The most ruthless person in the apocalypse

Chapter 1129 The Miraculous Elder

"Let's talk about the enhancement index instead."

Zhang Su steered the conversation back on track.

Chang Qingsheng nodded, pondered for a moment, and said, "A few days ago, I went to see the general about Hei Xiazi. Putting aside Hei Xiazi, the general mentioned to me that the current enhancement index is approaching eighty. You probably don't have any concept of this number, right?"

"Any references?"

Zhang Su asked directly.

"Yes. Think back, so far, we know that the zombies have been strengthened four times, not to mention the unknown ones... We don't have any data on the first and second ones due to technical limitations."

The most recent one was forty-five, and the one before that was thirty-three! To give a more specific example, around the time of thirty-three, more mutated zombies with special abilities began to appear, and after the time of forty-five, their abilities were significantly enhanced!
A small survivor camp, with only a few hundred people, could be wiped out by a single mutated zombie and a group of ordinary zombies without the help of powerful humans or special methods!

I witnessed firsthand how, in Hua County, a camp was slaughtered by a zombie possessing fire-based energy. That zombie could create small-scale fire explosions around itself. Ultimately, it took the efforts of the Monkey and Tiger tribes, who fought for several hours before finally managing to kill it.

With data and examples, Zhang Su and his group could intuitively feel the degree of increase corresponding to the strengthening index, and a little reflection confirmed this.

Liquefied gas zombies, emotion zombies, and ice zombies may have existed before, but they only came into human view after that enhancement, and their abilities have made great strides!
The camp's fire-breathing zombies and programs have been enhanced to some extent, but the enhancements seem to be less than those of the "wild" mutated zombies!

"Hmm, the zombies have become much stronger. What about us? Do we have any data on us humans?"

Zhang Su not only focuses on the zombie situation, but also on the importance of humanity itself.

Chang Qingsheng shrugged and said, "The situation on the human side is far worse than that of the zombies. No, it's not that it's far worse, but there are huge individual differences. Some people have been greatly enhanced, while others haven't seen such obvious results. The less obvious cases are the majority, accounting for 95%, no, 99%..."

I know a case from my own experience. In Genesis, there was a sickly middle-aged man, two years older than me, who was a low-level laborer. After the recent rainfall, his condition changed drastically. He recovered, became agile, and his whole body was strong. He passed the assessment and joined the Wild Bear Division, becoming a combatant!

"Holy crap, such a huge improvement! Was that guy just faking it all along?"

Faced with the questioning, Chang Qingsheng shook his head and said, "That person has no reason to pretend to be sick, because the treatment of the Wild Bear Tribe is vastly different from that of laborers. Anyone with the ability would try their best to get in."

"The recent tests show that everyone's physical functions have improved, but we don't seem to have the kind of situation that Lao Chang mentioned, right?"

"No, there aren't any. I guess it's because there aren't many people, or..."

As everyone was discussing this, they suddenly turned their attention to Zhang Su. If there was anyone making rapid progress, it was someone who was both far away and right before their eyes!
"I've made significant progress, as you can all see. But there are others, have you forgotten them?"

"Yes, Chen Hanzhou!"

"That's right, Xiao Chen's progress is remarkable! Damn, why wasn't it me?"

"It's not just our brothers in the Yama Legion; some in the elite legion and reserve legion have also grown rapidly. However, their previous foundation was too weak, so even if they have improved, they haven't reached the standard of being formidable."

Zhang Su waved his hand, then looked at Chang Qingsheng: "Old Chang, you said before that the general told you the enhancement index was approaching eighty. Did you say when the next rainfall would be, or at least the approximate time?"

"I have the same question, but I haven't received an answer. It seems that the research department hasn't found a way to predict the timing either; all we can do is wait."

"Have you found a way to utilize rainfall to improve your own situation?"

Zhang Su asked the most crucial question.

“There really is one, but…” Chang Qingsheng shook his hand and sighed softly, “In the entire Genesis, only one person has mastered that method.”

"It must be your boss..."

Lu Yubo pursed his lips, speechless.

"wrong!"

Chang Qingsheng directly denied Lu Yubo's words, and said with a strange expression, "It's that martial arts master from Cang City."

"Oh? Didn't the martial arts master teach you the methods?"

Zhang Su immediately thought of the ethereal Zhao Kongkong.

Chang Qingsheng sighed helplessly: "We definitely have to teach him. General, several ministers and deputy ministers have been practicing with him for a long time! Last time it snowed, we tried to absorb and exhale according to his method, but it didn't work at all..."

You might think it's because my skill level isn't high enough, but it's not just me; everyone else who followed the training didn't see results, that's been proven, including the general, except for that old master!

"How can we prove that the master is effective? There have been many masters in the past who used various names to deceive people. Could he be a fraud as well?"

Qi Xiaoshuai began to have doubts. Could it be that he had encountered a charlatan who only talked big?

"The old master's background is mysterious. He didn't even tell us his name. He just told us to call him Master Zong. The Zong in 'zongmen' (宗门) is definitely not his surname. Then he said that he is ninety-eight years old this year."

Originally nearing the end of his life, he used special methods to enhance his physical condition during several rainfalls, and now he has rejuvenated, his physical functions reaching the level of a middle-aged person—yes, almost like me!

Chang Qingsheng did not refute Qi Xiaoshuai's doubts, but provided even stronger evidence.

Zhang Su pondered for a moment and said, "I've heard Cai Changli mention this master; his combat skills seem rather average?"

"Elder Zong's combat ability is indeed not as good as that of a minister-level person, and is probably equivalent to that of an ordinary cyborg. Even the most powerful cyborgs can overpower him. His strength lies in his techniques. However... if the enhancement index really reaches around 80 next time, Elder Zong might be able to take the opportunity to reach the minister-level!"

Chang Qingsheng looked on with admiration and said with some emotion, "Elder Zong is the only person I have ever met who can actively use rainfall to improve himself. Considering his advanced age, it is simply unbelievable!"

"There are truly many talented people emerging."

Zhang Su and his group nodded in agreement, expressing their admiration for the legendary figure Chang Qingsheng had mentioned. Suddenly, someone spoke up from the side in a sarcastic tone.

"In my opinion, the old man never intended to teach you... He probably thought that since he couldn't beat you, he would be in trouble if he didn't offer something, so he set up this fake thing to fool you!"

Pang Dakun spoke with a mocking smile, making it sound very serious. Seeing the strange expressions on everyone's faces, he didn't forget to add more details.

"It's true. Before my master took me in, he had another disciple. That senior brother did some annoying things, and my master didn't like him, so he taught him fake skills. Not long after, that senior brother was caught. He was still eating government food when the zombie outbreak happened, hehe!"

Chang Qingsheng smiled wryly and said, "Young man's guess is very reasonable. We actually had the same suspicion, but unfortunately we had no evidence. Elder Zong also teaches us other skills, and the general is optimistic about Elder Zong's future prospects, so he didn't mind these things."

Zhang Su discovered that Chang Qingsheng was a person with a particularly weak desire to refute. He didn't know if he was like this when he was creating the world, but from the time he had been in contact with him, he rarely refuted what others said directly.

(End of this chapter)