The Corpse King roared, its arms swinging like a pendulum, frantically turning everything around it into pieces. But it only had one leg, so it moved slowly. Apart from two unlucky guys who didn't have time to dodge and were killed, the rest of them retreated to a safe location.

The reason we didn't use gasoline and explosives to deal with the Zombie King before was because the Zombie King was capable of movement at that time, and gasoline and explosives might not be able to reach it. Moreover, even if we did manage to set it on fire, its indiscriminate and frenzied attacks would be unbearable for everyone.

To defeat the Corpse King, you either need to cut off its head, killing it instantly.

Alternatively, you could first disable its mobility, and then burn it to ashes with fire.

What Zhang Lin is doing now is the second type.

"Ignore this one, go kill the others!"

Seeing that the flames on the Corpse King's body were burning brighter and brighter, Zhang Lin issued a new order.

Everyone around them obeyed.

Regardless of Zhang Lin's identity, everyone present was convinced of his bravery in killing the zombies and his achievement in challenging the Zombie King alone and disrupting its mobility.

Just then, the other three Corpse Kings also surrounded them. Zhang Lin knew that he couldn't let the three Corpse Kings join forces, so he shouted, "Expand the battlefield and give me some space!"

At his command, the people around him immediately began to scatter in all directions, gathering in twos and threes to fight against the approaching zombies.

Killing a single Corpse King is already this difficult; if these three were to unite, even if Zhang Lin used all his strength, he would still be no match for them.

"Left-side Corpse King, follow me!"

Those who went to clear out the ordinary zombies in the surrounding area were all of average strength. Those with some strength did not move because they knew that their task was more difficult.

Zhang Lin called out, and the third captain Lu Dazhao, the current fourth captain Zhou Weibing, and several of their elite subordinates followed him.

Before leaving, Lu Dazhao took one last, reluctant look at the burning Corpse King, his flamboyant Green Dragon Crescent Blade still hanging on the Corpse King's head.

Unfortunately, this zombie king is currently in a frenzied state, and he dares not approach it at all. Moreover, with the flames burning, the temperature around the zombie king is very high, making it impossible for a normal human to get close.

Accompanying Zhang Lin were An Qingge, Ji Yuetong, An Qingwu, Chen Zibo, and several of his men.

In Lu Dazhao and Zhou Weibing's view, An Qingge and the others were a burden, but considering that they were all Zhang Lin's people, they couldn't say anything.

A group of people hacked away at the zombies blocking their path and broke through to the second zombie king.

The Zombie King roared, first ordering the zombies around him to wear down Zhang Lin and the others' stamina, and then he himself charged forward angrily, wanting to smash Zhang Lin and the others to death.

Having already gained experience once, Zhang Lin skillfully directed everyone this time, not rushing to kill the Corpse King, but trying to disrupt its mobility. Once the Corpse King was rendered incapable of movement, they could attack it at will with gasoline and bombs.

Just as Zhang Lin unknowingly became the commander of the entire battlefield, the city lord was also watching him from a high point in Hope City.

“Xia is strong, but not good at leadership. Lu is reasonably strong and can command respect, but he has personality flaws. Zhou, Li, and Luo were just there to fill positions, so there’s no need to say more.” The city lord murmured, “Now it seems that Zhang Lin has the potential to become the person I want.”

"Lord, you think so highly of him?" An old man beside him asked, puzzled. "Zhang Lin has never awakened his memories, which means he didn't perform well in previous reincarnations!"

Those familiar with Hope City know that this old man is named Wu Zhihui, and he is the city lord's advisor. He handles all the miscellaneous affairs in Hope City and is the city lord's true confidant.

"Whether or not memories are awakened doesn't mean anything." The city lord said calmly. As the person with the most awakened memories, he had a clearer understanding of them.

"In fact, I have already figured out some of the patterns of awakened memories."

"Really? What's the pattern?" Wu Zhihui asked curiously.

"It's very simple. Awakening memories isn't about strength, but about how long you can survive!"

The city lord smiled faintly, "Take Xiao Ji, for example. I knew her in my previous lives. She didn't have much strength, but she was lucky. In each stage, she was able to meet people who could protect her, so she survived to the end. After the new cycle of reincarnation begins, she will be able to awaken some of her memories."

Wu Zhihui stroked the few remaining hairs on his chin. He had experienced several apocalypses before, and now that he was old and frail, he had little fighting power. However, he was able to survive, which allowed him to live for a long time until humanity was completely wiped out, the world restarted, and a new cycle began. At that time, he would be able to awaken certain memories.

It seems that what the city lord said is indeed true.

“The longer you live, the more memories you awaken.” The city lord sighed softly. “People like me who live to the end and have witnessed the greatest horrors can awaken their memories several years before the apocalypse. That’s why I was able to build Hope City.”

As the city lord's confidant, Wu Zhihui naturally knew the city lord's purpose in building Hope City.

Through countless cycles of reincarnation, a man like the city lord has come to realize that he cannot survive the new era on his own. If he could, he would have done so long ago, with the support of so many memories.

Therefore, the city lord has been looking for new variables.

Currently, Zhang Lin appears to be the variable.

The city lord's previous memories did not include Zhang Lin, which proves that Zhang Lin was an unknown nobody in the past. However, in this life, Zhang Lin has appeared and demonstrated his potential.

This is the hope that the city lord seeks.

This is why the city lord values ​​Zhang Lin.

"It's precisely because Zhang Lin hasn't awakened his memories that you value him so much, I understand!" Wu Zhihui nodded in sudden realization, "But... if you change your primary trainee, Captain Xia..."

Speaking of the first captain, Wu Zhihui pictured an extremely cold-hearted woman. She always seemed to have no emotions, and everyone was just a piece of trash in her eyes.

"Xia will certainly be dissatisfied, after all, it concerns the ownership of countless resources." The city lord's narrow eyes under his mask narrowed slightly. "But isn't this better? Only through fierce competition can we select the strong who can lead humanity through a new era."

“But… both Captain Xia and Captain Zhang have great potential.” Wu Zhihui hesitated slightly. “Could you perhaps try to control their competition to avoid internal strife?”

"No need. In this world, the more brutal the competition, the more it cultivates true powerhouses," the city lord said coldly.

Wu Zhihui was secretly alarmed, thinking that Hope City would no longer be peaceful. At the same time, he also felt a pang of regret; two powerful individuals, yet one was destined to perish—how tragic.

But he didn't dare to contradict the city lord, so he looked outside the city and changed the subject, saying, "City lord, look! Captain Zhang has taken down another zombie king."