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The crowd was in an uproar, stirred by a single individual. Many joined in, believing that as long as there was a channel to exchange the Essence Fruit for food, their lives would improve. Those who were destined to perish might find a new lease on life, and the narrow path of survival in this apocalypse seemed to open up into a wider avenue. This new path promised a brighter future.
The people of the apocalypse were pragmatic. In the Telecom Building, there was no one with the true power to suppress everyone. Long-term warfare or invasion by outsiders had almost become an accepted reality, something that was bound to happen.
Given this situation, why not choose someone capable of genuinely developing the Gathering Place to lead them?
A thread of Power of Faith and Fortune enveloped Zheng Yifan, representing the collective fortune of humanity. The Power of Faith directly enhanced Zheng Yifan's strength, making him even more formidable.
He could no longer obtain Character Cards, and his power wouldn't inexplicably increase. However, with many hands contributing to the fire, he had lost the Character Card but gained his own Superpower.
The Golden Character Card still existed, maintaining his physical prowess. More importantly, he had gradually internalized combat experience into his very being.
The crowd was excited, yet they did not neglect to exchange their Garbage Essence Fruits. They would not miss out on the opportunity before them.
Once they finished exchanging their Essence Fruits and sincerely worshipped this new leader, they could continue with Registration for tomorrow's battle. This was a matter of choosing sides; if they chose Zheng Yifan now, they would be viewed with hostility by other Gathering Place leaders because they had opted to rely on a strong individual. They could not play both sides; no one liked those who were duplicitous.
"The great leader will guide us into a new era! Let everyone sincerely praise him and have faith in him. He is not a god, but he is more merciful than one. He may not possess the power to ensure everyone's happiness, but he will become our guiding light for the future and our leader in seeking survival in this apocalypse!" Xu Jie gradually spread his arms wide, as if a pure white power appeared in the air. At first glance, this power did not seem particularly strong, but it slowly expanded and transformed into something truly powerful.
This force entered the bodies of the Survivors, lying dormant within them and subtly instilling faith in Zheng Yifan.
Such power made it nearly impossible for anyone to discern its true purpose; it was highly deceptive. When this energy entered their bodies, they felt a sense of tranquility and began to perceive their wounds healing and fatigue easing.
It was essentially a large-scale enhancement spell that allowed many people to recover physically. Yet Zheng Yifan sensed that after this power manifested, those who had been ambivalent and struggling with whether or not to wholeheartedly trust this outsider were gradually shifting their thoughts—from skepticism and self-interest to genuine belief combined with attraction to benefits. They were truly becoming aligned with Zheng Yifan.
A significant amount of Faith Power was bestowed upon Zheng Yifan; although it numbered only in the hundreds, its combat effectiveness allowed him to gradually unleash his true fighting potential.
No longer was he merely at the level of a Fourth Stage Esper. He had truly surpassed that, reaching the realm of a true Fifth-Level Esper. As long as he accumulated enough Faith Power, he would eventually touch the essence of Superpower.
He observed the changed expressions of those around him. Among the salespeople behind the Counter, one psychologist stared wide-eyed; he could see many things in their gazes. The fear that Zheng Yifan once inspired had now transformed into genuine admiration.
"Superpower is indeed a magnificent force; it can alter people's beliefs or allow someone to weigh their choices more heavily," he mused silently for a long time before gathering his courage.
Having witnessed the power of a Superpowered Individual, he yearned to become one himself. Even ordinary Superpowers would suffice. If there truly existed a force capable of manipulating people's minds, it would be magnified infinitely in his hands.
He could perform Waking Hypnosis on an individual, but altering the thoughts of many was merely a guiding method.
What if he could truly influence someone's thoughts? The world would change, and the era of psychological experts would dawn.
With a strong desire in his heart, he approached Zheng Yifan, humbly bowing his head to kiss Zheng Yifan's boots, seeking to obtain the Essence Fruit.
"I praise you! My great leader, I hope you can grant me an Essence Fruit. I will dedicate all the power I gain to your cause." He could already envision the scene where this generous leader bestowed upon him the finest Essence Fruit. After all, he had heard that this leader had given a bottle of juice made from Essence Fruit to that girl from Chance Encounter, enabling her to acquire Superpower and become a Superpowered Individual.
"As you wish, one of the fruits you collected is yours. However, I advise against consuming it; using that kind of Essence Fruit can easily turn you into a Zombie, with a success rate of less than 5%," Zheng Yifan said half-jokingly.
Among these clerks, this Fellow was the only one who hadn't provided any Power of Faith. Yet Zheng Yifan hoped he could become part of his ranks—not for any other reason but because a psychological expert was undoubtedly skilled at manipulation. He could turn black into white and make you accept his absurd logic.
They were artists of language and persuasion, turning impossibilities into possibilities. The girl Xu Jie needed such an aide, which was why Zheng Yifan decided to keep him around.
Little did he expect that this Fellow would be the first to seek an Essence from him.
With not a shred of Power of Faith offered and complete distrust in himself, Zheng Yifan felt even less inclined to trust him. It was clear that this Fellow had never spoken a single truth; every word was merely an attempt to convince Zheng Yifan to believe him for his own ends.
In the eyes of such people, everyone in the world is a fool. After their analysis, they can find and exploit everyone's weaknesses.
This is his secret weapon for overcoming enemies.
"Boss! I know you have that juice which can greatly increase the chances of becoming a Superpowered Individual. I just hope to get a bottle of that juice to become a Superpowered Individual, so I can serve you better in the future..."
Zheng Yifan interrupted him. There was no need to let him continue; it was all too cliché. He could even imagine what would come next.
"I don't want you to only think of yourself. From now on, you will follow Xu Jie as an ordinary assistant. Once you truly qualify or in three years, I will definitely give you a bottle of Essence, ensuring you can become a Superpowered Individual. During this time, all your food, lodging, and even women will be taken care of by the Gathering Place. Don't worry about any issues." Zheng Yifan ultimately couldn't bring himself to eliminate this talent; as long as he was by Xu Jie's side, the number of followers would increase, which would help him gather the Power of Faith.
Zheng Yifan had already learned about this Fellow's identity; he was truly extraordinary, a well-known master in the country.
For someone like him, they needed to be more cautious. Moreover, Zheng Yifan was not someone skilled in calculations.
"Alright! Go continue acquiring Essence Fruit. Get as much as you can; just make sure not to make any mistakes with the money. I assure you, my promise is absolutely real and effective." Zheng Yifan pointed at his Counter.
"Then... thank you, Boss." He didn't even know how he had failed; he had lost this opportunity so foolishly. He had lost the chance to cling to a powerful figure and missed the fastest route to becoming a Superpowered Individual.
Yet he still had to endure because he had already heard Zheng Yifan's unspoken warning: if he did not follow orders, he would be abandoned—mercilessly abandoned.
In such circumstances, being abandoned meant death. The crowd around him was already stirred up; everyone was excited, and time slowly ticked toward the second.
The Zombies at night were not as frenzied. Many humans preferred to attack during this time.
The remaining flashlights from the Post-Apocalypse would be very useful now. Due to long periods without meat or vitamin A intake, most people had developed night blindness. At night, they could only rely on flashlights to truly see what was happening outside.
Zheng Yifan provided a large number of flashlights, hoping that the war would start and end quickly. The plan to collect the entire Essence Fruit in Ancheng could not be delayed for long; he certainly had no need to stay here any longer. Everything that needed to be done should be completed within this short time, and then it would just be a matter of returning to the Hope Gathering Place.
On the other side of the river, there were still plenty of Zombies waiting for him. The Ushumar Mountains posed another potential threat. Ever since he spotted that Lizard, Zheng Yifan's vigilance had never wavered.
Since there was such a terrifying Lizard here, it was even more likely that the Hope Gathering Place would face danger. The Ushumar Mountains were teeming with beasts; it had been like this before the apocalypse, and now it was hard to imagine just how terrifying it had become.
War was imminent.
Without any grand speeches, after midnight, Zheng Yifan was the first to raise his flashlight, aiming towards the Telecom Building. Behind him, one by one, the Survivors stood up, but they knew they had to let those clerks follow closely behind Zheng Yifan. They were not yet qualified to lead.
As expected, right behind Zheng Yifan were those clerks. Their combat abilities were quite low; only a few possessed powerful Superpowers. Zheng Yifan could only have Ten Thousand Steps develop some weapons for them to use.
The most basic weapon was the Submachine Gun slung over their shoulders, which used Post-Apocalypse ammunition.
Even though the technology in the Apocalyptic World was more advanced than in reality, after a long period without combat, military development had reached a bottleneck. Most places still relied on traditional bullets and gunpowder; the only difference might be in the formulas. The bullets in the Apocalyptic World had a longer range and greater lethality, but that was about it.
In comparison to the powerful pulse weapons and Laser Guns seen in movies, Zheng Yifan could only express regret because he had never seen them himself. However, there were already a few such weapons equipped in special forces within the Apocalyptic World. These weapons were expensive to manufacture, and few believed they could truly enter the battlefield; most remained in a technological reserve stage.
Each Submachine Gun they held was designed according to Ten Thousand Steps' specifications, enhanced with various Inscription formations. The only similarity was how to activate the bullets and firearms, allowing these weapons to function in an Apocalyptic World environment.
The Zombie Crystal s used in their weapons were all Second-Stage Soul Crystals, activated by Han Rui from those in Zheng Yifan's possession.
"Boss, we absolutely cannot fail this time. Don’t you want anything?" The Huang Brothers and Ten Thousand Steps stared wide-eyed at Xu Jie, unsure why she felt this way.
"We will definitely not fail; they are just a bunch of weaklings. Let’s move out now; we still have a grand feast to celebrate tonight! I promise everyone will eat their fill, but if anyone overeats and dies from it, I won’t take responsibility!" Zheng Yifan laughed heartily and waved his hand towards the sky.
It was like an army preparing for battle, with everyone’s hearts ablaze with fervor. Even those who initially harbored some resistance gradually relaxed, and more fearful individuals no longer felt afraid.
Zheng Yifan's relaxed expression allowed them to slowly let go of their worries. The power of group psychology was easily ignited, and his strong personal charisma influenced them, making them more resolute.
Among the crowd, some individuals were already shining with excitement, while many others followed the group in hopes of a better future.
No one thought about the possibility of being injured in war. A completely shattered Telecom Building could not hinder the true Pioneer’s march. They were following a powerful Pioneer, with a bright future ahead of them.
At that moment, the Telecom Building was brightly lit; even without electric lights, they used flashlights and all available resources to illuminate the entire structure.
All the major factions on each floor had unanimously left the building, engaging in fierce battles outside. The people inside felt slightly reassured by the light.
If they were deprived of even this glimmer of hope, serious problems would arise. They did not fear war or death, but they dreaded dying in darkness. Sometimes, darkness and the unknown could nurture psychological pressure and fear, driving people to madness.
All the Rulers did not want to end up with just an empty Telecom Building; they needed the Survivors to support the future of the entire Gathering Place.
At that moment, some individuals aiming to occupy the Telecom Building and Gathering Place began to gradually appear before them. (To be continued...)
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