy. "Old Zhang, from now on, your team is the strongest in Tianhai City! You gotta watch my back." He grinned as he spoke. In truth, his faction had suffered the second-highest casualties, right after Zhang Yis team. His ability was uniqueit allowed him to empower many people, turning ordinary soldiers into superhuman warriors. Because of this, only about half of his Xing Tian Army had fallen. The survivors were still strong and full of vigor. Zhang Yi shot him an annoyed look. "Don''t be so optimistic just yet. The zombie crisis in Tianhai City isn''t over." "Haha, the Zombie Kings are already wiped out. The remaining zombies wont amount to much." Xing Tian chuckled, unfazed. Zhang Yi sneered. "I wouldnt be so sure. We dont even know if all the Zombie Kings were drawn out in this battle." Xing Tian was momentarily stunned. Then he retorted, "If there were still Zombie Kings alive, why wouldnt they attack us now? This would be the perfect time, while were at our weakest. Old Zhang, I think you''re overthinking it." ??????????????S Zhang Yi frowned slightly. Even he wasnt entirely sure if his concerns were valid. But he always preferred to consider the worst-case scenario. Pessimists might struggle to be happy, but at least they rarely made fatal mistakes. "Who knows? Better safe than sorry. Just stay alert." "Got it." Xing Tian nodded. Though whether he took it to heart or not was another matter. After this battle, the atmosphere between the factions in Tianhai City became much more harmonious. It was almost as if the zombie attack had been a blessing in disguise. It reminded Zhang Yi of what a certain president had once saidwhen humanity faces an attack from non-human entities, all their internal conflicts might suddenly seem insignificant. Yet, Zhang Yi couldnt shake an ominous feeling in his heart. He glanced at the surviving members of the Followers of the Snow God. Their corpses were strewn across the battlefield in a gruesome display, evoking deep sympathy from everyone. Silently, Zhang Yi called Zhou Keer over and asked her to get in the car with him. There was something important he needed to do. Seeing the serious expression on Zhang Yis face, Zhou Keer blushed slightly. They had been too preoccupied with defending against the zombie horde lately, and some things had been left unattended. Now that things had settled down, handling those matters seemed only natural. "Mm." She nodded gently, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear before getting into the car first. Zhang Yi then instructed Fatty Xu and a few others to stand guard for him. "If anyone comes looking for me, don''t let them get close. Got it?" A flicker of emotion passed across Liang Yues usually cold face. She turned her head away with a huff. Fatty Xu, on the other hand, grinned and eagerly assured, "Yes, yes, yes! Ill make sure no one disturbs you, Boss! Whoever comes, theyll have to wait!" Zhang Yi nodded and got into the car, quickly shutting the door and drawing the curtains. The car had built-in soundproofing, so no one outside could hear what was happening inside. Nearby, Liang Yue, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu rested. Liang Yue seemed a little uncomfortable. She never thought shed be standing guard for someone in this kind of situation. Uncle You, however, took it in stride. He chuckled. "Zhang Yi is still young, after all. His energy is boundless." He sighed almost imperceptibly. If only Zhou Haimei were still here Inside the car, Zhang Yi saw Zhou Keer had already taken off her coat and was sitting on the bed with her legs elegantly crossed. She gazed at him with an enchanting expression. But Zhang Yi simply plopped down beside her. "Keer, I need to ask you something important." Zhou Keer was startled for a moment. Seeing how serious Zhang Yi looked, she realized she had misunderstood. A trace of embarrassment crossed her face. "What is it?" Zhang Yi said solemnly, "Remember when I asked you to observe Yuan Kongye closely?" He narrowed his eyes, recalling the events of the zombie horde attack. That night, everyone had been too tense, their nerves stretched to the limit. No one had time to think about anything else. But now, looking back, there were many things that didnt add up. For example, Yuan Kongyes display of ice abilities. From what Zhang Yi knew, Yuan Kongye, as the leader of the Followers of the Snow God, relied on two abilities. Blessingwhich allowed her to condense Ice Soul from her body, helping others awaken or strengthen their superhuman energy. Giftwhich healed physical injuries. People with two abilities werent unheard of, and both of hers were enhancement or support-based. That much made sense. But what about that night? How did she suddenly exhibit offensive ice-based powers? Those abilities were completely different from Blessing and Gift. Author''s Note Chapter 496: A Terrifying Theory Chapter 496: A Terrifying Theory Zhang Yi had seen Yuan Kongye in actionshe had sent two powerful Bronze Armored Flying Corpses flying with a single strike. Her strength was undoubtedly formidable. From just that one move, Zhang Yi had already determined that her combat power was at least on par with Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. But that was exactly what puzzled him the most. "Think carefully. When you were with Yuan Kongye, did you notice anything unusual about her?" "Especially on the night of the attackhow did she fight?" Zhou Keer wasnt sure why Zhang Yi was suddenly asking about Yuan Kongye. To her, the Followers of the Snow God were the biggest victims of this battle. Everyone was sympathizing with themwhy would anyone suspect them? But since Zhang Yi asked, she did her best to recall. "Um these past few days, she spent most of her time praying and comforting other believers." "But if I had to point out something unusual, there was one moment She said she could help me awaken my superhuman energy." A sharp gleam flashed in Zhang Yis eyes. "She said she could help you awaken your ability? Did you agree?" Zhou Keer quickly shook her head with a smile. "No! Of course, I want to become a Superhuman, but I always remember what you told meto stay wary of others. So I refused her!" Zhang Yi nodded in relief. "When someone offers kindness for no reason, theres always a hidden agenda. Yuan Kongye wouldnt just hand over something as valuable as Ice Soul without a reason." "Unless she had a special purpose." Zhang Yi intertwined his fingers, resting his chin on his hands. The fog clouding his mind started to clear. He had a feeling he was grasping a critical truth. A bold theory was slowly forming in his mind. "Keer, keep going. Tell me everything about her in detaildont leave anything out!" Zhou Keer nodded and continued. "After I refused her, she just said that if I ever changed my mind, I could go find her anytime." "She didnt force me, which made me feel more comfortable around her." "Later, that was when the two creatures broke through the ceiling and stormed into the church." Zhou Keer recalled the moment vividly. "I was sitting in the front row, very close to Yuan Kongye. So when she made her move, I saw everything clearly." "The two monsters dove down, targeting her first." "She was fastshe just raised her hand slightly, and both creatures froze in midair." "Then, like she was swatting flies, she effortlessly waved her hand, sending them flying out of the church. The doors were even smashed apart!" Zhou Keer described the scene animatedly. Sarch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But as Zhang Yi listened, his scalp tingled, and a bone-chilling cold crept up his spine. "An ice-based ability strong enough to instantly freeze two powerful Bronze Armored Flying Corpses..." "Incredible reaction speed and monstrous physical strength thats the mark of an Enhancement-type Superhuman." "That means she possesses at least three different abilities!" Zhang Yi finally understood. Everything made sense now! He finally knew why the Followers of the Snow God had so generously handed out Ice Soul. Not only to him but to all the major factions in Tianhai City. And why they kept using the Great Decree to spread their faith, seeking out talented individuals and gifting them Ice Soul. It didnt matter whether these individuals joined the Followers of the Snow God or even became their enemies. Because Yuan Kongyes real ability was never Blessing. It was Death Return! In other words, when someone who awakened through Ice Soul died, their ability would return to Yuan Kongye. That meant she could acquire an endless number of abilities. And judging by her power, these werent just minor boostsher superhuman energy was terrifyingly strong. ????????????????? During the Five Armies War, Zhang Yi had come across many dead Superhumans whose essence was completely gone. Back then, he couldnt understand where their abilities had vanished to. Now he realizedthey had awakened their powers through Ice Soul. And when they died, their abilities returned to Yuan Kongye. This process didnt just give her new abilitiesit also strengthened her existing ones. And in the months since the apocalypse began, how many Superhuman abilities had she secretly absorbed? Not to mention, after this battle in Tianhai City, countless Superhumans had died. Suddenly, an even more terrifying thought surfaced in Zhang Yis mind. Could Yuan Kongye be the mastermind behind the zombie outbreak in Tianhai City? The more he thought about it, the more horrifying the possibility seemed. If that were true, then the seemingly harmless, devout priestess was actually the most ruthless, inhuman monster in the entire city! And now, Zhang Yi couldnt even begin to imagine how powerful she had become. His face turned grim, and his legs began to tremble involuntarily. It was a sign of unease. Though all of this was just a theory for now If it turned out to be true, then in the near future, he would be facing an unimaginably powerful enemy. For now, at least, this was just speculation. There were still things he couldnt explain. First, the zombie horde. If the Followers of the Snow God could control the zombies, why had they been oppressed by the major bases all this time? With the power of a zombie horde, they could have easily wiped out Tianhai City. Second, what was Yuan Kongyes goal? As the leader of a religious sect, she prided herself on being the most devoted follower of her god. So why would she destroy the foundation of her own faith? The casualties among the Followers of the Snow God had been catastrophic. There were barely any of them left. Without believers, could it even be called a religion anymore? "I cant figure it out I just cant!" Zhang Yi murmured to himself, his mind in turmoil. He wanted to believe he was overthinking. But the pieces fit together too well. He couldn''t ignore it. Zhou Keer quickly moved closer, concerned. "Zhang Yi, whats wrong?" Zhang Yi didnt respond. He was lost in deep thought. Yes, this was just his own theory for now. Aside from knowing that Yuan Kongye had multiple abilities, he had no concrete proof. Even if he told people, they wouldnt believe him. More importantly, he didnt want to alert her just yet. "Hopefully, Im just imagining things." Zhang Yi muttered to himself. Looking up, he saw Zhou Keers worried expression and forced a smile. "Its nothing. You did great. But remembernever go near Yuan Kongye. Shes bad news." Zhou Keer nodded. "Okay, I got it. But you seem really troubled." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow but ultimately decided against telling her. For now, this was just his theory. If he was right and Yuan Kongye found out he suspected her, the consequences were not something he was ready to face. Author''s Note Chapter 497: A Flawed Logic Chapter 497: A Flawed Logic After finishing his conversation with Zhou Keer, Zhang Yi stepped out of the car. He gazed at the white Gothic-style church, his emotions complicated. "Am I just overthinking this or is it real?" If the Followers of the Snow God truly had the ability to control the zombie horde, there was no reason for them to wait until now to act. Unless there was some special reason. But if Yuan Kongye was really the mastermind, she had the perfect opportunity a few nights ago to eliminate everyone while they were weak. That, too, didnt make sense. And from her behavior, she didnt seem like someone capable of commanding a zombie horde. This was a mess. The more Zhang Yi thought about it, the more the logic didnt add up. No matter how he looked at it, the Followers of the Snow God didnt have the means or motive for such a scheme. His suspicion was purely based on her multiple abilities. "I should investigate further in secret." With that thought in mind, Zhang Yis attention was drawn to the sound of coughing in the distance. He looked up and saw Bian Junwu coughing violently, while Wu Di and Baili Changqing watched him with concern. Bian Junwu had a white handkerchief pressed against his mouth, coughing so hard it seemed like his lungs might give out. Zhang Yi frowned slightly. "Could it be Yuan Kongye is wary of the Jiangnan District people?" Zhang Yi shook his head, realizing he was becoming too paranoid. He was thinking like a conspiracy theorist, scrutinizing everything with suspicion. Shoving his tangled thoughts aside, he walked toward Bian Junwus group. The investigation team members had different reactions when they saw him. Most of them were friendly. Bian Junwu had previously mentioned wanting Zhang Yi to join their investigation team. He was nearing the end of his life due to the side effects of his ability and had been searching for a new member to replace him. Zhang Yis performance in Tianhai City, particularly during the recent battle, had earned the teams recognition. Although his sniping skills overlapped somewhat with Qi Guangmings, having two snipers in a squad wasnt necessarily a bad thing. Besides, they had different specialties. ??????¨???? Only Wu Di looked at Zhang Yi with clear hostility. Zhang Yi had no idea when he had offended Wu Di, but he had no interest in unnecessary conflicts and chose to ignore him. "Captain Bian, hows your condition?" Zhang Yi approached with concern. Bian Junwu removed his handkerchief, and Zhang Yi noticed the dark red stains on it. His heart sankBian Junwu was clearly terminally ill. It seemed that during the last decapitation operation, he had used his abilities again, worsening his condition. Zhang Yi felt a pang of regret. Bian Junwu had left a good impression on himcalm, wise, and incredibly strong. Without his teams help, Tianhai City likely wouldnt have survived the zombie crisis. Bian Junwu spoke in a flat tone, "Same as always. Wont live much longer." He was discussing his own death, yet his face remained emotionless, as if he had long since come to terms with it. Wu Di looked anxious. "Boss, dont say that! We need to head back to Blizzard City as soon as possible. If you receive treatment there, we can at least stop the deterioration!" Bian Junwu shook his head. He knew his own body best. Jiangnan District had tried every method to save this battle-hardened Delta-class Superhuman. But mutation was irreversible. The consequences of using his ability had to be borne by him alone. Bian Junwu turned to Zhang Yi. "Well do one final sweep, confirm there are no Zombie Kings left in Tianhai City, and then well leave." S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He suddenly smiled. "So, what do you think? Tianhai City is in ruins now. Itll be difficult to withstand any future disasters, natural or man-made. Want to come with us?" "Not just youyour friends can come too." Zhang Yis group was full of elites. If they went to Blizzard City, they could all find decent positions. Zhang Yi chuckled. "I dont have any plans to leave yet. But maybe in the future." Wu Di snorted. "As if you can just pick and choose! You think Blizzard City is a place where anyone can just walk in?" Zhang Yi didnt bother arguing and simply smiled. "I still have friends here. Besides, Tianhai City is my homeIm used to it here. Leaving isnt easy." Bian Junwu didnt push the issue. "Think it over. With your abilities, you deserve a bigger stage." Zhang Yi glanced at the others. Wu Di, as usual, had an arrogant expression, always looking down his nose at people. Not wanting to continue the conversation, Zhang Yi simply told Bian Junwu to take care and was about to leave. "Hey, Zhang!" Wu Di suddenly called out, staring at him intently with a provocative tone. "I heard youre strongone of the top fighters in Tianhai City. Want to spar with me?" Some of the investigation team members exchanged glancessome amused, others deep in thought. Bian Junwu said nothing. He simply watched Zhang Yi, curious about how he would respond. Zhang Yi didnt hesitate. He immediately raised his hands in surrender. Grinning, he said, "Brother, spare me! Im not much of a fighter. My skills are only good for sniping and carrying supplies." "Youre an elite from Blizzard City. If we fight, wouldnt that just be bullying me? I surrender! I surrender!" Zhang Yi had no idea why Wu Di was so hostile toward him. But he wasnt the type to get into meaningless fights. People who constantly sought to prove themselves were the first to die. Zhang Yi understood that well. Besides, when he did choose to fight, it meant he was prepared to kill. And there was no benefit to killing Wu Di. So, he wouldnt fight. Wu Di was caught off guard. He hadnt expected Zhang Yi to just surrender outright. Furious, he pointed at Zhang Yi. "You didnt even fight! How can you just give up? Youre supposed to be a leader in Tianhai City, and you have no shame?" Zhang Yi simply waved his hand with a smile. "What leader? Were just a group of friends sticking together. They listen to me out of respect, thats all." "Ive got things to do. Well talk later!" With that, Zhang Yi quickly walked away, not giving Wu Di another chance to pick a fight. Wu Di was so angry he trembled. Pointing at Zhang Yis back, he turned to Bian Junwu. "Boss! This guy is a coward! You really want him on our team? Just look at himhe doesnt belong with us!" Baili Changqing burst into laughter. Even Bian Junwu smiled. He looked at Wu Di with a meaningful gaze and said, "Thats exactly why I like him." "If everyone in the investigation team were like you, wed be doomed." Author''s Note Chapter 498: Sharing the Ice Soul Chapter 498: Sharing the Ice Soul Zhang Yi ignored Wu Dis provocation. In his eyes, arrogant people like Wu Di wouldnt last long in the apocalypse. If it werent for his strength and Bian Junwu backing him up, someone would have taken him out long ago. If Wu Di really wanted to fight, Zhang Yi had a hundred ways to make sure he died miserably. After leaving Bian Junwus side, Zhang Yi felt relieved knowing they wouldnt be leaving just yet. Regardless of whether the Followers of the Snow God had any schemes, with the Jiangnan District people present, Tianhai City wouldnt fall into chaos. He headed toward Yangsheng Base to find Xiao Honglian. The soldiers at Yangsheng Base were very familiar with Zhang Yi. After several battles, they had developed a deep respect for him. As an enemy, they feared him. As an ally, they admired him. Mr. Zhang, please wait a moment. Ill go inform her right away. A Superhuman Captain quickly went to find Xiao Honglian. Before long, she arrived. Oh? What brings you to me? Xiao Honglian asked with a bold smile. Zhang Yi glanced around and said, Lets take a walk. Xiao Honglian looked surprised, sizing him up with a strange expression. You dont seem to be lacking women, do you? Let me warn you, dont get any funny ideas about me. Zhang Yi couldnt help but laugh. Youre overthinking. I just need your help with something, and there are too many people hereits not convenient to talk. Alright then. The two of them strolled casually out of the camp, walking through the snow and ruins. Once they were sure there was no one around, Xiao Honglian asked, So, what do you want? Zhang Yi got straight to the point. Didnt you say before that you could get your hands on information about anyone in Tianhai City? Yeah, Xiao Honglian replied, blinking at him. Why? Who are you looking for? With most people in Tianhai City already dead, whoever Zhang Yi was looking for was most likely in the Followers of the Snow Gods camp. She was very curious about his intentions. Zhang Yi said calmly, I need information on the leaders and deputies of Qingfu Base, Chaoyu Base, and the Followers of the Snow God. Xiao Honglian raised an eyebrow. You dont trust them? Zhang Yi chuckled. Its not about trust. Im just a cautious personI like to be prepared. Xiao Honglian smirked. Want my information too while youre at it? Zhang Yi laughed. If youre offering, I wouldnt say no. Keep dreaming. She rejected the idea outright. There was no way shed let her own details fall into Zhang Yis hands. Zhang Yi smiled at her. Well? Can you do it? Xiao Honglian furrowed her brows, her eyes filled with suspicion. She didnt know what Zhang Yi was planning. The files she had werent detailed enough to include every individuals full history. But when the apocalypse began, she had leveraged her former position to gather as much information as possible on key figures in every faction. So, overall, her data was quite comprehensive. But those records were from before the world ended. They werent as valuable now. It wouldnt be a big deal to give them to Zhang Yi. I could give them to you, but Xiao Honglian grinned. What are you offering in exchange? She wasnt about to hand them over for free. Zhang Yi smiled faintly. What do you want? Food, energy, or weapons? I dont need any of that. Xiao Honglian waved dismissively. With so many people dead, Tianhai Citys resource shortage was actually easier to manage now. She didnt need those things at the moment. If I give you the information, I want a promise from you. A promise? What kind of promise? Zhang Yi asked. Xiao Honglian looked at him and smiled. If one day, were in danger, I want you to help us. Damn. Even in the apocalypse, she still believed in promises? Zhang Yi found it amusing. You think a promise like that is worth anything? Xiao Honglian, however, was serious. I think it is. Were the only ones left in Tianhai City. If we want to survive, we need to cooperate and maintain some level of order. R??????? Otherwise, in complete chaos, no one will feel secure. Zhang Yi thought for a moment. It was an easy condition to agree to. If Xiao Honglian ever needed his help and the problem was easy to solve, Zhang Yi wouldnt mind stepping in. But if it required a significant sacrifice, then that was another story. Alright, I can agree to that. Zhang Yi nodded. For Xiao Honglian, this was a deal with no losses. She didnt have to give up anything significantjust some data stored in their system. The files are on our bases server. Ill send them to you once I get back, she said. When are you planning to leave? Zhang Yi asked. As they walked, Xiao Honglian replied, Things here are more or less settled. Its time for us to go back and rebuild our home. Well be leaving tomorrow. Theres also the matter of reorganizing our military force. She took a deep breath. This battle cost us too much. Then she turned to Zhang Yi. What about you guys? Not leaving yet? Zhang Yi smiled faintly. Soon. There were still some things he wanted to observe. He also needed to communicate with the investigation team. Before returning to the Shelter, he had to confirm that all the Zombie Kings in Tianhai City were completely eradicated. If even one survived, with their rapid virus spread, it wouldnt be long before another terrifying horde rose again. Back at the camp, Zhang Yi acted as usual. He even greeted Zheng Yixian and the Followers of the Snow God with a smile. He showed no sign of suspicion toward them or the sudden appearance and disappearance of the corpse tide. That night, Xiao Honglian informed everyone of their plans to leave. Tianhai City is in ruins, and Yangsheng Base has suffered heavy losses. We have to rebuild from scratch, she announced. We need to get back as soon as possible and start reconstruction. Everyone understood. But at that moment, Yuan Kongye suddenly spoke up. Everyone, after this battle, Tianhai City is severely weakened. Every faction has suffered great losses, and our overall combat power has declined. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, I have decided to offer my humble contribution. As she spoke, she took out five small wooden boxes. Everyone immediately recognized them. These boxes had previously been distributed among the major factions in Tianhai City. Inside them was Yuan Kongyes own separated Ice Soul. For her, separating an Ice Soul was no easy task. Because the Ice Soul was the most refined part of her own cells, she could only produce a few hundred in her entire lifetime. Each time she generated one, her body would enter a weakened state. Yet now, she was offering a portion to five factions, including the investigation team. Theres a limited supply. Ive given each faction two Ice Souls. If you find someone with potential, give it to them. But if you dont have anyone with the ability to see auras and judge talent, its best to use it on an existing Superhuman. It can awaken hidden potential and make them even stronger. As she spoke, her gaze swept lightly over the leaders present. Author''s Note Chapter 499: Deaths Return Chapter 499: Death''s Return The moment Yuan Kongye took out the Ice Souls, a chilling sensation surged in Zhang Yis heart. It was like walking through a blizzard on the Arctic ice fields, only to suddenly realize a polar bear was watching him. His suspicions grew stronger. If his theory was correctif Yuan Kongyes ability was Deaths Returnthen her distribution of the Ice Souls meant that, sooner or later, she planned to take action against everyone. Kill them. Absorb their power. Zhang Yi recalled what Zhou Keer had once said. Back then, Yuan Kongye had offered an Ice Soul to Zhou Keer, but she had refused. That proved that the choice to use the Ice Soul lay with the recipient, not Yuan Kongye herself. Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian all looked thrilled. They had all benefited from the Ice Souls before. It was thanks to these very Ice Souls that the first batch of Superhumans had been created, allowing them to rise to power and establish their respective factions. For them, Ice Souls were incredibly valuable. Especially now, when they desperately needed to rebuild their military strength. And they had no reason to doubt the Ice Souls. From the beginning, they had conducted thorough tests. The substance had no adverse effects on the human body and contained no mind-controlling properties. So, they felt completely safe using them. Xiao Honglian eagerly accepted her share. Master Yuan, we appreciate this greatly! Wei Dinghai and Xing Tian also hurried to claim theirs. Bian Junwu, however, remained expressionless. But he was intrigued by such a fascinating object. Taking it back for research wouldn''t hurt. One of his secondary missions in Tianhai City was to evaluate Yuan Kongyes ability level. If she could truly awaken abilities in others without any cost, she would be classified as a terrifying Epsilon-level elite Superhuman. Of course, given that her power was limited by how many Ice Souls she could produce, the effect was somewhat reduced. Still, her ability remained immensely valuable, likely placing her among the Delta-level Superhumans with flaws, just like himself. Zhang Yi maintained a bright smile, mirroring the others as he put the Ice Soul away with anticipation. This puts us in your debt. If you ever need anything, just let us know. He smiled at Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian. Zheng Yixians smile deepened, clearly pleased. Yuan Kongye nodded slightly. Perhaps, in the future, we will all become one. Coexistence and mutual support should be the way forward. But inside, Zhang Yi remained on high alert. With these two additional Ice Souls, he now had a total of three in his possession. If Deaths Return worked the way he suspected, then these Ice Souls could create three new Superhumans. However, as long as the host remained alive, their power wouldnt return to Yuan Kongye. And based on past tests, they didnt seem to have any negative side effects. That much had already been confirmed by the Western Alliance Base through extensive research. Their technological capabilities far surpassed Zhang Yis, so he didnt need to conduct further tests himself. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One thing was clearYuan Kongye wanted the leaders and strongest Superhumans of each faction to use the Ice Souls. But Zhang Yi? He would never use them. Not now. Not ever. However, he could give them to Keer, Xinxin, and Keran in the future. That way, he could create three new Superhumans under his control. Of course, their talent would determine the upper limit of their abilities, and that was an unknown factor. As for Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and the others, Zhang Yi thought for a moment before deciding not to warn them. He still couldnt fully trust them. If he went out of his way to warn them, it might tip them off that he was suspicious of Yuan Kongye. If they wanted to use the Ice Souls, let them. As long as they didnt die, it didnt seem like there would be any immediate consequences. Everyone thanked Yuan Kongye for her generosity before leaving the cathedral. That night passed without incident. The next morning, the people from Yangsheng Base packed their things, preparing to head back. Their mobility was superior, so their return journey would be quick. As for Chaoyu Base, they still had too many wounded and needed a few more days to recover. Xing Tians group had suffered the least casualties, but since their combat style involved close-quarters battles, they had expended a lot of energy. So, they also planned to rest before setting out. In the end, only Xiao Honglians group left the Followers of the Snow Gods base. Zhang Yi and the others naturally came to see them off. After surviving a battle together, the relationships between them had grown more harmonious, with a shared sense of having braved death together. Dont forget our deal when you get back, Zhang Yi said, smiling as he reached out to shake Xiao Honglians hand. She was momentarily surprised, then let out a laugh. Instead of a handshake, she strode forward and wrapped him in a strong bear hug. Dont worry! The moment I get back, Ill send it to you! After all, I really want to secure your help! Xiao Honglian had a well-proportioned figure, always clad in her form-fitting combat suit. But in this embrace, Zhang Yi could clearly feel her curves. He returned the hug and patted her back. Then its a deal. Just as they were in the middle of their embrace, a heated argument erupted not far away. Hm? Both of them turned curiously toward the commotion. At a time like this, when everyone was either resting or preparing to leave, who the hell was causing trouble? Drawn by the noise, many people started looking over. They saw a teenage boy and girl locked in an intense conversation. The boys face was flushed red with emotion, his voice shrill and shaky, like it hadnt fully deepened yet. The girl, in contrast, remained calm and composed, explaining things to him in a steady tone. It was none other than Li Kaile and his girlfriend, Xu Beibei. Or ratherhis ex-girlfriend. Xu Beibei was now wearing Yangsheng Bases combat uniform, and standing a short distance behind her was a tall, imposing officer from Yangsheng Base. She gazed at Li Kaile with a steady expression. Lele, let it go. Ive found a better future. I hope you can understand. Were just not right for each other anymore. Li Kailes eyes were filled with shock and fear. In his current state, Xu Beibei was the only hope he had left to keep going. So why? Why had she suddenly changed, when things had been fine just before? Was it just because he was no longer complete? Trembling with pain, he let out a desperate cry Beibei, you cant leave me! I need you! Dont you remember how good we were together? You said wed be together forever! Did you forget?! DID YOU FORGET?! ????? Xu Beibeis eyes flickered with a trace of guilt. But she didnt waver. In this apocalypse, the only reason she had survived this long was by keeping a clear head. Author''s Note Chapter 500: The Harsh Reality of the Apocalypse Chapter 500: The Harsh Reality of the Apocalypse Xu Beibei looked at Li Kaile and said, Ive found someone better for me. If I leave with him, Ill have a better life. Hes stronger than you, he can protect me, and he can provide me with everything I need. If you were in my position, you would make the same choice. She was not even twenty years old, but after everything she had been through in the apocalypse, she had grown up fast. For most people, the most basic need was survival. Love? That was just a little seasoning in this harsh world. Nice to have, but it couldnt fill an empty stomach. But Li Kaile couldnt accept that. Tears streamed down his face as he cried, No! I wouldnt! Beibei, I love you! Can he possibly love you more than I do? Xu Beibei looked at his childish expression and sighed, shaking her head. Let me be honest with you. The only reason I approached you in the first place was because your father was a priest. You were interesting, sure. I even liked you a little. But that alone was never enough for me to choose a boy younger than me, someone who couldnt even protect me. Talking about love in times like these dont you think its just self-deception? The officer standing behind Xu Beibei was growing impatient. He coldly said, Enough. Its time to go. This farewell has dragged on long enough. Xu Beibei immediately turned back to him, her demeanor shiftingnow she was once again the sweet, delicate girl. Sorry, big brother! I didnt mean to waste your time. Lets go! With that, she turned around and walked away without a second glance. Li Kailes eyes widened with fear. Xu Beibei was all he had left! Without her, how was he supposed to survive? Instinctively, he reached out to grab her arm. Beibei, dont leave me! If if you dare to go, Ill kill myself right here! Xu Beibeis patience snapped. She shoved him away forcefully, her face twisting into an ugly expression. Li Kaile, enough already! Youre a damn eunuch now, and you still have the nerve to dream about that kind of life?! Silence. A suffocating stillness spread through the air. Eunuch? Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow in curiosity, confused by her words. Did this kid get frozen so badly that he lost his equipment? Li Kailes face instantly aged ten years, his spirit completely crushedhe looked like a wilted eggplant left out in the cold. Even Xu Beibei realized she had gone too far. She lowered her head and muttered, Im sorry. Then, without another word, she turned away and climbed onto the military truck with the officer. She just wanted to survive. That wasnt a crime. Li Kaile stood there in a daze, watching as the truck drove away. But he didnt have the courage to chase after it anymore. Then, suddenlyhe let out a guttural cry, like a wounded animal, and sprinted off into the distance. Zhang Yi recognized Li Kaile. But he wasnt particularly close to Li Jians family, so he simply stood by and watched. Xiao Honglian, on the other hand, grinned as she finished enjoying the drama. That kid has never been beaten by reality before, huh? So naive. But this is good for him. Without pain, how can you grow? Zhang Yi didnt laugh at Li Kaile. Who didnt yearn for love at some point while growing up? But waking up from that dreamthat was the hard part. Some people woke up and grew stronger. Some never woke up at all. And they were the ones who ended up broken. After bidding farewell to Xiao Honglian, Zhang Yi soon saw Li Jian and Zhang Jianfang rushing out, anxiously searching for Li Kaile. They must have heard about their son and were terrified that something had happened to him. Both of them looked frantic. Sear?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They knew their son too well. Li Kaile had been sheltered since childhood, never having suffered any real hardship. That was why he had always been so bright and carefree, though also a bit naive. But recently, he had suffered a devastating blow, leaving his mind on the verge of collapse. Now, with Xu Beibei abandoning him too, his last emotional support was gone. Of course, Li Jian and Zhang Jianfang were terrified he would do something reckless. Frantically, they asked around about where he had gone. Someone told them that Li Kaile had run northwest, outside the camp. Without hesitation, they rushed after him. But they were gone for a long time. It wasnt until nightfall that someone finally spotted them again. By then, Li Jian and Zhang Jianfang looked like empty husks, as if their very souls had been ripped away. It didnt take much guessingLi Kaile was dead. But no one really talked about it. Too many people had died already. People had grown numb. It didnt matter who diedtomorrow would still come, and life would go on. Two days passed. Zhang Yi had gathered all the useful intel he could from the Followers of the Snow God. Meanwhile, Xiao Honglian had sent over the information he requested. There was no reason to stay any longer. So, Zhang Yi said his goodbyes to Bian Junwu and the others, preparing to return to the Shelter. After exchanging a few polite words, no one made an effort to convince him to stay. But before leaving, Zhang Yi sought out Bian Junwu. Captain Bian, can we talk privately for a moment? Bian Junwu studied him and chuckled. Changed your mind? Zhang Yi knew he was referring to joining the Jiangnan District. He smiled faintly. No, not about that. I just have some concerns Id like to discuss with you. Bian Junwu glanced at his team. They all gave Zhang Yi curious and amused looks, while Wu Di, as expected, glared at him with open hostility. No one knew what Zhang Yi was up to this time. Still, Bian Junwu nodded. Alright, lets talk. The two of them walked away from the camp, stepping into the deserted ruins outside the Followers of the Snow Gods base. Once they were alone, Bian Junwu spoke calmly, his usual indifference unchanged. No one else is here. Say whats on your mind. Zhang Yi glanced at him. Compared to their first meeting, Bian Junwu looked even paler now. His skin was so white it was almost translucent, even paler than the snow on the ground. His lips had turned a bluish-purple, making Zhang Yi worry about his condition. But he knew Bian Junwu didnt like wasting time, so he got straight to the point. Captain Bian, I think you should stay in Tianhai City a little longer. Bian Junwu stared at him, waiting for him to elaborate. Zhang Yi continued, This mission ended too easily. From the beginning, we assumed the Zombie Kings had high intelligence. If thats the case, then wouldnt they have realized we were setting up a trap for them? Why would they still gather in one place and let us wipe them out? ????????s? Bian Junwu responded calmly, We considered that possibility. But in the end, mutated zombies still arent humans. Their intelligence has limits. Besides, since that battle, there hasnt been another large-scale zombie horde sighting. Author''s Note Chapter 501: A Warning Chapter 501: A Warning Zhang Yi smiled at Bian Junwu. Have you seen any creatures stronger than the Zombie Kings? Bian Junwu frowned. He didnt understand what Zhang Yi was getting at. If you have something to say, just say it directly. Zhang Yis gaze darkened. At this point, he needed to keep the investigation team in Tianhai City. As long as they stayed, the Followers of the Snow God would be under pressure. If Zhang Yis suspicions were correctthat Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian were the true mastermindsthen as long as the investigation team remained, they wouldnt dare act too boldly. I suspect that theres someone controlling the corpse tide from behind the scenes. The Zombie Kings we killed were just puppets. Or worse theres an even more terrifying possibility. Zhang Yi clenched his jaw and said, What if the entire corpse tide was just an actto trick you? They made it look easy to resolve so they could get you to leave and mislead the Jiangnan District. Bian Junwu stopped walking, turning around to look at Zhang Yi coldly. Even through his dark sunglasses, Zhang Yi could feel the sharpness of his gaze. But he pressed on. This battle seemed like a hard-fought victory. But in my eyes, it went way too smoothly. The corpse tides movements were almost too coordinated, as if they were deliberately working with us instead of against us. Doesnt that strike you as odd? Bian Junwu was silent for a long moment before finally speaking. What proof do you have? I need evidence. Zhang Yi took a deep breath, thought for a moment, then shook his head helplessly. I dont have hard evidence yet but the inconsistencies are real. Bian Junwus lips curvednot in mockery, but in something closer to approval. Youre cautious. Thats a good trait. Being too careful might make life exhausting, but it certainly keeps you alive. But you dont have to worry too much. No matter what happens in Tianhai City, to the Jiangnan District, this is just a minor disturbance. He extended his long, bony hand, palm facing upward. No matter how big the problem gets, if we decide to suppress it, we will suppress it. Zhang Yi chuckled and didnt press further. After all, this was just a theoryhe had no solid proof. He never expected to convince Bian Junwu on the spot. But if he could plant even a seed of doubt in his mind, then someone as sharp as Bian Junwu would eventually notice if something was truly wrong. I get it. If I discover anything, Ill let you know immediately. You wont just ignore it, will you? Zhang Yi said, half-jokingly. But he wasnt joking at all. If his suspicions were correct, then what they were dealing with wasnt just a corpse tideit was an enemy far more terrifying. Bian Junwu adjusted his sunglasses and replied, Any threat serious enough to endanger a Jiangnan District-controlled area will be dealt with. Of course, if youre still worried, you might as well come with us. Theres no safer place than Blizzard City. Zhang Yi smiled. Well see. After saying his goodbyes, Zhang Yi and his team boarded their vehicle and left the Followers of the Snow Gods base, heading back to the Shelter. As the car rumbled away from the battlefield littered with corpses, Zhang Yi glanced at the base through the rearview mirror, his emotions mixed. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small white cloth covered in tiny handwritten notes. Hm? Whats that? Zhou Keer leaned over curiously. Zhang Yi calmly tucked it away, smirking. Nothing. Just an old pair of underwear I changed out of. Zhou Keers expression twisted in disgust. You actually had time to change underwear? They had been stuck in the Followers of the Snow Gods camp for ten days, with no chance to even bathe. Zhang Yis answer sounded suspicious as hell. But since he didnt explain further, she didnt press the issue. A few hours later, they arrived back at the Shelter. Along the way, they spotted scattered zombies, wandering aimlessly without direction. Without a Zombie King to control them, they were like lost souls, drifting across the frozen wasteland. Some had already frozen stiff, likely dead for good. Even the most resilient viruses couldnt survive long in minus sixty-degree temperatures. With no food source, their extinction was inevitable. Back at the Shelter, everything was just as they had left itnothing had changed. As soon as they stepped inside, they were met with a rush of excited voices. Brother, youre okay?! I was so worried about you! Yang Xinxin threw herself at Zhang Yi. Lu Keran looked guilty. Big brother You were risking your life outside, and we were just hiding here, doing nothing to help I feel awful. Zhang Yi chuckled, ruffling both girls heads. There was never any real danger. See? Were all fine. Everyone has their role to play. Theres no need to blame yourselves. Yang Siyah, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen with Zhou Haimei, carrying trays of food. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They had prepared a feast to welcome them home. Zhang Yi smiled at her. Did anything unusual happen while we were gone? Yang Siyah shook her head. It was eerily quiet. Nothing happened at all. Zhang Yi nodded. That was reassuring. The whole group gathered around a large round table, sharing a hearty meal. As they recounted the horrors of the corpse tide, the lingering fear in their voices was unmistakable. No one even knows how many people are still alive in Tianhai City Lu Keran said softly. Maybe were the only ones left. Her expression was a mix of sadness and unease. Even if the other survivors werent necessarily friendly, the thought of an entire city being empty was unsettling. Isolation had a way of eating at the soul. But before the atmosphere could grow too heavy, someone raised a glass. Cheers! Laughter and clinking glasses filled the room. For now, at least, they were safe. Zhang Yi hadnt forgotten to check in with Yang Siyah about the Superhuman Energy Dishes. Stockpiling resources was a priority. He would rather overprepare and let food sit untouched in Spatial Storage than risk running out at a critical moment. Yang Siyah smiled. Ive been making them every day! You were fighting on the front lines, but I couldnt just sit around doing nothing. Oh, and I stored everything in the fridge. Zhang Yi paused. Its been over ten days. Have the dishes lost their effect? Yang Siyah nodded. Ive been monitoring them. After seven days, their potency starts to drop. By ten days, they lose all their effects. Zhang Yi mentally noted this important detail. This was a limitation of her ability. But someday, knowing this could be a game-changer. For now, everyone focused on celebrating their return. With food, laughter, and drinks, half a day passed in joy and relief. Author''s Note Chapter 502: Yuan Kongye’s File Chapter 502: Yuan Kongyes File After the meal, everyone was stuffed, their bellies round and full. Some were even completely drunk. Take Fatty Xu, for examplehe had been so terrified during the battle that he nearly wet his pants. So when he got back, he indulged like there was no tomorrow, downing two whole bottles of top-tier red wine by himself. Uncle You carried him to the restroom, letting him throw up for a while before finally dragging him back to his room to rest. Zhang Yi had also had a fair amount of alcohol, but his tolerance was high, so he remained sober. Once the banquet was over, he called out to Yang Xinxin. Xinxin, come with me to the control room. Yang Xinxin nodded and followed Zhang Yi inside. Zhang Yi pushed open the heavy alloy doors of the control room and switched on the lights. Bright light illuminated the massive room, revealing an advanced, futuristic aestheticlike the control panel of a battleship. Even the ceiling and the floor were transparent OLED display screens. Zhang Yi wheeled Yang Xinxin inside and shut the door behind them. It wasnt that he wanted to keep secrets from the others. He just needed to understand everything himself first before deciding what to share. Some matters werent meant for group discussionstoo many opinions could cloud ones judgment rather than help it. That was why Zhang Yi preferred discussing things with Yang Xinxin. She was smart, and like him, she was purely rational. Zhang Yi walked to the console and accessed the information Xiao Honglian had sent over. Soon, he retrieved the files containing data on the leaders and key figures of various factions. Of course, there was nothing on Yangsheng Base. But Zhang Yi only truly cared about two peopleYuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian. The rest were just a smokescreen to keep Xiao Honglian from guessing his real intent. Yang Xinxin sat beside him, curiously watching as he opened file after file. Gege, what are you doing? Can you tell me? Zhang Yi didnt hide his thoughts from Yang Xinxin. Taking a deep breath, he told her everything he had seen at the Bai Xue Jiao encampment over the past few days, down to the smallest detail. Then, he voiced his suspicions. Theres no concrete proof yet, but I have a feeling that Bai Xue Jiao might be involved in the zombie horde outbreak in Tianhai City. If there really is a massive conspiracy behind this, then its a huge threat to us. Thats why I need to investigate this thoroughly. If I dont, I wont be able to sleep at night. Yang Xinxins eyes widened in surprise. She wasnt the type to believe in conspiracy theories, but if what Zhang Yi suspected was true, then whoever was orchestrating everything behind the scenes was an absolute mastermind. She didnt rush to form an opinion. Like Zhang Yi said, it was all speculation for now. She leaned in closer, joining Zhang Yi in examining Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixians files. Zhang Yi opened Yuan Kongyes file first. As expected, Xiao Honglian hadnt liedthe information she had gathered was incredibly detailed. It documented Yuan Kongyes entire life, from her family background to her upbringing. After reading it, Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin sat in silence for a long time. Her story was simply too tragic to put into words. The summary was as follows: Yuan Kongye, 20 years old, a mixed-blood of Huaguo and Nihon descent, born in Nara Prefecture, Nihon. Her father was Yuan Suiyun, and her mother was Wagatsuma Kamiko. Both were devout followers of a Nihon-based cult called Shinri-kyo. When Yuan Kongye was three years old, her parents brought her to Tianhai City in Huaguo, settling at 256 Jinling Street in Changlan District. That same year, Yuan Suiyun and Wagatsuma Kamiko established a branch of Shinri-kyo in Tianhai City. () Yuan Suiyun became the cult leader, while Wagatsuma Kamiko served as the high priestess. To attract followers, the couple claimed that their daughter, Yuan Kongye, possessed divine powers, declaring her the "Holy Maiden" of Shinri-kyo. Through religious manipulation, the Yuan family quickly amassed a fortune. Because of this, Yuan Kongye grew up in luxury. Within Shinri-kyo, she was treated like a princess. However, that life came to an abrupt end when she turned sixteen. Her parents, Yuan Suiyun and Wagatsuma Kamiko, died in a plane crash while traveling to Nihon for a Shinri-kyo gathering. They were killed on the spot. After their deaths, the cultists gradually realized they had been deceived. Yuan Kongye, still young, had no means to control the situation, and the truth was exposedshe had no divine powers at all. Shinri-kyos teachings claimed that followers could receive divine blessings through financial donations and that, upon death, they would ascend to a heavenly kingdom. It was even said that those who donated the most could choose which country they would reincarnate into in their next life. Because of this belief, countless followers donated everything they had, going bankrupt in the process, giving all their wealth to Yuan Suiyun and Wagatsuma Kamiko. But after the couples sudden deaths, the furious cultists demanded their wealth back. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unfortunately, most of it had already been squandered by the Yuan family. With no way to reclaim their losses, the enraged followers turned their fury on the only remaining targetsixteen-year-old Yuan Kongye. Records from the Tianhai City police department in 2046 confirmed a report about the incident. The case was classified as particularly heinous. By the time Yuan Kongye was taken to the hospital, she had been tortured beyond recognition, her body covered in permanent lacerations. However, due to the involvement of a cult and the sheer number of perpetrators, the case was handled ambiguously and never fully pursued. From that moment on, Yuan Kongye seemed to vanish from the face of the earth. She only resurfaced after the apocalypsewhen she suddenly reemerged as the leader of Bai Xue Jiao. Using the same manipulative tactics she had learned in Shinri-kyo, she gradually built up her power, turning Bai Xue Jiao into one of the largest factions in Tianhai City. Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin finished reading the file, falling into deep silence. For a long time, they simply stared at the screen, unable to find the right words. Xiao Honglian had worked in law enforcement before, so she was well aware of the case. She had even managed to obtain the original records. According to the report, a total of 136 individuals had been involved in the attack on Yuan Kongye. It was difficult to even imagine the level of suffering she had endured. After a long pause, Zhang Yi finally spoke. A person like that and she somehow became a savior in the apocalypse? Doesnt that seem strange? He turned to Yang Xinxin. Do you believe it? Yang Xinxin shook her head. Her eyes were dark as she spoke slowly. After experiencing something like that, its impossible to remain mentally stable. If it were me, the only thing on my mind would be destroying the world or reshaping it into something I could control. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, taking a deep breath. There are a few things that finally make sense now. Before, everyoneincluding myselfthought Bai Xue Jiao had suffered the heaviest losses in this zombie crisis. After all, they lost nearly ten thousand followers. Then, his tone shifted. But now, I dont think thats the case at all. Maybe Yuan Kongye never cared about those people in the first place. Maybe she orchestrated their deaths to cover up something even bigger. Yang Xinxin lifted her head, staring at Zhang Yi. Gege, do you have any proof to back that up? A faint smirk appeared on Zhang Yis lips. I didnt before. But now, I do. Author''s Note Chapter 503: Li Jian’s Letter Chapter 503: Li Jians Letter Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry. He calmly laid out all the suspicious points he had noticed. From the beginning, I knew Yuan Kongye had multiple superhuman abilities. And not just different applications of the same ability, but completely unrelated powers. Blessing, Gift, superhuman-level physical abilities, and that ice-based power that felt strangely familiar. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, his tone indifferent. Thats definitely not normal. If those powers were truly her own, there would be no reason for her to keep them hidden for so long during the battle against the zombie horde. But she never reveals them. That means theres something she doesnt want people to know. So, Im certainthose abilities were taken from others! And the key lies in the Ice Soul that separated from her body. Yang Xinxins expression grew serious. If thats true, then no one really knows how powerful Yuan Kongye is now. Every superhuman ability has a weakness. But if one person possesses the abilities of many, shes practically invincible! Zhang Yi nodded. Thats why she wants Tianhai City to remain in constant warfare. Because as long as those who received the Ice Soul are still alive, theyre useless to her. Only by dying can their abilities become hers. A sharp glint flickered in Zhang Yis eyes. Perhaps the so-called purge wasnt just aimed at outsiders. It could also be targeting her own people. After all, Bai Xue Jiao has plenty of superhumans. Their deaths would only benefit Yuan Kongye. Yang Xinxin found herself nodding unconsciously. Zhang Yis reasoning made perfect sense. The only issue was the lack of direct evidence to prove it. Yang Xinxin said, Just this isnt enough to convince the other factions, and more importantly, it wont convince the investigation team. If thats the case, we cant just confront Yuan Kongye head-on by ourselves. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi lowered his gaze, his expression cold and contemplative. But this time, we cant just bury our heads in the sand. She used the zombie horde to cripple more than half of our forces in the West Hill Base. And on top of that, she gave us the Ice Soul. That was a messageshes getting ready to make her move against us! The only thing keeping her in check is Jiangnan District. The moment Bian Junwu and his team leave, Bai Xue Jiao will act. At that, Zhang Yi reached into his pocket and pulled out a piece of white cloth. And besides, I have thisproof that my suspicions are justified. Curious, Yang Xinxin took the cloth from him. It was covered in densely written words. This is? Zhang Yi explained, Its a letter from Li Jian. That old man slipped it into my hand the night before I left. Thinking of Li Jians facehollow, like dead woodZhang Yi sighed. His son died. If not for that, I dont think he would have risked telling me these things. Yang Xinxin carefully read the letter. It wasnt written in inkbut in blood. The contents were summarized as follows: Li Jians Letter: First, after eating the red fruit produced by the Blood Vine, people would experience euphoria and hallucinations, similar to drug-induced trances. Second, the Blood Vine isnt a food-producing plant at all. Third, Yuan Kongye is insane! Fourth, I once accidentally witnessed Yuan Kongye murdering a female priest with her own hands. After finishing the letter, Yang Xinxin slowly lifted her head to look at Zhang Yi. Only now did she truly understand why he was so certain that something was deeply wrong with Yuan Kongye. If all this is true, then I can finally understand why shes done everything she has. Zhang Yi crossed his arms and spoke calmly. Li Jian was closer to Yuan Kongye and Bai Xue Jiao than we ever were. What he sensed is invaluable to us. Taken together, all of this makes it almost certainYuan Kongye and Bai Xue Jiao are hiding something massive. The worst-case scenario is exactly as I feared. The so-called Ice Soul is just part of a grand scheme. That generous gift was only given to us so she could take something back in return. Thats why she has every reason to plunge Tianhai City into chaos and fill the streets with corpses. The more people die, the faster she can reclaim their abilities. And its very possible that this massive zombie crisis was orchestrated by her from the start. If the Jiangnan District forces hadnt arrived when they did, forcing her to act cautiously, we might already be dead. Zhang Yis gaze was filled with deep wariness. If Yuan Kongye truly possessed such terrifying power, then soon, there would be no one in Tianhai City capable of stopping her. Not even Zhang Yi himself. Author''s Note Chapter 504: A Desperate Situation Chapter 504: A Desperate Situation "The more people die, the more she benefits." "From the very beginning, we were all deceived by her." Yang Xinxin sighed softly. "Even most of Bai Xue Jiao''s followers have been fooled, willingly sacrificing themselves for her." Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. "Id say she has an antisocial personality disorder." Yang Xinxin looked at him and murmured, "With a past like that, would it be surprising if she turned out this way?" Zhang Yi took a deep breath. Yuan Kongyes experiences were undeniably tragic. But she wasnt entirely innocent, either. Cause and effectshe had been born into a cult, enjoying the wealth that her parents amassed through deception. Everything that followed could only be seen as karmic retribution. "I dont have the energy to pity her right now. What matters is how we deal with the threat she poses." A heavy weight settled in Zhang Yis chest. A superhuman like Yuan Kongye was like a mountain pressing down on all of Tianhai City. At this point, no one knew how many abilities she had absorbed. Just how powerful was she now? Zhang Yi couldnt say for sure, but he knew one thingshe was stronger than any superhuman in Tianhai City. Including himself. Right now, Yuan Kongye was practically invincible. And an invincible enemy was almost certainly going to make a move against them. The Ice Soul she had given themthat was the signal. She wasnt asking them to submit. She was preparing to kill them. "We need to figure out how to deal with her," Zhang Yi said, exhaling deeply, trying to ease the tension in his chest. Yang Xinxin lowered her head in thought for a moment before calmly responding, "We cant take her on alone." "First, we have to make sure all the factions in Tianhai City know about her conspiracy." "And most importantly, we must gain the support of Jiangnan District." "After the recent battles, every faction in Tianhai City has suffered heavy losses. Even if they join forces, they might not be able to defeat Yuan Kongye." Zhang Yi nodded. "I understand, and youre right. But the problem iseven if I tell them everything I suspect, they may not believe me." "And as for Jiangnan District Even if Yuan Kongye has deceived everyone, what does that have to do with them?" He let out a cold chuckle. "Jiangnan District is the dominant power in this region. Their priority is stability, not justice." "So even if Yuan Kongye manipulates us, as long as it doesnt threaten Jiangnan Districts interests, they have no reason to act against her." "They might even try to recruit her instead." As he spoke, Zhang Yi felt his heart sink further. Without Jiangnan Districts support, could they really defeat Yuan Kongye? A bitter thought crept into his mindif it came to that, maybe he should just accept Bian Junwus offer and take his people to Jiangnan District. If he couldnt fight her, couldnt he just leave? But could he really abandon the shelter he had spent so much time and effort building? Zhang Yi gritted his teeth, his expression twisted with conflict. He didnt want to leave. Here, he was freefree from anyones control, free to make his own choices. But in Jiangnan District, according to Bian Junwu, hed become nothing more than a cog in the machine of Blizzard City. Living there required a price. Just look at Bian Junwu Even knowing that using his abilities was shortening his lifespan, he had no choice but to keep pushing forward every day. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yang Xinxins amber eyes studied Zhang Yi. A smile played at her lips as she spoke softly, "Zhang Yi gege, if you want to drag Jiangnan District into this maybe theres a way." Zhang Yi lifted his head, meeting her gaze. Yang Xinxin was eerily calm, showing no panic despite the dire situation they faced. "Xinxin, what are you thinking?" She smiled faintly. "The world moves for profit. As long as you grasp their core interests, you can make them work for you." "So what is Jiangnan Districts greatest concern?" Zhang Yi answered without hesitation, "That their rule might be challenged." "That includes the investigation team. The reason theyre here is to prevent the zombie outbreak from spreading into Jiangnan District and causing further chaos." Yang Xinxin tilted her head playfully. "In that case, all we need to do is make sure they know that the zombie horde was artificially created by Yuan Kongye." Zhang Yi let out a short laugh. "Id love to. If I had proof, I wouldve already used it. But I dont." He had been to the Blood Vines location, gathered its leaves, and even smuggled out a dried-up corpse. But after Zhou Keers analysis, no traces of the zombie virus were found. Yang Xinxin smiled mysteriously. "Gege, sometimes you dont need solid proof to take action." "You just need to make Jiangnan District aware that theres a possibility." "If they start suspecting Yuan Kongye, theyll launch their own investigation. And if she resists, it will confirm that she has something to hide." "If she doesnt resist and allows them to investigate, then sooner or later, theyll find evidence on their own." Understanding dawned in Zhang Yis eyes. "Youre saying spread a rumor? Exaggerate Yuan Kongyes threat so Jiangnan District is forced to intervene?" "Exactly," Yang Xinxin replied casually. "As Jiangnan Districts ruling power, they wont tolerate such an unpredictable factor in their territory." "Besides, theres one thing we already know for certainYuan Kongye has multiple superhuman abilities." "If you tell Bian Junwu that, what do you think Jiangnan District will do?" Her final words struck Zhang Yi like a bolt of lightning. Of course! All he needed was to attract Jiangnan Districts attention. Whether or not Yuan Kongye was truly behind the zombie crisis didnt matter. As long as she was exposed and put under scrutiny, she wouldnt be able to act recklessly. Hell, Jiangnan District might even decide to take her away themselves. And if that happened, Tianhai City would be safe. Zhang Yi felt a surge of excitement. Resting his chin on his hand, he leaned against the control console, deep in thought. This idea had merit. He needed to refine it further, but at the very least, it was a viable backup plan. A reckless decision could be dangerous, but careful planning that was a different story. Seeing Zhang Yis contemplation, Yang Xinxin gave a small, satisfied smile. "Gege, we still have one more file to read." Author''s Note Chapter 505: The Zombie Horde, Bai Xue Jiao, and the Blood Vine Chapter 505: The Zombie Horde, Bai Xue Jiao, and the Blood Vine Only then did Zhang Yi remember that he hadnt checked Zheng Yixians file yet. He raised an eyebrow. "At this point, does he even matter?" Zheng Yixian was strong, but after multiple battles, Zhang Yi was certain he was at most on the same level as Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian. He wasnt a major threat. Zhang Yi said, "For a long time, Yuan Kongye hid in the shadows, seemingly uninvolved in Bai Xue Jiaos affairs, leaving everything to Zheng Yixian." "But now, its clearZheng Yixian was just a puppet." Yang Xinxins slender, fair fingers lightly tapped the armrest of her wheelchair. Leaning lazily on her hand, she tilted her head and opened Zheng Yixians file. "But theres one thing we still dont know," she said. "Is this Yuan Kongyes personal scheme, or is the entire Bai Xue Jiao in on it?" "That makes all the difference." "If its the latter, then were up against an entire cult of sinister superhumans." "But if everyone else has been deceivedif Yuan Kongye tricked her own peoplethen we have a chance to turn her followers against her." Zhang Yi stuffed his hands into his pockets, recalling the time he had spent in Bai Xue Jiaos encampment. "In that battle, Bai Xue Jiao lost nearly 90% of its people." "Even their superhumans suffered heavy casualties." "If they knew the truth, then theyre damn good actorsbecause they threw their lives away without hesitation." "So I dont think many people knew what was really going on. Its likely that only Yuan Kongye and a select few were in on it." Yang Xinxin nodded. "Then lets see what Zheng Yixians file says. Maybe well find some answers." Zhang Yi leaned forward and scanned through Zheng Yixians personal records. His life story was rather uneventful. He was born into a middle-class family in Tianhai City and had a comfortable upbringing. His parents werent religious, but they were neighbors with Yuan Kongyes family. As a result, he had known Yuan Kongye since childhood. He was five years older than her and had always acted as her big brother. After Yuan Kongyes tragic ordeal, her whereabouts became a mystery. But interestingly, records showed that Zheng Yixian also left Tianhai City around the same time. Xiao Honglian speculated in her report that the two of them likely lived together. There were indications that the mentally shattered Yuan Kongye had spent time in a well-known rehabilitation center. And Zheng Yixian had been by her side the whole time. After reading the file, Zhang Yi fell into deep thought. "It seems Zheng Yixian knows everything about Yuan Kongyes plans." "In fact, its possible that this entire scheme was something they devised together." "As for the rest of Bai Xue Jiao most of them were just blind followers, drawn in by Yuan Kongyes so-called Blessing, only to be led to their deaths." A bitter smile tugged at Zhang Yis lips. "Its just like that joke." You think youre earning interest, but in reality, theyre after your principal. "Those who joined Bai Xue Jiao thought they were gaining protection. They had no idea that most of them were walking straight to their deaths." sea??h th N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "And the ones who are still alive probably wont last much longer either. Especially the superhumans." "They were nothing more than Yuan Kongyes livestock, raised for her to harvest." Suddenly, everything clicked into place. "This all makes sense now!" Zhang Yis thoughts became clearer as he analyzed the situation. "Ive always said that theres no such thing as a free lunch." "No wonder Bai Xue Jiao was so aggressive in recruiting followers, even when their own resources were running low." "Because those people werent recruits they were food!" "That was the only way to secure a steady supply of test subjects." "The Great Decree was used to filter out those with potential, bestowing them with the Ice Soul to awaken their abilities." "And once they awakened, they were eliminated in various ways, allowing Yuan Kongye to reclaim their powers!" Zhang Yis mind flashed back to the battlefield during the Five Armies War. He had found so many corpses of superhumansempty husks. When they died, he couldnt absorb their abilities. That was because their powers had already been transferred back to Yuan Kongye! "Just how many abilities has she absorbed?" A shiver ran down Zhang Yis spine. Yuan Kongye had been planning this since the very beginning of the apocalypse. Now, she had become the most powerful superhuman in Tianhai City. Her level of scheming was terrifying. Zhang Yi rubbed his temples. The sheer amount of information he had just processed left his mind in chaos. Too much. "I need to go back and think this through. Xinxin, help me figure this out too." "How do we keep Bai Xue Jiao from wiping us out?" Zhang Yi wasnt deluding himself with false hope. Yuan Kongye had sacrificed tens of thousands of her own followers without hesitation. There was no reason she would spare him. Especially since she had given him the Ice Soul. And among the superhumans of Tianhai City, Zhang Yi was undoubtedly one of the strongestperhaps second only to her. Have you ever seen a cat that doesnt eat fish? Zhang Yi had only two choices. Flee to Jiangnan District and abandon everything. Or find a way to kill Yuan Kongyeeither by taking her life or stripping her of her power so that she was no longer a threat. Yang Xinxin nodded, fully aware of the gravity of the situation. There were still too many unanswered questions. And this wasnt just about Zhang Yi. The survival of their entire shelter depended on their next move. They had to be extremely careful and come up with a flawless plan. Zhang Yi left the control room and returned to his quarters. Kicking off his shoes, he jumped onto his velvet-covered bed. This bed was a custom order from Rome, purchased by Young Master Wang for millions. It was ridiculously comfortable. Zhang Yi thought: Then he laughed at himself. At a time like this, he was thinking about furniture? Was it really the bed he couldnt bear to leave behind? No. It was the peaceful, comfortable life he had built in the shelter. But right now, a massive crisis loomed ahead, forcing him to plan ahead. "Zombie horde, Bai Xue Jiao, Ice Soul, Blood Vine" The words swirled through his mind. There were still too many unanswered questions. And until he figured them out, he wouldnt know what move to make next. Every battle plan depended on two key factors. First, overwhelming power. Second, detailed intelligence. Neither could be lacking. Author''s Note Chapter 506: The Key Point Chapter 506: The Key Point Zhang Yi lay on the bed, his mind in turmoil. At this moment, he was certainYuan Kongye was the source of Tianhai City''s chaos! But what was her connection to the zombie crisis? Even with superhuman abilities, it was impossible for her to control the countless zombies spread across the entire city. And from the way the Bronze Armored Flying Corpse attacked the cathedral that night, it was clear she didn''t have direct control over the undead. Otherwise, she wouldnt have exposed her ability to wield multiple powers so easily. That meant the zombies werent under her command. Was someone else working with her? Zhang Yi rubbed his temples, unable to make sense of it all. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. For a time, he believed the zombie tide was connected to the Blood Vine. Something about Li Jians words had given him a vague suspicion. But he had personally verified that the Blood Vine contained no trace of the zombie virus. If it had created the undead, there would have been evidence. With these unanswered questions lingering in his mind, Zhang Yi gradually closed his eyes. After fighting relentlessly for so long, he was truly exhausted. It was easy to fall asleep once he lay in his own bed. Yet in his dreams, Zhang Yi found himself back inside that abandoned building. The towering Blood Vine before him was even larger than in his memory, stretching for over a thousand meters! That was strangehe clearly remembered it being just over a hundred meters at most. But as the blood-red mist dispersed, he witnessed an astonishing sight. Beneath the vine, its tangled, sprawling roots burrowed deep into the ground And embedded in those roots, like peanuts in soil, were countless zombies. Their bodies were pierced by the vines tendrils, constantly absorbing a steady flow of crimson nutrients. "So that''s how it is!" Zhang Yis eyes widened. He finally realized what he had overlooked The roots of the Blood Vine! The zombies lived underground, perfectly adapted to the damp, shadowy depths. In the haze of his dream, a shadow appeared overhead. As the vision zoomed in, Zhang Yi saw his face clearly Li Jian, the man with the Sacrifice ability. Li Jian approached the Blood Vine, slashed open his wrist, and let his blood flow into its ravenous roots. The vine greedily absorbed every drop And then, its roots flourished even more. The zombies hanging from it swelled, their bodies brimming with energy. "Li Jian so hes the key!" Everything clicked into place. Just then, the countless zombies entangled in the roots abruptly opened their crimson eyes, locking their gaze onto him. Zhang Yi jolted awake. He gasped for breath, swiping a trembling hand across his forehead. His skin was cold with sweat. Yet, the tangled web of clues in his mind had suddenly unraveled Everything was clear now. "I understand. I finally understand everything!" His eyes gleamed with newfound clarity. He had found the thread buried within the chaos Now, he only needed to follow it to piece together the full picture. Zhang Yi climbed out of bed, grabbed a notebook from the bedside table, and hurriedly recorded his thoughts while his mind was still sharp. "The zombie crisis erupted 21 days ago, when all five major factions of Tianhai City were attacked simultaneously." "Li Jian was taken to the Followers of the Snow God a month ago." "That means, before that, zombies hadn''t appeared in Tianhai City because the Blood Vine''s power was too weak." "But once it absorbed Li Jian''s ''Sacrifice'' ability, it could rapidly produce a large number of mature hosts." "That must be the origin of the Zombie King." "Once the Zombie King emerged, it could inject the virus into suitable bodies, mass-producing more undead." "But even among the horde, the Zombie King and the Bronze Armored Corpses are different from ordinary zombies. They possess true life even intelligence." "The Zombie King is the hordes brain, while the Bronze Armored Corpses are its muscle." "Yuan Kongye can control the Blood Vine and command the Zombie King, but she cannot directly control the horde." "The Zombie Kings intelligence is limited. It can only follow simple orders. This explains why it had to slowly learn human behavior." "Which also explains why the Bronze Armored Flying Corpse attacked Yuan Kongye." "As for why I couldn''t find any useful information from the Blood Vine That must be because, before we reached the Followers of the Snow God, they had already hidden the most crucial evidence." "They even left behind false leads to misdirect us and dispel our suspicions." Finishing his notes, Zhang Yi tossed his pen onto the desk and let out a long breath. "Finally, everything makes sense. This has to be the truth." His gaze sharpened, all traces of confusion replaced with certainty. "As long as I understand the root cause, I can figure out how to counter it." Zhang Yi stroked his chin. "If the zombie tide is under Yuan Kongyes control, theres no way shed allow her greatest weapon to be destroyed so easily." "Which means its all just an act." "Not for us, but for the Jiangnan District Investigation Team!" "They fear Jiangnan Districts strength, so they must make the investigators believe that Tianhai City''s zombie crisis has been resolved" "Only then will they leave." "But the moment Bian Junwus team departs Yuan Kongye will make her move against us." "No matter how many superhuman abilities she has absorbed, no matter how terrifying her power has become" "She can''t wipe out every faction alone." "So she must have retained a significant portion of the zombie horde." "Possibly even more than what we saw outside the Followers of the Snow Gods base!" The deeper Zhang Yi thought, the more he grasped the true horror of Yuan Kongye. He had seen her before A young woman in her early twenties, cold and expressionless. Yet beneath that youthful face hid an incredibly meticulous mind. The realization sent a chill down his spine. But as he reconsidered, he found her strategy entirely logical. If he possessed her abilities, he would have done the exact same thing. "The situation is extremely dangerous now. The first priority is to keep Bian Junwu and his team from leaving Tianhai City." "But she has already absorbed so many superhuman abilities and immense power." "Even if we expose her true nature who can kill her?" Zhang Yi fell silent, lost in thought. If it came down to an all-out confrontation, he had no confidence in taking Yuan Kongye down. Perhaps Bian Junwu could fight her But given his current condition, another battle against a top-tier superhuman would surely accelerate his decline. Would he even agree to fight? As Zhang Yi mulled over this dilemma, a knock came at his door. From outside, Yang Xinxins voice called out. "Zhang Yi-gege, can I come in?" Author''s Note Chapter 507: Necessary Measures Chapter 507: Necessary Measures The Followers of the Snow God. After Zhang Yi and the other factions left, the remaining survivorsfewer than a thousandbegan rebuilding their home. Most of them were high-ranking church members and their families, along with a handful of ordinary followers who were lucky enough to escape the zombie horde. They had lost most of their loved ones, their hearts filled with grief. But life had to go on, no matter how much despair they had endured. Under the priests guidance, they cleaned up the battlefield, moving the corpses to the building where the Blood Vine was located. At the same time, they gathered the remaining supplies, preparing for their new lives. With fewer people left, there was no longer a shortage of resourcesperhaps the only silver lining in their tragedy. Grand Priest Zheng Yixian calmly coordinated the survivors, methodically reorganizing their living spaces. They consolidated tents, sleeping bags, and other materials, relocating them to a sturdier building that could shield them from the wind and snow. After assigning tasks, Zheng Yixian entered the church to discuss their next steps with Yuan Kongye. As always, Yuan Kongye stood before the altar, praying to the image of Jesus. Zheng Yixian closed the doors behind him and stopped three meters away from her. Everything has gone quite smoothly, hasnt it? A faint, almost imperceptible smile played on his lips. No one in Tianhai City can stand in our way now. And no one would ever suspect us. The ten thousand dead followers alone are enough to erase any doubts and evoke their sympathy. Now, all we have to do is wait for the investigation team to leave. Yuan Kongye slowly opened her eyesclear and cold, like the frozen waters of the East Sea. But theres still one thing that worries me. Zheng Yixian frowned slightly. Oh? Whats troubling you? Our plan was flawless. There werent any loose ends. Even the Blood Vine was handled perfectly. Yuan Kongye turned to face him, her gaze steady. That night, someone saw me using another persons superhuman ability. A sharp glint flashed in Zheng Yixians eyes. You mean that woman Zhang Yi brought? At the time, the only outsider in the church had been Zhou Keer. The Followers of the Snow God were bound by strict rules; none of them would reveal anything about Yuan Kongye. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Zhou Keer was not one of them. She had seen Yuan Kongye wield multiple abilitiesif she spoke, it could expose a dangerous secret. Ive been worried about this. I dont know if it will become a problem. Yuan Kongye lowered her gaze. Zheng Yixian thought for a moment before chuckling. Dont worry, it wont be an issue. So what if you used different abilities? There are countless types of superhumans in this world. Whos to say a person cant possess multiple powers? We suffered the most casualties in this battleno one would suspect us. And even if they do, what of it? At most, they might uncover the secret of Ice Soul. Jiangnan District wont interfere with that. As for the other factions? Ha! Zheng Yixians expression grew arrogant. Even if they learn the truth about Ice Soul, its already too late for them to do anything about it. Yuan Kongye nodded. Youre right. In the face of absolute power, nothing else matters. The only rule in this world now is survival of the fittest. So, once the investigation team leaves, we should make our move. She tilted her head back, eyes filled with devotion. The best meal should always be saved for last. As long as I can take the abilities of the leaders from each faction, my power will reach an unimaginable level. I will become the god of this new world. Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin talked for a long time, refining their plan. Yang Xinxin helped fill in the missing details. The plan would be ruthless. But to survive, it had to be done. Lets keep this between us for now. Telling the others will only create unnecessary panic. As long as we know what needs to be done, thats enough. Zhang Yi said firmly. Yang Xinxin blinked curiously. Youre planning to do this alone? Zhang Yi smiled. Hands in his pockets, his eyes softened slightly. At this point, Im the only one who can. The power hierarchy among superhumans was becoming increasingly clear. The gap between different levels was enormous. And their opponent was likely an Epsilon-class superhumanthe highest level known to humanity. Numbers alone wouldnt be enough to win. They needed to use every advantage available. And certain necessary measures. At a time like this, Liang Yue and Fatty Xu couldnt do much to help. Luckily, they trusted Zhang Yi completely. When the time came, they would follow his lead without hesitation. That was all he needed. The next day, the shelter remained peaceful. Everyone believed the zombie crisis was over, that Tianhai City was finally safe again. Smiles filled the faces of the survivors. People chatted happily about their futuresome even discussed taking a trip to the East Sea, fishing, and relaxing. Others wondered if they could negotiate with Chaoyu Base for an offshore voyage. Zhang Yi listened with a smile, occasionally adding his thoughts, as if he had no worries at all. After breakfast, he suited up, armed himself, and prepared to head out. Curious, the others asked where he was going. Zhang Yi shrugged and grinned. The Zombie King is gone, but there are still scattered zombies around. Im going to clean them up and get some practice with the sword techniques Liang Yue taught me. Liang Yue stood up immediately. Ill go with you! Clearing zombies shouldnt be a one-man job. Uncle You and Fatty Xu also volunteered to join. Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then chuckled. Theres no need for that. Were not dealing with the Zombie King or the Bronze Armored Zombiesno need to make a big scene. How about this? Well split up. Everyone will clear a different area around the shelter. The group agreed that his plan made sense. So, one by one, they donned their combat gear, grabbed their weapons, and set out on their hunt. Author''s Note Chapter 508: Searching for the Zombie Horde Chapter 508: Searching for the Zombie Horde Zhang Yi chose to head toward Ci Qu Station. After bidding farewell to the others with a smile, he got into his vehicle and set off. He was traveling alone, but he brought along his most trusted battle pet, Hua Hua. However, this time, he didnt bring it for protection. Ever since he developed the Dimensional Gate technique, his survival abilities had reached their peak. As long as he wanted to escape, he could continuously shift through the Dimensional Gate, making it nearly impossible for anyone to catch him. What he truly needed was Hua Huas beastly sense of smell. Arriving at Ci Qu Station, Zhang Yi found the entire subway tunnel frozen solid under thick layers of ice. He took out his satellite phone, glanced at Tianhai Citys subway map, then turned to Hua Hua and said, Lets go find them. Hopping into his snow vehicle, Zhang Yi drove along the subway line through the raging snowstorm. Hua Hua crouched in the passenger seat, alert and ready. After several hours of travel, they reached Tianfeng District, the stronghold of the Followers of the Snow God. The cults headquarters was still a dozen kilometers away, but Zhang Yi decided not to proceed further. He parked the vehicle, stored it inside his Spatial Storage, and found an entrance to the subway, jumping down. Tianhai Citys subway system was vast, stretching over 800 kilometers in total length. Traveling on foot would take at least half a month. Fortunately, Zhang Yi had Dimensional Gate, a technique that allowed him to teleport through space. Since activating the gate didnt consume Superhuman Energy, he could use it indefinitely to move forward rapidly. This time, Zhang Yi had come to Tianfeng Districts underground with a clear objectiveto locate the hidden zombie horde. He was certain that a massive, highly aggressive zombie army was lurking somewhere down here. This was Yuan Kongyes hidden trump card, a force meant to wipe out every other faction in Tianhai City. If he could find them, he could move on to Phase Two of his plan. Tianhai Citys subway system was enormous, but Zhang Yi suspected the zombies were hiding somewhere near Tianfeng District, close to the Followers of the Snow God. That was why he came here first. Zhang Yi and Hua Hua navigated the tunnels cautiously. The cat perched on his shoulder, its eyes wide like bronze bells. Hua Huas powerful nose could detect the scent of zombies within a kilometer. The stench of infected hosts was distinct from regular rotting corpses, making them easy to track. Zhang Yi proceeded carefully, ready to escape to the surface at the first sign of danger. In his heart, he prayed that Yuan Kongye wouldnt notice his presence. If she realized she had been exposed, she might strike at him first. Zhang Yi was confident that his invincible survival abilities would keep him alive. However, if Yuan Kongye attacked his Shelter, protecting himself would be easy, but protecting everyone else would be far more difficult. After half an hour of searching, Zhang Yi had explored every corner of Tianfeng Districts subway tunnelsbut he found no sign of a zombie horde. That meant they werent here. How is this possible? Zhang Yi frowned. If theyre not in Tianfeng District, do I have to search all of Tianhai City? Or am I overthinking this? Maybe a larger zombie army doesnt exist at all? He quickly dismissed that thought. No, they must exist. Yuan Kongye wouldnt waste such a powerful trump card. She may be strong, but she cant fight an entire war alone. She needs a massive army that follows her orders completely. I doubt shes satisfied with ruling just one city. Even though he had found nothing, Zhang Yi had prepared for the possibility of a fruitless search. It makes sense, he mused. There was just a massive battle near the Followers of the Snow Gods base. If the zombies were hidden here, someone would have noticed. No matterif they arent here, Ill search every subway tunnel in Tianhai City until I find them. A determined glint flashed in Zhang Yis eyes. Sometimes, the simplest methods work best. To eliminate a potential disaster and protect his people, he was willing to do whatever it took. He opened his phone, marking all the locations he had searched in Tianfeng District. There were still over ten districts in Tianhai City that he hadnt explored yet. One by one, Zhang Yi muttered. Well find them eventually. He scratched Hua Huas head. The cat closed its eyes in bliss. Of course, in an ideal world, Im just overthinking everything. Maybe there is no zombie horde, and no hidden scheme. Zhang Yi chuckled to himself. That day, he scoured the entire citys underground subway network. Then, when he reached the northeastern outskirts of Tianhai City, in one of the most remote and desolate districts, Hua Hua finally reacted. The moment they entered the area, Hua Huas fur bristled. Its eyes locked onto the dark tunnel ahead, and it let out a low, prolonged warning growl. It had fought zombies countless times before and was intimately familiar with their scent. For Hua Hua to be this unsettled, there could only be one reasona massive number of zombies lay ahead. Zhang Yis lips curled into a slight smile. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A sense of relief washed over him. So this is where theyve been hiding. They were in Ao Mountain District, one of the most remote areas of Tianhai City, a borderline wasteland. This place lacked valuable resources, so no faction had ever bothered to claim it. Yuan Kongye had been incredibly cunning to hide the zombies here. Zhang Yis smile didnt reach his sharp, watchful eyes. He had teleportation abilities, meaning neither he nor Hua Hua were in immediate danger. However, he had two concerns: First, he didnt want to alarm the massive zombie horde and accidentally trigger a zombie stampede. Second, among the zombies lurked intelligent creaturesZombie Kings. If they discovered his presence, they would immediately report it to Yuan Kongye. That would force her hand, launching an early attack on Tianhai Citys other factions. Zhang Yi opened his Spatial Storage and pulled out a massive gray rat. It was about the same size as Hua Hua, its eyes glowing with eerie red light. However, this was not a real giant rat. It was a mechanical spy that Lu Keran had built for him. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } To prevent it from being exposed, Zhang Yi had coated it multiple times with the blood and flesh of real giant rats, ensuring its scent was indistinguishable from the real thing. He placed it in the depths of the tunnel. Then, he grabbed Hua Hua and swiftly retreated to a safe distance. Author''s Note Chapter 509: Luring the Enemy into the Trap Chapter 509: Luring the Enemy into the Trap Zhang Yi pulled out his satellite phone and activated the pre-programmed control system to guide the mechanical rat deeper into the subway. This lifelike mechanical rat, crafted by Lu Keran, was so realistic that only a close inspection could reveal its artificial nature. It could even mimic a rats squeaks and engage in simple communication. The mechanical rat darted through the underground tunnels at high speed. Given how vast the Ao Mountain District subway network was, it wouldnt be possible to scout everything in a short time. But Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurryhe had all the patience in the world for this task. Everything the mechanical rat saw and heard was transmitted back to Zhang Yis satellite phone in real time. Two long hours passed. Then, they finally found what they had been looking for. At the deepest section of Ao Mountain Districts subway tunnels, they spotted a horrifyingly large horde of zombies lying in a dormant state. Layer upon layer of corpses piled up, blocking multiple subway passages entirely. By Zhang Yis rough estimate, there were at least 300,000 zombiesand that was just the lower limit. The actual number was likely far greater, but the mechanical rat couldnt advance any further due to the sheer density of the undead. Tianhai City had a pre-apocalypse population of nearly 20 milliona perfect breeding ground for zombies, Zhang Yi muttered. If given enough time, this zombie army could grow to an unimaginable scale. Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yi immediately commanded the mechanical rat to retreat from the horde and slip into a drainage tunnel. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There, it entered standby modeready to be reactivated if necessary. If he didnt need it again, it would remain hidden indefinitely to avoid detection. With the reconnaissance mission complete, Zhang Yi and Hua Hua swiftly withdrew from the subway tunnels. As he emerged back onto the snow-covered surface, a gust of cold wind hit him. Gazing at the vast, frozen wasteland before him, he exhaled a long breath. I was right but I cant feel happy about it at all. The real challenge is just beginning. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed coldly. Meanwhile, the Investigation Team had not yet left Tianhai City. Despite their victory against the Followers of the Snow God, where they had eliminated six Zombie Kings and left hundreds of thousands of zombies in disarray They still needed to ensure that the zombie crisis was truly over. Their final task was simpleconfirm that Tianhai City no longer had any organized zombie armies led by intelligent creatures. Thus, they scouted the subway tunnels near major faction territories, searching for hidden hordes. But after more than ten days, they found no evidence of any surviving Zombie Kings. Naturally, most of the seven Investigation Team members began to believe the crisis had ended. Inside a black snow vehicle, Wu Di lounged in his seat with his hands behind his head, lazily muttering: Can we go back now? There arent any more zombie hordesjust a few scattered brainless ones. Let the locals clean up the rest. We should head back to Blizzard City and take a well-earned break! The team chuckled and nodded in agreement. Vice-Captain Baili Changqing glanced at Bian Junwu, knowing that their leader had the final say. Boss, is there anything else we need to wrap up? Bian Junwu adjusted his mirrored sunglasses. So far, nothing seems off But deep down, he felt uneasy. That unease was the only reason he hadnt ordered a retreat yet. His instincts came from two things: First, his extensive experience in handling complex crises. Second, something Zhang Yi had told him before. The Tianhai City mission had gone too smoothly. Even though many people had died, the Investigation Team itself had suffered zero casualties. And in just one battle, they had taken out six Zombie Kings? It felt like a scripted scenario, far too convenient. Bian Junwu had handled countless difficult operations. He knew the difference between a natural disaster and a man-made catastrophe. And this mission felt staged. However, despite his suspicions, they hadnt found anything unusual. And they couldnt stay in Tianhai City forever. Their superiors had already urged them to return after receiving their reports. Blizzard Citys high command was particularly interested in Yuan Kongye and her Ice Soul ability. Glancing at his relaxed teammates, Bian Junwu decided: Fine. Lets head back to Blizzard City. A cheer erupted inside the vehicle. Qi Guangming and Kong Sheng high-fived excitedly. With the mission complete, they would soon receive their rewards and enjoy a well-earned vacation. Baili Changqing laughed, Too bad Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye arent coming with us. Biology and medical expert Meng Siyu raised an eyebrow, amused. Oh? Vice-Captain, are you that interested in them? Baili Changqing grinned. Actually, there are quite a few Superhumans in Tianhai City that I find impressive. But Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye stand out the most. Meng Siyu thought for a moment, then nodded with a smile. That makes sense. Special-Type Superhumans reaching Delta-level strength are extremely rare. Zhang Yis ability would be invaluable in any team. Meanwhile, Yuan Kongyes power was at a strategic level. By comparison, combat-focused fighters like Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and Wei Dinghai were strong, but not rare in Blizzard City. Bian Junwu thought about Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye and remarked coolly, Well discuss them later. If Zhang Yi wasnt interested in joining Blizzard City, Bian Junwu wouldnt force him. But if Yuan Kongyes ability was proven to mass-produce Superhumans Then whether she wanted to go or not wouldnt be her choice. With his decision made, Bian Junwu ordered the team to return home. Baili Changqing turned the snow vehicle around and drove toward the Tianhai City border. However, just before they left the city, Bian Junwus satellite phone rang. His eyes narrowed slightly. Hmm? Baili Changqing noticed and asked, Boss, is it a call from HQ? No, Bian Junwu replied flatly. Its Zhang Yi. At the mention of Zhang Yis name, Wu Di immediately frowned, his face full of impatience. This guy of all times, he calls us right before we leave? What, is he looking for trouble? Wu Di had always disliked Zhang Yi, even showing open hostility toward him. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Zhang Yi was aware of it, but had no idea whyhe had never done anything to offend Wu Di. Bian Junwu ignored Wu Dis complaint. As the satellite phone continued ringing, he calmly reached out and pressed the answer button. Author''s Note Chapter 510: The Investigation Team Returns Chapter 510: The Investigation Team Returns Hello, this is Bian Junwu. Bian Junwus voice was as cold as the freezing snow around them. On the other end of the line, Zhang Yis voice came through. Captain Bian, its Zhang Yi. Have you left Tianhai City yet? Bian Junwu glanced at the road ahead. They were less than ten kilometers from the citys border. Almost, he replied flatly. Zhang Yis heart tightened, but he kept his voice calm. I see Before you leave, theres something important I need to tell you. What is it? Ive found another zombie horde. Bian Junwus expression finally changed. Zhang Yi continued, And this time its even bigger and more dangerous than before. Bian Junwu could no longer ignore it. He turned to Baili Changqing and ordered, Stop the car. Baili Changqing immediately hit the brakes. The rest of the Investigation Team exchanged looks, puzzled by Bian Junwus sudden shift in demeanor. His face was grima rare sight, even for him. Where did you find them? Bian Junwu asked. Zhang Yis voice was serious. The deepest tunnels of Ao Mountain Districts subway system. There are at least hundreds of thousands of them, possibly more. Bian Junwu took a deep breath, then let it out through his nose. If what Zhang Yi said was true Then his earlier suspicions were correct. The zombie crisis in Tianhai City had never truly ended. Everything they had seenthe peace, the victorywas all a carefully crafted illusion. Why? To lull them into a false sense of securityto trick them into leaving Tianhai City. Bian Junwu clenched his thigh with one hand, his anger boiling inside. They had been played for fools. This level of deception and the ability to control such a massive zombie armyit was far beyond a mere Zombie King. Or perhaps The Zombie Kings they had killed were never the real threat to begin with. Something or someone was controlling everything from the shadows. Bian Junwus voice was heavy. How did you find them? Can you confirm this information? Zhang Yi hesitated for a moment. He had considered lyingsaying he stumbled upon them by accident. But with someone like Bian Junwu, it was better to be honest. So, he spoke the truth. Ive always suspected that the zombie crisis wasnt truly over. So, after you left, I kept hunting stray zombies and scanning the subways. And finally, after a lot of effort I found them. Holding his satellite phone, Zhang Yi waited for Bian Junwus response. He needed the Investigation Team to stay. Bian Junwu was a crucial piece in Zhang Yis next move. Only with Jiangnan Districts authority and Bian Junwus strength could they eliminate Yuan Kongyethe greatest threat to Tianhai City. And according to his and Yang Xinxins calculations, once Bian Junwu heard this, he would have to stay. Because as long as the zombie problem remained, the Investigation Teams mission was incomplete. They had no choice but to report back and investigate. Bian Junwus voice came through the phone again. Where are you now? At home. Good. Im coming to see you. With that, Bian Junwu ended the call. He turned to Baili Changqing. Turn around. Were heading to Zhang Yis Shelter. Baili Changqing grinned and spun the wheel, sending the snow vehicle into a wide arc across the snowy wasteland, speeding back toward Yuelu District. The rest of the team looked at each other, confused. Wu Di frowned, clearly irritated. Boss, why the hell are we going back to Zhang Yi? Bian Junwu adjusted his mirrored sunglasses. Because the zombies might not be gone. We cant just leave. Suddenly, he covered his mouthand coughed violently. His body shook with each cough, as if he were about to cough up his lungs. Wu Dis expression immediately turned tense. He hurriedly pulled Meng Siyu over. Check on himquick! Meng Siyu opened her medical kit and took out a small bottle of pills. She poured out two and handed them to Bian Junwu. But when Bian Junwu finally lowered his hand, his palm was covered in fresh, red blood. The team fell into a heavy silence. Even Baili Changqing, usually the cheerful one, frowned deeply. Bian Junwu didnt react to their concern. He simply took the pills and swallowed them. The medicine wouldnt cure him, but it would ease his pain. Everyones eyes held sadnesseven though no one spoke it aloud. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Bian Junwu simply wiped the blood from his lips and hand with a tissue. He spoke calmly. Theres no need for those looks. Ive never regretted gaining my abilities. Because of them, weve survived so many close calls. Theres a price for everything. The world doesnt hand out giftsit always takes something in return. In the apocalypse, you need to accept that reality. Dont waste your time feeling sadit clouds your judgment. In this world, the most important thing is to stay rational. Meanwhile, back at his Shelter, Zhang Yi waited for Bian Junwu to arrive. He had already planned out exactly what he was going to say. No matter what happened, he would not let Jiangnan District walk away from this crisis. They had to be involved. A few hours later, the Investigation Teams vehicle pulled up at the Shelters entrance. Zhang Yi had already instructed Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah to prepare food for their guests. But when Bian Junwu and his team stepped out, their expressions were darkthey had no interest in eating. Wu Dis face was full of suspicion and hostility as he glared at Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, youd better explain yourself clearly today! If youre messing with us, I swearI wont let you off easy! Zhang Yi ignored him. Because Wu Dis opinion didnt matter. Instead, he turned to Bian Junwu and Baili Changqing. Come inside, Zhang Yi said. We need to talk. Bian Junwu followed him into the living room. Zhang Yi dismissed everyone else, choosing to speak privately with the Investigation Team. Once they sat down, Baili Changqing leaned forward. Zhang Yi, were not strangers. The zombie issue is serious, and Blizzard Citys leadership is watching closely. If you have something important to sayjust tell us straight. Dont joke around. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Zhang Yi nodded. Of course. I wouldnt joke about something like this. Now let me show you something. Author''s Note Chapter 511: The Investigation Team’s Decision Chapter 511: The Investigation Teams Decision Zhang Yi retrieved the footage recorded by the mechanical rat and played it on the big screen for the investigation team. As they watched, their expressions turned grim. Although the mechanical rat''s perspective couldnt fully capture the scale of the zombie horde, it had passed through multiple subway tunnels, each one packed with dormant zombies! A conservative estimate put the number at over ten thousand. Wu Di, who usually had something sharp to say, was now at a loss for words, his face full of shock. A chill ran down everyone''s spinenot because they feared zombies. No matter how many there were, they could eventually be exterminated through various means. But the fact that these zombies were hidden underground meant that someone was orchestrating all of this! Had Zhang Yi not discovered them and alerted the investigation team, they would have remained completely in the dark and returned to Blizzard City unaware. By then, the zombies would have emerged from the subway with a vengeance, crushing the already weakened factions! If that happened, Tianhai City would be doomed. Not only would the investigation team bear the blame for mission failure, but their failure to detect the problem in time could allow the zombie outbreak to spread across the entire Jiangnan District! Zhang Yi watched the silent group, crossed his arms, and spoke slowly: "The first time I saw them, I was just as shocked." "Their numbers are overwhelming. Without your help, Tianhai City wont stand a chance." "So, I have to shamelessly ask you all to stay and help us one more time!" His eyes were filled with sincerity as he looked at Bian Junwu and the others. Beneath his sunglasses, Bian Junwu''s brows furrowed deeply. Faced with such an unexpected situation, even he couldnt make a quick decision. He asked, "How many people know about this?" Zhang Yi replied, "Only me and a strategist from my team. I havent told any other factions, and even most of my own people are unaware." Bian Junwu gave Zhang Yi a long, thoughtful look. "You suspect that someone is behind all this?" Zhang Yi smiled and shook his head. "I can''t say for sure, but this matter is too big for me to decide alone. Thats why I need your advice." He let out a heavy sigh and patted his thigh. "If even you guys cant tell me what to do, then I might as well take my people and leave this cursed place." "By the way, Blizzard City provides food and shelter, right?" Bian Junwu ignored Zhang Yis humor. "Besides this footage, do you have any other evidence?" Zhang Yi shook his head. "No, thats all Ive got this time." "You have to understand, Im not some professional investigator. Finding this much was already a stroke of luck." Bian Junwu remained silent for a long moment before nodding. "I understand. Well find a way to handle this." "But when the time comes, you and your people will have to pitch in as well." Zhang Yi hesitated. "Our team is fine, but the other factions have lost over 80% of their combat strength. Can we really handle such a massive horde?" Bian Junwu replied, "This is your home. Of course, you need to fight for it." Zhang Yi sighed. "Alright, I get it." Bian Junwu stood up. "Were leaving." Zhang Yi said, "Wont you stay for a meal? My place is big enough, and you could rest here for a bit." But Bian Junwu decisively raised his hand, declining the offer. "No need. Were not in the habit of resting in someone elses home." The investigation team was extremely cautious and wouldnt trust anyone easily. Especially nowZhang Yi revealing the zombie horde only made Bian Junwu more suspicious. After all, who could guarantee that Zhang Yi wasnt the one controlling the zombies? Since the outbreak, his faction had miraculously suffered no casualties. Zhang Yi rubbed his nose. "Alright then, if you need my help, just let me know!" His gaze was earnest. Bian Junwu merely nodded, then led the others out of Zhang Yis shelter. Zhang Yi walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, watching their vehicle disappear into the distance. After a long time, he let out a slow breath, his eyes carrying a hint of guilt. Because he had indeed withheld some information. The footage he showed Bian Junwu and the others was only a portion of what the mechanical rat had captured. In reality, the number of zombies in the Aoshan District subway tunnels was far greater. But Zhang Yi worried that if the investigation team knew the true scale, they would be too afraid and retreat. And that wouldnt align with his plan. "Dont blame me. Im just trying to survive." "In the apocalypse, everyone has to rely on their own skills to make it." He knew that the investigation team was already too deep to back out now. Which meant his safety was guaranteedfor now. Now, all that was left was to see how things unfolded. If everything followed the script he had envisioned, he would be the biggest winner. Inside the snow vehicle, the atmosphere among the investigation team was heavy. They had just barely dealt with the last zombie horde and thought that Tianhai City''s crisis was nearly resolved. Even if some zombies remained, they shouldnt pose a major threat. But after seeing that footage, they realized how naive they had been. It meant they were facing an even greater disaster. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Beneath Bian Junwus black sunglasses, his expression remained unreadable. Everyone knew he was wrestling with a difficult choice. They had two options. One, return to Jiangnan District and request reinforcements from headquarters. Or two, rely on themselves and Tianhai Citys remaining forces to attempt another decapitation strike. Bian Junwu hesitated between the two plans. The first option was the safest. But it would also mean admitting their own incompetence. Their reputation among Jiangnan Districts leadership would take a hit. And worse, their mission reward points would decreasepoints that ensured their and their families'' survival in Blizzard City. But the second option carried significant risk. The team members waited for Bian Junwus command. After countless battles together, they trusted his judgment completely. Bian Junwu thought for a long time before finally making his decision. "The situation is still unclear. We cant request reinforcements just yet." "Our priority is to investigate the site first." "If we can handle it ourselves, we must avoid troubling headquarters." The team members nodded in agreement. Even if they were to request help, they first needed a clear picture of Tianhai City''s situation. That way, they could make a reasonable requestensuring no wasted resources and preventing failure due to insufficient reinforcements. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Bian Junwu had made up his mind. "Well head to the location Zhang Yi mentioned and investigate." Hearing this, Baili Changqing asked seriously, "Should we have Tianhai City''s local factions send people to join us?" Author''s Note Chapter 512: The Truth Chapter 512: The Truth Baili Changqings suggestion was instantly rejected by Bian Junwu. No! Right now, we absolutely cannot let anyone else get involved. His expression was ice-cold as he spoke in a low voice, If this isnt a natural disaster but a man-made one, then we have to suspect that the mastermind is one of the five major factions! Everyone in the investigation team fell into a heavy silence. Someones been raising these zombies? But who? Could it be Zhang Yi? I think hes the most suspicious! Wu Di frowned. Given Tianhai Citys current situation, Zhang Yi did seem like a prime suspect. He was the only faction leader who hadnt suffered any losses in the zombie crisis. Baili Changqing, however, disagreed. I dont think its him. Theres always a cause and effect. But Zhang Yi has no reason to do this. He doesnt lack resources to survive in the apocalypse, and his people are all alive and well. More importantly, he willingly gave us intel on the zombies. If hes not insane, hed never deliberately provoke usthe representatives of Jiangnan District! Wu Di crossed his arms, his brows furrowing even deeper. But if not him, then who? Besides him, all the other factions in Tianhai City have suffered heavy losses. If it were them, they wouldnt have deliberately triggered a zombie horde to wipe out their own forces, right? Meng Siyu spoke up, Could it be some unknown force? Bian Junwu remained silent. They had no intelligence on the matter, so there was no way to draw a conclusion. Well go to Aoshan District and see for ourselves. Once were there, well know whats really going on. Inside the shelter. After Bian Junwu and the others left, Zhang Yi sat on the couch in the living room, flipping open and snapping shut a silver metal lighter. The flame flickered brightly, its blue hue thin and sharp like a military dagger. Outside, snowstorm raged endlessly, but inside the shelter, it was as warm as spring. Staring at the flame, Zhang Yi pondered for a long time before finally deciding to come clean with his people. The investigation team had already been tricked into heading to Aoshan District. That meant the hidden zombie horde would soon erupt. That meant the true final battle of Tianhai City was approaching. If everything played out as Zhang Yi expected, then the battle outside the Bai Xue Jiao stronghold had been just a carefully staged act. But this time, the pressure would escalate to an entirely different level. If he lost control even slightly, the entire Tianhai City would be destroyed by the undead tide. Zhang Yi needed to keep everything within his grasp. At the very least, he had to ensure the survival of himself and his people. At worst, he had to make sure he survived. Its time. They need to be mentally prepared. With a final he shut the lighter and turned to the shelters AI assistant, Xiao Ai. Xiao Ai, notify everyone in the shelter to gather in the living room. Understood, message sent! Moments later, Xiao Ais voice echoed throughout the shelter. All shelter residents, please gather in the living room immediately. Hearing this, many exchanged curious glances. Most of them still believed the zombie crisis had been resolved. Zhang Yi only called for a full meeting when something serious was happening. So, what now? Only Yang Xinxins eyes flickered darkly as she wheeled herself away from the control panel. A few minutes later, everyone had gathered in the living room, their eyes locked on Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, whats going on? Did something happen again? Anxiety crept into their hearts. They thought they had survived the worst and could finally enjoy some peace. But Zhang Yis solemn expression told them otherwise. Without any buildup, he got straight to the point. This zombie crisis in Tianhai City isnt a natural disasterits man-made. Theres a massive conspiracy at play, and every single person in Tianhai City has been dragged into it. His voice was calm but carried undeniable weight as he revealed everything. From Zhou Keers discovery of Yuan Kongyes multiple superpowers to his own uncovering of the massive zombie horde hidden in Aoshan District. The situation was too complex, the plan too far-reaching. Zhang Yi had to break it down carefully so they could grasp the full picture. By the time he finished explaining, half an hour had passed. The room was filled with an eerie tension. Everyone wore strange expressions. It felt like they had just listened to a suspense thriller full of unexpected twists and turns. If they hadnt paid close attention to every detail, they wouldnt have been able to untangle the web of events. Take your time processing the details of the story, Zhang Yi said. For now, just remember thisYuan Kongye and Bai Xue Jiaos ultimate goal is to destroy all the factions in Tianhai City and harvest our superhuman powers. As for what they plan to do afterward, thats none of our concern. Our real problem is figuring out how to eliminate her first. Sitting nearby, Yang Siyahs face had turned pale. She rubbed her arms as goosebumps prickled her skin. Then she definitely has to kill me? Death Return was an ability that only activated when a superhuman implanted with Ice Soul was slain. And in this shelter, Yang Siyah was the only one with Ice Soul. Her powers were mostly supportive, but extremely useful. And to Yuan Kongye, whether she killed one or a thousand, it didnt matter. There was no reason to spare Yang Siyah. Zhou Keer secretly felt relieved that she hadnt implanted Ice Soul back then. She also realized that Zhang Yi had been protecting her all along. Zhang Yi reassured Yang Siyah, For now, you dont have to worry. If things play out as we expect, Yuan Kongyes plan wont succeed. Liang Yue asked worriedly, But if what you say is true, then Yuan Kongye has already absorbed the abilities of at least a dozen superhumans maybe even dozens or hundreds! Who could possibly stop her? Zhang Yi clasped his hands under his chin. There is someone. Who? Everyone turned to him curiously. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Bian Junwu. Zhang Yi said his name with conviction. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This was precisely why he had gone to such lengths to ensure the investigation team stayed. Author''s Note Chapter 513: The Zombie Horde Uprising! Chapter 513: The Zombie Horde Uprising! When Zhang Yi mentioned Bian Junwus name, Liang Yue, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu all nodded in agreement. They had witnessed Bian Junwus terrifying power firsthand. His ocular ability was strong enough to destroy anything he laid eyes on in an instant. If not for its severe side effects, his ability would have been classified as "Epsilon" level. But for Zhang Yi, that power alone was enoughas long as it could dismantle Yuan Kongyes conspiracy. That night, while Zhang Yi and the others held back the zombie horde in direct combat, Bian Junwus seven-man squad had infiltrated the underground and eliminated six Zombie Kings. At that time, the number of zombies protecting those Zombie Kings was enormous. Yet, Bian Junwus team still succeeded in their decapitation mission. That meant they had the means to fight against a massive zombie force. The cost, however, would likely be greatperhaps even shortening Bian Junwus already limited lifespan. Zhang Yi knew what he was doing was far from noble. But if sacrificing people who had nothing to do with him meant securing the survival of himself and those close to him, then so be it. If he felt any guilt at all, it was because Bian Junwu had once extended an invitation for him to join Blizzard Cityan act of goodwill. But "I have no choice," Zhang Yi told himself. "If only one side can survive, I will choose me and my people." Then, Zhang Yi laid out his plan for everyone. "I''m telling you all this so you can be mentally prepared." "If things spiral out of control and the seven-man squad fails, we must abandon Tianhai City." "My spatial storage has enough supplies. No matter where we go, we can survive." "The only regret is losing this shelter with its top-tier defense system." "So, for non-combat personnel, dont take off your clothes when you sleep these next few days. Be ready to evacuate at a moments notice!" "As for the combat personnel, your job is simplestay ready for battle and follow my commands!" Everyone listened attentively, and surprisingly, there were no objections. Only Liang Yue asked curiously, "So are our enemies the zombies or Bai Xue Jiao?" Zhang Yi took a deep breath and gazed at her. "Probably both." He was smiling, but no one else could. Fighting a zombie horde numbering in the hundreds of thousands while also dealing with an immensely powerful superhuman The situation was nothing short of despair-inducing. No one understood how Zhang Yi could still be smiling. Zhang Yi inhaled deeply. "Id like to say something comforting right now." "But this is the reality. Just accept it." "The worst-case scenario is that we leave Tianhai City." "If Bian Junwu fails, even if Yuan Kongye doesnt lead the zombie army to slaughter us, Jiangnan District wont show mercy either." Zhang Yi pointed skyward. "The Angel of Death wont hesitate to obliterate Tianhai City." The group exchanged bitter smiles. If things reached that point, they wouldnt stand a chance. Zhang Yi leaned back on the couch, his eyes fixed on the extravagant chandelier worth millions hanging from the ceiling. "It is what it is. Whats meant to come will come." "Ive planned everything. But in the end, human efforts are one thing, fate is another. Whether everything goes as planned is up to the heavens now." Zhang Yi was self-aware. He and Yang Xinxin had crafted a strategy to counter both the zombie horde and Bai Xue Jiao. But the world was full of unpredictable variables. Thats why he had arranged an escape planif things went south, they would leave Tianhai City immediately. To Yuan Kongye and her group, Zhang Yi wasnt even the biggest enemy. Their real grudge was with the major factions. After the apocalypse, their grudges had only deepened, and Yuan Kongye would undoubtedly target them first. "Everyone, prepare yourselves!" Zhang Yi dismissed the group. At this point, all he could do was pray. And he really did. With hands clasped, he silently sent a prayer to the heavens. Then, he took out his satellite phone and activated the mechanical rat. Bian Junwu and his team had arrived. As usual, they first let Meng Siyu use her ability to scout the area before moving in themselves. They werent afraid of the zombies. But the unknown entity controlling themthat was what worried them. First, they had to confirm whether Zhang Yis intel was real. The team ventured deep into the tunnels, using Meng Siyus ability to scan the surroundings before proceeding further. Zhang Yi had given them precise coordinates of the zombie cluster, so they found the location quickly. Meng Siyus ability covered a three-kilometer radius. From exactly three kilometers away, she everything. Deep within the subway tunnels, countless zombies lay sprawled across the damp, muddy ground. Her face turned grim. "How bad is it, Siyu?" Noticing her tense expression, Bian Junwu asked. Meng Siyu took a deep breath before responding, "Theyre here. And their numbers are terrifyingat least 100,000 of them!" Everyones expressions darkened. A horde of that scale was beyond dangerous. But they didnt panic. They were veterans when it came to dealing with zombies. They understood their combat capabilities and behavior. Dormant zombies wouldnt wake up unless controlled by a Zombie King or if they detected the scent of the living. Bian Junwu adjusted his sunglasses. "Then lets wipe them out." His decision was firm. They would withdraw first. Then, theyd call for reinforcements from Jiangnan District and request a missile strike on this location. At this scale, neither their team nor Tianhai Citys remaining forces could handle the horde alone. They needed backup. Everyone nodded in agreement. But just as they were about to leave, a deep, guttural roar echoed from the far end of the tunnel. It was as if a flood was surging toward them. Even the ground trembled beneath their feet. Baili Changqings face paled. "Damn it, the horde is waking up!" The seven of them turned grim. They had been careful. Sarch* The N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They hadnt recklessly approached the zombie cluster. And yet, they had been discovered. There was no time to think. "Run! Get to the surface!" At Bian Junwus command, the team sprinted back the way they came. Behind them, the horde erupted like a tidal wave. .bg-container-10448869e4d{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Blood-red, ravenous eyes gleamed in the darkness. Among the horde, massive Bronze Armored Zombies charged forward. And above them, terrifying winged Bronze Armored Zombies soared through the air, hunting from above. Author''s Note Chapter 514: Seeking Refuge Chapter 514: Seeking Refuge Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The sudden zombie riot forced the investigation team to flee the underground tunnels at full speed. "This isn''t right! Why are these zombies acting so differently from before?" Wu Di gritted his teeth. Baili Changqing, running alongside him, remained calm as he explained, "If everything is as we suspect, then everything the zombies did before was just an act!" "An act? You mean they were putting on a show for us?" Baili Changqing nodded. "Their goal was to make us think the mission was complete so wed leave Tianhai City." "Looking back, taking down the Zombie Kings was too easy." "Especially that battlesix Zombie Kings gathered in the same location? Its almost as if they were deliberately placed there for us to kill!" For the first time, Baili Changqings usual confident smile disappeared. His expression darkened. "Our real mission isnt to eliminate the Zombie Kingsits to find the one controlling the horde!" As they ran, the Bronze Armored Flying Zombies closed in from behind. Wu Di extended his right hand, summoning his floating cannon and firing! A powerful energy beam blasted through the chest of one of the flying zombies, sending it crashing to the ground. But it wasnt enough to kill it. Its defenses were clearly much stronger than regular Bronze Armored Zombies. In mere moments, it rose back into the air, letting out an enraged roar as it resumed its pursuit! The sound of flapping wings grew louder. Behind it, dozens more flying zombies were already descending upon the investigation team. "Tsk!" Baili Changqing pulled the massive black knights lance from his back and positioned himself at the rear. The nearly three-meter-long lance spun in his hands like a windmill. As a superhuman of the Enhancement Type, his ability was simpleenhancing all of his physical attributes. But as one of Blizzard Citys top warriors, he was an in close combat. Iron FistBaili Changqingan unbreakable human shield! "Get the hell back!" With a cold smirk, he swung his lance in a wide arc. One of the giant flying zombies took a direct hit to the waist. The impact snapped its slim torso in half, sending its massive body flying like a discarded trash bag! "Hahaha! Come on, you bastards! Whos up for a game of baseball?" Baili Changqing laughed wildly, batting the zombies away one by one. Despite his towering height and massive weapon, which made him seem clumsy, his movements were incredibly swift. The black afterimages of his lance left the flying zombies with no room to dodge. Meanwhile, the deafening rumble of the oncoming zombie horde grew louder. Bian Junwu and the others reached the subway exit, never once looking back. They trusted Baili Changqing. Soon after, he too leaped out of the underground, his lance dripping with green zombie blood. "Move, move, move! Theres too many of them!" The team scrambled into the snow vehicle as Meng Siyu floored the accelerator. Bian Junwu glanced into the rearview mirror. A seemingly endless wave of zombies was pouring out from the tunnels, flooding the snowy plains like a tidal wave. The most terrifying among them were the Bronze Armored Zombies and their flying counterparts. They were faster than regular zombies, chasing relentlessly while letting out piercing screeches. Gritting his teeth, Wu Di rolled down the window and fired his floating cannon. Sharpshooter Qi Guangming popped out of the sunroof, raising his black sniper rifle to pick off the approaching undead. But the sight before them made their hearts race. A of zombies surged forward, an overwhelming force of death. And they were nothing more than a tiny boat about to be swallowed whole. At this point, it was a race against time. If the zombies overtook them, they were dead. Even the strongest superhumans couldnt survive against numbers like these. Bian Junwu pulled off his sunglasses. Oblivionactivated! A brilliant white light swept across the horde, instantly disintegrating thousands of zombies. "Ugh ..." Bian Junwus coughing worsened. His power drained his already limited lifespan every time he used it. But right now, they had no choicethey had to escape. His attack bought them a few seconds, creating some distance between them and the horde. But the zombies remained relentless, their glowing red eyes locked onto the team, their pursuit unyielding. Bian Junwus heart sank. This confirmed itsomeone manipulated the previous battle to make them think the job was done. And now, because the controller believed they had left Tianhai City, the zombies were no longer being restrained. For the first time, the investigation team was witnessing the scale of the horde. "Boss, these things dont get tired! If we keep running like this, were screwed. We need backup!" Baili Changqing shouted. Bian Junwu wiped the blood from his lips and forced himself to stay composed. "Head to the nearest shelter! Alert all forces in Tianhai City and have them send reinforcements." Requesting help from Jiangnan District was out of the question now. What were they supposed to do? Ask them to launch missiles and nuke the entire area? That would kill too. The underground shelters were their best bet. These were military-grade fortifications built precisely for wartime crises. If they could get inside, no matter how large the zombie horde was, it wouldnt break through in a short time. Meng Siyu checked the map. "The closest shelter is Yangsheng Shelter." "Go there! And notify all factions to send reinforcements immediately!" "Understood!" Meng Siyu steered the vehicle toward Yangsheng Base while sending out an urgent message to every faction. Xiao Honglian nearly fell out of her chair when she received the message. "What?! I thought the zombie crisis was over! Why the hell are they coming for shelter?!" Her first instinct was to reject them outright. But then she rememberedthe investigation team represented Clenching her teeth in frustration, she stormed out of her office. At that moment, Yangsheng Base was back in full operation. Thick black smoke billowed from the refinerys chimneys. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } People believed life had returned to normal. No one expected That this was merely the of the real disaster. Author''s Note Chapter 515: The Dilemma of the Followers of the Snow God Chapter 515: The Dilemma of the Followers of the Snow God Xiao Honglian called Zhuge Qingtian over and shouted, "Notify everyone immediately! Get back inside the shelter now! A massive zombie horde is approachingtell them to hide, quickly! Hurry, hurry, hurry!" Zhuge Qingtian froze. "A zombie horde?" Xiao Honglian snapped impatiently, "No time to explain! Just do it, now!" Seeing the urgency in her expression, Zhuge Qingtian didn''t dare to ask more. He rushed to the broadcasting room and announced to everyone at the refinery to evacuate to the underground shelter immediately. Meanwhile, Xiao Honglian led the elite guards to maintain order and prepare to receive the investigation team. Inside the refinery, workers scrambled, dropping what they were doing and moving toward the underground shelter. Thankfully, Zhuge Qingtian was smarthe didnt tell them it was another zombie horde, avoiding panic. Other factions also received the news at the same time. Wei Dinghai grimaced. "Again? When the hell will this end?" He was aboard a ship, hesitating whether to abandon this place and escape with his crew. But after thinking it through, he knew it wasnt realistic. There werent many ports where their massive ship could dock. Every other area had its own ruling factions. If they left, theyd have to battle local forces for territorya suicide mission given their current strength. Gritting his teeth, Wei Dinghai cursed, "D*mn it, we have no choice but to fight!" Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wei Dinghai and Xing Tian quickly responded, saying they would bring reinforcements. They had no choice. If the investigation team was wiped out, Jiangnan District would likely conclude that the zombie crisis in Tianhai City was beyond salvation. And when that happened, Death itself would descend from abovedooming everyone to annihilation! Even if they hid inside their shelters and bunkers, they wouldnt survive for twenty years. They simply didnt have enough resources. Rather than wait for inevitable death, it was better to take the gamble and join forces with the investigation team to resolve the crisis. At the shelter, Zhang Yi remained calm as he received the message. "We''re heading over now." Upon learning that Bian Junwu and his group had fled to Yangsheng Base, Zhang Yi formed a new plan. He didnt want Bian Junwu and his team dead, nor did he expect them to eliminate the zombie horde. Because Zhang Yi was the only one who knew that behind all of this was the secret scheming of the Followers of the Snow God. Only by eliminating Yuan Kongye could this nightmare truly end. And for that, Bian Junwus forces were indispensable. Standing up from the couch, Zhang Yi changed into his combat gear and carefully checked all his equipment. After preparing, he called Liang Yue, Uncle You, and a few others to join him in assisting the investigation team. Everyone had been mentally prepared for a crisis, but no one expected it to escalate this fast. Zhang Yi had barely returned from the Followers of the Snow God before he was thrown into another storm. "Don''t worry too much," Zhang Yi reassured Fatty Xu and the others. "Stick close to me. If anything goes wrong, I''ll use my two Dimensional Gates to teleport us out instantly." "Well escape the battlefield and return to the shelter immediately." His words were a much-needed morale boost, keeping the team from succumbing to fear. Their expressions steadied. Having a team leader with a top-tier escape ability? That was the ultimate sense of security! Winning wasnt the prioritystaying alive was! The group geared up. At the same time, Zhang Yi instructed Zhou Keer and the others, "Don''t just sit around at home. Pack your most important belongings and leave them in the living room." "If things go south, we''ll pick you up and get out immediately." "Don''t take too much. We have plenty of supplies, so each person is allowed only one bag. Got it?" The women in the house looked worried. Zhou Haimei urged, "We should pack quickly!" Yang Xinxin, however, remained calm. She didnt have much to bringjust her laptop. She raised a finger at Zhang Yi, reminding him, "Brother, dont forget, this is our only chance." Zhang Yi nodded slowly. "I understand." There was no time for farewells. Zhang Yi and his team finished gearing up and set off for Yangsheng Base to assist the investigation team. Standing at the doorway, Zhou Keer watched them leave, an overwhelming sense of helplessness rising in her heart. At this point, aside from Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin, no one truly understood the full extent of the crisis they were about to face. At the Followers of the Snow Gods stronghold, Zheng Yixian frowned deeply as he read the message. He stepped over the ruins and entered St. Johns Cathedral, where Yuan Kongye was in prayer. "Its bad," Zheng Yixian announced immediately. Yuan Kongye slowly opened her eyes and turned toward him. Her gaze was cold, inhumanly indifferent, yet filled with devotion to the divine. Zheng Yixian spoke firmly, "The situation at Aoshan District has been discovered by the Jiangnan District investigation team." A flicker of emotion crossed Yuan Kongyes face. Jiangnan Districtthe very name was a threat to her. At least for now, it wasnt something she wanted to confront. "Arent they supposed to have left Tianhai City? Why are they at Aoshan?" Aoshan District was remote. After the apocalypse, it quickly became deserted, a dead zone. When the zombie crisis erupted, there wasnt even an active horde there. That was precisely why they had chosen Aoshan as the perfect place to hide the zombie swarms. Even if the investigation team was thorough, they couldnt possibly search every inch of the vast Tianhai City. That was why Yuan Kongye was so surprised. Zheng Yixian shook his head. "I dont know. Logically, their search should focus on the five major factions and the surrounding populated areas." "This is bad news." Yuan Kongye furrowed her brows. She couldnt tell if this was a coincidenceor if someone had deliberately led them there. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Zheng Yixian continued, "Now the zombie swarm has been disturbed. Theyve started attacking the investigation team, forcing them to flee toward Yangsheng Shelter." Yuan Kongye lifted her gaze. "Could this be a trap? A ploy to lure us in and wipe us out?" Zheng Yixian couldnt be sure. "Only the Blood Vine can communicate with the White Zombies. From what Ive gathered, the horde was genuinely startled." Author''s Note Chapter 516: Inside the Shelter Chapter 516: Inside the Shelter Yuan Kongye remained silent, her head lowered in deep thought. "As of now, the remaining forces in Tianhai City are no match for me," she murmured. "But the power of Jiangnan District is something I have to be wary of." Especially Bian Junwus strength. That terrifying power, capable of annihilating everything in its path, was something even she fearedyet also coveted. Perhaps that was why she had gifted him the Ice Soul. She had absorbed thirty-six different superhuman abilities, yet not a single one could match even a tenth of the sheer destructive force of Annihilation. "If we dont go, wouldnt that make them suspicious?" Yuan Kongye said calmly. Zheng Yixian thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. "Youre right. We should make an appearance." "But Ill go alone," he added. "You stay here. No matter what happens, as long as you''re safe, it doesnt matter." His eyes lingered on Yuan Kongyes cold yet beautiful face, unable to hide the warmth in his gazean unspoken, deeply buried love. Yuan Kongye didnt refuse his proposal. Even if she knew it might be a trap, she believed no sacrifice was too great for her ultimate goal. She stepped forward and embraced Zheng Yixian gently. "Only you treat me this well," she whispered. Minutes later, Zheng Yixian left the cathedral. He gathered the remaining priests and clergy of the Followers of the Snow God, briefly explaining the current situation before giving orders. "Han Chang, Wu Huan, Li Qian, Dai Meiyoure coming with me to Yangsheng Base for support." "Tong Zhan, Gong Yi, Lei Mingzeyou three will lead the remaining forces and stay behind." Zheng Yixian took nearly all their remaining combat power with him. Because, at this point, there was nothing left in the Followers of the Snow God worth protecting. And the person he cared most about no longer needed anyones protection. Eight Superhumans from the cult boarded a snow vehicle, one that had originally been a gift from Xiao Honglian, and set off toward Yangsheng Base. At Yangsheng Base, Bian Junwu and his team of seven arrived quickly in a snow vehicle. Xiao Honglian had already arranged for everyone to take refuge in the underground shelter. She and a few warriors remained outside, waiting for the investigation team. From a distance, they could see the raging snowstorm sweeping in from the horizon. None of them had ever witnessed such a terrifying sight before. Even though they had fought zombie hordes in the past, nothing compared to the sheer ferocity of what was approaching now! "D*mn it! What the hell did they provoke this time?" Fear flickered across Xiao Honglians face. With their current numbers, there was no way they could handle a zombie horde of this scale. A black snow vehicle sped into Yangsheng Base, and Xiao Honglian immediately ran forward, shouting, "Over here! Quickly!" The vehicle swerved in her direction, and before it even stopped, the doors swung open. Bian Junwu, Baili Changqing, and Kong Sheng leaped out, weapons in hand. "Get to the shelter now! The horde is too massive!" There was no need for an explanationXiao Honglian and the others could see it for themselves. The approaching zombie horde was an overwhelming black mass, blotting out the space around the refinery. Xiao Honglian felt a stab of pain in her chest. Her refinerycompletely ruined! Once the battle started, the entire place would be reduced to rubble. But there was no time for regret now. "Move! Get inside, now!" Fighting back was suicide. Against a horde of this magnitude, resistance was futile. They fired at the zombies in the front line, taking down a few before retreating. At the shelter entrance, soldiers guarded the heavy doors, shouting, "Hurry! Get inside!" Meng Siyu drove the snow vehicle into the shelter. After clearing out some of the zombies following them, Bian Junwu and his team jumped through the entrance. Xiao Honglian gave the order to shut the heavy shelter doors. Seven layers of reinforced alloy slammed shut. No matter how large the horde outside was, it would never break through. The moment the doors sealed, the entire area outside was completely overrun by zombies. They could hear the horde screaming and clawing at the shelter, driven into a frenzy by the scent of living humans. Inside, the team watched everything unfold on the surveillance screens. Everyone let out a long sigh of relief. Bian Junwu noticed Xiao Honglians grim expression. She had worked tirelessly to build this base, and now it was destroyed in an instant. Of course, she wasnt in the mood to celebrate. He said, "Ive already contacted Zhang Yi, Xing Tian, Wei Dinghai, and the Followers of the Snow God. Theyll be bringing reinforcements soon." "Once they arrive, well strike from inside and out to wipe out the horde." Xiao Honglian turned and walked to the control panel. "But judging by the sheer scale of the horde, its no less terrifying than the one we faced at the Followers of the Snow Gods stronghold," she said. "And right now, our combat strength is less than half of what it was back then. How do we fight this?" "Cant you request reinforcements from Jiangnan District?" she asked seriously. Bian Junwu shook his head. "Getting help from Jiangnan District isnt that simple. Every investigation team is already assigned to missions." The truth was, his team was one of Jiangnan Districts strongest. If they couldnt handle the crisis, bringing in another team wouldnt make a difference. The only real solution was to deploy a full-scale military operation to exterminate the horde. But that required approval from Jiangnan Districts highest command, and that would be a bureaucratic nightmare. "Then what do we do?" Xiao Honglian closed her eyes, frustration in her voice. Did she blame the investigation team? Not really. The zombie crisis was Tianhai Citys problem to solve. Even if the investigation team hadnt come, this disaster would have arrived eventually. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. They were actually here to helpshe had no reason to resent them. She just felt... helpless. Meng Siyu pulled up footage on her computer, using the satellite system to display the area outside the shelter. "This is whats happening outside." Bian Junwu, Xiao Honglian, and the others crowded around the screen. The refinery was now completely overrun. .bg-container-10448ed3ed0{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } From above, it looked like a field covered in locustsan endless, squirming mass of death. Anyone with a fear of clusters would probably have a breakdown just looking at it. "Great," Xiao Honglian muttered, arms crossed. "Now were all trapped in here." Author''s Note Chapter 517: The Urgent 24 Hours Chapter 517: The Urgent 24 Hours Yangsheng Base was completely swallowed by the zombie horde. Outside the underground shelter, the creatures howled and gathered, relentlessly attacking the entrance with whatever means they had. Fortunately, this was a military base built for war. Even a missile strike would require multiple bombardments to break through. These zombies, with their primitive attacks, posed no real threat. Inside, the people in the shelter finally had a moment to breathe. But getting out? That was a different story. The investigation team was full of elite warriors, but even at their best, they could only take on tens of thousands of zombies at a time. The problem was that there were hundreds of thousands outside. Among them were not only regular zombies but also Bronze Armored Zombies with superhuman strength and flight-capable Bronze Winged Zombies. There was no way they could win against such a force. Bian Junwus brows furrowed tightly. Suddenly, he coughed violently, covering his mouth. His face, already pale as usual, now looked even more bloodlessso much so that his lips turned a bluish-purple, as if he could collapse at any moment. "Boss!" "Captain, are you okay?" His subordinates looked at him with concern. Bian Junwu waved them off. "Im fine. But its clear nowwe need external support." A faint smile appeared on his lips, despite the blood he had yet to wipe away. "Since theyre all gathering in one place, we can request an airstrike from headquarters!" Xiao Honglians eyes lit up. "You mean we can ask Jiangnan District to launch missiles?" There was no better solution. With hundreds of thousands of zombies gathered outside, a single missile strike could wipe out a huge portion of them! Bian Junwu nodded. "At this point, its our only option." They were backed into a corner. There was no way they could clear out this many zombies on their own. sea??h th novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As proud as Bian Junwu was, he wasnt foolish enough to gamble the lives of his team. He pulled out his satellite phone and contacted the highest military authority in Jiangnan District. With his clearance, he was able to directly reach Jiangnan Districts Supreme CommanderZhu Zheng. It didnt take long for the call to connect. Bian Junwu quickly explained the situation. "We need support! There are hundreds of thousands of zombies surrounding our shelter." "Oh? So the situation in Tianhai City has gotten this bad?" Jiangnan District HeadquartersBlizzard City. A massive fortress surrounded by towering gray walls, snowflakes drifted through the air. Inside the command center, thick bulletproof glass covered the exterior walls, providing those inside a clear view of Blizzard Citys landscape. Standing before the glass was a tall, rigid military officer in his fifties. He wore a green uniform, the stars on his shoulders gleaming under the lights. His hair, streaked with white, was meticulously combed, and his face was as sharp and chiseled as a blade. His eyes, sharp like a hawks, belonged to none other than Jiangnan Districts Supreme CommanderZhu Zheng. After hearing Bian Junwus report, Zhu Zhengs expression turned grim. Tianhai City was only about 300 kilometers from Blizzard City. If the zombie crisis there exploded, it wouldnt take long for it to spread here. At first, Zhu Zheng hadnt taken the zombie threat too seriously. That was why he had only sent one of his best investigation teams to handle it. But now, those elite warriors were trapped and calling for reinforcements. And every single member of that team was among Blizzard Citys top-ranking Superhumans! "Hold on," Zhu Zheng said, turning to the massive display screen behind him. "Show me the area around Yangsheng Shelter," he commanded. The AI system quickly pulled up satellite footage. On-screen, the zombies looked like an endless swarm of ants, stretching across the snowy plains in a chaotic, surging mass that covered a ten-kilometer radius. The AI ran a quick analysis and provided exact figures. "Total number of zombies: 395,861. Human-type zombies: 395,521. Large-scale mutant zombies: 340." Zhu Zheng was stunned. This wasnt just a zombie attackthis was a full-scale war! Even with missiles, clearing out such a vast number of zombies would be difficult. His face darkened as the severity of the situation sank in. Picking up his satellite phone, he spoke to Bian Junwu again. "There are too many zombies. It would take hundreds of missiles to wipe them out!" Bian Junwu immediately understood what Zhu Zheng meant. Missiles were strategic weapons for the military. Manufacturing them had become nearly impossible in the apocalypse. Every missile used was one less in their already dwindling stockpile. Zhu Zheng wasnt going to waste that many just to exterminate some zombies. "The most effective method," Zhu Zheng said, his voice deep and cold like iron, "is to deploy Death from Above." Bian Junwus pupils shrank. Death from Abovethe ultimate doomsday weapon. "Yangsheng Shelter is located 172 meters underground with exceptionally strong defenses. I intend to drop Death from Above directly on that area. That way, we can completely eliminate the horde." Zhu Zheng had already made up his mind. This wasnt a discussionit was an execution order. Bian Junwu clenched his fists. "But if you do that, Tianhai City will become a wasteland!" Zhu Zhengs tone was icy. "There arent many survivors left in Tianhai City, are there? Sacrificing a few now to prevent the zombie outbreak from spreading to other cities is the most effective solution." Bian Junwu knew Zhu Zheng wasnt wrong. Right now, Tianhai Citys remaining human population was only a few thousand, maybe at most a few tens of thousands. Dropping Death from Above was undoubtedly the most efficient choice. But it also meant they would be abandoned. Once the weapon was deployed, the entire city would be rendered uninhabitable for years. Even if they survived underground, their supplies wouldnt last until the radiation cleared. They would all die in the darkness. Bian Junwu understood nowJiangnan District would not be their savior. "Commander Zhu, please give us more time! Let us try one last time!" Zhu Zheng was silent for a moment before replying in a low voice, "Fine. You have 24 hours. If you cant eliminate the zombie horde by then, I will authorize the launch of Death from Above." Zhu Zheng knew that if Bian Junwu and the forces in Tianhai City couldnt solve this problem within 24 hours, then no amount of extra time would make a difference. As Jiangnan Districts Supreme Commander, he wasnt sentimental enough to risk an outbreak that could threaten not just the districtbut the entire nation. Author''s Note Chapter 518: The Entire City Mobilizes Chapter 518: The Entire City Mobilizes Bian Junwu ended the call, his expression unreadable. Xiao Honglian couldnt tell what the response had been, so she anxiously asked, "What did Jiangnan District say? When are the missiles arriving?" She had pinned all her hopes on reinforcements from Jiangnan District. Bian Junwu glanced at her and replied coldly, "Headquarters said the zombie numbers are too overwhelming. So theyve decided to deploy to eliminate them." The moment those words left his mouth, everyone around them widened their eyes in shock. also known as the Doomsday Weaponwas a forbidden technology from before the apocalypse. Its destructive power was beyond comprehension, but it left the land uninhabitable for decades due to intense radiation. If Tianhai City were struck by , it would become a complete wasteland. Even those who survived the initial blast would eventually die from radiation exposure. Even if they remained safely hidden in the underground shelter, they would never be able to return to the surface. Xiao Honglians face twisted in fury as she shouted. But Bian Junwu remained calm. "Getting angry wont change anything. We have to find a way to clear the zombies, or well just be waiting here until our supplies run out." He raised his wrist, revealing a golden Rolex watch. "Time until arrives: 23 hours, 58 minutes." Xiao Honglians rage didnt affect him at all. If anger could solve the problem, hed be angrier than anyone. Xiao Honglian quickly realized that now wasnt the time to argue about right or wrong. They had to work together and solve the crisis. Bian Junwu turned to her. "I need you to hand over all shelter data immediatelyespecially details on weapon systems." Then, he looked at Meng Siyu. "Xiaoyu, inform all the other factions about this situationexactly as it is." "They need to understand that if they dont give it their all this time, were all doomed." Pushing up his tinted aviators, he added, "Also, make sure they knowanyone who tries to abandon the fight will be hunted down by Jiangnan District without end." Meng Siyu nodded. "Understood!" She knew how critical every bit of combat power was now. They needed to drag Zhang Yi, Xing Tian, Wei Dinghai, and even the Followers of the Snow God into this battle. Xiao Honglian took a deep breath, forcing herself to stay calm. Right now, she had no choice but to trust Bian Junwu. She called over Zhuge Qingtian. "Hand over all our data to him." Zhuge Qingtians face was grim, but he gave a nod and went off to retrieve the shelters classified documents. Meanwhile, the major factions were all rushing toward Yangsheng Base. But they moved cautiously, avoiding any unexpected encounters with the zombie horde. Everyone had different motives, but one thing was universalnobody wanted to die. Zheng Yixian, however, was in a more complicated position than the others. After all, this disaster was doing. And now, the situation had spiraled out of control. The Followers of the Snow God didnt have a perfect solution to this crisis either. Controlling the horde through the Blood Vine and the Zombie King was a slow and difficult process. Even if he could send commands, they had to be kept simple, or the Zombie King wouldnt understand them. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And making the zombies retreat too suddenly would look suspicious to the other factions. As Zheng Yixian hesitated, he received a message from Meng Siyu. After reading it, his face twitched involuntarily. It was here. The thing he feared the most. Jiangnan District, with its overwhelming military power, could erase them all in an instant. mn it!"* For the first time, the usually composed Zheng Yixian lost his cool, slamming his fist into the side of the vehicle. His eyes gleamed sharply, as if ready to kill. He, too, was caught in a desperate dilemma. Meanwhile, Zhang Yis convoy sped toward Yangsheng Base from Lu River District. He also received Meng Siyus message. At first, he was surprised. Then, he laughed. Unlike the others, he wasnt afraid of . If anything, this development fit right into his plans. Though it wasnt exactly what he had predicted, the overall direction remained unchanged. In fact, had accelerated everything. "The Followers of the Snow God should be the ones panicking the most," Zhang Yi smirked. "They must have ways to manipulate the zombie hordeso they let the investigation team die here." "Which means theyll have no choice but to abandon their precious zombie army. And this horde is probably the bulk of their forces!" "If we wipe them out, they wont be able to create another massive army anytime soon." "Thatll be our chance to take them down for good!" "But still" Zhang Yi looked up at the sky. For a brief moment, he seemed to see the figure of Death itselfa cloaked reaper, scythe in hand, descending to erase everything. "" His combat suit had some radiation resistance, enough to survive brief exposure to low-level radiation. But he needed a worst-case scenario plan. Spatial storage wasnt meant for living beings, but in short bursts, it could serve as temporary shelter. He had tested it himselfhe could last about a minute inside. If he detected falling, he could use it to escape the initial impact. It wasnt a perfect solution, but it was . The key was to make sure they werent when it landed. Taking out his satellite phone, Zhang Yi sent a message to Zhou Keer and the others still in the shelter. "Get to the third basement level. Now. Tianhai City might be hit." He also relayed the information to everyone in the vehicle. The atmosphere turned deathly serious. Even though they were all Superhumans, against , they were no different from ordinary people. They would all die. "" Uncle You sighed heavily, his face grim. "How the hell are we supposed to deal with of zombies in 24 hours? Hell, even if they were , we wouldnt be able to catch them all in time!" Author''s Note Chapter 519: The Frozen Tide Chapter 519: The Frozen Tide With less than 24 hours left before Tianhai City faced total annihilation, tension gripped everyone. Liang Yue furrowed her brows, gripping her longsword tightly. She remained silent, deep in thought, searching for a way out of this crisis. Fatty Xus face was pale, and he muttered under his breath, "Were done for This time, were really dead! Boss, why dont we just run? 24 hours is enough for us to escape Tianhai City!" Zhang Yi glanced at his satellite phone and said casually, "Oh, and one more thingJiangnan District made it clear that if we run, theyll hunt us down with no escape." "You wouldnt seriously think the zombie horde is scarier than Jiangnan District, would you?" Fatty Xu instantly turned ashen. Either way, he was dead. Fighting zombies at least gave him a tiny chance of survival. But if Jiangnan District decided to track them, there was no way out. With their advanced satellite monitoring and vast surveillance network, they could pinpoint their location at any time. "This this is impossible!" he whined miserably. Zhang Yi leaned back in his seat, half-lidded eyes glinting with amusement. "Relax. Theres a way out of this zombie crisis." "As long as we know that the Followers of the Snow God are behind the horde, then things get a lot simpler." "They never expected me to expose their hidden stash of zombies. They must be panicking right now." "But the real problem isnt ours to deal withits theirs." Zhang Yi was completely at ease. He was certain there was a solution. Because the Followers of the Snow God wouldnt want their grand plans ruined by before they could achieve their ambitions. His eyes flashed with a dark glint. "Everything is moving according to plan. Nothings deviated too far from my expectations." "Now, I just need to see if this plays out the way I want." Yangsheng Base wasnt just an underground bunker. It was a fortress designed for wartime defense, equipped with a powerful automated defense system. Unlike the Followers of the Snow Gods stronghold, it wouldnt be so easily overrun. Bian Junwu, Xiao Honglian, and the others gathered in the operations room to plan their breakout. The 300,000-strong zombie horde was overwhelming, but not completely undefeatable. After all, the people inside were the best of the best. A strategy was quickly formulated. "The key to destroying the horde is eliminating its command centerthe Zombie King!" "But since we were the ones who provoked the horde, the Zombie King is likely positioned at the rear, controlling the assault." "We need to break through, locate the Zombie King, and kill it." "Without a leader, the horde will fall into disarray." Bian Junwu stood before a massive holographic map, with Yangsheng Shelter at the center. The shelters defenses were formidable, including automated turrets capable of mowing down thousands of zombies. "How do we break through?" Xiao Honglian asked, "There are too many zombies. We dont have enough firepower to clear a path." The horde included hundreds of Bronze Armored Zombiessome even airborne. Even if the elite fighters could each handle five of them, they were still outnumbered. "Well need that guys help," Bian Junwu said, adjusting his aviators. A certain someone came to mindZhang Yi. "Who wouldve thought wed be relying on him to save us?" Zhang Yis group was still en route to Yangsheng Base when his satellite phone rang. Caller ID: Bian Junwu. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. The others turned to him curiously. Anticipating everyones interest, Zhang Yi put the call on speaker. "Bian Captain, how are things over there?" Bian Junwus cold voice came through. "Were holding up. But times running out. Listen up, Zhang Yidont come here yet. Head to the coast first and use your ability to bring back a massive amount of seawater!" Zhang Yi exchanged glances with his teammates and immediately understood Bian Junwus plan. Against such a massive zombie horde, they lacked large-scale weapons. But seawater itself was a devastating weapon. Most zombies, when submerged, would have their movements severely impairedrendering them nearly harmless. Moreover, if seawater flooded the land, it would freeze quickly in the subzero temperatures. It was the perfect weapon against the horde. Zhang Yi didnt hesitate. "Got it. Give me four hours." He immediately ordered Uncle You to turn the vehicle toward the East Sea. Meanwhile, Xing Tian and the others were instructed to stay back and wait. They needed to coordinate their attack once everyone was ready. And the most critical component was the seawater Zhang Yi would bring. Four agonizing hours crawled by. For those inside the shelter, every second felt like an eternity. The major factions were also on edge, terrified of . Zheng Yixian, in particular, was feeling the weight of the situation. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. How had the investigation team found their hidden zombie horde? And now, he had to make a decision. Either sacrifice the horde and gain Jiangnan Districts trustso they could continue growing their power later Or go all in and try to wipe out every survivor in Tianhai City, including the investigation team. But the second option was pure suicide. Even if the zombies breached the shelter, it would take too long to kill everyone inside. And openly declaring war on Jiangnan District? That was the dumbest thing he could do. So Zheng Yixian had no choice but to abandon the horde. Losing 300,000 zombies was devastating, but it was the only way to survive. From a distance, Zheng Yixian gazed at the massive swarm. The cold wind whipped against his cloak as he exhaled sharply, the icy air stinging his throat. Author''s Note Chapter 520: Breakthrough Chapter 520: Breakthrough Zhang Yi and his team spent over four hours transporting enough seawater from the coast. He contacted Bian Junwu and relayed the news. "The seawater is ready, but we need to find a high vantage point to pour it down from." "As for its effectiveness, don''t expect too much. It can only disrupt the zombie horde''s formation and slow them down." "But the area surrounding Yangsheng Base is all flat land, so it''s impossible to completely submerge them." Bian Junwu responded, "Thats enough! We just need to buy some time to break through!" Only by breaking through first could they find the Zombie King, the intelligent commander of the horde, and take it down. Once the Zombie King was dead, the horde''s threat would be significantly reduced. Moreover, based on their scouting, they confirmed that this was the last zombie horde in Tianhai City! Aside from whoever was secretly controlling everything, at the very least, once this battle was over, Tianhai City would no longer be plagued by zombiesat least for the foreseeable future. Bian Junwu''s gaze turned cold. He had already made up his mindonce this zombie crisis was over, he would track down the mastermind behind it all! Anyone capable of controlling such a massive horde had to either join Jiangnan District or be eliminated. After ending the call, Zhang Yi instructed Uncle You to drive toward the highest point near Yangsheng Base. From a distance of several kilometers, they could already see the massive horde. A dark, writhing sea of bodiesjust one glance was enough to send shivers down anyone''s spine. Fortunately, they were far enough away, and the horde''s attention was fixated on Yangsheng Shelter. If not, dealing with them now would be a massive headache. Meanwhile, Bian Junwu contacted Xing Tian and the others, instructing them to prepare for battle. As soon as Zhang Yi began pouring seawater, the people inside the shelter would launch a counterattack and attempt to break through. At that moment, they would need an external force to create chaos and cover the escape of the Investigation Team and the core combatants of Yangsheng Base. The various factions had already taken their positions nearby. They were just waiting for Bian Junwus command to launch interference attacks on the horde. Though their numbers were few, the survivors were all elites. Nearly half of them were Superhuman Captains, while the rest were the most skilled warriors. Zhang Yis vehicle arrived at a cliff five kilometers west of Yangsheng Base. From their elevated position, he could see the massive horde below. Without hesitation, Zhang Yi opened two enormous Dimensional Gates. In the next moment, two torrents of seawater gushed out, cascading downward! This seawater had been drawn from the deep sea, carrying an extremely high salt content. Yet even so, the moment it left the ocean and met the freezing airat minus sixty degreesit rapidly crystallized into ice. The torrents transformed into two raging ice rivers, surging downward toward the flatlands surrounding Yangsheng Base. The roaring of the water caught the attention of some zombies. But as they turned to look, the surging tide swallowed them whole! "ROAR!!" The horde turned toward Zhang Yis group, letting out furious, guttural screams. At this moment, they werent even being commandedZheng Yixian had done this on purpose. The zombies were operating purely on instinct, driven by their relentless hunger for living flesh. Upon spotting Zhang Yi and his team, a mass of zombies instantly charged toward them. However, this mindless assault posed no real threat. Zhang Yi quickly noticed that the zombies lacked their usual coordination. They werent even trying to avoid the seawatermaking them easy prey. Soon, wave after wave of zombies were swallowed by the icy flood. The sudden disruption rippled through the horde, breaking their formation like a line of falling dominoes. Zhang Yi smirked. "Just as I thoughtexactly as I expected! Hahaha!" "I knew it! Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian wouldnt dare go all out in a suicidal fight!" "Then lets make them waste their trump card here!" The seawater engulfed tens of thousands of zombies. Though they thrashed desperately, they could no longer move freely. Bian Junwu, watching via satellite, immediately gave the order. "Commence attack!" Sear?h the N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, the ground inside Yangsheng Shelter trembled. Cracks spread across the earth as dozens of cannons of various calibers rose into position. "RATATATATATA!!!" Machine guns roared, spitting fire as they rained bullets down on the densest sections of the horde! "BOOM!!!" Heavy artillery thundered, and shells exploded amidst the zombies, obliterating hundreds in a single instant! At the same time, Xing Tian, Wei Dinghai, and Zheng Yixian led separate assaults from three different directions. Their primary methods of attack? Superhuman abilities and explosives. Conventional firearms were useless at this point. Wei Dinghais abilities, in particular, shone in this battle! His "Ice and Snow Lord" ability was already a powerful combination of offense and defense. But as a seasoned sailor, his greatest strength was naval combat. With both ice and seawater in play, his powers became even deadlier! Now that Zhang Yi had released a flood of seawater, turning the snowy plains into raging ice rivers, the battlefield had transformed into Wei Dinghais ideal combat environment! "Ice Age!" Wei Dinghai extended his hands, manipulating the rushing ice rivers as if they were his own weapons. The frozen torrents surged toward the Bronze Armored Zombies within the horde! By Superhuman classification, Bronze Armored Zombies belonged to the Enhancement Typeboasting immense strength, defense, and speed. But against this type of attack, they were at a disadvantage. As the icy water engulfed them, their bodies rapidly froze over, making it impossible for them to maintain their footing. The five major factions coordinated seamlessly, launching a perfectly synchronized ambush on the horde! In just a few minutes, nearly one-third of the zombies were wiped out! However, as the remaining zombies locked onto their attackers, the tides of battle began to shift. The ice river attack had succeeded in disrupting the hordes formation, but it hadnt eliminated them. The overwhelming difference in numbers was still undeniable. If they took too long, the seawater would run outgiving the zombies time to regroup and counterattack. Author''s Note Chapter 521: Explosion! Chapter 521: Explosion! Zhang Yi turned to Bian Junwu. "We cant hold out forever. You need to get outnow!" "I understand!" Bian Junwu knew their advantage was only temporary. They were already prepared for the breakout. Inside the shelter, over a thousand people remainedmostly former refinery workers and their families. But this escape wasnt for them. They had to be left behind. If Bian Junwu and his team won, these people would survive. If they lost, those left behind would be trapped underground for the rest of their lives. Still, that was better than stepping outside and being devoured by the zombie horde. "Get ready to break out! Throw everything weve got at them!" Bian Junwu ordered. Xiao Honglian gritted her teeth and stepped forward. "Weve only got one shot at this. If were going for the thrilllets go all the way!" She strode over to the control console, opened a hidden compartment, and slammed her fist onto a deeply concealed button. The next moment, a massive explosion erupted from the Yangsheng Shelters refinery! "BOOOOM!!!!" A blinding flash illuminated the sky, the fiery glow so intense it burned their retinas. The deafening blast rang in Zhang Yis ears, nearly making him go deaf. A mushroom cloud billowed upward from the earth! The entire ground trembled violentlyeven from several kilometers away, Zhang Yi and the others struggled to stay on their feet, as if experiencing a magnitude-nine earthquake. "Good god!" Wei Dinghais eyes widened in shock. "Xiao Honglianshe blew up the entire refinery!!" It was said that beneath the refinery, a million barrels of crude oil had been storedXiao Honglians foundation for power in Tianhai City. Yet now, she had set it all ablaze! The scorching blast swept through the area, instantly reducing seventy to eighty thousand zombies to ashes or charred corpses under thousands of degrees of heat. Thankfully, Zhang Yi and his team were wearing heat-resistant combat gearotherwise, they wouldve suffered severe burns. "Shes absolutely ruthless," Zhang Yi muttered in awe. Sar?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xiao Honglian wasnt just merciless to othersshe was even crueler to herself. While this was the most strategic move, very few people had the guts to make such a sacrifice. The explosion didnt stop there. After the initial blast, a series of secondary explosions followed. A massive wave of fire swept across the surroundings, instantly melting the ice rivers into boiling lakes. The snow-covered plains evaporated in an instant. The water bubbled and steamed, carrying along the struggling zombies as they howled in agony. The virus inside them was highly heat-sensitive, and they rapidly perished in the scalding water. Zhang Yi and the others quickly retreatedthe shockwaves were too powerful to stay close. It took over ten minutes before the explosions subsided, yet flames still raged on. The landscape had transformed into a vast, boiling marsh. In one single blast, more than half of the zombie horde had been wiped outeither directly or indirectly. Bian Junwu and the Investigation Team stood there, stunned. None of them had expected Xiao Honglian to have such a trump card. Their respect for the leader of Yangsheng Base grew stronger. But so did their fear. If someone could be this ruthless to themselves, what could they do to others? A wild light burned in Xiao Honglians eyes. She had just sacrificed the refinerys crude oil reservesdestroying them all in one decisive move. But what no one else knew was that Yangsheng Bases oil reserves werent limited to that one site. No smart person put all their eggs in one basket. She had another fifty thousand barrels stashed elsewhere. Thats why she could afford to destroy her foundation so decisively. This was a calculated sacrificea desperate move to carve out a chance for survival. "Lets go! We have to move nowwhile the horde is still in chaos!" Xiao Honglian put on her helmet and headed straight for the shelters gate. "But the outside is flooded!" Meng Siyu hesitated behind her. "If we try to swim across, well be sitting ducks for the Bronze Armored Flying Zombies!" Xiao Honglian clenched her teeth. "Even if its dangerous, we have to try! This is our best chance!" No one had expected the battlefield to turn into a boiling swamp. But even if they had anticipated it, they wouldve had to go through with it anyway. Suddenly, a voice broke through the tension. "We can build a high-speed boat and rush across!" Everyone turned toward Ye Jikang, the teams demolition expert and mechanic. Zhuge Qingtians eyes lit up. "Can we really pull that off? We dont have much time!" Ye Jikang spoke quickly and calmly. "I need a vehiclea truck, preferably." "Weve got one!" Zhuge Qingtian confirmed. "Good. Get me a few people with mechanical skills!" Ye Jikang ordered. Bian Junwu checked his watch, then glanced outside. "You have fifteen minutes to finish this." The explosion had eliminated half the horde, but the battlefield was still massive. The zombies on the outer perimeter hadnt been affected as much. Meanwhile, zombies in the water were already crawling onto land. If they took too long, the horde would surround the flooded areamaking escape impossible. "Ten minutestops!" Ye Jikang rolled up his sleeves, made his promise, and immediately dashed off to get started. At that moment, Zhang Yis voice reached Bian Junwu through the communicator. "Hows it looking? Can you get out?" From his vantage point, Zhang Yi could still see the zombies hadnt given up on attacking the shelter. Hundreds of Bronze Armored Flying Zombies flapped their massive wings, circling above the lake, letting out piercing screeches. Meanwhile, the refinery fires continued to rage, with sporadic explosions still echoing in the distance. Although not as powerful as the initial blast, the inferno would burn for at least another ten days before dying down. Bian Junwu exhaled. "Were moving out now. Zhang Yi, your shooting skills are top-notch. Take out those flying bastards for me!" Zhang Yi sighed. "Thatll expose my position, you know." "But, for our friendshipIll do it." Bian Junwu was a critical piece of Zhang Yis strategy. Of course, Zhang Yi had to help him. As for attracting the zombies attention? That was easy enough to handle. The fires and explosions were still the main distraction, drawing most of the zombies focus. Even if some came after him, Zhang Yi was confident he could handle them all. Bian Junwu nodded. "Good." Zhang Yi reached into his Spatial Storage and pulled out a heavy anti-materiel sniper rifle. .bg-container-10448f2396e{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } The sheer weight of the metal beast gave it a reassuring presence in his hands. With his Precision Shooting ability and specialized armor-piercing rounds, he had no doubts Every shot would count. Author''s Note Chapter 522: Carving a Bloody Path! Chapter 522: Carving a Bloody Path! After more than ten minutes, Ye Jikang finally completed the modification of a makeshift assault boat. He had pieced it together using a trucks chassis, tires, and engine. The boat could only carry a little over ten people, so Bian Junwu immediately decided who would board. The seven members of the Investigation Team were a priority, along with Xiao Honglian, Zhuge Qingtian, and two Superhuman Captains from their ranks. With preparations complete, Baili Changqing hoisted the assault boat onto his shoulder and carried it to the shelters entrance. Bian Junwu called out to the allied forces outside, "Were making a run for it! Get ready to cover us!" The external forces quickly responded, "Got it! Just get out of there!" Everything was in place. Xiao Honglian activated the seven-layer alloy gate of the shelter. "BOOOOM!!" The massive doors slowly creaked open, and a blast of scorching heat rushed inside. Even with their heat-resistant protective suits, they could still feel the blistering air. It was unavoidablethe entire refinery was engulfed in flames. But the only good news was that the zombies in the area were already dead. Baili Changqing hurled the assault boat into the water, and the group of ten-plus people quickly climbed aboard. Since Ye Jikang had built the boat, he took control of the steering and engine. The propeller roared to life, and they raced toward the other side of the flooded battlefield. Yangsheng Base had been completely transformed into a massive lake, spanning seven to eight kilometers. The boiling water bubbled violently, still radiating searing heat. As the assault boat surged forward, a shrill screech echoed from above The Bronze Armored Flying Zombies, which had been waiting in the air, dove down at full speed! "Bang!" A thunderous gunshot rang out from afar. A Bronze Armored Flying Zombies head exploded, and its body plummeted from the sky. Zhang Yi, positioned at the highest vantage point, calmly reloaded his anti-materiel sniper rifle and locked onto the next airborne target. He wasnt the only one fighting back. The passengers aboard the assault boat were all powerful Superhumans, and under normal circumstances, dealing with a few Bronze Armored Flying Zombies would be easy. But right now, everyone was crammed into a single boat, severely limiting their mobility. Bian Junwu aimed his black rifle, carefully sniping the airborne enemies. However, even with specialized ammunition, hitting their bodies wasnt enough to bring them down. Sharpshooter Qi Guangming refused to let Zhang Yi take all the glory and also tried sniping the flying zombies. But he wasnt a Spatial-Type Superhumanhe couldnt handle the massive recoil of an anti-materiel sniper rifle. The moment he fired, the entire boat rocked violently. Baili Changqing immediately grabbed his arm. "Put the damn sniper down! Its not stable enough for that here!" Frustrated, Qi Guangming had no choice but to switch to his handgun. Above them, over a hundred Bronze Armored Flying Zombies swarmed at terrifying speeds. Only a marksman like Zhang Yi, with his auto-locking Superhuman ability, could effectively bring them down. The rest struggled to attack from the unstable boat. At best, they were fighting at half their usual strength. Then, things got worse. Just as everyone was focused on the aerial enemies, the water began to churn violently. The assault boat lurchedas if trapped in thick seaweedits speed grinding to a halt! Something was dragging them down. Meng Siyu suddenly had a terrifying realization. She leaned over the edge of the boat to check the water And in that instant, a zombie head lunged out from below, snapping its jaws inches from her face! "AHH!" Meng Siyu gasped, jerking backward just in time, tumbling into the boat. BANG! Qi Guangming instinctively fired, blasting the zombies head apart. Still shaken, Meng Siyu pointed at the water, her voice trembling. "There are zombies beneath us!" Everyones expressions turned grim as they peered into the water And their hearts nearly stopped. Hundredsthousandsof zombies were lurking beneath the surface. The ones submerged by the flood hadnt drownedthey were already dead, after all. Instead, they had been waiting below, and now, they were swarming toward the boat. One by one, the zombies clawed their way up, latching onto the boat like a living ladder, their rotting bodies piling on top of each other. More and more rose from the depths, trying to drag them under! No wonder the boat was slowing downthe sheer weight of the zombies clinging to it was holding it back! Ye Jikang gritted his teeth and slammed the throttle forward. Sear?h the n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The propeller roared, shredding the zombies behind them into bloody mist. The boat lurched ahead, but more zombies were waiting up ahead. As they pushed forward, the shoreline finally came into view. But what awaited them on land made their blood run cold. Outside Yangsheng Bases flooded area, over a hundred thousand zombies were waiting for themstaring hungrily. Among them were at least two hundred Bronze Armored Zombies. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi, Xing Tian, and Wei Dinghai were doing everything they could to thin the horde and draw attention away. But the allied forces were also strugglingthey were surrounded by zombies themselves. Zhang Yi had sniped six Bronze Armored Flying Zombies before the horde noticed his position and started closing in on him. The same was happening to the other forces. The zombies on land couldnt reach the boat yet, but they could still attack the people on shore. Their only instinct was to kill and feedany living being was a target. Zhang Yi remained calm, giving orders. "Everyone, get in the snow vehicles and circle the perimeter! Keep moving and sniping while we run!" But at this point, there was no way to reach the shore to help the boat. They were on their own. "Theres no other choice," Wu Di gritted his teeth, raising his right hand. A massive orb of light formed in his palm. At the same time, dozens of floating orbs materialized around him. The Investigation Team members visibly tensed. Wu Dis Floating Cannons were powerful, but they had a fatal drawbackthey didnt just consume Superhuman energy, but also mental strength. Using them excessively would cause severe, irreversible damage to his body. If he overdid it, he could end up as nothing more than a hollow shella living corpse. Bian Junwu had always been strict about Wu Dis power usage, fearing he would follow in his own tragic footsteps. Seeing Wu Di about to risk his life, Bian Junwu grabbed his shoulder. "Put those away! This isnt your time to throw your life away!" Wu Di frozethen shouted in anger. "With this many zombies, how else are we supposed to survive?!" "Dont tell me you plan to sacrifice yourself to clear a path for us!" Author''s Note Chapter 523: The Raging Zombie Tide Chapter 523: The Raging Zombie Tide Among the Investigation Team, Bian Junwu and Wu Di had the most similar abilities. Both possessed large-scale, high-damage Superhuman powersbut using them came at the cost of their health. It was a fair tradethose who sought power beyond ordinary humans had to pay the price. In this situation, Wu Di wanted to use his ability because he didnt want Bian Junwu to step in. Bian Junwus body was already deterioratingevery time he used his power, his lifespan shortened. So when Bian Junwu stopped him, Wu Di was furious. He didnt want to watch Bian Junwu die. He didnt want him to die right in front of him. Bian Junwus voice was firm. "Im the captain. Its not your place to play the hero here!" Meanwhile, the zombies beneath the water were all swarming toward the boat. The lakes surface shifted unnaturallyas if someone had tossed fish feed into a pond, causing all the fish to rush toward a single point. And right now, the center of that feeding frenzy was their assault boat. If they didnt reach land soon, the horde would overturn their boatand even the strongest Superhumans would be helpless underwater. But reaching land didnt mean safetyon shore, over a hundred thousand zombies awaited them. Both options were a death trap. Bian Junwu adjusted his sunglasses. He knew he had to do something. Baili Changqing, however, tried to stop him. "Captain, dont rush! Look at the size of this hordeeven your Oblivion ability wont be enough to carve a path!" "And these zombies are more aggressive than before!" Bian Junwus expression was grim. Baili Changqing was right. His power was formidable, but at the end of the day, he was still only Delta-ranked. He couldnt perform miracles. Oblivion had a power level close to Epsilon-rank, but it had limited uses and severe side effects. If he could fire it ten times in a row or increase its power tenfold, he could blast a path through this massive zombie armybut he couldnt. "For now, lets just get to shore!" Since Bian Junwu didnt respond, Baili Changqing stepped in to make the call. Everyone understood the situation. Water was not their battlefield. Hearing the command, the team drew their weapons and began firing at the zombies beneath the surface. Fortunately, zombies were slow in water, so they hadnt been able to capsize the boat yet. The allied factions outside the lake were in constant communication with Bian Junwus team, so they knew what was happening. Wei Dinghai and Xing Tian were powerless to assistthey were overwhelmed by their own zombie attacks. Zheng Yixian, however, was growing more uneasy. The zombies were out of his controlto regain command, hed have to return to the Followers of the Snow Gods headquarters and have the Blood Vine issue orders to the Zombie King. But that was impossible now. And if the Investigation Team died here, the consequences were unacceptable. "Damn it! Damn it all!" "If you had just left after dealing with the zombie tide, this wouldnt be happening! You brought this on yourselves!" On the surface, Zheng Yixians face remained emotionless, but inside, he was seething with frustration. Yet he had no choice but to give an order. "Do everything possible to save the Investigation Team!" "At the very leastBian Junwu must survive!" The ten-plus Superhumans from the Followers of the Snow God launched a desperate assault, trying to carve a path through the horde and link up with Bian Junwus team. But it was almost impossible. Regular zombies were manageable, but there were hundreds of Bronze Armored Zombies among them! Most Superhumans couldnt even handle one in a one-on-one fight. Zheng Yixians reckless push resulted in five of his priests being torn apart by the Bronze Armored Zombies. Yet his cold gaze didnt waver. It didnt matter. Their power would return to Yuan Kongye upon their deaths. In a way, this wasnt a lossit was a redistribution of strength. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi He was riding in a snow vehicle, with Uncle You driving, leading a massive horde of zombies on a wild chase. Tens of thousands of zombies roared and sprinted after them across the snowy plains. But no matter how fast they were They were still just rotting corpses. They only had two legs, while Zhang Yis vehicle had four wheelsand in the snow, that was an unbeatable advantage. Zhang Yi, Fatty Xu, and Liang Yue leaned out of the windows, sniping zombies as they chased. Fatty Xu and Liang Yue used grenades, throwing them into the horde. The zombies, mindless and reckless, ran straight into the blasts, getting blown to pieces. Zhang Yi, however, focused on sniping the Bronze Armored Zombies and the flying ones. Watching the mindless horde charge forward, Zhang Yi smirked. "Theyre more aggressive than before but also dumber." "Without the Followers of the Snow God controlling them, theyve regressed to their most primal state." "But how do they plan to fix this mess?" By ''they,'' he meant Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian. There was no way theyd just let the Investigation Team die. Zhang Yi didnt know exactly how they controlled the zombies, but he was certain They would do something to clear the horde. But in this casehe was wrong. Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian did have a way to control the zombies But right now, it was too late to use it. The situation was far worse than Zhang Yi had anticipated. Sear?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But it wasnt his faulthe simply lacked the inside information. Back at the lake After an exhausting struggle, Bian Junwus team finally broke free from the underwater zombies. They were just about to reach shore But no one felt relieved. Because waiting on land was something far worse. The zombie horde on shore was larger and deadlier than ever. Especially the gigantic Bronze Armored Zombies, which stood at the front, baring their fangs and roaring menacingly. From a distance, Zheng Yixian watched anxiously. Suddenly, he soared into the air and raced toward the boat. Moments later, he hovered above them. The team looked up, eyeing him enviously Zheng Yixian could manipulate raw force to fly. Xiao Honglian narrowed her eyes. "Why are you here alone?" Zheng Yixians gaze locked onto Bian Junwu. "The outer horde is too massive. We cant break through." "Mr. Bian Ill get you out of here first!" "No matter whatyou must stop Jiangnan District from destroying Tianhai City!" Author''s Note Chapter 524: If It Doesnt Work, Ill Make a Grand Move Chapter 524: If It Doesn''t Work, I''ll Make a Grand Move Zheng Yixian had completely lost control of the situation. In reality, their control over the zombie horde was far from absolute. They couldnt command it at will, and now, one wrong move could get him killed. In desperation, he decided to take Bian Junwu away. He believed that as long as Bian Junwu was alive, there was still a chance to salvage the situation. Bian Junwu instantly saw through Zheng Yixians intentions. You think saving me alone will fix everything? Dont be so naive! Bian Junwu snapped. Jiangnan District has run out of patience with the zombie problem in Tianhai City. If we dont eliminate the horde within the next 24 hours, everyone here will die! Zheng Yixians pupils shrank sharply. What?! How could this happen? You must be joking! There are still over a hundred thousand zombies here, and weve already exhausted all our strengthhow are we supposed to deal with them? Bian Junwu replied coldly, How else? We fight to the death. Zheng Yixians face twisted in an ugly grimace, as if he had swallowed something foul. His expression flickered with venomous hatred. To him, if it werent for Bian Junwu and his team coming to Tianhai City, their grand plan would have already succeeded! Zhang Yi and his group heard their conversation clearly through Bian Junwus communicator. Zhang Yi frowned immediately. Something about the situation didnt align with his expectations. Zheng Yixians tone was anxious, not like he was putting on an act. Thats strange. Isnt the zombie horde under their control? Or is he just unwilling to sacrifice what they worked so hard to cultivate and is putting on a show? Outside Yangsheng Base, Bian Junwu and his team had already reached the riverbank. A brutal battle erupted instantly! In mere moments, over a dozen top-tier Superhumans were swallowed by the zombie tide, as all kinds of zombies roared and swarmed in for the kill. Bian Junwu took off his sunglassesDesolation activated! In an instant, thousands of zombies around him turned to ash under this terrifying power. Cough, cough cough, cough Blood seeped through Bian Junwus fingers as he covered his mouth. Captain!! Wu Di shouted in horror. Then, with a fierce determination, he unleashed a barrage of floating cannons in all directions! Even the heavily armored Bronze Armored Zombies were left with gaping holes in their bodies upon contact with the light spheres. Cough Hurry! Break through! Bian Junwu endured the pain and urged his team forward. In the sky, Zheng Yixian used psychokinesis to push the zombies away. Something feels off, Liang Yue murmured as he observed the zombie horde behind them. These zombies were facing today are more aggressive than the ones we encountered before. We only lured a small portion of them away, but there are still over a hundred thousand zombies surrounding the investigation team. Can they really make it out alive? Zhang Yis gaze sharpened, his expression turning grim. The situation was veering off course from what he had anticipated. His original plan was to use this crisis to force the Followers of the Snow God to give up control over the zombies. That way, even if Yuan Kongye held immense power, he wouldnt necessarily have the confidence to turn against the other factions of the Xichuan forces. But now, things were moving in a direction even he couldnt predict. sea??h th N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Either the Followers of the Snow God had gone mad and intended to wipe out the investigation team along with their own allies Or even they had lost control of the zombie horde. Zhang Yi leaned toward the latter. He didnt believe that Yuan Kongye or Zheng Yixian were the kind of fools who would act without considering the consequences. But right now, the biggest problem washow to solve this crisis? If nothing else works, Ill go and make a grand move. As Zhang Yi spoke, his eyes sparkled with a sharp glint, but a subtle, knowing smile played at his lips. His teammates turned to look at him. What are you planning? Zhang Yi glanced at them. Ill use my ability with the Dimensional Gate to teleport over and save them. Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate had an activation range of 300 meters around him. Within that range, as long as he opened two gates simultaneously, he could instantly teleport between them. And since the Dimensional Gate required no energy consumption and had no cooldown time In other words, if Zhang Yi moved fast enough, he could simulate near-instantaneous teleportation and reach Bian Junwus team. His words made everyones eyes light up. They recalled how, back in the subway, Zhang Yi had used the Dimensional Gate to help them escape from a zombie siege. But until now, he had never explained the exact mechanics of the ability to them. Its range, duration, and whether it could be used multiple timesnone of them knew. So naturally, they had no idea if Zhang Yi could use it to rescue people. Now that they had a definite answer, their expressions visibly relaxed. You should have said so earlier! If we had known, we wouldnt have needed to struggle so much in the first place. But Zhang Yi simply gazed out the window into the distance. I think you misunderstood what I meant. I said Id save them, but not in the way youre thinking. Everyone looked puzzled. What do you mean? Wasnt he talking about using the Dimensional Gates teleportation ability to extract people from the zombie horde? Zhang Yi spoke calmly. Jiangnan Districts last hope for us is to eliminate the zombie horde in Tianhai City within 24 hours. They didnt say we had to ensure the investigation team survives. So even if I rescue them from the horde, it would be meaningless. It wouldnt stop the Reaper of Love from arriving. Oh, and now we have less than 16 hours left. Zhang Yi glanced at the Rolex on his wrist and spoke in a casual tone. Fatty Xu and the others stiffened, their expressions turning grim again. Thats impossible, Fatty Xu muttered. Xiao Honglian managed to kill over a hundred thousand zombies by igniting the crude oil, but most of the Bronze Armored Zombies and Flying Bronze Zombies survived. With the remaining horde still in the tens of thousands, theres no way we can wipe them all out on our own. Liang Yue furrowed his brows and said in a deep voice, Perhaps from the very start, the 24 hours was just an excuse. Jiangnan District must have already determined that we couldnt solve the zombie crisis. Thats why they had already planned to deploy the Reaper of Love. The 24-hour deadline was just a formality for the investigation team. Fatty Xu trembled and turned to Zhang Yi with a hopeful look. Boss, lets run! We still have time to leave Tianhai City! Zhang Yi paused for a moment, then let out a faint smile. I already said if no one else can do it, Ill make a grand move. This is my last attempt. We still have time. If I fail, then well leave. With that, he leaped out of the window. In a flash, his figure disappeared into the zombie horde 300 meters away. Before the zombies could react, Zhang Yis silhouette flickered again, dashing toward Bian Junwus team. Boss!! Fatty Xu clung to the window in horror. Hua Huas ears perked up, her eyes widening like copper bells, filled with tension. Zhang Yi didnt give them a chance to persuade himhe was already gone. Hell be fine! Even if he cant wipe out the horde, Zhang Yi has the ability to escape safely. Well just wait for him here, as he said. Uncle You spoke as he lifted a rocket launcher and fired a devastating shot into the horde behind them. Boom! Dozens of zombies were blasted into pieces, their limbs flying through the air. Author''s Note Chapter 525: Do You Still Remember Ice Soul? Chapter 525: Do You Still Remember Ice Soul? No one knew what Zhang Yi was planning. He had left in such a hurry without explaining anything. But they all trusted him. In the blink of an eye, they had been together for nearly six months. Living under the same roof, they understood exactly what kind of person Zhang Yi was. He was so cautious it was almost excessive. If he wasnt absolutely confident, he would never put himself in danger. So all they could do now was believe in himand do their best to draw more zombies away to relieve the pressure on his side. At this moment, the assault boat had reached land. But the pressure on the investigation team hadn''t lessened at all. Zombies swarmed from every direction, covering the land for miles. Some even crawled out of the lake, their bodies dripping wet as they climbed onto shore. Bian Junwus Desolation was terrifying, but it couldnt be used continuously, and it caused severe physical strain. He could only unleash it at critical moments to clear a path. As for the others, even with their formidable combat abilities, they couldnt keep up with the relentless onslaught. They pressed their backs against each other, forming a tight circle as they trudged forward. But everyone knewonce their Superhuman Energy was completely drained, they were dead. And not just deadthere wouldnt even be bodies left. sea??h th Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A heavy, suffocating despair hung over them, even stronger than during the battle against the Followers of the Snow God. So this time I really am going to die here. Xiao Honglian felt her heart sink into hopelessness. The ever-strong woman finally showed a trace of exhaustion on her face. But she didnt feel much regret. Since the apocalypse, nearly everyone in Tianhai City had died. Her family, friends, comradesthey had all fallen, one after another. To have survived until now was already a miracle. High above, Zheng Yixian hovered in the air, bombarding the horde with blasts of Primordial Force. Each strike wiped out dozens of zombies. But even such a powerful ability was like a drop in the ocean against the overwhelming tide. It couldnt turn the situation around. To make matters worse, a swarm of Bronze Armored Flying Zombies had locked onto him, swooping in relentlessly. He barely managed to knock them away with his powers. Gradually, exhaustion crept up on him. He tried to convince Bian Junwu to leave with him. Even if Jiangnan District wanted to raze Tianhai City to the ground, having the captain of the investigation team in their hands would give them leverage in future negotiations. Captain Bian, come with me! If we leave now, theres still hope! Bian Junwu coughed and shook his head with a smile. Zheng Yixian, you should go. He was already a dead man. There was no way he would abandon his team. And he knewnone of them would leave each other behind. If they lived, they lived together. If they died, they died together. Zheng Yixians expression twisted in frustration. Damn fools. They didnt know what was good for them! Fine, dont blame me then. He turned and flew off into the distance. His face was dark as he thought, Zheng Yixian had made his decision. Even if the complete annihilation of the investigation team angered Jiangnan District As long as the zombie horde disappeared, Tianhai City wouldnt be wiped outat least not right away. That would buy them time to grow stronger. Give them a few more months, and they could cultivate another massive zombie army. After all, if there was one thing Tianhai City had plenty of, it was corpses. The moment Zheng Yixian left, Zhang Yi was already flashing through space, rapidly approaching Bian Junwus group. Teleporting between Dimensional Gates was incredibly fast. Even appearing directly in the zombie horde wasnt a problemhe could vanish before they had a chance to react. Finding Bian Junwu and the others was easy. In the endless sea of zombies, there was one spot with the highest concentration. There, the zombies were so desperate to attack that they had piled up into a five- to six-meter-high mound, trampling over each other in their frenzy. It looked like a towering monument built from the undead. Zhang Yi appeared right in front of Bian Junwus team, startling them. Zhang Yi?! How did you get here? Everyone was shocked by his sudden arrival. But their shock quickly turned into a mix of joy and relief. They were amazed by his abilityand hopeful that his presence meant a chance at survival. After all, Zhang Yi was one of the most powerful people in Tianhai City. Bian Junwu wasted no time. Zhang Yi, are you here to rescue us? Even as they fought desperately, everyones attention was fixed on Zhang Yi, waiting for his answer. They knew the chances were slim, but in moments of despair, even a sliver of hope was worth clinging to. Zhang Yi gasped for breath, his expression heavy. The situation is worse than I thought. My ability lets me teleport, but I can only take one person at a time. As soon as he said this, everyones mood plummeted. One person. Who would that be? Even if someone escaped, it wouldnt solve the zombie problem. It wouldnt change anything. Bian Junwu felt a pang of disappointment but remained rational. Then why are you here? If you cant get us all out, coming alone wont change anything. Zhang Yis eyes were serious. I came here to give you a possibility. I have an ideaI dont know if itll work. But its worth trying. Wu Di immediately urged, Then say it already! Everyone was hanging onto his words like a lifeline. Zhang Yi took a deep breath. Do you still remember Yuan Kongyes Ice Soul? The group fell silent. Of course, they remembered. Bian Junwus expression flickered as he started to understand Zhang Yis train of thought. Zhang Yi continued, You all know Ice Soul has two effects. The first is helping those without abilities awaken their powers. The second is unlocking hidden potential in those who have already awakenedboosting their strength. He exhaled deeply, looking at Bian Junwu with complete honesty. Truth is, I used Ice Soul before. Thats how I enhanced my powers and became one of the strongest in Tianhai City. Xiao Honglian spoke up, Actually, I used it too. And if Im not mistaken, so did Wei Dinghai and Xing Tian. Zhang Yis mind jolted. This was news to him. Did that mean if they died, Yuan Kongye would absorb their powers? .bg-container-10448f2396e{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-ssp-10448{margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;display:flex;justify-content:center;} .bg-container-10448f61e68{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } .bg-container-10448222eb6{ display: flex; flex-direction: column; align-items: center; justify-content: center; z-index: 2147483647 !important; } Thinking deeper, it made sense. In the apocalypse, strength was everything. The leaders of various factions would go to any lengths to maintain their rule. And since Ice Soul had no negative effects as long as the user was alive, it made perfect sense for the strongest to use it. Author''s Note Chapter 526: Epsilon Chapter 526: Epsilon Zhang Yi lied about using Ice Soul. He knew this thing was unreliable. Once someone used it, they became Yuan Kongyes prey. And he couldnt be completely sure that Ice Soul had no side effects. Bian Junwu frowned. So youre saying we should use Ice Soul to enhance our strength and break through? Zhang Yi nodded. At this point, its our only option. You are all top-tier Superhumans. If you use Ice Soul, you might surpass your limits and become even stronger. Then, well have a chance to fight our way out. Baili Changqing and the others furrowed their brows, clearly tempted by the idea. Given their current predicament, they had to consider any method that could help them break through. After all, surviving the zombie horde seemed nearly impossible. Wu Di urged Bian Junwu anxiously, Boss, lets try it! Zhang Yi even generously took out an Ice Soul. You can use this. He had three in total, and he didnt need too many of these unstable things. Bian Junwu glanced at Zhang Yi. Even through his sunglasses, Zhang Yi could feel the piercing coldness of his gaze. A chill ran down Zhang Yis spine. Did Bian Junwu see through him? Had this seasoned veteran seen right through his little scheme? Bian Junwu reached out and took the Ice Soul from Zhang Yi. Whatever thoughts he had, he had no other choice now. But taking this Ice Soul didnt mean he owed Zhang Yi anything. If anything, it was Zhang Yi who owed We have no choice but to try. Wu Di immediately shouted, Let me use it too! The others chimed in. Well do it together! They had been through countless life-or-death situations. They knew Ice Soul might have side effects. But faced with imminent doom, no one was willing to back down. Even if there was risk, they would face it together! No need! Ill do it alone. Bian Junwu gave Zhang Yi a deep look before opening the small wooden box and taking out an Ice Soul. He examined the small white orb in his palm. Soft, icy cold, and pulsating ever so slightlyalmost as if it were alive. Without hesitation, he pressed it against his forehead. A deep, unreadable smile tugged at Zhang Yis lips. His goal had been achieved. Baili Changqing opened his mouth but said nothing. Wu Dis face twisted in pain. Boss! Let me do it instead! They all knew why Bian Junwu had made this choice. His ability had severely damaged his body. He wasnt going to live much longer. A month ago, they had already knowneven if Bian Junwu retired and rested, hed have at most two years left to live. But he had chosen to stay on the frontlines for the sake of his wife and child, hoping to secure a better life for them. As their leader, he was always the first to step forward, shielding everyone from the storm. The Ice Soul quickly melted into Bian Junwus forehead. Far away, Zheng Yixian saw this and froze. Then, his face lit up with uncontrollable joy! A power like this had never existed in Tianhai City beforeit was utterly overwhelming! And Zheng Yixian knew that Bian Junwu wouldnt live much longer. Once he died, his ability would transfer to Yuan Kongye. At that moment, Yuan Kongye would become a true Epsilon-class Superhumanthe strongest LV5 known to humanity! Their dream was finally within reach! Bian Junwu absorbed the Ice Soul. Unlike Yang Siyah, he showed no signs of rejection or discomfort. Almost instantly, an immense, terrifying aura surged from his body, making Zhang Yis entire being tremble. The others felt their backs go cold, their instincts screaming that they were facing a superior predator. Bian Junwu straightened. Slowly, he removed his sunglasses, revealing his gray-white eyes. But now, in those gray-white eyes, two brilliant streaks of light shoneso divine, so piercing, as if they could see through all things. Its been a long time since I last saw the world with my own eyes. A rare, gentle smile appeared on Bian Junwus lips. His vision had returned. At this moment, he felt unstoppable. It was as if infinite power surged within him. He was no longer a Delta-class gatekeeper. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had officially stepped into the ranks of Epsilon-class! But as his power surged, so did the flaws in his ability. A gaping void had opened inside him. His energy erupted from the depths of his body but as the void expanded, it also leaked away. The Ice Soul had unlocked his potential but couldnt fix the fatal flaw in his ability. Instead, it made it worse. Blood trickled from the corner of Bian Junwus mouth. Boss!! Wu Di and the others shouted in panic. Bian Junwu simply waved a hand. Then, in a deep, soft voice, he said: Close your eyes. Everyone obeyed immediately. They stopped fighting, and the zombie horde surged forward like a monstrous tidal wave, ready to drown them all. But in the very next moment A blinding radiance erupted from the center of the horde. It was brighter than the sun, more piercing, more overwhelming. No one could see what was happening. They couldnt even hear anythingjust a faint sound of footsteps. A gentle, rhythmic pace. As if someone was walking toward the dawn. Zhang Yi, despite Bian Junwus warning, quietly activated his Dimensional Gate in front of himself and peeked through. He wanted to see just how terrifying Bian Junwu was at full power. His portal shielded him. Even the strongest eye-based abilities wouldnt affect him if they werent specifically targeting him. And so, he looked. There, ahead of him, was Bian Junwus back. His hands were tucked into the pockets of his black coat, and he walked forward slowly, steadily. A white light engulfed the world. Ahead of him, dark shadows loomedcountless, endless, a sea of terrifying, snarling zombies. But Bian Junwu ignored them completely, as if they didnt exist. The moment he approached them, the dark shadows suddenly disintegrated like mist. Zhang Yi swallowed hard. Bian Junwu was unleashing the final radiance of his life. Even after clearing out the surrounding zombies, he continued fighting, determined to eliminate the greatest threats to his teammates. Such an intense use of his ability would completely shatter his already-wounded body. Zhang Yi stared at Bian Junwus back, his gaze filled with deep respect. Captain Bian thank you. Your sacrifice will not be in vain. Author''s Note Chapter 527: The Final Blaze Chapter 527: The Final Blaze No one knew how much time had passed. Without Bian Junwus command, no one dared to open their eyes. The power of Desolation was simply too overwhelming. Even the seasoned members of the investigation team dared not risk a direct gaze. And now, with Ice Soul amplifying Bian Junwus strength beyond its former limits, he was undoubtedly a true Epsilon-class Superhuman. Only Zhang Yi, protected by his Dimensional Gate, had the courage to keep his eyes open and watch. Gradually, the radiant white light that had enveloped the world began to fade. The surrounding landscape was now completely devoid of zombies. Beyond the reach of the fading light, members of the three major factions stood in stunned silence, their faces frozen with fear. None of them dared to step forward. They had never seen anything like this in their lives. And now, they fully understood just how terrifying a Superhuman at LV5 Epsilon level could be. It wasnt just power. It was the destruction of conventional warfare itself. An Epsilon-class Superhuman was no longer a mere combatant. They were walking nuclear weapons. Zheng Yixians eyes gleamed with manic excitement. His lips curled upward uncontrollably. As the battlefield quieted, the last traces of white light dissipated. Bian Junwu turned around and walked toward the others. Zhang Yi immediately shut his eyes, pretending he had seen nothing. But the next moment, he felt a hand grip his shoulder. The grip was firm and steady, as heavy as a mountain. Zhang Yi tensed up instantly. Then, a cold voice whispered in his ear: "Stop pretending. You were watching the whole time, werent you?" Zhang Yi forced a bitter smile and slowly opened his eyes. You noticed? But the moment he saw Bian Junwus face, his smile froze. Bian Junwus expression was cold. His lips curled into an enigmatic smirk. Captain Bian, thank you for saving us all! Zhang Yi quickly adopted a sincere look and spoke with gratitude. Bian Junwu didnt respond. His right hand remained on Zhang Yis shoulder, exerting a tremendous pressure. Even though Zhang Yi knew Bian Junwu didnt have much time left, he had just ascended to Epsilon-classat this range, he could kill Zhang Yi in an instant. Sar?h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Youre quite the schemer, Bian Junwu murmured. Even I walked right into your plan. Zhang Yis expression remained calm as he spoke softly, Apologies. This wasnt my first choice. This was my contingency plan. But with no other options left, I had to use it. He wasnt lying. Zhang Yi had prepared three different strategies for this crisis. Force the Followers of the Snow God to relinquish control of the zombie horde by leveraging Jiangnan Districts pressure. This plan failed. He had overestimated the cults ability to command the horde.When the horde spiraled out of control, even they could do nothing to stop it. Boost Bian Junwus team with Ice Soul, forcing them to break through the horde by sheer strength. This plan had succeededbut at great cost. Abandon Tianhai City and escape before the Reaper of Love arrived. If the situation had completely collapsed, Zhang Yi would have fled without hesitation.Survival was always his top priority. If he had another way, he would have never wanted things to reach this point. He had no personal grudge against Bian Junwu. But when the situation was out of control, hesitation meant death. Bian Junwu sighed and shook his head. Forget it. I dont have much time left anyway. In a way, I should be thanking you. If not for your suggestion, I wouldnt have been able to burn this brightly one last time. He looked down at his hands. This is the power of LV5 Epsilon-class? Incredible. I just wish there was another chance to use it. Suddenly, his massive frame swayed. The hand on Zhang Yis shoulder slipped away. Zhang Yi quickly reached out and caught him. Dont worry, Zhang Yi said softly. Now that youve done this much, Ill handle the rest of Tianhai Citys problems. Bian Junwu looked at him. His ashen-gray pupils flickered with doubt. So youve been hiding even more secrets. What are they, I wonder? But he never got an answer. Because at that very moment, his body reached its limit. Bian Junwu had burned away everythinghis energy, his life force, his very existencejust to unleash his final attack. He collapsed into Zhang Yis arms. And he never moved again. A moment later, the others sensed the battle was over. They slowly opened their eyes. The battlefield that had once held hundreds of thousands of zombies was empty. Not a single Bronze Armored Zombie or Flying Bronze Zombie remained. Only a few scattered ordinary zombies still wandered aimlesslyweak and no longer a threat. Xiao Honglians eyes widened in disbelief. Her voice trembled as she whispered, Is it over? Did we really win? Just moments ago, she had prepared to die, expecting to be devoured by the endless horde. Now, the sudden absence of danger felt so surreal that it left her shaken. But the investigation team had no time to celebrate. Because they knew what this meant. For Bian Junwu to have unleashed such power he had paid the price. Wu Dis eyes locked onto Zhang Yi. His face twisted in horror as he saw Bian Junwus lifeless body in Zhang Yis arms. "Boss!!!" With a guttural cry, Wu Di rushed forward and snatched Bian Junwus body from Zhang Yi. His eyes were wide with fear, his movements franticlike a lost child. Boss! Wake up! Wake up! Dont sleep! You wont wake up if you fall asleep! He screamed in Bian Junwus ear, shaking him violently. But the only response was silence. Then, the once-arrogant Wu Di broke down sobbing. Zhang Yi stepped back silently. He knewthis was their moment to say goodbye. One by one, Wu Di, Baili Changqing, and the others gathered around Bian Junwus body. Their faces were solemn, filled with sorrow. But aside from Wu Di, no one cried. They simply placed their right hands over their chests and saluted in silence. Because in this apocalyptic world, they had seen far too much death. And they knewone day, this would be their fate too. No words were needed. Their respect would last forever. Meanwhile, Zheng Yixian was ecstatic. Sure, they had lost hundreds of thousands of zombies But zombies could be replaced. Bian Junwus power, however That was irreplaceable. And soon, it would belong to Yuan Kongye. Zheng Yixian smirked. Then, his greedy gaze swept across the battlefield, silently counting how many had used Ice Soul. Like a farmer, watching his crops ripen for the harvest. Author''s Note Chapter 528: A Sudden Strike Chapter 528 C A Sudden Strike Wei Dinghai and the others walked over, offering their sincere respect to Bian Junwu. Without Bian Junwus sacrifice, the entire Tianhai City would have been doomed. Wu Di sat on the ground in silence, holding Bian Junwus lifeless body. Meanwhile, Deputy Captain Baili Changqing had already steeled his expression, showing no trace of sorrow. The captain is dead. According to district regulations, I will temporarily assume command. He took the communication device from Bian Junwus body and solemnly contacted the leadership of Jiangnan District. The others watched him intently, their faces just as serious. Now that the zombie horde had been eradicated, Jiangnan District should follow through on their promise and cancel the launch of . Baili Changqing reported the situation to Zhu Zheng. Upon hearing the news, Zhu Zheng spoke in a low voice, So, hes gone after all? Baili Changqing heard Zhu Zheng sigh softly. This might be for the best. As a soldier, dying on the battlefield is the most honorable end he could ask for. I believe he wouldnt have wanted to wither away in a hospital bed. Baili Changqing then asked, Commander, whats our next move? Zhu Zheng looked at the massive screen before him, where Baili Changqing and the others were clearly visible. Bring Bian Junwus body back. With the investigation team losing both its strongest fighter and its leader, it was no longer a complete unit. Zhu Zheng wasnt willing to risk further casualties among his elite soldiers. Besides, with the second wave of the zombie tide cleared, Tianhai City wouldnt face another major crisis anytime soon. Yes, Commander! Baili Changqing ended the call and turned to Zhang Yi and the others. Blizzard City has officially canceled the launch of . A collective sigh of relief swept through the group. Tianhai City had been saved, along with their home and everything they had fought to protect. Zheng Yixian stepped forward, crossing his hands over his chest as he chanted a prayer for Bian Junwu and all those who had perished in battle. Though saddened by Bian Junwus death, the team was more grateful than mournful. His sacrifice had lifted the crisis looming over Tianhai City. In truth, everyone felt a sense of relief. Then, suddenly, Zhang Yi drew the from his spatial storage. The unexpected action drew puzzled gazes. Zhang Yi, what are you doing? Meng Siyu frowned as she stared at him. Zhang Yi turned sharply, locking eyes with Xing Tian. His piercing gaze sent Xing Tian staggering backward in alarm. Zhang Yi, whatwhat do you think youre doing? Zhang Yi sneered coldly. What am I doing? Im taking your life. Without hesitation, he activated and lunged forward with a vicious thrust! The Adamantium-forged blade was utterly unstoppable. Combined with Zhang Yis superhuman abilities, it could slice through steel with easeso piercing through flesh was effortless. The sword glowed with an eerie blue hue as a trickle of blood slid from its tip, staining the pristine white cloak at its entry point. Zheng Yixians smile vanished. He lowered his head, staring in disbelief at the blade protruding from his chest. His eyes were clouded with confusion. Where had the attack even come from? But in the next instant, realization struck him. Even though Zhang Yi had been standing far away and had visibly aimed his strike at Xing Tian, his sword had somehow vanished midaironly to reappear impaling Zheng Yixian. Zhang Yi yanked the blade free. The weapons blood groove intensified the wound, making blood gush uncontrollably from the opening. Zheng Yixian collapsed, his chest rapidly soaking in crimson. Zhang Yi, what the hell are you doing?! Xiao Honglians brows furrowed as she snapped at him. Everyone else regarded Zhang Yi with wary stares. Even if there had been tensions between them and the Followers of the Snow God in the past, they had fought side by side against the zombie horde. Now, at what should have been a moment of celebration, Zhang Yi had suddenly turned assassin. It was disgraceful. Baili Changqing and the rest of the investigation team frowned but remained silent. This was an internal conflict among Tianhai Citys factionsthey had no reason to intervene. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Yixian lifted his head, glaring daggers at Zhang Yi. The priests of the Snow God Church rushed to shield Zheng Yixian, their faces dark with fury. They took up battle stances, prepared to fight to the death. At the same time, Liang Yue and his team stepped beside Zhang Yi, ready for combat. Among the Followers of the Snow God, Han Chang was the most hot-tempered. His beast-like instincts flared as he bared his teeth, ready to charge. But the moment Liang Yue unsheathed his blade, the chilling gleam of the sword made Han Chang hesitate. You damn bastard! Ill kill you! Han Chang snarled in rage. The tension was thick enough to cut with a knifeone wrong move, and all hell would break loose. Xing Tian, Xiao Honglian, and Wei Dinghai all regarded Zhang Yi with disapproval. Zhang Yi, why did you do this? Zheng Yixian gritted his teeth, his voice weak but filled with disbelief. Zhang Yis strike had been too fasthe had been skewered before he even realized it. Despite being one of Tianhai Citys top superhumans, Zheng Yixians ability was telekinesis, not enhanced physical resilience. Now, with his chest pierced, he had lost the ability to fight. If a battle broke out now, the odds were not in their favor. Everyone knew how terrifying Zhang Yis team was in combat. Wei Dinghais frown deepened. Zhang Yi, you owe us an explanation. Otherwise, we wont just stand by and watch. Though he didnt particularly care about the Snow God followers, Zhang Yis reckless actions were too dangerous. It seemed as if he was using this opportunity to eliminate all the other factions in Tianhai City. That was something they couldnt ignore. Zhang Yi held in his grip, a smirk playing at his lips. His last strike had been slightly off due to the technique, failing to pierce Zheng Yixians heart directly. But now, with Zheng Yixian incapacitated, he had full control of the situation. Zheng Yixian, are you still going to keep up this act? Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as he enunciated each word: The mastermind behind Tianhai Citys zombie crisis isnt it your Snow God Church? His voice rang with absolute conviction, and the weight of his accusation sent shockwaves through the crowd. Xiao Honglians eyes widened. W-What? The zombie horde was orchestrated by the Snow God Church? The various factions, the investigation team, and even the priests of the Snow God Church stared in stunned disbelief. Han Chang erupted in rage. Youre spouting nonsense! Do you have any idea how many of our people died in this disaster? Xing Tian also chimed in, Exactly! The Snow God Church suffered the most losses in this crisis. If they were behind it, why would they sacrifice so many of their own? Zhang Yi turned his icy gaze onto Zheng Yixian, who knelt on the ground, clutching his wound. A dark, crazed glint flickered in Zheng Yixians eyes. He never expected Zhang Yi to uncover their secret. Shut up! Youre spewing lies! Do you really think anyone will believe you? Zhang Yi let out a sharp laugh. Whether they believe me or not once I explain everything, theyll figure it out for themselves. Zheng Yixian what exactly are you so afraid of? Author''s Note Chapter 529: Exposing Everything Chapter 529 C Exposing Everything Everyone listened to Zhang Yis words. Although they werent fully convinced, they were still willing to hear him out. After all, it was Zheng Yixian who had been injured, not them. Besides, the information Zhang Yi revealed was too shocking to ignore. They were all curious to know what was really going on. Baili Changqing and the rest of the investigation team stared at Zhang Yi with serious expressions. The cause of the zombie horde in Tianhai City was still a mystery. Even their captain, Bian Junwu, had died without uncovering the truth. They didnt want to leave with regrets. If they could find out the real reason behind the outbreak before returning to report, it would not only honor Bian Junwus sacrifice but also provide answers to the Jiangnan District leadership. Zhang Yi raised his voice. Everyone! From the very beginning, this was all a conspiracy by the Followers of the Snow God! It all starts with . Yes, can awaken superhuman abilities and enhance potential, but its true purpose is something far more sinister. When a person who has used dies, their superhuman energy returns to Yuan Kongyes body! Thats why the Followers of the Snow God were so generous in handing out to us! They deliberately incited war in Tianhai City, hoping for more deaths! To them, even their own followers were disposable. The ordinary believers were just burdens with no real value. The only reason they recruited so many people was to screen for those with superhuman potentialawaken their abilitiesthen let them die, so that their power would transfer back to Yuan Kongye! So even if every last follower of the Snow God died, it wouldnt matter to her. She never needed them in the first place. Zhang Yis gaze darkened. She had something even betteran undead army of her own creation! Compared to ordinary humans, this army of powerful, obedient, and near-indestructible zombies was her real trump card! A heavy silence fell over the battlefield. Zhang Yis revelation was too explosive. No one could immediately accept it as truth. Xiao Honglian, Baili Changqing, and the others turned to Zheng Yixian, searching his face for any sign of confirmation or denial. Zheng Yixian gritted his teeth in anger. Youre spouting nonsense! Slander! Hes slandering us! How could the Followers of the Snow God possibly have such power? If we really controlled the zombie horde, why would we have suffered so much oppression from the major factions? You attack me without any solid proofjust based on your own ridiculous assumptions. With a cold laugh, Zheng Yixian pointed at Zhang Yi. Frankly, Zhang Yi, I think are the real mastermind behind this disaster! His words made the crowd hesitate. They looked back and forth between Zheng Yixian and Zhang Yi, now uncertain. Zheng Yixians argument made more sense. After all, the Followers of the Snow God had been barely surviving, constantly pushed out by the Western Alliance. Their only leverage had been trading to stay afloat. How could they have suddenly gained the ability to control an army of hundreds of thousands of zombies in just a few months? Between Zhang Yi and Zheng Yixian, who was more suspicious? Logically speaking, Zhang Yi was the more likely suspect. After all, his faction had emerged from the crisis completely unscathed. But Zhang Yi remained composed. Theres an abandoned building next to , he stated calmly. Inside it grows a massive . Its purpose is to absorb nutrients from corpses and the earth, then cultivate . Zombie Kings have the ability to spread the virus and create more zombies. The Followers of the Snow God never used this trump card before. Either because they were waiting for the right moment, or because the hadnt fully matured yet. Zhang Yi pointed at Zheng Yixian. You claim I have no evidence. Then lets go to your headquarters. Dig up the well see the truth for ourselves! Baili Changqing, Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, and Xing Tian exchanged glances. That made sense. Seeing was believing. In fact, when they had defended the Followers of the Snow Gods camp, they had been curious about that abandoned building. They had even sent people to investigate it. But at the time, the results were inconclusive. All they found was a mutated plant that could produce food. However, Zhang Yis claim now made them suspicious. Xiao Honglian crossed her arms and turned to Zheng Yixian. If you have nothing to hide, then lets go check it out. Wei Dinghai nodded. Yes, if youre innocent, this will clear your name. Xing Tian agreed. I think its the best course of action. Baili Changqing and the other investigation team members remained silent, but their expressions showed they had already made up their minds. After all, they had their own suspicions about that location before. They just hadnt had time to investigate it properly. Zheng Yixians heart sank. Clutching his wound, he forced himself to speak. And if we find there? How will you justify what you did to me? You cant just stab me and walk away, Zhang Yi. A cold smirk played on Zhang Yis lips. If youre innocent, and I was wrong His eyes lowered slightly. Then youre welcome to come and kill me. You sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Yixian was furious. Zhang Yis response was shameless, but there was nothing he could do about it. And judging by the expressions of the others, no one found Zhang Yis actions particularly outrageous. This was the apocalypse. Murder and looting were everyday occurrences. The major factions had fought and killed each other before. No one cared about personal grudges anymore. All that mattered was whether Zhang Yis claim was true. Did the zombie outbreak have anything to do with the Followers of the Snow God? Han Chang, standing beside Zheng Yixian, growled in anger. Fine! We have nothing to hide! You think were scared of you? He pointed a clawed hand at Zhang Yi. But if youre wrongIll tear your guts out myself! NO! Zheng Yixian suddenly shouted. They not go near the ! The other priests looked at him in confusion. Zheng Yixian glared at Zhang Yi, his face twisted in desperation. The is the foundation of our survival! Theyre just after it! If we take them there, whats stopping them from stealing it?! He turned to Zhang Yi, his voice dripping with venom. Youre despicable! If you want a fight, then well give you one! He turned to his followers. Attack! Show them the Followers of the Snow God are to be trifled with! The priests, completely convinced by Zheng Yixians words, roared in unison and charged forward! Perfect. Zhang Yi smirked. These lowly rats from the Followers of the Snow God? He had never even considered them a threat. Author''s Note Chapter 530: Zhang Yi’s Power Chapter 530 C Zhang Yis Power At Zheng Yixians command, over a dozen priests roared and charged at Zhang Yi and his group! Zhang Yi had already discussed this with Liang Yue and the others. While no one had expected him to suddenly attack Zheng Yixian, they all understood that the Followers of the Snow God were a serious problem. So, no one panicked. They simply took their battle stances and prepared to fight. But this time, Zhang Yi did something unusualhe stepped ahead of the group. Covering his right eye with one hand, he spoke calmly, Enough. I dont have time to waste on you. Then, he lowered his hand. A faint white glow flickered in his right eye. Everyone caught in his gaze suddenly felt the space around them twist and distort. In the next instant, an indescribable force began tearing their bodies apart from every anglepulling them apart from the very fabric of three-dimensional space! Seven priests exploded mid-charge, their upper bodies bursting into a rain of blood and gore. The remaining priests froze in sheer terror! Even Han Chang, the most fearless among them, lost all courage. His legs refused to move. Baili Changqing stared in stunned silence. Ocular Technique. This was Zhang Yis first time unleashing in front of outsiders. During the , he had used it before, but back then, his control was still crudehe had only managed to use it for precise assassination, eliminating two fallen superhumans. But now, his mastery was complete. With a single attack, he had annihilated seven of the Snow Gods priests in an instant! The sheer power of it left Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and Wei Dinghai utterly speechless. Only now did they realize just how terrifying Zhang Yi truly was. The claim that he was only good at defense and sniping but weak in close combat? All lies. Suddenly, Fatty Xu pointed into the distance and shouted, Boss! That bastard Zheng is running away! Zhang Yi lifted his gazesure enough, Zheng Yixian had used the chaos as an opportunity to escape! With his telekinetic ability, Zheng Yixian could levitate and move at high speed. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed as he turned to Baili Changqing. This is bad. Hes going back to warn Yuan Kongye! Shes the real threat. If we dont take her out now, once the war breaks out, everyone here could die! Baili Changqing fixed his gaze on Zhang Yi. Why should we believe you? Zhang Yis voice remained calm. You have nothing to lose by trusting me. Whether Im telling the truth or not, you can see for yourself when we get there. The elite warriors of Jiangnan District arent so easily fooled, are they? With that, Zhang Yi stopped explaining. He summoned his and signaled his team to move out toward the Followers of the Snow Gods base. As for Han Chang and the remaining prieststhose lucky enough to survivethey were far too terrified to stop them. Baili Changqing hesitated for a moment before speaking decisively. Lets go. Were going to see for ourselves. Tianhai Citys situation needs to be settled once and for all. We need to know whats really happening here. We cant let the captains death be for nothing. The investigation team immediately decided to follow. Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and Wei Dinghais factions had the same thought. So far, this matter didnt directly concern them. Since Zhang Yi was the one making accusations against the Followers of the Snow God, they might as well follow along and see what happened. There was no risk to them. One by one, they found suitable transportation and set out toward the Snow Gods base. Meanwhile, Han Chang and the six remaining priests were left standing in place, watching as Zhang Yi and the others sped away. One of the superhumans turned to Han Chang. What do we do? Theyre heading straight for the church! Should we go after them? A female superhuman trembled. But that Zhang Yi hes a monster! He wiped out so many of us in an instant! The High Priest is already severely woundedhow can we stop him? Han Chang gritted his teeth. We are followers of the Snow God. If not for the Holy Leader taking us in and granting us power, we wouldnt even be here today! No matter what, we return. If they want to fight, then we fight! With that, he turned and began searching the area. After a while, he found a that had been abandoned by another faction. Jumping inside, he glanced at the remaining priests. What about you? Are you coming or not? The priests exchanged glances. Finally, two of them stepped forward and chose to follow Han Chang back to the base. The other three, however, turned and left. Han Chang shot them a cold glare but had no time to waste. He revved the engine and sped off. The three who remained behind let out a long sigh of relief. A scruffy, bearded man muttered, No matter who wins this fight, wed probably die either way. Better to find another way to survive. Han Chang and the others are loyal to Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian. But were only loyal to . They saw the truth. Regardless of whether Zhang Yi was telling the truth, his claims alone were enough to raise suspicion. If Zhang Yi was right, and Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian had orchestrated everything Then those who had awakened their powers using were already marked for death. Once they returned, their abilities would be taken from themalong with their lives. And if Zhang Yi was lying? That didnt change the fact that Zhang Yi had already made up his mind to destroy the Followers of the Snow God. Going back now meant facing Zhang Yis unstoppable forceand a near-certain death. Running away was the only rational choice. They should be that Zhang Yi had injured Zheng Yixian. Otherwise, they wouldnt have had a chance to escape at all. Lets go. We can survive in this world just fine on our own. The bearded man exhaled a puff of cold air, took one last glance at the horizon, then turned to leave. The other two hesitated only briefly before following him. Tianhai City was almost devoid of survivors now. But that also meant resources were no longer scarce. A single supermarket, shopping mall, or warehouse could easily sustain them for years. Sarch* The N?velFire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At the Followers of the Snow Gods Base C St. Johns Cathedral Yuan Kongye knelt before the altar, devoutly praying. Suddenly, she opened her bright, shining eyes. Just moments ago, she had felt an incredibly powerful superhuman ability return to her body. Whose power is this? Ocular Technique this must have belonged to Bian Junwu, the investigation teams captain. Her eyes flickered like distant stars before settling into a calm, serene expression. Then, she smiled. She could how powerful Bian Junwu had been. But the next moment, her brows furrowed. Bian Junwu is dead? How could that be? Who in Tianhai City had the strength to kill him? Who would ? Bian Junwus position was specialhe represented the Jiangnan District. His death would inevitably draw their attention. A troubling development. Yuan Kongye narrowed her eyes. Something was going wrong. She could feel it. Things were starting to slip beyond her control. Author''s Note Chapter 531: The Assault on the Followers of the Snow God Chapter 531: The Assault on the Followers of the Snow God Snow blanketed the land, and the Followers of the Snow Gods camp lay in ruins. Once a bustling settlement akin to a small town, it had been home to over ten thousand devotees, all united in resisting the apocalyptic cold. But after a massive zombie horde swept through, more than ninety percent of them had perished, devoured by the undead. The only survivors were a handful of superhumans and their families. In the distant sky, a figure flew toward the camp at great speed. Zheng Yixian''s face was deathly palepaler even than the snow-covered land around him. But his blood was bright red. A massive wound had bloomed on his chest like a crimson flower, and blood dripped from the corners of his mouth. Zhang Yis blade had not struck his heart, but it had pierced clean through his torso. Had he received immediate treatment, he might have survived. But he knew that if he stayed, their secrets would undoubtedly be exposed. He had to returnto warn Yuan Kongye. Only by doing so could Yuan Kongye prepare for what was coming. He could die, but Yuan Kongye must not. Zheng Yixian landed in front of the cathedral. Several superhumans stationed at the camp saw his injuries and gasped in shock. "High Priest, you" Zheng Yixian ignored them and staggered past, heading straight for the cathedral doors. His time was running out. He had to see Yuan Kongyeimmediately! The superhumans instinctively reached out to support him, but a sharp glare from Zheng Yixian stopped them in their tracks. He pushed open the cathedral doors. Yuan Kongye sensed something and snapped her head around. She saw Zheng Yixian, gravely wounded. Her pupils shrank sharply, and she rushed to his side. Seeing the woman he loved, the last of Zheng Yixians strength gave out, and he collapsed. If not for sheer willpower, he would have died on the way back. Yuan Kongye caught him in her arms. "Zheng Yixian, what happened to you?" For the first time, unease flickered in her usually cold voice. She reached out to heal him, but Zheng Yixian grabbed her wrist. "Don''t... waste your energy on me. My injuries are too severe. Saving me... would drain you too much." "Danger... is coming. Our secret has been exposed. They will kill you. You... must survive." Yuan Kongyes hand froze mid-air. Zheng Yixian, however, smiled weakly. Looking into her cold gaze, he saw something unexpectedreluctance. He chuckled. In the end, he finally understoodYuan Kongye did care for him, after all. "You must live on... for our dream." He breathed his last in her arms, eyes slowly closing. To die in the embrace of the one he lovedthis was not a regret, but a form of happiness. Before long, Zhang Yi and his group arrived at the Followers of the Snow Gods camp. The remaining followers, unaware of Zheng Yixians battle with Zhang Yi, eyed them warily. "Our High Priestwhat happened to him?" Zhang Yi ignored them. His gaze locked onto the slightly open doors of St. Johns Cathedral. Zheng Yixian must have gone to see Yuan Kongye. Now that she was alert, ambushing her would be difficult. Not that Zhang Yi had planned to. Because at this moment, no one knew just how many superhuman abilities Yuan Kongye possessedor how powerful she truly was. Attacking recklessly would be suicidal. Baili Changqing and his group arrived soon after. Instead of heading to the cathedral, they made their way toward a nearby abandoned building. The zombie crisis needed an answer. Had the Followers of the Snow God caused it? A simple look would reveal the truth. Zhang Yi led them. "Follow me. Ill show you proof." They reached the abandoned building. A lone superhuman stood guard outside and immediately stepped forward. "Gentlemen, this is a restricted area of the Followers of the Snow God. You must not" Before he could finish, Kong Sheng appeared like a ghost before him, seized his throat, and slammed him against the wall. "Shut up." The guards eyes rolled back, and he passed out instantly. Zhang Yi and the others entered the abandoned building. Inside, the eerie red glow of the blood vines remained. Their tendrils and leaves spread across every corner, suffocating the space. This time, they had arrived in daylight. The sight before them was even clearermore overwhelming. Corpses hung from the ceiling and walls, even more than before. After all, nearly ten thousand had died in the last battle. Their bodies had become the blood vines perfect nourishment. The chilling, almost ritualistic atmosphere made even seasoned warriors uneasy. Even those who had been here before felt their scalps tingle, sweat breaking out on their backs. It wasnt the dead that frightened them. It was this grotesque, sacrificial scene. Xiao Honglian couldnt help but ask, "Wheres the evidence you mentioned?" They had already taken samples from the bodies and vines. They were nothing more than shriveled corpses, drained of all nutrients. None of them contained the zombie virus. Zhang Yi walked forward and said calmly, "At first, I had my doubts, too." "We studied these corpses, analyzed the blood vinesand found no traces of the zombie virus." Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His gaze swept over them. "But then I realizedit was exactly what they wanted us to believe." "After all, youve all sneaked in here before, havent you?" "If there were a major secret, would they leave it so unguarded?" The group exchanged glances but said nothing. They had all, at some point, infiltrated this place under the guise of cooperation, secretly taking samples for research. They now stood before the blood vines main body. A massive, crimson plantlike a twisted World Treepierced through the buildings roof, its roots burrowing deep underground, its branches sprawling to cover every inch of space. Zhang Yi spoke coldly. "Zombies thrive in dark, damp underground environments. Their bodies play host to a parasitic virus that prefers such conditions." "So, the virus must have been cultivated somewhere similar. And in all of Tianhai City, every facility that fit that description has long been destroyed." "That leaves only one possibility." He pointed at the blood vines roots, his gaze turning sharp. "This place." His theory wasnt just a wild guess. After piecing together scattered clues, it was the only logical conclusion. And today, he was here to prove it. Author''s Note Chapter 532: Killing Intent Boiling Over! Chapter 532: Killing Intent Boiling Over! Hearing Zhang Yis words, everyone turned their gaze toward the roots of the blood vine. Baili Changqing frowned and stepped forward, then slammed his fist into the ground. With a dull boom, the ground shattered instantly. Large chunks of concrete and soil flew in all directions, swept away by the force of his punch. Zhang Yi and the others instinctively stepped back, using various methods to shield themselves from the flying debris. As the dust settled, the group quickly gathered, eager to see if Zhang Yis so-called evidence had emerged. The next moment, every single persons eyes widened in shock. A mixture of astonishment and deep-seated fear flickered within their pupils. The blood vines roots stretched far and wide, a dense network covering an unfathomably large area. And at the ends of these roots, like grotesque fruits, hung countless corpses. Humanoid bodies covered in white fur. Giant corpses with bronze-colored skin. Some had already completed their transformation. Others were still in the process, their forms caught between human and zombie. They all recognized them instantly. These were the Zombie Kings and Armored Zombies they had fought before. And they had all grown from a single tree! Nomore accurately, they had been cultivated! Some of them still retained human features, caught mid-transformation into the undead. "So this is the root of the disaster! Followers of the Snow God, you damn bastards!" Realizing the truth, Xiao Honglian clenched her fists and roared in fury. She wasnt alone. Everyone present was consumed by rage! If this had been a natural disaster, they might have accepted it. But this was man-made! A deliberate, vile scheme! Since the apocalypse began, the Followers of the Snow God had suffered the most casualties. Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian had used the deaths of ordinary people to gain sympathy and trust from other factions. Now, everyone understoodthey had been played for fools. If Zhang Yi hadnt exposed the cults scheme in time, what would have happened next? Just the thought of it sent shivers down their spines. Had the investigation team left Tianhai City, Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian would have dropped their facade and wiped out the remaining factions in one fell swoop. The feeling of being prey to a lurking viper was unbearable. "Despicable scum! I cant believe someone could be this ruthlesseven to their own people!" Xing Tian growled, his fists trembling with fury. For a brief moment, fear flashed in his eyes. The investigation team remained silent, but their faces darkened. Bian Junwus death had already been a huge blow to them. And now, they discovered that the ones responsible had been right beside them all along. The humiliation of being manipulated was intolerable! Baili Changqing slowly lifted his head, eyes narrowing as a sinister smile spread across his face. He suddenly bared his teeth in a grin. "Heh! These bastards really set up one hell of a scheme!" "But were not the type to let people treat us like fools." "Lets kill them all." A murderous aura spread through the air. Now that they knew the truth, every single person here was eager to slaughter the Followers of the Snow God. Some sought vengeance for fallen comrades. Some for the safety of their families and friends. Some simply wanted payback for the losses suffered by their factions. But they all shared one goal To kill the mastermind who had deceived them all! Zhang Yi remained silent, watching the bloodthirsty crowd. A sharp glint flickered in his eyes. He had deeper plans. No one knew how powerful Yuan Kongye had become after absorbing so many superhuman abilities. Zhang Yi knew she was strong. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But not strong enough to ignore the existence of other superhumans. If she were truly invincible, she wouldnt need to play politics with Jiangnan District. However Now that she had Bian Junwus abilities How much more of a threat had she become? "Lets wait and see." Zhang Yi muttered to himself. Baili Changqing hoisted his massive knights lance onto his shoulder and turned toward the exit. As he passed demolition expert Ye Jikang, he shot him a meaningful look. "Old Ye, destroy that thing. We cant let this scourge remain." Ye Jikang nodded. "Got it. Leave it to me." The blood vine was the true mother of the undead. Only by destroying it could they finally end the zombie horde in Tianhai City. Baili Changqing strode confidently out of the abandoned building, followed closely by the investigation team. The other factions hesitated for only a moment before following. No words were needed. They all knew what had to be done. The mastermind behind the near-destruction of Tianhai City had to die! Zhang Yi followed silently. Before leaving, he glanced back at Ye Jikang. Ye Jikang stood before the blood vine and placed his hand on it. A flash of black light. A strange, octopus-like black device appeared, latching onto the vine. "An Emission-Type ability user Looks like he can condense his superpowers into time-detonated explosives." Zhang Yi didnt linger. Staring too long at someone elses ability could be seen as provocation. He simply made a mental note of Ye Jikangs power before following Baili Changqing and the others out. Moments later, an earth-shattering explosion erupted from the building. The entire abandoned structure collapsed in on itself. Ye Jikang emerged from the smoke, unfazed. The remaining members of the Followers of the Snow God, alarmed by the explosion, rushed outside. They stared in horror as the building crumbled to the ground, then turned to the approaching figures radiating murderous intent. Fear gripped them. They dared not step forward. Baili Changqing didnt even glance at them. Lance in hand, he marched straight toward St. Johns Cathedral. Some cultists gathered their courage and stepped forward to block his path. "If you wish to see the Holy Master, you must" A massive black shadow flickered through the air. Their bodies were instantly reduced to mere blurs. A moment later A blood mist exploded in the sky. Baili Changqing had struck so fast that even Zhang Yi hadnt clearly seen his movements. Then, from a building several hundred meters away The sound of something shattering. Looking over, Zhang Yi saw two massive bloodstains smeared across the wall Like mosquitoes swatted against a surface. Only Liang Yue remained calm, staring at Baili Changqings back. He turned to Zhang Yi and warned, "This guy is insanely strong. At least three times stronger than Ling Fengmaybe even more." Until now, Ling Feng had been the benchmark for a perfect warrior in their eyes. His speed, strength, and agility were maxed out. But today, for the first time They had seen someone in the Enhancement-Type category who completely outclassed him. Author''s Note Chapter 533: The Flawless One Chapter 533: The Flawless One With the truth laid bare, war was inevitable. Both sides had suffered immense lossesloved ones, vital resources. For some, like Zhang Yi, the fight was for nothing more than a chance at peaceful survival. Separated only by a single door, the air was so tense it felt ready to snap at the slightest touch. The remaining members of the Followers of the Snow God gathered in the vicinity, but only a few battle-ready fighters and the most devoted believers remained. The restthose without the strength to fighthuddled inside their homes, trembling, afraid to even look outside. Inside one of these houses, Li Jian clutched his wife tightly, watching the unfolding scene from a window. A manic gleam flashed through his eyes. "Son, do you see this? Dad has avenged you! Today, that lunatic Yuan Kongye is dead for sure!" Leading the charge, Baili Changqing and Xiao Honglian stood at the front alongside over thirty superhumans from various factions. They all stared at the massive white door adorned with sacred engravings, but no one dared to rush in recklessly. Wu Di stepped forward. A massive orb of light formed around him, sharp as a blade. With a flick of his will, his floating cannons fired straight at the church doors. In an instant, the doors were reduced to rubble. Zhang Yis eyes remained locked on the interior. As the doors shattered, he caught sight of the scene within. Yuan Kongye sat at the altar steps, cradling the lifeless body of Zheng Yixian. As Wu Dis floating cannons neared her, an invisible force blocked them. Seeing Yuan Kongye, Wu Dis eyes burned with hatred. To him, Bian Junwu had been like a father. And his deathWu Di blamed it entirely on the leader of the Followers of the Snow God. "Die!" Wu Di roared, stepping forward. Hundreds of floating light orbs materialized around him, illuminating him like a divine figure. Then, like a torrential storm, they rained down toward Yuan Kongye with terrifying destructive force. At that moment, Yuan Kongye finally lifted her gaze. Cold as an eternal glacier, her eyes now burned with a deep, venomous hatred. The last person she had trusted in this world was gone. "Zheng Yixian welcome back." She whispered. "Ive always wanted your telekinesis, after all." Gently, Yuan Kongye laid Zheng Yixians corpse on the ground and slowly stood up. A ten-meter-wide invisible barrier formed around her. The powerful bombardment from Wu Dis floating cannons nearly demolished the entire churchyet it couldnt breach her psychic shield. Zhang Yi issued a warning. "She possesses at least dozens of superpowers. Stay sharp!" Xiao Honglians eyes filled with killing intent. "I dont care how strong she is. Theres no way she can withstand the combined force of every superhuman in Tianhai City!" She was already engulfed in searing crimson flames, magma-like veins pulsing beneath her skin. With a swift movement, she positioned herself at an angle and unleashed a massive fire dragon at Yuan Kongye. No orders were needed. The superhumans who had survived this long were the elite of the elitethey knew how to fight and coordinate. They attacked from three directions, bombarding Yuan Kongye with ranged abilities. Meanwhile, close-combat warriorsEnhancement-Type and Beast-Type superhumanswaited for an opening to strike a decisive blow. A storm of supernatural attacks surged toward Yuan Kongye like a downpour. Yet, she remained expressionless. A translucent, spherical field surrounded her, deflecting every attack effortlessly. Zhang Yis eyes flashed with white light. He wondered if his Divine Power could break through her psychic barrier. But that was his trump card. He couldnt waste itnot until the perfect moment. Then Yuan Kongye began to rise. Slowly, she ascended into the air, floating above them like a celestial deity. The cultists of the Followers of the Snow God saw this and immediately fell to their knees. "Snow God! Snow God!" They chanted in reverence. "Zheng Yixians ability," Zhang Yi muttered. At that moment, Han Chang and two other superhumans arrived. They had been rushing in, fearing that Yuan Kongye would be overwhelmed by Baili Changqing and Zhang Yis forces. But upon witnessing the scene before them, their expressions twisted in shock. Priestess Ye Chunhua clasped her hands together in awe. "This is the Snow Gods blessing! The Holy Master truly is the Snow Gods vessel!" But Han Chang felt his throat dry up. The burning passion in his heart had begun to cool. "But isnt that the High Priests ability?" Zheng Yixians telekinesis was well-known. Its most envied trait was the ability to freely control his body, defying gravity for high-speed flight. And yet, that same ability was now being displayed by Yuan Kongye. Could it be that everything Zhang Yi had said was true? Was the so-called Ice Soul nothing more than a massive scheme to harvest their abilities? Had Yuan Kongyes past kindnessher supposed "blessing" of granting them superpowersall been a lie? Han Chang didnt dare think further. The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. His faith was beginning to crumble. Floating above them, Yuan Kongye gazed down at the battlefield like a goddess overseeing mere mortals. The attacks continued, yet she remained untouched. Wu Di could hardly believe his eyes. His floating cannonsstronger than sniper rifles, rivaling even rocket launchers Yet none of them could touch her. Something was very wrong. Zhang Yi silently stepped back, blending into the crowd. Yuan Kongyes cold voice echoed through the ruins. "Foolish, insignificant creatures You have no idea who youre fighting against." "I am the divine envoy of the gods, the executor of divine will! Any who blaspheme against the divine shall be annihilated!" She spread her arms wide. "Let me cleanse this world of unbelievers!" The moment she raised her hands The ground trembled violently. Zhang Yi and the others staggered, nearly losing their footing. Cracks tore through the earth as if an earthquake had struck. Then, to Zhang Yis shock The land began to rise! He activated his Eightfold Speed, retreating like a ghostly blur. The others also realized something was wrong and hurried to distance themselves from Yuan Kongye. But the buildings were collapsing. The ground was shattering. Massive chunks of earth and stone levitated into the air, forming a floating storm of debris Like a meteor shower suspended in midair. Baili Changqings pupils shrank in disbelief. They had known Yuan Kongye was powerful. But thisthis was beyond anything they had imagined. This level of destruction They had seen it once before. Just an hour ago. Sear?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And now, they were witnessing it again. Level 5. Epsilon-Class Superhuman Power. With the abilities of Bian Junwu and Zheng Yixian absorbed, Yuan Kongye had finally ascended to that rank. She gazed at them with icy disdain. Then She clenched her delicate white hand and slammed it downward. The floating boulders, massive as meteors, rained down upon them with apocalyptic force! Author''s Note Chapter 534: Invincible Chapter 534: Invincible Countless massive boulders shot into the sky, then plummeted toward the ground like a meteor shower under everyone''s terrified gaze! But this wasnt a beautiful sightit was pure destruction and terror. With no time to dodge, everyone used their abilities in a desperate struggle to resist. Baili Changqing burst into hearty laughter, spinning his massive knights lance like a windmill. He swung it with incredible force, knocking away the falling boulders one by one! These werent ordinary rocksthey weighed several tons, even dozens of tons each! A truck would be flattened into scrap metal if struck, yet Baili Changqing used his sheer strength and expert technique to deflect them off course. He stood firmly in front of everyone, refusing to take even a single step back. Now that Bian Junwu was dead, he was the new leader of the investigation team. He had to shield his team. Compared to the others, Zhang Yi handled the attack with ease. His Dimensional Gate opened wideno matter how large the boulders were, the moment they fell in, they vanished soundlessly into another dimension. Unlike them, the others were struggling. Xiao Honglians flames had little effect on the boulders. She had to rely on the body-strengthening abilities of her Infernal Furnace, weaving through the meteor shower to avoid getting crushed. But the falling rocks were relentless, bombarding from every direction, forcing her into an increasingly difficult position. Some superhumans werent so luckyunable to escape in time, they were crushed instantly, turned into nothing but pools of blood and flesh! Get over here! Zhang Yi shouted to everyone. To take down Yuan Kongye, they needed to pool their strength. If everyone else was eliminated, Zhang Yi alone wouldnt be able to stop her. He had to protect as many people as possible. Seeing how easily Zhang Yi blocked the stone rain with his Dimensional Gate, the others immediately rushed toward him. Once, they had gritted their teeth in hatred for Zhang Yis spatial abilities when they were enemies. But now that they were allies, his power gave them an incredible sense of security. Everyone quickly gathered behind him. Zhang Yi spread open his massive Dimensional Gate above them like an umbrella, ensuring not a single "raindrop"or rather, the crushing boulderscould reach them. Unfortunately, not everyone had a way to escape. The ordinary members and superhumans of the Followers of the Snow God had nowhere to run. At first, when they saw Yuan Kongyes divine power, they had all knelt in worship, their hearts filled with joy. But her attack didnt discriminateit included them too. Defenseless, they were wiped out in an instant! "You may return as well," Yuan Kongye said flatly. The remaining superhumans of the Followers of the Snow God no longer served any purpose. It was better to let them "return" to the divine kingdom, where their power would merge with Yuan Kongye herself. Zheng Yixian was dead. Yuan Kongye had to win this battle. Only then could they create a world free of filth. Han Chang and his two companions had already sensed something was wrong and had kept their distance. But now, witnessing Yuan Kongye slaughter all her own followers, their faith completely shattered! How could this be?! Why would the Holy Leader kill her devout followers?! Ye Chunhua cried out in despair. Han Chang gritted his teeth, grabbed his two companions, and quickly retreated to avoid the falling boulders. So Zhang Yi was right all along... Shes no saviorshes a demon, a lunatic! Yuan Kongye noticed them, but her gaze was as frigid as the coldest snow. Fortunately, she was focused on Zhang Yi and the others, making no move to eliminate Han Changs group. Otherwise, with her current power, she could have killed them with a mere flick of her finger. Yuan Kongye looked down at Zhang Yi and murmured, I really want your spatial power. Like a deity, she slowly raised her hand and pointed at them. On the ground, the boulders that had already fallen began to tremble violently, then shot back into the air, swirling into a massive storm of flying rocks around Zhang Yis group! They were now completely surrounded. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. His Dimensional Gate could only open in two locations at a timethere was no way he could defend against attacks from all directions. Yuan Kongyes telekinetic control was far beyond Zheng Yixianson an entirely different level. But the others didnt just stand there. Xing Tian activated his abilityXing Tian Legion. This power boosted everyones combat capabilities. These were already the strongest remaining superhumans in Tianhai City. With the enhancement, their strength skyrocketed. Flame Dragons Breath! Blizzard Storm! Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai attacked at the same time, fire and ice colliding against the swirling boulders, trying to break the encirclement. Meanwhile, Qi Guangming of the investigation team raised his black sniper rifle and locked onto Yuan Kongye. Take out the leader, and the battle ends. Fighting the storm of rocks was pointlessonly killing Yuan Kongye would bring this to an end. A streak of black light shot from his rifle. Yuan Kongyes cold eyes showed no concern. But a moment later, her brow furrowed slightly. The bullet actually pierced through her telekinetic barrier! However, before it could hit her, it stopped less than a meter away. Qi Guangming frowned even deeper. She has too many abilitiesits impossible to counter them all. Zhang Yi glanced at him with curiosity. What kind of bullet are you using? How did it break through her telekinetic shield? He clearly remembered that Wu Dis countless floating cannons hadnt even scratched the barrier. Qi Guangming gave him a look. Origin Bullets. Specially designed to deal with mutated beings. Mutated beingsincluding superhumans. Zhang Yi sighed inwardly. Jiangnan District truly lived up to its reputation. The apocalypse had barely lasted six months, yet they had already developed bullets specifically for countering superhumans. But thinking it over, it made sensethis type of ammunition wouldnt affect him. His Dimensional Gate wasnt technically a defensive abilityit was a portal to another dimension. The Origin Bullet was likely designed to counter superhumans who relied on energy-based defenses, such as Enhancement Types, Beast Types, or those with psychic barriers like Yuan Kongye. Before Zhang Yi could think further, Baili Changqings voice snapped him back to reality. We cant keep letting her control the pace. From now on, everyone follows my command! He fixed his gaze on Yuan Kongye, his expression sharper than ever. No matter how strong her abilities are, shes still just a young girl. Her combat experience is lacking. That means... shell eventually reveal a weakness! Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 535: The Final Battle (1) Chapter 535: The Final Battle (Part 1) Baili Changqing swiftly formulated a battle plan. He had discovered Yuan Kongyes weaknessshe couldnt multitask. When Qi Guangming had attacked her with the Origin Bullet, her telekinetic control had noticeably weakened. Even the swirling storm of boulders had slowed down. You guys keep attacking from a distance. Qi Guangming, use the Origin Bullets to disrupt her movements! Ill take the lead in the assault. As for the finishing blow Baili Changqing glanced at Zhang Yi. From the beginning, Zhang Yi hadnt attacked even once. But Baili Changqing knew he was holding back a powerful trump cardDivine Power! Though it didnt have a large attack radius, in terms of sheer force, it was no less devastating than Bian Junwus Annihilation. Well create an opening for you to land a fatal strike on Yuan Kongye! Baili Changqing grinned. Ill keep her occupied. If necessary, you can kill me along with her! Zhang Yi, Xiao Honglian, and the others stiffened at his words. Baili Changqing was willing to sacrifice himself just to take down Yuan Kongye. Yet, the rest of the investigation team remained unfazed. They had long accepted the reality of risking their lives for a mission. It wasnt that they didnt fear death, but sometimes, a necessary sacrifice was the only way to prevent even greater losses. Like todayif they couldnt kill Yuan Kongye, none of them would make it out alive. Zhang Yi nodded. Alright. Baili Changqing had chosen to bear the greatest risk alone. After all, in terms of close combat, no one present could match his level. Alright, lets begin! With a loud command, Baili Changqing kicked off the attack. Xiao Honglian and the others unleashed a barrage of powerful abilities at Yuan Kongye. Qi Guangming raised his gun and fired another Origin Bullet. Yuan Kongye knew she couldnt underestimate that black bullet. Her brows furrowed slightly as she raised her hand, summoning a massive wall of ice in front of her! While Origin Bullets were highly effective against superhumans, their physical attack power wasnt particularly strong. The ice wall stopped the bullet in its tracks. With a flick of her right hand, Yuan Kongye extinguished all incoming attacks as if dousing flames with a flood of water. At that exact moment, Baili Changqing sprang into action! Like a black lightning bolt, he shot up from the ground, launching a silent yet thunderous assault on Yuan Kongyes back. His knights lance carried immense force as it thrust forward! Yuan Kongyes eyes narrowed. She didnt turn around, but she felt Baili Changqings attack approaching. Buzz! A telekinetic barrier rippled into existence behind her. Yet, Baili Changqings knights lance forcefully pierced half a meter through the shield, stopping just 30 centimeters from her back! He gritted his teeth, gripping his lance tightly. But in mid-air, he couldnt exert more forcehis one chance had failed. At that instant, Zhang Yi struck! sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The momentary distraction created by the others was the perfect opening for his Divine Power! A dazzling white light flickered in his pupils, locking onto Yuan Kongye in the airand Baili Changqing, who was right behind her! In high-level combat, life and death were decided in mere instants. That brief moment of distraction was all Zhang Yi needed to activate his ability. A terrifying force distorted the very fabric of space between them, and for the first time, a look of shock appeared in Yuan Kongyes eyes! Between Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye, the air twisted and warped unnaturallylike a wet cloth being wrung from both ends. Then, in the next moment, Yuan Kongyes pupils flashed with brilliant white light. A radiant sphere of light enveloped the battlefield, warping even the rays of light passing through it. Moments later, the dazzling glow faded. Everything fell silent. Below the suspended light sphere, the ground had transformeda perfectly smooth, bowl-shaped crater marred the landscape, as if molten metal had been seared away. BOOM!! A figure plummeted from the sky like a shooting star. Baili Changqing, clad in black combat gear, slammed into the earth with immense force. Even his steel-like body couldnt endure itblood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Cough The Captains Annihilation she mastered it this quickly? Baili Changqing muttered, his expression dark with disbelief. That power he knew it too well. It was none other than Bian Junwus pupil techniqueAnnihilation! She even absorbed Bian Junwus ability?! Xiao Honglian was stunned. They had witnessed Bian Junwus terrifying strength firsthand. With that power alone, he had obliterated hundreds of thousands of zombies single-handedly. Now, Yuan Kongye had inherited his ability. How the hell were they supposed to fight her now? Baili Changqing struggled to his feet, his voice resolute. No! Shes not the Captain! She only just acquired this powershe hasnt mastered it yet. We can still beat her! He was certain. If Bian Junwu had used Annihilation, Baili Changqing wouldnt be standing right now. But Yuan Kongyes gaze never left Zhang Yi. The appearance of Divine Power made her feel pressure. That power could actually threaten her. Zhang Yi, however, casually pulled out a meat bun and stuffed it into his mouth. Divine Power consumed too much energyhe had to replenish his strength immediately. Fortunately, as a spatial-type ability user, he excelled at drawn-out battles. Yet no one noticedYuan Kongyes eyes had turned murderous. At first, she hadnt taken them seriously. With her overwhelming power, she had considered herself close to a god, and these weak mortals couldnt possibly touch her. But Zhang Yis Divine Power had made her feel fearhowever small, it was real. And that fear enraged her. She no longer wanted to toy with them. She wanted to kill them all immediately. A colossal storm began whirling around her! A black tornado roared to life, sweeping up debris, ice, and everything around it, twisting into a towering cyclone! Then, the massive tornado hurtled toward them! RUN! The raging winds threatened to pull them in, the ground beneath them growing unstable. They stumbled backward, desperately trying to escape the storms core. Because once inside, there would be no way outonly death. But just when they thought they had retreated to safety A violent snowstorm surged from the ground, swallowing them whole! Wind, ice, bouldersall of Yuan Kongyes terrifying abilities fused into one. For a moment, they were completely powerless. Their superhuman abilities were strongbut against a force of this magnitude? It was an entirely different level. Once a superhuman reached LV5 Epsilon, the highest known power tier for humans, they transcended lower-level superhumans. Across all of China, only one legendary Epsilon-level superhuman existed. Counting Bian Junwu, who had briefly burned his life force to reach that level Yuan Kongye was now the third! And unlike the othersshe was an Epsilon without any weaknesses. Author''s Note Chapter 536: The Final Battle (2) Chapter 536: The Final Battle (Part 2) Against Yuan Kongyes overwhelming power, everyone struggled desperately to hold their ground. Even Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate couldnt shield everyone. However, this near-invincible ability, capable of blocking all physical attacks, at least ensured the safety of himself, Hua Hua, Liang Yue, and a few others. How the hell are we supposed to fight this?! She has too many abilitieswe cant even find a weakness! Boss, lets run! Fatty Xu suggested. Run? Run where? Zhang Yi coldly stared at Yuan Kongye at the center of the storm. You think we can still escape at this point? If he were alone, escaping wouldnt be an issue. But with others to protect? Impossible. He could react quickly enough for spatial teleportation, but they couldnt. Even the slightest delay would slow them down, and Yuan Kongye would catch them in an instant. Theres only one optionfight! If we win, Tianhai City will finally know peace! If we lose well, well worry about that then! Zhang Yi locked his gaze on Yuan Kongye, his Divine Power gathering in his right eye. Sensing the energy, Yuan Kongyes figure suddenly became illusory, as if countless afterimages overlapped, making it impossible for Zhang Yi to lock onto her position. But numbers were their advantage. As Baili Changqing had pointed out, Yuan Kongye lacked combat experience. Even with her overwhelming power, she had gaps. Now that Zhang Yis Divine Power forced her to stay cautious, she couldnt fully focus on the othersleaving her open to side attacks. Xing Tian amplified his ability to its maximum, boosting everyones power. Qi Guangming raised his sniper rifle, his Origin Bullet aimed at Yuan Kongyes head, forcing her to feel a sliver of pressure. She wasnt afraid of Qi Guangming, but taking a hit from the Origin Bullet was something she preferred to avoid. Baili Changqing, gripping his knights lance, searched carefully for a killing strike opportunity. Despite his monstrous defense, if he took another direct hit from Annihilation, he might not survive. You dare to resist me? You think you even have a chance? Yuan Kongyes cold voice echoed from above. With a wave of her hands, an even more terrifying storm surged outward, aimed directly at Zhang Yi and Qi Guangming! Zhang Yi sensed it immediately and activated his Dimensional Gate, teleporting everyone away just in time. The instant they vanished, their previous position was obliterated by a hailstorm of debris! But Qi Guangming wasnt as lucky. Unlike Zhang Yi, he had no way to teleport away. Yuan Kongyes power engulfed him from every direction. Above him, a towering black cyclone over a hundred meters high loomed, sealing off all escape routes! He was trapped. Like a god toying with a mortal, Yuan Kongye played with his life at will. BREAK! Just as Qi Guangming felt utterly helpless, a familiar voice roared from beside him. A massive knights lance tore through the storm, ripping open a gap! Baili Changqing, clad in black combat gear, charged into the storm. He grabbed Qi Guangming, tucked him under one arm, and sprinted through the chaos! Oh? Impressive defense. Yuan Kongye smirked. She recognized himthe vice-captain of the investigation team, a top-tier enhancement-type superhuman. But how long can you withstand my attacks? Within a three-kilometer radius, everything was under her control. Her energy felt limitless, her attacks relentless. Divine Power! Zhang Yi struck again! Yuan Kongye, entirely focused on him, immediately countered with Annihilation. He was the greatest threatthe only one with an ability capable of instantly killing her! Two blinding forces clashed in midair, erupting into a surge of energy before canceling each other out. Zhang Yi took a deep breath and spoke rapidly to Liang Yue and the others. Get out of here! This fight is already beyond your level! Against a superhuman of Yuan Kongyes caliber, sheer numbers meant nothing. At this stage, only a few of them could truly affect the battle. The rest were just easy targets, liabilities that distracted the team. Zhang Yi ordered Hua Hua to evacuate the others immediately. Even Liang Yueone of the best close-combatantswouldnt be able to contribute much at this point. But Liang Yue tried to argue, but the look in Zhang Yis eyes made her stop. There was no time for debate. His expression was cold, terrifyingly seriousthere was no room for negotiation. Liang Yue felt a chill from his stare. But she quickly understood. Her presence wouldnt help Zhang Yiit might even interfere with his spatial movement. Alright, were leaving! She jumped onto Hua Huas back. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Uncle You and Fatty Xu glanced at Zhang Yi. Be careful! Then, the three of them, along with Hua Hua, fled into the distance. The Final Team Remains At the center of the battlefield, only Xiao Honglian, Wei Dinghai, Xing Tian, and a few elite members of the investigation team remained. Yuan Kongye, suspended in midair, looked down upon them all. With her telekinetic abilities, she controlled the battlefield from above, making direct combat nearly impossible. Because of this, all enhancement-typesexcept Baili Changqingmoved to the backlines, providing support and protection for the attackers. Meanwhile, support-type superhumans like Meng Siyu and Ye Jikang completely retreated from the battlefield. Wu Dis eyes burned with hatred. Surrounded by his floating cannons, he unleashed a barrage of energy blasts, hammering toward Yuan Kongye like a violent thunderstorm! At the same time, Xing Tians buff-enhancing abilities empowered the entire team. Wei Dinghais Blizzard Storm and Xiao Honglians Flaming Dragon Strike poured down destruction, trying to divide Yuan Kongyes attention. But everyone knew the truth. To defeat Yuan Kongye, Zhang Yi was the key. Because only his ability could truly threaten her. Even Wu Di, who always looked down on Zhang Yi, put aside his personal feelings. Like a true investigation team elite, he gave his all to create the perfect attack opportunity for Zhang Yi. Yuan Kongye''s Growing Frustration Despite facing over a dozen superhumans, Yuan Kongye felt irritated. Their attacks were meaningless to her. But she had to constantly guard against Zhang Yi. Even the slightest gap in her defenses, even a single moment of carelessness, could allow his Divine Power to fatally wound her. Author''s Note Chapter 537: The Final Battle (3) Chapter 537: The Final Battle (Part 3) "You''re all doomed to die anyway, so why keep struggling?" "Enough. I''ve lost my patience with this little game of yours!" Yuan Kongye''s cold voice echoed from above. She despised anything that fell outside her control. A piercing white light burst forth from her pupils, radiating with overwhelming brilliance. Suspended in the sky like a sun, she unleashed a wave of holy light in all directions. The power of annihilation surged to its peakso devastating that it reminded everyone of the legendary moment when Bian Junwu single-handedly slaughtered hundreds of thousands of zombies. Baili Changqing and the others turned pale. Because they could feel itthis attack was already on Bian Junwus level! "Run! Get as far away as possible!" Baili Changqing grabbed Qi Guangming with one hand and Wu Di with the other, turning into a blur as he dashed toward Zhang Yi. The others followed suit, knowing their only hope was to rely on Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate to withstand the attack. Zhang Yi spread his right hand wide, expanding the Dimensional Gate to its maximum size. A massive gateway, towering like the Heavenly South Gate, materialized before them. Meanwhile, Wei Dinghai activated his Frost Armor to its fullest extent, covering himself in a thick, towering layer of ice like a walking fortress. But when the Light of Annihilation swept across the battlefield, his armor crumbled like paper. Instinctively, Wei Dinghai raised his right arm in defense, only to watch in horror as it disintegrated on impact. In the final moment, he dove into the Dimensional Gate''s protective range, barely escaping with his life. The blinding white light faded. Zhang Yi exhaled deeplyhis Dimensional Gate had successfully blocked Yuan Kongyes attack. Since this kind of wide-area destruction couldn''t be concentrated into a singular point like his Divine Power, it wasnt enough to breach his defense. However, that single attack had nearly wiped out all the remaining Superhumans. Only a handful of faction leaders and a few members of the Investigation Team had survived. But there was no time for griefnone of them knew if they could even make it out alive. Despair began to take hold. They had given it their all, yet they hadn''t even managed to scratch Yuan Kongye. Instead, their own ranks had been decimated. How were they supposed to fight now? Just wait for death? Was an Epsilon-level Superhuman truly invincible? Wei Dinghai sealed his wound with ice. Fortunately, he wasnt a melee fighter, so even losing an arm didn''t render him useless in battle. Yuan Kongye hovered above them, bathed in a sacred, radiant glow. "Zhang Yi, your power is impressive." "But Ive absorbed the abilities of thirty-six peopleincluding Bian Junwu. Tell me, how do you plan to fight me now?" She smiled, extending a finger toward Zhang Yi. "Id love to have your power as well." Zhang Yis eyes darkened with caution. He took a deep breath and spoke firmly, "This is it, everyone. Give it everything youve got! If you have any trump cards left, use them nowor were all dead!" Wu Di gritted his teeth and shouted, "You think we dont already know that?!" There was something else he didnt say. Even if they went all out could they actually win? As a member of the Investigation Team, he didnt want to voice such demoralizing thoughtsbut deep down, he couldnt help thinking them. "Fighting gives us a slim chance. Giving up means certain death!" Zhang Yi declared. Yuan Kongye wasnt about to let them finish their conversation. A new wave of attacks came crashing down. This time, the assault came from beneath them. The ground beneath their feet exploded, and hundreds of frost-covered thorned vines shot up, aiming straight at them. This was the power of Priestess Dai Mei from the Followers of the Snow God. In life, she had only been a minor Control-type Superhuman, capable of growing thorned vines from her body as a weapon. In death, she hadnt even left behind a corpsedevoured completely in the earlier zombie battle. But now, in Yuan Kongyes hands, her power had become something truly terrifying. The ambush caught them off guard. Zhang Yi immediately activated Spatial Shift, teleporting away. The others scrambled to defend themselves, desperately blocking the steel-hard, razor-sharp vines, even as they stumbled and fell amidst the shattered terrain. Maybe it was Zhang Yis words that reignited their fighting spirit. Maybe it was the desperation of warriors with their backs against the wall. Sar?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But at last, these once-dominant Superhumans finally began fighting for their lives. Wu Di clenched his jaw. Suddenly, an overwhelming surge of Mental Energy erupted from him, so powerful it sent his hair shooting skyward. In an instant, his black hair turned pure white, and his body became enveloped in an intense psychic aura, lifting him into the air. Baili Changqing, Qi Guangming, and the members of the Investigation Team, hiding behind a building, watched with pained expressions. Wu Dis Floating Cannon consumed Mental Energy. Overusing this power would burn away his lifespan. And right now, he was throwing caution to the windburning through his very life force. For a brief moment, he had stepped into the realm of an Epsilon-level Superhuman. His transformation drew Yuan Kongyes attention. She frownedanother nuisance. "Hahahahahaha!!!" Wu Di let out a crazed laugh. He knew exactly what he was doing. But there was no other choice. Bian Junwu had sacrificed himself for the team. So could he. "Die, you wretched b***h!" Countless orbs of light formed around Wu Di, and with a sweep of his right hand, they shot toward Yuan Kongye like a tidal wave. This attack was on a completely different level from beforeseveral times stronger! Raising both hands, Wu Di conjured a massive sphere of Mental Energy, nearly a meter in diameter, and hurled it straight at Yuan Kongye. The others didnt stand idly by. They attacked from every direction, coordinating their assault. Zhang Yi even slipped behind Yuan Kongye, activating Divine Power and locking onto her. Yuan Kongyes expression finally changed. For the first time, she sensed true danger. "Annihilation!" Once again, the terrifying Light of Annihilation erupted from her body, engulfing the battlefield. Zhang Yi and Wu Di unleashed their most powerful attacks in response. The sheer force of their clash sent multicolored ripples through the air, and everything in the vicinity began to disintegrate into nothingness. When the exchange ended, Yuan Kongye finally showed a hint of exhaustion. She had countless abilitiesbut her energy wasnt infinite. Facing simultaneous attacks from two top-tier Superhumans, even she couldnt remain completely unscathed. But the cost was devastating. Wu Di''s body deteriorated rapidlyhis face aging before their eyes, his gaze dimming. A moment later, like a fallen aircraft, he plummeted toward the ground. Baili Changqing rushed forward and caught him just in time. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi stuffed Superhuman Energy Food into his mouth as he fought. He wasnt afraid of a battle of attrition. Even after unleashing Divine Power multiple times, his energy could still be replenished. Author''s Note Chapter 538: The Final Battle (4) Chapter 538: The Final Battle (Part 4) Zhang Yi and Wu Dis combined attack had finally forced Yuan Kongye to show a trace of fatigue. But the situation was far from optimistic. Aside from Zhang Yi, everyone else had suffered injuries of varying severity. Wu Di was completely spent, unable to fight any longer. Xiao Honglian coughed up a mouthful of blooddespite wearing battle armor forged in the Infernal Furnace, she still couldnt withstand the residual force of Annihilation. Wei Dinghai had lost an arm and was barely holding on. The only ones still standing were Zhang Yi and Baili Changqing. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But how could the two of them possibly defeat the near-invincible Yuan Kongye? Despair. Absolute despair. A High-Level Superhuman could crush lower-ranked ones with ease. If not for Bian Junwus death, Baili Changqing would have even considered recruiting her into the Jiangnan District. But he couldnt. Because that would be a betrayal of his fallen brother. "Why do you still struggle? All youre doing is prolonging your suffering." "Wouldn''t it be better to let me end this quickly and grant you release?" Yuan Kongyes voice echoed like that of a deity. She could see that none of them posed a threat to her anymore. Even Zhang Yidespite his strange abilitiescouldnt break through her Annihilation. She was reveling in this overwhelming power. The power to control everything. The power to destroy everything. Outside the battlefield, some of the Investigation Team members couldnt bear to watch any longer. Their abilities werent suited for fighting Yuan Kongye, but they couldnt just stand by and watch their comrades die. Only Liang Yue and a few others remained hidden behind a boulder, watching Zhang Yi with unwavering trust. Liang Yue muttered, "Zhang Yi, the guy most afraid of dying, wouldnt play hero unless he had a plan. He has to have something up his sleeve." And sure enoughat that moment, Zhang Yi finally spoke. He sighed lightly and said to Baili Changqing and the others, "Alright, looks like this is as far as you guys can go." "Youve accomplished a little less than I expected, but it should be enough." His words left everyone stunned. Yes, they acknowledged that Zhang Yis Divine Power had been effective against Yuan Kongye. But in their minds, Zhang Yis greatest strength was his defense, not his offense. If this had been a one-on-one fight, he wouldnt have lasted five seconds. So why the sudden shift in attitude? Zhang Yi waved his hand dismissively, his gaze never leaving Yuan Kongye for even a second. "Leave. From this moment on, this battlefield belongs to me." Everything had unfolded exactly as Zhang Yi had planned from the start. The others were never meant to defeat Yuan Kongye. Their role had always been to wear her down. Baili Changqing stared at Zhang Yi in shock. "Zhang Yi youre not joking, right?" "Do I look like Im joking?" Zhang Yi replied calmly. Of course not. No one would joke about something like this. And Zhang Yi wasnt the type to nobly sacrifice himself for others. If he said he could handle this, they had no choice but to believe him. "Then well leave it to you!" Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai, despite their heavy injuries, didnt hesitate. They turned and ran without looking back. Xing Tian hesitated, then gritted his teeth. "Zhang Yi, were putting all our hope in you!" He poured the last of his Superhuman Energy into Zhang Yi, strengthening his body, sharpening his reflexes, and heightening all his senses. Yuan Kongye didnt stop them from leaving. If she wanted to, no one in Tianhai City could escape her grasp. She was simply curiouswhat was Zhang Yi planning? Baili Changqing carried the near-lifeless Wu Di to safety but then returned to the battlefield. He was wounded, but still able to fightso he wouldnt run. Zhang Yi saw this and didnt stop him. If Baili Changqing wanted to fight, he was free to do so. Not that Zhang Yi expected him to make much of a difference. Baili Changqing suddenly tossed something to Zhang Yi. A sleek, black handgun. Zhang Yi recognized it immediatelyit was their fallen captain Bian Junwus pistol. He frowned. "A gun?" Baili Changqing nodded. "There are about twenty Origin Rounds left inside." Zhang Yis eyes flickered with interest. Origin Roundsbullets specifically designed to kill Superhumans. Even Yuan Kongye wouldnt be completely immune to them. "Alright. Ill take it." Zhang Yi looked up at Yuan Kongye, eyes narrowing. "This needs to end, dont you think?" Yuan Kongyes lips curled into a smirk as she floated in the air, bathed in radiant light. "And what gives you that confidence?" "Zhang Yi, you know nothing about true power. I havent even gone all out yet." She spread her arms wide, and an overwhelming storm of Superhuman Energy erupted around her. "Im finally adapting to all the abilities Ive absorbed!" "Dont worry, once I kill you, Ill take your power too!" A terrifying energy storm surged outward from Yuan Kongyes body. The ground beneath Zhang Yi and Baili Changqing shattered, with massive chunks of debris rising into the air. Baili Changqing leapt between the floating stones, using his agility to close in on Yuan Kongye. But her gaze turned sharp. With a flick of her left hand, an invisible force blasted Baili Changqing away like a ragdoll. Even the strongest Enhancement-Type Superhuman was helpless mid-air. Zhang Yi ignored the battle behind him. As the battlefield trembled, he teleported, instantly appearing directly in front of Yuan Kongye. His Dimensional Gate wasnt affected by external forces. As long as he controlled its vector, he could teleport anywhere within 300 meterseven float mid-air. Yuan Kongye swept her right hand forward, summoning a massive black tornado, stretching thousands of meters like a sword of Damocles, plunging straight toward Zhang Yi. But Zhang Yi didnt dodge. Standing atop a ruined building, he simply raised his right hand. The black tornado vanished into his Dimensional Gate. A moment later, a second Dimensional Gate opened to Yuan Kongyes rightsending her own attack right back at her! With just a glance, she shattered the tornado into nothingness. "So, Dimensional Gate, huh? Lets see if you can handle this!" With a cold smile, Yuan Kongye raised her hands. Hundreds of hurricane lances, formed from condensed storm energy, appeared around Zhang Yi from every direction. In the next instant, they all shot toward him at once! Author''s Note Chapter 539: The Final Battle (5) Chapter 539: The Final Battle (Part 5) "BOOM!!!" Hurricanes raged across the battlefield, tearing the already shattered ground apart. Yet, in the very next moment, Zhang Yi reappeared somewhere elsecompletely unharmed. His expression remained as calm as ever. From afar, Baili Changqing, Xiao Honglian, and the others watched in shock. Xiao Honglian muttered in disbelief, "So all this time he never actually showed us his real strength." Only Liang Yue and a few others truly understood just how terrifying Zhang Yis survival abilities were. His Dimensional Gate was already absurdly powerful, but now, with the addition of Spatial Shift, he had become virtually immune to all physical attacks. Yuan Kongyes eyes flashed with surprise upon seeing Zhang Yi unscathed. But soon, her lips curled into a cold, mocking smile. "Is running all you can do?" She despised Zhang Yis abilities but wasnt afraid of him. They had gathered intelligence on every Superhuman in Tianhai Cityincluding Zhang Yi. Their conclusion? Unbreakable defense. Insufficient attack power. Even with Divine Power, Zhang Yis only real offensive ability, the energy consumption was enormous, and its activation had a clear delay. Unless he could land a perfect sneak attack, he had no chance of harming her in a direct confrontation. Yuan Kongye believed she was unbeatable. And Zhang Yi believed the exact same thing about himself. The sharpest spear versus the strongest shieldwhich would prevail? From the sidelines, the spectators were filled with anxiety, but all they could do was pray for Zhang Yi. "If youve got the guts, come and kill me!" Zhang Yi sneered and made a taunting gesture. What followed, naturally, was an even more ferocious assault! His figure flickered through the air, spatial shifting endlessly. His evasion capabilities were unmatched. Yuan Kongye couldnt lock onto him, and her physical attacks were swallowed by his Dimensional Gate. Left with no choice, she expanded her attack range, attempting to trap him within her domain. But she hadnt expected Zhang Yi to reveal yet another ability. The Dimensional Gate was massive and incredibly strong, but its weakness was its stationary nature and one-directional defense. So Zhang Yi had modified it. He had developed a more flexible defenseDimensional Shield! By compressing two Dimensional Gates into the size of a shield, he could now wield them with his hands. Although the area covered was smaller, it allowed for omnidirectional protection, making his defense far more adaptable. And since he didnt need his hands to attack, it was the perfect complement to his Divine Power. The battlefield stretched all the way to the ruined outskirts of the Followers of the Snow Gods territory. Even the roads had been obliterated. With virtually no blind spots in his defense, Zhang Yi absorbed and reflected every one of Yuan Kongyes attacks. But he wasnt just taking hits. The moment he spotted an opening, he counterattacked with Divine Power! Yuan Kongye dreaded the force of Divine Power, forcing her to respond with Annihilation every time Zhang Yi launched an attack. Their battle consumed everything within a ten-kilometer radius. Spherical energy distortions floated in midairanything caught within them was completely erased from existence. Logically, Zhang Yis combat strength shouldve been far inferior to Yuan Kongyes. But thanks to the power enhancement from Xing Tians Legion, combined with his stockpile of Superhuman Energy Food, he could sustain himself. While fighting, he ate continuously, replenishing his stamina and energy. Without this strategy, he wouldnt have lasted more than five uses of Divine Power before collapsing from exhaustion. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Yet even with all that, Zhang Yi wasnt the terrifying one here. Yuan Kongye was. Even after such a prolonged battle, her energy remained as boundless as an ocean. Zhang Yi had finally experienced what Level 5 power truly felt like. And this was with Yuan Kongye lacking combat experience. As for the others, they could do nothing but watchand occasionally cheer in awe. Even Baili Changqing eventually gave up trying to join the fight. To him, this battle was on an entirely different level. If he stepped in, hed be nothing more than a burden. And so, everyones perception of Zhang Yi shifted. At first, they thought he had no chance. Now, they were completely stunned. "That defense is insane!" "Good thing we never fought Zhang Yi for real or wed be the ones getting wiped out right now." Both Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai had the same thought. "But he cant just keep stalling forever!" Meng Siyus expression was grim. "The energy reserves of different Superhuman levels are vastly different." "Especially once someone reaches Level 5they become an entirely different entity." "Zhang Yis attacks arent hurting her. Hes just buying time. But he cant win." "If Yuan Kongye gets tired of this, she can just ignore him and kill the rest of us first." Everyones hearts sank. Meng Siyu was right. Zhang Yis defense was strong enough to keep Yuan Kongye from killing him instantly. But if she decided to leave, he couldnt stop her. With Telekinesis, she could fly almost as fast as he could teleport. If she abandoned this fight to slaughter the others, Zhang Yi wouldnt be able to protect them all. "Our only option is to trust Zhang Yi." Baili Changqing crossed his arms and spoke in a deep voice. "If Yuan Kongye really wants to kill us, theres no way we can escape from an Epsilon-level Superhuman." They had even heard rumors about Chinas first Epsilon, a mysterious powerhouse from the Shengjing District. It was said that he could kill people from thousands of kilometers away. Against power of that magnitude, there was no running. Unless Zhang Yi could defeat Yuan Kongye, or at least drain her enough that she couldnt pursue them, their survival was meaningless. And so, the battle raged on. Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye had been fighting for over ten minutes now. For the first time, Yuan Kongyes expression showed impatience. She had used dozens of techniques against Zhang Yi. But his Dimensional Shield and Spatial Shift were utterly broken. She couldnt hit him. She couldnt grab him. For someone who considered herself a god, this was infuriating. Her attacks became more ruthless. "Annihilation!" "Divine Power!" Another clash of ultimate abilities! The collision of energies painted the sky in kaleidoscopic hues. A nearby skyscraper was caught in the blastits entire midsection melted into a perfect sphere before the building collapsed in ruin. Author''s Note Chapter 540: The Final Battle (6) Chapter 540: The Final Battle (Part 6) Yuan Kongye had been attacking Zhang Yi for a long time without success, and frustration was starting to creep in. At this moment, she couldn''t help but miss Zheng Yixians presence. Back then, all she had to do was act as the symbol of the Followers of the Snow God, spending her days in worship. She sighed inwardly. Then, a sudden flash of insight struck her. In her impatience, she had allowed herself to be entangled by Zhang Yi. But what would Zheng Yixian do in this situation? Enlightened, Yuan Kongye abruptly abandoned her attack on Zhang Yi and flew off toward Uncle You and the others. Force him to protect them! That was the way to make Zhang Yi reveal an opening! "Youre finally learning?" Zhang Yis eyes glinted, but the corner of his mouth curled into a mocking smirk. Yuan Kongye soon realized that Uncle You and his group were nowhere to be found. This was all part of Zhang Yis plan. Uncle You and the others had fled long ago, and since she had been preoccupied fighting Zhang Yi, she hadn''t noticed. Only Xiao Honglian and a few others were still nearby. Seeing Yuan Kongye charging at them, their faces turned pale with fear. Yuan Kongye shot Zhang Yi a furious glare. Zhang Yi, on the other hand, looked completely indifferent. There was no way he would risk his life to save them. If Yuan Kongye wanted to kill them, she was welcome to try. But if she chose to attack Baili Changqing, Xiao Honglian, and the others, she''d expose her back to Zhang Yi. And that would be the perfect opportunity for him to strike! "Damn it!" The composure vanished from Yuan Kongyes face. Even though she possessed overwhelming strength, she was powerless against his ridiculous level of defense. Zhang Yi was like a seasoned Black Tortoisehis entire body shielded by an impenetrable shell. No matter how hard she hit, she couldn''t break through. And if she ever showed a weakness, the snake hiding within that shell would strike viciously. Yuan Kongye forced herself to calm down. She lacked combat experience, but through this battle, she was learning quickly. She had figured out the limitations of Zhang Yis defenses. First, his range was restricted. His spatial movement was limited to a 300-meter radius. His Dimensional Shield only covered the space immediately around him. So, to defeat him, she needed a large-scale attack with immense power! Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She had tried this before, but without much success. But then, a new idea struck her. Her eyes glowed red, her hair lifted in an unseen wind, and waves of fire erupted from her body, transforming into hundreds of blazing dragons that surged toward Zhang Yi. Heat couldnt be dodged! But Zhang Yi was wearing combat gear. His specially made suit could withstand extreme temperatures of over a thousand degrees for a short time. He used his Dimensional Shield to block the attack in front of him. But the next moment, the massive fire dragons veered past him and slammed into the ground! "Hmm?" Zhang Yi frowned. If the attack wasnt aimed directly at him, what was her goal? As the fire dragons crashed into the frozen ground, thick white steam erupted, filling the battlefield. The ice and snow around them melted into dense water vapor, completely obscuring Zhang Yis vision. Zhang Yi immediately went on high alert. Within moments, he felt like he had been transported into a mist-filled valleyhis sight was completely blocked. The temperature was rising rapidly. Zhang Yi attempted to leave the area, but the surrounding space had been affected by the extreme heat, and the white fog was everywhere. He couldnt even determine his direction. The sound of rushing water reached Zhang Yis ears. A massive lake had formed beneath him. Then, a strange sight unfolded before his eyes. Countless water droplets rose into the air, surrounding him and filling the space around him. Zhang Yi immediately realized the danger. Even if he used spatial movement, he wouldnt be able to escape the range of these floating water droplets. The droplets multiplied rapidly, forming a vast airborne river. Up in the sky, Yuan Kongye exhaled a deep breath. A white mist escaped her lips and instantly transformed into a violent blizzard. The river of water froze in an instant, solidifying within two seconds! The sudden drop in temperature caused the mist to condense into icy particles, which rained down. And as the fog cleared, the battlefield revealed a breathtaking sight. A colossal cube of ice stood in the center, spanning thousands of meters in length. Yuan Kongyes expression showed exhaustion. Even with her immense power, using an ability on such a massive scale had drained her significantly. But her lips curled into a triumphant smile. However Just as she finished speaking, a door suddenly appeared atop the massive ice block. Zhang Yi stepped out of it, exhaling lightly before looking up at her with a grin. "That was a clever combo move. Too bad it wont work on me!" The Dimensional Space wasnt a livable environment. It was a vast, empty voiddevoid of air or any conditions for survival. But for short periods, entering it wouldnt kill him. Which made it the perfect temporary shelter from attacks. That was how Zhang Yi had avoided Yuan Kongyes ability. Yuan Kongye was stunned. Her expression flickered with a storm of emotions. She had worked so hard to come up with this tactic, yet it still wasnt enough to take him down. Her mind was starting to crack. "Zhang Yi!! I refuse to believe I cant kill you!!" The once serene and lofty leader of the Followers of the Snow Godthe devout priestess of icenow looked like an enraged young woman throwing a tantrum. She was about to attack again when A sudden wave of dizziness hit her. Her vision blurred. Frowning, she rubbed her forehead, dismissing the sensation as nothing. But Zhang Yi noticed the change instantly. A grin spread across his face as he arrogantly curled his finger, beckoning her forward. "Come on, if youve got the guts, kill me!" "Oh, and by the way, that wound on Zheng Yixians chest? That was me." At those words, Yuan Kongyes face twisted with rage. "Fine! Then Ill send you to hell to keep him company!" Zhang Yi smirked, casually munching on some food as he spoke. Superhuman energy burned through nutrients too fasthe had to keep eating to replenish it. "Lets see how this plays out!" Author''s Note Chapter 541: Superhuman Toxin Chapter 541: Superhuman Toxin Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye clashed once again. The prolonged battle with no clear advantage left Yuan Kongye increasingly irritated. It wasnt that she lacked strengthher power was overwhelmingbut her inexperience in real combat was a glaring weakness. And Zhang Yis constant taunts only fueled her determination to kill him right here, no matter the cost. But the longer she fought, the more discomfort she felt in her body. A dizziness overtook her, as if she were suffering from severe motion sickness. Nausea churned in her stomach, and her vision began to blur. The more intensely she unleashed her abilities, the worse the sensation became. Then, a sudden realization struck herthis wasnt caused by her emotions, nor was it some sudden illness. With that thought, she stopped midair, clutching her forehead as she clenched her teeth and demanded, "You... What did you do to me!?" Zhang Yi''s smirk grew wider. So, it had finally begun. No, I cant celebrate yet. I need to push her deeper into the abyss. Mocking, he said, "Looks like you still cant fully control your own power." "Maybe the souls of all those Superhumans you absorbed are haunting you, making you suffer like this!" Yuan Kongye glared at him with hatred, her body wracked with pain. But his words struck a nerve, causing a flicker of unease in her heart. After all, in her pursuit of power, she had used countless ruthless methods, consuming the abilities of many Ice Soul Superhumans. Among them were not just her devout followers but alsothe most important one of allZheng Yixian. "Shut up! What do you even know!?" Through sheer willpower, she ignored the pain and unleashed another violent assault on Zhang Yi. The ground shattered. Dark clouds churned. Winds howled. Flames roared. Ice surged. She wielded countless powerful abilities with ease. But none of it could truly harm Zhang Yi. Like an unyielding tumbler doll, he absorbed every devastating strike yet refused to fall. The only real advantage Yuan Kongye had over him was her immense energy reserves. But Zhang Yi had two things working in his favor First, he had obtained Xing Tians Xing Tian Legion ability. Second, his Dimensional Space was stocked with an overwhelming supply of energy-rich food, enough to sustain him through countless energy-consuming battles. But what was the point of this fight? Even with his strongest techniques, he couldn''t kill Yuan Kongye. So how was continuing to fight going to change anything? The answer lay in her bodys reaction. All the plans he had secretly set into motion were finally working. This was Plan B: Superhuman Toxin. Plan A had relied on Yuan Kongye and Zheng Yixian perfectly controlling their zombie horde, forcing them to weaken themselves. That plan had failed. So, Plan B had begun. And its core lay in Bian Junwu. Previously, it had been noted that mutations in this world were not always beneficial. Some carried fatal flaws. Bian Junwus ability was one such caseevery time he used his skills, he paid the price with irreparable damage to his body, including the loss of his eyesight. Since these mutations occurred on a genetic level, modern medicine couldnt cure them. And because Yuan Kongye had absorbed the abilities of Ice Soul hosts, she had also inherited their negative side effects. This wasnt just Zhang Yis speculation. Li Jian had once written him a letter detailing an incident. Li Jian had met a female priest in the Followers of the Snow God, a woman whose power allowed her to control ice and snow with her breath. But this ability came at a costit damaged her lungs, causing her to cough violently whenever she used it. Eventually, Yuan Kongye had strangled that priest to death with her own hands. Then, one day, Li Jian witnessed something shocking. After using her powers to perform a divine miracle for her followers, Yuan Kongye coughedjust like that priest had. That detail stuck with Li Jian, and he described it in full to Zhang Yi. So Zhang Yi deduced that if Yuan Kongye absorbed the powers of others, she must also absorb their negative mutations. Thus, Plan B was borna meticulously crafted trap centered around Bian Junwu. The critical flaw in Bian Junwus ability was known only to Zhang Yi. No other faction in Tianhai City had this information. Which meant that Yuan Kongye had no idea about the deadly price of using Oblivion. When she obtained the power to annihilate everything in sight, she had been ecstatic. She couldnt wait to unleash it and obliterate all her enemies. But as an Epsilon-level Superhuman, the stronger her ability, the more devastating the backlash would be. Take Bian Junwu, for examplewhen he fully unleashed his power, he burned through his own life force in an instant, perishing like a fleeting firework. And all Zhang Yi had to dowas drag the fight out until she overused her abilities. The forces of Tianhai City had been fighting her in a war of attrition. First, the investigation team and dozens of Superhumans had worn her down. Once they had been defeated, Zhang Yi stepped in. His smirk grew wider. If he could kill Yuan Kongye, not only would Tianhai Citys crisis be resolved Butno one would be left to stop him from taking her Superhuman Core. An Epsilon-level Core. If Zhang Yi could absorb it, hed gain the abilities of dozens of Superhumans all at once. Perhapshe could even ascend to the Epsilon level himself. But, of course, he wasnt about to tell Yuan Kongye that. If she realized the truth, she might just stop fighting and run. And there would be nothing Zhang Yi could do to stop her. So instead, he provoked her with words. "I know you hate this world. You want to destroy everyone in it. But lets be realyoure not exactly innocent, are you?" "If your parents hadnt founded a cult, scamming their followers out of their life savings, you wouldnt have ended up like this." Yuan Kongyes pupils shrank. That piece of her pastwas the one thing she never wanted to face. Her deepest, darkest scar. Zhang Yis words forced her to relive memories she had tried to bury. She remembered how her parents had died in a plane crash. At their funeral, furious cult members stormed in and toppled their coffins. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Among them, someone shoved her to the ground. Then came the brutal, endless torment. Zheng Yixian had fought like a wounded beast, desperately trying to save her, but they pinned him down and stomped on his head. No matter how he screamed and begged, his eyes bloodshot, they never stopped. For an entire day and night, the suffering had carved itself into her very bonesso much so that she once doubted if she would even survive. "AHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Yuan Kongye suddenly clutched her head, letting out a soul-wrenching wail. A violent storm of power erupted from her body, radiating outward like an unstoppable force! Author''s Note Chapter 542: Incurable Chapter 542: Incurable Yuan Kongyes vision had grown so blurry that she could no longer make out Zhang Yis silhouette. Her headache worsened, and an overwhelming sense of danger gripped her heart. "Zhang Yi, what did you do to me?! Answer me!" From a distance, Zhang Yi watched her, surprisingly calm. This kind of superhuman backlash was incurableonce it took effect, it would only spiral further out of control. "Why dont you take a guess?" He grinned. S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There was no way hed let her figure out the truth. His carefully laid plan was finally bearing fruit, but he wasnt about to get careless now. Yuan Kongye glared at him murderously. She was convinced that at some point, he had used an ability on her, something that was now wreaking havoc on her body. "Arrogant fool!" she spat coldly. A brilliant white light erupted from her body, enveloping her completely. This was her abilityBlessing, capable of healing any injury or illness. But this time, the moment she activated it, something unexpected happened. Her symptoms didnt fade. In fact, the more she pushed her power, the worse she felther vision blurred further, and her headache intensified. "Kh Khh " A sharp pain seized her chest, and suddenly, she was coughing violently. Nows the time to strike! Zhang Yi had no intention of giving her even a moments respite. Only a dead enemy was a safe enemy. "Divine Power!" Once more, his strongest attack surged toward her! Sensing the immense threat, Yuan Kongye barely managed to counter with Oblivion. She blocked the attackbut her body had deteriorated even further. "" From afar, the injured survivors watched in stunned silence. They had noticed Yuan Kongye suddenly weakening, coughing uncontrollably. But what confused them the mostwas that Zhang Yi hadnt done anything visible. Those who knew him well were even more bewildered. Zhang Yi was a spatial-type Superhumanhe had no ability related to poison or curses. Besides, poisoning an Epsilon-level Superhuman in the middle of a battle was practically impossible. Then, realization dawned on Baili Changqing. "Its the Captains ability." Not just himeveryone from the Investigation Team understood. Tianhai Citys Superhumans might not know about Bian Junwus ability flaws, but they did. Meng Siyu muttered, "She absorbed the Captains ability and with it, she also inherited its side effects." "But was this Zhang Yis plan from the start? Or just a coincidence?" She turned to Baili Changqing, her eyes full of disbelief. Was it a coincidence? Not a chance. If this had been Zhang Yis intention all along, then that meanthe had manipulated Bian Junwu from the very beginning. From inside his sleeping bag, the weakened Wu Di swore weakly, "That bastard he actually used us!" "No," Baili Changqing replied calmly. "Given the situation back then, that was the only way to ensure our survival. I think the Captain knew Zhang Yi was using him, but he still went through with it." He watched the battlefield, growing more and more impressed with Zhang Yi. "But to orchestrate something of this scale thats just insane. Even we were just pieces on his board." Though being used left a bitter taste, Baili Changqing couldnt help but respect Zhang Yis cunning and strategic brilliance. Wu Di grumbled, "Brilliant, my ass! That bastard, I swear, one day Im gonna" His body was too weak to even finish his threat before nearly passing out. Meng Siyu patted him reassuringly. "Alright, lets just focus on staying alive for now." With Yuan Kongye visibly deteriorating, hope ignited in everyones hearts. For the first time, they saw a chance at survival. Because only if Zhang Yi defeated Yuan Kongyecould they live. And they all knew it. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi continued to eat, replenishing his energy while maintaining a long-range battle against her. Yuan Kongyes body was failing. Her vision was fading. Every move felt wrong. Zhang Yi stopped using Divine Power. It was too energy-draining. Even though he could replenish his strength by eating, he couldnt afford to waste resources carelessly. After all, he needed to maintain his full combat strength until the battle was truly over. Because once Yuan Kongye fell Every other Superhuman on the battlefield would come after her Core. An Epsilon-level Superhuman Core. Zhang Yi knew that if he wanted to claim it, he had to stay strong until the very end. So, he switched tactics He pulled out Bian Junwus modified pistol and loaded it with Origin Bullets. This gun was larger than an ordinary handgun, with an extended barrel. The black bullets that fired from it carried a destructive force unlike any conventional ammunition. Against normal people or objects, it wasnt that different from an ordinary bullet. But against Superhumansits effects were devastating. Even in Qi Guangmings hands, it would have done some damage to Yuan Kongye. And in Zhang Yis hands? It was lethal. Using spatial teleportation, Zhang Yi dodged her attacks while taking advantage of her weakened state to fire precise shots. Each Origin Bullet carried a power that couldnt be ignored. Yuan Kongye could have dodged them. She could have used telekinesis to move at high speed and escape the gunfire. But at firstshe refused to dodge. Because the moment she started dodging, it would mean she was losing. As someone who believed herself to be a god, that was unacceptable. So instead, she chose to block the bullets with sheer force. But doing so drained her energy even faster. And the side effects of Bian Junwus ability worsened. By the time she realized the danger, it was too late. If she stopped using her abilities, Zhang Yi would kill her instantly. And if she kept using them, her own body would destroy her. Not to mentionthe other Superhumans were already watching, waiting for their chance to strike once she fell. For the first time, that thought crossed her mind. She didnt want to believe it. She and Zheng Yixian had planned for this day for so long. She had absorbed the powers of dozens of Superhumansincluding top-tier ones like Bian Junwu. She had believed herself unstoppable, convinced that no one in Tianhai City could withstand even a single attack from her. But Zhang Yi He had pushed her to the brink. In terms of raw attack power, Zhang Yi wasnt even a real threat to her. Even Divine Power, though strong, had a limited rangeif she had wanted to escape, he wouldnt have been able to stop her. But his defense was overwhelming. And even as an Epsilon-level Superhuman She couldnt break through it. Author''s Note Chapter 543: Overestimating Oneself Chapter 543: Overestimating Oneself Yuan Kongye wasnt weak. If a more experienced fighter had possessed her abilities, Zhang Yi wouldnt have had such an easy time executing his plan. Of course, maintaining this stalemate wasnt easy for him either. Without the boost from Xing Tians Legion and his constant intake of Superhuman food, he wouldnt have lasted this long against her. An Epsilon-level Superhuman represented the pinnacle of human evolution. The sheer amount of energy in Yuan Kongyes body was overwhelmingeven Zhang Yi found it difficult to deal with. Luckily, he had external energy sources. "Yuan Kongye, whats wrong? Youve been fighting for so longare you about to surrender?" Zhang Yi kept up his attacks, refusing to give her a moment to breathe. "If you surrender now and disable your abilities, I might consider letting you live." His words were laced with temptation, meant to shake her resolve. Yuan Kongyes vision was blurry, but her raw combat strength remained terrifying. She had dozens of abilities. Even though she couldnt see clearly, her enhanced physique allowed her to sense everything around her. Her response was a massive ice spear hurled at Zhang Yi! But he simply swallowed it into the Dimensional Gate. She was running out of ways to deal with him. At the start of the battle, she had planned to wear him down. After all, she far outclassed him in raw power. And as an Epsilon-level Superhuman, her energy reserves were several times greater than Zhang Yis. But what she hadnt expected was just how much Superhuman food Zhang Yi had stockpiled in his Dimensional Space. It was like a low-level player bringing 10,000 healing potions to fight a world boss. Sure, his attack power was weak, but he could outlast her. And if that had been the only issue, she could have endured it. But the biggest problem was that her body had started to fail. By now, she had realized the truth. Her mutation wasnt naturalit had been caused by the Ice Soul she had given to Zhang Yi and the others. She had planned everything out carefully. The Ice Soul could awaken Superhuman abilities, enhance potential, and was something any faction leader would want to keep for themselveseither for their own use or to empower promising newcomers. Then, when those people died, their abilities would return to her. But what she hadnt expectedwas that someone would deliberately use the Ice Soul as a trap. Someone had given it to a Superhuman with a devastating genetic defect, ensuring that when she absorbed their power, she would also inherit its flaws. And by the time she realized it, it was already too late. The mutations side effects had already taken root, ravaging her body. Not even her healing abilities could counter it. Mutations occurred at the genetic leveland they were irreversible. Yuan Kongyes face twisted with fury. Through clenched teeth, she demanded, "You When did you do this to me? Tell me! I need to know!" Zhang Yi smirked. "Go ask the King of Hell yourself." With that, he fired an Origin Bullet straight at her head! "" With a flick of her wrist, a massive ice wall formed in front of her, blocking the shot. But the moment she used her ability, a piercing pain shot through her skull Like thousands of needles stabbing into her brain. She clutched her head in agony, her body staggering in midair. She finally realized the truththis battle was pointless. The man in front of her was her perfect counter. She had to retreat, fix her body, and return stronger. When she fully adapted to her newfound powershe would come back and kill them all. Making up her mind, she ignored the pain and suddenly turned around, fleeing in the opposite direction! Zhang Yi wasnt surprised at all. He had predicted every possible move Yuan Kongye might make. And no matter whatshe wasnt leaving this battlefield alive. "Didnt you claim to be a god?" he taunted. "Then why are you running?" Casually munching on more Superhuman food, Zhang Yi chased after her. But he didnt rush. He kept his distance, careful not to get too close. After all, she had absorbed the powers of multiple Superhumans, including those with enhanced close-combat abilities. If he got within melee range, she could still be deadly. But none of that mattered. Because her condition was only going to worsen. All Zhang Yi had to do was wait And let her own body kill her. He was a hunter, and he had endless patience. Yuan Kongyes flight speed was impressive. With telekinesis, she soared through the sky as a streak of white light. But no matter how fast she was She couldnt outrun Zhang Yis spatial teleportation. And as she fled, the watching survivorsBaili Changqing and the other faction leadersgrew excited. Yuan Kongye was running. Which meant sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi had won. Baili Changqings eyes darkened as he stared at her retreating figure. An Epsilon-level Superhuman, heavily injured and fleeing If someone took her Core, their power would skyrocket. And he wasnt the only one who realized this. All around him, the other survivors gazes burned with greed. In the apocalypse, power was everything. They had witnessed how terrifying Yuan Kongye had been. An Epsilon-level Superhuman was on a completely different levelan unstoppable force against weaker opponents. Who wouldnt want that kind of power? And right now, Zhang Yi wasnt nearby. He was trailing Yuan Kongye, keeping his distance. Which meantthis was their chance. In the ruins, Wei Dinghai stared at his crippled arm. He gritted his teeth and made a decision. His eyes turned ice-blue, and a storm swirled within his pupils. The next momenthe merged into the snow. As Yuan Kongye fled, A massive vortex suddenly formed on the ground beneath her Then, in an instant, it transformed into a razor-sharp spear, shooting straight toward her! Even though her vision was gone, her senses remained sharp. Snarling, she punched downward The ice spear shattered like it had slammed into an iron wall. An invisible force crushed it to dust. The entire ice storm exploded into fragments. Wei Dinghai was slammed into the ground. The ice armor covering his body shattered like glass. He lay motionless, buried deep in the earth. A moment later Blood began seeping from underground, staining the snow a deep, ominous red. Author''s Note Chapter 544: Killing Through Attrition Chapter 544: Killing Through Attrition Wei Dinghai had tried to ambush the wounded Yuan Kongye, hoping to steal her Superhuman Core. But he had underestimated her. Even in her weakened state, she was still terrifyingly powerful. With just one attack, she killed him instantly. The sight shocked everyone watching from the ruins. Even injured, Yuan Kongye was far beyond their level. They werent Zhang Yithey didnt have limitless resources, and they certainly didnt have his insane spatial defense. Zhang Yi might have been untouchable, but she could wipe them out like insects. After disposing of Wei Dinghai, Yuan Kongye quickly fled into the distance. Zhang Yi pursued at a leisurely pace. As he walked, his gaze swept over the survivors hiding in the ruins. He smiled and said, "Everyone, Yuan Kongye is severely wounded right now. If you want her Core, go ahead." His voice was calm, but to the others, it dripped with mockery. He was clearly ridiculing Wei Dinghais foolishness. A wounded Epsilon-level Superhuman was still beyond their reach. Of course, even though none of them dared to act, they had all been thinking about it. Silence filled the air. Everyone knew they stood no chance against Zhang Yi. After scanning the crowd one last time, Zhang Yi smirkedthen vanished through a spatial jump, continuing his pursuit. He wasnt in a hurry. Because time was on his side. Yuan Kongye couldnt kill him. And he couldnt kill heryet. But they were both human. She needed rest. She needed food. And nowshe was blind. No sleep. No food. No matter how strong she was, she would eventually break. Meanwhile, he had everything he needed. He even had military-grade stimulants to keep himself awake and alert. This was a battle of endurance. As Zhang Yi and Yuan Kongye disappeared into the distance, the survivors finally exhaled in relief. Slowly, they emerged from their hiding spots. Baili Changqing stared after Zhang Yi, his expression complex. "In the end hes the biggest winner." If Zhang Yi absorbed Yuan Kongyes Core, he might immediately ascend to the Epsilon level. At that point, he would become the strongest Superhuman in Jiangnan District. And when that happenedthey wouldnt even be able to stand in his shadow. Baili Changqing scratched his head. "The Captain wanted him to join our team back then" He laughed bitterly. "But if he did now, hed probably be our leader." Explosives expert Ye Jikang walked over, his face serious. "But why do I feel like this was all part of his plan?" "We were all his chess pieces." Baili Changqing glanced at him, then sighed helplessly. "Maybe we were. But what choice did we have?" "He was one step ahead of us." He had no resentment toward Zhang Yi. As long as the outcome was good, and their mission was accomplished, he had no reason to be bitter. Because without Zhang Yi, they never would have uncovered the secrets of the Followers of the Snow God. If their mission had failed, the entire Jiangnan Districtmaybe even all of Chinawould have been doomed. "Its just a shame about the Captain Maybe he couldve lived longer." A shadow of grief flickered in Ye Jikangs eyes. Bian Junwu had been their pillar of strength. His death was a devastating loss to the team. Baili Changqing fell silent. Could they blame Zhang Yi? If Zhang Yi hadnt been involved, maybe Bian Junwu wouldve lived a little longer. But they all knewhis body had been deteriorating for a long time. Even without Zhang Yi, he wouldnt have lasted much longer. And at leasthe had died in battle, going out in a blaze of glory. Perhaps that was the best ending for him. Meanwhile, Yuan Kongye was still running. She knew she couldnt beat Zhang Yibut she was determined to outlast him. But she was blind. Her body was falling apart. She needed to find a place to heal. She had dozens of abilities, including several healing powers. If she could just find some time, she might be able to cure herself. But she wasnt alone. She could feel his presence The cold, predatory gaze watching her every move. Even without seeing him, she knew he was there. Waiting. Like a vulture, circling a dying animal. Zhang Yi wasnt in a hurry. He kept his distance, just watching. Every time she tried to stop and rest, he fired an Origin Bullet, forcing her to keep moving. And if she turned back to fight him He would simply teleport away, dodging her attack. Each time she used her abilities, her condition worsened. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi would just sit somewhere, pull food from his Dimensional Space, and quietly eat. This was like breaking a wild eagle. He had even injected himself with a military stimulant. It kept his body alert and his mind sharp, allowing him to stay awake for three days straight. He could wait. And when it was finally over He would claim the greatest prize of all. The Superhuman Core of an Epsilon-level Superhuman. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The concentrated power of dozens of elite Superhumans. With thathe would ascend. Yuan Kongye stumbled through the snow, her body barely holding together. Her vision was completely gone. All she could do was run on instinct. On the second day, she somehow managed to find a supermarket buried in the snow. But just as she was about to enter A rocket flew in from the distance, striking the store dead center. BOOM! The explosion obliterated the building, incinerating all the supplies inside. Yuan Kongye was numb to everything now. But after an entire day without food, desperation finally began to creep in. She turned around, her lifeless gray eyes staring into the distance. Atop a small hill, Zhang Yi stood A rocket launcher on his shoulder. A wisp of smoke curled from its barrel. His expression was playful. And the scent in the air Was the scent of despair. Yuan Kongyes face was blank. She lifted a hand, summoning a raging blizzard, aiming to bury the entire mountain in ice. But No matter how powerful the storm, it couldnt touch him. Two massive Dimensional Gates surrounded him in a triangular formation, shielding him from everything. Zhang Yi looked at her calmly. "You still havent given up?" "Everyone you cared about is dead." "Your parents are dead. Zheng Yixian is dead. The tens of thousands of followers of the Snow Godyou led them all to their deaths." "And now, youre alone." "Even if you had won, you wouldve been alone." "Every single person died because of you. Do you really feel no guilt?" "Because the truth is" "The one who shouldve died first" "Was you." Author''s Note Chapter 545: The End of All Evil Chapter 545: The End of All Evil Yuan Kongye listened to Zhang Yis words in silence, her face blank and devoid of emotion. After unleashing another massive storm upon the battlefield, she turned away and kept running. Zhang Yi followed at a steady pace, showing no concern. Blind and exhausted, Yuan Kongye ran purely on instinct, like a headless fly, lost in a world she could no longer see. On the third day, she reached the edge of Tianhai City. By now, her body was failing. Her once delicate face, now paler than snow, looked as fragile as paper. For three days, she hadnt eaten a single bite of food. Every time she tried to find something, Zhang Yi destroyed it. She couldnt rest, eitherbecause she knew that the moment she stopped, Zhang Yis gun would be aimed at her head. Despair. A despair so absolute, so suffocating, that it felt like being cut apart with a dull knife. Slowly, agonizingly, peeling back her skin Then slicing her flesh Then shaving down her bones. If she had faced a stronger Superhuman, someone who could have killed her instantly, she wouldnt have suffered like this. But Zhang Yi wasnt a normal opponent. He was relentless, like a leech stuck to her soul. And there was nothing she could do about it. Staggering, she dragged herself up a snowy mountain, step by step. One kilometer behind her, Zhang Yi followed at a casual pace. Compared to her withering state, he looked as energetic as ever. He had injected himself twice with military-grade stimulants, keeping his mind sharp and body active. He knew victory was within reach. Watching her falter, he could already see the end. As Yuan Kongye climbed the mountain, the icy wind brushed against her face. It was coldbut it didnt feel unpleasant. What she really felt was tired. The freezing storm couldnt stop her exhaustion. She could barely keep her eyes open. But every time she started to drift into unconsciousness A black bullet would whistle through the air, narrowly missing her head. She whispered to herself. Her expression, once proud and untouchable, was now filled with helplessness. She looked nothing like the holy and revered leader of the Followers of the Snow God. Instead, she was just a lost girl, bullied, alone, seeking someone to protect her. She clasped her hands together, praying desperately. Butthere was no answer. "Why? Why wont you guide me? Did I do something wrong?" "But everything I did was to create a world free of filth and impurity!" She was no longer the cold, divine priestess. She was just a frightened child. In her blurry vision, faces appeared. Her parents, smiling at her, reaching out their hands. ThenZheng Yixians serious expression. The next moment, she saw a warm, gentle woman, smiling at her softly. Seeing that face, Yuan Kongyes dry, lifeless eyes suddenly filled with tears. A lullaby floated through the air. The sound wrapped around her like a cocoon. She couldnt fight it anymore. She was too hungry. Too tired. Her body was nothing but an empty shell. The lullaby pulled her down, whispering Staggering, Yuan Kongye dragged herself toward a withered tree at the edge of the mountain. Slowly Slowly She leaned against it And collapsed. She whispered his name one last time. Muttering the words like a child, she finally closed her eyes. From afar, Zhang Yi watched her fall. Without hesitation, he raised his gun And fired. The bullet stopped just one meter before reaching her, trembling in midair before dropping into the snow. "" Zhang Yi murmured. His eyes remained sharp, but he didnt move closer. A wounded beast was the most dangerous kind. If she was on the verge of death, her final counterattack would be the strongest yet. So he wasnt rushing. He wasnt reckless. His Origin Bullets were gone. From his Dimensional Space, he pulled out a high-caliber anti-material sniper rifle. He aimednot at her head, but her body. If the shot hit her head, it would destroy it completely. And that might damage her Superhuman Core. He waited a few minutes, then took his first shot. Yuan Kongyes telekinetic barrier stopped it. Zhang Yi didnt react. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her defenses were running on instinct. He didnt rush in. Instead, he kept his distance, firing every once in a while, waiting. And so, one day and one night passed. Finally The first Epsilon-level Superhuman in Tianhai City Ran out of energy. A high-caliber sniper bullet tore through her fragile body No. It ripped her apart. It was a brutal sight. A young girl, split in two. But against someone as terrifying as Yuan Kongye Zhang Yi had no choice. This was war. Even the dead had to be handled with caution. And in the end She had deserved it. Because she had orchestrated the zombie outbreak in Tianhai City. Because of her, millions had died. This was justice. Watching her final moments, Zhang Yi let out a deep breath. His eyes were bloodshot. He hadnt slept for three days and nights. If not for the stimulants, he would have collapsed just like she had. But it was over. He had won. Suppressing his excitement, Zhang Yi slowly walked forward. He checked his surroundingsno one was coming. Even if they did, he wasnt afraid. His energy was low, but his abilities were intact. Anyone who tried to interfere Would be wiped out instantly. With Bian Junwu and Yuan Kongye dead, no one in Tianhai City could challenge him now. Now All he had to do was absorb her Core. And then He would ascend. Placing his hand on her forehead, Zhang Yi felt it. An incomprehensible surge of power roared through his body. Like a raging river, crashing into his soul. His right eye glowed blindingly bright And in his left eye, a deep, ominous darkness began to stir. Author''s Note Chapter 546: Void Chapter 546: Void No one knew how much time had passed before Zhang Yi finished absorbing the remnants of Yuan Kongyes superhuman energy. He could feel himself growing significantly stronger. On every level, it was an epic enhancement. Even something as basic as the Dimensional Gate now had a drastically improved defense threshold. His control over spatial power had become even more refined, and it seemed like he could develop even more formidable abilities in the future. However, there was one thing Zhang Yi was unaware of. As a superhuman who had ascended to Epsilon level later in life, Yuan Kongyes abilities had inherent flaws. Her powers were all stolennone of them truly belonged to her. Moreover, she had only recently ascended, and her core energy was not yet stable. Suffering through a massive battle had severely damaged her foundation. In reality, Zhang Yi had only absorbed a fraction of Yuan Kongyes core power. But even that fraction far exceeded the power of any Delta-level superhuman in Tianhai City. Now, Zhang Yis next task was to fully integrate this power as his own. Closing his eyes, he focused on sensing the changes within himself. He stood in the midst of the wind and snow, and after a long moment, he finally opened his eyes. Slowly, he stretched out his hand. A streak of black lightning flickered in his palmat first, just a faint spark, but it rapidly expanded, transforming into a dark mass that resembled both fire and electricity. A distorted sound echoed. Zhang Yi controlled the energy, compressing it in his palm until it took solid form. In the end, it condensed into a long, pitch-black spear, unstable and pulsating with immense power. Even Zhang Yi found it difficult to hold onto. Without hesitation, he raised his arm and hurled the spear into the distance. The black spear pierced through the void and embedded itself in the distant mountainside without a sound. Then A dark explosion erupted from the impact site, expanding into a massive black sphere over a thousand meters in diameter! When the black sphere vanished, it left behind a perfectly circular void in the mountainsidean enormous crater with a smooth surface, as if something had wiped reality itself clean. Zhang Yi murmured. The moment he acquired this power, he instinctively understood its nature. Void energy could consume everything. It was an upgraded version of Divine Power, far deadlier and more terrifying. Zhang Yi looked down at his right hand. He even felt that this power allowed him to surpass the limits of humanityto hold dominion over life and death itself. When someone suddenly gains immense power, their mind naturally swells with arrogance. But Zhang Yi quickly suppressed these thoughts. He thought of Bian Junwus terrifying final attack and Yuan Kongyes overwhelming command over dozens of superpowers, effortlessly slaughtering superhumans in Tianhai City. Zhang Yi knew he had to stay calm. Especially since Bian Junwu had warned himthere were other Epsilon-level superhumans in this world. The one in Shengjing District could take a life from thousands of miles away. Zhang Yi told himself. Clenching his fists, his eyes shone with confidence. Even when facing the monstrous powerhouse that was Jiangnan District, he felt no fearnot out of arrogance, but because he knew they would now try to recruit him at all costs. Which meant that even if they discovered how he had manipulated Bian Junwu into luring Yuan Kongye into a trap, there would be ways to smooth things over. Zhang Yi activated his communicator and contacted Uncle You. On the other end, Uncle You let out a long breath. After a few seconds, he finally spoke. During the three-day pursuit, Zhang Yi had focused entirely on Yuan Kongye and hadnt contacted anyone back home. Now that everything was settled, there were still loose ends in Tianhai City to tie up. Uncle You answered, Zhang Yi nodded. The remaining factions could no longer stir up much trouble. This battle had completely crippled Tianhai City. Of the Five Major Factions, only Zhang Yis side remained intact. The combat forces of the others were practically wiped out, leaving only a handful of scattered superhumans. From now on, they could no longer pose any threat to Zhang Yi. As for the investigation teamthey were the ones he cared about the most. Zhang Yi summoned his Snow Vehicle from Spatial Storage, set it to autopilot, and returned to the Shelter. Everyone was waiting for him. The moment he arrived, their faces lit up with emotion. This Tianhai City crisis had nearly cost them their homeand their lives. But in the end, it was Zhang Yi who saved them all. One by one, they all rushed toward him, eager to embrace him. But Zhang Yi raised a hand, stopping them. Smiling, he said, "I just want to rest for now. Well talk after I wake up." Like caffeine, stimulants force the body to stay awakebut the fatigue always comes crashing down later. Now that he was home, Zhang Yis mental exhaustion had reached its peak. Ignoring the others, he walked straight to his room. It was still warm and luxurious. His H?stens bed was neatly covered with a white swan-down duvet. The warm lighting cast a cozy glow, while outside the window, snowflakes drifted peacefully through the night. Everything was quiet and serene. Zhang Yi stripped off his clothes, locked the door behind him, and collapsed onto the bed. Right now, all he wantedwas to sleep. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Author''s Note Chapter 547: Extra—Yuan Kongye Chapter 547: ExtraYuan Kongye June 2046. The early summer heat in Tianhai City was suffocating. The monsoon winds from the East Coast failed to drive away the subtropical humidity, leaving behind nothing but stifling moisture in the air. Summer always arrived earlier in the south than in the north. Even the cicadas in the banyan trees were more diligent than their northern counterparts, climbing up the branches early to produce their maddening cries The shrill buzzing echoed outside the courtyard of the Shenli Church, restless and impatient, as if a crowd of people were arguing fiercely. Under the eaves of a Japanese-style courtyard, a young girl dressed in a shrine maidens outfit sat quietly, her hands resting at her sides, curiously watching a single green cicada perched on the treetop. As the Saintess of the Tianhai Branch of Shenli Church, Yuan Kongye had been raised since childhood as the future successor of the church. Her parents claimed she possessed an extraordinary gift. Because of this, every new member who joined the church had to undergo her baptism and receive her blessings. When she was young, she thought these rituals were fascinating. She didnt understand why the believers looked at her with such reverence, but she didnt dislike the feeling of being admired and respected. However, as she grew older, she began to realizeshe had no special powers at all. The so-called blessing rituals were nothing more than a placebo, a means to comfort the believersor rather, a tool for her parents to amass wealth. Gradually, Yuan Kongye started to hate it. She could no longer stand the desperate, hopeful gazes directed at hereyes like drowning souls clutching at a straw, expecting salvation. With age came rebellion. Yet, she could not defy her parents. Perhaps deep down, she still enjoyed being worshippedenjoyed the privilege that came with being a saintess. Because the moment people discovered she was just a normal girl, not some divine messenger, she would lose everything. Her status, her comfortable lifegone. And so, throughout her adolescence, Yuan Kongye lived in a constant struggle between guilt and indulgence. She tapped her wooden clogs against the ground, her feet tightly wrapped in pristine white socks. Shenli Church originated from Neon (Japan), so she was always dressed in traditional shrine maiden attire. The red and white robes stood outan odd, almost unnatural sight in Tianhai City. She rarely wore them outside. Behind her, the church was buzzing with noise. She had no idea what they were arguing aboutthe people in the church always seemed to be up to something strange. Seeking fresh air, she had stepped outside. Yet, when she lifted her head, the layers of white clouds drifting in the sky seemed to resemble mountain peaks, slowly shifting and pressing down upon her. The air felt heavy. A suffocating pressure settled in her chest. It was as ifsomething terrible was about to happen. She placed her right hand over her heart, feeling its rhythm quicken. she murmured to herself. At that moment The wooden door behind her was forcefully pushed open. Yuan Kongye turned abruptly, seeing the Great Elder of Shenli Church standing there, his face stern and solemn. This was Elder Qin, the man who had always been kind to her since childhood. But today, his expression was different. Boom! It felt like an explosion went off in Yuan Kongyes mind. Her brain went blank. She couldnt hear anything else the Elder said. She only saw his facecolder and more severe than ever before. Even his bald head, which she had once found amusing, now seemed like an icy, lifeless stone. The summer of 2046. Yuan Kongyes life took a drastic turn. From paradiseinto hell. A month later, the funeral for Yuan Suiyun and Watari Kameko was held. Their bodies were never recovered. But with their deaths, Shenli Church collapsed into crisis. For years, the Chief Priest and the High Priestess had told their followers that faith in the Shenli Church would bring happiness and protection from calamity. Countless believers had devoted themselves to this fantasy. Among them were the desperate and destitute, the terminally ill, the parents who sought miraculous cures for their children For a dream, they donated everything they had to Shenli Church. Some even scammed their own families and friends just to offer more. But the moment Yuan Suiyun and Watari Kameko diedthat dream shattered. People woke up. They realized they had been deceived. At the funeral, Yuan Kongye knelt before their memorial, dressed in mourning black. Not a single person came to pay respects. Insteadan angry mob of former believers arrived, screaming curses at her family. The faces that had once smiled with devotion now twisted into something grotesque. Only one person stood by herZheng Yixian, her childhood friend. Dressed in a black suit, he positioned himself firmly in front of her. But Zheng Yixian alone was too weak. Hundreds of furious ex-believers began as an angry mobbut soon turned violent. They raided the Yuan household, smashing and looting everything they could find. Some, with nowhere else to vent their rage, stormed up and kicked over the ancestral memorial tablets. Yuan Kongye watched in horror. Tears streamed down her face as she pleaded, "Please! Take whatever you wantbut leave my parents photographs alone! I beg you!" Seeing her desperate expression, the mob felt a twisted sense of satisfaction. A hand slapped her across the face. Half of Yuan Kongyes face swelled instantly. Yet, she clung tightly to her parents photographs, clutching them to her chest. Zheng Yixian shielded her, speaking in a humble tone, The mob did not refuse. After all, their rage was already burning uncontrollablythey needed an outlet. And so Zheng Yixian was beaten to the ground. Kicks and punches rained down on him like a storm. Yuan Kongye clutched the photographs, her entire body trembling as she watched in horror. Somewhere within the mob A hand suddenly reached out toward her. Her mind went blank. Her bodysuddenly went cold. She was shoved hard against the floor. Countless hands reached for her. She had never felt anything like this beforethe overwhelming violation left her numb. Her bodyno longer felt like hers. Even when she tried to scream for helpshe couldnt. She was just a lifeless doll, being toyed with by too many hands to count. And that bald headthe one she once liked to pat so muchwas right there, crawling on top of her. For a long time, Yuan Kongye thought she had died that day. But in the endshe lived. But so what if she survived? She had lost everything. For the two years she spent recovering in a sanatorium, she had countless thoughts of ending her own life. It was Zheng Yixian who stayed by her side, always telling her that none of it was her faulttelling her that she was the kindest, most wonderful girl in the world. But to Yuan Kongye, that warmth was far from enough to fill the massive void in her heart. Sitting in her wheelchair, she gazed at the snowy landscape outside the window and spoke calmly. Zheng Yixian knelt before her, his eyes filled with sympathy and sincerity But he had no answer. Yuan Kongye smiled weakly. Suddenly, her expression hardened. Zheng Yixian held her cold hands, silently trying to comfort her. But outsidethe snowstorm only grew heavier, never ceasing. Then, without warningthe Great Snowstorm descended. Blizzards raged endlessly, plunging the world into chaos. Desperate wails filled every corner of society as everything crumbled. But Yuan Kongye did not feel fear. She felt joy. Because the gods had finally heard her voice. They had come to purify this wretched world. During the apocalypse, the darkest sides of human nature were laid bare. She saw it with her own eyeschildren abandoning their parents for food, husbands and wives sleeping under the same roof with knives hidden under their pillows. Yuan Kongye laughed. At first, she thought she would die in this cleansed world. When the world fell into chaos, she and Zheng Yixian were separated. She should have perished. But just as she was about to freeze and starve to death A voice echoed inside her mind. She awakened her superpower"Death Return." It was as natural as growing an extra limbthe moment she gained it, she understood its purpose. For the first time, a glimmer of light returned to her hollow eyes. Sear?h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. To bless the faithful. To claim the power of the unworthy. To become a god And pass judgment on the filth of this world. She thought back to that day in the funeral hall. If she had been strong enough, none of it would have happened. If one seeks to change the world, they must possess the power to overturn everything. And soYuan Kongye survived. She no longer wandered in confusion. If fulfilling Gods will required sacrifices, then so be it. The first person she killed was a nun named Chen Rou. In the frozen ruins of the world, Chen Rou had sheltered countless orphans and refugees inside St. Johns Cathedral. She gave them food, medicinehope. To many, she was a beacon of light in the endless darkness. Even Yuan Kongye had once survived under her care. Because Chen Rou possessed a superpower"Jehovahs Gift." With just a touch of her hands, she could heal all wounds and soothe all sorrow. For the first time in years, Yuan Kongye had felt warmth in her presence. Chen Rou was a true believer. A woman of devotion, kindness, and compassion. But Yuan Kongye needed her power. In the apocalypse, there was no better ability to manipulate the weak. And so She took advantage of Chen Rous trust, lured her into an ambush, and used Ice Soul to freeze her in place. Then, with a kitchen knife, she ended her life. She pressed her blood-stained hands to her cheeks, feeling hot, murky tears trickling through her fingers. Chen Rous death shattered many. But Yuan Kongye took her place. She revealed her newfound healing power, identical to Chen Rous And the desperate people quickly forgot. They were too cold, too hungry To think about the past. Soon, they knelt before Yuan Kongye in worship. This moment Marked the birth of the "Followers of the Snow God." At first, Yuan Kongye refused to accept male followers. Because of that night, she despised all men from the depths of her soul. To her, men were nothing but filthy, lust-driven pigs. She didnt want to touch them. She didnt even want to look at them. Every glance from a man reminded her of that endless nightmare. But When Zheng Yixian found her, everything changed. The moment he saw her He was like a lost dog who had finally found its home. His body was in tatters, but his eyes They shone like the brightest stars in the night. But Yuan Kongye met his joy with nothing but cold indifference. Her icy voice crushed his hope in an instant. Zheng Yixians face twisted in shock. he asked, his voice shaking. Yuan Kongye frowned. She had to eliminate all distractions. And Zheng Yixianhe was the greatest threat to her beliefs. So she looked at him and spoke the words that would break him. Zheng Yixians world collapsed. A bitter smile curled on his lips. Once two hearts drift apart, even the closest distance is an eternal divide. Yuan Kongye did not answer. She simply turned and left him behind. But the next day Zheng Yixian returned. His body was covered in blood, barely clinging to life. Yet he smiled. Author''s Note Chapter 548: A Tiny Bit Stronger Chapter 548: A Tiny Bit Stronger Zhang Yi slept for two full days. When he finally woke up, he still felt groggy, his body sore all over. It was inevitable. After such a prolonged battle, his body was completely drained. He wasnt a physical enhancement-type superhuman, so fatigue was only natural. But at this moment, his mind had never felt lighter. The Followers of the Snow God had been crushed. And after absorbing the remnants of Yuan Kongyes power, his strength had soared to an unprecedented level. Perhaps he was still a bit short of what Yuan Kongye had once displayed, but at the very least, he had reached Bian Junwus level. Zhang Yi smirked, then summoned a cheeseburger and a Coke from Spatial Storage, devouring them in large bites. The satisfying fullness made him feel at ease. Afterward, he changed into casual clothes, opened his bedroom door, and stepped out. The moment the door swung open, he looked down And saw Hua Hua crouching at the entrance, gazing up at him. Its eyes were filled with a complex mix of concern and joy, as if it had been afraid Zhang Yi would never wake up. Not that it was surprising. Everyone in the Shelter had been worried about Zhang Yis condition. After all, this time, he had gone off alone to face an opponent of terrifying power. Zhang Yi chuckled, clapping his hands. Hua Hua leaped into his arms, rubbing its head against his chest, purring loudly. After confirming that Zhang Yi was safe and sound, Hua Hua squinted its eyes in pure bliss. Petting the fluffy cats head, Zhang Yi made his way toward the living room. In the living room, Zhou Keer, Yang Siyah, and Zhou Haimei sat on the couch, chatting. They were discussing two things One was their regret over what had become of Tianhai City. The other was their concern for Zhang Yis health. The former was understandableTianhai City had been completely devastated by the recent battle, leaving only a handful of survivors. As for the latter well, that was obvious. Zhang Yi had disappeared for days, taking on a terrifying enemy alone. When Zhang Yi descended the spiral staircase, the women spotted himand their eyes lit up with joy. Zhou Keer and Yang Siyah rushed over, throwing themselves at him from both sides. Zhou Keer grabbed his arm, trying to drag him toward the infirmary. Zhang Yi chuckled, waving a hand. Taking a seat on the couch, he continued petting Hua Hua, then casually asked about Tianhai Citys current situation. Zhou Keer smiled. As the Shelters cybersecurity expert, Yang Xinxin was also responsible for monitoring the digital activity of the other factions. She had the most up-to-date intelligence on what was happening in Tianhai City. Zhang Yi nodded. Before long, the rest of the group gathered in the living room. The first thing they asked about was, of course, his condition. After all, the moment Zhang Yi returned, he had locked himself in his room and collapsed into bed without a word. S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Looking at their worried expressions, Zhang Yi felt a warm sensation in his chest. With a smile, he reassured them, Hearing that, the tension in the room eased considerably. But Liang Yue caught something in Zhang Yis tone. She narrowed her eyes and asked, Zhang Yi glanced upward, as if recalling something, before shaking his head. Between Bian Junwus ability backlash and the three-day chase across Xitian, Yuan Kongye had completely drained her energy. She had died in despair. When the group confirmed her death, they all let out a collective sigh of relief. That hidden snake, the leader of the Followers of the Snow God, had caused countless deaths. Because of her, nearly a million survivors had perished in Tianhai City. Without her, the zombie tide would never have existed. Even now, when Liang Yue recalled the battle, she felt a deep sense of helplessness. She could still see Yuan Kongye, floating high above the battlefield A mere gesture from her hands could shatter the earth itself. It was beyond comprehension. But there was still one thing she didnt understand. Everyone in the room turned to Zhang Yi. They knew he was powerful. But there was still a gap between him and an Epsilon-class superhuman like Yuan Kongye. There had to be a secret. Zhang Yi glanced around, his eyes sweeping over the room. He lifted his tea cup, took a slow sip, then finally answered. The room fell silent. Zhang Yi didnt reveal the full truththat he had orchestrated her downfall using Bian Junwus ability as a trap. After all, Bian Junwu had been a high-ranking officer of Jiangnan District. If word got out that Zhang Yi had deliberately manipulated his power, it could cause unnecessary trouble. The others nodded in understanding, sighing in amazement. It was hard to believe. A being so godlike in strengthin the end, she had perished by her own hand. Liang Yues burning gaze locked onto Zhang Yi. If Yuan Kongye was dead and Zhang Yi was still alive It was only natural that he had claimed her power. The others quickly caught on. They all turned to Zhang Yi, their eyes filled with anticipation. Everyone knew how powerful Yuan Kongye had been. If Zhang Yi had inherited her strength Zhang Yi arched an eyebrow, smirking playfully. Under the anticipatory gazes, he slowly nodded. He held up his fingerspinching the air slightly Author''s Note Chapter 549: The Game Chapter 549: The Game Something felt off to Zhang Yi. After absorbing Yuan Kongyes core energy, he didnt seem to have gained the overwhelming power she had once displayed. Perhaps it was because her ascension had been too recent, leaving her foundation unstable. Or maybe it was because her power had been stolen, and with her death, her core had rapidly dissipated. As a result, Zhang Yi had only managed to extract a portion of her essence. And since energy conversion always came at a loss, it was impossible for him to instantly leap to the level of a world-ending Epsilon-class superhuman. Even so, the fragment of power he had absorbed had drastically enhanced his abilities. The Shelter was filled with celebration. Everyone was excited, believing that Zhang Yis newfound strength meant they were safer than ever. But deep down, Zhang Yi had a concern. The Jiangnan District Investigation Team. Bian Junwus deaththey would suspect him. And after returning to Blizzard City, they would report everything to the higher-ups. That was bad news for Zhang Yi. Previously, his power had been low-key, and Jiangnan District had little reason to care about him. But now? He had killed Yuan Kongye. It was obvious that he had absorbed her core power. Would Jiangnan District ignore someone like that? Of course not. They would definitely try to recruit him. But if he joined them, he might end up like Bian Junwu, constantly being sent on deadly missions, walking the razors edge. And if he refused, he might make an enemy of Jiangnan District. If their leaders were narrow-minded, they might decide: Which meantthey might eliminate him. Zhang Yi wasnt willing to gamble on that risk. He needed to take control of the situationbefore it got out of hand. After some careful thought, he made a decision. He would confront the investigation team directly and use them to achieve his own goals. After spending some time chatting with the others, Zhang Yi left the Shelter alone, driving toward Qingfu Base. On the way, he contacted Xing Tian and Baili Changqing. Xing Tian had no objections. In fact, he was surprisingly eagereven a little flattering in his tone. Zhang Yi wasnt surprised. Right now, Tianhai City was, in every sense, his domain. The Five Major Factions were as good as dead. The Followers of the Snow God had been wiped out. The three remaining bases had lost nearly all of their combat forces. With his overwhelming power, Zhang Yi had become the undisputed king of Tianhai City. Even Baili Changqing spoke to him with newfound respect. His words carried a hint of recruitment, suggesting they could work together in the future. Baili Changqing chuckled. But Zhang Yi coldly smirked at his words. A brief silence. Then Baili Changqings voice turned a bit stiff, though he forced a laugh. Zhang Yis voice was icy as he hung up the call. Meanwhile, at Qingfu Base, Baili Changqing frowned deeply, his face clouded with concern. With Bian Junwu gone, their team had lost tremendous strength. He had hoped that Zhang Yi would join them, helping fill the gap. After all, Zhang Yi was incredibly intelligent and had proven his strength in the Tianhai City battle. And now, having absorbed Yuan Kongyes core power, he was likely stronger than ever. If Zhang Yi joined them, it could help them maintain their elite squad status. In Blizzard City, resources were distributed based on contributions. If they lost their elite ranking, their quality of life would suffer dramatically. But from Zhang Yis tone, it was clear He wasnt just looking to join the team. He wanted to be captain. A newcomer, demanding the top position right away And with his immense power, he was a real threat. Baili Changqing felt uneasy. By ranking, after Bian Junwus death, he was the most likely candidate for captain. Baili Changqing sighed. Should he even let Zhang Yi join? But without him, how would they make up for Bian Junwus loss? Bian Junwu had been one of Blizzard Citys top fightersa near-Epsilon-class superhuman. Someone like that was rare, even among Jiangnan Districts elite teams. Where could they possibly find another replacement? Feeling frustrated, Baili Changqing headed toward the teams quarters. Inside, the investigation team members were recovering from their injuries. Wu Di, though much better after several days of rest, had suffered permanent effectshis hair had turned silver-white, and it would never return to normal. Others still bore various injuries from the battle against Yuan Kongye, having barely survived her devastating attacks. As Baili Changqing entered, his grim expression caught everyones attention. Seeing this, someone asked, After some thought, Baili Changqing spoke bluntly. Silence. Thenan explosion of reactions. Some were furious, calling Zhang Yi arrogant and power-hungry. Others remained quiet, seemingly acknowledging that he had the strength to compete for the position. After all Everyone knew he had absorbed Yuan Kongyes core power. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. And that meant his strength was now unimaginable. Baili Changqing shrugged, playing the neutral observer. He pointed at Bian Junwus example. The moment he finished speaking, Wu Di lost his temper. Kong Sheng crossed his arms, frowning. Qi Guangming spoke up immediately. Ye Jikang said nothing, simply frowning in thought. Meng Siyu glanced at the others but chose not to comment. They all knew Baili Changqing wanted the captain''s position. But none of them really objected. After all, he had been vice-captain for years, and both his strength and character were respected. Still, they also knewthey needed Zhang Yi. Baili Changqing waved his hand, smiling. Author''s Note Chapter 550: Arrogance and Domineering Chapter 550: Arrogance and Domineering Zhang Yi arrived at Qingfu Base and was immediately greeted with great enthusiasm by Xing Tian. He had brought dozens of people to welcome Zhang Yi, including his beloved demon dog, Lele, and his goddaughter. Seeing such a grand welcome, Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and chuckled. So many people came to greet me? I must say, I feel quite flattered. Xing Tian was momentarily stunned before realizing Zhang Yi was still wary of him. Scratching the back of his head, he laughed heartily. After all these years, your cautious nature hasnt changed one bit. But dont worry, I wouldnt dare make a move against you! As he spoke, he leaned in closer to Zhang Yi, winking. After all, your current strength is probably on par with Yuan Kongyes back in the day, right? Everyone in Tianhai City knew that Zhang Yi had killed Yuan Kongye, so they assumed he had absorbed Yuan Kongyes power and reached the same level. With his hands in his pockets, Zhang Yi sighed lightly. Its not as simple as you think. That battle sigh, forget it. Just take me to meet the investigation team first. Normally, Zhang Yi wouldnt mind letting people think he was powerful. But things were different now. He truly was strongso strong that he had to downplay it. The last thing he wanted was for Jiangnan Districts leadership to start keeping an eye on him because of his overwhelming strength. Of course, he knew that no matter how he explained, Xing Tian might not believe him. So he left his words unfinished, letting Xing Tian interpret them as he wished. Whether he believed it or not was his own business. Right now, the most important thing was to meet with the investigation team. Xing Tian grinned. Come with me. He stepped aside, making way for Zhang Yi. Once Zhang Yi passed, Xing Tian followed half a step behind him. As they walked, Xing Tian continued, That battle was brutal. Wei Dinghai died, and our teams lost more than ninety percent of their Superhumans. Even the investigation team, as powerful as they are, suffered severe injuries. Old friend, from now on, Tianhai City is yours! You have to look after your brothers! Zhang Yi glanced at him and responded with a faint, noncommittal smile. He had no interest in expanding his power. Managing people and handling affairs would only bring unnecessary trouble. How could that compare to the freedom he enjoyed now? They chatted casually along the way. Zhang Yi already knew most of what Xing Tian told him, and since Xing Tian didnt dare disclose details about the investigation team, Zhang Yi didnt gain any particularly useful information. Soon, they arrived at the underground shelter where the investigation team was recuperating. It was a high-level medical facilitynot as luxurious as Zhang Yis mansion, but it was top-tier treatment within Qingfu Base. After bringing Zhang Yi over, Xing Tian tactfully excused himself and left. However, Zhang Yis presence immediately made the atmosphere within the investigation team tense. Among the six members, some scrutinized him, while others looked at him with a hint of hostility. Unsurprisingly, Wu Di, who had always had an issue with Zhang Yi, gave him the most intense glare. He was also the first to speak. What are you doing here? Zhang Yi looked at Wu Di. The guys hair had turned completely whitethe last battle had taken a heavy toll on him. Yet, despite his usual unfriendly demeanor, his hostility wasnt as intense as before. For a long time, Zhang Yi hadnt understood why Wu Di treated him so poorly. Could it be that he was simply jealous of Zhang Yis good looks? Zhang Yi mocked him silently in his mind. Still, he lazily lifted his gaze, clasped his hands behind his back, and said leisurely: The battles over. Cant I visit the wounded? After all, we might be working together in the future. If I act too indifferent, people might say I lack empathy and dont care about my teammates. At these words, almost everyone in the investigation team frowned. The phrase care about teammates had an underlying implicationwas Zhang Yi already considering himself their leader? Some members of the team welcomed Zhang Yis addition, but that didnt mean they were willing to accept an arrogant and domineering leader. Even if Zhang Yi did have the strength to back it up. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wu Di was furious. He pointed a finger at Zhang Yi and shouted, What are you so smug about?! You think youre qualified to join our investigation team? Zhang Yi cast a light glance at him, his expression calm and unreadable, yet there was an undeniable sense of superiority in his gaze. I killed Yuan Kongye. Do you think Im qualified? That one sentence shut Wu Di up. When they fought Yuan Kongye, the investigation team had barely been able to hold their ground. Wu Di himself had nearly died. If not for Zhang Yi, they all would have perished. From that perspective, they owed Zhang Yi their lives. But, of course, Wu Di would never admit that out loud. So he turned away with a sour expression, refusing to speak. Seeing this, Zhang Yis smirk deepened. He puffed out his chest and scanned the group. When you report back, dont forget to tell Jiangnan Districts leadership about my contributions. Make sure they recognize my efforts. I deeply regret the loss of Captain Bian Junwu. If given the chance, Id like to inherit his legacyto protect this land and bring peace and prosperity to the people of Jiangnan District! His words sent shivers down everyones spines, giving them goosebumps. In an instant, their already declining impression of Zhang Yi plummeted further. Right now, Zhang Yi was speaking in a completely bureaucratic tone, like a smug politician basking in his own success. Compared to when they first arrived in Tianhai Citywhen Zhang Yi had been humble and reservedhe seemed like a completely different person. Baili Changqing coughed, already feeling irritated, but forced a smile. Rest assured, we wont forget your contributions. But as for joining the investigation team, that decision is up to the higher-ups. Zhang Yi laughed. Just a formality! Tell me, who else but me is more qualified? He strode forward and threw an arm around Baili Changqings shoulders. Brother Baili, lets have a private chat. Some things arent meant for ordinary members to hear. As he spoke, he deliberately glanced at the others in the room. The rest of the team clenched their teeth. If they werent worried about how strong Zhang Yi had become, they wouldve jumped him right then and there. Baili Changqing studied Zhang Yi, curious to probe his true intentions. So he nodded and smiled. Alright, since you want to talk privately, Ill gladly join you. The two of them walked out, arms around each other. As soon as they left, the room erupted. Kong Sheng, his muscular arms crossed, scoffed. That Zhang Yi is way too arrogant! Hes not even in our team yet, and hes already acting high and mighty. If he really joins, or worse, becomes the captain, wont his ego shoot straight to the heavens? Author''s Note Chapter 551: Laying the Cards on the Table Chapter 551: Laying the Cards on the Table Kong Shengs words had everyone nodding in agreement. Meng Siyu rested her chin on her hand in frustration. If he joins the investigation team, Im applying for a transfer to another squad. Hmph! Everyone knew she was just venting. Squad assignments were determined by the higher-upsswitching teams wasnt that easy. The usually silent sharpshooter, Qi Guangming, suddenly spoke up. What if we dont report his achievements to the district? Then he wouldnt be able to become our captain, would he? The moment he said this, the room fell into stunned silence! Not because no one else had thought of it But because no one had dared to say it out loud. Withholding information and hiding key intelligence was a serious crime. If the higher-ups in the district found out, they could be labeled as traitors and executed! Meng Siyu stared at him in shock. Are you insane? How can you even suggest that? Qi Guangming took a deep breath and spread his hands. I was just thinking out loud. The group fell into a heavy silence. This topic was too dangerous. But despite themselves, they all found their gazes drifting toward the door. With Bian Junwu dead, Vice Captain Baili Changqing had taken over as the temporary leader. He was the most respected member of the squad now. If they were going to do this, the decision had to come from him. Zhang Yi led Baili Changqing away from the others. They entered a quiet room next door, which happened to be a recreational billiards room. Zhang Yi leaned against the pool table, dropping the arrogant smirk from his face. His sharp gaze locked onto Baili Changqing. Brother Baili, do you support me becoming the captain? Baili Changqings eyes flickered with an unreadable emotion, but he maintained a friendly smile. With the merit youve earned, even without my support, the higher-ups would likely choose you. Zhang Yi nodded. Youre right. As long as you report my achievements truthfully, and given my current strength, the higher-ups will have no choice but to appoint me as captain. Baili Changqing took a deep breath through his nose. I dont want to discourage you, but things arent as simple as you think. There are only six elite investigation teams in all of Jiangnan District. Each one is formed through a rigorous selection process, consisting of the strongest Superhumans. And the selection of a captain is even stricterits practically inhumane. Even though youve achieved great things, youre still a newcomer. Baili Changqing scratched the back of his head and gave a sheepish smile. Of course, Im not saying its impossible. I just dont want you to get your hopes up too high, so consider this a little reality check. Zhang Yi chuckled. I appreciate your concern. But Im confident. Baili Changqings expression tightened. He looked at Zhang Yi. Can I ask you something? Your current strength exactly how strong are you? Stronger than Bian Junwu. Zhang Yi answered before he could even finish his sentence. At this point, Zhang Yi had developed abilities that were even more powerful than Bian Junwus [Annihilation]and without any side effects. In terms of overall combat ability, he had already surpassed the former captain. Baili Changqing was momentarily stunned, then a look of realization crossed his face. His fists clenched unconsciously, but he quickly relaxed them. He looked at Zhang Yi and smiled. You might already be at the Epsilon-tier of Superhumans. If thats the case, then you do have the qualifications to be our captain. Epsilon-tiera level of Superhuman so powerful that ordinary logic no longer applied to them. If Zhang Yi had truly reached this level, then no matter how many flaws he had, he was still more than qualified to be captain. Zhang Yi pondered for a moment before shaking his head. I dont think Im quite there yet. Bian Junwu had once explained that Delta-tier was a major dividing line for Superhumans. The biggest difference was whether or not someone possessed the [Devour] ability. Beyond that, the distinctions between tiers were much more ambiguous. Most of the time, classification was determined by specialized scientific institutions within major factions. Otherwise, only Epsilon-tier Superhumans themselves could accurately judge their own level. Based on his own experience, Zhang Yi was certain he hadnt reached that stage yet. After all, when Yuan Kongye had just ascended to Epsilon-tier, the power he displayed was nothing short of apocalyptic. Baili Changqing smiled. The more you downplay yourself, the more confident you sound. Zhang Yi noticed a hint of disappointment on Baili Changqings face. If Zhang Yis strength was similar to his, he might still have a shot at becoming captain. But now, he knew he was far weaker. Zhang Yi was young, yet overwhelmingly powerful. If Zhang Yi became captain, Baili Changqing might never have another chance in his lifetime. But then, Zhang Yis lips curled into a meaningful smile. Whats wrong? Are you giving up so easily? Baili Changqing frowned. What do you mean by that? Zhang Yi waved a hand dismissively. Come on, dont pretend. You really dont want to be captain? Baili Changqing let out a hearty laugh. Well, maybe I did consider it in the past. But his expression grew serious, and he looked Zhang Yi in the eyes. The investigation team needs a strong leader. Youre more qualified than I am. The investigation team constantly danced on the edge of life and death. They were all elite warriors, but in this apocalyptic world, no one could claim invincibility. To maintain order in Jiangnan District, they often had to face unimaginable threats. They had already lost several teammates in the past. And in the battle for Tianhai City, even their strongest captain had perished. At a time like this, ambition was naturalbut it could never take priority over survival. Sarch* The N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Zhang Yis response took him by surprise. Thats not entirely true. In reality, I wasnt the biggest reason Yuan Kongye was defeated. His eyes locked onto Baili Changqings, his tone firm. It was your investigation team. Baili Changqings body stiffened, his expression turning to one of disbelief. The mission had technically been a success, but Bian Junwus death and Zhang Yis overwhelming achievements had left them all feeling defeated. And now, Zhang Yi was claiming that they had been the real key to victory? Zhang Yi, what are you trying to say? Everyone knows that you killed Yuan Kongye. Without you, we wouldnt have stood a chance against an Epsilon-tier Superhuman. Author''s Note Chapter 552: A Trade of Interests Chapter 552: A Trade of Interests Zhang Yi spoke calmly to Baili Changqing, But without you all, I wouldnt have been able to defeat her on my own. The key factor had been Bian Junwus sacrifice. And the existence of the investigation team itself had been a major check on the Followers of the Snow God. If not for the fact that they were still stationed in Tianhai City, Yuan Kongye would have likely started a full-scale purge of other factions long ago. Of course, Zhang Yi had his own reasons for telling Baili Changqing this. In his mind, he still saw himself as unbeatable. Yuan Kongye died because the residual energy from Captain Bians ability backfired on her. I was just there to take advantage of the situation. All in all, Captain Bian Junwu should be recognized as the real hero. So, I want my credit to be attributed to him. Baili Changqing was utterly shocked. He could hardly believe what he was hearing. The disaster that had struck Tianhai City was classified as an A-rank crisis, one of the highest-level threats imaginable! Zhang Yi was the greatest contributor to its resolution. If he went to Jiangnan District Headquarters, the higher-ups would undoubtedly shower him with rewards. In Blizzard City, he could have anything he wantedresources, women, housing, genetic serums, and prestige. And yet, Zhang Yi was just giving it all up? So casually?! Baili Changqing wasnt a fool. His initial shock quickly turned into deep thought, piecing together Zhang Yis true intentions. Moments later, he suddenly understood. You dont want to go to Jiangnan District Headquarters, do you? Zhang Yis smirk widened. Crossing his arms, he sat on the pool table and smiled. Its always easier dealing with smart people. Thats rightI have no interest in that so-called Blizzard City. Baili Changqing was surprised but, after considering Zhang Yis lifestyle in Tianhai City, he found it understandable. That shelter had better living conditions than most places in Blizzard City. More importantly, it was his territory. Better to be the king of a small domain than a servant in a larger one. Here in Tianhai City, Zhang Yi reigned supreme. But if he went to Jiangnan District, no matter how high his status, he would still be someone elses subordinate. I see now. You came to us today because you want us to conceal the truth about this event so you wont be summoned to Jiangnan District, right? But Zhang Yi didnt confirm it outright. A real negotiation required maintaining control. If he gave away his full intentions too easily, Baili Changqing and the others would start making demands of their own. So Zhang Yi simply crossed his arms and gave a faint smirk. Not exactly. I dont oppose the idea of going to Blizzard City. To be honest, Bian Junwu once suggested that I should go there and make a name for myself, and at the time, I was a bit tempted. But after watching you all struggle so much, I started to hesitate. So, if I can avoid going, I prefer not to. But Zhang Yis gaze turned sharp as he locked eyes with Baili Changqing. A wave of pressure surged through Baili Changqings chest. Zhang Yi spoke slowly and deliberately. If I do go to Blizzard City, I must become a captain. Captains were an elite rank among Superhumans. Sarch* The Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Bian Junwu dead, Baili Changqing barely had the qualifications to take his place. But if Zhang Yi entered the competition, Baili Changqings chances would be slim to none. His strength was simply nowhere near Zhang Yis level. Zhang Yi stepped forward and clapped Baili Changqing firmly on the shoulder. Then he said meaningfully, Im really struggling with this decision. I could go, but Id rather not. But Im bad at making choices. So, Ill leave this decision to you. No, actually Zhang Yis smirk deepened. You should ask yourself: Do you want to be captain, or do you want to remain vice-captain? His meaning was crystal clear. He had already seen through Baili Changqings ambition. After all, what man would be content living under anothers rule forever? Baili Changqings heart pounded. Zhang Yi was handing him an irresistible opportunity. A captains status was vastly superior to a vice-captains. In Blizzard City, there were only six captains in total, and they enjoyed A-rank resource distribution Second only to the Commander and the top leadership. Baili Changqing furrowed his brows, looking at Zhang Yi. His smile gradually faded, replaced by a serious expression. But if we hide the truth from headquarters, and they find out later, well face severe punishment. Commander Zhu is from a strict military background. Blizzard City follows a militarized system with strict discipline and consequences. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. Hide the truth? Why would you need to hide anything? When did I ever tell you to conceal information from the higher-ups? Baili Changqing blinked in confusion. Huh? Zhang Yis smirk turned sly. Did you see me kill Yuan Kongye with your own eyes? Baili Changqing was taken aback. Well no. Zhang Yi pressed further. Do you know the exact level of my current strength? Baili Changqing hesitated, then shook his head after a brief pause. No, I dont. Without a direct battle, he had no way of gauging Zhang Yis full power. But logically speaking Zhang Yi bit his thumb and casually cut him off. Were not here to discuss logic. Were here to talk about evidence. You dont have proof of what happened, so choosing not to report something youre uncertain about isnt the same as hiding information. His reasoning was a bit unconventional. But when you really thought about itthere was nothing technically wrong with his logic. Baili Changqing felt his head spinning from Zhang Yis roundabout argument. But even so, we still have to report how the Tianhai City mission was completed. Zhang Yi waved a hand dismissively. Ive already figured that part out for you. Just credit everything to the fallen Captain Bian. Zhang Yi recalled the moment Bian Junwu died before his eyes. In truth, when Zhang Yi had urged Bian Junwu to use Ice Soul, the man had likely already seen through Zhang Yis intentions. But at that moment, he had no other choice. Thinking about it now, Zhang Yi did feel a slight sense of guilt toward Bian Junwu. Not much. Just a little. He was someone who always put himself first, but he never deliberately wronged those who had done him no harm Unless his own life was at risk. Zhang Yi had always lived by a simple principle: He would never sacrifice himself for others. Nor would he allow the world to use him for its own sake. So now, he had made a decision. The credit for defeating Yuan Kongye would be given to Bian Junwu. At the very least, this would ensure that the wife and children Bian Junwu left behind would have a better life. Author''s Note Chapter 553: The Wind Never Ceases Chapter 553: The Wind Never Ceases "Without Bian Junwus ability affecting him, Yuan Kongye wouldnt have died. So, the biggest credit goes to Bian Junwu." "And Yuan Kongyes death wasnt because of anything I, Zhang Yi, did. It was under the leadership of your investigation team, with the cooperation of all the Superhumans in Tianhai City, that Yuan Kongye exhausted his energy, leading to the side effects of his abilities erupting and killing him." "What do you think of this explanation?" Zhang Yi casually wove a story. Baili Changqing let out a deep sigh after hearing it. "You dont seem like a warehouse manager. You sound more like someone who writes web novels." Zhang Yi scoffed. "What a joke. Web novel authors are all broke. Theyd starve to death." "Anyway, Ive said what I needed to say. I cant control what you thinkwhat you do is up to you." Zhang Yi had made his stance clear. He believed Baili Changqing and the others would make the right choice. After all, no one would go against their own interests. At that moment, Baili Changqing finally understood why Zhang Yi had come in with such an overbearing attitude. He had deliberately left a bad impression on the team members, making them unwilling to accept him as their captain. Now, as long as Baili Changqing went back and used his influence within the team, they should readily agree to the arrangement. There was also another key pointZhang Yi had completely given up the credit for Yuan Kongyes death, meaning the investigation team would receive it instead. The team members would all be rewarded handsomely. Zhang Yi could see that Baili Changqing was tempted. Barring any surprises, he had successfully made Baili Changqing his mouthpiece. Seeing Baili Changqing still deep in thought, Zhang Yi reached into his pocket and pulled out a pitch-black pistolBian Junwus sidearm, which had been loaned to him during the battle. The gun was custom-made, with Bian Junwus name engraved on it. Zhang Yi figured it was only right to return it. The gun itself wasnt particularly special. What was special were the bullets inside. Baili Changqing sighed at the sight of Bian Junwus weapon. An old friend of many years was gone forever. Zhang Yi looked at him and asked, "The bullets you were using before, those are called Origin Bullets, right?" Zhang Yi was very interested in them. If they could threaten high-level Superhumans, they were definitely something he wanted. After all, among his attack methods, firearms played a crucial role. His principle was simpleif he could use a gun, he wouldnt bother fighting hand-to-hand. If he could strike from a distance, hed never get close. The ultimate strategy: long reach versus short reach. Baili Changqing glanced at Zhang Yi with a serious expression. "Dont even think about it. Origin Bullets are strictly controlled strategic materials, even at the district headquarters." "Theres no way theyd give them to you." Zhang Yi grinned. "Cant we negotiate?" Baili Changqing sneered. "If you want Origin Bullets, theres only one wayjoin headquarters and become part of the investigation team!" Zhang Yi chuckled helplessly. Just as he expected, getting his hands on those bullets wasnt going to be easy. "Forget it. Im not about to trade my future for a few bullets." "Well then, that settles it. Ill be heading back now. If we ever" Zhang Yi paused and changed his mind. "Never mind, lets just not see each other again." If he ever ran into Baili Changqing again, it would only mean more trouble. And Zhang Yi had had enough of that. He walked to the door, ready to leave. Baili Changqing watched his retreating figure and suddenly called out to him. "Zhang Yi, with the power you have now, are you really content living a quiet, ordinary life?" "In chaotic times like these, you could accomplish great things." Without turning back, Zhang Yi replied, "Not interested." A life of idling away was what he had always wanted most. He enjoyed his current lifestyleno job, lounging at home, chatting and joking with a few friends, eating, drinking, and having fun. Surrounded by beautiful women. Life was already heavenwhat more could he ask for? Zhang Yi didnt bother explaining further. Everyone had their own way of living. As long as he was happy, that was enough. Baili Changqing watched as Zhang Yi disappeared from view. Once he was gone, the furrow in Baili Changqings brow smoothed out. Unconsciously, a relaxed smile crept onto his face. Finally, he could take the captains position without any guilt. Zhang Yi left the investigation teams headquarters and planned to head back to the Shelter. Xing Tian had been waiting for him outside. Beside him stood a massive dog, nearly five to six meters tall, and an adorable little girl. Seeing Zhang Yi come out, Xing Tian greeted him enthusiastically. "Old Zhang, youre done talking already?" Zhang Yi replied indifferently, "Just some casual chat. I said what I needed to say and left." He didnt intend to talk much, but Xing Tian was overly friendly. Right now, Tianhai City was in ruins, and the major factions had been crushed. Without Zhang Yis protection, there was a real risk that Qingpu Base could be wiped out. "Lingling, didnt you always say you admired Uncle Zhang Yi? Go say hello to him." Xing Tian shot meaningful glances at his goddaughter, Zhou Lingling. Zhou Lingling, still young, was puzzled by her godfathers hints. Who was this "Uncle Zhang Yi" she supposedly admired? Still, she timidly walked up, her big eyes blinking as she stared at Zhang Yi, looking absolutely adorable. Seeing such a cute little girl, Zhang Yi couldnt help but smile. "Hello." "Hello~" Zhou Lingling spoke hesitantly. "Call him Uncle Zhang!" Xing Tian urged her. "Z-Zhang Uncle Zhang." Zhang Yi nodded, then feigned regret. "Ah, you shouldve told me earlier that you had a daughter! I was in such a rush that I didnt bring a gift. Ill make it up next time!" Xing Tian chuckled. "Come on, were brothersno need to be so formal! Its getting late. Why dont you stay for dinner?" Zhang Yi sighed and patted Xing Tians arm. "Alright, cut the act. Its pointless." "If you ever run into trouble, Ill help if I can. But" Zhang Yis gaze sharpened, "from now on, you and Qingpu Base take orders from me. Got it?" sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xing Tian didnt mind at all and agreed readily. "No problem! Take whatever you need from here. Well follow your lead from now on!" Zhang Yi gave him a once-over. This guy was surprisingly decisivegiving up his authority without hesitation and willingly becoming Zhang Yis subordinate. Of course, circumstances forced him into it, but still, showing zero reluctance was rare. Xing Tian laughed carefreely. "Power is useful, sure, but I was never meant to be a leader." "Youre smarter and stronger than me. Handing Qingpu Base over to you? Ive got no worries about it." Xing Tians greatest strength was his self-awareness. What did submitting to Zhang Yi really mean? At the very least, it meant having a powerful backer. Without Zhang Yi, wiping out Qingpu Base would be effortless for any major force. Indeed, among the three major base organizations, there was barely any defense left. Most Superhumans were dead, and even skilled soldiers had been wiped out. Zhang Yi took a deep breath. He wasnt particularly relieved. Once, Tianhai City had been a powerhouse, with five major factions and his own team forming a formidable force. As one of the most populous cities in China, Tianhais combat strength had been top-tier nationwide. Of course, it couldnt compare to the six military zones, but it outclassed most cities. Now, thanks to the Followers of the Snow God, Tianhai City lay in ruins, its strength gutted. Zhang Yi no longer had to worry about internal threats, but external forces from nearby cities could become a problem. Tianhai City had always been wealthy and resource-rich. To surrounding factions, it was now a massive, juicy piece of meat. "What a damn headache." Zhang Yi exhaled. Afraid? Not at all. With his current strength, unless he actively sought trouble, there were few in the Jiangnan District who could threaten him. But as long as chaos persisted, his peaceful life would remain out of reach. Zhang Yi rubbed his neck. "Looks like the Jiangnan Districts power structure is both necessary and inevitable." Author''s Note Chapter 554: Devouring Moon Chapter 554: Devouring Moon The cold wind cut like a knife, and the setting sun bled across the sky. The dim twilight lingered at the edge of the sea and sky. The ocean surface was eerily still, an endless expanse of frozen silence. Through the desolate ice seas, a massive icebreaker slowly made its way forward. It had been drifting across the ocean for days. Without such a colossal vessel, no one could possibly navigate these frozen waters in this icebound apocalypse. Yet, despite the ships size, there were barely any crew members visible on board. The ships reinforced hull could withstand the icy sea, but it couldnt block the razor-sharp, bone-chilling winds. The entire was operating on autopilot. By 2050, artificial intelligence had taken over most mechanical tasks. And yet, within this harsh environment, the ship carried a faint, melancholic melody. On the deck of the , a man wearing a gray newsboy cap and a matching vest leaned lazily against the railing. He was tall and thin, appearing to be around thirty or so. The fact that he could stand in such extreme cold without protective gear meant only one thinghe was a Superhuman. Either his physique was incredibly strong, or he possessed a power that allowed him to resist the cold. The deep, resonant music came from the shakuhachi in his hands. As the song came to an end, he gazed out at the silent sea before lifting his head toward the distant horizon. A sly smile crept onto his facea smile that carried an unsettling, scheming air, like a fox plotting in the shadows. He stowed away his shakuhachi and turned toward the ships interior. Below deck, the cabin was much livelier. The warm air from the vents made the environment cozy and comfortable. As the man in the newsboy cap entered, he passed by a samurai lounging lazily against the wall by the door. The samurai had long hair tied into a traditional chonmage, wore a deep blue kimono, and was barefoot. Though he seemed to be asleep, his arms remained tightly wrapped around a katana bound in red thread. Beneath his kimono, the faint outline of a hidden dagger could be seen. Further inside, near the bar, two men were gamblingplaying a simple game of coin toss. One, a slick-haired man with gold-rimmed glasses, acted as the dealer. The other, a scar-faced man, was guessing heads or tails. Despite the seemingly fair game, the scar-faced man was losing every round. Soon, a pile of empty sake bottles formed in front of him. The man in the newsboy cap walked past them, heading to the center of the cabin. There, a small table was set up. A woman dressed in a traditional shrine maiden outfit sat before it. In front of her lay an ancient scroll, and she held a calligraphy brush adorned with a small demon sculpture on the handle. She dipped the brush into an ink box beside her. But the ink wasnt blackit was red, as crimson as fresh blood. The man knelt before her, grinning. "Whats my fortune today?" The shrine maiden respectfully bowed to him. "Great fortune." The man nodded in satisfaction and let out a long breath. "Thats wonderful! At this rate, well be landing in that city called Linhai soon." He glanced toward a nearby sofa, where a man nearly two meters tall, built like a grizzly bear, was sitting. But rather than an intimidating brute, the man wore a black suit and was casually flipping through a maritime magazine. The contrast was almost comical. "Daigoumai, how much farther do we have to go?" The hulking man, named Daigoumai Nobutsu, didnt even look up. "Three days." The man in the newsboy cap squinted at the ceiling, a smirk forming on his lips. "Three days, huh?" "In three days, well set foot in that land they call Shenzhou." "And then, well carve out a legend of our own." The investigation team had completed their mission in Tianhai City. Baili Changqing led his team back to Jinling, returning to the heavily fortified military stronghold known as . Snow blanketed the sky, and the massive gray fortress loomed over the landscape like a crouching beast. The towering walls stood over fifty meters high, with armed soldiers in black combat gear stationed every three meters. Sarch* The ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every ten meters, a watchtower was equipped with high-speed machine guns capable of firing 6,000 rounds per minuteenough to shred any carbon-based lifeform in an instant. This massive fortress, spanning thousands of square kilometers, had been under construction for decades. According to Shengjings military strategy, and five other fortified strongholds were the last line of defense for Huaguo. They housed the nations most elite troops and advanced weaponry. No matter the crisis, as long as these fortresses stood, Huaguo would never fall. Baili Changqings vehicle arrived at the towering gates. After a thorough security check, they were allowed entry through the massive metal doors. Inside , silence reigneda silence so oppressive it felt suffocating. There was no famine or riots herefood shortages were never a concern. But the entire city operated under strict military control. The streets were devoid of civilians. Only soldiers and personnel assigned to could be seen. As soon as Baili Changqing and his team returned, staff members arrived to conduct inspections. Every returning team member had to undergo a rigorous health check to ensure they werent carrying any unknown pathogens from the outside. After the lengthy process, a young military officer appeared before Baili Changqing. He was dressed in a crisp green uniform, his slicked-back hair neatly groomed, and a pair of expensive gold-rimmed glasses perched on his nose. Upon seeing Baili Changqing, he spoke. "Lieutenant Colonel Baili, please come with me." Baili Changqing nodded and followed the young officer. This officer wasnt just anyonehe was Lan Xincheng, the personal secretary of Zhu Zheng, the Supreme Commander of Jiangnan District. Born into a prestigious family, Lan Xincheng had a powerful background and was deeply trusted by Zhu Zheng. As per protocol, returning teams had to report directly to Zhu Zheng. And this time, the situation in Tianhai City was serious. The death of a team captain was enough to shake the entire upper echelon of . Lan Xincheng led Baili Changqing to the command center, stopping before Zhu Zhengs office. "Commander, Baili Changqing has arrived," Lan Xincheng reported through the intercom. A moment later, Zhu Zhengs voice came through, granting permission to enter. The dark silver metal doors slowly parted. Baili Changqing took a deep breath, his expression tightening as he stepped forward. After all, this time, he was here to lie to Zhu Zheng. Though he had already discussed the matter with his team, and they had agreed on their story, the sheer presence of Zhu Zheng was enough to intimidate anyone. Even a seasoned veteran like Baili Changqing couldnt suppress his nerves. Author''s Note Chapter 555: Blizzard City Chapter 555: Blizzard City Baili Changqing stepped into Zhu Zhengs office. Zhu Zheng was in his fifties, his hair streaked with gray, and his frame lean. Yet his face bore an unwavering steel-like resolve, and his sharp eyes were like a hawks. As Baili Changqing entered, his gaze instinctively flickered to the bodyguard standing behind Zhu Zheng. The man appeared slightly younger than Zhu Zheng, likely in his late forties. He had an unremarkable face, wore old-fashioned round glasses, and had a small braid tied at the back of his head. But Baili Changqing knewthis man was undoubtedly one of the top three strongest in all of . Bian Junwu had once told Baili Changqing that within a hundred paces, this man could kill him easier than slaughtering a chicken. "Commander!" Baili Changqing stood before the mahogany desk and saluted solemnly. Zhu Zheng nodded at him with his hands clasped behind his back. "You all did well on this mission. I originally thought youd have to retreat and leave Tianhai City to be obliterated by headquarters." "This outcome is preferable. The city has been preserved." Zhu Zhengs tone was indifferenthe had little attachment to Tianhai City. He was well aware that nearly all of its residents had perished in the zombie horde, with less than one percent surviving. In his eyes, the city was entirely expendable. Baili Changqing replied, "We owe this success to Captain Bian. If he hadnt sacrificed himself to restrain the leader of the Followers of the Snow God, we would have all died there." Before returning, they had already submitted their report to headquarters. The contents closely mirrored Zhang Yis version of events, albeit slightly refined. However, the majority of the credit was attributed to the investigation team, with a strong emphasis on Bian Junwus contribution. At the mention of Bian Junwu, Zhu Zhengs expression darkened with sorrow. Bian Junwu had once been one of the militarys finest. Even after the apocalypse, he had made immense contributions to the Jiangnan District. His death was an irreplaceable loss. Though Zhu Zheng had always known this day would come, it still left him with regret. He looked at Baili Changqing and gestured toward a chair. "Sit. Lets talk." Once they were seated, Zhu Zheng continued. "During your time in Tianhai City, did you come across any promising talents that could be brought to headquarters for training?" Baili Changqing had already sent Zhu Zheng a detailed report via email. So Zhu Zheng didnt bother discussing the mission furtherhe was more concerned with recruitment. After all, while the Jiangnan District was rich in talent, losses were frequent. Fresh blood from surrounding cities was essential. Baili Changqing straightened in his seat, and the first person that came to mind was Zhang Yi. Zhang Yis current strength was undoubtedly on par with Bian Junwu at his peak. And beyond raw power, his intelligence and personality made him someone worth taking seriously. But according to their agreement, Baili Changqing couldnt expose Zhang Yis true abilities. Quickly weighing his options, Baili Changqing replied: Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. "There are indeed a few skilled individuals in Tianhai City." "After our assessment, I believe seven people are qualified to join the investigation team." "Xing Tian from Qingpu Base, Xiao Honglian and Zhuge Qinting from Yangsheng Base, Chen Jingguan from Chaoyu Base, and from Zhang Yis teamZhang Yi, Liang Yue, and Yang Siyah." Most of these individuals were formidable combatants. Yang Siyah, however, had a powerful support ability that made her invaluable to a team. Zhu Zheng nodded slowly after listening. "You already mentioned them in your report." He folded his hands on the desk and suddenly asked, "Im particularly interested in this Zhang Yi. Can you tell me more about him?" Baili Changqing felt a jolt of tension in his chest. Some things could be concealed, but others were impossible to hide. For instance, Zhang Yis actions during the zombie crisis had been too extraordinary. He was the only team leader unaffected by the initial outbreak. During the battle against the Followers of the Snow God, his expert sniping had nearly wiped out every Copper-Armored Corpse single-handedly. And in the final showdown, it was his space-based defensive abilities that stalled Yuan Kongye long enough for the tide to turn. Without Zhang Yi, the mission would have failed, and none of them would have survived. Such a list of achievementsno matter how much Zhang Yi and Baili Changqing tried to downplay themcouldnt be entirely erased. So Baili Changqing chose to omit the final battle, where Zhang Yi had outlasted Yuan Kongye alone. But even with that detail hidden, there was still more than enough to make Zhu Zheng take notice. Baili Changqing met Zhu Zhengs gaze seriously. "Zhang Yi is indeed a talent. Hes highly capable and possesses a rare spatial-type Superhuman ability." "If he were to join our headquarters, he would undoubtedly be considered an elite within the investigation team." He started by praising Zhang Yi. Then, he deliberately changed his tone. "However his mindset and personality make him difficult to trust." Zhu Zhengs eyes narrowed slightly. "Oh? What do you mean? Does he have a bad temperament?" For the Jiangnan Districts investigation team, loyalty to the district was more important than raw ability. This wasnt outdated ideology. In times of chaos, the wrong mentality could lead to internal disasters. Baili Changqing was well aware of this, which was why he framed his response carefully. "Zhang Yi is extremely selfish. Like many other Superhumans from independent cities, hes likely been hardened by the cruelty of the apocalypse, leaving him with no sense of collective responsibility." "Even in battles against the zombies, he always prioritized his personal survival, keeping an escape plan ready at all times." "Additionally, hes ruthless in achieving his goals, showing no sign of faith or greater belief." Baili Changqing suddenly realized he might have gone too far. Smearing Zhang Yis reputation too much could affect how leadership viewed him. He quickly added, "That being said, his attitude is understandable. Its difficult to find anyone with unwavering convictions in a world like this." Zhu Zhengs interest in Zhang Yi visibly waned after hearing this. An unstable Superhuman, no matter how strong, was not someone he wanted. In his eyes, Zhang Yi was just a . And while Delta-Class Superhumans werent abundant in the Jiangnan District headquarters, they werent exactly rare either. But if Zhu Zheng knew that Zhang Yi had devoured the remnant essence of an , things would be a whole different story. Author''s Note Chapter 556: The Summoning Order Chapter 556: The Summoning Order Regarding Yuan Kongyes essence, Bai Li Changqing had already given Zhu Zheng an explanation. The report stated that Yuan Kongye had been obliterated, leaving no remains, and his essence had dissipated into the world. Zhu Zheng had no reason to doubt this report. There were two main reasons for this. First, he trusted the loyalty of the investigative team, and they had no reason to hide anything. If they had obtained the essence themselves and grown stronger, they would have been prioritized for training by the district. Second, in past missions, there had been brutal battles where Superhumans were completely annihilated, and their essence dispersed. It was not uncommon. Not to mention, in battles of this magnitude, where casualties numbered in the millions and entire cities were wiped out, the loss of Yuan Kongyes essence seemed entirely plausible. Though unfortunate, there was no point in dwelling on it. After a brief conversation, Zhu Zheng looked at Bai Li Changqing, his gaze filled with contemplation. The six major investigation teams of headquarters each required a powerful Superhuman as a leader. Now that Bian Junwu had died in battle, there was no one in Blizzard City who could match his strength. That made Bai Li Changqing the best candidate to take over as captain. Although Bai Li Changqing was not as strong as the other captains, he was still far more capable than the average team member. More importantly, he was experienced and respected within the team. Zhu Zheng raised his head and spoke seriously: Bai Li Changqing, Bian Junwu has fallen. His death pains me, but we cannot leave the investigation team without a leader. Starting today, you will take over as captain of the Black Robe Squad. Bai Li Changqings sturdy frame trembled, his eyes filled with uncontrollable excitement. sea??h th ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The difference between a vice-captain and a captain was just one word, but the change in treatment was vast! This meant that he and his family would now enjoy Class-A privileges in Blizzard City. With tears in his eyes, Bai Li Changqing stood up and saluted Zhu Zheng. Thank you for your trust, Commander! I will give my all for you and Blizzard City! Zhu Zheng nodded. The official appointment documents will be in your hands within the next two days. As for Bian Junwu we will confirm the first-class merit you reported for him personally, and your Black Robe Squad will receive a collective first-class merit as well. His family will receive the benefits of fallen hero status, ensuring lifetime access to Class-A resources from headquarters. Bai Li Changqing nodded vigorously. Thank you, Commander! Leaving Zhu Zhengs office, Bai Li Changqing stepped outside into the gloomy but bright sky. His mood was soaring. Though he had just lied to Zhu Zheng and concealed some details about Zhang Yi, the outcome was a win-win for everyone. Zhang Yi wouldnt have to come to Blizzard City. Bai Li Changqing had been promoted to captain. The deceased Bian Junwu had somehow earned first-class merit, securing a lifetime of stability for his wife and children. This result couldnt have been better. Just as Bai Li Changqing was lost in thought, a cool, crisp voice sounded from a distance. Vice-Captain Bai Li oh wait, I should be calling you Captain Bai Li now, shouldnt I? Bai Li Changqing turned his head and saw a tall woman in a white lab coat walking toward him. She had a lazy yet indifferent expression, her long hair casually pinned up with a ballpoint pen. The moment Bai Li Changqing saw her, he broke into a smile. Ah, Professor Li! The woman was Li Lingxue, the chief professor of Blizzard Citys research department. In Blizzard City, few people dared to disrespect the research department. After the Great Mutation, their importance sometimes even surpassed the military. Li Lingxue approached and spoke lazily, Wheres that thing you mentioned? Oh, right here. I was planning to deliver it to you personally after reporting to the commander. Bai Li Changqing took out a silver metal box from his combat uniform pocket and handed it to her. Li Lingxue eyed the box curiously. This is that mutated plant you were talking about? Bai Li Changqing nodded. It has an incredible growth rate and can produce a zombie virus that infects hosts. Li Lingxue raised an eyebrow. Doesnt sound that impressive. Bai Li Changqing felt awkwardthis thing had nearly wiped out all of Tianhai City. But coming from Li Lingxue, it seemed like nothing. Not surprising, though. She had studied far stranger things. Without another word, Li Lingxue pocketed the box containing the Blood Vines root and left without a greeting. Bai Li Changqing was used to her attitude. It wasnt arroganceshe simply wasnt interested in anything outside of research. He shrugged and turned toward home. After Bai Li Changqing left, Zhu Zheng sat in his chair, his expression grave. The crisis in Tianhai City had been far more severe than he had expected. The loss of a captain-ranked officer was a first since the apocalypse began. And it had only been six months since the world fell apart. Even with the talent in Blizzard City, they couldnt sustain this rate of loss. An idea that had been lingering in Zhu Zhengs mind resurfaced. He clasped his hands together and stared out at the snow-covered landscape of Blizzard City. Muttering to himself, he said, Blizzard City alone cant maintain stability in Jiangnan District for long. It seems Ill have to rally the other regional forces. He activated his communicator and summoned his secretary, Lan Xincheng. Lan Xincheng stepped forward respectfully. Commander, what are your orders? Zhu Zhengs gaze was sharp. Xincheng, issue an official announcement in my name. The target is all significant factions in Jiangnan District. Inform them that in ten days, I will be hosting a Superhuman Assembly in Blizzard City. Attendance is mandatory. Lan Xincheng was momentarily surprised but then chuckled. So youve finally decided to unify Jiangnan District? A deep light flickered in Zhu Zhengs eyes. Ive been considering it for a while. But Bian Junwus death made me realize we need to act fasterwe cant delay any longer. He hadnt done this sooner because the timing hadnt been right. With countless factions locked in constant conflict, even Jiangnan Districts overwhelming power wasnt enough to manage them all. Issues like poor communication and difficult transportation made centralized control nearly impossible. Overreach would only cause more problems. But now, circumstances had forced his hand. If Blizzard City continued to bear the burden alone, it would weaken their core strength. Lan Xincheng bowed. Understood. I will draft the decree immediately, summoning all major faction leaders in Jiangnan District. A glint of cold amusement flashed in his eyes as he adjusted his glasses. If any faction refuses to comply, may I send an investigation team to eliminate them? Zhu Zheng nodded. Yes. If necessary, strike down a few as an example. This assembly was not optional. Anyone who refused would be considered defiant. And if they refused to submit, they had no place in Jiangnan District. Author''s Note Chapter 557: The Two Ice Souls Chapter 557: The Two Ice Souls [Tianhai City] 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. Johns Cathedral. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. One unexpected benefit came from the disasterfewer 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. Aside from the remaining factions, almost no one else was left alive in Tianhai City. The three surviving basesQingpu, Yangsheng, and Chaoyuhad 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 elsestudying Yang Siyah, who had awakened her Superhuman Energy through an Ice Soul. With Yuan Kongye dead, Zhang Yi wasnt 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 Keer 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 Yis orders, Zhou Keer 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 persons mutation potential without causing harm." "The only drawback disappeared with Yuan Kongyes death." "Which means its now a pure treasure!" With that realization, Zhang Yi immediately decided to use the remaining two Ice Souls. He summoned Yang Xinxin, Zhou Keer, and Lu Keran to his room and carefully explained his plan. "Ive confirmed that the Ice Soul still works even after Yuan Kongyes 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 dont want to show favoritism. So, Ill leave the decision up to you." Yang Xinxin was the teams strategist and a top-tier hacker. Lu Keran was a mechanical engineer. Zhou Keer was a doctor. Each of them had immense value. Zhang Yi didnt want to create resentment by making the choice himself, so he let them decide. As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Keran and Zhou Keers 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 dont 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 Xinxins 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 wouldnt get much use out of an ability anyway. On the other hand, both Zhou Keer 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. "Im sure. Dont worry about me. Go and get your abilities." Her eyes carried a soft warmth. Seeing her resolve, Lu Keran and Zhou Keer stopped hesitating. Their eyes burned with anticipation as they stared at the wooden box in Zhang Yis hands. Opening the box, Zhang Yi revealed two silver-white Ice Souls. "You already know how to use themjust place them on your forehead." As he spoke, he watched them closely, ready to intervene in case anything went wrong. Lu Keran and Zhou Keer eagerly took the Ice Souls. The orbs felt ice-cold to the touch, soft and slightly elasticalmost 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 didnt suffer from rejection. Still, they lay on Zhang Yis 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 sharperlike 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!" Author''s Note Chapter 558: Awakening Chapter 558: Awakening When someone gains a Superhuman Energy, it feels as if they''ve suddenly grown an extra arm or an additional finger. It just appearssudden yet natural. And just like knowing how to move their own body, Superhumans instinctively understand how to control their newfound powers. Under Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxins expectant gazes, Lu Keran began explaining her ability. She picked up a spoon from the table, and without using any physical force, she caused the metal to bend instantly before their eyes. "My ability is related to metal and machinery. It seems I can control any metal I touch." Her eyes burned with excitement, and she clenched her fists, exclaiming, "This is amazing! With this power, I can create all kinds of powerful weapons!" Zhang Yi rested his chin on his hand and asked thoughtfully, "So your ability is mechanical-based Can you enhance the performance of weapons?" Without hesitation, Lu Keran nodded. "Of course!" She smiled as she twirled the bent spoon in her hand. "With this ability, I can fine-tune every intricate detail of a weapon, optimizing it to its absolute peak!" "And not just weaponsany mechanical construct that comes into my hands will be transformed into its perfect form!" Zhang Yi chuckled. "Thats great! Your ability aligns perfectly with your role as a mechanic. Once youre ready, enhance all my firearms." "Got it! Consider it done!" Lu Keran grinned, her face glowing with excitement. "Oh, by the way, boss, can you name my ability for me?" she suddenly asked. Zhang Yi laughed. "This is your power. Shouldn''t you name it yourself?" But Lu Keran looked at him seriously and said, "Boss, you saved my life, and you gave me this power. So my ability should also be named by you!" Zhang Yi understood her sentimentthis was her way of expressing gratitude and loyalty. After pondering for a moment, he said, "Since your ability is about controlling machines, lets call it Divine Mechanization." Lu Kerans eyes sparkled. She repeated the name excitedly. "Divine Mechanization Divine Mechanization I love it! Im officially a Superhuman now!" Zhang Yi and Yang Xinxin exchanged amused glances. They were already considering how to maximize the potential of Lu Kerans new ability. Just then, Zhou Keer also regained consciousness. Unlike Lu Keran, she was drenched in sweat, her entire body soaked through. Her skin had an almost luminous glow. For some reason, Zhang Yi felt that her already enticing figure had become even more alluring, her proportions somehow even more perfect. Noticing his intense gaze, Zhou Keer blushed slightly. "Why are you staring at me like that? Do I look good?" Zhang Yi instinctively nodded and chuckled. "Yeah, youve always looked good." Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran pouted in jealousy. Zhou Keer, feeling a little shy in front of her two "sisters," quickly changed the subject. "Keran, you succeeded? Whats your ability?" Lu Keran excitedly explained Divine Mechanization to her. Hearing this, Zhou Keer smiled. "Thats a great ability! It suits you perfectly." Lu Kerans curiosity turned back to Zhou Keer. "And what about you, Keer-jie? Whats your power?" Zhou Keer calmly replied, "My ability is related to medicine." She didn''t hide anything and explained in detail. "I can accelerate cellular activity, allowing rapid regeneration and healing. This works not only on myself but also on others." Now they understood why Zhou Keers body looked so flawless. Yang Xinxin and Lu Keran were genuinely jealousthis was an ability any woman would kill for! Zhou Keer could modify her own body at will, shaping herself into the perfect form. "But thats not all." She raised her hands, revealing her long, delicate fingersthe hands of a skilled surgeon. "My hands can heal injuries and even perform surgeries without tools." As she spoke, she turned toward Yang Xinxin. Yang Xinxin looked at her in surprise. "Keer-jie, what are you doing?" Zhou Keer knelt in front of her with a gentle smile. "I want to see if I can heal your legs." Before Yang Xinxin could protest, Zhou Keer suddenly extended her hands. Before their eyes, her hands turned translucent and phased into Yang Xinxins legs! Slowly, her hands moved upward, reaching Yang Xinxins spine. Yang Xinxin felt something shifting inside her, but it wasnt painful. On the contrary, she sensed something foreign being removed from her body. Moments later, Zhou Keer withdrew her hands from Yang Xinxins spine. In her palms was a mass of dark gray, sticky residue. As she cleaned her hands, she looked at Yang Xinxin and said, "Try standing up." Yang Xinxins pupils dilated with shock. She had been paralyzed for years. More than anything, she had longed to walk again. Zhang Yi glanced between Zhou Keer and Yang Xinxin. Was this a medical miracle? If Zhou Keer could heal paralysis, then there was no injury or illness she couldnt cure! Lu Keran stepped forward and encouraged Yang Xinxin. "Xinxin, try it!" She held onto Yang Xinxins arm supportively. Yang Xinxin hesitated, then focused on her legs. For the first time in years, she felt strength returning to them. Slowly, she pushed herself up from her wheelchair. "I Im standing!" "I CAN FEEL THEM!" Overwhelmed with joy, the girl who was usually the composed genius suddenly burst into elated cries, completely shedding her usual cold demeanor. With Lu Kerans support, she took a few shaky steps. Then, she adapted quickly, walking smoothly on her own. Tears streamed down her face as she ran forward Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Straight into Zhang Yis arms. "Brother, I can stand! Im normal now!" Zhang Yi looked at Zhou Keer, who had an awkward expression, and couldnt help but chuckle. "Yes, thats right. From now on, you can walk on your own two legs again." Author''s Note Chapter 559: Replicating the Origin Bullet Chapter 559: Replicating the Origin Bullet Yang Xinxin was overjoyed when her leg healed, flitting around the shelter like a butterfly. She ran all over the place, spreading the good news to everyoneeven Fatty Xu, whom she usually despised, wasnt left out. Everyone was thrilled to hear about her recovery and congratulated her warmly. When they also learned that Zhou Keer and Lu Keran had awakened superhuman abilities, they were even more amazed at the growing number of talented individuals in the shelter. Only Zhou Haimei remained an ordinary person. But she knew her place and had no complaints. She was a smart womannot like the young girls who yearned for superpowers. Being a housewife meant she didnt have to fight and kill outside, yet she could still enjoy a comfortable life at home. Wasnt that a good deal? Zhang Yi needed her as a mental therapist for Uncle You, soothing the loneliness of the old mans heart. She performed her role perfectly. Her presence even improved the overall atmosphere in the shelter, showcasing the charm of a mature and intelligent woman in keeping the environment lively. On the other hand, Zhang Yi was pleased to see Yang Xinxin back to normal. He couldn''t help but marvel at how convenient superhuman abilities werecapable of achieving what was once impossible for humanity. Was this an evolution of the species? Although the apocalypse had wiped out most of the population, the survivors, as the fire of humanitys future, would become stronger and more exceptional. "I think I might have grasped the pattern of evolution," Zhang Yi muttered as he leaned against the doorway, watching Yang Xinxin dash around the first floor. Zhou Keer and Lu Keran, who were leaning on the second-floor railing, turned to him with curiosity. "In the past, I always felt that a person''s superpower was linked to their personality," Zhang Yi continued. "But after seeing how you two transformed, I can finally confirm it." He lifted his gaze to them. "Keer, youre a doctor, so your awakened ability is healing. "Keran, youre a mechanic, so your ability is related to machinery. "Doesnt that suggest that a persons ability is closely tied to their existing skillsor perhaps their deepest desires?" "Maybe the stronger the desire, the more powerful the ability becomes." The two of them fell into deep thought. Zhou Keer spoke first. "Now that you mention it, that does seem to be the case!" "Uncle You awakened his ability after getting shothe wanted a stronger body, so his ability enhanced his physique. "Xu Chunlei awakened at the brink of freezing to deathhe desperately wanted to resist the cold, so his power allows him to withstand extreme temperatures. "Teacher Liang is obsessed with martial artshe wished for speed and strength, and thats exactly what he got." "Thinking back now, its true. Everyones mutation seems to be connected to their inner desires." Lu Keran looked at Zhang Yi with a curious expression. "Then what about you, big brother? You awakened a spatial abilitywas it because you used to be a warehouse manager?" Zhang Yis eyes darkened slightly. What did he desire the most? S~ea??h the N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His overwhelming resentment after death had brought him back to life. Had enduring the extreme scarcity of resources in the apocalypse caused him to awaken a spatial abilityto stockpile supplies? And what about his rebirthwas that a form of ability as well? Subconsciously, Zhang Yi rubbed his left eye. "This is an interesting theory." "We need to understand our abilities better and develop them further. Only by doing so can we survive the apocalypse more effectively." He lowered his hand and waved at Lu Keran with a smile. "Keran, come here. I have a test for your abilitys strength." Lu Keran ran over excitedly, looking up at him with anticipation. She wanted to be useful to him. Zhang Yi opened his spatial storage and slowly pulled out a pitch-black bullet, holding it in front of her. "Can you replicate this Origin Bullet with your ability?" The Origin Bullet was a product of the Jiangnan District headquarters. Even there, it was classified and restricted to special units like the investigation team. Its manufacturing process was incredibly complex, requiring rare materials that ordinary arms factories couldnt produce. It was said that Jiangnan Districts special department specifically developed it to counter superhumans, and the supply was extremely limited. Back when they fought Yuan Kongye, Zhang Yi had gotten his hands on Bian Junwus pistol. He had returned the gun, but he had secretly kept one Origin Bullet. This bullet could pierce through superhuman defenses. Even an Epsilon-tier like Yuan Kongye had her psychic shield shattered by it. Zhang Yi had been eyeing this special ammunition for a long time. Unfortunately, Baili Changqing and his team wouldnt be generous enough to share any with him. Now that Lu Keran had awakened her ability, her mechanical expertise combined with her newfound power might make it possible to replicate the Origin Bullet. If she succeeded, their entire teams combat strength would soar to a whole new level! Even ordinary people could pose a threat to superhumans with Origin Bullets. And for Zhang Yian elite sniperthis would be the ultimate game-changer. Lu Keran took the bullet, and the moment her fingers touched it, her mind instantly analyzed its material composition. A few moments later, she frowned. "This bullet is highly specialized. Its made of twelve rare metals. Just one bullet would cost at least 100,000 credits!" "Rare metals, huh? No wonder." Zhang Yi nodded. "So, can you replicate it?" A proud smirk appeared on Lu Kerans lips. "In the past, with our limited resources, it would have been impossible. But now? Heh, its totally doable!" "The only issue is sourcing the materials. Rare metals arent easy to findwed have to check the major laboratories or university research centers in Tianhai City." Zhang Yi grinned. "As long as we can make them, the materials arent a problem." "Make a list of what you need. Ill have Xing Tian and Xiao Honglian search for them." Rare metals had a wide range of usesno one would suspect he was using them for Origin Bullets. And even if they did, so what? Jiangnan District couldnt be so controlling that they forbade others from producing their own Origin Bullets, right? At least, for now, they didnt have that level of authority. "Got it! Ill send you the list right away!" Lu Keran immediately pulled out her satellite phone and compiled a list of the required materials. Zhang Yi added several other rare materials to disguise their true purpose, then sent the request to three different factions. He wanted them to collect as much as possible. Tianhai City had been an economic hub with many scientific labs and top universities. Gathering rare metals wouldnt be a challenge. When the three factions received Zhang Yis request, they couldnt figure out what he was planning. But they were gladZhang Yi finally had a task for them. To them, being asked to help meant he considered them part of his inner circle. With that, the three factions set out to gather the materials, no questions asked. Author''s Note Chapter 560: Holy Silver Bullets and New Equipment Chapter 560: Holy Silver Bullets and New Equipment As soon as Zhang Yi gave the order, the factions in Tianhai City scrambled to gather materials for him. Within days, the entire city had been scoured clean, and a massive stockpile of rare materials was delivered to him. After praising their efforts, Zhang Yi sent everything to Lu Kerans workshop and had her begin replicating the Origin Bullet. For Lu Keran, this task was a real challenge. The shelter lacked advanced production lines, so she had to rely entirely on her Godly Mechanic ability to carry out the work. Zhang Yi wasnt in a rush. The war in Tianhai City was over, and there wouldnt be any large-scale conflicts for the foreseeable future. They had time. Since they now had the materials for the Origin Bullet, Zhang Yi also considered having Lu Keran design a new combat suit using the same materials. But Lu Keran immediately waved her hands. "Big bro, you better give up on that idea!" She carefully explained: The Origin Bullet was designed to counter superhumans by breaking through their protective energy fields. However, if those materials were used to make armor, the defense wouldnt necessarily be better than regular bulletproof vests. "Think of it like physical resistance versus magic resistance. If we make a suit from Origin Bullet materials, itll be highly resistant to superhuman abilities." "But against someone with a gun or a Strength-type or Beast-type superhuman? This material would actually be weaker than regular armor." Hearing this, Zhang Yi immediately understood. He rubbed his chin and thought for a moment. "Then what if we use it as an inner lining? Wear it under the armor?" Lu Kerans eyes lit up. "Thats actually a really good idea!" But before Zhang Yi could celebrate, she quickly poured cold water on his enthusiasm. "Bullets are one thing, but making an entire suit is much harder." She spread her hands. "First, wed need to spin the material into thread, then weave it into fabric. Sounds simple, but in reality, its incredibly complicated." Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi smacked his foreheadhe had forgotten she was a mechanic, not a tailor. "Alright, just focus on replicating the bullets for now. Well figure out the combat suit later." Lu Keran nodded. "Got it, big bro!" Before long, Lu Keran successfully replicated the Origin Bullets. With Godly Mechanic, as long as she had a sample and enough materials, recreating a weapon was easy. She handed Zhang Yi a case filled with neatly arranged silver bullets. "Huh? Whats this?" Zhang Yi was surprised. "I remember Origin Bullets being black." Lu Keran grinned proudly. "I made some improvements! I added rhodium to enhance the bullets hardness and infused it with heavy metal toxins. If an enemy gets shot, theyll suffer from heavy metal poisoning, worsening their injuries!" Hearing this, Zhang Yi hesitated mid-reach. "So you poisoned them? Wow thats my style." Lu Keran quickly added, "I youd like it, big bro! After all, your usual methods are pretty" She trailed off, swallowing words like "ruthless" or "shameless." Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. "Ill take that as a compliment." "But waitif theyre poisoned, how am I supposed to use them?" Lu Keran explained, "The toxin is inside the bullet. It only activates when firedafter the gunpowder ignites and the bullet hits blood, the poison is released. Its harmless to touch." "I named them Holy Silver Bullets! This way, they wont be confused with Origin Bullets, and no one will accuse you of knocking off Jiangnan Districts ammo, hehe." Zhang Yi couldnt help but give her a thumbs-up for her cleverness. He picked up a Holy Silver Bullet. The moment he touched it, he felt a slight discomfortit really did affect his superhuman energy. However, since his ability was spatial manipulation, it made no difference whether he used special bullets or regular ones. As Zhang Yi examined the bullets, Lu Keran brought over another large metal case. The box was nearly two meters long and looked extremely heavy. Even Lu Keran, who worked with machines all day, struggled to carry it. "Big bro, I made something extra for you! Check it outyoull love it!" The moment Zhang Yi saw the boxs length, his eyes lit up. "Dont tell me its a new gun?" Lu Kerans Godly Mechanic ability allowed her to refine weapons to their absolute peakmeaning she could drastically enhance their performance. She grinned. "Youre sharp, big bro! You guessed it right away!" Excited, Zhang Yi took the case, placed it on the table, and unlocked the latches. Inside was an entire set of dark silver weaponry. Two silver pistols, engraved with intricate violet patterns. A heavy sniper rifle, with its stock and barrel separatedclearly a high-caliber anti-materiel sniper rifle, Zhang Yis favorite. Zhang Yi had a deep passion for weapons. The moment he saw them, he picked them up eagerly, feeling their weight and balance in his hands. A true expert could tell quality at a glance. The weapons had just the right heft, and the perfect grip made Zhang Yi so thrilled that he nearly wanted to hug Lu Keran on the spot. "These are ! Absolutely amazing!" Zhang Yi exclaimed. Lu Keran smirked. "The weapons are designed to work with Holy Silver Bullets. That means even if someone else gets their hands on them, they wont function properly." "Theyre just for you, big bro!" Her face flushed with excitement. Seeing Zhang Yi so enthusiastic about her work deeply satisfied her pride as a top-tier mechanic. Then, she revealed the names of her creations. The two dark silver pistols: White Owl. The anti-materiel sniper rifle: Thunderstrike. Zhang Yi quickly got familiar with their mechanics and handling. His excitement soared, but he didnt forget to reward Lu Keran. With a playful smile, he walked over and gently patted her soft, fair cheek. "Keran, youre a genius! Youve outdone yourself this time. Tell me, what kind of reward do you want?" Author''s Note Chapter 561: An Email from Jiangnan District Chapter 561: An Email from Jiangnan District Lu Keran''s face turned even redder at Zhang Yis praise, but she still spoke excitedly, "Big bro, I I want to build a mech! Can I?" Zhang Yi blinked in surprise. "A mech?" In his mind, that kind of thing only existed in sci-fi movies. Of course, in the year 2051, humanity had already developed early prototypes of mechs. But they were ridiculously expensive and not yet advanced enough for mass production. No country had fielded a full-fledged mech army yet. There were, however, a few independent workshops where enthusiasts had built exoskeletons for personal use. Seeing Zhang Yis skepticism, Lu Keran scratched her head awkwardly. "Actually, the reason I became a mechanical engineer in the first place was that I love robots. Building a mech has always been my dream!" "I never dared to think about it before. The construction is too complicatedthere are over ten thousand different components required." "But now, I have Godly Mechanic!" She clenched her right hand, confidence shining in her eyes. "After replicating the Origin Bullet, I feel like my ability be able to make mechs a reality." "What normal humans cant achieve, maybe superhumans can!" Zhang Yi chuckled. "If thats what you want to do, then go for it! I support you." Lu Keran fidgeted, clasping her hands behind her back. "But its going to take of materials." Zhang Yi waved a hand dismissively. "No problem. Just tell me what you need!" Materials? That was the least of his concerns. With an entire city like Tianhai at his disposal, how could he get the materials she needed? At that moment, he had no idea that his casual promise would bring him major trouble down the line. He had forgotten to ask just complicated the materials for a mech would be With his new weapons in hand, Zhang Yi was like a child with brand-new toys. Ever since the apocalypse, he had developed an obsession with high-powered weaponry. Though the war in Tianhai City was over, he remained vigilant. Every day, he spent hours training. First, he practiced martial arts with Liang Yue. His close-combat skills were a weak point, so improving his hand-to-hand combat was crucial. He didnt to fight up close, but he needed to be of it. Second, he worked on developing his superhuman ability. By now, his power level was on par with Bian Junwus. Though he wasnt as monstrous as Yuan Kongye, he was still a formidable superhuman. With great power came subtle changes in his abilities. Zhang Yi needed time to familiarize himself with his upgraded skills. His intense training set the pace for everyone else in the shelter. Even Uncle You and Fatty Xu couldnt afford to slack off. After learning about the ranking system for superhumans, they realized they were Delta-tiermeaning their potential had a hard cap. But Zhang Yi had reminded them that power level wasnt everything. A well-trained lower-tier superhuman could still take down a stronger opponent with skill and strategy. So they trained relentlessly, determined not to be a burden in future battles. Deep down, everyone sensed that their peaceful days wouldnt last forever. At some pointmaybe soonthey would face new challenges. That day came sooner than expected. Because an email from Jiangnan District had just arrived in Zhang Yis inbox. It was a rare clear evening. The snowfall had stopped, and the weak sunlight filtered through the clouds, casting a pale glow over the shelter. The sun was white, its light cold and devoid of warmthjust bright enough to illuminate the frost-covered ground. Inside the shelter, Zhang Yi lounged in the living room, sitting across from the roaring fireplace. The firewood crackled, its orange flames flickering as wisps of smoke were drawn away by the air filtration system. Zhang Yi wore a plush blue fleece robe, his bare feet resting on an imported Roman-style couch. Yang Siyah sat beside him, practicing a new foot massage technique she had recently learned. As he scrolled through his phone, Zhang Yis eyes landed on an email labeled "Jiangnan District Supreme Commanders Office." His instincts immediately went on high alert. "Did Baili Changqing break his promise and leak my information?" Zhang Yi frowned slightly. His life was incredibly comfortable right now. The thing he wanted was to be roped into working for someone else. He clicked on the email and read through it carefully. His expression relaxed. It wasnt a personal messageit was an open letter. The contents were a command issued to every major superhuman organization in Jiangnan District. All superhumans were ordered to report to Jiangnan District Headquarters on April 8thwithout exception. The message was signed by Zhu Zheng, Supreme Commander of Jiangnan District. There were no threats in the email. But it didnt take a genius to figure out what would happen to anyone who refused to go. Ignoring the summons would be the same as against Jiangnan District. And that would mean facing the full wrath of Jiangnans military. Zhang Yi had no doubt that a unit like Bian Junwus Black Robe Squad could wipe out an entire citys worth of superhuman factions with ease. "So, the day has finally come. No surprise there." Zhang Yi sighed lazily. He wasnt thrilled about leaving Tianhai City, but he had always known this day would come. Ever since the Glacial Age began, centralized governance had collapsed, leaving each region to fend for itself. Countless independent factions had risen from the chaos. Now that things were stabilizing, the larger powers were bound to start reasserting control. If left unchecked, the fragmented warlord states would eventually plunge the world into deeper chaos. And if an enemy appeared, they would be too divided to fight back. Jiangnan District was simply making its moveconsolidating the scattered cities under its rule. Zhang Yi understood their logic. He just being dragged into it. His only concern was managing his own little territory. And he wasnt the only one who received this email. Across Jiangnan Districts hundreds of cities, every major faction had been contacted. Reactions varied. "Jiangnan District is calling us in? What is this, a pilgrimage?" "Are we going to war? Nah, probably not yet." "Damn, I dont wanna go! Im living like a damn king out here! Too bad I cant fight themguess I have no choice." "I wonder what the outside world looks like now Might as well go check it out." Zhang Yi lazily scrolled through his phone. He knew he couldnt refuse. Even with his newfound strength, there was no point in going against the biggest power in the region. But before making any decisions, he needed information. S~ea??h the Novl?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He pulled up Baili Changqings contact number, smirked, and pressed dial. Author''s Note Chapter 562: Consolidating Power Chapter 562: Consolidating Power Baili Changqing was now the captain of the Black Robe Squad, which meant he wasnt supposed to leak regional intelligence to Zhang Yi. However, there was a deep secret between them. So when Zhang Yi reached out to ask about the gathering, Baili Changqing had no choice but to share at least some information. Even if he could only reveal a fraction, it was still better than Zhang Yi making wild guesses on his own. At this moment, in Blizzard City, Baili Changqing was dressed in casual clothes, sitting at the dining table, waiting for dinner. Outside, snow was falling heavily, but inside, the scene was warm and cozy. His eight-year-old son, a chubby little boy, was using chopsticks to poke at the food in his bowl, while his wife was busy in the kitchen making soup. Despite its simple appearance, their home was classified as an A-grade residential area in Blizzard Cityonly captains and their families were allowed to live there. Baili Changqing had just been promoted recently, and with good fortune came a good mood. Even his time with his wife had been especially passionate lately. But when he picked up his phone and saw the caller ID labeled "Zhang Yi," his smile instantly froze. His promotion had a big secret behind itZhang Yis contributions had been divided among the entire investigation team. If the headquarters had followed standard procedure, Zhang Yi would have been the one summoned, and while it wasnt guaranteed hed be made captain, it certainly wouldnt have fallen to Baili Changqing. With this leverage in Zhang Yis hands, Baili Changqings expression turned complicated. Little Hu looked at his fathers odd expression and asked, Dad, whats wrong? Baili Changqing looked at his son and smiled. Its nothing, just some work matters. You and Mom go ahead and eat. He took his phone, walked into the bathroom, locked the door, and carefully glanced around before answering. Hello, Zhang Yi? Who else would it be? Captain Baili, how have you been? Hearing Zhang Yis teasing tone, Baili Changqing took a deep breath. Thanks to you, Im a captain now. What do you want? Zhang Yi got straight to the point. Whats the deal with the Jiangnan Districts summons? Tell me about it. Baili Changqing relaxed upon hearing that. Oh, so its about that! You got the email, didnt you? Just now. Then thats right. The Commander recently made the decision to consolidate all available forces in Jiangnan District. We also received the notice. Since many Superhumans from different places will be coming on the eighth day of Xiyue, we need to maintain order in Blizzard City. At least two investigation teams will be present. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi recalled that Bian Junwu had mentioned that the headquarters had a total of six investigation teams. Each of them was powerful enough to sweep through an entire region. Not only were their members all high-level Superhumans, but they were also equipped with the most advanced technology and resources provided by Jiangnan District. However, Zhang Yi wasnt concerned about that. His main focus was the true purpose of this gathering. Are they summoning us to recruit us into a unified Superhuman force under regional management? Baili Changqing scratched his head. That part, I really dont know. The headquarters doesnt exactly share their intentions with frontline operatives like us. But honestly, I think youre overthinking it. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. Oh? Why do you say that? Baili Changqing explained, It takes a massive amount of resources to support a single Superhuman. If the entire Jiangnan Districts forces were to be centralized, wouldnt the district have to provide for all of your living, training, and equipment needs? Even with all of Blizzard Citys wealth, it couldnt sustain that kind of burden. Zhang Yi scoffed. Its just a few thousand people. You really cant afford to feed us? Baili Changqing laughed heartily. Superhumans do have big appetites, but food isnt the issue! We have our own agricultural zones for self-sufficiency. The real problem is the specialized medicine needed to enhance Superhumans. Zhang Yis eyes flickered. Theres something like that? Of course! A district-level power like ours has access to the most advanced national technology and the best Superhuman training methods. Otherwise, how do you think Blizzard Citys Superhumans are generally stronger than those from other cities? Zhang Yi had learned something new, but he wasnt envious. If gaining strength meant giving up his freedom, hed rather not have it. Besideshe was already strong enough. After hearing Baili Changqings explanation, Zhang Yi rubbed his nose. So, I can take this to mean that Jiangnan District wants us under their control but doesnt want to provide resources for us? Baili Changqing shrugged. Not exactly! Given the chaotic times, external Superhumans are an incredibly powerful force. The Commander wants to harness that power while ensuring it doesnt spiral out of control. So theyll definitely offer you something reasonable in exchange. Zhang Yi felt a little more at ease. If that were the case, it wouldnt hurt to go and take a look. As long as he concealed his true strength, no one would know his real capabilities. Alright, after all that talk, I guess Ill have to see for myself. Baili Changqing grinned. Ill treat you to a drink when you get here! Sure, dont worryI was planning to find you anyway. Zhang Yi responded with a smile. Baili Changqing, of course, wanted to stay on Zhang Yis good side so he wouldnt expose their shared secret. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi took the opportunity to extract as much intelligence on Blizzard City as possible. Both got what they wanted. After ending the call, Zhang Yi stretched and called out to Yang Siyah. Gather everyone. Weve got work to do. Yang Siyah, having overheard the conversation, already had a general idea of the situation. She sighed softly, realizing that their peaceful days were once again about to be disturbed. She nodded and went to inform everyone to assemble in the living room. Zhang Yi sat up on the sofa, grabbed a piece of frozen cake from the table, and took a bite. He had to show some respect to Jiangnan Districts summons. But the message only stated that the leaders of various forces had to attendit never said they couldnt bring others along. Zhang Yi considered taking his teams main combatants with him. This was the first large-scale Superhuman gathering in Jiangnan District. No one knew how many regional powers would be meeting in Blizzard City. Surviving the apocalypse and forming a stronghold meant that none of these forces were weak. When so many powerful figures gathered in one place, conflict was inevitable. Zhang Yi wasnt one to start trouble, but it was always best to be prepared. While waiting for his team to assemble, he made a call to Xing Tian to see if he had received the same message. Xing Tian confirmed it. Yeah, I just got it too. Zhang Yi, are we going or not? Zhang Yi thought to himselfif Xing Tian had received the notice, then Xiao Honglian and Chen Jingguan must have as well. That meant the entire Tianhai City faction would be heading there together. Author''s Note Chapter 563: Choosing Who Will Go to Blizzard City Chapter 563: Choosing Who Will Go to Blizzard City Zhang Yi said to Xing Tian, Of course were going. Lets stick togethernumbers bring strength. Itll also help deter anyone who doesnt know their place from causing trouble. His team operated on an elite structure, meaning they had fewer members. Bringing along the other three factions would provide a bufferif anything went wrong, they could take the hit first. A perfect plan. Xing Tian was already fully committed to following Zhang Yi, so he readily agreed. Alright, just let me know when were leaving. Done deal. After hanging up, Zhang Yi made the same proposal to the other two factions. As expected, they had also received the summons from Jiangnan District and were willing to accompany him to Blizzard City. By the time the calls were finished, everyone had gathered. Hearing the summary from Yang Siyah, the group was already deep in discussion in the living room, curiosity and concern written all over their faces. They didnt know much about Jiangnan District, but they were well aware that it possessed immense power. Aside from its advanced modern weaponry, the Superhumans from that region were all extremely strong. Bian Junwus Black Robe Squad alone had left a lasting impression on all of Tianhai City. Zhang Yi straightened up and addressed the group. Alright, since everyones here, let me explain why I called you over. Jiangnan Districts headquarters has issued a summons to every faction in its territory. We are required to be in Blizzard City, Jinling, by April 8th. Theres no room for negotiation, and we cant refuse. We have to go, so Im telling you now to start preparing. There was no point in discussing alternativesthey werent foolish enough to oppose Jiangnan District. Going was the only option. Zhang Yi was simply informing them in advance. The group immediately erupted into conversation. Fatty Xu voiced his concern. Why are they suddenly calling us over? Could there be some kind of scheme? Uncle You speculated, I doubt it. Its probably just a large-scale military review, like a show of force. Fatty Xu frowned. Or could it mean war? Uncle You hesitated. Hard to say. But I doubt it. He chuckled. Even in the apocalypse, there are six major districts guarding Huaxia. Who would dare make a move against them? Listening to their concerns, Zhang Yi decided to share what he had learned from Baili Changqing. No need to worry. Ive already spoken to my contacts over there. This gathering is likely meant to establish Jiangnan Districts authority and bring all factions under unified control. Its not about forcing us to join them or making us leave Tianhai City. Zhang Yi shrugged. After all, if we left, Tianhai City would become a ghost town, and others would start eyeing it for themselves. I dont think Jiangnan District would make such a reckless decision. Now, lets decide who will be going. Zhang Yi scanned the room and stated plainly, Same as always: me, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, Liang Yue, and Hua Hua will head to Blizzard City. The rest of you will stay behind. But not everyone agreed. Zhou Keer looked at him with wide eyes. Zhang Yi, this is a rare Superhuman gathering for all of Jiangnan District! I want to go toomaybe I can be useful! Zhang Yi chuckled. Youre a doctor. Were not going there to fight, so why would you need to come? You never know! Zhou Keer clung to his arm, pouting. You said it yourselfthere will be all kinds of people there. If something happens and a fight breaks out, wouldnt it be better to have a personal doctor with you? Zhang Yi smirked. You think Blizzard City wont have doctors? Zhou Keer raised an eyebrow and gave him a meaningful look. Would you trust their doctors to treat you? Her expression carried a hidden warning. Zhang Yi frowned and pondered for a moment before realizing the issue. Youre saying if I accept their treatment, they could obtain intel on my abilities? Jiangnan District had cutting-edge scientific research and specialized institutions for evaluating Superhumans. If they examined him, they might uncover his true strengtheven the specifics of his abilities. Zhou Keer nodded seriously. Im worried theyll get a sample of your DNA and use it to create weapons against you. Zhang Yis eyes darkened. He immediately thought of the Origin Bomb. That weapon had been specifically developed to counter Superhumans. If someone got his genetic data and designed a weapon tailored to him, it wouldnt be impossible. The realization sent chills through the room. Its that serious? So even if we go, we have to be extremely careful not to leave any traces. Fatty Xu, his face grim, started considering his own habits and quietly decided to bring some chili water with himjust to make sure he didnt leave any DNA behind. Zhou Keers reasoning convinced Zhang Yi. When it came to medical care, it was best to rely on their own people. He nodded. Alright, youre coming with us. Yes! Zhou Keer beamed with excitement. This was a rare chance to travelof course, she didnt want to miss it. At that moment, Lu Keran glanced at Zhou Keer enviously, then quickly volunteered. Big Bro, take me with you too! Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi ruffled her hair. Dont make trouble. If too many of us go, whos going to hold down the fort? But Lu Keran gave him a reason he couldnt refuse. Big Bro, Jiangnan District has tons of advanced weaponry. The Origin Bomb isnt their only trump card. Dont you want to get your hands on some of their tech? She placed a hand over her chest and declared confidently, If I get the chance to examine their weapons, I can analyze their construction and materials. Theres a high probability I can replicate them! Zhang Yi slammed his hand on the table. Youre coming! Even if no one else goes, my genius little sister to! And just like that, the team heading to Blizzard City was decided. The others, however, had no plans to join. Yang Siyah and Zhou Haimei preferred staying home, enjoying their peaceful days. Yang Xinxin had to remain behind as wellshe would provide technical support for Zhang Yis team while also maintaining the shelters security. With Zhang Yi gone, the shelters safety rested in her hands. Thus, the final lineup for the trip to Blizzard City was: six people and one cat. Author''s Note Chapter 564: Xiaomiao Mountain Subway Station Chapter 564: Xiaomiao Mountain Subway Station After confirming the number of people going to Blizzard City, Zhang Yi sent back a brief reply: Received. It was basic courtesyleaving a message on "read" without a response could come off as arrogant. Not long after, another email arrived. The message was straightforward: "Please arrive at Xiaomiao Mountain Subway Station in Lu River District on April 7th at 2:30 PM. A designated contact will be there to receive you." Zhang Yi was slightly surprised. He had assumed they would drive themselves to Blizzard City, but it seemed arrangements had been made for their transportation. On second thought, it made sense. If everyone arrived in their own vehicles, the sheer number of people and cars would be a logistical nightmare. With that settled, Zhang Yi instructed everyone at the shelter to start packing their things. There were still two days until April 7th. He then initiated a conference call, bringing in Xing Tian, Xiao Honglian, and Chen Jingguan. The three appeared on screen without delay, not daring to be negligent. Ive replied to Jiangnan Districts email, Zhang Yi said. Theyve arranged for someone to pick us up. What about your sides? All three reported receiving the same instructionssame time, same place. No surprises there. Zhang Yi nodded but couldnt help feeling a bit uneasy. If he had been careless and ignored that email, it might have caused some unnecessary misunderstandings. Whats so special about Xiaomiao Mountain Subway Station? Are we really taking a subway to Blizzard City? Zhang Yi asked. Xiao Honglian and Xing Tian looked puzzled. Only Chen Jingguan remained calm. Huaxias transportation network has two systems: civilian and military. Some railway and subway lines are not publicly accessible. They were built discreetly, and ordinary citizens have no knowledge of them. I remember theres a special rail line running through Xiaomiao Mountain. Before the apocalypse, Chen Jingguan had been the son of a high-ranking military officer, so he had some inside knowledge. Zhang Yi nodded. I see. If its a dedicated line, it makes sense that its still operational despite the apocalypse. Impressive. After a brief moment of admiration, Zhang Yi reminded them to limit the number of people they broughtonly a few elite Superhumans should accompany them. Of course, that was easier said than done. The three major bases had already suffered immense losses, with most of their Superhumans wiped out in previous battles. Now, even if they combined their remaining forces, they barely had ten Superhumans left. They had fewer people than a single base used to have. The silver lining was that those who survived were the absolute elite, which was at least somewhat reassuring. Understanding the reality of their situation, the three bases began their preparations. Two days later, April 7th, noon. Zhang Yi and his group set out. As a Spatial-type Superhuman, the biggest advantage was never having to worry about packing. He could just bring everything. Before departure, Zhang Yi carefully checked his weapons and gearmaking sure his combat suit was intact, his dagger was in an easily accessible spot, and his firearms in Spatial Storage were loaded and ready to fire at a moments notice. With everything in order, six people and one cat left the shelter. After saying their goodbyes to Yang Xinxin and the others, they headed for Xiaomiao Mountain Subway Station. The station was only about thirty kilometers away. Driving at a steady pace, they arrived in less than an hour. Upon arrival, Zhang Yi spotted the vehicles from Xing Tians three factions already parked there, waiting. Despite Zhang Yi repeatedly telling them not to bring too many people, it was clear that each faction had brought at least ten heavily armed elite warriors or Superhumans. As Zhang Yi stepped out of his vehicle, Xing Tian and the others quickly approached him. Zhang Yi, youre here! Zhang Yi smirked at them. At this rate, if every faction brings this many people, wont there be tens of thousands of us? Xiao Honglian sighed. Were just being cautious. Its better to be safe than sorry. Zhang Yi understood where she was coming from. Since the apocalypse began, Tianhai City had been in constant conflict, and countless people had perished. Now, heading into an unfamiliar environment filled with powerful factions, it was natural to feel uneasy. Fair enough. Zhang Yi didnt say much more on the matter. Leading the group toward the subway station, he casually used his Spatial ability to store away their Snow Vehicles. Seeing this, Xiao Honglian stepped forward with a grin. Zhang Yi, why dont you store our vehicles too? If we leave them here too long, they might get damaged. Her request was a clear show of trust. After all, Snow Vehicles were crucial strategic assets for their factions. sea??h th n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Xing Tian and Chen Jingguan chimed in immediately. Yeah, yeah! Your ability is super convenient. Do us a favor? Zhang Yi smiled and nodded. If you trust me, Ill help you out. Of course we do! everyone replied in unison. With a simple wave of his hand, all their Snow Vehicles vanished into his Spatial Storage. Seeing this, Xiao Honglian and the others were filled with envy. Spatial-type abilities were truly incredibleperfect for both offense and support. Upon reaching Xiaomiao Mountain Subway Station, they found it buried under thick layers of snow. Fatty Xu stepped forward, activating his ability. Spreading his fingers toward the ground, he unleashed [Snow Gust], instantly sending the heavy snow whirling away like a hurricane. Within moments, the subway entranceburied under ten meters of snowwas revealed. As they descended, they immediately noticed that this station was different from civilian ones. The walls were thicker and made of high-grade concrete. Running a hand over the surface, Zhang Yi could feel its reinforced durability, capable of withstanding powerful impacts. After all, this was a military subway lineits construction was leagues beyond standard infrastructure. Uncle You turned on a spotlight, illuminating the dark underground as they moved toward the platform. The air below was cold and dry. With no signs of life, it was hard to believe a train would actually pass through here. Since they had arrived early, there was still an hour before 2:30 PM. The group sat around, chatting to pass the time. Xing Tian and Xiao Honglian casually discussed their expectations for Jiangnan District. They had no real knowledge of it. But unexpectedly, Zhang Yi managed to get some useful intel from Chen Jingguan. Author''s Note Chapter 565: The Blizzard City Express Chapter 565: The Blizzard City Express Chen Jingguan came from a distinguished backgroundhis father was a high-ranking military officer. Otherwise, he wouldnt have achieved the rank of navy major before the age of thirty. Although the apocalypse had reshuffled all previous titles and authority, his resources and connections remained intact. Just like how Chen Xinian, the leader of West Hill Base, had an old friendship with Zhu Zheng, the commander of Jiangnan District, Chen Jingguan also had friends in Blizzard City. At this moment, the major factions in Tianhai City were all tied together, each hoping to gain Zhang Yis protection. So, Chen Jingguan eagerly approached Zhang Yi and shared what he knew about Jiangnan Districts recent summons. I have a friend who serves as a company commander in the Blizzard City Defense Force. I asked him about the situation, and he does know a few things. This time, Commander Zhu Zheng has summoned all major and minor factions in Jiangnan District, mainly to plan for the future. First, its been half a year since the apocalypse began. By now, most places have formed stable factions instead of the previous chaos. Headquarters wants to unify and manage these forces. Second, consolidating power is also a measure to defend against external threats or rampaging mutated creatures. Zhang Yi glanced at Chen Jingguan and asked curiously, I understand the concern about mutated creatures, but what do you mean by external threats? Right now, every country on Blue Star is struggling to survive in this Ice Age. They can barely protect themselveswho has the energy to harass us? As they spoke, the others perked up their ears and listened closely. Chen Jingguan smirked knowingly. Despite losing an eye and now wearing an eyepatch like a pirate, his noble upbringing still lent him a certain elegance. With both hands in his pockets, he chuckled lightly, A large-scale war isnt likely, but Ive heard that small-scale border conflicts have never really stopped. The key issue lies in Huaguos geographical position! As everyone knows, our national borders are surrounded by numerous countries of varying sizes. Huaguo is vast. While our military is still strong, our troop numbers are no longer what they used to be, making it exhausting to handle the frequent small-scale skirmishes at the borders. After a pause, Chen Jingguan added, Of course, this situation isnt unique to Huaguo. Its actually happening everywhere across the globe. Some smaller countries have even collapsed entirely. Zhang Yi rubbed his temples and said indifferently, Too many pests to kill them all. But matters of state are for those in power to handle. Thats not something we need to worry about. The higher-ups of each district will make the decisionsthey have more experience dealing with these things than we do. As for us, at most, were just pawns. We should just focus on doing what we can. Zhang Yis philosophy in life had always been: His priority was ensuring the safety of himself and those around him. But if the time ever came when his country truly needed him, he wouldnt turn his back. At that moment, the veteran soldier You Jiguang spoke loudly, If anyone dares invade our land, Ill be the first to take up arms and drive them out! Xiao Honglian crossed her arms and said coolly, That goes without saying. But if what youre saying is true, at least I can relax a bit. Now that we know the purpose of this gathering, we wont have to stay on edge all the time. The others remained silent, but their eyes burned with intensity. They could fight each other for resourcesthat was an internal matter. But if the day ever came when an outsider dared invade, they wouldnt hesitate to lay down their lives to fight! Ever since the apocalypse began, they had seen too much death. Their fear of it had dulled significantly. If they had to die, they wanted their deaths to mean something. Just as the conversation grew heated, Hua Hua, who was perched on Zhang Yis shoulder, suddenly straightened up. Its eyes widened like brass bells, staring intensely at the far end of the subway tunnel. Meow With its white paws, it patted Zhang Yis tactical helmet, signaling that something was ahead. Zhang Yi immediately turned to look toward the tunnels end. After a long moment, a faint light suddenly flickered in the darkness, accompanied by the thunderous rumbling of an approaching train. Its here. Zhang Yi spoke in a low voice. Everyone turned to look, feeling both excitement and tension. The unknown always carried a sense of apprehension. Before long, the trains lights cut through the tunnels darkness, illuminating the group. A military-green train charged through the underground like a roaring dragon, swiftly arriving at the platform before them. Its speed was incredibleit was practically an underground bullet train. Hiss The train came to a stop, releasing a burst of steam. Then, the doors openedbut only one of them. Standing in the doorway was a tall train attendant dressed in a black uniform. She was nearly 1.9 meters tall, with skin as pale as snow. Despite the bright smile on her face, there was something chillingly cold about it. It was an eerie kind of beautyone that felt almost inhuman. Sure enough, Lu Keran whispered to the group, Thats a robot. Zhang Yi suddenly understood why she gave him such an unsettling feeling. The train attendant bowed slightly and said, Ladies and gentlemen, please board the Blizzard 13 Express. After that, she stepped aside to make way for them. Zhang Yi maintained a calm expression and was the first to step aboard. Once inside, the group immediately noticed how different it was from an ordinary subway. From the seats to the flooring and interior design, everything was distinct from a civilian train. At the far end of the car, several massive green metal crates were stacked together, glowing faintly with red light. No one knew what they were for. Zhang Yi wasnt one to ask unnecessary questions. He simply found a seat in the middle and sat down. Zhou Keer and Lu Keran quickly sat beside him. The train car was spacious enough for everyone to have a seat. Yet, no one dared to sit next to Zhang Yi, nor near the three major faction leaders. Still, these survivors had been hardened by the apocalypse. They werent delicate or fussy. They simply found spots throughout the car, leaning against the walls to rest. Before long, the doors hissed shut once more. The train attendant remained by the door, her trademark smile frozen in place, staring straight ahead. And just like that, the train once again became a roaring dragon, thundering forward into the darkness. There were no stop announcements. No route map. At first, Zhou Keer and Lu Keran sat rigidly, but boredom soon got the better of them. Eventually, they leaned against Zhang Yis shoulder and dozed off. But Zhang Yi didnt sleep. With Blizzard City just aheadthe legendary fortress rumored to be one of the strongest in the new worldthere was no way he could relax. Author''s Note Sarch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 566: Tigers and Leopards Gather Chapter 566: Tigers and Leopards Gather After traveling in darkness for an hour and a half, the train suddenly stopped midway. However, the doors didnt open. Through the windows, Zhang Yi and the others could faintly see the dim, eerie light outside. They pressed against the glass, peering out, only to witness a swarm of people flooding into another carriage. Their attire was entirely different from Zhang Yis group, though it was clearly a specialized outfit with advanced insulation, designed for extreme cold. Due to the dim subway lighting, Zhang Yi couldnt make out their faces. However, he could sense the thick killing intent lingering in the air. It was obviousthis was another group of apocalyptic overlords, individuals who had fought their way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood to claim dominance over their respective cities! So, only the most ruthless are heading to Blizzard City, huh? Zhang Yi remarked with a sigh. But when he said that, Xing Tian, Xiao Honglian, and Chen Jingguan all gave him strange looks. Ruthless? Was he talking about ? If they were ruthless, then Zhang Yi was himself! Even though Zhang Yi had repeatedly reminded them never to disclose his abilitiesespecially his true strengthto outsiders, everyone in Tianhai City knew the truth. After all, Zhang Yi had single-handedly slain Yuan Kongye, who had once ruled at the apex of the Ypsilon Realm! Now that he had absorbed Yuan Kongyes core energy, who could even fathom the level of his power? In reality, Zhang Yi often forgot just how strong he was. He always saw himself as an ordinary person and constantly reminded himself of that. Only by maintaining this mindset could he avoid arrogance and making the same mistakes as Yuan Kongye. If the situation had been reversed back then, if Zhang Yi had been in Yuan Kongyes position, the outcome would have been completely different. Yuan Kongye lost because she overestimated her own strength. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, silently observing the situation outside. Soon, the train resumed its journey. This scene repeated itself nine more times. Zhang Yi wasnt sure which group of passengers they were, but judging by the geographical order, they shouldnt have been too late in the lineup. From this, he could roughly gauge how many cities in Jiangnan District housed significant Superhuman factions. After all, minor groups wouldnt need a personal summons from Jiangnan District. Take Tianhai City, for example. Although the Followers of the Snow God war had left only the Western Alliance standing, the city itself was vast, surrounded by smaller towns and districts. Sarch* The n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were undoubtedly small pockets of human survivors scattered around. Jiangnan District didnt need to govern these scattered groups directly. As long as they controlled the major powers, those factions would naturally manage the smaller ones. After a long journey, the train finally arrived at a brightly lit platform. The moment they pulled into the station, Zhang Yi knew immediatelythey had arrived in Jinling. That was the only place in Blizzard City still capable of maintaining operational subway systems, which explained the lighting. Zhang Yi glanced at his satellite phonethe time read a little past 6 PM. They had been traveling for over three hours, factoring in detours through other cities, which seemed reasonable. At that moment, the robotic train attendant suddenly tilted her head, turning to face Zhang Yis group. With a smile, she announced, Ladies and gentlemen, the terminal stationBlizzard Cityhas arrived! Please gather your belongings and disembark promptly. Everyone, the terminal station Blizzard City has arrived! Please pack your luggage and belongings and get off the car as soon as possible Zhang Yi rose slowly, speaking in an even tone, Lets go. There was a hint of tension in everyones eyes as they stood up instinctively, waiting for Zhang Yi to lead the way. Zhou Keer and Lu Keran were especially cautious, sticking close to Zhang Yi without taking a single step away. As Zhang Yi stepped off the train, he saw that all the carriages had opened their doors. From them, waves of warriors clad in combat geararmed to the teethmarched out. Each one resembled an ancient heavily armored soldier, encased in thick battle suits. They stood shoulder to shoulder, warily sizing each other up with cold, hostile gazes. Among them, a few dressed in peculiar outfitssome even in thin clothingstood out. And there were even giants over five meters tall, forced to crouch as they exited the train. A chaotic mix of individuals, like a World Expo of the Apocalypse. The atmosphere was heavy with murderous intent and unease. Zhou Keer and Lu Kerans faces paledthey were struggling to endure the oppressive killing aura suffusing the area. It wasnt that these warriors were deliberately trying to intimidate others. Rather, killing intent was something that naturally emanated from a person who had slaughtered many. It wasnt visible to the eye nor detectable by the nose, but the body could instinctively sense it. Like how a dog would freeze in fear upon seeing a butcher who had slaughtered countless of its kind. Of course, some individuals purposefully exuding their aura to assert dominance. Zhang Yi, however, was not among them. Despite the sheer number of people he had killed, he wasnt a bloodthirsty maniac. His nature was defensivehe only struck back against those who attacked him first. Thanks to his philosophy of survival (The Art of Staying Low), he had mastered the ability to conceal his killing intent. To those who didnt know him, he might even appear harmless at first glance. Zhang Yi deliberately slowed his pace, avoiding taking the lead. Because the one who walks at the front is always the first target. While keeping a low profile, he quietly observed the other Superhumans around him. Not just Zhang Yialmost every faction leader here was doing the same. Everyone was wary of the powerhouses from other cities. In the apocalypse, there were no true friends or enemies. People could cooperate for mutual benefit one moment and go to war the next over resources. Most cities had stabilized now. Any new conflicts would likely be full-scale wars between cities. Some Superhumans flaunted their power openly, making it known they were forces to be reckoned with. Others remained shrouded in mystery, cloaked in black robes that concealed their faces entirely. Some were relaxed, calmly observing others and allowing themselves to be scrutinized in return. Suddenly, Zhang Yi felt several hostile gazes directed at them. He instinctively turned his head. A few teams from a neighboring train car were openly staring at them with ill intent. Not just Zhang Yithe rest of the team quickly noticed the unfriendly stares. Chen Jingguan furrowed his brows and whispered, Theyre from Daze City! See that bald guy? His name is Sun Jianming, and he commands a naval fleet. Weve clashed at sea before. Daze City? Zhang Yi was quite familiar with itit was right next to Tianhai City, just southwest of them. He had even visited there often before the apocalypse. Sensing their hostility, Zhang Yi turned to Chen Jingguan. Theyre after ? At that, the others also glanced at Chen Jingguan. If this was personal grudge, no one wanted to get involved unnecessarily. Chen Jingguan grew anxious and quickly explained, We had some friction with Sun Jianming in the past, but right now, theyre not just targeting Chaoyu Base. As I said before, many believe Tianhai Citys forces have weakened, and plenty of people have their eyes on us! Even without Chen Jingguans warning, Zhang Yi had already noticed several other groups discreetly eyeing them. Zhang Yis expression remained neutral. Ignore them for now. Well handle things after this gathering. This was Blizzard Cityno one would dare make a move here. And even if they were foolish enough to try, Zhang Yi had no reason to fear them. The groups eyeing them took their lack of response as cowardice. Sun Jianming sneered, crossing his arms. Looks like Tianhai City really fallen. They used to be so arrogant! But before anything more could happen From the front of the station, a thunderous march of black-clad soldiers filled the air. The Blizzard City Defense ForceYan Yun Battalion. The elite of the elite. A special forces unit among special forces. Author''s Note Chapter 567: The Yan Yun Battalion Chapter 567: The Yan Yun Battalion For the first time, the Yan Yun Battalion revealed itself before the gathered crowd. These men were the purest of soldiersso much so that, in the apocalypse, calling them killing machines wouldnt be an exaggeration. Even among the 300,000 troops stationed in Blizzard City, only 5,000 of them were elite enough to belong to Yan Yun! Unlike the ordinary defense forces, the sole purpose of Yan Yuns existence was to eliminate mutated creatures. Strongmen like Bian Junwu and Baili Changqing had once been a part of this battalion before rising to their current positions. Yet, even with only twenty Yan Yun soldiers standing before them, they managed to instill fear and awe into the hearts of over a thousand Superhumans from the twelve cities of Jiangnan District. Despite having fought through fire and blood themselves, the difference between them and these trained killing machines was painfully obvious. In the crowd, a stunning woman with a high bun and blazing red lips licked her lips as she gazed at the Yan Yun soldiers, her eyes burning with desire. So strong and disciplined Id love to one of them, she murmured. Elsewhere, a grizzled old veteran carrying a black violin case squinted his eyes, as if silently measuring his strength against the battalion. Though most people were intimidated by the presence of the Yan Yun soldiers, fear wasnt their only reaction. For some, this was an opportunitythey were already trying to gauge Jiangnan Districts true power through this elite force. At that moment, a towering figure slowly stepped forward from behind the Yan Yun soldiers. The sound of black leather boots stomping against the ground echoed across the platform. Even Zhang Yi couldnt help but frown. The deliberate loudness of each step was an intimidation tactic, carrying an air of disrespect. Then, the owner of those boots came into full view. He was a tall and gaunt middle-aged man dressed in a green military uniform, with golden general stars gleaming on his shoulders. Over his uniform, he wore a large green cloak, its high collar obscuring half his face. The only visible parts of his face were his sharp, hooked nose and piercing hawk-like eyes. Yet, as his gaze swept across the crowd, everyone felt as if a blade had just sliced across their skinsending a chill down their spines. "What terrifying power!" Zhang Yi immediately sensed danger. It had been a long time since someones mere gaze could make him feel like this. The only people who had ever given him such a feeling were Bian Junwu when he activated Annihilation Mode, and Yuan Kongye when she had just ascended to the Ypsilon Realm. His mind flashed back to something Bian Junwu had once told him And this man in front of him was undoubtedly the leader of the Yan Yun Battalion. His strength was likely on par with, if not greater than, Bian Junwu! After all, when Zhang Yi had met Bian Junwu, the latter had already been terminally ill, far from his peak condition. "Jiangnan Districts headquarters is no joke. There are powerful figures everywhereI need to keep a low profile." Zhang Yi silently reminded himself. Without making a sound, he subtly moved to the back of the group. If even he was being cautious, then the others were downright terrified. Some of the more arrogant Superhumans, who had been releasing their auras to assert dominance, instantly broke out in cold sweat when the generals gaze landed on them. One of them even felt his legs go weak, nearly collapsing to the ground. Then, the man finally spoke. His deep, rumbling voice was like the sound of a cannon being fired from its chamber. Welcome to Blizzard City! I am Tu Yunlie, Minister of Combat Operations for Jiangnan District, and I will be overseeing your arrival. Raising a single finger, his expression turned sharp. But before anything else, let me tell you about the rules of Blizzard City! Listen carefullybecause these rules are absolute. Anyone who breaks them will face severe punishment! This is your first time here. Perhaps youre used to doing as you please in the outside world. But here? You will control yourselves! His uncompromising tone made it clearthere would be no room for negotiation. Unsurprisingly, his harsh words made many people frown in displeasure. But Zhang Yi understood. This was a show of force, meant to subdue the outsiders before trouble could start. After half a year of lawlessness, these men had all been ruling their own domains through violence and bloodshed. sea??h th n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Some had likely engaged in horrific and inhumane acts. For instance, Yuan Kongyeher hatred for men was so extreme that she couldnt even bear to witness intimacy between them and women. She would castrate men on a whim just because she found them disgusting. If Jiangnan District didnt intimidate this group of warlords from the start, at least some of them would cause problems in Blizzard City. Fortunately, no one here was stupid. Although some were clearly unhappy with Tu Yunlies attitude, no one dared to be the first to provoke him. Tu Yunlie continued. Tonight, you will all be assigned living quarters. Tomorrow, the Commander-in-Chief will hold an official summit, and attendance is mandatory. Finally, he ended with a stern warning. Rememberdo not cause trouble here! Leave your barbaric ways outside these walls. With that, Tu Yunlie turned his back on them and strode out of the subway stationwithout even caring about their reactions. To be honest, he was a little disappointed. If anyone had dared to challenge him, he would have gladly executed them on the spotas a lesson to the others. But surprisingly, the twelve-city Superhumans were all disciplined enough to keep their mouths shut. As soon as Tu Yunlie departed, a smiling attendant stepped forward to greet the group. She was a woman dressed in a black-and-white uniform, with a professional and pleasant demeanor. Bowing slightly, she said, Esteemed guests, please follow me. I will be your designated attendant during your stay in Blizzard City. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. I will also be sending Blizzard Citys official regulations to your communication devicesplease read them carefully. Blizzard City follows strict military governance with many rules, so please be mindful to avoid violations. Zhang Yi nodded and smiled. Much appreciated. Under her guidance, the group exited the subway station. And only then did they witness the full grandeur of Blizzard City. Situated in the eastern part of Jinling, Blizzard City was a fortress within a city, occupying only one-fifth of Jinlings total area. It was entirely encased within towering walls that were dozens of meters high and incredibly thick. Inside, the citys infrastructure didnt seem all that different from other places. However, armed soldiers were patrolling everywhere. Their eyes were filled with vigilance, their fingers resting on their guns, watching the newcomers like hawks. For the first time, Zhang Yi felt what it truly meant for a city to be under military rule. Author''s Note Chapter 568: Points City Chapter 568: Points City After arriving, the forces from Zhang Yis city and eleven others were guided by staff members to their designated temporary living quarters. Everyone''s eyes were filled with curiosity. Zhang Yi turned to the female staff member and asked, Miss, what do ordinary people here do? Why dont I see anyone around? The woman smiled as she answered, but her expression was too professionaldevoid of warmth, like a mask of politeness fixed onto her face. Theyre all working. She led the way at a steady pace and continued, In Blizzard City, everyone is assigned work based on their abilities. To keep this city running, someone has to be working 24 hours a day. So, most ordinary people work more than 14 hours a day. In other words, aside from eating and resting, all of their remaining time is dedicated to labor. Of course, this only applies to basic-level workers. Those in specialized technical positions or rare talent roles enjoy a much higher standard of living. The more capable someone is, the better their quality of life. But the majority are just ordinary workers, meaning they spend most of their time laboring. After hearing her explanation, a glint of amusement flickered in Zhang Yis eyes. What about elderly people and children who cant work? What happens to them? Lu Keran interjected, They must receive special care, right? After all, seniors and children have different needs compared to young adults. The staff members smile widened, but there was a hint of bleakness beneath it. Thats not how it works! Whether elderly or children, unless their families can contribute enough to compensate for their lack of labor, they dont qualify to live in Blizzard City. What?! Lu Keran looked stunned. Thats way too cruel! This is just a basic rule of survival in the apocalypse. Zhang Yi responded calmly, Theres no need to be shocked. Even though the Jiangnan District headquarters has plenty of resources, they still have to strictly control the population in this post-apocalyptic world. If they can only sustain a limited number of people, it makes sense that the spots would go to those with greater value. Its logical. Lu Keran sighed. I get the reasoning, but isnt this place supposed to still uphold human civilization? I thought it would be different from Tianhai City. At the very least they should take care of the children. Zhou Keer and Liang Yue both looked uneasy. Indeed, at the very least, children should be protected. Because children are the future. If Blizzard City expelled children just because they couldnt provide enough labor value, what would happen in the long run? The staff member, however, was unfazed. Thats not a problem at all. As long as those with greater value have more children, it balances out. Blizzard City has a birth quota! In times of need, having children is a mandatory duty in the apocalypse. Lu Keran opened her mouth but was at a loss for words. She couldnt fathom that such laws were actually enforced here. Zhang Yi, however, remained indifferent. Upon reaching their destination, they found a bus waiting for them. Everyone boarded. Xiao Honglian and the others were extremely cautious, keeping their conversations to a minimum. They knew that anyone in Blizzard City could potentially report their words and actions. One wrong statement could spell trouble. Zhang Yi had already warned them about this before they set out. Once on the bus, they received a message on their communication devices containing Blizzard Citys regulations. Zhang Yi quickly skimmed through them. The rules were extensiveover a hundred in total. It was clear that these were hastily drafted post-apocalypse policies, yet they covered all aspects of life with strict guidelines. Among them, more than a dozen were highlighted in redspecial reminders for visitors like Zhang Yi. For instance, Blizzard City imposed a strict curfew after midnight. No one was allowed on the streets unless they had special authorization from the citys leadership. Another rule strictly prohibited fighting. Violators would face severe punishment. The exact punishment wasnt specifiedprobably dependent on the circumstancesbut it was safe to assume it wouldnt be light. After all, internal conflicts were something the leadership wanted to avoid at all costs. Zhang Yi carefully read through all the regulations. Fortunately, most of them didnt impose too many restrictions on outsiders like him. As long as he stayed put and waited for the conference to conclude, there wouldnt be any issues. However, the way the city governed its residents left Zhang Yi feeling stifled. He glanced at the female staff member with her ever-present fake smile. Now he understood why she seemed so emotionally detached. Here, survival came before living. For those used to the freedom of a pre-apocalyptic society, suddenly being subjected to such strict governance naturally stripped away parts of their humanityespecially their sense of freedom and joy. Zhang Yi flipped through the rules once more and checked the time. It was a little past 7 PM. Sar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. There were still a few hours left before curfew. Zhang Yi spoke up, Miss, if I go out now and return before midnight, that shouldnt be a problem, right? The staff members expression subtly tensed. She politely replied, Id advise against it. There are patrols stationed throughout the city. Wandering around at night could cause unnecessary trouble. Zhang Yi thought to himself. There was no way he was staying in his quarters all night. Since he was here, he wanted to find Baili Changqing. A face-to-face conversation could help him gather more intel about Blizzard City. At the very least, given their shared secret, Baili Changqing might give him some pointers to avoid making any missteps in tomorrows meeting. Any extra intelligence could prevent him from making a critical error. That was crucial. Zhang Yi didnt argue further. This staff member was just a low-level worker, clearly among the lowest ranks in Blizzard City. He would contact Baili Changqing directly. As an investigation captain, Baili Changqings status should be quite high in Blizzard City. Author''s Note Chapter 569: Undercurrents Chapter 569: Undercurrents Zhang Yi and his team were led to their designated rest area by the staff. It was an apartment-style building, heavily guarded by soldiers. The living conditions inside were decent, with each person receiving a private room. The staff also sent information about the apartments services to everyones communication devices, including meal provisions and other available services. Zhang Yi and the other superhuman organization members from various cities entered the apartment. It was still early, and no one was ready to rest just yet. Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and Chen Jingguan soon gathered in Zhang Yis room to discuss the upcoming meeting. Xiao Honglians expression was grim. As soon as she entered, she voiced her concerns anxiously. Ive been observing. We brought the smallest group. The other cities have hundreds of people each! And I can sense that they have far more superhumans than we do. Thats not all, Chen Jingguan interjected, his tone heavy. Ive noticed a lot of eyes on us. Some of them are anything but friendly. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrowhe had felt it too. Among the twelve city delegations, theirs was undeniably the smallest. And word about Tianhai Citys zombie crisis had surely spread by now. That battle had been too massive to go unnoticed. The zombie horde had already started spreading to nearby cities, and the scale of the conflict alone would have caught the attention of others. Now, Tianhai City was left in shambles, its once-thriving population of superhumans nearly wiped out. It was no surprise they were being looked down upon. Xing Tian scowled. D**n it! If this were before, would they have dared to treat us like this? Back in the day, Tianhai City had been formidablewith the West Base, a powerful sect, and Zhang Yis team all stationed there. Tianhai City was one of the most populous and economically prosperous cities in China. Its strong foundation had ensured its power, even after the apocalypse. It had once been one of the strongest forces in Jiangnan District, second only to Blizzard City. But now, after Yuan Kongyes massacre, Tianhais superhumans had been reduced to a mere fraction of what they once were. It was no wonder they were being underestimated. Zhang Yi, however, showed no anger. He simply said, This is Blizzard City. Even if they have their opinions about us, they wont dare make a move here. Until we understand Jiangnan Districts stance, no one is to act recklessly. If any of you break their rules, I wont be able to protect you. To Zhang Yi, the other eleven cities were just small frynot even worth his attention. With his current strength, he was among the top in Jiangnan District. If anyone was foolish enough to provoke him, hed make sure they regretted it. The real concern was Jiangnan District itself. Not because they necessarily had hostile intentions, but simply because power in uncertain hands was always unpredictable. Hearing Zhang Yis words, Xiao Honglian and the others suppressed their frustration. But Chen Jingguan still looked uneasy. I just worry that while we stay passive, theyll grow bolder. After all The tiger may not wish to harm man, but man still fears the tiger. Zhang Yi glanced at him with a faint smile. Are you saying they might make a move against us? Chen Jingguan crossed his arms and spoke seriously. Tianhai City was an economic powerhouse with abundant resources. But now, only a handful of us are left defending it, and the remaining human population might not even reach ten thousand. Its only natural that others would see it as an opportunity. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint flashing through them. This was something he had already considered. Ive already saiddont think about that for now. Focus on tomorrows meeting. Well deal with the rest when we get back. The others knew that Zhang Yi was the only one holding up Tianhai Citys top combat power. If a conflict with another city ever broke out, it would all come down to him. So, if he said to wait, they would wait. After seeing them off, Zhang Yi prepared to meet Baili Changqing to gather intel for tomorrows meeting. He called Baili Changqing. As expected, Baili Changqing wasnt surprised. He chuckled and said, Your team is staying in Zone B. Im just over in Zone A. Ill send you a temporary electronic pass. Come find me at Password Bar. Zhang Yi grinned. Sounds good. Soon, he received the pass. He glanced around his room. Zhou Keer and Lu Keran were sitting on the bed, watching him with wide eyes. Though they each had their own rooms, Blizzard Citys oppressive atmosphere had clearly unsettled them, leading them to seek the comfort of his presence. Zhang Yi chuckled. You two stay here and rest. Im going to meet an old friend. Zhou Keer smirked. Someone from the Black Robe Investigation Team? Zhang Yi nodded. Yeah, just having a chat. It wasnt a secrethis only acquaintances in Blizzard City were from the Black Robe Squad. Knowing this was important, Zhou Keer and Lu Keran didnt insist on tagging along. Zhang Yi left his room and made his way outside. That was when he realized he wasnt the only one ignoring the warnings. Even though the staff had advised against leaving the apartment building, the hallways were already filled with people talking and making connections. Some had even stepped outside, eager to explore Blizzard City. Just as Zhang Yi was about to leave the building, the female staff member who had guided them earlier hurried over and blocked his path. Excuse me, where are you going? Zhang Yi smiled. Out. She looked even more anxious. Didnt I tell you not to leave the apartment? If the patrol guards catch you Sar?h the ovelFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi cut her off. As long as I dont break Blizzard Citys rules, isnt that fine? The regulations you sent us didnt say we couldnt leave. Her face darkened slightly. But if something happens to you outside, the higher-ups might hold me responsible! Zhang Yi scoffed internally. Ill follow the citys regulations. His smile faded as he fixed his gaze on her. But remember thiswe are guests here. Not subordinates. And certainly not prisoners. With that, he brushed past her without another word, ignoring the frustration on her face as he stepped out into the night. Author''s Note Chapter 570: Password Bar Chapter 570: Password Bar The female staff member had no idea who she was trying to stop. If she did, she would never have dared to stand in Zhang Yis way. Some people, when given even the slightest bit of authority, seem to relish making things difficult for others. After stepping out of the apartment building, Zhang Yi found himself greeted by a light snowfall. The roads were spotlessly clean, with barely any snowflakes in sight. It was clear that the streets were swept daily to ensure smooth traffic flowespecially to accommodate the massive war machines that needed to pass through. As Zhang Yi walked, he noticed numerous fresh footprints on the road. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Clearly, he wasnt the only one who had decided to go out. Among the forces from the twelve cities, there were bound to be people with special connections, much like Chen Jingguan. Zhang Yi pulled out his satellite phone and checked the map that Baili Changqing had sent him. Following the directions, he headed toward Zone A. Blizzard City Government District C Supreme Commanders Office Zhu Zheng sat in his office chair, facing Tu Yunlie, the Minister of Operations. Tu Yunlie stood like a steel spear, his face buried beneath his high-collared coat. Zhu Zheng had just finished listening to Tu Yunlies report, and his expression turned serious. What did you say? Of the thirteen cities we notified, only twelve have arrived? What about Linhai City? Why didnt they show up? Tu Yunlies deep voice rumbled from within his heavy coat. According to the railway records, when the special train stopped at Linhai City, no one showed up at the station. Zhu Zhengs face darkened slightly. Instinctively, he rubbed his left fingers with his right hand. He wasnt angryhe had instead picked up on the peculiarity of the situation. Linhai City was located northeast of Tianhai City, another coastal city. However, it was far less prosperous and smaller in scale than Tianhai. Based on Jiangnan Districts intelligence, Linhai Citys superhuman forces werent particularly strong. They had six moderately sized factions, none of whichindividually or combinedhad the power to oppose Jiangnan Districts authority. Yet, despite receiving a direct summon, not a single person from Linhai had come. That was highly unusual. Had they lost their minds and decided to defy Jiangnan District? That was highly unlikely. Zhu Zheng turned to Tu Yunlie and instructed seriously, Send someone to investigate this carefully. Try to establish contact and see if we can reach them. Tu Yunlie responded immediately, Weve already tried contacting them, but theres been no response. However, we can confirm that they received our message. Zhu Zhengs expression grew even more grave. Could something have happened to them? Tu Yunlie said, Ill send a team to investigate. If they truly dared to defy our orders, we will eliminate them on the spot. Zhu Zheng studied Tu Yunlie for a moment before nodding slowly. Proceed as you see fit. Zhang Yi arrived in Zone A, following the maps guidance. Blizzard City was divided into sectors based on hierarchy. Each zone was separated by thick, towering walls, reinforcing a strict class structure. Here, status wasnt determined by birth but by how much one contributed to the city. Despite the high walls, Zhang Yi could tell that life behind them was far better than in Zone B. It was obvious just from the lights. In the post-apocalyptic world, energy was incredibly valuable. Zone B had adequate lighting, but only for basic living needs. Zone A, on the other hand, was a spectaclevibrant, multicolored lights spilling over the walls like a neon rainbow. Zhang Yi could guess that life behind those walls was reminiscent of a pre-apocalyptic metropolis. Not only did they have quality living conditions, but there were also numerous entertainment options. However, there were significantly more armed guards stationed at the entrance to Zone A. As soon as they saw Zhang Yi, they immediately blocked his path with stern expressions. Identification, please. Zhang Yi opened his device and showed them the temporary pass sent by Baili Changqing. After verifying it, the guards immediately changed their demeanor, stepping aside and greeting him with respect. As security personnel, they had no right to live in Zone A. Anyone who did was automatically someone they envied. Zhang Yi stepped through the gates. The moment he entered, his vision opened up to a dazzling scene. Towering buildings lined the streets, illuminated by flashing neon lights. For a moment, he felt as though he had stepped back in time, returning to the bustling city life of the past. Though the cold weather meant fewer people were out, there were still pedestrians strolling the streets. Shops lined the roads, their brightly lit signs inviting customers inside. Zhang Yi recalled Bian Junwu mentioning that Blizzard City had streets that still mirrored pre-apocalypse prosperity. Now, he believed it. But such luxury was only for the privileged few. Following the map, Zhang Yi arrived at the entrance of Password Bar. The place stood out immediately. Dozens of heavily modified snow vehicles were parked outside, similar to the ones used by Bian Junwus team. The people entering and leaving the bar all had a tough, battle-hardened aura. If theyre not high-ranking security forces, then they must be part of the investigation teams. Looks like this is a veterans club. It made sense that Baili Changqing would frequent a place like this. After all, he had a military background. As Zhang Yi approached the entrance, two black-clad security guards blocked his path. Are you a member? one of them asked. Password Bar operated on a membership system. Most patrons were regulars, and since Zhang Yi was an unfamiliar face, they stopped him for questioning. Zhang Yi smiled. Hold on a moment. He pulled out his phone and dialed Baili Changqing. On the other end, Baili Changqing simply said, Pass the phone to them. Zhang Yi handed his phone to the guards. After a brief exchange, their expressions instantly changed to one of respect. To them, the leader of the Black Robe Investigation Team was the pinnacle of their profession. Apologies, sir. We didnt know you were a guest of honor. Please, go right in! The guards stepped aside, allowing Zhang Yi to pass. This interaction made one thing clearBaili Changqings status in Blizzard City was quite high. No wonder he had been so eager to become a captain. The perks were abundant, and his rank had elevated his social standing significantly. Zhang Yi stepped inside the bar. A female server in a deep red uniform immediately approached him. Are you Mr. Zhang Yi? she asked politely. Captain Baili sent me to escort you. Zhang Yi responded casually, Thats me. The server smiled and turned to lead the way. Please, follow me. Author''s Note Chapter 571: Deng Shentong Chapter 571: Deng Shentong As soon as Zhang Yi stepped into the bar, he was immediately struck by the chaotic and lively atmosphere. The scent of alcohol filled the air, and the hearty laughter of men echoed clearly. However, the waitress in a red dress led Zhang Yi past the crowd to an elevator. Seeing the confusion in Zhang Yis eyes, the woman smiled and explained, "The first floor is for regular customers, while the upper floors are reserved for VIPs." "After all, those with status and power wouldnt be drinking in a noisy public space like ordinary people, would they?" Zhang Yi chuckled, "The class divide is really strict, huh?" The woman giggled behind her hand. "Of course! No matter the time or place, social stratification is inevitable." A strange glint flickered in her eyes. With her experience of dealing with countless people, she could tell that Zhang Yi was no ordinary person. Although he lacked the polished air of an aristocrat, his calm and composed demeanor was entirely naturaldefinitely not an act. He must be someone with a remarkable past. As a waitress here, she wouldnt miss a chance to curry favor with a potential big shot. She longed for the day she could climb up the social ladder and earn a place in Zone A. "You seem unfamiliar. You must have just arrived from the outside, right?" She asked with a smile. Zhang Yis lips curled slightly, but he only gave a faint smile without answering. Trying to dig for information on him? Did she think he was that na?ve? Zhang Yi was extremely cautious when it came to his personal details. He would never reveal anything easily. Seeing that he ignored her, the womans smile deepened, though a fleeting look of displeasure flashed through her eyes. Before long, the elevator arrived at the 13th floor. She gestured politely, "Were here! The person youre meeting is inside. Please, go ahead." Zhang Yi nodded slightly in thanks before stepping out of the elevator. He had expected to see Baili Changqings familiar face. But to his surprise, as he stepped through the doors, he found himself in an enormous, empty room. At the center of the room sat a single chair. Seated in that chair was a man with long silver hair and an unnervingly androgynous yet strikingly beautiful face. He held a glass of red wine in one hand, lounging lazily in the extravagant chair, his gentlemanly smile directed at Zhang Yi. "???" Zhang Yi stared, his mind full of question marks. He had clearly come here to meet Baili Changqingso why was this complete stranger in front of him? Or was this person actually a woman? Looking around, he confirmed that there was no one else in the room. Feeling slightly awkward, he said, "Sorry, it looks like the waitress brought me to the wrong place. Ill be leaving now!" But just as he turned to go, the man suddenly spoke. His voice was unmistakably male. "No, youre in the right place. I told her to bring you here." Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. "Oh? But I dont believe weve met." The man continued as if he hadnt heard, "Your name is Zhang Yi, isnt it? Anyone important enough for Baili Changqing to personally meet must have some skill." He shrugged, adding with a smirk, "Of course, I dont particularly acknowledge him as a captain." "But I have heard a little about you." Zhang Yis expression became serious. This guy spoke as if Baili Changqing was beneath him. And to outright bypass Baili Changqing and summon him herewhat was his true intention? Could he have figured out Zhang Yis background? "And you are?" The silver-haired man glanced at Zhang Yi, his long, fox-like eyes glimmering with amusement. "You should have heard of me before. My name isDeng Shentong!" Zhang Yi: "" Where did this guy get his confidence from? The way he spoke, it was as if knowing his name was supposed to be common knowledge. Feeling a little awkward, Zhang Yi forced a polite smile. "Ah I''ve heard of you, of course." But his obviously perfunctory tone made Deng Shentong frown. His expression darkened. "Wait You mean you really havent heard my name before?" Zhang Yi had no intention of wasting time with this man. He had been dragged here without permission, interrupting his plan to meet Baili Changqing. And now, this narcissist was acting like he was the center of the world? What a freak. "Im not from Blizzard City. Is it really so strange that I dont know you?" "I have a friend to meet, so if youll excuse me" He turned to leave. But the next second, a hand suddenly landed on his shoulder. Zhang Yis pupils contracted, and he reacted instinctively, swinging his arm in a knife-hand strike toward the offender. However, his attack was easily blocked. "Relax," the man chuckled. "I just wanted to get a good look at the kind of person Baili Changqing is meeting." Zhang Yi turned around and sawDeng Shentong. But when he glanced back at the chair, he saw another Deng Shentong, still lounging elegantly, sipping his wine. "Twins?" Deng Shentong did not answer. Instead, both figures spoke at the exact same time. Their overlapping voices echoed through the airuntil suddenly, the room was filled with ten twenty identical versions of Deng Shentong! Each one was a perfect copy, their voices flickering unpredictably. Zhang Yi had no idea what kind of ability he was dealing with, but he immediately grew more cautious. Deng Shentong grinned. "I heard youre a spatial-type Superhuman." "Why dont you show me your abilities? My team happens to be in need of someone like you." "If your skills are good enough, I might consider making you a substitute member of the Celestial Squad." Zhang Yis patience had reached its limit. This guy had been looking down on him since the beginningacting superior, making demands, and completely ignoring his opinion. Zhang Yi didnt care how strong Deng Shentong was. He was not the type to let others push him around. His right eye glowed faintly as he prepared to create distance and counterattack. If necessary, he wouldnt hesitate to unleash his Divine Power at this close range. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The air grew tense. But just as the fight was about to break out Ding! The elevator doors slid open. A massive figure rushed init was Baili Changqing. "Zhang Yi! What the hell are you doing here?" "Come on, Ive been waiting for you! Lets go drink!" He laughed heartily and slung an arm around Zhang Yis shoulders. Deng Shentongs expression darkened slightly, clearly displeased. He said lightly, "Baili Changqing, your friend interests me. I just wanted to have a chat with him. You dont mind, do you?" Baili Changqing scratched his head with a grin. "Hahaha, Captain Deng taking interest in my friend? Thats quite an honor. However" His eyes narrowed slightly. "Wouldnt it have been polite to inform me beforehand?" Deng Shentongs smirk widened, his tone mocking. "If Bian Junwu had said that, I might have cared. But you? Youre not quite qualified to lecture me." Baili Changqings face darkened, his aura surging. "Deng Shentong! Are you trying to cause trouble in Blizzard City?!" Author''s Note Chapter 572: The Six Great Investigation Teams Chapter 572: The Six Great Investigation Teams Deng Shentong frowned, clearly displeased by Baili Changqings attitude. However, now that Baili Changqing had arrived, he couldnt press Zhang Yi any further. Causing a scene here would only lead to trouble from those above him. Besides, he wasnt particularly fixated on Zhang Yihe simply found him to be a potentially useful Superhuman with some potential. He figured Zhang Yi could be a reserve member of his Celestial Squad, maybe even help store some things for him. But making a big deal over it? Deng Shentong wasnt afraid, but he also had no interest in inviting unnecessary trouble. So, with a dismissive wave of his hand, he said, "Forget it. You probably dont even realize what kind of opportunity you just missed. Our Celestial Squad is the strongest in the entire Jiangnan District!" With that, he turned lazily on his heel. The countless figures in the air vanished in an instantalong with Deng Shentong himself. Zhang Yi pondered over Deng Shentongs words. Bian Junwu had once mentioned that Blizzard City housed six investigation teams. Clearly, Deng Shentong was the captain of one of them. At the very least, Zhang Yi had now gotten a rough idea of his abilities. Once Deng Shentong left, Baili Changqing finally exhaled in relief. With a sheepish smile, he said, "Zhang Yi, sorry about that! You just got here, and you already ran into this mess." Zhang Yi gave a faint smile and casually glanced around the room. "Its fine, not really a big deal. At least I got to meet a captain-level figure. Lets go." Baili Changqing led him back to the elevator. On the way down, he began explaining the identity of the man they had just encountered. "That guy earlierhes Deng Shentong, captain of the Celestial Squad, one of the six major investigation teams. Hes incredibly strong, but his arrogance is off the charts." "He comes from the prestigious Deng family in Jinling. With both exceptional talent and a powerful background, hes always looked down on others." "That said, hes not exactly a bad person. Think of him as a privileged young master with overwhelming talent and an equally overwhelming ego." Zhang Yi said indifferently, "Doesnt really matter to me." From what he could tell, Deng Shentong had no particular hostility toward him. However, that condescending attitude was definitely annoying. "By the way," Zhang Yi continued, "Tell me more about the six investigation teams. Id like to be prepared in case I run into them later." Baili Changqing didnt hesitate. "Thats no problem. Everyone in Blizzard City knows about us, anyway." "The Six Great Investigation Teams were personally formed by Commander Zhu Zheng. They are: Celestial, Demon, Ironblood, Black Robe, Rose, and Reincarnation." "Each team has its own distinct style, making them easy to recognize. Our Black Robe Squad wears all-black combat uniforms. The Celestial Squad wears silver armorits actually the Deng familys highest technological creation." "Right now, four of the six teams are out on missions and not in Blizzard City." "The Rose Squad is the most uniquebecause all of its members are women." Zhang Yi nodded, keeping the information in mind. Clearly, the Jiangnan District had its hands full. Otherwise, they wouldnt have convened a regional meeting while still having four investigation teams deployed elsewhere. In other words, they believed just two teams were enough to hold down the fort. Deng Shentong Zhang Yi recalled the elegant yet arrogant silver-haired man. He muttered to himself, "How does he compare to Bian Junwu?" Turning to Baili Changqing, he asked, "Whos stronger?" Baili Changqings expression turned serious. "Like I said before, Deng Shentong is incredibly talented. And his power is heavily tied to the Deng Group, which is terrifyingly influential." "The Deng Group has vast resources, spanning multiple high-tech industriesincluding biotechnology." "His current level of strength is absolutely due to the full backing of his family." "If we compare purely in terms of Superhuman abilities Deng Shentong is actually stronger than Bian Junwu!" "Unlike Bian, he has no severe side effects holding him back." Zhang Yis eyes narrowed. He was well aware of the devastating power of Bian Junwus Extinction ability. And yet, Deng Shentong was supposedly even stronger? That meant this mans power was likely on par with Zhang Yi himself. A dangerous individual, best not to provoke. Baili Changqing added, "Of course, power alone doesnt determine everything. When it comes to actual combat experience, Bian Junwu could wipe the floor with him." Zhang Yi nodded in agreement. Having great power was one thing. But knowing how to fully utilize it in battle was another. It reminded him of the shuriken versus pebble theorya skilled fighter with a pebble could be deadlier than an amateur with a shuriken. Looking at Baili Changqing, Zhang Yi asked playfully, "So, do you know what his ability actually is?" Baili Changqing shot him a glance. "Why do you want to know? Im telling you now, even if you find out, youre better off not fighting him." Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi quickly waved his hands. "Im just curious. He completely messed with me earlierId rather not get caught off guard in the future." Baili Changqing chuckled. "No need to worry! As captain of the Celestial Squad, Deng Shentong may be arrogant, but as long as you dont break the Jiangnan Districts rules, he wont lay a hand on you." "As for his ability I honestly dont know. At this point, barely anyone in the district can make him fight seriously." Baili Changqing shook his head, a trace of bitterness flashing in his eyes. Even though he was the captain of the Black Robe Squad, that didnt mean he was on equal footing with the other captains. He still had a long way to go before he could match Bian Junwu or Deng Shentong. Zhang Yis lips curved slightly. Baili Changqing didnt know Deng Shentongs ability, but Zhang Yi had already figured out a part of it. That multi-image technique wasnt cloningit was merely illusion. From the moment Deng Shentong first appeared seated in the chair, it had only been an illusion. As a spatial-type Superhuman, Zhang Yi was particularly sensitive to distortions in space. That was how he had realized it. Deng Shentong had been hiding in the room the whole time, only revealing himself when he "teleported" behind Zhang Yi. The whole thousand clones trick was just a visual deception. Zhang Yi had let Deng Shentong touch his shoulder on purpose, just to keep his own abilities hidden. That said, it was still an extremely powerful technique. Used properly, it could allow silent assassinations. However, against Zhang Yi, the stealth aspect wouldnt work. Of course, if Deng Shentong was truly on Bian Junwus level, he likely had other abilities. If possible, Zhang Yi would rather avoid conflict with him. Making an ally out of him would be even better. But then he thought about Deng Shentongs pompous attitude And sighed. Forget it. No way Im wasting my time sucking up to some arrogant rich kid. Author''s Note Chapter 573: Wu Di’s Past Chapter 573: Wu Dis Past Baili Changqing led Zhang Yi to a private suite on the seventh floor. From here, they could look down at the chaotic scene belowthe wild revelry unfolding in the bar. This was a place where people could indulge their deepest desires. Burly men sat with bottles of alcohol in one hand and seductive women in the other, losing themselves in pleasure under the dim, hazy lights. On the central stage, six scantily clad women danced under shifting blue lights, their movements enticing and sensual. The atmosphere was decadent and intoxicating, a place where people surrendered to temptation. Zhang Yi observed the scene and smirked. "Lively place." Baili Changqing laughed. "What do you think? You like it here? Haha, you wouldnt find a place like this in Tianhai City so easily." Zhang Yi cast him a lazy glance and said indifferently, "Trust me, if I wanted to, something like this wouldnt be hard to arrange." Baili Changqing scratched his head helplessly. "Ah, right I almost forgot. Youre already the undisputed ruler of Tianhai City." Zhang Yi leaned back onto the sofa, lazily crossing his legs. Sarch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Baili Changqing asked, "What do you want to drink?" Zhang Yi shook his head. "No alcohol. Drinking clouds judgment. You can relax now that youre back in Blizzard City, but I came here for business." Baili Changqing nodded. "Fair enough! So, what do you want to know? But let me say this upfrontthere are some things I can tell you, and some things I cant." Zhang Yi smiled meaningfully. "Dont worry, Im not here to dig for secrets." He locked eyes with Baili Changqing and said, "You know me. I have no interest in staying in Blizzard City. I just want to knowwhat exactly does this gathering require from us?" Baili Changqing rubbed his hands together and sighed. "This is actually related to Bian Junwus death." Hearing Bian Junwus name, Zhang Yis expression turned solemn. When they had taken down Yuan Kongye, Bian Junwu had played a crucial role. Baili Changqing continued, "This was the first time a captain-level figure was killed in action. Headquarters is deeply concerned." "If they keep sending top-tier Superhumans on missions, more high-level casualties will be inevitable." "Thats why theyre mobilizing regional forcesto preserve the strength of Blizzard Citys elite fighters." "And at the same time, this also helps avoid internal conflicts and allows for better management of the entire Jiangnan District." Zhang Yi had already considered this possibility. But what he really wanted to know was something else. "Are they planning to enforce conscription?" Zhang Yi was well aware that his strength was among the best in the entire Jiangnan District. It was only a matter of time before his abilities became known. And if one day headquarters forced him to join an investigation team, he wouldnt be happy about it. Baili Changqing fell silent. After thinking for a moment, he finally said, "I honestly dont know. But I can tell you thisrecruiting powerful individuals has always been our priority." "Blizzard City has a permanent population of over one million. Most of them arent even from here originally." "Every resident goes through a rigorous selection process. If they dont contribute enough, theyre expelled." "And when we find talented people outside, we bring them in." "Thats why, even someone as strong as Bian Junwu had to keep doing missions." "He had a family to provide for. To maintain a high standard of living for them, he needed to keep earning points." The Currency of Blizzard City: Points Baili Changqing explained further. "Money is useless here. Even jewels, gold, and silver are nothing more than scrap metal." "The only real currency is points." Zhang Yi took a sip of hot water, then asked slowly, "So, what youre saying is this grand assembly might select certain people to join headquarters investigation teams?" Baili Changqing chuckled. "Hard to say!" "But at the very least, for someone as outstanding as you? The higher-ups will definitely do everything in their power to keep you here." Zhang Yi smirked at his teasing. "Well, if I do stay, youll have a hard time explaining certain things." In the official mission report about Yuan Kongyes death, Zhang Yis contributions had been deliberately downplayed. If he suddenly showed his true strength, Baili Changqing would have trouble justifying it to Zhu Zheng. Sure enough, Baili Changqings expression stiffened slightly. He cleared his throat. "Dont worry. I already told the commander that youre strong, but your loyalty is questionable. If you joined the district, you could become an unstable factor." "Thats what Zhu Zheng fears the most. As long as you dont shine too brightly, he wont force you to stay." Zhang Yi nodded, feeling slightly reassured. "Thats good to hear." A Visitor: Wu Di Just then, the doorbell rang. A waitresss voice came through the intercom. "Mr. Baili, someone is here to see you. Its Wu Di from the Black Robe Squad." Hearing this name, Zhang Yi frowned slightly. Wu Di had always been hostile toward him, harboring a strange sense of animosity. Zhang Yi had never liked him. "Why is he here?" Baili Changqing explained, "Our squad members come here often to drink. You know how it isinvestigation teams like us are constantly on the front lines, dancing on the edge of death. When we get free time, we go all out to enjoy ourselves." Zhang Yi remained indifferent. "I dont want to see him." Baili Changqing smacked his forehead. "Ah, right. He really had it out for you back then!" Then his expression turned serious. "But actually, I need to explain something to you." "Its about Wu Di." Zhang Yi leaned back on the sofa, tilting his head as he listened. Baili Changqings gaze became nostalgic as he slowly began to recount Wu Dis past. Wu Dis Story Wu Di wasnt originally from Blizzard City. He was someone Bian Junwu had saved during a mission. Back then, Wu Di was just an ordinary office worker, struggling to survive in the apocalypse. On the brink of death, Bian Junwu rescued himand that was also the moment when Wu Di unexpectedly awakened his Superhuman ability. From that day on, Wu Di had followed Bian Junwu everywhere. To Wu Di, Bian Junwu wasnt just his savior. He was his mentor, the one who guided him in the world of Superhumans. He was a father figure. Baili Changqing sighed. "Wu Di doesnt hate you personally. He resents anyone who might replace Bian Junwu." "Because of Bian Junwus internal injuries, he could die at any time. And new team members only join when old ones die." "So, when Bian Junwu started taking a liking to youit meant he realized he didnt have much time left." "Wu Di couldnt accept that. It became an obsession for him. Maybe in his mind, as long as no one new was brought in, Bian Junwu wouldnt die." Author''s Note Chapter 574: The Challenge Chapter 574: The Challenge Zhang Yi listened to Baili Changqings explanation, feeling that the whole situation was utterly ridiculous. So he had ended up shouldering a disaster for no reason. Heh. He let out a faint chuckle, speechless but unwilling to stoop to the level of such a childish man. As long as he doesnt come looking for trouble, thats enough for me. How he sees me is his own problem. Baili Changqing shrugged, but he still wanted to clear up the misunderstanding between Zhang Yi and Wu Di. I think you two should talk more. Maybe youll realize hes actually a decent guyjust a little too simple-minded sometimes! As he spoke, he signaled the waitress to bring Wu Di in. The female server went ahead and opened the private rooms door. Soon, Wu Di walked in. He was dressed in casual black clothes, hands tucked into his back pockets, exuding a rebellious, ghostfire punk aura. However, the once-dashing black hair he had was now a shade of gray-white a lingering aftereffect from the battle against Yuan Kongye. Surprisingly, this change only made him look even more striking, with a mix of charm and dangerous allure. When he saw Zhang Yi, there wasnt the slightest trace of surprise in his eyes. Instead, his gaze was sharp and intense as he strode directly toward him. Zhang Yi, I knew youd come looking for Captain Baili! Ive been waiting for you for so long! At this point, both Zhang Yi and Baili Changqing felt something was off. Wu Di had clearly come for Zhang Yi! Baili Changqing quickly asked, Wu, what are you trying to do? You should understand that the captains death had little to do with Zhang Yi. If it werent for him, we might all have died in Tianhai City! Zhang Yis gaze turned slightly cold, his eyes never leaving Wu Di, in case this brat suddenly attacked. Wu Di bared his teeth in a grin, his expression eerily sinister as he looked at Zhang Yi. Who said the captains death had nothing to do with him? If he hadnt persuaded the captain to use Ice Soul, the captain would have had at least a few more months to live. That time would have been enough for him to return home, to see his wife and children one last time, to spend some final moments with them. And that happiness was taken away by him! Zhang Yi didnt argue. He admitted that when it came to this matter, the only person he felt he had wronged was Bian Junwu. But as compensation, he had given Bian Junwu the majority of the credit for Tianhai Citys victory, ensuring his family would live the rest of their lives in comfort and security. Exchanging a few months of Bian Junwus life for military merits that could protect his family for decadesit was a fair deal, even if he hadnt asked Bian Junwu for his opinion. But as for Wu Di, Baili Changqing, and the others, Zhang Yi felt no guilt at all. Because they were all beneficiaries of the victory, just like him. If youre just here to pick a fight, Im not interested. Zhang Yi stood up from the couch, turning to leave and head back to his apartment for some rest. But just as he took a step, Wu Di suddenly stretched out his arm, blocking Zhang Yis path. Hold on, I finally get to see you todayIm not letting you off so easily! Zhang Yi glanced at the arm blocking his way, a glint of killing intent slowly emerging in his eyes. You want to fight me? Baili Changqing was also getting anxious. Even he wasnt sure how strong Zhang Yi was now. Wu Di was a genius, but he wasnt on Zhang Yis level. Wu Di, dont be reckless! Captain Bian chose to use Ice Soul himself. You cant blame Zhang Yi for that. Wu Di grinned, but his gaze remained ice-cold as he stared at Zhang Yi. I know. But just thinking about how the boss died in Tianhai City makes me unwilling to accept it! Zhang Yi, before he died, the boss kept saying he admired your abilities and wanted to recruit you to join us. Thats why Ive always wanted to fight youto see just how strong you really are. I never had the chance before, but now were both free. So lets have a match! Zhang Yi couldnt help but press his fingers against his forehead. You already know that Bian Junwus death wasnt my fault, so why are you still trying to fight me? Wu Di grinned. I just want to prove that Im stronger than youthat I was more worthy of the bosss expectations! Cold sweat started forming on Baili Changqings forehead. Wu Di, dont be reckless! Youre no match for him right now. Wu Di just chuckled. We wont know until we fight! He turned to Zhang Yi. I already figured out your abilities back in Tianhai City. And you know mine. So this fight will be completely fair. Besides, he was sure of one thing Zhang Yi wouldnt reveal his full power in Blizzard City. At most, he would use the strength he had before absorbing Yuan Kongyes abilities. So fight me with the power you had back then! Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Whats the point of such a fight? I cant think of any reason to accept. Zhang Yi only fought when it was necessary for survival. He wasnt someone who enjoyed meaningless battles. Fighting Wu Di in Blizzard City just because of his obsession? That was definitely not Zhang Yis style. No reason. Wu Dis smile widened as he stared at Zhang Yi. Except this is Blizzard Citymy turf. If you dont accept my challenge, Ill just use my local advantage to make things difficult for you! His tone carried an unmistakable hint of threat. As an investigator, creating trouble for Zhang Yi would be all too easy. He was clearly banking on the fact that Zhang Yi wouldnt want to stir up trouble in Blizzard City. Sure enough, Zhang Yis expression darkened, his gaze turning sharp. Youre playing with fire. Baili Changqing also tried to stop him. Wu, enough is enough! sea??h th N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. But Wu Di shook his head firmly. Captain Baili, you can only command me during missions. This is something I have to do. If I dont, Ill never be able to let it go. So please, stay out of this today! He bared his teeth in a grin, eyes locked onto Zhang Yis. So? Do you accept my challenge or not? Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. He could see the madness and burning determination in Wu Dis gaze. This guy was a lunatic. Zhang Yi understood that if he didnt accept this fight today, Wu Di might go to even greater extremes. So, Zhang Yis lips curled up slightly. Fine. If you want to play, Ill fight you. Then, he held up a finger. But you dont get to call all the shots. I get to set a condition too. At the very least, we need to make this fight worthwhile. It had been a while since hed met such an oblivious fool. But if he had to fight, he wasnt going to do it for free. He was definitely going to squeeze some benefits out of Wu Di. Author''s Note Chapter 575: The Wager Chapter 575: The Wager Facing Wu Dis aggressive attitude, Zhang Yi couldnt help but feel a surge of irritation. He didnt like fighting meaningless battles, but teaching this clueless fool a lesson? That wasnt entirely out of the question. After all, he wasnt someone who just endured everything in silence. But if he was going to fight, he wasnt going to do it for free. Hearing Zhang Yi agree to the fight, Wu Dis eyes lit up with excitement. You agreed? Hahaha, great! As for the wager, name itwhat do you want? Zhang Yi thought for a moment, then pointed at Wu Di. Im only interested in weapons and armor. Jiangnan District is highly advanced in technology, so Im sure you have some impressive gear. In truth, Zhang Yi had a deeper plan in mind. He had come here with Lu Keran. As long as he got his hands on a top-tier piece of equipment, Lu Keran would have a chance to reverse-engineer it. So even though Zhang Yi wasnt a weapons expert himself, he still made this request. Wu Di frowned. You want a weapon? Hmm, not impossible. But for superhumans like us, external weapons arent all that important. Baili Changqing sighed and rubbed his forehead in frustration. Wu Di had no concept of Blizzard Citys weapon policies. Many of their weapons were highly classified. Even though they used them freely in their missions, these weapons were never meant to fall into the hands of outsiders things like Origin Bullets or the black combat suits they wore. With concern, Baili Changqing stepped forward to warn them. You two better not get carried away. A friendly spar is fine, but if things get serious, I wont sit by and watch! As for the wagerZhang Yi, do you have a preferred weapon type? Forget about firearms, but I can get you a melee weapon. Zhang Yi was speechless. A melee weapon? He was best with guns. Melee weapons were more for self-defense, and he rarely used them. Even the Loong Roar Sword made of Adamantium, which was in his possession, was mostly used by Liang Yue during battles. Right now, it was still with Liang Yue. Seeing Zhang Yis hesitation, Baili Changqing quickly smiled and reassured him. Dont worry, were not giving you some scrap metal. The Black Robe Squads armory has plenty of high-quality weapons. Youve heard of Adamantium weapons, havent you? Adamantium? Zhang Yi was very familiar with the material. Liang Yues Loong Roar Sword was made from it. But according to Lu Keran, this material was extremely rare and nearly impossible for ordinary people to obtain. However, for Jiangnan Districts Investigation Team, it was clearly much more accessible. Zhang Yis eyes flashed with interest. He really needed a weapon of his own. I prefer using blades. Baili Changqing immediately pulled up a floating transparent screen. The bluish display projected images of various weapons. With a swipe of his hand, different weapon models appeared before Zhang Yi. Our standard-issue weapons are all made of Adamantium. These are exclusive to the Investigation Team. You can pick whichever one you likeno need to treat it as a wager, Ill just give it to you. Baili Changqing grinned as he spoke. For most superhumans, weapons werent that important unless they were Enhancement-type superhumans who specialized in weapon-based combat. In the Black Robe Squad, only Baili Changqing himself placed much emphasis on equipment. Of course, the reason he was offering a free weapon wasnt because Adamantium weapons were common. It was because he knew that with Wu Dis current strength, he had no chance of winning against Zhang Yi. Rather than letting things turn sour between them, he figured he might as well do Zhang Yi a favor. Looking at the collection of Adamantium weapons, Zhang Yi was genuinely shocked. After all, Loong Roar Sword had once belonged to a high-ranking officials wife in Shengjing and was specially granted to Liang Yue. That proved just how rare these weapons were. But here, in the Investigation Teamone of the top combat squads of Jiangnan DistrictAdamantium weapons were everywhere. Wu Di frowned slightly. sea??h th Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Technically, these weapons werent meant for anyone outside the Investigation Team. However, Adamantiums formula wasnt a national secret. Several top-tier nations had mastered the refining process. So as the captain of the Black Robe Squad, Baili Changqing giving Zhang Yi a weapon wasnt a huge deal. It was one of the privileges of his position. Zhang Yi gave a light chuckle. He wasnt someone who liked accepting favors for free. No need. Since we agreed on a bet, Ill earn it with my own strength. He walked up and carefully examined the array of weapons. Unlike traditional melee weapons, these had a distinct cyberpunk metal aesthetic sleek, futuristic, and highly advanced. After browsing for a moment, Zhang Yi found a long blade. It was a single-edged sword, about a meter longshorter than Liang Yues Loong Roar Sword. The back of the blade was slightly thick, resembling a Tang Dao, but with a futuristic design. Zhang Yi thought carefully. He wasnt a superhuman who relied purely on weapons, and his raw power was weaker than Enhancement-type and Beast-type superhumans. So, a weapon suited for close-quarters combat would be a better choice for him. Simply put, this sword was ideal for defensive maneuvers because unless absolutely necessary, Zhang Yi avoided melee combat and preferred to keep his distance. Finally, he pointed at the sword. Ill take this one. Baili Changqing confirmed the selection, then closed the display with a smile. Still, he cautioned them. This is just a spar. Dont go too far. If necessary, Ill step in to stop it. Wu Di grinned. Dont worry, Captain! I know my limits. I just need to put him in his place, not kill him. For him, this fight wasnt about personal hatred. It was about his obsession and a purpose he couldnt reveal. Zhang Yis lips curled slightly. Same here. Now, where are we fighting? Baili Changqing saw that the duel was inevitable, so he decided to at least ensure it happened under the right conditions. Theres a training arena in Blizzard City specifically for combat practice. Its the only place where fights are legally allowed. Lets go there. Zhang Yi glanced at Wu Di and nodded. Alright. Lets go. Wu Di grinned, his eyes burning with battle intent. Author''s Note Chapter 576: The Training Arena Chapter 576: The Training Arena Wu Di was determined to fight Zhang Yi to free himself from his lingering obsession. Baili Changqing had no choice but to act as the mediator and referee. So, he led them out of Cipher Bar and toward the Training Arena, a special facility within the district designed for soldiers. This place was located within the Operations Command Center and remained brightly lit even at night, with elite soldiers standing guard. Baili Changqing guided Zhang Yi inside without any obstacles. Along the way, Zhang Yi carefully observed his surroundings. This place felt almost futuristic, as if it was ahead of its time. Sar?h the N?vel(F)ire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Every building was made of a dark silver, metallic-like material, seemingly even more advanced than the materials used in his Shelter its defensive capabilities were clearly on another level. Even the first floor alone was over ten meters high, making anyone who stood there feel small and insignificant. Suddenly, an idea crossed Zhang Yis mind, and he turned to Baili Changqing with a smile. Can I invite my friends over? Baili Changqing looked at him in surprise. What? You dont trust us? Zhang Yi shook his head. Not at all. But if I happen to get injured, Id prefer to have my personal doctor treat me. Baili Changqing chuckled. Dont worry, we have specialized doctors here. Besides He glanced at Wu Di but didnt finish his sentence. With Zhang Yis strength, could he even get injured? Zhang Yi smirked knowingly. I only trust my own doctor. After thinking for a moment, Baili Changqing understood Zhang Yis reasoning. Although the Operations Command Center was a restricted area, the Training Arena wasnt part of its core zone so it wasnt a problem to let others come and watch. Alright! You can call your friends over. Ill issue them entry permits. Zhang Yi nodded and contacted Liang Yue and the others, telling them to come over. But in reality, his most important goal was to bring Lu Keran here. He wanted her to use her Divine Machinery Control ability to analyze the materials used in this place. If she could figure out how to replicate them, it would be a huge advantage for strengthening his Shelter in the future. Zones A and B were considered high-end areas in Blizzard City and were close to the Operations Command Center. So, in no time, Lu Keran and the others arrived. As soon as they stepped in, their eyes were filled with awe, utterly amazed by the grand architecture. The intense military atmosphere here was overwhelming every soldier exuded a chilling presence. After all, even the guard soldiers stationed here belonged to the elite Yan Yun Forces of Blizzard City! When Lu Keran and the others arrived, they immediately approached Zhang Yi, curious about why he had called them. Zhang Yi briefly explained the duel with Wu Di. Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged strange glances. Wu Di wants to duel Zhang Yi? Wasnt that a bit too ambitious? Zhang Yi, however, spoke in a low voice. That guy isnt stupidhes actually quite smart! He knows I wont use my full strength here in Blizzard City. Otherwise, do you think hed dare challenge me anywhere else? Lu Keran frowned in disgust. Thats so despicable! Uncle You was also puzzled. Whats the point of this? Even if he wins, its meaningless if youre not fighting seriously. Zhang Yi remained calm. He just wants to prove that hes stronger than I was during the Battle of Tianhai City. Some people are like that they need a personal victory to find peace of mind. This is his obsession. But there could be another reason behind it. Lowering his gaze, Zhang Yi murmured in a deep voice. In any case, I have to win this fightwithout exposing my true strength. This would be slightly challenging, but not by much. Zhang Yi already had thorough knowledge of Wu Dis abilities. However, the same could be said in reverseaside from his new powers, Wu Di had also figured out most of Zhang Yis techniques. Zhang Yi looked up at Lu Keran. Keran, since youre inside the Operations Command Center, take this chance to study the materials used here. You get what I mean, right? Lu Kerans eyes widened in surprise. She had thought she was just here to watch a fightshe hadnt expected to be assigned a mission! But soon, she grinned excitedly. Got it! Ill get it done! This was an exciting challenge for her, and she loved it! Ever since she gained her superhuman ability, her favorite thing to do was analyze new materials and create new machines and weapons. While they were talking, Baili Changqing pulled Wu Di aside. Wu Di, now calm and composed, was putting on a tight black combat suit and wrapping black bandages around his wrists. Baili Changqing frowned in concern. Wu, Zhang Yi is way stronger than before. He even withstood Yuan Kongyes attacks. Do you really think you can beat him? Wu Dis eyes gleamed sharply, and the arrogance from before had faded. I know. But, Captain, I studied his fighting style in that battle. His eyes burned with determination. His strength lies in defense, not offense. If Yuan Kongye had more combat experience, Zhang Yi wouldnt have defeated him so easily. When Boss Bian was alive, he always told me that power alone doesnt decide everythingthe real key is up here. Wu Di tapped his temple with his finger. Ive already figured out a way to beat him. A smug smile crept onto Wu Dis lips. This time, I have to wineven if its just once! Otherwise, Ill never let it go! What he longed for most was Bian Junwus approval. Even though Bian Junwu was dead, if he could defeat Zhang Yi, who had been Bian Junwus favorite, he would finally feel at peace. More importantly, he knew Zhang Yi wouldnt go all out here. Winningno matter howwas all that mattered. Timing, geography, and opportunity. A true warrior knew how to use the battlefield to his advantage. Baili Changqing sighed helplessly. Lets hope youre right. Wu Dis reasoning made sense. Fighting someone like Zhang Yi, whose defense was nearly unbreakable, wasnt too dangerous as long as he didnt stupidly try to outlast him. Of course, that was assuming Zhang Yi didnt use his terrifying Spatial Slash ability. Baili Changqing turned and walked toward Zhang Yi. He needed to have a word with him before the fight. Soon, Baili Changqing stood beside Zhang Yi, smiling. Come on, lets get you changed. Wait, I need to change clothes for a duel? Zhang Yi asked, amused. Of course! Baili Changqing laughed. In the Training Arena, all fights are done in combat uniformsthey offer better protection against injuries. Just as he finished speaking, Wu Di stepped out of the locker room, now dressed in his tight black combat gear. Zhang Yi nodded. Alright. Lets go. Author''s Note Chapter 577: The Spatial-type Superhuman of Blizzard City Chapter 577: The Spatial-type Superhuman of Blizzard City Zhang Yi, accompanied by Baili Changqing, arrived at the changing room. Lining the wall were a series of lockers. Baili walked over, used his access privileges to retrieve a training suit, and handed it to Zhang Yi. sea??h th N??eFire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi accepted the suit and stepped into one of the stalls. He carefully inspected the outfit, checking for any hidden devices. The suit felt uniqueheavier than regular compression gear and significantly thicker than typical fabric. Clearly, it was made from some kind of high-tech, specialized material. If I put this on, I bet itll start recording my personal data too. Zhang Yis eyes glinted sharply. Good thing Im not an enhancement-type Superhuman. Its no big deal if they collect some physical data. As for my Superhuman Ability dataI''ll just hold back. His basic abilities were already on record with the Jiangnan District. What no one knew was the new combat style hed awakened after absorbing Yuan Kongyes source energy. That power was his trump cardno way was he showing it here. Zhang Yi took off his jacket and put on the tight-fitting suit. Interestingly, there were no zippers or fasteners. Once it was on, all he had to do was press a button on the right wrist, and the suit sealed itself snugly to his body. He didnt feel any discomfort at all. In fact, as he moved around a little, he noticed something strangehis body felt more agile, and he seemed physically stronger. This thing actually boosts my stats? Zhang Yi said in surprise. He stepped out of the stall, where Baili Changqing was waiting. Zhang Yi voiced his question, and Baili chuckled. The training suit is made from the same material as the combat suits we use in the investigation team. We wear them during missions too. They enhance our overall physical capabilities. In fact, no exaggerationif a regular person put one on, theyd have the base-level physique of an Alpha-grade enhancement-type Superhuman. Zhang Yi looked down at the training suit on his body, stunned. Youre telling me this thing is that amazing? Noticing the interest in Zhang Yis eyes, Baili smirked and said, These training suits are rare. In Blizzard City, only the Yan Yun Forces and the six major investigation teams get to use them. If you like it, consider joining our Black Robe Squad. Zhang Yi curled his lip. Yeah, Ill pass. Baili shrugged, already knowing Zhang Yi wasnt the type who liked being tied down. Well then, lets head to the training arena! Zhang Yi replied, No rush. I need to hand off my satellite phone for safekeeping. The satellite phone held personal secrets. Baili assumed Zhang Yi didnt trust the storage system here and could only smile. Alright, youre seriously cautious, huh? Zhang Yi grinned. Better safe than sorry. Its the little details that decide victory or defeat. His words had a double meaning, but Baili didnt pick up on it. He walked out with Zhang Yi. Meanwhile, Wu Di was already waiting at the center of the training arena, arms crossed, eyes closed, mentally prepping himself to be in peak condition. Zhang Yi walked over to Lu Keran and the others and handed her the satellite phone. Keran, hold onto this for me. With his back to Baili, Zhang Yi shot her a look. Lu Keran understood instantly and reached out to touch the training suit on his arm. Zhang Yi chatted casually for a bit, deliberately buying some time. Once Lu Keran had finished analyzing the suits material composition, Zhang Yi turned around and headed for the arena. Zhang Yi, keep it light, alright? Just a friendly match! Baili called out, reminding him. He was genuinely worried Zhang Yi might go too farif he used , he could probably one-shot Wu Di. Even someone as physically strong as Baili himself couldnt guarantee surviving a direct hit. And Wu Di? Those skinny arms and legs wouldnt stand a chance. Zhang Yi waved a hand without looking back, signaling Baili not to worry. He quickly made his way through the passage and into the training arena. Baili, Lu Keran, Zhou Keer, and the others watched from the second floor. The arena itself was about the size of half a soccer field, shaped like a stadium or an old Roman colosseum. Surrounding it were multi-level structures that offered a clear view of the fight below. Zhang Yi stood dozens of meters from Wu Di, scanning the space around them with a frown. This place feels a bit cramped. Not much room to maneuver. Battles between high-level Superhumans often caused massive destruction, and this little arena just wouldnt cut it. Hands in his pockets, Wu Di replied coolly, Oh, you dont have to worry about that. Before Zhang Yi could respond, his surroundings suddenly seemed to stretch out. Wu Di, who had been only dozens of meters away, now appeared several hundred meters off. The half-field-sized arena had somehow expanded into an area spanning several square kilometers! Zhang Yi was briefly stunned, then realization dawned. A spatial ability? This was his first time encountering another spatial-type Superhuman. Not only did the space expand for Zhang Yi and Wu Di Lu Keran, Zhou Keer, and the others watching from the second floor also saw the arena grow larger. But it wasnt so much that the arena expandedit was more like everything around them had shrunk. Baili explained to them, Thats the administrators ability. Its called . A powerful spatial-type ability designed specifically for this purpose. In Zhang Yi and Wu Dis ears, a cold, mechanical voice echoed Training match, begin! While the match was starting, no one noticed that aside from Zhou Keer and the rest, there were a few other spectators present. This arena required high-level clearance. Only investigation team members and Yan Yun officers were authorized to use it. And battles at this level didnt happen often, even in Blizzard City. So the moment the arena was activated, it naturally attracted quite a crowd. One of them was Deng Shentong, captain of the Celestial Squad. He stood in a third-floor room, watching the two fighters with great interest. He was more than a little curious about Zhang Yi. If he really manages to beat Wu Di... giving him a shot as a backup in the Celestial Squad might not be a bad idea. Leaning on the railing, Deng Shentong narrowed his eyes and smiled. Behind him stood two members of the Celestial Squad One was a short-haired, burly man with a scruffy beard. The other, a pale, effeminate man dressed in white. Author''s Note Chapter 578: Battle Against Wu Di Chapter 578: Battle Against Wu Di Up on the higher levels, Deng Shentong watched the match. Several members of the Black Robe Squad had also arrived one after another. A fight this exciting was a rare treatthey werent going to miss it. But among all the spectators, they werent the ones with the highest status. Because today, Commander Zhu Zheng of the Jiangnan District was also present in the training arena. He was seated in a private box on the fifth floor. The glass wall in front of him had transformed into a massive screen, split into a dozen sections, providing views of the fight from various angles. On the couch to his right sat the Minister of Operations, Tu Yunlie. To his left stood his secretary, Lan Xincheng, and to his right, his personal guard, Sun Luxuan. It was safe to say that at least half of the top brass still present in Blizzard City had shown up. For a simple duel to attract this kind of attentionit was clearly anything but ordinary. The battle began! Zhang Yi and Wu Di were separated by several hundred meters, but since both were long-range fighters, the distance didnt pose much of a problem. Zhang Yi drew both White Owls and immediately pulled the triggers, aiming straight at Wu Di. [Precision Shot]! The bullets locked onto Wu Di automatically. However, Zhang Yi wasnt using his demon-breaking Sacred Silver bullets this time, but custom-made armor-piercing rounds. Using Sacred Silver in Blizzard City would raise too many eyebrowspeople might think he was trying to replicate Origin Bullets. Zhang Yi wasnt about to make such a rookie mistake. Even so, when enhanced with his Superhuman Energy, those armor-piercing bullets were still devastating. But just as Zhang Yi raised his guns, hundreds of white orbs materialized around Wu Di, enveloping him completely. The moment the bullets came near those orbs, they melted in mid-air! Seeing this, Deng Shentong nodded. This kids got some serious talent. Wu Dis natural ability was extremely impressive. Even Bian Junwu held high hopes for his floating cannonsmental energy converted into weaponized orbs. And after the battle in Tianhai City, his power had clearly leveled up again. Zhang Yi, however, remained unfazed. Wu Di knew his capabilities and was obviously guarding against his marksmanship. It wouldve been weird if he wasnt. But so what? Youve got a lot of mental energy? Fine. Ive got a lot of bullets. Zhang Yi kept firing while steadily shifting his position, all shots aimed at the same spottrying to punch through the floating cannon''s defensive field with sheer volume. Its useless. Ive already analyzed your combat style. You think this kind of attack can hurt me? Not a chance. Wu Di extended his right hand, and a dozen orbs fused into a massive floating cannon that blasted straight at Zhang Yi. In an instant, a pillar of white light tore through space toward him. But just before it hit, the beam vanished mid-air. From the moment the fight began, Zhang Yi had already opened his Dimensional Gate. Wu Di knew Zhang Yis abilities, and Zhang Yi understood Wu Dis just as well. At this level, it was all about hidden cards and counterplays. A spatial-type ability that can absorb attacks, huh? Deng Shentong rubbed his chin curiously. Then he grinned. But its not unlimited, Im sure. Wonder if he could handle one of my attacks? Behind him, the bearded, burly man chuckled. Spatial types rarely have strong offensive skills. Still, I wouldnt mind sparring with him myself. The pale, effeminate man beside him gave a faint smile. Someone like you, a melee spatial-type, is a rarity. Wouldnt fighting him be kind of... bullying? The burly guy burst into laughter. Yeah, fair enough! Sparring with someone like Zhang Yi, who was from outside Blizzard City, really would be overkill. After all, he was the vice-captain of the Celestial SquadDivine Fist Liao Honglei. Deng Shentong leaned lazily on his hand, his delicate features almost feminine. No big deal. All I care about is his item storage ability. That alone would be super useful for our missions. But if he can manage to surprise me with his spatial power... thatd be even better. His gaze was locked on Zhang Yi in the arena, a flicker of anticipation in his eyes. The first wave of probing attacks had left both sides unscathed. Still, the pressure didnt let upboth were pushing forward, waiting for a crack to appear in the others defense. Zhang Yi emptied both guns and swiftly hit a button. The empty clips dropped out Two fresh magazines appeared out of thin air, and he reloaded them one-handed. Bang bang bang bang bang!!! He kept firing nonstop. Even Superhumans couldnt ignore a barrage like this. But Wu Dis orb shield was truly impressivenot a single bullet made it close. To Zhang Yi, though, that didnt matter. As long as he could slowly deplete Wu Dis Superhuman Energy, even bit by bit, it was worth it. Wu Di stared intently at Zhang Yi, not daring to let his guard down. He knew Zhang Yi specialized in defenseoffensively, he wasnt too dangerous. But Divine Power? That move could seriously injure him if it landed directly. Still, that technique wasnt flawless. sea??h th ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After the last fight, Wu Di had done his homework. He found that Divine Power had an obvious wind-up and space distortion beforehandit wasnt instant. And it drained a massive amount of Superhuman Energy. After using it, Zhang Yi entered a brief energy void where he couldnt use the move again right away. As long as Wu Di stayed alert and dodged the first strike, he could use that opening to launch a counterattack! Lets see how you handle . I made it just for you. Wu Di smirked and spread his arms. Tiny orbs, each the size of a droplet, began to appear around himthousands of them! These were miniature floating cannons. Not as powerful as the larger orbs, but they made up for it in sheer quantity. Then, with a sweep of his arms, thousands of light dots tore through space, heading straight for Zhang Yi! Dimensional Gate! Zhang Yi remained calm and raised the gate in front of him. But instead of slamming into it, the light dots scattered in mid-air, fanning out in all directions. Hes going for an AOE? Zhang Yi instantly grasped Wu Dis intent. Wu Di smirked. Captain Bian once said your ability counters my floating cannons. But with this kind of omnidirectional, no-dead-angle attack... how will you defend yourself? The countless light points floated in mid-air, completely surrounding Zhang Yis position. In Zhang Yis sharp gaze, they grew brighter, burning hotter And then came a series of thunderous explosions! Author''s Note Chapter 579: Floating Cannons Chapter 579: Floating Cannons Thousands of micro floating cannons detonated around Zhang Yi, flooding the space with dazzling light and intense energy. The sheer brightness caused massive light pollution in the arena. Liang Yue couldnt help but comment, He really came prepared. With that kind of attack, Zhang Yis Dimensional Gate is going to struggle to hold up defensively. Uncle You crossed his arms and added, Zhang Yis physical defense isnt that strong to begin with, so even micro floating cannon blasts could still hurt him. But... would that be enough to defeat Zhang Yi? At least for people like Uncle You, they werent too worried. Because when it came to large-scale AOE attacks, Zhang Yi still had his own ways of coping. Sure enough, in the next second, Zhang Yis figure reappeared in the distance. Then he raised his guns and opened fire on Wu Di again! He might not have been able to absorb the AOE with Dimensional Gate, but escaping its range was another matter entirely. Oh? Spatial jump? Now thats an interesting survival skill. Deng Shentongs eyes lit up slightly. But Liao Honglei remained unimpressed. So he can run. Thats useful in the apocalypse, sure, but if thats all hes got, hes not qualified to be an official investigation team member. The investigation teams needed real combatants. Pure defense or escape skills wouldnt cut itthey needed people who could hit back. In another room, Zhu Zheng and the others were closely observing the fight on the screen. Zhu Zheng kept his gaze on Zhang Yis feed. Seeing how Zhang Yis spatial powers leaned toward defense, Zhu Zheng immediately caught on to his ability profile. Looks like his ability links to a separate spatial dimension. Whether absorbing attacks or teleporting, it all runs through that space as a medium. But... how does he plan to go on the offensive? Most Superhumans only possessed a single core ability, which could evolve into multiple skillsbut they all stemmed from the same root. Zhang Yis ability didnt seem naturally suited for attack. No matter how far it developed, it still seemed best for storage and defense. So how would he beat someone like Wu Di, whose offensive capabilities were so overwhelming? Behind Zhu Zheng, Sun Luxuan leaned in and quietly said, Commander, I have a feeling this Zhang Yis got a powerful trump card hidden up his sleeve. Zhu Zheng was slightly surprised by the comment. He knew exactly how strong Sun Luxuan waseasily one of the top combatants in all of Blizzard City. If even he had taken notice of Zhang Yi, that meant something. Oh? Zhu Zheng asked. Sun Luxuan stared at Zhang Yis calm, composed expression on the screen with a smile. Its a feeling. Hes too calm. Almost like hes already confident in how this is going to end. Its not just confidenceits like he believes his victory is a given. Only someone whos completely in control of the situation would wear that kind of expression. Zhu Zheng and Lan Xincheng both stared more intently at Zhang Yis emotionless face on the screen. Sure enough, Zhang Yi looked cool and indifferentlike a gamer casually playing against a weak AI. Tu Yunlie, half his face hidden behind a high collar, didnt speak, but his gaze lingered longest on Zhang Yi. Interesting. Zhu Zheng chuckled, crossed one leg over the other, and settled in to enjoy the show. I knew it. This kids not as simple as Baili Changqing made him out to be. Back in the arena, Zhang Yis counterattack remained relentless and sharp. He wasnt even focusing all his attention on the battlefield. Not out of arrogance But because he knew both his own strength and Wu Dis limits. If he truly went all out, he could one-shot Wu Di. Especially in a confined space like this Wu Di wasnt the type who excelled at movement or dodging. There was no escaping Zhang Yis wide-range killing move. But Zhang Yi do that. Hed already realized that Wu Di challenging him like this would definitely draw a crowd. And among them were likely high-level figures from Blizzard City. If he performed well, there was a high chance theyd try to forcibly recruit him. No way the districts higher-ups would allow such a powerful outsider to operate independently. So he needed to win But win just enough, without making it obvious how strong he really was. With that in mind, Zhang Yi started calculating his next steps. He now knew exactly how to fight Wu Di. That thought process took only a split second. Meanwhile, dozens of bullets had already flown from his guns. Though all were blocked by Wu Dis glowing barrier, Zhang Yi swiftly reloaded His attack never let up, not even for a second. Zhu Zheng nodded. Now this is an interesting style. His spatial storage must be massive. He can carry endless weapons and ammo... Hes basically a walking armory. A war of attrition? Not a bad idea either. Even the strongest Superhuman would run out of energy eventually. But who knew how much ammo Zhang Yi had stashed? If Wu Di kept up this exchange, hed be the one to lose in the end. So youre trying to wear me down, huh? Wu Di had figured it out too. If he lost like this, itd be beyond embarrassing. One of the core fighters of the Black Robe Squad, taken down by pure gunfire? Hed become the laughingstock of all Blizzard City. Too bad for youI expected this! Wu Di suddenly kicked off the ground and began retreating at high speed. Zhang Yis brows furrowed slightly. Both of them specialized in long-range combat, but Zhang Yi had a deadly mid-range trump card. Whether it was Divine Power or a surprise strike using Dimensional Gate Those moves were made for medium-distance engagement. But he couldnt use Divine Power here. And if Wu Di was already prepared, a gate-based sneak attack wouldnt work either. So what was the point of pulling away? Zhang Yi didnt rush. He simply waited for Wu Dis next move while continuing to suppress him with relentless fire. He was close to switching to Sacred Silver bullets. That surprise attack might pierce Wu Dis barrier when he least expected it! But no Doing so would expose the existence of Sacred Silver bullets. Plus, while Sacred Silver had great anti-demon effects, its armor-piercing strength didnt match regular rounds. It might not even break through Wu Dis black training suit. No point wasting it. Thanks to the suits enhancements, Wu Di moved incredibly fast He quickly widened the gap to 800 meters. This should be your teleportation limit, right? Wu Di halted and recalled the footage of Zhang Yi fighting Yuan Kongye using spatial jumps. By his calculations, Zhang Yis max range back then had been around 300 meters. Even if Zhang Yi had improved since then, 800 meters should be more than enough. Sear?h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hed been planning this battle for a long time, And he had a strategy to beat Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, try this next move. If you can take it Ill admit your strength is above mine! Author''s Note Chapter 580: Absolute Barrier Between Two Realms Chapter 580 C Absolute Barrier Between Two Realms Once Wu Di had moved more than 800 meters away from Zhang Ye, he raised both hands toward him. With a light shout, countless tiny points of light suddenly appeared around him. There were so many of themit was like someone had blown out a flood of rainbow-colored bubbles. Densely packed, they floated upward quickly, almost blanketing the entire dueling field. Moments later, the glowing particles flew toward Zhang Ye and gathered around him. Zhang Ye watched them cautiously, but they didnt explode right away. Instead, they formed a massive bubble-like cloud around him, creating a spherical formation with a radius of 800 meters! Wu Di looked at Zhang Ye and muttered to himself, This move was made just for you. It''s called . There are 300,000 micro floating cannons in total, and the explosions will continue for two minutes! This time, even with your weird spatial ability, theres no way you can defend against it! Although he had miniaturized the floating cannons into tiny particles, their destructive power remained formidable. Wu Di wasnt trying to kill Zhang Yehe just wanted to leave him looking like a total mess. That alone would be his victory! Because he could still use this move three more times. Blow!! Without wasting a word, the moment the bubble cloud was fully formed, Wu Di began detonating the micro floating cannons in sequence! Three hundred thousand particles exploded one after another, covering an 800-meter radius. Even if Zhang Ye wanted to escape, there was nowhere to run! Even hiding in a different dimension would only buy him about a minute. In other words, this move was nearly impossible for Zhang Ye to dodge! The explosions lit up the scene with dazzling flashes of light, like countless soap bubbles popping under the sun! Everyone stared at the scene, desperate to see how Zhang Ye would respond to such an overwhelming attack. Even masters like Deng Shentong and Bai Li Changqing thought this was nearly impossible to avoid. The only way was to take it head-on with an extremely powerful defense. But Zhang Ye wasnt a strength-type Variant. He didnt have that kind of terrifying defense. While his training suit could protect his body, the damage it registered would still count directly toward determining whether he lost the match. Even Zhang Yes most confident supportersUncle You and Liang Yuecouldnt help but change their expressions when they saw Wu Dis move. This move was tailor-made just for Zhang Ye! Only now did they realize why Zhang Ye kept his abilities so tightly under wraps, not even revealing the full picture to those close to him. Because once someone figured out your power, they could also pinpoint your weaknessesand exploit them ruthlessly. Even a high-level Delta Variant could suffer heavy losses if targeted with the right methods! Everyones eyes were glued to the dueling field. They all wanted to see if Zhang Ye had a way to counter this attack that was specifically designed to exploit his ability. The three-minute long barrage of floating explosions was visually spectacular, but it also made it hard for anyone to clearly see what was happening inside. But after the three minutes were up, the announcement Wu Di had been expectingdidnt come. As the lights faded, Zhang Ye was still standing there, completely unscathed. His expression was calm, like nothing had even happened. Everyone was stunned! They could believe Zhang Ye might survive the move, but no one had imagined hed come through it perfectly, without a scratch! For the first time, Deng Shentongs eyes showed genuine surprise. Interesting. Very interesting! Hes clearly much stronger than what the districts reports said! In another viewing room, Zhu Zheng was just as confused. How the hell did this kid pull that off? His ability shouldnt have that level of defense! But behind him, Sun Luxuan adjusted his glasses and smiled, saying, I think Ive figured it out. Tu Yunlie also nodded slightly in agreement. Thats definitely a pretty clever defense move. This guy maxed out his defense skill. Seeing that Zhu Zheng and Lan Xincheng were still puzzled, Sun Luxuan explained, Just as the explosions started, he opened up a flawless defensive barrier that absorbed every attack from all directions. Zhu Zheng immediately said, Dueling Field, analyze the last combat sequence! This dueling field was designed for Variants to fight in. With the combination of the training suits and the fields surveillance system, it could perfectly analyze the use of Variant abilities. Of course, this also helped Variants identify and fix weaknesses in their skills. As soon as Zhu Zheng gave the command, a response came right awayin the form of a 3D holographic playback. In the footage, just as the 300,000 floating particles began to explode, Zhang Ye suddenly created a spherical membrane-like barrier around himself. It was a dimensional gateway. But unlike his previous move, , this time the gateway was sphericalcompletely wrapping around his entire body. Zhu Zheng looked visibly shaken. So... is this an absolute defense? Sun Luxuan smiled, Theres no such thing as absolute defense. If there were, it would only mean the offensive power wasnt strong enough yet. sea??h th NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Lan Xincheng frowned slightly, looking conflicted. But from beginning to end, hes just been defending. Isnt that a little too passive? If all he does is turtle up, hows he supposed to go on the offensive? Everyone was curious about that too. Still, seeing Zhang Ye walk out of the dueling field completely intact made it clear to themhe was, at the very least, unbeatable right now. A Variant with absolute defense was born unbeatable! Zhang Ye looked calmly at Wu Di. From Wu Dis expression, he could see the shock and unwillingness in his eyes. Wu Di gritted his teeth, unable to accept it. How is that possible?! How could you block my attack?! Ive already studied your abilities inside and out! This move shouldve been unstoppable! Even if my floating particles had their power reduced, they shouldve at least hurt you a little! He was starting to panic. He spread his arms again, sending another wave of bubble mirages into the sky, preparing to go again! Dont waste your time. Zhang Ye looked at Wu Di coolly. He had to admit, if this had happened a month ago, he wouldve been in deep trouble. But after absorbing Yuan Kongyes source energy, his skills had evolvedespecially in terms of fine control over his abilities. Zhang Ye didnt move an inch. Another spherical dimensional wall appeared around him, wrapping him up completely! Now, he was separated from the real world by an entire alternate dimension! Unless someone could hit him with an attack strong enough to surpass the limit of his Dimensional Gate, nothing could breach this defense. This move had become his absolute defensea perfect barrier. Absolute Barrier Between Two Realms. Author''s Note Chapter 581: Drawing Attention Chapter 581 C Drawing Attention Wu Di launched another wave of attacks, but they still couldnt even scratch Zhang Ye. Zhang Ye knew full well that this fight had already drawn attention. So he couldnt afford to drag it outbetter not to reveal too much of his strength. But at the same time, he had no intention of using his Divine Might or that newly developed killing move. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After all, he didnt plan to kill Wu Di. So he simply raised his pistol calmly, aimed at Wu Di, and pulled the trigger. At that moment, Wu Di was still in shock. Instinctively, he activated his halo ability to block the shot. But this time, the pitch-black bullet tore right through his halo defense and struck him! Ah! Wu Di cried out in pain, his face twisting as he clutched his chest and dropped to his knees. Right then, the broadcast voice of the dueling field echoed in everyones ears. Duel over. Wu Di, defeated! The sudden end to the match didnt surprise anyone. Because battles between high-level Variants were always like thisdecided in the blink of an eye. One brief lapse, one small exposed weakness, could instantly determine victory or defeat, even life or death. Wu Di couldnt believe what he was hearing. That bullet He looked down, and saw a pitch-black bullet lying silently on the ground. That was the bullet that had pierced through his defense halo and hit his training suit. Thanks to the suits protection, he wasnt actually impaledbut the dueling system had already registered the damage and declared him the loser. OOrigin Bullet?! How the h*ll did you get something like that?! Wu Di shouted toward Zhang Ye in disbelief. But the two were too far apart, and Zhang Ye didnt hear him. He just gave a faint smile. The match is decided. Thats all there is to it. With that, he turned and walked away. But everyone had clearly seen what just happened. Deng Shentong watched Zhang Yes back as he left, eyes gleaming with interest. This guy definitely clever. Even Liao Honglei and Bai Chunyu behind him couldnt help but glance over. First he used regular bullets to lull Wu Di into carelessness, then slipped in an Origin Bullet among them. That kind of attack yeah, easy to make someone slip up. Still, in the end, its just because Wu Di lacks real combat experience. Liao Hongleis tone clearly looked down on Wu Di. Arms crossed, he smirked, If it were one of us seasoned soldiers, we wouldnt have made that mistake! Wouldnt have even given Zhang Ye the chance to fire! Next to him, the sharp-featured Bai Chunyu chuckled softly. Still, hes got serious combat instincts, doesnt he? Knowing how to use his strengths and cover his weaknessesthats a rare quality. Deng Shentong didnt respond to his two subordinates. He just stared at Zhang Ye, admiration flickering in his eyes. Then he thought to himself: Back in Zhu Zhengs viewing room, everyones eyes were burning with interest after witnessing Zhang Yes victory. Beating Wu Di meant Zhang Ye had the skill to be an elite member of the investigation team. After all, Wu Di ranked pretty high within the Black-Robed Investigation Unit. Looks like our intel on Zhang Ye really was off. Zhu Zheng frowned slightly. No, not exactly. Bai Li Changqing reported accuratelyZhang Ye was a Variant skilled in defense. From an offensive perspective, he relied more on tactics than raw power. It just meant his ability wasnt built for damage outputbut he was incredibly good at fighting. But how did he get an Origin Bullet? As Zhu Zheng spoke, he looked toward his secretary, Lan Xincheng. Origin Bullets were a tightly held national secret in Huaguo. They were co-developed by the tech departments of the six major regions, and everythingfrom materials to the manufacturing processwas completely classified. Even in Blizzard City, only people like Yun Yan, the investigation team, and top-level headquarters guards had access to them. The materials were so rare that ordinary people had zero chance of ever getting one. No wonder Zhu Zheng was on edge. Lan Xincheng quickly responded, Its possible he got a few by chance during a mission the Black-Robed Team ran in Tianhai City. Ill follow up with Zhang Ye and Bai Li Changqing to confirm. Zhu Zheng nodded. If thats the case, then its fine. A few stray bullets being used wasnt a big deal. This Zhang Ye might be worth keeping an eye on. Seeing Zhu Zhengs growing interest in Zhang Ye, Lan Xincheng asked, Commander, should we transfer him to Blizzard City? Get him trained up and consider assigning him to the Yan Yun Unit or one of the investigation teams? Zhu Zheng thought for a moment, then shook his head. Lets hold off for now. Hes still the leader of the Tianhai City Variants. That place is in shambles and short on combat strength. If we pull him out now, Tianhai could fall into chaos. Lan Xincheng nodded. Understood, sir. Hed worked under Zhu Zheng for years and understood the mans way of thinking. The subtext was clear: while Zhu Zheng appreciated Zhang Yes abilities, he didnt them. After all, in terms of raw strength, Zhang Ye was mid-to-upper level compared to the investigation team and the Yan Yun Unit. Zhang Ye left the dueling field and headed to the second floor. Bai Li Changqing looked at him with no hint of surprise in his expression. Thanks for going easy on him. Zhang Ye shrugged casually. It wasnt a big deal. As far as he was concerned, someone like Wu Di wasnt even worth worrying about. So what about the weapon you promised? Bai Li Changqing grinned. If youre that eager, Ill take you over there right after this. The investigation teams armory was inside the operations center, not far from here. Zhang Ye nodded. Alright. Ill go change first. Speaking of the training suit he was wearing, Zhang Ye really didnt want to take it off. His old combat gear had great defense and came with a ton of tech enhancements, but it didnt come close to this sleek black bodysuit. Not only was its defense top-tier, but it could also boost basic physical statswhich was insanely useful. Zhang Ye seriously wanted to snag a set to wear under his combat gear. That combo would be perfect. Too bad that was just wishful thinkingtheres no way Bai Li Changqing would hand over a full set of this high-tech gear. But thankfully, he had Lu Keran. Zhang Ye looked at Lu Keran nearby. She gave him a small nod, her eyes brimming with confidence. Zhang Yes lips curled into a faint smile. Looks like he be getting his hands on this gear after all. Author''s Note Chapter 582: Sir, Please Wait Chapter 582 C Sir, Please Wait Zhang Ye headed to the locker room and changed out of his training suit. He still loved the feel of the material, but there was no way he could take it with him from here. Fortunately, he had Lu Keran, a master mechanic. Later, hed count on her to analyze the material and recreate a set for him. Once he was changed, Zhang Ye stepped out of the locker room. Wu Di was already outside. From the look on his face, it was clear he was frustrated. But that hostility hed once held toward Zhang Ye was gone. Now that theyd fought, the obsession in his heart had finally been released. He also understood that Zhang Ye hadnt even gone all out. If he still lost under those conditions, then there wouldnt be a chance next time either. He just felt a bit unwilling, thats all. As Zhang Ye came out, he overheard Wu Di talking to Bai Li Changqing. I really thought I was fully prepared this time. Thought I had a chance to beat him. Bai Li Changqing was reassuring, Youve only just joined the investigation team. What you lack is real combat experience. Youll get there with time. Zhang Ye walked over. You two done chatting? If so, mind taking me to pick up my prize? Bai Li Changqing waved toward the distance, and soon, one of the investigation team members, Meng Siyu, came over carrying a black case. She handed the case to Zhang Ye. This is what you asked for. Zhang Yes eyes lit up. He was just about to open it and check out his new weapon. But Bai Li Changqing placed a hand on the case and gave him a look. Better to wait until youre back. Standard Edman alloy weapons werent considered top-secret in Blizzard City, but even so, regular soldiers werent authorized to use them. Giving one to Zhang Ye was technically a grey area. Luckily, the citys temporary rules didnt detail this restriction. So while it was fine for Zhang Ye to use it, flaunting it publicly wasnt a great idea. After all, this was the Operations Center. If word spread, someone might use it against him. Zhang Ye understood and promptly stashed the weapons case into his alternate dimension. Some familiar faces from the Black-Robed Squad were nearby as well. They had clearly watched the fight too, and now looked at Zhang Ye with growing admiration. In terms of combat strength, Wu Di was second only to Bai Li Changqing in their squad. Zhang Ye had defeated him effortlessly while holding back. That showed not just power but impressive tactical thinking. Bai Li Changqing laughed and wrapped one arm around Zhang Yes shoulder, the other around Wu Dis. Now that youve had your brawl, lets call it even, yeah? Hopefully you two can be friends from now on. The word made Zhang Yes lips curl into a meaningful smile. His standards for friendship were pretty high. But hed still give Bai Li Changqing some face. Besides, saying something nice didnt cost anything. Zhang Ye smiled and extended his right hand to Wu Di. Lets look out for each other from now on. There had never been any personal grudge between him and Wu Di. Now that theyd fought, Wu Di clearly felt the difference in strength. He was proud but respected those stronger than him. Zhang Ye offering a handshake made him a little embarrassed, but he still reached out and shook it. Yeah. After the fight, the sky had already darkened. There was a curfew in Blizzard Citynot that it applied to Bai Li Changqing and the others. But Zhang Ye was new here and didnt want to give anyone an excuse to target him by breaking the rules. He said, Well head back to rest. Theres a gathering tomorrow. Bai Li Changqing nodded. Alright. After the gathering, lets hang out again sometime! I didnt even get to treat you to a proper drink todaypoor host on my part. Sar?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Ye gave a light smile. If Ive got time, we can definitely have a few. Zhang Ye and his group left the Operations Centerno need to mention the details. Back at the dueling field, the spectators each had thoughts of their own. Deng Shentong was already thinking about bringing Zhang Ye into his fold. But since hed already met Zhang Ye earlier, going to him again today would seem a bit too eagernot his style. After some thought, he turned to Bai Chunyu. Go find Zhang Ye later. Ask him to come visit my residence after the gathering tomorrow. Bai Chunyu was careful and composedunlike the impulsive Liao Honglei. He was the perfect one for this job. Oh, and dont forget to take him past the leaderboard. Let him see who I am. In Blizzard City, personal merit points were the real hard currency. The quickest way to earn them was by going out on missions. So the top of the leaderboardthe Heaven Listwas a clear indicator of strength. Deng Shentong had always ranked number one on it. He had to make sure Zhang Ye understood his power. That way, hed be more willing to join his team. Right now, Zhang Ye seemed much closer to the Black-Robed Squad. If Bai Li Changqing managed to rope him in, thatd be a serious waste of talent. Bai Chunyu kept his usual gentle smile and nodded. Yes, Captain. With that, he turned and left the room, heading to find Zhang Ye. Zhang Ye and his team were on their way back to the apartment building after leaving the Operations Center. Having just received a new weapon, Zhang Ye was itching to get a good look at it. At least now he wouldnt have to keep sharing Longming with Liang Yue. Still, he was curioussince both were made from Edman alloy, how did his new saber compare to Longming? Another concern nagged at himhe hoped the fight with Wu Di hadnt drawn much attention from Blizzard Citys upper brass. If they got greedy for his strength and tried to force him to stay, that would be a problem. Just as they stepped outside the Operations Center, a cold, soft voice suddenly called out behind them. Mr. Zhang Ye, please wait. Everyone turned instinctively at the sound. On the steps behind them stood a sharp-featured man with a pale face and long shoulder-length hair, wearing a silver-white combat uniform and squinting slightly. Zhang Ye had never seen this guy before. But anyone who showed up here clearly wasnt ordinary. And you are? My name is Bai Chunyu. Im with the Celestial Team. As he spoke, Bai Chunyu slowly walked down the steps and came up to Zhang Ye. He smiled. I watched your battle with Wu Di from the Black-Robed Squad just now. Your combat instincts are clever, and your abilities are quite... intriguing. Celestial Team? Immediately, an image of Deng Shentongs flashy figure popped into Zhang Yes head. Author''s Note Chapter 583: The Sabre Chapter 583 C The Sabre Bai Chunyu didnt bother with vague hints. He got straight to the point: After youre done with the gathering tomorrow, our captain would like you to come meet him. People from the outer cities like you dont really know how things work in Blizzard City. You might get tricked into going somewhere you shouldnt. He smiled warmly as he continued, If Im not mistaken, Bai Li Changqing from the Black-Robed Squad has already tried to recruit you into his team, hasnt he? Zhang Ye thought to himself: But Bai Chunyu clearly thought hed guessed right. His smile deepened. After their former captain Bian Junwu died in battle, the Black-Robed Squads overall strength dropped to the bottom of the six major investigation teams. Theres even talk they might lose their team status altogether. So I hope youll be careful. Dont let yourself get roped into something youll regret. Zhang Ye understood that Deng Shentong inviting him over was likely a prelude to recruiting him. Unfortunately for them, Zhang Ye had no intention of staying in Blizzard City. Still, he wasnt the kind to reject a smiling face. And according to Bai Li Changqing, Deng Shentong held even higher standing in Blizzard City than Bian Junwu once did. So there was no need to offend the man. Zhang Ye said, After the gathering, Ill pay a visit to Mr. Deng Shentong. Bai Chunyus eyes opened slightly, a satisfied smile spreading across his face. Great. Ill come find you then. Itll also be a good chance to tell you about the history of our Celestial Teamand let you see our strength firsthand. With that, he turned and headed back into the Operations Center. The others looked toward Zhang Ye. Fatty Xu sounded worried. Boss, now youve really got their attention. What can you do? Youre like a sparkling diamondtheres just no hiding that shine! Zhang Ye said calmly, With my level of strength, it was inevitable theyd start noticing. Even before absorbing Yuan Kongyes source energy, Zhang Yes performance had already been enough to attract Bian Junwus interest. So this wasnt something he could avoid. Being too goodit was its own kind of headache. But if Im not interested in joining Blizzard City, Zhang Ye continued, I doubt theyll try to force me. Both Bian Junwu and Bai Li Changqing had told him the same thing. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The investigation teams and the Yan Yun Unit placed heavy emphasis on loyalty. So the process of recruiting Variants from outside was extremely strict. They didnt just look at power, but also background, character, and more. As for forcibly drafting someoneonly if your ability was powerful theyd swallow their pride just to keep you. If Zhang Ye ever revealed the full extent of his strength, might happen. But right now, hed only shown the level of an elite investigation team member. In the context of Blizzard City, that level of power wasnt common, but the six investigation teams and the Yan Yun Unit had plenty who measured up. Hearing this, everyone around him let out a quiet sigh of relief. From what theyd gathered, Blizzard City had a maze of rules. Your access to survival supplies depended on your contribution level. If Zhang Ye got transferred here, theyd probably have to come too. And life under those restrictions would be a far cry from the freedom they had in Tianhai City. Meanwhile, Lu Keran couldnt take her eyes off the box in Zhang Yes hands. Zhang Ye knew exactly what she was thinking and smiled. Come on, lets head back. He was eager to get a good look at this new weapon too. The group returned to the apartment complex. The female attendant whod received them earlier looked visibly relieved to see them back safely. Her brows furrowed ever so slightly, and though she didnt say anything, her expression clearly showed a bit of displeasure. Still, she didnt dare make it obvious. Her polite smile just turned a bit colder. Zhang Ye couldnt be bothered with her and headed straight to his room with the others. Xiao Honglian and the rest had stayed behind at the apartment, so they had no idea about Zhang Yes duel with Wu Di. Now, everyone gathered in Zhang Yes room, their eyes fixed eagerly on the black box he was holding. Liang Yue and Lu Keran were the most curious about the new weapon. Zhang Ye wasnt the type to keep people guessing. He placed the box on the table and opened it right in front of them. A soft sounded as the lid popped open, releasing a faint white mist. Zhang Ye instinctively frowned and stepped back, but Lu Keran quickly reassured him, Its a chemical preservative for the metalto prevent corrosion. Only the most valuable treasures and weapons get stored like this. Zhang Ye relaxed. As the mist dissipated, the weapon inside was finally revealed. Everyone instinctively leaned in to get a closer look. At first glance, the sabre already gave off an extraordinary vibe. Its design was distinctly cyberpunk. Under the light, the blade shimmered with a cold blue hue, while the handle was wrapped in black leather. The sabre wasnt long. Blade and handle together measured just a little over one meteraround 1.2 meters in total. Compared to Liang Yues long sabre, , it was noticeably shorter. The blade was straight and sharp, good for both stabbing and slashing. It wasnt a weapon for wild, sweeping attacksbut it was perfect for close-quarters combat, parrying, and defense. Its strengths were speed in tight spaces and ease of carry. What a blade! Liang Yue recognized it instantly. Its modeled after the Tang horizontal sabre. Not quite the ancient style, but definitely made for close combat. Zhang Ye lifted the sabre. Though he wasnt a sword expert, he could feel how sharp the blade was. It was definitely on par with . Lu Keran couldnt wait. Brother Zhang Ye, can I take a look? Zhang Ye gave a slight smile. Go ahead. In the apocalypse, cold weapons were mostly only useful to strength-type Variants. After all, this wasnt ancient timesmodern firearms were widely available and highly effective. Zhang Ye had asked for this blade mostly as a symbolic trophy, something for close-range self-defense. He didnt expect to use it much. Thats why Bai Li Changqing hadnt minded parting with it. Of course, that didnt mean it wasnt valuableit just meant that for someone at Zhang Yes level, abilities were usually more practical than weapons. Unless you were a Variant who specialized in melee combat. Lu Keran took the sabre. It wasnt heavy, probably five or six pounds at most, but it was razor sharp. Perfectly suited for someone like Zhang Ye, who wasnt built like a tank. Lu Keran ran her fingers over the blade, activating her Mechanized Control ability. Immediately, she began analyzing the materials and construction of the entire weapon. Author''s Note Chapter 584: Divine Judgment Chapter 584 C Divine Judgment Lu Keran finished analyzing the Edman alloy sabre. Seeing the deep frown on her face and her serious expression, Zhang Ye couldnt help but ask, Well? Is this kind of metal something you can replicate? Everyone looked at Lu Keran with anticipation. If they could get weapons forged from the hardest metal available in the modern world, who wouldnt want one? Even someone who couldnt swat a fly could still use it for self-defense. After all, in the apocalypsewho didnt love divine weapons? But Lu Keran looked at everyone and said, Ive completed the analysis. Edman alloy is extremely complex to forge. Besides the rare materials, the manufacturing process itself is incredibly intricate. For me, I use Mechanized Control to eventually refine the Edman alloy, but shaping it into a weapon will take more time to figure out. No one seemed disappointed by this answerin fact, they all smiled. Well, that makes sense. If top-grade cold weapon materials from the major regions were that easy to crack and recreate, everyone else might as well pack it in. Zhang Ye and Liang Yue already had their own weapons. Among the rest, only Uncle You was a melee-type Variant, the only one who truly needed a weapon. So no one was too anxious about getting their hands on Edman alloy gear just yet. Zhang Ye reassured Lu Keran, No need to rush. Just take your time and go step by step. Haste makes wasteespecially with high-end tech like this. Patience was key. If it were so easy to replicate, Blizzard Citys army wouldve already mass-produced it. Encouraged by Zhang Yes words, Lu Keran nodded firmly. Ill figure it out as fast as I canalong with how that black bodysuit was made! Liang Yue took the sabre next and examined it carefully. As a martial artist, she had a deep love for weaponsespecially famous or rare ones. She also used sabres herself. But what really pleased her right now was that Zhang Ye finally had his own blade, which meant he wouldnt be using all the time. In truth, Zhang Ye usually only handed over during big battles. Otherwise, he preferred to use it himself for practice. After all, no man could resist the allure of a fine blade. Zhang Ye, you should give this sabre a name! Liang Yue said. A treasured weapon has to have a name. Thats what makes it truly belong to its master. Zhang Ye took the sabre back. He didnt sheath it. His alternate dimension served as the perfect scabbardand keeping it unsheathed made it easier to draw in battle. Staring at the blade, which shimmered with a cold blue glow, Zhang Ye thought for a moment and said, Ill call it . A sacred judgmentone that judges life and death. Slicing through foes like cutting paper. That was the meaning Zhang Ye gave it. With the name chosen, Zhang Ye told everyone to head back to their rooms and resttomorrow was the big gathering for Variant organizations from the Jiangnan Region. Operations Center After the battle, Zhu Zheng felt a growing appreciation for Zhang Yebut Bai Li Changqings evaluation still lingered in his mind. He frowned slightly, thinking about where a shield like that could be placed. Thats rightnot a sword or a spear. A . Zhang Ye gave him the impression of someone extremely skilled at defensesomeone who ensured his safety before ever counterattacking. A stalwart shield. This kind of person might seem dull, but in the right place, they could yield unexpected results. At that moment, his secretary, Lan Xincheng, walked in and leaned in to whisper a few words. Zhu Zheng looked up and said in a dignified tone, Let him in. Lan Xincheng nodded and soon returned, bringing someone with him. That person was none other than Wu Di, who had just fought Zhang Ye. Wu Di walked up and stood straight, offering a sharp salute. Commander, I wasnt strong enough and failed to defeat Zhang Ye. I await your punishment! As it turned out, Wu Dis appearance at the Cipher Bar and his random challenge to Zhang Ye hadnt been a coincidence at all. It had been under Zhu Zhengs orders. Ever since the Tianhai City battle ended, Zhu Zheng had taken a special interest in Zhang Yes name. No matter how Bai Li Changqing reported things, there was one fact that couldnt be hidden In that final fight, it was who stood up to the newly ascended Epsilon-level Variant, Yuan Kongye! Though it was mentioned only briefly, Zhu Zheng couldnt overlook it. He knew better than anyone what an Epsilon-level Variant meant. Even with all the talent gathered in Blizzard City, there wasnt a single one among them officially recognized as Epsilon-levelnot even Deng Shentong or Bian Junwu. They were , but not quite there. And yet Zhang Ye had repeatedly blocked Yuan Kongyes attacks? That alone spoke volumes. So Zhu Zheng had already made his move. He knew Zhang Ye would show up at the gatheringand this fight had been planned in advance. Only the result had left him a bit disappointed. So Zhang Ye really was just good at defense, with rather limited offensive capabilities? Thats why Zhu Zheng had lost some interest, deciding instead to treat Zhang Ye as a special-use shield, someone who could be deployed in critical situations. He glanced at Wu Di. The defeated Wu Di stood there, clearly ashamed. He didnt even dare meet Zhu Zhengs eyes. But Zhu Zheng smiled kindly. Heh, whats there to be punished for? Youve only had your powers for three months and just joined the Black-Robed Squad. Wu Di, youve got potential. The reason you lost to Zhang Ye is simply lack of experience. Then his expression turned serious. Now that Bian Junwu has fallen in battle, the Black-Robed Squads strength has taken a major hit. You need to grow fast. In the future, youll have to carry the team with Bai Li Changqing! Wu Di clenched his fists tightly. At the mention of Bian Junwuthe man he saw as a father figuregrief filled his heart, but also a surge of determination. Thats right. Now had to hold up the banner for the investigation team. Sear?h the novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. With Bian Junwu gone, had to become everyones pillar. He was still young. His power still had enormous room to grow. So a single defeat didnt mean anything. Wu Di lifted his head high and said loudly, Yes, Commander! I wont let you down! Author''s Note Chapter 585: Tianhai Citys Predicament Chapter 585: Tianhai City''s Predicament Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Early the next morning, everyone who came from the Outer Cities received a notification: they were required to arrive at the Tianchang Conference Center in the heart of Blizzard City before 9:30 a.m. According to the previous notice, the gathering was officially scheduled to begin at ten o''clock, so asking them to arrive half an hour early was reasonable enough. When Zhang Yi got up, his eyes were a little hazy. Truth be told, he hadn''t slept well the whole night. After all, he was in an unfamiliar city and an unfamiliar roomit was hard to get proper rest. Not to mention, last nights battle had stirred up countless thoughts in his mind, and he didnt fall asleep until the latter half of the night. In the morning, a group of attendants wearing matching uniforms arrived at the apartment, pushing food carts. They delivered meals room by room. Whether by prior agreement or coincidence, the leaders of the other three factions and Zhang Yis team members all gathered in his room to eat together. Zhang Yis room wasnt that bigonce everyone showed up, there wasn''t even enough space to sit. So they sat on the floor or the bed, eating while discussing the upcoming gathering. As for the topicsthey were mostly just things that had been discussed before, being brought up again for emphasis. Zhang Yi responded to them casually, but made sure to highlight some important reminders about being here. Listen up! This is Blizzard City. We might be the big shots back in Tianhai City, but compared to the regional headquarters, our power is still tiny. Not to mention, right now this place is packed with Superhuman forces from twelve Outer Cities. One careless move and there could be a serious clash. Thats whyI dont want any of you getting into conflicts with others. At this point, Zhang Yi stressed again, If something really does happen, hold it in for now! Well settle things after we leave Blizzard City. Even if someone points at your nose and cusses you out while were here, youre not allowed to fight them! Xiao Honglian frowned slightly when she heard thatshe knew it wouldnt be easy. With so many people crammed into one place, conflict was bound to happen. Especially given Tianhai Citys current state, theyd probably be seen as the easiest target. Still, she nodded. Zhang Yi, now that weve agreed to follow your lead, well do as you say! Xing Tian smiled. Same here. Only Chen Jingguan had his brows deeply furrowed, his face full of concern. Zhang Yi noticed something was off and asked calmly, Whats wrong, Chen Jingguan? You have a different opinion? Chen Jingguan was startled, then quickly forced a smile. Of course not. I think what you said makes perfect sense. Its just... Im worried that even if we want to keep things peaceful, this trip to Blizzard City might not go smoothly. Everyone turned to look at him. Chen Jingguan held a somewhat unique statushe came from the higher-ups of the Jiangnan Region. Even though Huaguo wasnt founded long enough to have centuries-old family clans, his parents had once held considerable power and influence in Jiangnan. Even now, he still had quite a few relatives and old connections in Blizzard City. They might not be reliable, but they could still offer intel that others didnt have access to. Zhang Yi said, Chen Jingguan, unless you plan to stay in Blizzard City for good, youre still with us in Tianhai City. We share the same interests. If youve got news, you should share it. Chen Jingguan shook his head. I have no interest in Blizzard City. Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of an oxI get that much. He said to the group, Yesterday after arriving in Blizzard City, I heard some news... and its not good for us. The zombie horde issue in Tianhai City has already spread throughout the entire Jiangnan District. Especially the surrounding citiestheyve all been affected by the zombies that spilled over. Right now, just about everyone knows Tianhai City suffered chaos from the horde. The major forces were nearly wiped out, and weve got no strong powers left. But Tianhai City is still richhuge population, tons of resources. When we were strong, nobody dared mess with us. But now? We look like a fat lamb, just waiting to get bitten. Xiao Honglian and Xing Tian immediately looked furious. They wouldnt dare! Zhou Keer and the others looked worried too. They had only just started to enjoy a few peaceful dayswas war about to break out again? Only Zhang Yi remained calm, as if none of this came as a surprise. Thats it? Thats the big news? Zhang Yi said with a relaxed tone. Chen Jingguan looked at him in disbelief. Zhang Yi, how can you not care at all? Survival of the fittestthats just how the apocalypse works. Whats so surprising about it? Zhang Yi replied with a grin. But Before Chen Jingguan could argue, Zhang Yi cut him off, If anyone dares to make a move, well just kill them. Its not a big deal. Thats how we used to settle things between factions anyway. If somethings bound to happen, theres no point trying to dodge it. From an outsiders perspective, Tianhai City was indeed too weak right now. With so many resources, of course the neighboring cities would be tempted. Zhang Yi had already guessed this would happen back after that battle, so it didnt catch him off guard. To the others, Zhang Yis calmness came off as a quiet confidence, a sense that he had everything under control. So they all felt much more at easefollowing Zhang Yi seemed like the right choice. But in truth, Zhang Yis thinking was very simple. If anyone tried to mess with Tianhai City, hed strike back. Even if the enemy was too powerful to take head-on, hed just protect his own turf. As for the other three factions? If they didnt have the strength, they had no right to hoard so many resources. It was fine to be greedy, but without power, greed only led to destruction. The little bond he had with the other factions wasnt enough to make him risk his life fighting for them. After breakfast, they checked the timeit was already past 8:30so they all set out for the venue. After leaving the apartment, they saw other Superhuman groups from different cities heading the same way. Each force moved as a unit based on their city of origin. They may have been competitors before, but now they were sticking togetherdisplaying strength to avoid being underestimated. In a world ruled by strength, if youre seen as weak, youll be the first to get wiped out. Among the twelve cities, Tianhai Citys group looked the most underwhelming. They had the fewest people. Unlike the others who showed up with hundreds, even large-scale teams. It wasnt that Xiao Honglian and the others didnt want to bring morethey just didnt have the numbers anymore. Even within their current group, some werent even Superhumans. Looking at the other cities imposing squads, Xing Tian felt a bit nervous and muttered to himself, Author''s Note Chapter 586: The Land of Neon Chapter 586: The Land of Neon Zhang Yi and the others arrived at the main hall of the Tianchang Conference Center, where it was already packed with people. Many factions from various cities were minglingsome clearly knew each other and were engaged in conversation. After all, in the apocalypse, anyone who managed to become the leader of a faction was likely someone who once held power or influence. Most were former military officials like Chen Jingguan, and others were high-ranking local bureaucrats. Of course, there were also people like Zhang Yi and Xing Tian, who had carved out their own domains through sheer strength. Zhang Yi didnt have much contact with the world beyond Tianhai City, so he wasnt looking to socialize. He simply followed the staffs guidance, leading Liang Yue, Zhou Keer, and the others into the hall and quietly finding a place to sit. The venue was huge, designed like a lecture hall, capable of seating up to two thousand people for a conference. Zhang Yi chose a spot toward the middle-rear section and sat down to wait patiently for the gathering to begin. The factions led by Chen Jingguan, Xiao Honglian, and Xing Tian also took seats nearby. But even after waiting for quite a while, right up until 10:30, there was still no sign of Zhu Zheng arriving to host the meeting. Zhang Yi yawned, lazily leaning back in his cushioned seat, clearly bored out of his mind. Meetings in Huaguo rarely ever started on time. If they began within an hour of the scheduled time, that was already pretty good. Especially this time, when it involved integrating powers across the entire Jiangnan Regionthere were far more variables to consider. Back when Zhang Yi was still working a regular job, he was used to waiting during meetings, so he wasnt bothered. He simply chatted casually with Zhou Keer and Lu Keran. However, murmurs of unrest began to spread through the hall. Zhang Yi pretended not to hear them. What he didnt expect was that this meeting would be delayed all the way into the afternoon. And the reason wasnt that Zhu Zheng or the Jiangnan Region higher-ups were intentionally leaving them hanging. Something had happened. ... ... The clock turned back to 7:00 a.m. Zhu Zheng had woken early, completed his morning workout, and was having breakfast with his wife and children. But the meal wasnt going down smoothly. He had just received an urgent message from Tu Yunlie over in the Operations Department. Zhu Zheng only glanced at the message through his comms device, and his brow instantly furrowed, turning grim. He immediately set down his chopsticks and said to his wife, Li Yunping, You guys eat without meI have to step out. Li Yunping sighed, a little exasperated. At least eat something, or youll be complaining about being hungry later. But she wasnt surprised. This kind of situation had happened many times before. Ever since the apocalypse, the entire Huaguo relied on the six major military districts to hold things together. As the Commander of the Jiangnan Region, Zhu Zheng bore heavy responsibilitynothing could happen without his involvement. Li Yunping skillfully pulled a lunchbox from under the cupboard, filled it with some food, and ran outside to hand it off to Zhu Zhengs driver. Standing next to the car was Zhu Zhengs personal guard, Sun Luxuan. When he saw Li Yunping, he simply nodded in greeting. She didnt take offense. Sun Luxuan wasnt just any ordinary bodyguard. He was one of the top fighters in Blizzard City, and his sole duty was to ensure Zhu Zhengs safetyhe didnt concern himself with any other matters. Zhu Zheng got into a black bulletproof car, which sped toward the Operations Center. When he arrived, Tu Yunlie was already waiting at the entrance. Zhu Zheng walked up quickly, his tone serious. Whats going on? The two of them briskly headed toward the Commanders office. Tu Yunlie followed alongside and gave his report in a low voice: Per your orders, I sent people to Linhai to investigate why their local factions never reported to Blizzard City. But when our team got there, they discovered that all three factions in Linhai had been completely wiped out! Zhu Zhengs face darkened. They stepped into the elevator, heading to the top floor where the Commanders office was located. Linhais forces werent exactly top-tier, but they still had thousands of members and over fifty Superhumans in total! Taking all of them out isnt something just anyone could pull off. Do we know who did it? Tu Yunlie replied, Our team ran into the attackers when they arrived. His voice dropped lower. I sent some of the best from the Yan Yun Guardeven though there were only four of them, their combat power was solid. But three of them were killed in action! Only one, a guy named Chen Qi, made it back. And according to him, those people were speaking Japanese! The moment the words left his mouth, Zhu Zhengs eyes went razor-sharp. He whipped his head around. Youre sayingtheyre from the Land of Neon? Behind him, Sun Luxuan pushed his gold-rimmed glasses up his nose. A chilling murderous gleam flickered in his narrow eyes. It was an emotion etched deep into his bones. And now, in a world torn apart by chaos, the people of the Neon Kingdom dared to step onto Huaguos soil againnot only wiping out Linhais Superhuman factions, but even killing members of the Jiangnan Regions Yan Yun Guard? This was tantamount to a declaration of war! Zhu Zhengs expression turned terrifyingly grimeven Sun Luxuan and Tu Yunlie felt the pressure. Though the old general had no Superhuman abilities of his own, the power he wielded could wipe the entire island nation clean off the map. If it was confirmed that these attackers were Superhumans dispatched by the Neon Kingdom, then this would be an outright escalation of war. Tu Yunlies voice crackled through the comms from inside his collar. Based on the intel we have so far, their numbers are small. It doesnt appear to be a full-scale military deploymentpossibly just an advance unit. Please allow me to lead a team to wipe them out! Zhu Zheng remained silent, his face unreadable. He was weighing the implications of the situation. The destruction of Linhais Superhuman factions wasnt a huge loss in itself. The real problem was what this act representedan indication that the island nation was once again setting its sights on Huaguos territory. Zhu Zheng didnt even consider Neon Kingdom a real threat. Just the power of the Jiangnan Region alone was enough to flatten that island. But launching an aggressive military strike came with serious consequences. Neon had ties to several other countriesmaking this a highly sensitive matter that could easily trigger a wider conflict. Zhu Zheng pondered for a moment. Fortunately, the damage so far was still manageable. As Commander, he couldnt act on impulsehe needed a clear plan before taking any action. Wheres that Yan Yun Guard survivor, Chen Qi? Zhu Zheng turned to Tu Yunlie. Tu Yunlie rumbled, Hes already here, waiting to give you a detailed report! Just as he finished speaking, the elevator arrived at the top floor. Zhu Zheng stepped out first. Then what are we waiting for! This was no trivial matter. He had to find out whether this was truly the Neon Kingdom launching a full-scale invasionor just the actions of a rogue ronin faction. Those were two completely different situations. Author''s Note Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 587: The Long Wait Chapter 587: The Long Wait Zhu Zheng arrived at the office and saw Yan Yun Guards Chen Qi, who was wrapped in bandages and visibly weak. Chen Qi, tell me exactly what you saw in Linhai Cityleave nothing out! Zhu Zheng had him sit down to give his report. The situation was urgent, and there was no time for comforting words. Chen Qi swallowed hard and recounted everything theyd encountered during the investigation in Linhai City. The main details were more or less what Tu Yunlie had already explained, only in more detail. But one thing was certainthe people who slaughtered Linhais Superhumans were speaking Japanese. Zhu Zhengs face remained stern as he calmly asked, How many were there? Chen Qi replied, We only saw three of them. And throughout the whole fight, only one of them actually made a movehe used a sword. His blade was fasthe chopped off Xue Tings arm in a single strike! Chen Qis face turned gloomy as grief overtook him at the memory of his fallen comrades. As soon as we clashed, we realized we were on a completely different level from them. So the other three did everything they could to hold the enemy back, just to buy me a chance to escape and report back. Luckily, our vehicle was faster than theirs. Thats the only reason I survived. Suddenly, Chen Qi clenched his fists and shouted to Zhu Zheng, Commander, we have to kill every last one of those b*stards! We have to avenge our fallen brothers! Zhu Zheng rested his chin on his interlaced fingers, his expression unreadable. But his tone was calm and resolute. Dont worrywe wont just sit back and let this go. Those Neon Kingdom thugs dared to run wild on our soil. Theres only one outcome for themdeath! Zhu Zhengs words were as firm as iron, like the grim reaper passing judgment. He looked at Chen Qi, his tone softening slightly. Go back and focus on recovering. Leave the rest to the regionwell handle it. Chen Qi nodded obediently, then leaned on a crutch and limped out of the office with a nurses assistance. Tu Yunlie kept his eyes on Zhu Zheng, just waiting for the order to move out and wipe those Neon intruders off the map. But Zhu Zheng was deep in thought. They needed to confirm the identity of these Neon operatives first. The first step was to notify the Shengjing District and get in touch with Neons higher-ups. There were really only two possible outcomes: First, the Neon authorities admitted the attackers were their peoplewhich would mean full-scale war was imminent. That was the less likely scenario, since Neon simply didnt have the national power to stand against Huaguo. Theyd have to be out of their minds to think about invading Huaguo territory. The more likely outcome was the secondNeons leadership would deny any connection to those people. And that didnt matter. Whether these intruders came as rogue organizations or under Neons orders, once the government denied them, it meant they wouldnt go to war for their sake. Which meant the Jiangnan Region could deal with them however they wanted. A mere Neon Superhuman squad dares to act up on Huaguo soil? Theyre asking to die. Zhu Zheng let out a cold snort and picked up the comms device to contact the higher-ups in the Shengjing District. Since this involved foreign powers, it was considered external affairsprotocol dictated that Shengjing handle communication. Meanwhile, Zhu Zheng was delayed by the incident in Linhai City, and so naturally couldnt attend the meeting as planned. Back at the Tianchang Conference Center, everyone had been waiting from morning till noon, and they were beginning to get impatient. Sure, they respected the power of the Jiangnan Regionbut they were still powerful figures in their own right. Being made to wait like this didnt sit well. To make matters worse, Zhu Zheng had to consult with the Blizzard City leadership regarding the situation, so there were no high-ranking officials present to keep order in the hall. Fortunately, the two Investigation Team Captains showed up with their people and coordinated with the Yan Yun troops to maintain discipline, keeping the hall from descending into chaos. Still, the Superhumans from the twelve city factions were growing more and more restless. By noon, Blizzard City had arranged lunch for them. However, since no one knew when Zhu Zheng would show up, everyone was told not to leave the venue. The meal consisted of basic boxed lunches. Zhang Yis group was in much better shape by comparison. After all, he had plenty of food stored in his alternate dimension, so meals were no issue. While others were eating the simple boxed meals from the Blizzard City cafeteria, Zhang Yis group was enjoying hearty dishessteaming hot, full of rich aroma. The smell alone made nearby groups look on with envy. If there was one thing bothering them, it was the hard seating. The conference chairs were stiff, and sitting for too long was starting to make their butts sore. By 1 p.m., there was still no sign of Zhu Zheng or any of the Blizzard City higher-ups. Xiao Honglian couldnt help but complain, Are they messing with us? Just leaving us hanging like thisis that how they do things around here? Zhang Yi, though also a bit impatient, didnt show any sign of frustration. He simply said, Power speaks louder than anything else. Xiao Honglians face turned red with anger. Still, this is just too Zhang Yi waved her off, signaling her to stop. No point talking about it. The situation is what it is. There are Superhuman factions from twelve cities here. We dont need to stick our heads outsomeone else will lose their cool first. Hearing that, Xiao Honglian glanced westward. Sure enough, murmurs were beginning to spread throughout the hall. If you listened closely, youd hear people grumbling about how the Jiangnan Region was handling this situationsome were even starting to say some pretty nasty things. Xiao Honglian frowned. So were just going to sit here and wait? Zhang Yi chuckled. Just think of this as the meeting already happening. Honestly, even if they did start it formally, you probably wouldnt pay attention anyway. He had a laid-back attitude about it all. Important matters are discussed in small meetingsbig gatherings like this are usually just for show. Truthfully, Zhu Zhengs purpose in calling them here was to inform them of Blizzard Citys decisions, not to actually consult anyone. So the contents of the meeting wouldnt make much difference, whether they listened or not. It wasnt like their opinions were needed. Just then, Zhang Yi glanced toward the entrance of the hall and spotted a familiar figure. sea??h th N??elFir.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It was none other than Baili Changqing, the Captain of the Black-Robed Squad. His large frame was easy to recognize. He had just entered and was scanning the hall with sharp, watchful eyes. Zhang Yi thought to himself: The meeting was growing increasingly dull. With so many people crowded in one place, the air was getting thick and stale. Suddenly, Zhang Yi stood up and said to the others, Im going for a walk. As he turned to leave, Zhou Keer quickly said, Ill come too! But Zhang Yi waved her off, stopping her and the others who looked like they wanted to follow. Im going to chat with Baili Changqing. You all stay here and dont wander around. There were too many people heretoo chaotic. Wandering around risked bumping into someone and sparking unnecessary conflict. Zhou Keer obediently sat back down after hearing that. Liang Yue, Uncle You, and Fatty Xu were seated on the outer edgeif anything did go down, theyd be able to protect the others right away. Author''s Note Chapter 588: Veil! Chapter 588: Veil! Zhang Yi stepped out the back door, immediately drawing the attention of nearby guards. But when Baili Changqing saw him, he waved for the guards to stand down and walked over. Zhang Yi, Baili Changqing greeted him with a smile. Zhang Yi returned the smile. You know whats going on? Baili Changqing glanced around and pulled Zhang Yi to the side. Then he said, Something major happened. The Commander cant make it right nowwhats going on over there is urgent and needs to be handled immediately. Sar?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So its not like theyre deliberately leaving you hanging. Once thats settled, theyll come meet with everyone. Zhang Yi nodded, understanding. Ah, I see. Can I ask what the issue is? Baili Changqing shook his head. No idea. You know how it iswere just an armed Investigation Team. We follow the orders from the top, but beyond that, were not in the loop. Zhang Yi frowned slightly, but still said, But it looks like something big is brewing in the Jiangnan Region. Gathering Superhumans from twelve cities into one place? That alone was huge. Yet Zhu Zheng was still caught up with something elsewhatever it was had to be even more urgent. Zhang Yi had a bad feeling rising in his gut. He suspected that whatever was going on might end up involving him too. Maybe none of the forces in the Jiangnan Region would be able to stay clear of this one. But right now, without knowing anything, worrying wouldnt help. Zhang Yi stretched lazily. If thats the case, they shouldve just told us to go wait elsewhere. Why make us sit around here for nothing? Baili Changqing chuckled wryly. Tell me about it. Youre stuck waiting, and weve got to stay close by to maintain order. From what I heard, the incident was so sudden that the higher-ups were called into an emergency meeting. Thats why no ones had time to deal with things here. Doesnt sound like good news, Zhang Yi said with a smile. Im starting to feel a little nervous. Baili Changqing let out a deep sigh, his expression clouded with worry. Youre not the only one. If something serious really broke out, their Investigation Teams would be the first to hit the front lines. He hadnt been in his captains seat for long, and ever since Bian Junwu died, the Black-Robed Squads strength had taken a massive hit. If there was going to be large-scale conflict, would he even make it back alive? Seeing his expression, Zhang Yi pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his spatial storage and offered one to Baili Changqing. His eyes lit up immediately. Before the apocalypse, a pack of cost over a hundred yuan. Now that the cigarette industry had collapsed, no force would waste resources on luxuries like this. That made the value of this pack even greater. In Blizzard City, it could easily be traded for a decent weapon. Zhang Yi lit his own first, then lit one for Baili Changqing. Baili took a deep drag and let out a satisfied sigh. The two of them started chatting casually. Better than sitting around inside with nothing to doZhang Yi figured he might as well pass the time talking and maybe pick up a few insights about the Jiangnan Region while he was at it. They werent the only onesone after another, others came out to stretch their legs too. The area around the conference center was heavily guarded, so no one was allowed to wander too far. Soon enough, small groups of people were gathered outside, smoking and chatting in twos and threes. Suddenly, Zhang Yi and Baili Changqing heard a commotion in the distance. They turned their heads, curious. Nearby voices piped up: Come on, lets go check it out! Someones fighting! Nice! Some action at lastperfect way to kill time! Baili Changqing immediately called nearby Yan Yun Guards to ask what was happening. He got a response quickly. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow at him. Baili chuckled. Yepsomeones gotten into a fight! Zhang Yi arched his brow and asked with a smirk, And you guys arent stepping in? Baili Changqing shrugged. As long as they dont damage Blizzard City property or mess with civilians, we dont interfere. It wasnt against any of the citys rules. Zhang Yi laughed. Maybe theyre just bored and looking for fun. Baili gave him a teasing look. Well, I heard one of the people fighting is from Tianhai City. Zhang Yis gaze sharpened instantly. Tianhai City? Hed specifically warned everyone not to get into any conflicts with Superhumans from other cities. Even if something happened, it was to be handled the meeting. Who was so hotheaded they couldnt hold back? He just hoped it wasnt someone from his own team. Baili asked, Wanna go check it out? Zhang Yi had already turned and was heading toward the noise. Baili followed beside him, and the two of them made their way through the growing crowd. Voices were shouting excitedly: Kill him! Beat the crap outta him! With Baili leading the way, the onlookers quickly stepped aside, clearing a path. The two pushed to the front of the crowd. Thats when Zhang Yi saw who was fighting. One was Chen Jingguan. The other was Sun Jianming from Daze City. As soon as he saw them, Zhang Yi understood what was going on. Chaoyu Base and Sun Jianmings faction were both maritime forcestheyd clashed before. Back when Chaoyu Base was at its peak, with Wei Dinghai in charge, they probably pushed Sun Jianming around. But now Tianhai City was in decline, and Chaoyu Base was running at maybe 30% of its former strength. Sun Jianming wasnt about to pass up the chance to kick someone while they were down. The two likely exchanged some heated wordsand it escalated into a fight. As Baili approached, several Yan Yun Guards near him respectfully greeted him. They werent part of the same division, but Baili outranked themand he had risen through the ranks of Yan Yun himself. He was one of their outstanding veterans. What happened? Baili asked one of the Guards in a black combat suit. The Guard grinned. They wanted to fight. Put in a formal request and everything. No reason for us to say no. He, too, looked like he was enjoying the show. Zhang Yi frowned, watching the scene unfold. Sun Jianmings power was uniquelooked like he was an Enhancement-type Superhuman. His arms had swollen to the size of a gorillas, and his hands looked like two massive palm-leaf fans. Across from him, Chen Jingguan looked battered and bruised, bloodied all over. It was clear he wasnt a match for Sun Jianming. Sun Jianming sneered as he watched Chen Jingguan struggle. If Wei Dinghai were still alive, maybe he couldve given me a real fight. But you? What the h*ll do you think you are? At the mention of his fallen superior, rage exploded in Chen Jingguans chest. With a roar, he lunged forward. His body twisted mid-air, elongating like a human-serpent hybrid, aiming to coil around Sun Jianming. But Sun Jianming didnt flinch. Heh! Youre asking for it! His two massive hands snapped out and caught Chen Jingguan mid-air, clamping down hard. Then, like stretching dough, he yanked Chen Jingguan long and slammed him into the ground with brutal force! Normally, Chen Jingguans power let him soften his body, boosting flexibility to the point even bullets struggled to harm him. But Sun Jianmings right hand unleashed a powerful shockwave that tore through Chen Jingguans body, striking directly at his internal organs. Coughcough Blood spurted from Chen Jingguans mouth. But Sun Jianming wasnt finished. Laughing wildly, he swung him around like a rag doll. The fight was over. The gap in strength was just too bigChen Jingguan didnt stand a chance. By now, he was nothing more than a toy in Sun Jianmings hands. The surrounding crowd roared with excitement, cheering for Sun Jianming. Haha! Nailed it! So this is Tianhai Citys Superhuman? What a joke! They say hes even a faction leader? Seriously? Thats it? Looks like Tianhai City doesnt have any real strength left. Tsk tsk. We used to hear rumorsnow were seeing it with our own eyes. Some of their gazes began to change. Tianhai City thats a wealthy place, you know Author''s Note Chapter 589: You’ve Completely Shamed Us Chapter 589: Youve Completely Shamed Us This wasnt a duelit was a one-sided beatdown. Chen Jingguan and Sun Jianming werent even on the same level. Based on Zhang Yis judgment, Chen Jingguans Superhuman ability was just LV3 Gamma Tier, already trailing behind the top-tier level in Tianhai City. If it werent for Wei Dinghais death, he never wouldve had a chance to rise. The ability he prided himself on was now being completely toyed with, making him a laughingstock. There were still a few subordinates from Chaoyu Base around, but none dared to step in to save him. Because this was a mutually agreed one-on-one duel, and even Chen Jingguan was getting thrashedcharging in wouldve been pointless. The Superhumans from Daze City werent to be taken lightly. Zhang Yi spotted Xiao Honglian and Xing Tian in the crowd, too. But clearly, neither of them had plans to step in either. When they saw Zhang Yi, both looked toward him with hopeful eyes, clearly asking if he was going to make a move. Zhang Yi gave a faint smile and looked away. Baili Changqing glanced at him, worried that Zhang Yi might snap and massacre everyone on the spot. He put a hand on Zhang Yis shoulder and offered, Want me to step in and break it up? Itd be tricky for you to act personally. Zhang Yi looked at him, then suddenly chuckled. There wasnt even a hint of irritation in his smile. No need. Isnt this fun? At least it gives everyone something to watch. Sarch* The ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His relationship with the three major factions in Tianhai City wasnt that close. Even though theyd all gone out of their way to curry favor, hoping to gain his protection This time, Chen Jingguan had directly disobeyed Zhang Yis warning and gone off to fight Sun Jianming anyway. That alone was enough to count as insubordination. Let him suffer the consequences. As for whether this would make the other cities see Tianhai City as weak? That didnt matter at all. If anyone got any funny ideas because of this, they were welcome to try their luck. After saying his piece, Zhang Yi turned around and walked away. There was nothing entertaining about watching someone get humiliated in a one-sided beatdown. It was Baili Changqing who eventually had the Yan Yun Guards step in, under the pretense of preventing any fatalities, and stopped Sun Jianming. By then, Chen Jingguan was already half-dead. But the damage was done. Every Superhuman present had seen itTianhai Citys Superhumans had fallen hard. If someone like this could be called a faction leader, it meant Tianhai Citys forces were laughably weak. Zhang Yi returned to the conference hall and took his seat. Others trickled back inside as well, chatting and laughing about what theyd just witnessed. Their conversations were laced with open disdain for Tianhai City. Many even glanced over toward Zhang Yis group, their expressions mocking and derisive. Liang Yue let out a quiet sigh. Now things are even worse. With Chen Jingguan losing like that, people are definitely going to think Tianhai City has no real strength leftthat were easy prey. If even someone like Liang Yue could see the implications, so could the others. Worry clouded everyones eyes. But Zhang Yi said nothing. There was no point talkingwhat mattered was what you did. Once things were settled in Blizzard City, hed find someone to make an example ofjust to remind everyone that Tianhai City had real power. Xiao Honglian, Xing Tian, and the others returned as well, bringing the bruised and battered Chen Jingguan with them. It was humiliating, but they were all part of Tianhai Citys structure. They couldnt just abandon him. They sat down not far from Zhang Yi. Chen Jingguan looked absolutely wreckedhis face swollen and purplebut at least Sun Jianming hadnt dared go for the kill, so his injuries werent crippling. As they sat, they clearly heard people around them mocking and jeering, their expressions turning increasingly sour. Zhang Yi, meanwhile, didnt even glance at Chen Jingguan. He was laughing and chatting with Zhou Keer and Lu Keran like nothing had happened. Finally, Xiao Honglian couldnt take it anymore. She leaned over and said, Zhang Yi, can Dr. Zhou take a look at Chen Jingguan? I think hes got some internal injuries. Zhang Yi didnt even turn around. His voice was light, but cold. He likes picking fights. Cant handle the consequences? Xiao Honglians face froze awkwardly. She knew full wellZhang Yi was pissed that Chen Jingguan had disobeyed his orders and gone ahead with the duel. Chen Jingguan also realized he was in the wrong, but still tried to explain himself: Im not someone who likes to fight. But he went too far! I was just chatting with some old acquaintances when he came over and started mocking my former commander Wei Dinghai He said Tianhai City had no one left worth mentioningthat we should surrender and let his people take over. Right there, in front of all the other factions from every cityif I just stood there and took it, wouldnt they think Tianhai Citys forces are pushovers? Zhang Yi finally looked at him, but his tone was still indifferent. So did you make Tianhai City proud? That one sentence landed like a slap across Chen Jingguans face. Everyone had seen it: a so-called faction leader from Tianhai City reduced to a jokeused as a punching bag by Sun Jianming. Chen Jingguan had just dragged every Tianhai factions reputation through the mud. His face twisted in pain. I Zhang Yi didnt let him finish. His voice turned cold. Enough. Dont explain. Were not that close, anyway. A chill ran down Chen Jingguans spine. Zhang Yi had just made his stance clear. In a panic, Chen Jingguan rushed to apologize. Zhang Yi, Im sorry! I was wrongI deserve that beating. From now on, Ill listen to everything you say. Please, dont abandon us! Chaoyu Bases biggest strength lay in its maritime power. But after todays incident, Sun Jianming had seen just how weak Chen Jingguan really was. From now on, thered be no mercy at sea. He might even cross the water and wipe them out completely. If that happened, Chaoyu Base would be finished. To survive, they needed Zhang Yis protection. But Zhang Yi just sneered. Wrong? What did you do wrong? Youre so capable! Youre the proud leader of Chaoyu Basewhy should you apologize to me? All you did was reveal your own level of power, letting everyone assume that Tianhai Citys forces are pathetic. Youve just made things harder for everyone else. Whats wrong with that? Xiao Honglian and Xing Tian didnt say a word, but they clearly disapproved of Chen Jingguans actions too. Zhang Yi was just the only one blunt enough to say it out loud. Chen Jingguans face turned pale. He stammered, at a loss for words. He was only in his early thirties. Technically older than Zhang Yi, but raised in a powerful household and cushioned in the military since day onehis mindset was miles behind. It only took a little provocation from Sun Jianming for him to lose control and jump into a duel. He hadnt even been able to judge his own strength properly. Now, not only had he gotten wrecked, but hed dragged the reputation of all Tianhai forces down with him. If wasnt to blame, who was? Author''s Note Chapter 590: The Confederation Chapter 590: The Confederation For someone like Chen Jingguanwho stirs up a storm offstage but turns into a spineless coward onstagewhat he needed was a serious slap in the face. If that slap woke him up, great. If not, Zhang Yi had no interest in wasting his time on him. Compared to the shrewd and calculating Wei Dinghai, Chen Jingguan wasnt even in the same league. At this rate, Zhang Yi didnt even need to lift a fingerChaoyu Base would collapse on its own, or worse, someone under Chen might just stage a coup. Chen Jingguan was truly terrified now. He bowed his head low. Zhang Yi, I was wrong. I messed up. Please, for the sake of us both being from Tianhai City, help me! Zhang Yi sneered in disdain. Since when did were both from Tianhai City become a valid reason for anything? Did he forget they were ready to kill each other not long ago? Shhh. Zhang Yi put a finger to his lips, motioning for him to shut up. Go get some rest. Zhang Yi was honestly blown away by how stupid Chen Jingguan was this time. But in the grand scheme, this whole mess only accelerated the inevitable conflict between Tianhai City and the other cities. After the great battle in Tianhai, the population had been decimatedconflict with surrounding cities was bound to happen sooner or later. Zhang Yi knew hed have to step in eventually. Still, Chen Jingguan had to pay the price for his stupidity. If he didnt show enough sincerity, there was no way Zhang Yi would offer him protection. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that moment, Zhang Yi was already considering whether to take a few of Chens large seafaring ships as compensation. Chen Jingguan was trembling with fear now, stammering, not knowing what to say. Good thing Zhou Keer was sharp. She picked up on the fact that Zhang Yi hadnt completely shut the door on Chaoyu Base. So she walked over and said with a smile, Let me take a look at your injuries first. Thanks to Zhou Keers mediation, Chen Jingguan finally felt a little less panicked. She checked his condition and found that while his injuries didnt look serious on the surface, his internal organs had taken a significant hit. Left untreated, it would turn into a critical injury soonpossibly life-threatening. Using her Superhuman Energy as a doctor, Zhou Keer gave him some treatment, then pulled out medicine from the pouch she always carried and helped him take it. Chen Jingguan was overwhelmed with gratitude, thanking her repeatedly and begging her to put in a good word for him with Zhang Yi. Zhou Keer simply smiled and told him to focus on restingand absolutely avoid getting into any more fights. She returned to Zhang Yis side and quietly informed him of the internal damage Chen had suffered. Zhang Yis eyes flickered, and he glanced toward the forces from Daze City not far away. Sun Jianming, with his shiny bald head turned away, seemed to sense Zhang Yis gaze. He slowly turned his head and gave Zhang Yi a chilling smilethen made a throat-slitting gesture. Zhang Yi looked away without commenting, simply saying calmly, Lets wait for the meeting. Around 2:30 in the afternoon, Zhu Zheng finally arrived at the conference hall. With him were Minister of Operations Tu Yunlie, and the Celestial Squads Captain Deng Shentong. The moment they entered, the atmosphere turned heavy with pressurethe sheer presence of these people instantly silenced the hall. Zhu Zheng looked extremely serious todaylikely tied to the major incident that happened that morning. But the fact that he showed up at all meant that issue had mostly been dealt with. Standing on the stage, Zhu Zheng swept his gaze across the thousand-plus attendees. He could feel the fierce strength and rebellious nature radiating from many of the Superhumans from these twelve cities. If he could unite this power, it wouldnt be any weaker than his own Yan Yun Guards! Welcome to Blizzard City. Zhu Zhengs voice rang out, calm and commanding, amplified by the mic so everyone could hear. I am Zhu Zheng, Commander of the Jiangnan District. I was delayed by a special matter just now, and Id like to apologize for the wait. Now, I wont waste any more of your time. Lets get straight to the pointthe reason youre all here. Since the Ice Age hit in December last year, the world has descended into chaos. The old social order is gone. Its been six months. Most survivors have banded together, forming forces big and small. Among them, many have awakened Superhuman Abilities, gaining powers beyond normal comprehension. And all of you hereare leaders of the most powerful forces in your regions. I hope we can come together and accomplish big things, instead of remaining scattered and constantly at each others throats. So, starting today, Im establishing the Jiangnan Superhuman Confederation. Everyone within the Jiangnan District will be part of it. Especially youthe major powers from the twelve citiesyoull be core members of the Confederation. His voice echoed through the hall. Many frowned upon hearing that, deep in thought. Zhang Yi crossed his arms, thinking to himself: So it is what I thought. Now the question iswhat do they want from us, and what are they offering in return? Because if theres no benefit, none of the people in this room will be interested. And if things escalate, even with the Jiangnan Districts power, suppressing all of them would come at a huge cost. Everyone started murmuring in low voices. The whole conference room buzzed with discussion. Tu Yunlie, Deng Shentong, and Zhu Zhengs personal guard Sun Luxuan swept the room with cold, powerful gazesshutting people up one by one with sheer pressure. Zhu Zheng continued: The Jiangnan Superhuman Confederation will be under direct control of the Jiangnan District Headquarters, with me as the Chairman. Members of the Confederation can still operate within their own territories. But when special events arise, the District will assign missions, and the Confederations forces must follow orders. No exceptions. That line reignited the noise in the room. Someone snorted, So basically, they want us to be Jiangnans lapdogs? And we even have to bring our own kibble? Exactly. If we were moving to Blizzard City as part of the District, fine. But nothey want us to stay put and still work for them unconditionally. Might as well put a collar on us. Zhu Zheng raised his voice a notch: Of course, were not asking you to work for free! Complete the tasks assigned by the District, and youll earn rewards. The Districts medicine, weapons, and other supplies can all be exchanged using the points earned from missions! Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow. Now that was a bit tempting. He knew the Districts gear was way ahead of what Tianhai City had. Things like Origin Bullets, those custom training suits, and weapons made from Adamantium That was probably just the tip of the iceberg in the Jiangnan arsenal. And from what Baili Changqing had once hinted at, the District could already synthesize compounds specifically to enhance Superhuman Abilities. Now were some serious perks. Author''s Note Chapter 591: Absolute Power Chapter 591: Absolute Power Zhu Zheng completely ignored the uproar below and calmly continued speaking. Third point: internal strife within the District is strictly forbidden! In the past six months, the number of human casualties caused by infighting has been horrifyingincluding some Superhumans. I don''t want to see that kind of situation again. And I doubt any of you want to live in constant fear either. So, internal conflict must end immediately! If anyone attempts to invade another region, you can report it to the Confederation. I will send someone to adjudicate! That third point did make a few factions waver. Not every Superhuman was aggressive by nature. After all the brutal fighting since the Apocalypse, there were definitely people who simply wanted a peaceful life. Zhou Keer looked over at Zhang Yi with a bit of hope in her eyes. If this actually works, wouldnt that be great? Zhang Yi gave a slight smirk and scoffed quietly. Too naive. Thats just something to listen tonot something to believe. If problems like that could be solved so easily, history wouldnt be so full of chaos and war. Human greed has no end. There will always be people who crave greater power, more resources, and will resort to conquest to get them. Sure enough, as soon as Zhu Zheng finished speaking, the female leader of Daze CityGu Hongdieraised her hand. With a sweet, seductive tone, she asked: But what if a weak faction is sitting on a territory rich in resources? Isnt that just a waste? As she spoke, her eyes flicked toward Zhang Yis group. And it wasnt just hermany others instinctively looked at Chen Jingguan. Chen Jingguans face turned beet red with anger. But there was nothing he could do. Today, he had pretty much become a laughingstock across the entire Jiangnan Districtutter humiliation. Zhu Zhengs brows furrowed slightly, and he replied in a firm voice, The District will handle resource redistribution. Besides, the resources within your own factions territory should be sufficient for survival, shouldnt they? Currently, the survivor population in the Jiangnan District had dropped below 5%. There simply wasnt a resource shortage serious enough to threaten basic survival. Clearly, what Gu Hongdie meant wasnt survival suppliesbut strategic resources. Like machinery factories. Like weapons. Like vehicles. Like... manpower. If a faction wanted to expand and become even more powerful, all of those were essential. Not everyone just wanted to survive in the Apocalypse. Plenty of people had ambitionhoping to carve out their own kingdom in this chaos and rise to dominance. Gu Hongdie pursed her lips, a mischievous smile on her faceit was obvious she hadnt taken Zhu Zhengs words seriously. The expressions on the Superhumans present were filled with contempt. They all felt like the demands from the Jiangnan District were far too overbearing and unreasonable. Then, a man completely wrapped in white cloth stood up in the crowd. He locked his cold, sharp eyes on Zhu Zheng and said, So what youre saying is, the Jiangnan District wants to absorb all of usturn us into your puppets? If we have to obey your every command, how is that any different from being your lapdogs? His words sparked murmurs of agreement across the crowd. Zhu Zhengs face didnt change in the slightest. But suddenly, a faint cut through the air. In the next moment, that Superhumans head went flying from his neck. Blood sprayed everywhere, splashing onto the faces of those nearby. His body remained standing, while his head landed with a dull on the table in front of him. Zhang Yis eyes narrowed sharplyhe had just caught what had happened. The man was at least thirty meters away from the stage, but in that instant, one of the guards behind Zhu Zheng made a move. Three ultra-thin steel wires shot out from the guards sleevedecapitating the man from a distance! The strike was so fast, no one had time to react. The three wires shimmered silver in the air. They were so fine that you could barely see themif not for the droplets of blood clinging to them, no one wouldve noticed. Sun Luxuan retracted his wires, then calmly adjusted his black goatskin gloves before folding his hands behind his back, smiling pleasantly at the crowd. That move plunged the entire hall into absolute silence once more. Because the man who had just spoken out was well-knownone of the faction leaders from Xichuan City! Word had it his strength was terrifying, a Delta-level Superhuman, on par with figures like Xiao Honglian and Wei Dinghai. And yet this was someone who had been one-shotted and decapitated! What kind of overwhelming deterrent was that? If Sun Luxuan could instantly kill a Superhuman like him, he could surely do the same to nearly everyone else in the hall. Even Zhang Yis gaze turned more serious. The guard beside Zhu Zheng terrifying strength. Might even be stronger than Bian Junwu. Of the thirteen cities in Jiangnan, mostaside from Blizzard City and Tianhai Cityhad never interacted directly with the Jiangnan District. So they had no idea how their strength compared to the top-tier forces of Blizzard City. Their petty victories in their own little territories had given them the illusion of being powerful. They mistakenly thought they were qualified to stand on equal footing with Zhu Zheng. Even though they were only a few dozen meters from Zhu Zheng right now In terms of power and authority, the gap was like a bottomless chasm. One Superhuman muttered in shock, H-he actually struck Sun Luxuans attack shattered many peoples delusions. And right after he made his move, the side and rear doors of the hall opened up. Baili Changqing entered, leading the Black Robe Squad and a large force of Yan Yun Guards. The atmosphere immediately turned cold and intense. Even Deng Shentong cracked his knuckles, his eyes turning icy, a mocking smile on his lips. That overwhelming pressure made the people in the room visibly uneasy. Zhang Yis eyes shimmered slightly. He didnt believe Blizzard City would go full purge-mode, but he was already mentally preparing to bolt. At that moment, Zhu Zhengs voice rang out through the speaker system. Dont misunderstand me! He glared coldly across the hall. Im not here to negotiateIm here to inform you. Anyone who refuses to join the Superhuman Confederation will be seen as opposing the Confederationno, as opposing the entire Jiangnan District! And forces or individuals like that simply dont deserve to exist on this land! A faint, indifferent smile curled on Zhang Yis lips. Sarch* The novlF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As expected. Hed seen it coming. What surprised him wasnt Zhu Zhengit was how many were actually dumb enough to try reasoning with a behemoth like the Jiangnan District. Some even had the guts to openly oppose him. Their brains mustve been frozen solid by the -60C weather. Author''s Note Chapter 592: Who’s In Favor, Who’s Against? Chapter 592: Whos In Favor, Whos Against? Nothing about this surprised Zhang Yi. Hed already spoken privately with Baili Changqing and was well aware of the Jiangnan Districts overall plan. To be fair, he thought this approach was actually pretty reasonable. If Zhang Yi were in Zhu Zhengs position, he wouldve made the same call. If things were allowed to spiral out of controlfaction after faction fightingit was only a matter of time before the entire Jiangnan District shattered into pieces. And if some external force invaded at that point, what would be left to resist them? As for Zhang Yi personallydid he have any complaints? Sure, but not many. Being under someone elses command wasnt ideal, but heythe Jiangnan District was just that powerful. They had the muscle, so Zhang Yi didnt mind giving them some face. Of course, if they ever tried to send him on a suicide mission, that would be a hard no. Until then, he had no intention of falling out with the Jiangnan District. After finishing his speech, Zhu Zheng once again looked around at the crowd. After that ruthless show of force earlier, no one dared to stand up or speak out again. I just asked, Zhu Zheng said coolly, Whos in favor, and whos against? Everyone glanced around, and in unspoken agreement, kept their mouths shut. Zhu Zhengs tone turned cold: If no one says anything, Ill take that as unanimous consent. In that case, please sign your names on this membership agreement. As soon as he finished speaking, his secretary Lan Xincheng adjusted his glasses and signaled the Yan Yun Guards outside. Two teams immediately entered from the aisles, carrying stacks of prepared membership forms, handing one to each faction leader. Signing that form meant one thingtheir organization was now officially under the Jiangnan Districts authority, and would follow orders from the top. Zhang Yi received one too. He scanned it quickly and saw it matched exactly what Zhu Zheng had laid outno hidden clauses. So he signed it without hesitation. Zhu Zheng cared about procedure, but Zhang Yi honestly didnt. If Zhu Zheng ever tried to send him to die, a piece of paper like this wouldnt mean a thing. Flexibility is keythere was no need to play the hero. Some others signed with calm acceptance; some looked bitter and reluctant. But in the end, fear of the Jiangnan District outweighed their anger, and one by one, they all signed the form. Seeing the thick stack of documents in Lan Xinchengs hands, Zhu Zheng nodded with satisfaction. A faint smile appeared on his face. Dont worry. I wont make you work for nothing, he said. Starting next month, each of you will receive a supply packageincluding special weapons and equipment made by the District. Also, if you complete missions assigned by the District, there will be special rewards. After speaking, Zhu Zheng reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a small glass vial, holding it up between his fingers. Everyones eyes locked onto that tiny bottle, curiosity piqued. Zhu Zheng spoke in a solemn tone: This is called Compound No. 2. Its function is to enhance and unlock latent Superhuman Abilities. Simply putusing this will make your powers stronger. This compound is also listed among the mission rewards! The moment they heard what Compound No. 2 could do, everyones gaze turned fiery with desire. Up to now, the only known way to enhance ones Superhuman Ability was devouringand that method came with big problems. First, you had to kill a Superhuman and absorb their origineasier said than done, since Superhumans were already rare. Second, as ones ability level increased, the effects of devouring diminished, forcing people to hunt higher-level Superhumans for stronger gains. But those werent easy prey. Now Zhu Zheng was telling them there was a drug that could enhance their powers. Of course they wanted it. In the Apocalypse, power is everything. But Zhang Yi frowned slightly when he saw the vial. He had heard some things about these compounds from Baili Changqing in passing. The reason the Jiangnan District was so powerful, and had so many high-level Superhumans, was precisely because of these chemical enhancers. Bian Junwu, for instance, was rumored to be a user. Even the side effects of his mutation mightve been caused by the compound. Sure, youd gain power fastbut the risks were enormous. Zhang Yi had no interest in making that trade-off. Still, it was clear that everyone else had taken the baithook, line, and sinker. No wonder the Jiangnan District has so many powerful Superhumans. Turns out theyve got drug support! Wait does this mean we can get it too? As long as we complete the missions they give us That doesnt sound so bad. Zhu Zheng had come with a stick in one hand and candy in the otherand most peoples resentment was melting away. At least for now, it looked like joining the Jiangnan District came with some real perks. Just as everyone was weighing the pros and cons, Zhu Zheng continued: Youve arrived at the perfect time. As it happens, theres an opportunity waiting for you. Not long ago, a group of appeared in Linhai City. There are thirteen of them in totaland theyve already taken over the city. Whoever can eliminate these Ronin will receive ten vials of Compound No. 2, and also gain control over Linhai City! The room exploded with noise. Because the words carried some serious weight. No matter how fierce their internal conflicts werethose were still family feuds. But this? Foreign invaders? Their hatred immediately shifted focus. Those d*mn Ronin! How dare they set foot on Huaguos land? Theyre asking to die! Do they really think just because the world ended, they get to act like they own the place? Kill them! Every last onedont leave a single one breathing! Sarch* The n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes slightly. Neon Ronin... bold move. Theyd occupied an entire Huaguo city. That could only mean one thingthe original forces in Linhai City had been wiped out. That was something no one could tolerate. Uncle You clenched his teeth and spat a curse, M**ers. I say we wipe them all out! The crowd was seething with rage. But others werent just angrythey were tempted. Ten vials of Compound No. 2enough to significantly boost ten Superhumans. That alone could drastically strengthen any organization. But the real prize... was control of Linhai City. The local powers were already gone, which meant whoever completed this mission would become Linhais undisputed ruler With official recognition and protection from the Jiangnan District. Plenty of people were seriously tempted. But some were also thinking hard about how dangerous the mission might be. After all, this Ronin group had taken down an entire citys Superhuman force Author''s Note Chapter 593: Recruitment Chapter 593: Recruitment Zhu Zheng took in the expressions of everyone below the stage. He knew some of them were still waiting for specific intel. Zhu Zheng didnt bother playing games and went straight into the details about the ronin. This group of ronin comes from the north of the Neon Nation. Theyre part of a notorious yakuza organization called . After dominating Kanto, they set their sights on the mainland of Huaguo and came across the sea. Weve already communicated with the top powers of the Neon Nation. These peoples actions have nothing to do with their official authoritiestheyre acting on their own. So, you can rest assured and go hunt them down! Of course, theyre no pushovers. You need to be prepared for that. But weve got the numbers. As long as you''re willing, anyone can take on this mission! All I want to see is the heads of those thirteen people! Someone in the crowd slowly raised his hand. Zhu Zheng and Zhang Yi both looked at him. He was fully wrapped up, with only a pair of eyes exposed. Zhang Yi had already noticed him back at the subway platform. The man carried a distinct military airclearly a retired veteran. And now, he was the leader of a faction. The veteran opened his mouth and asked, The Neon Nations higher-ups claim these guys werent sent by them. Thats hard to believe. What happens if were attacked by official forces while carrying out this mission? Quite a few people nodded in agreement with the veteran. People from the Neon Nation were known to flip sides and backstab. Could anyone really trust what came out of their mouths? What if, after they deployed, it turned out this group was just an advance forceand more reinforcements followed? That would put them in serious danger! Zhu Zheng curled his lips into a smirk, his tone full of disdain. That doesnt matter. What matters is that their government denies any connection to these people. Which means were free to hunt down these ronin however we want! The Neon folks wont dare say a word! Otherwise, heh Zhu Zheng let out a cold laugh. If we prove theyre linked to the Neon Nations leadership, that actually makes things easier! If they make the first move, we can go all out in retaliation! Zhu Zhengs words laid things bare. If this group really was connected to Neon Nation officials, it would mean theyd already fired the first shot of an invasionand that would open the door to all-out war. Even their allies wouldnt be able to defend them. Those words fired up the confidence of the superhumans present. With the military might of the Jiangnan District behind them, there was nothing to fear. All they had to do was launch a massive hunt against those ronin! The veteran nodded silently, clearly agreeing with Zhu Zheng. As for why Zhu Zheng had to mobilize forces from all twelve cities of the Jiangnan Districtwell, that was simple. This was a coordinated hunt. They were surrounding the Moon of Corrosion and wiping them out to the last man. The enemy wouldnt just sit there waiting to be taken down. Of course theyd try to escape. To pull off a full-scale encirclement, you needed a force ten times larger than the enemy. Just like hundreds of years ago in the Ming Dynasty, when they had to mobilize 300,000 troops to eliminate a few thousand Wokou pirates. Uncle You couldnt help but say to Zhang Yi, Zhang Yi, we should join in on this operation. As a retired soldier himself, Uncle You still had a strong emotional connection to this kind of mission. Zhang Yi rested his chin in one hand, tilting his head slightly as he calmly watched Zhu Zheng and the fired-up crowd on stage. But his mind was already analyzing the situation. The ronin were certainly detestable, but Zhang Yi never acted out of pure emotionhe always weighed the pros and cons. They be eliminated. But why wasnt Zhu Zheng sending in his own investigation teams? Even if the Black Robe Squad had lost Bian Junwu, the Celestial Squad was still at full strength. Not to mention, they had 5,000 Yan Yun Guards. There was only one likely answerZhu Zheng wasnt willing to risk his own elite troops. Thats why he wanted the outer-city forces to go in first. If the mission succeeded, great. If not, theyd still gain intel on the enemy. Then Blizzard Citys elites could step in. At this rate, any future high-risk tasks would probably also fall to outer-city forces first. And his elite squads would be preserved unless a truly special mission came up. After all, the Jiangnan Districts power was built on military strength. Zhu Zheng had to consider that. Self-interestpeople always have it. Once hed thought it through, Zhang Yi calmly said to Uncle You, Lets observe the situation first. I want to ask Baili Changqing for more detailed intel. Clearly, there were things Zhu Zheng wasnt telling them. Zhang Yi was the type to make a plan before actingthats the only way to stay safe. On the podium, Zhu Zheng waved his arm with authority and declared: All organizations participating in this mission can head to HQ to pick up weapons, gear, and all necessary supplies! Zhang Yi thought to himself: This is also a way to confirm how many factions are actually getting involved. If there werent enough, Zhu Zheng might have to start assigning tasks directly. Sure enough, people immediately stood up, pledging to take their teams to Linhai City to wipe out the ronin. In the blink of an eye, five factions volunteered. Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, thinking: In that case, Ill keep a low profile for now. Whether they were motivated by patriotism or just the rewards Zhu Zheng promised, plenty of people were clearly willing to go. Zhang Yi never made himself a targeteven if the rewards looked good. So, let them go first. If they managed to wipe out the ronin, perfect. If they failed, Zhang Yi could gather valuable intel from their attempt. And by the time he made his move, his chances of success would be much higher. Watching the crowd of fired-up superhumans, a flicker of cold light flashed through Zhang Yis eyes. Just thirteen people had wiped out force in Linhai City. How powerful was this Moon of Corrosion team, really? Could they be on par with the Blizzard City investigation team? If that were true, how many of these attackers would die? The meeting ended amid an atmosphere of fiery enthusiasm. Sar?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Those willing to go hunt down the Moon of Corrosion quickly signed up and collected their supplies. As for Zhang Yi, he quietly left the hall with his team, without making a sound. Operations Center, Commanders Office. Zhu Zheng sat on a sofa, reading the report Lan Xincheng had submitted. In total, ten factions signed up to go to Linhai City and hunt down the Moon of Corrosion. Thats not badits a strong force. Zhu Zheng nodded. Even though plenty of factions had come to Blizzard City, many couldnt participate for various reasons. Some were too far from Linhai geographically. Others had their own concerns. But what bothered Zhu Zheng most was this: Nowhere on the report did he see any signatures from Tianhai City leaders. Most notably, he didnt see Zhang Yis name. That made him frown. Tianhai City is close to Linhai, and Zhang Yis strength is more than enough. But hes avoiding the fight. Im very disappointed. He was starting to agree more and more with what Baili Changqing had said. This Zhang Yitoo scheming, too hard to control. Author''s Note Chapter 594: Vanguard Chapter 594: Vanguard Zhu Zheng thought back to Baili Changqings assessment of Zhang Yi and couldnt help letting out a sigh. That man prioritizes personal gain above all else. Hes really not suitable to be brought into Blizzard City. Standing beside him, Secretary Lan Xincheng leaned in with a smile and said, After the zombie tide chaos, Tianhai City is pretty much a ruin. S~ea??h the ovlFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Not only are living people scarce, but all the major powers have taken heavy losses. With their current strength, they simply cant maintain regional stability. And now that Zhang Yis also shown such a disappointing attitude, why not consider supporting some new forces? Zhu Zheng raised an eyebrow at thatit had clearly piqued his interest. Tianhai City used to be a mega-metropolis with a population of twenty million. It was a city rich in resources. Now, its population was decimated, and aside from Zhang Yis team, the other major forces guarding it had no capacity to govern. So why not bring in strength from other cities? First, it would stabilize the Tianhai region. Second, it would keep Zhang Yi in check and prevent him from becoming the sole authority in Tianhai. To put it plainly, Zhu Zheng just didnt like Zhang Yis lone-wolf attitude. He tapped his fingers on the table, then said slowly, Lets add that to the plan. Coincidentally, weve got ten factions taking part in the Linhai City operation. When the task is done, there wont be enough territory in Linhai for all of them. Well just move a few over to Tianhai City. Problem solved. Just like that, with a casual exchange, theyd divided up Tianhai City like it was a piece of cake. To Zhang Yi, though, this didnt matter much. His team was smallthey only needed the Lu River District and West Hill District. Whatever Zhu Zheng stirred up wouldnt affect him. Itd just hit the other three factions. But if anyone tried to snatch food from mouth? Heh. Zhang Yi was willing to give face to the Jiangnan Districtyou could come. But once you came could you still leave? At that moment, Zhu Zheng got a report from the front desk. Commander, Captain Deng Shentong of the Celestial Squad is requesting to see you. Zhu Zheng raised his hand and said, Let him in. Lan Xincheng smiled. Hes probably here to ask for a deployment. The Celestial Squad led by Deng Shentong had the biggest name in Blizzard City. Deng Shentong was young, strong, and battle-hungry! He was always the most eager to take on missions, hungry to make his mark and build a fearsome reputation. Hed been dominating Blizzard Citys points-based Heaven List for nearly two months now. Because of this, many in Blizzard City considered him the number one expert in the Jiangnan District. With his outstanding background and handsome looks, he was hugely popular among the residents of Tianhai City. Many even believed that if Zhu Zheng ever stepped back from command, Deng Shentong would be the one to take his place as district commander. Zhu Zheng himself had great appreciation for this young prodigy. Soon, Deng Shentong stepped through several doors and entered Zhu Zhengs office. As soon as he arrived, he asked, Commander, why arent we being sent to carry out this mission? Even though many superhuman teams are being deployed, its obvious this enemy isnt some ordinary group. If they really try to escape, those outer-city forces wont be able to catch them. He added with a hint of contempt, Theyre just not professionals. And with all the internal rivalries, theres no way theyll cooperate effectively. But Zhu Zheng chuckled when he heard that. He leaned back on the sofa, relaxed, and casually asked, Do you know much about Moon of Corrosion? Deng Shentong opened his mouth, but no words came out. Theyd never had any contact with that ronin group from the Neon Nation, and there was no intel to go on. Zhu Zheng took a deep breath and said, These days, the Neon Nation is split into two factions: in Kanto, and in Kansai. And Moon of Corrosion is a ronin organization that rampages through Kanto. Even Izumo, which controls nearly all official power in Kanto, cant deal with them. That alone shows just how powerful these ronin are. They might even be on par with your investigation squads! Zhu Zheng fixed his gaze on Deng Shentong, his expression turning serious. Without solid intel, theres no way Ill send you in. After all, the six investigation squads are the pillars of Blizzard City. Deng Shentong frowned. The Neon Nation is just a tiny island country. What kind of strength could a bunch of rogue superhuman groups even have? Zhu Zheng shook his head and looked at Deng Shentong with a touch of exasperation. Dont underestimate your opponents! To belittle them is to belittle yourself. Even during the War to Defend the Nation, our casualty ratios against them were five-to-one, sometimes even nine-to-one! Strategically, we can look down on them. But tacticallywe respect them. We cannot afford carelessness! Deng Shentong calmed down and silently reflected. Sure, the Neon Nation wasnt large in terms of territorybut it was still equivalent to a province, with over a hundred million citizens. From a pool that big, it wasnt surprising for many powerful superhumans to emerge. Deng Shentong even joked to himself, the Neon people have always been kind of extremeso after mutation, it makes sense if they turned out even more dangerous. He now understood Zhu Zhengs reasoning. So, what you mean is sending the outer-city factions to Linhai City is really about using them to gather intel on Moon of Corrosion? Zhu Zheng nodded in approval. Thats right, thats the idea. Of course, if they manage to take those superhumans down, even better. But even if they fail, theyll still reveal something about Moon of Corrosion. At that point, youll get credit for a third of the results. As for those who didnt go? Lets just saytough luck. Now that Deng Shentong understood Zhu Zhengs thinking, he felt at peace. Still, I doubt those forces have the strength to pull this off. For some reason, a figure suddenly flashed in Deng Shentongs mindZhang Yi. Among all the outer-city forces, very few caught his eyebut Zhang Yi was undoubtedly the most outstanding. Because he had defeated Wu Di. Deng Shentong couldnt help but ask, Is Zhang Yi from Tianhai City going? Hearing the question, Zhu Zheng, Lan Xincheng, and Sun Luxuan were all slightly surprised. It was rare to hear this prideful Celestial Squad captain mention by name. Zhu Zheng looked a bit annoyed. That guy? He didnt even sign up for the mission. Such a schemer! Deng Shentongs eyes glinted, but he smiled. You could also say hes smart. At least he sees this mission isnt that simple. Zhu Zheng clearly didnt like that take. He crossed his arms and frowned. If everyone acted like himso self-centeredthe Superhuman Federation would fall apart! Zhu Zheng was a military man. Military men lived by the code of unconditional obedience to orders and the chain of command. But Deng Shentong wasnt like that. Neither was Zhang Yi. So rather than see Zhang Yi as rebellious, Deng Shentong admired his intelligence. For Deng Shentong, what mattered most was talent. Everything else could be tolerated. After all, a great leader knows how to identify the strengths of their peopleand how to make the best use of them. Author''s Note Chapter 595: Arrogance Unmasked Chapter 595: Arrogance Unmasked Elsewhere. Zhang Yi led his group away from the Tianchang Conference Center, which remained as lively as ever. Though the meeting was over, many still lingered inside, eagerly discussing the situation in Linhai City. Zhang Yi didnt need to join their chatterhed get more accurate intel by asking Baili Changqing. Just then, a mocking voice reached their ears. Tianhai Citys right next to Linhai, and now that those Neon ronin have invaded, you lot are actually running away with your tails between your legs? What a f***ing disgrace! The words immediately darkened everyones expressions. Especially Chen Jingguanhis face turned red and pale by turns, his eyes filling with fury and shame. Because the speaker was none other than Sun Jianming, one of the faction leaders from Daze City. Zhang Yi frowned slightly and glanced over. He saw the three major factions of Daze City grouped together, also heading out. Their numbers far exceeded Tianhai Citysmore than three times as many superhumans. Naturally, their presence was more imposing. Xiao Honglian and the others looked nervous. The gap in numbers was overwhelmingif it really came to a fight Xiao Honglian instinctively looked at Zhang Yi. If Zhang Yi made a move, they might still have a chance. Noif fought, theyd win! Because Zhang Yi never fought battles he couldnt win. Thinking that, Xiao Honglian suddenly felt a lot more secure. That handsome side profile of his just became even more captivating. Once they returned to Tianhai City, she was definitely going to get closer to Zhang Yi. The Jiangnan Districts power dynamics were sure to shift in the future, and she needed a solid umbrella to shield Yangsheng Base. The three faction leaders from Daze City approached. Though there was still some distance between them, it was clear from their body language they werent exactly friendly with each other. But when it came to applying pressure on Tianhai City, their goals were perfectly aligned. Zhang Yi chuckled lightly and said, Didnt Commander Zhu say it himself? This mission is strictly voluntary. I dont think our actions are any of your business. Sun Jianming exchanged glances with the other two. The disdain in their eyes deepened. Even the superhumans behind them started laughing mockingly. You actually said that with a straight face? What a f***ing joke! The nations in crisis, and youre hiding like cowards in your shells. Seriously, you guys still think you have the right to represent Tianhai City? If you ask me, Tianhai Citys powers are already worthless. Just look at that so-called leader of Chaoyu Basetsk tsk! You cant handle such a prime area? Might as well give it up while youre ahead. The Daze City superhumans mocked Tianhais people without restraint. It made every single one of them look utterly humiliated. Even someone as mild-tempered as Liang Yue furrowed her brows and glanced subconsciously at Zhang Yi. If he just gave the word, theyd charge forward and beat the crap out of these guys. But Zhang Yi listened to their jeers without the slightest change in expression. The weak get angry when provokedpeople like Chen Jingguan. He was insecure because of his weakness, which made even the smallest insult unbearable. But to the strong, the voices of ants were just too faint to register at all. Why would Zhang Yi lose his cool over a bunch of bugs? All he felt for them was pity for their ignorance. Still, Zhang Yi wasnt going to make a move outside the Tianchang Conference Center. Clearly, the other side was trying to provoke a fightthen hit back hard once Tianhais people responded. That way, if Blizzard Citys higher-ups laid blame, they could pin everything on Tianhai. Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes, and a flicker of cold killing intent passed through them. These annoying insects he really wanted to crush them one by one. He smiled slightly. Excuse us. Then turned to the others and said, Lets go. With that, Zhang Yi turned and walked off toward the apartment complex without looking back. Xiao Honglian, Chen Jingguan, and the others had been waiting for him to act. But he didnt even flinch? Just walked away after all that mocking? They were stunned. So were the superhumans from Daze City. To take that level of insult head-on and not even react? Was he spineless and weak, or just way too good at holding it in? Only Liang Yue, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and the rest left with cheerful smiles, following behind Zhang Yi. They already knew how Zhang Yi operated. You think a few sarcastic comments would provoke him? Dream on. Seeing Zhang Yis group walking off, Xing Tian hurried to follow as well. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. From beginning to end, Zhang Yi hadnt even acknowledged him. In Zhang Yis eyes, if they were dumb enough to pick a fight with Daze City, he wouldnt stop them. Xiao Honglian and Chen Jingguans people finally understood something. They shot vicious glares at the Daze City superhumans, then turned and left silently. Sun Jianming spat viciously at the ground. Pah! Gutless cowards! What a f***ing joke! Elsewhere, the leader of the organization, Gu Hongdie, chuckled and said: Their leader looks so weak. Hows someone like that even supposed to lead a team? A true leader needed strength and presence. If you couldnt even protect your own territory and people, whod follow you? To Gu Hongdie, Zhang Yis approach was just straight-up cowardice. At that moment, the third faction leader, Chen Liangyu, flashed a sly look and said with a grin, Isnt this exactly what we wanted to see? Sun Jianming, Gu Hongdie, and Chen Liangyu all looked at one anotherthen broke into sinister grins. They had a clear idea now of the situation in Tianhai City. Chaoyu Base, once one of the five great powers of Tianhai, was now led by a Gamma-level superhumansomeone Sun Jianming could beat down single-handedly. Back in Daze City, that kind of power level would barely qualify as a squad captain. Theyd deliberately come to pick a fightjust to gauge the strength of Tianhais remaining forces. And the result? Theyd hurled public insults and not a single one of them dared talk back. Just slinked away with their tails tucked. This is a golden opportunity, Sun Jianming said coldly. Gu Hongdie giggled and glanced at the other two. Its rare for the three of us to be together. Why dont we grab a drink and have a little chat? Sun Jianming and Chen Liangyu readily agreed. They all knew exactly what the others were thinking. With outside forces distracting the Jiangnan District and most of Tianhais neighboring factions off hunting ronin in Linhai City No one was paying attention to what happened in Tianhai. None of them had signed up for that mission. Their real goalwas to carve up the juicy meat of Tianhai City! Dont let Zhu Zhengs righteous speeches fool you about no internal conflicts. If they seized Tianhai first, there were plenty of ways to justify it afterward. Like: Helping a fellow city maintain security, or Targeted support for impoverished and weak regions. As long as the facts were already established, the Jiangnan District wouldnt say a word. Who ever speaks up for the weak, anyway? Author''s Note Chapter 596: Don’t Let Emotions Cloud Your Judgment Chapter 596: Dont Let Emotions Cloud Your Judgment Zhang Yi walked ahead, heading toward the apartment. Later, he planned to meet with Baili Changqing again, then follow up on Deng Shentongs invitation. If nothing else came up, hed return to Tianhai City. As for that group of bastards from Daze City, Zhang Yi had already seen right through them. Those guys clearly thought the forces in Tianhai City were weak and easy to bullyand were now eyeing it as a target. No doubt, with the districts attention fixed on the ronin invasion, this was the perfect time for them to make a move. When that time came, Zhang Yi would give them a very surprise. Xiao Honglian, Chen Jingguan, and a few others followed close behind. Chen Jingguan kept glancing toward Zhang Yis back, his lips twitching but not daring to speak. Still, he felt uneasy about Zhang Yis earlier approach. Theyd been publicly humiliated, and Zhang Yi was now the leader of Tianhai Cityhe couldnt even talk back? Xiao Honglian, being closer to Zhang Yishe had helped him beforeand as a woman, had a bit of an edge in these situations. Even if she spoke up, Zhang Yi was unlikely to get angry. So, she stepped forward and said with a careful smile, Zhang Yi, um its not like were criticizing you or anything. Its just that maybe your attitude toward them earlier was a little too, I dont know, passive? What kind of attitude? Zhang Yi glanced at her coldly and asked. I mean it kind of came off as weak. You really didnt need to act that way, Xiao Honglian replied. Zhang Yi let out a scornful laugh. Hands in his pockets, he shot a glance toward Chen Jingguan behind him, a trace of disdain in his eyes. Then what do you think I shouldve done? Fought them on the spot and gotten punished for violating Blizzard Citys regulations? Or maybe shouted back and got into a screaming match like some market hag? Theyve got so many peopledo you really think we could out-yell them? Zhang Yi shook his head. Pointless moves like that just arent worth doing. Xiao Honglian still tried to explain, But doing that might make people think Tianhai City is weak and easy to push around. Heh. Thats not my fault, Zhang Yi sneered. Chen Jingguan flushed red and quickly dropped his headZhang Yis words were clearly aimed at him. Xiao Honglian wanted to say more, but Zhang Yi was starting to lose patience. Ive always lived my life on my own terms. I dont owe anyone an explanation. That shut Xiao Honglian up instantly. She lowered her head and mumbled, Dont be mad I was just asking. Then she quietly stepped aside. Once they reached the apartment, Chen Jingguan went to heal up, and the others returned to their rooms. Everyone had their concernsespecially the leaders of the three base organizations. They were deeply worried about Tianhai Citys future. Times had changed. The three bases were no longer dominant forces. sea??h th n??el Fire.nt website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, even in the face of blatant provocation by Daze Citys three superhuman factions, they could do nothing but swallow the insult. To put it bluntly, even if the three of them joined forces, they still wouldnt be as strong as any one faction used to be on its own. Right now, they had no choice but to rely on Zhang Yi. If Daze Citys superhumansor any other force coveting Tianhai Citys resourceslaunched an attack, theyd be wiped out for sure. So, they had to seriously consider their path forward. Meanwhile, Zhang Yi gathered his people into a room. Once the doors and windows were shut, Liang Yue was the first to speak. Zhang Yi, when are we going to make our move? Zhang Yi wasnt the type to sit back and take things lying down. Those guys had already stepped all over themthere was no way hed just let it go. The reason he didnt act earlier was simply because it wasnt the right time yet. Zhang Yi sat down on the sofa. Upon hearing her question, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly. Were not the ones in control here. We need to wait for to make the first move. Wait for them? Liang Yue frowned. The others also looked puzzled by Zhang Yis decision. Wouldnt that put us in a passive position? Zhang Yi smiled at them all. Oh? Then why dont you tell mewhat should do instead? Unexpectedly, Fatty Xu, usually the more timid type, stood up boldly. Gritting his teeth, he said, Those guys were way out of line! They humiliated us in front of so many peopleI couldnt stand it! If you ask me, we should get ahead of themambush them on their way back to Daze City! He turned to Zhang Yi with a big flattering grin. With your strength, Boss, taking them out would be a piece of cake, right? But Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow and asked, Oh? Do know how strong they are? I Fatty Xu couldnt answer. He had no idea about the strength of the Daze City superhuman factions. Zhang Yi asked again, Then do you know strength? Fatty Xu was about to say something, but when he saw the amused glint in Zhang Yis eyes, he wisely kept his mouth shut. The others looked at Zhang Yi, clearly waiting for him to explain the real plan. Zhang Yi spoke earnestly, Since were all on the same team, Ill be honest with you. First off, my strength still doesnt match Yuan Kongyes level. Even with devouring-type superpowers, the absorption isnt complete. And Yuan Kongyes origin itself was already flawedthat might be tied to the nature of her abilities. So dont go around thinking Ive reached Epsilon-level power. At best, Im among the stronger ones at Delta level. And dont underestimate either! Youve seen Sun Jianmings strengthhe totally crushed Chen Jingguan. The other two faction leaders probably arent much weaker. To attack without knowing their capabilities is plain foolish. And for us to go ambush them now, when we know nothing? That would just be blind arrogance. Zhang Yis words made everyone feel strangely conflicted inside. For some reason, theyd all subconsciously assumed Zhang Yi was already ator nearYuan Kongyes level. Back then, Yuan Kongyes destructive power had left too deep of an impression on them. They believed Zhang Yi could solo anyone below Epsilon level and win easily. But now, it seemed that wasnt quite the case. Zhou Keer was sharp enough to pinpoint the real issue. Actually, even if Zhang Yis strength is higher than theirs, thats just based on logical guesswork. We still dont know their actual abilities. So acting rashlyespecially going out of our way to ambush themisnt a smart move. Zhang Yi nodded in approval. Then he looked at Fatty Xu and Uncle You. You two let anger cloud your judgment. Remember what Im about to sayif you want to survive in the apocalypse, you stay rational at all times. Author''s Note Chapter 597: Chen Jingguans Agony Chapter 597 Chen Jingguan''s Agony Zhang Yi''s explanation convinced everyone. That was just like him he would never put himself in danger out of arrogance. Who in this world is truly invincible? Back then, Yuan Kongye thought she was unbeatable too, yet she still ended up dying at the hands of Zhang Yi, whose strength was far beneath hers. Zhang Yi wasnt about to make the same mistake. Even a lion goes all out when hunting a rabbit! You dont have to worry. Instead of charging at them in a rage and exposing all our weaknesses, its better to wait it out and fight them on our own turf, Zhang Yi said with a smile, his eyes shining with intelligence. In truth, he already had a plan to deal with those people. Fatty Xu quickly chimed in with a laugh, Boss, I knew you wouldnt let them off that easily! Zhang Yi shrugged. Its not about me letting them off or not. Its that theyll definitely come asking for death themselves. Then Zhang Yi calmly laid out his plan. Their arrogance is just a front. Theyre simply testing the strength of Tianhai City. Now that Chen Jingguan has been beaten up, and weve swallowed our pride after being mocked, theyll get the impression that Tianhai City is easy to bully. So, it wont be long before they decide to invade. Sar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A smile crept further into Zhang Yis eyes. By then, when theyre on our turf, wouldnt it be even easier to wipe them all out? Everyone in the room gasped in amazement. Thats brilliant! Your way is way better! I was just so mad I wanted to go fight them right away. Fighting on home ground, laying traps and waiting for them, that gives us the upper hand and minimizes our losses. Everyone admired Zhang Yis smarts, especially his composure. After all, not everyone could keep their cool after being publicly humiliated. Lu Keran blinked curiously at Zhang Yi and asked, If thats the case, big bro, why didnt you just explain it clearly to Xiao Honglian and the others? Zhang Yi chuckled softly. There were too many people around back there. I cant just reveal my plan in the open. Ill tell them everything once were back in Tianhai City and get them to cooperate with the operation. Besides, itll teach them a lesson. They need to know exactly what level their strength is at now and who they really depend on! Tianhai City had been too peaceful for too long. Without the pressure of foreign enemies, even though the three major bases respected Zhang Yi on the surface, they still held on to unrealistic hopes and were reluctant to hand over full authority. But now, with the threat from Daze Citys Superhuman Organization looming, they would soon realize just how important Zhang Yi was to them. This was a wake-up call one that would make them more obedient. Before leaving, Zhang Yi still needed to meet with Deng Shentong and Baili Changqing. He called Baili Changqing, only to be told that they were busy in the Operations Center. Zhang Yi asked, Is it about that ronin group in Linhai City? Baili Changqing replied in a serious tone, Its worse than you think. I cant tell you more without overstepping. Just be careful. Zhang Yi''s heart sank. He wasnt exactly close to Baili Changqing the man only owed him a favor. For him to offer this much of a warning was basically spelling it out: the mission to wipe out Moon of Corrosion was extremely dangerous. Zhang Yi understood immediately, and it confirmed that his thinking wasnt wrong. Commander Zhu Zheng was clearly sending them as the vanguard to probe the enemys strength before sending Blizzard Citys elite forces. It wasnt exactly wrong, since baiting the enemy is a common military tactic. But Zhang Yi wasnt Zhu Zhengs soldier. There was no way he would risk his life so easily. Thanks, I got it, Zhang Yi said, ending the call. He decided to observe for now and not make any moves. If Blizzard Citys leadership really wanted him involved, they would have to provide enough intel and supplies. Zhang Yi had never fought an unprepared battle, and he wasnt about to start now. Unable to reach Baili Changqing, Zhang Yi figured Deng Shentong was probably busy too. After all, right now, only their two investigation teams were stationed in Blizzard City. Zhang Yi didnt even have Deng Shentongs contact info, so he decided to wait a few more days. If no one came looking for him by then, he would just head back to Tianhai City. Its not like Blizzard City had given them a deadline anyway. Zhang Yi then instructed his people and through them, the members of the three major bases not to get into any conflicts with any other factions during this period. No matter how much others taunted them, they were to act like they hadnt heard a thing. Just as Zhang Yi predicted, the incident at the Tianchang Conference Center quickly spread among the Superhuman communities of all twelve cities. In no time, Tianhai City became the laughingstock of countless conversations. People mocked them for being cowards, too scared to fight even though Linhai City was right next door. They ridiculed them for their lack of strength, saying that even the leader of Chaoyu Base got beaten like a dog by Sun Jianming from Daze City. They laughed at them for being weak and spineless, bullied to their faces without uttering a word before slinking away. The comments were harsh and infuriating to hear. But everyone, having been reminded by Zhang Yi, chose to ignore it. Some even stopped leaving the apartments altogether and just stayed inside. But for one person, those words were like a devastating earthquake to the heart. That person was Chen Jingguan, the current leader of Chaoyu Base. The mockery and humiliation Tianhai City faced hit him the hardest. After all, everyone saw him get beaten to a pulp by Sun Jianming that day. Now, his reputation was in ruins. Even the subordinates he brought from Chaoyu Base were starting to treat him differently. In his room, Chen Jingguan stared out at the sky, watching the snowflakes fall. They reminded him of his old leader, Wei Dinghai. Boss, I miss you... Chen Jingguan mumbled to himself. Wei Dinghai had died at the hands of Yuan Kongye after coveting her Superhuman essence. Left with no choice, Chen Jingguan had reluctantly stepped up. He thought that with no wars on the horizon, he could take it easy. But he didnt expect that a gathering in Blizzard City would expose his true strength. After all, he was only a Gamma-level Superhuman. Compared to Delta-level faction leaders like Xiao Honglian and Xing Tian, he wasnt even on the same playing field. In Blizzard City, Sun Jianming hadnt dared to go all out on him, but now that his weakness was exposed, what if Sun Jianming led a fleet to attack them by sea? If that happened, Chaoyu Base would be finished total destruction would only be a matter of time. Author''s Note Chapter 598: Submission Chapter 598 Submission The trip to Blizzard City made Chen Jingguan fully aware of his own strength completely insufficient to support a powerful base. After much deliberation, he finally made a decision. That very day, he stood outside Zhang Yi''s room and rang the doorbell. When Zhang Yi saw Chen Jingguan, he thought for a moment and assumed he was here to ask for help in taking revenge. So, Zhang Yi planned to say a few words and send him away. But to his surprise, the moment Chen Jingguan stepped inside, he dropped to his knees, pressing his head firmly against the floor. Mr. Zhang Yi, please! I beg you to take over Chaoyu Base! he pleaded sincerely. Zhang Yi was a little surprised. Once he registered what Chen Jingguan had just said, he immediately understood the reason behind it. Looking down at Chen Jingguan, Zhang Yis eyes were sharp and cold as he thought, Zhang Yi remained composed, silently weighing the pros and cons of taking over Chaoyu Base. As for the downside, there wasnt much. At most, hed have to look after the people of Chaoyu Base. Itd be a bit troublesome, sure, but Chaoyu Base was self-sufficient, so it wouldnt be too big of a problem. He just needed to make sure no other factions attacked them. As for the benefits Zhang Yi would gain complete control over Chaoyu Base. There were over a thousand people there. While there werent many fighters, the rest were all experienced seafarers and fishermen. If Zhang Yi ever needed to go out to sea, these people would be invaluable. After some thought, Zhang Yi found this deal to be quite profitable. However, he couldn''t agree too easily. Zhang Yi remained silent for a long time, making the kneeling Chen Jingguan increasingly anxious. Just then, Zhang Yis voice sounded above him. Get up first. Tell me how do you see this situation? Zhang Yi moved to the couch and sat down. Hearing this, Chen Jingguan raised his head. Seeing Zhang Yis calm expression, with no hint of his true thoughts, Chen Jingguan nervously got up and walked over. He sat across from Zhang Yi, fully prepared with what he wanted to say. Ive been with Chaoyu Bases fleet for seven years. I have deep feelings for the team. After Wei Lao died in battle, I had no choice but to take on the role of base leader. But Im not strong enough, and now, because of my own mistakes, people look down on Chaoyu Base. In these chaotic times, someone is bound to target Chaoyu Base like a piece of fat meat. Im sure it wont be long before they invade. Chen Jingguan clenched his fists tightly on his knees. We no longer have the power to protect ourselves. If Chaoyu Base falls, who knows what fate awaits the old brothers of the fleet. So, I hope you, Zhang Yi, can take over as leader of Chaoyu Base and protect our brothers! Zhang Yi nodded. Youve got a point. If outsiders take over Chaoyu Base, no one knows what theyll do next. If they ran into brutal types, there could even be a massacre. Chaoyu Base wasnt just home to warriors and technicians there were families, the old, the weak, women, and children. Once conquered, would other factions even bother to feed them? Never gamble on human kindness youll lose every time. And Chen Jingguan knew Zhang Yi well enough. Zhang Yi might be ruthless and cunning on the battlefield, but he never killed innocents. If Zhang Yi became the leader, at least the people of Chaoyu Base would be safe. Suddenly, Zhang Yi laughed. Youre pretty smart. You know Ive always been lazy and dont like managing people. Even if Chaoyu Base recognizes me as the leader, arent you the one whos still going to be running it? Chen Jingguan quickly said, I wont dare disobey any orders! As long as you protect Chaoyu Base, well meet any of your demands! Whether its food, weapons, or even women well offer them all! He gritted his teeth, There are quite a few beautiful women in the base. If you dont mind married ones, they could Whoa, whoa, whoa! Zhang Yi quickly cut him off. S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He already had his hands full with the women around him. Plus, he had zero interest in breaking up families. Chen Jingguan stared at Zhang Yi with pleading eyes, desperate. Zhang Yi chuckled. Now you realize just how badly youve screwed up? Chen Jingguan lowered his head, I know... I was too reckless. Leaning back on the couch, Zhang Yi said flatly, I dont mind becoming Chaoyu Bases leader, but youll have to hand over the key to the Chaoyu Shelter. Chaoyu Base had two cores the fleet and the underground shelter. Each shelter had special keys, and only those with the keys could open its doors. In other words, whoever had the shelters keys was its true master. Zhang Yi had learned this from Xing Tian. Without hesitation, Chen Jingguan reached into a hidden pocket of his jacket and took out a black metal box, handing it to Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi had seen the shelters keys before Chen Jingguan couldnt fake this. Inside the black box were three keys. Normally, the keys were split among three people. Only by placing them all into the boxs key slots could someone gain control over the shelters doors. But now, Chen Jingguan had all of them. He handed Zhang Yi a full set. This meant that from now on, Chaoyu Base was fully open to Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi took the keys and the controller, giving Chen Jingguan a deep look before the controller vanished into his palm and entered his spatial storage. Chen Jingguan let out a sigh of relief and bowed his head deeply. Thank you, Chief! The moment Zhang Yi accepted the keys, it officially marked him as the new leader of Chaoyu Base. Zhang Yi said calmly, Youll still handle the daily operations of Chaoyu Base. Ill give you orders when necessary. Yes, sir! A faint smile appeared on Chen Jingguans face. It felt like he was back to being a dependable deputy again. Truthfully, he was never fit to be a true leader following a boss suited him better. Boss, whats our next move? Do we head back to Tianhai City or find a chance to deal with those Daze City people? Chen Jingguan asked eagerly. Zhang Yi replied flatly, Ill handle it. Wait for my orders. Once were back in Tianhai City, Ill tell you what to do. Seeing how confident Zhang Yi was, Chen Jingguan finally relaxed. After working with Zhang Yi for so long, he knew Zhang Yis style well. So, he didnt ask further. He simply gave Zhang Yi a deep, respectful bow and left the room. Author''s Note Chapter 599: Deng Manor Chapter 599 Deng Manor Zhang Yi completely ignored all the gossip outside. A strong person has a strong heart the words of clowns were nothing but a joke to him. The next day, Bai Chunyu came to see him. This member of the Celestial Squad showing up at the apartment complex immediately caused a stir. After all, the six investigation squads were Blizzard Citys official violence apparatus, and some had experienced firsthand just how terrifying these people could be. What puzzled everyone was that Bai Chunyu was looking for Zhang Yi a guy with an unimpressive reputation, who even stayed silent and fled in front of the Daze City superhumans. People were baffled. But Bai Chunyu paid no mind to the rumors. He walked straight to Zhang Yis place. Zhang Yi had actually been waiting for him and politely invited him in for tea. Bai Chunyu chuckled, Theres been quite a few rumors about you lately. Zhang Yi calmly smiled, Just some bored people talking nonsense. I cant be bothered. Bai Chunyu took a sip of tea. Youve got quite the temper. He had seen Zhang Yis strength before even among investigation teams, Zhang Yi ranked at least mid-to-upper tier. Seeing Zhang Yis composure now made him admire him even more. Our captain wants to meet you tonight at his manor, Bai Chunyu said. When Zhang Yi heard the word manor, his eyebrows raised. Did you just say... manor? For a second, he thought he misheard. Blizzard City wasnt particularly large or small, but it housed over a million people each an elite in their field. In this environment, owning a two-bedroom apartment was already considered top-tier. As for a manor? That was almost unthinkable. Bai Chunyu nodded with a smile. Thats right. Our captains family played a major role in building Blizzard City. One of the conditions was for the city to be built around the Deng Familys territory. Deng Manor existed long before the apocalypse, so dont be too surprised. How could Zhang Yi not be surprised? The Deng Family? A major family from Jinling? Sorry, never even heard of them. But after thinking it over, Zhang Yi let it go. The truly top-tier families often kept a low profile, yet their power could be terrifying. Sorry for my ignorance, Zhang Yi said. Ive never heard of the Deng Family. What kind of family are they? Bai Chunyus smile grew wider. It used to be a secret, but not anymore. The Deng Family holds enormous power and wealth. Many of Jiangnans major corporations are actually under their control. Especially in the high-tech sector thats their specialty. Hmm... youve seen the Origin Bullets and the combat suits worn by investigation members, right? Zhang Yi nodded. Those items were things he coveted greatly. They were all developed with the Deng Familys help, Bai Chunyu explained. Without the Deng Familys support, Jiangnan District wouldve lost at least 20% of its strength. Zhang Yi cursed silently, But on the surface, he put on a shocked expression. Thats incredible! Bai Chunyu crossed his arms, clearly satisfied with Zhang Yis reaction, wearing pride all over his face. So now you understand, being chosen by our captain is a huge honor for you. Zhang Yi nodded, It certainly is. You still had to say the flattering words, after all. Bai Chunyu put down his teacup and stood up. Tonight at six, the captain will meet you. A car will come to pick you up at five. Dont wander off before then. Zhang Yi nodded. Alright, Ill be there on time. After saying his piece, Bai Chunyu left the apartment. Zhang Yi sat on the sofa, deep in thought, reassessing Deng Shentong. A powerful family background, strong superhuman talent possibly family-cultivated too and an arrogant, conceited personality. Even if he couldnt be an ally, it was best not to become an enemy. He figured he could smooth-talk a bit, then find a good excuse to politely decline the guys recruitment. At 5 PM sharp, a black luxury car pulled up in front of the apartment building. It had no license plates but gave off a solid and heavy feeling, like it was more of a tank than a car. Closer inspection revealed its surface didnt even reflect light. Two men in black combat suits got out and came into the apartment, heading straight to Zhang Yis room. Mr. Zhang Yi, our young master invites you to meet him, one of them said. Zhang Yi knew they were Deng Shentongs people, so he nodded and followed them out. Many bystanders were watching, whispering about what bigshot might have come to take Zhang Yi away. Only a few insiders quietly wondered: What kind of skills does Zhang Yi have, to be personally invited by the captain of the Celestial Squad? Could it be that Tianhai City actually has a hidden powerhouse? Zhang Yi got into the car, which was surprisingly plain inside nothing flashy but it gave off an undeniable sense of security. Even the car doors were nearly 20 centimeters thick, likely made with some kind of special defensive material. In the apocalypse, besides heating systems, the most important feature of a vehicle was its defensive capabilities. Sitting in the back seat with his arms crossed, Zhang Yi noticed that neither the driver nor the other man in black spoke a word as they silently drove towards Deng Manor. Sar?h the n?vel_Fire.et website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. About half an hour later, they stopped at a garden district northeast of Blizzard City. The man in the passenger seat used a communication device to report their arrival. Moments later, the gardens large gate opened. Mr. Zhang, please get out here, the man said. One of the madams dislikes the smell of gasoline, so our vehicles arent allowed inside the manor. Zhang Yi chuckled and nodded. Alright. He wasnt the type to make a fuss over such things. After Zhang Yi stepped out of the car, a small door on the side of the main gate opened, and there stood Bai Chunyu, smiling. Youre here? Come, lets wait for a bit. The captain still has some matters to finish. Okay. Zhang Yi didnt say much and followed Bai Chunyu into Deng Manor. The manor was massive and luxurious so luxurious it was almost shocking. Despite the freezing weather, with most plants already dead from the cold, inside Deng Manor, some plants were still vibrant and green, growing inside special transparent cultivation chambers. There werent many of these plants only a few rare species, and even those were placed under eaves. The manor was huge, with heavily armed guards stationed at every entrance and exit. Zhang Yi had been curious at first, but after looking around, he thought, Compared to his Shelter, this place was just bigger nothing more. Author''s Note Chapter 600: The Art of Language Chapter 600: The Art of Language Bai Chunyu led Zhang Yi into a room. The temperature inside was quite comfortable, and the decoration was exceptionally stylish. It might not be appropriate to call it luxurious, but it was full of modern vibes. The furniture inside had a cyberpunk style, giving off a vibrant and lively atmosphere. Bai Chunyu said to Zhang Yi, Wait here for a bit. Our captain will come over as soon as he finishes the matter on his side. As he spoke, he clapped his hands, and immediately a maid entered carrying a teapot, pouring Zhang Yi a cup of tea. Thank you, Zhang Yi said politely, picking up the teacup and taking a sip. Bai Chunyu left the room, and Zhang Yi started to observe the surroundings while waiting for Deng Shentong. Outside was a large floor-to-ceiling window, beyond which used to be a garden and a lakeor at least, it probably was. Sarch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Now, everything was frozen solid. Zhang Yi thought to himself, The room, meanwhile, was the perfect comfort zone of a rich second-generation kid. Soft sofas, a huge TV hanging on the wall, and scattered video game cartridges littered across the carpet. Zhang Yi casually picked up the remote control on the coffee table and turned on the TV. As expectedjust static! He could play games, but considering the time might be too short, Zhang Yi gave up on the idea. The wait wasnt long. Less than half an hour later, Deng Shentongs voice came from outside the door. Zhang Yi, youre here! Zhang Yi glanced at the time. 5:58. Deng Shentong took off his coat. His tall and lean figure stood firm and agile, clearly the body of someone who trained regularly. Zhang Yi turned to look at him. Just got here not long ago. Deng Shentong took a hair tie out of his pocket and casually tied his long hair into a ponytail. Then, putting on slippers, he came over to Zhang Yis side. Creak He plopped onto the sofa, letting out a leisurely sigh as if he had just finished some exhausting work. Zhang Yi watched him curiously. Today, this captain gave off a completely different vibe compared to last time. Do I have a flower on my face? Deng Shentong asked with a charming smile. Not exactly. It''s just that youre too handsome. I couldnt help but take a few more glances, Zhang Yi replied with a grin. This time, Deng Shentong was visibly stunned. He didnt expect Zhang Yi to be so unpredictable. Not many people usually spoke to him like this. Hahaha! Youre really something! Deng Shentong slapped his thigh and laughed. By the way, I heard you didnt sign up for the operation to wipe out Neons [Moon of Corrosion]? Whats your reasoning? The question came out of nowhere. Zhang Yi thought for a moment and answered with a smile, The thirteen cities of Jiangnaneven if Blizzard Citys Investigation Team and the Yan Yun Guards dont make a movethere are still dozens of forces from the twelve outer cities. My participation wont make much of a difference. Plus, Tianhai City is still in ruins. You must have heard, we all suffered heavy losses. Nows not the time for more conflict. Deng Shentong rubbed his chin and nodded after hearing Zhang Yis explanation. You make a fair point. But your strength is clearly way above the other superhumans in the outer cities. If you went, I think the chance of taking down the Ronin would be much higher. Zhang Yis eyes flashed with a strange light. But Im not alone. I represent a whole team. Deng Shentong chuckled dismissively. If you dont want to go, dont go! I was just casually asking. Maybe your choice is the wiser one. He actually knew the inside story, but that wasnt something he could tell Zhang Yi. Zhang Yi, hearing this, grew more certain of his suspicion. Next, Deng Shentong said directly, Lets not beat around the bush. You should already know why I called you here today. How about it? Join my squad! Deng Shentong looked at Zhang Yi with a smile and extended his right hand, listing all the benefits of joining the Celestial Squad. The Celestial Squad is the strongest force in all of Jiangnan District! Once you join us, youll be untouchable across Jiangnan! Youll enjoy supreme glory and command awe and respect. And to put it more bluntly, if you want women or resources, I can provide those too. In short, you can get whatever you want with me! Deng Shentong spoke with absolute confidence. He wasnt just selling dreamshe firmly believed that under his command, these things were all easily attainable. And truthfully, he did have that kind of power. Zhang Yi sighed, You really are incredible! In my life, Ive seen many outstanding geniuses, but its my first time meeting someone as wealthy and gifted as you. Zhang Yis flattery clearly pleased Deng Shentong. He flipped his long hair with satisfaction. That just means youve seen too little of the world! But youll have the chance to follow me and see a broader one. He reached out his right hand to Zhang Yi. Come on, join the Celestial Squad! Zhang Yis eyes were filled with "gratitude." This... this is really touching. So, if I join the Celestial Squad, Ill be safe, right? No life-threatening danger? Deng Shentong confidently smiled, Of course! I, Deng Shentong, have the ability to protect my team! Zhang Yi let out a long breath. Well, in that case, thats great. Ill join the Celestial Squad! Zhang Yi declared. Deng Shentongs face lit up with joy. But the next moment, Zhang Yi added, But, Im actually pretty scared of dying. How about I stay in the city and handle logistics for you? Deng Shentongs smile froze instantly. You... youre kidding me, right? Zhang Yi blinked. Werent you the one who said youd guarantee my safety? I think staying inside Blizzard City is the safest. The corner of Deng Shentongs mouth twitched violently. But Zhang Yi went on, I truly admire your strength and generosity. So, if I join the Celestial Squad, Ill definitely be better off than before, right? If you know anything about me, you should know that I spent most of my time in Tianhai City hiding inside the shelter. I never took the initiative to leave. Even my ability is mainly defensive. Abilities reflect the true nature of a superhuman. Since Im naturally defensive, of course I wont take the initiative to attack. Author''s Note