The Absolute Favorite in the Apocalyptic Rebirth

The city held few survivors. Because entry was permitted but exit forbidden, and because zombies were rampant, supplies in many areas remained untouched. As for the survivors in the supermarket, the security of their shelter bred inertia and extinguished their will to strive. When they did venture out for supplies, they never went far, especially not into heavily infested areas.

Thus, these supplies now benefited Lou Ling and Lou Dian.

Lou Dian collected everything related to food, clothing, and daily necessities, leaving behind only useless items. He had previously cleared out a portion of his spatial storage and transferred it to the base warehouse, so he now had ample space. He took everything, preventing it from expiring and going to waste.

After clearing out the mall, the two continued onward.

The city was teeming with zombies. Perhaps because both the living and the undead were trapped, the zombies, unable to leave, hunted within the city. The few remaining humans could only kill a limited number, resulting in the current infestation. No wonder the supermarket survivors feared losing their sanctuary.

Lou Ling, Tang Dao in hand, her expression sharp, used the high-hanging mutated vines to swiftly navigate through the zombie hordes. Slaying so many made her wrists ache, and sweat soaked her clothes, yet she never paused. Just as Lou Dian had said, if you rested from fatigue, the zombies wouldn't reciprocate. She never liked being weak or hiding behind others. Even knowing Lou Dian protected her, she showed no sign of vulnerability.

They finally finished off the surrounding zombies as the sun began to set.

Exhausted and parched, Lou Ling saw a water bottle offered to her lips and unhesitatingly drank half of it, feeling much better. Lou Dian put the bottle away, helped her up, supported her waist, and led her back to the supermarket.

They finally returned before dark, relieving the worried Qiu Rong and the others.

The two teams of ability users had returned much earlier, their meager gains a testament to their limited range. They'd been chased by zombies more than they'd hunted them. Though lacking in combat skills, they were adept at escaping, thankfully without casualties. Qiu Rong, aware of their reliance on Gan Jingcheng's mental abilities, hadn't expected them to be so inept. Their performance was abysmal. She decided to continue sending them out for training the next day.

In the following days, Lou Dian continued taking Lou Ling out, while Qiu Rong expelled two teams of ability users each day. Qiu Rong remained at the supermarket. Her abilities were mid-level Tier 3, on par with Wang Xin, but her combat experience far surpassed his. Her presence alone was enough to deter the other ability users and secure her position as leader.

Lou Shang was still recovering, while Lou Yan, oblivious to others, tinkered with the contents of her backpack.

Initially, others had scorned Lou Yan for being an ordinary person. However, when this delicate young woman transformed scrap metal into deadly weapons and calmly headshot a wandering zombie outside the supermarket, the survivors' disdain turned to awe.

Wang Xin and Gan Jingcheng, restricted to minimal food and water, were left lightheaded and hungry. With the mechanically-inclined, ruthless young woman further tormenting them, Wang Xin lost his initial arrogance within two days, and Gan Jingcheng neared a breaking point.

Fearing a complete mental collapse, Qiu Rong loosened Gan Jingcheng's restraints and provided him with regular food rations, though nothing more.

During this time, the ordinary survivors received half-rations, an improvement from Wang Xin's reign. Their spirits lifted, realizing Qiu Rong treated them humanely and had no ulterior motives. They gradually began to follow her lead, cooperating with her every instruction, achieving the effect Qiu Rong desired.

Lou Dian and Lou Ling's daily excursions weren't fruitless. They cleared out supplies from numerous zombie-infested malls and supermarkets, slaying countless undead. Lou Ling generally handled lower-tier zombies, while Lou Dian dealt with those Tier 3 and above. To simplify matters, Lou Dian used the zombie goat's crystal core to lure zombies, a tactic that initially shocked Lou Ling, then numbed her, until finally, she became accustomed to it. High-tier crystal cores were irresistible bait. Lou Dian would suspend the core with wire, luring zombies in groups for Lou Ling to kill, honing her combat skills. Consequently, their collection of crystal cores grew to an astounding amount.

This method also allowed Lou Dian to assess the city's zombie population and their tiers, eliminating the possibility of a high-tier mental-ability zombie controlling the city. He began searching for other explanations.

That day, they reached the city's tallest building, enjoying the cool breeze and overlooking the cityscape, a rare moment of leisure.

Lou Ling leaned against the railing, gazing at the streets below. From this height, the buildings and roads resembled children's toys. Turning to Lou Dian, she noticed the zombie cat's crystal core in his hand crumbling to dust.

Startled, she asked, "Did you absorb it?"

Lou Dian, understanding her concern, smiled. "At my current level, absorbing crystal cores doesn't hinder my cultivation. You're still a low-tier ability user. Before Tier 4, it's better to rely on your own cultivation."

Reborn with his past abilities, he was initially limited to using only half their power. He had to cultivate anew, not only to regain his former strength but to surpass it. As a man, he desired power, to stand above all others, and to be with her, without any interference.

Lou Ling nodded, understanding his abilities a little better. If he could freely absorb crystal cores, his abilities must be above Tier 4, making him the first known Tier 4 ability user among humans. The thought filled her with pride and frustration. She was only at Tier 1… unable to use crystal cores, relying on slow self-cultivation. Who knew when she'd reach Tier 4?

Sensing her thoughts, Lou Dian patted her head. "Current ability users advance quickly, but later progress slows drastically, sometimes taking years to reach the next tier. Don't envy them. They'll face difficulties later. Those who cultivate without crystal cores in the early stages will find advancement easier later, having built a solid foundation…"

Lou Dian's explanation eased her mind. She wasn't impulsive and didn't need immediate power. She had time.

With the zombie cat's core absorbed, only the zombie goat's remained. Lou Dian decided to keep it for luring zombies, as it was likely the highest-tier core available.

Suddenly, Lou Ling grabbed his arm. "Brother, look! That tree is thriving!" As a wood-ability user specializing in growth acceleration, she was sensitive to plants. While not all plants were benign, most responded positively to a wood-user's goodwill.

Following her gaze, Lou Dian saw the lush tree, a vibrant anomaly amidst the concrete jungle.

Narrowing his eyes, he swept his mental energy over it. "That's the city's People's Park." Then, realizing something, he grabbed her hand. "Xiao Ling, let's go take a look."

As they descended, she noticed his unusual expression. "Did you find something?"

He gave a cryptic smile. "Something good. We might be able to leave this city soon." He wouldn't have noticed the anomaly if not for their visit to the rooftop. It was well-hidden.

With no electricity, they used the stairs. Reaching the third floor, Lou Dian pushed open a window and jumped, holding her securely.

Lou Ling gasped, instinctively clinging to him. The wind rushed past as they landed gracefully, gravity seemingly insignificant to him.

Setting her down, he led her towards People's Park. Encountering zombies, he flicked his fingers, sending spatial blades into their heads, causing them to explode – a brutal yet efficient display that impressed Lou Ling.

He was so powerful, it was almost daunting! Not only could she not defeat him in combat, but she was also utterly dominated in bed… Her future was worrisome!

They soon reached the park, its marble sign bearing the faded characters "People's Park." Inside, they climbed the hundred steps leading up.

Lou Dian observed the flourishing greenery, far healthier than the city's other vegetation, showing no signs of wilting. The post-apocalyptic world had only extreme summers and winters, severely impacting plant life cycles. With minimal rainfall this summer, most ordinary plants had withered, leaving only mutated ones.

These thriving plants were undoubtedly mutated, but of a low, non-aggressive tier. Lou Ling frowned. It was strange how well they grew here.

Reaching the plaza, they headed towards the inner woods. A rustling sound emerged, like serpentine creatures moving through dry leaves.

As a dark shape lashed out, Lou Dian leaped, holding Lou Ling, evading the attack. Lou Ling threw evergreen seeds, rapidly growing them mid-air. A vine entangled the attacking plant.

Two mutated vines battled within the woods, their tendrils intertwined.

Seizing the opportunity, Lou Dian grabbed another attacking vine, ripping it from the ground, roots and all. Lou Ling delivered the final blows, noting its toughness, though inferior to iron vines.

After dispatching the attacker, they continued, protected by the evergreen vine. It shielded them from other hostile plants as they crossed the woods, arriving at a large, fenced flowerbed, where a massive tree stood.

The tree, centuries old, had a thick, dark trunk requiring several people to encircle, its branches laden with lush green leaves. Sunlight dappled through the canopy, and the rustling leaves created a sense of tranquility.

As they approached, Lou Ling felt a strange heaviness. Biting her tongue, the pain snapped her out of it. She realized she'd been mentally influenced.

Lou Dian pulled her close, stopping a hundred meters from the tree. He sent a spatial blade towards it, which struck the trunk with a metallic clang, only dislodging some bark.

It was indeed a near-sentient mutated tree.

The attack triggered a furious wind, and the rustling intensified as the woods' mutated vines converged on them.

Unwilling to fight, Lou Dian, holding Lou Ling, leaped onto the evergreen vine, using its dancing tendrils and the attacking vines as footholds to navigate the onslaught, escaping the woods.

Author's Notes:

Today's goals:

Lou Ling's goal: Get stronger, and dominate!

Lou Dian's goal: Get stronger, and dominate her!

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