The End of the World Base Master (9): 

Gu Chengming had always taken cultivation seriously.

In the past few years, while serving as district chief, he also squeezed out time to cultivate, making the most of every moment. That was how he managed to become a level-five ability user.

For high-level ability users, the crystal nuclei of low-level zombies were of little use in cultivation. To improve their abilities, they needed crystal nuclei from zombies of the same level or even higher.

But high-level zombie nuclei were not easy to obtain, so the number he had on hand was very limited.

In short, his small stash of nuclei was nowhere near enough to bring him back to level five.

And he had an even bigger goal: he wanted to become a level-six ability user.

He had to go out and kill zombies—he needed level-four zombie nuclei, and it would be best if he could get some level-five or even level-six nuclei.

As for bringing his son along… with Zhou Qinghao at his side, his son’s safety was guaranteed.

A level-six zombie was not easy to deal with. Zhou Qinghao had originally planned to go alone.

But since Gu Juntian wanted to go too, Zhou Qinghao contacted three of his men to accompany them.

After receiving the call, the three of them drove toward the gate of H City’s safe base.

All three were level-four ability users, chatting along the way.

“Didn’t the boss say he was going after that zombie alone? Why did he suddenly call us?”

“He should’ve called us in the first place. High-level zombies can summon nearby zombies to help them fight. If the boss went alone, he could be in real danger.”

“True enough…”

After that, one of them asked, “What do you think about the boss getting married?”

“See with your own eyes.”

“Don’t joke around. I mean seriously.”

“Seriously speaking, the boss has been single for years. It’s no big deal if he’s finally fallen for someone.”

“But Gu Juntian…”

“Gu Juntian’s actually not bad. The apocalypse has lasted four years now—how many people in the base still have a clean face and good looks? His looks are definitely top tier here. Plus, he has no bad habits, his cooking is good… aside from being a bit lazy and weak, he doesn’t really have flaws.”

“When you put it that way, it’s true.”

“And if the boss chose another ability user as a partner, he’d have to provide cultivation resources. But with Gu Juntian, it’s different—just food and drink is enough.”

In their base, food was expensive, but not nearly as expensive as zombie nuclei.

If he partnered with another ability user, the boss might have to hand over high-level nuclei, and that wouldn’t be worth it.

“Think about it. The boss is district chief now, living in a villa, with a beauty at home cooking for him. Life’s great. If I had his strength, I’d do the same.” One of them said.

The other two nodded.

When they reached the base gate, they saw Zhou Qinghao’s off-road vehicle parked there.

Seeing them, Zhou Qinghao said, “Get in my car. We’ll go out in one vehicle.”

He climbed onto the roof, then told the three to get inside. “I brought two friends today. You need to protect them.”

The three were a bit dumbfounded. “Protect?”

“Yes, protect. Their ability levels are low. Watch out for them—don’t let anything happen to them.”

Looking at the two masked people sitting in the back seat, they were confused.

This mission was dangerous. So why bring along two low-level ability users?

And their boss didn’t call them to block the low-level zombies—he wanted them to protect those two instead?

At that moment, all three had the same thought: Gu Juntian wasn’t so bad.

Even if he lacked ability, he wasn’t foolish enough to insist on going out to fight zombies when he couldn’t.

But since Zhou Qinghao said so, they could only agree.

Gu Juntian could sense Zhou Qinghao’s men’s rejection of him and Gu Chengming.

With their masks on, looking sneaky, they clearly didn’t seem reliable. Of course those men would have opinions.

But it didn’t matter. He believed it wouldn’t take long for them to change their views.

Before, staying in the base, he hadn’t had the chance to test his mental powers.

Now outside the city, he could finally unleash them fully and study how to use them.

And through this, he discovered he could control low-level zombies. Yes, even high-level zombies should be controllable.

With him in the team, there was no way they’d run into real danger.

Thinking that, he manipulated the surrounding zombies to stay away.

The driver was puzzled. “Usually when we drive out at night, we get swarmed by zombies. Why are they avoiding us tonight?”

Zombies were attracted to sound, and a running car was especially noisy at night.

“Be careful, maybe a high-level zombie has its eyes on us,” Zhou Qinghao warned.

He noticed some zombies had started running toward them at the sound, but when they got closer, they suddenly stopped.

Those zombies were clearly being controlled. And by who? Definitely a high-level zombie.

The reason Zhou Qinghao was confident he could find the level-six zombie that night was simple.

Ability users needed zombie nuclei to level up. Zombies were the same.

Only by devouring the flesh and nuclei of ability users could zombies grow stronger.

A level-six ability user like him was an irresistible lure. Wandering outside the base at night, that level-six zombie wouldn’t be able to resist attacking.

The zombie had been wounded and urgently needed to recover. The best way was to eat an ability user of a similar level.

Zhou Qinghao was deliberately using himself as bait to deal with it.

If that zombie wasn’t eliminated, the base would be in serious danger.

Gu Juntian understood his plan.

In fact, in the original story, Zhou Qinghao had done exactly this.

He had encountered the zombie and killed it.

Usually, in battles between equal-level zombies and ability users, the ability user had the advantage. Zombies lacked intelligence, while ability users had strategy.

At that time, with Gu Chengming dead, the base had been unsettled. But after Zhou Qinghao killed the level-six zombie, no one questioned him again.

“Stop a second. There are two level-four zombies ahead,” Gu Juntian suddenly said.

His father had come along precisely for level-three-and-above nuclei. Now that they’d run into some, they couldn’t miss the chance.

The driver asked, “How do you know?”

“I can feel them,” Gu Juntian said.

“The boss didn’t even notice—how could you? Don’t joke!” The man didn’t believe him at all.

“How about this—I’ll make them show themselves,” Gu Juntian said.

Those two level-four zombies had been wanting to attack, but he had held them back with his mental power.

Once he loosened his grip, they should rush out, and then Zhou Qinghao could finish them off.

But as soon as he released them, he realized they were trying to run away.

Level-three-and-above zombies still lacked intelligence, but they could sense danger and retreat from it.

And usually, only someone stronger than them could trigger that instinct. So ability users often found same-level zombies coming straight at them.

Gu Juntian hurriedly used his mental power again to force the two zombies toward the car.

As they approached, Zhou Qinghao immediately sensed their level.

He unleashed his ice ability, freezing them solid in an instant. The car stopped.

Jumping down from the roof, Zhou Qinghao opened the door and looked at Gu Juntian. “How did you know they were two level-four zombies?”