Chapter 40 - Wang Zhi

Chapter 40: Wang ZhiIn addition to Dongdu, other shelters of varying sizes had emerged. Some were large, housing thousands or even tens of thousands of people, while others were smaller, with only a few hundred or even just a few dozen individuals.

The Qin family’s approach to these shelters was a combination of recruitment and subjugation. Shelters near Dongdu were directly forced to become vassals. Most of these shelters chose to submit, becoming satellite outposts surrounding Dongdu. 

Under the vast shade of Dongdu, these smaller shelters had no ability to resist and instead saw advantages in submission. By pledging allegiance to Dongdu, they received supplies and weapons, significantly boosting their self-preservation capabilities. 

However, in return, these satellite shelters were required to provide services, intelligence, and resources to the Qin family.

Even the evolved individuals in these shelters viewed this as an opportunity for advancement. They needed to earn enough merit points to enter Dongdu and become direct subordinates of the Qin family

. Within the hearts of these evolved individuals, there was a strong desire to enter Dongdu. While they might enjoy a certain level of dominance in their current shelters, the resources and luxuries there were severely lacking.

In Dongdu, an apocalyptic metropolis rich in resources, anything could be found. Although entering Dongdu meant they could no longer be the top dogs, they would still enjoy a privileged status. 

For some, being the head of a chicken was better than being the tail of a phoenix. But for most, the life of a phoenix’s tail was far more appealing.

However, the Qin family was very selective about the external evolved individuals they accepted. They didn’t indiscriminately expand their forces by taking in everyone. 

While evolved individuals were indeed a critical force in the apocalypse, the Qin family wasn’t desperate for rapid expansion like some upstarts. 

They understood that absorbing these individuals without discretion would lead to internal conflicts, factions, and infighting, weakening their true strength.

The Qin family’s decision-makers were clear-headed. They had the resources and the foundation to be selective about who they accepted. 

In the apocalypse, what was needed was not only individual power but also effective governance and management capabilities.

Some large shelters were chaotic and filled with conflict mainly because their leaders, who suddenly found themselves in positions of power, lacked the knowledge and experience to manage people and resources effectively.

In contrast, the Qin family, being an established top-tier bureaucratic aristocracy, excelled in management. 

Their government institutions remained largely intact, allowing them to re-establish order quickly and manage Dongdu’s millions of inhabitants efficiently.

—

After the apocalypse, people discovered not only the appearance of zombies but also significant changes in the earth’s surface. The planet seemed to have expanded, with distances between places increasing substantially. Forests grew rapidly overnight, resembling tropical rainforests. 

The T-virus also seemed to have affected flora and fauna, causing them to mutate into extremely aggressive forms. Some animals even grew to the size of dinosaurs, becoming highly destructive and violent.

Several smaller shelters were entirely wiped out by these mutated creatures. The world had become a place filled with dangers at every turn.

—

On a highway, a modified off-road vehicle sped along. The vehicle, covered in spikes and bearing a post-apocalyptic wasteland aesthetic, was splattered with blood, indicating a perilous journey.

“Uncle, we’re almost in Dongdu territory,” said the girl in the passenger seat, looking at the map and speaking to the middle-aged man driving the vehicle.

The girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, was exceptionally beautiful, with striking features that naturally exuded vitality and strength.

The middle-aged man replied, “The map isn’t accurate anymore; the surface has expanded significantly. We probably need another two to three hours.”

He then spoke with resentment, “That Blood Bear is truly despicable. We had no choice this time, but if we’re going to be someone’s dog, it might as well be the Qin family’s dog. Blood Bear is nothing compared to them!”

The middle-aged man, named Wang Hai, had been a project manager for a construction company before the apocalypse and had awakened a D-level ability to control fire. 

The girl, Wang Zhi, was his niece and had awakened a B-level ability for shadow camouflage. 

The uncle and niece were lucky to have both awakened abilities. After the apocalypse, they gathered about three hundred survivors and established a small shelter.

Blood Bear, mentioned earlier, was the most powerful evolved individual near Donghua City, possessing an A-level transformation ability. 

He could transform into a massive bear with incredible defense and destructive power, impervious to bullets. Thus, he was known as Blood Bear.

Blood Bear ruled a large shelter with tens of thousands of survivors and over twenty evolved individuals under his command, making him the dominant force in Donghua City. 

Initially, Blood Bear coexisted peacefully with other shelters. However, a few days ago, he decided to unify Donghua City under his rule, issuing an ultimatum to other shelters: submit or be destroyed.

Many shelters surrendered, but some evolved individuals refused to comply. Consequently, Blood Bear led his forces in a campaign to annex these shelters.

Wang Hai’s shelter was also attacked and fell within half an hour. In the ensuing chaos, they managed to escape in a vehicle, heading towards Dongdu.

Wang Zhi expressed concern, “Uncle, I’ve heard that the Qin family doesn’t accept just anyone.” sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NʘvᴇlFɪre.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Wang Hai, with a confident expression, reassured her, “Don’t worry. We’re not going empty-handed. That Zombie King is about to complete its evolution. It’s a valuable asset, and the Qin family will definitely be interested.”