"No, I've been searching for a long time, but there's no sign of anyone."
Xiang Yang did not seem to be too affected by this, or rather, she was already used to it. However, she said with some hope, "However, I heard that the Eastern Alliance had established a human survival base in the Arctic Circle. That should be the hope of mankind!"
It seemed that a country's structure in this world was not quite the same. Lu Ren pondered. This was ultimately an alternate space-time. Perhaps this was a parallel universe, perhaps.
He was very curious about the structure of this world. Although he could kill this girl like killing a chicken, it was still fine for the time being as she had not shown any abnormal behavior. After all, there were so many people in the world; some might like you, and some might not.
He could not kill everyone who displayed unfriendliness toward him, right?
Even so, Lu Ren still maintained a distance of at least a meter from Xiang Yang so that he would have time to react if the other party suddenly attacked.
"What are those monsters? Are they the contaminated creatures you mentioned? How were they contaminated?"
Xiang Yang said in surprise, "Don't you know?"
Lu Ren nodded slightly and said casually, "I came from a very far place, so I don't know everything here."
Xiang Yang could not help but look at Lu Ren with a strange expression. However, it was true that the other party was a human. She pondered for a moment and sorted out her thoughts.
"My father said that the calamity had happened 30 years ago. After the mystic realm was opened, it released a kind of energy that quickly spread throughout the world. Ninety percent of the humans and animals in the world were contaminated, and the genes in their bodies began to mutate.
"Their strength, speed, and physical resistance continued to increase. However, the price they had paid was that their rationality disappeared, and they became wild beasts that followed their instincts."
A hint of confusion appeared in Xiang Yang's eyes as she said, "My father said that it was the period of time when humans were at their most tragic. They were almost on the verge of extinction. More than half of the one billion people who had survived in the world quickly died under the pursuit and killing by the contaminated creatures. Then, everyone moved underground and established a line of resistance through the subway transportation network and various disaster prevention facilities.
"However, it was not just humans who were contaminated and mutated. Animals and insects all mutated to varying degrees. Humanity was at stake. Fortunately, a large number of rats seemed to have natural resistance, enabling us to have targets for developing resistance.
"A few years ago, it could still be confirmed through the global wireless satellite broadcast that there were still traces of human survival. However, in recent years, as the contamination became more serious, the response was very sporadic. Many of them survived by hiding in the shelters and relying on the remaining supplies.
"Apart from the Arctic human survivor base established by the Eastern Alliance, the ground has completely become a paradise for monsters."
Lu Ren asked, "What do those monsters rely on to survive?"
"Energy. The special energy emitted from the mystic realm is scattered in the air. Those contaminated creatures can absorb this energy to survive."
Xiang Yang shrugged her shoulders slightly. "But my father told me all this. I'm not sure of the details."
"Then where is the mystic realm?"
Although he had seen it in a magazine, Lu Ren still wanted to confirm it.
"Haizhou City." Xiang Yang pointed at her feet. "This is Haizhou City. It is also the place with the densest concentration of special energy and the most number of monsters."
Lu Ren was puzzled. "Then why have I encountered so few along the way?"
"Most of them are hiding in the black fog."
"Black fog?"
Xiang Yang explained, "At night, the black fog, like a thin veil, will cover the ground. The contaminated creatures will walk out and move around, but some powerful contaminated creatures will also leave the black fog and move around during the day."
Lu Ren was speechless for a long time. The mechanism of this world's extinction was really too strange, beyond imagination. Fortunately, he did not run around at night but had stayed in the building and had not come into contact with them.
In summary, the mystic realm passageway released a special energy and formed a black fog. The contaminated creatures would enter the black fog to rest.
"Then where would the black fog be hiding during the day?"
Xiang Yang said, "I don't know. I heard from my father that it might have been connected to this world from the mystic realm for a long time, so the black fog would retreat into the mystic realm and then randomly release a large area of black fog around the world at night when the special energy was active. This area almost covers an entire continent. There are also people who say that it is actually underground. However, the clouds in Haizhou City have been pretty good these few days, so the black fog has not spread here."
Lu Ren nodded slightly. "So why did your father bring you here?"
Xiang Yang was silent for a moment. "My father wanted to enter the research center to close the entrance to the mystic realm passageway."
It seemed that the identity of Xiang Yang's father was not simple in this world. He was definitely not an ordinary person.
"What about you?"
"Me?"
Seeing that Xiang Yang did not want to talk about it, Lu Ren changed the topic and said, "Alright, what do you want to do next?"
A hint of determination appeared on Xiang Yang's face. "I want to complete my father's last wish."
Lu Ren sized up the girl in surprise. Although she looked a little petite, it seemed that her experience in the past few years had enabled her to have a rather good physique. The outline of her muscles was faintly discernible.
This was a character with full survival skills, and she had experienced hundreds of battles. She was skilled and experienced. She did not have the pretensions of a young girl at all. She was decisive and resolute.
No wonder she could survive here alone for a long time.
Seeing Lu Ren's indifferent expression, Xiang Yang could not help but say, "We're all humans. Don't you want to say something?"
Lu Ren thought for a moment and said seriously, "Hmm, that's a good ambition. I wish you all the best."
"…Don't you want to be a hero for once to save the world?"
"I think the term 'hero' is too heavy. I can't shoulder or carry it. I might not be able to withstand it."
Xiang Yang looked at his strong physique and the two bone swords by his sides; they were still stained with dried blood.
"Are you willing to hide in a dark corner and live like this for the rest of your life? Busk in the sunlight? Stand on the open surface and watch the sun rise and the moon set?"
Lu Ren said, "Although the scenes you described are beautiful, I don't think these attract me much."
To put it cruelly, he was not from this mystic realm. Moreover, the System had clearly told him that seven days later, this mystic realm, which was connected to the real world, would depart, and those who did not belong to this world would be separated.
From a certain perspective, the other party seemed to be luring him!
How could Lu Ren be willing to take the risk?
Xiang Yang looked at Lu Ren with bulging eyes. Although the guy in front of him was not one of those contaminated creatures, he was still detestable in nature.
She sat in the corner sulking, not wanting to talk to Lu Ren.
Lu Ren, on the other hand, did not care. This kind of person, who did not know the cruelty of reality and had been blinded by her naivety, would often do unexpected things with her passion. If the Arctic human survivor base had really been established by national institutions, they would definitely set strategic goals for the mystic realm passageway.
However, they might be helpless for practical reasons.
The father and daughter had thought too highly of themselves. Now that one had died midway, only Xiang Yang was left living in this dangerous Haizhou City.
It had to be said that the underground sewer system was quite grand. Many of the passageways were 2.5 meters tall, enough to accommodate five people side by side.
Moreover, it extended in all directions. There was also a sewerage water purification installation further down.
One would be able to survive easily here until the seventh day and then return to the real world.
This was a pretty good refuge.