Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1255: Sara City

Chapter 1255: Lhasa City

Confronted by monk soldiers blocking their path, Zhang Yi acted without hesitation, swiftly executing them all. In his eyes, anyone beneath the level of Epsilon was merely an ant; these elite monk soldiers stood no chance against his current strength.

Total concealment was an impossibility; the disappearance of their scouts would inevitably trigger an investigation by both the Yasha Langtai Family and the Sangha Monastery. When that day arrived, the trail would lead straight to Zhang Yi and his companions. Yet, Zhang Yi remained indifferent. He was already operating as a mercenary for the Pagyi Family, placing him in direct opposition to the Yasha Langtai faction. Remaining low-key would contradict the very persona he was tasked to play. Although he had presented the Pagyi Family’s seal, the monk soldiers had disregarded it and initiated lethal force, proving that the tension between the two clans had reached a breaking point.

With the skirmish over, Zhang Yi proceeded calmly toward the Pagyi Family’s sector. Soon, they reached the heart of the Southwest Region—Lhasa City, a fortress built of frozen spires atop the plateau. From a distance, they observed tens of thousands of serfs toiling beneath massive walls of ice and snow. Resources on the plateau were scarce compared to the plains, leaving ice and snow as their primary building material. Consequently, all four great families relied on these frozen fortifications to enclose their cities. Within Lhasa City, distinct districts existed for each family.

Draped in thick, cotton-padded garments, the serfs slaved away against the relentless gale. Massive snow bricks, each weighing dozens of tons, required teams of hundreds to haul into place. Overseers from the Pagyi Family patrolled the perimeter, clutching submachine guns and leather whips, shrieking insults to goad the workers. One particularly menacing overseer roared with a cruel smirk, threatening to toss anyone who slowed down into a boiling cauldron.

Upon their arrival, Zhang Yi’s Smart System immediately scanned the environment. Each serf they passed wore a vacant, hollow expression, their faces and hands ravaged by festering frostbite. Beneath the walls, countless flagpoles stretched across the horizon, but closer inspection revealed they were not banners at all—they were bodies hung out to dry in the bitter wind. Whether they still clung to life was debatable; exposed to such brutal conditions, only a superhuman could survive, so it was safe to assume they were all deceased. To Zhang Yi, the sight was hauntingly familiar, echoing the early days of the three major bases in Tianhai City. It was only after he seized control and curated the population that Tianhai City finally achieved the supply surplus that saved most survivors from famine.

Zhang Yi steered his vehicle directly toward the Pagyi Family compound. Private soldiers quickly intercepted them, weapons drawn. "Halt! Identify yourselves!" Without a word, Zhang Yi revealed the electronic seal provided by Pagyi Gesang. The guards immediately collapsed to their knees in a prostrate display of fealty. "Greetings, honored visitor! The Pagyi Family welcomes you!" Recognizing the highest-ranking seal—the equivalent of the family head's personal presence—they dared not commit any errors. Zhang Yi spoke coldly: "Bring the head of the family here." The captain, eyes fixed firmly on the ground in deference, replied: "Our leader is currently attending a summit at the Sangha Monastery. Please wait; the chief steward will be with you shortly." Zhang Yi nodded, acknowledging that Pagyi Gesang had already informed him of the frequent, high-pressure meetings mandated by the Yasha Langtai leadership during the Prayer Festival. He chuckled to himself, wondering if the blood he had just spilled would cause complications for his host. However, he trusted that if Pagyi Gesang were truly incapable of handling such matters, he wouldn't be worthy of securing Zhang Yi’s services.

Shortly after, the Pagyi chief steward, Lhobu, appeared. He was a man in his forties, dressed in opulent robes, his sharp gaze matched by an entourage of formidable guards. Upon seeing Zhang Yi, he immediately fell to his knees. "We welcome our distinguished guest!" Zhang Yi waved a hand dismissively. "Stand up. No need for such trivial displays." The surrounding soldiers, confused by the stranger’s identity but witnessing their chief steward’s utter submission, began to regard Zhang Yi with newfound awe. After explaining the family head's delay, Lhobu invited the group into the inner courtyard to rest.

As they drove deeper into the territory, the scale of the labor project became evident: layers of inner and outer walls were being reinforced. Some serfs quarried ice, others hauled timber, while heavy defensive artillery was being mounted atop the ice ramparts. The air tasted of gunpowder, heavy with the anticipation of war. "The mountain wind is rising, signaling a storm," Zhang Yi murmured with a faint smile, noting that such primitive defenses would be worthless against powerful superhumans. If the Lord of the Charnel Ground truly decided to assault the Pagyi, these walls would offer no protection. Old You nodded, adding that such preparations were likely just a psychological comfort for those with no other choice. Zhang Yi sighed, remarking that the scene remarkably mirrored their own past. A ripple of laughter went through his team as they recalled the siege of their shelter back in Tianhai City.

Venturing further, the variety of life became even more apparent. The front lines were dedicated to work, while the rear accommodated living quarters built from massive, hemispherical snow huts, each housing a hundred people for communal heating. To an outsider, these clusters of huts resembled a endless field of frozen graves. Nearby, some soldiers were discarding frozen corpses into large cauldrons, while others used boiling oil to dispose of the dead with grim efficiency. A faint, macabre chant drifted on the wind: "Anoint the soul, pour it on..." It was all so agonizingly familiar, just like the dawn of the apocalypse in Tianhai City.