Ice Age Apocalypse: I Hoard Billions of Supplies

As agreed, Zhang Yi handed over a third of the food as a deposit to Xing Tian. With plenty of people and sleds at his disposal, Xing Tian’s team easily loaded up the supplies for transport back to their base.

Watching himself gain these resources without shedding a drop of blood, Xing Tian was thrilled.

Meanwhile, Zhang Yi made a show of looking slightly pained by the exchange, further boosting Xing Tian’s satisfaction.

“Zhang Yi, don’t feel bad about this. Working with us at Qingfu Base will definitely be worth it!” Xing Tian said with a grin.

Zhang Yi’s lips curled into a faint smirk. Squinting slightly, he replied, “Do you remember back in middle school when I fought some kids from the class next door?”

Xing Tian paused, then nodded as memories resurfaced. “Yeah, I remember. Those punks were after Fan Xingcan, but she secretly had a crush on you. That’s why they ganged up on you.”

Zhang Yi nodded. “There were five of them against me. I knew I couldn’t win, so I went after the loudest one and knocked out three of his teeth.”

Pointing a finger at Xing Tian, Zhang Yi’s expression grew colder and sharper.

“This time, I’m giving you food, and I expect you to honor our agreement. But if you betray me, even if your entire team comes at me, I’ll make sure to drag you all down with me.”

“We’ll go down together, and then we’ll see if Qingfu Base can still survive in Tianhai City!”

Xing Tian felt a chill run down his spine and instinctively swallowed.

“Haha, Zhang Yi, you underestimate me! Let me tell you, I, Xing Tian, built my reputation on loyalty. Just wait and see!”

Zhang Yi smiled. “Good. I’d prefer to avoid bloodshed between old classmates.”

Xing Tian gathered his men and food supplies before leaving Xu Family Town. He glanced back cautiously at Zhang Yi several times, even forgetting to bring up the request to take women from the town back with them.

Once Xing Tian was gone, Zhang Yi called for Uncle You and the others to return to the Shelter.

“Let’s go. It’s time to prepare for battle,” Zhang Yi said.

Uncle You added, “Let’s hope the food doesn’t go to waste! Otherwise, we’ll have lost both resources and allies.”

Zhang Yi dismissed the concern. “The supplies we gave them were canned goods confiscated from West Hill Base—hardly anything special. Once things settle down, with my and Fatty Xu’s capabilities, we can replenish those easily. No need to feel sorry for it.”

Uncle You chuckled but warned, “I just hope we didn’t feed a pack of ingrates. If they turn on us, it’ll be a big loss.”

“Unlikely,” Zhang Yi said calmly but with confidence. “Even after all these years, Xing Tian’s personality hasn’t changed much. A person’s nature is hard to alter. He’s gone from an unremarkable nobody to a leader with powers and influence, but that doesn’t make him a brilliant strategist or commander.”

“He’s cautious and afraid of losing what he has. He excels at maintaining his position but lacks the boldness to take risks. Having already tasted some benefits, he’ll prefer to stay passive and profit without conflict.”

Of course, Zhang Yi admitted internally that no one was immune to such temptations. If he were in Xing Tian’s shoes, he too might opt for the safer option of taking the food and walking away.

Still, Zhang Yi added, “We’ll prepare for any possibility, just in case.”

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Returning to the Shelter, the group was greeted by the aroma of freshly cooked food wafting through the air.

The scent was especially rich today, invigorating everyone who caught a whiff. Zhang Yi’s eyes flashed with a guess and he headed to the kitchen.

Sure enough, Yang Siyah, fully recovered, was busy cooking in the open kitchen. Several other women stood nearby, captivated by the tantalizing smells.

When Yang Siyah saw Zhang Yi, her eyes lit up with excitement. “Zhang Yi, I’ve mastered my ability! Come and try my cooking!”

Zhang Yi raised an eyebrow, smiling as he approached. “Oh? That quickly? Impressive.”

After changing into more comfortable clothes, he walked toward the kitchen island.

“I take it you’ve all sampled Chef Yang’s cooking?” he asked the others.

Lu Keran nodded enthusiastically. “Yes, boss! Yang Siyah’s cooking is amazing! It even feels magical—after eating, I’m full of energy and ready to take on anything!”

Zhang Yi pondered this revelation. It seemed her ability worked not just on superhumans but also on ordinary people. That was incredibly convenient—food that could restore not only physical strength but also energy was exceedingly rare.

At the kitchen table, Zhang Yi noticed Liang Yue. Her complexion looked much better, and she seemed more spirited than before.

Curious, Zhang Yi turned to Yang Siyah. “Even Teacher Liang isn’t gloomy anymore after eating your cooking?”

Waving her spatula proudly, Yang Siyah replied, “Of course! My cooking boosts energy, clears the mind, and even removes negative conditions!”

Zhang Yi was startled. This was practically a built-in cleanse potion!

Yang Siyah offered him a bowl of chestnut porridge with a look of eager anticipation. “Zhang Yi, try this!”

Not wanting to dampen her spirits, Zhang Yi smiled and accepted the bowl. He set Hua Hua aside, scooping a small portion to let the cat sample it first.

Hua Hua sniffed, its sharp eyes narrowing in apparent thought before eagerly eating the offering.

Only then did Zhang Yi take a sip.

As the porridge slid down his throat, a surge of energy flooded his body, erasing all fatigue. He felt rejuvenated, ready to drop and do a hundred push-ups right then and there.

“Good stuff!” Zhang Yi exclaimed.

Hua Hua, noticing the empty bowl, pounced to paw at it, prompting Yang Siyah to serve the cat its own portion.

Yang Siyah’s support-type ability had proven invaluable. While it wasn’t flashy or offensive, its effectiveness brought joy to the group, especially with the looming battle.

Both Zhou Ke’er and Lu Keran couldn’t hide their envy, wishing Zhang Yi would soon use the remaining Ice Soul on one of them.

Zhang Yi, however, brushed them off, preferring to observe Yang Siyah’s progress further.

Yang Xinxin, on the other hand, scoffed at the Ice Soul, declaring her brain to be her ultimate weapon. To her, gaining a mundane ability like cooking would only be a burden.

Everyone who tasted Yang Siyah’s cooking praised her power. Zhang Yi, initially cautious, relaxed as he found no adverse effects.

He then inquired about the specifics of her ability.

Yang Siyah explained, “Since I just awakened, I can only enchant food in limited quantities—about five servings at a time. The benefit is that it quickly restores both physical and superhuman energy.”

Zhang Yi asked, “Can the enchanted food be stored, or does its effectiveness diminish over time?”

“I’m not sure,” Yang Siyah admitted. “But I’ve noticed the fresher the food, the stronger the effect.”

“That’s fine,” Zhang Yi replied. “From now on, focus on making large batches of convenient foods, like energy bars. I’ll handle the storage issue.”

By storing her creations in his spatial storage, Zhang Yi could ensure their efficacy wouldn’t fade, effectively creating a stockpile of potent rations.

In the future, with superhumans dominating the battlefield, such rations would undoubtedly become a strategic resource.

Author’s Note