114: Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core

While it was called recruitment, in reality, Lu Yang was merely using the recruitment as a preliminary screening process for the survivors in Youshan County.

Most survivors, having endured years of apocalyptic devastation and living precariously, would be very compliant.

What Lu Yang wanted to screen for were those who were not compliant.

If such a long journey of survival in the apocalypse couldn't make those people clear-headed, then he didn't need to be a bleeding heart.

They could die wherever they pleased!

Just like the middle-aged woman who was currently queuing to collect supplies; she was stuffing a few pieces of coarse bran bread into her stomach in a few bites, then gulping down a bottle of water, all while grumbling loudly.

"Is this bread even fit for human consumption? It's as coarse as sawdust! The government sent you to rescue us, and this is how you cheat the common people? Do you believe I won't complain to your superiors?"

Yang Kui, the captain of the Train Police Squad, was maintaining order at the supply distribution point. Hearing the middle-aged woman's words, his face darkened instantly.

He stepped forward and slapped her twice, making her face swell up like a pig's head.

Then, with a grim voice, he said, "The Train Captain took immense risks to come to Youshan County to save you all. Is this how you repay him?"

"Didn't I say before, if you don't want to work, it's fine, we won't force you. But you're stuffing your face with bread and then causing trouble? Do you really think we're made of clay?"

Before the apocalypse, Yang Kui would never have acted this way, but now, in the apocalypse, with social order having collapsed to such an extent, there were still people who weren't clear-headed.

Did they really think those guns and cannons were just for show?!

If he shot her, no one would stand up for her.

But the middle-aged woman clearly didn't realize this. After receiving two slaps from Yang Kui, she simply lay down on the ground, crying and shouting, "He's hitting me! He's hitting me! Everyone, come and see! There's no justice! The rescue team is hitting people!!!"

"I, an old person, didn't die in the apocalypse, but I'm going to die at the hands of the rescue team! Is there any law left!!!"

She completely ignored the fact that the people around her were looking at her as if she were an idiot. Those nearby even hurried a few steps away, fearing that her madness would spread to them.

However, before the middle-aged woman could finish her first step of crying, making a scene, and threatening suicide, there was a 'bang'—a gunshot—and her wailing stopped abruptly.

Then, two stern-faced Train Police Officers dragged her away like a dead dog.

A short while later, a pool of faint blood gathered beneath her.

But no one dared to look at her twice.

Even her husband, who had luckily survived with her, stayed far away.

He had tried to persuade her, but she wouldn't listen, so he could only let her be.

He just hoped she would be smarter in her next life.

After several similar disturbances were dealt with, the rest of the crowd clearly became more sensible.

They were very polite when collecting supplies and even more respectful towards the Train Police Officers.

After all, this was the apocalypse.

Those who couldn't grasp the situation were only fit to lie in a mass grave.

—

While some Train Police Officers were distributing supplies and recruiting laborers near the mining site, on the other side, at the Jinmao Tower, an elite exploration team consisting of Wang Iron Hammer and others had already begun exploring the first floor above ground using reconnaissance yunfeng drones.

In the drone's view, pink flesh walls were everywhere, and many places were covered with thick, sticky mucus.

The heavy-duty drone following the reconnaissance drone would fire an Explosive Flame Bullet at any flesh wall it encountered, burning it away.

If the drones couldn't handle it, Wang Iron Hammer and his team would personally step in, using machine guns, assault rifles, and Harvester Individual Grenade Launchers for targeted clearing, until no trace of flesh and blood tissue was visible, before continuing to advance.

Just as they were about to enter the entrance to the first underground level, Xiao Xin's mechanical voice suddenly came through Wang Iron Hammer and the others' headphones.

"Wang Iron Hammer (Wang Hu), Captain, your preliminary exploration mission has been completed. Please return to the Xinhuo Train immediately for your mission debriefing!!!"

Wang Iron Hammer and the others were a bit puzzled.

The mission they were given before departure was to enter the first underground level, so how could the mission be completed just at the entrance?

However, Xiao Xin represented the will of the Train Captain. Although everyone looked confused, they still began to retreat in an orderly fashion.

Train Captain's carriage.

When Wang Iron Hammer and his team explored to the entrance of the first underground level, a sudden temporary mission popped up on the Train Captain's panel.

【Temporary Mission: Subdue the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core】

【Mission Description: The Mutated Rou Tai Sui living deep beneath the Jinmao Tower is an extremely valuable mutated creature, capable of purifying any flesh and blood essence to produce Tai Sui White Crystal, enhancing the physique of the consumer. After enduring scorching flames, burning away the dross and leaving only its core crystal, the Mutated Rou Tai Sui has awakened a nascent consciousness. It hopes someone can lead it out of the dark and damp underground.】

【Mission Content: Bring the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core out from underground. (Please use an airtight metal container. This mission carries a certain risk. Please ensure you can withstand the unconscious mental shock released by the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core. The mental shock's unit mental strength is approximately equivalent to that of a Level 1 Mental Professional.)】

【Mission Reward: Flesh and Blood Conversion Pool Blueprint (Orange), Mutated Rou Tai Sui Disposition Contract × 1.】

The reason Lu Yang temporarily had everyone withdraw from the entrance to the first underground level was because he received this temporary mission notification.

The mental shock described in the mission should be the invisible shriek previously emitted by the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core.

Although the unit mental strength was not high, only at the level of a Level 1 Mental Professional, it would still instantly kill Wang Iron Hammer and others, whose mental levels were still that of ordinary people.

Currently, on the Xinhuo Train, no one except Lu Yang could go underground and retrieve the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core.

Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess's mental strength, after forming an heroic spirit contract with Lu Yang, barely entered the level of a Level 1 Mental Professional, but she still couldn't withstand the multi-wave mental shocks that the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core might release.

But Lu Yang was different. After consuming multiple Level 2 Solid Pure Soul Crystals previously, he had already entered the Level 2 Mental Professional tier.

Not to mention, he also had the protection of the Golden Civilization Fire.

When the Mutated Meat Tai Sui Crystal Core released its mental shock previously, the Golden Civilization Fire automatically appeared to protect its master.

Although it couldn't fully function due to the obstruction of the Psionic Shield, it also let Lu Yang know that he had multiple means of defense.

Coupled with the Level 1 You Neng Child Pendant and the Level 2 Storm Shield Ring.

This recovery mission, which might be a life-and-death journey for others, was just a bit of effort for Lu Yang.

Thinking this, Lu Yang immediately made arrangements.

He arranged for Rui Ran, Train Captain of Ghost Princess and Luo Luo to accompany him when he disembarked.

For safety's sake, Lu Yang even directly drove the Xinhuo Train using its Centipede Wheels to the plaza in front of the Jinmao Tower.

This way, if danger truly arose, the You Neng Child Pendant could directly teleport him back to the Xinhuo Train's Train Captain's carriage.

After one upgrade, the You Neng Child Pendant's maximum teleportation distance had increased to 1500 meters.