Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1278: It couldn't have been Zhang Yi's men who did it.

Upon Liang Yue and Mu Yan's return, Zhang Yi had already surmised their recent actions.

"How did it go? Any new discoveries?"

Liang Yue and Mu Yan concealed nothing from Zhang Yi, laying out exactly what they had accomplished.

"Our disguises were flawless; they won't uncover who we are."

Right now, Liang Yue and Mu Yan both ranked as squad leaders, while Liang Yue's prowess had soared to elite heights among Delta-level fighters.

Still, they hadn't gained much notoriety.

Besides, in the remote Southwest Region, who would waste effort probing a pair of ordinary squad leader superhumans?

On top of that, by suppressing her full power, she ensured no one would recognize her as the Xuan Nü accompanying Zhang Yi.

Zhang Yi showed no concern over this, simply inquiring calmly, "Any gains? You spoke of the resistance army—did you reach out to them?"

Liang Yue then detailed her meeting with Drolma.

Zhang Yi drummed his fingers on the armrest, visions of today's four Epsilons flashing through his thoughts.

And perfectly timed, just as those five converged at the Great Snow Mountain's base, the resistance army launched their assault on the Pagyi Family.

Calling that mere coincidence stretched belief too far.

Thus, aside from the Lord of the Charnel Ground, one of the other three must be working with the resistance army.

Zhang Yi folded his arms, lost in thought.

Liang Yue gazed at Zhang Yi, pausing briefly before questioning, "Zhang Yi, are you going to blame me?"

"Blame you? For what reason?"

Zhang Yi offered a slight smile. "You handled it perfectly. Now we've opened a direct line to the resistance army—it could prove useful down the line!"

Liang Yue had once guarded high-profile figures with elite training, her abilities rivaling any spy's.

If she claimed her cover held, then it absolutely did.

Even if exposed, Pagyi Gesang wouldn't risk clashing with him over something so trivial.

"But your face doesn't look pleased."

Liang Yue pointed it out.

Zhang Yi arched a brow. "I'm not upset with you. Rather, I'm plotting how to squeeze every advantage from this venture."

"The Lord of the Charnel Ground wields terrifying might—I saw it firsthand. No average superhuman could unleash such horror; it defies belief. Even I lack full certainty of victory against him."

The esoteric sect's enhancements were downright frightening.

He had watched the Lord of the Charnel Ground channel the five Epsilons' power through his own flesh toward the Demon Kingdom Gate.

His form exploded in gore, skin shredded, bones exposed raw.

Yet fueled by the esoteric sect's might, his body regenerated at shocking speed.

Back then, only by teaming with the other two enigmatic Epsilons did they barely overpower him.

Should the Demon Kingdom Gate truly unlock, the Lord of the Charnel Ground would command terrain, timing, and backing—could Zhang Yi still hold the edge?

Zhang Yi shut his eyes, plunging into profound reflection.

The Lord of the Charnel Ground loomed as his paramount obstacle now.

The other two's power appeared equally matched to his own.

This mission wouldn't yield easy rewards.

...

Chodak fell swiftly to Liang Yue, though she spared his life.

As a reinforcement superhuman, such wounds mended rapidly.

Yet suffering defeat on Pagyi Family grounds while the resistance army wrought havoc filled Chodak with burning shame.

Soon, he knelt before Pagyi Gesang's grand bed, forehead grinding the floor.

"Chief Pagyi, this subordinate failed utterly—I allowed those resistance army foes to slip away."

Pagyi Gesang's hulking frame perched on the bed, flanked by his fierce guard Suolang Deji.

Suolang Deji glared icily at the kneeling Chodak, snarling at his account, "You worthless trash! Letting resistance army scum escape right here in Pagyi territory. Was it the Snow Mountain Divine Eagle?"

The Snow Mountain Divine Eagle embodied the resistance army's spirit, the pioneer defying chieftain tyranny.

Without him, the resistance would've crumbled long ago under the Four Great Families' boot.

Pagyi Gesang uttered not a word, his gaze emotionless; he even dug into his ear with a carrot-thick pinky.

Chodak gulped nervously, rushing to clarify, "At first, they were no challenge for us. But as I closed in on resistance cadre Drolma, a woman in full black combat gear burst onto the scene."

"Her gear was top-notch, no resistance fighter's style. She outmatched me easily—one blow nearly skewered my chest!"

This revelation sharpened Pagyi Gesang and Suolang Deji's focus.

"An outsider?"

With the picture widened that far, matters grew tangled.

Lately, all knew the Yasha Langtai Family plotted to swallow the rest.

Thus, every clan covertly bolstered ranks.

The Pagyi Family followed suit, as did the others.

Outsiders' origins proved hard to trace, obscuring true loyalties.

Just then, Chodak lifted his head cautiously, sharing his hunch.

"We'd barely hit the battlefield ten minutes when that enigma struck, backed by allies."

"So..."

He trailed off meaningfully; the implication hung clear—the interferer hailed from inside Pagyi lands.

A ruthless spark ignited in Pagyi Gesang's eyes. Only around Zhang Yi did he play the merry fat oaf.

Before others, he reigned as the merciless tyrant.

"You accusing my guests?"

Chodak ducked low. "I recall one woman among today's four arrivals. Her build matches somewhat."

Pagyi Gesang erupted in booming laughter.

"Hahaha! Chodak, such ridiculous drivel."

Laughter cut short, he icily commanded, "Drop it forever, and breathe no word to anyone!"

Chodak dared not argue, though bafflement gnawed him—why shield those mercenaries so fiercely?

Only Suolang Deji grasped it.

If Zhang Yi desired Pagyi ruin, he could single-handedly massacre the entire clan overnight.

"Dismissed! Probe deeper with your scouts, ramp up daily patrols—no repeats!"

A handful of lost serfs and women meant little to Pagyi Gesang.

He scoffed at the notion a Jiangnan elite would trek here just to play hero for unrelated peasants.

He'd gathered intel on Zhang Yi.

A apocalyptic slayer-god who early on wiped out a thousand-plus in one complex alone!

Journey to the Snowy Plateau for altruism toward strangers? Absurd.

Pagyi Gesang dismissed it outright.