Even though humanity dwindled, so did resources.
Everyone was busy hunting mutated beasts for food, but no one truly considered how humans could survive.
By the later stages, the natural disasters gradually subsided, and the soil regained its vitality, yet no one cultivated crops.
Humans resorted to predation and conflict.
The dwindling supplies grew scarcer, and humans began to kill each other.
Low-level brawls, high-level battles. The number of eighth-tier great gods killed by Fu Yunting was still less than the number of humans killed by themselves.
In the end, humanity faced widespread extinction. The remaining weak were either hunted by wandering zombies or confined by their own kind.
The strong established themselves as kings, vying for territory, unwilling to yield to anyone, all wanting to be the ruler of the human world.
A tiny fraction of the strong, either alone or in small groups, hid in dangerous jungles, avoiding the conflicts.
Recalling the events of the post-apocalypse, Fu Yunting felt a wave of depression.
He had emotions, and seeing such scenes made him feel heartache.
After everyone shared Fu Yunting's memories, they remained silent for a long time.
Even An Nuan said nothing.
She had initially thought her own experiences were tragic enough, but she never expected the aftermath of that great battle to be even more harrowing.
An Nuan: "I don't even know if I should blame the zombies or the humans. When they turned on their own kind, they showed no mercy."
Mi Shuangshuang: "Were those scenes real? Humans flaying each other for pleasure? I can't fathom such cruelty."
When one base harassed Fu Yunting and was annihilated in return.
Fu Yunting led his troops in an assault. The gruesome deaths of some individuals were enough to make one vomit for three days.
Mi Shuangshuang admired him: "Young Master Fu, how did you cope with all that? I… I feel like I'm going to be sick!"
"With time, it becomes bearable. My time has always been long."
An Nuan felt a heavy sadness in her heart and took Fu Yunting's hand.
Zombies had long lifespans, and Fu Yunting possessed the ability to control time, making his existence even more hollow.
Perhaps, without Sha Xing and the humans she manipulated for reproduction, Fu Yunting's sanity would have crumbled long ago.
Yet, even so, his mental strength was terrifyingly formidable.
An Nuan leaned against him: "If it were me, I don't think I could last a second."
"I wouldn't have lasted either, but I felt that by controlling time, I had a chance to see you again, so I persevered. Am I amazing?"
"You're wonderful!"
An Nuan cupped his face and kissed his lips.
The gloom in Fu Yunting's heart vanished.
He had done all those things just to hold her hand again.
Now that his goal was achieved, Fu Yunting felt immense happiness.
Hai Changfeng pondered: "Chenchen merely controlled objects with her will, and she became a turning point? She's so powerful, yet she's a subordinate to that simp? And she desires him?"
Everyone found it unbelievable, but the facts were before them.
A zombie overlord from a past life, now the simp's simp. Is that reasonable? Not at all!
Chang Kai Tong: "Life is unpredictable. Fortunately, this time is different from the past. We can kill Chenchen first. All zombies of fifth-tier and above, we'll keep only our own people and eliminate the rest."
Sha Xing was exasperated: "What do you mean by that? Do you look down on me?"
"You're different. You're one of us!"
Sha Xing thought about it and agreed. She had family here, and everyone treated her well.
As long as she treated everyone well too, that was all that mattered!
Sha Xing vowed earnestly: "Just a few zombies, leave it to me. I'll go out and eliminate them in an instant."
"Killing is necessary, but I'm very curious about what opportunity Chenchen encountered to ascend to eighth-tier."
"The moment of evolution, whether for zombies or humans, is when they are at their weakest, yet their energy is at its peak. This is the best time to attack, and the profit from consuming crystals is greater. Did Chenchen seize the evolutionary moment of a high-tier being?"
Everyone listening to An Nuan felt her reasoning made sense.
An Nuan smiled: "Since Chenchen was the turning point and beginning of the dark era in the past, let's start by dealing with her."
"The leap from fifth to eighth-tier seems impossible, but for a zombie, perhaps their physical bodies are strong enough to withstand such an energy surge."
Although An Nuan felt that reaching seventh-tier was still within reach, eighth-tier was truly outrageous.
But what if it happened?
It was better to prepare early.
The thought of seizing Chenchen's crystal filled An Nuan with sudden excitement.
"When she's evolving, we'll go and devour her crystal. I wonder if that will allow us to ascend to eighth-tier."
Thinking about it, Fu Yunting also felt a flicker of anticipation.
Before Chenchen could gather the zombies and attack, An Nuan had more pressing matters to attend to.
Fu Yunlei connected with some of his allies.
Instantly, the screen filled with hundreds of video windows. Everyone froze.
An Nuan: "?? What's going on? Everyone is so calm?"
"Uh, Sister Nuan, your camisole…"
Chang Kai Tong pointed at her clothing, and An Nuan finally remembered that she had showered after returning from the beach…
She quickly adjusted her camisole. Fu Yunting draped a thin blanket over her shoulders and put his arm around her waist.
The two leaned against each other, looking even more captivating on the video feed.
Hammer impatiently grumbled: "What do you want, woman? Disturbing our rest late at night just to watch you two show off your affection?"
"Don't put it so crudely. This is just life! But your environment is amazing, living above ground!"
"Aren't you afraid of being attacked?"
"What about natural disasters?"
"You guys are so bold!"
"I'm starting to want to visit your place."
Xiong Da had been silent for a while. After thinking, he suddenly pointed at Lin Shui.
"Sister, isn't Lin brother your lover? Why did you switch people? Although this kid is better looking than Lin brother, you should be honest and not abandon someone after starting a relationship."
Fu Yunting's subtle killing intent surged towards Lin Shui.
Lin Shui shivered, his hair practically standing on end.
"Brother Xiong, don't talk nonsense. I'm just a subordinate. I don't have those kinds of thoughts."
"Ah? But didn't you two sleep together?"
The temperature in the room dropped by three to four degrees, and killing intent flowed like an undercurrent.
Lin Shui cast a pleading look towards everyone.
Everyone turned away.
They enjoyed the show. Who told you to sleep with CEO Nuan?
"We didn't sleep together!"
Quan Yu grabbed Lin Shui's sleeve: "Lin Shui brother sleeps with me every night. Sister Nuan sleeps with Sister Luoluo."
Xiong Da: "Ah, then I misunderstood! I thought you two were a couple. My mistake, please continue."
Fu Yunting tightened his arm forcefully and gave An Nuan a peck on the cheek.
Little Darling is his, and no one else can have designs on her!