The Mountain City

"Moreover, we haven't disposed of many corpses; theoretically, it shouldn't attract such fearsome creatures. The only reasonable explanation is that these monsters, like us, are evolving stronger with each passing day, and consequently, more formidable beasts are emerging."

Long sighed, "The main issue is that we're too few in number. If we had more people here, we could look out for each other, and that would make a significant difference."

Simon asked, "Have you considered going to the Zifeng Tower?"

"Of course," Long replied. "As you mentioned before, the Zifeng Tower has thirty-eight floors, likely housing numerous survivors. If all these survivors have become spirit sources like us and band together, we wouldn't need to fear these monsters. Moreover, there's strength in numbers; more people means more ideas, potentially providing a way out of this predicament. It would certainly be better than our current situation. But the nearly three-kilometer water route is a real challenge."

Simon nodded, "Although it's risky, it's worth a try. However, our raft is too small. We need to carry a significant amount of supplies, so we'll have to find a way to enlarge it."

As he spoke, Simon had already resolved to head for the Zifeng Tower. Although their current shelter was adequate and well-stocked, having only the three of them—himself, Long, and Lily—was insufficient. Given the escalating strength and increasing numbers of the monsters, staying here would only become more perilous by the day.

Simon didn't want to die. He felt that their best chance of survival was to reach the Zifeng Tower, hoping to find more survivors there. While the city had many tall buildings, some even taller than the Zifeng Tower, those skyscrapers were farther away. The Zifeng Tower was undoubtedly their most suitable target for now.

"You make a valid point... but let's discuss it tomorrow. For now, let's get some sleep..." Long trailed off as he drifted into a snoring slumber.

Simon envied Long's ability to fall asleep so quickly, while he found it difficult to rest.

Turning over, he saw Lily lying on the other bed, wide-eyed and staring at him. He whispered softly, "What are you thinking about, little girl? Why aren't you asleep?"

At Simon's words, Lily immediately shut her eyes tightly. 

Simon smiled, finding it endearing how obedient she was. Listening to Long's snores and the faint howls of unknown creatures outside, Simon lay in bed, unable to sleep. His mind was awash with thoughts. It had only been three days since he woke up on the morning of the fifteenth to find the city submerged in floodwaters, but in those three days, so much had happened. 

He had transformed from an ordinary person into a spirit source wielder with the strength of a thousand pounds, encountering various bizarre creatures—corpse beasts, one-eyed frogs, sea iguanas, and the massive overlord crab, larger than a round table. 

The city had been flooded, but what about other cities? Different cities had varying elevations; perhaps those at higher altitudes were not submerged. And the mountains and highlands should remain above water. Yet, three days had passed without any sign of rescue. What had become of his family and friends?

Simon had many questions. In this thirty-two-story building, only three floors remained above water. There were many residents, but why were there only four survivors, including Long? Where had the others gone? Had they mysteriously disappeared, or was there another reason? Why were the homes covered in dust, as if long abandoned? What was the cause of all this?

As they evolved, so did these monsters—growing stronger and more numerous, making their environment increasingly perilous. What was the situation at the Zifeng Tower, which had eight floors above water? Were there many survivors? Was it safe there? Could they safely navigate the three kilometers of water to reach it?

There were many high-rise buildings in the city with floors above the waterline. If other survivors were in similar situations, there must be many of them. What were their conditions? Were they facing similar challenges, or were there other changes?

If there were cities not submerged, which ones were they, and how could they reach them?

Simon thought of Chong'an City, known as the Mountain City. Built almost entirely on a hillside, its elevation was very high. Given the current water level, could Chong'an City have escaped the floodwaters?

If Chong'an City truly remained unscathed by the floodwaters, it would certainly dispatch boats or aircraft to rescue the submerged cities around it. However, Simon recalled that Chong'an City was over a thousand kilometers from Nanjing; expecting its rescue might be a long wait. Besides Chong'an, Simon also considered the Qing Tian Plateau, with an average elevation of over four thousand meters, which should also be safe from the floods, though it was even farther away.

Of course, all this was mere speculation on Simon's part, as he had no concrete information. 

Simon lay in bed, eyes closed, his mind wandering aimlessly until he eventually fell asleep. He was awakened by Lily. His first instinct was to reach for the iron rod beside the bed. Only after grasping it did he open his eyes, then relaxed upon seeing Lily's face instead of a monster, with no immediate danger present.

"Is Simon awake? Lily, tell him to get up quickly, breakfast is ready," Long's loud voice came from the next room.

Simon finally sat up, seeing Lily standing beside his bed. Ruffling his hair, he asked, "Did I sleep that soundly?"

Lily nodded in response.

Long entered, chuckling, "You were exhausted last night, so it's normal to sleep deeply. We got up quietly to avoid waking you. Breakfast is ready, get up now."

Simon smiled sheepishly, quickly getting out of bed. "Did you make breakfast again, Long? I feel bad, next time let me help."

Long replied, "Sure, then you can make lunch."

Simon hesitated, thinking he only knew how to make instant noodles, not proper meals. Quickly changing the subject, he asked, "How's your injury?" Seeing Long's healthy complexion, he guessed it must be much better.

Long patted his chest, "I'm fine. I told you, after absorbing those spirit sources and getting a night's sleep, I'd be good as new."

"That's great," Simon said, relieved to have successfully diverted the conversation.