The General’s Encampment, built like an estate, was surrounded by soaring perimeter walls, sectioned into four cardinal directions—East, South, West, and North—each featuring a grand entrance resembling a miniature castle.

Within these walls stretched expansive green lawns; this area was once a golf course, subsequently repurposed as the residence for the Generals. The construction, overseen by the meticulous efforts of over a hundred thousand personnel assigned to the building division, did not consume much time in erecting some eighty dome-shaped structures. This was due to the sheer manpower available, coupled with the fact that these workers were handpicked architectural talents. Furthermore, the dome architecture adhered to future design concepts, utilizing ETFE fluororesin as the building material—a steel-strength composite impervious to climatic shifts—and employing prefabricated assembly techniques that allowed for rapid completion. Beyond serving as offices, hotels, and museums, these structures were also designed as emergency shelters.

Stretching out before the eye, the dome buildings resembled snail shells, arranged in a semi-encircling pattern, as if numerous snails had crawled across the manicured lawn. Each residence plot was meticulously planned, occupying minimal space. All newly constructed buildings erected after the apocalypse adopted this style for its ease of construction, time efficiency, and ability to house a large population without excessive wasted space.

“Let’s go!” Qin Feng stepped out of the vehicle, glanced at Ye Chen, and then led the way toward the main gate.

Ye Chen followed closely. Bai Long and the others, witnessing the multitude of structures scattered across the vast lawn, felt a momentary sense of awe before quickly hurrying to keep up.

As they approached the main entrance, a surveillance lens automatically scanned Qin Feng’s chest. Upon recognizing the 'General' insignia, the massive gate swung open. Then, a beam of red light, similar to infrared, swept over Ye Chen and the others, capturing their likenesses and transmitting the data to the General’s Camp Administration Section within the Information Department.

“This will be your residence from now on,” Qin Feng said with a smile as they walked. “Once you reach General rank, unless you are assigned a critical mission, you’ll generally have free time. I’ll take you to see your quarters first, and shortly after, you’ll receive notification of your appointment.”

Ye Chen nodded.

“Hey! Qin Feng, are these your friends?” Several passing men spotted Qin Feng and greeted him casually with smiles.

“This is the newly appointed General,” Qin Feng indicated Ye Chen, laughing. “Please look after him, everyone.”

“No problem, no problem at all,” the men chuckled, casting only brief glances at Ye Chen, not paying him much attention. Generals frequently fell in battle, and new ones were constantly being inducted; they had witnessed such turnover too many times.

Along the path, many people saw Qin Feng and greeted him with smiles, suggesting he was quite well-liked.

“That young man wearing the hat, his name is Qian Hao; he serves under Boss Hua. He arrived not long before you,” Qin Feng pointed out a youth reclining lazily beneath a large tree nearby, saying with a smile.

“Qian Hao?” Ye Chen started, unable to help but study the young man a few extra times. “Is he the one known in our previous life at the Huaxia Base City as the Straw Hat God of Slaughter?”

“That man over there, his name is Chen Hao, another very powerful newcomer,” Qin Feng said, his tone becoming slightly serious as he looked toward a young man performing push-ups nearby.

Ye Chen turned his head to look. The young man was quite handsome, with a buzz cut, cold, sharp eyes, and a powerfully built physique. He was relentlessly doing push-ups, sweat pouring off him in streams.

It wasn't with two hands. It was with a single finger!

All of his strength was focused on one digit to execute the push-up. For any individual at the General level, this feat wasn't difficult. But for an ordinary person, it was as impossible as ascending to the heavens.

“It really is him!” Ye Chen’s eyes narrowed. He had heard this young man’s name frequently in his past life. Though not as famous as the Ten Great Gene Warriors, he was a household name within China and an exceedingly formidable figure in the Huaxia Base City, whom few dared to provoke.

“Many of the most brilliant and renowned figures from the previous era have gathered here. Starting from such a high benchmark, their future accomplishments will be even more astonishing,” Ye Chen felt a surge of heat in his chest. Once he established his own base city, if he could recruit all these influential figures to form the world’s foremost power base, perhaps it could even rival the Dark City!

“Come on, your residence is right over there,” Qin Feng smiled and led the way. Before long, they arrived in front of one of the dome buildings.

Looking up.

Towering, vast, and imposing.

Qin Feng produced a key, unlocked the large wooden door, and then tossed the key to Ye Chen, saying with a smile, “This is where you’ll be living from now on.”

Ye Chen caught the key, and the group proceeded inside.

The ground floor housed a spacious main hall, segmented into several distinct areas: a dining zone, a training room, living quarters, and so on. Generals usually took their meals at designated times; kitchen staff would push carts laden with food to each General's door. The chefs in these kitchens were top-tier talents from the international culinary world.

“I need to leave now. If you need anything, you can find me at Building 58 in the south section. Someone will brief you on the rest of the details shortly,” Qin Feng admitted with a hint of frustration. “It’s so inconvenient without phones or any form of communication. However, once the base city infrastructure is fully established, everything will operate normally, just like in the old world.”

Ye Chen nodded. “Travel safely.”

Qin Feng gave him a wry look before turning and departing.

After Qin Feng left, Ye Chen turned to Bai Long and the others. “I’ll take you to meet a High Commander later. Don’t display excessive strength then; just manage to secure the rank of Major General.”

Bai Long questioned, “Why?”

“Next month, we are heading to a dangerous location. If our rank is too high, we’ll be assigned more arduous tasks, increasing our risk of falling.”

The realization dawned on them all.

Not long afterward...

A man in camouflage uniform approached, holding a file between his fingers. He knocked lightly and smiled. “Is Major General Ye here?”

“Please come in,” Ye Chen’s voice came from inside.

The camouflage-clad man smiled slightly, pushed the door open, and took in the sight of the lavish hall. His gaze then settled on Ye Chen and the group relaxing on the sofa in the center of the living room. He glanced at Bai Long and the others with slight surprise but quickly dismissed it, walking over and saying genially, “I am sent from the Military Affairs Department. This is your letter of appointment.”

Ye Chen accepted it smoothly and read through it carefully.

It detailed numerous rules and conditions, as well as the monthly military stipend.

Major General: Eligible for 10 bottles of Level 10 Gene Serum monthly! Lieutenant General: Eligible for 10 bottles of Level 15 Gene Serum monthly! General: Eligible for 10 bottles of Level 20 Gene Serum monthly!

Typically, reaching the rank of General required a minimum Constitution level of 20! Moreover, for a General to be promoted to Commander, they needed to meet established standards across weapon knowledge, combat strategy, and leadership before promotion could occur. Otherwise, even with a Constitution level of 30, if they were utterly clueless about firearms or tactics, they would remain only at the rank of General, not Commander.

Furthermore, every Major General could command two military camps! A Lieutenant General could command two Major Generals as assistants! A General could command two Lieutenant Generals!

Within the base city, there were very few restrictions placed on Generals. Essentially, as long as they avoided actions causing massive losses to the city, they were free to do as they pleased. The singular prohibition was against mutual slaughter or private duels! If they wished to spar, they must go to the Military Platform! Violators of this rule faced severe penalties: suspension at minimum, or expulsion and assassination in extreme cases!

The two military camps Ye Chen was taking charge of were designated: Camp 89 and Camp 90.

“The Major General originally assigned to these two camps unfortunately perished during a mission. His camps are now yours to inherit upon your induction,” the camouflage-clad man stated with a polite smile.

Ye Chen nodded.

The document also listed other benefits, such as receiving discounts at hotels and shops affiliated with the Base City Commercial Department. Weapons could be purchased using military merit; a Major General received a 40% discount—a weapon costing one hundred thousand merit points would only require sixty thousand. The sole condition: non-transferable. They could only buy and use the items themselves; they could not pass them to others.

“I’ve read it,” Ye Chen closed the file and tossed it casually onto the table. “Where is the General’s medal?”

The camouflage-clad man smiled, retrieved a black badge from his pocket, embroidered with the 'General' insignia, and handed it to Ye Chen, saying cheerfully, “If you have any inquiries, you can always proceed to the center of the General’s Encampment. There is a commercial street there, with high-end hotels and luxury venues specifically established for the Generals’ use, all available at minimal cost.”

Ye Chen nodded.

Such amenities were standard in most base cities. China, with its nearly 1.4 billion people before the virus, was reduced to about one-third of that number, around 400 million, and many more had fallen to the claws of monsters, leaving fewer than one hundred million survivors!

As the base cities expanded, when the military undertook missions outside, any individuals they rescued would earn extra military merit. Those saved would be assigned different jobs based on their specific skills. Even those deemed least useful could be put to work growing crops or serving as staff in these luxurious venues designed for the soldiers who routinely risked their lives on the front lines.

Every mission was akin to brushing shoulders with Death. After intense combat, many people craved a place to vent, to relax, and to fill the emptiness inside them. Most of their families had been shattered or left incomplete during the apocalypse. The most tragic realization was the inability to protect their dearest women, forced only to watch them turn into zombies or be devoured.

What remained for a person who had lost family, friends, and lovers? After the tension and stimulation of battle, only emptiness remained. At that point, they needed an outlet, otherwise, prolonged suppression would lead to madness—to hacking and killing whomever they encountered.