NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 130
Day 118 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Friday.
Lu Ming awoke feeling refreshed and energized. After enjoying a hearty breakfast prepared by Cheng Cheng in the RV, he gathered his equipment and set off for Linhai County.
Upon arriving at the base of the Mother Tree, Lu Ming noticed a stark change. Unlike the previous day, the tree appeared withered and unresponsive to his attempts at communication. There were no roots emerging from the ground, and the humanoid monsters were conspicuously absent.
Lu Ming frowned, perplexed by the Blood Flesh Mother Tree's sudden transformation.
However, he didn't dwell on it. If I cut down the main body, he reasoned, the problem will likely resolve itself.
He wasn't one for idle speculation.
Lu Ming spent the entire day hacking away at the tree with his saber. By nightfall, as he prepared to return to camp, he noticed that the Mother Tree had shrunk by half.
Another day, he thought, and the Blood Flesh Mother Tree will be history.
Back at the camp, Lu Ming informed Huo Sheng of the Mother Tree's strange behavior. Huo Sheng speculated that the creature might have either succumbed to despair or fled in a desperate attempt to survive.
In any case, he assured Lu Ming that the officials would handle the situation. Huo Sheng advised him not to worry about such trivial matters. If they proved unable to resolve the issue, then Lu Ming could step in.
This arrangement suited Lu Ming just fine. After a satisfying supper and a quick wash, he settled into bed and opened his attribute panel.
Name: Lu Ming
Level: Mortal Realm, Level 1
Age: 25 years old
Attributes:
- Strength: 793.7
- Physique: 810
- Agility: 797.9
Free Attribute Points: 0
Superpower: Awakening in progress…
Skills:
- Fitness Lv26 (200/2600)
- Slingshot Lv31 (268/3100)
- Archery Lv26 (487/2600)
- Firearms Lv25 (1330/2500)
- Unarmed Combat Lv30 (1200/3000)
- Cold Weapon Combat Lv32 (800/3200)
- Basic Spearmanship Lv27 (0/2700)
- Throw Lv18 (60/1800)
- Basic Saber Technique Lv24 (0/2400)
- Basic Sword Technique Lv18 (1200/1800)
- Basic Staff Technique Lv7 (0/1700)
- Stance Techniques:
- Tiger Steps Stance Lv7 (0/1700)
- Resistance Stance Lv8 (0/1800)
Origin Skill:
- Basic Breathing Technique (Entry) (1/100)
Undoubtedly, it was another day of significant gains in skill proficiency. Chopping away at the Mother Tree proved to be an excellent catalyst for improvement. Perhaps the system recognized the Mother Tree as a formidable adversary, treating the combat as a sparring session with a master, hence the rapid increase in skill proficiency.
A quick glance at his updated attributes filled Lu Ming with satisfaction as he settled in for the night.
Day 119 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Saturday.
Another day was dedicated to dismantling the Mother Tree.
By evening, as Lu Ming unleashed his final saber strike, the once towering tree, now reduced to a mere few dozen meters in height, was cleaved in half.
Lu Ming watched as the matrix fungi carpet beneath him rapidly receded, revealing the paved road below. With a resounding crash, the massive tree trunk toppled to the ground.
The countless heads on the tree's crown seemed to melt, dissolving into a thin red liquid that seeped into the earth.
After repeatedly confirming that the Blood Flesh Mother Tree was truly dead, Lu Ming nodded in satisfaction.
"Let's pack up and go home," he declared, ready to leave Linhai County behind.
The aftermath and cleanup would be handled by the officials. It was their responsibility to ensure the Mother Tree was completely eradicated.
Lu Ming, before departing, repeatedly reminded them to notify him immediately if any trouble arose. Huo Sheng reassured him with a solemn promise. If something went wrong, Huo Sheng would not hesitate to reach out; he was never one to pretend everything was fine.
And so, Lu Ming set off for Linhai County in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Three days passed.
By that evening, Lu Ming had finally dealt with the Blood Flesh Mother Tree, tirelessly chipping away at its defenses until it was no more.
The results were satisfactory. The external threat had been neutralized, and Lu Ming could return to his simple, peaceful life.
His attribute gains were substantial, even exceeding his usual progress. Apart from a slight lack of sleep, there were no significant drawbacks.
Three days after his initial departure, Lu Ming returned home.
He cleaned the accumulated dust from his house, washed up, and collapsed onto his bed, savoring the unparalleled comfort of his own home after a grueling ordeal.
As he gazed at the ceiling, lost in thought, a soft sigh escaped his lips.
"There's no place like home," he murmured.
But a shadow of doubt crept into his mind.
"It's just... I won't be able to stay here for long."
In truth, Lu Ming had already accepted this inevitability. He wouldn't be able to remain in his sanctuary forever.
The shrinking Black Mist Zone was a looming threat, and it was only a matter of time before his home was swallowed by its encroaching darkness.
When that happened, Lu Ming had no idea what awaited him.
Secondly, there was the issue of the house's structural integrity. While Lu Ming had invested significant effort in fortifying it, the materials were ultimately conventional. A Tier 4 creature could easily tear it down.
In fact, given Lu Ming's current strength, even a slight exertion within the house could potentially cause it to collapse.
The once-secure fortress that had sheltered him was no longer as sturdy. It was a poignant reminder that even in a post-apocalyptic world, change and loss were inevitable.
Lu Ming gently patted the wall beside his bed, a wistful sigh escaping his lips.
But soon, the room was filled with the sound of his rhythmic snoring. He had drifted off to sleep.
Day 120 of the Apocalypse Calendar, Sunday.
The sun shone brightly, promising a calm and peaceful day.
And indeed, life wasn't always a tumultuous rollercoaster. Tranquility was, in fact, the norm.
But for Lu Ming, tranquility was a personal experience, not necessarily shared by everyone else.
At noon, after assisting Lu Ming with his daily exercise routine, Zhang Chengcheng and Wei Lan began preparing lunch.
As they worked, they chatted idly.
"Sister Chengcheng," Wei Lan said, "the officials found some Tier 4 zombie crystals in Linhai County yesterday. So, the crystals needed for your advancement to Level 4 are ready."
Upon hearing this news, Cheng Cheng smiled and shook her head. "Professor Huo informed me of this this morning. We discussed it and felt that the advancement opportunity should be given to Colonel Bai."
With Wei Lan's assistance, Cheng Cheng's superpower could still keep pace with Lu Ming's growing strength. There was no rush for her to advance; she could continue practicing the breathing technique at her own pace.
The Black Mist Exploration Team, on the other hand, had a more pressing need for greater power. Today was the day they were scheduled to embark on their expedition into the Black Mist Zone.
Just as Lu Ming was about to have lunch, Wang Xiong arrived with exciting news.
"Colonel Bai has ascended to Level 5!" he declared, his voice filled with excitement.
The emergence of the first Level 5 Awakened in Nanxiang City was a cause for celebration among the survivors. Many flocked to witness Bai Tianyu's transformation, but Lu Ming chose to remain behind.
Hearing Wang Xiong's news, Lu Ming smiled and nodded, quickly finishing his meal before heading to the tower to prepare for the anticipated Tier 5 zombie wave that often accompanied such advancements.
However, to his surprise, nothing happened.
Bai Tianyu's ascension had caused barely a ripple in the zombie hordes. It seemed to have gone unnoticed, leaving Lu Ming perplexed.
He descended from the observation tower, his brow furrowed in confusion, just as Huo Sheng approached.
"Don't overthink it," Huo Sheng reassured him. "There aren't many zombies left in the vicinity. You've either eliminated them or they've been absorbed by the Blood Flesh Mother Tree."
This scarcity of zombies was the primary reason for the lack of activity.
Of course, there was another factor at play. At this stage, any zombie with a modicum of intelligence knew who the true apex predator in Nanxiang City was. None dared to challenge Lu Ming, and no zombie would dare target him directly.
While Lu Ming was initially disappointed by the lack of targets to practice on, Huo Sheng's next words quickly shifted his focus.
"Bai Tianyu and his team are preparing to leave," Huo Sheng informed him. "Would you like to see them off?"
Lu Ming considered the offer for a moment, then pointed up at the observation tower.
"I'll watch from here."