Chapter 184 Red Brick Building

The group moved quickly while maintaining their formation, with rotting corpses constantly emerging from the ruins along the way. They managed to get through to two level-three zombies, though it took them some effort.

The remaining zombies were all low-level zombies, and they were quickly and cleanly killed by the group as soon as they showed their faces.

The vines danced nimbly on Gangzi's back, sweeping away each crystal nucleus like a vacuum cleaner.

After walking briskly for more than an hour, the morning light pierced through the clouds.

Ahead, several red-brick buildings that had miraculously survived came into view, and their style resembled an old-fashioned art center.

The outer perimeter was surrounded by layers of iron netting, and Lu Nange's mental power detected the presence of survivors inside.

He led everyone directly to the other side of the annex building.

The houses were wide open, their interiors empty—all usable supplies had been looted, leaving only cement floors and yellowed, mottled white walls.

Gu Qi summoned water to wash the ground, and Lu Nange casually waved a whirlwind to dry it.

Lu Nange dumped a pile of waste materials from the space—rusted steel bars, broken cement blocks, and twisted metal plates—which quickly piled up into a small mountain in front of the house.

"Let's get started." He Zhuo cracked his knuckles as he moved his wrists.

Earth and metal elements sealed off all entrances and exits in the blink of an eye using a mixture of materials.

Not a ray of light could penetrate the room. Lu Nange took out an emergency light from her spatial storage, and the soft light dispelled the darkness.

She then took out daily necessities and arranged the empty space like a temporary camp.

Lu Beiye and his companions used their supernatural abilities to create tiny ventilation holes in several hidden locations.

Looking at the newly renovated house, Lu Nange quipped, "It really is true, three more years of patching and mending!"

Gu Wan: "Our A-Ye and Sister Xingyou are amazing! They can even repair houses! After the funeral industry, the construction industry can be considered to have achieved some success!"

Lu Beiye: "Thank you for the compliment, Sister Wanwan."

"My Aye is such a polite and well-behaved child." Gu Wan turned to Lu Nange and winked: "Nannan, how exactly did you raise him?"

Lu Nange chuckled and ruffled her younger brother's hair: "Hmm, it's probably just something he was born with!"

He Zhuo suddenly interjected, raising his chin smugly: "Of course, the Lu family's genes are just that strong."

Gu Wan raised an eyebrow: "Why does it sound like you're praising yourself?"

"Praising A-Ye is praising me, isn't it?" He Zhuo patted his chest confidently. "Don't forget my other name—Lu Dongzhuo!"

Seeing his smug look, Gu Wan couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Alright, life's short, laugh while you still have teeth."

...

The three-story building resembled a warehouse, with no partitions, only exposed load-bearing columns, and the sound of footsteps echoed softly.

The group of people were covered in dust and dirt, their clothes stained with blood and dust. Lu Nange took the RV out of her spatial storage.

After a quick wash, Lu Nange took out the food they had prepared earlier from her spatial storage: apple and sweet potato pancakes, wontons, dumplings, steamed buns, sandwiches, steamed eggs...

After cleaning up the mess left by the meal, everyone sat around the makeshift table.

Lu Nange poured the crystal cores that Zhizhi had collected onto the table.

"There's only one that can go from level three to level four." She lightly tapped the largest orange-yellow crystal core with her fingertip.

Chi Yanzhou replied without hesitation, "Give it to Aye first."

Lu Beiye waved his hand: "Brother Yanzhou, I'm still young, you're tall and strong, you upgrade first, so you can use it first."

"Nan Nan." Chi Yanzhou turned to Lu Nange: "After you level up, will you be able to use the Wind Shield, and maintain it permanently?"

Seeing Lu Nange nod, he continued, "Then let Aye upgrade first. If his golden shield can be maintained permanently, it can save everyone's lives in critical moments. Now there are more and more high-level zombies, and I will be able to find more crystal cores to upgrade soon."

Lu Beiye looked at his sister, and after receiving an affirming look, whispered, "Thank you, Brother Yanzhou."

Chi Yanzhou: "As for these two level-three crystal cores..."

Gu Qi interrupted him directly: "Yan-ge, you and Aci take it. You two are the main damage dealers, so your chances of leveling up after absorbing it are the highest."

Gu Wan raised both hands: "I have no objection..."

He Zhuo: "I have no objection either. The stronger you are, the more secure my life will be!"

The others also expressed that they had no objections.

Chi Yanzhou: "Okay."

"Thanks." Lu Xici accepted the crystal core.

Gu Qi: "We're all family now, so we shouldn't be so formal. Besides, our main goal is to improve our overall combat effectiveness."

Lu Nange divided the remaining crystal cores evenly into several portions: "The rest, shall we divide them equally as before?"

After the crystal nuclei were distributed, the boys chose to sleep outside the RV using tents and air mattresses, while the girls rested inside the RV.

Lu Nange was in another RV, watching over Lu Beiye, Lu Xici, and Chi Yanzhou as they absorbed the crystal cores.

With ice blocks all around and their thermal clothing, the group didn't feel stuffy when the heat hit.

Lu Xici, who was the first to wake up, stretched and said, "I didn't level up, but I feel like I could take on a few He Zhuos!"

Unexpectedly, Lu Beiye was the second to wake up. Lu Beiye exclaimed, "Sister, I passed my CET-4!"

When Lu Beiye woke up, it was already six o'clock in the afternoon, and the rest of the people were sitting inside the house.

Lu Beiye tested his superpower and found that he could permanently maintain his golden shield, golden dart, and golden knife without the aid of any metal objects.

It wasn't until after 8 p.m. that Chi Yanzhou finally woke up.

Everyone immediately surrounded them: "How is it?"

Chi Yanzhou: "The lightning element has leveled up four times!"

Lu Nange: "You've awakened other superpowers too?"

Chi Yanzhou opened his palm, and an ice spike appeared in his hand.

Lu Nange smiled outwardly, but inwardly a dark thought crawled: [Damn! Absorbing a level three crystal core to advance to level four, and even awakening a new superpower—is this what they call the protagonist's halo?]

Youyou: [You also have dual-elemental abilities, and your level is higher than his; his ice ability is only level one!]

Lu Nange: [Yeah, I'm still a little bit better!]

......