Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1252: The Resistance

Zhang Yi was aware of only a single Epsilon-level superhuman within the Southwest Region: the Lord of the Charnel Ground. It was rumored that he possessed divine favor and was venerated by the esoteric Sect as the reincarnation of a Buddha.

As he observed the figure from afar, Zhang Yi muttered, "I did not anticipate encountering such a troublesome individual quite this early."

The young ascetic monk appeared to be in his early twenties. His features held the innocence of youth, and his gaze remained clear, mirroring someone who had yet to face the harshness of the world. Nevertheless, his aura wielded a crushing presence, instantly overwhelming the woman with long hair.

Her defeat was instantaneous upon their collision, causing the expressions of her white-clad companions to shift dramatically. Despite this, none fled in terror. Instead, they bellowed, channeled their abilities, and charged toward the Lord of the Charnel Ground.

With total indifference, the Lord of the Charnel Ground swept his hand outward. A surge of golden light erupted from his form, scattering the attackers in an instant. A shockwave rippled through the snow, flattening everything within a kilometer. The entire group lay motionless on the frozen earth, defeated by a single strike, though none had been killed.

"Interesting. A monk who values life, it seems. Who might those attackers be?" Zhang Yi remarked, watching the scene with casual detachment. Having only gathered fragmented information from Pagyi Gesang, he remained largely ignorant of the current state of the Snowy Plateau. Regardless, attempting to assault an Epsilon-level superhuman was a display of sheer idiocy. Yet, based on the woman's reaction, it was clear they hadn't expected to collide with the strongest entity in the Southwest Region.

Zhang Yi silently gauged the power of the Lord of the Charnel Ground, though the assessment remained vague, as dominating lower-tier opponents rarely required one's full strength—unless the individual in question was a non-combat Epsilon.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground finally looked toward the horizon, offering a simple, innocent smile to Zhang Yi from a distance. The expression was strikingly pure. Even Fatty Xu remarked, "He looks sincere at first glance, just like me!" Since Fatty Xu was currently using the codename D, he implied that his sincerity was equal to D's. Zhang Yi replied nonchalantly, "Where is the greatness in that? My own smiles aren't inherently deceptive." He then sighed, adding, "Perhaps all my reading has tarnished my innocent heart."

The Lord of the Charnel Ground brought his palms together in a respectful bow. Apparently, he had no intention of provoking them. Zhang Yi recalled how Pagyi Gesang had described the monk—having been designated a spiritual child and adopted into the Sangha Monastery, he had spent over a decade in unwavering devotion. For a rival like Pagyi Gesang to offer such a comment, it was likely mostly true. "The show is over, let us move," Zhang Yi stated. "Lingering here will only invite unwanted scrutiny." He ignited the engine and proceeded toward the Snowy Plateau.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground watched the vehicle retreat, his attention shifting back to the fallen ambushers on the ground. "Why choose to suffer in this manner? May Buddha absolve your sins. Return with me to repent for your crimes against the innocent," he spoke, his face filled with heavy sorrow. The unconscious survivors could not hear his plea. Suddenly, the woman in white grabbed his foot tightly, her organs nearly ruptured by his strike. If not for his mercy, not one among them would have survived. She lifted her head, staring at him with undisguised hatred. "You... you were waiting in ambush for us!" The Lord of the Charnel Ground sighed. "Your path is a corrupted one." The woman grinned, blood staining her lips. "Heh—haha! You still couldn't stop us easily, could you? Even you were forced to intervene personally!" She let out a laugh.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground frowned, sensing that this woman was beyond salvation. By then, Zhang Yi’s vehicle was already far away. He cared little for this skirmish; though he had seen the region’s top expert, now was not the time for confrontation. He preferred to wait until the Prayer Festival concluded to verify the legends of the underground Demon Kingdom treasure. "Who are those people? Attacking an Epsilon-level powerhouse? How reckless," Fatty Xu noted with a dramatic flourish. Zhang Yi considered the major powers of the region. "Based on what Pagyi Gesang described, they are likely the Southwest Region's resistance army. A chaotic, lawless group," he explained. They held no allegiance to the four great families and functioned as bandits during the turmoil, regularly raiding territories for supplies and captives. "They clearly miscalculated by picking that fight," Zhang Yi concluded.

Liang Yue added, "I see it now. He appeared in that location intentionally to bait the resistance members." She smiled thinly. "Unexpectedly clever." Zhang Yi looked up doubtfully. "Perhaps, but it is hardly remarkable." Asked why, he explained, "A prestigious figure should not place themselves in a compromised position. As the central pillar of the Southwest regime, he is the 'one' holding everything together, yet he must resort to fishing for rebels himself? That only proves the current instability of the region." Everyone grew thoughtful, and Yang Xinxin’s voice surfaced over the comms, "This works in our favor. Intense internal friction suggests they are failing to secure their own borders. A fragmented region is far better for our prospects."

Just then, a blizzard intensified. A convoy approached from the plateau, matching their course. Zhang Yi observed them, his finger tapping the steering wheel; if they showed aggression, he could erase them from the plains in seconds. However, the convoy simply swept past them with a roaring, warning-like engine volume. "Those are probably reinforcements," Zhang Yi mused. The Lord of the Charnel Ground needed subordinates to collect the captives he had spared. Within the convoy, a bald man gestured toward their vehicle. "That car looks suspicious—no family markings. It might be local rebels." His leader, Dumba, glanced back coldly. "Are you mad? They just came from the direction of the Lord of the Charnel Ground." The bald man laughed awkwardly, realizing they could not have escaped the monk’s notice if they were truly linked to the resistance. Dumba remarked, "If they aren't rebels, they must be pawns of the other families." A man in the back scoffed, "The Prayer Festival is drawing near, and these outsiders are desperate. It’s just a final deathbed struggle!" He puffed his chest. "With the Lord of the Charnel Ground defending our Yasha Langtai family, these visitors are wasting their breath." The convoy ignored them, speeding away toward the lower plateau to handle the prisoners. Waiting at the entrance was Loren, a patrol captain, leaning against a snow vehicle with a cigarette. His wiry, wolf-like frame and sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, ever alert.