A fierce cold wind blew across everyone's body. Almost everyone wore the cotton-padded jackets issued by the base to keep warm. Over that, they wore a blue windbreaker, the uniform, to allow for more movement.

Even in the cold wind of more than 70 degrees below zero, a thick layer of frost had already formed on the hat between breaths. Xiao Yi did not wear the base's cold-proof clothing, which was not fit enough and not soft enough.

The close-fitting thermal insulation clothing has a cashmere base layer inside, and a thin layer of animal skin lining outside. The outside is a one-piece extreme cold suit, four layers of hand-sewn deerskin boots matched with fluffy and soft sheepskin socks. Like everyone else, he wears a uniform on the outside. Not only does he not look bloated, but he also has excellent thermal insulation properties.

Deerskin boots are a specialty that Xiao Yi discovered in Maozi Country. The local winter temperature can reach -78 degrees Celsius, and the temperature remains below zero for most of the year. To withstand the severe cold, the locals crafted special cold-weather products. Deerskin products are the most renowned and effective cold-weather products. The deerskin boots Xiao Yi wears are not only lightweight, but also waterproof, oil-proof, sweat-proof, and soft. They also won't slip in the snow.

The biting wind and snow gradually dampened everyone's excitement and enthusiasm. With each step forward, we soon reached the summit. Standing atop, we were greeted by a blanket of white. To protect our eyes from snow blindness, no one dared to remove their goggles to admire the spectacular snow-covered scenery. As we drew closer, everyone began to notice something unusual.

Just as Wu Jie said, there was indeed a small town in the valley, which was arranged in a rectangular shape, with a main road and four streets on each side. Many rooms, houses and floors have collapsed, leaving only some broken walls and ruins. But in these ruins covered with snow, you can still vaguely see the prosperity of the past. Standing in the middle of the entire town is a ten-story building. It now looks like 1/4 has collapsed, but the rest still stands there stubbornly, out of place. It has become the only discordant color in the snow. Seeing this building clearly means that the real battle is about to begin. After walking down for about 10 minutes, the group could clearly smell a very unpleasant smell in the ice and snow.

It smelled like the stench of decaying animals, or like rotting fish and shrimp after a rain, all stuffed down your throat. It was so pungent it made you gag. And even after you retched, the smell would linger, leaving you with nowhere to hide and becoming an unbearable nuisance.

Wu Jie took the two still-dripped corpses of mutant rats from the spatial ability user and handed them to the strength ability user. The strength ability user then tossed the still-frozen mutant rats into the city. Within seconds, everyone felt the snow tremble. Then, the entire city, previously tranquil, was enveloped in a blanket of snow and mist. Thousands of dark figures pounced on the objects just thrown. Meanwhile, the human scent emanating from Xiao Yi and his group, now that they had begun eating meat, had become particularly sensitive.

A large group of mutant rats, even larger than the last time they had seen them, with dark grey fur and red eyes, came running straight towards them. A strong smell accompanied by snow and mist also hit them in the face.

Xiao Yi and Fan Zun were the first to react. Without waiting for Wu Jie's orders, they exchanged glances and quickly ran to the side. With the exception of Xiao Yi, everyone else also took their positions according to the Seven Killings Formation. While everyone was still in shock, they had already prepared to meet the enemy. Even after their mutation, all the mutant rats had not forgotten their greedy nature.

Many people wonder why a mouse screams when it's caught on a sticky trap, and why they wake up the next day to find multiple mice stuck on the same trap. It's because the mouse is crying for help. Or, in other words, it's seeking "hope of survival."

Often when one mouse is unable to escape, the others are attracted and also get stuck. The first mouse will then wait and eat its companions until they starve to death. This way, the first mouse will live longer.

Therefore, before this, it was confirmed that Xiao Yi would not enter the formation for the time being, cutting off their first thoughts of seeking help. Although this rat was mutated and its meat was inedible, the fat in its body was a good material for lighting and heating. It would be good to get more of it and exchange it for contribution points.

Wu Jie also began directing everyone to prepare for battle and defense. Everyone's respective teams began to form up according to the previously discussed plan, and many of them even had the appearance of formations. However, their postures didn't look as impressive as Xiao Yi and his group's. With war imminent, everyone was filled with both anticipation and fear.

When the mutant rats were less than a hundred meters away, everyone finally got a clear look at them. They were much larger than any they had seen before, and even larger than those they had seen from a distance. If they had been the size of a medium-to-large dog before, now they were completely large dogs. Furthermore, their exposed incisors were sharp and pointed, and with their saliva constantly dripping, they looked terrifying. Many of the timid ones trembled. After all, this thing was very poisonous. Once infected, it could be fatal. Xiao Yi glanced at Si Feifei and Han Ling, and seeing surprise but no fear on their faces, Xiao Yi felt relieved. In the apocalypse, idiot teammates are more terrifying than the enemy.

"Squeak, squeak, squeak!" Following the attack of the first dozen or so mutant rats, Wu Jie, standing at the front, and the team behind him had already taken the lead in launching the attack. In a flash, the fight was intense and enjoyable.

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