Even with fewer humans, resources dwindled just the same.
Everyone was busy hunting異種 (yi zhong -异种) for food, but no one truly considered how humanity would survive.
By the later stages, the natural disasters had gradually subsided, and the soil had regained its vitality. Yet, no one bothered to grow crops.
Humans did nothing but hunt and fight.
The limited resources became scarcer and scarcer, and humans began to slaughter each other.
Low-level combat devolved into chaos, and high-level combat ensued. The few Rank Eight grandmasters killed by Fu Yunting were fewer than those killed by humans themselves.
In the end, humanity faced widespread extinction. The remaining weak were either hunted by roaming zombies or confined by their own kind.
The strong established themselves as kings. To fight for territory, no one would yield, and everyone wanted to be the ruler of the human world.
A very small portion of the strong, either alone or in groups of three to five, hid in dangerous jungles, avoiding the conflict.
Recalling the events of the post-apocalypse, Fu Yunting felt a heavy oppression in his heart.
He possessed emotions, and seeing such scenes made him feel unbearable sorrow.
After sharing Fu Yunting's memories, everyone remained silent for a long time.
Even An Nuan was speechless.
She had originally thought her own experiences were tragic enough, but she never imagined that the events after that great battle would be even more horrific.
An Nuan: "I don't even know if I should blame the zombies or the humans. When people turn on each other, they show absolutely no mercy."
Mi Shuangshuang: "Were those scenes real? Humans skinning other humans for pleasure? I can't fathom such cruelty."
When one base harassed Fu Yunting and was subsequently annihilated.
Fu Yunting led his troops in an assault. The gruesome deaths of some could make one vomit for three days straight.
Mi Shuangshuang admired: "Young Master Fu, how do you process all this? I... I feel like I'm going to throw up!"
"You get used to it over time. My time has always been very long."
An Nuan felt a heavy ache in her heart and grasped Fu Yunting's hand.
Zombies had long lifespans, and Fu Yunting's ability to manipulate time made his own existence even more desolate.
Perhaps without Sha Xing and the humans she manipulated to reproduce, Fu Yunting's sanity would have long collapsed.
Even so, his mental strength was terrifyingly strong.
An Nuan leaned against him: "If it were me, I don't think I could have lasted a single second."
"I couldn't have lasted either, but I felt that if I could control time, I would have a chance to see you again, so I held on. Am I amazing?"
"You're amazing!"
An Nuan cupped his face and kissed him on the lips.
The gloom in Fu Yunting's heart vanished instantly.
All the things he had done were to hold her hand again.
Now that his goal was achieved, Fu Yunting felt immense happiness.
Hai Changfeng pondered: "Chenchen only manipulates objects with her mind, and she actually becomes a turning point? She's that powerful, yet she's a subordinate to a simp? And she's lusting after the simp?"
Everyone was incredulous, but the facts were before them.
A zombie overlord from a previous life is now a simpering subordinate to a simp. Is that reasonable? Not at all!
Chang Kai Tong: "Things are unpredictable. Fortunately, this time is different from the past. We can kill Chenchen first. We'll keep all zombies Rank Five and above for ourselves, and eliminate the rest."
Sha Xing was speechless: "What do you mean, you look down on me?"
"You're different, you're one of us!"
Sha Xing considered it and agreed. She had family here, and everyone was kind to her.
As long as she was kind to them, it would be fine!
Sha Xing vowed earnestly: "A mere few zombies, leave them to me. I'll go out and finish them off."
"We will kill them, but I'm curious about what fortuitous encounter Chenchen experienced to ascend to Rank Eight."
"At the moment of an upgrade, both zombies and humans are at their weakest, but their energy is at its peak. This is a good time to attack, and the profit from consuming crystals is greater. Did Chenchen seize the moment of a high-ranker's upgrade?"
Everyone listening to An Nuan thought it made sense.
An Nuan smiled: "Since Chenchen was the turning point and the beginning of the previous dark era, let's start with her."
"A jump from Rank Five to Rank Eight seems impossible, but if it's a zombie, perhaps their bodies are strong enough to withstand the surge of energy."
Although An Nuan felt there was hope in advancing to Rank Seven, Rank Eight seemed utterly preposterous.
But what if it happened?
It was better to prepare early.
The thought of seizing Chenchen's crystal filled An Nuan with excitement.
"When she's at the moment of upgrading, we'll go and consume her crystal. I wonder if we can ascend to Rank Eight."
Thinking about it, Fu Yunting also felt a flicker of anticipation.
Before Chenchen could gather the zombies and attack, An Nuan had more pressing matters to attend to.
Fu Yunlei connected with some friends from the alliances.
Instantly, the screen was filled with hundreds of video windows. Everyone present froze.
An Nuan: "?? What's going on? Why is everyone so calm?"
"Um, Sister Nuan, your spaghetti strap..."
Chang Kai Tong pointed at her clothing. An Nuan then remembered that she had showered after returning from the beach...
She quickly adjusted her strap. Fu Yunting draped a thin blanket over her and wrapped his arm around her waist.
They leaned against each other, appearing even more eye-catching on the video call.
Chui Zi impatiently cursed: "What are you trying to do, woman? Keeping us awake late at night to watch you two show off your affection?"
"Don't put it so crudely, this is a way of life! But your environment is so good, you're actually living on the ground!"
"Aren't you afraid of being attacked?"
"What about natural disasters?"
"You guys are really brave!"
"I'm starting to want to visit your place."
Xiong Da had been silent. After pondering for a long time, he suddenly pointed at Lin Shui.
"Sister, isn't Lin brother your lover? Why have you changed? Although this kid is better looking than Lin brother, we should be honest and not abandon one for another."
Fu Yunting's chilling aura slowly radiated towards Lin Shui.
Lin Shui shivered, his hair almost standing on end.
"Brother Xiong, don't spout nonsense. I'm just a subordinate. I don't have those kinds of thoughts."
"Ah? But didn't you sleep together?"
The temperature in the room dropped by three to four degrees Celsius, and a palpable killing intent flowed like an undercurrent.
Lin Shui cast a pleading look towards everyone.
Everyone turned away.
They weren't ones to shy away from a spectacle, especially when you dared to sleep with Miss Nuan.
"We didn't sleep together!"
Quan Yu grabbed Lin Shui's sleeve: "Lin Shui brother sleeps with me at night. Sister Nuan sleeps with Sister Luo Luo."
Xiong Da: "Ah, then I misunderstood! I thought you two were a couple. Never mind then, you guys carry on."
Fu Yunting tightened his arm around her forcefully and pecked An Nuan's face.
Little Sweetie was his, and no one else was allowed to covet her!