"The Ten Calamities of the Disease Nation... that sounds like it was deliberately set up in opposition to the Medical Department's Ten Families."
Twenty-Three commented, "That means there are at least ten progenitor-level pestilences. I wonder whether that includes the Pestilence King—Zhou Zhi. Do you think Ruan Yin counts as one of the Ten Families now?"
Zhou Zhi found that question difficult to answer. He considered it briefly, then continued listening to He Guangping's earnest introduction.
"The Ten Calamities... sir, they're all Plague Exterminators at Above Human Dragon level or higher. I heard... I only heard this, but even the Medical Department's Plague Exterminators can't beat them."
He Guangping lowered his voice as if sharing some secret, as though afraid Extreme Cold might overhear him.
"Is this place within Extreme Cold's surveillance range too?" Zhou Zhi asked curiously. He had not sensed Extreme Cold's presence at all.
He Guangping replied mysteriously, "Above Human Dragon is beyond imagination. Especially since... Extreme Cold came from the Dark Continent. A pestilence that crossed the entire Mobius Lake—anything is possible."
The Plague Exterminators nearby all wore similarly guarded expressions.
It seemed that in the Vacuum Disease Nation, even if they had not been diseased, they had still been subtly influenced, gradually becoming repressed and abnormal.
Zhou Zhi understood.
Back in Blue Stone Town, it had merely been a formal-grade disease-contaminated town, yet it had been terrifying beyond measure to his former self.
Now, the Disease Nation's territory covered one of the Six Nations. Its scale was staggering, unprecedented even. It would have been strange if they were not afraid.
"I understand."
Zhou Zhi nodded. "So that place is your current [Survivor Gathering Site]?"
Through the light, Zhou Zhi looked ahead across the dark snowfield.
There was a faint campfire.
Like a lighthouse in an