Survival in the Apocalypse: Max Level Drop Rate with Abundant Resources

As the sun sets, the twilight turns blood-red.

Torches were lit on the walls of Starshine City, their orange-red glow appearing eerily against the dark red sky. Every few dozen meters, a city guard stood with a rifle, vigilantly watching the darkness beyond the walls.

Liu Xinghui stood in front of the city gate tower, his hands braced against the wall, his gaze sweeping over the distant ruins.

She had been standing there for the entire afternoon.

Ever since that server-wide announcement, her heart had been in turmoil. The evolution of rotting corpses, environmental degradation, city lockdowns… every single one reminded her that the real apocalypse had only just begun.

What troubled her even more was the Lion Army.

After Gu Zhengxiong's death, the once powerful gang that dominated outside Xinghui City fell into complete chaos. Some wanted to join other forces, some wanted to declare themselves king, and some wanted to take advantage of the chaos to make a quick buck. In the past few days, more than a dozen fights have broken out in the city, three warehouses have been looted, and two residential buildings have been burned down.

She led the city's defense troops on a long and arduous journey, finally managing to stabilize the situation.

But the price is that she hasn't slept for three days.

"Lord, it's getting dark. You should go and rest," a lieutenant behind him said cautiously.

Liu Xinghui shook his head: "No need."

The adjutant was about to say something when suddenly...

"Report...!!!"

A sentry rushed down from the watchtower, his face ashen: "Lord! A large crowd has been spotted outside the city! They're moving towards the city walls!"

Liu Xinghui's pupils shrank sharply: "How many people?"

"Three, four... thirty or forty! It's too dark to see clearly! But... but they're walking very fast!"

Liu Xinghui turned around abruptly and rushed up the watchtower in a few steps.

She squinted and looked out of the city.

In the twilight, a group of figures was indeed walking towards the city wall. They hurried through the ruins. The figure at the very front…

Liu Xinghui's breath caught in his throat for a moment.

The figure was shrouded in the faint starlight, standing out starkly in the crimson twilight. A silver-gray cloak fluttered gently behind him, each step carrying an indescribable rhythm.

She had seen that figure before.

It's him.

He is back!

Liu Xinghui's heart skipped a beat, then began to race. She stared intently at the figure, her eyes suddenly stinging with tears.

But he didn't look up.

He simply led the group of people, step by step, toward the city wall.

Getting closer.

It's getting clearer and clearer.

Finally, they stopped thirty meters outside the city gate.

Liu Xinghui saw it clearly.

Sure enough it was him.

Although his clothes had changed, it was definitely him.

He was followed by thirty or forty men, all of them covered in wounds and looking utterly disheveled. But at this moment, everyone stood quietly, and not a single person dared to utter a sound.

Liu Xinghui took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart.

She opened her mouth, about to speak...

Below the city walls, a burly man with a face full of scars suddenly rushed out, shouting at the top of his lungs:

"Hey! Open the door! Do you know who this is? This is the Primordial God! The top of all three rankings! Are you blind? Hurry up..."

"Shut up, you idiot!"

A soft voice interrupted him.

The burly man stopped speaking abruptly, like a chicken being choked. He turned his head and met those calm eyes, his legs went weak, and he almost knelt down.

"Yes, yes, yes... I was too talkative... I deserve to die..."

He spoke as he backed away, shrinking back into the crowd and no longer daring to utter a sound.

This Tiger is a sharp knife, but also a troublemaker; he'll need to be properly disciplined in the future.

Shen Xi withdrew her gaze and raised her head.

In the shadow of his hood, he stared at the beautiful figure on the city wall with a half-smile.

"What's wrong? It's been a few days, and you're not inviting me in?"

Liu Xinghui was stunned.

She opened her mouth, but found herself unable to speak for a moment.

This strong woman, who had weathered many storms before the apocalypse, was now somewhat flustered in the face of that ambiguous, smiling gaze.

"Lord of the city?" the adjutant behind him asked cautiously.

Liu Xinghui snapped out of his daze and took a deep breath.

What's wrong with me? Why am I feeling this way?

Composing herself, she was about to order the door to be opened...

"Lord, you mustn't!"

A middle-aged man in the uniform of a city defense officer stepped forward and said in a deep voice, "It's getting dark, and the situation outside the city is unclear. These people are of unknown origin. If any rotting corpses or malicious individuals have infiltrated, opening the city gates would have unimaginable consequences!"

Liu Xinghui frowned slightly: "Lieutenant Wang, that is...?"

"No matter who it is, the rules cannot be broken!" Lieutenant Wang interrupted her, speaking righteously, "City Lord, you are the lord of this city, and the safety of all its people must be your top priority! The city gates must not be opened after dark! This is a rule you personally established!"

Liu Xinghui fell silent.

She did indeed set the rules.

After Gu Zhengxiong died that day, in order to prevent the remnants of the Lion Army from causing trouble at night, she personally ordered: after sunset, the city gates should be closed and no one should be allowed to enter or leave.

But now...

She looked at the figure below the city.

He stood there, just quietly watching her.

Just then...

"Lieutenant Wang, have you forgotten?"

A young soldier suddenly spoke, his voice trembling slightly: "A few days ago... in the courtyard south of the city... Deputy Commander Zhao..."

Lieutenant Wang's expression changed.

The young soldier continued, "I was among them that night. I saw it with my own eyes... I saw it with my own eyes that one outside the city..."

He swallowed hard and pointed to Shen Xi below the city.

"An axe."

"Just one axe blow."

"Deputy Commander Zhao... he's gone."

On the city wall, everyone was stunned.

Lieutenant Wang's face turned completely pale.

He had certainly heard about what happened a few days ago.

Zhao Dezhu, the deputy commander of the city defense forces, betrayed the city lord by allowing the Lion Legion to enter the city without authorization. He was publicly executed. It is said that the person who did it was the young man that Liu Xinghui brought back from outside the city.

It is said that this person is ruthless and decisive, completely indifferent to the life and death of others.

Lieutenant Wang trembled, and when he looked at the figure below the city wall again, fear appeared in his eyes.

"I...I..."

Liu Xinghui looked at him and said calmly, "Are you still going to stop me?"

Lieutenant Wang knelt down with a thud: "Your subordinate wouldn't dare! Your subordinate... your subordinate was only worried about the city's defenses... I had absolutely no intention of offending you!"

Liu Xinghui ignored him and turned to look at the city gate official:

"Open the door."

"yes!"

The massive city gates slowly opened, emitting a deep, rumbling sound.

Behind the gate, the light of torches illuminated the streets of the city.

Liu Xinghui walked down the city wall and stood in front of the city gate.

Shen Xi stepped into the city gate.

As they brushed past each other, Liu Xinghui lowered his voice and said in a volume only the two of them could hear:

"I thought...you weren't coming back."

Shen Xi paused slightly.

He turned his head and looked at the woman.

The firelight reflected on her face, highlighting the slight redness at the corners of her eyes. Her phoenix eyes were somewhat... But she stubbornly kept her eyes open, refusing to let the tears fall.

Shen Xi remained silent for a moment.

"I can't leave the cities that are under lockdown," he said calmly.

Liu Xinghui was stunned for a moment, then couldn't help but laugh.

"Just because of that?"

"Just because of this."

Looking at him, Liu Xinghui suddenly felt a lump in his throat again.

But she held back.

She turned around to face the people who had followed Shen Xi into the city, her voice regaining its usual authority:

"Everyone, follow me. We'll arrange accommodation first, and register our identities tomorrow."

Tiger Lord was the first to rush forward and pledge his loyalty: "Thank you, City Lord! Thank you, City Lord! I will certainly serve you faithfully!"

Liu Xinghui ignored him and looked at Shen Xi instead.

Shen Xi nodded and led Ming Ying forward.

Behind him, thirty-nine people filed in.

The heavy city gates slowly closed behind us, shutting out the blood-red twilight.

……

The city was much more bustling than the area outside.

Torches were lit on both sides of the street, and a squad of city guards patrolled every few dozen meters. Most of the shops along the road were closed, but faint lights shone from their windows. In the distance, one could faintly hear voices—arguments, cries, and the sobs of children.

Shen Xi's gaze swept around.

The ability to perceive all things is automatically activated, and countless pieces of information flood into the mind.

[City Defense Army - Soldier (Level 2) - Equipment: Standard Spear (Black Iron Grade)]

[City Defense Force - Squad Leader (Level 3) - Equipment: Standard Longsword (Bronze Grade)]

[Ordinary Resident (Level 0) - Status: Hungry, Fear]

【…】

He frowned slightly.

The order within the city was even more chaotic than he had imagined.

Behind him, Tiger Lord was the first to catch up, his face full of flattery: "The Primordial God is truly awesome! Even the City Lord has to personally open the gate for you! I'm so lucky to be able to follow you!"

Shen Xi ignored him.

Liu Xinghui walked beside him and explained in a low voice, "You killed all the main members of the Lion Legion, but there were still some ordinary soldiers. Their legion disbanded, but the people didn't. Some of those thugs and hooligans started their own gangs, some joined other groups, and some took advantage of the chaos to loot. In the past few days, I've arrested more than thirty people, but I still can't control them."

Shen Xi didn't say anything.

Liu Xinghui continued, "Supplies are also scarce. Those major warehouses have been looted or burned, and what's left is only enough to last the entire city for half a month. I've already sent people to search the supermarkets and shops in the city, but we've found far too few."

Shen Xi remained silent.

Liu Xinghui stopped and looked at him: "Don't you have anything to say?"

Shen Xi also stopped.

He turned around and looked at the woman.

In the firelight, she did look much more haggard than when she had left a few days earlier. Fine lines had appeared at the corners of her eyes, and her lips were somewhat chapped.

But those eyes remained bright.

Shen Xi was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:

"These people I brought might be useful to you."

Liu Xinghui frowned slightly: "Who are these people?"

Shen Xi said nonchalantly, "I found it on the road!"

"Found it?" Liu Xinghui raised an eyebrow. "This bald guy doesn't look like a good person at all. Why do you pick up everything?"

Upon hearing this, Tiger hurriedly replied, "I'm a good person! If the Primordial God says we can use it, then we can use it! I'll go through fire and water for you!"

Liu Xinghui frowned; he was the one she disliked the most.

Shen Xi paused, her gaze falling on Liu Xinghui's face.

"besides……"

Liu Xinghui looked at him, waiting for him to continue.

Shen Xi remained silent for a few seconds before looking away.

"Never mind. We'll talk about it tomorrow."

He continued walking forward with Mingying in his arms.

The rest of the people Shen Xi brought back were also settled by the city defense forces.

Liu Xinghui stood there, watching the figure shrouded in starlight disappear into the night.

After a long while, she smiled softly.

"Stubborn to the end."

Looking at the charming Liu Xinghui, Tiger couldn't help but lean closer to Shen Xi and whisper, "Master, who is this city lord to you?"

Shen Xi did not answer.

Tiger wasn't giving up; his gossip-loving nature burned brightly within him. He asked again, "What...is your relationship with her?"

Shen Xi was also annoyed by this Tiger Lord's noise, so she stopped and glanced at him.

Tiger shuddered instantly and dared not utter another word.