Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1240: Preparing for the Coming Crisis

The creator exists because the structure of this world is not accidental—Yang Zhenning.

……

With each new underground secret realm that Zhang Yi discovered, his awe toward this world deepened even further.

Should those enigmatic subterranean domains and the incredibly mighty beings truly represent the gods and demons from ancient eras, does this current time truly mark the fabled mass extinction?

Will humankind face total annihilation?

Zhang Yi felt little concern for the fates of strangers; his sole desire was for himself and his dear ones to enjoy a serene and secure existence.

The expansion of the enigmatic fog across Star Island had heightened his vigilance.

Zhang Yi massaged his forehead.

"I need to unravel certain mysteries. Plus, everyone must keep boosting their strength to sidestep possible threats."

Yang Xinxin agreed with a nod, yet added, "Brother, right now at least, you shouldn't fret excessively."

"From the various indications so far, even those formidable subterranean species face specific limitations. Or perhaps they dread some entity, which keeps them from surfacing in our realm."

"Additionally, though human progress spans a short period in life's grand timeline, we boast a formidable society. In particular, our armaments; the Death Reapers of Love wielded by countries can obliterate any carbon-based organism."

"What's more," she offered a gentle smile, extending her arms to embrace Zhang Yi's shoulder and instill assurance in him, "From our observations up to this point, be it the chasm under Mist Valley on Star Island or the Serpent-folk under the Qinling Mountains, their societal strength doesn't surpass ours by a wide margin."

"Frankly speaking, powers such as the Demon Kingdom in the Snowy Plateau Region were vanquished by human legends more than two millennia ago. This implies their societal might may not even rival that of today's humanity."

Zhang Yi gazed at Yang Xinxin with astonishment.

"Could that really be the case?"

Conventional wisdom holds that extended development leads to superior technological advancement for a society, doesn't it?

Yang Xinxin laughed softly and shook her head.

"Not always. Prior to the steam engine's creation, human output remained woefully low across history, making even basic sustenance a tremendous challenge."

"Scientific progress surges dramatically, rather than advancing steadily."

She continued steadily, "Thus, the notion that longer existence equates to greater sophistication isn't inherently accurate."

Zhang Yi inclined his head. "That holds some validity."

He peered through the window, drew in a profound breath, and stated, "Regardless, enhancing one's own power remains the core principle."

After some reflection, he reached a resolution.

"After wrapping up matters here and constructing the Ground Centipede farm, we'll seek out the Deng Family. We'll demand their genetic tech."

"I intend to form a superhuman legion in Tianhai City!"

Zhang Yi proclaimed with resolute eyes.

In this instant, his hunger for strength burned fiercer than ever.

He would grasp even the tiniest aid available.

After all, the assets under his command already sufficed abundantly for his family alone.

In the days that followed, Zhang Yi tasked Yang Xinxin with tracking the Mist Valley developments on Star Island via Tianhai City's satellite links.

Meanwhile, he reached out to Xuanwu in the East Sea Region to check on conditions there.

Naturally, Xuanwu withheld full details from Zhang Yi.

Yet, through his disjointed remarks, Zhang Yi sensed the crisis's gravity.

Xuanwu informed Zhang Yi, "The fog has covered a radius of five hundred nautical miles surrounding Star Island. Yet it has ceased expanding."

"As you're aware, that fog harbors poisons gravely hazardous to living things, leading to the demise of numerous fish in nearby seas."

Zhang Yi paused briefly and inquired with a grin, "Have you found a method to counter it? Or do you plan an expedition?"

Xuanwu laughed. "That location proves far too perilous. The Gatekeeper of the Netherworld's might could effortlessly overpower me. I wouldn't venture close."

"Nevertheless, it's not solely under our surveillance; the Colombian Navy observes as well. Each side directs no fewer than 50 Death Reapers of Love toward it. Should any irregularity arise and we deem it a severe danger to mankind, we'll promptly eradicate all of Star Island!"

Zhang Yi experienced greater relief.

The modern 50 Death Reapers of Love far exceeded the initial versions from a hundred years past.

They could utterly remove Star Island from the oceanic charts.

Regardless of the Gatekeeper of the Netherworld's prowess, he couldn't endure their might.

"That reassures me. Incidentally, require my assistance?"

Zhang Yi slipped a hand into his pocket, posing the query intentionally.

On the line, Xuanwu's gaze shifted. "Certainly, should assistance be needed, I'll request your involvement. But currently, we aim to preserve the current state and avoid disrupting the equilibrium lightly."

"Heh, really? Alright then. Just inform me when you require aid. As longtime allies, I'll assist."

With that, Zhang Yi ended the call.

Both Zhang Yi and Xuanwu displayed enigmatic smiles.

Zhang Yi had been testing, while Xuanwu feigned composure.

For the East Sea Region had resolved to send forth yet another elite superhuman squad to probe the fog.

They naturally couldn't reveal this to Zhang Yi, considering the substantial defeats inflicted by him previously.

As for Zhang Yi, such ventures held no appeal. He avoided needless risks.

The perils of pioneering exploration always loom large.

Moreover, he had already claimed the bulk of Star Island's gains.

To obtain further rewards, delving into the deep underground would entail excessive peril.

Zhang Yi kept monitoring Star Island's developments each day.

He never ceased his personal training.

Be it bodily exercises, mastering fighting skills, or blade techniques, he devoted ample daily hours to practice without fail.

At present, his superhuman index stood at an impressive 18,000 points, ranking him elite across Huaxu Kingdom.

Yet, following the absorption of the sacrificial spirit, an odd repercussion emerged.

During sleep, faint murmurs would often echo in his ears.

Subtle hissing noises, like someone murmuring nearby, at a pitch audible yet indistinct in content.

Initially, Zhang Yi attributed it to the sacrificial spirit's influence on his psyche, so he dismissed it lightly.

But over time, this occurrence became routine.

It struck every couple of days.

Zhang Yi sought Zhou Ke'er's evaluation, but she detected no neural irregularities.

Examinations showed Zhang Yi's bodily state as exceptionally robust; his metrics aligned perfectly with a dedicated practitioner's after two and a half years.

Zhang Yi remained puzzled about his precise issue. Luckily, it hadn't impaired his well-being yet, so he chose to ignore it for the moment and observe if it faded naturally.

Author's Note