Staying Alive Cautiously in the Celestial Realm and Becoming the Strongest

Zhang Shen and Zhang Qian, the brother and sister, devoured the energy bars in their hands with wolf-like hunger and tiger-like ferocity.

After finishing, they even let out a burp full of happiness!

Wang Chen was very curious about the extent of material scarcity at Base D01359, to the point that even two children couldn't be properly fed, forcing them to risk coming to the surface.

Even if energy radiation had destroyed all technological facilities, solid food packs, energy bars, vacuum cans, and other stored materials can last for decades without refrigeration.

Zhang Shen licked his lips, looked up at the sky, and said, "Sir, let's go now. It'll be very dangerous if it gets dark, and if we encounter a Hunter-Killer, there will be trouble."

Hunter-Killer?

Wang Chen's eyes flickered.

A Hunter-Killer is a type of soldier from the Nether Tribe, and from what the other person said, it was clear there was still the presence of Heterogenous beings on Tampas Star.

He remembered it without asking further questions.

Under Zhang Shen's guidance, Wang Chen followed the brother and sister into a dried-up sewer.

The three of them traveled through the maze-like underground tunnels for nearly half an hour, then climbed down a deep well.

This underground space had no lighting, and one couldn't see their hand in front of their face. But Zhang Shen carried a Fluorescent Stone for illumination, and they finally reached a rusty steel shield door.

Thump thump thump!

Zhang Shen raised his fist and knocked on the door rhythmically.

After a moment, a small window on the door suddenly opened, revealing a pair of eyes.

"Oh, you brought an outsider back?"

The voice inside was hoarse and suspicious: "Who is he?"

"This gentleman is a War Professional, he's here looking for someone."

Zhang Shen said with a grin, "Uncle Sun, could you please make an exception? This gentleman saved my sister and me, he's not a bad person."

"Bad people don't have it written on their faces."

Inside, Uncle Sun said sulkily, "Since you're willing to vouch for him, he can come in, but the rules can't change."

Wang Chen calmly pulled out five energy bars and handed them over: "Is this okay?"

On the way, he had heard Zhang Shen explain that outsiders had visited Base D01359 before, and according to the regulations set by the base leader, a fee was required for entry.

Of course, the fee wasn't in Star Currency, but any useful materials.

Food is naturally the best hard currency!

In fact, during the fall of Tampas Star, many underground bases maintained communication contact and personnel exchanges until an energy storm greatly altered that situation.

No one had visited Base D01359 for a long time.

Although the gatekeeper was highly vigilant towards outsiders, the five energy bars easily broke his reserve.

Accompanied by a tooth-gritting friction sound, the heavy shield door opened from the inside.

Zhang Shen pulled his sister in quickly, and Wang Chen followed them inside.

Bam!

The shield door was re-locked and sealed shut.

There were two people guarding this gate, and they all showed surprise seeing Wang Chen, who followed the siblings in.

Because Wang Chen's attire and demeanor didn't look at all like someone who had been trapped underground on this planet for three years.

"Which base are you from?"

One of the middle-aged men couldn't help but ask, "A-grade?"

Wang Chen nodded: "A00023."

Base D01359 should still be unaware that the Empire has already reclaimed the Tampas Star cluster, and due to the significant impact of unknown energy radiation, the Empire was unable to communicate with these bases.

The mission Xu Chengzhi carried out also included searching for survivors, which resulted in him becoming one of the missing.

To avoid trouble, Wang Chen decided not to tell these people the truth for now.

After all, the rescue Flying Warship would only land on this planet in a month, and it could only take a limited number of people at a time.

So he casually mentioned an A-grade base number.

The other person believed him.

The other guard asked, "Who are you looking for?"

Wang Chen then took out a photo again.

The two passed it between themselves to take a look, but in the end, they both shook their heads—haven't seen them.

One person said, "You can go inside and ask Iron Tiger and the others. They often go to the surface to gather supplies, maybe they've encountered them."

"Thanks."

Wang Chen thought for a moment and took out a pack of cigarettes: "You guys share these."

"Whoa!"

Their eyes almost popped out: "You actually brought cigarettes, truly worthy of coming from an A-grade base!"

Wang Chen smiled and said to Zhang Shen and his sister, "Let's go."

The three went through a long underground passage, then descended about a hundred meters along a tier, and pushed open a door.

The main area of Base D01359 appeared before Wang Chen.

This D-grade base surprisingly still had basic power supply, equipped with an obviously modified lighting system. Although it looked very crude, at least it kept the residents from returning to the Barbaric Wilderness.

However, most of the equipment and facilities could not function, everything seemed a mess, like an old, disrepaired steel fortress, rather shocking to behold.

Some circuits laid on the walls sizzled and sparked.

Along the way, Wang Chen encountered some people in the base.

They all looked gloomy, dirty, and haggard, living somewhat like walking corpses.

This made Wang Chen, the newcomer, stand out like a crane among chickens, drawing everyone's attention.

Some people even followed behind.

Among them, a few eyes showed greedy and resentful expressions.

Zhang Shen became nervous, quickened his pace, and brought Wang Chen to the front of a small bar: "Sir, Iron Tiger and the others should be inside, you can ask them, I..."

He opened his mouth, but couldn't continue.

"I know."

Wang Chen patted his shoulder: "Thank you for bringing me here, you and your sister should go home."

Zhang Shen softly said: "Please be very careful."

After speaking, he took off the backpacks from himself and Zhang Qian, tossed them on the ground, and quickly ran off with his sister.

Those who had caught up just glanced, then refocused their attention back on Wang Chen.

Smart little guy!

Wang Chen smiled and pushed the door open.

The noisy sounds mixed with a bad smell hit him, only to see twenty or thirty people inside the dimly lit bar, sitting in groups of three or five, drinking and laughing loudly.

Wang Chen's sudden appearance was like someone pressing the pause button on a playing movie.

The bar's noise abruptly stopped, and everyone turned to look at Wang Chen, making him the center of attention.

Amazement, puzzlement, greed, covetousness...

Under the scrutiny of various unusual looks, Wang Chen calmly asked, "Excuse me, who is Iron Tiger?"

Everyone's attention then shifted to a burly man sitting in front of the bar.

The latter slowly stood up: "That's me."

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Here's the second update.