5: Chapter 5 Barn No. 3

Fu Xing's riddle sounded like a joke, or perhaps he was waiting to watch the newcomers make a fool of themselves, leaving Zhao Dabao looking worried because of these words.

His goal wasn't entirely to join the Guard Team; it was simply because Barns 1-3 could provide two energy blocks every day. As long as he kept up with the pace, he could obviously eat much fuller compared to the later barns.

Meanwhile, Pang Hao and He Qichang wore solemn expressions, not knowing what kind of danger they might encounter.

However, they didn't have much time to worry. After another group of Guard Team members came in and distributed an energy block, once they wolfed it down, they gathered everyone in the open space of the farm.

By this time, the harvest on the farm was over, and the two to three hundred acres of wheat fields were left with only stubble, looking empty and desolate.

Looking into the distance, farmers from other barns could be seen picking up scattered ears of wheat in the fields, while some people began repairing the barbed wire and crafting new wooden boards and stakes.

"Everyone run a three-kilometer circle. Those who fail to finish will have no energy block tonight. The top ten will get an extra energy block."

As the voice fell, over a hundred people from the three barns began to run forward.

The roads beside the wheat fields were dry dirt roads that could barely be called flat, but once they started running, balls of yellow dust stirred up, covering everyone in dust.

Even so, no one slowed down.

'Physical training, huh? Are they training us as reserves? If there is truly a large-scale shortage of personnel, the people from Barns 1-3 will probably be dragged out at the very first moment.'

Increasing food supply while also conducting drills during the agricultural slack season—this was the training method of a militia.

Wang Ting's gaze swept across the survivors who were exerting all their strength in the procession, and he began to push himself, overtaking opponent after opponent.

After a few days of developing the Scarecrow Physique trait, he was no longer as frail as he was at the very beginning. His lean body contained explosive power and endurance that surpassed ordinary people.

Soon, he reached the front of the procession.

"How is he so fast?!"

Seeing Wang Ting's speed, Pang Hao and He Qichang both wore shocked expressions. The small and thin Wang Ting was actually faster than them.

Gritting their teeth, they also wanted to keep up, but they found that their bodies completely failed to support such a speed.

"This kid is an opponent."

Wang Ting closely followed behind Fu Xing, and by this time he had already entered the top ten.

There were 4 people from Barn 1, 3 from Barn 2, and 3 from Barn 3. Wang Ting unhurriedly placed seventh.

Fu Xing began to take Wang Ting seriously, adjusting his breathing more and more evenly. No one knew how many people the Guard Team would select this time; only by joining the Guard Team could one possibly obtain more things.

Out of the corner of his eye, Wang Ting noticed the others' wariness towards him, but he didn't care at all. His attention at this moment was entirely focused on the changes in his body.

A warm current dispersed within his body, and he could feel his body growing stronger little by little.

From the slight fatigue at the very beginning of the run, he gradually adapted. Although the process was short, this familiar feeling was just like the feeling of fusing traits back then.

The three kilometers quickly ended, and everyone was covered in dust. Some were panting heavily, some had beads of sweat rolling down, and only a few were only slightly out of breath.

"Is that the one who killed a Scarecrow?"

On the watchtower, Wei Dong's gaze fell on Wang Ting, and standing beside him was Zhao Hu.

"Boss Fan injured the Scarecrow's arm first, but he does have some bloodlust in him."

Wei Dong said thoughtfully: "He was still a wanderer a short time ago, and now his physical fitness can already keep up with these old hands. Did he fight a monster and break his limits?"

Those who could survive in the apocalypse had some discernment, let alone these team leaders who led missions.

"How could it be that simple? Breaking limits is something achieved through years of training by people in the team. Boss Fan sees that he's not bad and wants to let him join the team to follow along and explore this Floor World."

Zhao Hu narrowed his eyes and laughed it off. Wang Ting had always worked under him, and he was actually the clearest about the changes in his physical fitness.

Wei Dong remained calm, but hinted pointedly: "A person with bloodlust is better off hunting outside than staying here to explore. Boss Zhao likes newcomers like this."

"Whether he can join is still up in the air."

Zhao Hu didn't reply, but Wei Dong laughed: "There should be quite a few replacements this time. The city guard squad has discovered quite a few wandering zombies and Sand Scorpions. There is a new situation in the Gobi."

As the two spoke, other members of the Guard Team dragged over a large number of shovels, hoes, forks, and axes, dropping them in front of them with a clatter.

"Barn 1 will repair the irrigation ditches today, Barn 2 will harvest wild wheat and cut wood, and Barn 3 will clear the farmland in Zone 2."

Lined up to collect tools, the tool that fell into Wang Ting's hands was a hoe. The iron hoe felt heavy, and compared to the rusted sickle, it was undoubtedly much better.

He looked around and found that many people were issued two-pronged forks. Those things looked more like weapons than tools.

"Are these used to deal with monsters in the wild?"

Doubts rose in Wang Ting's heart. Soon, after everyone finished dividing the tools, the three squads opened the gates of the barbed wire fence.

Each squad held rifles and had short blades at their waists, totaling about seven people.

"Barn 3, follow me. Don't think about escaping. Unless you find the stairs inside the Floor World, you won't be able to get out."

'Stairs' referred to the entrance and exit, and the stairs leading to the 1st floor were right within the farm, guarded by members of the Guard Team.

In other words, unless they could find new stairs, they simply couldn't escape.

'Are there no vehicles? Is it because of resource shortages or because they can't get in?'

The squad led by Zhao Hu was responsible for watching the people of Barn 3. The seven people were divided into two groups, front and back—three in the front and four in the back, arranged on both sides—jogging forward without any vehicles.

Wang Ting mingled in the procession, neither too far ahead nor too far behind, observing the surrounding situation.

He thought of the cramped stairs that were only wide enough for two people to walk side by side. If it was that entrance, it was forgivable that they had no way to bring vehicles in.

Outside the wall was a wilderness, with rolling low hills extending continuously. Green grass grew in clusters, bushes stood tall, and further away were small patches of woods.

What Wang Ting found strange was that at the limit of his gaze, behind that patch of woods seemed to be an endless light curtain, as if his vision abruptly stopped and was cut off there.

"Entering the Floor World for the first time, huh?"

Fu Xing jogged in small steps, holding an iron fork, and approached Wang Ting.

"What is that?"

"The floor boundary."

Fu Xing did not act mysterious this time: "The space of a Floor World is random, but most of them still have boundaries, except they far exceed the exterior size of the floor. The boundary of the Scarecrow Farm is about three to four kilometers. Boss Zhao and Deputy Fan have led people to explore it."

"Wang Ting, how about we team up? Competitions inevitably involve fighting. Show mercy to each other when the time comes, and save the heavy blows for others, so we don't get hurt at the hands of our own people."

Fu Xing changed the subject, his eyes narrowing slightly, and his big bald head looked particularly shiny under the light.

"Why did you look for me?"

Wang Ting remained calm and instead asked.

"Zhao Hu thinks highly of you."

Fu Xing grinned: "Someone thinking highly of you means a higher probability of entering the Guard Team. Think about it carefully; I have no malicious intent. Right, be careful of the Rot Soil Hound later. That's what we are going to deal with."

"Rot Soil Hound?!"

Wang Ting's eyes lit up. "There are new monsters?!"

He had thought that only by joining the Guard Team would he have the opportunity to record a second anomalous monster.

"We've arrived. Clear the wasteland according to the previously demarcated boundaries. Watch out for attacks from the Rot Soil Hound and Scarecrow. There are no fences here, and we can't look after everyone."