Huang Tianci hesitated for a moment, then finally downed the water in his bowl in one gulp. Setting the bowl down, he managed a bitter laugh. "In any case, our lives were given to us by you. Otherwise, we'd still be drifting outside, perhaps already dead in the bellies of zombies. I once promised that no matter what you ask me to do, I would never refuse."

Ye Chen nodded slightly.

Xu Tianguo, standing beside them, fell silent for a moment, then also picked up his porcelain bowl and drank it all.

Ye Chen turned his gaze to Zhou Zicheng.

Faced with Ye Chen's stare, Zhou Zicheng managed a strained smile, raising his bowl. He looked at the clear, plain water within, a flicker of struggle crossing his eyes. He took a tentative sip, realizing it didn't have the noxious taste he had anticipated, and asked with suspicion, "Is this really poison?"

Ye Chen's expression was as usual. "Of course it is. This poison is colorless and odorless. If someone with your constitution could detect it, then who could this poison possibly harm?"

Zhou Zicheng was momentarily speechless. He stole a glance at Ye Chen, finding no flaw on his face, and finally confirmed that he wasn't lying. With no other recourse, he had no choice but to tilt his head back and drink the boiled water.

Seeing that all three had finished, Ye Chen nodded with satisfaction and cautioned them, "Avoid eating sugary foods regularly; it will accelerate the onset of the poison."

Xu Tianguo and the others nodded one after another, their conviction growing stronger.

Afterward, Ye Chen assigned a few tasks and then departed alone, returning to the General's Encampment. Instead of heading toward the residences, he walked directly to the center of the Encampment. This area had originally been the West Mountain Sunshine Golf Course but had since been converted. In the middle now stood a square fighting enclosure, one hundred meters on each side, encircled by wooden barriers.

This was the Arena.

Those who attained the rank of General were invariably above ordinary men, their spirits nurtured into a proud and arrogant state. None were willing to yield to the others, and compounded by the residual effects of slaughter, they often developed violent tendencies. Sometimes, if someone displeased them, they couldn't engage in private fights due to the Base City's regulations. In such cases, they could come to the Arena to battle. Once inside, even if killed during the fight, it was considered a dead-for-nothing; the victor would face no penalty.

Not far from the Arena was the sub-branch of the Information Department. Beside that building stood a tent resembling a yurt—this was the application center for the Arena.

As Ye Chen approached, he saw a table set up under the shade of a tree. A young man in casual wear leaned on the table, chin propped in his hand, staring vacantly into the distance, clearly idle.

Hearing footsteps, the youth instantly snapped awake. He turned to look at Ye Chen, startled, and quickly stood up, bowing respectfully, "Greetings, General."

Ye Chen nodded. "I wish to file an application: a challenge against Yun Shaojing."

"Yun Shaojing?" The youth paused slightly, then his eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean Commander Yun Shaojing, the strongest man in the entire Base City?"

Ye Chen confirmed with a nod.

The youth glanced at the bronze-colored General's token on Ye Chen’s chest, hesitated, and ultimately said nothing more. He swiftly completed the registration. "Commander Yun is currently not in the Base City; he went into the wilderness to hunt monsters. Once he returns, we will contact you immediately and notify you."

Ye Chen nodded lightly, then turned and left.

Not long after his departure, the high-ranking personnel in charge of the Arena were urgently summoned together. Looking at the Challenge Letter placed on the table, they exchanged glances, all filled with astonishment.

"Who is this Ye Chen? A mere Major General, yet he challenges Commander Yun?"

"Utterly audacious."

"This man seems to be a recent arrival, likely aiming for quick fame by targeting Commander Yun. How ridiculous. Commander Yun's strength is unfathomable, towering above all other Generals and Commanders. Challenging him isn't seeking death; it's suicide."

"This person is just a reckless brute, utterly foolish."

"Never mind that. Just contact him once Commander Yun returns from the wild."

...

Soon after, news reached the residence of Hua Bùluò.

"An Arena challenge against Yun Shaojing?" Hua Bùluò asked the youth who brought the message, "Are you certain?"

The youth hastily replied, "Absolutely confirmed. The Arena has already begun planning the logistics."

Hua Bùluò frowned.

The black-clad youth named "Yin," standing beside him, remained expressionless. "Haven't you always wanted to deal with Yun Shaojing? This is your opportunity—let him test the waters."

Hua Bùluò’s expression grew serious, his brow tightly knit. "It's not that simple. Within the Base City, the strongest factions are mine, Yun Shaojing's, and those led by Tang Zhu, Xiao Feng, and Qin Lan—four main groups. Tang Zhu derives his primary strength from the support of the Ministry of Commerce; Xiao Feng is backed by the Ministry of Construction; Qin Lan is the sole supporter from the Ministry of Science and Research."

"My faction is supported by the Information Department, and we have Bing Yun anchoring us; only she can directly counter Yun Shaojing. The other ministries, like Production, all support Yun Shaojing. Between him and me, our power bases are the strongest, with the peak martial strength roughly equal. However, he commands the massive Ministry of Production, giving him an overwhelmingly powerful subordinate network. With the forces I currently control, I cannot afford a direct confrontation."

Hua Bùluò walked to the window, gazing into the distance, a hint of worry etched in his features. "This Ye Chen is too reckless. His unsolicited challenge to Yun Shaojing will make the other factions believe I intend to engage Yun Shaojing in outright war. I fear Yun Shaojing will suspect the same. Once this starts, the entire balance will shift dramatically. If we face Yun Shaojing directly, we are at a disadvantage. All the strength we have painstakingly accumulated could be suppressed, allowing the other three factions to take advantage and devour us."

The power struggles among the top brass involved immense stakes. Unless one possessed power so overwhelming it inspired dread and despair in the enemy, strategy was paramount.

"What do you plan to do?" the black-clad youth asked coldly.

Hua Bùluò was silent for a long time before sighing. "Dismiss him. Although we invested considerable effort and expense to elevate him to the General rank, we have no choice but to abandon him."

"Dismiss him now?" The black-clad youth frowned. "If he dared to issue the challenge, he must have confidence. Why not wait until after the match? If he fails, then dismiss him. If he succeeds, we gain a massive asset. With the assistance of these two supreme martial powers, Bing Yun and him, seizing control of the Base City would not be difficult."

Hua Bùluò shook his head. "By then, it will be too late."

The black-clad youth said no more.

Hua Bùluò stared out, an inexplicable restlessness troubling him. He felt as though he were overlooking something vital.

...

Shortly thereafter, the other major factions also received the news.

In an elegantly landscaped garden, a woman clad in a purple-red shirt and denim shorts sat on a wide stone chair, admiring the scenery. She had decorated this place to resemble a fairyland—at least, such beauty was virtually extinct in the apocalypse.

"Ye Chen?" A faint, cold curve touched the lips of the peerlessly beautiful woman. "What a bold man. When he was a soldier, he fought Yun Shaojing, the strongest in the Base City, over a woman. Now that he’s a General, he proactively issues a challenge for a fight to the death. Some call him reckless, yet he has survived this long..."

This woman was Qin Lan, one of the four behemoths governing the Base City.

...

In another high-grade residence.

"What? Ye Chen, this newly arrived Major General, is challenging Yun Shaojing?"

"Yes, sir."

"It seems Hua Bùluò's accumulated influence has become substantial. We must prepare for a war against Yun Shaojing."

"Sir, we just received word—Hua Bùluò has already dismissed Ye Chen."

"What? Dismissed him?"

"...Yes, sir."

"So, this Ye Chen challenged Yun Shaojing entirely on his own initiative? He wasn't instigated by anyone?"

"...Yes, sir."

"He is truly a madman. I don't know whether to call him incredibly foolish or utterly brainless. He has no idea how terrifying that monster Yun Shaojing is. Damn it, when the Base City was first established, many monsters attacked. Yun Shaojing was a terrifying sight, wading through the monsters, covered head-to-toe in blood."

"...Indeed."

...

Elsewhere.

"Challenging Yun Shaojing?"

"This isn't seeking death; it's outright suicide."

"Such is the fearlessness of the ignorant. That monster Yun Shaojing is someone even we dare not provoke. Only that fierce woman can truly oppose him."

"When is the fight scheduled? I want to go watch."

"The exact time isn't confirmed yet. Yun Shaojing is out in the wilderness and unreachable."

...

In his residence, Ye Chen looked at a notice placed before him. Its content was simple: In view of your violation of organizational rules, you are hereby dismissed.

Hua Bùluò had expelled him.

A smile curved the corner of Ye Chen’s mouth.

Once you join a faction and get entangled in their conflicts, actively withdrawing is nearly impossible; it requires paying a tenfold penalty, or you will be hunted. But if you are dismissed voluntarily, the situation is entirely different—no compensation is required.