Chapter 4: Outpost

The base Lily lived in was neither large nor small; roughly the size of a village. Most buildings had been reinforced with steel plates and nails.

The three arrived at the village outskirts.

Lily patted the wolf’s head. The gray wolf obediently sank into the shadows.

Zhang Yujun could tell the wolf wasn’t from another dimension but born from Lily’s mind. She could summon more than one.

“I’ll take you to meet Mister.” Lily looked at the two with a headache, seriously warning, “You promised; no causing trouble in the village.”

“Don’t worry. We won’t harm anyone unprovoked.” Chen Zhao said gently.

Meaning: if someone started it, he’d have to respond.

Lily had no choice. She just wanted to get rid of them quickly.

Though similar people had come before, this time felt completely different.

The three entered the village. It was night. Zhang Yujun sensed no one was asleep; some hid in rooms, some peeked from windows, some watched through door cracks.

Lily reached a lit house; the only place with light.

“Mister, I’m back!”

Lily pushed the door open. Inside sat a thin, pale man. He set down his book, smiled at Lily, then saw the two behind her.

“Lily, so late again, and you brought people back. These two are…”

Lily stepped out, whispered in his ear.

The man’s expression turned serious. He gestured to seats.

“I’m Xu Cheng. Please sit and we’ll talk.”

They sat. Zhang Yujun noticed a prominent scar on Xu Cheng’s face. His body was unusual; considerable power sealed tightly inside.

Curious about her stare, he asked, “You’ve been looking at me. Something to say?”

Zhang Yujun tilted her head, glanced at Chen Zhao, clearly uninterested in speaking.

Xu Cheng didn’t feel awkward and turned to Chen Zhao.

Chen Zhao smiled. “My junior sister isn’t good with words. Let me speak with Mister Xu.”

Xu Cheng nodded. “You’ve come far. Planning a short stay or to settle?”

“Is there a difference?”

“Short stay is welcome. Settling… might not be suitable.” Xu Cheng sighed.

“Reason?” Chen Zhao asked calmly.

Lily looked at Xu Cheng.

Xu Cheng’s gaze lingered on Chen Zhao and Zhang Yujun. He raised a brow. “You really don’t know about the inner city? Our bases report population to the inner city monthly. Newcomers or newborns get extra attention; they even send people to verify.”

Lily added, “Every verification, they take some away. Those taken never return.”

“You two, I don’t know your background, but I hope you leave before the next verification. Otherwise, I won’t hesitate to use force.” Xu Cheng’s gaze was firm.

This was his standard handling of unknown, dangerous outsiders.

The room fell into tense silence.

Xu Cheng and Lily prepared for a sudden attack.

Chen Zhao glanced at Zhang Yujun; she seemed lost in thought. He asked, “What do you think?”

“Whatever Brother decides.”

Zhang Yujun toyed with a strand of hair, head lowered.

Chen Zhao smiled helplessly at Xu Cheng. “Mister Xu, I roughly understand your request. Rest assured, we won’t cause trouble. We just want… to learn more about this world.”

Xu Cheng froze, looking at Chen Zhao in confusion.

Learn about this world?

“Let’s start with the inner city. Mister Xu, tell me everything you know.”

Chen Zhao stood. As he did, everything in the room floated, suspended in air.

He stood in the center, quietly watching Xu Cheng.

Ask Immortal Sect called itself immortal, but to other forces it was far from righteous; only too strong for opposition.

Chen Zhao, born in the orthodox sect, naturally inherited that style.

The fastest way to convince someone was force.

Lily’s expression twisted. She tried summoning wolves, but the shadows didn’t respond.

Xu Cheng felt the overwhelming pressure. His voice came out strained. “You’re… a high-tier source user?”

*

Dawn broke.

Chen Zhao walked to a hillside outside the base, finding the girl already waiting.

Black skirt, long hair to waist, exquisite face glowing in the faint light.

“What do you think of this world, Junior Sister?”

Chen Zhao approached, standing beside Zhang Yujun.

“Thirty years ago, humans on this planet researched a mysterious substance called Source. It enhanced intelligence and promoted brain evolution. After safe testing, they decided to inoculate all humanity.”

Zhang Yujun’s voice was calm, gazing at the wandering living corpses afar.

“At first, Source worked. Human tech advanced rapidly; even humans evolved source users with special abilities. But five years later, Source’s side effects erupted. Over ninety percent of humanity turned into living corpses, losing reason. Survivors suffer Source disease, risking transformation anytime.”

Zhang Yujun looked toward a distant massive steel fortress.

“Survivors gathered, built cities to survive, but resources were scarce. They expelled those with Source disease. The expelled built bases around cities, living off traded resources. Classic plot.” Zhang Yujun glanced at the nearby village.

People were starting work; Lily rode her gray wolf, visiting houses.

“Senior Brother, we have two choices.” Zhang Yujun turned to Chen Zhao. “First, find a place to wait. The Immortal Sect will find us eventually. Second, investigate what Source really is. I suspect it’s some kind of Core Formation item.”

“Core Formation item? Junior Sister is truly knowledgeable.” Chen Zhao wasn’t surprised by her insight. Producing a talisman to teleport from the Immortal Sect to another realm; she likely came from a great family.

“If it’s a Core Formation item, this could be an opportunity we can’t miss.”

Chen Zhao knew how precious Core Formation items were. Golden Core wasn’t just reaching cultivation level; external aid was needed for success.

Higher realms were the same; the higher you climbed, the more you had to fight and seize.

“The most likely place to have Source is the inner city. Senior Brother, what’s your plan?”

Zhang Yujun looked at him.

Source wasn’t the Core Formation item she needed. Better to let Chen Zhao have it; she could also see why he’d slain a Golden Core in Qi Refining.

That was why her attitude toward him was special.

Zhang Yujun had peerless talent and awakened a top Dao Body. She believed her effort matched anyone’s. From childhood, she’d been the heaven’s pride in others’ eyes.

Hearing about Chen Zhao had, for the first time, given her a rare sense of defeat.

She didn’t dislike it. Like with her elder brother, she saw Chen Zhao as a target to surpass.

If opportunity arose, she’d definitely compete with him to see the gap.

That was her reason for treating Chen Zhao specially.