Chapter 462: Apocalyptic Trading System (34)

"Ability Cultivation Price List? What kind of nonsense is this?"

When Zhou Chen'an knocked on the door and entered, he saw his partner with his head down, reading a laminated sheet of paper. He glanced at it inadvertently and was so amused by the large bold-font title that he laughed:

"'Fire Ability standard version, 30g gold bar or equivalent supplies... Fire Ability advanced version, 100g gold bar or equivalent supplies... Supplies include but are not limited to intangible cultural heritage folk handicrafts?'"

"What the hell is this bullshit! If abilities were so easy to cultivate, would Ability Users still be in such short supply? Which brain-dead scam group is trying to swindle money out of you, Old Chu?"

"Is it because that squad's ability performance last time was too eye-catching that someone is trying to exploit this loophole to scam money and supplies? What standard version, advanced version—ability strength is raised through actual combat; how can there be three, six, or nine grades from the very beginning..."

Chu Qingyan said nothing and handed him another sheet of letter paper.

Zhou Chen'an took it, read it for a few moments, and said with disdain, "Who wrote this? Can't they even make up a believable lie? This is fake at a glance. If the cultivation they're talking about is injecting the Zombie Virus, that's even less reliable. Hasn't the base considered it? Ever since Ability Users appeared, they've already gathered the top experts in the medical field to conduct experiments."

After the authorities discovered the existence of Ability Users and the reason for their awakening, they launched a pilot program in the death row prison.

However, the test results showed that out of one hundred people, it was unlikely even one could awaken an ability.

If the military were to increase the proportion of Ability Users in such a way, the cost would be too high and too inhumane.

"Old Chu, you don't actually believe it, do you? I'm telling you, this is fake at a glance, obviously fake! If you believe it, you've been taken for a ride! Don't be foolish. We're anxious, sure, but we can't just go to any doctor when we're sick."

Chu Qingyan's lowered gaze fell on the small line of coordinates at the bottom of the laminated page.

Why split hairs here when a few supplies could clear up whether it's true or false?

Whether it's true or false, wouldn't it be better to just take some supplies and go there?

"Old Chu! You really believe it?"

Zhou Chen'an stared in disbelief as his partner stood up to grab his military overcoat, looking like he was ready to head out right now to meet the other party.

"And you're supposed to be a top student from the military academy! You believe something that's fake at a glance? Even if someone were really willing to trade abilities for supplies, these abilities can't be transferred! It's clearly a scam to swindle money and supplies..."

"Oh, for heaven's sake! Fine, fine, I'll go with you! Lest you get swindled out of everything you own."

The next morning, the snow finally stopped, but it had accumulated to a meter thick.

Fortunately, most of the people in the Courtyard Residential Quarter were Ability Users, so clearing snow didn't require much effort.

A "Fire Ability User" would walk through carrying a Fireball, melting a dry path. Residents wouldn't get their shoes or pant legs wet when coming and going.

"Earth-type Ability Users" were busy reinforcing the poultry sheds; the original bamboo sheds were cool and ventilated in summer and autumn, but they weren't enough for winter.

To prevent these "reserve rations" from freezing to death, they worked in full swing to build rows of warm earth sheds for them, laying down soft, dry grass that had been dehydrated after being sprouted by Wood Element abilities.

With dry and warm nests, the poultry laid eggs more diligently.

"Metal Ability Users" took advantage of the clearing weather to seize the time and renovate the residential clubhouse.

They kept the fitness center and table tennis hall on the first floor, while the bar, tea room, and dining department on the second floor were converted into a shooting range and an Ability Training Room.

The shooting range was set up with several moving targets painted with zombie heads; both those with and without abilities could come here to practice shooting.

Xie Yongcheng led the "Metal Ability Users" to produce a batch of metal slingshots and bows and arrows, and also used scraps to make a batch of bullets and arrows; as long as they were interested, men, women, old, and young could all come here to practice shooting.

Everyone's strength was very high now, so as long as their aim was true, killing zombies from a distance was an easy task.

After assisting the Earth-type Ability Users in laying the poultry sheds, the "Wood Element Ability Users" went to revitalize the crops buried by the heavy snow, allowing them to glow with spring vitality and lush greenery even in the dead of winter.

The "Water Element Ability Users" were busy dredging the various water systems in the residential area.

Finding the original water systems too flashy and not very practical, they joined forces with the Earth-type Ability Users to dig the water systems deeper and wider to facilitate water storage and regulate drought and flooding.

Other Ability Users who couldn't contribute for the moment acted as The Fixies, going wherever they were needed.

Having been idle at home for a few days, it was too boring; it was more fulfilling to find something to do.

A group of people divided the work and cooperated, working in full swing.

Chu Qingyan, followed by Zhou Chen'an—the little tail who was so afraid he'd be scammed that he insisted on tagging along—pushed open the gate of the Courtyard Residential Quarter and was deeply shocked by the scene before him.

"My god! It's a paradise!"

"There's actually fresh fruit and vegetables in the dead of winter? Oh, they have Wood Element Ability Users among them too. But this is too insane! Our base has nine Wood Element Ability Users, and the vegetable Greenhouse they're responsible for doesn't grow as well as this open-air one, and the produce isn't as big as this either..."

"My god! Is this a real pumpkin? I thought it was carved from stone; how can there be such a big pumpkin?"

Hearing Zhou Chen'an's irrepressible, overlapping exclamations, Zhao Xiaohui, who was in the melon shed pruning pumpkin vines to take back for everyone's dinner, pushed aside the huge pumpkin leaves and poked her head out:

"Of course this is a real pumpkin! It uses the big wheel pumpkin seeds from Russia. Are you two here to hide from zombies or to find someone? Did you close the gate after entering the residential area? If you're looking for someone, who are you looking for?"

The two sheepdogs were used to patrolling the residential area at this time every day, then running to the Xie Family to drink a bowl of salt-free meat broth and gnaw on a meat bone, so they weren't at the security booth at the moment.

However, there was always someone on duty in the residential area at any time, so they could always discover strangers in time, and thus didn't specifically leave anyone to guard the gate.

Because no one wanted to be idle guarding the gate; they'd rather find something to do.

Come to think of it, whether it was good luck or because most people felt that being close to the base was safer, all the villa areas and residential buildings around the base had been occupied by Survivors, except for this place in the eastern suburbs, which had never been visited by anyone.

Today was the first time strangers had come to the door.

"We're here to find the person in charge of your base."

"The person in charge? That would be looking for Uncle Xie's family, then? I'll lead you there."

Zhao Xiaohui picked up the large bamboo basket filled with pumpkin vines and led the two toward the lakeside.

Zhou Chen'an looked at the wheel-sized pumpkins, the diesel-barrel-shaped winter melons, and the club-sized Cucumbers and two-meter-long luffas hanging from the sturdy metal melon trellis that were still clearly visible under the cover of the large melon leaves, and couldn't help but ask, "Aren't these all ripe? Why aren't you picking them?"

Zhao Xiaohui said with a smile, "We can't finish them even if we pick them, so we just leave them on the vines; if they get really old, we just save the seeds."

"..."

What a waste of heaven's gifts!