Chapter 162: World Core

When Lin Chen and Xia Nuan woke up the next day, Tuan Tuan was still sleeping in its small nest on the bedside table,

its little paws resting on the yarn ball. Lin Chen felt the energy in his body; it had fully recovered,

and was even more abundant than before—clearly the effect of last night's rest and food replenishment.

"The energy has recovered. Let's go to the abandoned temple after breakfast." Lin Chen said to Xia Nuan, who had just woken up.

The two finished washing up and walked to the kitchen. Lin Chen generated milk, bread, and fried eggs through the system. After a simple meal, he poured cat food for Tuan Tuan,

and only then picked up his weapons, ready to go out. The guards saw them and hurriedly stepped forward: "Brother Lin Chen, Sister Xia Nuan, where are you going? Do you need us to follow?

" Lin Chen shook his head: "No need. We're going to the abandoned temple in the east and will be back soon. You watch over the base."

Walking out of the base gate, the temperature outside was still several hundred degrees below zero,

and the snow on the ground was frozen hard, making a "crunching" sound when stepped on. Lin Chen mobilized Absolute Zero, condensing a thin layer of ice under their feet,

and slid along the ice surface, the speed much faster than walking. Xia Nuan also tried to mobilize the shared ability, cold air rising from her fingertips, and soon mastered the technique of sliding.

After sliding for half an hour, a dilapidated temple appeared in the distance—the walls had collapsed in many places,

the roof tiles were scattered all over the ground, and two broken stone pillars stood at the entrance,

on which the three characters "Fo Guang Temple" could be vaguely seen. "This must be the place." Lin Chen stopped and walked into the temple with Xia Nuan.

The temple courtyard was overgrown with frozen weeds, and the incense burner in the middle had fallen to the ground,

filled with snow inside. "Is anyone here?" Xia Nuan shouted, her voice echoing in the empty temple.

Soon, three figures walked out from the main hall; it was indeed Lin Chong, Wu Song, and Lu Zhishen. "You've come." Lin Chong walked up with a smile, still holding a long spear he was wiping.

Lu Zhishen moved two clean stones over and let the two sit down: "I knew you would come.

I specifically saved some roasted meat last night, just right to eat together." As he spoke,

he took a skewer of golden-roasted meat from the fire pit nearby and handed it to Lin Chen and Xia Nuan.

Lin Chen took a bite; it was mutant deer meat, firm and tight, with a faint smoky flavor.

"Thank you for your help yesterday. Otherwise, we might have been injured even more severely by those three.

" Lin Chen thanked the three. Wu Song waved his hand: "No need to thank us. We just can't stand them bullying the weak with their strength.

Those people come from other worlds, and their strength far exceeds this realm. You must avoid them if you encounter them in the future."

Lin Chong added: "We have seen similar people in other apocalyptic worlds before.

They usually come to seize the 'World Core.' Once the core is seized, this world will collapse.

" Xia Nuan was stunned: "World Core? What is that? We've never heard of it.

" Lu Zhishen scratched his head: "I can't explain it clearly either, only that every world has a core, hidden in the safest place, which ordinary people cannot find."

Lin Chen's heart tightened, and he pressed the three: "Then do you know where the core of our world might be?

" Lin Chong shook his head: "Not clear, but it is usually related to the strongest existence in this world,

perhaps a high-tier mutant, perhaps a special human. The Gan Jiang you encountered before already had strength close to high-tier; perhaps he knows some clues."

As they were chatting, the roar of zombies suddenly came from outside the temple. Wu Song stood up,

picked up his twin blades: "I'll go take a look." Lin Chen and Xia Nuan also stood up,

followed Wu Song to the temple entrance, and saw more than a dozen ordinary zombies walking towards the temple, followed by an elite zombie holding a rusty machete.

"Leave it to us.

" After Lin Chen finished speaking, he mobilized the power of One Punch Man, leaped up, and smashed his fist into the elite zombie's chest.

The elite zombie was instantly sent flying, hitting a nearby tree. The tree trunk snapped, and the zombie fell to the ground, motionless. Xia Nuan condensed several ice cones,

shooting them towards the ordinary zombies. The ice cones pierced the zombies' skulls, and soon all the zombies were dealt with.

Lu Zhishen looked at the two's skills and said with a smile: "Your strength has grown again.

Dealing with those outsiders in the future, you might be able to play a big role." Lin Chen nodded,

but in his heart, he was thinking—if the World Core really exists, he must find it first and not let the Children of the Universe and others seize it.

Chatting until noon,

Lin Chen and Xia Nuan got up to leave: "Thank you for telling us this information. If you need anything in the future,

you can come to the base to find us at any time." Lin Chong handed Lin Chen a map: "This is a map of the surrounding area we drew, marking the dense areas of mutant creatures and safe routes. Perhaps it can help you."

The two took the map, thanked the three, and slid along the ice surface back to the base.

On the way, Xia Nuan looked at the markings on the map and said to Lin Chen: "Next time we can go check the safe zones marked on the map. Perhaps we can find more survivors,

and strengthen the base's power." Lin Chen nodded, gripped the map tightly, and in his heart, he had already begun to plan the next actions—not only to find the World Core but also to protect the base and the people around him.

When they returned to the base, the guards were training in the square. Seeing the two return,

they greeted them one after another. Lin Chen and Xia Nuan walked to the control console and scanned the map into the system,

for convenient viewing later. Tuan Tuan saw them, ran out from the cat nest,

rubbed against their legs, and made "meow meow" sounds. Lin Chen picked up Tuan Tuan, looked at the map on the screen, and then looked at Xia Nuan beside him, his heart full of determination—no matter what danger they encountered next, they would face it together. ===== CHAPTER 163 =====