Carrying the newly acquired ice-elemental magic crystal, Lu Heng returned to Jinyang City.
Upon his return, he began to endlessly replicate these ice-elemental magic crystals, raising his ice-elemental ability to level eighteen.
This brought Lu Heng's other abilities, aside from his mental-elemental ability, to level eighteen.
Lu Heng then took stock of the various magic crystals he had stored in his space, replicating and storing nearly a million of each level and type.
After completing all of this, Lu Heng planned to return to Wuming City with the newly contracted Fire Phoenixes.
With these Fire Phoenixes capable of aerial combat, they were one step closer to the complete annihilation of the zombies.
Of course, these newly contracted Fire Phoenixes were not yet familiar with zombies and needed to be educated on the dangers they posed.
Fortunately, they could fight from high altitudes. As long as they maintained a certain distance from zombies capable of ranged attacks and did not land, the zombies would be completely helpless against the Fire Phoenixes.
Within his space, Lu Heng roughly described the zombies of the apocalypse and the Fire Phoenixes.
"In short, as long as you are not directly scratched or bitten by zombies, you will not turn into zombie animals."
"What's the difference between zombie animals and us now?"
"They're even more mindless," the Director interjected from the side.
"That's pretty much it. Whether it's humans or other animals, their brains die when they first become zombies, turning them into creatures that cannot think."
Lu Heng described the zombies this way, considering the aliens' definition of zombies. Those zombies were indeed new creatures in the apocalyptic world.
However, they did not produce new life through their own reproduction but rather expanded their numbers by infecting other creatures.
This type of new creature, produced by infecting and killing other living beings, was a disaster for humanity, something humans did not recognize or permit.
Therefore, human survivors worldwide were resisting the zombies and fighting for humanity to once again become the dominant species on Blue Star.
"Then we don't want to become mindless beings." A Fire Phoenix said earnestly, looking at the projected zombie images playing on the wall in front of them.
"Yes, indeed. Your bird brains are not very large to begin with. If you become zombie birds, you'll be even dumber."
"Director, you can't attack them with your bird bodies."
"I'm not attacking them. Their brains are not large to begin with, this fact..."
"You can't say that either. Some birds are smarter than your cats. They can not only learn human languages but also interact with humans and have simple conversations."
Lu Heng corrected the Director's thoughts again. In fact, if the Director had not evolved mental-elemental abilities, its intelligence would likely have been similar to that of other animals here.
"So, when you are released in the apocalypse, try not to land on the ground or low places. Flying in the air will make you safer."
...
When Lu Heng reappeared in Wuming City, he happened to catch a few teams returning to resupply, reallocate, and rest.
The teams from Wuming City were assigned to take turns going out to help other provinces and cities' ability users establish or consolidate local bases.
Through several months of effort, they had essentially covered the entire original national territory.
At least, various provinces and cities had begun to establish strong fortresses capable of resisting zombies.
These regions had also established contact with Wuming City, and they would periodically send personnel to Wuming City to exchange for daily necessities.
Similarly, the personnel who traveled back and forth could share information during the period when communication was lost.
Therefore, Wuming City had become the new central hub of the nation after the apocalypse. Although the various regions did not obey Wuming City's management, as the most frequently visited area by people nationwide, it had undoubtedly become the de facto capital.
Although Lin Yu did not personally arrange the replacement of teams, there were still many matters that required his confirmation daily.
Lu Heng also went to the management building in the inner city to find Lin Yu.
"Brother Lu." Seeing Lu Heng enter the office, Lin Yu finished what he was doing and then walked over to sit on the sofa where Lu Heng was seated.
"Hmm, still quite busy?"
"It's alright. Actually, many tasks are the same as before. The situation in various areas has been normal recently, with nothing special happening."
"You can delegate these tasks as well, so you don't get too busy."
"Yes. Oh, right, a while ago, those foreigners sent someone to deliver a message. They asked when they could leave."
"How long has it been?"
"Over a month." This was the time since those foreigners arrived in Wuming City.
"Hmm, I'll go see Chen Dong later. If there are no unexpected issues, I'll accompany these foreigners back to their hometown."
"You're going alone? Do you need to bring a team with you?"
Lin Yu knew that the foreigners' teleportation device could carry multiple people through space.
"No need. Oh, I've also created a few more Fire Phoenixes. This batch of Fire Phoenixes has combat capabilities and can carry people."
After speaking, Lu Heng released one of the Fire Phoenixes in the office.
Fortunately, Lin Yu's office was large enough and lacked much furniture. In the center was a large conference table used for important arrangements.
Lu Heng first put the conference table back into his space before releasing the Fire Phoenix.
The moment the Fire Phoenix was released, the temperature in the room increased significantly.
Fortunately, the Fire Phoenix did not release its fire elemental energy, so it did not ignite other items in the room.
"This Fire Phoenix's temperature is quite high."
Lin Yu also had fire-elemental abilities, and his was the Netherworld Fire, which already had a higher temperature than ordinary flames, so he was not afraid of the high temperature emanating from the Fire Phoenix.
Lin Yu stood up and walked towards the Fire Phoenix, looking at the large bird that was first surveying the surroundings and then focusing its gaze on him.
He reached out and touched the Fire Phoenix's body. The Fire Phoenix's feathers reflected the surrounding walls, casting a faint red glow.
"It's so beautiful."
"This is a female, the only one. She just laid three eggs a few days ago."
"Babies so soon? Is their gestation period very short?"
Lin Yu assumed that the Fire Phoenix was paired after being contracted by Lu Heng, as all the animals Lu Heng had contracted were like this.
"When I contracted it, it was in the process of giving birth."
"Oh. Did you contract its mate?"
"I did, but they are matriarchal, and it's not just one mate."
"Heh, I remember that the rock hyrax has one male and several females."
"Sigh, I contracted too many of those. However, it would be useful to create a mobile flying squad in the future."
Due to its feathers, the Fire Phoenix was very conspicuous externally, making it unsuitable as a mount for ordinary combat teams.
"When the eggs hatch, I'll get you a different mount."
"Sure, this one looks cool to ride." Lin Yu's level was second only to Lu Heng's, so he was not afraid of being exposed as a target.