Train of Thought

In order to upgrade from a First-order Mutant to a Second Order Mutant, a full one hundred First-order Variant Crystals are required. This is no small number - conservatively estimated, killing over a thousand zombies would be needed.

As for wishing to upgrade again after becoming a Second Order Mutant, even more crystals would be required - a full one thousand First-order Variant Crystals, or one hundred Second Order Variant Crystals. But only Second Order zombies have a chance of producing those.

There is also an exchange ratio between the different grades of Variant Crystals. In the previous life, Variant Crystals also became a hard currency. Everything needed to be purchased using Variant Crystals.

One Second Order Variant Crystal equals ten First-order Variant Crystals. The higher Third Order and Fourth Order grades work similarly.

This is calculated based on the effects of the Variant Crystals. But the actual upgrade process is not completely so straightforward.

An ordinary person can take ten First-order Variant Crystals to upgrade to a First Order Mutant, or take one Second Order Variant Crystal to upgrade. But they cannot take a Third Order crystal, as that would make their body explode, resulting in death.

Likewise, a Third Order Mutant can take 100 Third Order Variant Crystals to upgrade, or 1000 Second Order Variant Crystals. But First Order crystals would have little effect - possibly requiring tens of thousands to potentially upgrade.

So at higher levels, lower order Variant Crystals are more used as hard currency, while higher order Variant Crystals remain rare items.

Second Order zombies would only appear after a month, so for now Xiao Jun was like an invincible existence. With his attributes multiplied sixfold from his upgrade, he could already ignore differences in numbers.

In high spirits, Xiao Jun opened a can of beer. Occasionally some strange cries could still be heard outside, possibly someone who had accidentally revealed their location and had the zombie horde knocking at their door.

Living high up really was great - even if zombies got into the hotel they would have difficulty climbing up this high.

Drinking beer and opening a bag of bar snacks to go with the alcohol, life was carefree and unrestrained!

The room door suddenly opened and the naked Wan Qianya limped out.

"No clothes left."

In the candlelight she exuded an even greater charm. Along with Wan Qianya's coquettish tone, Xiao Jun almost lost control.

Xiao Jun had just finished upgrading. If they went for another passionate session now, he was afraid Wan Qianya would be spent.

"There are some of my clothes over there, go find something to wear."

Wan Qianya was a very clever woman. She quickly adapted to the apocalypse after becoming Xiao Jun's woman. She maintained a humility, understanding that as long as Xiao Jun willed it, countless women would use all means to get into his bed now, just for the resources in this room.

Finding a white shirt without undergarments, Wan Qianya did not bother wearing them - after all there were only two people here.

She also grabbed a bottle of soda and sat next to Xiao Jun.

Without clothes she was fine, but slipping on the white shirt actually made her even more alluring. Xiao Jun forced himself not to look her way, lighting a cigarette and taking a heavy drag to suppress his impure thoughts.

"What should we do next?"

After a period of silence, Wan Qianya broke it.

They couldn't hide in this room forever after all, and food was limited.

"Tomorrow I'll go back out to look for more airdrop boxes."

"Airdrop boxes? You mean like that big box that fell from the sky in front of the gym yesterday?"

Xiao Jun had not expected Wan Qianya to have seen it too. Due to the zombies the previous night, very few people would have noticed at that time slot.

"Not many know about it yet, but tomorrow a lot more people definitely will. Because for the next seven days, there will be an airdrop box falling everyday, while at midnight it rains zombies instead."

The zombies and airdrop boxes would last a full seven days. The number of zombies would grow while the number of boxes increased as well.

It felt as if they were domesticated animals being culled - the weak eliminated, with only the strong able to survive.

And the strong could only grow stronger, while the weak had no choices.

Wan Qianya did not ask how Xiao Jun knew so much. She only needed to know that following him meant survival.

"I saw several of those airdrop boxes yesterday."

Xiao Jun was delighted. Yesterday he had only paid attention to that exceptional airdrop box, not checking for others. If he knew their general locations it would be much easier to find them.

"Around this direction..."

Wan Qianya roughly confirmed their current position looking out the window.

"There should be one not far from us. I saw it falling in this direction, slightly more north."

The business school was south of the hotel. He hadn't come across any boxes on the way here today either, so he would search north tomorrow.

These airdrop boxes really did look similar to normal boxes from afar. You couldn't tell them apart until up close examining the small lock.

Sometimes an airdrop box could be right next to you, but you might dismiss it as a normal box.

Moreover, their landing spots tended to be in hidden corners - never out on big streets.

Either in a small corner of a residential district, inside a company's courtyard, or like the one Xiao Jun had opened, in front of a school gymnasium.

Places that people would not normally go intentionally.

Right now everyone was busy looking for food everywhere, so who would think to check out the gym?

But after people found out about the airdrop boxes tomorrow, searches would happen everywhere.

Xiao Jun had to find more boxes tomorrow before people clued in, especially if there were more exceptional ones.

Although he knew hoping for that was slim, it didn't hurt to dream.

"You stay and rest in the hotel tomorrow, I'll head out alone."

Bringing Wan Qianya now would just slow him down. It was better to go solo.

Wan Qianya nodded gratefully.

"I'll take some of this food with me. Watch the rest carefully, don't let anyone else in."

Xiao Jun decided to take away some of the food as well, especially items with short shelf lives. Anything placed in his Spatial Equipment would remain forever as it was when stored, avoiding expiration issues.

In front of Wan Qianya, he took away over half the cans, some water, and salt.

Five hundred kilograms was still too small. He had to leave space for other things. If he came across a mall tomorrow he could check inside.

Malls had their own storage rooms. Experience from his past life told him those places were generally sealed well, avoiding serious water damage.

Hmm, he would at least have to bring back some women's clothing. Wan Qianya's current state really made him uneasy.