Zhang Chen glanced at Xiaobai, and the prompt reappeared:
【Type IX bio-human, time remaining until berserk: 56 hours, 15 minutes, 12 seconds...】
"Erzhizi, you guard Xiaobai and try not to let her join the fight, got it?"
Zhang Chen gently patted Erzhi's head.
Erzhizi squatted seriously beside Xiaobai, as if he understood.
"Xiaobai, remember what Dad told you!"
"No playing, no fighting, just wait for Dad to come back!"
Zhang Chen's voice was filled with worry as he reiterated.
"Mmm, I know, Dad, you can go, I'll be good!"
Xiaobai, bored, casually picked up a concrete slab that had fallen off a building from the ground. With a slight effort, she snapped it in half.
Then she continued to break the remaining half... just to pass the time...
Only then did Zhang Chen slowly walk towards the convoy.
He needed to ensure these people wouldn't have any ill intentions towards Xiaobai.
It wasn't that he was worried about what they could do to Xiaobai.
It was more about Xiaobai killing them all and entering her berserk state.
Better safe than sorry.
If the other party maintained a policy of "mind your own business," he would let them be.
If these people were malicious, he would deal with them first to avoid future trouble.
"Hey, what are you doing, stop!"
Seeing Zhang Chen approach, several burly men gathered together, putting their hands behind their backs.
This was a signal for them to draw their weapons.
Drawing weapons from behind so the enemy couldn't see if they were melee or ranged would create a surprise effect in combat.
"Don't get excited, I'll talk to him!"
"Look at their group: a brother, a sister, and a dog. Are you afraid of such survivors?"
An old man with glasses patted the shoulders of the burly men, pushing them aside.
"Hello, my surname is Xiao, and my name is Xiao Guanghan. Back on Earth, I was a biology professor!"
"These are people from our camp; they're just overly cautious. What's your name?"
"I'm Zhang Chen!" Zhang Chen replied simply.
"Hello, Zhang Chen. It's good that you're from Dragon Country. In this apocalypse, compatriots are relatively more trustworthy!"
Xiao Guanghan extended his hand to Zhang Chen.
The two shook hands.
"For you to be able to travel with your sister in this apocalypse, you must be at least a mid-stage awakened person of level three or above!"
"Would you be willing to join our camp?"
"We can prepare a separate van for you and your sister!"
"The environment in this apocalypse is getting worse and worse; we need to unite all forces that can be united!"
Xiao Guanghan invited with a smile.
"No, I have other matters to attend to. I just came to check on your situation!"
"Since you won't cause trouble, that's for the best!"
"That's all!"
Zhang Chen nodded at Xiao Guanghan and turned to walk towards the desert.
"Hey, Zhang Chen, wait!"
"That desert is not to be entered. Based on my observations of the post-apocalyptic ecosystem, this sand is likely the work of [Drill Worm Larvae]!"
"Furthermore, judging by the shape of the desert and its occasional directional flow, there might be a Drill Worm nest beneath it!"
"If my judgment is correct, the central area should be the core of their nest, and there will definitely be many Drill Worms there!"
"I believe your strength is great, but you only have one life!"
"Let's take a detour with us; there's no need to waste time here!"
Xiao Guanghan said earnestly.
"I understand. Thank you for the tip. You may go; I still have my own matters to attend to!"
Zhang Chen smiled and nodded at Xiao Guanghan.
"Professor Xiao, the new route is designed. Let's go!"
"Drill Worms are very sensitive to ground vibrations. The longer we delay, the more likely we are to be attacked!"
A female student ran over and said.
"Alright, we're leaving then. Zhang Chen, take care. We'll meet again if we have the chance!"
Xiao Guanghan waved at Zhang Chen and then returned to the RV.
Soon, the convoy set off.
They quickly left the desert area and drove towards the northern streets...
In the RV, the female student asked:
"Professor, who was that just now?"
Xiao Guanghan said with a hint of regret:
"A lone wanderer in the apocalypse. Very strong, but unfortunately, unwilling to join our camp!"
"Otherwise, we would have another helper, and the journey to Tengxiang Country would be much safer!"
The burly man driving said with disdain:
"I think this guy is just showing off. Even if he's a mid-stage awakened person, level three, so what?"
"Maybe he can fight one Drill Worm larva, but if there are many worms, won't he still have to run for his life?"
"If you ask me, most of these 'lone wanderers of the apocalypse' are just excellent escape artists!"
Xiao Guanghan waved his hand, disagreeing:
"Whether his combat ability is strong or his escape ability is strong, the most important things for survival in this apocalypse are two points!"
"First, sufficient supplies, and second, ample information resources!"
"Zhang Chen's ability to move around in this apocalypse indicates that he understands the apocalypse far, far more than we do!"
"It's never wrong to talk more and learn!"
"Besides... more people mean more strength!"
The burly man shook his head slightly. He greatly admired the professor's knowledge but disagreed with some of his more naive views.
"Holy cow!"
The burly man suddenly exclaimed, and then the car jolted violently.
"What is it? Is it a Drill Worm attack?"
Xiao Guanghan asked nervously.
"Th-that... that kid... he committed suicide!"
The burly man said with disbelief.
Xiao Guanghan and the female student quickly turned their heads to look back.
They saw a figure instantly disappear into the sand pit in the center of the desert...
Zhang Chen, who had been standing at the edge of the desert, was gone!
...
Following Xiao Guanghan's directions, Zhang Chen directly arrived at the very center of the desert.
Since this was the core of the nest, the Queen Worm must be here.
He would deal with the big one first, then clean up the remaining grunts, and finally search for the Ice Condensing Flower at his leisure.
It was possible that the Ice Condensing Flower was in these underground insect nests.
The center of the desert was a large pit, revealing tunnels made of insect mucus mixed with sand.
Zhang Chen jumped directly into it.
After descending more than ten meters, the slope slightly leveled, and then, countless forks and caves appeared before him.
"So complex!"
Zhang Chen gazed at the scene. Prompts appeared next to each cave.
【This fork leads to the egg incubation chamber...】
【This fork leads to the food storage room...】
【This fork leads to the quicksand trap...】
【This fork leads to the Queen Worm's nest...】
"Queen Worm's nest? That's the one!"