My Cherry Will Explode in the Apocalypse – CH77

Chapter 77: Ability Potions

In the blink of an eye, more than three months had passed since the outbreak of the apocalypse. The Southern Base’s food crisis had finally been safely resolved, and experiments in soilless cultivation had been highly successful. Several greenhouses erected within the base were now filled with green vegetables and grain crops.

As time went on, the number of ability users gradually increased. However, what troubled them was the lack of any clear method for upgrading their abilities. Meanwhile, the number of evolved zombies outside continued to grow, yet human ability users were failing to keep pace with this evolution—an extremely unfavorable situation for humanity.

Some people had discovered that frequent use of abilities seemed to slightly increase one’s energy reserves, but there were still no signs of actual ability upgrades. Those who had read post-apocalyptic novels believed that ability upgrades should be related to zombie crystal cores. They collected piles of crystal cores, yet couldn’t figure out how to use them, growing so anxious that they were beside themselves.

In the end, the Southern Base discussed the matter with Zhan Yun and Su Ruizhe and publicly announced the methods for using crystal cores. Transparent, low-level crystal cores could replenish ability energy, but they could not upgrade abilities, and excessive consumption might even lead to a backlash from the zombie virus. Level-two crystal cores could help ability users level up, but they carried certain risks. After all, level-two cores contained not only the energy needed for ability upgrades, but also a further-evolved zombie virus. If an ability user failed during the upgrade process, they would turn into a zombie.

During this time, the Southern Base had been conducting in-depth research into why vegetables and fruits could suppress the zombie virus. They eventually discovered that elements such as chlorophyll, folic acid, and vitamin B12 found in plants could damage the structure of the zombie virus and transform it into a mysterious substance beneficial to the human body. After two and a half months of research and experimentation, the research center finally succeeded in formulating a potion using these elements. This potion was made by diluting highly concentrated plant extracts and had an extremely powerful destructive effect on the zombie virus.

This potion was named the Antidote. As long as someone injured by an ordinary zombie took it within three hours, it could kill the zombie virus in their body. While it didn’t necessarily turn the person into an ability user, it significantly enhanced their physical condition.

However, extracting such a high-concentration potion required hundreds of jin of vegetables and fruits. After dilution, only twenty vials of Antidote could be produced, making its exchange price very high—twenty work points for a single vial.

Even so, once the Antidote was released, it was enthusiastically welcomed by survivors. Other bases also sent people to purchase it, and some even sought to buy the Antidote’s research technology. But Jiang Xuzhou held firm—no matter how eloquent the leaders of those bases were, he only agreed to sell them limited quantities and flatly refused all other requests.

When ability users attempted to upgrade, they would also take the Antidote. Although its detoxifying effect was somewhat reduced due to the stronger virus contained in evolved zombie crystal cores, the success rate of upgrades did indeed improve noticeably.

While developing the Antidote, the base continued its research on crystal cores. The success of the Antidote also led to the birth of another new potion.

Before long, the base successfully developed an Ability Potion, made by dissolving crystal cores with a concentrated solution. Drinking this Ability Potion couldn’t help users level up, but it significantly enhanced the effectiveness of their abilities.

For example, an ability user who could originally only launch a few ping-pong-ball-sized fireballs would, after taking the Ability Potion, be able to unleash a whole string of basketball-sized fireballs at once. The enhancement effect lasted for half an hour. After that, the ability user would experience ability depletion and mild exhaustion, but a short rest would be enough to recover. Since ability growth depended on repeated use to expand energy reserves and improve proficiency, taking one such Ability Potion was more effective than fighting zombies five or six times.

It was easy to imagine that once this Ability Potion was introduced, it was immediately sought after by all the major bases. More and more teams came to the Southern Base to purchase Antidotes and Ability Potions, stimulating trade among the bases. At the same time, the value of crystal cores began to rise accordingly.

With the Southern Base’s two exclusive potions and its more favorable living conditions compared to other bases, it gradually attracted more survivors to join. The base, which had been established for quite some time, began to feel cramped. As a result, the base called on survivors to build new outer walls around the perimeter, slowly developing an outer city.

Although the base now had an inner and outer city, everyone’s treatment remained the same—benefits were unchanged, and the rules applied equally. The only difference was that the inner city had better locations and higher housing rental fees. It was much like the difference between city centers and suburbs before the apocalypse: living anywhere was fine, depending only on whether you were willing to pay more for better conditions. Those who spent their days idling away and refused to work for work points were all relegated to the outer city, and those who could only afford to live in tents were gradually moved out as well.

All newly arrived survivors at the base still enjoyed three days of free food and lodging, but they were housed in the outer city. Those allowed to remain in the inner city, aside from soldiers, were mostly people who had stayed at the Southern Base for a long time and were diligent and hardworking, as well as members of the city guard, and some powerful ability users and teams.

As for those who had left during the rat infestation, some of them later wanted to return to the base. However, their identity information had already been registered in the system. The three days of free food and lodging they had previously enjoyed could not be granted again, and they could no longer obtain base identity cards. They could only receive temporary residence status, treated the same as visitors from other bases.

Now those people truly regretted it to the point their guts were turning green.

As for Zhan Yun, Su Ruizhe, and their group, the base always gave them the best treatment. Whenever there was anything good, they were allowed to choose first; whenever they needed anything, it was provided to them immediately. In return, they always repaid the favor—whenever the base encountered difficulties, they would step in without hesitation. Because of this, from top to bottom, all the soldiers at the base held them in great respect.

That day, Zhan Yun and Su Ruizhe went once again to stroll around the inner city’s free trade market. The area that had once been filled with makeshift stalls had already been developed into a proper commercial street. Because of the weather, everyone’s daily routines had long since flipped day and night. When they came to this street at night, it was brightly lit everywhere, giving it the feeling of strolling through a night market back before the apocalypse.

That shrewd businessman Qian Fugui now owned two shops along this commercial street. His stores sold almost everything, like small department stores. Back when he had taken the risk of stockpiling crystal cores, that gamble had now paid off handsomely. His entire demeanor was completely different from before, and his already plump body had grown even more rotund.

“Old Qian, got anything good lately?” Cheng Jiao and Wu Jing walked into Qian Fugui’s shop with practiced familiarity, looking around. The store had air-conditioning on and was pleasantly cool. All the items were neatly arranged on shelves, making the place look dazzling and well stocked.

Hearing the familiar voices, Qian Fugui immediately came out with a beaming smile. “Oh my, what wind has blown these distinguished guests my way? Come, come—please come in!”

“You go on in. Xiaojing and I will just take a look outside,” Cheng Jiao said, waving at him. Her and Wu Jing’s attention had already been captured by the exquisite jewelry and cosmetics displayed on the nearby shelves.

Women were naturally lovers of beauty. Now that their basic needs for food and shelter had been taken care of, they could afford to pursue things on a more spiritual level. With the weather so dry, neglecting skincare would turn one into dried old vegetable skin. Qian Fugui’s shop was the most popular place among the base’s female ability users.

“Alright then! Xiao Wang, take good care of the customers,” Qian Fugui called out. He now employed two young shop assistants. They were young but quick-witted and sensible, and he was quite satisfied with them.

“Yes, boss,” replied Xiao Wang, a lively and sweet young girl. She was already somewhat familiar with Cheng Jiao and Wu Jing, who came by often, and knowing their general preferences, she went over to chat with them.

Qian Fugui himself led Zhan Yun and Su Ruizhe to a small office he had specially partitioned off at the back. He told the other clerk, Xiao Zhang, to bring over a plate of sliced, chilled watermelon. After setting the watermelon down, Xiao Zhang left and thoughtfully closed the office door behind him.

“Well now, Boss Qian really has made it big—so much so that you’re even willing to serve watermelon, something this precious, to your guests?” Zhan Yun teased on purpose.

Even though soilless cultivation technology now existed, it was mainly used to grow grain crops like rice and wheat. The yield of vegetables and fruits was still very limited. This sliced, chilled watermelon was clearly the kind that ability users had grown with their powers—extra sweet. A single watermelon often sold for twenty work points, so using it to entertain guests was indeed rather extravagant.

“Haha, isn’t it because you’re here?” Qian Fugui said frankly. “If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t even give them a bite!”

He truly meant it—he was absolutely the type who treated people differently based on who they were. Ordinary customers coming here wouldn’t even get a taste of watermelon rind, let alone the fruit.

“You asked us to come—does that mean you’ve found out what we asked you to look into a few days ago?” Zhan Yun asked eagerly.

Qian Fugui was sociable and had an excellent business sense. He could get along with just about anyone. With more and more people coming to the base from elsewhere, he met all kinds of people and had increasingly diverse sources of information. Sometimes, the news he got was even faster and more accurate than the base’s official channels.

“Of course. Today I heard from a team that came from the Northwest Base that a small city over there might have a level-four zombie. They said several ability teams have already gone missing there under mysterious circumstances, including one with a level-three ability user.” As he spoke, Qian Fugui’s face showed a hint of fear. “But… why are you asking about this? That’s a level-four zombie…”

It was precisely because of the mysterious disappearance of that level-three ability user that the Northwest Base suspected the emergence of a level-four zombie in that small city. What Qian Fugui couldn’t understand was why Zhan Yun and the others were asking about it at all.

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