In the apocalypse, I hoarded goods and handed over my storage space to the government.

"Before you take a bite, make sure you know what it is!"

As Su Ran spoke, her eyes suddenly sharpened, and an immense, suffocating mental force erupted instantly!

Without any warning, the atmosphere in the entire conference room instantly became so oppressive that it was suffocating.

Su Ran directly used his mental power as a guide to violently "activate" the crystal core in his hand.

The once calm, pale blue crystal core suddenly began to tremble violently.

The next second, magnified by the holographic projection, everyone witnessed a scene they would never forget.

Countless black, flocculent substances suddenly emerged from the seemingly pure and flawless energy flow.

The black fuzz surged wildly, crashing against the crystal wall.

"roar!"

Immediately afterwards, an extremely piercing shriek exploded!

It feels like tens of thousands of zombies are wailing right next to your scalp!

fear.

The most primal fear instantly dispelled everyone's greed.

"Now, do you see it clearly?"

Su Ran clenched her fist, severing the mental resonance.

The terrifying shriek abruptly ceased, and the crystal core returned to its incredibly alluring appearance.

"This thing is a bomb coated in sugar."

Su Ran's voice was cold and solemn, "It contains not only pure bioenergy, but also a highly concentrated Ω-9 virus stock solution, as well as the chaotic consciousness left over from the host's life."

"Swallow it directly? Ordinary people would turn into zombies on the spot. Awakened people who are tired of living can also try it. It's like an old man eating poison - he's tired of living."

Mo Yun immediately snapped out of her daze and asked, "So how exactly do you use this thing?"

He comes from a scientific research background, and what he just witnessed shocked him the most.

The presence of consciousness within energy goes beyond the scope of current science.

"Remember, it's 'absorb,' not 'devour.'"

Su Ran picked up the crystal core again and explained, "After becoming an Awakened, your spiritual power will be visualized in your mind."

The awakened ones in front of the screen seemed thoughtful, while the "seeds" who had not yet awakened stared wide-eyed, afraid of missing a single word.

Close your eyes and clear your mind.

"The crystal core is like a battery, your spiritual energy is like a wire, and your body is like a container."

Su Ran's voice became deep and magnetic, carrying a strange guiding meaning.

"Feel it, use your consciousness to touch its surface energy field, and only draw out the energy that makes you feel warm and comfortable..."

Under the close-up of the holographic lens, a magical scene unfolded.

The blue crystal core in Su Ran's hand did not break.

But as he breathed rhythmically, wisps of pale blue light, like smoke, drifted out from inside the crystal core.

These specks of light seemed to come alive, gently burrowing into Su Ran's body through the pores of his palm.

Those black, flocculent substances are what Su Ran referred to as "impurities".

It is blocked inside the crystal core by some invisible force, unable to spill out even a fraction.

As the blue light entered her body, Su Ran's face, which had been slightly pale from days of hard work, visibly regained its color, and a faint wave of energy even swirled around her.

ten seconds.

Just ten seconds.

"Click."

A soft sound.

The crystal core in Su Ran's hand completely lost its luster, turning into a pile of grayish-white powder that slipped through her fingers.

"call……"

Su Ran exhaled a breath of stale air, opened her eyes, and her eyes flashed with a sharp light.

Awesome! I feel completely relaxed!

"This is what it means to 'discard the dross and select the essence.' The speed and limit of absorption depend entirely on how strong your mental strength is."

The entire audience erupted in uproar, their eyes once again burning with fervor.

With a guide available, what's there to be afraid of!

Su Ran snapped her fingers, and a complex diagram of human meridians and a data model instantly appeared on the main screen behind her.

"I'll send you the 'Idiot's Guide to Crystal Core Absorption' to your terminals later. Figure it out yourselves."

"Don't think of it as too mysterious. It's actually a method of controlling adrenaline and bioelectric currents in the body through breathing and intention."

Su Ran pointed to the diagram on the screen, speaking very quickly:

"But this is only the first step."

He raised one finger at that moment.

"The second step, and the most crucial one, is attribute matching."

"I just absorbed a water-attribute crystal core because my spatial ability has strong containment capabilities. But you can't."

With a wave of his hand, the image on the screen transformed into a colorful comparison chart.

"Crystal nuclei have properties."

"Red corresponds to abilities related to fire, explosion, and high heat."

"Blue corresponds to water-based, ice-based, and mind-control-related superpowers."

"The earth-yellow color corresponds to strength enhancement, defense enhancement, and earth-type abilities."

"Green corresponds to toxins, healing, and plant manipulation."

"Transparent or silvery items represent space and time, which are rare. If you encounter them, it's advisable to hand them over immediately, as they can be exchanged for more resources."

After speaking, Su Ran's face darkened, and her tone became as stern as if she were reprimanding a greenhorn:

"Listen, never be foolish enough to absorb elements of a different attribute! Especially those that are incompatible with your own!"

"If you have fire-type abilities and you greedily eat an ice-type crystal core, the two energies will clash within your body. At best, your abilities will be hindered; at worst, you'll explode on the spot, and there'll be no need to collect your body."

Su Ran's words were extremely serious.

In the past, due to a lack of understanding of crystal cores, early humans took too many detours and lost too many geniuses who should have become powerful figures.

In this life, he's going to straighten out this detour ahead of time!

Everyone listened intently.

Sitting in the corner, Ye Xiao had a green crystal core the size of a pigeon egg in his pocket, which he had dug out from a mutated poisonous spider.

He quickly took out the green crystal core and tossed it to Mo Yun, who was standing to the side, as if it were a hot potato.

"Mo Glasses, here, take this! Your hands are poisonous, eat this to help them heal!"

Mo Yun hurriedly caught it, and a glint of fanaticism flashed in his eyes as he looked at the bright green crystal core.

Thanks.

Mo Yun pushed up his glasses. "I'll get you a yellow one later."

Seeing the scene below where people were starting to exchange resources privately, Su Ran did not stop them.

This is exactly what he wanted to see.

Resource circulation, with each party taking what they need, is the foundation for building an efficient Awakened Legion.

"I've taught you the method."

Su Ran stood up, casting a huge shadow over every corner of the holographic conference room.

"But remember, there's no such thing as a free lunch."

"All Awakened Ones will be given a batch of crystal cores that match their attributes, but these crystal cores are the first and last batch of free distributions."

"If you want crystal cores again, then go hunt them yourself, risk your lives!"

Su Ran's eyes were piercing, and his voice carried a stirring, rousing quality.

"Next, I will apply to the leader to establish the 'Awakened Headquarters' for unified management."

The entire audience was breathing heavily.

Awakened Headquarters?

The country is making a bet, focusing on cultivating individuals with extraordinary abilities.

"Once you join headquarters, the best weapons, the most advanced crystal cores, and even the gene serums and exoskeleton armor developed by the Academy of Future Sciences will all be available to you."

"In the end times, there is no fairness, only the strong and the weak."

"Especially the 'potential seeds' identified through big data screening."

As Su Ran spoke, she glanced casually at Wang Meng and the others beside her. Noticing the gaze directed at them, the group shrank back in unison.

"If you don't want to be cannon fodder, then climb up the ladder with all your might and unleash your potential."

After saying that, he waved his hand and cut off the holographic projection.

Meeting adjourned.

The holographic projection suddenly went out, and the conference room returned to its original cold, metallic tone.

Su Ran rubbed her slightly swollen temples. For these five hundred-plus "young birds," giving them a slap followed by a sweet treat was the most effective way to control them.

He did not leave immediately.

He tapped the tactical tablet a few times, switching to the internal encrypted communication channel.

"Ye Xiao, Mo Yun, Bai Lu, come to me. Avoid the main road and take the fire escape in Zone C4."

Three minutes later.

A corner of a corridor outside the training camp, a blind spot for surveillance cameras.

Ye Xiao was the first to arrive. He hadn't recovered from his earlier excitement, and his eyes were gleaming.

Next came Mo Yun, and finally Bai Lu appeared.

She changed into a black, tight-fitting combat suit, her long hair tied in a high ponytail, and her eyes were cold and aloof.

"Advisor Su, you called us here for a 'secret rendezvous' right after the meeting ended. I'm afraid it won't look good if word gets out?"

Bai Lu's voice is somewhat hoarse, with a unique magnetic quality.

"Be poor."

Su Ran ignored her comment and glanced at the three of them.

Shura Ye Xiao, Empress Bai Lu, Poison Master Mo Yun.

The future "Big Three" of the Great Xia Dynasty are all here.

"Those crystal cores that were just distributed are for the communal meals."

As Su Ran spoke, she used her mind to probe her spatial dimension and retrieved three specially made lead-sealed boxes.

"then."

With a flick of his wrist, Su Ran sent the three boxes flying in parabolic arcs, landing precisely in the hands of the three people.

It feels slightly heavy in the hand, with a cool, metallic feel.

"This is……"

Bai Lu raised an eyebrow, her gaze full of scrutiny.

Ever since Su Ran gave her that sniper rifle, she's had a stress response to any of Su Ran's "gifts."

Ye Xiao was an impatient person, and he simply flicked the lead seal with his fingernail.

pat.

The lid pops open.

A wave of scorching heat instantly rushed towards us!

A dark red light shone on Ye Xiao's astonished face, revealing a thumb-sized crystal core that was almost bewitchingly red.

"Ohhh..."

Ye Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed. "Good quality indeed!"

Seeing this, Mo Yun and Bai Lu also quickly opened the box.

In Mo Yun's hand was a dark green crystal core, radiating a chilling and dangerous aura.

What Bai Lu held in her hand was a deep, dark blue crystal core, as profound as the sea.

The moment the box was opened, she felt every cell in her body screaming with desire.

Spiritual crystal cores are extremely rare, and she originally thought that absorbing crystal cores with mild attributes would be sufficient.

Unexpectedly, Su Ran found one that perfectly matched her.

For a moment, Bai Lu's eyes sparkled.

"This is a private possession, don't tell anyone."

Su Ran lowered her voice and said seriously, "These three are the ones I carefully selected; their purity is the best at this stage. Consider it a treat for you."

Su Ran stared at the three of them, his gaze sharp: "The three of you are currently the strongest potential candidates for superpowers in Great Xia."

Ye Xiao grinned, revealing a set of white teeth: "Don't worry, Brother Su, you can trust my abilities!"

Su Ran pointed to Ye Xiao, whose eyes were burning with desire, "This fire-type crystal core is of very high quality. You must ensure your mental state before absorbing it."

"clear!"

Only Bai Lu closed the lid, her beautiful eyes fixed on Su Ran.

"Brother Su, you gave me a gun last time, and now you're giving me crystal cores again."

Bai Lu leaned forward slightly. "You wouldn't happen to have feelings for me, would you?"

Ye Xiao and Mo Yun's expressions immediately turned strange.

I never expected Bai Lu, who is usually so serious, to say something like that.

But they're all young people, so it's normal.

"Cough cough."

Su Ran almost choked on her saliva and rolled her eyes in annoyance.

It's the end of the world, my "Empress", what are you thinking?

Shouldn't you take the weapon I gave you, hop on your motorcycle, and charge straight from south to north?

Why are you still imagining domineering CEO scenarios here?

Seeing Su Ran's "straight man" reaction, Bai Lu rolled her eyes speechlessly.

"Men really have no romance at all."

Ye Xiao and Mo Yun both suppressed their laughter when they saw this scene.

Bai Lu glared at the two of them fiercely, "You two are the same."

Just then, the tactical watch on his wrist began to vibrate wildly.

The highest level of red alert.

"Alright, the items have been given. Now, absorb them quickly and improve your strength as soon as possible."

Su Ran glanced at the communication device, her expression changing slightly. "I have to go. Those old men are probably getting impatient."

After saying that, he didn't give the three of them a chance to ask any more questions, and turned around and strode towards the military jeep parked at the intersection.

"Oh, Consultant Su, you're really busy."

Behind me came Bai Lu's slightly resentful, teasing voice.

Su Ran didn't turn around, but waved with her back turned, opened the car door, and stepped on the gas pedal.

The jeep roared and shot into the night like an arrow.

Watching the taillights of the departing car, Ye Xiao turned to Bai Lu and asked, "Bai Lu, you didn't actually fall for Brother Su, did you?"

Mo Yun also craned her neck to the side, looking on with a gossipy expression.

Bai Lu glared fiercely at Ye Xiao, "You believe that?"

……

The Kunlun base has three underground floors, including the highest-level operations conference room.

The heavy explosion-proof door slid open slowly, and Su Ran stepped inside, her body still damp with the chill of the night dew.

The meeting room was filled with smoke, and the whole room was as choking as a gas chamber.

The long conference table was filled with generals and scholars.

Although everyone's face showed undisguised exhaustion, the light in their eyes was frighteningly bright.

The leader sat upright in the main seat, holding the iconic enamel tea mug in his hands. When he saw Su Ran enter, he nodded slightly.

"Little Su is here."

Li Guodong, who was chairing the meeting, quickly stood up and pointed to the large screen: "We were just talking about the casualty ratios and progress of each base."

On the screen is a huge map of the entire country.

The twelve green halos, like lighthouses lit up on the dark earth, were exceptionally dazzling.

"As of ten minutes ago, all the bases had completed their statistical work for the day."

Li Guodong's voice carried a hint of excitement, "The Kunlun base has advanced forty kilometers outward, establishing a solid buffer zone; the Taihang Mountain underground city, taking advantage of its terrain, has wiped out the mutated creatures within a fifty-kilometer radius..."

"The results are impressive!"

A lieutenant general with two stars on his shoulders stubbed out his cigarette in a loud voice.

"These zombies aren't as tough as I thought! Our tanks will crush them into mincemeat! I think we should strike while the iron is hot, reinforce our existing defenses, and make this 'wall' as solid as an iron barrel. We can take it all back steadily and slowly!"

"I second that! At times like these, playing it safe is key."

Another senior executive in charge of logistics nodded in agreement, saying, "The current consumption of supplies is still within a controllable range. If we venture too far in, the supply lines will be stretched too long, and the risks will be too great."

The atmosphere in the meeting room was optimistic, with some even envisioning a counterattack on the city.

After all, on the eighth day of facing annihilation, humanity not only survived but also launched a brilliant counterattack, which is indeed something to celebrate.

"cough."

Su Ran suddenly coughed lightly.

The sound wasn't loud, but it seemed particularly jarring in the quiet conference room.

He didn't sit down, but walked straight to the huge electronic sand table, his finger heavily tracing the red areas that symbolized hordes of zombies.

"A steady and methodical approach?"

Su Ran turned around, his gaze sweeping over every bigwig present. "Generals, the reason you feel safe now and think the zombies are easy to kill is not because we are so strong."

"But because..."

Su Ran paused, her eyes revealing a chilling glint. "Right now, they are still in their 'infancy'."