On the other side, Chen Yu had no idea that his good buddy was worrying about the whole world. He excitedly called Lin Yi over to look at the next announcement.
"There's more, Brother Yi. Look at this!"
Clearly, the Source Energy Guidance Technique wasn't the only thing that had Chen Yu so excited.
After all, compared with everyone else, he'd already learned it ahead of time. So what had him excited was actually something else.
Chen Yu opened a regional map.
"Gathering Point!"
"Look, there's a Gathering Point in our city too. And the assembly location is the Old Department Store on Tongma Street, only about five kilometers from here in a straight line!"
As he spoke, Chen Yu zoomed in on the map of Helu City. Four conspicuous red dots were clearly marked around the area where Hongfu Restaurant stood, each labeled [Micro Nest].
The Old Department Store sat right in the small, untainted patch at the center of those four red dots.
This was the so-called "Gap Zone."
"Our Hongfu Restaurant is one of those four Micro Nests."
"The authorities haven't abandoned us. They'll come rescue us. We can head to the Gathering Point—we won't have to keep living in fear anymore!"
Chen Yu's voice brimmed with the excitement of someone who'd just survived a catastrophe.
"Yeah. We can head to the Gathering Point."
Lin Yi could imagine how people struggling to survive would feel when they saw this news.
Yet as Lin Yi's gaze passed over the Gathering Point nestled in the gap between the four Micro Nests, an unusual irritation stirred in his heart.
Based on the information available, the authorities' current strategy was undoubtedly correct and optimal.
Using Nest territory rules to establish safe zones was the best way to preserve the greatest number of survivors at this stage.
However, they didn't know that the "safe zone" rule they were relying on wasn't an eternal, unbreakable law.
Because Abyss Beast Nests could evolve!
Drawing on all kinds of data about Abyss Beast Nests gathered in his previous life through the use of Source Energy technology on Blue Star, along with public information from the Pan-Spirit Alliance Virtual Network, Lin Yi could almost be called the person who understood Abyss Beast Nests best.
Take the Micro Nest they were in, for example. Lin Yi clearly remembered that in the early stages after their arrival, a Micro Nest's core contained around one hundred thousand units of Source Energy.
That energy was used to produce the first batch of Abyss Beasts when the Nests arrived.
For instance, an ordinary Abyss Wolf consumed about seven to ten units of Source Energy. At first, a Micro Nest would continuously release tens of thousands of Abyss Wolves like a fountain, until its initial supply of Source Energy was exhausted.
After that, the Nest core would begin to slowly and steadily draw energy from the Divine Kingdom Projection, recovering one thousand units of Source Energy each day.
That energy could be used to replenish lost Abyss Beasts or stored up.
The key was that when a Nest's "total controllable Source Energy"—the Source Energy contained in its surviving Abyss Beasts plus the unused energy stored in its core—recovered to its initial maximum of one hundred thousand units, its territory would begin expanding at an extremely slow rate starting the day after the excess was reached.
For example, once its total Source Energy reached 101,000, its territory's diameter would grow by one percent.
This expansion was permanent. Even if the total Source Energy later fell, the territory would never shrink back.
And when its total Source Energy gradually accumulated to ten times the initial amount—that is, one million units—a qualitative change would occur.
At that point, the Micro Nest would evolve into a Small Nest.
Once its evolution was complete, it could produce new, more powerful Abyss Beasts. Its daily Source Energy recovery would also jump to five thousand units!
Small Nests evolved in the same way, but they required far more Source Energy and took much longer.
What would happen then to the Gathering Point at the Old Stadium, currently nestled in the safe gap between four Micro Nests?
As the territories of the surrounding Micro Nests continued to expand, it wouldn't be long before the four Nests' territories overlapped completely over what was currently a safe zone.
The Gathering Point the authorities had worked so hard to establish would become a well-meaning trap: it would draw in survivors, then turn into a vast tomb, completely surrounded on all sides!
The worst part was that the authorities might not realize the problem for quite some time.
After all, the Abyss Beast Nests had all suffered some losses, more or less, and none had yet reached full capacity.
Only after the authorities had built their Gathering Points and settled down in the safe zones to tend to their wounds would they suddenly realize one day that they were surrounded.
Besides, this didn't just concern Xia Kingdom.
Some smaller countries, especially those without enough strength of their own, might simply copy Xia Kingdom's strategy and end up doomed.
"No. I have to find a way to make the authorities realize this sooner!"
Lin Yi kept his expression unchanged. After considering the matter quietly, he immediately changed his plan to wait at Hongfu Restaurant for the authorities to contact him.
Waiting passively was no longer appropriate. There was a strong chance the authorities wouldn't establish a shelter at Hongfu Restaurant as they had in his previous life.
He had to take the initiative!
And he had to do it soon.
Lin Yi planned to finish dealing with the situation at Hongfu Restaurant tonight, then head to the Gap Zone and make contact with the authorities in advance.
With that in mind, Lin Yi looked at Chen Yu, who was still caught up in his excitement.
"Ah Yu."
"I think we need to change our plans a little."
Chen Yu blinked in surprise.
"What's wrong, Brother Yi? Didn't we say we'd hold out here and wait for help? The rescue should be coming soon, right?"
"No."
Lin Yi shook his head.
"The rescue team will definitely come, but there's no telling how long it'll take. They'll need to coordinate and clear a route. No one can say when they'll reach this area."
"Hongfu Restaurant has just been cleared out, so it's temporarily safe. It has a sturdy structure, and we've found drinking water and food here. These are our most valuable resources right now. Even if we go to the Gathering Point, we don't have to abandon this place. We can turn it into a temporary relay station."
His gaze swept over the faintly flickering green figures in the ruins of Hongfu Restaurant's small plaza.
"And there must be other survivors nearby, just like us. They're trapped in different places, cut off and surrounded by different Abyss Beast squads. We need to find a way to search for and rescue them wherever we can, while protecting ourselves, and bring our forces together."
"Then..." Lin Yi's gaze sharpened. Time was running out, and he had to move faster. "I'll head out alone first and make contact with the authorities at the Gathering Point."
"Alone?!"
The excitement vanished from Chen Yu's face, replaced by shock and worry.
"That's too dangerous! Brother Yi, it's five kilometers, and the whole area outside is crawling with those monsters—no, Abyss Beasts!"
"That's exactly why I have to go alone."
Lin Yi shook his head, cutting off Chen Yu before he could try to persuade him further.
"Alone, I'll be a smaller target, more agile, and better able to stay hidden and get through dangerous areas quickly. My goal is to scout and make contact, not fight. If all goes well, I'll reach the destination soon."
He couldn't tell him about the Nest evolution, so he had to give another reason.
"The authorities also said we'd soon lose our signal and internet access."
"I have to contact the rescue team as soon as possible and find out what things are actually like over there: their defenses, their capacity to take people in, and, most importantly..."
"Confirm a relatively safe evacuation route. I also need to tell them about us here and any survivors I find along the way, so they can carry out targeted rescue operations later."
"The base we've established here and the people we've gathered can also ease their burden and provide them with a ready-made relay station and support point."
"But..."
Chen Yu had only just managed to get one word out when he stopped himself.
He knew Lin Yi well enough.
He could see the determination in Lin Yi's eyes. He was still worried, but in the end, he didn't voice any further objections.
Chen Yu knew that once his best friend had decided to do something, not even eight oxen could drag him back.
"Source Energy." Chen Yu silently clenched his fist.
After a while, he said in a low voice, "I understand. Should I call Uncle and Aunt, and Uncle Jianjun over first? At the very least, you should tell them about your plan, right?"
Lin Yi nodded. He took one last look at the location of the Helu City Gathering Point on the screen, folded up the phone, and handed it back to Chen Yu.
"Sure, but there's no need to rush. Let's take care of what needs doing first. I haven't recovered yet. Once I'm back in shape, I'll rescue the survivors nearby tonight. After we rest for a night, I'll set out tomorrow."
Thank you for the tips, Kuai Geng Ba Xiongdi and Cherry-Flavored Almond!
Before you continue