367: Everyone needs a home.

After Gu Qinghan returned to the surface, he found that the surrounding Treants were significantly more numerous than before.

Bone Demon led the skeletons in continuous slaughter, but against the sheer number of Treants, it was merely a drop in the ocean.

Behind him, Zhao Minghao and the others also came up one after another, their expressions turning grim upon seeing this scene.

One of them wailed, "It's over, we might die this time."

This person was immediately silenced by a companion, but the pessimistic mood instantly spread through the crowd.

Gu Qinghan glanced at the man but said nothing more.

He looked up at the towering giant tree in the distance, whose crown seemed to be constantly swaying, and a light flickered in his eyes.

To be honest, he could rush over there and directly launch an attack against the Mutated Ancient Tree.

However, these people would become sacrifices.

Gu Qinghan understood that the Mutated Ancient Tree's rampage was caused by his return.

He did not want his actions to result in the deaths of these people; doing so would burden him with guilt.

"Bone Demon, come back first."

Gu Qinghan spoke to Bone Demon telepathically while slowly extending his right hand.

Bone Demon, who was enjoying the killing, clearly hesitated but still led his subordinates back.

But on the way back, he saw the Scarlet Witch leading her minions forward to meet the enemy.

"Master, this..."

After Bone Demon returned to Gu Qinghan's side, he was unsure what he had done wrong.

However, Gu Qinghan did not reply, merely staring at a specific spot on the ground.

Suddenly, something underground seemed to be drilling its way out over there.

"It's the roots of the Mutated Ancient Tree! Everyone, be careful!"

Zhao Minghao warned the surrounding Professionals while immediately preparing to summon his puppet.

But when he saw a streak of white appear over there, he suddenly froze.

The white expanded continuously, eventually forming a tomb constructed of white bones.

This bone tomb had several openings, and cracking sounds came from inside.

Immediately afterward, skeletons of various appearances rushed out from within, their ferocious demeanor resembling a gang of thugs.

Gu Qinghan looked at this group of emerging skeletons, and a familiar feeling arose from the bottom of his heart.

These were the same Temporary Workers from back then, only this time the number was much greater.

"Go, let these Treants see what you can do."

At Gu Qinghan's command, these skeletons immediately charged toward the enemy.

Gu Qinghan, ignoring the nearly petrified people around him, looked at Bone Demon and said:

"Don't be nervous, I'm just strengthening your subordinates."

Afterward, he walked past the Skeleton Warriors brought out from those Burial Grounds, testing one by one whether they could be granted a Profession.

In just over a minute, Gu Qinghan completed the entire process.

As a result, dozens of the skeletons under Bone Demon's command had been transformed into Shadow Spear Skeletons.

The flames in Bone Demon's eye sockets seemed to intensify slightly; he could command these skeletons and sense their status.

The strength of these few greatly changed skeletons had undergone a qualitative transformation in an instant!

"Go, don't disappoint me."

Gu Qinghan patted Bone Demon's body and withdrew the strengthening effect of Deaths Touch.

However, Bone Demon showed no sign of disappointment, instead letting out two excited, wicked laughs.

He was only curious about the strengthening effect of Deaths Touch; constant combat was what truly kept him excited.

Meanwhile, Gu Qinghan's own hundreds of skeletons had all become Eye of the Sky Professionals and joined the battlefield under the leadership of Crow King.

In less than two minutes, Gu Qinghan completed the arrangements for this battle with a smooth, effortless grace that made Zhao Minghao beside him feel ashamed.

He remembered that back when he and Wang Yan led the cafeteria students, Gu Qinghan was just one person.

Yet now, while their group nearly failed dealing with a small-scale riot, Gu Qinghan alone could directly counter the countless Treants.

Just as he was thinking this, Gu Qinghan suddenly turned around and said to him:

"There's no need to belittle yourselves. That you managed to survive until now already makes you stronger than most people."

He had seen the look of defeat on the other party's face and naturally guessed what he was thinking.

And he wasn't lying. When he saw the Mutated Ancient Tree had grown into a towering giant tree from the sky, he had initially assumed these people were all dead.

But not only were they alive, they were still attempting to break out, refusing to give up hope of survival.

Most importantly, even in this situation, they hadn't crossed their moral bottom line, resorting to cannibalism or becoming blood bags for that mutated giant tree.

Hearing Gu Qinghan's reassurance, Zhao Minghao shook his head with a bitter smile.

But soon, he heard Gu Qinghan ask him:

"Once you get out of here, what are your plans?"

Zhao Minghao was stunned. The battle wasn't even over yet, and he was celebrating early?

However, he trusted that Gu Qinghan wouldn't boast casually, so he replied:

"I don't know either. I'm from this area, and I haven't found my family after all this time. They have most likely met with an accident.

Wang Yan was also 'taken' by you, so in the future, I might just take these brothers and find a safe Gathering Place to settle down until the day we die."

As he said this, there was a hint of sadness in his voice.

But beyond the sadness, there was also a sense of acceptance and relief.

Gu Qinghan looked at him and the Professionals behind him, thought for a moment, and asked:

"Do you have any plans to come to my Gathering Place? We offer social security and housing, plus food."

Zhao Minghao's lips trembled, and he stared at Gu Qinghan for a long time before asking:

"You established a Gathering Place? Is that true?"

Gu Qinghan nodded: "Yes. Everyone needs a home, right? Otherwise, where would you go after a tough battle?"

After he said this, many people fell silent.

That's right, everyone needs a home.

Gu Qinghan did not speak, merely waiting for the group to answer.

He wasn't taking them in out of sheer benevolence; it was because this group had already endured countless trials.

Every instance of hunger, every life-or-death struggle, had failed to make them yield.

These people, even if not exceptionally strong, possessed absolutely top-tier character and resilience.

In fact, Gu Qinghan could give each of them a Teleportation Scroll right now and send them back to Whale Fall City.

"But our strength..."

Zhao Minghao started to speak, but suddenly recalled the scene where Gu Qinghan bestowed power upon Wang Yan moments ago.

The man before him possessed power they could not imagine.

Gu Qinghan looked at him with a smile, and behind him was the scene of the Treants and skeletons fighting fiercely.

To these people, this scene was like a deity suddenly descending before them, using powerful strength to reignite the flame in their hearts.

Zhao Minghao looked behind him. Wang Yan was currently underground, and Han Zhigang was unconscious, making him the person with the most authority here.

Everyone's eyes were sparkling; they were all waiting for Zhao Minghao's answer.

Taking a deep breath, Zhao Minghao looked at Gu Qinghan and nodded heavily.