Preparations Before Departure

Chen Yu watched as Lin Yi closed his eyes again, his face focused as he continued to channel the energy from the Gray Crystal in his palm. He whispered, "Alright, Brother Yi, you go ahead and recover. I'll go tell Uncle and Aunt."

After saying this, he turned and walked quickly toward the busy crowd, his steps feeling slightly heavy.

Listening to the footsteps fade away, Lin Yi sank his consciousness into his body. While channeling the energy, he couldn't help but complain helplessly in his heart.

"This is truly... an energy desert..."

The Origin Energy Barren Belt where Blue Star was located had an appallingly low concentration of origin energy; the free-floating origin energy particles in the air were so sparse they were practically negligible.

The efficiency of drawing origin energy from the environment through a Guidance Technique was probably less effective than just taking deep breaths; it wasn't even a drop in the bucket.

"Once the assessment is over, if I make it big, I'll have to move Blue Star. I heard a set of Planet Migration Engine costs over seven hundred million Purple Gold Points... This dump of a place... I worked so hard to get three Source Energy Crystals, and now I have to use one just to replenish what I've consumed..."

Thirty minutes flashed by, and the energy contained within the Source Energy Crystal was completely exhausted.

Lin Yi felt the origin energy refilling his body. Without a moment's pause, he immediately took out a second Source Energy Crystal and absorbed it without hesitation.

This time, it was for cultivation.

For a novice who had just stepped through the gates of origin energy cultivation, absorbing one Source Energy Crystal a day was the limit.

It wasn't that there wasn't enough energy, but that the body needed time to adapt to the scouring and remodeling caused by such violent energy. Forcing a second crystal would, at best, damage one's meridians, and at worst, lead to an energy backlash with unimaginable consequences.

But Lin Yi was an exception.

Because with the level of origin energy control he was currently displaying, he could fully absorb another half a crystal.

He could take the energy flow gushing from the crystal—which should have been like a stampeding wild horse—and forcibly restrain and comb it into a relatively gentle stream, greatly reducing the impact and damage to his body's meridians.

Of course, he was still deliberately holding back, intentionally showing a level of control consistent with someone who had just reached the Stardust level.

After all, even a "genius" needs a gradual process.

Showing off his talent in layers as time passed was a safer choice.

Of course, the most important reason was that his control as a fresh Stardust level was already sufficient; no matter how much stronger his control became, his body couldn't absorb any more origin energy.

With the feeling of fullness in his body's cells and the faint, dull ache spreading through them, Lin Yi understood that his body's current capacity and strengthening speed had reached their limit.

He could absorb at most one and a half crystals a day.

Just like how even the best food can't be eaten if your stomach is full, forcing it would only cause harm.

"The remaining half is just enough to supplement the increase in my origin energy cap caused by the improvement in my physique..."

After another half hour, the second crystal was completely absorbed. Lin Yi felt his physical state had returned to its peak, his origin energy reserves were full again, and his Combat Power was a step higher than before.

Seeing that Lin Yi had finished his cultivation, his parents, his uncle Zhou Jianjun, his uncle Lin Ruiheng, Chen Yu, Zhou Yuxuan, and the other core members gathered around, their faces filled with worry.

His mother, Zhou Jinghua, had eyes that were red and swollen; it was clear she had been crying.

Before they could speak, Lin Yi stood up first. He stretched his limbs slightly, then swept his gaze over the group, his tone calm yet tinged with firmness.

"Dad, Mom, Uncle, Uncle... My condition has recovered. The plan remains unchanged. Later, we will first rescue the nearby survivors, and then tomorrow morning, I will set out first to head to the gathering point at the old department store to make contact with the authorities."

Zhou Jinghua's lips trembled as if she wanted to say something, but she was gently pulled back by her husband, Lin Ruiming.

Lin Ruiming looked at his son with a complex expression, eventually letting out a heavy sigh: "Xiao Yi... Dad knows you have great abilities and a firm mind, but out there... be extremely careful! If it really doesn't work out, just come back. We'll find another way. Safety first!"

"Don't worry, Dad, I know what I'm doing."

Lin Yi nodded, "I'm just going to scout and make contact. I have a detector, and my skills are what they are; it's actually more convenient to act alone."

Zhou Jianjun stepped forward and patted Lin Yi's shoulder hard, his soldier-like decisiveness on full display.

"Good lad, your uncle knows you're a real man. I won't waste words. Don't worry about things here; with me around, I'll make sure everything is rock solid!"

"Yes, Uncle, that is exactly the first thing I wanted to emphasize."

Lin Yi looked at Zhou Jianjun, Chen Yu, Zhang Haotian, and the other young men with better physical stamina.

"The defensive fortifications must be completed thoroughly as soon as possible. The spiral staircase must be blocked off, leaving only the rope ladder access. All windows on the second floor must be checked and reinforced. Patrols must not stop, especially at night; there must be at least two people monitoring the movements of the Abyssal Wolves outside."

"Understood!" Zhou Jianjun nodded heavily, "Leave this to me; I guarantee there won't be any slip-ups!"

Zhou Jianjun was reliable, so Lin Yi didn't say more and turned his gaze to Zhou Yuxuan.

"Squad Leader, the second thing, I have to trouble you."

"You have the best learning ability. The authorities have already released the full text and tutorial videos for the Guidance Technique. Combine that with the inheritance in your own mind and master it as quickly as possible."

"Once you have new insights and progress, teach them to A Yu, my uncle, and everyone else who is willing to learn and has potential. Let's get more of our own people capable of using origin energy as soon as possible. This isn't just for fighting; physical enhancement is equally crucial for survival in the apocalypse. Also... assist my uncle well."

Zhou Yuxuan adjusted his glasses, his face showing an unprecedented solemnity, "Lin Yi, don't worry! This is where I can be of the most help right now; I will definitely give it my all."

After experiencing his initial frustration, Zhou Yuxuan seemed to have recovered; he looked like he was holding back a surge of energy, eager to prove himself.

Finally, Lin Yi looked at his uncle Lin Ruiheng, "Uncle, the third thing, the coordination of the other survivors in the hotel will require your hard work."

Lin Ruiheng nodded quickly, his face even showing a hint of respect that hadn't been there before.

"Big nephew, don't you worry, I'll definitely get this done! I've already made initial contact with a few groups. They know you were the one who led the effort to clear the monsters downstairs, and they saw that even the authorities used your video, so their emotions are much more stable, and they've all expressed a willingness to listen to arrangements. It's just... just a few families whose loved ones couldn't make it in or can't be reached; their spirits are still quite low, and they need time to process..."

Hearing this, Lin Yi sighed silently in his heart.

He had seen such situations too many times in his previous life, so many that he had long since become numb.

In the apocalypse, sadness is a luxury; survival is the only theme.

"Yes, I understand. But we still need to comfort them as much as possible, while also making them understand that the most important thing now is to stay alive... After all, the world has changed drastically. Soon, the pressure of survival won't give them much time to wallow in sadness..." Lin Yi sighed, "There was a saying in biology class that made a lot of sense... Humans are creatures with very strong adaptability."

The group heard this and had different expressions, but they all nodded silently.

"Alright, everyone go get busy. I'll train for a little longer before I set out." Lin Yi waved his hand.