Chapter 8, Leaving the City

With these reasons, how could Zhou Zheng possibly resist the temptation of these factors

The squad leader did not think much of it; in the past, Zhou Zheng often went out like this, not to mention that there were two guards present, so there was no danger to speak of

I am preparing to go out for a while, Zhou Zheng said淡淡.

The people who rise early in the morning and engage in their busy routines do not reflect an apocalyptic world, but rather a profound yearning for life.

Seeing Zhou Zhengquan fully armed, Zhou An and Lan Xi were greatly astonished

In the post-apocalyptic world, apart from the basic need to eat enough to avoid starvation, there are hardly any additional demands. The only work for people, it seems, is to participate in farming.

Young master, do we need a car

Even if Zhou Zheng is utterly incompetent, he will still benefit from the aura of Zhou Hongqiang.

Lanxi and Zhou An whispered a few words to each other, and ultimately agreed to Zhou Zheng's request

Good morning, young master

He stepped outside, and Zhou Zheng declined their request to help him carry his weapon

A cement road, inclined at nearly a 45-degree angle, extends down to the foot of the slope, where it connects to an earthen path that traverses the fields and disappears into the distance. On either side of the cement road, a layer of cement oil has been applied, making it exceedingly smooth; a person can barely maintain their balance on it. When necessary, a bit of vegetable oil is sprinkled on it, sufficient to deter ordinary toxic corpses and strange beasts

Good morning, Young Master Zhou

The vehicle management office is a specialized place responsible for the custody, maintenance, and repair of vehicles, as well as for related documentation and resources

Zhou An furrowed his brows and said, "Young Master, the leader has instructed that the area outside the city is fraught with danger at the moment, and it is indeed a time of turmoil. It is best not to go out casually."

Zhou Zheng did not provide an explanation; he merely responded ambiguously and led Zhou An and Lan Xi out of the city gate

With a population of 30,000 to 40,000, Zhou Zheng did not know many people, but it was hard to ignore the fact that he was the son of the leader. Instinctively, Zhou Zheng simply smiled and responded to each person.

This area still falls within a safe zone, where martial artists occasionally patrol, driving away some of the more dangerous exotic beasts. Within the safe zone, the most dangerous exotic beasts are merely those of the first or second rank, so there is no need to worry excessively about safety

Along the roadside, one can occasionally see some villages reduced to ruins

Shaking his head, Zhou Zheng merely stroked the body of the gun, ultimately deciding against choosing it

Stepping onto the secondary highway, Zhou Zheng continued to walk straight ahead

The domestic environment dictates that firearms cannot circulate freely. These several sniper rifles were obtained from the local armed police forces, taken from the hands of numerous drug traffickers. As weapons that pose a significant threat to martial artists, they will certainly not be casually handed over to others

The dirt road reaches here, connecting to an abandoned secondary highway, which has not seen vehicles for two years. It appears weathered and gives off a sense of desolation. On both sides of the highway, the trees continue to thrive, while a profusion of wild grass covers the area. A significant amount of fallen leaves has formed a thin layer over the road surface.

The abilities of a thief lie in speed and critical hits. Aside from having lower defense and health, the attack power and speed of a thief are among the most elite in "Sky Continent." Even at level 1, their speed is comparable to that of a martial artist at a higher tier.

The entrances and exits of the walled city are guarded and monitored. Generally, only martial artists possess the authority to enter and exit freely. Ordinary individuals wishing to come and go must submit an application, which serves as a means of protecting them. The area outside the walls is exceedingly dangerous; ordinary people, lacking any means of self-defense, can easily fall victim to any beast.

This is a weapons room, filled with a variety of both cold and hot weapons, ranging from one-handed swords to two-handed swords, as well as knives of various lengths, everything one could possibly need. Most of these weapons are forged from special steel, and once sharpened, they gleam with a captivating sharpness, representing the best weapons that current craftsmanship can produce

Take down a Type 03 automatic rifle from the wall, attach a bayonet, then grab a few spare rounds, and carry the rifle on your back

Zhou Zheng looked through the window as his father left, then walked to the adjacent room

This secondary highway leads directly to a city located thirty kilometers away. At a checkpoint five kilometers from the walled city, several soldiers are stationed with their firearms. The squad leader is a third-tier martial artist, primarily tasked with eliminating the poisoned corpses that wander here from the city.

At the foot of the slope lies a vast expanse of farmland covering tens of thousands of acres, which serves as the fundamental support for the survival of tens of thousands of people within the walled city.

Zhou An and Lan Xi found themselves in a bit of a dilemma; after some consideration, they had no choice but to agree

At the same time, passing this level signifies the exit from the safe zone of the encirclement

Zhou An said: "At the vehicle management office, there are various types of cars"

Young master, we cannot proceed any further

The next morning, Zhou Hongqiang set out with dozens of martial artists and several pickup trucks, leaving the besieged city

Some were demolished for the construction of fortifications, while others were destroyed by strange beasts. In these villages, everywhere is overgrown with weeds, presenting a scene of desolation.

Responding all the way, it took half an hour to traverse this expanse of farmland that resembled a vast ocean

A squad leader of the guards stepped forward and inquired

Zhou Zheng smiled gently and said, "Advance a little further"

Zhou Zheng gazed intently at the sniper rifle hanging on the wall, which was an M99 semi-automatic sniper rifle

Zhou Hongqiang's power is beyond the imagination of outsiders. It is precisely this strong individual, Zhou Hongqiang, who ensured the safety of tens of thousands of people at that time, leading them to escape the encirclement of poisonous corpses and exotic beasts, and establishing a habitat here for their survival

Although it is morning, the sunlight has already spread across the earth, creating a golden expanse

Good morning, young master

Out of habit, Zhou Zheng chose a dagger, but after much hesitation, he opted for a one-handed sword

Zhou An and Lan Xi exchanged a glance, and did not intervene, continuing to follow Zhou Zheng.

"It doesn't matter, I am just turning around within the safe perimeter of the city." Zhou Zheng stated with an undeniable tone, "Moreover, with the two of you providing protection, I believe that even if we encounter poisonous corpses or strange beasts, with you here, there is no need to worry"

The speaker is Lan Xi, who suggested: "If we circle around the walled city from here, it will cover quite a distance. If we have a vehicle, it will be much more convenient and quicker, allowing us to return earlier." He is still concerned about potential issues; since they cannot stop Zhou Zheng, it is better to return early to reduce the risk.

Zhou Zheng certainly would not disclose his intentions to Zhou An and the others. After contemplating all night, he became increasingly certain that hunting poisonous corpses and exotic beasts would grant him experience. Zhou Zheng was very dissatisfied with the current situation; in this new world where strength is revered, what difference is there between an apprentice warrior and an ordinary person?

Upon seeing Zhou Zheng, many people took the initiative to greet him

Zhou Zheng thought for a moment, shook his head and said: "No, we will walk; after all, we won't be too far from the walled city."

Lansi hesitated for a moment and then spoke

The range of firearms is equally diverse, with everything from police handguns to large-caliber pistols, submachine guns, and rifles displayed on the walls

The vehicle management office is well aware that, in memory, there were even sports cars inside, yet no one dared to truly use this fuel guzzler. Given the current situation where fuel is extremely precious, no one is willing to waste valuable fuel on sports cars

Young master, are you going out for a hunt

The laborers, along with the books, always strive to complete their work when the sun is not too harsh. When the sun is high in the sky, they can rest indoors. A glance across the fields of varying elevations reveals a multitude of laborers at work.

Zhou Zheng also wanted to see if his conjecture was correct, whether the enhancement of character attributes would lead to an improvement in his own abilities in reality

This place is also three kilometers away from the besieged city. Although it is considered a safe area, there are still some poisonous corpses and strange beasts that may appear. He and Zhou An are only at the second level of martial arts, and while they can handle the poisonous corpses and strange beasts here, as they move further away from the besieged city, the poisonous corpses and strange beasts that appear may not be something they can protect Zhou Zheng from completely

As long as he can advance, Zhou Zheng is not afraid of anyone at all

Upon reaching the city gate of the encircled city, one encounters a large door made of an alloy with a thickness of 40 centimeters, which is mechanically operated and can be closed in the shortest possible time

Compared to character attributes, the unlocking of skills is the most extraordinary.

Walking along the dirt path that traverses the fields, one encounters upright individuals who all greet each other warmly

After two years of natural purification, the air is completely different from before; it is very fresh, and inhaling it brings a scent reminiscent of plants

Moreover, once a character can level up, it signifies that skills can be unlocked

Young master, where are you going?

Like sniper rifles, there are not many in the besieged city, only a few.

Having made all necessary preparations, I left the armory with my equipment

Two years is sufficient for them to adapt to this world and no longer fear it