Wasteland Development Diary

Zhou Yi, aboard the Emerald City, once again arrived outside Sandport City.

He bypassed the city and headed straight for the hills to the northeast. The mountains here were layered upon layered, like solidified ocean waves.

The base of the mountain was surrounded by many stone piles, each topped with a blood-smeared human skull, a clear warning.

Standing before one of the stone piles, Sandsea Duke said, "Mr. Zhou, any further and we'll be near that place. In the past, residents who came to these mountains to gather branches and mushrooms accidentally stumbled into that alien entity, and never returned."

The territorial lord's face was grave. "I once led the guards on a thorough search and discovered an underground cave leading to the Dead Sea alien beneath the surface."

Guided by him, the Emerald City wound its way around the hillside to the back, where an area was sealed off by many large stones, similarly smeared with purplish-brown blood.

"This is the place. I sent two batches of guards down, including D-level Thorn Birds and Howler Toads, but none returned."

"After that, I had no choice but to seal it off completely."

"Actually, I went down twice myself. That place is a bit creepy, and there are some strange noises. I can't quite describe it, but it gives me a feeling of extreme danger..."

According to Sandsea Duke, there was originally no cave here. It was only after a year of continuous rain and landslides that this opening was revealed. At first, some people secretly went inside, thinking there were treasures, but after they all disappeared, no one dared to approach it again.

The Emerald City dug away the stones sealing the entrance, revealing a dark cave with wind blowing out.

Its steel and iron arms reached inside, quickly reaching the end.

According to the feedback, it was only 14 meters deep.

At the end was a square, semi-enclosed hut embedded in the mountain.

More would have to be determined by on-site investigation.

This time, Zhou Yi decided to go down alone.

Against a building-type lifeform, Red Falcon and Spine Hunter were useless, and might even be in danger if they triggered certain mechanisms.

Zhou Yi had them stay outside, with Red Falcon improvising based on the situation and keeping an eye on Sandsea Duke inside the Emerald City.

"I'm going down for a look."

Zhou Yi said to Sandsea Duke, "If all goes well, I'll be back in a little while."

Sandsea Duke simply said, "Mr. Zhou, please be careful."

...

Following the cave entrance, Zhou Yi switched to Mode 2.

Although the two consecutive Life Strikes had caused significant damage, after a month, Xiaofu had recovered to 60,000 health points and could withstand some attacks.

The Emerald City's steel and iron frame went deep into the cave, the metal bars glowing to illuminate the interior, providing decent visibility.

At the end was a boxy iron-sheet room, heavily rusted, with multiple dents and peeling iron sheets.

The door was already open, and the end of the Emerald City's metal exoskeleton was inside.

Zhou Yi walked in.

There was no furniture inside, and in the corner were several rhombus-shaped stones that no longer glowed, undoubtedly brought in by outsiders.

The room was filled with a damp, metallic smell.

There was also a very faint sound, but it was too quiet to identify whether it was water or wind.

On the inner wall of the hut was a closed door.

Zhou Yi first observed the iron window on the wall, but it was completely welded shut with iron plates, offering no view.

He then placed his hand on the cold, rusty iron wall.

Energy, input.

However, the output energy simply dissipated and was not received.

This iron-sheet room was not a building-type lifeform.

Then the problem might be behind the other door.

Zhou Yi adjusted his pace and came to the door, observing it for a while.

He twisted the iron doorknob. The rust made the mechanical structure anything but smooth, but with force, it could be turned, but something seemed to be blocking it from behind, making it difficult to push open.

Zhou Yi gripped the doorknob, leaned his shoulder against it, and gradually increased his strength.

Bang, bang, bang!

It didn't sound like a dead end on the other side; there was space.

He further increased his strength.

The deformed iron door banged violently, opening outward with a piercing creak. Two large stones behind it were also pushed aside; they had been propping up the back of the door.

Outside the door was a dark passage.

Zhou Yi tugged on the nearby steel bars, signaling the Emerald City to extend forward.

Thus, under the glowing metal exoskeleton that continued to advance, Zhou Yi groped his way forward. But this time the road was long, and it began to wind downwards. The Emerald City's arms stretched to their limit, but still did not reach the area where the underground alien was located.

Zhou Yi could only go down alone first.

He calculated his steps, and after two turns, the surroundings suddenly became brighter.

Zhou Yi discovered that he was standing at the entrance of a shopping mall.

A large blue billboard in front was printed with white letters: Walmart, and there was a one-way sensor door at the entrance.

A familiar music came from his ears.

"I congratulate you on getting rich,

I congratulate you on your brilliance,

Bring the best over here,

Send the bad away,

Oh, too much courtesy is no fault..."

It turned out to be an underground Walmart supermarket?

Zhou Yi was not particularly happy at the moment, but rather felt even stranger.

This was a supermarket, so why would people disappear here? Could it be that this supermarket wouldn't let you leave unless you spent money?

Zhou Yi felt his pocket.

Fortunately, he had brought the Photon-Na Box.

It was indeed right to bring some money when going out.

He decided to take a look first.

Zhou Yi placed his hand on the wall at the entrance, and this time the energy input was successful.

"Are you a shopping mall?"

"Yes, welcome."

The voice was gentle and young.

The mall is like this.

The latest novel is first published on 6-9 books-ba!

Zhou Yi asked, "Some humans and Photon-Na lifeforms came in before, are they still inside?"

"If you are referring to previous customers, they did come, but they left after shopping."

A picture appeared in Zhou Yi's mind.

Human explorers and Photon-Na creatures cautiously came here, and then, in Dehua's repeated "Congratulations on getting rich," they lost themselves, inexplicably picked up shopping bags, pushed carts, and began their shopping journey.

As for where these people went after leaving, the mall said it didn't know.

Since he was already here.

Zhou Yi also dragged a stainless steel cart from the entrance and entered through the one-way door.

He was very familiar with the inside, having visited many Walmarts in the past.

Numerous commodities were placed on the shelves and counters, and a layer of light film covered the cardboard boxes and packaging bags. However, the numbers on the price tags had changed, and the renminbi behind them had become floating light-seed forms.

But the things here were really not cheap.

Oreo All-You-Can-Eat Gift Pack, 2.79 light seeds.

Lay's Potato Chip Gift Box, 2.29 light seeds.

Coke 2L, 0.69 light seeds.

...

While looking at the surrounding goods, Zhou Yi said, "I want to buy you, name a price."

"Sorry, this place is not for sale."

"Can't a shopping mall be bought whole?"

"Sorry, this place is not for sale."

The other party seemed to be triggered by some kind of mechanism, only answering the same thing.

Zhou Yi couldn't help but feel surprised, so he changed the topic: "Did the previous customers buy anything?"

"Sorry, customer privacy is involved, so I can't disclose it."

Okay.

Zhou Yi continued to walk down and found that the mall had two floors. The first floor was food and daily necessities, and the second floor was filled with various electrical appliances, tools, and outdoor items.

The entire mall was bright and clean, with a full range of goods, but it was empty, making it seem a bit eerie amidst the continuously playing festive music.

Zhou Yi walked all the way to the exit on the second floor.

If the previous people entered here and did not return the same way, they could only have left from this exit.

He looked up and saw that the outside was pitch black, as if he had returned to a new underground passage.

"What's outside?"

The mall said, "Sorry, please check the situation outside yourself, welcome to Walmart."

Zhou Yi looked back at the bright mall, put down the cart, and decided to continue exploring.

This Walmart mall was a bit strange.

Located underground where it is difficult to collect dead light, how does it maintain sufficient energy?

Zhou Yi stepped out of the one-way door.

The scene outside suddenly changed.

He found himself in a long corridor, with brown old-fashioned square floor tiles under his feet. The corridor was lined with green iron-栅栏 doors, each marked with a number.

Suddenly, figures rushed out from the distance ahead, charging aggressively.

The sound in his ears suddenly changed.

"Come forget right and wrong, come miss the past,

Sharing hardships always has fun,

Don't believe in despair, don't feel hesitation..."

Damn!

It turned into 'Friendship Years'.

Zhou Yi felt bad for a moment.

But the current situation didn't allow him to think too much. Because the newcomers were all emitting green light, indicating that they were all C-level strength lifeforms, and their numbers posed a threat to him.

There was no door behind him, completely a dead end.

Zhou Yi raised his fists, ready to fight.