Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies Chapter 1577: Testing Loyalty

Xing Tian's opponent was a man with long, messy hair. He was a Strengthening-type Transcendent with mediocre supernatural power aptitude.

Zhang Yi could tell at a glance that this man could use his ability to enhance his speed, strength, and defense.

These attributes were the most common among the Strengthening-type.

That man's fighting style was also primarily steady and methodical. During the battle with Xing Tian, it seemed Xing Tian wanted to uphold his authority as the leader of Qingpu Base and showcase his strength in front of Zhang Yi, so his fighting style was much more ferocious than usual.

He carried two enormous wood-chopping axes, descending like a god from the heavens, swinging the axes with such force that the air howled. With only one person added to the [Xing Tian Legion] empowerment, his attacks radiated sheer intimidation!

However, Zhang Yi's gaze didn't linger on him for long.

Instead, he stared at Xing Tian's opponent, his eyes gradually filling with curiosity and amusement.

He waved over to Baili Changqing beside him.

Baili Changqing immediately walked over. "Captain!"

Zhang Yi looked at Xing Tian's opponent and asked, "What's that guy's name? What's his background?"

Baili Changqing glanced at the man and quickly replied, "His name is Ruan Ping. He's from Qingpu Base."

"I mean, do we have his personal records?"

Baili Changqing scratched his head. "No."

After the apocalypse, most people's records were blank. With chaos and war raging everywhere, nobody could systematically collect a person's complete profile.

"Interesting."

Zhang Yi curled his lips.

Baili Changqing looked at Ruan Ping with some curiosity, not quite understanding. He said, "Captain, forgive my dull eyes. I don't see anything special about him!"

Transcendents like Ruan Ping were a dime a dozen among the Yan Cloud Guard in Blizzard City. He might not even meet the standard of an ordinary Survey Team member.

The only reason he was selected for the first batch of Shadow Troop trainees was simply because Tianshui City was currently severely lacking in talent.

Zhang Yi said nothing, continuing to watch Ruan Ping instead.

Baili Changqing was right. Ruan Ping was far too ordinary. He had almost no highlights, but also no major flaws.

Someone like him, thrown into a crowd of Transcendents, was nothing but a nobody. No one would pay him any attention.

But precisely because of that, it was the most interesting.

It was just like taking an exam.

Whether you scored a perfect hundred or a zero, you'd most easily catch the teacher's attention.

It was usually the middle group, the students hovering around the passing mark, that teachers wouldn't pay much attention to.

But have you ever seen a student who scored exactly 60 on every single subject?

Zhang Yi was a master of disguise. He was more cautious than anyone, and even better at hiding his true strength.

So after seeing Ruan Ping's fighting style, he caught a whiff of something familiar.

This guy was also hiding his true strength.

"Xinxin, that test we talked about before, we can conduct it right now."

Zhang Yi turned his head and said to Yang Xinxin.

Yang Xinxin understood and calmly nodded.

Soon, that Transcendent sparring match on the other side came to an end.

Ruan Ping ultimately lost to Xing Tian. Xing Tian, gripping his large axe, smiled smugly and even cast a look at Zhang Yi seeking praise.

Zhang Yi's eyes held a smile as he glanced at Ruan Ping, who had only suffered minor scratches, then stood up and said to them:

"Good, I've seen the results of your training. Very good, even better than I imagined!"

"However, compared to the Survey Team members from the various major regions, you still have a considerable gap. Not to mention comparing with the core Transcendents!"

"So in the days ahead, you will need to work even harder. What I need are the best warriors, blades that can serve as my instruments!"

These words both carried encouragement and made them understand just how far their strength lagged behind the elites of the world's top factions.

Upon hearing this, the crowd felt both delight and an inner resolve not to dare slack off in the slightest.

"Now, let's move to the third segment!"

Zhang Yi said calmly.

Baili Changqing looked at Zhang Yi with some surprise. They hadn't arranged any so-called third segment.

But since this was an inspection, adding some extra items on the spot was perfectly normal.

Zhang Yi said, "The name of this third segment is [Heart Inquiry]!"

He scanned all the Transcendents present with a beaming smile.

"My subordinates must have absolute loyalty to me! Any act of disloyalty is absolutely unacceptable!"

"Of course, no one is perfect. Your purpose in coming here might just be to grow stronger, or to gain my protection. Right now, I don't have excessive demands of you either."

He slowly raised a single finger. "But right now, I require you to possess at least this one thing! You must not harbor ill intentions toward me, or toward anyone in Tianshui City."

The moment these words were spoken, the faces of the Transcendents on site changed to varying degrees.

Some people looked completely unbothered, but more of them wore troubled expressions.

To put it bluntly, they were here to make a living. They couldn't yet claim absolute loyalty to Zhang Yi.

Even if Ma Wenzheng's ideological education classes had some effect, it couldn't instantly complete the brainwashing.

Fortunately, Zhang Yi had one final sentence that put many of them at ease.

Who would dare to have designs on a Black Chariot-tier Epsilon-class? Wouldn't that be pure suicide?

When Zhang Yi said these words with a smile, his gaze swiftly swept across everyone's faces.

When he looked at Ruan Ping, he caught a flicker of astonishment on the guy's face, though it quickly returned to calm.

He seemed completely normal. But precisely because it was too normal, it heightened Zhang Yi's suspicion.

What normal person was flawlessly impeccable? Being too perfect was itself a flaw.

Of course, Zhang Yi couldn't be entirely certain that this guy had a problem.

But once the seed of suspicion was planted, it was bound to take root and sprout.

Might as well verify it all in one go!

He looked toward Yang Xinxin beside him, and she displayed her ability at the perfect moment.

She wore a black custom Lolita dress, stepped in brown leather boots made of cold-resistant material, and stood expressionless on the snowy ground.

A sacred radiance cascaded down from above her head, and a magnificent yet somewhat eerie angel apparition slowly materialized behind her.

It was a massive six-winged angel, with paired wings respectively displaying red, black, and blue colors. It held a longbow, and its facial expression seemed to smile yet not smile, seem to weep yet not weep, as if mourning for the mortal world.

Zhang Yi said, "Next, you will each step forward one by one to undergo the trial of [Heart Inquiry]! Her ability is very simple - anyone struck by her arrow will be compelled to tell the truth. If your conscience is clear, then step forward!"

This time, Zhang Yi finally caught a fleeting change on Ruan Ping's face.

Zhang Yi curled his lips, too lazy to waste time. He reached his hand out, pointing directly through the crowd at Ruan Ping.

"You go first!"