Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1231: Pulling

Pagyi Gesang's proposal sounded quite alluring, yet Zhang Yi wasn't some novice.

Ever since the Apocalypse began, he had encountered numerous dangers and survived them all thanks to his careful nature.

'Relying on mere words to get me to assist you feels overly straightforward, wouldn't you agree?'

Zhang Yi shot a look at Pagyi Gesang, his eyes carrying deep intent.

To get me moving, you'll have to provide tangible rewards.

Hearing those words, Pagyi Gesang clenched his teeth and declared, 'Once everything's resolved, we'll divide the spoils evenly, fifty-fifty.'

Zhang Yi let out a light laugh. 'That item you spoke of under the Great Snow Mountain—its very existence and nature remain completely unknown.'

Pagyi Gesang found himself at a loss for words. 'However, at this point, I possess nothing that would catch your interest.'

Be it everyday supplies or arms and gear, Zhang Yi's stockpile went beyond adequate—it was overflowing.

Otherwise, why would he freely allocate half the Elemental Stone Vein to Deng Technology's gene research?

Tianhai City suffered from a small population, mostly average people who required far fewer supplies.

A subtle grin appeared on Zhang Yi's lips as he spoke steadily,

'Yet you hold something extremely precious to me.'

Pagyi Gesang's eyes bulged, followed by two wry, resigned laughs.

'You're talking about... the original manuscript of the 'Epic of King Gesar'?'

Each lineage of divinely inspired bards had chanted the Epic of King Gesar, though their renditions varied somewhat.

With the tales blending myths and folklore, determining the truth within proved challenging.

Still, the exclusive version kept by the Pagyi Family came straight from the era's court chroniclers.

Even with possible flourishes, it boasted the utmost reliability.

Zhang Yi realized that to uncover the true identity of those subterranean beings, delving into ancient traditions was essential.

Pagyi Gesang drew in a heavy breath. His hefty build meant that any surge of emotion demanded multiple breaths to steady himself.

'I can hand over a duplicate copy. In return, you must vow to stand for our Pagyi Family at the upcoming Prayer Festival next year!'

Pagyi Gesang stated with gravity.

Zhang Yi stroked the back of his hand, acting relaxed and unaffected.

'Allow me to examine it first. If it proves worthwhile, I might just agree.'

At present, the desperate one wasn't Zhang Yi, but Pagyi Gesang.

Having learned the secrets of the Great Snow Mountain, Zhang Yi could head there alone even if Pagyi Gesang grew hostile.

Thanks to his space-time system power, the journey from far-off Tianhai City to the Snowy Plateau took only a handful of minutes.

A shadow crossed Pagyi Gesang's face.

Yet in this predicament, he desperately required outside aid. Absent dire straits, he wouldn't approach strangers for support.

After mulling over the options, he yielded to Zhang Yi's terms.

Shortly thereafter, he retrieved yet another sheepskin scroll from the rear room.

To demonstrate good faith, this one appeared bulkier, packed with additional writings.

Zhang Yi accepted it. Despite its aged yellow hue, the scroll's texture felt remarkably smooth.

Unfurling it, he remarked admiringly, 'Producing such fine sheepskin scrolls more than a millennium ago shows remarkable skill! A testament to expert chroniclers.'

Pagyi Gesang offered an odd grin. 'Treating sheepskin demands great effort. They lacked abundant vellum despite better alternatives being scarce.'

Zhang Yi eyed Pagyi Gesang in mild astonishment. The following instant, his fingers paused briefly.

This wasn't vellum at all—it was unmistakably human skin.

Remembering certain old tales from the Snowy Plateau, Zhang Yi kept silent. Maintaining his poise, he steadily unrolled the 'sheepskin scroll.'

With aid from his onboard Smart System's translation, Zhang Yi grasped the inscribed words on the scroll.

He commanded scribes to document his heroic feats for eternal recitation.

To ensure humanity remembered that though the Demon Kingdom fell, the abyss endured.

When the world's doom arrived, the Demon Realm's abyss would unleash, flooding the human realm with infinite demon hordes.

Then, King Gesar would rise again to guide the fight against this disaster.

Zhang Yi grew increasingly stunned as he progressed through the text.

Should the 'Epic of King Gesar' hold truth, then over two millennia past, the legendary King Gesar had foreseen this cataclysm.

And today's events stemmed not from chance, but from destined fate.

A shiver crept up Zhang Yi's back, though he soon steadied himself.

History brimmed with myriad doomsday predictions, each proposing unique visions.

Besides, the Epic of King Gesar omitted any precise timeline for the catastrophe.

Attempting to link it to now seemed stretched and artificial.

Despite his inner logic, Zhang Yi felt a lingering unease.

He completed scanning the scroll's contents. The Smart System had archived it, allowing future perusal at will.

Zhang Yi returned the human skin scroll to Pagyi Gesang.

'To be frank, it comes across as unremarkable. There's scant practical insight here.'

Zhang Yi commented casually.

Pagyi Gesang started to fret.

'The full 'Epic of King Gesar' spans over twenty million words. The bulk narrates King Gesar's valorous myths. Uncovering key details demands studying the whole epic.'

Zhang Yi rose and stated unhurriedly, 'I'll deliberate on this thoroughly. Once decided, I'll inform you.'

Pagyi Gesang jumped up promptly.

'How much time do you require?'

Zhang Yi grinned back. 'That hinges on what further incentives you provide to persuade my involvement.'

For now, Pagyi Gesang's displayed commitment fell short.

Zhang Yi's riches dwarfed his own.

This head of the Southwest Region's second-most prominent clan had to ponder what offerings might tip Zhang Yi's scales.

Pagyi Gesang's forehead creased deeply. He recognized Zhang Yi as his prime ally option currently.

Moments later, he bit down hard. 'Fine, I'll head straight back to Lhasa City. There, I'll share vital intel! I'm certain it'll sway you.'

'Excellent, we'll see about that.'

Outwardly serene and collected, Zhang Yi inwardly felt a pull toward the prospect.

A hidden underground domain promised vast riches, balancing peril with potential.

Provided security, he'd gladly venture forth.

Zhang Yi departed the spot and made his way home.

The group had already gathered their items, stowing them in Jingwei's Shadow Space.

In one corner, Fatty Xu continued hugging his swollen cheek, seeming completely lost.

With no leisure to await his resolution, Zhang Yi directed preparations for the return to Jiangnan.

Author's Note