Olive Branch

The helicopter circled overhead several times before finally landing on the platform at the very center of that enormous "mountain."

Ye Xiu frowned slightly as he looked at the massive gun barrels surrounding them.

When he had lived on Blue Star in his previous life, as a man, he had naturally held a certain fondness for artillery and weaponry, and he had often looked into them in his spare time.

Yet in his memory, no modern weapon from his previous life, whether in caliber or sheer size, had ever come close to the anti-aircraft guns before his eyes.

And judging from the accustomed expressions of Xu Xiao and the others, these things had clearly not been in use for merely a day or two.

"This is the third-generation artillery developed aboard the Ark. It was only equipped in 'Azure Prefecture' half a year ago."

Seeing the curiosity in Ye Xiu's eyes, Xu Xiao's face carried a trace of pride. "Our Azure Prefecture hunting squads played a major role by bringing back biological materials, allowing the upgrades to be completed so quickly."

"The first batch of mass-produced units was also given to us immediately."

"These things are powered by soul crystals too?"

With his divine sense, Ye Xiu could sense the aura of soul crystals emanating from the anti-aircraft guns arranged in formation.

"Of course. Without soul crystals, ordinary energy sources simply can't power these big fellows."

Xu Xiao nodded.

Just as they were speaking, a burst of hurried footsteps came from the platform.

Ye Xiu looked up and saw a group of ground personnel dressed in black approaching them.

Upon their dark uniforms was the image of a thick tree trunk, with interwoven branches spreading outward. The dark green pattern carried an air of profound mystery.

The emblem of the Kabbalah Organization—the Tree of Evolution.

Although Xu Hualing had previously told Ye Xiu about this organization, his first real encounter with its people still left him somewhat curious.

Xu Hualing had told him that this organization was an official research institute, yet Xu Xiao's uniform clearly bore no such insignia. Why had people from the Kabbalah Organization come here?

Ye Xiu glanced at Xu Xiao without revealing anything, and Xu Xiao waved at the leader of the Kabbalah Organization who had come forward to meet them.

"Captain Xu, did you bring back the materials you promised the laboratory this time?"

The speaker was a man in a white lab coat. Though he was addressing Xu Xiao, his eyes were fixed on Ye Xiu.

"Anyone entering the shelter must undergo strict inspection. Bringing people in casually—isn't that a bit of a breach of protocol?"

Xu Xiao's expression remained calm. "Group Leader Liu, this is Ye Xiu. We came up empty-handed on this trip, but thanks to his help, we brought back a Tyrant's corpse."

"Hm? If you could withstand a Tyrant head-on, your ability should be at least Rank Four. Interested in joining the research institute...?"

Group Leader Liu's eyes lit up. The way he looked at Ye Xiu was like he had found some fascinating new toy.

Ye Xiu silently marked this man down in his mind, but Xu Xiao cut him off from the side.

"The Tyrant was already dead when it arrived. Ye Xiu is only a Rank Two ability user, so forget about joining the ability institute."

Ye Xiu smiled and stretched out a hand, condensing an icicle. Group Leader Liu's gaze immediately turned contemptuous.

"A Rank Two small fry. Tch. Fine, move aside already. A Tyrant's body is rare material. Leaving it in your hands would be a pure waste."

The large group behind him passed by Ye Xiu's party and began dissecting the Tyrant's body on the helicopter.

Xu Xiao said nothing more, merely signaling for Ye Xiu to follow them.

After everyone had rested and gone their separate ways, Xu Xiao stopped Ye Xiu and led him through twists and turns before finally entering a small building.

"Sit wherever you like. What would you like to drink?"

Sitting across the table, Xu Xiao gestured at the tea leaves and coffee powder before Ye Xiu, who indicated that anything was fine.

"The Kabbalah Organization has indeed produced quite a lot over the past two years. Many ability users believe joining them would bring considerable benefits, and the major Arks have begun deepening their cooperation with them as well."

"But I truly dislike the way they do things. To them, people and zombies are the same—both are consumable materials. If that is really the case, then what is the point of this shelter existing?"

A cup of tea was set before him, and Ye Xiu looked at Xu Xiao in some surprise.

He did not understand why the man had suddenly begun talking to him about this.

"Your ability is not ice manipulation."

The moment Xu Xiao finished speaking, the Soul-Extinguishing Dagger at Ye Xiu's side turned into a streak of white light and shot out.

Caught off guard, Xu Xiao had the dagger pressed directly against his throat.

Yet even with death hanging over him, Xu Xiao's face remained exceptionally calm.

"If we truly meant to make a move, the ones who greeted us earlier would not have been those researchers."

Xu Xiao spread his hands, his eyes fixed on Ye Xiu. "Everyone has their own secrets. I have no intention of prying further."

A brief silence fell between them. Then Ye Xiu was the first to speak.

"How was I discovered? There shouldn't have been any problem with the handling of that Tyrant's corpse."

Since Xu Xiao had shown no unusual behavior throughout the journey, Ye Xiu decided to talk first. At the very least, he needed to find out how this man had realized he was hiding his true strength.

"After a Tyrant dies, it becomes no different from an ordinary zombie, and then it gradually grows harder. I checked it while we were on the helicopter. It was hardening."

Hearing Xu Xiao say that, Ye Xiu understood where he had slipped up.

With a helicopter, they would certainly have known clearly whether there were any powerful zombies nearby. The time of the Tyrant's death could be determined, and only he and Xu Hualing had been around. The answer spoke for itself.

"There is no need to be too nervous. The vast majority of people will not know about this. You merely happened to run into me."

Ye Xiu silently withdrew the Soul-Extinguishing Dagger, while Xu Xiao lifted his teacup and took a sip.

"You want to recruit me? Why?"

"It is not wrong for ability users to pursue strength, but under the influence of the Kabbalah Organization, they are increasingly treating other people's lives as if they were not lives at all."

Concern filled Xu Xiao's face. "When there are more and more people like that within the authorities, the discontent piling up below will grow heavier and heavier. In the end, it will surely conclude in bloodshed."

"But no matter what the outcome is, given the current situation, if internal strife breaks out, wouldn't that simply give those monsters an opportunity..."

Before Xu Xiao could finish, Ye Xiu interrupted him without hesitation.

"What does that have to do with me?"

He understood now. Xu Xiao, standing before him, was the most hopeless kind of person—someone burdened with a sense of responsibility. He could tell from the fact that Xu Xiao had come to persuade him without making any preparations beforehand.

But what did any of that have to do with Ye Xiu? It was already the apocalypse—was this demonic cultivator supposed to become a good man now?

If Xu Xiao thought he could make Ye Xiu help with nothing but his mouth and so-called morality, then he was thinking far too highly of himself.

Ye Xiu rose without hesitation and started walking out.

But halfway there, he heard a somewhat strange sound of mechanical components shifting from behind him...