Since the apocalypse began, no one present, not even Elder Fei, had enjoyed such delicacies.
"These... are these fresh meats?"
More than a year into the apocalypse, the only place that could likely produce fresh meat was Wuming City.
"Are they not frozen zombie meat?"
One person looked at the dishes that had been rotated on the table, still finding it hard to believe their eyes.
"You'll know if you try."
The person beside him also wanted to try the food, but since Lin Yu, who sat at the head of the table, hadn't started, he felt it inappropriate to go first.
Seeing everyone's expressions, as if they hadn't seen fine food in a long time, Lin Yu finally curved his lips.
"Don't be shy, everyone. These dishes are quite common. Our soldiers in the city get to eat one type of cuisine every week."
"Hiss..."
Gasps of surprise sounded intermittently, and the crowd couldn't believe what they were hearing.
Each city had tens of thousands of soldiers, or at least tens of thousands, with the smallest bases having over ten thousand soldiers.
If ordinary soldiers could eat one of these dishes every week, it would require an enormous amount of food reserves to supply.
The dishes on the table were either stews or seafood, and they looked very fresh, otherwise they wouldn't have such a delightful aroma.
Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, everyone reached for the dishes in front of them.
Elder Fei also did not stand on ceremony. Being still quite robust, he grabbed his chopsticks and reached for the nearest dish.
For a moment, the room fell silent, with no one speaking.
Everyone nodded occasionally as they ate the various dishes, wishing they had more than one stomach.
After humans became ability users, their bodily functions changed, leading to a much larger appetite for the ability users here.
Lin Yu had also considered this, and the dishes had been continuously served since everyone was seated.
New dishes were brought to the table frequently, only to be quickly cleared by everyone.
Elder Fei was not an ability user, but even so, he ate a considerable amount, only stopping when he was full.
Elder Fei found it amusing to watch the others still scrambling for food.
Just moments ago, these people had maintained a dignified demeanor in the conference room, but faced with a table full of delicacies, they had all revealed their less refined sides.
Finally, everyone at the table could eat no more, yet some dishes on the table had barely been touched.
"Can... can I pack some to go?"
Looking at the dishes on the table, someone asked.
"Yes, you can. But if you stay overnight, there will be new dishes tonight."
"This..."
Many of them had planned to hear what Wuming City had to say that day and to inquire about its actual strength.
They had not considered staying overnight in Wuming City.
Of course, those with such thoughts definitely did not include Zhao Kai from Ping City.
"Our plan was to return the same day," the man who had asked about packing said somewhat awkwardly.
"Oh, that's a pity. The dishes tonight will be completely different from what we had at noon," Lin Yu said with a hint of regret.
"Then... then I'll stay another night. It's not safe to travel at night anyway, hahaha..."
The man chuckled awkwardly.
However, others beside him showed similar expressions.
"Alright, for those who wish to stay overnight, we will arrange private villas for everyone, ensuring ample privacy."
...
Meanwhile, on Lu Heng's side.
After arriving at the new deserted city, Sun Qiang had already integrated all the zombies within a day.
He had also created several hundred Level 7 zombies, and his zombie army now numbered nearly two thousand.
To control such a large number of zombies, Sun Qiang had also upgraded his own level to Level 10.
Thus, a Level 10 Zombie King finally appeared. After reaching Level 10, it had even gained a new skill.
When Lu Heng emerged from his spatial dimension, he saw that Sun Qiang, who was originally a strength-type zombie, now possessed a fire-based ability.
It stood on an open ground, holding a ball of dark yellow flame in its hand, testing the characteristics of this new ability.
The flame in Sun Qiang's hand suddenly became brighter, and the yellow deepened.
It threw the fireball in its hand towards a house, leaving a scorched mark on the wall.
Perhaps due to lack of proficiency, Sun Qiang gathered another fireball and continuously threw it at the house in front of him.
With each throw, the fireball became larger, and the marks left on the house walls became more pronounced.
In one of Sun Qiang's throws, the wall cracked with a "snap," creating a significant fissure.
Sun Qiang retracted the flame from his hand and walked to the wall, reaching out to touch it.
His fingers probed into the crack.
Sun Qiang looked at his hand and a slight smile curved his lips.
Lu Heng, standing on a rooftop not far away, observed Sun Qiang's actions.
Zombies could smile?
Why had Lin Xue, whom he had contracted, never shown such expressions?
However, Sun Qiang gaining another skill after reaching Level 10 surprised Lu Heng.
Lin Xue had not developed any new skills.
Perhaps it was because Sun Qiang had absorbed crystals to upgrade himself?
Yes, that was likely the reason.
Or perhaps Sun Qiang was too unique, and not every zombie would be like it.
Just like among human ability users, not everyone evolved two or more abilities.
With so many Level 7 zombies, Lu Heng felt that Sun Qiang no longer needed to create more high-level zombies.
After all, zombies had no defenses against each other. These Level 7 zombies were already capable of organizing lower-level zombies to fight each other, or they could kill them themselves without taking too much time.
Therefore, Lu Heng summoned Sun Qiang.
Of course, with so many Level 7 zombies below, Lu Heng did not go to call Sun Qiang himself.
He released Lin Xue. Lin Xue, being a zombie like Sun Qiang, had their own ways of communication.
Soon, Sun Qiang arrived before Lu Heng.
"You've upgraded yourself too," Lu Heng asked casually.
"Yes, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to control so many Level 7 zombies."
Lu Heng nodded upon hearing Sun Qiang's explanation.
Indeed, only when a zombie reached Level 10 could it be called a Zombie King, truly capable of suppressing high-level zombies.
Sun Qiang glanced at Lin Xue, who stood beside Lu Heng, as if contemplating something.
After a two-second silence, it looked back at Lu Heng.
"Why don't you let it lead the zombies?"
Although Sun Qiang had seen Lin Xue before, at that time, upon their first encounter, Sun Qiang had been controlled by Lin Xue, losing its consciousness and thus overlooking Lin Xue's presence.
But now, after being summoned by Lin Xue, and Lin Xue not controlling it, it took a serious look at Lin Xue.
Being a zombie itself, it could sense that Lin Xue's level was much higher than its own.
"It has other arrangements, which you do not need to know.
Your current level is sufficient to control these zombies, so do not upgrade further. From now on, lead these zombies to slaughter other zombies.
Unless the number of zombies decreases significantly, do not increase their numbers."
By issuing these commands, Lu Heng was also wary of any potential changes in Sun Qiang.
Only by keeping Sun Qiang's level and the high-level zombies under its command within a controllable range could Lu Heng feel at ease letting Sun Qiang roam the apocalypse, killing zombies.