Apocalyptic Flood: Sexy Beauty Neighbor's Midnight Plea for Food Chapter 1156 - 497: The Value of Gold

Post-battle arrangements at Yangshan were swiftly organized.

Though Yangshan incurred casualties in the clash, the toll stayed relatively light, astonishing Liang Yuan.

Statistics revealed losses totaling just over a hundred individuals.

Some of the fallen were gravely wounded and tumbled into the flood, where mutant fish in the depths savagely devoured them.

Deep inside, Liang Yuan felt profound relief that the human losses weren't devastating.

Yet, Yangshan's facilities had endured heavy destruction.

Not just the vessels lay in ruins—crucial setups like bunkers and floating bridges were obliterated too.

Yet, as Liang Yuan noted, such material losses could be mended or rebuilt from scratch.

With lives preserved, renewal remained entirely possible.

Among the trio of mountains, Yangshan bore the heaviest, most devastating blows—not the forsaken early defenses of Meishan and Lingyun Slope, but this very stronghold!

The fiercest resistance and bloodiest combats unfolded here.

In contrast, Meishan and Lingyun Slope avoided fierce engagements by not digging in from the start.

Once the Earth Mother Sect seized Meishan, they claimed it as their domain and refrained from wrecking it.

This spared Meishan's structures remarkably well.

Even the sunroom amid the mutated sunflower fields stood unscathed.

Lingyun Slope fared much like Meishan.

The foes inflicted minimal harm there.

In the Yangshan Leader’s mansion, Liang Yuan welcomed Wang Ling’Er, Wang Yu’Er, and key figures from Spirit Jade Island to sit down.

Jiang Ziyin reunited with old acquaintance Yang Shenmin, whose striking mixed-race features brimmed with sorrow and nostalgia.

"Director Yang, I never imagined we'd meet again."

Yang Shenmin offered a wry smile, replying, "Director Jiang, I never expected our reunion like this."

The pair fell silent, words bubbling up yet hard to voice.

Meanwhile, Wang Yu’Er buzzed around the leader’s mansion, exclaiming with thrill, "Sister, Brother Liang Yuan’s setup beats ours by far."

"They’ve got tons of furniture and even a shopping center here."

Wang Ling’Er had already spotted the impressive amenities in the Yangshan Shelter upon arrival.

Her mind raced with awe.

Unlike her mobile Spirit Jade Island, Yangshan’s fixed mountaintop boasted vastly superior living conditions.

Liang Yuan grinned at Wang Yu’Er, saying, "Xiao Yu, explore freely—if anything catches your eye, I’ll get it delivered to you."

Wang Yu’Er flushed bashfully, protesting, "No, no, I was just commenting, not asking for stuff."

Wang Ling’Er tossed her hair boldly and asked outright, "Liang Yuan, can I purchase it?"

Liang Yuan chuckled, "No buying needed. Your aid to Yangshan this time was huge. Spirit Jade Island is now Yangshan’s steadfast ally. Want something? Tell Yang Mei and grab it straight from the shopping center."

Wang Ling’Er dismissed it with a wave and a laugh, "Even kin keep clear accounts. Favors don’t mix. If I truly need it, I won’t take it gratis."

"Our help stemmed from our beef with the Water God Sect anyway."

Liang Yuan laughed heartily, "As you put it, favors don’t mix. You held a grudge, sure, but aiding us wasn’t obligatory. Your choice to stand with us earns my deep gratitude."

"Oh, we barely chipped in. Didn’t you solo those Three Great Sects foes?" Wang Ling’Er giggled, hand over mouth.

Liang Yuan shook his head, "Without the giant turtle, my swift return wouldn’t have happened. Anyway, shame the Plague Priest slipped away. Leaving a powerhouse like that lurking spells endless trouble."

Wang Ling’Er nodded gravely at the mention, "The Plague Priest’s a real menace. His fighting might isn’t top-notch, but his mind-control prowess packs a punch."

"Especially that power—if he hides, the fallout could be catastrophic."

Liang Yuan’s expression darkened as he asked, "Ling’Er, any intel on the Water God Sect’s Miyuan Rainforest base?"

Wang Ling’Er shook her head faintly, "Miyuan Rainforest is the Water God’s core, a drifting Floating Island that never lingers. My last visit was over a month back."

"Post-raid, it surely shifted elsewhere."

Liang Yuan nodded calmly, undeterred. That Spiritual Ability Sect disciple Xingfeng sat jailed in Yangshan’s cells.

Once Yangshan steadied, they’d haul him to Guangfu for a brutal showdown with the Three Great Sects.

This thought ignited a cold killer’s glint in Liang Yuan’s eyes.

He shifted focus to Wang Ling’Er, spotting her crown-like adornment, abruptly reminded of Xingfeng’s golden headgear.

A spark hit him; he probed, "Ling’Er, that headpiece—is it purely ornamental?"

Wang Ling’Er caressed her golden crown, chuckling, "Nah, I’m no flashy upstart flaunting gold."

"Truth is, Brother Liang Yuan, this crown’s far from mere bling. Inside, Spirit Defense Rune Arrays are etched, and its gems are elite Spirit Attribute Superpower Stones."

"Overall, it’s superpower armor that thwarts Spirit Ability User assaults."

Though expecting it, Liang Yuan still marveled, inquiring, "Guangfu brimming with such gear?"

Wang Ling’Er affirmed with a nod: "Plenty. Gold prices in Guangfu are skyrocketing, wilder than pre-flood days."

"What drives that?" Yang Shenmin interjected curiously.

He remained unaware of gold’s special role.

Wang Ling’Er explained: "Haven’t you heard? Gold’s renowned as an inert metal, resisting corrosion fiercely."

"Guangfu folks found psychic powers face massive resistance through gold, crafting armor from it to shield against spirit assaults on the mind."

"Granted, it targets spirit defense only—spiritual telekinesis or matter control counts as physical force."

"Paired with spirit defense runes, it yields unbeatable superpower armor."

"Spirit users’ deadliest edge? Those unavoidable psychic strikes."

"This gear blocks spiritual illusions, manipulations, and attack skills galore."

"Even partial blocks weaken them hugely, making gold rival superpower crystals in value."

"Sadly, my city-center dives lately skipped submerged gold stores, or I’d have scored big."

Liang Yuan’s mind raced at this revelation.

Exiting Henglong Building, he’d looted gold havens like Chow Tai Fook and Lao Fengxiang clean.

He sat on a gold hoard!

More pressingly, did this mean spirit users’ offensive edge got slashed?

Spirit ability users topped the superpower pyramid once.

In Meidu Garden, Wang Ze nearly conquered all of Building 76 via spiritual illusions.

Henglong’s hulking mutant was a spirit beast of nightmare power.

Now, with gold armor everywhere, wouldn’t spirit assaults plummet in threat?

This gnawed at Liang Yuan, who prized spirit attribute growth.

Not just for spirit skills’ heart, but as the root of elemental powers too.

Causal abilities tied straight to spirit force.

Gold armor’s rise spelled doom for pure spirit specialists?

Wang Ling’Er caught Liang Yuan’s knit brow, reading his worries instantly.

She smirked: "Worried gold armor cripples spirit users badly?"

"Doesn’t it?"

"Hahaha, you’re shortchanging superpower wielders—if powers had one trick, the user’s the weak link."

"Spirit-main users might start with illusions or mind strikes for defense."

"But push spirit power higher, and reality bends to its will."

"Enter telekinesis."

With that, Wang Ling’Er flicked her wrist; the teacup levitated smoothly.

She beamed: "Beast taming’s my specialty, spirit’s my core too—telekinesis eluded me early on."

"Awakening my genetic species unlocked it naturally."

"Though distinct from innate telekinesis awakeners, sure."

"Pure telekinesis spirit users gain extra genetic perks post-awakening."

"Bottom line: no power’s useless—just some users are."

Liang Yuan grinned, applauding, "Spot on."

"True superpower mastery transcends raw gifts; it’s in honing and wielding them fully."

From his odyssey, Liang Yuan knew leaders thrived by maxing their powers.

He wholeheartedly endorsed her view.

As talk flowed, Liang Yuan suggested touring the Yangshan Complex.

Wang Ling’Er, Wang Yu’Er, and the rest trailed him through Yangshan Complex.

Other spots needed no tour—destruction there crushed his spirit.

Only the walled Yangshan Complex held pristine structures.

It housed complexes, sunrooms, farms, and slaughterhouses alike.

A silver lining amid disaster, thanks to Zhao Kai’s wall defense thwarting the Three Great Sects’ breach.

Gazing at the powered-up shopping center’s splendor, Wang Ling’Er’s eyes welled up.

"You have electricity here? How?"

She pressed urgently, yearning for Spirit Jade Island to gain such luxury.

Electricity on the island would elevate their small crew to opulent heights.