Wen Yi Tong fled the city in disarray, her ability level now reduced to six.
Though still higher than when she arrived, she dared not use it. She couldn't feel the energy from crystal cores, and her own recovery was agonizingly slow.
She had dropped to level six. Each time she took something from her spatial storage, her ability decreased. She no longer dared to retrieve supplies.
Fortunately, she had escaped the city, and the opportunities to use her abilities were now far fewer.
She couldn't return to the base, but she couldn't stay in the open either. After much thought, she decided to head to Long Teng Base, which was relatively close. She was still an ability user; even if she was afraid to use her powers for fear of them dwindling further, her status would still be highly valued at Long Teng Base.
She still had so many supplies and crystal cores in her spatial storage; she was sure she would be able to live comfortably at Long Teng Base.
She had discovered that this potion didn't make abilities disappear directly; it only made them decrease with use. As long as she didn't use her abilities, she would be fine.
Wen Yi Tong then drove the car she had found by the roadside towards Long Teng Base.
Initially, Wen Yi Tong did receive preferential treatment due to the crystal cores, some supplies, and her high-level ability user status.
But there comes a day when even stored resources run out. When her ability dropped to level four, it aroused suspicion among some. However, Wen Yi Tong's outward display of power was still formidable, and they dared not act rashly.
But when her ability dropped another level, those people confronted her. Wen Yi Tong dared not fight them and could only trade her supplies for her safety.
However, this was not a sustainable plan. More and more people learned that Wen Yi Tong was merely a facade, so many came to extort her.
Although she had managed to deter some by making an example of them, once her ability level dropped further, no one considered her formidable anymore.
Wen Yi Tong felt she could no longer stay at this base. The supplies in her spatial storage were dwindling, and her ability level continued to decrease. Soon, she might become an ordinary person.
She knew the status of ordinary people in this base. Even with ability awakening potions, those with higher ability levels still held more status and enjoyed greater privileges than those with lower levels.
Wen Yi Tong had exchanged crystal cores for an ability awakening potion in advance, hoping that if her ability disappeared completely, she might be able to awaken it again.
She decided to leave the base. While the zombies outside were dangerous, it was at least safer than being bled dry by the ability users within the base.
However, before she could leave, those who had been watching her for a long time intercepted her.
Wen Yi Tong was trapped in a room and demanded to hand over all her supplies. She desperately wanted to kill them all, but these people's ability levels were much higher than hers; she was no match for them.
She looked at the group with resentment but could only unwillingly hand over her supplies bit by bit.
"Boss, this dame has really hoarded a lot of supplies!"
"Indeed, she used to be a leader of a base. She must have had plenty of good things."
Wen Yi Tong heard them acknowledge her former identity and knew she had no escape this time.
She could only feign cooperation and then seize an opportunity to escape. But until her ability dropped to level one and more than half the supplies in her spatial storage were emptied, she did not get out.
They watched with surprise as Wen Yi Tong's ability level continued to drop. However, they were not scientific experts; all they wanted was the supplies in her hands.
When Wen Yi Tong's ability completely disappeared, they realized she was completely useless.
Wen Yi Tong was thrown into the shantytown where ordinary people gathered.
Wen Yi Tong picked herself up from the ground, glaring hatefully at the departing group. Sooner or later, she would make them pay.
However, Wen Yi Tong, who had always lived a life of luxury, could not survive in this shantytown. Without her abilities, the only work she could do was physical labor.
Wen Yi Tong could not endure such hardship. So, when an ability user reached out to her because of her looks, she chose to compromise.
Through this ability user, she obtained another ability awakening potion, but it was of no use.
The ability awakening potion, which guaranteed 100% awakening, had failed on her.
She went to argue with those who sold the potions but was told that once an ability user lost their ability, it was impossible to reawaken it with the potion.
But Wen Yi Tong was not convinced. She bought many more potions and took them painfully, but her abilities never reappeared.
Because of her obsession, the ability user she had latched onto began to grow impatient with her and left her.
So, she started looking for a second, then a third. The people she sought were all high-level ability users.
This potion was developed by Lin Yan, and she was sure she could find a way to break it. As long as the people she found had enough power, they could surely force Lin Yan to yield and give her the antidote.
Wen Yi Tong harbored such dreams, but how could an ordinary person like her make these ability users value her?
Before long, she was discarded once their novelty wore off. In this manner, she went from finding a patron to being abandoned, growing more weathered by the day.
She had lost her former beauty, her demeanor became frivolous, and she exuded a seductive charm, much like the people she had disdained from the start.
After the ability awakening potions became widespread, she became the only ordinary person in the base, the person with the lowest status.
She longed to find another ability user who could provide her with a comfortable life, but no one paid her any mind.
She resented Lin Yan, who had dragged her down from her pedestal, resented those who had stolen all her supplies, and resented the ability users who had abandoned her.
Thus, she lived on in resentment until the end of the apocalypse. But she could only reminisce about her former glory in such bitterness!
Let's talk about the male lead forgotten by the author.
Yun Chang met Lin Yan in the second year after entering Taoyuan Base.
The moment he saw Lin Yan, he instinctively straightened his body, recalling if his attire for the day was in order.
Especially when Lin Yan's gaze drifted in his direction, Yun Chang held his breath. But Lin Yan's gaze did not linger on him.
So, she had forgotten him already?
But Yun Chang could not forget Lin Yan; she was the first girl he had ever fallen for. In this apocalypse, no one knew what tomorrow would bring, so he desperately wanted to know if she was doing well, to talk to her, even if it was just a single sentence.
"A Chang, what's wrong?" Yuan Kai followed his gaze but saw nothing.
"Nothing, let's go hand in our mission!" Yun Chang smiled, but his gaze lingered, drifting back in that direction.
Afterward, Yun Chang began searching for news of Lin Yan. Upon learning of her exploits, his desperate longing began to fade.
The girl he liked was so exceptional; someone like him seemed unworthy of her.
Never mind. He would just quietly watch over her. Knowing that she was safe and sound in this apocalypse was enough!
Regarding whether Lin Yan's display of so many martial arts manuals had aroused suspicion in others.
Lin Father and Lin Mother knew their daughter had changed significantly when they arrived at Taoyuan Base.
She made no effort to conceal this change, as if she wasn't worried about them investigating.
However, considering that she had traveled so far to pick them up and could recall details of their past interactions, they didn't dwell on her changes.
Lin Yan still looked at them with affection, and their family interactions remained harmonious.
Especially after hearing Sui Sui let slip, they knew their daughter must have had some fortunate encounter, otherwise, she wouldn't possess so many miraculous abilities.
Forget it. The apocalypse had arrived; it was better for their daughter to have some fortunate encounters than nothing at all.
However, wasn't the hope of this world placed on this young girl's shoulders, was the pressure too great?
They felt heartbroken, but considering how many people were waiting for Lin Yan's potions, they couldn't persuade her to stop.
All they could do was manage the logistics for her, take care of her daily life, and for the sake of her scientific research, look after the base she had established.
Regardless of whether she was their daughter or not, everything she had done for this world deserved their pride!