146: Wasteland

The cheers gradually died down, and Zhang Xile continued to awaken the next group of people.

Tang Ping, on the other hand, took the little boy into his Shelter.

“Sit down, don’t be afraid,” Tang Ping said, patting the little boy’s head.

“What’s your name?”

The little boy nervously clasped his hands: “Meng Ziyi.”

Tang Ping nodded, picked up some snacks from the table, and handed them to the little boy: “Can you tell me what your Talent does?”

Meng Ziyi held the snacks, at a loss for what to do, and stammered, “My… my Talent is called Spirit Taming, A-rank. It can slowly domesticate some wild beasts into docile animals.”

“Spirit Taming,” Tang Ping murmured, his gaze falling on the animals outside that were slowly changing due to the sacred spirit peach tree saplings: “A good Talent.”

He remembered that Grandma Zhang Xile’s Talent was also A-rank, the ability to cultivate special Talent beasts.

The two combined might produce unexpected surprises.

“Very good, you will follow Grandma Zhang to learn from now on, and here are ten a-rank experience stones for you,” Tang Ping said, patting Meng Ziyi’s head, “Whether the base can have meat freedom in the future will depend on our little Meng Ziyi.”

In addition to using Meng Ziyi’s Talent to domesticate suitable chickens and ducks for farming, Tang Ping was more interested in domesticating a group of exotic beasts that could serve as transportation, such as horses, cattle, and even elephants or wolves, which might even form a powerful cavalry.

However, these were still too far off, and besides, there weren weren't that many suitable animals in his mountain.

But through understanding, the Spirit Taming Talent, as long as it’s a living creature, can basically be attempted for domestication, meaning Pollution Beasts are also possible.

However, compared to the violent Pollution Beasts, the spirit beasts in the mountain, influenced by the peach tree, were obviously more suitable.

It’s just that these spirit beasts are not suitable for long journeys and are only suitable for staying here, as the external environment is a world on the verge of contamination.

The awakening quickly ended, and no A-rank Talent Holders like Meng Ziyi appeared; the highest was only C-rank, but that was already very good.

After everyone had awakened, the efficiency of work significantly increased.

As for management, it didn’t add too much trouble, as most of them were originally elderly and children, without as many complex thoughts as young adults.

Tang Ping also met Zhang Xile’s family. In summary, this family was just like Zhang Xile, no wonder when the apocalypse arrived, the whole family rushed into the mountain without thinking twice.

After learning that Tang Ping was the one who had traded bombs with Zhang Xile, saved their family, allowed them to awaken their Talents, and helped them obtain the Treasure Dungeon opportunity, they were even more grateful. Zhang Xile’s mother even reluctantly sacrificed an old hen.

This old hen was raised with glossy, bright feathers, and it was unclear whether it was due to Grandma Zhang Xile’s Talent or the peach tree, but the old hen’s eyes even held a hint of spirituality.

Of course, this could not stop it from being placed on the dining table.

After eating, Tang Ping actually felt that his physique seemed to have increased by a bit. He was incredibly surprised by this. His physique had already surpassed 400, yet this one chicken could still have an effect on him. He took a look, and his physique had increased by two points, and this was on top of a 400 physique. This wasn't an attribute stone, but it could actually have such an effect. Clearly, this was no longer a simple poultry.

“Chief Tang, I wonder how you plan to build the base in the future? And what kind of base will you build?” Zhang Xile’s grandfather asked.

Tang Ping knew Zhang Xile’s grandfather’s purpose. Although the old man didn’t like to get involved in the base’s affairs, he also didn’t want the person managing the base to be a cruel villain. Tang Ping spoke truthfully, without any grand or empty words.

“Cultivate land, build high walls, form a Talent User army, and gradually develop the base into a Safe Zone.”

“As for what kind of base to build, the future is an era where strength speaks. The status of ordinary people will inevitably fall to rock bottom, and Talent Users will inevitably be high above. These are inevitable trends, and I will not pursue unrealistic things like universal equality, because in this dangerous apocalypse, power is the fundamental basis of everything.”

“As for the future appearance of the base, I believe with Zhang Xile’s Shelter and my sacred spirit peach tree, anyone who comes here and is willing to put in effort will definitely be able to eat their fill and have a stable environment to live in.”

Tang Ping revealed some of his plans and blueprints.

Zhang Xile’s grandfather smiled. In the time it took for a meal, coupled with previous events, he had a rough idea of what kind of person Tang Ping was: decisive, ruthless, but with his own bottom line. Such a capable and powerful person was indeed a very suitable leader: “That child, Zhang Xile, is like us, lazy. I’ll leave him to you to temper him. We don’t ask for him to achieve great things, as long as he can help you.”

Clearly, Zhang Xile’s grandfather also knew that staying with them, cooped up in the mountain, would ultimately lead to nothing. In this era, if you don’t advance, you retreat. Who knows, one day they might die in the mouth of a Pollution Beast. These people, either seventy or eighty with one foot in the grave, or having lived half their lives, were fine with staying put. But his grandson was just in his early twenties and had a long way to go.

But that child, he knew what he was like, a complete good-for-nothing. If he let him venture out on his own, he wouldn’t be at ease; he might die even earlier than himself, the old man.

Now it was good, Zhang Xile’s grandfather’s eyes held admiration. He had an S-rank Talent, so he knew very well that the person in front of him was definitely more than just an S-rank Talent. As long as he didn’t fall, he would definitely be a formidable figure in the future. Zhang Xile being able to follow him put his mind at ease.

“At my age, I can’t bear the weight of major rights and wrongs, nor can I shoulder great righteousness or great love, but the gun in my hand still has some power. If you need anything in the future, just give a shout.”

“Don’t worry, Grandpa Zhang. In the future, this base will depend on you to guard it,” Tang Ping said, his eyebrows raised. He estimated that Zhang Xile’s grandfather thought he didn’t have many years left to live, unaware that after breaking through to level seven, one’s lifespan could double. This old man would be one of the top twenty formidable figures on the Heavenly King List in the future.

In the time it took for a meal, Zhang Xile’s grandfather secured a future for his only grandson, and Tang Ping completely tied Zhang Xile’s family to his chariot.

Night

The breeze swept across the grass on the mountaintop, the stars and moon sparkled in the sky, and a peach tree emitted a brilliant glow, with soft, shimmering peach blossoms falling, scattering across the mountaintop.

It was clearly an apocalyptic Wasteland, with the mountains shrouded in a gray haze, yet here, it was like a celestial mountain paradise.

Tang Ping sat on a section of a peach tree trunk, practicing the Xuan Yuan Breathing Technique. He was pleasantly surprised to find that under this peach tree, the breathing technique was exceptionally effective. He immediately sank into the pleasure of seemingly merging with heaven and earth, becoming one with the peach tree.

At this moment, the sacred spirit peach tree sapling beneath him also slowly seemed to breathe, as if it too had a breath.

Midnight, twelve o’clock, finally passed. A layer of gray, like a curtain, covered this beautiful blue planet.

And as this gray passed over the Heavenly Mansion Base.

The peach tree gently swayed, effortlessly tearing open a gap. The vibrant and bright colors remained, completely out of place with everything around it.

Tang Ping also opened his eyes at this moment. Having just merged with the peach tree, he saw the scene through the peach tree.

“contamination, Wasteland.”

At this moment, the world truly became a Wasteland, no longer belonging to humanity.

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