18: Chapter 18 A Visit

How easy is this "Elite of the Elite Route"? Only one or two would emerge from a hundred young ladies.

So it requires long-term investment... This investment first involves controlling resources and considering the treatment of the ladies.

Creating an environment of competition from within... That's how Menglou Pavilion can truly become strong on a solid foundation.

"Mhm, I'll go back tonight and discuss it clearly with Sister Na and the others. For now, let's focus on getting things done." Lu Yuxuan had nothing else to say.

For now, the priority was to get things done. Fortunately, these items aren't very expensive right now; ten cartons of Huazi only cost one grey crystal.

Not to mention other things; in the end, she filled Lu Yuxuan's storage ring, which could hold fifty tons.

It only cost one million grey crystals...

Of course, Mu Cheng considered that white and black crystals would be useful later, so he finally decided to sell ability cards.

He also filled his own ring, which could hold fifty tons, almost buying out all the cigarettes, salt, and various seasonings in the entire Trading Center.

It wasn't much, just five cards, a trivial matter...

By the time they finished, it was completely dark, and Mu Cheng and Lu Yuxuan returned to the fifth floor of the manor.

"Brother Cheng, today's harvest is 6,888 grey crystals, 107 white crystals, and 6 Fourth-order ability potions..."

"No losses among the ladies, but thirty-one were injured." Gu Na gave a brief report.

Tao Mumu handed a plan to everyone and said, "Brother Cheng, what do you think of this proposal?"

As expected of the second-in-command of Menglou Pavilion, she had listed out every aspect, including benefits, rewards, punishments, and so on.

"Not bad, not bad, but the overall strength is still a weakness." Mu Cheng couldn't help but be impressed.

Everything he had intended to bring up had already been clearly planned by Tao Mumu.

For example, regarding benefits, everything obtained must be handed in, and the team leader of each group is responsible for reporting it.

Then there's the method of distribution, which uses a Points System internally.

For everything harvested and handed in, corresponding points can be earned... however, it takes seven days to tally and distribute them.

When the time comes, they can use those points to exchange for things they want, like Awakening Ability Cards, various potions, and so on...

Of course, these points aren't just earned from harvested items; they can also be earned from the number of zombies killed each day...

Regardless of whether a strange crystal is found, points are awarded based on the team's headcount, which is also a kind of benefit for the new ladies.

A lady's total treatment = monthly base pay + all personal harvests + equal share of the zombie kill commission.

Obviously, this is a losing business, but there's a seven-day time gap.

This seven-day gap is exactly where Tao Mumu's expertise comes in, using it to invest in other things and letting Menglou Pavilion make money with money!

"Isn't this a losing business? It's fine now while the numbers are small... but if there are tens or hundreds of thousands in the future, won't we lose everything?" Lu Yuxuan suddenly asked weakly.

Gu Na smiled slightly. "I say, Yu Xuan... if you don't understand, don't speak. I support this proposal."

"Even though I don't understand, I trust Sister Na and my sister, and of course Brother Cheng. I believe in them." Tao Shuishui didn't understand either.

But since it was a plan that even Mu Cheng approved of, it naturally wouldn't be as simple as it appeared on the surface...

"This plan needs manpower; I can't handle everything by myself..." Tao Mumu spoke slowly.

Mu Cheng naturally saw through her little scheme and said, "From now on, the fourth floor will serve as logistics, and you will arrange everything."

"Mhm, I'll go arrange it now!" Tao Mumu was clearly a workaholic.

As soon as Mu Cheng agreed... she vanished in an instant.

"What is all this? Sister Na, can you explain? I don't understand at all." Lu Yuxuan asked again.

Gu Na explained somewhat helplessly, "Seven days is enough for Mumu to earn back far more than that."

"So that's how it is. You could have just said so." Lu Yuxuan understood immediately.

Mu Cheng thought for a moment and said, "Have Mumu stock up on more high-tech rice balls. I have a feeling something big is going to happen soon."

"Mhm, I'll listen to Brother Cheng. By the way, Brother Cheng, I heard some news today about reaching the fifth-order. They say we need to wait for a Fifth-Order Zombie to appear before we can promote. I don't know if it's true or false."

As soon as Gu Na said this, Lu Yuxuan was shocked. "She... is that what she meant by waiting?"

"Who is 'she'?" Tao Shuishui asked curiously.

To make Lu Yuxuan so shocked and her expression so surprised... how could she not be curious?

"It doesn't matter if it's true or not, we'll just wait!" Mu Cheng had actually suspected this from the beginning.

Although he hadn't experienced this in his past life, the leaders of the other Four Major Powers were currently in seclusion, yet they were unable to break through!

As for whether a Fifth-Order Zombie was needed, that was no longer important. What mattered was waiting for news of someone breaking through to the fifth-order.

But a problem followed: if a Fifth-Order Zombie really was needed... to increase one's strength!

What else was hidden behind this?

"I hope it's not true," Gu Na said slowly.

Mu Cheng pondered for a moment and said, "Yeah, I hope it's not true either."

He knew better than anyone that a Fifth-Order Zombie was a living person, and its strength was terrifyingly immense!

Furthermore, its appearance... would trigger a Zombie Tide!

"What on earth... are you guys even speaking human?" Lu Yuxuan started to get anxious again.

Tao Shuishui, however, was quite clear. "I heard that the Fourth-order Zombie was only defeated by the joint efforts of the City Lord and the leaders of the other three major powers. If a Fifth-Order Zombie comes... New Ningcheng will probably be finished."

"Huh? Are they that weak?" Lu Yuxuan looked completely bewildered as she listened.

Thinking back to when she and Mu Cheng were already enough to crush a Fourth-order Zombie, and now she was being told it took four people working together...

Naturally, she was very confused!

"You little girl, read more materials! The Fifth-Order Zombie is clearly described in them." Mu Cheng also felt speechless.

Gu Na kindly explained, "A Fifth-Order Zombie is more than ten times stronger than a Fourth-order Zombie. To be precise, it's a person!"

"Its appearance will bring Skeleton Island and a zombie army. By then, the entire Xinning City will likely be destroyed."

"I say, Sister Yuxuan... find some time to learn more about this world. Like Brother Cheng said, learn from my sister."

Tao Shuishui took the opportunity... to tease Lu Yuxuan again.

"I... I want to, but I don't have the time," Lu Yuxuan said softly.

In reality, what she wanted to say was... she had to accompany Brother Cheng at night, so where would she find the time to learn!

"Let's stop here for today! Tomorrow, we'll continue to look around." Mu Cheng looked at the countdown on the prompt.

[135 hours, 46 minutes, and 24 seconds until the Great Earthquake... please make sufficient preparations.]

He felt very uneasy...

After returning to the room, Lu Yuxuan followed him back. After taking a bath...

The two of them began to talk about their life ideals again.

As expected of a dance student, Lu Yuxuan's life ideals were rich and colorful... they talked for a full three hours.

Early the next morning, Mu Cheng was woken up by the hidden prompt.

[Two thousand meters ahead at Ning City Park, detected 6 Fourth-order Zombies, 50 Third-order Zombies, 300 Second-order Zombies, and 5,000 First-order Zombies.]

[Detected 3 Traders, 6 top-grade treasure chests, 20 high-grade treasure chests, 40 mid-grade treasure chests, and 100 basic treasure chests.]

Holy crap... this was undoubtedly another big explosion, but the park covers a huge area, which means there will be many people fighting for it.

"I'm curious, could it be that this prompt only appears after someone else has discovered it?" Mu Cheng thought seriously.

Every time there was a prompt, he almost always got something when he went there, and except for the supermarket incident, there were always people!

This made him have to start doubting...

Meanwhile, in the third-floor office of the Trading Center.

"Second Miss, this old servant will personally deliver the items later. The number of treasure chests in Ning City Park has been confirmed; we can send people there." A white-haired Old Granny reported the situation.

Chu Yaoyao thought for a moment and said, "You cannot make a move. Our Chu Family Chamber of Commerce cannot swallow the fat meat of Ning City Park alone. Partnering with Menglou Pavilion... might be a good choice."

"I will follow your orders, Miss." Old Granny had no objections.

On the contrary, at this moment, she was very curious about what secrets were hidden within the person who could pull out the high-grade divine artifact, the Wind Chasing Sword.

"Mhm, you follow me! Remember the rules... if you break them, even my Chu Family Chamber of Commerce will have a hard time protecting you." Chu Yaoyao nodded and replied.

She would take this opportunity... to let Old Granny test Mu Cheng's depth.

Fifth floor of the manor.

Suddenly, Tao Mumu rushed in. "Cheng... Brother Cheng, people from the Trading Center are here; they say they want to see you."

"Mhm, I see." Mu Cheng was also quite surprised; he hadn't expected them to come so quickly.

Lu Yuxuan ate her breakfast unhurriedly. "Mumu, you go ahead with your work!"

"Suit yourselves! Anyway, I've delivered the message. Two people are in the reception room on the first floor. I won't stay here to eat your dog food." Tao Mumu quickly left.

Two people? Mu Cheng didn't care at first, but suddenly he stopped eating his breakfast.

"Xiao Xuanxuan, let's go down and take a look."

"Mhm." Lu Yuxuan also stopped eating.

Following Mu Cheng, they quickly arrived at the reception hall on the first floor.

As soon as they entered, Mu Cheng noticed the Old Granny next to Chu Yaoyao... she was exuding a terrifying aura.

"This old woman... feels so strong!"

However, what Lu Yuxuan saw... was someone very ordinary, with no aura visible at all.

[This kid is quite interesting. What kind of bloodline does he have to be able to perceive an eighth-order existence like me with only fourth-order strength?]

?????

An eighth-order powerhouse? The old woman in front of him was an eighth-order powerhouse? Mu Cheng was clearly shocked when he heard this inner voice.

His entire body even couldn't help but tremble...

"The things prepared yesterday are all here." Chu Yaoyao gave a light wave of her hand.

The conditions agreed upon yesterday were all neatly placed on the table!

"Uh... you don't visit without a reason. Tell me, what is it?" Mu Cheng asked, pretending to be very calm as he sat on the sofa.

[What's wrong with Brother Cheng? He's actually trembling? Did I see wrong?]

[Heavens, Brother Cheng, what happened to you? Please show the same temperament you had yesterday, okay?]

[This kid... can actually perceive Old Granny's strength?]

[I'm getting more and more curious about what kind of bloodline can perceive Old Granny's strength at the fourth-order.]

...These were the inner voices of Chu Yaoyao and Lu Yuxuan.