Wasteland: My Items Can Be Infinitely Upgraded

Lin Feng and Xu Wanfeng stayed behind the scenes, standing in front of the glass window on the second floor, overlooking the bustling activity below.

Xu Wanshuang led the remaining members of the Hunting Wilderness Guild, conducting identity registration for permanent residents, hunters, and many deserters who came to sign up, and issuing them identity number plates.

At times like this, a symbol proving one’s affiliation is the best means to distinguish groups.

Lin Feng narrowed his eyes slightly, watching this scene before him, and couldn’t help but express his admiration:

"You still need the President. With just a few words, you can motivate these over 20,000 people to leave Oasis Town and follow you to develop the new settlement..."

Xu Wanfeng smiled, although he himself, as the President of the Hunting Wilderness Guild and possessing a mid-tier two evolution level, was technically higher in status and power than the man before him...

However, Lin Feng made significant contributions in this town-breaking beast calamity, second only to the Lord Bishop and Bai Ye of the Salvation Army. His combat prowess as a gunpowder ability user far exceeds that of Xu Wanfeng.

Coupled with his close relationship with Father Su An, Xu Wanfeng was acutely aware that he was far inferior to the other.

Therefore, he did not act arrogantly and explained:

"I rely on the Hunting Wilderness Guild, this large and influential banner, and the accumulated reputation from years of deep development in Oasis Town."

"However, this alone is still far from comparable to the status of the Holy Spring Sect in the hearts of the many lower-level deserters."

"When it comes to winning hearts, no one can surpass our Lord Bishop."

As he spoke, Xu Wanfeng lowered his voice:

"This time, without the Church benefits promised by Leader Lin, even with a thousand or ten thousand guts, we wouldn’t dare to brazenly snatch food from under the Church’s watchful eyes."

"Even if the Oasis Church doesn’t directly intervene, they could dissuade most of the lower-level permanent residents and deserters with just a word."

Lin Feng responded with an affirmative sound, not arguing since Xu Wanfeng spoke the truth.

Xu Wanfeng was very clear about this operation.

The man before him took the greatest benefit, exchanging promises he didn’t need with the Salvation Army for his needs, while the Hunting Wilderness Guild served as the trade link.

In helping Lin Feng complete the personnel exchange, they also conveniently addressed their own value issues.

After all, as a wandering force, the Salvation Army couldn’t gain the trust of so many deserters. They couldn’t earn trust quickly.

Their need for the Hunting Wilderness Guild’s assistance to appease people’s hearts was evident.

Meanwhile, the Hunting Wilderness Guild could also recruit core members from the evacuated personnel to strengthen themselves.

It’s a win-win-win situation.

Lin Feng monetized the unused lower-level personnel, the Hunting Wilderness Guild solidified deep ties with the Salvation Army, and the latter gained large numbers of lower-level populations, laying a solid foundation for future Royal City influence.

After finishing this matter, Lin Feng promptly asked:

"How much longer until departure?"

"We plan to head straight at the fork ahead, crossing the wilderness area, which would save us 150 kilometers compared to detouring through Oasis Town, taking about a week’s journey."

"Even if the wilderness isn’t easy to traverse, we can advance faster by four days or more, gradually distancing ourselves from Oasis Town."

"Once the handover is complete, my convoy will continue advancing along Oasis Avenue, while you and the Salvation Army proceed to the Northern Region, quietly developing amid the ruling territories of the Holy Spring Sect and Giant Enterprise Alliance."

Xu Wanfeng nodded while watching the long queue before him, divided into ten squads, still stretching from the forefront of Fifth Village to the very end, with many trying to cut in line.

By rough calculation, even processing one every 30 seconds requires over ten hours...

And at this moment, the trailing Five Major Villages are almost catching up with the Oasis Battleship, left with less than seven to eight kilometers from the pre-set Holy Spring Day site at the Oasis Avenue intersection at Ancient Zhoukou City.

Time is running out for everyone.

Now Xu Wanfeng could only speed up to keep up with Lin Feng’s pace.

After thinking about it for a moment, he replied:

"With over ten thousand people, even if we speed up, it would still take about six to seven hours..."

"But rest assured, we will definitely organize the team in time to follow your and the Salvation Army’s steps before the main force arrives."

Lin Feng responded affirmatively and then turned to leave.

The matters here were all entrusted to the Hunting Wilderness Guild.

Each party takes what they need, and Xu Wanfeng dared not slack off.

Lin Feng left through the Hunting Wilderness Guild’s back entrance, arriving at the front of Fifth Village.

At this moment, Chen Shanshan, who happened to be looking for Old Huang, along with Su Yueyue riding on the Divine Dog, returned together.

They were followed by a battered little bus—a sign of Old Huang’s permanent residency in Fifth Village, a common electric vehicle for mobility.

This represents the entirety of most permanent residents’ possessions.

Unless something extraordinary happens, all their eating, drinking, excreting, and sleeping must be resolved in it throughout their lifetime.

For some, this vehicle passes on to three generations; the people leave, but the car remains.

However, the little bus at this moment appears even more decrepit than when Lin Feng and others moved in. Even the metal cover for wind protection and engine protection is shattered, patched together with several pieces of wood.

The side window glass and pleated window shades were violently damaged, forcing them to use rags as curtains for shade.

Nonetheless, there were no significant tears on the bus’s surface, indicating it hasn’t been directly attacked by the Desert Wolf Race.

With Old Huang’s cunning experience and cautious personality, he certainly wouldn’t have fled rashly but hid in the middle of the convoy, depending on the guard power of the Hunting Wilderness Guild to escape safely.

Since the vehicle showed minor battlefield damage not from the Desert Wolf Race, it must be attributed to another unstable factor in Fifth Village...

Thousands of deserters rushing from behind seeking refuge.

After Chen Shanshan and her party approached, the situation explained by the latter confirmed Lin Feng’s speculation.

Old Huang’s little bus encountered the impact of the deserters, with many hurling stones, and even intercepting it along the way.

Faced with life-and-death crises, everyone acted like drowning persons, unscrupulously grasping at any hope for survival.

In these circumstances, the deserters had essentially transformed into mobs, and without effective means of deterrence, they could easily be divided clean by them and become prey.

Moreover, many permanent residents and their descendants depend on Fifth Village’s order for survival, having strength even reaching late-stage or Level 9 enhancement.

Yet when faced with the incoming deserter flood akin to a deluge...

The strength of late-stage enhanced people was utterly insufficient.

Without the power and identity of an Evolver, it was impossible to deter these nearly irrational, pressured-to-boundary rioters.

What’s worse, most permanent residents went solo, possessing their own mobility vehicles.

Unable to unite.

Thus, soon some trailing and peripheral vehicles were attacked by incoming deserters, who swarmed over them like zombies, seeking footholds to rest.

Initially, permanent residents could still reprimand and intimidate them as vehicle owners, but as more deserters crowded in and filled cabins, even climbing onto roofs to rest...

Permanent residents sensed helplessness and fear, watching as their vehicles slowed under the strain, eventually falling behind and swallowed by the attacking Desert Wolf Race.

Yet Old Huang was rather smart.

Before danger struck, upon hearing rumors and murmurs spread by Lin Feng and the others, he immediately recruited two strong deserter squads for free, setting off together.

Among them were five Level 9 enhanced hunters, enough to form a deterrent against other deserters.

However, this late-stage malfunction, these deserters like caged zombies, stimulated by the survival instinct, indiscriminately intercepted nearby vehicles, attempting to hijack or hitch a ride...

Thus, the driver, Old Huang, was in unfortunate circumstances pelted repeatedly with stones.

Mid-stage enhanced deserters possess strength approaching half a ton; fervently hurled rocks can easily smash the windshield, dealing a heavy blow to Old Huang.

His face became scarred, bleeding endlessly. Although ultimately escaping safely, he fainted.

When Chen Shanshan and others found him, he remained in a coma. Fortunately, his son Huang Xinming acted wisely, grinding down several pieces of Level 9 jerky left by Lin Feng into mush and fed it with water.

Barely keeping him breathing.

Seeing the dying old friend, Lin Feng took a deep breath:

"Let’s go. Check if Ding Yi has any solutions."

"If not, then head to Holy Spring Village to seek medicine from the Assistant Priest. They should have medicine."