Chapter 526 | Chapter 527 | Chapter 528 | Chapter 529 | Chapter 530
Chapter 526: Execution
He turned to the team leaders standing beside Gao Yang.
Gao Yang gave a crisp “OK” gesture.
After assigning patrol duties, Ning Yuan continued issuing orders: “For the next seven days, the base military will launch simulated assaults from all directions—using any and all attack methods. All teams must protect the base and its civilians within the designated time frame.”
He pulled out a new defense map and had each team pick their area.
“Are we doing real combat? With abilities or weapons?”
“Mainly stealth and surprise attacks. If you can detect and eliminate all infiltrators, you win.”
That answer made the room glance at one another.
“So… we don’t actually have to fight?”
“Yes,” Ning Yuan confirmed. “But if you fail and your area falls, the entire team will be considered ‘dead.’” His gaze swept across the room. “This is a mandatory mission. Successful defense earns base contribution points. However…”
“Failure will result in a deduction of points. And future mission opportunities will be reduced due to perceived lack of ability.”
Contribution points were critical—they were the only way to access advanced equipment from the base. The only alternative would be purchasing with crystal cores like the external bases, which was insanely expensive—most teams couldn’t afford it.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Ye Jia groaned.
“I’m not.” Ning Yuan’s tone was serious. “I’m not here to be your therapist or buddy. The base has defended this sanctuary for this long, but threats are increasing. This is both a drill and a real battle. I hope you’ll give it your all.”
“Since Commander Ning is laying it all out, let me ask something too,” a man in his forties suddenly stood up.
It was Tan Ming, captain of the Pinnacle Squad, an A-class fire user, leading a medium-sized team of around a thousand members.
Ning Yuan mentally recalled his file and gestured for him to speak, glancing at the documents Wu Yue had left him.
Pinnacle Squad—known for exploiting smaller squads during joint missions.
Ning Yuan suddenly thought that the base’s teams were really short-sighted. In the capital, even a thousand-man squad wouldn’t count for much. He considered having Wu Yue tighten the team formation and assessment criteria in the future.
“Is the base going to war?”
“I haven’t received any confirmed intel. Everything we’re doing now is to prepare for any possibility. No one can guarantee the zombie hordes out there aren’t heading for Half Moon Bay,” Ning Yuan replied, scanning the room with a half-smile.
“Of course, if any squad or resident feels unsafe, you’re free to leave Half Moon Bay at any time. However…” Ning Yuan paused, then smiled sweetly, “To prevent leakage of equipment, all devices must be left behind. The base will reimburse you with crystal cores, minus wear-and-tear fees.”
“But we bought that stuff with our own resources! Why should we leave it behind?”
“Are you even aware of how cheap you got that gear?” If not for the base’s discounts, the crystal core costs alone would’ve drained any team’s resources—and they might not even have gotten everything.
Tan Ming choked, turning to the small teams behind him. “But we earned that gear through base missions and by spending our own cores. Isn’t that the same for all of us?”
Yue Qiwen, sitting nearby, subtly shifted his seat farther from Tan Ming, clearly not wanting to be associated with him.
Gao Yang also silently turned his body the other way, his refusal to support Tan Ming loud and clear.
Ning Yuan remained calm, even gesturing again for Tan Ming to continue.
Seeing no one backing him, Tan Ming looked at the smaller team leaders behind him.
Finally, someone spoke up again, “Commander Ning, our team is smaller and less capable than the major squads. With the base situation getting tense, everyone’s on edge…”
He glanced around the meeting room as he spoke and noticed that the people sitting near the front were either dozing off leisurely or chatting quietly with relaxed smiles. Some women were even discussing the latest cosmetic products available at the base… not a single one of them looked the least bit concerned.
The speaker was a member of a small squad that often tagged along with Tan Ming. Their leader, Niu Zhe, was a wood-type ability user—not very strong in combat and unwilling to engage in farming. He spent most of his time hanging around with Tan Ming.
Niu Zhe faltered mid-sentence but, having already spoken up, stubbornly straightened his neck and continued, “Our squad’s abilities are low. We can’t compare to the base’s elite teams. I just wanted to ask, Commander Ning, what measures does the base have to counter the encirclement from the other bases?”
“Where did you hear that other bases are trying to encircle us? By what method? Through what means?” Ning Yuan’s gaze suddenly turned sharp. “Or… did someone contact you directly?”
Niu Zhe looked to Tan Ming for help. With a slight frown, Tan Ming stepped in, “Commander Ning, there’s no need to keep this under wraps. Isn’t everything the base has been doing lately clearly in response to the hostility from the other bases?”
“We just want to know what the base plans to do, and whether we have a sure chance of winning…”
“No matter what happens, the base will have countermeasures in place. All you need to do is cooperate. As for the specific plans…” Ning Yuan looked Tan Ming up and down with a half-smile, clearly unamused. “Is that something you’re entitled to ask?”
After assigning the details of the upcoming drill to the teams, Ning Yuan was the first to leave the meeting room. As soon as he stepped out, his expression darkened.
“Keep an eye on the smaller squads,” he instructed coldly. “See if someone’s been in contact with them or if they’re plotting something themselves. Also, have Feng Liang check if there’s any unauthorized communication signals connecting the base to the outside. Keep it monitored.”
“Understood,” his adjutant replied before swiftly departing. Ning Yuan stood at the intersection, fuming. Unable to suppress his anger, he headed in the direction where Zhuang Mingxu was supposed to be.
In contrast to the tense atmosphere at the base, Zhuang Mingxu was completely at ease. In broad daylight, he showed no hint of responsibility, and instead went hunting on West Island with Zhuang Aiyi and three massive wolves.
“The animals on this island have mutated a lot. Why are you wandering here alone?” Ning Yuan was alarmed to find a grown man and a child without proper protection roaming among the wild animals.
“I brought protection,” Zhuang Mingxu replied as he dismounted from Little White and pointed to a mutated plant wrapped around Zhuang Aiyi’s wrist—the same species that Gu Qingji wore.
“And you?” Ning Yuan’s voice faltered when he noticed the weapons arranged around Zhuang Mingxu.
Zhuang Aiyi slid down from Zhuang Wukong’s back and fearlessly reached for a half-meter-long rabbit dangling from the white wolf’s jaws.
Seeing the wolf’s bloody fangs made Ning Yuan’s heart skip a beat. He feared the beast might snap and accidentally harm the child.
Fortunately, the wolf showed no aggression. It obediently released the rabbit and even picked up the net they had brought, gently delivering it to Zhuang Aiyi.
“Let’s roast it somewhere cool,” Zhuang Aiyi said cheerfully, patting the wolf’s head. Pointing to a spot ahead, he beamed at Ning Yuan. “Uncle Yuan, I hunted this rabbit with Wukong. I’ll roast it for you!”
“So impressive!” Ning Yuan glanced at the time—still early before the afternoon shift—and quickly followed. He tried to help Wukong carry the bag, only to be met with the wolf’s cold, disdainful stare, prompting him to retreat awkwardly.
Zhuang Aiyi walked with a stick in hand, tapping the ground as he trailed beside the white wolves. Zhuang Wukong led the way, guiding them to a hillside.
When Zhuang Aiyi pulled aside some vines, a hidden cave was revealed.
“There’s a cave on this island?” Ning Yuan stepped forward in surprise and touched the stone walls. He sensed signs of artificial construction.
“I had Wu Yue make it before,” Zhuang Mingxu explained. “We found an underground spring here, so I made it into a den for Wukong and the others.”
He watched as Zhuang Aiyi busily gathered firewood, skillfully skinned the rabbit, and prepared it for roasting, never once stepping in to help.
Ning Yuan’s heart ached as he watched the boy—face splattered with blood, clumsily gutting the rabbit, hands stained red. Most of the base personnel were adults; this child was the only one among them and had always been treated like family. It was hard for him to accept seeing such a young kid forced to grow up so fast.
“Isn’t this… too early?” Ning Yuan asked hesitantly.
“The earlier he learns, the sooner he’ll be independent,” Zhuang Mingxu said calmly, watching Zhuang Aiyi direct the wolves to fetch water and gather firewood. Finally, the boy struggled to slice the rabbit and set it over the fire. Turning to them with a bright smile, he announced:
“It’ll be ready soon!”
“My Aiyi is amazing,” Ning Yuan praised enthusiastically.
Once Zhuang Aiyi finished his task, Zhuang Mingxu finally looked back at Ning Yuan. “You came over at this time… something happen?”
Ning Yuan finally remembered the morning meeting and vented with gritted teeth, “I think they’re planning to abandon us at the last moment.”
“So what?” Zhuang Mingxu replied indifferently. “Put yourself in their shoes—we’d do the same. It’s not easy to survive this long. No one wants to die for a hopeless cause.”
Ning Yuan knew he was right, but he still felt bitter thinking about all the support the base had given them before.
“Get someone to mobilize them, and in the days leading up to the drill, display our heavy weaponry. Let them see our strength. At the same time, manipulate public opinion to boost morale. If they still can’t settle down after seeing our power, then…”
“You’re not thinking of letting them go, are you?” Ning Yuan was stunned.
“What else?” Zhuang Mingxu saw Ning Yuan’s rising panic and pressed him down. “First, get a headcount. Once they’re all gathered, detain them. Don’t let them leak anything about the base. After the crisis is over, expel them permanently. Never let them return.”
That still left them a thread of hope.
Ning Yuan didn’t like it, but at least it wasn’t total annihilation.
The two continued to discuss the arrangements for the visitors from the capital. Meanwhile, Zhuang Aiyi had already finished roasting the rabbit. When he carefully sliced it into pieces and handed some over, Ning Yuan suddenly felt a surge of pride—as if his own child was finally growing up.
Chapter 527: Clearing Suspicions
Tears welled up in Ning Yuan’s eyes as he felt a sense of hope for the future. With his heart full of emotion, even a simple meat slice seasoned with just a bit of salt tasted incredibly delicious.
“The salt isn’t applied evenly, and your strength is too weak. You have to cut the meat along the grain — it’s easier that way,” Zhuang Mingxu said, offering tips while sharing the food with him.
After sitting for a while, Ning Yuan sensed Zhuang Mingxu’s firm intention to leave. With a sigh, he bid farewell to both men and took his leave.
*
A few days before Zheng Yi and his group arrived, the base officially began military exercises.
The island’s residents were already informed and instructed to fully cooperate. They weren’t alarmed by the increase in patrols; some even prepared cold drinks for the troops.
Lin Yimu oversaw maritime patrols from the base, directing all combat teams. Li Qing was on the front lines, conducting inspections.
The base’s defense covered several hundred nautical miles, with the base combat teams responsible for the closer zones and the military forces covering the more distant areas.
On the first day of patrols, the sound of gunfire and explosions rang out without end.
Given the special circumstances and the previous Tan Ming incident, every combat team was highly vigilant and responsible, hoping not to be caught off guard.
Just in the coastal farming area alone, they discovered two Class-A mutated creatures. One, a small sea urchin, was hidden among coral and seaweed and would’ve gone undetected without machine sensors.
The other was a fierce, mutated eel living deep in the muddy land, stealing farmed fish and shrimp. When captured, it even attacked the ability users.
Over a meter long and as thick as a wrist, its body had turned a dark red, as if soaked in blood for a long time.
Some initially hesitated to eat it, wondering if it was tainted by mutation. But someone recognized it as a “blood eel,” a rare and highly nutritious delicacy. It was gifted around until it finally reached Zhuang Mingxu.
Once the precedent was set, more teams followed suit, sending in various rare and high-level mutated animals. By nightfall, two trucks parked at the central island were already full of them.
“The military base has its own canteen, and among our team’s ability users, only Dean is left — there’s no way he can finish all this alone,” Xi Shi said, troubled for the first time over food. “I’ve cut a piece from each to store for the others to try when they return. But the rest…”
“Send it to the base canteen. All the teams are eating there during the drill period. Let everyone have a taste of the harvest,” said Zhuang Mingxu, a bit helpless at the Chinese habit of gift-giving that never seems to fade.
The peaceful atmosphere was shattered on the third day. Artillery roared across the sea, enemy jets took off from the island, leaving white trails in the blue sky as their missiles vanished into the horizon.
Soon after, several warships headed into the distance, their decks fully loaded with tanks and armored vehicles.
Island residents whispered among themselves, trying to gather information, while each combat team went directly to Lin Yimu.
“There’s a giant manta ray — nearly a hundred meters wide — heading toward our base. Attempts to drive it away failed, so we had to take it down,” Lin Yimu calmly instructed his aide to relay the message to the inquiring team leaders.
“Tell them the manta ray secretes poison. We still don’t know how large the contaminated area is, so they must avoid contact with water during operations. We can still handle the situation here. If needed, we’ll call for support. For now, ensure all sectors are secure and no mutated creatures slip through.”
“Yes, sir,” the aide replied and left.
That afternoon, enemy jets gradually returned to base. When the warships came back, they were towing two enormous creatures — one manta ray that covered a huge swath of the sea like a giant umbrella, and the other, a massive crab resembling a prehistoric beast.
Residents gathering nearby couldn’t even reach the height of one of its legs. Its sharp pincers were strong enough to cut a person in half.
Some people tried to sneak closer for a photo but were stopped by base guards.
“I just want a quick pic. I won’t go too close.”
“Better not. Look at those scorch marks on its shell — that tells you how tough it is. Who knows if it’s even fully dead? I swear I saw its eye move just now.”
“You’re just scared. Crabs keep their eyes open — how do you know it moved?”
“Open eyes can still move, right?”
“With eyes that big — the size of a human head — it’s hard not to notice any movement. What, you got super vision now?”
Their bickering was cut short by guards dispersing the crowd.
“This crab’s shell is extremely hard, almost like metal. Commander Zhuang has ordered it be preserved intact for research. After that, it will be displayed in the plaza to teach everyone how to handle such threats. You’ll get to see it up close then.”
“Make way, please. The manta ray is poisonous — don’t let it touch you,” the guard warned, signaling the crowd to move back.
“Soldier, I saw a vehicle on the warship — hidden in the middle — it looked like… a missile launcher, right?” a young voice suddenly called out.
The soldier raised his eyes, surprise flashing across his face — surprised that someone so young could recognize a missile vehicle.
The boy scratched his nose awkwardly. “I’m a military enthusiast. Always dreamed of joining the army. So I know a bit.”
“Well, we’d be glad to have you one day,” the soldier said with a smile, turning back to guide a crane and bulldozer to lift and transport the giant crab.
“Hey, soldier, you didn’t answer me! Was that really a missile truck?”
“Haha… If you ever get into the military, you’ll find out for yourself,” the soldier chuckled, dodging the question.
At his words, the boy’s eyes lit up. Nearby, curious onlookers leaned in.
“Wait, did you just say a missile truck? You mean those vehicles that launch actual missiles?”
“Yeah. I took a good look. There was one vehicle hidden among the others that looked totally different — not at all like the rest. I paid special attention and realized its structure matched the missile launchers I’ve studied before.”
“Even if it’s a missile vehicle, it’s pretty much useless now without navigation, right?”
“Are you stupid? Sure, for long distances you need guidance, but for close targets, just aim with your eyes!” the boy replied impatiently. “Besides, do you know how powerful those missiles are? Our country’s missiles used to deter other nations—let alone now…”
“Weren’t the first crystal-core guns developed at our base? The first crystal-core cannon too, right? And the first new-energy enemy fighters as well? How do you know…”
“What if the missile warheads are powered by crystal-core energy better suited for today’s battles? The firepower… tsk tsk tsk…”
“I’m done talking with you guys. I’m going to check when the base military is recruiting again. I want to drive a missile truck~~”
With that, the boy excitedly squeezed through the crowd, leaving the others murmuring in his wake. The anxiety caused by the day’s non-stop bombardments seemed to vanish instantly.
With deliberate nudging by certain individuals, rumors of the new weaponry spread vaguely but rapidly throughout the base that night. Previously restless teams immediately became as docile as quails.
The next day, the base officially began its military exercise.
At first, everyone merely patrolled rigidly, wary of those around them.
But in just half a day, some teams experienced ambushes, assassinations, decapitations, and even poison attacks—methods too subtle to defend against.
A group of ability users who had never undergone formal training were left tense and on high alert, maintaining constant vigilance day and night. They rigorously interrogated every passerby, allowing no unfamiliar faces into their designated areas, which significantly improved the situation.
Just as Lin Yimu was feeling pleased with the progress, Zheng Yi and his team finally showed up late.
The group had left the Capital base with over 200 members. Now, only a little over 120 remained. Seeing their disheveled appearance, Zhuang Mingxu was shocked. His glee quickly vanished when he spotted Lu Xi in the crowd.
“Xiao Xi? You…” Lu Xiao had known about their plan; it was agreed that no one from Blazing Flame Squad would accompany the mission. But now…
Seeing Lu Xi standing there alongside the Jin Diao and others, Zhuang Mingxu immediately understood.
Lu Xiao had clearly arranged this to deflect suspicion. If not a single person from Blazing Flame Squad had gone, suspicion would have easily fallen on Half Moon Bay. Since Blazing Flame Squad was in the know, having Lu Xi show up—even with some of their members visibly injured—actually helped clear their name.
“Brother Mingxu, I missed Ai Yi, so I came back with Uncle Jin Diao and the others,” Lu Xi said with a clear expression. It looked like the previous mental strain had worn off.
Zhuang Mingxu knew better than to press further. He patted the child’s shoulder, “Go find him—he’s playing with Wukong on West Island.”
“The island is currently hosting military exercises. No one is allowed to wander freely. Let someone escort you to find Uncle Lin.”
Lu Xi nodded. “Uncle Zheng looked after me well along the way. Brother Mingxu, please help take care of him for me.”
“Got it.”
After saying farewell to Zheng Yi and the others, Lu Xi strode toward the inner island.
Once he left, Zhuang Mingxu led Zheng Yi and his group to their assigned rest area, finally having a moment to talk. “Weren’t you supposed to leave yesterday? It’s only a few hours away. What took you so long? If you didn’t show up today, I was about to send someone to look for you.”
Zheng Yi glanced at him. “You’ve got some nerve asking. Why didn’t you clear out the mutant beasts along the route?”
Zhuang Mingxu pointed at the coast. “The mutated birds from the sea are already giving us a headache. We didn’t have the manpower to clean up the land routes. I sent word to the Pingjin Base to handle it as much as they could, but…”
“Why didn’t you use the underground tunnel? That’s way safer. What were you doing on land? Don’t tell me you were using it as a chance to drill your troops? Hahaha…” Zhuang Mingxu asked, feigning ignorance.
Everyone with Zheng Yi looked grim. Zheng Yi himself lost patience. “Drill my ass. A section of the tunnel collapsed.”
They were trapped inside and had to rely on earth-type ability users to dig them out. The moment they surfaced, they were swarmed by a host of mutated beasts.
Chapter 528: Crystal Core Exchange
Before setting out, they hadn’t received any notice about tunnel damage. With limited weapons and equipment, Zheng Yi’s team had to fight their way through various mutated beasts with different abilities. Even with their powers, they still lost many people and vehicles.
“Is that so? Did you inspect it carefully? Was it poor construction by the earth ability user, or something else?” Zhuang Mingxu frowned, playing the part of the unaware official. “It hasn’t been that long since the tunnel was built. If it’s a structural problem, how could I recommend it to other bases?”
Zheng Yi couldn’t tell if Zhuang Mingxu was genuinely clueless or just acting, so he replied vaguely, “Might have been a natural disaster.”
“It was most likely due to the recent heavy rainfall that caused some structures to collapse on the surface, crushing the tunnel below,” Jin Diao said seriously. Then he turned to a middle-aged man nearby. “Captain Hu, what do you think?”
“That seems right,” the man replied before introducing himself. “Captain Hu Cheng of the Second Squad of the Security Force. Base Commander Zhuang, I’ve heard much about you.”
“Nice to meet you. Is Chief Zhao doing well? Why didn’t he come this time?” Zhuang Mingxu asked politely.
“A wave of zombies is headed toward the Capital. Chief Zhao and Major General Lu stayed behind to guard the base just in case. We were only supposed to be gone for five days, but who knew the journey would be delayed by two?” Hu Cheng answered bluntly, not giving Zheng Yi a chance to speak, and went straight to the point.
“Base Commander Zhuang, we’re here to exchange a large batch of crystal cores in preparation for potential crises. We likely won’t have time to linger. Do you have enough purified cores in stock?”
Zhuang Mingxu was more than happy to send them on their way quickly and replied immediately, “The Ruthless Squad just delivered a new batch. If you’re short on time, I can authorize an early transfer. After all, a zombie siege is more urgent. I’ll compensate them later—I’m sure Wen Jing can make an exception.”
“Actually, it’s not that urgent—”
Zheng Yi didn’t even finish before Hu Cheng frowned and interrupted, “Major General Zheng, do I really need to remind you of the situation in the Capital? Since the purpose of this trip is crystal core exchange, and Commander Zhuang is allowing us to jump the queue, is there any point in wasting more time?”
As he spoke, his gaze swept toward the dozens of people brought by Zheng Yi, and he asked suspiciously, “Major General Zheng didn’t bring his elite team just to avoid zombie attacks, did he?”
“Watch your damn mouth—”
One of Zheng Yi’s men immediately snapped and looked ready to throw punches.
“Did I say anything wrong? Then what exactly is Captain Zheng waiting around for?” Hu Cheng remained unfazed and turned to Zheng Yi. “To be honest, before we set out, Chief Zhao specifically reminded us that we’re running low on purified crystal cores. He urged us to collect as many as possible and return quickly, hoping to boost the team’s strength before the zombie horde arrives—so that everyone has a better shot at surviving.”
“Old Master Zheng, do you… have other business here?” Zhuang Mingxu stepped in at the right moment.
“There is something,” Zheng Yi didn’t hide it anymore. “I got a few S-grade crystal cores and wanted to see if they could be purified.”
Zhuang Mingxu frowned.
The people from Blazing Flame Squad and the guard squad stayed silent. They had assumed Zheng Yi had just one S-grade core, but it turned out to be several—this basically meant Zheng Yi was determined to level up.
Although Zheng Yi’s group seemed calm on the surface, they were clearly anxious for his response.
Just then, someone in the crowd whispered, “Is that… a crab?”
Everyone turned toward the massive, clawed creature being dismantled in the plaza. Some even tried to approach, but were stopped by the guards.
“It’s a mutated crab. It showed up near the base two days ago. After it was killed, the residents showed interest, and we thought we’d take the opportunity to educate everyone about hunting such creatures—so we put it on display here,” explained Kong Zhen, who stood beside Zhuang Mingxu.
“Base Leader Zhuang also mentioned that you enjoy seafood, so he had them save some of this rare catch for you to try.”
“You’re in for a treat. Old Zhuang always saves the best stuff for me,” Zheng Yi laughed with his teammates, as if the earlier tension had never happened.
“Really appreciate Base Leader Zhuang for the thought.”
“Thanks for the hospitality.”
Amid the chattering, someone asked, “That crab is huge—did you kill it with an ability?”
“Of course not. It might just look big, but its shell is incredibly tough. Our experts found that it’s been influenced by abilities—any power below A-grade can’t even scratch it.”
“Whoa, that tough? Then what kind of weapon did you use?”
That question drew everyone’s attention. The cracks on the crab’s shell clearly weren’t made by ordinary crystal-core weapons.
“You didn’t secretly develop new weapons again, did you?” Zheng Yi asked.
“Haha, no, no,” Zhuang Mingxu laughed, brushing off the topic and pointing toward the dining area. “Same old spot—we’ve prepared a seafood feast just for you.”
“Alright.” Zheng Yi glanced once more at the shattered shell on the crab, then followed Zhuang Mingxu to the restaurant.
Behind them, someone quietly asked a companion whether there was some kind of new protective shield around the island.
Zheng Yi followed their gaze. The birds and beasts that had pursued them the entire way were now blocked outside, and the mutated birds showed no sign of approaching the area.
He was a metal-type ability user and could sense the fine mesh above clearly. He asked, “Is that an electric grid?”
“Yeah, it’s nothing too technical. We had metal-type ability users weave metal nets, then electrified them to cover the whole island. The mutated birds are somewhat intelligent. At first, they kept flying into it, but now barely any try anymore,” Zhuang Mingxu explained. Then he turned to Zheng Yi, “I heard you guys are working on ultrasonic dispersal devices. If there’s good news, share it—I’m more than willing to pay.”
“I know you’re well-off. Don’t worry, I won’t forget you,” Zheng Yi replied casually, though inwardly he was wondering how that information had reached Half Moon Bay.
The ultrasonic dispersal device had only been proposed for research two months ago, and it was a Zheng family-funded project—neither the Guard Squad nor Blazing Flame Squad had any involvement. The fact that Zhuang Mingxu knew about it could only mean one thing: the forces in the capital were aware as well.
Zheng Yi lowered his gaze to hide his thoughts and continued chatting with Zhuang Mingxu.
The restaurant was the same one as last time, but the setup was entirely different. Unlike the casual barbecues scattered across a few empty tables previously, this time it was clearly formal—showing that the relationship between both sides wasn’t as close or relaxed as before.
After several rounds of drinks, Zhuang Mingxu brought up the crystal cores.
“Purifying S-grade crystal cores isn’t a problem, but you know that the higher the core’s grade, the more energy and materials it takes. It’s extremely costly and time-consuming.”
Zheng Yi had expected a rejection, so he was surprised to hear that. He was about to speak when Zhuang Mingxu raised a hand to stop him.
“Even if I gave you a poor exchange rate, you probably couldn’t afford it. I wouldn’t feel right accepting an S-grade core as payment.”
A 1:1 exchange was out of the question. Even at 1:2, it would mean giving up two S-grade cores to get one purified—a steep price. For someone like Zheng Yi, who was desperate to level up, being forced into that corner would only push him to accelerate his plans against Half Moon Bay.
Zhuang Mingxu considered several options in his mind but decided not to mention anything too extreme.
“We’ve dealt with each other before, so I’ll be straightforward—I won’t take S-grade cores. That’s just not right. But I do want A-grade cores as payment.”
Zheng Yi had expected some back-and-forth negotiation, so this was a pleasant surprise. He quickly asked,
“How many A-grade cores per S-grade purification? Old Zhuang, you know the situation at Capital Base—I need to save enough to boost my team. Don’t go overboard with your demands.”
“Spare me the sob story. We’ve got SS-level ability users here—I know full well how high-tier users fare against low-level zombies,” Zhuang Mingxu shot back. “You’re basically swatting A-grade zombies like flies at this point, aren’t you?”
“Ha, you’re exaggerating!” Zheng Yi laughed heartily, clearly brimming with confidence from his recent rank advancement.
Zhuang Mingxu concealed the thoughts in his eyes and poured him a drink. “I’ll ask the person in charge of purifying the crystal cores when I get back. He can calculate the energy loss. I’ll let you know by tonight at the latest.”
“Want to give them the cores now so they can start purifying in advance?”
Zheng Yi hesitated for a moment. Knowing it was inevitable, he pulled out three crystal cores from his spatial storage and handed them over — one metal-type, one fire-type, and one water-type.
“Oh? Fire-type cores are rare,” Zhuang Mingxu picked it up and inspected it. “I’ll purify one for free. How about I trade this fire-type core for one of another element?”
Earth generates metal, fire restrains metal — compared to other elements, a fire-type core was of little benefit to Zheng Yi’s metal-type abilities.
“Metal-type?”
Zhuang Mingxu scoffed with an outright mocking look in his eyes. “It’s the middle of the night and you’re still daydreaming?”
“Then earth-type?”
“Pick water or wood.” Zhuang Mingxu’s tone was generous, making Zheng Yi secretly envious.
“I knew Brother Lu would have high-level crystal cores prepared in advance.”
“Haha, wasn’t that a given?” Zhuang Mingxu chuckled, his tone softening. “Little Yi has just been holding back his subordinates from leveling up, but he’s thoroughly prepared in every other aspect.”
Zheng Yi felt this was a subtle hint that someone in their team was about to advance, but knowing how much Zhuang Mingxu liked to boast about Lu Weiyi, he couldn’t tell whether it was just casual praise or a pointed remark. “Then give me an earth-type one already?”
“All the high-level ones are being held tight. If you can snatch one from Li Zhuang, go ahead and try.” Zhuang Mingxu spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
Chapter 529: Healer Class Advancement
Zheng Yi thought of Li Zhuang’s strength — comparable to his own — and silently retracted the hand that was about to pour Zhuang Mingxu another drink. Still, he was reluctant to go through with the trade. High-level fire cores were incredibly rare.
“I paid for this core with a lot of lives. How about giving me a bit more in return?”
“Then keep it and absorb it yourself.” Fire restrains metal — while the core was indeed rare, it was practically useless for Zheng Yi and even detrimental compared to other elements.
If Zheng Yi had been able to trade it for something else, he wouldn’t be asking for it to be purified now.
As expected, after glaring at Zhuang Mingxu for a long moment, Zheng Yi reluctantly agreed. Still, he was visibly pained by the decision and poured Zhuang Mingxu a big bowl of liquor as if to drown his frustration.
Zhuang Mingxu accepted without complaint, already calculating the likelihood of Liu Rui successfully advancing with the fire-type core in hand.
The group laughed and chatted like old friends, not at all appearing suspicious. During the conversation, Zheng Yi and Hu Cheng also brought out the crystal cores they planned to exchange.
There was no denying that the capital base was wealthy — the total value of the A-grade crystal cores alone came to over 30,000 units, and more than 200,000 units for B-grade.
After feasting and drinking, Zheng Yi and his group were seen off. Both Hu Cheng and Jin Diao, however, stayed behind.
They likely had confidential business with Major General Lu. Hu Cheng spoke first, “Base Commander Zhuang, our Chief Zhao asked me to pass along a message.”
Even after drinking, Zhuang Mingxu remained sharp. He gestured for them to enter a private room in the restaurant.
Hu Cheng carefully took out two crystal cores and handed them over. “Our Chief Zhao hopes you can help us purify two S-grade cores.”
Zhuang Mingxu inspected them — both were earth-type.
Now that was quietly accomplishing big things.
For high-level ability users, the elemental match of a core became more critical. Four S-grade cores of the same element might be enough to push someone to SS-level, but mixed elements would require double the number, and conflicting ones even more.
If Zhao Qiang had managed to quietly collect two earth-type S-grade cores, he clearly had intentions to advance.
“Chief Zhao says we don’t have matching-level cores to exchange, but…” Hu Cheng produced a bag full of shimmering crystal cores.
It was packed entirely with fire-type cores.
“There’s a mix of B and A grades. Would these be suitable as compensation?”
Zhuang Mingxu took them and had his people inspect them. Their combined energy was roughly equivalent to one S-grade fire core.
“What else did he want?” Zhuang Mingxu asked calmly.
“Our team has a healing-type ability user. We were wondering…”
Last time, when the escort team came for advancement, Zhuang Mingxu had already shared the method used at Half Moon Bay to advance healing-type users: a suppressing headband and purified cores. Clearly, Zhao Qiang…
“Chief Zhao naturally trusts you,” Hu Cheng said awkwardly. “But he believes only your base can ensure a successful upgrade.”
So it was all just psychological.
“If the person is already here, and everything checks out, we’ll have someone from our medical team oversee and guide the upgrade.”
“Much appreciated.”
With that, Hu Cheng left efficiently.
As Zhuang Mingxu stepped out, Jin Diao was already questioning the guards about several teammates from a prior joint mission. Unfortunately, the guards were tight-lipped, offering nothing useful.
“They’re recovering well. And you?”
“I’m fine,” Jin Diao said, pulling out a pouch from his spatial space and handing it to Zhuang Mingxu. “The Major General asked me to give this to you.”
Zhuang Mingxu felt like he’d received more crystal cores today than ever. He opened the pouch, took one look, and froze.
Inside was a single core. No need for testing — just by sensing the energy, Zhuang Mingxu knew it was an S-grade.
More importantly, it was fire-type.
And Lu Xiao was a fire-type ability user.
“The Major General said absorbing it wouldn’t let him advance immediately. He figured your team needs it more, so he’s lending it to you.”
Zhuang Mingxu personally experienced the genuine, selfless concern of an elder without any hidden agenda. He put away the crystal core without saying anything unnecessary.
Normally, Lu Xiao kept close contact with Half Moon Bay, especially recently regarding communication between Lu Weiyi and the two bases. Since there was nothing that needed to be relayed specifically, after handing over the crystal core, the Jin Diao turned to leave. But after a moment’s thought, he turned back and reminded, “Among the people Zheng Yi brought this time, three have extremely weak combat abilities. Two are known healing-type ability users, and I suspect the other one is too…”
This implied that they might have been hiding the true number of healing-type ability users all along.
“I understand. Thank you.”
Previously, after borrowing a wood-type ability user from the guard team, Zhao Qiang had sent over a healing-type user for assistance with leveling up. Upon learning about it, Zheng Yi had also expressed interest in sending someone over.
Zhuang Mingxu had already explained the upgrade process to them, especially now that both the suppressor headband and purified crystal cores had been shared with their side—there wasn’t much technological mystery left.
Now, it seemed Zheng Yi didn’t quite believe them.
Under the moonlight, Zhuang Mingxu walked back to Central Island. Because of the lockdown, the surrounding area was completely deserted, and the entire base was on high alert except for the patrolling teams. As an ordinary person, he wasn’t really in any danger.
When he got back to the villa, the alcohol had mostly worn off.
In the living room, Lu Xi and Dean were playing a single-player game. Seeing him return, Lu Xi spoke while multitasking, “Ai Yi’s already asleep, in your bedroom. Brother Xi left you some hangover soup—said it’ll help your stomach feel better tomorrow.”
“Got it. Why aren’t you guys asleep yet?” Zhuang Mingxu changed his shoes and walked into the kitchen.
“My dad said Zheng Yi might not have good intentions and told me to keep an eye on you and Ai Yi these days. I’ve decided to stand watch tonight,” Lu Xi said with the maturity of a little adult, patting his chest solemnly.
Zhuang Mingxu looked at the kid controlling a character to eat mushrooms and chuckled. “No need. Tonight we’ll activate the infrared and ability scanners. Whether it’s a regular person or an ability user, any approach will trigger an alarm. You guys have been traveling for two days—get some rest.”
“Your Uncle Lin isn’t back yet?”
“Nope. He called this afternoon and said he’s on night duty and won’t be coming back. Uncle Li is with him, so we don’t need to worry.”
Zhuang Mingxu nodded and made a call to Lin Yimu. After drinking a bowl of soup, he waved at Dean. “There’s something I need you to do tomorrow.”
Dean pointed at himself, confused.
“Yes, you. Tomorrow morning, a few healing-type users from the Guard Team and Zheng’s group need to level up. I’ve asked Brother Lin to gather some people nearby. Hopefully, the energy generated from the upgrade will benefit them. When the time comes…”
He leaned close to Dean’s ear and whispered for a while. Dean’s expression went from puzzled to surprised, and finally broke into a mischievous grin. He gave Zhuang Mingxu a childish military salute. “Don’t worry, mission will be accomplished!”
That night, news reached Zhuang Mingxu that someone had attempted a night infiltration into the giant crab zone.
Lin Yimu, holding the specially installed surveillance device, pointed at the shadow displayed on the monitor and said, “Confirmed—it’s a member of Zheng’s military team. Records show he’s a speed-type ability user.”
Zhuang Mingxu looked at the person on the screen strutting confidently on the crab’s back, occasionally reaching out to touch and inspect it, and found it amusing. “Did he forget there’s something in this world called surveillance?”
“Electricity’s short at the Capital Base now, so they don’t install things like this. Should we expose him?”
“No need. Where’s the fun in that? A warning will do—it’s much more interesting to keep them on edge,” Zhuang Mingxu said with a mocking smile and a dark sense of humor.
“There’s no issue with the hidden information on the crab’s back, right? Zheng Yi is about to level up and can already sense the power of high-level abilities.”
“None. The marks on the crab’s shell were simulated using Young Master’s ability strength. As long as they’re not blind, they’ll conclude that either a powerful weapon or an extremely strong ability user did it.” They had tested this scenario multiple times during the planning phase, and Lin Yimu felt confident. “Also, someone tried to approach the island’s perimeter—seems they wanted to find the power source of our protective shield. But they fled when patrol spotted them.”
Zhuang Mingxu chuckled without commenting, his gaze fixed on the figure on the video. “Where are Ning Yuan and the others now?”
“They’re approaching Nanheng Base—the one closest to the Capital Base. They plan to steer the zombie horde away from Nanheng and directly toward the Capital Base in a few days.”
That was the real reason Ning Yuan’s group had vanished after the drill began.
Many teams in the base believed they were hiding in the shadows, waiting to ambush during the operation. In reality, the group had already left the base, positioning themselves ahead of the zombie tide, leading them straight toward the capital.
Zhuang Mingxu rubbed his temples with a sigh. The lives of hundreds of thousands in the capital…
Hopefully, this would get Zheng Yi to focus on the right priorities.
When he saw a security guard approaching from outside, Zhuang Mingxu stood up. “Send them a message—if they encounter that strange zombie, retreat immediately.”
**
According to their prior arrangement, the next morning Zheng Yi’s group requested to visit the United Research Institute to check on the zombie energy research progress.
By the time Zhuang Mingxu arrived, the reception staff had already eaten breakfast with the visitors. Zheng Yi was standing in front of Hu Cheng, speaking to him in a low voice, blocking his path. The staff from Half Moon Bay stood nearby, clearly choosing not to intervene.
When Zhuang Mingxu appeared, both Hu Cheng and Zheng Yi looked over.
“Finally, you’re here,” Zheng Yi said dramatically.
“Weren’t you going to the United Research Institute? What’s going on here?” Zhuang Mingxu genuinely had no idea.
Hu Cheng looked rather upset and signaled for Zheng Yi to explain.
“It’s like this,” Zheng Yi said, “Old Zhao said a healing-type ability user is coming to level up. I brought one too. Do you think, Lao Zhuang, you could level them up together?”
“You guys really are cautious. I already told you how to do the upgrade last time, and yet you still had to come all the way here.” Zhuang Mingxu shook his head helplessly and waved at one of the staff. “Contact Dean and have him help with the upgrade.”
“Alright, please follow me.”
As soon as the words fell, ten people stepped out from the group. Zhuang Mingxu raised his eyebrows. “You have this many healers in your team?”
Chapter 530: Zheng Miao Stirs Trouble
“They’re their bodyguards,” someone behind Zheng Yi replied. “Base Leader Zhuang should understand—healers are never safe anywhere. This is just a precaution. Surely you don’t mind?”
Zhuang Mingxu glanced at the speaker and then turned to Zheng Yi with a faint smile, saying nothing.
“What nonsense are you spouting?” Zheng Yi scolded his subordinate. “With our relationship with Half Moon Bay, do we even need to worry about safety?”
He turned to Zhuang. “Old Zhuang, don’t mind them. They’re just used to being overly cautious.”
“No problem,” Zhuang Mingxu replied. He swept his gaze over those who had stepped forward and then turned to one of his own men. “The healers can go with him. You’ve probably seen it yourselves—our base has been conducting defense drills these past few days. There are plenty of guards on duty, so safety is not an issue.”
Seeing that only four people had stepped out in the end, Zhuang Mingxu didn’t seem surprised. “Healer advancement is always risky. Even with the higher probability here, be prepared for failure.”
The group nodded in response and followed the escort away, while Zhuang Mingxu led the remaining people toward the Joint Research Institute.
“Base Leader Zhuang, we’re not that interested in the research facility. Would it be possible to take a look around the base?” a woman suddenly asked. When Zhuang Mingxu turned to look at her, she shyly tucked her hair behind her ear. “I wanted to buy some local specialties to bring back.”
“That might not be possible right now. The shops are all closed during the military exercises. Other than essential workers, movement within the base is restricted,” someone promptly answered her.
“What’s with the sudden exercises anyway?” Zheng Yi asked. “I heard from someone yesterday that people weren’t allowed to go out. Sounds pretty strict.”
“The base’s combat team is shifting toward internal development. To keep them sharp, the military and political leadership agreed to hold periodic drills like this. It’s also a form of training,” Zhuang Mingxu said in a half-joking tone. “Any team that gets successfully ‘attacked’ loses their purchasing privileges for the year. So, of course, they take it seriously.”
Zheng Yi gave a thumbs-up, his face showing approval.
“Just bad timing, I guess. Nothing we can do,” Zhuang Mingxu said to the woman. “So no shopping for now.”
He left a few people behind to accompany the guests and led Zheng Yi and the rest toward the Joint Research Institute. Along the way, guards at various posts greeted Zhuang Mingxu, and some strictly checked Zheng Yi and his team’s documents—showing no leniency.
The Joint Research Institute was located at the northern edge of the island, surrounded by heavily armed base guards.
After countless rounds of document checks, they finally reached the entrance.
“There are experimental zombies inside, so the checks are strict for anyone going in or out. Civilians aren’t allowed to live nearby,” Zhuang Mingxu explained.
“As they should,” Zheng Yi said as he scanned the area casually. “I heard your base has chosen two deputy leaders. Are you planning to retire?”
“Not retire exactly—more like a decentralization of power. I’ve been busy for years. Now that the base is stable, I want some leisure time.”
“With Lu taking on some of your responsibilities, you can’t say you’re still busy,” Zheng Yi replied skeptically. “Speaking of Lu—what’s going on with him? I heard he was advancing? It’s been a while and there’s still no news?”
The area near Lao Mountain had already been sealed off by people from Half Moon Bay. No one was allowed near, and anyone who went privately never returned. Zheng Yi had tried to gather information but had no leads.
“I don’t know the specifics either. His message was sent in a hurry—just that he was going to advance,” Zhuang Mingxu sighed, half sincerely. “No one’s ever advanced to SSS level before, so who knows what the process is like.”
He patted Zheng Yi on the shoulder. “You better get moving too.”
“Screw you. You don’t push your own team, and now you’re pressuring me…”
“Haha, those cowards…”
“I heard that…”
“Base Leader Zhuang! Major General Zheng!”
Just as Zheng Yi was about to ask something else, someone from the lab came to receive them. The two stopped chatting and followed the person into the lab.
This particular lab was a later addition, constructed with the help of earth- and metal-type ability users, covering hundreds of square meters. It included accommodations and living areas for researchers, while the research facilities extended several dozen meters underground.
Since the researchers were gathered from different bases, and there were concerns that some might leak information about Half Moon Bay, the entire area was under tight surveillance. Communication within the facility was also completely restricted.
Once a month, progress reports were sent to the Capital Base. This was the first time Zheng Yi had personally come to visit.
Following Zhuang Mobai’s earlier research on energy-suppressing headbands, the Joint Research Institute had split into two research factions—one focused on treating zombie energy as a virus and developing emergency medications, and the other on finding ways to rapidly suppress the spread of that energy.
Both had made some progress, but neither had yet found a fast and effective way to contain the energy spread.
Especially now, as zombie levels continued to rise, the zombie energy spread even faster once it entered the human body—or that of an ability user.
“We can now effectively suppress the spread of zombie energy when an ordinary person is wounded by a C-level zombie. However, the damage already done to the body is irreversible.”
“Are these just theoretical results? Or have there been actual experiments?” Zheng Yi’s tone became more serious when discussing this.
The guide glanced at Zhuang Mingxu, who took the initiative to answer. “There have been real experiments. Since there’s no death penalty anymore, convicted criminals are sent here to participate in experiments.”
Zheng Yi nodded. Someone else asked, “What’s the main effect of zombie energy on the human body?”
“It affects the blood, nerves, muscles, and cellular activity—essentially the entire body.”
“Is there any possibility of coexistence?”
As soon as the question was raised, Zhuang Mingxu suddenly seemed to understand the other party’s real intention.
The guide looked troubled, as if unsure whether he should speak. After hesitating for a moment, he finally gritted his teeth like making a tough decision and said, “There is a half-zombie. He is a known case where someone infected by zombie energy still retains their consciousness.”
**
At the base military headquarters.
Dean had just conducted a series of examinations with four healing-type ability users. After carefully inspecting the amount of zombie energy in their bodies, he had them sign a liability waiver.
Jiang Xi, who had already heard the explanation from Fang Ke, gave a sweeping glance and swiftly signed her name.
The other three gathered together to read the agreement word by word. Upon seeing the clause that stated the base would not be held responsible for any failure in upgrading, a young woman complained, “Didn’t they say we’d definitely be able to upgrade here?”
“Who told you that? Go find them,” Lu Xi, who was with Dean and holding onto Zhuang Aiyi’s hand, snapped back.
During the journey, although the other healing-type users were not strong in combat, they had cooperated well with the fighters in dangerous situations without panicking. Only Zheng Miao had worn a constant expression of disgust and discontent the whole way.
Because she was a relative of Zheng Yi, no one dared offend her directly. But her behavior had caused unnecessary delays—if not for her, several ability users wouldn’t have needed to die.
Lu Xi had long been annoyed with her and hadn’t held back on sarcasm during the trip. Now that the opportunity came, he didn’t mince words: “We’re only here to help. You’ll suffer during the upgrade, no less than expected. If you can’t handle it, decline now. Don’t hold onto false hope that it’s guaranteed to succeed.”
The other two didn’t argue. After seeing Jiang Xi sign, they simply asked a few more questions about the process, then signed as well, politely thanking Dean.
“So basically, you’re not taking any responsibility. If that’s the case, why did I even come all the way here to upgrade?” Zheng Miao glared at Lu Xi.
Back at the base, she was always surrounded by flattery. But out here, dealing with someone like Lu Xi—whom even Zheng Yi had to show deference to—she’d been slighted more than once, and was now fuming.
“We didn’t invite you,” Lu Xi shot her a scornful look. “Sign it or leave. Simple as that.”
“You…”
Lu Xi didn’t even bother with her tantrum. He turned to Dean and said, “Let’s go. Take them to the upgrade room.”
Dean nodded, ignoring Zheng Miao completely, and led the remaining three to a room that had been prepared in advance.
The room looked plain, with a few meditation cushions scattered around. Dean gestured for them to sit wherever they liked and handed them several bottles of clear, transparent water.
“Drink it all.”
The three took a sip. A subtle sweetness lingered on their lips. When they tried to savor it, it seemed tasteless, yet smelled faintly of ripe fruit.
“What kind of water is this?”
“It’s just… regular water,” Dean said, pausing deliberately mid-sentence.
Zheng Miao, who had followed them, immediately stepped forward and demanded a bottle from Dean. She gulped it down and smacked her lips. “Liar. It’s sweet.”
“You’re imagining things,” Dean replied shamelessly.
Lu Xi glanced at her and then out the window. Down below, a silent assembly of base soldiers was gathering without making a sound.
“What are they doing?” Jiang Xi had also noticed something strange.
“Just routine training. It’s been more frequent lately. Nothing to do with us,” Lu Xi replied for Dean and signaled for them to sit.
“All you have to do is focus on absorbing the crystal cores. I’ll be watching and helping as much as I can. I hope you all succeed in upgrading,” Dean said seriously. Then he added, “You should probably go to the bathroom now—better than needing to go in the middle of the upgrade.”
The three looked at each other. Zheng Miao, however, reached out toward a few extra water bottles placed nearby. “Do we have to drink all of these?”
As her hand was about to touch one, an invisible barrier blocked her. Lu Xi sneered, “Didn’t your parents teach you not to touch things that aren’t yours?”
As her expression darkened, Lu Xi muttered to himself, “Typical of the apocalypse—uncultured people running wild.”
