Outside the Beihe Natural History Museum,
"You're six minutes late for team building, and you're out of perfect attendance for the month." Manager Liu had a serious face, like a confident lawyer at the negotiation table.
"Cerebral palsy." Li Xuan spat out two words calmly, bumped Manager Liu away with his shoulder, and strolled in.
Simple foul mouth, ultimate enjoyment.
Just curse when you're unhappy, no matter what the consequences are, please yourself first, and worry about other things later.
Besides, the end of the world is coming soon, and the future of these people in front of them may not be good.
To be precise, it's not a simple doomsday. Zombies are just the appetizer of the doomsday. This is the ultimate test of civilization!
Last night, he linked to the intelligence system, and every one to seven days, one or two pieces of intelligence were refreshed.
After binding, he obtained four pieces of novice intelligence, namely [World Version Update], [First Version Preview], and [Happy Dead].
[World Version Update: In twelve hours, the ultimate trial begins, and the world version is updated for the first time.
Version 1: Doomsday (Zombies, Torrential Rain, Eternal Day, Eternal Night)
Version 2: Global Mutation (Unknown)
Version 3: Rise of Martial Arts/Birth of the Mysterious (Unknown)
Version 4: Resurrection of Spiritual Energy/Calamity of All Races (Unknown)
Version 5: Resurrection of Mythology/Dimensional Invasion (Unknown)
Version 6: Universal Creation/(Unknown)
...
Enter the corresponding version to unlock the version secrets. Currently unlocked: Version 1.
[Happy Dead Person] The information is that an elderly man who lived downstairs from Li Xuan passed away this morning at home, spared from the trials of apocalypse. He was truly a happy dead person.
Li Xuan went downstairs that morning, confirmed the information was true, and rushed to the Natural History Museum. He was not there to save his colleagues, but for an opportunity, the first opportunity since the Trial began!
Manager Liu stumbled, furious at Li Xuan's insubordination. He glared at him, "Li Xuan! Don't you want to work anymore?"
Ying Cui, the company's renowned goody-goody, tugged at Manager Liu's sleeve and said gently, "Manager, don't be angry. The boss is watching. I'll give Li Xuan a good scolding later and make him apologize."
Manager
Liu snorted, mentally planning to give Li Xuan a hard time back at the company. He'd temporarily withhold overtime credit, deny business trip reimbursement, delay his salary for six months, dock his year-end bonus, and even claim his honor roll on his behalf.
"Ying Cui! You're always like this! It's not good to be too kind. Young people these days are cold-hearted and won't remember your kindness."
Ying Cui raised her glasses. "As the saying goes, a close neighbor is better than a distant relative. I think the same goes for my colleagues. Everyone at the company knows you have a soft heart despite your harsh words. Li Xuan will understand your kindness in the future."
She raised her voice slightly, just in time for the boss nearby to hear.
Manager Liu's lips curled up in satisfaction. He spoke in a condescending tone, "Ah, you understand me best."
Then, thinking of Li Xuan, he felt a wave of disdain. Today's team building was different from previous ones. The boss was already here, a perfect opportunity to perform well. Li Xuan's behavior today must have been noticed by the boss, and his promotion was hopeless.
"College students from rural areas are just no match. They don't know how to deal with people and judge the situation. Do they really think it's as easy to make it in the big city as it is in the countryside?"
He disliked people like Li Xuan, but the company did, for a simple reason: they were cheap.
The group entered the museum, each with their own concerns. They quickly spotted Li Xuan. He was standing in a prominent spot, in front of a blue whale specimen.
The Beihe Natural History Museum was the largest natural history museum in the surrounding provinces and the only one to house a blue whale specimen.
A tour guide led a group, giving a vivid introduction to the blue whale.
"Everyone knows that hundreds of millions of years ago, individual creatures were huge, such as dinosaurs, Titanoboa, Megalodon, and so on. Giant beasts were everywhere. Now that dinosaurs are extinct, the size of animals has shrunk. Many people think that animals today cannot be compared with animals in ancient times, but that's not the case!
The blue whale is the largest animal known to have existed on the blue planet. It is more than 30 meters long and weighs more than 180 tons, which is larger than the extinct dinosaurs!"
Some people didn't believe it. "No, I saw the New Zealand giant ichthyosaur when I was watching short videos. It was 38 meters long and weighed more than 400 tons, much larger than the blue whale."
The tour guide explained calmly: "The data you mentioned is speculation and has not been confirmed. In fact, many ancient animals were speculated to be larger than the blue whale in the past. Later, after more complete fossils were dug out, it was speculated that their size had shrunk and was smaller than the blue whale."
The little boy in the crowd pulled his mother's hand, "Mom, isn't the blue whale the largest animal?"
"He's kidding you. How can the blue whale be the largest animal? The dinosaur is the largest." The middle-aged woman comforted.
The little boy's disappointment vanished, and he burst into excitement. "Mom, that big guy seems to be climbing over the railing. I want to touch a blue whale, too."
"Okay, okay. You can sneak in later during the chaos and touch it." The middle-aged woman looked up when her vision went black.
In an instant, the world's light was extinguished, and everyone was in darkness, as if they had lost their sight. Countless voices rang out: confusion, anxiety, angry shouts, and cries...
Darkness is the most fear-inducing of all.
The museum was in chaos.
Li Xuan found a blue whale specimen in the darkness and bit into it without hesitation. The fishy smell filled his mouth, and he fought back the nausea as he swallowed a piece of blue whale flesh.
[Trial Secrets: During the first update, darkness will descend for sixty seconds. During this time, eating any animal will grant you the ability to transform into that animal when light returns. Note: Choose carefully; more species isn't always better. We recommend choosing large animals.]
Then, relying on instinct, he ran to the left in the dark. Unable to see, he bumped into several people.
45, 44...35
After dark, Li Xuan silently counted down from sixty seconds. At thirty-five,
he felt a bone. His second animal of choice!
The largest pterosaur ever! Quetzalcoatlus!
Unable to find the smallest Quetzalcoatlus bone, he grabbed a tiny bone at random, stuffed it into his mouth, and swallowed it, ignoring the pain in his throat.
He continued running in another direction. To overcome his fear of the dark, he closed his eyes, pushing anyone he encountered or simply ramming them with all his might.
10, 9, 8...5
Time dwindled, and finally, Li Xuan felt a new bone.
The former overlord of the land! Tyrannosaurus Rex!
A classic backdrop in giant beast movies, where one or two Tyrannosaurus Rex are usually killed to highlight the might of a particular beast.
But movies are fake; Tyrannosaurus Rex was once a real land overlord.
After picking up the Tyrannosaurus Rex bone, he put it in his mouth and bit it with all his might. If he couldn't finish it, he ground it into bone powder and swallowed it.
As he counted down to three, he felt like he'd swallowed some bone meal, but it also felt like he hadn't.
Light returned at this moment, and the world was about to undergo a major transformation!
Counting silently in one's mind was bound to result in errors. After all, humans aren't machines, and any emotion could affect the speed of the count.
"Thank goodness, it worked." Li Xuan gritted his teeth, trying not to spit it out.
A mysterious power emerged from within him, allowing him to transform into the animal he had eaten at any moment.
He didn't rush to transform. He wanted to test his transformation abilities in an open area, preferably by the sea.
The largest animal in Blue Planet's history, the former land-dominant creature, and the largest wings ever—these three creatures represent the ocean, land, and sky. He wondered what their combination would look like.
Li Xuan chose these three animals, firstly because he lacked the ability to enter the sea or fly. Not all opportunities lay on land; they certainly lay in the ocean.
Perhaps some opportunities required the ability to fly. Mastering flight could help avoid danger and allow for escape in critical moments. Most importantly, the intelligence suggested choosing large animals.
When the panicked people regained their sight and saw the familiar scene, they breathed a sigh of relief, but before they could even rejoice, they were tackled by those around them. Their soft teeth bit into their flesh, forcibly tearing off a mouthful of flesh. Intense pain washed over them, and wails filled the air.
"Ahhh! Help me! There's a madman! Damn it! What are you biting me for? My flesh!"
"Zombies! It's zombies! Why are zombies from movies showing up? Aren't movies fake?"
"Get away! You've been bitten! Don't come near me!"
"Mom, why are you biting me? It hurts." Hiss
! Heh!
Strange roars echoed one after another, and the stench of blood filled the museum. The world gradually transformed into a purgatory, with slaughter and death becoming the dominant theme during this period.
The sudden appearance of zombies caught countless people off guard, plunging the world into chaos. Crowded areas became slaughterhouses, leaving people with nowhere to escape. Cars honked on the streets, crashed into walls, or simply stopped in the middle of the road, ending the hopes of those who hoped to escape by car.
A small number of people, caught eating as darkness fell, gained the ability to transform. Most transformed into chickens, ducks, and fish, a relatively useless ability. A few gained the ability to transform into larger animals like cows and horses.
As danger loomed, facing certain death, those gifted with the ability to transform panicked, transforming into animals and fleeing in all directions.
Large animals, however, were less advantageous than smaller ones in the chaos. Zombies primarily targeted humans, and when humans were nearby, they instinctively ignored smaller animals like chickens and ducks.
Li Xuan scaled the guardrail and scurried toward the fire extinguisher. The museum's fire extinguisher contained valuable items, including a fire axe for self-defense and a window breaker that could be invaluable in certain situations.
Why hadn't he bought some self-defense weapons before leaving?
Of course, the museum had security checks and wouldn't allow them inside.
He simply avoided zombies or those attacked by them, making no attempt to save them.
Zombies were contagious, and without transforming, he was just an ordinary person, unable to defeat zombies with his bare hands and remain unharmed.
As he approached the fire extinguisher, Li Xuan spotted the company owner, whose target shared his own: a fire axe.
"I didn't expect the boss to react so quickly."
Many employees considered the boss a kind and well-connected person, a stark contrast to the vice president. Whenever the company encountered difficulties, the vice president would get angry first, and then the boss would step in to smooth things over.
Many employees felt the vice president was overreaching, undermining the boss, and some even felt sorry for him.
Of course, Li Xuan never felt sorry for him. How could he, a mere slave earning only 5,000 yuan a month, feel sorry for a boss earning at least tens of millions a year?
Li Xuan first ran to the fire extinguisher and flipped the switch, but it didn't open.
The boss arrived, pulled out the window breaker next to the fire extinguisher, shattered the glass, and pulled out a fire axe. "The switch is broken."
There were three fire axes in the fire extinguisher, and Li Xuan grabbed one, then put on the window breaker. "How did you know?"
"Because the company's switch is broken too," the boss said.
Li Xuan nodded, locked the museum's back door, and mentally rehearsed his escape route.
The museum wasn't crowded. Even if half of those who turned into zombies were, the number wouldn't be significant, making it far safer than a crowded mall.
The downsides were obvious. The mall had food and water, allowing survivors to gather and hide in a safe room for a while. But the museum wasn't like that; it was just a pile of bones and specimens. If they wanted to avoid starvation, they had to leave.
The boss extended an invitation to Li Xuan, painting a long and rosy picture. "Li Xuan, would you like to cooperate? You're young, and you've probably read apocalyptic stories. After the apocalypse, order collapses, and force can subjugate people.
With a little water and food, we can make the once-proud school beauty a star, ours to do as we please. Let's work together to seize the museum, subjugate other men, and use it as a refuge to build our own little kingdom."
The boss's lips curled slightly, a confident expression on his face. He remembered Li Xuan, a nobody in the company, an ordinary person with the typical impulsiveness and temper of youth.
He offered Li Xuan the opportunity as an equal partner, and Li Xuan would surely be flattered and readily agree. With Li Xuan as his henchman and the popularity he'd accumulated within the company, he was sure to build a small empire and live as well as he did before the apocalypse.
Li Xuan was somewhat surprised. With the apocalypse approaching, order crumbled, the evil in people's hearts was unleashed, and morality would gradually wither. The first version lacked supernatural powers, but those with good luck and ruthlessness could commit many evil deeds.
But he hadn't expected the boss's transformation to be so swift. Less than two minutes had passed, and the usually kind boss had revealed a ferocious malice.
His words alone revealed that he was far more ruthless than the vice president.
Seeing Li Xuan unmoved, the boss continued his temptation. "Don't you hate Manager Liu? Without him holding you back, you'd have been promoted long ago. Work with me, and you and Manager Liu can swap positions. You can do whatever you want to him. Oh, and I'll give you the new campus beauty, Bai Lengning, too. I worked so hard to get her into the company, but I haven't gotten her yet."
Li Xuan's mind flashed to a woman in a white dress, white shoes, and long hair.
Bai Lengning, a beauty from a top college, was a junior in college. She had come to the company as a temporary worker during winter break. Immediately upon joining, she attracted considerable attention, and the next day, rumors began circulating about her and the boss.
"Your pie is big, but I refuse."
Unlike the others, Li Xuan knew full well that the appearance of the zombies was only the initial trial. With each new version, the difficulty would increase. After the boss successfully occupied the museum, he might enjoy a brief period of happiness, but that wasn't certain.
Each version offered a different answer. In the zombie version, the answer was shelter, food, water, and the ability to transform. In the second version, the answer became superpowers and mutations.
Only by grasping the answer in each version could one survive.
Others couldn't grasp the answer in every version, but Li Xuan was different. He had an intelligence system that not only knew the answer to the current version, but also the answers to the next, allowing him to prepare in advance.
A fierce gleam flashed in the boss's eyes. "Since you won't cooperate with me, then leave the fire axe. I broke the glass."
The boss's response was a flash of red.
Li Xuan swung the fire axe, striking the boss's neck without hesitation. An artery ruptured, blood spurted out, and a few drops splashed onto Li Xuan's cheek. "Why are you forcing me? If you keep pretending, I won't have any killing intent against you."
Crack!
Li Xuan pulled out the fire axe, and more blood spurted out.
The boss opened his mouth, loosened his grip, and the fire axe fell to the ground. His knees gave way, and he collapsed to the ground, clutching his wounds with both hands. "You... shouldn't be like this."
To his death, the boss could not understand why Li Xuan had suddenly taken action. He felt he was decisive enough. The apocalypse had just arrived, and before he had even found a safe place, he was already thinking about building a force and capturing women.
It turned out that Li Xuan was even more ruthless than him, changing his ways even faster. He would kill people at the slightest disagreement, not like someone who grew up in Xia Country at all.
Several people nearby who wanted to grab the fire axe stopped and looked at Li Xuan in horror.
The visual experience of a zombie killing someone was different from that of a person killing someone with an axe.
People had not yet adapted to the apocalypse, and seeing someone kill someone made their hearts shudder and feel a chill.
Chapter 3: The End of the World
Li Xuan looked up. His first kill had sent a surge of adrenaline through him, his entire body ablaze with excitement. His eyes grew sharp and aggressive.
Hiss!
A zombie, drawn to the scent of blood, staggered towards him.
It was a chubby zombie, its belly bulging and its face thick with flesh. Its zombie form had given it an even more menacing appearance.
Li Xuan quickly retreated, dodging the fat zombie's advance. He raised his fire axe high and brought it down hard, striking the zombie in the back of the head. Blood and flesh splattered as the axe lodged in its skull. He decisively discarded the fire axe, picked up another, and ran.
It was too chaotic and dangerous here. With people fleeing recklessly and zombies feasting lavishly, there were too many unknown risks. He had to find a relatively safe place and wait for the situation to calm down before returning home.
Seeing Li Xuan flee, several nearby residents excitedly rushed forward, scrambling for the fire axe. A fight erupted between three people over who owned the axe, attracting zombies. Two were tackled and killed instantly. One was bitten by a zombie and fled in terror, clutching the fire axe.
Another, attempting to free the axe from a zombie's skull, overestimated his strength and neglected his surroundings, becoming surrounded by several zombies and dying wailing.
The museum was in chaos, and even more so outside. No one knew where the zombies would appear, or whether anyone around them would suddenly become one. Fear reigned supreme, and stress, tension, and despair washed over everyone.
As Li Xuan rushed toward the museum's back door, he spotted former colleagues fleeing ahead. Like Li Xuan, they were heading for the back exit, apparently guessing the front door was more dangerous.
Ying Cui panted heavily, struggling to keep up with her colleagues. She was overweight and didn't usually enjoy exercise. She could barely hold on after running a few dozen steps. Now, she had already reached her usual limit. The fear of death was what kept her going. She dared not stop. Her lungs burned, and every deep breath was torture.
Ying Cui's pupils trembled, and she gasped. She shouted with all her might, "Don't abandon me, help me, please help me!"
The other colleagues lowered their heads and ran away, pretending not to hear.
Ying Cui was filled with despair, mentally cursing her colleagues for being ungrateful. She had helped them at the company, but now no one was willing to help her!
Suddenly, Ying Cui saw a figure returning. When she saw who it was, her pupils widened.
It was Zhang Rui!
A new employee at the company, he liked Bai Lengning and loved reading novels and watching movies. He often complained to her that movie protagonists were always saintly and that taking risks for others was simply idiotic.
Zhang Rui reached out and grabbed Ying Cui's hand. "Sister Cui, hold on!"
Ying Cui clutched Zhang Rui's hand tightly and ran after them.
As the saying goes, a strong first effort weakens the second, and then the third, and then the fourth, it's all gone. Once a person reaches their limit and relaxes, their strength vanishes. Ying Cui stumbled, and her weight caused Zhang Rui to fall backward, nearly falling.
A zombie feasting on the ground to their left was drawn in and pounced on the two. Instinctively driven by fear, Ying Cui tugged at Zhang Rui, shielding him.
Thud!
The two were thrown to the ground. The zombie opened its bloody mouth and bit Zhang Rui's neck fiercely. Zhang Rui let out a horrible wail and pushed the zombie away. Panicked, he wiped his own neck. Looking down, his palm was covered in blood.
He'd been bitten!
Having watched many zombie movies, he knew the consequences of a zombie bite.
"Ying Cui! You're courting death!"
Ying Cui was already tumbling away, her face etched with guilt as she muttered apologies, saying she just wanted to live.
After a few steps, her legs felt like they were filled with lead, and even taking a single step was a struggle.
Suddenly, she saw a familiar figure.
It was Li Xuan? He actually had a fire axe!
Surprise filled Ying Cui's face. "Li Xuan! Save me!"
As Li Xuan fled, he witnessed the choices Ying Cui and Zhang Rui made. The usually kindhearted person revealed a ferocious face in the apocalypse. The boy who boasted of his saintliness chose to help others in a moment of crisis.
The apocalypse is the ultimate test of human nature.
In times of safety, everyone wears a mask, making it difficult to see their true hearts. Only when faced with the threat of death can a person truly be seen.
"Idiot," Li Xuan spat out.
"Li Xuan! Have you forgotten? I've helped you so many times! Every time you were reprimanded by the supervisor, I was the one who comforted you! I was the one who helped you explain yourself!" Ying Cui felt a tinge of resentment well up in her heart.
She'd helped Li Xuan before at the company, so why wouldn't he help her?
Ungrateful! Worse than a newcomer!
Ying Cui ran diagonally forward. When Li Xuan refused to come over, she ran behind him, asking him to carve a path for her.
"Li Xuan, for all the years we've known each other, please help me! Give me a hand! I really can't run anymore!"
Ying Cui approached, and before Li Xuan could say anything, she reached out, trying to hold him back. She was exhausted, her strength nearly drained. Only the will to survive kept her from lying down.
Crack!
The axe whistled
as it struck Ying Cui's arm.
Ugh!
Ying Cui opened her mouth wide, letting out a horrible wail. Pain twisted her face, making it look hideous to begin with. "I..."
Before she could utter a single curse word, Li Xuan spun around and kicked her in the chest.
Ying Cui stumbled to the ground, her words choking back. She glared at Li Xuan with resentment. Before she could get up, two zombies swarmed over her, biting her with mouthfuls of grease.
At the back door, after Bai Lengning and the others arrived, Manager Liu turned to close the door. The museum had two back doors. They entered the first, which contained a utility room where the cleaners stored their tools. There was another door directly opposite the first, which would allow them to exit the museum. The second door
was currently closed.
The first door was a heavy steel ladder gate, similar to those found in underground parking lots at shopping malls. It required considerable effort to close. Manager Liu struggled to push the door open. "Help us! If we don't close the door, the zombies inside will escape and we'll all die!"
"But there are people back there. Ying Cui and the boss haven't come in yet," Bai Lengning said.
Supervisor Liu shouted, "What time is it! Do you want to die? And Ying Cui is already dead! Li Xuan killed him!"
Bai Lengning calmed down a little, looked up, and happened to see Ying Cui's head facing her, with no expression on her face, and her body not even moving.
Dead, Ying Cui is also dead.
Bai Lengning was stunned for a moment and said nothing more.
The door was half closed. Supervisor Liu saw Li Xuan approaching and pushed the door harder. He saw with his own eyes that Li Xuan killed Ying Cui. With the other party's cruelty, he would be in great danger if he came in.
When Li Xuan reached the back door, the door was already two-thirds closed. Supervisor Liu inside had no intention of stopping, "I already told you, why are you forcing me."
Li Xuan gripped the fire axe tightly with both hands and lashed at Manager Liu's palm.
Manager Liu was startled and quickly let go.
Bang!
The fire axe struck the door with a loud noise, and Li Xuan took the opportunity to enter through the back door.
-
+
Manager Liu collapsed to the ground, his hands propped up, and hurriedly backed away. "No, don't come over here."
Li Xuan picked up his axe and pointed it at a colleague. "Close the door."
Overwhelmed by Li Xuan's commanding presence, the colleague felt compelled to close the door, but internally, he was deeply conflicted. He felt older and had worked longer than Li Xuan, making him the senior generation. Li Xuan should respect him. [At this
point,
I hope readers will remember our domain name: Taiwan Novel Network → 🆃🆆🅺🅰🅽.🅲🅾🅼]
Li Xuan's arm dropped, and the fire axe fell to the ground. As he advanced, the axe scraped against the ground, sending out sparks and a sharp, sizzling sound.
Looking down at Manager Liu from above, he asked indifferently, "Do you have any opinions about me?"
Manager Liu shook his head repeatedly. "No, absolutely not. Put down your axe first, brother. Let's talk things over. It's the end of the world, and only by working together can we overcome this."
Puff!
The firefighter's axe came down with
a powerful, imposing force.
The axe lodged in flesh, sending blood splattering across the room, smearing everyone nearby. The unpleasant smell of blood filled the small space.
The previously unconvinced veteran swallowed hard, his resentment overwhelmed by fear.
Ah!
Another supervisor, Lan, let out a piercing scream, her pale face etched with fear. Her voice trembled as she spoke, "Li Xuan, you've killed someone! Do you know this is illegal?" Supervisor Liu, who had collapsed to the ground, let out
an
eerie gasp. He wasn't quite dead yet, his eyes fixed on Li Xuan, filled with resentment.
Li Xuan unsheathed his fire axe and glanced calmly. Wherever he looked, everyone lowered their heads, not daring to meet his gaze for long.
"I'm not a murderer. If you don't have any ill intentions towards me, I won't kill you. Do you understand?"
"Um...can I leave? I want out." Supervisor Lan raised her hand, fearing Li Xuan would suddenly go berserk and have a fire axe hanging over her head.
"Not now," Li Xuan flatly refused.
"Why?" Manager Lan subconsciously inquired. After she spoke, she realized that Li Xuan was no longer the honest worker he once was. Now he was a murderer, killing without blinking an eye. She couldn't help but shrink back.
"There are zombies outside too. If you open the door, the zombies will rush in. We'll have nowhere to hide and we'll all die," Li Xuan said.
"But can we avoid the zombies by closing the door?"
"It's chaos everywhere right now. It's not as safe outside as inside the museum." Only
then did Director Lan realize what a foolish question she had asked. If the museum was in such a mess, it must be even worse outside. It was too risky to leave now. It would be better to wait until the chaos passed, when the lucky few had taken cover and the zombies had settled down. Then, outside, we would be much safer.
The atmosphere gradually thickened. Roaring and wailing continued outside, while the few people inside remained silent.
Including Li Xuan, there were five living people in the mezzanine: three men and two women.
The veteran employee who closed the door was named Liu Qiankun, known as Old Liu. The frail young man was Ayun, and the two women were Bai Lengning and the company's supervisor, Sister Lan.
No one spoke. Sister Lan took the initiative to approach Old Liu, while Ah Yun quietly approached Bai Lengning.
Bai Lengning calmed down slightly, her tense heartstrings slightly relaxing. She noticed Ah Yun's movements.
With the apocalypse approaching, people's moral values will inevitably fade, and all kinds of desires will expand. As a beautiful woman, men are a danger to her. Getting close to men is likely to end up like in movies and novels, but there are so many zombies outside and the dangers are endless. She wants the strength of a man to protect her and keep her alive.
At this time, choosing the right team and approaching the right man is a crucial issue. Who
should she choose?
Li Xuan is a decisive and powerful killer, and under normal circumstances, he is more reliable than any other man present.
She remembered that Li Xuan had also harbored a lingering affection for her, and staying with him was a good choice.
However, Li Xuan's personality was too ruthless, and the best outcome was to control both Li Xuan and Ayun, allowing Ayun to balance Li Xuan. This was the best outcome.
Managing both simultaneously wasn't particularly difficult for Bai Lengning. She was very beautiful, having been called the campus belle by her classmates from high school to college. Having encountered many "dogs" (suck-ups), she thought she understood men very well, especially young men.
Just as Bai Lengning was about to make a decision, Ayun suddenly said, "During the chaos just now, someone transformed into an animal. Did you see that?"
Sister Lan nodded excitedly. "So you saw it too. I thought I was just too scared and hallucinating."
Bai Lengning looked at Ayun. The boy's thoughts were easy to guess. "Ayun, could it be that you have mastered that ability too?"
Ayun noticed Bai Lengning's hopeful gaze and nodded in agreement. "Yes, I feel like I can transform."
Bai Lengning's reaction didn't disappoint him. Her eyes were almost shining. "Really? Can you transform?"
Ayun gritted his teeth. He hadn't wanted to use his newfound ability, but seeing Bai Lengning's eagerness, he didn't want to see Bai Lengning's disappointed expression.
"You guys step back a bit."
The next moment, Ayun's body transformed, rapidly shrinking into a plump rooster.
Sister Lan and the others stared in astonishment. Having lived in a materialistic world for decades, their worldviews had long been shaped, only to be completely shattered by Ah Yun's transformation.
"The ability to transform into an animal? Are those mutants from American comics?" Sister Lan asked. She loved American movies, admired the countries across the ocean, and had always wanted to visit and breathe the "air of freedom."
"The ability to transform only appeared after the apocalypse. I feel like it's more like the supernatural powers in urban legends," Old Liu speculated.
Bai Leng's eyes flashed. "Ah Yun, can you transform into other animals? Like a Tyrannosaurus Rex? Godzilla? Mothra? Hyper-Jadon?"
The rooster spoke in human language, "It seems I can't change. I can only turn into a rooster for now."
Sister Lan subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. Old Liu watched quietly, a hint of mockery in his eyes. Bai Leng was a little disappointed. What could a rooster do?
Braised chicken? Or even deep-fried chicken legs?
Rooster Ayun noticed the flash of disappointment in Bai Lengning's eyes and defended himself, "A rooster can also transform into a phoenix. With superpowers already revealed, it's not impossible for a rooster to return to its ancestral lineage and become a phoenix."
Bai Lengning thought carefully and felt that there was some truth to this. A brilliant smile once again appeared on her face. "Ayun, you're a superpower now. You can't just abandon an ordinary person like me. We're friends."
Ayun's face was overjoyed. The once unattainable iceberg beauty sought his help for the first time, and his heart beat faster. He even had a name for their child in mind.
"Lengning, don't worry, I'm here. I'll protect you," Ayun whispered to Bai Lengning.
Bai Lengning nodded. "Please."
Ayun became more and more excited, repeatedly assuring Bai Lengning that he would protect her.
Sister Lan suddenly interrupted, "How did you acquire the ability to transform? Is there a way to help us all awaken our abilities?"
Ah Yun shook her head. "After the darkness, I felt a new power within me. I don't know how I acquired it."
Sister Lan was suspicious, a little unconvinced. "Ah Yun, you're not saying that just because you don't want to teach us, are you?"
"Of course not, Sister Lan, you know my character," Ah Yun explained.
Sister Lan was still a little unconvinced. "Yes, I know you're a good person, honest and trustworthy. But don't let Bai Lengning awaken her powers in a few days."
Ah Yun's face flushed. "I'm not lying to you! If I knew, I would definitely tell you."
After this explanation, everyone believed her, except Sister Lan, who glanced at Bai Lengning and silently cursed her hypocrisy.
Li Xuan didn't care about the intrigues of the others; he wanted to survive and get through all the trials.
He squatted down and searched Manager Liu's body for a few chocolate bars and a box of chewing gum. Chocolate provides a lot of calories, which is an extremely good resource in the apocalypse.
Then, ignoring the others, he leaned against a corner, silently thinking about his next plan.
He had prepared a lot of supplies at home, enough for him to survive the early stages of the apocalypse.
The museum was about twelve miles away from his home, and if he wanted to cross the twelve miles safely, he had to be extremely careful.
In addition, he had left a backpack outside the museum in advance with some supplies in it.
Bai Ling lowered her voice and spoke slowly, "With the zombies appearing, our top priority is to determine whether the zombie crisis is confined to Beihe or is it global. Regardless of which one it is, there's definitely internet access."
With these words, the nervous crowd remembered they still had their phones.
They rushed out their phones, sending messages to their loved ones to inquire about the situation. Old Liu frantically contacted his wife, sending dozens of messages via Juxin chat app, but she didn't respond.
Panicked, Old Liu called. The ringing lasted a long time, and just when Old Liu thought his call was disconnected and his wife was dead, it connected.
From the other side, the zombies roared and creaked, and a faint voice rang out: "You... harmed... me."
With a click,
Old Liu's hand loosened, and the phone fell to the ground.
Although his wife didn't say anything, just four words could connect the dots.
The ringing of the phone had attracted the zombies! It had led to his wife's discovery!
He had murdered his wife with his own hands!
Bai Leng had just clicked to make a call, but upon seeing this scene, she quickly hung up, silently praying.
She had only been on the phone for two seconds; the phone on the other end probably hadn't even rang yet.
The others also gave up the idea of making a phone call. Sister Lan patted Old Liu on the shoulder and whispered, "It's okay. That old hag is dead, so I'll still be with you. From now on, we can be together openly."
Old Liu groaned and said nothing more.
Sister Lan wiped Old Liu's tears. After a while, she felt her throat was dry. "Who of you brought water?"
Bai Lengning pointed to the utility room. "There's a mop in there, so there should be a faucet."
"I drink raw water to upset my stomach. Do you have mineral water?" Sister Lan was reluctant to drink the water used to wash the mop. Her eyes drifted to Li Xuan. She had her eye on Li Xuan's mineral water, but unfortunately, Li Xuan ignored her.
Bai Leng was speechless and said no. Finally, Old Liu took out the half bottle of mineral water that he had left. Sister Lan took the bottle and drank it all in one gulp without hesitation.
Li Xuan held his phone. Group chats were filled with cries for help and gory photos. His friend circles were also full of people asking if being bitten by a zombie would guarantee infection, and if they could just will themselves to survive and transform into a self-aware zombie.
An orphan, unmarried, and without a girlfriend, no one would call him when the apocalypse arrived.
As a precaution, he switched his phone to silent mode, just in case a sudden ringing sound put him in danger. He
scrolled through the chatter, finding nothing but news about the apocalypse, played across various apps.
Suddenly, he came across a sixteen-second video with a caption about awakening a supernatural power, allowing him to transform into an animal. The video detailed the blogger's transformation, transforming from a human into a powerful black bull in just two or three seconds. The
video garnered over four hundred likes and thousands of comments.
At the end, the blogger, transformed back into a human, announced to the camera that he was in the Baiguo community in City A and was seeking companions to face the apocalypse together. He preferred women, but not men over thirty-five.
Li Xuan's mind resonated with the comment, "This brain is full of yellow garbage."
First, there were no devastating superpowers in the early days of the apocalypse. The video blogger gained the ability to transform into a cow after eating beef during the onset of darkness.
Cows are stronger and more robust than humans, and their hide offers considerable defense. However, without hands, they can't use tools, making them inconvenient. Their hide also can't withstand the bites of zombies. Facing a large number of zombies, a cow would surely die.
They'd have no advantage against humans either; a knife could rip through their hide, and a bullet could pierce it, sending them flying.
By comparison, transforming into a cow is even worse than transforming into a bird. At least birds can fly and avoid being bitten by zombies.
The blogger's self-exposure was tantamount to seeking death. The apocalyptic crisis isn't solely caused by zombies; human evil can sometimes be even more terrifying than zombies.
There are always ruthless individuals in every era. Who knows, someone might see this video, follow the address, and force the person to reveal the secrets of their superpowers?
Clicking on the comments section revealed a multitude of opinions.
"Turning into a cow? Isn't that a special effect? Did the extraordinary really appear?" "
The zombies have appeared, the apocalypse is approaching, anything could happen. Based on my years of watching AI face-swapping videos, I'm sure the video is real." "
Only beautiful women? You're dreaming." "
It's just a transformation ability, as if everyone has it. I can even turn into my husband."
Most of the comments were inquiries about how to obtain supernatural powers. A small number were skeptical and mocking, saying the video blogger was too optimistic, wanting women right after the apocalypse, and they were very disdainful of this. The last part was a group of beautiful women recommending themselves, but there were very few, probably because no one was hungry right now.
As time goes on, with no food in hand and hunger in the belly, people's moral standards will continue to decline
. Time slipped by, and the noise outside quieted down.
True night fell
. A mechanical voice echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
Intelligence refreshed:
[Zombie Tide Outbreak] [Gou Dao Empress]
Li Xuan's gaze focused, and he was the first to check the information on the zombie tide outbreak.
[Zombie Tide Outbreak: Tomorrow, at 2:00 PM, a zombie tide will erupt in Galaxy Plaza. Over 50,000 zombies will devour all life.]
Li Xuan's heart tightened. Galaxy Plaza was not far from his home. He had to act quickly tomorrow and return home before the zombie tide erupted.
Once trapped by the zombie tide, it would be a matter of life and death.
He was not sure if he could resist the zombies after transforming, so he would not take any risks and would hide whenever possible.
He only had one life, and he would not gamble with his own.
[Empress of Gou Dao: Yun Xiuzhi gained the ability to transform into a pigeon during the first version update. Frightened by the zombies, she transformed into a pigeon and hid in the Mi Lu Cafe. She met Bai Lengning and others who had taken refuge in the cafe. She was mistaken for a real pigeon and was almost eaten. She was saved by pretending to be a pigeon with psychic powers.
Fearing she would be abandoned if Bai Lengning and the others discovered she was human, she disguised herself as a real pigeon. When her transformation timer was about to expire, she would seek a secluded spot to recuperate, avoiding detection, then transform back into a pigeon and continue following Bai Lengning and the others.
Even after Bai Lengning and the others were discovered and rescued by the official army, she remained silent.
During the second version of the global mutation, Bai Lengning awakened her supernatural powers and was rated a C-level supernatural by the official survivor base. Animals around the world began to mutate and evolve, but the pigeon Yun Xiuzhi transformed into showed no signs of mutation and was abandoned.
Helplessly, Yun Xiuzhi left the base and, while searching for a safe nest, stumbled upon a mutated spiritual fruit. After consuming it, her bloodline mutated, granting her the power of wind and thunder, greatly increasing her speed. She fled from mutated animals, never engaging in combat, and managed to survive the second version with difficulty.
In the third version, martial arts are revived, and the uncanny emerges. Yun Xiuzhi seeks to learn martial arts, but due to her prolonged transformation into a pigeon, she finds herself extremely uncomfortable with her human body and achieves nothing. She accidentally encounters a mind-stealing ghost, which steals control of her body. Due to her discomfort and her preference for pigeon form over human, Yun Xiuzhi, by chance, subdues the ghost.
Using the ghost's power, Yun Xiuzhi can use the brains of others to practice and think, ultimately becoming the "Unwarring Empress," meaning she never fought before becoming an empress. She's also nicknamed the "God of Conscience Empress."
The God of Conscience Empress
is quite interesting.
Li Xuan's thoughts raced, a little surprised at how well Bai Lengning fared in the future. In the first version, Yun Xiuzhi was out gathering intelligence and, fortunately, encountered the official army.
In the second version, she awakened a supernatural power. Judging by its level, it wasn't very strong, but it was better than nothing. Furthermore, she lived in an official survivor base, so her life should be pretty good.
After this surprise, Li Xuan began to reflect. He remembered that the Honey Deer Cafe was not far from the museum, in the same direction as his home.
Bai Lengning and Ayun probably discovered the zombie outbreak on their way home, so they hid in a cafe and met Yun Xiuzhi who had transformed into a pigeon. However, it is unknown where Bai Lengning and others finally hid and encountered the official army.
A single piece of intelligence often contains multiple pieces of information. While not detailed, subtle details allow for inferences, facilitating forewarning.
The most crucial intelligence on Empress Gou Dao is undoubtedly Yun Xiuzhi, an extremely timid girl. If her timid nature is maintained and she remains in her pigeon form for a prolonged period, she will likely succumb to the Brain-Grabbing Ghost and transform into the Unfighting Empress.
By intercepting Bai Lengning early, taking the pigeon, and not abandoning it later, you can harvest a future Empress.
Yun Xiuzhi is no liability. The intelligence reveals that she can transform into a pigeon for extended periods, can fly, eats little, and can be carried around without concern for her safety. She was very useful in the first version, tasked with gathering intelligence.
In the second version, her speed increases significantly after consuming spiritual fruit, allowing her to continue her intelligence work and be dispatched to search for spiritual fruit opportunities. Combined with her intelligence, she has great potential.
By the third version, Yunxiuzhi's role will be even greater. If the Brain-Snatching Ghost's abilities can be transferred to others, Yunxiuzhi will become a god-level support. If not, Yunxiuzhi, once she becomes the Empress, can leverage her power to accomplish many things.
Li Xuan's eyes flickered as he made a decision. He didn't want to be the master of just one version, but the master of all versions, gathering the might of all versions to overcome the trials!
Intercepting Yunxiuzhi was imperative.
Furthermore, Li Xuan had gathered some intel.
First, the third version of the Ghost could be subdued, likely not by sheer force, but by meeting certain stringent conditions.
In the future, he might be able to learn the conditions for subduing the Ghost through intelligence and thus master its power.
Judging by the Brain-Snatching Ghost's abilities, they are unpredictable and involve rules.
Second, the transformed animal isn't fixed. Yunxiuzhi's pigeon, after consuming the mutated spiritual fruit, gains the power of wind and thunder, greatly increasing its speed. Would the giant beast he transforms into become even stronger after consuming the spiritual fruit?
After all, there's bound to be a discrepancy in animal size. Furthermore, previous intelligence suggests choosing larger animals as much as possible.
In the second version, humans will awaken superpowers, and animals will mutate. Will he, transformed into a powerful beast, awaken superpowers and mutate?
Third: The official survivor base survived the first version and will still exist during the second version. Joining them offers greater security. While there may be dangers during the update, the chances of survival are much higher than if one were to go it alone.
Li Xuan is undecided about whether to join the official survivor base. To plan ahead, he'll undoubtedly do something unusual. Joining the official survivor base might be inconvenient, but it offers safety.
In the apocalypse, safety is paramount.