Chapter 10：One Step Ahead of the Entire World

One month after the apocalypse, humans discovered for the first time the existence of an unknown element in the air. The element had never been discovered before the apocalypse, and it was viewed as the source of the zombie virus. The element would quickly control the core of a zombie's brain and create a strange fungus that rapidly took over the brain nerves. It was safe to say that the fungus was the most terrifying virus in the apocalypse!

One year later, scientists who dissected and studied zombies suddenly found a favorable turn. They discovered that a black liquid would form in all the zombies' brains from the fungus. After much experimentation with the liquid, they found that it was the best energy source in the world. It was ten thousand times more powerful than fossil fuel. One could say that it was a completely new energy source, and it could only be harvested from zombies.

Thus, vast experimentation was performed on the new energy source, and it was used on various machines. Soon, biologists found with surprise that after four hours of sedimentation, the new energy source could be consumed by humans and would rapidly promote human evolution.

The zombie virus killed billions of people, but at the same time, it gave humans a hope of survival! Thus, a new era began. Human physique began to strengthen. They became stronger and faster…

First Tier neo-humans, Second Tier neo-humans… all the way up to King Tier, Saint Tier…

Although zombies got stronger and stronger, and they were still dangerous, and although earth became more and more unfamiliar and vast amounts of neo-humans died everyday... they finally saw a hope! A hope for survival!

…

Shen Chen studied the tube of black liquid and smiled faintly. The tube was full of new energy source evolution fluid that he had extracted from zombie brains at the gas station. Since then, it had settled for four whole hours.

Without hesitation, he swallowed the fluid. He knew that from that moment on, he would be one step ahead of the entire world. A smile appeared on his face. 'I really anticipate its effect!'

As he breathed, Shen Chen entered an ethereal realm. As expected, after the new substance entered his body, his body wantonly absorbed the energy into its core. Since it was his first time absorbing it, he felt indescribably comfortable all over. The feeling of energy molecules entering his body was like drinking a carbonated beverage. All his pores opened wide. A strange feeling seeped into his veins, as if he were surrounded by a warm tide. Every cell and pore in his body felt like they were waking up from a sleep, ready to greet a new, beautiful world.

Shen Chen was bewildered. The experience was definitely different from his previous life's. He recalled clearly that in the previous life, after he drank the evolution fluid, the pain he felt was like being roasted on a fire.

'Why does it feel completely different in this life?' He didn't have time to think more. His whole consciousness had entered a deep level absorption with the comfort the energy brought.

The energy flowed through his body, rapidly restoring his thirsty body. At the same time, energy gradually merged into Shen Chen's bones and muscles. If a scientist had analyzed Shen Chen's body with a machine in that moment, they would have found all the cells in his body jumping for joy.

His extremely exerted body was in urgent need of energy. His tendons were springing, his bones were thundering, his skin and muscles were pulling. All over his body, every cell showed signs of strength and vitality. The energy rapidly and endlessly entered Shen Chen's body, washing his body over and over again. When he came to from absorbing the energy, only two hours had passed.

He swung his arms forcefully. The energy in his muscles somewhat surprised him. In the previous life, when he absorbed energy fluid, he was only able to gain sixty percent of the power contained in it. Even then, he became the cream of the crop. What he didn't expect was that after being reborn in this life, he would be able to absorb one hundred percent of the new energy source. With such an absorption ratio, if he had been in his previous life, he would have been an entity who could wipe out Ninth Tier masters!

Shen Chen could hardly contain his joy. A brilliant light shone out of his pitch black irises. The feeling of being filled to the brim with power made him smile. He was one step ahead of everyone. It was safe to assume that in his new life, it wouldn't be impossible for him to become a King Tier master.

Shen Chen closed his eyes. A short while later, he fell asleep.

…

Early next morning, Shen Chen woke to a cry. He looked at his watch. The needles pointed to 4:45 in the morning.

The cry had come from a middle-aged woman. She was pale from fear. "Someone died! Someone died!"

"What? Someone died?"

Everyone was roused from their sleep by the loud cry. They all went up to look and saw a man about thirty-years-old lying on the floor, having died tranquilly.

"Isn't this Teacher Yu? How did he die all of a sudden?" people who recognized him said in disbelief.

Shen Chen parted the crowd. He placed his fingers on the person's throat, his gaze falling on the pill bottle next to the body. Shen Chen opened the sleeping pill bottle and saw it was completely empty.

"He overdosed on sleeping pills… He just died." Shen Chen stood up.

Ye Xiaoyu said solemnly, "Did he die of suicide?"

"Yes," Shen Chen said calmly. "Death time three minutes."

Shen Chen's words made everyone sigh. The middle-aged woman stroked her chest continuously. "I was scared out of my wits. I got up to use the bathroom and stepped on him, but something felt off."

"He came out to eat with his wife and kid yesterday, but in the end he was the only one to survive. He watched his wife eat his child right in front of him… How pitiful… He couldn't stand to live any longer…"

Someone in the crowd sighed. Then, after a moment of silence, a dreary atmosphere permeated the room. Some people in the room began sobbing quietly. Soon after, more people fell into despair.

Shen Chen stared at the corpse. His expression was hard to read. Boss asked, "Second, is something wrong with the corpse?"

Shen Chen shook his head. "There's nothing wrong with it, but it's… very troublesome…"

"What do you mean?" Ye Xiaoyu asked curiously.

Shen Chen hesitated for a bit, then said, "I'm not sure… but's it's probably true…" After some consideration, he finally walked up and slowly raised Black Blade in his hands.

"What are you trying to do?" someone asked in alarm.

Shen Chen explained, "It's very likely that this corpse will cadaverize. Just in case, we must chop off its head."

"How evil!" Someone was infuriated. "How can dead people cadaverize? Can't you let them have an undamaged corpse? You're going to treat a corpse like this? Are you even human? Why do you have such an evil heart?"

"Shen Chen, he just died, and you're trying to cut his head off? It's totally unacceptable! Don't you know we should respect the dead?" Fang Yi found the opportunity to part the crowd and said righteously, "Although he died a coward, we should still respect his decision."

"That's right. The hostess is right!"

"You little b*stard, if you dare touch him, I'll beat you to death!"

"After you die, I'll cut your head off, too!"

As if needing to release their suppressed emotions, more and more people began scolding Shen Chen.

Fang Yi received everyone's support and was in a great mood. Doomsday had arrived. The world was about to fall into disorder. She no longer cared about her old considerate boyfriend or rich boyfriend. She was a smart woman. In a world that was about to fall to pieces, only strong people like the fatty could survive and obtain a better future!

She had seduced the fatty because he was strong, but more importantly, because she had heard the man's older brother was a major in the military. But Fang Yi knew clearly that in these turbulent times, men could chase after women whenever they wished. She could only gain the stupid fatty's favor if she did what other women couldn't. Fang Yi was very smart. She set the goal of becoming the people's spiritual leader. Only then could her future be insured.

Shen Chen took a long look at Fang Yi. He had to admit he had underestimated the ambitious woman. She certainly had the ability to charm others, but… in Doomsday, such childish tricks were of no use before great power.

It was those who didn't want to open doors for the living, but were merciful to corpses that could turn into zombies, who were the most tragic. Shen Chen sighed and said, "If you insist, then I won't do it. Boss. Xiaoyu. Let's leave!"

He didn't need to explain anything to a bunch of ignorant people. He had already given them a chance.

Ye Xiaoyu and Boss followed Shen Chen with cold expressions. Compared to a bunch of strangers, they would rather trust Shen Chen, who had saved them.

The moment Shen Chen's fingers touched the roll-up door, Fang Yi suddenly shouted, "What are you trying to do?!"

Everyone suddenly came to realize what was happening. Then they all clenched their fists and stood up angrily.

"Are you trying to let the zombies in?"

"Even if you three want to die, don't drag us down with you!"

Shen Chen looked at the crowd, whose emotions were totally out of control. He said calmly, "We're going to leave."

"No, you can't leave. Once the roll-up door opens, the zombies outside will pour in!"

"You're just trying to kill us!"

"No one can leave! Absolutely not!"

A dozen people pushed Zhao Zhen and Ye Xiaoyu, who were blocking the roll-up door with their backs, around violently. They glared at Shen Chen maliciously. Many of them had clenched their fists and were shouting angrily.

Ye Xiaoyu couldn't help but mock them. "You're the ones who tried to kick us out last night, and now you're not letting us leave. How ugly human nature is!"

Shen Chen remained silent, coldly watching the crowd, whose eyes were red as crimson. After one night, everyone's anxiety had reached a breaking point. Any little spark could ignite an explosion—the man's death was the spark. But with the body there, the cardroom would definitely not be safe. He had to leave before the corpse cadaverized and infected everyone.

"Shen Chen! How long are you going to fool around for? Can't you be a little more mature? There are so many people here. Are you trying to kill everyone?" Fang Yi walked in front of Shen Chen, raising her hand and slapping it forcefully across Shen Chen's face. "Wake the hell up!"