Chapter 685: Trial Journey

Form ranks and let them pass!

Long'an Outer City.

The troops originally on guard, upon receiving orders from above, hastily pulled up the blockade.

The heavy, all-alloy first line of defense gate slowly rose.

Nearby, the survivor squads preparing to leave the city looked on in astonishment at such a scene.

What the hell?

Isn't this main gate only opened during wartime?

An Awakened One standing in the pickup truck bed, leaning on a heavy machine gun, looked uncertain.

Many Awakened Ones gathered here, preparing to leave the city to scavenge supplies—likely no fewer than a hundred thousand.

But they could only enter and exit through the small side gate that opened for access control.

Moreover, upon entering the city, they also had to undergo a 24-hour isolation observation.

Just look at this situation.

Those three off-road vehicles coming from afar were clearly entering the city directly.

I don't know.

Which big shot has arrived?

Could they be the high-ranking officers from the Encircling River Military Region who went out to fight earlier?

Scratching his head.

Many people wildly guessed the identity of the person inside the off-road vehicle.

But judging by appearance, they don't look like military high brass either.

Moreover, it seems Long'an Base doesn't allow them any special privileges.

At most they have troop command authority.

Broadcast announcements blared one after another.

The entire outer city defense line trembled.

Large numbers of Awakened One soldiers from Long'an Inner City, with solemn expressions, lined up and marched out like a flood.

Feeling the aura of nearly a hundred second-level Awakened Ones, some of the supply-searching teams couldn't help but click their tongues.

This scale is a bit too big.

Just as everyone was speculating,

A short, anxious-looking middle-aged man, amidst the Awakened One troops, grabbed Huang Haitao and pulled him along.

Nephew!

Have a snack!

Lord Lin An has returned!

Didn't he send a message telling us to stay on alert, and also bring back some confidential 'items'?

Former headmaster Huang Zheng, while quickly 'instructing' his nephew, also gave him a look, signaling the squad to speed up a bit.

We must be in formation by the time Lin An enters the city.

Relying on Huang Haitao's status, the demoted Huang Zheng has been getting by fairly well in Long'an Base.

Unaware of the inside story, many mistakenly thought Huang Haitao was a member of Lin An's team and thus enjoyed Lin An's favor.

Riding on his coattails, Huang Zheng was also regarded by many newly joined Awakened Ones as a major high-ranking figure in the inner city.

But in reality, only Huang Zheng himself knows the truth.

He basically has no status; it's just that he reacted quickly.

On the day of the academy incident, he promptly clung to a powerful patron.

Uncle...

Huang Haitao felt somewhat helpless; he was still training when his uncle dragged him along.

Doing this might not earn Lin Dui's respect.

He means he might be leaving soon, so he wants us to reduce our forces and stay on alert....

Making a fuss like this, don't you think it's making a mountain out of a molehill...

Huang Zheng snapped his head around at the sound, wearing an exasperated 'wish you were better' expression.

You don't know shit! My good nephew!

Listen to those above—you can't just take things at face value!

Lord Lin An is heading to the Trial Tower; before entering the city, he gave a parting warning—what's the hidden meaning!?

It's that he's worried about the base!

The more so, the more we must demonstrate our mobilization capability!

He let out a quiet sigh.

His nephew is fine in every way and also obedient.

Just a blockhead.

If Lin An, this big tree, isn't clung to, what can his uncle and nephew rely on to maintain their current status?

The actual controller of the three Encircling River provinces, the Huaxia War Zone—openly regarded as the strongest is Lin An.

Such a thigh—you must cling to it even if it breaks.

Otherwise, you're just like everyone else.

Facing mutant threats every day, they can't even sleep.

Day and night, who knows how long they've pondered—thoughts about Lin An.

Welcoming them would both demonstrate our mobilization and response capabilities, and show! our loyalty and importance to Lord Lin An.

Don't think that those in high positions, who say they don't care about details, but in reality, this group of top experts, which one isn't meticulous?

Your attitude, what you've done, they see it crystal clear!

He took a dash forward, standing at the front of the welcoming troop.

Huang Zheng wore a thick smile, and from eight hundred meters away he bowed to the lead off‑road vehicle.

He believed that Lin An's eyesight would surely be able to see him.

Lowering his voice, Huang Zheng hurriedly continued to instruct:

"Long An is his Lin An's Long An, and we are his Lin An's soldiers!"

"I haven't wasted any supplies, nor delayed anything."

"Welcoming them is a great opportunity to show our faces!"

Speaking, he quickly pointed to the onlookers, the survivors of the outer city:

"Our attitude also needs to be shown to these newly joined people."

"Even me, Huang Zheng, no, even you Huang Haitao, the entire base high level went out of the city to welcome."

"They will clearly realize who has the final say in Long An!"

Withdrawing his gaze, Huang Zheng hard poked his nephew's chest badge:

"You are now responsible for training the outer city Awakened Ones!"

"Aren't you afraid that someone clueless will think you're a big official and, in your name, form factions and cliques?!"

"By then, if the people around Lin An find out, they'll file a petty report."

"Both of our heads will end up on the ground!"

Gritting his teeth, Huang Zheng felt somewhat weary.

His own nephew, completely lacking any political awareness.

Not long since Lin An purged the academy, and he still lacks this vigilance.

Just in case, if one day I'm not around...

My last surviving relative, Huang Haitao...

I truly don't know whether this foolish kid will be used as a pawn by others.

Huang Haitao, upon hearing that, was stunned, his face a bit embarrassed; he really hadn't thought of these things.

But, feeling somewhat resentful, he couldn't help muttering a few sentences:

"Captain Lin... isn't that kind of person..."

"I just need to kill zombies properly..."

Huang Zheng gave a bitter laugh, watching the off‑road vehicle gradually slow down, and involuntarily tugged at his nephew's sleeve, indicating he should straighten his attitude.

All eyes were upon them.

The originally noisy outer city instantly fell into solemn silence.

Armed helicopters hovered overhead, on alert, searching whether any zombies were following the convoy back.

Psychic abilities were unleashed en masse, building up power in preparation.

Rows of troops formed a long dragon, like guards, encircling and protecting the three off‑road vehicles, escorting them into the outer city.

In the driver's seat, Xuan Haicheng gaped, staring blankly at the imposing scene before him.

A sea of people.

Soldiers clad in black‑red combat uniforms, with solemn expressions, guarded both sides of the convoy.

Combat jets screamed overhead.

The inner city's dark‑crystal wall, towering over sixty meters, resembled a heavenly canopy.

The ferocious gun emplacements on the wall flickered with rich psychic energy.

Countless strange devices, incomprehensible and unseen before, burst forth with waves of fluctuation.

"Glug."

A gulp of saliva.

Looking at the soldiers escorting him and others, he foolishly asked instinctively:

"Is this the welcome for us?!"

"This is Long An?!"

Upon first seeing Long An Base, he felt like a prehistoric human crossing into modern times, the shock in his heart indescribable.

This is actually a fortress city akin to a war machine.

In half a year, just how... was this achieved?!

Even a million‑strong zombie tide might not be able to take this fortress...

As if in a dream, he actually felt at a loss what to do with his hands and feet.

In the rear, Lin An gave a neither‑affirming‑nor‑denying smile.

Just a slight lift of his gaze, he saw Huang Zheng wearing a flirtatious smile.

This old fellow is somewhat interesting.

Without paying attention to the other's thoughts, he issued the alert order, purely to guard against that unknown mutant.

While he was heading to the trial tower, Long An Base naturally had to contract its defenses, just in case.

He glanced at the constantly flashing private channel, and Lin An furrowed his brow slightly.

("Captain Lin.")

("The Capital Military Region contacted us, saying they want you to join this trial tower's team.")

The information came from Gao Tian.

Inside the base, Gao Tian looked at the crowd whose brows were equally furrowed, his expression no better.

Participating together in the trial tower is nothing.

However, the message they sent actually carried a threatening tone.

It seemed as if they were looking down from above, pitying them.

(We have obtained some information about the trial tower and are relaying it to Lin An. If you want to know, trade equipment for it.)

(Trust us, you must rely on us for the difficulty of this trial tower.)

Inside the Capital Military Region.

Lin Zhan looked at the dark blue spirit within the crystal ball before him, his eyes full of astonishment and solemnity.

"Who... exactly are you..."

Having been burned by white flames.

The stooped dark blue spirit weakly shook its head.

He merely strained to raise his arm, pointing upward:

"They... are coming..."

"This is our last chance..."