Chapter 398: Chapter 398

Countless facts have proven that when you spot one cockroach in your line of sight, it often indicates there are countless more hiding in the shadows.

Time passed slowly, and soon another month had gone by.

Due to their severe injuries from before, Captain Liao and his team didn't set out again until several months later.

Coincidentally, during Lu Ting and Shen Qing's first expedition since arriving at the base, they encountered not just one, but multiple physically powerful third-stage zombies.

"Hiss, Brother Lu, we owe you big time today! Without you, our entire team would have been... ah!" Captain Liao gasped, clutching his left arm as he expressed his gratitude on the return journey, looking at the team of battered members behind him.

The other team members behind them also looked at the couple with much more sincere appreciation.

In this current apocalyptic world, strength was naturally what mattered most. And judging from this mission alone, having such a capable person on the team proved incredibly reliable.

The earlier assessments and barriers toward newcomers seemed to vanish instantly.

Moreover, although Lu Ting gave off an air of aristocratic pride at first glance, he wasn't arrogant. Even Shen Qing, who appeared pampered and delicate like a young lady from a wealthy family, hadn't complained at all while collecting supplies along the way, nor had she held the team back.

The vehicle carrying their supplies soon passed through the base checkpoint. After completing the routine inspection procedures, inside the waiting room, Captain Liao turned to the young man about his own age with a look of envy:

"By the way, Brother Lu, if I remember correctly, you should be the first in our base to break through to the third stage, right?"

Such talent was truly enviable.

"Captain Liao, you flatter me. There's never a shortage of capable people in this world."

Moving his lips slightly in silence, Lu Ting spoke with a serious expression. Unfortunately, after what they'd just been through, nobody really believed him.

"Hahaha, Brother Lu is too modest!"

"Exactly! Brother Lu, to be honest, I've basically met everyone with supernatural abilities in this base, and you, Brother Lu, are definitely this good!"

It was worth noting that even Base Leader Zhou had only just managed to cross this threshold the day before they set out.

Judging by Brother Lu's steady aura, he must have broken through quite some time ago.

As he spoke, this young teammate couldn't help but give a thumbs-up.

When people receive praise from others, especially praise about their own abilities, even the most steady individuals can't help feeling some secret satisfaction.

Yet at this moment, Lu Ting merely twitched the corner of his mouth and said with what others perceived as exceptional "restraint":

"You all overpraise me!"

Ah, look at how steady he is! No wonder he became the "first one"!

The uninformed team members all sighed with admiration.

Beside them, Shen Qing lowered her head, pretending to be exhausted while actually desperately suppressing the smile at the corner of her lips. But when she turned and saw the wounds on Lu Ting's arm and left leg, her expression shifted to heartache.

She then carefully shifted aside, afraid of accidentally touching his injuries.

Thanks to having extra storage space and a powerful fighter, although this expedition had been dangerous, their gains were quite substantial.

True to Gu Jun's description, Captain Liao proved to be a quite fair team leader. Apart from the portion handed over to the base according to regulations, most of the remaining spoils were distributed reasonably based on individual contributions.

As the person with the highest contribution value this time, Lu Ting's harvest was naturally substantial. While receiving a large amount of supplies, even the only two third-stage crystal cores were handed over to Dad Lu under Captain Liao's supervision, amid the longing gazes of the others.

When it came to what was rightfully his, Lu Ting never held back. Only after pocketing the only two third-stage crystal cores did Dad Lu continue:

"In that case, I don't need any allocation of the remaining crystal cores!"

"As for the supplies, I'll only take half of my share!"

After all, although he was the main force against the two third-stage zombies, to be honest, without his teammates providing support from the sides, he might not have returned completely unscathed alone.

No matter how strong one's abilities were, one still needed to maintain proper boundaries as a person.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, the somewhat tense atmosphere immediately improved considerably.

Although third-stage crystal cores were precious, they weren't of much use to the rest of the team for now. Someone had tried them earlier, but unfortunately, compared to before, the energy inside was clearly much more violent.

Even Captain Liao had nearly been unable to withstand it, let alone them?

Having more crystal cores and supplies was still good!

Even Captain Liao's smile became noticeably more sincere.

The journey back was bumpy, and by the time the couple returned, it was already quite late. However, the faint scent of blood in the air still roused An Ning from her sleep.

Without time to think, wearing her little yellow duck pajamas and clattering in wooden slippers, she ran out:

"Daddy, Mommy, you're injured!"

"It's nothing, just minor injuries! Nothing vital was hit! We've already bandaged them."

Lu Ting waved his hand, indicating it was nothing.

Having used his ability to protect his body in time, Lu Ting hadn't suffered direct damage from the zombies. However, the sudden tremendous impact force and occasional sprays of corrosive liquid had still left him quite battered.

Third-stage zombies were indeed different from before.

Thinking about today's encounter, Lu Ting felt increasingly heavy-hearted. After washing up, the family gathered together and began taking stock of today's gains.

They had visited a supermarket today.

Four boxes of canned meat, a large jug of cooking oil, about ten boxes of biscuits and snacks, various seasonings, two bags of rice weighing about thirty pounds each, and one bag each of red beans and millet among other coarse grains.

There was also the ice cream that An Ning had loved before, specifically traded for with others.

Most importantly, there was water...

Shen Qing was the first to share her three crystal cores, happily winking at her daughter:

"With these, I think Mommy will catch up to you two soon." With her daughter and husband setting such high standards, Young Lady Shen was working hard to avoid falling too far behind.

Who knows, maybe when she becomes more powerful, she'll develop some other skills?

Shen Qing secretly hoped in her heart.

Lu Ting then took out the two third-stage crystal cores he'd obtained today and handed one to An Ning:

"On the way back, I already tested it. This can still be used by third-stage ability users, but to avoid accidents, we should still be careful..."

Unfortunately, as soon as he finished speaking, the moment An Ning touched the crystal core, a green light flashed, and that familiar sensation washed over her again.

While the couple was still stunned, sure enough, the next moment, the little girl blinked her big eyes and exclaimed excitedly:

"Daddy, Mommy, I think I'm going to advance again!"

Shen Qing, who had just seen hope and was about to shout triumphantly to the sky: "..."

Lu Ting, who had only been happy about breaking through to the third stage for a few months: "..."

In any case, under the couple's complex gazes mixed with concern, that night, An Ning successfully broke through once again.

However, this time, under the powerful wood-type ability, even the watermelons placed in the small courtyard showed signs of rampant growth, and the little greens grew taller than people.

Fortunately, An Ning had prepared in advance, and Lu Ting acted quickly, preventing the surrounding energy from dispersing outward.

It wasn't until dawn the next day that An Ning barely finished her work, quickly retracting the overflowing spiritual energy. Raising her hand, she sensed the energy that was clearly different from before. She thought to herself:

Indeed, the further you go, the more difficult it becomes.

If there's a huge chasm between the third and fourth stages, then beyond the fourth stage...

This was probably the last time she would pass through so easily!

Thinking this, who would have thought that as soon as An Ning turned her head, she met two pairs of eyes with obvious dark circles.