Eric helped the Thunder Quail settle on their new home. Thankfully, there was a tree in the backyard, where the female Thunder Quail incubated her eggs, placing the nest on a safe branch with the help of her husband.
Eric informed the female Thunder Quail that the male Thunder Quail had to accompany Zoe because of her breathing technique, and the female Thunder Quail agreed right away. After all, Eric claimed it was not only Zoe who would benefit, her husband, too.
Zoe's beasts could perform the Primal breathing too, strengthening her bond with them. If she wanted to, they could even switch positions, to which she accepted as long as her eggs hatched.
Zoe soon entered the girl's room and performed the breathing technique while meditating with Samantha and Michelle. When Eric left, it was still Jasper, who was guarding the house, sitting in a shade outside, relaxing.
He could not meditate and performed the breathing technique since it would wholly consume his attention. Eric smiled at him, as Jasper asked where he was going.
Eric said, "I'll kill more zombies outside the university's gate."
Jasper's eyes widened. "I see. Be careful, Emperor. I hope we can join you soon."
Eric nodded. "That's why you and others must get stronger quickly."
Jasper's eyes sparkled in excitement, nodding while trying to keep his solemn expression.
Eric soon left.
Meanwhile, Jasper watched the Emperor walking in the opposite direction where he and Zoe took earlier. He then realized something.
"Wait? Does he plan to enter the university and establish his empire there?" He mumbled.
He believed he was not far from the truth, causing his body to quiver in excitement.
Eric heard what he uttered under his breath and smiled. Jasper's assumption was accurate. He had been thinking where he should establish a permanent controlled area and acquire more power by Yeobui's requirements to expand his Empire stats.
He quickly recalled the university and since it was estimatingly 1.5 or more kilometers squared and adding the houses on the backgate, controlling the area, it would not be long before he would satisfy his requirements.
Hence, he had to work hard. He already estimated it would only take him a month, or another, since there was more manpower to train. After all, the zombies evolved rather quickly and given their quantity, even the reincarnated Heavenly Sage might have difficulty solving it…
…
As Eric arrived at the intersection, he turned to his right and already saw the backgate of the Mindanao State University. Since it was already 2028, the road was already cemented, but even then, fissures spread, obviously zombie-made.
There were hundreds, if not, thousands of zombies walking sluggishly, with third mortal stage and second mortal stage mixed within. The backgate of the Mindanao State University was always bustling with people because there were carinderia, coffee shop, sari-sari store, printing services, and more.
In addition, there were many vehicles scattered, most of them were from the students since the university was massive.
Eric casually ignored the mindless zombies and even the third mortal stage zombie, reading the wall of texts, despite appearing minuscule in a distance, of the second mortal stage information.
There were estimatingly five different fifteen second mortal stage zombie wandering. Some of them already noticed him, baring their fangs as they rushed towards him, causing a butterfly effect, triggering a horde rush.
Bulwark Zombie, Burster Zombie, Bone Warden, Shackle Zombie, Maggot Lord… Eric kept the information on his mind.
Seeing hundreds, if not thousands of zombies rushing towards him, he took a deep breath and calmed his racing heart. He was not nervous, on the contrary, he was exhilarated.
It might be more intense than his fight with Bulwark Zombie earlier and he might be forced to activate the Last Stand Resilience once again.
Thankfully, after his awakening and with his physical attributes advancing to C grade, he believed he would be able to last the Last Stand Resilience for a minute–with half a minute with no repercussions.
Furthermore, his breathing technique, or basically his Heavenly Sage title effects elevated too—all thanks to his evolution, awakening in other words.
Fearing that some zombies might be lost and wandered on the street where his subjects were training, he leapt towards the middle of the zombie horde and his fist raged with fire. He executed the first axiom, causing the impact more tremendous. The fissures expanded until five meters in radius and the fire soared more than one feet in height.
The first axiom complemented with the pyromancy—something Eric talked about when he claimed fireball was useless. Does fireball have a similar impact even if he completely exhausted his energy?
No. He also just spent more than half of his energy yet.
During his leap, the shockwave he generated was more immense. The Sky-Quaking Fist was executed by leaping to begin with. Only that, by doing so, his body would not be able to move in mid-air, jeopardizing his life.
What he did was already a risk.
Thankfully, he was successful. He took a deep breath and exhaled, just in time he completely spent his energy for the eruption of fire in the fissures to last for two seconds. He then performed the third axiom repeatedly many times, reverberating an explosion one at a time, garnering the attention of farther zombies.
This time, he brought another pocket bag by Andrew, and only planned on collecting dark red crystals. Grey crystals or even dark red crystals are used for awakening. To ascend to the second mortal stage might need red crystals. Perhaps, eating many dark red crystals would help, too.
Anyway, the main purpose of the dark red crystals should be for the Evolution Crystal-Powered Water Purifier.
In addition, he might discover higher potential grades too, so they could obviously endure the effects of the awakening after eating dark red crystals.
Simply put, Eric has so many plans on experimenting with the dark red crystals he almost thought he did not have much time. Thankfully, being a Heaven Sage means possessing a mountain of patience…
Hence, for now, collecting and worrying about the future would come later.
As of the moment, he wanted to fight to his heart's content.