“The password is correct!” the cold mechanical voice echoed.
Everyone held their breath for a moment, staring at the opening door as the interior of the research institute gradually came into view.
The spacious laboratory was equipped with various scientific research instruments, all of which could only be operated by professionals. Test tubes, bottles, and containers were placed on tables or suspended in the air. Some of the experimental bottles still contained coloured liquids.
As they entered the laboratory, the door automatically closed, isolating them in a separate space.
Fu Chen and Liang Zhiyu restored the power to the virus research institute. The laboratory was brightly lit, and the various instruments were illuminated clearly. Despite a year having passed, this technologically advanced place showed no signs of deterioration.
As they walked further inside, their amazement grew. This was the rumoured unique virus research institute, a colossal structure built with who knows how much money.
Walking through the laboratory benches, the silent laboratory was filled only with faint footsteps, which made people increasingly nervous.
“Ah!” Bai Tiantian let out a scream.
Everyone halted their steps, looking at the scene before them, feeling a spine-chilling sensation.
Rows of liquid-filled containers, each over two meters tall, housed naked bodies that were now referred to as corpses. The horrifying scene sent shivers down their spines.
Bai Tiantian couldn’t help but reach out to grab the person beside her, but she only grasped empty air. Ever since she had caused trouble repeatedly, everyone in the team had been cold and indifferent towards her.
She was truly afraid. With teary eyes, she walked to Bai Qingqing’s side, grabbing her arm tremblingly.
Being suddenly grabbed by someone, Bai Qingqing’s own fearful emotions dissipated slightly. She looked inexplicably at Bai Tiantian, who was holding her arm.
“Qingqing, I’m scared,” Bai Tiantian whispered.
Previously, Bai Qingqing had despised Bai Tiantian’s naive and meddling nature, which had caused her to get injured and almost die. She had treated her with indifference.
However, Bai Tiantian had sincerely apologized to her, and seeing her remorseful and uneasy expression, much of the resentment in Bai Qingqing’s heart had also dissipated. Seeing her pitiful state, she forgave her.
“Just stay by my side, don’t hold onto me,” Bai Qingqing pulled her arm free.
Bai Tiantian nodded and followed closely beside her, her rabbit-like eyes still red.
Witnessing the scene of human subjects used in biochemical experiments, everyone felt a sense of horror. Soon, they realized that the previous claim that the zombie virus leaked from the research institute was not accidental, but rather premeditated.
Li Jin furrowed his brows and walked up to one of the liquid chambers, observing the specimen immersed inside.
Bai Qingqing didn’t dare to get too close to these liquid chambers. She pondered whether these glass chambers were sturdy enough. If these experimental creatures woke up, the team would be in danger.
Fu Chen and Liang Zhiyu also approached a liquid chamber, observing the bodies submerged in the liquid.
These bodies were different from the zombies outside. Their skin was pale, devoid of any blood, yet retaining their human-like appearance, resembling lifeless humans.
“What have we gained?” Fu Chen asked.
Li Jin withdrew his gaze and said, “If possible, I would like to take a liquid experimental chamber with me.”
Liang Zhiyu glanced at the liquid chamber and replied calmly, “You can take it with you.” He looked at the two girls and said, “Dismantle it and put it in the space.”
Bai Tiantian clenched her lips tightly. To her, if that thing was put into her space, it would be a nightmare.
Bai Qingqing furrowed her brows. She also didn’t want to carry an experimental subject filled with viruses and bacteria, but she knew that they had to take one with them for the sake of studying the zombie virus.
Fu Chen looked at them and said, “One chamber per person.”
No one had expected to find experimental subjects, so they had to stay and dismantle them. The four men divided into two groups to dismantle the experimental subjects, while the girls stood by and watched.
Xiao Yang’s eyes filled with disgust as he said, “Those scientists have lost their conscience, using human bodies for experiments. It’s sickening to look at.”
“That’s why they turned into zombies,” Liang Zhiyu said calmly.
They quickly dismantled the liquid experimental chambers and placed them in the corridor. The human bodies immersed inside showed no reaction.
Fu Chen walked over to Bai Qingqing and whispered, “These experimental subjects have no signs of life. Just find a corner in the space to place it.”
“Okay,” Bai Qingqing nodded. With Fu Chen’s reassurance, she felt a little more at ease.
The liquid chambers were placed into the spaces of the two girls. The group continued to move deeper into the research facility. The time spent dismantling the chambers had caused a delay, and they needed to find the source of the virus as soon as possible.
Everything was proceeding according to plan. Soon, they reached the laboratory where various virus sources were stored. Liang Zhiyu assisted Li Jin in searching.
Fu Chen and Xiao Yang kept watch outside, while Bai Qingqing and Bai Tiantian remained in the laboratory. They placed the virus samples and vaccines they found into the space.
Time passed by, every minute and every second felt torturous, but no one spoke. They quietly did their tasks.
Finally, Li Jin and Liang Zhiyu came out.
Bai Qingqing asked, “How is it? Did you find it?”
Li Jin remained silent for a moment and delivered the bad news, “There are thousands of virus sources here, all recorded with numerical codes. I can’t determine which one is the zombie virus for now.”
“How could this happen?” Bai Tiantian’s voice sounded sad.
“Don’t lose hope. We’ll have to study each of these virus samples individually, but it will take more time,” Liang Zhiyu said calmly. “Let’s go.”
The City of Death ended just like that. They didn’t find the rumoured virus source that could end the apocalypse. Bai Qingqing felt a little disappointed, as she still had a side quest to help Li Jin find clues related to the virus.
The system didn’t announce the success of the mission, which meant that there might not be a zombie virus among the thousands of virus sources.
In the five major bases, there were scientists who conducted dangerous and daring experiments on the zombie virus, concealing the truth from the survivors in order to prevent panic.
However, after several months of research, the scientists realized that the zombie virus was not as easy to develop a vaccine for as they had initially thought. The virus had undergone mutations within the zombie bodies.
The scientists came to the realization that both humans and zombies were evolving in this post-apocalyptic world.
Everything was evolving, including the virus, and they were powerless to change it.
Only Li Jin remained determined to find the virus source, hoping to develop a vaccine that could eliminate the zombie virus.
After searching the entire research facility without finding the zombie virus source, the group had no choice but to retreat and leave this dangerous place.
Just as they walked out of the laboratory, Fu Chen suddenly made a gesture, and everyone immediately became alert. Danger was approaching!
Using his psychic ability, Fu Chen sensed something unusual. He furrowed his brow and turned to the others, saying, “Li Jin, follow Xiao Yang. Bai Tiantian, stay with Liang Zhiyu. Bai Qingqing, come with me.”
“There’s something outside. Prepare for a breakout.”
As soon as the words fell, a strange sound, like a baby’s cry, rang out. The laboratory trembled with a thunderous roar.
Bai Qingqing hid behind Fu Chen, her forehead covered in sweat. She recalled the monster she had glimpsed in Mist City, the one that had almost pushed the team to the brink of despair.
It wasn’t a zombie or a mutated plant or animal. It was a strange creature that even their supernatural abilities would find difficult to deal with.
Various sounds of destruction echoed as the laboratory suffered heavy damage. Bai Qingqing held her breath and, through the faint light, saw a gigantic monster climbing and searching around the ceiling as if looking for something.
The monster emitted sharp and eerie cries, shattering glass jars and creating a mess on the floor.
After a while, the monster quickly crawled in another direction, and the group hurriedly emerged from their hiding place, hastening their steps towards the evacuation route.
Fu Chen held Bai Qingqing’s hand tightly as they ran.
The six of them moved through the vast research facility like small dots constantly shifting on a map.
Halfway through their escape, Fu Chen’s expression darkened, and he spoke in a cold voice, “Take another route.”
He sensed a fifth-order zombie along the blue route leading to the research facility’s main hall. It was not feasible to engage in a fight in the evacuation passage, so they had to retreat elsewhere.
Just as they switched routes to the fourth floor, the sound of a monster’s roar shook the walls with powerful vibrations. The destructive force was astonishing, causing everyone to stumble and sway. In their field of vision, a massive monster opened its bloody mouth and lunged towards them.
“Spread out!” Fu Chen shouted sternly.
Everyone quickly dodged, narrowly evading the monster’s attack, but it swiftly turned its head and charged towards them.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!” The sound of bullets filled the air as several people aimed for the monster’s head, but astonishingly, they couldn’t harm it in the slightest.
Xiao Yang exclaimed urgently, “Brother Fu, this monster is the same as the one in Mist City. Bullets can’t penetrate it.”
Liang Zhiyu threw away his gun and casually unleashed a gust of wind. “We can’t fight it for long. Let’s leave the research facility first.”
With his full-force strike, the monster was sent tumbling several circles away, emitting an angry roar.
Fu Chen rushed over and grabbed Bai Qingqing’s hand. “Let’s go!”
Fu Chen used his psychic ability to blast away the stones blocking their path, and amidst the smoke and dust, they hastily ran through and headed towards the planned route of escape. The monster caught up from behind, but its massive body was obstructed by the narrow corridor, and angry roars reverberated from the rear.
The group reached the basement level, but on the green escape route, they encountered a horde of zombies. The large number of zombies crowded in the passage, roaring and lunging at them.
Fortunately, Liang Zhiyu had planned a third route, and finally, after half an hour, they successfully returned to the research facility’s ground floor. However, as they rushed out of the hall, they were met with a sea of zombies.
Ordinary zombie squads were nothing to fear; they could simply ram through with a modified vehicle. However…
Through the horde of zombies, Fu Chen looked towards a towering building in the distance, where several tall monsters with human-like appearances stared at them with sinister green eyes. In front of these advanced zombies stood a man with a restrained aura.
-The Zombie Emperor.
This scene was like an epic encounter.
Bai Qingqing’s heart raced, as the most terrifying and fearful scenario unfolded before them. The team had encountered the rumoured Zombie Emperor and his army.
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