The City Management Bureau, responsible for overseeing everything in the Base City, was led by the young man in white, which brought Ye Chen a considerable measure of ease, as given the latter's martial talent, he could fully temper the Base City’s troops into an elite force.
The young man in white frowned slightly upon hearing Ye Chen’s words, pondered for a moment, and then nodded: “Agreed!”
Ye Chen glanced around, his tone level. “We’ll discuss the rest in a private space later.” With that, his figure flickered, vanishing into thin air, exiting the virtual world directly.
Everyone present watched Ye Chen depart as casually as he had spoken, showing a measure of astonishment.
The burly man and the strapping young man in the audience rushed to surround the young man in white, bombarding him with questions. Xu Tianguo, understanding Ye Chen’s intent, waited until the three brothers finished their conversation before approaching to clarify the subsequent arrangements.
“The Boss is waiting in the luxurious conference hall within the virtual world. You will receive an invitation shortly; just go meet him there to discuss matters,” Xu Tianguo said with a slight, elegant smile.
The young man in white glanced at him. Although he privately held a slight disdain for the other man’s combat techniques, he had to concede that this man possessed his own unique strengths, and considering they would likely be colleagues, he gave a slight nod, a touch of surprise in his voice. “The luxurious conference hall?”
Having spent considerable time in the virtual world, he was aware of many of its facilities, including rumors of an exceptionally opulent hall reserved exclusively for those of high status.
Xu Tianguo smiled faintly and said no more.
As soon as the young man in white spoke, he felt a flicker of regret, inwardly chiding himself. Given Ye Chen’s status and standing, visiting that luxurious hall was hardly a challenge for him.
Not long after, the three brothers each received an invitation.
“Confirm entry into the Luxurious Conference Hall [Y/N]?”
“Yes!”
The three confirmed simultaneously. Their figures flickered, disappearing, and they reappeared outside an incredibly lavish hall.
Even with the young man in white’s composure, the scene before him caused a genuine shock. The entire palace hall seemed suspended amidst the clouds, a bridge of rainbow light spanned beneath their feet. In the distance, celestial springs flowed, cranes cried out, and ethereal music drifted on the air. Behind the swirling mists, fleeting, graceful silhouettes seemed to dance, beckoning the eye.
While the three were momentarily stunned, a small, delicate girl, resembling a sprite, approached them. She led the trio outside the palace to a large bathing pool, where clear spring water flowed, emitting gentle steam.
Ye Chen was submerged in the pool, eyes closed, meditating. Two virtual beauties were tending to his shoulders and back. Although everything in the virtual world was illusory, the tactile sensation was strikingly realistic—a kind of free indulgence.
“Come in,” Ye Chen spoke without opening his eyes, yet seeming to perceive all three brothers clearly, his tone placid.
The young man in white surveyed his surroundings, his gaze sharp. Without ceremony, he stepped into the hot spring first, immediately feeling the warm water, imbued with a strange fragrance, soothe him exquisitely, washing away all fatigue.
Ye Chen slowly opened his eyes, letting his gaze sweep over the three figures. He spoke calmly, “Once you enter the Base City, I will specially establish a City Management Department with authority exceeding all other major departments. You can go anywhere to scout for talent and incorporate them, expanding your own influence. As for the strength development of the City Management Department, I will not contribute a single cent.”
The young man in white stared at him intently. “You mean, I recruit every single member of the City Management Department myself? Aren’t you afraid I’ll lead this department to rebellion?”
Ye Chen replied calmly, “You won’t.” His voice carried absolute certainty.
The young man in white paused for a beat, scrutinizing Ye Chen for a long moment, then let out a slight, cold laugh. “I wouldn’t be so sure. I told you, one day I will defeat you!”
Ye Chen’s response was mild. “That is a personal matter, and you are welcome to try anytime. What I’m tasking you with now is to build up the City Management Department. In future monster sieges, they will be the vanguard. This department will become the most powerful force in the Base City, superseding the military. Therefore, I hope you handle this seriously.”
The young man in white stood proudly. “That is a given. I never mix public duty with personal grudges! As long as you provide me with sufficient resources, I can forge you the strongest City Management Department and help you conquer the world!”
Ye Chen nodded. “Don’t worry about resources. Give your real-world coordinates to Xu Tianguo later. After some time, he will arrange for experts to escort you and, while they’re at it, enhance your physical constitutions in the real world. Until then, train your combat skills here in the virtual world. For anything else you need, just tell Xu Tianguo directly.”
The young man in white agreed wholeheartedly.
Ye Chen felt a surge of anticipation in his heart. Given the young man’s capabilities, if resources were adequate, Ye Chen was confident his achievements wouldn’t fall short of his past life. If he could forge three thousand, or even more, individuals skilled in combat arts, the City Management Department alone would be capable of conquering the world. This was no idle boast; in fact, with the current nine Divine-Grade experts of the Xuanyuan Clan, conquering the world was already achievable!
However…
Just then, the Ice Age arrived.
The burly man beside the young man in white, seeing his respected elder brother clearly at a disadvantage against Ye Chen, grew indignant and muttered, “Hmph. If my big brother hadn’t been captured by that bastard back then, his achievements now wouldn’t be any less than yours!”
Ye Chen opened one eye and glanced at him. “Who captured you?”
The burly man puffed out his chest with arrogance. “When the apocalypse broke out, the three of us brothers were training. Suddenly, a person barged in. He saw how decent our combat training was and forcefully captured us! Normally, with our strength, dealing with that person would have been simple, but he was a Transcendent Realm expert—in the early days of the apocalypse, that was a [Redacted] level existence!”
“So, after we were captured, that person forced us to teach him our combat skills. But martial skills can’t be mastered in a day or two. As time passed, eventually, during an exterior hunt, that man was seriously wounded by a monster and stumbled back. We showed him outward respect, but secretly, we conspired and killed him, consuming his flesh and blood. But by then, our strength had lagged too far behind. Many monsters had evolved to be even stronger under the virus. Even with our powerful skills, we couldn't kill them all.”
“Otherwise, with the capability of us three brothers, we would have soared since the beginning of the apocalypse, slaying gods and demons alike, becoming famous figures long ago!” The burly man finished in one breath and then glared at Ye Chen with disdain, as if to imply, ‘Your current status is only due to my concessions.’
Ye Chen nodded slightly. With the strength these three brothers possessed, only now beginning to show promise felt somewhat sluggish. He glanced at the burly man and said, “Luck is also a part of strength. In a while, I will have Xu Tianguo enhance your constitutions. From then on, it’s up to you to perform.”
The burly man’s eyes lit up. “Really?” Ye Chen closed his eyes and did not speak further.
In the following days, the virtual world hosted a grand Challenge Tournament. Anyone who could distinguish themselves in the competition and capture the favor of the young man in white could join the Bright Base City’s strongest department!
These days were incredibly lively, with many previously unknown individuals signing up to participate.
Ye Chen, however, did not re-enter the virtual world. He calculated the time; recently, a massive catastrophe should be unfolding on Earth: the cooling!
Indeed, just as Ye Chen predicted, the northern regions of the Earth had already completely turned into glaciers and ice sheets. Many monsters unable to escape were frozen solid. This cold air swept across the globe, expanding southward, covering the Xinjiang region of China in snow and ice, continuing down through areas like Guangxi and Shenzhen.
Time flowed on…
August 20th, Year 1 of the Dark Era!
The Ice Age arrived in full force!
Xu Tianguo approached Ye Chen’s cultivation chamber door, exclaiming with surprise, “President, today when I took the Purple Cloud Island Master and others out to fish, we found that the sea outside had solidified into ice! If all that seawater freezes completely, we can walk out!” Ye Chen opened his eyes, remained silent for a moment, then rose and walked out. “Tell the Purple Cloud Island Master and the others to assemble at the ruins entrance. Also, mobilize the men and prepare to chisel the ice!”
“Yes!” Xu Tianguo responded with excitement.
Ye Chen gazed into the distance, his eyes reflecting an unknown light. “The Ice Age will last two years, followed by the Volcanic Age. Five months have passed so far—one and a half years remain!” The arrival of the Volcanic Age meant…
All life on Earth would be completely annihilated, not even microorganisms would survive!
The sheer thought of the earth covered in lava, ozone gases, and dust blocking out the sky was unimaginable…………
“The Volcanic Age will last three years. During that time, we must find the Gate to the Ancient World. Otherwise, retreating into the ruins again, our stored provisions definitely won’t last two years, unless one is completely alone!”
“Based on the current situation, the passage to the Gate of the Ancient World should have opened on Earth, but it can only be unlocked by reaching the Ghost-God Realm. I have one and a half years left to break through to the Ghost-God Realm…” Ye Chen’s brow furrowed deeply. He took a step out, his worries somewhat suppressed within his heart.
In the plaza, a large crowd had gathered. Through the broadcast speakers, everyone knew they could finally leave and return to humanity’s home: Earth!
After these past few days, many ordinary people were running low on supplies and facing starvation. Hearing they could finally leave the ruins, they rejoiced.
As long as they could get out, they could find a way to acquire provisions, whereas inside the ruins, there was no way unless… they resorted to cannibalism! Or rebellion!
The Purple Cloud Island Master and the others hovered in the air, orbiting Ye Chen. As the seal on the ruins opened, everyone looked up. This time, seawater did not fall, but a sheet of ice!
“Chisel it open!” Ye Chen commanded.
The Heavenly Palace Island Master took a step forward, his eyes blazing with fighting spirit. Clenching his fist, he shot forward like an arrow, his entire body surging with power, impacting the ice sheet. In a short time, he carved a massive hole with a diameter of ten zhang.
Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!
The Heavenly Palace Island Master drew his battle saber, sweeping it left and right, shattering the ice into fragments that floated down. Within some of these ice chunks were the frozen corpses of fish monsters.