Chapter 2280: Loki Cross
The shadow of the last defeat once again fell over everyone's hearts at Xia Lei's words.
It was true that Cloud Peak was strong now. The number of top-tier beings was not only unrivaled in the national region but also among the best in the world—no other power could look down upon the world like Cloud Peak.
But in truth, every high-level member of Cloud Peak knew that their strength was built on the foundation their leader had laid. Even the surge in top-tier lifeforms after Ye Zhongming's departure had been made possible by the vast wealth he had left behind.
Look at the present—though the number of top-tier beings was still increasing, the pace had clearly slowed.
Part of this was naturally because everyone's main focus had been drawn to the coast, but without the leader's miraculous touch, the probability of obtaining evolution potions had decreased significantly—that was also a fact.
Moreover, high-level demon crystals were hard currency in the apocalypse. When Ye Zhongming had been on Earth, many things—like equipment—had not required spending magic crystals. Now, however, large sums had to be allocated for such things, consuming a great deal of wealth as well.
Furthermore, the establishment of Cloud Peak's Technology Department was another money pit. The advanced knowledge Ye Zhongming had sent down from above, from learning and research to experimentation and manufacturing, involved an entire process that drained funds like flowing water.
This was even more expensive than the previous Gene Lifeform Lab and Magic Crystal Weapons Lab combined.
Only a wealthy power like Cloud Peak could sustain it. For anyone else, they would have been bankrupted long ago by the astronomical research costs.