Apocalypse: The Primordial Pearl Recognizes Its Master, Starting with Infinite Space

After returning to the underground shelter, Lin Chen and Liang Siqi went about their respective tasks.

Liang Siqi walked briskly towards her research lab, humming a little tune.

The brief reunion with her parents, witnessing firsthand the sudden surge of life in the space due to the arrival of over two hundred people, and the renewed sparkle in her parents' eyes, all brought her a sense of clarity and peace.

A faint smile played on her lips, as if the warmth of those days had dispelled much of her fatigue.

Lin Chen headed straight for the cafeteria, intending to find Hua Hua and the others to check on the progress of the project.

As soon as I stepped into the cafeteria, I was surprised to find that Bai Xin had not left. She was sitting alone on a bench against the wall, her head slightly lowered, her fingers unconsciously tapping on her knees, as if she was deep in thought.

Lin Chen was slightly surprised. He stepped forward, his tone carrying a hint of familiar teasing: "Teacher Bai, you were waiting for me here specifically? It wasn't last night..." He deliberately dragged out the words, a playful glint in his eyes, "Having tasted the sweetness, you want another treat today, don't you?"

Bai Xin looked up at the sound of his voice, saw it was him, and her ears turned red instantly. She glared at him irritably, but lowered her voice and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? You can't even behave properly in broad daylight."

She quickly concealed her embarrassment and said seriously, "I have important business to discuss with you."

She briefly recounted to Lin Chen how Duan Rong and the others' request for help was politely refused, how Director Huang took off his clothes to show his resolve, how the group finally decided to join the shelter, and the situation of their companion who urgently needed rescue.

As Lin Chen listened to Bai Xin's story, the joking expression on his face gradually faded.

Since the apocalypse, he has seen too many people betray their loved ones for a bite to eat and abandon their companions for a glimmer of hope.

People like Duan Rong and Director Huang, who are already struggling themselves, still stubbornly wear those uniforms that have long lost their enforceability, uphold a faded sense of responsibility, and are even willing to give up their principles just to ask their comrades for help. They are not unique, but they are certainly rare.

To say that he was not moved would be a lie. Although he could not be that kind of person, it does not mean that he did not admire such a person.

He paused for a moment, then tapped his fingers lightly on the rough tabletop.

"I understand." He said, his voice calmer than usual. "Wait for me a moment, I need to talk to Hua Hua about something. Then, take me to meet them. I need to ask them in person to find out the specifics."

Bai Xin nodded, watching his back as he turned and quickly left the cafeteria, and breathed a slight sigh of relief.

Lin Chen quickly found Hua Hua and her engineering team.

Although the three new recruits are newcomers, they are full of energy, and under the guidance of the "seniors" who have already advanced to the second rank, their efficiency is amazing.

In a short period of time, they explored a wider and more orderly underground space, with the walls and dome constructed to be quite solid.

"Good progress." Lin Chen inspected the area, nodded in satisfaction, and waved his hand to collect the large amount of newly excavated soil into his spatial storage.

After briefly explaining the key points and precautions for the next stage of the excavation, Lin Chen didn't linger and turned back.

After meeting up with Bai Xin, who was waiting in the cafeteria, they left the underground shelter.

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outer city.

Zhou Tiannian was patrolling the outer city, his footsteps crunching through the snow.

He was followed by dozens of members of the outer city guard, all of whom were wearing thick winter clothes and carrying various kinds of firearms, which attracted the attention of the survivors who were busy or huddled on the roadside.

"Boss, it's even colder today than yesterday," a young man next to me said with a grin, tightening his collar. "But the wind has calmed down quite a bit."

"Cold?" Zhou Tiannian chuckled, his steps unhurried, his gaze lazily sweeping over the container houses on both sides. "This is the apocalypse of extreme cold. At least you have superpowers and cold-weather clothing. Look at these ordinary people next to you who don't even dare to leave their homes, and then you say that to me."

The squad leader chuckled twice.

"Commander Zhou! Commander Zhou, please wait!" A slightly urgent shout came from the side.

Zhou Tiannian paused slightly and turned his head to look.

A middle-aged man, wearing a dirty down jacket and with matted hair, approached with a big smile, holding a cloth bag in his hand.

"Commander Zhou, do you remember me? I'm Wang Defa from Xinmao Group!" The man tried to make his smile seem natural, but he couldn't hide the fear and fawning in his eyes. "Last year... last year we collaborated on my company's new industrial park project..."

Zhou Tiannian sized him up, impressed. He was his former client before the apocalypse, someone he used to have to politely address as "President Wang" when they met.

His face was expressionless, and he only gave a faint "hmm".

Encouraged, Wang Defa quickly pushed the cloth bag forward, revealing several unopened boxes of anti-inflammatory medicine and a few cartons of cigarettes inside: "Just a little something... just a small token of my appreciation. My wife and children are in the container room, and there are quite a few people crammed in there. I just wanted to... just wanted to ask you to lend a hand and give me a separate container, even a smaller one..."

His voice grew softer and softer as he spoke, his small eyes looking at Zhou Tiannian with a fawning expression.

Zhou Tiannian didn't take the cloth bag, nor did he even glance at the boxes of medicine and cigarettes that were considered hard currency in the apocalypse.

He reached out and slowly dusted off non-existent dust from his cuffs.

"Old Wang," he began, his voice calm yet carrying a condescending detachment, "what era are we in? Still playing these games?"

He raised his chin and pointed around. "See? Here, we don't look at the past, we only look at the present. Want to live better? Simple. If you have superpowers, sign up to kill zombies and accumulate merits. If you don't have superpowers but have strength, go to the construction site, clear snow, do some work. The rules were set by City Lord Lin; I wouldn't dare use any back channels here."

Wang Defa's smile froze, and his hands holding the cloth bag trembled slightly.

A guard stepped forward at the opportune moment, his face stern, and said, "Did you hear me? Don't block the way! If you want to exchange items, go to the supply depot and line up according to the rules!"

Wang Defa was pushed away, not too hard, and staggered back a few steps, his face turning red and blue. In the end, he had no choice but to walk away silently with his cloth bag in his arms.

Zhou Tiannian acted as if nothing had happened and continued walking forward.

The squad leader next to him muttered under his breath, "Pah, thinks he's something special, wanting a single room?"

"Stop talking nonsense." Zhou Tianqing snapped, but a barely perceptible smile played at the corners of his lips.

The feeling of easily trampling on those you used to look up to is indeed... not bad.

But he always kept that string in his heart taut.

He knew very well that his current prestige was almost entirely due to Lin Chen's influence.

Yesterday's horrific scene of a one-sided massacre of 20,000 zombies outside the city was enough to crush any restless thoughts.

"Listen up, all of you," he suddenly stopped, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of every guard behind him, "who gave us what we eat, what we wear, what weapons we carry, and even this face of ours?"

The crowd fell silent instantly.

"It's City Lord Lin from the inner city!" Zhou Tiannian's gaze swept over the crowd. "Open your eyes wide, everyone. Anyone who thinks they're capable, who's getting cocky, or who thinks they can pull off some underhanded tricks just because they've collected some scraps..."

He paused, his tone turning cold, "No need for City Lord Lin to speak, I, Zhou Tiannian, will be the first to skin him alive! Do you understand?"

"Understood!" came the unified, low growl, filled with awe.

Zhou Tiannian nodded in satisfaction, took another step, his posture more relaxed, even with a touch of leisurely ease.

The wind and snow seemed to avoid him, and everyone he encountered along the way, whether ordinary survivors or minor leaders, bowed their heads to give way or greeted him respectfully.

He would occasionally think of his wife and children who had turned into zombies, and a dull ache would still throb in some corner of his heart.

But soon, the pain was diluted by the tangible power before him and the comfort of returning to that warm "camp" every night.

He picked two women from the women rejected by the inner city who were pleasing to the eye. He didn't love them, but they were gentle and considerate enough to warm his bed, manage his little "household property," and perhaps... even leave an heir for the Zhou family.

Thinking about the hot wine and food, the soft woman and the warm bed when he got home that night, Zhou Tiannian's face softened a little.

He is quite content with his current position. He is second only to the emperor, holding real power, enjoying comforts, and remaining clear-headed.

"Commander Zhou, City Lord Lin is looking for you. He's at the recruitment office." A henchman came running up from a distance, panting.

"Go right away." Zhou Tiannian snapped to attention and jogged toward the inner city gate.