61: The former town mayor, Xinghuo Base

His conversation with Zhang Xile ended. As for Zhang Xile's future, he would see when he returned to the future.

Tang Ping took the opportunity to start organizing the shelter items.

He had already acquired a great many things, including quite a few transcendent weapons and tools.

He hadn't sold any of these items; he had stockpiled them all.

While tidying up, Tang Ping discovered he still had a doomsday treasure chest he hadn't opened, so he immediately opened it.

His luck was not bad; he actually obtained two shelter fragments.

After a day of traveling, Tang Ping also felt exhausted and fell into a deep sleep. When he woke up, it was already past six, so he had woken up quite early.

Tang Ping got up and sat cross-legged, choosing to practice the breathing technique for an hour. Although its improvement for him was now minimal, over time, it would still be quite significant.

Moreover, when cultivated to a profound level, it could even be considered a different kind of Talent, possessing various supernatural abilities.

An hour quickly passed. Tang Ping opened his eyes, and a flash of purple light briefly flickered.

Coming out of the Shelter, Tang Ping continued towards Pingcheng City... Yang Town, yesterday.

"Old Town Mayor, our food won't last much longer."

Inside the room, a young man wearing glasses looked worried.

"That's right, Old Town Mayor. There are over a thousand people in the base now. The food consumed daily is an astronomical figure. Relying solely on us to search is completely insufficient," another Man in Police Uniform said.

A burly man beside him sneered, "Those people are truly spoiled. Today, led by a few individuals, they even staged a protest, demanding more food. They don't even consider the current situation."

Another short man spat, "They're even shouting that whatever we eat, they want to eat too. A bunch of parasites who barely survive because we go out and risk our lives to search for supplies, yet they want to eat and drink well. Damn it, a bunch of idiots."

"I think we've spoiled them too much. They don't even look at what's happening outside, or who's protecting them!"

"Old Town Mayor, if you ask me, those troublemakers should be arrested and executed directly!" The short man's eyes held a vicious glint.

"Enough."

Sitting across the table, an old man who appeared to be over seventy with a rosy complexion tapped the table, "Let's put these matters aside for now."

"The most urgent task is that Raging Sand Beast; we must eliminate it as soon as possible!"

Hearing about the Raging Sand Beast, the expressions of those around them also changed.

That was a Calamity Beast, an existence comparable to an S-rank Talent player, and even stronger than an S-rank Talent player due to its terrifying physique.

Most importantly, that Calamity Beast was close to a Level 3 existence!

"To deal with it, we must discuss a plan," the Man in Police Uniform said gravely.

"If you ask me, we should just leave here. With our strength, trying to fight the Raging Sand Beast will come at a huge cost," the short man declared.

"If we leave here, what about those survivors? Are we just going to abandon them?" A woman asked with a touch of reluctance.

"Don't they think they're so great? Don't they think it's only natural for us to take care of them? It's the apocalypse, for goodness sake! Are we their mother or their father?!" The burly man spat.

Everyone's gaze ultimately converged on the Old Town Mayor. Clearly, everyone held genuine respect for him, their elder. This Old Town Mayor had come here in his youth and stayed for over twenty years, later remaining to retire and serve as a teacher. Behind every successful rise of the town, his presence was there.

It could be said that this old man single-handedly transformed what was once a barren land into a nationally recognized township. These people had basically grown up hearing stories of the Old Town Mayor and were watched over by him as they grew. Those who remained were mostly trustworthy people; as for the others, they had left long ago.

They also believed that this Old Town Mayor could still lead them to establish a foothold in this apocalypse, even though he looked very old.

The old man tapped the table, "The Raging Sand Beast must be eliminated, but before that, let those who explored with you back then awaken first."

A woman who looked around forty asked in confusion, "Is the Old Town Mayor referring to those without a Shelter? But they don't have shelter items, and we don't have that many shelter items either. How can we make them awaken?"

The Old Town Mayor smiled and took out an apricot-sized glass bead, "Use it in turns."

"Use it in turns?"

Everyone was confused.

But the Man in Police Uniform's spirit lifted, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Old Town Mayor, are you saying that as long as one has bound a Shelter, they can awaken their Talent!"

The others also reacted, their eyes filled with pleasant surprise.

The Old Town Mayor nodded, "That's right. However, for now, let's first let the trustworthy people awaken their Talents."

The old man sighed.

"The world has changed. Order establishes humanity. When order ceases to exist, humanity collapses with it. Our morality might allow many people to retain their humanity for a period, but the apocalypse is cruel. To retain a shred of integrity might already be a great kindness."

"I'm not surprised by the appearance of those people; I even anticipated it. Without comparison, there is no disparity. As the saying goes, 'nothing ventured, nothing gained.' Xiao Mo, give them those three shelter items, and we will leave."

"As for when we return, someone will make us return."

"To establish a new order for us."

Those around him were suddenly struck with awe!

So, all of this was anticipated by the Old Town Mayor, and even orchestrated by him?

The Old Town Mayor slowly said, "The base must exist and must be possessed, not only for them but also for ourselves. You don't understand this now, but you will later, so the base cannot be abandoned."

"As for what we're leaving to do..."

"We need a better base, such as Xiaolang Mountain."

"And that Raging Sand Beast."

"It's had enough fun."

"Xiao Mo, you are the only A-Rank Talent here. Prepare to advance to Level 3."

The eyes of those around him immediately filled with envy, though none felt jealousy, because they knew that the Old Town Mayor, the elder in their eyes, would not leave anyone behind, just as he had not left any household behind in the past.

The transfer of power was so swift. While that group of people was still smugly celebrating their use of human nature to dishearten and drive away the Old Town Mayor and his group, little did they know that their own lives had entered a countdown.

The thousand people in the base were suddenly plunged into misery. Food did not increase due to the protests; instead, it became even scarcer.

After just one night, some people began to miss the Old Town Mayor.

The great sun hung high, and sandstorms rolled.

Tang Ping walked for a while, then stopped outside a small town, preparing to rest.

He had now entered the territory of Pingcheng City.

Leaning casually against the base of a large tree, Tang Ping opened a bottle of mineral water and drank.

Suddenly, his eyes flickered slightly.

In the sandstorm, a line of figures gradually appeared.

"Little brother, it's so dangerous out here, are you alone?" A burly man with a broad back and strong shoulders pushed through the sandstorm.

Tang Ping did not speak.

The Man in Police Uniform glared at the burly man, "You'll scare people just by looking like that!" Then the Man in Police Uniform revealed a gentle smile, "Haha, little brother is quite vigilant, but no need to worry. Do you want to come with us?"

Tang Ping looked at the group of people, which included old people and children, but... they were all people who had awakened their Talents!

"Okay, thank you." Tang Ping stood up.

"Haha, welcome!"

"Let's go, we'll head to Xiaolang Mountain first and establish our base there! Spark Base!"