A Well-Intentioned but Deadly Trap!

On the other side, Chen Yu naturally had no idea that his good buddy was worrying about the entire world, and he excitedly shouted for Lin Yi to look at the next notification.

"It doesn't stop there, Brother Yi, look at this!"

It was clearly not just the Source Energy Guidance Technique that had Chen Yu so excited.

After all, compared to others, he had already learned it a step ahead, so there was actually another reason for his agitation.

Chen Yu tapped to open a regional map.

"A gathering point!"

"Look, our city has a gathering point too, and the assembly location is at the Old Department Store on Tongma Street, only about five kilometers away from us in a straight line!"

As he spoke, Chen Yu zoomed in on the Helu City regional map. Four striking red dots were clearly distributed around the area where their Hongfu Restaurant was located, each labeled with the words [Micro Nest].

The location of the Old Department Store happened to be in a small, white, un-reddened area right in the center of these four red dots.

This was the so-called "Gap Zone."

"This Hongfu Restaurant of ours is one of these four Micro Nests."

"The authorities haven't given up on us; they are coming to save us. We can go to the gathering point and won't have to live in such fear anymore!"

Chen Yu's voice carried the excitement of someone who had survived a disaster.

"Yeah. We can go to the gathering point."

Lin Yi could imagine what kind of mood the people struggling to survive would be in upon seeing this news.

However, as Lin Yi's gaze swept over the gathering point located in the gaps between the four Micro Nests, a rare sense of irritability rose in his heart.

Based on current intelligence, the authorities' strategy was absolutely correct and optimal.

Utilizing the territorial rules of the nests to establish safe zones was the best way to preserve the most effective strength at this stage.

However, they did not know that the "safe zone" rules they were currently relying on were not immutable iron laws.

Because Abyss Beast nests evolve!

Relying on various data regarding Abyss Beast nests obtained through Source Energy technology on Blue Star in his past life, combined with public information from the Pan-Spirit Alliance's virtual network, Lin Yi could almost be called the person who "understood" Abyss Beast nests the best.

Taking the Micro Nests they were currently in as an example, Lin Yi clearly remembered that in the early stages of the descent, the core of a Micro Nest would come with about 100,000 units of Source Energy.

This Source Energy would be used upon arrival to produce the first batch of Abyss Beasts.

For instance, an ordinary Abyss Wolf individual consumed about 7-10 points of Source Energy, and a Micro Nest would initially release tens of thousands of Abyss Wolves like a fountain until the initial Source Energy was exhausted.

Afterward, the nest core would begin to slowly and continuously obtain energy from the Divine Kingdom projection, recovering 1,000 points of Source Energy daily.

This Source Energy would be used to replenish lost Abyss Beasts or be stored up.

The key point was that when a nest's "controllable total Source Energy"—that is, the Source Energy contained in surviving Abyss Beasts plus the unused Source Energy stored in the core—returned to the initial full value of 100,000 points, starting from the second day of overflow, its territorial range would begin to expand extremely slowly!

For example, when the total Source Energy became 101,000, the diameter of the territory would expand by one percent.

This expansion was permanent; even if the total Source Energy dropped afterward, the range would not shrink back.

And when its total Source Energy reached ten times the initial value through daily accumulation, namely one million units, it would trigger a qualitative change.

At that time, the Micro Nest would evolve into a Small Nest.

Once the evolution was complete, it could produce more powerful new types of Abyss Beasts, and at the same time, the daily Source Energy recovery speed would jump to 5,000 points!

The evolution mechanism of a Small Nest was the same, only the total Source Energy required was much larger, and the time required was longer.

When that time came, what would the Old Stadium gathering point, currently located in the safe gap between the four Micro Nests, face?

As the territorial range of the surrounding Micro Nests continued to expand, this current safe zone would soon be completely overlapped and covered by the territories of the four nests.

The gathering point that the authorities had worked so hard to establish would turn into a trap born of good intentions, attracting survivors and then becoming a huge, completely surrounded tomb!

The key was that, in the short term, the authorities wouldn't even realize such a problem.

Because current Abyss Beast nests all had more or less losses and were in a state of not being at full capacity in the early stages.

It wouldn't be until the authorities had built the gathering point and were thinking of hiding in the safe area to lick their wounds in silence that they would suddenly realize one day that they had been surrounded.

Moreover, this matter did not just concern the Xia Kingdom itself.

Especially for some small countries, if their own strength was insufficient and they directly copied the Xia Kingdom's decision, they might be doomed.

No. I must find a way to make the authorities realize this early!

Lin Yi's expression remained unchanged, but after silently pondering in his heart, he instantly changed his plan of waiting for the authorities to come into contact at Hongfu Restaurant.

Because passive waiting was no longer appropriate; there was a high probability that the authorities would not establish a shelter at Hongfu Restaurant as they did in his past life memories.

He had to take the initiative!

And he had to do it as soon as possible.

Lin Yi intended to finish handling the affairs at Hongfu Restaurant tonight and then head to the Gap Zone to make contact with the authorities in advance.

Thinking of this, Lin Yi looked at Chen Yu, who was still immersed in excitement.

"A-Yu."

"I feel like we need to change our plans."

Chen Yu was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

"What's wrong, Brother Yi? Didn't we say we were going to hold our ground here and wait for reinforcements? Aren't they supposed to arrive soon?"

"No."

Lin Yi shook his head.

"The rescue team will definitely come, but there's no telling how long it will take. They need to coordinate and clear routes; no one can say for sure when they'll reach our specific area."

"Hongfu Restaurant has just been cleared and is temporarily safe. It has a solid structure, and we've found water and food. These are our most valuable assets right now. Even if we eventually head to the settlement, we don't need to abandon this place. We can turn it into a temporary transit station."

His gaze swept over the green figures flickering faintly amidst the ruins of the Hongfu Restaurant plaza.

"Besides, there are definitely other Surrounding Survivors like us nearby. They are trapped in different locations, surrounded and cut off by various squads of Abyss Beasts. We must find a way to search for and rescue them as much as possible while ensuring our own safety, so we can consolidate our strength."

"And then," Lin Yi's gaze sharpened. Time waited for no one; he had to accelerate his progress. "I will set out alone to reach the settlement first and make contact with the authorities."

"Alone?!"

The excitement on Chen Yu's face was instantly replaced by shock and worry.

"That's too dangerous! Brother Yi, it's five kilometers away, and the outside is crawling with those monsters—no, Abyss Beasts!"

"It is precisely because it's dangerous that I must go alone."

Lin Yi shook his head, cutting off Chen Yu's attempt to persuade him further.

"A single person has a smaller profile, is more mobile, and can hide and pass through dangerous areas more quickly. My goal is reconnaissance and contact, not combat. If things go smoothly, I'll reach the destination soon."

He couldn't mention the evolution of the nest, so he had to use a different reason.

"The authorities also said that signal and network access will be gone soon."

"I must reach the rescue team as soon as possible to understand the actual situation there, their defensive strength, their capacity to receive people, and most importantly—"

"To determine a relatively safe evacuation route. At the same time, I need to report the situation regarding us and the survivors I find along the way so they can carry out targeted rescue operations later."

"The stronghold we're building here and the people we gather can also relieve some of their pressure and provide a ready-made transit station and support point."

"But—"

Chen Yu managed only one word before stopping himself.

Because he understood him too well.

He saw the determination in Lin Yi's eyes. Although he remained worried, the words of persuasion ultimately did not leave his lips.

Chen Yu knew that once his best friend had made up his mind, not even eight oxen could pull him back.

"Source Energy." Chen Yu silently clenched his fists.

After a while, he said in a muffled voice, "I understand. Should I call over Uncle and Aunt, and Uncle Jianjun and the others first? You should at least tell them about this plan."

Lin Yi nodded. He took one last look at the location of the Helu City settlement on the screen, closed the phone, and returned it to Chen Yu.

"Sure, but there's no need to rush. Keep busy with what you're doing for now. I haven't fully recovered yet. Once I'm back in shape, we'll rescue the Surrounding Survivors tonight, rest for the night, and then I'll set out tomorrow."