Kong Xiang's eloquence was undeniable. Instead of immediately trying to pump up the survivors with motivational speeches, he shared his own past despair and hopelessness.

This immediately resonated with the survivors, who were already anxious about Li Chenzhou's departure. They even began to feel confused.

Their unease had only started a few minutes before, when Li Chenzhou announced his plans to leave. But Kong Xiang claimed that Wang Yuanqiang had been trying to encourage him half an hour earlier.

At that time, the survivors had already arrived and started working, temporarily setting aside their fears for the future and wholeheartedly enjoying the present. Why would Kong Xiang be feeling down then?

Having successfully diverted the survivors' attention, Kong Xiang suddenly smiled, looking at them and saying:

"It's you, it's you who rekindled my hope for life! You made me feel that my future still holds many things to do, that there's still a ray of light waiting for me to pursue!

Do you know why? Because just now, I saw all of you working diligently in the square, I saw the smiles on your faces, I heard the children's laughter, I witnessed a scene that I thought I would never see again after that night of upheaval!"

Hearing Kong Xiang's words, the survivors were stunned. Then, they instinctively looked around at each other, recalling the scene from just moments before.

"At that time, Yuanqiang and I were standing behind Team Leader Li, who rescued us. I was filled with emotion, and Team Leader Li left us with a sentence."

Kong Xiang continued:

"First, he asked us: 'Every base is different because of its leader, and the survivors living in that base are naturally influenced by the leader. Do you want to see the survivors as they were when we first arrived, filled with despair and even apathy because of the abuse they suffered under Hei Ge, or do you want to see them as they are now?'

We didn't answer, and he didn't need our answer. Instead, he left us with these words: 'How you treat this base, is how this base will repay you!!!'

Originally, when I saw you all, I was just moved and hopeful for the future. But... I wasn't sure what my goal was. After hearing his words, I suddenly understood my goal – to make the scene I just witnessed the norm for our base!

I want our base to always be like that. Even though we're in the apocalypse, why can't we create our own paradise?

There are zombies in the city, and mutated beasts in the mountains, but as long as we work hard and keep those monsters out of our base, won't the apocalypse be effectively isolated from us?

Of course, I can't do all of this alone. I need your help, and I need many of you to volunteer to become warriors, to defend our base against possible zombie and mutated beast attacks!

It's just like our country before. Our country was strong and prosperous, but that's because our army was protecting us, bearing the burden for us! Now, we need such people as well. Only then can our base stabilize, and only then can these children never have to worry about the apocalypse outside, allowing them to have... the same childhood as children used to have!"

By the time Kong Xiang finished speaking, the survivors' eyes were filled with longing. Some were hesitant. Most of them were adult males, and it was clear that Kong Xiang was referring to them when he spoke of those who would bear the burden.

For those men who had family in the base, this was not a problem. They would do anything for their families and children.

But for those adult men who were all alone, why should they bear the burden for people they didn't even know? If they died at the hands of zombies, who would remember them?

At that moment, Wang Yuanqiang suddenly took the microphone and addressed the crowd:

"We will form a guard队 (hù wèi duì, guard unit), whose duty it will be to protect our base. And I, Wang Yuanqiang, am willing to be the first to sign up and become the captain of this guard队.

For the sake of the scene I just witnessed, I am willing to risk my life. Also, I want to tell you all that while fighting outside will be dangerous, it will also be rewarding!

There are mutated晶核 (jīng hé, crystal cores) in the brains of zombies. I think those who have read novels should know what those are. Although the chances of finding them are low, as long as we find one, we have hope!

And we will register everyone who volunteers to join the guard队, and record their performance during battles. The spoils will naturally belong to the base, but the晶核 will definitely belong to the members of the guard队!

As for the effects of the晶核, I can show you!"

With that, Wang Yuanqiang jumped off the platform and ran to the backyard of the neighborhood committee. There, he found a tofu workshop. He actually carried out the top half of a stone millstone from inside.

This millstone was the old-fashioned type, carved from a single piece of mountain stone, weighing at least two hundred pounds. But Wang Yuanqiang actually carried it all the way out, then climbed onto the platform, roared, and lifted the millstone above his head with one hand.

He didn't lift the millstone with both hands first and then release one hand. Instead, he released one hand while holding the millstone against his chest, and then used that one hand to forcefully lift the millstone above his head.

"Yaah!"

Then, with another roar, Wang Yuanqiang threw the millstone out. The millstone slammed into the ground with a deafening crash, and even the survivors standing nearby felt the ground shake.

"Strength-type! And... it seems his skill enhances strength!"

Watching Wang Yuanqiang's actions, Li Chenzhou made a judgment in his mind. A normal person's strength is around 7, and they can probably lift an object weighing about a hundred pounds with all their might.

Wang Yuanqiang used an evolutionary药剂 (yào jì, potion). If his main attribute is strength, it should be between 17 and 20. This is far beyond that of a normal person, but it's still a bit difficult to lift an item weighing more than two hundred pounds with one arm.

After all, the millstone was very large. When Wang Yuanqiang held it against his chest, he was completely obscured. So, to lift it with one hand and maintain balance, he would need four or five times the strength of a normal person…