The basement of Ye Fan's residence has been turned into a laboratory.

Experimental equipment is everywhere, and there's a strong, pungent odor upon entry.

Seeing Ye Fan enter, Luo Jiaxin apologetically said, "Sir, it's a bit messy here, but there are no other suitable venues..."

Ye Fan waved his hand, knowing that research like this was meant to start once the Combat Laboratory was available, so some chaos was expected for an early start.

"You called me over, saying there's been a breakthrough. What's going on exactly?"

Wu Ting excitedly ran over, "Ye Fan, Luo Jiaxin is truly a master. I've encountered several difficulties in my research, but he provided incredible insights, and this success is largely his credit."

As she spoke, Wu Ting took out a crystal that Ye Fan had entrusted them to study.

"Ye Fan, this type of crystal is extracted from zombies, and we call it a Level 1 Crystal."

"The impact of this crystal is significant; it can transform ordinary people into Evolvers or grant Evolvers greater power."

At this point, Luo Jiaxin brought over a blackboard to provide a more detailed explanation to Ye Fan.

"We have set a person's ability as a Level 1 Evolver, including strength, speed, and reaction, at a comprehensive ability value of 1. A normal person's ability might only be 0.1, or perhaps less than 0.1. It could be 0.2 or higher, varying from person to person."

"However, no matter how strong someone is, they can't match an Evolver; those who achieve an Evolution Value of 1 are at the Superman level."

"The strength of Evolvers varies as well, and continuing to use these crystals and absorb their energy can further enhance an Evolver's power, with a maximum increase to 1.9."

"Once the Evolution Value reaches 1.9, continuing to use these crystals becomes ineffective, and a more advanced crystal is necessary to potentially become a Level 2 Evolver."

Luo Jiaxin and Wu Ting explained in detail, and Ye Fan understood.

The crystals within a zombie's brain determine the intensity of evolution.

He also had a Level 2 Crystal from the corpse of the mutant that evolved during the thirty thousand zombie siege on the city.

A Level 2 Crystal signifies the ability to create a Level 2 Evolver.

Ye Fan pondered, "Can the Evolution Value be measured?"

"Yes, Sir, let me test it for you."

Luo Jiaxin approached Ye Fan, drew a bit of his blood, placed it into a device, and soon after, the Evolution Value was determined.

"Sir, your Evolution Value is 0.4. You aren't an Evolver, but you've surpassed most ordinary people, probably because you've consumed crystals, right?"

"Indeed, I have, but why haven't I become an Evolver?"

"You must have used them incorrectly. Using the crystals incorrectly means even ten wouldn't make an Evolver, but with the right method, one would suffice."

"We called you over to inform you of our breakthrough; we've discovered the correct method, or formula, to consume crystals."

Luo Jiaxin handed Ye Fan several sheets of paper: "This explains how ordinary people can become Evolvers at once."

"This describes how a Level 1 Evolver can use crystals to most efficiently and swiftly reach an Ability Value of 1.9."

"This details how someone with an Ability Value of 1.9 can once again become a Level 2 Evolver."

Luo Jiaxin noted, "These theories should be correct, but they haven't been tested practically. Sir, you can find someone to assist us."

Ye Fan waved his hand, "No need, I trust your technical expertise. I'll work with you for the practical testing."

"Alright, please take a seat, Sir."

Luo Jiaxin and Wu Ting asked Ye Fan to sit down, then began adjustments step by step.

The process was complex, requiring precision in body condition, temperature, and coordination with a specially prepared solution to ensure the crystal's full effectiveness.

The crystal Ye Fan initially consumed wasted most of its energy, only aiding his left eye's evolution.

Thinking that now his entire body would be enhanced, and he wouldn't need any more patch-ups for just one eye, Ye Fan felt quite happy.

Absently, he swallowed the crystal, and his body began to heat up.

To spare Ye Fan unnecessary discomfort, Luo Jiaxin administered a drug to quickly put him to sleep.

About an hour later, Ye Fan awoke from sleep.

"Sir, it's done. Congratulations on completing the Level 1 Evolution."

"Oh, it's finished so quickly?"

"Yes, after Level 1 Evolution, every part of your body has been enhanced; it's a comprehensive upgrade."

"Comprehensive?"

"Yes."

Ye Fan was most concerned about his left eye.

He wanted to see if his vision in both eyes was balanced.

He left the basement and went up to the third floor of the residence, first looking down normally.

Everything within the base was in full view, with vision significantly better than an average person's.

He closed his right eye and looked out with his left eye.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but he felt a beam of light came from his left eye.

With great visibility, things twenty kilometers away were clearly visible!

"Indeed, an all-around enhancement; my eyesight has improved even further."

When he opened his right eye, that feeling disappeared; it only appeared when he kept his left eye open.

Luo Jiaxin followed behind Ye Fan and paused for a moment when she saw Ye Fan's condition.

"Oh no, I forgot about the commander's left eye situation. The project we're working on is about comprehensive enhancement; we haven't researched focal enhancement yet."

Ye Fan waved his hand: "It's alright, this is pretty good too. Do you know what type I am now?"

Evolvers are divided into types; there are Strength Types, Agility Types, and then there's someone like Wang Huining who's a Sensory Type.

"Commander, I originally thought you were a Speed Type, but your left eye situation leaves me a bit unsure. Your case is somewhat unexpected for us, so maybe after some time, I can give you an accurate answer."

Ye Fan's left eye was a special case; no one could say for sure.

Ye Fan was satisfied to hear that he was a Speed Type.

As a Commander, he didn't need overwhelming strength since he had countless subordinates to fight for him.

But speed was still necessary; who can guarantee there won't be a critical moment in the future where speed can save your life?

He went downstairs to practice a hundred-meter sprint.

A hundred meters in 7.5 seconds!

This was very good; an average Speed Type Evolver takes over eight seconds for a hundred meters, so Ye Fan's result was excellent.

Strength wasn't left unimproved either, just not as much as speed. Ye Fan's strength increased significantly, from that of an ordinary person to the level of a professional athlete.

The feeling of becoming stronger was exhilarating; even though compared to others, his advancement wasn't particularly significant, becoming a bit stronger was better than being weaker.

"Luo Jiaxin, when can I complete my Second-level Evolution? I have a Level 2 Crystal here."

"Commander, progressing from Level 1 Evolution to Level 2 Evolution is not instantaneous; in between, you need to continuously replenish Crystal Energy. Without our method, ordinary Evolvers would need to consume nine crystals to reach an Evolution Value of 1.9. Fortunately, we found the correct method, and with three crystals, we can get you to an Evolution Value of 1.9."

"Then when can I start?"

"You need to digest the crystal's medicinal properties in your body first, roughly after three days you can take the next crystal, and in nine days, we can get your Evolution Value to 1.9."

Ye Fan nodded, not overly impatient. It was already mid-December; according to Luo Jiaxin, he should complete the Second-level Evolution by New Year's.

By then, if he were to wrestle with Zhuge Yunxue, she probably wouldn't be able to beat him?

After all, Zhuge Yunxue wasn't a Strength Type either.

The thought of being able to take down a Hero Level female Scout made Ye Fan feel quite pleased.

********

During this period, the population of Dawn City surged.

If it weren't for the Burning Army incident, other Survivor organizations might still be debating.

But with the Burning Army as a precedent, many Survivor organizations were eager to join the Dawn Army immediately.

Most people didn't need the main force of the Dawn Army to go over; just those Adventurer Squads went over, and they followed right away.

For those former Survivor Alliance families with hesitant leaders, Ye Fan would immediately dispatch troops to persuade them.

For those who were truly obstinate, the Red Alert Soldiers showed no mercy and executed them on the spot.

And so, groups and groups of Survivors emerged from everywhere.

They were hiding in towns, in villages, and some even deep in the mountains.

But not everyone was lucky; during the search process, the Dawn Army also discovered many corpses of survivors.

Surviving this winter deep in the mountains was not an easy task.

Even if you have wilderness survival knowledge, you can't fend off the Mutant Beasts that find you.

Those who chose to stay in the city initially had little hope at this point.

Even now, as Ye Fan's forces grew stronger, he still lacked the power to attack Huacheng City.

He planned to wait until the survivor rescues concluded, see if any new buildings could be unlocked, then prepare to attack Linhai County after New Year's.

Out of all the former Survivor Alliance households, only two hadn't joined the Dawn Army yet.

One was the Wangbei Army and the other the Women's Army.

Zhang Xiaofei of the Wangbei Army didn't have absolute control; though Zhang Zhijian had died, his ailing elder brother Zhang Zhiguo was still there.

The Wangbei Army's size of seventy thousand made relocation a major issue, so Ye Fan hadn't contacted them yet.

As for the Women's Army, Ye Fan had ordered their incorporation because he noticed the gender ratio in the Dawn Army was somewhat imbalanced.

The male-to-female ratio was nearly 2:1, implying that many bachelors would emerge in Dawn City.

Therefore, the Women's Army had to come over, and Dai Yu from Hot Spring Manor went over to persuade them.

On the third day, out of Dai Yu's squad of a dozen people, only he came back, in a disheveled state.

He brought back startling news.

The 7–8,000 strong Women's Army had been taken over by a foreign force and were preparing to migrate towards Crane City!

Ye Fan was furious upon hearing this, immediately rising and slapping the table!

"How audacious!"

"It's one thing for girls to come to me willingly, but our city still has so many brothers without wives, and some people are just here to pick up the fallen fruit!"

"I will see who dares to snatch from under the tiger's mouth!"

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