Checking the update speed, three chapters for seven consecutive days, today is the eighth day, unleashing four chapters—is it really impossible to break onto the front page rankings? I'm going to suffer internal injuries (╯﹏╰).

…… Outside a building, a dozen zombies milled about. Not far off, concealed within a cluster of ruined stone walls, Ye Chen and his group lay in wait.

After the massive battle that had just concluded, their numbers had plummeted from twenty down to a mere fourteen survivors. “There are seventeen zombies on the perimeter; the situation inside is unknown,” stated a man acting as the scout, calmly adjusting his glasses.

Mu Baifeng nodded and issued his orders: “A Long, you and yours take out the three on the left. Xiao Wang, you handle those on the right.

Brother Ye, you have free rein. Wait for my signal, then open fire together, but try to keep the noise to a minimum.” The others concurred with nods.

“Attack!” Mu Baifeng was the first to pull the trigger. A bullet streaked out, slamming into a zombie’s skull with a muffled thud, a perfect headshot!

The zombie dropped dead. Everyone else fired simultaneously, though some lacked skill; their shots struck necks or chests instead of the head.

After the initial volley, eight zombies remained. They roared and charged toward the group’s hiding spot.

Bang bang bang… The second wave of bullets swept through, and these eight zombies all fell under fire. Five of them were dispatched by Ye Chen and his companions, one by Mu Baifeng, and the remaining two succumbed to the crossfire from the others.

“Go!” Mu Baifeng surged up from the ground, leading the charge, vaulting over the fallen corpses and rushing toward the building. The rest followed closely.

Inside the structure was a large hall where three or four zombies were shambling around. Nearby, in a room, a wide piece of white paper peeked out from a gap beneath the door, bearing two large characters: “HELP US!” Ye Chen and the others were certain to receive this mission because members of the Reconnaissance Division likely passed by, spotted the distress note through binoculars or similar equipment, and reported the location back to headquarters.

“The Information Department must have already investigated who lived in this building; otherwise, they wouldn't dispatch an entire military unit for a rescue!” Ye Chen thought, firing a few quick shots to drop the nearby zombies. The group closed in on the room.

The investigators must have also surveyed the area’s intelligence, knowing there were no overwhelmingly powerful monsters present, which is why only a single military unit was sent. Had there been a formidable monster, the dispatch would likely have been a legion, or perhaps even a General!

Thump thump thump! Mu Baifeng knocked lightly and cautiously, “Is anyone home?” Hearing voices, the inside fell silent for a moment.

Then, the door slowly cracked open, and an old man peered out. Upon seeing Ye Chen and the others in full uniform, along with the dead zombies scattered outside, he sighed in relief, swung the door wide, and chuckled, “Finally, someone saw it.

I knew it; with such a terrifying disaster suddenly erupting, the nation’s military would surely organize bases to rescue this old wretch.” Mu Baifeng glanced into his room, surprised, “Are you alone?” The old man sighed, “Yes. My wife passed away many years ago, and my children are unfilial, rarely visiting.” Ye Chen frowned, “You alone?

How did you survive three months?” The old man looked at him, a hint of admiration in his eyes, “That’s a good question. But luckily, my room is spacious, and I’m lazy by nature, disliking frequent excursions.

Because of that, I had accumulated plenty of food and sweets at home. I ate sparingly, mostly congee, to barely get by.” Ye Chen nodded.

Generally, a bag of rice, boiled into congee for every meal, could last a very long time. Especially with the old man’s extremely frugal eating habits, plus all the sweets that provided caloric energy—it wasn't surprising he could hold out for three months.

“Let’s go. We should move to a safer location before we talk more,” Mu Baifeng stated.

The old man looked around, saw no monsters, and suddenly darted back into his room. A moment later, he emerged, half a sack of rice slung over his shoulder, smiling, “I stocked up quite a bit of rice, but this is all that’s left.

I assume your army’s supplies are also stretched thin? It shouldn't go to waste here.” Everyone present was momentarily stunned.

He survived three months and still has half a sack of rice left? Just how much rice did this man hoard?

Was he preparing for the War of Resistance against Japan? The old man chuckled, his eyes narrowing into slits, looking rather mischievous.

Mu Baifeng gave a wry smile and led the way out. The other soldiers quickly surrounded the old man, forming a protective circle.

If this man died, the mission would be a failure, and all their efforts would be in vain. Ye Chen walked up beside the old man and whispered, “Sir, what was your profession?” The old man froze for a beat, then gave Ye Chen a meaningful look, lowering his voice, “Nuclear weapons, atomic bombs.

Ever heard of them?” Ye Chen offered a weak smile, “Well… everyone on Earth knows about those, right?” The old man’s smile became slightly smug, “I was one of the people tasked with overseeing the development of such powerful weaponry. Though not nuclear weapons specifically, a portion of the military hardware was developed under my supervision.

I’ve since retired due to age.” Ye Chen was surprised. He hadn't expected this unassuming elder to be a high-ranking official in the Ministry of National Defense.

No wonder the military specifically dispatched a team for his rescue, and that he resided in such a luxurious building. “Young man, if you ever need help with anything in the future, come find me.

My name is Guo Cheng,” the old man said heartily, laughing. “Understood!” Ye Chen nodded.

Perhaps when he eventually found blueprints for weaponry from the prehistoric civilization ruins, he might genuinely need this old man’s assistance. “Prehistoric civilization…” Ye Chen murmured internally, a resolution hardening in his heart.

Next month, once he secured the rank of General, he would leave the Base City and seek out all those ancient ruins. Some ruins were too dangerous, like the one beneath the Bermuda Triangle; the entrance alone was guarded by seven or eight Sea Dragon Kings, let alone exploring inside for treasures.

Therefore, enhancing his strength was paramount. According to records from his previous life, after next month, the Huaxia Base City would excavate the spatial connection point leading to the Atlantean civilization ruins.

This Atlantis ruin was extremely advanced, classified as a Tier Six site, spanning an area the size of a city. Rumor had it that it contained numerous mechanisms and exceedingly powerful guardian beasts!

In his past life, this ruin was claimed by the Huaxia Base City and became their stronghold, though the exact details were never made public. Ye Chen only knew what he had heard through hearsay; besides the location of the spatial connection point, he knew of only one other thing—Divine Blood!

In his previous life, this item ranked first on the World Treasure List, yet no one ever discovered its true purpose, only that whoever obtained the Divine Blood would ultimately achieve eternal life! It was said that in the former life, the Divine Blood fell into the hands of a supreme powerhouse within the Huaxia Base City.

With the "Divine Blood," that person leaped beyond the ranks of the Ten Super Warriors, transcending the "King" and "Emperor" tiers to earn the title of "Di" (Emperor)! His power was terrifyingly immense, making him one of the world’s absolute top figures and the definitive trump card for the Huaxia Base City at that time!

Tragically, this powerhouse ultimately perished beneath the Bermuda Triangle, crushed into dust by the combined forces of countless sea monsters, and the Divine Blood vanished without a trace. Ye Chen joined the Base City for many reasons, the most critical being the acquisition of this "Divine Blood!" He had considered going alone to sneak into the Atlantean ruins and quietly retrieve the "Divine Blood." However, a Tier Six ruin’s level of danger was unimaginable for an ordinary person, involving intricate mechanisms of all kinds: labyrinths, runic puzzles, death corridors, and intellectual challenges—traps notoriously characteristic of ruins like Atlantis, incredibly difficult to bypass.

The guardian beasts at the entrance alone required heavy artillery like laser cannons to defeat. Ye Chen felt he would need to reach the Iron Realm strength of Level 1000 to have a chance of infiltrating alone without being detected.

Although entering with the Base City army meant others might try to seize it, the risk was significantly lower than going solo. Furthermore, even if someone managed to snatch it, Ye Chen was prepared to kill that person without hesitation and take it back!