The military command center.
"Qin Shilei, I can buy grain at the price you mentioned," Kong Zhendong said with a smile. "But I have a condition: marry my daughter and become the commander of the army, a commander with real power."
"Dad," Kong Qingshu said angrily, "your daughter isn't unmarriageable. Why do you always try to push me away?"
Kong Zhendong ignored his daughter's objection and looked at Qin Shilei steadily.
Qin Shilei shook his head and said, "There is no emotional foundation between Miss Kong and me. Forcing us together would probably not be good."
Hearing this, Kong Qingshu's eyes showed a flash of anger.
"Hmph, rejected so straightforwardly, am I really that unattractive?"
Kong Zhendong also showed a hint of disappointment. "Since that's the case, I won't force it. I have two conditions: first, we sign a defensive alliance and will never invade each other. Second, we hope you can eliminate powerful zombies like Tyrants within Nanzhuang City."
"Alright," Qin Shilei replied concisely.
Both conditions were of no harm to him, so naturally, there was no reason to refuse.
Kong Zhendong had two agreements brought over, and they each signed one to keep.
Qin Shilei left 500 tons of grain and took away 30,000 core crystals.
After Qin Shilei left, Kong Qingshu said with dissatisfaction, "Dad, didn't you promise me this morning not to mention marriage? Why did you go back on your word?"
Kong Zhendong said earnestly, "Qin Shilei is not only the number one expert on Blue Star, but according to our investigation, his character is also good. If you really marry him, it would be excellent."
Kong Qingshu retorted, "But he already has a girlfriend, and two of them. Do you want your daughter to be the second wife?"
Kong Zhendong frowned and said, "If it were before the apocalypse, I would absolutely not agree even if you wanted to be the second wife. But now it is the apocalypse."
"Qin Shilei could come and go freely in the military camp even before his promotion. Now he is the number one person on Blue Star; there are probably no places on Blue Star that can stop him."
"Most of Commander Fan's former subordinates have now defected to Commander Liu, showing signs of disobedience."
"A large number of core crystals were collected to help you and your brother advance to the Black Iron realm, causing discontent among the subordinates."
"Now we need a strong ally. Do you understand this?"
"..." Kong Qingshu looked directly at her father. "I know all of this, but this is the second time he has rejected us. I hope you won't try to force your daughter on him next time. It's really too embarrassing."
"Alright, alright," Kong Zhendong quickly promised. "To dare to look down on my daughter, that's his misfortune."
"Then I'm leaving." Kong Qingshu turned and walked out.
...
"Shilei, after learning that you are the number one person on Blue Star, the number of people signing up to join the Rock Formation has surged. Should we change the conditions or just recruit more people?"
Zhang Cheng stopped Qin Shilei, who was about to set off to kill zombies.
Qin Shilei pondered for a moment and replied, "The admission standard will be raised to Plastic Seven Stars, and the number of people will remain at three thousand. Quality is more important than quantity."
"Okay, I'll go recruit people now." Zhang Cheng turned and ran out.
Qin Shilei also took Zhang Xiaoli and the others to prepare to cross the river and kill zombies.
An Qian stayed in the villa to absorb core crystals. Now that there were enough core crystals, advancing to the Silver realm was just around the corner.
Just then, Kong Qingshu's voice was heard from a distance: "Commander, wait for me."
"Did you do something to her? She's the daughter of the supreme commander, why does she always run to your side?" Zhang Xiaoli said with a jealous expression.
Qin Shilei looked innocent and said, "I didn't. She's very affectionate with you all."
Zhang Xiaoli warned, "Don't you dare have any wicked ideas about her, or you're not allowed on my bed, and An Qian's either."
Qin Shilei quickly assured, "Absolutely not."
He paused and then added, "Xiaoli, you've changed. You used to trust me so much, but now you've learned to be jealous."
Zhang Xiaoli rolled her eyes at Qin Shilei. "I've already been eaten by you, and I'm not even allowed to be a little jealous?"
"..." Qin Shilei was speechless. "That makes so much sense!"
"Commander, what makes so much sense?" Kong Qingshu, who had just approached, asked curiously.
"I was saying that Sister Qingshu, you are so beautiful, so many people must like you. He agrees." Zhang Xiaoli interjected.
"Does Commander also like me? I am truly honored," Kong Qingshu said, then looked at Qin Shilei with a half-smile.
Qin Shilei glanced at Zhang Xiaoli, as if saying, "See, you've stirred up trouble for me. How am I supposed to answer?"
Zhang Xiaoli chuckled dryly. "Men like beautiful women. It's normal for him to like you."
"Really?" Kong Qingshu said with a surprised look. "I also find the Commander very pleasing to the eye. How about we start dating?"
"..." Zhang Xiaoli really wanted to bite her own tongue now.
"Hehe." Kong Qingshu laughed. "I'm just kidding. I know the Commander's eyes are only on you and An Qian. My humble self is not worthy of your lover's gaze."
Qin Shilei also changed the subject. "Let's set off!"
Now, ships were constantly passing on the ChiYuan River, making it very lively.
However, most of the ships were carrying soldiers, and only occasionally could one see a small boat carrying civilian evolutionaries.
Kong Qingshu explained, "Before the bridge was blown up, the military had already controlled most of the ships."
"Now, civilian evolutionaries are pressuring the military to release some of the ships."
"But even having ships to cross the river isn't necessarily a good thing. Several of the military's forward positions have been destroyed by counterattacks from zombies."
As they were talking, a flare suddenly rose in the distance.
"Commander, a powerful mutated zombie is attacking a military position. Can you go and rescue them?" Kong Qingshu's voice carried a hint of pleading.
"I'll be back soon. Be careful," Qin Shilei released Xiao Qiang and flew towards the direction of the flare.
...
In a position of seven to eight hundred people.
Three Tyrants were leading dozens of mutated zombies and countless ordinary zombies, ravaging and slaughtering within the position.
Machine gun fire and rocket explosions bombarded the Tyrants, but besides making them more enraged, they did not stop their advance.
With each punch of a Tyrant, the heads of three to four people would explode like watermelons.
"Commander, we can't hold on anymore, let's retreat quickly," the company commander of the first company shouted hoarsely.
"Companies one to five, take your men and retreat towards the ChiYuan River. Companies six and seven, we will stay and cover the retreat," the regiment commander ordered.
"Commander, you go, we'll cover the retreat," the company commander of the first company shouted.
"Go quickly, this is an order," the regiment commander ordered again without room for doubt.
Just then, a person and an eagle swooped down from the sky.
Lightning Chain Slash!
Qin Shilei instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning and rapidly approached a Tyrant ten meters below.
Cold light flashed, sword qi crisscrossed!
The arrogant Tyrant instantly froze.
Then its head fell, followed by its arms, legs, and half of its body.
The powerful Tyrant was ripped into eight pieces by Qin Shilei's single move!