Chapter Twenty-One: Seizing the Source Pearl

In all his past and present lives, Gu Sha had never experienced a moment as exhilarating as today. He had won, utterly and completely! Thanks to his meticulous preparations, he was simply picking up source pearls as if they had been left for him. Although the zombies had evolved, many already possessing ranks, they were utterly powerless before his cultivation as a third-tier warrior. He had no interest in fighting—he would grab a source pearl and flee.

There was something particularly delightful that made him view the zombies with great affection. Source pearls naturally attracted zombies, yet they exerted an oppressive force as well. So, he deliberately sought out places where large numbers of zombies gathered, which effectively pinpointed the locations of the source pearls for him. Armed with memories from his previous life, he already knew the approximate spots where the pearls would fall. He had scouted these locations in advance. Each time, he would seize the pearl and rush to the next place, easily locking onto its position wherever zombies were thickest.

By the end of the day, Gu Sha’s backpack contained six source pearls. Feeling their aura emanating from within, he spent the entire day in a state of excitement. Six source pearls! Not only would his cultivation soar, but, more importantly, the pearls held immense significance. In later times, source pearls were hailed as one of the greatest opportunities between heaven and earth, not merely due to the vast amount of source energy they contained.

Pure source energy, with the advancement of human technology in later generations, could be gathered in various ways. Techniques like the Qi-Guiding Mantra, heaven-born treasures, and genetic potions were all methods of harnessing it. Yet no matter how much progress was made, one power of the source pearls remained irreplaceable: the development of potential.

With so many people in the world, it was impossible for everyone to be equal. Take intelligence, for example; some were gifted, others less so. After the cultivation arts became widespread in later generations, it was discovered that people’s innate talent and intelligence varied greatly. However, the initial source energy within the pearls could transform a person’s innate abilities.

This was why, in the later age of fierce competition, many who first obtained source pearls—despite lacking fortune or background—could still rise to power. The initial source energy would reshape their bodies, enhancing their talent. Even without much luck, they could rely on cultivating the Qi-Guiding Mantra to become strong.

Han Yue, the beautiful teacher whom Gu Sha slew in the school cafeteria this life, was a prime example. In the twenty years that followed, Gu Sha had never heard of Han Yue obtaining any great fortune, yet she managed to hide within the Barrier City and step by step cultivate herself into a ninth-tier warrior, with hopes of ascending to the rank of Battle King.

This life, having returned through rebirth—

Gu Sha, though gaining many opportunities through foresight, understood well that the butterfly effect would eventually erase the advantage of his past memories. He needed to quickly acquire the power to dominate the world. The ability of source pearls to enhance talent was his greatest reliance.

Looking across the globe, there was likely no one else who had undergone as many source pearl baptisms as he had. On talent alone, he could become one of the world's most outstanding individuals. Moreover, he was confident in his abilities. In his previous life, without any initial fortune, he had managed to become a fifth-tier warrior and earn a certain status. How much more so now, when he had a heaven-sent beginning!

…

Night fell, yet the vast city of Tongcheng remained full of noise. In fact, it was growing even more tumultuous. Helicopters could be seen everywhere in the sky, and the roars of zombies within the city echoed like the collapse of heaven and earth, terrifyingly intense.

Many survivors ventured out, risking their lives. The authorities had long since announced the concept and effects of the source pearls. The last time they descended, no one paid attention, but this time was different. Whether it was those hiding in safe rooms, those who had formed teams, or those living on the edge, all joined the struggle for the pearls. Everyone knew that this was the foundation of survival in the apocalypse; even if death loomed, many were willing to gamble for a chance.

As for the helicopters, they belonged to powers that had been strong even before the apocalypse. Never underestimate the might of the authorities or the heritage of the great clans; even in the end times, they possessed power unimaginable to ordinary people.

Today, with the second Scarlet Descent, ten cities across the nation of Huaxia received the arrival of the source pearls. Those formidable forces would not miss such an opportunity, flocking to those ten cities, and Tongcheng was certainly among them.

But for Gu Sha, none of this mattered. He held the advantage. He encountered several armed squads during the day, but there was no conflict. They searched randomly, while he sought with purpose.

Now, as night enveloped the city, lights still flickered overhead, agitating the zombies throughout the city into frenzied unrest.

Gu Sha glanced at his watch. It was already ten thirty in the evening.

He felt a sense of urgency, for this second descent of source pearls would only last twelve hours. The pearls had appeared at twelve minutes past noon, and would dissipate at the same time. He had to find a secure place to absorb the pearls within the next hour and a half.

Between towering buildings, zombies crowded thickly. Gu Sha, gripping a large machete, raced forward. He had already switched weapons several times. Even this machete, which he had only been using for just over an hour, was chipped and battered.

He arrived outside a villa, leaping onto the wall. Inside, he saw two source pearls in the courtyard, surrounded by a horde of zombies. From their ominous aura, he identified several first-tier evolved zombies among them.

"Two source pearls!" Gu Sha gritted his teeth. He already possessed six pearls of varying sizes, and had about an hour left.

"One last round!" he muttered, clenching his jaw. Without hesitation, he charged in, machete raised.

With a sound like slicing a watermelon, the machete cleaved a zombie’s head clean off, immediately drawing the attention of the dense horde within the yard.

"Roar! Roar! Roar!" The zombie mob erupted, swarming toward Gu Sha in madness.

These zombies had all evolved; their speed and strength were greatly enhanced. Gu Sha’s machete harvested them relentlessly. His combat experience was vast, and he knew their weaknesses well—almost every strike was fatal, leaving swathes of corpses in his wake.

But just as Gu Sha was about to reach the center of the courtyard—

A barrage of gunfire erupted. Four figures clad in bulletproof vests appeared, each wielding firearms, unleashing a storm of bullets at the zombies.

They shot indiscriminately. Gu Sha rolled swiftly across the ground, dodging the attack, then used brute force to shove a cluster of zombies ahead of him as cover, charging toward the source pearls.