As the spring season arrived once more, Wuming City and the bases that cooperated with them made preparations to once again hunt down zombies.
Although the various bases had consumed a considerable amount of their crystals in exchange for the diverse supplies they acquired from Wuming City, the number of crystals they obtained through combat had now increased severalfold compared to before.
With these crystals, the personnel of each base had also enhanced their strength. After the spring thaw, the combat teams and overall strength in various locations had seen improvements to different degrees.
Moreover, this winter had been considerably more comfortable than the first winter of the apocalypse. Bases of a certain scale across the land were all experiencing a thriving prosperity.
Everyone was highly motivated. Not only was there no resistance to going out and facing zombies, but everyone was also very proactive in their efforts to obtain more crystals in exchange for a better life.
They had already extended their battle lines far out, and there were not many zombies left in the vicinity of the various bases.
The scattered zombies were either given to weaker groups or used for new recruits to practice on.
The regular combat forces would migrate far away, returning to the bases for rest approximately every half a month.
Despite this, everyone's spirits remained high, and the spoils brought back to their respective bases after each engagement were abundant.
...
As the weather warmed, Lu Heng also joined in the efforts to hunt and clear out zombies.
However, his method of hunting was somewhat peculiar; he always acted alone.
This time, he had deliberately avoided the routes of Wuming City and the major bases, steering clear of encountering those people. He specifically chose more remote areas.
But choosing these areas presented a problem: Lu Heng needed to transport high-level zombies across more cities, often requiring him to traverse several cities to acquire the crystals he desired.
One day, after absorbing a level fifteen crystal, Lu Heng suddenly felt a familiar sensation.
His mind seemed to ache for a moment, something he hadn't experienced since his level increased.
The instant the pain subsided, Lu Heng returned to the space with Lin Xue.
Lu Heng walked to the entrance of the last space and reached out to touch it.
His hand, which had been unable to pass through before, now went through.
Lu Heng rejoiced inwardly. The last spatial entrance had also opened, did this mean he could uncover the secrets of this world's space?
A smile still lingered on Lu Heng's face as he vanished from the spatial city.
His body materialized in a setting that felt eerily familiar.
Gazing at the intricately carved and beautifully adorned pavilions and towers not far away, Lu Heng's eyes welled up with emotion.
He instinctively walked towards those structures.
He knew that this was merely a projection of the space, and to truly enter that space, he still needed to find the exit.
As he walked into a long corridor, thin gauze curtains hung on all sides, as if a gentle breeze was blowing. The curtains seemed alive, giving a sense of ethereal movement.
But Lu Heng could clearly sense that there was no wind in this space, and the temperature here, like in his previous spatial city, was constant.
Lu Heng felt very comfortable here.
At this moment, he was wearing modern sportswear. He hadn't even bothered to change after finishing his zombie-slaying activities outside.
Fortunately, he didn't have to make direct contact when killing zombies, but traces of an unpleasant odor would inevitably cling to him.
Following the corridor, Lu Heng arrived before a pavilion and looked up at the plaque above the entrance.
Several characters, in a vibrant golden hue and possessing a powerful, flowing calligraphy, adorned the plaque. The characters seemed alive, appearing to float above the wooden surface.
"Cang Chen Hall."
As if guided by something, Lu Heng reached out and pushed the tall palace doors without any hesitation.
Before his hand could even touch the doors, they slowly swung open on their own, as if welcoming their master.
The interior of the grand hall was obscured, and standing outside the doors, his vision seemed to be blocked.
Lu Heng stepped forward towards the opened doors, crossing the threshold and entering the hall.
As Lu Heng entered, the scenery within the grand hall came into view.
However, the hall was now lined with many "people," all dressed in a manner befitting a celestial drama, exuding an immortal aura.
Before Lu Heng could comprehend what was happening, the people in the hall saw him and collectively bowed.
Their movements were incredibly familiar, like something he had dreamt of many times.
... Yes, he had dreamt of it many times.
The figures on both sides bowed low, none of them looking up at Lu Heng.
However, they all spoke in unison, a single phrase that startled Lu Heng and made him instinctively glance at his own attire.
"We welcome the Emperor's return from his mortal journey!!!"
The resonant voices echoed throughout the hall.
Lu Heng looked down at his clothes; he was still wearing the sportswear.
So, these people couldn't see him?
He instinctively scanned his surroundings. Beside him, others remained standing, but everyone else was bowed low, their bodies bent almost ninety degrees.
"Ahem, rise."
Lu Heng didn't know what else to say, so he emulated what he had seen in dramas.
Moreover, he wasn't sure if these people were bowing to him, and he wanted to test it. If it didn't work, he could always return to the spatial city with a thought.
As his words fell, those people all rose in unison, their gazes filled with reverence as they looked at Lu Heng.
Lu Heng instinctively narrowed his eyes. He was certain now; these "people" could all see him and hear his words.
So, when they spoke of welcoming some Emperor, they were referring to him?
This? Although everything he saw here felt somewhat familiar, he couldn't recall the origin of this familiarity at all.
An elder, with a head of white hair and an ethereal presence, stepped forward and bowed again in Lu Heng's direction.
The elder respectfully uttered, "Your Majesty, please take the honored seat."
Lu Heng instinctively looked towards the high seat at the front of the hall. It was no less extravagant than anything Zhu Di had created, perhaps even more so.
Was this old man asking him to sit there?
But he wasn't sure of his identity yet!
Instinctively, Lu Heng wanted to leave this place. It felt too bizarre; those "people" seemed to know him, yet he had no memories of this place.
"All of you, withdraw. You, stay."
Ultimately, curiosity overcame his fear. Lu Heng could also tell that these people bore him no ill will.
He surveyed the group and felt that the old man with the white beard was more approachable, intending to keep him for questioning.
As expected, the "people" standing in two rows bowed obediently and then withdrew from the hall. The vast hall was now left with only the elder and Lu Heng.
"Come, tell me, what is going on here?"