Chapter 254: The Phoenix Man Who Soared Before the Apocalypse – 60

But things progressed far more smoothly than expected.

Shen Xiuyan warmly welcomed the addition of these researchers. He told them that anyone who wanted to leave should gather at the front gate the day after tomorrow, and he would personally take them away.

When Wang Jidong received the news, he could hardly believe his ears. He wasn’t being told to figure out his own way to follow—Shen Xiuyan was going to find a way to take them all together?

What kind of boldness was that?

And how exactly was he going to pull it off?

But since the man on the other side dared to make such a promise, Wang Jidong dared to believe it.

After all, this was the man who had knocked the base leader flat. He had no grounds to question him at all.

All he needed to do now was notify everyone, compile a list, and gather at the gate with their luggage the day after tomorrow.

Old Wang, upon receiving the confirmed news, grinned like a blooming chrysanthemum.

The father and son didn’t rest for a moment, running around spreading the good news.

Everyone they informed naturally chose to leave with them. After all, they had no attachment to this base—if anything, they carried a trace of fear. They figured, no matter how bad things got, it couldn’t possibly be worse than here…

And more importantly, if what they said was true, and they could return to their original professions, then life might actually get a lot better.

For a moment, everyone held a glimmer of hope in this otherwise hopeless apocalypse.

*

Shen Xiuyan was very pleased with the list Wang Jidong compiled.

He had just struck gold with a whole nest of researchers—there were more people on the list than he’d imagined.

To transport so many people, he’d definitely need large buses. Everyone was bringing their families, and it looked like even two buses wouldn’t be enough.

Shen Xiuyan had no intention of pulling vehicles out of his space. Instead, he went straight to the base leader.

“Hey, brother, do you guys have any large buses?”

“Yes, yes, we do. Do you need one?”

“Yeah, I’m planning to take some people with me,” Shen Xiuyan nodded.

“Take… take people?” The base leader was stunned. Was this guy here to pick up relatives or poach his people?

“What, is that a problem?” Shen Xiuyan lowered his voice.

“No, no, not at all. Take whoever you want. We’re a proper base—we don’t stop anyone who wants to leave.”

Shen Xiuyan smiled. “Good. Then give me three buses. We can talk price.”

“Uh… will you be coming back?” the base leader asked cautiously. If they were coming back and planned to stay long-term, he knew his position as base leader would be gone for sure…

He needed to prepare in advance…

Shen Xiuyan shook his head. “No. Why would we come back here?”

The base leader’s face lit up with joy. “Three buses, right? No need to talk money and hurt feelings. I’ll have them ready for you this afternoon, tanks filled and parked by the front gate. How’s that?”

He couldn’t hide his excitement. Finally, these walking disasters were leaving. And all it cost him was three buses—totally worth it.

He might just be the first base leader in history to get robbed in his own base by outsiders.

Thinking about it was oddly heartbreaking…

But Shen Xiuyan wasn’t the kind of man to take advantage. “Fair’s fair. I can’t just take your stuff for nothing. Here are forty core crystals. Take them, and we’ll call it even.”

“Great, great. Even it is.”

The base leader looked at the forty core crystals that had gone full circle and returned to him. Why did his face sting so much?

What had they even accomplished? They got beaten up, gave away three buses, and had a bunch of people taken from them.

And in the end, it was all just to get back the entrance fee from the beginning…

The harder he tried, the more bitter it felt…

Don’t ask. If you did, he might just cry on the spot.

On the third morning, everyone had gathered at the gate, fully packed and ready.

By then, the entrance was already surrounded by curious onlookers. After all, many had witnessed the base leader getting thoroughly beaten two days ago.

And with Wang Jidong running around recruiting people these past two days, word had spread about Shen Xiuyan and the existence of his base.

People whispered among themselves, full of curiosity about this unknown base.

What would life be like there? They didn’t know for sure, but with Shen Xiuyan in charge, safety was guaranteed.

Their eyes were filled with envy as they watched the group leaving with Shen Xiuyan. How lucky…

They couldn’t help but wonder if they’d ever get the chance to live in a place like that.

This scene played out in every corner of the country. Every team returning from Shen Xiuyan’s base came back with a haul of talent from all over.

Shen Xiuyan and his base quickly became famous across the apocalypse, turning into a force no one could ignore.

*

Five years later.

Mingyang Base had become a household name, known even overseas. People across the globe had heard of this formidable base in H Country.

Under the waves of zombie hordes in recent years, countless small bases had vanished into the dust of history.

Even the three major bases had suffered heavy losses and were gradually declining.

But Mingyang Base had never faced any major setbacks, all thanks to their extraordinary leader—Shen Xiuyan.

While others were still struggling to reach Level 3 in their supernatural abilities, he had already become the world’s only Level 7 ability user—a terrifying existence that even zombies would flee from on sight.

Not to mention, he had been the first to scour the country for talent, hauling in truckloads of researchers long before anyone else realized their value.

As a result, Mingyang Base became the most technologically advanced base, with a quality of life rivaling—if not surpassing—that of the pre-apocalypse world.

These researchers were deeply grateful. It was Shen Xiuyan who had given them a better life and the hope to survive. So no matter how other bases tried to lure them away, they remained fiercely loyal, holding fast to one belief: We’re not leaving. Not even if it kills us.

All the other bases could do was watch helplessly as Mingyang Base grew stronger and eventually surpassed the three major bases, becoming the leader among all.

“Old Wang, heading home?”

“Yeah! It’s my granddaughter’s birthday today. I’m going out to buy a cake so I can get home early,” Old Wang replied with a cheerful smile.

“Your little girl’s already nine, huh? If only my granddaughter had lived this long…” The man asking suddenly looked a little downcast.

Old Wang quickly patted his shoulder in comfort. “Hey, don’t be too sad. Look ahead. I heard your daughter-in-law’s pregnant again. Maybe you’ll get a little girl this time and have your family whole again.”

At that, the man’s mood visibly lifted. “Yeah, you’re right. Gotta look forward. No use dwelling on the past. At least my son and daughter-in-law are still alive. That’s more than many can say. Who knows, maybe just like you said, my granddaughter will come back to us in another form.”