Back at the camp's residence.
Li Yubing immediately contacted Tan Siboh to begin producing propaganda materials for the True God Cult.
She also found several survivors with drawing skills to help with the design.
Zheng Hao stood on the third-floor balcony, silently watching everything below, not saying a word.
Qian Zhenyu had held back his thoughts for the entire journey, and now he couldn't bear it any longer, asking:
"Old Zheng, there is no such thing as a god in this world! That Zhang Chen, though powerful, is merely a survivor with enhanced strength! I believe you must be clear about this, right?"
Zheng Hao nodded and replied:
"I know, I acknowledge Zhang Chen, and I also know he's just a survivor with a bit more strength! Didn't we encounter him a few days ago?"
Qian Zhenyu looked confused and asked:
"Since you also know Zhang Chen is just a survivor with a bit more strength! Why do you allow them to spread such superstitious propaganda?! Isn't that ridiculous! Where do gods come from? This world might possess some unfathomable, powerful forces, but that certainly cannot be explained by tales of ghosts and gods! You're just letting them cause trouble?"
Zheng Hao smiled slightly and said:
"Since I've joined the Nightmare organization, I am naturally a member! From my perspective, I hope Zhang Chen is deified, so I can also become a divine envoy or something similar!"
Qian Zhenyu frowned and said:
"These are just empty titles, what good are they?"
Zheng Hao waved his hand and said mysteriously:
"Old Qian, you wouldn't understand this! Every night these past few days, lying in bed before sleeping, I've been thinking... why did Zhou Zhiqiang and Qi Hongyu betray me! Why would those survivors believe that good fortune could just fall from the sky! I could never figure it out! Until one day, I had a dream. I dreamt I turned into a primitive man! Leading a group of subordinates, hunting wild cattle with wooden spears! Suddenly, I had an epiphany!"
Qian Zhenyu became even more confused upon hearing Zheng Hao's words.
"Huh? What did you gain enlightenment on? What does hunting wild cattle have to do with the disunity of the camp?"
Zheng Hao smiled and continued:
"In reality, isn't our current living environment akin to that of primitive humans? Back then, tools and technology were not developed. Tigers and lions were like the lurkers in the apocalypse, almost insurmountable existences! Moreover, primitive humans couldn't upgrade their strength through combat like we can; their strength was largely fixed upon reaching adulthood! If they couldn't defeat them, they just couldn't, and their descendants couldn't either. But how did early humans survive by huddling together for warmth? They relied on religious faith! Every tribe had its own deities, its own totem culture! Faith united the scattered hearts of people, making them a cohesive group! Many were even willing to die for this faith! This is humanity's most powerful force! And it's precisely what we lack the most!"
Qian Zhenyu then suddenly understood.
"Indeed, it was fine during times of peace. But in times of hardship... humans without faith are like scattered sand. They have no idea why they should fight, or what the meaning of survival is! But faith can point the way, and even outline a beautiful blueprint for people! And the deity of this faith must be a powerful being! Zhang Chen happens to fit this persona perfectly! I think I understand... Actually, if you think about it, many influential religions in human history, initially, were people... Buddha, Sakyamuni, was originally a prince of a country. Laozi, Zhao Gongming, and a series of immortals in Taoism were also human, later deified... Jesus was also depicted in human form, and was crucified because of Judas' betrayal... Humans have always worshipped humanity itself, merely by deliberately bestowing upon them different stories... With this religious faith, we can unite everyone! Then, through the will of the gods, we can command everyone! This method is brilliant!"
Qian Zhenyu clapped his hands in admiration. However, he soon frowned again, hesitantly suggesting:
"But we must also supervise this religion appropriately, lest it go to extremes! After all, our goal is to survive the apocalypse, not to create some cult!"
Zheng Hao smiled and patted Qian Zhenyu's shoulder, saying:
"Of course, I will personally oversee the specifics! In the future, you will be responsible for managing the survivors administratively, and Li Bingyu can manage everyone's thoughts. As a disciple of God, I will lead everyone to become the strongest survivor camp in the apocalypse!"
As he said this, Zheng Hao felt a surge of exhilaration and let out a relaxed sigh. Joining this organization seemed like a wise choice! Zheng Hao could already envision himself leading hundreds of thousands of survivors, carving out territory in the monster-infested apocalypse, and establishing a new dynasty!
......
Meanwhile, Zhang Chen and Er Pang were heading towards the Level 3 supply crate.
The Level 2 supply crate they had just opened yielded a total of:
[Delicious Pet Food]*3: Delicious and greatly favored by pets, randomly increases pet attributes.
[Danger Detector]*1: Upon use, it displays the real-time activity of zombies within a 2-kilometer radius for 24 hours. After the duration, the item disappears!
[Energy Crystal]*10: When shattered, there's a chance to obtain a random quantity of [Energy Nucleus] between 0-999.
[Delicious Fish Cans]*30: Supreme delicacy, rich in nutrients, each can replenishes a day's energy and water consumption.
"The items are just alright! This [Energy Crystal] is quite interesting. It's purely based on luck! I can play with it when I'm free tonight!"
*Buzz~ Buzz~*
His wristband rang again; it was lunchtime. Zhang Chen, sitting on Er Pang's back, took out a [Delicious Fish Can].
"Ah, I really wish I could find a place to rest and savor the deliciousness. But alas, time is tight, and the Level 3 supply crate contains good things. It would be a loss if someone else got it. I can only eat it on Er Pang's back. Sigh, this life on the move..."
As he opened the can, an intensely savory aroma wafted out. Zhang Chen took a bite...
"Mmm, delicious!"
Er Pang, drooling as he ran, was tempted.
"You're something else! You've got three portions of [Delicious Pet Food], eat them all!"
Zhang Chen tossed the food forward, and Er Pang directly gobbled them down. Soon, all three portions of pet food were gone. Not long after, Zhang Chen also finished his meal.
At this moment, the person and the wolf finally arrived near the Level 3 supply crate. They were still some distance away, but Er Pang suddenly stopped, raised his head, and sniffed the air. Then, he bared his teeth.
*Roar...*
"It must have smelled danger!"
Zhang Chen glanced at the mini-map. Turning here led to a commercial street. The marked Level 3 supply crate was inside a shopping mall building on this street.
"Let's go, let's see what you smelled!"
*Swish.*
A long saber appeared in his hand, and simultaneously, his energy armor covered his entire body.
"I hope it's something formidable. Don't disappoint me!"