C2 Buy Rice?

"I need to carefully consider the location for the shop. The system offers no protection for it, so it's all on me. Any losses incurred will be my responsibility." After the initial rush of excitement, Shen Chen fell into deep thought; this was no trivial decision.

Five years into the apocalypse, threats no longer just came from zombies or Zombie Beasts.

Now, humans posed the greatest danger!

Shen Chen was aware that as soon as he made his move, he'd be in the crosshairs of many.

"This will be the spot."

He settled on a suburban bank.

Deserted since the apocalypse, not a single zombie roamed inside. The blackened blood on the floor had long since coagulated into a solid mass, crumbling to dust with the slightest kick.

Shen Chen's choice was strategic—the vault door was ajar! The cash had been moved at the outbreak, and the door remained unlocked.

Moreover, Shen Chen had been the bank manager here five years prior and knew the vault's code by heart.

With over a hundred square meters, the vault was ideal for storing rice.

"Supermarket No. 1's location is set. Safety rating: S+. An extra reward has been triggered—a seven-day zombie attack buffer. The reward has been issued. Please check your inventory."

A golden glow enveloped Shen Chen, and he paused, surprised. "So, for the next week, zombies won't be a problem? Let's put it to the test!"

With that thought, Shen Chen dashed into the street.

The high demand for Zombie Crystals meant that scavengers like Shen Chen had already cleared the streets of zombies, making it challenging to find even a low-level one.

A thunderous roar erupted from a building, reverberating down the street.

"Shen Chen! Move! Don't just stand there!" Footsteps approached rapidly, led by a striking woman draped in gray, her figure concealed yet unmistakable. She wore a hat and, upon recognizing Shen Chen, called out to him in alarm.

"Yang Hanshuang?" Shen Chen recognized her immediately.

She was once Shen Chen's teammate, but as her powers grew, they went their separate ways.

After six months apart, she must be challenging the third level of superpowers by now! And with her fire abilities, her importance to the base was clear.

"Shen Chen, are you listening? Move! That's a level-four superpowered beast!" Yang Hanshuang yelled urgently.

"Roar!"

A tremendous roar erupted behind Shen Chen. Amidst the gusting winds, something plummeted from the sky and crashed to the ground with a thud.

Shen Chen spun around to see a behemoth three stories tall, winged and blood-red, its flesh decaying in places. Zombie parasites larger than any he'd seen writhed on its skin, fueling its rage.

"Shua!"

The Zombie Beast soared again, barreling towards Shen Chen.

Yang Hanshuang's heart dropped, fearing Shen Chen was a goner. But then the unexpected happened. The beast soared over their heads, completely overlooking Shen Chen and charging straight for Yang Hanshuang and her team.

"Everyone, brace for combat!" Yang Hanshuang snapped into battle readiness.

"Charge!"

A swarm of paranormals clashed with the Zombie Beast, following Yang Hanshuang's orders.

They had been tracking this beast for half a month.

Defeating it and seizing the Level-4 Zombie Crystal Core meant a wealth of resources to revitalize the base. They were determined to win this fight—it was a matter of life and death for the hundreds at the base.

"Hu." Shen Chen exhaled in relief. He had indeed been 'invisible' to the Zombie Beast.

He hurried over to Yang Hanshuang: "Need a hand, Beauty Yang?"

"You're still at Level-1 with earth powers?"

"That's right."

"Just stay on the sidelines then... But hey, I'm puzzled. You were right next to the Zombie Beast; why didn't it go for you? How come?" Yang Hanshuang watched Shen Chen loitering nearby, the beast paying him no mind, and couldn't help but feel baffled.

"Because I'm handsome!" Shen Chen chuckled.

"Cut it out."

"Mr. Shen, would you mind not wandering around in front of us? You're only a Level-1. Watch out, or you might end up as beast fodder."

"Don't worry about me. I'm so weak that I wouldn't even make a decent snack for them. But you folks, you're in luck with this fresh rice. Each person can buy up to three kilograms, and it only costs one Level-1 Zombie Crystal Core. Tempted to learn more?" Shen Chen swaggered around, his pride evident. They had underestimated him, after all.

"Shen Chen, haven't seen you in half a year, and now your brain's gone haywire?" Yang Hanshuang was itching to give him a piece of her mind.

Here they were, struggling against a Level-4 Zombie Beast, and Shen Chen was cracking jokes?

Besides, rice was a luxury only the wealthy could indulge in.

On the black market, a kilogram of fresh rice would set you back at least three thousand Level-1 Zombie Crystals. Shen Chen claiming one could get three kilograms for a single crystal was absurdly cheap!

"Hey, don't be so skeptical. It's the real deal, edible rice. I'm chasing sales targets here, and I'd rather not let outsiders reap the benefits. Interested?" Shen Chen pressed on.

"Shen Chen! Are you going to lend a hand or not? If not, just get out of here!" Yang Hanshuang finally lost her patience and yelled.

"Never underestimate a Level-1 superpowered individual."

With those words, Shen Chen boldly scaled the Zombie Beast.

His action, seemingly a death wish, sent a jolt of fear through the onlookers.

With a swift "crack," Shen Chen, to everyone's disbelief, sliced the Zombie Beast's neck with his knife and extracted the pale yellow Level-4 Crystal Core.

The beast offered no resistance.

As the Zombie Beast thudded to the ground, lifeless, everyone's eyes were glued to Shen Chen, especially the Crystal Core in his hand, their throats dry with envy.

How he accomplished the feat was a mystery to all.

Shen Chen casually wiped the blood off the Crystal Core and pocketed it.

The other paranormals coveted it, but the Zombie Beast was Shen Chen's kill, witnessed by all. Their conscience kept them from outright taking the Crystal Core from him.

After all, Shen Chen was the closest friend of the 'Ice Queen' herself, Yang Hanshuang.

If anyone dared to lay a finger on Shen Chen, Yang Hanshuang would likely make them pay with their lives.

"So, are you ready to actually listen to what I have to say now?" A faint smile played at the corner of Shen Chen's mouth.

"Listen to you spout nonsense?"

Yang Hanshuang's eyes were fixed intently on Shen Chen's pocket, her gaze filled with urgency.

"Hanshuang, after all this time, don't you know me? If I'm lying, then you can take this Level-4 Zombie Crystal Core as compensation," Shen Chen stated earnestly.