Chapter 395: Forging an Alliance
“Stop right there! Don’t come any closer!”
Following Zhang Yi’s instructions, Xu Pangzi shouted at the approaching elder.
The gray-robed Great Decree stopped in his tracks, offering a courteous bow and a calm smile.
“Greetings, good sir! I see a radiant aura around you, a clear sign of your strength as a mighty superhuman!”
The unexpected compliment caught Xu Pangzi off guard. In the shelter, he was always considered the weakest, so this rare praise left him momentarily pleased.
But the grin on his face quickly vanished when Zhang Yi’s voice came through his earpiece, reminding him to stick to the script.
Xu Pangzi cleared his throat and asked sternly, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”
The Great Decree remained composed, his demeanor humble and calm, resembling a frail old man.
He smiled faintly and added, “But you are not Zhang Yi, are you?”
His eyes seemed to pierce through the snowy winds, as though he could see directly into the shelter. To him, Zhang Yi’s energy shone like a radiant sun, an unmistakable beacon of immense power.
Inside the shelter, Zhang Yi’s brows furrowed at the mention of his name.
Uncle You leaned closer and whispered, “I know that old man! He’s the one who came to Yue Lu Residential Area years ago. He tried recruiting me, but I turned him down. He did, however, help Li Jian awaken his powers.”
Zhang Yi nodded thoughtfully.
“That ability of his is quite useful,” he murmured. “Especially when paired with Yuan Kongye’s Blessing ability. Together, they’re a perfect combination.”
He turned to Xu Pangzi and instructed, “Ask him what he wants with me.”
Xu Pangzi relayed the question without missing a beat.
“Our boss doesn’t meet with just anyone,” Xu said bluntly. “If you’ve got something to say, say it here. He’s listening.”
The Great Decree seemed momentarily surprised but quickly recovered.
What caution! Even a simple meeting is so carefully considered.
Though he himself wasn’t a combatant, Zhao Jianhua admired Zhang Yi’s prudence. In the chaos of the apocalypse, vigilance was the first rule of survival.
“I have come bearing a vital message from my Lord,” the Great Decree began. “Three days from now, Yangsheng Base, Chaoyu Base, and Qingpu Base will jointly launch an assault on your shelter!”
Zhang Yi listened calmly, unsurprised by the revelation.
What the Great Decree offered was not new information but confirmation of the assault’s timing. It also explained why both Xingtian and the Followers of the Snow God had contacted him today.
With the attack just three days away, they had little time to negotiate. Should discussions fail, they’d need to finalize their alliances and prepare to march alongside the other factions.
The Great Decree straightened his back, his tone growing passionate.
“These ruthless, despicable warlords dare to target such a beautiful haven! They even tried to persuade my Lord to join their vile scheme.”
“But our faith is rooted in love and peace. We utterly reject their wicked plans!”
“Therefore,” Zhao Jianhua said, his eyes gleaming as he looked toward the shelter, “we hope to collaborate with Mr. Zhang Yi.”
Zhang Yi smirked. Exactly as expected.
The so-called alliance among the western factions was fractured from the start. Whether it was Qingpu Base or the Followers of the Snow God, each was hedging its bets and angling for leverage.
The more divided they were, the more confident Zhang Yi felt about his chances in the coming battle.
At Zhang Yi’s direction, Xu Pangzi asked, “So you’re saying you’re willing to pull out of the attack and stay neutral?”
To Xu Pangzi’s surprise, the Great Decree shook his head.
“Simply withdrawing wouldn’t constitute a partnership.”
“We, the Followers of the Snow God, stand for love and peace. Evil must be opposed, and injustice must be punished!”
“Our leader wishes to propose a deeper alliance—to work together with Mr. Zhang Yi against the other factions.”
Zhang Yi’s expression turned serious. This cult has some nerve.
Their goal wasn’t just neutrality; they wanted an alliance to directly confront the other three bases.
Zhang Yi wasn’t naive enough to trust such a bold claim.
“Ask him why they want to ally with us, supposedly the weaker side,” Zhang Yi instructed.
Xu Pangzi repeated the question.
The Great Decree smiled faintly. “Because it is the will of my Lord! In you, I see the light of love and peace—”
“Spare me the theatrics,” Xu Pangzi interrupted. “Let’s be honest here.”
Caught off guard, Zhao Jianhua chuckled softly. “Very well.”
“The truth is, we, like you, lack powerful backers. Tianhai City’s major bases had the best weapons, shelters, and talent from the very beginning. They’ve always seen this city as their personal domain.”
“The rise of factions like ours—grassroots forces without ties to the old system—threatens their control, sparking both jealousy and fear.”
“Your shelter suffered under Xishan Base’s oppression, didn’t it? We, too, have been targeted and forced to survive in the cracks.”
“From this perspective, we are the same. We are natural allies against the tyranny of the major bases!”
The Great Decree’s voice rose with passion, but Zhang Yi remained unmoved.
In short, they’ve been suppressed for too long and want revenge.
“What’s the point of talking about a ‘shared struggle’? I’m nothing like you cult scammers,” Zhang Yi thought dismissively.
The Great Decree’s speech failed to stir him.
From the very beginning, Zhang Yi never cared about power, territory, or other worldly pursuits.
He only wanted to live comfortably in the apocalypse.
“However,” Zhang Yi said aloud, his tone calm, “since everyone seems intent on destroying Yangsheng Base and Chaoyu Base, there is a premise for cooperation.”