"upgrade!"

[Received. Upgrade will be arranged for the host immediately.]

A bright light appeared on Snow White, and this slightly dazzling light enveloped her entire car, gradually turning it into an eggshell that could be hatched.

Ruan Tian walked up to the Snow White who was hatching. She didn't dare to get too close and looked a little anxious.

Zombies could come from this area at any time. What if another second-tier zombie comes?

Ruan Tian's heart sank, as if a stone was hanging over her heart, making her breathless.

[Host, there's nothing wrong. The Mighty Zombies won't appear anytime soon.]

"System, you're amazing! You could sense it in advance. You're my hero!"

Upon hearing Ruan Tian's words, the system suddenly fell silent. After about three seconds, it finally spoke:

Actually, I just made that up; I can't guarantee it myself.

"...You're just guessing? Then why can you say it so confidently!"

[I just wanted to encourage the host, that's all.]

Ruan Tian gave up talking to the system. Her gaze swept around her, and just to be on the safe side, she bent down and picked up a wooden stick from the ground.

She carefully held the wooden stick in her hand, much like a mouse looking around.

[Host, your sense of stealing is extremely strong right now, don't you realize it?]

Upon hearing this, Ruan Tian's expression changed instantly, and she gritted her teeth and said:

"Alright! You can shut up now. Look at other people's systems! And look at your own!"

[Host, it seems you haven't seen any other systems; you've only encountered me.]

Ruan Tian could understand that the system was talking to her at this moment because it saw how nervous she was and wanted to ease her mood and stress.

However, the system's approach was indeed correct and successfully alleviated Ruan Tian's tension.

Ruan Tian felt like she really was that thieving mouse!

After a while, about ten minutes later, Snow White still hadn't leveled up.

Ruan Tian squatted on the ground, hugging her knees, and kept muttering:

"System! Isn't it ready yet? What if the Mighty Zombie really comes? Do you want me to just hold this little stick and keep poking it back and forth?"

This stick is so small, it's probably not even as long as the big toe of a powerful zombie.

Ruan Tian was as tiny as a grain of rice. She flew up with the wooden stick, but she wasn't even enough to fill the gaps in the teeth of the powerful zombie!

System: [Host, you need to be patient. The zombies here have been mostly wiped out. Even if there are any remaining powerful zombies, they won't arrive so quickly.]

What worries Ruan Tian the most is that when Snow White levels up, even Little White has been taken back.

What does this prove?

This proves that Ruan Tian's closest bodyguard has disappeared!

She is now truly powerless!

[The upgrade will be complete soon. Host, please wait patiently for a moment. You'll soon no longer be a rat.]

"System, what you're saying right now isn't funny at all, don't you think?"

By human standards, I think I'm actually quite humorous; perhaps your expectations are too high.

Ruan Tian was speechless, and she simply rolled her eyes at the sky.

Just then, the system made a suggestion:

[Why don't you, host, take Ye Mofeng's sword and use it for self-defense?]

"You know what, system, you've finally come up with a useful suggestion."

Ruan Tian immediately went to find Ye Mofeng. She first helped Ye Mofeng, who was already unconscious, to sit down against the wall.

He helped him into a comfortable position, then carefully drew the sword from Ye Mofeng's hand.

At first, Ruan Tian couldn't pull herself out because Ye Mofeng was holding her too tightly.

Until Ruan Tian leaned down and whispered something in Ye Mofeng's ear.

Ye Mofeng probably heard Ruan Tian's voice, which is why he slowly let go, allowing Ruan Tian to take his invaluable sword.

Ruan Tian was delighted and whispered, "Ye Mofeng, I'll only use it for a little while, I'll return it to you soon!"

But reality slapped Ruan Tian hard across the face.

Even after using all her strength, she found that she simply couldn't lift the sword...

That's right!

Ye Mofeng's sword was made of some unknown material. Ruan Tian had always seen him wield it with remarkable ease.

This gave Ruan Tian a very strong illusion—that Ye Mofeng's sword must be very light!

When Ruan Tian actually touched Ye Mofeng's sword, she simply picked it up and felt it, and she immediately understood.

How ridiculous her previous ideas were!

Ye Mofeng's sword was not light at all; it was not as easy as it looked.

In the system's monotone electronic voice, Ruan Tian surprisingly detected a hint of mockery:

[Host, you can't possibly be unable to lift this sword, can you?]

Ruan Tian gritted her teeth, feeling that the system was mocking her.

"What nonsense are you talking about! How could I possibly not be able to lift it!"

Then, Ruan Tian used all her strength, but in the end, she still couldn't lift the sword.

In the end, Ruan Tian fell silent and put the sword back into Ye Mofeng's hand.

Then Ruan Tian raised her hand and gently patted Ye Mofeng's shoulder twice.

"I overestimated myself before. I'm really sorry, Ye Mofeng. I didn't know you'd been fighting with such a heavy sword all this time!"

It seems that following Ye Mofeng's path is no longer suitable for Ruan Tian.

Fortunately, Snow White had finally evolved before the other zombies arrived, and the system notification sounded in Ruan Tian's ears.

[Congratulations, host! Snow White's level has reached 20. Six new abilities have been unlocked and updated after the level up. Please check them out.]

Upon hearing this, Ruan Tian's heart instantly stirred. She immediately stood up from the ground and walked towards the direction where Snow White was.

When she saw the upgraded Snow White, her mouth dropped open, and she circled around it twice in surprise.

"System, are you mistaken? Snow White rides an electric tricycle, but this thing in front of me is a house!"

It's not exactly a house, but rather a commercial shop that you could see everywhere on the streets before the apocalypse, the kind that sells snacks.

The system kindly explained to Ruan Tian:

[That's right, I told you before, host, that level 20 is a watershed moment; Snow White's abilities in all aspects will see a huge boost.]

For example, the relatively small shop in front of Ruan Tian is another ability of Snow White after her upgrade.

[If you continue to maintain this pace and keep upgrading, sooner or later your gourmet restaurant will become the largest safest fortress in the entire apocalypse.]

Ruan Tian had naturally heard the system say this before, but when she first heard it, she thought the system was exaggerating.

But today, after witnessing this scene, a new hope suddenly ignited within her.

The last safe haven in the apocalypse, the beacon of hope for human survival, will no longer be just empty talk.

It will soon become a reality!