As Old Gu excitedly finished typing the fourth chapter update, he glanced at the Monthly Ticket rankings only to find he had dropped to third place, sending a chill through his entire body! Four chapters already!!!

And the gap with the rival had widened. Today was a double-ticket day for bursts, so just ten more monthly tickets could push him back up!!!

Old Gu is off to write the fifth chapter, begging for those monthly tickets!!! …… Ye Chen glanced over the display but ignored it, walking past the girl.

Since he had reverted to his original appearance, the girl didn't recognize him. She headed straight for the merchandise shelves, selecting a platinum mask etched with simple, cold black patterns.

“How much?” Ye Chen casually picked it up and inquired. The shop owner was an exceptionally beautiful woman with a seductive figure, her neckline plunging dangerously low.

“Since Lord Ye Chen favors it, I’ll just give it to you. I hold such great respect for a great hero like you, I…” “Oh,” Ye Chen replied flatly, taking the mask and turning to leave.

If someone offered it for free, why refuse? The shop owner hadn't finished speaking before Ye Chen was already gone.

She stood stunned for a long moment, then bit her lip, stomped her foot fiercely, but dared not chase after him to demand an explanation. Leaving the armor shop, Ye Chen tucked the mask away and exited the base city, heading for the desolate wilderness.

Only when he was certain no one was around did he take out the mask and put it on, leaving a message for Elvira: “Order a custom mask made for me.” He was heading out to support the Guild’s personnel, making this the perfect opportunity to unveil the identity of “Wolf.” Time was tight; there wasn't enough time for Elvira to forge a proper mask, so he had to make do with this temporary purchase. Putting on the mask, Ye Chen changed into ordinary clothes and darted away.

Since the Serpent Skin Suit hadn't been auctioned yet, he was the only one in the entire city wearing it, so maintaining secrecy was paramount for now. Ye Chen ran along the highway, focusing his Qi energy around his eyes and ears to greatly enhance his hearing and vision, helping him avoid ambushes from monsters, unless they were masters of disguise like the Chameleon Earth Dragon Beast or the Nine-Patterned Python.

Along the run, passing through areas like Zhuozhou City and Dingxing County, he didn't see many zombies as the areas near the highway were sparsely populated. However, with his enhanced sight, Ye Chen could perceive the profound stillness within those towns—like a massive beast crouching, waiting for food to wander in, eerie and terrifying.

“Black!” Ye Chen gestured, opening the Rune Space. The towering silhouette of the Blood-Toothed Tiger shot out.

It eyed Ye Chen’s mask with suspicion, but after the last incident, it was less presumptuous. It dared not ask many questions, offering a sycophantic chuckle, “Boss, you look radiant today, surely you’re blessed by fortune.

What service do you require of Little Black? I will repay you with my utmost effort, through fire and water.

To follow you in this life, Boss, is truly the blessing of three lifetimes…” Ye Chen casually closed the Rune Space, glanced at the tiger, and moved, leaping onto its back. He slapped its flank, his tone cold: “To Dingshou City.” “Roger that!” Little Black cheered, breaking into a full gallop.

Ye Chen felt the strong wind rush against his face. This Blood-Toothed Tiger’s physique was Level 300, making its running speed several times faster than his own.

Furthermore, it saved him significant stamina. If Ye Chen had relied solely on his own strength, by the time he reached Dingshou City, the day would be half over, requiring him to rest a hundred times along the way.

Despite his amazing endurance, he couldn't sustain a rapid, long-distance sprint indefinitely. They hadn’t run for long when… “Hm?” Ye Chen looked ahead.

With his left eye’s vision, he spotted a dark shape moving rapidly down the highway. He focused his gaze, and as the distance closed, he saw the shadow was actually a colossal python, stretching over ten zhang long, coiled across the roadway.

Its scales gleamed, its head was triangular, and its forked tongue was bright red. It seemed to sense the movement and turned its head to look at Ye Chen.

“Boss, what now?” Little Black hesitated, recognizing that this python looked formidable. Ye Chen observed the snake’s scales—they shone brightly, indicating it was nearing the Python-level, likely Level 400.

A cold glint appeared in his eyes. “Kill it!” With the Blood-Toothed Tiger’s strength combined with his own, they had a chance to slay it.

“Alright!” Little Black reluctantly charged forward. “Hiss…” The python saw Ye Chen, let out a roar, and lunged forward.

Ye Chen moved his hand, summoning the blood-red battle saber. He pushed off the Blood-Toothed Tiger’s head with his foot, soaring upward like a great roc spreading its wings, bringing the massive blade down directly onto the python.

The Blood-Toothed Tiger charged from below, attacking from both above and below! “Hiss…” The python whipped its tail around, lashing out at Little Black, while simultaneously snapping its head viciously toward Ye Chen.

Ye Chen held the saber firmly, bringing it down with brutal force, the tip aimed directly at the serpent’s head! Splat!

The razor-sharp saber sliced deep into the python’s skull, easily breaching the scales. The python reacted with incredible speed; as soon as it was struck, it understood the terrifying power of the blade and violently shook its head, flinging the embedded saber—and Ye Chen along with it.

Ye Chen was slammed sideways into the ground with a thud, creating a sizable crater. The back of his clothes was shredded, and his skin was scraped raw, bleeding and stinging fiercely.

At that moment, the python’s head lunged toward him, carrying immense momentum. Ye Chen quickly moved his hand, rolling desperately to the side.

He looked up only to see the python’s head expanding in his vision, barreling toward him too fast to dodge. Ye Chen circulated his Qi throughout his body, bracing the battle saber in front of him, preparing to take the blow head-on.

Suddenly, a tiger’s roar echoed, and the python’s head paused fractionally. Ye Chen seized the opportunity, dodging sideways.

He saw the Blood-Toothed Tiger tackling the python’s body to the ground, its claws raking wildly. “Hiss!!!” The python roared in pain, its tail whipping like a whip, smashing into the Blood-Toothed Tiger.

The blow was heavy, knocking the tiger aside and likely breaking several of its bones. It shot Ye Chen a look, then suddenly shifted its bulk… and twisted away, fleeing into the distance!

Fleeing? Ye Chen paused in surprise, then snapped back to reality.

“Chase!” He surged forward, pursuing it instantly. The python’s body writhed rapidly, burrowing into the nearby urban jungle and vanishing behind a tall building.

When Ye Chen and Little Black caught up, they found a large opening behind the structure—undoubtedly the python’s lair. “Should we follow?” Little Black asked uncertainly.

Ye Chen stared at the opening, shaking his head slightly. “Forget it.

Never pursue a desperate foe. This python is too cunning; it knows that even if it killed us both, it would sustain serious injury.

With our current combined strength, unless I activate Super Mode, killing it inside its lair is unrealistic. Moreover, Little Black’s massive body wouldn’t fit inside.” He couldn't activate Super Mode; otherwise, if he encountered another powerful monster later, he might not even survive.

With this thought, Ye Chen felt an increasing urgency to merge with the second set of Super Human genes. Unfortunately, up to this point, he hadn't found any powerful, speed-specialized mutant monsters… “I hope I can find a speed-type mutant monster when we establish the next base city.

That way, defending against the monster siege will be much more certain,” Ye Chen mused silently, then moved, leaping back onto the Blood-Toothed Tiger’s back. “Let’s go!” Little Black didn't linger, returning to the highway and racing onward.

Long after the pair had gone far, the python slowly emerged from the ground. Following behind it was another, even larger python.

The two serpents scanned the area for a moment, then slipped back underground. In the wilderness.

Ye Chen sat on the Blood-Toothed Tiger’s back, running at top speed. Midway, they stopped to rest ten times.

Little Black was left panting and utterly exhausted, its stamina heavily depleted before they finally reached Dingshou City. Ye Chen dismissed Little Black and proceeded alone toward Xizhu Valley Village.

Early in the apocalypse, he had acquired a map, and following its route, he easily located the village. After a short rest, he walked in, beginning to search for settlement pioneers.

On the desolate streets, newspapers fluttered aimlessly; there was no sound of human life. Vehicles lay haphazardly across the road, and dark, dried blood stained the pavement, mixed with severed limbs and decaying remains crawling with maggots.

Ye Chen walked down the street, the cold wind whipping past, creating an atmosphere of deep desolation. “Click, click!” A faint sound emanated from a nearby corner.

Ye Chen approached and saw a man in a suit clutching a hand, gnawing on it. Blood threads coated his lips, his eyes were pale green and bloodshot, like someone who hadn't slept in hundreds of days.

His fingernails were dark and sharp, and his teeth protruded like a zombie's! Hearing the movement, the zombie turned its head, fixed its gaze on Ye Chen, revealing a savage expression, and let out a low growl before lunging forward.

In its simple mind, one thought dominated: eating the blood of the person before it would grant greater strength! Ye Chen frowned slightly, about to dispatch it with a casual strike.

Suddenly— Swoosh! A silenced gunshot rang out.

The bullet whistled past Ye Chen’s shoulder as if deflating. With his vision, Ye Chen could track the bullet’s trajectory; he could have caught it easily, but seeing it aimed at the zombie, he paid it no mind.

Thwack! The bullet struck the zombie’s forehead, blowing half its head apart.

Its knees buckled, and it collapsed onto the ground. Footsteps approached from behind.

Ye Chen turned and saw a small squad approaching—six people in total, four men and two women. All were clad in animal hide armor, with magazine pouches strapped to their thighs, guns in hand, and steel blades slung across their backs!

Each member wore a Sunburst Medal pinned to their chest: The Light Guild! “Brother, are you alright?” The leader of the squad, a short-haired man, offered Ye Chen a smile; he looked quite sunny and handsome.

He took a look at Ye Chen, noting his somewhat tattered clothes. “It’s too dangerous here.

With your strength, you shouldn't wander the streets so carelessly; there are zombies everywhere.” Ye Chen eyed the group, “Isn’t the Guild busy with pioneering work? Why are there only a few of you here?” The short-haired man started slightly, then looked at Ye Chen with growing seriousness, his gaze lingering on the mask.

“Who are you? How do you know about these things?” …… Incidentally, every chapter is 3000 characters long.