Ultimate Series, Past Lives Revealed

90: Heart cold[Xiao Lizi ran all the way, panting as she finally arrived at the devastated ruins.]

[The air here was filled with the stench of decay and death, making one’s skin crawl, but hunger drove her to keep moving forward.]

[She carefully navigated through the broken walls and debris, trying her best to avoid the wandering zombies.]

[Every step was taken with trepidation, fearing that a single slip-up would lead to her discovery.]

[At this moment, she had only one thought: to find some food to fill her stomach as soon as possible, or she felt she might collapse from hunger at any time.]

[Not only that, she also had to constantly maintain the circulation of the Special Ability within her body.]

[This continuous consumption made her already weak body even more overwhelmed.]

[Left with no choice, Xiao Lizi took out the low-Rank crystals Brother Mu had given her earlier and began to absorb the energy within to replenish her Special Ability.]

[As time passed, these low-Rank crystals were quickly consumed.]

[Looking at the empty bag in her hand, Xiao Lizi was filled with regret. ”Heavens, the crystal cores are actually used up so quickly. Why couldn’t I control myself? If only I had been a bit more frugal!” she muttered to herself.]

[In this apocalyptic world, humanity’s classification of Special Ability Ranks is not yet very clear.]

[The currently known Rank range is roughly from Rank 1 to Rank 10, where Ranks 1 to 5 are classified as low-Rank, while Rank 6 is a threshold that is difficult to cross.]

[As for Xiao Lizi’s Special Ability, it happened to be at Rank 6. These low-Rank crystal cores didn’t have much effect on her, but every little bit of replenishment helped.]

[To increase one’s Special Ability Rank, one usually needs to rely on zombie crystal cores as well as those from mutated animals and plants. Furthermore, there’s only hope if the crystal cores are of the same Rank and attribute as oneself, or one Rank higher!]

[Additionally, crystal cores of different attributes can be identified by their colors.]

[It is worth mentioning that non-attribute crystal cores are the most precious.]

[Not only because they are suitable for all Ability Users, but also because most Ability Users are non-attributed; their advanced Cultivation can only be achieved by relying on these non-attribute crystal cores.]

[Thinking of this, Xiao Lizi became increasingly anxious.]

[Now that the crystal cores are exhausted, what should she do next?]

[Thinking of this, Xiao Lizi dashed forward like an arrow released from a bowstring, her heart full of expectation and trepidation.]

[”These are all ruins; where would there be food? Am I really reduced to eating dirt to survive?” Xiao Lizi’s eyes widened as she muttered to herself in disbelief.]

[A sense of despair surged into her heart like a tide, making it almost impossible for her to breathe.]

[”Wuwuwu... What should I do? If I go back empty-handed like this, how can I face Brother Mu and my teammates?”]

[Xiao Lizi felt incredibly frustrated and helpless, and tears began to well up uncontrollably in her eyes.]

[She seemed to have lost all her strength, her steps becoming heavy and staggering as she turned back in a daze.]

[She accidentally kicked an object, and looking down, she saw it was actually a zombie without limbs! Xiao Lizi reacted instinctively, backing away repeatedly.]

[At this moment, her heart was filled with even deeper despair.]

[The zombie stared at Xiao Lizi with its hollow, soulless eyes, letting out indistinct growls. Xiao Lizi couldn’t help but cry out, ”Wuwuwu... I think we’ll soon be of the same kind! And the kind that’s starved to death at that...”]

[Xiao Lizi looked at its shriveled body and thought that this fellow must have been hungry for a very long time, otherwise it wouldn’t have failed to even grow its limbs.]

[After all, for zombies, as long as they don’t die, even if they are missing arms or legs, their limbs can eventually regrow as their Rank increases.]

[Xiao Lizi sobbed and choked out, ”Why don’t you... just bite me? That way I can become your kind faster. Wuwuwu... why is my life so miserable!”]

[Zombie Ling Feng, lying on the ground waiting for food to come to him, was suddenly disturbed in his peace by this good-looking ”fellow kind” who had appeared before him.]

[That ”fellow kind” kept muttering words he couldn’t understand at all, which made Ling Feng feel inexplicably irritated.]

[We’re all the same kind, why must you say things that are impossible to understand?]

[Beside him, Xiao Lizi, after having a good cry, finally vented the emotions built up inside her.]

[At this moment, she finally pulled herself together: ”There’s no other way; it seems I can only go back and truthfully report the situation to everyone.”]

[Xiao Lizi turned to look at Zombie Ling Feng, who was still lying on the ground, and said softly, ”Thank you for being willing to listen to me so much. I’m leaving now. I hope the next time I see you, you’ll have grown full limbs. At that time, perhaps it will be when I send you for your Reincarnation.”]

[As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Lizi turned around resolutely and strode towards the convoy of her team.]

[Behind her, Zombie Ling Feng stared intently at Xiao Lizi’s receding back, letting out continuous low howls.]

[Before long, Xiao Lizi hurried back to her team’s convoy.]

[As soon as everyone saw her return, they immediately gathered around and asked expectantly, ”Xiao Lizi, did you find food?”]

[Hearing this, Xiao Lizi couldn’t help but shudder and answered somewhat stutteringly, ”N-no!”]

[However, her answer clearly did not convince everyone.]

[A sharp voice in the crowd immediately questioned, ”How could there be none? You must have secretly hidden it to enjoy it alone!”]

[Facing such groundless accusations, Xiao Lizi felt full of grievances, her eyes turning red again instantly as she choked out a defense, ”I really didn’t! My stomach is growling with hunger right now too!”]

[At this time, another teammate stepped forward and proposed, ”Since you couldn’t find food, why don’t you take out the crystal cores you collected before and split them among everyone.”]

[Everyone stared intently at Xiao Lizi. Seeing that she was stalling and hadn’t taken them out for a long time, they began to question her all at once: ”Where are the crystal cores? Where exactly are they? Hand them over!”]

[At this moment, Xiao Lizi was full of hope that Brother Mu would step forward to speak up for her, because those were originally her deserved rewards.]

[Even if she hadn’t successfully brought back any food this time, it was understandable.]

[However, to Xiao Lizi’s absolute shock, Brother Mu actually spoke up and asked, ”Xiao Lizi, where are the crystal cores?”]

[Hearing this, Xiao Lizi’s heart instantly felt as if it had fallen into an ice cellar, turning cold through and through.]

[She gritted her teeth and forced herself to answer, ”I used them. If I didn’t use crystal cores to replenish energy, my Special Ability wouldn’t have been able to last this long at all.”]

[As soon as Xiao Lizi finished speaking, a burst of accusations immediately erupted from the crowd.]

[Someone said indignantly, ”How can you be so selfish? Not only did you fail to find food, you actually used the crystal cores without permission. You know, Brother Mu clearly said before that these crystal cores were to be your reward for bringing back food! But now, you’ve come back empty-handed and squandered all the crystal cores!”]

[Facing these rebukes, Xiao Lizi felt very aggrieved and indignant. She argued her case, ”Every one of you is much stronger than me. If that’s the case, then why don’t you go look for food yourselves?”]

[Then, another person retorted, ”We can’t shield ourselves from the zombies’ perception like you can!”]

[Hearing this, Xiao Lizi grew even more furious and raised her voice, shouting, ”Then you could have collaborated and killed those zombies together! I was all alone, and I had to constantly run my Special Ability to hide from the zombies’ detection along the way. When my Special Ability was exhausted, shouldn’t I replenish my energy? If I hadn’t replenished it in time, I’m afraid I would have died and gone to the Yellow Springs long ago!”]

[Just as the two sides were arguing heatedly, Brother Mu, who had been silent, finally couldn’t stand it anymore.]

[He widened his eyes and shouted sternly, ”Enough! Stop arguing! Do you want to attract all the nearby zombies?”]

[Shouted down by Brother Mu, the crowd immediately fell silent. Although they no longer argued aloud, the eyes of everyone looking at Xiao Lizi were still filled with dissatisfaction and resentment.]

[Brother Mu took a deep look at Xiao Lizi and then said to the others, ”Let’s go and find supplies again, or else wait to starve to death. Also, let this matter end here.”]

[Gold Time-Space Rex: This Xiao Lizi has had a conflict with the team; she might not stay for long.]

[Silver Time-Space Zhang Fei: If she can’t stay, then don’t stay. This team is too much! It’s so unfair to Xiao Lizi!]

[Cai Yunhan: That Zombie Ling Feng is somewhat special towards Xiao Lizi.]

[Tong Era Xiang Ning: This Xiao Lizi won’t become a zombie later, will she?]

[Jiu Lai from Iron Space: The zombie species is quite amazing; it feels like they’re immortal. As long as the head is protected, it’s fine. Missing arms or legs can regrow later once the Rank is high enough.]

[Silver Time-Space Dong Zhuo: If I could go there, I would definitely bring back a zombie team for research. An immortal body is equivalent to eternal life!]

[Silver Time-Space Wang Yun: Dong Zhuo, how can you have such a terrifying idea?]

[Silver Time-Space Dong Zhuo: The old Dong Zhuo is already dead!]