In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

During this period, Su Ran spent more time at the base.

As the only recorded fourth-order awakener in the entire human race, Su Ran naturally became a hot commodity in the eyes of the Academy of Sciences.

Various testing instruments were used in turn.

Gene mapping and energy transfer analysis.

Scientists are trying to decipher the code of life's leap in development from his life.

The numbers on the instrument are fluctuating.

Su Ran removed the three drainage needles from her forearm and casually tossed them into the medical waste tray next to her.

After the nurses pushed the cart away, Zhang Qian walked over with a recording tablet in hand and a furrowed brow.

"Advisor Su, the results of the eleventh gene anchor mapping are in, but we still couldn't capture the exact mutation sequence."

Su Ran pulled down her rolled-up sleeves and buttoned them up.

"In other words, my status as the only fourth-order sample currently has limited direct impact on the 'Ascension to Godhood' project."

Su Ran drew a conclusion.

"You could say that."

Zhang Qian pushed up his glasses and let out a long sigh.

"Your evolutionary path is too unique to be universally applicable."

We can only settle for second best now and continue trying to use high-concentration crystal core extract to stimulate the existing Tier 3 peak Awakened individuals to see if we can artificially induce gene recombination.

Su Ran nodded.

This matter cannot be rushed; it's a genetic issue, and forcing it will only kill people.

In the past two months, apart from going out to carry out missions to hunt down high-level mutated beasts and transport large quantities of supplies, he spent almost all his remaining time at the Kunlun base cooperating with the Academy of Sciences.

He knew better than anyone that if Great Xia wanted to truly gain a foothold in this racial frenzy, it had to mass-produce high-end combat power!

The birth of more fourth-tier awakened beings is far more valuable than him killing more third-tier mutated beasts on the front lines.

"Professor Zhang, shouldn't the pressure test at Bailu be finished by now?" Su Ran asked.

"Um!"

Zhang Qian swiped twice on the tablet.

"Mental strength testing chamber number seven, progress 99%. Immediately wrapping up."

Su Ran strode towards cabin number seven.

Before we even got close, a sharp alarm sounded from behind the isolation glass.

The red light was flashing wildly.

"laugh!"

The hatch popped open.

A large plume of white refrigerated mist billowed out, and Bai Lu staggered out, one hand gripping the edge of the hatch.

Her specially made black combat suit was soaked through, and her hair was plastered to her cheeks.

"It's finally over...it was so agonizing."

Bai Lu stretched her body hard, and her joints made two crisp sounds.

Su Ran walked over and handed her a bottle of electrolyte water.

"Did Professor Zhang Qian increase the stakes again today?" Su Ran asked.

"They're increasing the workload every day!"

Bai Lu took the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and took a big gulp without any regard for appearances, then exhaled a long breath of stale air.

"Phew... I'm alive again..."

She waved her hand, dismissing the researcher who was following behind her and about to record data.

Bai Lu walked up to Su Ran and said irritably,

"They're using me like a guinea pig every day, trying all sorts of new and exciting methods on me."

"But it works."

Su Ran glanced over and chuckled softly.

The two were very close, and he could clearly sense the spiritual energy emanating from Bai Lu's body.

The energy intensity was significantly greater than it had been on the front lines in North Africa two months prior.

Now he has become extremely reserved, with a subtle sense of tangible oppression.

"It is useful."

Bai Lu rubbed her throbbing temples, her face full of disgust.

"But I'd rather go outside and kill a few hundred more monsters than have my head hurt from the high-voltage bioelectricity in this wrecked pod."

The two walked side by side toward the elevator.

"As long as it works."

Su Ran's tone was gratified, "Your mental strength level is more than twice as high as it was two months ago."

With the high-concentration crystal nucleus liquid from the Academy of Sciences, plus your recent extreme practical experience, your foundation has been thoroughly forged.

It's just one final opportunity that's missing.

"What opportunity?" Bai Lu pressed.

"These things are a matter of metaphysics. Maybe you'll sleep tonight and wake up tomorrow morning to find yourself having broken through a level."

Su Ran nodded and began to speak in a serious tone.

"What a load of rubbish." Bai Lu scoffed.

Ding!

The elevator stopped on the floor in the living area.

The doors opened to both sides, and people hurried to and fro in the corridor.

Logistics personnel pushed a hovercar loaded with supplies, while a communications soldier jogged past carrying a freshly printed theater briefing.

Everyone's face showed the fatigue and tension caused by long-term high pressure.

"Any changes in the frontline battle reports today?"

Bai Lu walked beside Su Ran and asked casually.

She has been locked in the base to assist with research during this period, so she doesn't know much about the overall situation outside.

Su Ran slowed down, avoiding the two workers carrying the equipment.

"Push forward without hesitation."

Su Ran gave four words that carried great weight.

"Millions of expeditionary forces have spread their battle lines across the globe. The area of ​​the safe zone is expanding every day."

"That's great."

"It's really good!"

Su Ran nodded, then shook her head slightly.

"However, just like the saying goes, 'It's easy to conquer a country, but difficult to govern it.'"

Even within the safe zone we've captured, various mutated creatures will continue to appear. If we don't reserve enough troops to clear them out in time, the territory we just reclaimed will be taken back by these mutated creatures.

After listening, Bai Lu remained silent for a while, then turned her head and asked.

"So, do you think we can wipe them all out before they fully evolve?"

"Killing them all is unrealistic."

Su Ran spoke the truth, her gaze becoming deep and unfathomable.

"Right now, our heavy-firepower sweeping is only targeting what's visible on the surface."

Our firepower simply cannot reach the deep-sea restricted areas and those bottomless underground fissures.

The sheer number of mutated creatures is a given.

"Then what's the point of us fighting like this every day?" Bai Lu asked.

"Just to gain a foothold."

Click!

Su Ran crushed the empty Coke can and threw it into the trash can by the roadside.

"First, we need to reclaim our living space, then we can resume production."

At first, I also thought of wiping them out in one fell swoop, but now that the war has gone on, I've come to a complete understanding.

A protracted war is unavoidable. What we can do now is to carry out a global extermination campaign and wipe out all the high-level mutated beasts.

To turn the entire Earth's surface into a controllable, safe zone.

Once humanity truly escapes the crisis of extinction and establishes a firm foothold, it can slowly wear them down.

As they walked and talked, Su Ran stopped in front of an alloy door.

This is his personal rest area.

He raised his wrist, intending to glance at the transportation requirements sent by the Logistics Department today on his communication terminal.

The screen lights up, displaying densely packed data, with the Gregorian calendar date shown in the corner.

【XNUM X Year X NUM X Month X NUM X Day】

Su Ran stared at the line of numbers, frozen in place.

Bai Lu noticed his unusual behavior and stopped.

"What's wrong?"

She followed Su Ran's gaze and saw only an ordinary date.

"January 30, 2027..."

Su Ran repeated the date.

Counting the days, it's been half a year since the red rains fell and the apocalypse began.

In the past six months, human civilization was destroyed to the point of being reduced to ashes.

And in this life.

Not only did the Great Xia Dynasty survive, it also turned the tide and spread the flames of war to the entire world.

While millions of soldiers fought on the front lines, the factories at home roared day and night.

Su Ran slowly raised her head, looked at the white deer beside her, and spoke with a soft smile.

"White Deer, there are only seven days left until the New Year..."

The moment those words were spoken, the air in the corridor seemed to freeze for a moment.

Bai Lu was also stunned for a moment, unable to keep up with Su Ran's jumping thought process.

"Huh? Chinese New Year?"