The door was barely held open by a table and chairs, but Su Lin knew it was just psychological comfort. The thin wooden planks were no match for those monsters who knew no pain. The dragging footsteps in the corridor grew closer, accompanied by meaningless "hoarse" sounds rolling from their throats, scraping at Su Lin's taut nerves like a dull knife.
On the floor, the pool of dark reddish-black, viscous, foul-smelling blood was slowly expanding; the intense stench emanating from the zombie corpse was almost tangible, like an invisible dome completely enveloping the small room.
This smell was the most deadly attraction!
It had to be dealt with immediately!
Su Lin suppressed the urge to vomit and the aching in his arms from exhaustion, and abruptly stood up. He scanned the room, his gaze quickly locking onto the bed sheet and the simple wardrobe.
There was no time to hesitate.
He rushed over, ripped off the bed sheet, and pulled open the wardrobe, dragging out the few clothes inside. First, he used clothes to absorb as much of the bloodstains as possible from the floor. Then, he haphazardly rolled up the blood-soaked sheets and clothes, stuffed them into the half-empty instant noodle box, and frantically wrapped it with duct tape, trying to seal in the nauseating smell.
After doing all this, he dragged the box of this horribly smelly "garbage" into the far corner of the room, then used a chair to partially block it.
The effect was minimal.
The stench in the air hadn't lessened much, but at least the source was temporarily masked.
"Hah..."
Footsteps stopped at the door.
Su Lin's heart leaped into his throat. He held his breath, pressed himself against the wall by the door, and gripped the blood-stained cleaver tightly in his right hand.
A slight scraping sound rang out. Something outside seemed to be sniffing something.
Was it the sound of cleaning up the bloodstains, or the lingering smell that had attracted it?
Cold sweat trickled down Su Lin's forehead. He was in terrible shape; his arms were still weak and sore. If another zombie appeared, he didn't know if he could even swing his knife.
The shock and faint hope brought by that mysterious white text seemed distant in the face of the cold, hard reality.
[Slaying a Tier 1 Zombie, Basic Knife Skill Proficiency +1]
Was that feeling... real?
He instinctively gripped the hilt, recalling the last subtle, seemingly corrected feeling of force he'd felt during his frenzied hacking. It was vague, but it seemed... there it was.
Just as he was highly focused, all his thoughts concentrated on the knife in his hand, that white text reappeared silently in the corner of his vision, like a ghost.
[Weapon: Ordinary Cleaver] [Mastery: Basic Knife Skill (Not Yet Enlightened: 1/100)] It
was real!
Not an illusion!
Su Lin's pupils contracted, an indescribable surge of energy instantly coursing through his body, even temporarily suppressing his fear. This discovery was more exhilarating than finding a box of canned food!
It meant... he had the means to survive in this hell, and even become stronger!
"Bang!"
A dull thud slammed against the door! The table and chairs propping it open shook violently.
The zombies outside began ramming the door!
He couldn't wait any longer! This broken door wouldn't hold for long! If more were attracted, it would be
certain death! He had to take the initiative! While there might only be one outside,
he had to kill it! Verify the system! Gain proficiency!
A crazy yet incredibly clear thought exploded in Su Lin's mind. Retreat and fear remained, but were suppressed by a stronger desire for "proficiency."
His eyes sharpened, he took a deep breath of the stench-filled air, and kicked the table and chairs blocking the door away.
In the instant the zombie outside stumbled forward due to the loss of resistance, Su Lin used all his strength to forcefully pull open the door!
Sure enough, there was only one!
It was the always-smiling, fat landlord next door! At this moment, his skin was ashen, his eyes bulging and cloudy, his mouth torn to his ears, revealing bloodied teeth, and his once loose pajamas were ripped and stained with unidentified filth. Seeing the living Su Lin, he let out an extremely excited roar and lunged forward with outstretched arms!
Having learned from his first experience, Su Lin's heart pounded, but he was no longer as panicked as before.
He remembered that subtle feeling of power!
He sidestepped! He dodged!
The fat landlord zombie missed its target, its massive body carrying immense momentum, crashing directly into the doorframe.
Now!
Su Lin gripped the knife with both hands, his entire body rising from his feet, twisting his waist and hips, channeling his power into his arms according to that vague "feeling" in his mind, and slashed fiercely!
Target—the neck!
*Swoosh!*
This strike was far smoother than when he slashed the suit-wearing zombie! The power was more concentrated, the point of impact more precise!
The blade deeply embedded itself in the fat landlord's thick neck, cutting in almost a third of the way! Black blood spurted!
"Haaah!!!" The fat landlord zombie roared furiously, surprisingly not killed instantly, but instead wildly flailing its arms and clawing!
Su Lin swiftly drew his sword, spraying a spray of blood, and nimbly took a half-step back to avoid the claws.
Calm down! He had to stay calm!
His eyes were fixed on the constantly writhing, rotting head. He adjusted his breathing and raised his sword again.
Slash! Draw the sword! Slash again!
He abandoned pure madness and began to consciously feel the force exerted, to control the landing point, to experience the slight "skill" enhanced by the system.
After three strikes!
[Slayed a Tier 1 zombie, Basic Swordsmanship Proficiency +1]
The familiar white notification flashed.
The fat landlord's zombie head rolled to the ground, its massive body crashing down like a collapsing mountain, making a dull thud.
It was done!
Su Lin, leaning on his knife, breathed heavily, sweat and blood mingling and dripping from his chin. The soreness in his arm was even more pronounced, but a strange sense of "growth" was equally clear.
He focused his gaze on the knife in his hand again.
[Weapon: Ordinary Bone-Cutting Knife] [Mastery: Basic Knife Technique (Not Yet Enlightened: 2/100)]
Proficiency increased again!
Moreover, this time, he clearly felt it was easier than the first time, requiring fewer strikes and with more efficient power!
This wasn't an illusion! Slaying these monsters really would allow him to quickly master knife techniques! Become stronger!
Ecstasy and hope surged within him like magma, almost bursting forth!
He suppressed his excitement, quickly dragging the fat landlord's corpse into the room, piling it alongside the previous one, and covering it again with the tattered sheet. Then he cautiously peeked out, observing the corridor.
At the end of the dimly lit corridor, another figure seemed to be drawn by the commotion and was slowly moving towards them. He had to get out of here quickly!
He retreated to his room and searched frantically. The fat landlord had nothing on him except a set of keys that were long since useless. His own room had very little food and water.
He packed the remaining four packets of instant noodles and the half-empty bottle of water into a small backpack, and used a strip of old cloth he found in the closet to tightly bind the cleaver to his right hand to prevent it from slipping.
He was ready.
He stood at the door, taking one last look at the single room, which he had only recently moved into but which was now a blood-soaked graveyard, his eyes hardening with resolve.
Survive! Become stronger!
He took a deep breath, rushed out, and gently closed the door behind him.
The corridor was poorly lit, with only a dim yellow light filtering through a broken window at the end. The stench of blood and decay was everywhere.
He lowered his body, moved quietly, and quickly made his way to the stairwell.
"Hah..." From a half-open door on the left, a withered, blackened hand suddenly reached out and grabbed at him!
Without thinking, Su Lin, who had been on high alert, reacted almost instinctively, his cleaver slashing upwards!
*Swoosh!*
The withered hand was severed at the wrist, falling to the ground, its fingers twitching a few times.
The zombie behind the door roared angrily, trying to squeeze out.
Su Lin didn't linger, not even glancing back, and rushed past.
[Basic Knife Skill Proficiency +0.1]
A tiny notification flashed by.
Su Lin's heart skipped a beat. Being wounded but not killed also grants proficiency, but very little. It seemed he had to kill to gain a full point.
Soon, he approached the stairwell. The roars and crashing sounds from downstairs were clearer, obviously more dangerous. Up? The rooftop might be temporarily safe, but it was also a dead end.
He decided to go down first, trying to reach the second floor. He remembered there was a small convenience store on the second floor, usually run by an elderly couple; there must be supplies there! He
had just reached the corner of the stairs...
"Roar!"
A zombie dressed in a security guard uniform suddenly pounced from the shadows below! It was much faster than the ones they'd encountered before!
Caught off guard, Su Lin nearly got caught! He scrambled backward, his back slamming heavily against the cold wall.
The security guard zombie bared its fangs and claws, lunging again!
The narrow stairwell offered almost no room to dodge!
In this life-or-death moment, Su Lin's adrenaline surged, and the meager skill and power he'd gained from his 2 points of proficiency merged with instinct. He roared, no longer retreating, but instead taking a half-step forward, lowering his center of gravity, gripping his knife with both hands, and unleashing a powerful horizontal slash!
A flash of light!
Crack!
This slash precisely struck the security guard zombie's neck! And because of the angle and the force of the strike, it actually severed its head!
The headless corpse lurched forward two steps before crashing heavily onto the stairs, splattering blood everywhere.
[Slayed a Tier 1 Zombie, Basic Swordsmanship Proficiency +1] [Mastery: Basic Swordsmanship (Beginner: 3/100)]
The notification flashed.
Su Lin leaned against the wall, panting heavily. That burst of energy had almost drained him. But the effect was significant! He even felt that his control over the sword had improved slightly!
He didn't dare linger and quickly went downstairs to the second-floor corridor.
The situation on the second floor was even more horrific, with several doors broken and stained with blood. The small convenience store was in the middle of the corridor, its roller shutter half-open, revealing a dark interior.
Su Lin's heart raced as he cautiously approached.
Just as he was about to reach the convenience store, a faint whimpering sound suddenly came from a broken door next to him, as if something had been gagged.
It wasn't a zombie's roar! It was a human voice!
Someone was still alive?!
Su Lin stopped abruptly and looked sharply at the half-open broken door.
The scene he saw through the crack in the door made his pupils shrink instantly!
At the entrance of the convenience store, there were two or three zombie corpses lying dead! Moreover, their deaths were... extremely bizarre!
Their heads were not severed by a sharp blade, nor smashed by a tremendous force, but... as if something of extremely high temperature had instantly melted through them, leaving a charred hole!
The whimpering sound was extremely faint, tinged with indescribable terror, and came intermittently from behind the half-open, broken door.
It was a person!
In this deathly silent apartment building, besides him, there was another living person!
Su Lin's heart leaped, and he gripped the cleaver tightly. He didn't rush over immediately, but quickly scanned his surroundings. The corridor was filled with an even stronger stench of blood and decay, and the several bizarrely dead zombie corpses at the convenience store entrance silently testified to some kind of unusual danger.
Those charred holes… could not have been caused by a knife or axe. It was more like being instantly pierced by high-temperature rays!
Was it some kind of unknown weapon? Or…?
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[Slay a Tier 1 zombie, basic knife skills proficiency +1]
The line of text that had once brought boundless hope flashed through his mind. Since slaying zombies could improve one's swordsmanship, it seemed not impossible for other supernatural powers to emerge.
Perhaps the apocalypse brought more than just zombies.
Su Lin's eyes flickered as he suppressed his turbulent thoughts. He lowered his body, his steps extremely light, like a hunting raccoon, cautiously approaching the door from which the sound was coming.
The closer he got, the clearer the wailing became, accompanied by heavy but clearly suppressed breathing, and… a teeth-grinding, subtle "sizzling" sound, like an electric short circuit, or like grease dripping onto a red-hot iron.
A strong smell of burnt flesh and blood seeped from the crack in the door.
Su Lin held his breath, pressed himself against the cold wall, and slowly peered through the crack.
The scene inside made his pupils contract sharply, a chill instantly running down his spine.
It wasn't a residence, but a small tool storage room, piled high with brooms, buckets, and miscellaneous items. At this moment, the cramped space was nothing short of hell!
Three zombie corpses lay on the ground. One had a horrifying charred hole in its chest, the edges of its clothes and flesh completely carbonized, revealing the equally charred bones beneath. Another had its skull melted through, the red and white matter dried and solidified around the hole.
The last zombie, however, was still moving!
Half its body was trapped under a fallen metal frame, waving one arm in vain. A similarly charred hole on its forehead was hissing out extremely faint blue smoke, as if some energy was still corroding its remains. Clearly, it had been "processed," but its vitality (or rather, its post-death activity) was unusually tenacious, not yet completely "shut down."
But this wasn't what shocked Su Lin the most.
In the innermost corner of the room, a figure huddled.
It was a girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen, wearing a stained convenience store uniform, her knees bent, her head buried deep in her arms, her body trembling violently. The suppressed sobs and gasps were coming from her.
Her right hand was tightly gripping… an ordinary screwdriver with a plastic handle?
Her left sleeve was torn, and a deep, bone-revealing scratch was gushing blood from her forearm! The skin around the wound was an unnatural bluish-gray, and it was slowly spreading at a visible rate!
She was infected!
Su Lin's heart skipped a beat. His post-apocalyptic knowledge (mainly from movies and novels) told him that being scratched or bitten by a zombie likely meant mutation.
But the next second, he noticed an even stranger detail.
Besides the blood and bluish-gray, the girl's bleeding wound occasionally emitted tiny, almost invisible, pale golden sparks of electricity!
"Sizzle…"
The subtle, electric-like sound came from her wound!
Each time a spark appeared, the spreading bluish-gray seemed to pause slightly, even a tiny wisp of black smoke was burned away, but soon, more bluish-gray stubbornly pushed forward. The girl's body convulsed violently, letting out a painful groan.
She was using her own power to fight the infection?!
Su Lin instantly understood the bizarre cause of death of the zombies at the door, and also the source of the burnt smell!
It was this girl! She had awakened a power that could release high temperatures, similar to lightning! She had killed those zombies, but she herself was also seriously injured and was fiercely fighting against the zombie virus within her!
To save her? Or not to save her?
Su Lin's mind raced.
Saving her meant risk. Once she completely mutated, she would be a zombie with terrifying abilities, posing a great threat. Moreover, he himself was in dire need of protection, and medicine, food, and water were extremely scarce. But
…
his gaze swept again over the charred holes on the foreheads and chests of those zombies. If he could master this power, or even just have one more temporary ally with this power, the chances of survival in this apocalypse would greatly increase!
Besides, she had escaped from the direction of the convenience store, and might know what was going on inside.
He would take a gamble!
Su Lin gritted his teeth and made his decision. He couldn't bear to watch a human being, especially one with potentially great power, mutate and perish before his eyes.
He stopped hiding and forcefully pushed open the slightly ajar door.
The sudden noise startled the curled-up girl, who looked up in shock.
A pale yet delicate face came into Su's view; her large eyes were now filled with terror, pain, and a desperate dread on the verge of collapse. Her lips were cracked, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.
"Don't...don't come any closer!" Her voice was hoarse and trembling, on the verge of tears. Instinctively, she pointed the useless screwdriver at Su, her arm shaking violently. "I...I've been captured...I'll become a monster...Run!"
Her words brought Su a slight sense of relief. At least for now, she was still conscious and showed no intention of attacking.
"Don't be afraid! I'm a survivor too!" Su said quickly, trying to sound calm. "You're fighting the virus? Is there anything I can do to help?"
The girl seemed surprised by Su Lin's words, pausing for a moment. The fear in her eyes subsided, replaced by confusion and deeper pain. "It's...it's no use...it hurts so much...cold and hot...something's fighting..."
she stammered, her body trembling even more violently. The bluish-gray color at the wound on her left arm spread further, the pale golden sparks growing weaker.
Su Lin frowned. He could see that the girl's strength was waning, and she was about to lose control of the virus.
What to do? Ordinary methods would definitely be useless.
Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind!
The Proficiency System! Since he could improve his swordsmanship by slaying zombies, could this power, derived from "cultivation" or rather "slaughter," have some kind of restraint on the zombie virus? Or, could it indirectly help her?
This thought was baseless, almost delusional.
But at this moment, there was no other choice!
Su Lin no longer hesitated, taking a step forward.
The girl shrank back in fright, but due to weakness and pain, she couldn't move much.
Su Lin didn't touch her. Instead, his sharp gaze turned to the zombie, still twitching and not quite "dead," pinned under the shelf. "
You're the one!"
A fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and he swung his cleaver without hesitation!
*Crack!*
The blade fell, and the zombie's already mangled head was completely severed.
[Slaying a Tier 1 Zombie, Basic Swordsmanship Proficiency +1] [Mastery: Basic Swordsmanship (Not Yet Enlightened: 4/100)]
The familiar notification and that faint yet clear sense of control flowed into his body once more.
Almost the instant the notification appeared, Su Lin had a sudden inspiration. He subconsciously tried to channel the newly acquired power, the faint "qi" brought by slaughter, through his sword-wielding hand to the curled-up girl—more precisely, to the fiercely fighting wound on her arm!
He didn't know what he was doing; it was just an instinctive attempt, driven by a strong will!
*Buzz!
* The moment that invisible "qi" touched the girl's wound, a sudden change occurred!
A faint, almost imperceptible golden light suddenly emanated from the girl's entire left arm! The previously extinguished sparks of electricity seemed to have been injected with a powerful stimulant, suddenly becoming bright again!
"Sizzle—!"
A clearer crackling sound rang out from the wound!
Large swaths of black energy were burned and purified, the stubbornly spreading bluish-gray color retreating rapidly as if it had encountered its nemesis! Although the flesh at the wound was still gruesome, the ominous gray color was visibly receding!
"Ah—!" The girl let out a scream mixed with pain and relief, her body suddenly stiffening before collapsing limply into unconsciousness.
But the strange phenomenon on her arm had subsided. Although the wound was still horrific, it no longer emitted that putrid aura; instead, it possessed a… faint vitality after purification?
It worked?!
Su Lin was both surprised and delighted, looking at his hand in disbelief, then at the unconscious girl.
His power could actually intervene in the virus, and even… enhance her abilities?
No, perhaps it wasn't enhancement, but some kind of "catalysis" or "resonance"? His proficiency seemed to be able to stimulate her own potential resistance?
This proficiency system was far more mysterious and powerful than he had imagined! It seemed to be more than just about technique; it touched upon some kind of primal power!
The prompt "[Basic Swordsmanship (Unskilled: 4/100)]" floated silently.
Su Lin took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement. Now was not the time for in-depth research.
He quickly checked the girl's condition; her breathing was weak but relatively steady, and the pain on her face had lessened considerably. He tore off a relatively clean piece of his undergarment and carefully bandaged the wound on her arm, which had stopped worsening.
Then, he stood up, his gaze fixed on the convenience store with its half-open roller shutter in the middle of the corridor.
Supplies! He desperately needed supplies, especially water and food, and possibly medicine.
This girl had escaped from there; the situation inside was unknown, and there might still be danger.
But after what he had just witnessed, Su Lin's confidence had increased considerably. His 4 points of proficiency in Basic Swordsmanship gave him greater control over his weapon. More importantly, he seemed to have grasped a deeper level of how to use this proficiency system!
He gripped his cleaver tightly, his eyes sharpening and resolute.
He had to go in and see!
He walked to the convenience store entrance, a strong smell of blood and burning wafting out. In the dim light filtering through the half-open shutter, he could see shelves overturned, goods scattered on the floor, signs of a struggle and destruction.
He took a deep breath, bent down sharply, and squeezed inside!
The store was dimly lit and a mess.
However, the instant he stepped inside—
for the first time, the line of white text in his vision didn't appear on its own because of the killing.
And the content was completely different!
[Sensing a faint gathering point of spiritual energy, absorb it?]
Su Lin's steps froze instantly, his pupils dilating in utter shock.
Spiritual… energy?!
[A faint gathering point of spiritual energy has been detected. Absorb it?]
The white text, like an ancient inscription, floated silently in the depths of his vision, carrying an undeniable mystical aura.
Spiritual energy!
It really is spiritual energy!
Su Lin's heart felt as if it had been clenched tightly by an invisible hand, then suddenly released; a wave of ecstatic joy almost overwhelmed his reason!
Although the apocalypse had only recently arrived, the appearance of zombies and the activation of the proficiency system had already shattered his materialistic understanding of the past twenty years. Now, the concept of "spiritual energy" was vividly present in the prompt, bringing a shocking sense of "I knew it!"
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Cultivation! This proficiency system exists solely for cultivating immortality!
Gaining swordsmanship proficiency by slaying zombies is merely the most superficial and basic application! Its true essence is to absorb spiritual energy and embark on the path to immortality!
A surge of intense excitement made his arms tremble slightly, but he forcibly restrained himself. The convenience store was dimly lit, shelves collapsed, goods scattered everywhere, congealed bloodstains and several twisted corpses testifying to the fierce battle that had taken place there. The danger might not be completely over.
He took a deep breath, suppressing his turbulent emotions, and sharply scanned the entire convenience store.
The prompt only mentioned the presence of spiritual energy points, but didn't specify their exact locations.
He tried to concentrate, focusing his mind on the prompt.
The next moment, a strange sensation occurred. In his "perception," the stench of decay and blood in the air seemed to have faded somewhat, and in the deepest part of the convenience store, near the door of the small back warehouse, an extremely faint yet exceptionally fresh and pure "aura" faintly attracted him like a firefly in the night.
That's it!
Su Lin gripped his cleaver tightly and carefully made his way in. He avoided the filth and obstacles on the ground, his steps as light as a cat's.
The closer he got to the small warehouse, the stronger the refreshing feeling became. Although still faint, in this environment filled with despair and decay, it was like a spring in the desert, making every cell in his body instinctively yearn for it.
The warehouse door was ajar, and the inside seemed even more chaotic than the outside.
He gently pushed the door open.
The warehouse was small, about ten square meters, piled with boxes of instant noodles, bottled water, drinks, and some daily necessities. The body of an elderly man in a convenience store uniform lay at the doorway; he was probably the husband from the elderly couple, his death gruesome.
The source of the spiritual energy was in the far corner of the warehouse, under an overturned wooden shelf.
Su Lin held his breath and carefully used the tip of his knife to pry open the mess of goods.
Underneath, he revealed a palm-sized, dusty, irregularly shaped fragment. It looked like a piece of jade or ceramic, its surface without any luster, even somewhat rough. If it weren't for his clear sense of smell, no one would have given it a second glance if it were lying on the street.
But this inconspicuous fragment continued to emit a faint, refreshing aura.
[Unknown fragment containing spiritual energy (broken) discovered. Absorbable. Absorb?]
The prompt reappeared.
"Absorb!" Su Lin murmured without hesitation.
The instant the command was issued, he felt a slight warmth between his brows, as if an invisible channel had opened. The dusty fragment trembled slightly, its surface visibly darkening further, even developing a tiny crack.
Simultaneously, a cool, pure current of energy, imbued with an indescribable life force, slowly flowed into Su Lin's body through that invisible channel!
This current, initially as thin as a wisp of silk, quickly spread throughout his body after entering!
An indescribable sense of comfort instantly swept over him!
The fear, fatigue, muscle aches, and mental tension of the past few days melted away like snow under the sun under the cleansing force of this current!
His body, like parched land for countless years, greedily absorbed this sudden, sweet rain. Every cell cheered and cried out in hunger.
This process lasted for about ten seconds.
When the last trace of coolness was completely absorbed, the fragment shattered into several small pieces with a "crack," becoming like ordinary stones, devoid of any supernatural power.
[Successfully absorbed a small amount of spiritual energy, spiritual power +1. Current spiritual power: 1/10] [Proficiency System fully activated!] [Activated Ability: Spiritual Sense (Beginner)] [Activated Ability: Spiritual Power Infusion (Beginner)]
A series of notifications kept refreshing Su Lin's vision!
He stood there, stunned, carefully "reading" this information, his heart filled with unparalleled shock.
Spiritual power! This was the true core attribute of the system! Spiritual energy was no longer an ethereal concept, but energy that could be quantified and absorbed and utilized!
Spiritual Sense (Beginner): Enhanced perception ability, able to vaguely sense the surrounding life force and energy fluctuations, and has a certain degree of premonition of danger.
Spiritual Energy Infusion (Beginner): Allows the infusion of a small amount of spiritual energy into weapons or attacks, slightly increasing their power and providing a weak counteracting effect against evil and filthy things.
A surge of ecstasy erupted like magma!
This was no longer just a simple improvement in swordsmanship! This was the true foundation for transcendence!
He subconsciously tried to circulate that meager amount of spiritual energy. With a slight thought, the cool current flowed obediently through his body, weak yet perfectly responsive! He felt his senses becoming more acute, everything around him clearer, and he could even faintly "hear" the faint but steady heartbeat of the unconscious girl outside the door.
This was spiritual perception!
He then tried to guide this wisp of spiritual energy towards the cleaver he gripped tightly in his right hand.
*Buzz!*
The cleaver emitted an extremely faint, almost imperceptible hum. Beneath the dark red rust, a fleeting, faint glimmer seemed to flash across the blade, and the cold, "friendly" feeling emanating from the blade suddenly intensified! He had a strong intuition that if he swung the blade again now, its power would be significantly greater than before! Moreover, it would be even more effective against the filth of zombies!
This was spiritual energy infusion!
Powerful! An unprecedented sense of power filled his mind and body! Although it was only 1 point of spiritual energy, it represented a qualitative leap!
Just then, his gaze swept over the supplies in the warehouse, and a thought struck him. He tried to concentrate his mind, mobilizing his nascent spiritual sense to "perceive" the goods.
Sure enough! A vague sense emerged. Most of the goods were "inanimate objects," without any energy fluctuations. But the sealed mineral water, bottled drinks, and some vacuum-packed food seemed to contain extremely faint "vitality" in his spiritual sense? Or rather, uncontaminated, beneficial energy? Some food, clearly stained and corroded by blood, emitted an unsettling, dark odor.
This ability was practically tailor-made for scavenging supplies in the apocalypse! It could easily distinguish between edible and inedible items!
Su Lin suppressed the urge to roar to the heavens and acted swiftly.
He first carefully carried the unconscious girl from the corner into the warehouse, placing her against a box of clean mineral water. Her face was still pale, but her breathing was steady, and the bluish-gray tinge at the wound on her arm showed no signs of recurrence.
Then, he began a frenzied scavenging spree. A huge woven bag, originally used for carrying goods, was unearthed.
Under his spiritual perception, selecting supplies became efficient and accurate. Unopened mineral water, energy drinks, vacuum-packed meat snacks, compressed biscuits, chocolate… all uncontaminated high-energy foods were prioritized and packed into the bag. He even found a small first-aid kit in a locked drawer (pried open with a cleaver), containing antibiotics, gauze, iodine, and painkillers! This was undoubtedly a godsend!
Soon, the huge woven bag was stuffed to the brim, its weight astonishing. In the past, Su Lin would have struggled to even drag it. But now, with the 1 point of spiritual energy continuously circulating within him, subtly nourishing his body, he felt his strength and stamina had improved. Carrying the heavy bag, while not easy, was by no means an impossible task.
He also found a sturdy backpack, packed a first-aid kit, some high-energy snacks, and several bottles of water inside, and carried it on his back for emergencies.
After doing all this, he glanced at the unconscious girl, then at the huge supply bag.
He had to leave. The stench of blood and the commotion earlier would eventually attract more monsters. He couldn't abandon this girl; her potential was immense, and if she hadn't killed those zombies, he wouldn't have found this place so easily. Taking her along carried both risks and opportunities.
But how to get her away was the problem.
Just then—
"Ugh…" A soft groan sounded.
The girl leaning against the cardboard box fluttered her eyelashes a few times and slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were initially filled with confusion and fear, but they quickly focused, landing on Su Lin standing before her, and the blood-stained knife in his hand.
She instinctively flinched, but then she felt the bandage on her arm, the weakened but no longer rampant virus within her, and… an indescribable, cleansing feeling of relief.
"It…it's you…" her voice was still weak, but less desperate, more uncertain and surprised. "You saved me?"
"Not entirely. You withstood the virus yourself." Su Lin said succinctly, handing her an opened bottle of mineral water. "How are you feeling? Can you move?"
The girl took the water, carefully taking a small sip to moisten her chapped lips. She tried to move her left arm, wincing in pain, but a look of surprise crossed her face: "It hurts... but the cold, numb feeling is gone! It's really gone!"
She looked up at Su Lin, her large eyes filled with gratitude and disbelief: "Thank you! I thought I was going to die... By the way, those monsters..."
"Dead." Su Lin interrupted her. "It's not safe here, we have to leave immediately. Can you walk?"
The girl gritted her teeth, enduring the pain, and used her uninjured right hand to support herself, trying to stand up. "I can try..."
Su Lin reached out and helped her. The moment they touched, the wisp of spiritual energy within him stirred slightly, and the girl seemed to sense it as well, looking at him in surprise.
"My name is Lin Xiaoyu, I'm the granddaughter of the shop owner..." the girl said softly, her voice filled with sadness, clearly thinking of her grandparents who had met with misfortune.
"Su Lin." Su Lin nodded, without asking any further questions, "Take this for self-defense." He handed Lin Xiaoyu a solid metal mop handle that he had found earlier.
He took a deep breath, hoisted the huge woven bag full of supplies onto his shoulder, and gripped the cleaver tightly in his other hand.
"Follow me closely, we're getting out!"
The two carefully walked out of the warehouse, one after the other, and into the convenience store's front hall.
However, just as they reached the half-open roller shutter door, Su Lin abruptly stopped, his expression instantly turning extremely grave!
Using the faint perception granted by his [Spiritual Sense (Beginner)], he clearly sensed that more than ten cold, bloodthirsty auras, filled with negative energy, had gathered in the corridor outside!
They were motionless, as if…waiting for something.
They were surrounded!
A chilling, bloodthirsty aura, like a tangible tide, seeped in from the half-open roller shutter door—more than ten waves in total! They lay silently in the dimly lit corridor, motionless, like a group of patient hunters waiting for their prey to emerge from their lair.
Su Lin's heart sank.
The worst had happened!
These monsters had clearly been attracted by the previous smell of blood and the commotion, and had already developed a preliminary…cooperation? Or perhaps, they were driven by some more powerful being?
Lin Xiaoyu also felt the suffocating pressure from outside the door. The last trace
of color that had returned to her pale face vanished instantly, her body trembled involuntarily, and she instinctively gripped the metal mop handle tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"What…what should I do?" Her voice trembled with despair. Although she had awakened her supernatural abilities, she was currently severely injured and weak, her strength almost completely exhausted. Faced with such a large number of zombies, she was utterly powerless.
Su Lin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the trembling in her heart. On her shoulders lay heavy supplies, enough to sustain them for a long time; behind her were her teammates, whom she had just rescued, possessing potential but temporarily incapacitated; outside the door were more than ten menacing zombies.
There was no way to retreat, only to fight to the death!
The vague perception brought by her [Spiritual Sense (Beginner)] constantly fed back the location of those cold auras outside the door. Although she couldn't pinpoint each one, their general distribution was clearly imprinted in her mind—mainly concentrated in front and to the left, with the right side being relatively sparser!
The right side! That was the direction leading to the stairwell! And the only way out!
She had to break through from the right!
"Stay close to me!" Su Lin's voice was low and urgent, carrying an undeniable resolve. "I'll tear open a gap. Don't worry about anything else, just charge forward! Understand?"
Lin Xiaoyu looked at Su Lin's resolute profile, especially his eyes, which seemed exceptionally bright in the dim light. A strange courage overcame her fear. She nodded forcefully: "Y-yes!"
Su Lin no longer hesitated. He adjusted the heavy woven bag on his shoulder, gripped the cleaver tightly in his right hand, and began to circulate his last remaining bit of spiritual power wildly!
Cool air surged through his meridians, ultimately pouring into the cleaver in his hand without reservation!
Buzz!
The blade emitted that barely perceptible yet real hum once more, a faint golden light flashing across the dull edge, and a sharp and pure aura emanated, forcing back some of the blood and filth that had clung to the blade!
[Spiritual Power Infusion (Beginner)] First time used in actual combat!
"Roar!"
Almost as soon as Su Lin circulated his spiritual energy, the zombies outside the door seemed to be stimulated by this pure yet provocative energy, instantly becoming agitated! Bloodthirsty growls rang out one after another, and heavy footsteps suddenly approached!
"Go!"
Su Lin roared, no longer waiting, and took the initiative to attack! He suddenly bent down and rushed out of the roller shutter door, the heavy supply bag slamming heavily against the half-open door with a loud bang!
The dim corridor instantly came into view! A full twelve or thirteen zombies of various shapes were rushing in from the left and right! Rotting faces, cloudy eyes, and waving claws formed a hellish scene!
At least seven or eight were huddled together in front and to the left!
Su Lin had a clear target and, disregarding everything, charged towards the right side where he had anticipated a relatively sparser number of zombies! At the same time, a fierce glint flashed in his eyes, and the bone-chopping knife, infused with spiritual energy, drew an arc faster and more precise than ever before, directly slashing at the fastest charging female zombie in pajamas on the right!
This time, the feeling was completely different!
The instant the blade slashed down, Su Lin clearly felt the spiritual energy, like an invisible blade, touch the zombie's body first! That body, filled with a decaying and chilling aura, seemed to melt away like a hot knife through butter when faced with this pure spiritual energy!
*Swoosh!*
The blade pierced deep into the female zombie's neck without any resistance! And the depth of the cut far exceeded before! It almost severed most of her neck in one stroke!
The moment black blood spurted out, the zombie's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt, a fleeting moment of confusion even flashing in its turbid eyes, before it collapsed to the ground with a thud!
[Slaying a Tier 1 Zombie, Basic Swordsmanship Proficiency +1] [Current Spiritual Energy: 0.8/10]
One strike! Just one strike! Almost an instant kill!
The power of the spiritual energy infused was terrifying! Although it consumed 0.2 spiritual energy, the effect was worth it!
Su Lin's spirits lifted, and without pausing, he seized the moment the gap on the right opened and charged forward carrying the heavy supply bag!
"Roar!"
Zombies swarmed in from the left and front, and the nearest emaciated zombie's claws were almost grabbing the woven bag Su Lin was carrying!
"Get out of the way!" Su Lin roared, slashing horizontally with his backhand!
The bone-chopping knife, infused with the remaining spiritual power, unleashed its power once more. Although it failed to decapitate the zombie due to the awkward posture, it severed both of the emaciated zombie's arms at the elbows! Blood gushed out! The zombie lost its balance, screamed, and fell, temporarily blocking the path of the zombies behind it!
[Basic swordsmanship proficiency +0.5] (Injured but not killed, gained partial proficiency) [Current spiritual power: 0.6/10]
Su Lin didn't even look back, charging forward desperately! Lin Xiaoyu followed closely behind, gritting her teeth and enduring the excruciating pain in her left arm, wildly parrying an arm that grabbed from the side with a metal mop handle.
The two barely escaped the initial encirclement of zombies and sprinted desperately towards the stairwell!
The roars and footsteps behind them were like leeches, relentlessly pursuing them! The heavy supply bags greatly slowed Su Lin down!
The stairwell was only a dozen meters ahead!
Suddenly!
A strong warning sounded from [Spiritual Senses]!
Suddenly, a tightly closed door burst open! Amidst flying splinters, an unusually tall and burly figure shot out like a cannonball, crashing into Su Lin's side!
This zombie was far stronger than ordinary zombies, nearly 1.9 meters tall, with bulging muscles and an unnatural bluish-black skin, and its speed was astonishing! It had clearly been lurking in the room, waiting for this fatal blow!
"Watch out!" Lin Xiaoyu cried out in alarm!
Su Lin's pupils contracted sharply! In that critical moment, he had no time to think, relying entirely on the instincts accumulated from his killing spree in that short period, and his [Spiritual Sense]'s premonition of danger, he twisted sharply to the other side to dodge!
At the same time, without hesitation, he hurled the heavy woven bag on his shoulder at the burly zombie!
Bang!
The heavy supply bag slammed into the burly zombie, slightly hindering it. But it only staggered half a step, its thick arm swinging out and sending the woven bag, weighing at least a hundred pounds, flying. The bag crashed heavily against the wall, scattering its contents everywhere!
Such immense power!
Su Lin was horrified! This was no ordinary zombie!
And this delay allowed the horde of zombies chasing them to close in again! Two more zombies, drawn by the commotion, blocked the stairwell ahead!
They were once again trapped in a pincer attack! And there was also a terrifyingly powerful special zombie!
The burly zombie swept away the supply bag, its crimson eyes immediately locking onto Su Lin, who was inches away. It let out a deafening roar, its massive hand, accompanied by a fierce wind, aimed directly at Su Lin's head! If this hit, his brains would splatter!
There was no way to avoid it!
Su Lin's eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, and a ruthless aura erupted! His spiritual power was down to only 0.6; he had to use it wisely!
Instead of retreating, he advanced, suddenly ducking low to narrowly dodge the fatal blow. Simultaneously, he poured all his remaining 0.6 of spiritual energy into his cleaver, thrusting it upwards towards the relatively vulnerable abdomen of the burly zombie!
"Die!"
*Thud!
* The spiritually imbued blade successfully pierced the tough, bluish-black skin, embedding itself deeply!
"Awooo—!"
The burly zombie howled in pain, not anger, and lashed out with its missing arm!
Su Lin didn't have time to withdraw his blade; he could only release the hilt and cross his arms to protect his chest!
*Bang!
* An unimaginable force struck! Su Lin felt as if he had been hit by a speeding car; his arms throbbed with pain, and he was thrown backwards, crashing heavily into the wall behind him. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood!
[Severely injured, minor internal injuries!] [Current Spiritual Power: 0/10] (Spiritual Power Exhausted)
The cleaver remained in the burly zombie's abdomen, black blood gushing out. It became even more frenzied, pulling the cleaver from its abdomen and throwing it to the ground, frantically pounding its chest before charging again at the temporarily incapacitated Su Lin!
Meanwhile, more zombies pounced on them!
Was it all over?
This thought flashed through Su Lin's mind, his consciousness blurred by the impact and depletion of his spiritual power.
Just in this moment of despair—
"Ah!!!"
Standing beside Su Lin, Lin Xiaoyu, who had been ignored, closed her eyes at some point. An expression of extreme pain yet unwavering determination appeared on her pale face. She raised her uninjured right hand, fingers spread, aiming at the charging burly zombie and the swarming corpses around her!
Dazzling pale golden lightning danced and coalesced wildly at her fingertips and beneath the bandages of her injured left arm!
A surge of energy, far more powerful and violent than what had occurred in the small room, erupted!
"Boom—!!"
A visible, twisted, pale golden arc of electricity, like a roaring lightning serpent, burst forth from her palm, instantly tearing through the dimly lit corridor!
The burly zombie at the forefront was struck directly in the chest by this violent arc!
An astonishing scene unfolded! Its once impervious, bluish-black chest instantly became charred! Its massive body convulsed violently, blasted backward by the immense power contained in the arc, finally collapsing heavily to the ground, billowing black smoke, convulsing uncontrollably, unable to rise for a moment!
The aftershocks of the arc swept over seven or eight ordinary zombies around it like a storm!
Sizzling—!
A series of teeth-grinding explosions erupted! Those zombies, as if struck by high voltage, trembled violently, their hair standing on end, their skin instantly carbonizing, their movements completely frozen! The two closest to it were even engulfed in flames, turning into charred remains!
In an instant, the entire corridor was cleared!
[High-intensity lightning energy residue detected, containing a faint aura of the law of destruction. Do you wish to absorb it?]
A new prompt suddenly appeared in Su Lin's field of vision.
[High-intensity lightning energy residue detected, containing a faint aura of destructive laws. Attempt to absorb it?]
The cold, abrupt white notification text contrasted eerily with the hellish scene before them.
Pale golden arcs of electricity had not completely dissipated, flickering and leaping like dying snakes among the charred corpses, emitting faint crackling sounds. The air was thick with the stench of ozone and the putrid smell of burning protein. The burly zombie lay on the ground, its chest charred, its massive body occasionally twitching, temporarily no longer a threat. The seven or eight ordinary zombies around it were reduced to humanoid charcoal, retaining their ferocious, attacking postures from life.
After the attack, Lin Xiaoyu's face instantly turned ashen, her body slumped backward, falling into a deep coma, her breath as faint as a candle in the wind. That attack had clearly exhausted all her potential, and might even have damaged her very foundation.
Su Lin, leaning against the cold wall, felt excruciating pain in his arms, a tightness in his chest, a metallic taste in his throat, and his spiritual energy completely depleted. Even moving a finger was incredibly difficult.
In the distance, new roars were approaching. The commotion and the thick smell of burning flesh were like a beacon in the night, constantly attracting monsters from this apartment building and beyond.
A desperate situation! Still a hopeless situation with no chance of survival!
But that notification was like a spider's thread dangling into an abyss!
Absorb it? Could he, in his current state of severe injury, near death, and depleted spiritual energy, even touch this violent, destructive lightning energy?
The system's notification was "Attempt," meaning the probability of failure was extremely high! If he failed, he would likely be instantly devoured by the remaining aura of law, blasted to pieces!
But if he didn't absorb it, he would still face certain death when new zombies swarmed in!
A gamble!
He had to gamble!
A mad, resolute glint flashed in Su Lin's eyes! Without hesitation, he concentrated his last remaining thoughts, locked onto the prompt in his vision, and let out a hoarse shout: "Draw...in!!"
The instant the command was issued, he felt the invisible passage between his brows open again, but this time, what surged in was no longer the gentle stream of spiritual energy fragments as before!
"Boom!!!"
It was as if a thunderbolt struck his mind directly! The violent, domineering, and destructive remnants of lightning energy, like a raging beast bursting its banks, rushed into Su Lin's body through that passage!
"Ughhhhhh—!"
Indescribable pain instantly swept through his entire body! Su Lin felt his meridians, blood vessels, and even every cell being frantically torn apart, burned, and destroyed by countless tiny lightning bolts! Faint sparks even appeared on his body surface, his skin turned charred black, and his hair stood on end!
He convulsed violently as if having an epileptic seizure, blood mixed with black charred matter spilling from his mouth and nose, his consciousness almost instantly overwhelmed by the terrifying pain and destructive force!
[Warning! Unknown alien energy intrusion!] [Meridian damage 10%...20%...] [Warning! Bodily functions are rapidly declining!] [Spiritual energy value: -0.1...-0.2...] (Negative value consumption in a state of exhaustion)
The system's urgent warning prompts flashed across the screen, indicating that his life was rapidly slipping away!
Was he going to die?
Unwilling! Absolutely not willing!
Just as his consciousness was about to completely sink, a thought flashed through Su Lin's mind—the route that 1 point of spiritual energy had traveled through his body before it was exhausted! Although weak, it represented the orthodox, balanced, and peaceful energy flow trajectory of the system!
Guide! He had to guide this violent energy!
This thought was like the last straw a drowning man grasped! With unimaginable willpower, he forcibly held onto the last shred of clarity in his mind, desperately recalling the feeling of that weak spiritual energy flow, trying to "outline" that route again in the meridians that had been torn apart by lightning!
This was an almost impossible task! His meridians were constantly being damaged, his mind was difficult to concentrate, and the raging lightning energy was completely out of control!
But in that desperate moment—
[Proficiency System Intervenes! Begins Assisting in Guiding Alien Energy!] [Basic Refining Method (Not Yet Entered) Activated! Current Proficiency: 0/1000]
A new notification appeared!
It was as if an invisible force, originating from the system's very essence, had suddenly joined in, forcibly seizing a portion of the most violent lightning energy and guiding it through his body along an incredibly profound path!
This path was countless times more complex and profound than the spontaneous flow of spiritual energy before! Wherever it passed, the meridians that had been torn and burned were forcibly opened up and widened by this force, and even tempered into greater resilience by the destructive energy!
The pain remained, and even intensified by this forced "unblocking," as if every inch of his flesh was being crushed and reassembled! But at the same time, a life force that could be rebuilt from the ashes began to quietly sprout!
[Meridian resilience +0.1…+0.1…] [Qi and blood strength +0.1…+0.1…] [Successfully refined alien energy, spiritual power +0.5…+0.5…]
The prompts indicate a positive shift!
Su Lin was overjoyed and desperately tried to maintain his consciousness, cooperating with the system's guidance.
This process lasted an unknown amount of time—perhaps only a few seconds, yet feeling like centuries.
When the last trace of violent lightning energy was forcibly refined and absorbed by the system, the excruciating pain receded like a tide, replaced by an indescribable weakness, and… a rebirth of power emanating from the depths of that weakness!
He collapsed against the wall, his body covered in sweat and blood, as if pulled from water, his skin charred in several places, looking utterly wretched. But only he knew the earth-shattering changes that had occurred within him! His
previously depleted spiritual power had not only been completely restored but had even surged! [Current Spiritual Power: 8/20] (Maximum increased!)
More importantly, his meridians have been widened and strengthened slightly, and his blood and qi have become more vigorous. Even the fractures in his arms and the internal organ injuries seem to have been alleviated considerably! His overall physical condition has been improved in all aspects!
A golden notification line stood out prominently in his vision: [Successfully Comprehended the Basic Refining Method (Not Yet Entered: 5/1000)] [Spiritual Root Aptitude (Lightning): Slight Awakening]
Refining Method! Spiritual Root Aptitude!
Su Lin was so excited he almost trembled! This was the true beginning of cultivation! Not only did he have a cultivation technique, but he had also awakened an affinity for lightning energy! Although it was only a slight awakening, it was of extraordinary significance!
The roars of the zombies in the distance were getting closer and closer; he couldn't delay any longer!
He struggled to his feet and stretched his body. The intense pain was still there, but it was within his tolerance, and his strength had recovered considerably.
He quickly went to Lin Xiaoyu's side and checked her breathing; it was very weak. He tried to channel the sliver of spiritual energy he had just recovered into her body, but found that her meridians were abnormally disordered and depleted. His own spiritual energy was like a stone sinking into the sea, barely able to protect her heart meridian, unable to awaken her.
He had to find a safe place to heal her as soon as possible.
His gaze swept across the chaotic corridor, first retrieving the cleaver that the burly zombie had discarded. The blade was still cold, but after being infused with spiritual energy and bathed in lightning, it seemed to have become even darker and more profound.
Then, he looked at the burly zombie, charred and convulsing from the electric shock.
[Tier 1 Strength-Type Mutant Zombie (Severely Wounded and Dying)]
The system displayed a simple indicator.
A mutant zombie! Sure enough!
Su Lin's eyes turned cold, showing no pity, and his hand swiftly brought the blade down!
*Crack!*
The massive head rolled to the ground. [Slayed a Tier 1 Mutant Zombie, Basic Swordsmanship Proficiency +5] [Basic Swordsmanship (Not Yet Mastered: 9/100)]
Awesome! The proficiency gained from a mutant zombie far exceeded that of an ordinary zombie!
At the same time, a small crystal, about the size of a fingernail, shimmering with a faint earthy yellow luster, rolled out of the head. [Found Inferior Earth Soul Crystal (Contains a Trace of Earth-Elemental Energy)]
It can even drop items?! Su Lin picked up the small crystal with delight, sensing a calm energy within it. Unsure of its use, he put it away for now.
He quickly stuffed the undamaged high-energy food and mineral water scattered on the ground into the backpack he had brought, then carried the unconscious Lin Xiaoyu on his back, securing it with the rope he found.
Finally, he glanced at the woven bags, once full of supplies, scattered on the floor, a pang of regret crossing his face, but he couldn't take them now.
Just as he was about to rush towards the stairwell, his gaze inadvertently swept over the door smashed open by the burly zombie.
His [Spiritual Sense] stirred slightly, sensing a more subtle and concentrated fluctuation inside, different from spiritual energy and lightning energy?
Almost unconsciously, he carried Lin Xiaoyu inside.
It was an ordinary residence, similarly in disarray, stained with blood.
The source of the fluctuation was on the coffee table in the living room.
A cactus planted in an ordinary earthenware pot?
But this cactus was completely different! It was a deep, dark green color, its surface covered with extremely fine, stone-like scales! A small flower bloomed at its tip, its petals like carved topaz, emitting a hazy glow and a steady energy fluctuation.
[A mutated Stone Armor Cactus (juvenile stage) affected by unknown energy; its petals contain pure earth elemental essence, which can be absorbed and refined.]
Another treasure!
Su Lin was overjoyed. He carefully plucked the jade-like petals and put them in his pocket. When his fingertips touched them, he could clearly feel the steady energy they contained, which would help heal his injuries.
Just as he finished doing this,
"Thump! Thump! Thump!"
Heavy, rapid footsteps came from the direction of the stairs, quickly approaching! Judging from the sound, there were definitely many!
He couldn't stay any longer!
Su Lin, carrying Lin Xiaoyu tightly on his back and gripping his cleaver, rushed out of the room and charged towards the stairs leading to the rooftop without hesitation!
The downstairs area was blocked by a large number of zombies; only by going up could he find a glimmer of hope!
He had just rushed up the last flight of stairs leading to the rooftop.
Bang!
The rusty iron door to the rooftop was slammed shut from the outside! Then came the sound of something heavy hitting the door!
Someone was behind the door?! And they didn't want them to go up!
Su Lin's heart sank to the bottom.
There was no way forward, and pursuers were behind him!
Bang!
The rusty iron door slammed shut in front of him, the dull thud not only cutting off their escape route to the rooftop, but also striking Su Lin's heart like a heavy hammer.
The hurried footsteps and the sound of something being dragged against the door from behind it conveyed a chilling truth with crystal clarity—there were people upstairs, and they refused them without hesitation.
"Open the door! There are still people alive outside! Open the door!" Almost instinctively, Su Lin lunged at the door, frantically pounding the rusty iron plate with his still-strength shoulder, creating a deafening clang. Lin Xiaoyu, on his back, let out an unconscious groan of pain from the violent shaking.
The only response he received was the increasingly frantic pounding on the door from behind, and a low, trembling male voice filled with fear and malice: "Get out! Get out of here! You'll attract those monsters up here! Don't drag us down with you if you want to die!"
"
It's full of zombies down there! Let us up! Please!" Su Lin roared hoarsely, his chest heaving with anger and despair. Behind him, below the stairs, the chilling roars and rapid footsteps were drawing ever closer; in just a few seconds, the vanguard of the zombie horde would surge onto this last platform!
"Damn it! Didn't you hear me tell you to get out?!" Another, even more violent voice rang out, followed by a sharp steel bar that suddenly pierced through the crack in the door, nearly hitting Su Lin's eye!
"If you don't get out, don't blame us for being impolite!"
A chilling killing intent permeated the air through the crack in the door. These people, to save their own lives, didn't hesitate to kill their own kind.
How could human nature be so cold-blooded!
His last shred of hope shattered. Su Lin's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, not from sadness, but from a rage ignited by this naked malice!
He couldn't rely on these scum!
He had to rely on himself!
He abruptly took a step back, no longer making a futile attempt to break through. Behind him, the stench of zombies was already overwhelming! The first zombie, dressed in a security guard uniform, bared its fangs and claws as it charged onto the platform!
"Ha!"
There was no time to hesitate!
Su Lin's eyes sharpened, and the 8 points of newly generated spiritual power within him surged through the air at an unprecedented speed! His [Spiritual Perception] was pushed to its limit, and everything around him instantly became clear and slowed down—the rusted door hinge structure, the approximate object blocking the door, the trajectory of the zombies rushing towards him from behind, even the heavy, tense breathing of the survivors behind the door, all imprinted into his mind like a three-dimensional map!
There it was! The weakest point of the aging door hinge! And the place where the force on the object blocking the door was most uneven!
"Give it to me! Open it!"
He let out a roar, suppressed to the extreme, no longer a plea, but a declaration! All his strength, plus 8 points of spiritual energy, poured into his right arm without reservation. The cleaver sliced through the air, emitting a low hum. The tip of the blade wasn't slashing, but rather, with all his strength concentrated, it pierced like a drill towards the most rusted hinge at the top of the iron door!
[Spiritual Energy Infusion (Beginner)]! Full Power Unleashed!
*Swoosh—Crack!*
The tip of the blade, imbued with spiritual energy, unleashed astonishing penetrating power! The rusted iron sheet was pierced instantly, like paper! Immediately afterward, the aged metal hinge inside emitted a cracking sound
, unable to withstand the pressure! Almost simultaneously, he slammed his shoulder against the iron door!
*Bang!
Crash—!
* The object blocking the door seemed to be a heavy wooden cabinet, but now, due to the broken hinge at the top, its center of gravity instantly lost balance. Su Lin's slam, imbued with anger and spiritual energy, smashed the door and cabinet together, sending them crashing open!
A chorus of terrified screams and angry curses erupted from behind the door!
"Ah!" "Damn it! They broke in!" "Stop them!"
Taking advantage of the momentum from breaking down the door, Su Lin stumbled onto the rooftop, carrying Lin Xiaoyu on his back. The blinding sunlight made him squint slightly as he quickly scanned his surroundings.
The rooftop was about half the size of a basketball court, cluttered with solar water heaters and discarded building materials. Seven or eight male and female survivors retreated in panic, carrying makeshift weapons such as sticks and kitchen knives. Leading them were two tall, burly men with fierce expressions; they were clearly the ones who had stabbed the steel bars and cursed earlier.
At their feet were scattered some packaging bags and empty water bottles, which, judging by their appearance… had clearly fallen from his torn woven bag! These people not only ignored him but also stole his scattered supplies!
His anger surged again!
But at this moment, he had no time to pay attention to these people! The zombies behind him had already rushed in!
"Roar!"
The first zombie security guard to rush up lunged at the thin man closest to the door.
"Don't come any closer! Ah!" The man was terrified, wildly swinging his mop handle, but was easily tackled by the zombie. Screams and tearing sounds rang out instantly!
Chaos erupted on the rooftop! People screamed and scattered in all directions, completely losing their composure.
"Damn it! Fight them!" The two burly men, however, had some courage, or rather, knew there was nowhere to escape. They roared and brandished their steel pipes and fire axes, facing the zombies that followed.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Su Lin quickly placed Lin Xiaoyu, whom he was carrying, in a relatively safe corner behind a solar water heater. He turned to look at the battlefield.
In just a few seconds, three or four more zombies rushed up, fighting with the two burly men and two other men who dared to resist, temporarily holding them off. But more were still surging up from below the stairs!
The door had to be blocked!
Otherwise, everyone would die!
Su Lin's gaze instantly locked onto the bent iron door and the fallen wooden cabinet.
He lunged forward, ignoring the screams of a woman who had collapsed to the ground in terror, and grabbed the edge of the wooden cabinet with both hands, his spiritual energy surging within him!
"Up!"
With 8 points of spiritual energy added, his strength far exceeded that of ordinary people, and he actually managed to drag the heavy solid wood cabinet up by himself and slam it against the door!
Bang!
The cabinet knocked back the two zombies charging at the front, temporarily slowing their momentum.
"What are you all standing there for! If you want to live, come and help block the door!" Su Lin roared at the terrified men.
The men snapped out of their daze and scrambled over, frantically pushing the cabinet and piling up scrap building materials behind the door.
For now… for now, it was blocked!
Frantic banging and scratching sounds came from outside, the door trembling violently, but it seemed impossible to break through this temporary barrier for the time being.
Everyone collapsed to the ground, panting heavily, their faces etched with the terror of surviving a close call.
Su Lin also leaned against a water heater, breathing heavily. The injury to his arm throbbed again from the earlier outburst, and his spiritual energy was mostly depleted. He coldly surveyed the survivors.
Only seven people remained on the rooftop, including himself. Besides him and the unconscious Lin Xiaoyu, the other five were: two burly men who had resisted earlier (one with a steel pipe, the other with a fire axe), a young man with a slashed arm and a pale face, a middle-aged bald man, and the young woman who had previously collapsed to the ground and was now trembling.
Two corpses lay on the ground: the thin man who had been bitten to death, and the woman who had been torn apart by zombies in the chaos.
After a brief silence, the burly man with the fire axe looked at Su Lin first, his eyes complex, filled with wariness, a hint of lingering fear, and a barely perceptible greed (Su Lin's strength in ramming the door and dragging the cabinet was far beyond that of an ordinary person). He gasped, "Brother… thanks. I'm sorry about that…"
The other burly man with the steel pipe also glanced over, his eyes gleaming.
Su Lin merely snorted coldly, offering no response to the cheap apology. He went behind the water heater and checked Lin Xiaoyu's condition; she was still unconscious, but her breathing was relatively stable. He took out the bottled water he had found earlier and carefully fed her a little.
At this moment, the bald middle-aged man suddenly pointed at Su Lin's backpack and cleaver, then pointed downstairs, and shrieked, "Those...those foods and drinks...there's still so much downstairs! Did you get all of that? If you're so capable, why didn't you come up sooner! If you had come up sooner, Sister Zhang and Old Li wouldn't be dead!"
As soon as he said this, several pairs of eyes focused on Su Lin's backpack, filled with a kind of hunger and longing. Was this
a case of the guilty party accusing the innocent first? A case of turning the tables?
Su Lin slowly stood up, his gaze icy as he looked at the bald man: "Do I owe you anything?"
"You..." The bald man was startled by the coldness in Su Lin's eyes, but seeing the two burly men beside him, he mustered his courage, "Now we're all in this together! If you have supplies, you should share them! Are you going to keep them all for yourself?"
"That's right! Share them!" The injured young man, clutching his wound, echoed with shifty eyes. The trembling woman also secretly glanced at the backpack.
Only the two burly men didn't speak immediately, but their eyes lingered on the backpack for a moment.
Having just experienced a life-or-death situation, the ugliness of human nature was eagerly exposed.
Su Lin smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile. He brandished the cleaver in his hand, the still-dry black blood on the blade particularly glaring in the sunlight.
"Why should I share my things with you? Just because you tried to lock me out to die? Or because you were quick enough to pick up the supplies I dropped?" His gaze, like a cold blade, swept over the bald man and the injured young man. "Anyone who tries to take advantage of me can try. Let's see if my blade is faster, or if the zombies downstairs are faster." His
chilling killing intent was undisguised.
The bald man and the injured young man turned pale, instinctively taking a step back, not daring to speak again. The woman was even more frightened, lowering her head.
The burly man with the fire axe frowned and stepped in to smooth things over: "Alright, everyone, say less! We were indeed being unfair just now. Brother, my name is Wang Qiang, and this is my brother, Li Hu." He pointed to the burly man with the steel pipe, "The situation is critical now, there are zombies outside, if we fight amongst ourselves, we'll all die. As for the supplies... we'll talk about that later."
Su Lin glanced at him, noncommittal. This man was a bit smarter than those idiots, but he might not have good intentions either.
Just then, Li Hu, who had been silent and observing the situation downstairs, suddenly changed his expression and whispered, "Brother Qiang, something's wrong! Those zombies downstairs... seem to be retreating?"
Everyone was stunned and quickly and cautiously climbed to the edge of the rooftop to look down.
They saw that the zombies gathered downstairs were indeed slowly retreating like a tide, but they didn't scatter. Instead, they retreated a certain distance and then stopped, still surrounding the building, heads tilted back, as if... waiting for something?
An even more unsettling deathly silence descended.
Wang Qiang's expression turned grave: "They... seem to be waiting for something?"
Suddenly
!
A sharp, piercing screech erupted from the distant sky!
Everyone looked up in horror.
In the hazy distance, a black dot was hurtling through the air at an alarming speed! As it drew closer, its form grew larger and larger, until it became vaguely visible... a terrifying giant bird with a wingspan of four or five meters, its feathers mostly gone, revealing bluish-black, rotting flesh! Its eyes gleamed with a bloodthirsty red light, and its claws were like curved steel hooks!
A mutated flying zombie beast!
Everyone's faces instantly turned deathly pale.