The zombie horde finally collapsed under the onslaught of the airburst bombs, scattering in all directions. Without the command of the zombie king, although most of the zombies managed to escape, as long as the soldiers continued their assault, these zombies would eventually be annihilated.
Shen Feng and his group returned to Rongcheng. At this moment, Rongcheng was filled with laughter and joy, indicating that everyone was delighted to have overcome the crisis. The seven defense lines outside the city, which had been breached before, were finally held when only the last defense line remained. This was a blessing in disguise. After this battle, Rongcheng became completely safe, as the zombies in the plains had been largely eliminated!
Sichuan Province, located in a basin, was surrounded by towering mountains and ridges. It was impossible for zombies to cross the mountains to reach here.
Shen Feng looked at the familiar buildings around him and couldn't help but sigh, "Fortunately, the city is fine. If things go south later, we can just come back to Rongcheng to stay."
Now, Shen Feng felt the existence of a fallback. If they couldn't hold their ground in Luzhou in the future, they would simply return to live in Rongcheng, at least ensuring their safety. The zombies could no longer threaten Rongcheng.
Chu Chaoyan, standing beside Shen Feng, frowned upon hearing this, "What do you mean? You don't want to stay in Luzhou anymore?"
Shen Feng shrugged helplessly and said, "I want to continue working hard in Luzhou, but it seems that human technology can completely deal with zombies and mutated beasts. Awakened individuals are nothing. Of course, I have to latch onto the strong!"
Chu Chaoyan was displeased and said, "There's no problem with latching onto the strong, but I don't know if your senior will agree. I think she's unlikely to come to Rongcheng for refuge."
Shen Feng thought about it carefully and realized it was true. At the beginning of the zombie outbreak, his senior was locked in a storage room on an upper floor with him by bad people. She could only watch the scenery outside the window day by day, and she had to guard against the bad people outside the room. She had become completely suspicious and didn't trust strangers at all.
Shen Feng even suspected that his senior might have developed paranoid delusions. Once bitten by a snake, one fears a well rope for ten years. She trusted no one except those close to her.
"Let's go. After reporting to the command center, we'll return to Luzhou tomorrow. Things are not very stable in Luzhou either," Shen Feng changed the subject.
Chu Chaoyan was also very worried about her grandfather in Luzhou at this time. His health had not been good before, and she wondered if his condition had improved over the past half a month.
Shen Feng, along with Chu Chaoyan, Yang Chang, and Guo Pinming, headed to the command center. As for the artillery battalion and Jin Zijue, they left after entering the city. They only exchanged simple farewells. Jin Zijue needed to recover from his injuries, while Wang Yuesheng and others needed to write self-criticisms.
During the attack on the mutated plants in Yuzhen, more than two hundred soldiers from the artillery were killed. These lost soldiers were extremely precious, as it took many years to train one. To lose so many due to a wrong decision was a devastating loss.
When the group arrived at the command center, Shen Feng immediately met Xie Bateng, the new authority in Rongcheng. His plump face looked harmless, and he greeted Shen Feng enthusiastically before leading Shen Feng and his group to a private room.
Shen Feng liked this attitude, as the other party didn't treat him as an outsider, which was the best.
However, Xie Bateng then asked, "Shen Feng, I heard you are already a fourth-tier Awakened. May I know how you broke through the evolutionary barrier?"
Upon hearing this question, Shen Feng vaguely replied, "This, I broke through the evolutionary barrier by chance. If you don't believe me, you can ask my subordinates. They can testify that I evolved after fighting with the mutated plants."
Chu Chaoyan also nodded and said seriously, "That's indeed the case. I can testify that Shen Feng didn't eat anything when he evolved. Becoming a fourth-tier Awakened was just a coincidence!"
Yang Chang also spoke up to defend Shen Feng, clearly not intending to admit that Shen Feng possessed anything valuable.
Seeing their cunning and their ability to lie without blushing, Xie Bateng couldn't help but shake his head and say helplessly, "You guys should understand one thing, and that is unity! Currently, not only have zombies appeared globally, but various mutated beasts have also appeared. The human faction must strengthen its power, so we hope you can provide the method for breaking through the evolutionary barrier."
Shen Feng said sincerely, "General, I'm really not lying to you! I truly have no method for breaking through the evolutionary barrier. If I lie, may I die a terrible death!"
Xie Bateng didn't believe Shen Feng's words at all, not even if he swore an oath.
The reason was simple: Xie Bateng had already learned the truth from Jin Zijue, which was that Shen Feng possessed a red gelatinous substance that, when consumed, could turn one into an Awakened, and it was also effective for Awakened individuals!
Jin Zijue was well aware of his predicament. Such a defeat was difficult to escape responsibility for. Only by rendering meritorious service could he gain the understanding of the Awakened Administration Bureau. As for how to render meritorious service, it was to submit relevant information. Shen Feng had a method for breaking through the evolutionary barrier, and such information must be reported to superiors.
After thinking for a moment, Xie Bateng understood Shen Feng's reason for denying it and said, "I won't take your things for free. I can make a deal with you. Whatever you desire, I will give it to you. Even if you want fighter jets, as long as you provide the method for breaking through the evolutionary barrier."
Shen Feng hesitated and did not answer.
Seeing Shen Feng's reaction, Chu Chaoyan shook her head helplessly and whispered, "If you don't answer, it's equivalent to admitting it. You've definitely been seen through."
Shen Feng also realized this and looked at Xie Bateng carefully, thinking, "I've been tricked."
Xie Bateng continued to ask with a smile, "How about it? Have you considered it? Shouldn't you answer me now?"
Shen Feng nodded helplessly and said, "I can tell you the truth and provide some experimental materials, but I need to know all the content of your official laboratories! Including the situation of the zombie virus, the distribution range of mutated beasts, and the research status of Awakened individuals and espers! In addition, I need a batch of weapons and sufficient ammunition! And also antibiotics and other medicines."
"No problem, you can have whatever you want. You can view the laboratory data as you please, and I will also provide the weapons you desire," Xie Bateng said with a smile.
Shen Feng then looked at Guo Pinming and said, "Go and unload two treant heads from the truck and send them to the laboratory. The substance inside the treant heads is actually what allowed me to break through the evolutionary barrier. This substance is liquid at high temperatures and gelatinous at low temperatures."
Xie Bateng did not delay and immediately said, "Let's go. I'll take you to the armory first. I can give you whatever you want, although the quantity won't be particularly large, as my authority isn't very high. Don't even think about planes and tanks; other things are negotiable!"
Shen Feng looked at Chu Chaoyan and said, "Well, you go to the laboratory and make copies of all the documents. I won't go."
"Alright," Chu Chaoyan nodded and agreed to Shen Feng's order.
Shen Feng then looked at Yang Chang and instructed, "Go and find enough antibiotics to take with you. There's an epidemic in Luzhou, and we desperately need antibiotics now."
Xie Bateng also arranged for corresponding personnel to accompany these people to prepare to hand over the respective items to them. As for himself, he accompanied Shen Feng to the armory, while Xiao Sheng followed behind them as a bodyguard. There were still some hidden zombies in the city, so danger was possible.
When Shen Feng arrived at the armory, the first thing he saw was a Barret rifle. He rushed forward and hugged it, saying excitedly, "I've finally seen this thing. I wonder how effective it is!"
"This weapon can penetrate even one centimeter of steel plate. If there were dinosaurs now, even dinosaurs would fall!" Xiao Sheng said seriously.
Shen Feng nodded and said, "Alright, I'll take this weapon. Let's see what else I can't break through from now on!"
When he encountered the treants before, Shen Feng found his attack power to be very weak. He couldn't even break open the treant's growths. If it weren't for him dispersing the mist and allowing sunlight to directly shine on the treant, he really wouldn't have been able to defeat it. Now, with the Barret in his hand, Shen Feng's confidence soared.
Afterward, Shen Feng looked at the various items in the armory and excitedly made his choices. He wanted assault rifles, sniper rifles, and even anti-tank missiles.
Shen Feng toured the armory and then asked, "Are there no melee weapons?"
Xie Bateng explained, "I thought you wouldn't care for melee weapons. If you want them, I'll take you to see them right away."
Shen Feng currently didn't have any suitable weapons. Although he could use rifles at this time, melee weapons still played a role in crucial moments. Therefore, Shen Feng wanted to find suitable weapons.
The melee weapon area mainly consisted of daggers and bayonets, with some combat knives and very few swords.
Shen Feng looked at the weapons and found that they were all made of steel, which made him frown. It wasn't that he disliked steel, but the current quality of steel could no longer satisfy him!
"Are there no titanium alloy weapons?" Shen Feng turned to ask.
Shen Feng was actually quite suspicious. After discovering that weapons made of steel could be controlled by others, he wanted to use titanium alloy weapons. Now was a good opportunity.
Xiao Sheng explained, "Weapons made of titanium alloy are generally very heavy, and titanium alloy is relatively expensive, so they haven't been manufactured."
Xie Bateng waved his hand and said, "It's fine. If you want titanium alloy weapons, just tell me the design, and I'll have them made and sent to you. Anyway, you are an Awakened, so you definitely won't dislike titanium alloy weapons for being too heavy!"
Shen Feng was not polite and said, "I want two titanium alloy longswords, about 1.2 meters long. Engrave words on the weapons. One sword will be engraved with 'Excalibur' and the other with 'Gleipnir'. For the scabbards, use whatever material is suitable."
Xie Bateng looked confused and asked, "Engrave what words? Why don't you write them on paper? I've never heard of them?"
Xie Bateng thought Shen Feng would engrave names like "Gan Jiang Mo Ye" or "Wu Gou Ju Que" on the swords, as these were famous ancient swords. But now Shen Feng mentioned these two unfamiliar names, which made him somewhat puzzled.
Shen Feng shrugged and wrote the names of the two swords on a piece of paper. It was obvious that only someone who didn't know about the Holy Grail War would ask such a question.
However, at this moment, a piercing scream came from the city center: "Yee..."
This sound reached Shen Feng's ears, immediately making him agitated. Xiao Sheng and Xie Bateng felt similarly. Upon hearing the piercing scream, they felt a suffocating sensation in their chests, which was difficult to alleviate.
Xie Bateng's face turned grim, and he muttered to himself, "The zombies around Rongcheng have all dispersed. There's no reason for a zombie king to appear in the city!"
Shen Feng and Xiao Sheng looked at Xie Bateng in surprise and asked, "There's a zombie king in the city?"
Xie Bateng explained, "There was a zombie king in Guanzhong that could emit such a sharp sound. It eventually died after being bombed by artillery shells. The closer you are to a zombie king, the more severe the damage you will suffer! This is a sonic attack. Many soldiers wanted to capture the zombie king alive, but their brains were vibrated by the sonic waves, and they ended up becoming fools."
Shen Feng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's fine, it's fine. Just let the fighter jets bomb it. Anyway, the zombie king can't withstand the bombing."
Xie Bateng frowned and shook his head, "No, we can't bomb it. The city is densely populated. Bombing will inevitably cause collateral damage. It seems many people will be lost this time!"
Shen Feng's eyes darted, and he said, "I can go for a decapitation strike, but I need to take my family with me. Can we make a deal?"
Xiao Sheng quickly signaled to Xie Bateng, thinking, "You absolutely must not agree."
Xiao Sheng knew very well that Shen Feng was so obedient now because his family was in Rongcheng, essentially as hostages. If Rongcheng were in crisis, Shen Feng would quickly appear to rescue them. Therefore, it was best to keep Shen Feng's family in Rongcheng at all times and never let them be taken away!
Xie Bateng seemed not to see Xiao Sheng's signal and replied to Shen Feng, "No problem. As long as you can kill the zombie king, you can take your family with you. However, you must leave the zombie king's body for us. Speaking of which, the laboratory has made new progress."
Shen Feng nodded, found a sword made of fine steel, and said, "Just wait and see. I will kill the zombie king directly!"
With that, Shen Feng set off. As long as he could take his family back to Luzhou, his trip to support Rongcheng would be worthwhile.
Xiao Sheng looked at General Xie helplessly and said, "If the hostages are taken away, Shen Feng may not be so obedient in the future!"
Xie Bateng was very confident and said, "You can't have such a narrow-minded view. The more you distance yourself from others, the more they will hate you! Therefore, I intend to recruit these civilian groups. Moreover, with satellites hanging in the sky, Shen Feng cannot cause any trouble. It's better to agree frankly!"