Chapter 138 - 104: Discovery

Chapter 138: Chapter 104: Discovery

’So, did I make it to Jiang City, or not?’

On the empty top floor of the bunker, Xu Mo’s voice bounced off the concrete walls, leaving a faint echo in its wake.

Xu Mo chuckled and shook his head. After spending so long in Cyan Pine Ridge Town, he had finally decided to go to Jiang City. And what was the first long-term mission he received upon arrival? To lock himself away in this isolated concrete tower, far from civilization and facing a tide of zombies. The contrast was certainly ironic.

However, Xu Mo quickly pushed such sentiments aside. ’Might as well make the best of it.’ For someone like him who needed a quiet environment and plenty of time to train, this place was perhaps even more suitable than the chaotic, faction-riddled core of Jiang City.

Besides, he was better suited to exploring the secrets of the Red Star Industrial Zone alone. But that would have to wait.

Taking a deep breath, Xu Mo stripped off his jacket, cleared his mind of all distractions, and began his Pile Training for the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training.

The constant missions, relocations, and battles of the past few days had forced Xu Mo to squeeze in his training during brief, fragmented moments. Now, in this undisturbed environment, he could finally dedicate himself completely to his cultivation, savoring the fulfilling sensation as his qi and blood grew stronger and his body hardened bit by bit.

When he first broke through to the Cowhide Realm, Xu Mo had believed that his near-impenetrable defenses and explosive strength were enough to secure his place and ensure his survival in this apocalypse. However, the meticulously planned ambush he encountered after leaving Cyan Pine Ridge Town, followed by the sight of the Sixth Forward Base—with its fortifications like a mountain range of steel, its dense forest of cannon barrels, and its well-trained army—had been like a bucket of cold water, jolting him out of his complacency.

An individual’s martial prowess, in the face of an organized military force and coordinated enemies, was still so insignificant. During that ambush, if his reactions hadn’t been so swift and his strength hadn’t surpassed their estimates, he would have been long dead. And that colossal war machine had made Xu Mo understand a profound truth: a single warrior’s courage against it was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

’The Cowhide Realm is just the beginning. To truly move as I please in this dangerous world teeming with experts and master my own destiny, I have to at least reach the pinnacle of the Thirteen Grand Protectors’ Cross Training—the Golden Body Realm, where my training turns from external to internal.’ Xu Mo relaxed his stance, his eyes flashing with a determined, hungry light. The road ahead was clear and long, but he was filled with drive.

His training complete, Xu Mo walked over to a firing slit facing the ruins ahead and peered outside.

By now, the sky had turned completely black. On this moonless night, a thick, inky darkness shrouded the land. Still, thanks to his enhanced vision, Xu Mo could make out his surroundings.

Far below the bunker, in the ruined area that had once been heavily defended, he could now only see faint, slow-moving shadows. Without the human army to keep them in check, zombies had begun to creep out from the depths of the ruins. They wandered through the rubble like sleepwalkers, letting out low, unconscious snarls.

Xu Mo’s night vision had improved with his training, but it was nowhere near the point where he could see in the dark as if it were day. He could only just make out rough silhouettes and their paths of movement. The gunfire had stopped, the scent of humanity had faded, and this land of death was returning to its "natural" state.

"RAAARGH—GURGLE—"

The faint, intermittent roars of zombies drifted in on the night wind through the narrow firing slit, providing an eerie background score to the silent bunker.

But Xu Mo paid it no mind. Compared to the constant vigilance required on an open battlefield during an "Eternal Night," where one had to guard against both zombie assaults and psychic erosion, his current situation—watching the chaos from a safe distance—was practically a luxury.

After checking the seals on every entrance and exit and confirming the bunker was impregnable, Xu Mo returned to the bedroom. He lay down on the reasonably comfortable bed and quickly fell into a deep sleep. The zombies’ "nocturne" outside did nothing to disturb his pleasant dreams.

The next morning, his internal clock woke Xu Mo on schedule. He first faced east to perform his essential daily ritual of "Qi Collection," only stopping when his qi and blood were flowing vigorously and a light sweat had formed on his skin.

He fetched some food and fresh water from the storeroom and had a simple breakfast. With his daily routine complete, Xu Mo walked back to an observation port to begin his duties as an "Observer."

The sky had brightened, granting him a clear view. As he scanned the area, he saw that the number of zombies wandering around the bunker, especially near the ruins, was significantly higher than the previous night. By a rough estimate, there were no fewer than a hundred. They shambled aimlessly across the scorched earth and wreckage, like gray pawns scattered across a chessboard.

Xu Mo observed them carefully for a moment and nodded slightly. ’Mm, so far I only see slow-moving, common zombies. No sign of any Agility Type or Strength Type variants yet.’

After confirming the basic situation, he walked over to the radio, switched on the device, and tuned it to the designated encrypted channel.

"C-07 calling Command, C-07 calling Command. First daily report: Zombie count within observation range has increased significantly. Estimated over one hundred, all common types. No signs of unusual activity at this time. Over."

A clear voice from the command center operator quickly came back over the radio: "Command copies, C-07. Log has been updated. Maintain observation."

"C-07 copies."

Ending the brief transmission, Xu Mo’s gaze returned to the wandering zombies. He felt no urge to open fire on these common walking dead. Though the bunker’s ammunition reserves were ample, getting a resupply would be a hassle. Bullets should be saved for more threatening targets. As long as these common zombies posed no real threat, he was content to let them wander and enjoy the peace and quiet.