Chapter Twenty-Three: Dividing Forces

A level-one crystal core could be redeemed for 0.1 contribution points—the equivalent value of a level-three zombie corpse. The only downside was its low drop rate, about one in ten. A level-two crystal core was worth 1 contribution point, with a drop rate as high as one in two. A level-three core, however, was valued at ten contribution points with a guaranteed drop, meaning that if Lin Lei managed to slay ten level-three mutant beasts, he could earn a hundred contribution points simply by turning in their crystal cores.

As for the use of these crystal cores, the system had also provided a prompt: once an Evolver reached level four and awakened their innate abilities, their body would automatically absorb and store energy to assist in unleashing powers or cultivating. These crystal cores contained a substantial amount of the energy needed for evolution—the higher the core’s level, the greater the energy stored within.

After hearing the explanation, Yang Xueli glanced outside to ensure the coast was clear, then picked up the glass jar containing the mutant beast crystal cores and handed it to Lin Lei. “Since these crystal cores are so powerful, I believe they’ll be more useful to you.”

“…No need. There are too few of them for me to make any use of. You should keep them yourself.” Lin Lei declined indifferently.

In truth, his heart ached—no matter how minuscule, even a mosquito’s leg was still meat! Unfortunately, the system had determined that Yang Xueli was not the rightful owner of these mutant beast crystal cores. So if she “stole” them and gave them to Lin Lei, he would be unable to redeem them. Worse still, he might even be erased by the power of the rules for such an infraction.

“Also, this is something only you should know. Don’t let it slip to anyone else,” Lin Lei reminded her.

“Why not?” Yang Xueli asked, puzzled.

“You lack the ability to withstand a counterattack from a horde of mutant beasts,” Lin Lei explained.

Crystal cores are obtained by killing mutant beasts. It didn’t take much to guess that these few from Niutou Mountain must have come from killing domesticated mutant pets in the city. Once the value of crystal cores became widely known, people would inevitably turn their attention to the wild mutant beasts in the forests. Domesticated pets had long lost their wild instincts—even after mutating, their combat abilities were far inferior to their wild counterparts. Unless Niutou Mountain’s people recognized their limits, recklessly organizing hunts for wild mutant beasts could easily spell disaster for them all.

After listening, Yang Xueli suddenly understood, and secretly felt relieved. She had been planning to ask her brother to send people into the mountains to collect more mutant beast crystal cores because Lin Lei had refused the few she offered, saying they were too few to matter.

—

—

Though Niutou Mountain was poor, its living conditions were quite good. Before the apocalypse, this had been a holiday resort, and the houses were all well renovated. Previously, it had been a gathering place for nearly ten thousand people, but now, with only just over seven hundred residents, accommodations were naturally spacious and comfortable.

Lin Lei was assigned to a presidential suite in the resort—a room so luxurious that even in his own world, he’d never stayed anywhere so grand.

The night passed uneventfully. The next morning, everyone rose early, checking their gear and bustling with activity.

“Brother Lin, are you awake?” Yang Xueli’s voice sounded from outside the door.

Lin Lei had already been awakened by the noise outside. Hearing her knock, he got up and opened the door.

Yang Xueli stood there holding a tray, atop which sat a large bowl of white rice and a pot of bone broth. The rice was, of course, what Lin Lei had exchanged for the people of Niutou Mountain, while the bone soup was brewed from the leftover pig leg bones used the previous day to lure zombies.

Although the chemical agents on the bones had evaporated, there were still trace residues. Fortunately, such substances posed no threat to the local survivors who had spent years under the ravages of the virus. Following the principle of waste not, want not, Lin Lei gave the broth to Yang Chunxi and his people as an extra meal.

But while the residue was harmless to this world’s people, Lin Lei himself was not a native.

“Brother Lin, I got up early to make this pork bone soup for you. I haven’t cooked soup in nearly four years—try it and see how it tastes?” Yang Xueli handed him the soup pot.

Lin Lei’s mind involuntarily conjured the scene of “Big Brother taking his medicine.” Yesterday she’d tried to give him stolen crystal cores, today she’d made him bone soup—all well-intentioned, but neither was something he could safely accept.

“Uh… I’m actually not hungry at all. I already ate when I woke up. You should have it instead.” Lin Lei could only decline.

If infected by the bio-virus, unless he chose to become an Evolver, he’d have to waste dozens of contribution points to detoxify himself again.

“Even if you’ve already eaten, a little soup won’t hurt, right?” Faced with her good intentions being refused again and again, Yang Xueli was a little deflated and, in exasperation, said, “Are you worried I poisoned it or something?”

“Of course not. Sigh! To tell you the truth, I’ve never eaten pork in my life,” Lin Lei lied again.

He couldn’t very well say that the pig bones were contaminated with a virus and eating them would be dangerous. Since he’d already lied once, he might as well keep going. If he ever did take Yang Xueli out of this world, she’d understand then.

“By the way, I saw everyone gathering outside. Are you all preparing to head for Haifeng City?” Lin Lei quickly changed the subject to avoid suspicion.

Clearing out the zombies in Haifeng City had been Lin Lei’s suggestion. To allay Yang Chunxi’s concerns, Lin Lei had even quietly sold him a demonbane combat blade the night before, worth four contribution points.

The demonbane blade was not as sharp as the laser longsword, but it had the advantage of not requiring an energy cartridge. Moreover, it was forged with a special element that could effectively destroy the bio-virus. Once it broke through a zombie’s defenses, the blade’s corrosive effect would gradually weaken the zombie’s offensive and defensive capabilities.

Previously, the reason Yang Chunxi couldn’t kill level-three zombies was because his weapons couldn’t penetrate their defenses. Even at full force, he could only scratch the surface, making it impossible to win a fight. Now, with the demonbane blade, Yang Chunxi was fully capable of taking down level-three zombies on his own.

“That's right. We’re well stocked with ammunition now, so my brother plans to press the advantage, kill another batch of zombies, and exchange them for more supplies,” Yang Xueli said, unaware of Lin Lei’s deal with her brother. She thought Yang Chunxi was simply trying to make a profit.

What she didn’t know was that Yang Chunxi had already prepaid five thousand level-one zombies to Lin Lei for the demonbane blade.

“That’s fine. Supplies aren’t an issue—I’ll take whatever you bring in. But I have other plans, so I won’t be joining you this time,” said Lin Lei.

He wasn’t sure how many zombies remained in the city, but there was certainly no massive horde. Once the number of zombies in one place exceeded thirty thousand, they would form a corpse tide and move in a fixed direction; the wave they’d destroyed earlier had been just that. As long as there was no corpse tide, Yang Chunxi and his group were perfectly capable of picking off the city’s zombies bit by bit.

“Where are you going? I’ll come with you.” Afraid Lin Lei would refuse, Yang Xueli quickly added, “I’m the liaison officer appointed by the committee—I have to keep track of your movements at all times.”

“What’s wrong? Worried I’ll run off with your debt unpaid?” Lin Lei laughed. “I’m heading into the nearby mountains and could use a guide.”

“You’re going to hunt mutant beasts, aren’t you?” With the previous day’s focus on crystal cores still fresh in her mind, Yang Xueli instantly guessed his intent.

“That’s right. But are you sure you want to come? I plan to fly over,” Lin Lei hinted.

He could fly, and if Yang Xueli insisted on joining him, he’d have to carry her in his arms.

“Fly, then! Who’s afraid of that?” Yang Xueli’s face reddened, but she said it boldly and dashed out of the room.