Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

Chapter 415: Empty Shells

Chaoyu Base and Yangsheng Base fled in a disastrous retreat, leaving Zhang Yi and Bai Xue Jiao victorious.

As Zhang Yi lowered his sniper rifle, he watched the battered remnants of the two bases retreat and glanced at the jubilant Bai Xue Jiao cultists celebrating their victory. For a fleeting moment, he felt tempted to turn his gun on them.

The battle had dealt a devastating blow to all three factions, while Zhang Yi’s team emerged nearly unscathed. This success was largely due to Zhang Yi’s meticulous preparation, but it had come at a cost.

The buildings surrounding the Shelter, including the villa where Uncle You and Fatty Xu resided, were almost entirely destroyed. The ice wall, which had taken days to construct, was 70% ruined.

This grueling battle gave Zhang Yi a profound understanding of the horrors of large-scale warfare. Bai Xue Jiao’s fanatical, fearless tactics left a lasting impression.

Despite this, Zhang Yi dismissed the idea of attacking them. Bai Xue Jiao’s members were too many, and their deaths too easily replaced. Sacrificing his team to take them down wasn’t worth it.

He descended the Shelter and cast a glance toward the rear mountain. As expected, Xing Tian had kept his promise, merely observing the fight from afar.

Zhang Yi couldn’t help but regard Xing Tian with a newfound respect. The man, it seemed, was as trustworthy as his word. Of course, this reliability was likely due to the strength Zhang Yi had displayed—trust was often built on power.

“You can come to collect the remaining food now.”

Xing Tian replied quickly:

“Give me a moment; there’s something else I need to handle first.”

Raising an eyebrow, Zhang Yi could guess what that “something else” might be. But it wasn’t his concern, so he shrugged it off and turned his attention back to his team.

Outside the Shelter, Liang Yue, Uncle You, Fatty Xu, and Hua Hua were all bloodied and exhausted. The energy-boosting food prepared by Yang Siyah had kept them going through the intense combat, but they were visibly drained.

“Alright, everyone. We won!” Zhang Yi declared, patting each of them on the shoulder.

When he reached Liang Yue, he noticed how rigid her shoulders felt, like steel.

“It’s over. The fight’s done. You’ve avenged your students,” he said gently.

Liang Yue’s icy, murderous gaze melted, and she leaned weakly against him. Only then did Zhang Yi notice the deep gash across her neck. Though the bleeding had stopped, the sight of the wound was chilling.

His eyes narrowed as he quickly carried her back into the Shelter, heading for the medical room.

The reckless charge she had made into the enemy ranks had drawn an immense amount of fire. That she survived at all was nothing short of miraculous.

Once inside, he handed her over to Zhou Ke’er, whose gasp of horror at the sight of Liang Yue’s wound spurred her into immediate action. Grabbing her medical tools, Zhou Ke’er set to work cleaning and stitching the wound.

...

As the aftermath unfolded, Zhang Yi prepared to finalize matters with Bai Xue Jiao and Qingfu Base.

Bai Xue Jiao had suffered heavy losses, including some of their Superhumans. Yet for them, the outcome was worth the cost. They had secured a rare opportunity to develop without interference, something they were eager to seize.

Still wary of their fanatical nature, Zhang Yi approached Zheng Yixian. From a distance, he called out:

“This fight is over. You can leave now. From this day forward, the West Hill Base territory is mine. None of your people are allowed to approach without my permission!”Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Zheng Yixian, fully aware of Zhang Yi’s overwhelming strength, bowed respectfully.

“Thank you for helping us win this war. As agreed, no one from Bai Xue Jiao will come near your land, except for our missionaries.”

Zheng Yixian understood that without Zhang Yi’s team tying down the bulk of the allied forces, Bai Xue Jiao could never have stood up to the two major bases.

He also recognized that Zhang Yi had likely coordinated with Qingfu Base beforehand. Had Bai Xue Jiao chosen not to side with Zhang Yi, their gains would have been minimal at best.

“I hope that we can coexist peacefully and respectfully moving forward,” Zheng Yixian said with a warm smile.

Zhang Yi narrowed his eyes. “Of course. I’m a pacifist, after all.”

With mutual wariness lingering in the air, no further conflict erupted between the two sides. Zheng Yixian led his followers away, their holy chants echoing across the snowy plain:

"Snow above and earth below,

From the ground our bodies are born,

From the heavens our souls descend.

Sunlight and moonlight illuminate us,

Pure white snow cleanses our souls.

We surrender ourselves to the cold winds of the earth,

Thanking the heavens for the miracle of this land.

May our hearts remain pure,

Sharing joy and sorrow with all,

Praising the children of Bai Xue Jiao,

With our souls and bodies as testament."

Watching them disappear into the distance, Zhang Yi’s narrowed gaze betrayed his lingering unease.

While Zhang Yi’s team had solidified their position, Bai Xue Jiao had emerged as the biggest beneficiaries of the battle.

Freed from the constraints of the major bases, their ability to rapidly recruit followers would allow them to grow stronger quickly. With their leader Yuan Kongye’s Blessing ability, they could also increase the number of their Superhumans at an alarming rate.

Zhang Yi couldn’t help but muse, “Perhaps I’ve unleashed a monster. But right now, I have no choice.”

For now, he would cooperate with factions aligned with his interests. The future was uncertain, and any potential problems would have to be dealt with as they arose.

...

Returning to the battlefield, Zhang Yi collected useful supplies from the wreckage. The allied forces had brought elite troops, and their weapons and equipment were valuable—perfect for offsetting his team’s losses.

Surveying the aftermath, he discovered that seven Superhumans had died during the battle. But to his surprise, three of them had become empty shells, their powers seemingly drained.

“What’s this about? Did someone absorb their abilities?” Zhang Yi wondered, puzzled.

In the chaos of combat, it seemed impossible for anyone to perform such a feat, leaving him without a clear explanation.

After cleaning up the battlefield, Zhang Yi turned to his companions and smiled.

“Let’s head back. It’s time for a good rest!”

“Meow!” Hua Hua leapt onto Zhang Yi’s shoulders, nuzzling his neck and leaving a bloody smear. During the battle, it had transformed into a war machine, crushing countless enemies.

Zhang Yi stroked its head gently, then slung an arm around Uncle You and Fatty Xu. Laughing, the three trudged back toward the Shelter together.

Author's Note