155: Chapter 155 A New Round of Anomalies

Of course, they weren't facing this unprepared.

Two days before the convoy entered the base, Zhou Cheng had quietly edited the key combat data and core footage from the "Rift Trip" into a complete video and uploaded it to the Tianlang Mountain Base intranet.

There wasn't much heavy editing, but every shot was structured, logical, and full of grit.

Ye Nanxing and Yan charged side by side into the Mental Labyrinth, joining forces to resist the Pollution Storm;

Luo Dechuan's Hunter Unit attacked from the mist, and a group of warriors fought back bloodily;

Chu Yunting broke free from Divine Induction and reclaimed himself;

How they built trust among the ruins, traversed the thick fog, and fought through waves of mutant zombies and Icefield Wolves all the way;

And even the footage from the frigid night, where eighteen people marched in formation, fighting in the snow and refusing to retreat even when out of ammunition.

The only part that didn't appear was the segment where Ye Nanxing collected the Spirit Stone Vein—

That was set as "Permission-Restricted" footage, intended only for strategic-level members to review in the future.

But even without that part...

The footage sent back was still enough to shake people to their core.

[Main Control Hall · Technical Team]

"She's a one-woman army, worth three whole squads."

"It's not just her fighting alone; she led a group of people to fight their way back alive."

"Those mutants outside aren't something cold weapons can withstand... and yet she actually held them off."

[Logistics Camp · Warehouse Team]

"I used to think she was just lucky and had plenty of resources."

"Now I understand, she's risking her life for those resources."

"She walked back from a place like that, and what about us? We sit here thinking life is hard... I really should slap myself in the face."

"I always thought our guarding here was quite bitter, but... out there, she's fighting while her life hangs by a thread."

[Residential Area · Assembly Hall]

"My son used to ask every day 'Why isn't Sister Ye back yet', and I thought his adoration was just blind..."

"I believe it now. With her back, our hearts are at ease."

"She isn't just a Base Leader; she's... the 'Lighthouse' of our base."

"When she walks through the door, I'll definitely be the first to stand up."

So when Ye Nanxing's convoy slowly drove into the base's main thoroughfare and the lead vehicle gradually came to a stop in the center of the plaza—

Everyone in the entire base was watching the convoy's progress.

Chu Yunting stood before the central control hall of Tianlang Mountain Base, silently watching the holographic map unfold inch by inch on the wall—every evacuation zone, every energy conduit, and every supply point was in perfect order, all interlocking.

This was a living base.

It was a base that could truly sustain a "human way of life" during the Apocalypse, not just a hideout eking out a meager existence by luck.

Chu Yunting's brows slightly furrowed, his eyes darkening, and only one sentence echoed repeatedly in his heart:

[Did she really build all of this up on her own?]

He didn't show much emotion, merely giving Zhou Cheng a faint glance.

Zhou Cheng chuckled lightly:

"She doesn't rely on sympathy, nor does she rely on being looked up to."

"What she wants are people who can walk side by side with her."

"So the fact that you're all here now is the opportunity she's given you, not you giving her a 'backer' as charity."

Chu Yunting didn't refute him; he only nodded slightly, a flash of unidentifiable complex emotion vanishing from his eyes.

He understood.

[She was no longer the woman he once thought he needed to 'protect'.]

She had already walked far, far ahead.

Meanwhile, Zhou Xiao stood at the front of the main control area, gazing at the light trails of every circuit in real-time operation on the dispatch screen of Tianlang Mountain Base, remaining silent for a long time.

He had served as a commander in multiple experimental subject zones and had even established his own base, yet he had never seen a place like this that was "like a war machine, yet also like a home."

He murmured in a low voice:

"She isn't just surviving."

"She is... designing how humanity can live on."

In that moment, Zhou Xiao was very glad he had dropped everything to follow her.

Tianlang Mountain Base, the first night.

With Ye Nanxing's group just returned, the entire base was brimming with a long-awaited relaxed atmosphere.

A notice was posted at the entrance of the command hall:

[Tonight at 7:00 PM, Base Cafeteria Buffet Dinner · Welcome Back the Nanxing Squad in Triumphant Return]

For a moment, from logistics to research, from outposts to medical, everyone was quietly preparing.

The cafeteria was brightly lit.

Four rows of long tables were spread out, with hot food steaming and a fragrant aroma filling the air; the kitchen had worked overnight to provide the maximum amount of delicious food:

Braised chicken pieces, sauce-glazed ribs, beef brisket stewed with potatoes, kelp and tofu soup, vegetable platters...

But what truly caused successive gasps of surprise from the crowd was what Ye Nanxing brought out from her space—

Various iced drinks

Cleaned fresh fruit platters

And even six whole tubs of handmade ice cream in vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate mixed flavors

Shang Xu was the first to rush up and snag a spoonful: "Ahhh... being able to eat ice cream in the Apocalypse, my life is totally worth it!"

Even the always steady Chu Yunting gave an unprecedentedly light smile: "Her space is indeed a bit... excessive."

Zhao Wei raised a glass of juice: "Who still dares to complain about the Apocalypse tonight? I'll be the first to hammer him!"

Zhou Xiao stood in a corner, watching the soldiers and technicians beaming with joy as they ate, and exhaled softly.

—This wasn't just a victory dinner.

But at least, it was a real "human" meal.

When the dinner ended, everyone returned to their respective rooms one after another.

The scents of hotpot and juice still lingered in the cafeteria, and the air was filled with a long-awaited sense of relaxation and satisfaction.

That night, Tianlang Mountain seemed like a rare "pure land" in the Apocalypse.

But this tranquility did not last long.

3:00 AM.

A piercing alarm suddenly blared through the base's main control thoroughfare!

[Warning: Climate Control System Anomaly!]

[Detected sharp rise in outdoor temperature · Current temperature: 31.8°C]

[The core pressure of the original heating furnace units is overloaded · Forced shutdown initiated]

[Enabling AC mode!]

Inside the base's main control room, the technician on duty was full of terror:

"What's going on?! The temperature is still rising?!"

"The main control core has cut off the heating; now switching all loads to the AC system!"

"The coal-burning system is completely shut down, the hot water pipes are cooling, and the external cold air duct units are moving into position!"

The next second, the broadcast rang out:

"Attention to all residential areas!"

"The Climate Control System has been switched to Summer Mode!"

"The original heating system has stopped; please enable AC temperature regulation in all dormitories immediately!"

"All personnel please note—"

"Due to the rapid outdoor temperature rise, the coal-fired heating system has been fully suspended."

"The AC equipment in each room has had its independent control restored."

"If you experience discomfort due to persistent high temperatures, please proceed to the medical area for registration as soon as possible."

"Conserve energy, stay hydrated, and remain alert."

And at the same time—

Over half of the base members were awoken from their dreams at the same time.

"Why is it so hot?!"

"I woke up halfway through feeling like I was in a steamer!"

"I thought I had a fever, but then I saw my roommate was drenched in sweat too!"

"The AC! Quick, turn on the AC—"

There was a burst of chaos in the hallways, but order did not collapse as everyone quickly began to respond.

Familiar operating procedures, broadcast guidance, and emergency wall switches were activated one by one, showing that this base remained stable even under a sudden crisis.