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

Huang Shouwei led the way, while Lin Chen and Yuanzai followed at a leisurely pace.

After passing through a narrow passage, the view suddenly opened up—a converted basement appeared before us.

The heavy iron gate was half-open, and dim light shone from inside, from which the faint sounds of several people arguing could be heard.

Two guards stood at the entrance. Seeing Guard Huang approaching with a stranger and a giant panda, they were about to reprimand him—

Lin Chen's gaze swept over them.

The two paused for a moment, then stood with their hands at their sides again, as if nothing had happened.

Lin Chen nodded, leaned against the wall by the door, and pricked up his ears.

A soft, feminine voice came through, tinged with a hint of harshness:

"Boss Gu, those ordinary people are no longer useful."

Now, almost all the supplies we can collect in this area have ended up in our pockets.

"Those outgrown pieces of trash can't even get to the more remote areas, let alone gather supplies."

After a pause, the voice continued:

What I mean is... why not just kick them out!

They could not only loot their remaining supplies and feed the zombies, but also perhaps raise a few high-level ones.

"Then we'll go harvest it, killing two birds with one stone!"

Lin Chen raised an eyebrow.

That guy is ruthless.

A rough voice followed immediately, carrying a clear sense of disapproval:

"Brother Snake, isn't that unnecessary? Those people don't have much longer to live."

Anyway, there are rules: if you can pay the rent, you stay; if you can't, you get out.

Whether they survive or not depends on their own abilities. Why be so ruthless?

The voice paused, then added:

"If word gets out, who will dare come to our shelter? If no one comes, how will we expand our strength?"

Snake Bro smiled sinisterly.

"Wei Laohu, you really do have the appearance of a tiger but the heart of a saint."

His tone was full of sarcasm.

"Don't you know the current situation with the supplies? All the big shopping malls and supply warehouses in this area have been emptied out by some bastard!"

We searched and searched, and all we found were small convenience stores, which were full of packaged snacks.

Do you know how long it's been since anyone had a hot meal?

Outside the door, Lin Chen's expression froze instantly.

damn it.

The gossip has backfired on me.

Another muffled voice rang out from inside, carrying a hint of resentment:

"Exactly! I haven't had a hot meal in ages! It's all been biscuits and instant noodles, so much so that even my farts taste like seasoning!"

Snake Brother's voice floated out again: "Big Black Bear, you should be content. With your appetite, you can eat the equivalent of ten people's portions in one meal."

Didn't almost all the pork that was seized in that neighborhood last time end up in your stomach?

"boom--"

A loud bang, as if someone had slammed their fist on the table.

"Little snake!" The big black bear's voice reverberated through the underground space.

"Stop your damn sarcastic remarks! Even if I can eat a lot, I can't possibly eat all the rations for over 20,000 brothers!"

His voice grew louder, filled with a sense of grievance and anger:

"Besides, the reason I eat so much is because Boss Gu personally rewarded me! In every dangerous mission, I'm always the one who rushes to the front."

While you were hiding in the back shooting arrows, I was the one carrying the horde of zombies in front!

There was a moment of silence inside.

Then a somewhat charming female voice rang out, unhurried and gentle, as if someone was trying to smooth things over.

"Alright, alright, let's all keep quiet."

"Little snake, the big black bear's special ability is physical defense, and it has a big appetite."

It's a fact that he always rushes to the front lines during dangerous missions. There's a reason why Boss Gu rewarded him.

She paused for a moment, then steered the conversation back on track.

"Boss Gu, you should make the decision. These ordinary people—should they stay or leave?"

Lin Chen leaned against the wall, a slight smile playing on his lips: "I've heard enough; my curiosity has been satisfied."

Lin Chen walked to the door and lifted his foot—

"Clang!"

The heavy iron door was kicked open and slammed against the wall, shaking the entire basement.

He stepped inside.

Yuanzai followed behind him, curiously peeking inside.

All nine people in the room looked up at the same time.

The man sitting at the head of the table was in his early thirties. He had an average appearance and build, the kind of person you wouldn't notice in a crowd.

But Lin Chen recognized him at a glance.

Gu Yan.

The person who ambushed him yesterday and escaped as a shadow.

At that moment, Gu Yan saw Lin Chen, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He recognized Lin Chen too!

That guy who chased after the fourth-tier giant panda! How did he end up here?

His gaze fell on the round, chubby panda next to Lin Chen.

It was obediently following beside me, looking around, showing none of the ferocity one would expect from a fourth-tier mutated beast.

He subdued her?

Gu Yan's heart sank. He had witnessed this person's speed with his own eyes yesterday; it was something no normal person should have.

Now there's another fourth-tier giant panda...

His expression changed repeatedly.

But the others didn't recognize Lin Chen.

A burly man, over two meters tall, wearing a black trench coat and with a physique as imposing as an iron tower, stood up first, took a step in front of Lin Chen, and looked down at him from above.

His figure and his imposing presence were just like a black bear walking upright.

"Boy!" he roared, his voice booming and making one's ears ring, "Who are you? How dare you barge in?"

Lin Chen's lips curled up slightly.

He didn't look at the big black bear; his gaze passed over it and landed on Gu Yan, who was in the main seat.

"You can ask your boss about that."

All eyes turned to Gu Yan.

Gu Yan's expression shifted between light and dark, but he quickly regained his composure.

He stood up from the head of the table, a forced, insincere smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

Inside the room, his "Eight Great Vajras" had already subtly surrounded Lin Chen.

The commotion alerted the guards nearby.

Footsteps came from all directions.

More and more people crowded into the passageway and the entrance to the basement, surrounding Lin Chen completely.

There are hundreds or even thousands of B-level, C-level, and D-level superhumans.

There are tens of thousands of E-grade and F-grade items!

The torchlight was fragmented by the crowd, and shadows swayed wildly on the walls.

Gu Yan glanced at the dense crowd outside, and his confidence instantly returned.

He licked his lips, looked at Lin Chen with greed in his eyes, especially at Yuanzai beside Lin Chen.

"Heh." He laughed, a smug laugh. "Kid, I let you off the hook yesterday, but I didn't expect you to dare to barge in today."

He paused, his tone full of smug satisfaction.

"It's like having a path to heaven but refusing to take it, having no way to hell but insisting on forcing your way in."

Lin Chen remained expressionless throughout.

He even had a moment to reach out and pat Yuanzai on the head, signaling it to calm down.

Then he looked up and glanced at the densely packed figures inside and outside the house.

That gaze... was very faint!

He withdrew his gaze and returned it to Gu Yan's face.

"You let me off the hook yesterday?" He repeated the question, the corners of his mouth curving upwards even wider.

"Wasn't it you... who fled in a sorry state?"

Gu Yan's smile froze.

The room fell silent for a moment.

The only woman among the nine stood at the edge of the crowd, staring intently at Lin Chen.

She felt like she'd seen this face somewhere before, but couldn't quite place it.

She frowned, desperately searching her memory... Who was it?