Chapter Eighteen: The Expedition Team and the Ghouls!

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To unleash all one’s strength completely in a short time comes at the cost of total exhaustion, sometimes to the extent that not even a finger can be moved. Since Tang Zhen was now too weak to continue traveling, the three of them found a clean, secluded spot nearby to sit and rest, while taking out their food and water to stave off hunger. For convenience, Tang Zhen had only brought compressed biscuits and mineral water this time.

His body weak and powerless, Tang Zhen had no appetite, but Qian Long and Da Xiong ate with relish. After the recent events, when Tang Zhen recalled Qian Long’s movements in combat, he gained a clearer understanding deep within. Qian Long’s actions revealed precise control over his strength; every gesture applied just the right amount of force, never wasting an ounce.

Such mastery could not be achieved overnight. Tang Zhen guessed that Qian Long’s power was probably close to Level 2, perhaps already at that level. Of course, Qian Long never mentioned it, and Tang Zhen would not ask.

Checking his personal information, Tang Zhen confirmed he had ascended to Level 1. To advance to Level 2 combat power, he needed to personally slay ten Level 2 monsters.

This requirement seemed simple but was, in fact, quite difficult. Level 2 monsters were far more formidable than Level 1; they could stand against three Level 1 monsters without disadvantage and could even instantly kill three Level 1 foes during a burst of power.

If an unranked Tang Zhen encountered a Level 2 monster without a proper weapon, he had no chance of victory. This was the gap between levels—a difference that left no room for negligence.

After resting for about an hour, Tang Zhen’s strength had largely recovered, and the three prepared to continue exploring.

Just as they stepped out from their hiding place, Tang Zhen suddenly noticed a group appearing on the map, raising his vigilance. He quietly signaled Qian Long and Da Xiong to stay alert, and shortly after, a band of wanderer explorers emerged from behind a ruin.

This exploration team numbered ten, all wearing rudimentary armor and carrying weapons like knives and spears. Unlike the typical pale and gaunt wanderers, this group showed no shortage of food; each member looked healthy.

After spotting Tang Zhen’s group, they too grew wary, staring unwaveringly at the three, focusing longest on Da Xiong.

Clearly, Da Xiong’s enormous frame and fierce weaponry conveyed a warning: this guy was not to be trifled with! Qian Long and Tang Zhen’s appearances were far less intimidating, so they attracted little attention.

The leader of the group was a burly man with a full beard, standing nearly 1.9 meters tall, wielding a firefighter’s axe. He wore chainmail, and six sharp short spears were tucked into a leather quiver on his back.

The man stood silently but radiated a wolf-like, tiger-like aura, exuding a faint but unmistakable murderous intent.

Judging by his presence, Tang Zhen estimated his combat power was at least Level 2—and that he was a ruthless killer.

This thought tightened Tang Zhen’s nerves; his hand instinctively reached toward the hidden handgun.

The two groups stood in silent standoff, neither making a move, the tension palpable.

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After a moment, the bearded man turned and headed back toward the ruins, but before turning, he gave Tang Zhen’s group a nod, his eyes sharp as knives.

Tang Zhen felt those eyes like a wolf’s—once it fixated on prey, it would devour without hesitation.

Cruel plunder often occurred between groups in the wilderness; the weak were oppressed and devoured, bone and all. Surviving such encounters was already fortunate.

Yet this group made no move against Tang Zhen’s trio—perhaps seeing they were on the outskirts of the ruins with nothing to gain, or sensing danger from them, the bearded man refrained from reckless action.

In the end, both parties passed by silently, their paths crossing without conflict, both aiming deeper into the ruins.

Tang Zhen’s face darkened as he silently watched them go, then gestured to proceed. Qian Long and Da Xiong followed closely.

Treading the street littered with shattered building debris, a faint sense of familiarity stirred in Tang Zhen. He tried to discern the origin of these ruined structures, but the faded characters on the buildings were in no language he recognized, though the architectural style was somewhat familiar.

Crossing a square with a strange fountain statue, a huge building loomed before them, covering an estimated 70,000 to 80,000 square meters. Though the exterior was dilapidated, it still radiated a grand, imposing aura.

Resembling a giant clock tower, its surface was covered with reliefs of strange creatures. About fifty meters above ground, five cantilevered platforms extended outward at right angles.

At the building’s peak was also a relief of a bizarre creature—half destroyed. It appeared humanoid but bore two enormous wings.

Admiring the magnificent structure, Tang Zhen heard Qian Long explain that many years ago, the foundation stone of this tower had been removed. The tower city built on this foundation had grown exceptionally strong.

Foundation stones came in grades—the rarer the stone, the greater the tower city’s potential.

They said the foundation stone beneath this tower gave it a vast area and unusual design. When first constructed, it covered 40,000 square meters—ten times the area of an ordinary new tower city!

To reach such scale usually required multiple upgrades at great cost.

After admiring it inwardly, Tang Zhen decided to enter the building.

Step by step, they climbed the broken stairs. The dark, cavernous entrance resembled a man-eating beast. Tang Zhen instinctively gripped his combat knife, and all three turned on their headlamps.

Inside, the vast building was pitch black. Though bright light streamed in from outside, it somehow dimmed abruptly. Their footsteps echoed, making the interior feel even more silent and empty.

Such an environment made the hairs on one’s neck stand on end, a prickling unease.

Tang Zhen vaguely sensed a chill, as if some monster in the darkness watched him. But the map showed only blackness, revealing nothing.

This was the drawback of a basic map: while it could display a hundred-meter radius indoors, in such pitch-black settings it was useless—you couldn’t discern anything on the map.

To counter this, Tang Zhen knew he could add plugins to the map, allowing it to penetrate building barriers and show enemies as red dots.

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However, these plugins were expensive to download—Tang Zhen couldn’t afford them now.

Unlike Tang Zhen’s anxiousness, Qian Long acted swiftly and decisively. He drew his bow, took aim at a spot in the darkness, and released an arrow without hesitation.

“Whoosh!”

The arrow flew like the wind, disappearing instantly.

“Ah…!”

A piercing scream rang out, then a patch of eerie green light flickered in the distant darkness. The glow resembled eyes of some creature, shining with madness and cruelty.

“What the hell is that?” Tang Zhen jumped, reflexively drawing his handgun and aiming in that direction, ready to fire at the slightest movement. Suddenly, a data panel appeared before his eyes.

【Emerald-eyed Ghoul, Level 2, feeds on carrion, extremely afraid of sunlight, average limb strength, incredible bite force.】

So this monster was called an Emerald-eyed Ghoul. Judging by the number of eyes, there were likely no fewer than ten of them!

A chill ran through Tang Zhen’s heart. Level 2 monsters could unleash strength equivalent to two adult humans, and with so many of them, a single mistake could be fatal.

At that moment, he regretted leaving the camp to trade brain beads; staying safe would have been better than risking his life so rashly.

But there was no turning back now. He had to find a way to survive.

“Let’s retreat slowly. They won’t come into the sunlight!” Tang Zhen shouted.

The three began to back away immediately, but at that moment, the emerald-eyed ghouls lunged toward them, already covering half the distance in a flash.

Tang Zhen finally saw these ghouls clearly—truly hideous. They crawled on the ground, covered in pustules, emitting a stench of rot. Their huge mouths were filled with jagged teeth, and a large tongue hung out.

“Open fire!”

As he spoke, Tang Zhen fired. His strong arms steadied the gun perfectly as he aimed at the lead ghoul’s head. The bullet struck straight between its eyebrows in an instant!