Chapter 32

Curious, Su Yao also picked one up, but no matter how she looked at the withered pineal gland, she couldn't see any value in it.

Chu Nan stood up and said, "You should collect some too. After we get back, drink water infused with this every day; it's very nourishing."

Hearing Chu Nan's words, Su Yao immediately frowned.

Yuan Tengfei laughed and said, "Alright, I'll get a few too."

Chu Nan knew everyone was skeptical, but he would never reveal that using a magnifying glass could recharge these withered pineal glands with original force.

After the events of the past few days, combined with Chen Mo's deductions and the delayed arrival of the rescue team, Chu Nan increasingly felt that this earthquake was not simple. Perhaps, he needed to prepare for the worst.

If the end times really were coming, and the undead grew stronger, and mutants appeared endlessly, the environment would become increasingly harsh. Under the pressure of survival, only strength would matter, and this secret might be his only advantage over others.

Sharing with others would mean these resources would also be taken by them. Once they knew the withered pineal glands had such a use, it was clear they would be divided among everyone.

Now, although everyone was skeptical, they wouldn't compete with him. At most, out of curiosity or doubt, they would take a few to study, but they wouldn't collect them as diligently as he did.

"Could it be that the earthquake wasn't just in one area, but... the entire province, the whole country, or even the world... Otherwise... why hasn't the rescue team come... or even any signal..."

Chu Nan pondered, perhaps this was the only reasonable explanation.

Perhaps influenced by Chu Nan and Tang Sanli's serious collection of these pineal glands, Chen Mo, Tao Zhi, Yuan Tengfei, and Su Yao couldn't help but each take a few. However, Chen Mo frowned and examined them for a long time, finding no research value in them.

Could it really be, as Chu Nan said, a medicinal ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine?

Although Chen Mo was a professor, he didn't understand traditional Chinese medicine.

"There have been rumors of using human brains or fetuses in medicine. The 'Zi He Che' in traditional Chinese medicine is a baby's placenta, which has many uses. If the pineal gland can be used in medicine... it doesn't sound like a lie, maybe there really is such a remedy."

Chen Mo mused, starting to believe Chu Nan's words. Otherwise, he couldn't think of any use for the withered pineal glands.

After all, what truly mattered to them was the genetic original force in the pineal glands, but that force had already been absorbed, leaving only the withered glands, like the shell of a fruit after the flesh had been eaten, making them useless.

With this thought, Chen Mo only took a few and stopped. He couldn't really take them back to soak in water, as that would be too disgusting.

Tao Zhi, Yuan Tengfei, and Su Yao also stopped after taking a few. Only Tang Sanli and Chu Nan continued, carefully searching, not just in the bodies of the zombies but also in the ugly monsters.

Each additional pineal gland collected made Chu Nan more excited, but he suppressed his excitement and didn't show it on his face.

Because there were so many, his pockets couldn't hold them all. Chu Nan searched through the ruins, which were originally residential areas with all sorts of items. He quickly found a suitable small backpack and put them all inside.

Yuan Tengfei and Su Yao, among others, were too lazy to continue collecting pineal glands and instead searched for food and drinking water.

Finally, Su Yao, with her keen eyes, found a usable faucet in the ruins. When she turned it, tap water sprayed out.

Chu Nan and Tang Sanli also stopped collecting and came over to replenish their water. Especially Chu Nan, who was severely dehydrated, felt much more energetic after drinking his fill.

"Chu Nan, can we go now? You've collected enough, right?" Su Yao frowned, as everyone had been delayed for a while because of Chu Nan's collection of the pineal glands.

Chu Nan said, "Just a moment, just a moment, wait a bit longer." Tang Sanli handed over all the ones he found to Chu Nan. Now, his backpack contained over a hundred, including the 24 he already had, but Chu Nan still wanted to collect more.

Hearing Chu Nan's words, the others also frowned.

They had wasted a lot of time waiting for Chu Nan to collect the pineal glands. If not for his impressive performance last night, which made him a powerful combatant, they would have left him behind long ago.

"Alright, just a little longer, Chu Nan. You should understand that we can't stay here too long. We don't know what might happen in this area. The longer we stay, the more dangerous it becomes." Yuan Tengfei's voice grew low. "As for the pineal glands, even if they are precious, we can collect them later if we have the chance."

Chu Nan smiled and said, "I understand, let's go soon." He quickened his pace to search the new zombie bodies for pineal glands.

"Really, there's nothing we can do about him. Let's help out and leave early." Su Yao shook her head and joined Yuan Tengfei.

Chen Mo and Tao Zhi looked at each other and had no choice but to help. Otherwise, they feared Chu Nan wouldn't leave until he had searched every last pineal gland.

Seeing everyone's efforts, Chu Nan felt a bit embarrassed.

"Kid, you really have your reasons. Are these pineal glands really that important to you?" Chen Mo couldn't help but ask, "Chu Nan, be honest, do the pineal glands have other uses, or are they really just for research or as a medicinal ingredient?"

Chu Nan said, "What other uses could there be? I have an uncle who has always been very kind to me. He was recently diagnosed with liver cancer in the late stage, and Western medicine can't save him. Recently, I've been reading a lot of traditional Chinese medicine books, hoping to find a cure. I finally found this remedy, but... to treat late-stage liver cancer, a large amount of pineal glands is needed. That's why I need so many."

As he spoke, his face showed a serious and painful expression.

"Is that so." Tang Sanli, standing nearby, suddenly understood why Chu Nan needed so many pineal glands. He had suspected it before but didn't want to ask directly, to avoid making Chu Nan feel doubted.

Hearing his answer, the others were disappointed. Each of them had hoped Chu Nan would reveal a more miraculous use.

"Alright, Chu Nan, that's enough. Even if there are a few left, it won't matter." Yuan Tengfei handed over the dozen or so he had found to Chu Nan.

Seeing everyone looking at him, Chu Nan knew they were very impatient. If he insisted, it would easily cause real resentment, or even a split. In this uncertain situation, being alone was very dangerous, and it was much safer to stay with the group. He nodded and said, "Alright."

Hearing this, everyone sighed in relief and handed over their pineal glands, but they all kept a few, clearly wanting to study them privately to see if they had any special uses.

Chu Nan placed all the pineal glands in the backpack and slung it over his shoulder. A rough estimate showed he had about two hundred, a huge harvest.

What changes would he undergo if he recharged and absorbed all two hundred pineal glands?

Chu Nan was very excited.

The six of them were cautious and fully alert, finally leaving the gruesome battlefield without encountering any zombies or mutants.

After crossing the ruins, everyone couldn't help but take a deep breath.

"Jiangtian City isn't far. These past few days... have been hell." The mountain-like Tao Zhi exhaled deeply and said, "I've lost weight from hunger. When I get home, I'll have a good meal."

Seeing the mountain-like Tao Zhi still feeling hungry, everyone couldn't help but smile.

Including Chu Nan, everyone's mood improved.

Tang Sanli was also very excited. "Finally, we can return to the city. I wonder how they are." He strongly missed his wife and his daughter, whom he was very proud of.

Chu Nan looked into the distance, thinking of his parents and the image of Li Feng flashed in his mind. His heart ached slightly, and he shook his head, feeling a bit lonely.

After crossing the ruins, they came to a wide road. Following the road, they would eventually reach Jiangtian City.

Following the road, the view was open, and they didn't fear sudden dangers. Everyone's mood became particularly relaxed. Half an hour later, the six of them stopped, and their relaxed expressions turned serious again.

In front of them, the ground had completely split open.

The gap was over twenty meters wide, and no matter how skilled they were, they couldn't jump across it.

The six of them looked at each other, completely stunned.

Seeing Jiangtian City just ahead, and knowing they could reach it in two or three hours, they were now blocked by such a huge crack.

"Damn it." Tao Zhi couldn't help but exclaim.

Yuan Tengfei's face also turned grim. The crack extended in both directions, with no end in sight. Even if they tried to go around it, they wouldn't know how long it would take, and the journey would be fraught with danger.

"Hey, look below." Suddenly, Su Yao pointed down the crack.

The group walked to the edge of the crack and looked down. Chen Mo, who had a fear of heights, felt dizzy and stepped back, breaking out in a cold sweat.

Chu Nan squinted, his face showing disbelief. The others were also staring in shock. Then, Yuan Tengfei, as if waking from a dream, called out, "Professor Chen, come and look. What's down there?"