Chapter 434: Journey to the Depths

The leaders of the major factions weren’t fools. They recognized that the zombies they were dealing with were no mindless horde.

But despite understanding the threat, they were stretched too thin.

Every day, fending off the relentless waves of zombies consumed vast amounts of manpower. Dispatching an elite squad to investigate the zombies’ origin was a risky proposition.

What if their stronghold was attacked in their absence?

Even Xing Tian and Wei Dinghai, aware of the unsustainability of the situation, dared not risk dividing their forces.

Xiao Honglian, however, wasn’t one to sit idly by.

Sitting on a steel beam, her body covered in blood, Xiao Honglian radiated her usual fiery determination.

“We can’t just keep defending. If this continues, we’ll be forced to abandon the refinery and retreat underground within a month,” she declared.

Their energy reserves and her formidable [Purgatory Furnace] ability had allowed Yangsheng Base to fend off zombie attacks faster than other factions.

But the smarter and more coordinated the hordes became, the deeper her unease grew.

She feared that even retreating underground might not ensure their survival if the zombies continued to evolve.

Zhuge Qingtian approached her, his blood-stained white combat uniform bearing testament to the battle they’d just endured. He stood at attention and saluted.

“Commander, all zombies have been neutralized. Burning their remains is the only way to ensure they’re truly dead. However, we’ve lost 67 warriors and slaves in the process.”

Xiao Honglian’s fiery eyes glowed with residual energy from her abilities as she met his gaze.

“We need to change tactics. Defense alone won’t cut it anymore.”

Zhuge Qingtian’s eyes widened. “You mean… an offensive into the zombies’ lair?”

Xiao Honglian nodded. “Their actions are clearly orchestrated. Whether it’s a Superhuman or some other intelligent being, we need information to end this crisis once and for all.”

“That’s too dangerous!” Zhuge Qingtian protested. “We don’t even know how large the horde is. A blind assault could result in total annihilation!”

“Besides, the other factions are struggling too. Maybe we should wait and see if they come up with a solution.”

Xiao Honglian scoffed.

“Look at the scale of this horde. Do you really think they’re faring any better? Especially the Followers of the Snow God—they’ve gathered over 10,000 people in one place, practically serving themselves up as a buffet!”

“No one’s coming to help us. If anything, they’d rather see us wiped out. If we want to survive, we have to rely on ourselves.”

Unable to refute her logic, Zhuge Qingtian remained silent.

Xiao Honglian stood up decisively. “It’s settled. Send Dong Hu with two Superhumans and 30 elite soldiers to investigate the zombies’ lair.”

Meanwhile, at the Followers of the Snow God’s base, chaos reigned.

With over 10,000 members, most of whom were ordinary people, their defenses were woefully inadequate.

While these survivors had enough skill to endure the apocalypse, their combat capabilities were no match for the relentless zombies.

Though unafraid of death, they certainly didn’t want to die.

Under such circumstances, defeating the undead was a near-impossible task.

Despite Zheng Yixian’s efforts to organize a rigorous defense, each wave of zombies claimed hundreds of lives.

As casualties mounted, discontent began to fester among the followers.

Priest Wu Huan approached Zheng Yixian to relay the growing unrest.

“Over 1,000 followers have already died, and those infected may turn into zombies themselves. This is causing serious doubt among the newcomers. If this continues, we could face a crisis!”

Zheng Yixian’s expression remained impassive.

“Don’t worry. They may grumble, but they won’t act on it.”

He clasped his hands behind his back, speaking calmly. “Spread the word among the followers: tell them that the outside world has been almost entirely overrun by zombies. Without the protection of the Followers of the Snow God, they wouldn’t stand a chance.”

“Mention that the other factions are suffering even worse losses. Tell them half their populations are already dead.”

Wu Huan’s eyes lit up. “Brilliant! A little comparison will remind them how lucky they are.”

Zheng Yixian’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Their complaints stem from a lack of faith. We need to intensify their indoctrination. Once they’re devout believers, they’ll understand how fortunate they are to be with us.”

Wu Huan nodded eagerly. “Understood, High Priest. I’ll see to it immediately.”

Meanwhile, Zhang Yi’s team had fully prepared to enter the subway tunnels and confront the Zombie King.

The five members of his core group, along with Hua Hua, were equipped with upgraded gear.

Their combat suits, modified by Lu Keran, offered exceptional protection—strong enough to deflect bullets from small-caliber sniper rifles. Zombie bites wouldn’t even leave a scratch.

They carried a week’s worth of energy-enhanced food, all stored in Zhang Yi’s Spatial Storage for convenience.

The group arrived at the entrance to the Ci Qu subway station.

As they stood before the dark, yawning tunnel, Zhang Yi reiterated their plan.

“Our primary objective is to kill the Zombie King. Once we find it, I’m 100% certain I can take it down.”

“In these confined spaces, my Divine Power can obliterate anything within 300 meters.”

“But remember, our safety is the top priority. Don’t waste time fighting the horde unnecessarily. Killing more zombies won’t solve anything.”

The team nodded in agreement, understanding the stakes.

Zhang Yi pulled a glow stick from his belt, cracked it, and tossed it into the tunnel.

The faint blue light illuminated a grim scene: bloodstains and viscera streaked across the ground.

“Uncle You, you go first,” Zhang Yi instructed.

As the team’s tank, Uncle You was the safest choice to scout ahead.

Without hesitation, Uncle You slid down into the tunnel.

After a cautious inspection with his tactical visor, he reported back through the comms. “All clear. You can come down!”

The rest of the group followed, descending into the dark subway entrance.

Through their night-vision goggles, the grim underground landscape came into focus.

Blackened blood streaked the walls, while rotting organs clung to surfaces. The ground beneath their feet squelched with a mixture of viscera, dried blood, and soil, emitting a nauseating stench.

Thankfully, their helmets filtered out the smell.

“Let’s move,” Zhang Yi said, his voice steady.

The Ci Qu station was a terminus. Following the main tunnel forward would inevitably lead them to the horde—and the Zombie King.

As they advanced, the tunnel was littered with skeletal remains, stripped of flesh and gnawed clean.

Fatty Xu muttered, “Why don’t they turn these corpses into more zombies instead of eating them?”

Zhang Yi, scanning the surroundings with his lever-action shotgun at the ready, replied, “Zombies are driven by hunger. Infection is just a passive side effect. If they’re starving, they’ll eat more than they infect. You can’t expect bones to mutate.”

“Well, they’ve got big appetites,” Fatty Xu mused. “But what happens when they run out of food? With more zombies than living people in Tianhai City, isn’t that inevitable?”

Zhang Yi paused mid-step. Liang Yue and Uncle You exchanged uneasy glances.

None of them had considered this before. Focused on their immediate survival, they hadn’t thought about the broader implications.

If the zombies exhausted their food supply, what then?

Would they spread beyond Tianhai City, into other cities?

Author's Note