Chapter 74
No wonder those professors and experts couldn't find a way to use it; this direction is completely off to the mark. It's no wonder they couldn't find it.
Unfortunately, the annotations on the dashboard are still too brief.
It is said that it can be used to link with organisms of the same species.
How is this used, and what is a link?
Jiang Zhi was completely confused.
Finally, ignoring what was being said above, he tried to immerse his mental energy into the ore to see if he could find any special information.
Unfortunately, after several attempts, Jiang Zhi's spiritual power was like a pebble thrown into the ocean, failing to create any ripples.
Undeterred by this dead end, she tried several other methods to stimulate the mineral, but none of them worked.
Half an hour later, Jiangzhi had to give up.
No matter what method she used, the spiritual energy ore reacted no differently than an ordinary stone.
never mind.
When I have the chance, I'll try it on a creature with mutated mental abilities.
Jiang Zhi put the items back into the crossbody bag at her waist.
After all, even the experts at the research institute couldn't figure it out, so it's normal that an ordinary person like her couldn't figure it out either.
She lay down again.
As she was about to fall asleep, she wondered if it was just her imagination, but she kept feeling that birdsong was coming from a very, very far place.
The chirping noises made her a little uneasy.
That night, perhaps because Er Shun, a level 5 mutated beast, was guarding the area, the entire camp was very peaceful.
The captains and soldiers of several exploration teams were even prepared for battle, but unexpectedly, nothing happened overnight.
This was hard for the people on duty to believe.
Some speculated: "It's probably because we outnumber them and have more powerful members that those mutated creatures dare not come."
As for the real reason, nobody knows.
At 4 a.m., the convoy set off on time.
Everyone packed their luggage and returned to the car.
While everyone was relieving themselves before getting into the car, Jiang Shu ran back and whispered in his sister's ear.
"Ah Zhi, you have no idea how well-behaved Er Shun was last night. He waited for us there the whole time."
She's really well-behaved.
Jiang Shu said somewhat dejectedly, "It would be great if Er Shun could come back to the base with us too."
Unfortunately, Er Shun was unable to appear in front of everyone.
If Er Shun hadn't clashed with the team yesterday, he might still have had a chance, but now...
Jiang Zhi didn't comfort him, she just said, "Let's take a look when we get to Wuyu Mountain."
The group quickly resumed its advance.
Continuing past the toll station, we soon entered Nanshi.
As you walk along the main city road, you gradually see dilapidated city buildings.
Due to numerous road obstacles, the convoy was moving very slowly.
This was the first time the siblings had experienced the devastation of a city so closely since the two major calamities, and they couldn't help but look out the car window out of curiosity.
The skyscraper's glass was covered in green rust, and vines sprouted from the cracks, like a hanging green curtain wrapping around the crooked building.
For the parts of the building that haven't collapsed yet, large sections of the outer wall have peeled off, revealing the grayish cement underneath.
The concrete pavement was cracked with spiderweb-like fissures, and the droppings of mutated animals could be seen on it from time to time.
The shop windows in the commercial street were all shattered beyond recognition. Jiang Zhi could see the remains of mannequins lying slumped on faded posters. From a distance, it looked as if someone was actually buried in the ruins, barely clothed.
The collapsed section of the elevated road is overgrown with foxtail grass, and the traffic lights are half-buried in the ground, struggling to stand among the weeds.
Passing by the subway station, I could see that the exit was completely blocked by wild bushes. It's hard to imagine what the situation is like down there.
Perhaps due to the abundance of buildings in the southern part of the city, there are nearly 70% fewer mutated plants here compared to outside the city.
Even the roads are much easier to travel on now.
Along the way, Jiang Zhi's dashboard frequently warned of danger, almost all of them were mutated beasts, including many cats and dogs. After sensing their large group, they ran away in the distance.
I reckon they're all pets that survived in the city.
The entire city seemed to have become a paradise for mutated creatures. Not a trace of human beings could be seen.
Before the cataclysm, the brother and sister had visited Nanshi.
It's hard to imagine that this once-global metropolis would become like this today.
Jiang Zhi sighed. "I wonder if humanity will ever emerge from this world again."
“Nanshi is already considered good. Shaoshi, which we visited before, was truly devastating.” Wu Bing lowered his voice and said, “You couldn’t see any normal buildings at all. They were all collapsed. Even after three years, the smell… tsk, it’s still incredibly pungent. I wonder how many people died.”
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhi fell silent.
To this day, no one knows exactly how many people died in that disaster.
Even now, China cannot accurately count how many bases it has established.
The Southern Base and Kyoto Base, as they knew them, were able to maintain contact only because the communication base stations were relatively well preserved at the time.
The rest of the journey went incredibly smoothly, and Jiang Zhi felt that Er Shun, who was following behind, deserved a large part of the credit.
If Er Shun encounters a mutated beast that doesn't know its own limitations, he will bite off its neck in one gulp.
If Jiang Shu hadn't kept hinting not to send them over, the road would probably have been piled high with mutated beasts.
Then Ershun bit and killed another mutant pig that appeared out of nowhere.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked in the direction of the ginger tree, as if she were about to offer herself up.
Jiang Shu quickly covered her mouth and whispered, "No, no, no, you eat it yourself."
Luo Yonghui glanced at him sideways: "...Jiang boy, what have you been muttering to yourself about the whole way? If you're not feeling well, just say so. Stop with all this nonsense."
"Excuse me, everyone, I need to pee," Jiang Shu said somewhat awkwardly with a dry laugh, "That's how I am when I need to pee."
Hu Yang believed him and said, "Brother Jiang Shu, just bear with it. You'll probably be able to rest once we leave the city."
Wu Bing laughed and said, "Kid, you can't do it like this. When you go on a mission, you need to develop a strong bladder. Our record is going a whole day and night without going to the toilet."
Jiang Shu looked over with admiration.
That's ruthless!
For a whole day and night, is this bladder made of iron?
Chen Shaoting rolled her eyes from behind.
As they spoke, the convoy entered the Qingxiang Expressway, a unique expressway in Nanshi.
Even after the cataclysmic event, this road built on the viaduct remained steadfast.
Yan Liang glanced at the road surface, which hadn't been eroded by any mutated plants: "Aren't you afraid of falling off this path?"
Luo Yonghui took a cigarette and put it in his mouth. "What are you afraid of? Professor Jiang is an expert in this field. He must have investigated it."
Yan Liang then fell silent.
After the roadside widened, the vehicles behind followed.
It turned out to be Gu Kaizhi's team.
The mutant on the other side rolled down the car window and waved exaggeratedly at them.
Wu Bing rolled down the car window: "What's up?"
"Deputy Captain Wu, do you have enough water? If not, we have some extra here, we can share some with you."
Chen Shaoting closed her eyes, crossed her arms, leaned back in the back seat, hummed, and whispered, "Unsolicited kindness is always suspicious."
Unlike the military, exploration teams always have healthy competition.
While there are unlikely to be any fights or brawls between squads, most of the time, the interactions between squads are limited to minor skirmishes.
Therefore, anyone would have some doubts if Gu Kaizhi's team suddenly showed goodwill.
Wu Bing chuckled, “Don’t worry! Our team has plenty of water reserves. But you guys shouldn’t be stingy. If you’re short, just come to us for more.”
The man hadn't expected Wu Bing to be so disrespectful, even insisting on paying for the water. He said awkwardly, "Deputy Captain Wu, you're really joking."
Wu Bing winked at him: "I'm not kidding, there's a discount included."
After closing the window, Wu Bing snorted.
"I don't know what these guys are up to. As soon as they hear that our team has produced a talent, they try to get close to us. They don't even have anything decent to offer. Everyone has water, right?"
After saying that, he said to Jiang Zhi and her brother, "See? Don't pay attention to these people who are trying to get close to you. They're definitely trying to take advantage of you."
Jiang Zhi found his disgusted look amusing.
She couldn't help but glance at the car convoy next door.
I wonder if these people trying to get close to him were at Gu Kaizhi's behest.
Meanwhile, in Gu Kaizhi's convoy, the mutant was also complaining: "This Wu Bing, we've cooperated with them a few times before, he's really not giving us any face."
Upon hearing this, Gu Kaizhi glanced at Jiang Zhi and her brother in the back seat next to him with a complicated expression.
He heard the news last night that Jiang Zhi was the only mutant in the base who could treat mental pollution.
The team members had previously wanted to outdo Luo Yonghui's team in this mission, but now they're thinking about how to build a closer relationship.
Humans are indeed naturally inclined to seek advantage and avoid harm.
At this moment, a team member said, "Captain Gu, why don't you go and catch up with Captain Luo and build a relationship? If we get mentally disturbed during a mission in the future, we can ask them for help."
The team members only knew that his wife had passed away, but they didn't know the specific reasons. They were even less aware of his relationship with the Jiang family.
Gu Kaizhi twitched the corner of his mouth: "...We'll see."
*
The group crossed Nanshi in just 4 hours.
As they prepared to leave the city, Lin Yuan finally took pity on them and allowed them to rest for ten minutes.
After leaving Nanshi, the convoy will continue towards the Hangrui Expressway, returning to their original small camp along the way, and then crossing Wuyu Mountain before entering Hunan Province.
The road over there is different from the one before. After the cataclysm, due to crustal movement, there are many rivers, and many mutated creatures are hidden in them, making the uncertainty much higher than in other places.
The professors, who are quite old, were relieved to be able to get off the bus and relax.
In fact, the road conditions in Nanshi were the smoothest they had ever experienced compared to before.
Taking advantage of this moment, Jiang Shan took out his notebook and sketched out the situation in Nanshi.
Although many buildings have collapsed, their overall appearance can still be roughly discerned.
Professor Yang watched with interest for a while and found that Nanshi had not changed much after the cataclysm. He couldn't help but say, "Nanshi looks much better than other cities. Logically speaking, not many people should have died. I wonder where everyone went?"
Professor Yang's doubts are perfectly normal.
Nanshi was originally a first-tier city with a high population density. Even though many people fled during the cataclysm, the city was still relatively well-preserved, making it almost like a ghost town, which was quite unusual.
Professor Shen: "Is there some kind of base nearby?"
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they couldn't help but look at Lin Yuan.
Professor Yang: "Team Leader Lin, you've been on many missions. I wonder if you've discovered any other bases in this area?"
Lin Yuan shook his head: "There's definitely no base, but there are quite a few small outposts. My teammates and I came here once a couple of years ago. At that time, there were still quite a few people in Nanshi who chose to stay here. Given the current situation, I guess something must have happened."
Professor Shen was somewhat disappointed.
If we happen to encounter some survivors, we might be able to exchange some information.
At least he was very interested in how to find food without the use of detection equipment.
Upon hearing the words "small settlement," Jiang Shan smiled and said, "There's a small town near Wuyu Mountain up ahead. There used to be quite a few human settlements there, but the survivors there have all gone elsewhere."
Professor Shen became interested: "How does Professor Jiang know so much about this?"
Jiang Shan doesn't shy away from the fact that "my family stayed there for more than two years."
Upon hearing this, the professors were immediately impressed.
Those who were able to survive the turbulent period of the Great Cataclysm and arrive safely at the base were no ordinary people.
At least those old guys couldn't do it.
Professor Yang: "I remember now, you mentioned this before."
Jiang Shan smiled and said, "If everything goes smoothly later, we can rest there for the night."
The professors had no objections.
In the wild, what could be more tempting than a good night's rest?
Lin Yuan: "Then I'll trouble Professor Jiang to draw the route."
Jiang Shan smiled and agreed.
When the time came, everyone got back into the car.
This time, it was Chen Shaoting who was sitting in the driver's seat.
Jiang Shu was surprised: "Sister Shaoting, it's your turn today?"
Chen Shaoting hummed in agreement.
Wu Bing was delighted, feeling that Chen Shaoting was taking pity on him.
Once on the Hangrui Expressway, the road scene returned to the time when mutated plants blocked the way.
Fortunately, the plants here are mostly low-level plants, so clearing a path isn't too difficult.
Once you enter the territory between the two provinces, you immediately enter a valley surrounded by mountains.
This is a road that leads all the way to the top of Wuyu Mountain.
Before the cataclysm, countless tourists drove to the mountaintop to camp every year.
Unlike the bright sunshine outside, the mountain road was extremely dark.
The mountains are so close together that they squeeze out only a narrow slit of sunlight.
Even while sitting in the car, you can feel the temperature drop sharply after entering the mountain road.
It's a gloomy, damp coolness.
The further you go in, the dimmer the light becomes.
White mist rose from under the car without warning, like spilled soy milk on the asphalt road covered with gravel.
Half an hour later, visibility on the road was reduced to a small halo cast by the headlights.
Occasionally, water droplets would drip from above and hit the roof of the car, the pattering sound mixed with the roar of the engine idling, sending chills down one's spine.
The mountain walls on both sides were covered with damp moss, and Jiang Zhi could even see it wriggling from time to time.
The shadows of the trees cast a bluish-gray net on the rock face. The mountain wind howled through the cracks in the rocks, like someone grinding their teeth in the dark. The stones that were not exposed to the sunlight were soaked with water, and you could tell they were icy cold without even touching them.
The convoy slowed down.
Wu Bing looked around and frowned, saying, "Shao Ting, let me take your place."
Knowing that unexpected situations could arise at any time, Chen Shaoting didn't try to be brave and the two switched places.
Luo Yonghui: "Young Jiang, what's the situation around here?"
Jiang Shu had been on guard since entering the mountain, and upon hearing this, he said, "I haven't found any danger yet. The fog is too thick, which has limited my abilities, reducing my range by a third."
What unsettled him was Er Shun, who was always following behind them.
There are many of them, so at least they can help each other if they encounter danger. But Er Shun is all alone, and if anything happens, he won't even have anyone to help him.
Luo Yonghui nodded and said to the others, "The situation here is complicated, so everyone should stay alert and deal with it."
The crowd responded.
At this moment, Jiang Zhi was completely focused on the changes on the dashboard.
This place has changed a lot compared to a few months ago.
Jiang Zhi remembers clearly that they spent many days cutting vines along this road in order to get to the base.
I never imagined that in just a few months, this place would be completely different.
No, something must have happened here!
Jiang Zhi frowned, recalling everything that had happened back then.
They survived in the small town ahead for three years. What made them decide to leave?
It seems so—
Jiang Zhi's expression suddenly changed drastically.
She remembered—it was because of the mutated monkeys on Wuyu Mountain!
"Uncle Luo—"
She had barely uttered a sound when the dashboard issued a piercing warning: "Beep—Thirty-two Level 4 mutated macaques detected."
"Beep—Forty-six Level 3 mutated macaques have been detected."
"Beep—Two Level 5 mutated macaques have been detected."
"Evacuate immediately!!! Evacuate immediately!!"
Jiang Zhi's pupils contracted. There were nearly eighty mutated macaques, including two level five ones!
At that moment, Lin Yuan's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "Warning!! There's a pack of beasts!!"
Jiang Zhi's heart was in her throat.
Fortunately, the base was very well prepared this time. As soon as Lin Yuan got out of the car, the vehicle carrying the professors immediately deployed a huge, rock-solid net cage.
In the blink of an eye, before anyone could prepare, a group of small, slender monkeys leaped down from the rock face.
Each monkey was also carrying a lot of stones in its hands.
As they approached the convoy, the mutated monkeys hurled themselves at the group like javelins.
Jiang Shu took a closer look and saw that the limbs were actually 1.5 meters long, some even twice the size of a monkey's body!
The mutated macaque dungeon plunged its long, dagger-like claws into the cliff face and leaped to their feet in a few bounds.
Huang Xianming's soldiers were the first to block the attacks of these level-four mutated monkeys.
After the rain of stones was finished, the mutated monkeys jumped down from above one by one.
Some of the impacts landed directly and heavily on the roof of the car, and the modified vehicle almost couldn't withstand the force of gravity and speed.
The smaller, level-three mutated monkeys then darted out from the front, baring their yellowed, sharp teeth and surrounding their vehicle. The sound of them scratching at the metal was like fingernails scraping a blackboard, and the ear-piercing noise spread everywhere.
Chen Shaoting frowned. "Boss, this can't go on."
If this continues, these monkeys will destroy the car!
Luo Yonghui immediately said, "Jiang boy, you guys stay in the car, the rest of you come down with me!"
After Luo Yonghui finished speaking, a bolt of lightning struck the macaque clinging to the car door, and he got out of the car.
Many others shared the same idea and got off the bus one after another to fight with the macaques.
For a moment, all that could be heard were various supernatural abilities and the chirping of monkeys.
Those low-level monkeys don't have any special abilities, but their speed and jumping ability are astonishing.
With bloodshot eyes and their fur standing on end like tangled weeds, they lunged at the crowd, baring their yellowed fangs.
It scratches and bites with its claws and teeth, targeting people's faces and necks while making hissing noises. In just a few moves, it tears people's faces until they are covered in blood.
Although they were just small monkeys that posed little threat, many ants can kill an elephant, and they seemed to be organized and disciplined, firing one shot and moving to another, injuring many people in an instant.
Jiang Shu clenched his fists tightly.
At this moment, I only regret that I don't have the ability to attack multiple targets at once, so I can't help.
After observing the monkeys calmly, Jiang Zhi realized that the two level-five mutated macaques indicated on the dashboard were not among them, and an ominous premonition immediately arose in her heart.
After ten minutes, some of the lower-level monkeys had died or been injured, but the level four monkeys still had some strength left.
Jiang Zhi's face turned grim: "Damn it, these monkeys are wearing down our fighting strength."
Although their people have only suffered minor injuries, their superpowers have been greatly depleted.
These monkeys are so fast that it's difficult to hurt them.
Unless... we can catch those two level-five mutated macaques.
But those two mutated macaques haven't shown up yet, what should we do?
On the dashboard, the two mutated macaques were 2 kilometers away from them.
They have absolutely no way to deal with them.
Jiang Zhi bit her lip and continued to fight these stragglers of monkeys, knowing they would surely be trapped and die here.
In a short while, Huang Xianming and his group realized that the monkeys were being manipulated.
His tense voice came through the walkie-talkie: "There's a leader behind these monkeys! We have to find the leader."
Luo Yonghui: "Catch all the big monkeys and lure the monkey out."
Liang Jie, the leader of another exploration team, said, "I'll take charge of the left side!"
Gu Kaizhi: "I'll be in charge of the right side."
Luo Yonghui: "Old Huang, have your men hold those little monkeys back! I'm going to catch them all!"
"Alright!" Huang Xianming turned around and gave the order to the soldiers: "Defense formation number 3!"
The soldiers sprang into action instantly, quickly forming a circle around the wounded man and pointing their guns outwards.
Those lower-ranking macaques tried to disrupt their rhythm, but Liang Jie and Gu Kaizhi's team worked together to drive them to the other side.
Several warriors fought against a low-level macaque, and soon, the ground was littered with dead and wounded.
After escaping the harassment from the lower-ranking macaques, Luo Yonghui immediately used a special item.
"Beep—Special item, mutated vine. After use, it can bind the target for 3 seconds."
Luo Yonghui tied up the largest mutated macaques one by one and threw them to Huang Xianming.
Huang Xianming set up a protective barrier to trap the macaques, and then shot the most dangerous one dead.
The lower-level mutated macaques were so frightened by the sight that they ran back.
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
The remaining level-four macaques were furious when they saw this. They jumped around and pointed at them, chattering for a long time. Finally, they picked up a rock and smashed it against their vehicle.
The expressions on the faces of the exploration team members changed drastically.
Those are their vital supplies!
If the car is gone, even if we get back safely, the losses will be huge!
In order to protect the vehicle, the group had no choice but to split up again to fight the monkeys.
Huang Xianming, who was not far away, immediately turned as black as if he could drip water.
These monkeys are clearly very intelligent; they know what is important to them.
Huang Xianming fired and killed another level-four monkey. "Damn! These monkeys are practically demons!"
Seeing that their truck was about to be torn to shreds by the macaques, Huang Xianming had no choice but to say to the soldiers, "Protect the vehicle!"
The previously one-sided situation instantly became chaotic again.
At this moment, Lin Yuan's voice came through the walkie-talkie: "There are two level 5 mutated monkeys about 2 kilometers ahead. Captain Luo, send someone to lure them over."
Luo Yonghui's heart tightened. "Yes!"
He was trying to shake off the monkeys that were attacking him when, as if the monkeys had anticipated his next move, the lower-level monkeys were killed and the higher-level monkeys immediately surrounded several level-four macaques.
Meanwhile, on Lin Yuan's side, the monkeys clearly knew that it was Lin Yuan who had revealed the location of their leader.
In an instant, all the monkeys in the surrounding area swarmed over.
Lin Yuan, who had been staying by the professors' side, shot and killed the monkey that approached the vehicle in a flash.
But the more this happens, the more low-level monkeys swarm in.
Huang Xianming immediately became somewhat anxious.
Lin Yuan was already seriously injured; if he were to unleash his powers again, who knows what would happen?
"Li Qi, Gouzi, you two go and keep watch over Captain Lin."
The dog kicked a low-level macaque flying and shouted, "Captain, what about you?"
More than a hundred soldiers were currently dealing with half of the level four mutated macaques.
The level-four mutated beasts have begun to develop superpowers, and given that the terrain is currently favorable to the macaques, even with so many of them, they still feel like they are being overwhelmed.
Within a minute, a chaotic battle broke out around the vehicle.
The vehicle carrying Jiang Zhi and her brother was also attacked several times. The windows were smashed, and a macaque's slender arm reached in and was cut in half by Jiang Zhi's long knife.
The foul-smelling blood sprayed throughout the workshop made one want to vomit.
Jiang Shu took the mantis pincers in his hand and stabbed them hard into the eye of the macaque that was trying to enter. The monkey screamed and fell down.
Jiang Shu quickly said, "Azhi, the car window is broken, we have to get out!"
Otherwise, once the monkeys surround them, they will be trapped and die in the car!
The brother and sister got out of the car. Jiang Zhi held a long knife in her right hand and took out a white eagle feather in her left hand. She quickly joined the battle.
Jiang Shu glanced at the golden retriever, which was two kilometers away from them. "Azhi, Ershun is still behind us. What should we do?"
Jiang Zhi was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.
The solution has been found!!
Although the warriors and the exploration team were able to eventually kill these monkeys, it would come at a heavy price, not to mention there were two other mutated macaques with considerable strength over there.
"Brother, let Ershun come over here!"
Jiang Shu was stunned, wondering what his sister was up to. "Ah, Ah Zhi, you wouldn't be thinking of..."
Jiang Zhi urged, "Hurry! Time waits for no one!"
Jiang Shu gritted his teeth, then took a deep breath and shouted at the restless golden retriever circling behind him, "Er Shun!!! Come here!!!"
Jiang Shu's shout, delivered with all his might, seemed to have struck a cliff face. Within seconds, a buzzing echo returned from all directions, one after another, carrying further and further away, drifting through the valley.
Everyone was stunned by his shout.
The monkeys were so startled by the sound that they covered their ears.
Just as everyone thought that this was a sonic attack, a blurry golden shadow flashed by in the distance the next second.
The figure drew closer and closer.
Before long, the soldiers near the two watched in disbelief as a golden retriever flew over, its body elongated into a blur, its ears and tail tangled together. Before they could even hear its breathing, it had already reached the brother and sister with its tongue lolling out.
"Brother, can Ershun take us to find those two level 5 mutated macaques?"
Jiang Shu met Er Shun's obedient eyes, grabbed the bristling fur on Er Shun's neck, and with a push, straddled its broad back, his knees clamping tightly against the bulging muscles on both sides.
"Little sister, come on up!" Jiang Shu stretched out his hand.
Jiang Zhi grabbed her brother's hand, but before she could regain her balance, Er Shun darted out like an arrow.
Gouzi and Dong Mingyu, who were already fans of ginger twigs, were incredibly excited when they saw this scene.
—Comrade Jiangzhi's brother is also so amazing!?
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