Chapter 40: Zombie Tower

Shen Zhihong glared at the young guard and asked briskly, "Was that Xiangliu moving toward the city center?"

The young guard nodded in response.

Looking thoughtful, as if recalling something, Shen Zhihong turned his head and asked, "Purple Science University... isn't it right in the East District University Town, just like Jiangning University? How did those students get out?"

The middle-aged guard reacted instantly: "I'll go ask!"

With that, he trotted away.

"The old man and the others are right in the city center... What on earth has appeared over there?" Shen Zhihong muttered to himself, his face darkening as he continued to issue orders: "Go notify Feng Mingjie and the others. Organize the physical evolvers, and have them carry guns."

Watching the figures of the men disappear into the red mist, Shen Zhihong let out a long sigh.

At this stage, the effectiveness of firearms had diminished considerably.

Moreover, even he had no idea what kind of entity could have appeared in the city center to attract the Xiangliu, which hadn't moved on a large scale for over ten days?

"As long as the Seventh Army doesn't run into trouble..."

Shen Zhihong tapped the desk anxiously, the crisp tapping sound bringing him a measure of calm.

The hope for the rise of the Dongming Military Region truly rested in the hands of those green recruits.

Of course, that brat Li Ye didn't count.

If the Dongming Theater really depended on him, he'd probably help count the money after selling them out.

...

Jiangning, city center.

Ninety-seven Chosen Ones were divided into twelve squads, advancing in a dispersed formation.

Although there was a certain distance between the squads, viewed from a bird's-eye view, the twelve squads were arranged diagonally.

They were positioned to form a mutually supportive cross-fire posture, ensuring they could look out for one another.

Lu Xuening's group consisted of seven people, making it the smallest among the twelve squads.

Yet, this very fact spoke volumes about the group's formidable strength.

The frontal battlefield was anchored by Chi Shaomu and Yu Chen, who had awakened the [Glourtony] ability.

The flanks were covered by Xiaoqi; after all, the ability [Shadow Abyss] sounded deeply sinister just by name.

A circle of daggers was hung around his waist, making it clear he was suited only for assassination missions and small-scale skirmishes.

Tang Xiaoxiao and the other two were responsible for enemy scouting, supplies, and medical support.

As for Su Hao... he would surely be of some use in the future.

Xiaoqi scanned his surroundings with vigilance and lowered his voice, "Have you noticed? Starting from the southeast suburbs, the closer we get to the city center, the fewer zombies and mutants there seem to be."

Uncle Chen walked ahead of Xiaoqi with a cold expression, remaining silent.

This shrewd, aging man had been like this ever since Ah Xue died, and the others were long used to it.

Chi Shaomu replied, "I noticed."

Pushing his black-framed glasses back up the bridge of his nose where they had slipped, he continued, "The density of zombies and mutants in the southeast suburbs is roughly ten times what it is here. Based on past intelligence, these figures should be reversed."

"Even the strength of the zombies elsewhere is higher than in the city center," Lu Xuening added.

"Isn't that a good thing? As long as we don't run into that fallen deity, what is there to be afraid of?" Su Hao blinked his clear, naive little eyes and asked in confusion.

"When things are abnormal, there's bound to be demonry..."

A sharp gleam flashed through Chi Shaomu's eyes.

He raised his head, watching a single spore drift out from the red mist on the gentle breeze.

Xiaoqi hunched over, his hands resting on the daggers at his waist, frowning as he looked at the bizarre spore.

"Almost zero life energy intensity."

Lu Xuening closed her eyes, making a judgment using her [Mind's Eye].

Chi Shaomu's aura suddenly shifted.

His gaze became devoid of emotion, resembling that of a high-dimensional observer.

Without a shred of fear, he reached out and cupped it in his palm.

"Could this be... a zombie spore?"

Ten breaths later, Chi Shaomu exited his observer state and examined the spore in his hand.

The main body of the sporangium was spherical, a full half-meter in diameter. Its surface was covered with a tough, rough skin full of wrinkles and cracks.

At its apex grew a ring of sharp, fang-like protrusions.

These protrusions varied in length, their tips gleaming with a cold sheen as if ready to tear apart any approaching object at a moment's notice.

He spoke softly, "Ahead, I'm afraid there's a big one."

The twelve squads continued their advance.

After another two or three streets, they were now extremely close to the city center.

Chi Shaomu's prediction was validated.

"What the hell is that?!"

A rookie soldier of the Seventh Army raised his head in shock, as if beholding something utterly terrifying.

Lu Xuening and Chi Shaomu, the two Chosen Ones with the longest visual range, walked over to Regiment Commander Chen's side and spoke in low voices.

Chen Xianyun's pupils constricted for a fraction of a second. After a moment of thought, he actually chose to continue leading the group forward in exploration.

Only their pace slowed down considerably.

Before long, a 'tower' that could only be described as magnificent appeared in everyone's field of vision.

The sporangiums Chi Shaomu had observed earlier were drifting from this very tower.

After a wave of restless discussion, Chen Xianyun halted the men of the Seventh Army behind him.

He walked forward alone.

Chi Shaomu stood in front of Su Hao and the others, explaining, "That thing... is composed of zombies..."

"What?!"

"That wicked?!"

Su Hao and Aunt Lu both exclaimed in shock, staring anew at the 'zombie tower'.

Standing nearly fifty meters tall, countless zombies were piled at the base of the tower, wrapped together by some inexplicable mycelium-like substance.

'Zombies wouldn't gather into a tower without purpose...'

'In nature, when facing fatal danger... certain creatures choose to... huddle together.'

'Fatal danger...'

Lu Xuening's brows furrowed tightly, Li Ye's conversation with that intelligent zombie from that night echoing involuntarily in her mind.

In an instant, she seemed to piece something together and spoke rapidly: "This is most likely their way of dealing with that nine-headed Xiangliu..."

Chi Shaomu quickly sorted through the logic as well and asked, "You mean... these zombies and that Xiangliu are locked in a mortal, irreconcilable opposition?"

"That's right. Brother Ye told us not long after the apocalypse began."

Chi Shaomu turned his gaze back to the zombie tower, his bright eyes widening as he muttered, "So this tower couldn't possibly be incubating a zombie on the level of the 'Xiangliu', could it..."

In his vision, time seemed to slow down.

His perspective zoomed in... closer and closer, until it completely passed through the zombies on the tower's surface and entered the interior.

A moment later, Chi Shaomu slammed his eyes shut.

His legs grew slightly weak, unable to stop his momentum from backing up until his form was caught by Su Hao.

"Little Chi?!"