"……I see."

Jiang Xue stepped forward and hugged Zhou Yuan, gently patting her back to comfort her.

Zhou Yunfei and Gao Qiqi still had the strength to fight, so they were not with Zhou Yuan. Jiang Xue brought Zhou Yuan to meet up with the two of them and told them to rest and recuperate at the base and not to go on missions for the time being.

Once on the roof, another burst of lightning blasted the few zombies following behind into ashes.

Jiang Xue was devastated upon learning of her teammate's death.

But she was still worried about Zhao Minghao's safety. After escorting everyone back to the base, she turned back again and searched aimlessly for the whereabouts of Yu Ling and the other person.

Inside the laboratory.

Yu Ling had a bottle of nutrient solution in her mouth, constantly mixing something in her hands. She had stayed up all night yesterday, but she looked extremely excited.

This is probably the joy of learning.

The system stated that it simply cannot imagine where the joy of learning lies.

Zhao Minghao initially resisted, but technological advancements are always accompanied by cruelty. Seeing Yu Ling's obsessive and enthusiastic demeanor, he eventually joined in as her assistant.

Watching the finished product emerge step by step from her own hands, Yu Ling felt quite novel and a little proud.

Because of the lack of zombie virus samples and the fear of causing Zhao Minghao any psychological trauma, she chose this time to explore how to extract energy from zombie crystal cores and convert it into a substance that can be absorbed by the human body.

Having spent a long time extracting energy from zombie crystal cores to impersonate a superhuman, Yu Ling had gained considerable experience in this area. Combining this with the original owner's skills, she actually had some clues.

However, the finished product looks...

The iridescent liquid in the test tube really looks like a cheap movie special effect.

[Wow! Host! You're amazing! We've saved a huge amount of survival points!] The system celebrated by showering flowers in the space.

The effect of this finished product is similar to that of the superpowers sold in the system store; both allow ordinary people to possess their own superpower crystal cores.

"Dr. Chen, is it a success?"

Zhao Minghao had witnessed the entire development process of Yuling from scratch.

Although he wasn't of much help, he felt a strange sense of accomplishment at that moment.

"Yes, we succeeded."

Yu Ling already knew very well what she should say to please this guy, so she deliberately flattered him.

"And thank you so much for the vice-captain's help these past few days. We've taken another step closer to defeating the apocalypse."

Sure enough, Zhao Minghao couldn't help but smile.

“However, we still lack materials for clinical trials.” Yu Ling shook the test tube.

"...Or, should I do it?"

Zhao Minghao probed.

Yu Ling shook her head, thought for a moment, then lightly raised her wrist and flipped it over, swallowing the reagent in one gulp with great grace.

In the space, the system that was scattering flowers was stunned.

Zhao Minghao, who was watching Yu Ling take the drugs, was also stunned.

"I forgot to tell you, this stuff only works on ordinary people."

Sensing the changes within his body, the energy core resembling a crystal in his brain gradually solidified, accompanied by a slight tingling sensation, and the feeling of mastering power filled his entire body.

"I don't actually have any ice-type abilities."

As Yu Ling spoke, she made a grasping motion with her five fingers, channeling energy. As a chilling aura emanated from the air, ice blades and icicles materialized out of thin air and floated to the side.

With a loud "boom", ice blades and icicles shot out, crashing into the alloy wall and leaving scratches.

"...But now we have it."

Yu Ling smiled, her joy genuine and heartfelt.

Without the consumption of the conversion process, and after absorbing the core energy of a dozen or so high-level mutated zombies, her ability level directly broke through to S-level.

She has become stronger and is no longer afraid of Jiang Xue and the Zombie King.

【Host Niu Bo Yi!!!】

The system cheered them on.

Seeing Yu Ling display her incredible power, Zhao Minghao's first thought was not about the threat she posed to him, but rather a sense of awe that humanity had gained another powerful figure.

This is also related to Yu Ling's long-standing facade of being harmless.

"Vice-captain, let's pack our things and get ready to go back to base. We've been out for so long, I wonder if they've finished their mission yet."

I don't know if I'll be criticized for sneaking out.

Zhao Minghao had no worries. His team was the main force of the first echelon in the apocalypse, and the base was trying to curry favor with them. It was just that leaving the team without permission was not a big deal; at most, they would be given a verbal warning.

Yu Ling packed a few identical white lab coats into the backpack and handed them over.

"Okay, then I'll fill up all the nutrient solution."

Zhao Minghao adjusted his glasses and took the backpack that Yu Ling handed him.

"I hope the vice-captain can keep my special ability a secret. I'm afraid our captain will start worrying about me again."

Yu Ling instructed.

Anyway, I only made one vial of the reagent for developing superpowers, and I've already drunk it. There shouldn't be any physical evidence left.

"Okay, don't worry."

Zhao Minghao readily agreed, believing Yu Ling to be an exceptionally talented genius. He was filled with confidence in her claim of developing a cure for the zombie virus.

The two were in high spirits as they packed their things and prepared to return to the base. They had only taken a few steps out of the laboratory when they ran into Jiang Xue, who had been searching for them all along.

Yu Ling was a little embarrassed: "...Uh, what a coincidence, hahaha..."

On the other side, Jiang Xue kicked out without saying a word, leaving Yu Ling with no choice but to fight back.

The two fought fiercely, exchanging blows. After several rounds, Jiang Xue delivered a beautiful side kick to Yu Ling's waist. Yu Ling, whose waist injury had not yet healed, was unable to dodge in time and was kicked so hard that she let out a muffled groan, staggered, and fell to the ground, her hair disheveled.

At this moment, Zhao Minghao and Jiang Xue both believed that Yu Ling was just letting the game slide again.

What they didn't know was that, without overdrawing her body's potential and without using her special abilities, Yu Ling, with the original owner's broken body, was no match for Jiang Xue.

Jiang Xue snorted coldly, "What? You dare to run away but not fight me fair and square? Be serious!"

As she spoke, Jiang Xue disregarded what had happened to Zhao Minghao, who was unharmed to the side. Fueled by anger, she raised her leg again and kicked Yu Ling directly. Lightning began to crackle in her hand.

Yu Ling quickly got up to avoid it, and with a whoosh, a scorch mark appeared on the ground where she was electrocuted.

You really went all out!

Yu Ling quickly mustered all her strength and dodged at lightning speed.

The two chased each other and fought again, their movements flashy and dangerous, making for a spectacular show.

Yu Ling didn't want to reveal her supernatural abilities so quickly, so she only used her cold energy to slow down Jiang Xue's movements and struggled to deal with the attack.

Perhaps seeing that Yu Ling did not retaliate, Jiang Xue, still angry, showed no sign of stopping.

Seeing the two of them acting like kindergarten kids, exchanging punches and kicks without stopping, Zhao Minghao couldn't help but speak up and try to stop them:

"Captain—Dr. Chen—Stop! You two, stop fighting!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Ling and Jiang Xue were taken aback for a moment, and then both turned to look at Zhao Minghao.

Feeling a chill run down his spine under the intense gaze of the two men, Zhao Minghao immediately regretted his actions.

...emmm...was he too loud just now?