Volume 1, Chapter 29: Tales from the Heart of E City

This woman, who once held herself in such high regard, had luckily survived the previous chaos.

At this moment, like any other survivor at the very bottom of the social hierarchy, she was struggling to haul heavy stones through the mud, covered in filth, the self-righteous beauty of her past long since vanished.

Zhou Yong observed the situation, glanced in the direction the man was looking, and asked in a low voice, "Mr. Li, this woman... how should we handle her?"

Li Hexuan’s face remained devoid of any extra expression. His voice was as flat as if he were discussing a piece of worthless trash: "Let her keep working. The Thor Base does not support idlers, and certainly not waste. Make her experience every single one of the most grueling and exhausting jobs."

Kill her directly? That would be letting her off too easily.

To leave her in the depths of this cruel apocalypse, struggling day after day in despair, watching with her own eyes as the person she once despised and trampled upon ascended to the peak, while she herself could only look up from the mud in humility—until even the capacity for jealousy withered away.

This torment, deep into the bone, would cause her far more agony than a clean, swift strike.

Jia Shuwen seemed to sense the cold gaze cast upon her. Her body shuddered uncontrollably, and she lowered her head in panic, not daring to meet Li Hexuan’s eyes.

In her heart, nothing remained but endless regret and fear that seeped into her marrow. But even more than that, a feeling called despair was frantically devouring the last of her sanity.

A few days later, the reconnaissance teams sent out returned with intelligence from their respective sectors.

Among them, a piece of news brought back by Liu Zhong made Li Hexuan frown slightly.

"Brother Xuan, that son of a bitch Chen Hao didn't sink into depression after his crushing defeat last time. Instead, while we were locked in a death struggle with the fish-monsters, he seized the opportunity to consolidate several small survivor camps that remained after being devastated by the fish-monsters. His manpower and supplies have increased rather than decreased!" Liu Zhong’s tone was quite grave. "Moreover, our people discovered that they have recently been sparing no cost to scout out a 'safe' route to the central area of E City."

"The central area of E City?" Li Hexuan repeated the name, lost in thought.

"It’s absolutely true," another accompanying scout immediately added. "Also, Brother Xuan, some unreliable rumors have appeared in the surrounding areas recently, saying... saying that in the center of E City, a 'tall tower' that emits a very strange energy has suddenly appeared. That thing is extremely eye-catching; it is said that it can be seen clearly from dozens of miles away!"

"A tall tower?"

Li Hexuan’s heart gave a sudden jolt. These two words, like a pair of keys, instantly triggered certain blurred fragments sealed deep within his memories of his previous life.

That tower... could it be...

Li Hexuan leaned forward slightly: "A tall tower? Give me the details."

Liu Zhong lowered his voice, his expression filled with mystery: "Brother Xuan, the rumors—well, they’re quite bizarre! They say that after the floodwaters receded in the center of E City and the crust shifted, a massive chunk of land was pushed up, like an isolated island that somehow avoided being submerged. That black tower just erupted from the very center of that 'urban island.' It’s incredibly tall, like it could pierce the sky! And at night, it glows—a strange, eerie light."

"Light?" Li Hexuan repeated.

"Yes, light!" another scout interrupted, his voice tight. "Those who escaped said that the light is wicked! Mutated monsters that get close become stronger than ever! But if a supernatural user practices nearby, their speed increases by leaps and bounds! Some even say that around the tower, source crystals sprout up like weeds!"

Source crystals sprouting like weeds? Practice speed increasing by leaps and bounds?

Li Hexuan’s breathing stalled for a moment. Countless fragmented memories flashed wildly through his mind, aligning perfectly with the intelligence before him.

The Tower of Origin Energy!

In his previous life, this place was a battlefield for every major power in the late stages of the apocalypse. How many factions had fought to the death over it! It wasn't just about the energy; this tower was the "Tianyuan" point on the chessboard of the apocalypse!

That viper Chen Hao had a sharp nose; he had caught the scent of blood.

"Heh, an old acquaintance wants to reach the sky in a single bound," Li Hexuan let out a soft, ambiguous laugh, his knuckles tapping unconsciously against the table.

Liu Zhong’s brows twisted into a knot: "Brother Xuan, that bastard Chen Hao has been jumping around lately, swallowing up small fish and shrimp, and painting big pictures to deceive the leaders of those small camps. Looking at his posture, he’s like a turtle eating a weight—he’s dead set on drilling into that tower in E City!"

Li Hexuan’s fingers stopped tapping.

Luoye Mountain was safe, but it was also a cage.

If he wanted to live like a human in this godforsaken apocalypse, and if he wanted to uncover the ghosts behind this doomsday, he had to fight! He had to compete!

The Tower of Origin Energy—this fat piece of meat, Li Hexuan was determined to eat it!

"Zhang Nan, Mengyi, Old Wang, conference room!"

In the conference room, smoke swirled.

Li Hexuan laid out the situation regarding the Tower of Origin Energy in a few short sentences.

Zhang Nan slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle: "E City? The Tower of Origin Energy? Sounds exciting! And that damn Chen Hao wants to go too? No way in hell! Brother Xuan, let's take him out!"

Su Mengyi tapped the table lightly, her tone calm: "If it can accelerate cultivation and produce its own source crystals, E City is likely to become a meat grinder. All kinds of monsters and demons will flock there, sniffing the scent."

Old Wang puffed on an unlit cigarette butt, saying word by word: "That muddy water in E City... Leader, you chart the course."

Li Hexuan made the final decision: "Luoye Mountain is great, but it is just the rear. If Chen Hao is going, we must go even more! This cake, the Tower of Origin Energy—either we don't eat it, or if we do, we take the whole plate!"

His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable resolve: "I will lead the team, assemble the elite, go to E City to scout the path, and by the way, drive a stake in there and build an outpost!"

"Count me in!" Zhang Nan was the first to jump up, his fists clenching with a crack.

Su Mengyi also stood up: "Mr. Li, take me with you. My ability will be more useful in an unfamiliar place."

Old Wang stubbed out his cigarette and exhaled a cloud of stale air: "Fine, you young people go and have your fun. My old bones won't get involved. I'll keep the house secure here at the base! When you come back, I guarantee there will be a hot meal in the pot!"

Li Hexuan looked at the three of them: "Then it's settled. E City: me, Zhang Nan, and Mengyi. Old Wang, I’m relying on you for the home front—keep the defenses and the newcomers tight."

"Don't worry, Leader!" Old Wang pounded his chest.

Li Hexuan turned back to Liu Zhong at the door: "Keep a close watch on Chen Hao! Also, regarding the waterway to E City, the monsters along the route, and other survivor strongholds—dig up every detail you can!"

"Understood, Brother Xuan!" Liu Zhong accepted the order.